Review: THIEAUDIO’s Hype 4 MKII Are the Wired Earbuds to Buy

Most of the time, whether I’m walking around listening to podcasts or music, or working at my desk, I’m using Bluetooth headphones. They have become the norm of everyday life, and the promise that Apple made when unveiling the original AirPods — that they would replace wired earbuds — has come true. And over time, they have gone from just replacing the default earbuds to boasting excellent sound quality.The best from Bose and Sony, in particular, sound astonishingly good for earbuds that also contain noise canceling and batteries, and so forth. And it’s only when you listen to them back-to-back with a great pair of wired earbuds at a similar price that you realize what you were missing — and that wireless audio is nowhere near the best from a cable.This was on my mind recently as a new pair of in-ear monitors — IEMs — arrived at my desk from THIEAUDIO: the $399 Hype 4 Mark II. And put simply, they sound astonishing. They have the kind of audio quality that spoils other earbuds and reveals details in your favorite songs you’ve never heard before.Inside each earpiece are six drivers: two dynamic drivers work together in a dedicated subwoofer system, and four balanced-armature drivers made by Knowles — a leading American audio-component maker — cover the mids and treble. It’s a hybrid design that lets each driver focus on the frequencies it excels at, rather than asking one to do everything, and it makes for an extremely rounded, easy-to-listen-to sound. Speaking of ease: the thick cable can be removed from both ends, allowing full replacement or a switch between a standard 3.5mm plug and a balanced 4.4mm plug. They also have an impedance of just 18 ohms ±1 ohm, meaning they can run off a dongle attached to a phone. They also come with a chic gold-zippered carrying case and a range of silicone and memory-foam ear tips for a comfortable fit.What matters beyond the specs, though, is how they sound. Thankfully, the Hype 4 Mark II sounds fantastic. Whether hooked up to a DAC, driving a vinyl record, or connected to a dongle on a phone, I have yet to hear a pair of wired earbuds I like more. The low end is punchy and controlled, fun without being boomy and fuzzy; the midrange is warm enough to make vocals feel present and intimate; and the treble is clear and airy, pulling small details from even muddy, dense mixes without ever being piercing or fatiguing. I have a mechanical EQ as part of my hi-fi system, but I listen to the Hype in bypass mode.For anyone just getting into IEMs, there are cheaper, bang-for-your-buck options — in the budget “Chi-Fi” space, the 7Hz Salnotes Zero 2 are a steal at just $25 — and I don’t love the flashy, reflective print on the side of the Hype 4 Mark II. But who cares? You buy them for the sound, not the look, and I am addicted to relistening to my favorite songs on these. And that says it all.

Review: THIEAUDIO’s Hype 4 MKII Are the Wired Earbuds to Buy

More from the New York Sun

‘Wht Happened Was…’ Supplies a Witty and Mysterious Mediation on Life and Love

Democrats Join Spanish Prime Minister, Progressives at Barcelona for Takedown of Trump

Republicans Set To Kick Off Fraught Budget Process for ICE, Border Patrol

More from the New York Sun

‘Wht Happened Was…’ Supplies a Witty and Mysterious Mediation on Life and Love

Democrats Join Spanish Prime Minister, Progressives at Barcelona for Takedown of Trump

Republicans Set To Kick Off Fraught Budget Process for ICE, Border Patrol

Embattled Starmer, With Ship Attacked in Hormuz Strait, Pretends That Britain Yet Rules the Waves

Hostility to Trump Bars Global Recognition of Israeli-American Military Defeat of Iran

Trump Says ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’ if Iran Doesn’t Accept a Deal To End Conflict

White House Vows Answers After 11 Deaths and Disappearances Linked to Space and Nuclear Research

How the Phenomenal Success of ‘Project Hail Mary’ Can Inspire a Cinematic Revival