Closer Examination

Based on the marking on the product box, there may be an optional version of the XENNS UP that ships with an MMCX cable. What I have here, and what appears to be the only option with most retailers, is the one that ends in two 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors, which I would rather take over the average MMCX connection anyway. The issue I have is that the housing on this end extends slightly further, which makes more sense with recessed 2-pin connections on the IEM, so it is on a flush fitting set for no reason. On the other end comes a balanced 2.5 mm TRRS connector, and I would have rather seen a 4.4 mm option out of the box for going balanced if need be. The 2.5 mm connector is quickly becoming unpopular because of its increased fragility over the others, which is why we have the other adapters in the box. So keep in mind that going to a 1/4" source will take two different adapters, which looks absolutely ridiculous in use.

These issues aside, the cable is quite good in both function and form. The connector housings are all aluminium in a matching silver finish as with the rest of the cable, although the adapters not matching in color did irk me somewhat. XENNS is using a four-core cable with 6N (99.9999% pure) ohno continuous cast copper that is silver-plated. The cable behaves very well with minimal memory retention or kinking, and there were no perceived microphonics in use. Past the splitter and cable cinch, two strands each head to the two channels, and closer to the other end, we see the expected plastic sheathing to aid in the formation of ear hooks. The housings for the 2-pin connectors come marked "L" or "R" for the left and right channels, making it easy to identify which goes where in the absence of any other markings.


Remember when I said I had two sets of the XENNS UP? Well, you can see both sets together above. I wanted to take a group photo because these show the hand-painted nature of the XENNS UP face plate very well. This results in no two face plates being exactly alike, so I have four different face plates on the four IEMs above. The general pattern is similar, of course, with the same colors akin to paints mixing in a liquid stream. Some sparkle has also been added to the colors, but subtly rather than in your face.


The colors seem to flow slightly over the edge too, making for a curved face plate similar to some modern smartphone screens before the plainer resin shells take over. "XENNS" has been put on the face plate in cursive font, and a closer look shows its applique is the only consistent aspect on the XENNS UP face plates. These are large IEMs no matter how you look at it, taking up about as much room as the ThieAudio Monarch in length and breadth while just under in width. The shells are contoured similarly too, with an inset hook for grasping into the antihelix of the outer ear, and a look from the side reveals a filtered vent with a blue or red ring indicating the left/right channels. Of course, this is more obvious with the writing on the inner surface, where XENNS leaves nothing to chance. The 2-pin connectors are flush with the shell surface, and coming off the bottom is a steel nozzle. The nozzle is thick and long, again making it contentious for fit issues, with the stem ~4.8 mm thick and the lip closer to 5.5 mm. The lip on the end helps keep the ear tip in place, and we see a metal mesh filter on the end to prevent contamination of the acoustic chamber.


Seen above are the four different types of ear tips included across both XENNS UP samples. If purchasing the XENNS UP after this review goes live, or within the last few weeks before it was published, you likely will have the last three sets of tips. But the images above better show the differences in fit between these four types, all in size M, as well as how the ear tip bore has to be stretched over the lip on the nozzle. The memory foam tips are easily the hardest to install, and I nearly gave up after 5 minutes of futility before just brute forcing it from a steep angle and then pushing in from the other side.


The next step is to connect the cable by carefully pushing the 2-pin connectors in place. Be sure to match the channels correctly before connecting the connector of your choice to the source. I know many prefer using IEMs throughout, but I like to use over-ear headphones when sitting down and IEMs/TWS earbuds on the go. I've paired the XENNS UP with all the tested portable DAC/amps thus and personally liked the cleaner profile and handy EQ options of the Qudelix-5K as the source, paired to my phone or laptop.