Audeze Isine 20 Review | 93 Data compared

The Audeze iSine 20 is a highly portable, semi-open in-ear planar magnetic headphone priced at $599.00 that delivers a distinctively musical, U-shaped sound signature. On the plus side, it boasts superior portability, lacks a strict requirement for external amplification, and leaks less sound than its competitor. Its audio strengths include punchy low sub-frequencies that add emotional impact, quick and crisp mid-frequency response with clear percussive attack, and highly detailed, warm high frequencies. It also features a taller, wider soundstage with dramatic left-to-right instrument separation. However, its main disadvantages are that the low-mid and middle-mid frequencies feel scooped, instruments sound less full, and the physical ear hooks can become uncomfortable during prolonged listening sessions. The Sennheiser HD 660 S is an open-back, over-ear dynamic headphone priced at $499.95 built for controlled listening environments like homes or studios. Its advantages lie in its superior long-term comfort, flat and analytical mid-frequency response that makes electric guitars and synths sound lifelike, and a highly detailed, natural soundstage with exceptional depth in the low and mid frequencies. It provides a more neutral, unhyped tonal balance...

The Headfonics review describes the Audeze iSINE 20 as a revolutionary semi-open-back planar magnetic IEM, offering exceptionally clean, musical midrange, and a lush, fatigue-free vocal density comparable to the Audeze LCD-3. Key strengths include immense transparency, a spacious soundstage, and highly responsive, textured bass, making them a standout for home listening. However, the open-back design limits usability, as the iSINE 20 suffers from significant sound leakage and provides no isolation for commuting. Other drawbacks include a lack of high-frequency sparkle in the stock tuning, along with an awkward, delicate fit relying on thin ear-hooks.

The Audeze iSine 20 in-ear headphones stand out for their unconventional, superhero-esque "spider web" aesthetic and their innovative use of miniaturized planar magnetic drivers, a technology usually reserved for massive over-ear cans. Priced at $599.99, these open-back earbuds deliver an incredibly expansive, immersive soundstage and precise, organic detail from top to bottom. The review highlights their effortlessly pure instrumental definition and low distortion, noting that the hybrid design creates a unique holographic sonic experience akin to listening to high-end room speakers. Additionally, they come packed with multiple ear clips and tips, alongside a 24-bit Apple Lightning "Cipher" cable featuring a built-in DAC and amplifier for enhanced iOS performance. Despite the majestic audio performance, the review identifies several notable drawbacks centered on fit and utility. The prominent, wide sound tubes proved to be a tight and uncomfortable fit for smaller ear canals, causing physical aching over extended listening periods. Furthermore, the open-back architecture limits where they can be used; because they let the outside world bleed into your audio space, they require near silence to actually retrieve the subtle nuances of...

The Audeze iSINE20 is a revolutionary pair of open-backed, planar magnetic in-ear headphones that delivers an incredibly large, enveloping soundstage reminiscent of full-sized over-ear headphones like the LCD-2 or Sennheiser HD650. Priced at $599 US, they offer exceptional value by rivaling the performance of premium monitors that cost upwards of $2,000. Weighing just 20 grams, they feature a lightweight design, a flat frequency response from 20Hz to 1kHz, and ultra-low distortion (under 0.1% THD) thanks to proprietary Fluxor magnetic arrays and Uniforce diaphragms. Reviewer Peter Pialis highlights several distinct pros, including a rich, natural mid-section, robust bass extension, and a non-fatiguing treble that eliminates harsh spikes. Furthermore, using the optional $50 Cipher Lightning cable—which features a built-in DAC, amp, and DSP—significantly enhances transparency, spatial cues, and overall sonic refinement for Apple users. Despite their stellar sonic achievement, the headphones have noticeable cons regarding isolation and physical design. Because of their semi-open-backed design, they offer virtually no noise isolation, making them ideal for situational awareness during outdoor walks but highly impractical for noisy environments like office spaces or airplane cabins. They...

The Audeze iSine 20 is a unique pair of open-back planar magnetic In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) that delivers a highly natural, open, and fatigue-free listening experience. To achieve its peak sound quality, the reviewer strongly notes that using the Apple-compatible DSP-embedded Cipher cable is mandatory. When paired with this cable, the iSine 20 offers a remarkably wide soundstage, excellent instrument separation, and a smooth, liquid bass that mimics high-end subwoofers without bleeding into the midrange. The midrange is warm and musical, creating a laid-back presentation that is ideal for genres like Jazz, classical, and acoustic music. Additional pros include robust metal and plastic build quality, a premium accessory package, and the excellent overall financial value of the $600 price tag since it effectively includes a built-in DAC/AMP setup through the Cipher cable.

The Audeze iSINE20 is a groundbreaking, semi-open-back planar magnetic universal-fit earphone that redefines portable audio expectations by delivering the expansive, airy soundstage typically reserved for full-sized, open-back headphones. Priced at £549 / $549, it stands out with a distinctive visual design reminiscent of a miniature Star Wars TIE fighter and features innovative 30mm planar drivers utilizing Audeze's proprietary Fluxor magnets, Uniforce voice-coils, and Fazor waveform control elements. The review highly emphasizes using the earphone with the optional CIPHER Lightning cable (£50 upcharge when bundled). This specialized cable contains a built-in 24-bit/48kHz DAC, amplifier, and DSP engine that applies specific voicing corrections to smooth out the earphone's response and pairs with a free iOS app featuring a 10-band graphic equalizer. The primary pros highlighted in the review include its exceptional clarity, lightning-fast transient speeds, and a wide-open, transparent presentation that rivals Audeze's high-end LCD-3 headphones at a fraction of the size and cost. It handles complex, multi-layered tracks beautifully, capturing pristine vocal intimacy and sharp percussion transitions. However, the product has notable cons, particularly regarding its dependency on the CIPHER cable....

The Audeze iSine 20 in-ear monitors feature an innovative open-backed planar magnetic driver design that scales down advanced transducer technology into a portable form factor. Sonically, they offer an impressively clean, non-fatiguing, and largely neutral sound, with a frequency response extending from 10Hz to 50kHz. They deliver a crisp and lively top-end, a smoother mid-range, and a deep, trustworthy low-end response that makes them a viable alternative to traditional open-backed studio headphones for mixing purposes. Additionally, they have a nominal impedance of 24Ω, making them highly sensitive and exceptionally easy to drive from any standard audio source.

The Headfonia review characterizes the Audeze iSine10 and iSine20 as groundbreaking planar magnetic IEMs, highlighting their lightweight 11-gram design, robust build, and expansive, low-distortion soundstage. While both models perform well, the iSine20 is lauded for superior extension, timbre, and detail, earning a spot on the reviewer's recommended list. Key drawbacks include an open-back design that lacks noise isolation, fragile plastic ear hooks prone to breaking, and a high cost for the superior iSine20 model. The iSine20 also requires high-quality amplification or the Apple Cipher cable to reach its full sonic potential. YouTube ·

The Stereophile review praises the Audeze iSine 20 as an innovative, open-back planar magnetic earphone delivering an exceptionally wide soundstage and low distortion, with performance greatly enhanced by the Cipher Lightning cable's DSP. While comfortable for long sessions, the design offers minimal isolation, and the passive analog sound is described as distant and lacking in bass, sometimes requiring EQ to fix an aggressive 3kHz peak.

The WIRED 2017 review (7/10) praises the Audeze iSine 20 for delivering "miraculous" audio quality, featuring commanding bass, punchy treble, and a spacious soundstage through its planar magnetic technology. A key highlight is the included Cipher Lightning cable, which provides superior, high-resolution audio processing for iPhone users. The earphones, which boast a unique retro-future design, offer a high-end listening experience in a portable form. However, the review cites significant drawbacks, including a heavy, odd-shaped design that causes discomfort and flimsy plastic ear clips that hinder the fit. The $600 price point is high, and the fully open-back,, non-isolating design results in heavy sound leakage, making them impractical for public use.

In this review, John Darko evaluates the Audeze iSine 20, a unique pair of in-ear monitors (IEMs) retailing at US$549 that ditch traditional dynamic drivers for a massive 3cm planar magnetic driver membrane and a Fluxor magnet system. A major pro highlighted in the review is its phenomenal, class-leading sound quality; Darko explicitly notes that on headstage depth, dynamic immediacy, inner spaciousness, detail retrieval, and low-bass plunge, the iSine 20 outperforms more expensive rivals like the Campfire Audio Lyra, Fitear Air, and JH Audio Rosie. Furthermore, using the optional US$50 'Cipher' Lightning cable provides integrated DSP, D/A conversion, and amplification, which elevates the sound to be significantly more intense, punchy, and clear than when driven by standard smartphone outputs or even high-end portable players. However, the review details several prominent cons stemming from the earphone's unorthodox design. Weighing 20g per earpiece and featuring an open-backed, "Tie fighter" aesthetic, the iSine 20 requires a looser fit with over-ear hooks, making them quirky to fit and unsuitable for workouts. A critical drawback is their complete lack of isolation: the open-back design allows...

Audeze iSine20 Review Summary The Audeze iSine20 earphones offer exceptional, well-balanced audio performance powered by advanced planar magnetic drivers, though they come with distinct design and price challenges. On the positive side, these earphones deliver a remarkably vibrant sound signature characterized by deep, rich sub-bass, natural mid-ranges, and crisp, un-sculpted highs across various musical genres. They also provide great functional versatility by including two flat, detachable cables—one featuring a three-button inline remote for playback control—and terminating in a Lightning connector optimized for iOS devices. Furthermore, the product is packaged with a generous selection of accessories, including multiple pairs of eartips, earhooks, earlocks, a cleaning tool, and a premium carrying pouch. Conversely, the iSine20 suffers from notable drawbacks regarding its ergonomics, aesthetics, and high cost. Reviewers note that the original $599 retail price tag is very expensive, putting them in direct competition with custom-molded in-ear monitors. The physical design is also highly polarizing, featuring large, hexagonal, and flat earpieces that resemble sci-fi props and cover a massive portion of the ear. While the earpieces are surprisingly lightweight, they require the use...

The Audeze iSine 20, reviewed by The Verge, are described as $599 open-back, planar magnetic in-ear monitors that deliver an unmatched, expansive soundstage and pristine, low-distortion audio quality akin to full-sized, high-fidelity headphones. A key advantage is the included Cipher Lightning cable, which utilizes a built-in DAC and DSP to optimize sound specifically for iOS users. However, the headphones are characterized by a polarizing, unwieldy, and large design that relies on flimsy plastic hooks for stability. Furthermore, the completely open-back construction offers zero passive noise isolation, leading to significant sound leakage.