Review: InEar ProPhile 8 – High ProPhile

The Result

“You will rediscover your music thanks to easy natural reproduction of music in highest resolution, uncovering of subtle details, breathtaking transparency, huge soundstage and perfect imaging!”

Before going into detail I do want to make clear that the effect of the switches is not huge. Of course there is an obvious difference but it’s not that you’ll be getting a completely different sound signature. The switches are more of a fine-tuning device that allows doing some subtle changes. A lot will also depend on the source used and the quality of the music file. In some cases the bass or treble boost was too much for my ears, while I sometimes could have used even more.

The ProPhile 8 is tuned as a reference monitor and the key characteristics that come into mind are clarity, precision and transparency. The PP8 is the kind of inear that while obviously being tuned as flat as possible with no boosted frequencies, manages to be very musical at all times. No matter how you set the switches, the ProPhile 8 gives you all the detail you want, and always in a musical way. It never sounds dry or dull or analytic that makes is a monitor that a lot of people will love listening to.

The ProPhile 8 from bass to treble shows a very good amount of detail, it always sounds clean and clear with great separation and just the right amount of air. It doesn’t sound too intimate or spacious, it sounds just right. The PP8 has good L/R balance, speed and attack and everything always is tight, the PP8 is fully in control of the music.  With the switches turned off, you will get a flat sounding monitor where bass is light, as we know it from other neutrally tuned IEMS. Bass is tight and fast with good detail but if you want that bit more body and mostly rumble down below, I advise you to use the bass gain. In the boosted position you still get reference bass but it makes it more fun/engaging to listen to. It will also let you hear the depth and layering better but again, even with the switch turned on, don’t expect a bass driven IEM, expect neutral yet musical bass.

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The mids, like the bass section is fairly flat but a very good level of detail and the right amount of air with great instrumental separation. The mids are precise and musical but there still is room for improvement for what depth and layering are concerned. In fact this is something what can be said in general for the ProPhile 8: sound stage is wider than it is deep and layering could be a little better. Not that it’s bad but some of the competitors score even better on these points. Treble is lively, detailed and energetic but perfectly in line with the bass and mids. I personally never felt the need to turn just the treble gain on. To me treble is very enjoyable and the extension is good. Yes, layering – as explained – could be better but treble is dynamic, precise and fast.

From bass to treble the whole picture just is right and all the sectors work perfectly together. Looking at the switches, I myself always ended up using none of them or both of them at the same time. When I added bass, I also added treble as I found the ProPhile 8 to sound most coherent this way. It could be all different for your ears though.

The ProPhile 8 truly is a musical reference tuned, neutral monitor. Don’t expect big booming bass, thick mids or overly energetic treble. Everything is nicely balanced out and the switches give you that bit extra when needed or when you feel like it. I in general am not the biggest fan of flat sounding, universal IEMs but I absolutely love listening to the PP8 as its comfort is great and it sonically just sounds right (coherent, detailed, precise, fast AND musical).

Driveability and Source

I find the PP8 fairly easy to drive (120 dB & 34 ohms) but I’ll go over a couple of the popular devices. The brand new RHA DacAmp L1 is very powerful and it has no problem driving the PP8, in fact I couldn’t get more than 2 on the L1’s volume dial with Tidal volume only at 50%. The result is a powerful and speedy sound with great detail and precision. The RHA (all settings 0) seems to add in bass body though and I preferred listening to the PP8 without any boost. The PP8 is dead silent when no music is playing and I quite like this pairing. This can’t be said of the ALO Continental V5 which shows quite the amount of noise. As it’s a tube design it probably won’t ever be the most silent but as soon as it’s audible in quiet passages, I kind of stop listening. If you can look beyond the noise, the CV5 will make the ProPhile 8 sound a little softer on top with a slightly more relaxed presentation. The CV5 doesn’t give the PP8 the body the RHA does and it sounds flatter as a result.

The CypherLabs Picollo is dead silent through the PP8 (or is it the other way round?) and you get a more analogue sound that is a little slower but the added smoothness does have its charm. Treble is a little more recessed sounding as well. The synergy is pretty good but it isn’t magical either. From the Chord mojo (AK380 as source over USB OTG – ASEN) there of course is no noise audible and the Mojo sounds more like the RHA L1 but without the extra body. The Mojo/PP8 has great dynamics, speed and detail with great clarity and precision. These are the same characteristics the PP8 has and this combination simply is wonderful, even though the voices are a little colder sounding. Bass can positively surprise (body-wise) when called upon (Gorillaz).

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The 3.5mm plug on the PP8’s cable is L-shaped so if you want to use it with the Chord Hugo you’ll need to use an adapter. The result is wider and deeper sound than the Mojo, with better layering. It’s a little smoother and sower sounding than on the Mojo and it makes the PP8 easier to listen to. The Hugo (also AK380 OTG) of course also is dead silent. The combination is nice, voices are more natural but bass isn’t as tight and impactful as with the Mojo. A nice pairing if you like a softer sound signature. Straight from the AK380 the PP8 sounds detailed, clear and precise. Bass even has good presence but the overall signature is the flatter and precise one. Voices aren’t cold or soft but very natural and the lids are very rich. Simply a good combination. The Luxury&Precision L3Pro is of my fav DAPs sound wise but combined with the PP8 it really needs top quality files to sound very good. The lesser quality MP3 files really don’t sound convincing. Get it right however and the quality is sublime. Like the L1, the L3pro adds more or less the same body to the bass and mids.

Even more on the PtoPhile 8 sound on Page Three, after the click

4.2/5 - (58 votes)
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Lieven is living in Europe and he's the leader of the gang. He's running Headfonia as a side project next to his full time day job in Digital Marketing & Consultancy. He's a big fan of tube amps and custom inear monitors and has published hundreds of product reviews over the years.

2 Comments

  • Reply August 6, 2017

    Michael

    Can you elaborate on your comment regarding cables? I understand that InEar recommends users keep the stock cable but I would like a higher end cable to go with mine. I feel dynamics can always be improved and in this case the actual look and feel of this cable needs attention as well. By stating that “a group of people might be disappointed” are you suggesting it’s best to stick with the stock cable? If not, recommendations would be appreciated. I’m pleased with the tone but always look for improved dynamics.

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