Introduction

7Hz—no, it is not 7 Hz even if "Seven Hertz" is occasionally used too, but, rather, a relatively unknown brand out of Asia that has put out a few other in-ear monitors (IEMs) in years past. I would not begrudge you for not being aware of, say, the 7Hz i88 or i99 that sound more like an interstate highway in the US than earphones. The brand was putting out a mixture of different single dynamic driver IEMs, as well as a set of earbuds, and was seemingly content riding the mediocrity train until something happened. A new product from 7Hz came out this year and slowly started making its way around through word of mouth, and for once, I happened to be there to see a hype train kick off from day one. This train is the 7Hz Timeless, and thanks to Linsoul for providing TechPowerUp a review sample!


7Hz barely has a first-party e-commerce presence, let alone a website. I even had to make the logo above myself, that's how little we really know about the who, what, and where of the company. But I feel everyone in the consumer HiFi world today has heard of 7Hz by now solely because of the new single planar IEMs that are the Timeless. Word of mouth led to a few reviewers talking about it, but it was not until a certain Crinacle's live impressions video and subsequent review that these went from in stock to a pre-order item; such was the demand for these soon thereafter. Indeed, as I am writing this review, Linsoul is warning customers that it takes 7–15 working days to get the order fulfilled and shipped. What is it about these that is making them so popular, and is it justified? Let's find out more in this review which begins with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

The product box for the 7Hz timeless is relatively small and dense, with a plastic seal all over. The box itself uses a predominantly black color scheme, which helped me lift the logo image for the front page after some editing. The company is clearly Chinese, but without much of an international presence, and bilingual with the product name and most details inside and out. A render of the 7Hz Timeless completes the front, with a tear-down illustration of the components on the back. Fear not, I have an English version of the same coming up in due time. Product specifications and contact information are seen at the bottom, where we also find the real name of the company using 7Hz to appeal to customers. As it turns out, all of this is on an external sleeve, which can be slid off the inner box.


The inner box is textured and white, and again with a two-piece packaging. There is a lid with the 7Hz logo embossed, which lifts off to reveal the contents inside. See that blue ribbon? Don't do what I did and pull it out from either side; rather, pull from both sides so the entire contents lift out of the white box they are very tightly packed in. I do wish the box was slightly larger since it is hard with that random plastic cover on top. The contents themselves are placed in two groups, with a case at the top and a cardboard box below.


The cardboard box has another box inside, which is missing out on some English I'd like to see adopted in future production batches. It's otherwise a quick-start guide on how to use these IEMs and a warranty card with accompanying warranty instructions that will promptly go ignored since customers will just contact the retailer. Two sets of plastic cases have the ear tips themselves, and a plastic ziplock bag contains a set of two replacement filters for when the default ones get too dirty or clog up.


7Hz provides a confusing assortment of silicone-only ear tips with the Timeless, which are in different combinations of color, bore diameter and length, and flange softness. These are supposedly a mix of bass, vocals, and balanced ear tips in different sizes, but there is no way to really say which is which without doing some very careful testing and not falling prey to psychoacoustics. Good luck with that, I am not going to bother going through all this to identify them if 7Hz won't!


The case is what makes the product box so dense for its size, with this being a heavy-duty steel case with a brushed silver finish all around. The indented top corner also adds some pizzazz and provides room for the 7Hz logo to be placed over a bead-blasted background. On the back, we see a solid hinge inset with the plane of the box, and it is a box that won't be easy to place in your jeans pocket, either. A magnet helps hold the lid closed, and we finally see a case that proves it can accommodate the IEMs completely as the 7Hz Timeless inside comes with a set of ear tips and the cable pre-installed. Soft velvet lining on the insides prevents any scratches to the IEMs while adding further protection for a case with a good combination of function and form.


Given these IEMs come with the cable pre-installed, I had to separate them to better examine the parts individually. 7Hz is using MMCX connectors on the Timeless, which may annoy those who have had poor experiences with the connector; make sure to carefully grasp a shell in one hand and the cable connector housing in the other. Ensure they are level and pull away on the connector without wiggling things too much. Repeat the process with the other side and we are now set to proceed.