ThieAudio Hype 2 Review

ThieAudio Hype 2 – Sound

The Hype 2 is an instant crowd-pleaser. Its tuning features an elevated bass range, balanced midrange, and energetic treble, making it an ideal recommendation for newcomers to the hobby and audiophiles looking for a fun-oriented monitor with a satisfactory technical foundation. Despite having a bass boost, its signature is not too warm. Thanks to the slightly recessed lower midrange and energetic upper mid to treble region, it sounds exciting, dynamic, and clean to my ears. The Hype 2’s technical capability is impressive. It can successfully reproduce big and impactful bass without introducing clutter to the equation. The Hype 2 offers enough bass to keep bass heads happy while maintaining a clean and balanced presentation across the rest of the frequency range, making it a good alternative to warm and dark-sounding basshead monitors. Let’s delve into the details.

Bass

The bass tuning of the Hype 2 is definitely its standout feature. Its elevated yet not overpowering bass provides a fun-oriented foundation for the overall neutral-warm sound signature. This IEM delivers a punchy and dynamic bass response, infusing tracks with essential rhythm and drive. But it’s not solely about the bass quantity; its quality is equally commendable. The bass is deep, impactful, and prominent, yet it manages not to encroach upon the mids, a noteworthy achievement for an IEM with a fun-oriented tuning. The sub-bass takes precedence over the mid-bass, which not only enhances clarity but also ensures a seamless transition to the balanced midrange.

Distinguishing itself from ThieAudio’s single bass dynamic drivers and other balanced armature woofers, the Hype 2’s new twin bass module delivers the lows with a perceptible sense of air. It reminds me of full-sized dedicated subwoofers. However, expecting balanced armature agility from the bass module is far-fetched, but it excels in providing the sensation of a full, rounded sub-bass slam and rumble. It’s quite engaging and fun to listen to tracks from Stavroz and the rest of the Electronic genre. 

Mid

Unlike the bass range, the midrange is fairly balanced from top to bottom, ensuring vocals and instruments are presented with clarity and precision. The natural instruments have good body and texture, and detail retrieval is impressive, especially for a crowd-pleaser IEM tuning. The upper midrange is lively and energetic, ensuring that the dynamic presentation isn’t confined to just the bass. The vocals, especially female vocals, shine and have a sense of airiness to them. The cymbals and hi-hats are rendered energetically with good resolution. The upper midrange can occasionally get hot if you turn up the volume past uncomfortable, especially with analytical-sounding sources like the Moondrop Dawn Pro. I recommend sources with a balanced signature, such as the Mojo 2 and similar, to get the best synergy with the Hype 2.

Treble

Just like the upper midrange, energetic is the word for the Hype 2’s treble. It’s sparkly, detailed, and extends well, providing a sense of space and air to the overall presentation. It adds excitement to tracks without becoming piercing or sibilant. With some natural instruments, the treble tonality sounds a tad thin to my ears, and swapping the default tips with wider bore tips helps significantly with this issue, as well as proper source synergy. Overall, I’m impressed with how they successfully managed to combine generous bass quantity with excellent mid and treble clarity.

Technical Capability

Beyond its sound signature, the Hype 2 impresses with its technical capabilities. The soundstage is expansive and adequately wide. The stage depth is also quite good. Its imaging is precise, and the layering and separation of instruments are impressive. Hype 2’s technical capability exceeds what we usually see from this price bracket. Despite its pronounced low-end elevation, this monitor adeptly handles complex tracks. Typically, bass-heavy monitors come with compromises: while they deliver robust bass, they often result in a generally warmer sound, thicker instrument, and vocal presentations, reduced perceived spaciousness and airiness, a subdued upper midrange, and diminished instrument separation due to an overly warm lower midrange. The Hype 2, however, sidesteps these pitfalls. It carves out a unique niche in the market as a technically adept monitor that offers a bass boost without the usual trade-offs.

Comparisons

vs. Yanyin Canon II ($369 USD)

Yanyin Canon II, my go-to IEM in the sub-400 USD price bracket, stands as a challenging competitor to the Hype 2.

With its 1DD 4BA configuration, a side-by-side comparison highlights several distinctions between the two. While the Hype 2 utilizes a more contoured inner shell design, their sizes are almost identical. The Hype 2 fits more snugly around my crus helix, allowing for a slightly deeper nozzle insertion than the Canon II. Both monitors offer good comfort and good passive isolation.

In terms of sound, while both IEMs appeal to audiophiles, they target different preferences. The Hype 2 leans towards a fun-oriented sound, whereas the Canon II offers a superior tonal balance with two adjustment switches for signature fine-tuning. Regarding bass impact, quantity, and power, the Hype 2 outshines the Canon II. However, the upper midrange of Canon II is slightly more tamed and refined, and it offers a better high treble with more natural tonality. On the technical front, the Canon II edges out with superior separation, PRaT, and overall airiness, though the difference isn’t overwhelmingly significant. Ultimately, the choice between the two hinges on one’s bass preference.

vs. Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite ($249 USD)

The Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite is a competitively priced, handcrafted in-ear monitor that stands out in its price bracket with its eight balanced armature drivers. Due to its praiseworthy performance, the Orchestra Lite has been making waves in the sub-300 price bracket. However, when compared with the Hype 2, particular distinctions become evident. 

In terms of bass delivery, the Hype 2 unmistakably has the upper hand, offering a more pronounced and punchy response. The Orchestra Lite’s sound signature is more relaxed and smooth, contrasting with the Hype 2’s vibrant and dynamic presentation. The Orchestra Lite’s midrange and upper midrange, while softer, sacrifice some detail retrieval. Regarding treble, the Orchestra Lite takes a gentler approach and doesn’t reach as high into the top octave as the Hype 2. Overall, the Orchestra Lite offers a more mellow and smoother listening experience. Its standout quality is its easy-to-listen nature, allowing for extended listening without fatigue. The Hype 2, while fun, might wear on the listener after a two-hour EDM session, though it promises to keep the toes tapping.

From a technical standpoint, the Orchestra Lite’s soundstage feels a tad more limited, leading to a more intimate and engaging presentation. This characteristic aligns well with its signature, but the Hype 2 feels more open and spacious when compared directly. Both IEMs are great when it comes to imaging and PRaT, but neither can claim to be the fastest monitor currently available in this price bracket. In this regard, the Canon II outpaces both.

Last Words

The ThieAudio Hype 2 is a well-rounded IEM that manages to cater to both bass lovers and those seeking a balanced sound with a fun twist. It stands out with its clean sound signature, highlighted by an immersive bass that is punchy and powerful. The build quality is top-notch, and the included accessories are nice. For those on the hunt for an IEM that’s both fun and capable, the Hype 2, with its competitive pricing, is a compelling choice.

Pros

• Punchy and dynamic bass response.
• Clean midrange and energetic treble.
• Impressive technical capabilities.
• Great value for the price.

Cons

• The upper midrange can get hot with analytical sources