This is a review and detailed measurements of the Superlux HD387 IEM. It was kindly purchased by a member in Europe and shipped to me. It costs US $15.90.
As you see, it has a two piece mount with the standard silicone tip and the spiral one to hold it steady. It comes with three sets of those (I have mixed and matched them and hence the color difference). It stayed in my ears and is more stable than just the silicone tip.
Superlux HD387 Measurements
As usual, we start with the frequency response measurement using GRAS system:
I thought the droop in low frequency should not be there and tried may techniques to improve seal but it never changed. There is not much compliance with our curve but a different reference may make that visual point better. For example if we shifted the graph up, then it may be compliant from a few hundred hertz to 3 or 4 kHz. And than have a massive boost in the 200 Hz region. Going with what we have, the difference to be compensated using EQ has a complex curve with channel differential:
Distortion is rather high especially for an IEM:
Typical of most IEMs, group delay is not revealing other than telling us something is messy just above 2 kHz:
Impedance is low and flat:
Finally, sensitivity is on the good side:
IEM Listening Tests
If you get a good seal -- a necessary condition with any IEM -- the sound is surprisingly good. It is not until you develop an EQ that you realize better sound can be had:
As I noted, it is hard to develop a filter set by eye. But what I put together did the job, reducing a bit of stuffiness from the upper bass exaggeration and opening the sound up with the broad filter. I initially filled in the hole around 6.6 kHz but as you see, I disabled it. It just sounded too bright.
Sound was detailed now with very good fidelity. I just found the highs a bit too rough at times. Deep bass is not there even with my boost. Cranking the volume gradually increases the distortion and sort of self-limits. So is really best to use for normal to somewhat loud listening.
Conclusions
Frequency response is clearly flawed here but visually it seems far worse than it sounds. Out of the box the tonality is good enough to use. Boosting the upper bass is a standard technique for lack of deeper bass so it works in that regard. While difficult to develop manual, as usual EQ improves the performance good bit putting high fidelity sound within your reach for the price of a couple of fast food meals! Amazing what you can do when all you have to do is move a tiny, tiny amount of air inside your ear drum!
I am going to marginally recommend the Superlux HD387 IEM with EQ.
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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
As you see, it has a two piece mount with the standard silicone tip and the spiral one to hold it steady. It comes with three sets of those (I have mixed and matched them and hence the color difference). It stayed in my ears and is more stable than just the silicone tip.
Superlux HD387 Measurements
As usual, we start with the frequency response measurement using GRAS system:
I thought the droop in low frequency should not be there and tried may techniques to improve seal but it never changed. There is not much compliance with our curve but a different reference may make that visual point better. For example if we shifted the graph up, then it may be compliant from a few hundred hertz to 3 or 4 kHz. And than have a massive boost in the 200 Hz region. Going with what we have, the difference to be compensated using EQ has a complex curve with channel differential:
Distortion is rather high especially for an IEM:
Typical of most IEMs, group delay is not revealing other than telling us something is messy just above 2 kHz:
Impedance is low and flat:
Finally, sensitivity is on the good side:
IEM Listening Tests
If you get a good seal -- a necessary condition with any IEM -- the sound is surprisingly good. It is not until you develop an EQ that you realize better sound can be had:
As I noted, it is hard to develop a filter set by eye. But what I put together did the job, reducing a bit of stuffiness from the upper bass exaggeration and opening the sound up with the broad filter. I initially filled in the hole around 6.6 kHz but as you see, I disabled it. It just sounded too bright.
Sound was detailed now with very good fidelity. I just found the highs a bit too rough at times. Deep bass is not there even with my boost. Cranking the volume gradually increases the distortion and sort of self-limits. So is really best to use for normal to somewhat loud listening.
Conclusions
Frequency response is clearly flawed here but visually it seems far worse than it sounds. Out of the box the tonality is good enough to use. Boosting the upper bass is a standard technique for lack of deeper bass so it works in that regard. While difficult to develop manual, as usual EQ improves the performance good bit putting high fidelity sound within your reach for the price of a couple of fast food meals! Amazing what you can do when all you have to do is move a tiny, tiny amount of air inside your ear drum!
I am going to marginally recommend the Superlux HD387 IEM with EQ.
-----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/