The Thieaudio Hype 4 is a premium in-ear monitor (IEM) priced at 399 USD. The Hype 4 is positioned in the middle of Thieaudio’s Hype series. It is a hybrid (or rather a tribrid), and uses dual 10mm dynamic drivers for the bass, two balanced armature drivers for the mids, and two balanced armature drivers for the highs.
The Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch is also a tribrid IEM with five drivers total, priced at 449 USD. There’s one dynamic driver for the base, two balanced armatures for the midrange and two electrostatic drivers for the treble.
THIEAUDIO HYPE 4 SPECIFICATIONS
- Drivers: 10mm dual diaphragm dynamic driver + 2 x Sonion 26A and 2 x Sonion E50 balanced armature drivers
- Impedance: 17 Ohm
- Sensitivity: 105 dB (±1dB) @1kHz
- Frequency Response Range: 10Hz-22kHz
- Nozzle Diameter: 6.2mm
- Inner Nozzle Diameter: 5.0mm
- Earphone connectors: 0.78mm dual-pin
- Cable termination: 3.5mm jack
- Cable length: 1.2 m
Current price and availability:
KIWI EARS x HBB Punch SPECIFICATIONS
- Drivers: 1 x 10mm Dynamic Driver, 2 x Knowles 32257 BA, 2 x Sonion EST
- Impedance: 12 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 98 dB (±1 dB) @ 1 kHz
- Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 44 kHz
- Configuration: 3-way crossover with 3 sound tubes
- Cable: 1.2 m single crystal copper AWG 20 wire, braided, PVC coating
- Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin
- Cable termination: 3.5mm or 4.4mm fixed
Current price and availability:
- Linsoul: Kiwi Ears xHBB Punch
- AliExpress: Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch
BUILD AND COMFORT
Both IEMs have resin shells with metal nozzles. The Hype 4 is the smaller of the two, while the Punch is slightly larger than average and protrudes more from the ear. Both are comfortable, and even though they stick out a bit, they are not too large inside the ear cavity.
COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
- SpinFit CP145 tips on the Hype 4, AZLA SednaEarFit Xelastec tips on the Punch
Rambling Man by Laura Marling
The Hype 4 is warm and natural sounding, with great imaging and layering. The Punch is not too different and is also very enjoyable. In busy passages, I find the Hype 4 offers better separation and is more articulate. The Punch is not necessarily less capable, just smoother and thicker in its presentation here.
Sunrise by Norah Jones
Again, the Hype 4 is nicely balanced, slightly warm, and natural. The Punch is quite similar, but with a slightly fuller-sounding bass.
In The Mountains by Espen Eriksen Trio
This track can often have quite a powerful bass with many earphones, but the Punch stays quite reasonable. Otherwise it is warm and organic sounding, smooth, and slightly thick in a pleasant way.
The Hype 4 is very similar and has comparable bass presence, maybe even a bit more. The bass actually sounds slightly thicker than with the Punch.
Angel by Massive Attack
Here too, the Hype 4 has a slightly thicker and fuller bass than the Punch. Otherwise they are very similar: warm and organic, not too crisp, with a smooth high end.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake
The Punch has a powerful and quite physical bass. Although the Hype 4 also has strong bass, it is not as physical, probably because it does not have the same sub-bass boost. It is close, though. Vocals are nice on both.
Bullet in the Head by Rage Against the Machine
The Hype 4 is thick, warm, and generally rich sounding while still delivering great detail. The Punch is similar, but here it seems to have better articulation in the mids, whereas the Hype 4 is thicker.
The Tunnel by Tord Gustavsen Trio
Both are warm and rich sounding with good but not overwhelming bass presence. They are very similar in both tonality and technicalities.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
Very similar. The Hype 4 is a bit crisper – the Punch a bit warmer.
Maple Noise by Greene Serene
Both are great and very similar, warm and dynamic with solid, rich bass.
Mahler’s Symphony No 2 III by Paavo Järvi
Here too, they are very similar. The Punch does dig out the deepest frequencies of the kick drums more than the Hype 4, but overall, both have powerful bass, and are warm, with smooth timbre and great detail.
Aquela Mulher by Vincius Cantuaria
Both have powerful bass, with the Punch offering warmer, smoother mids. Overall, they are still quite similar.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
Both the Thieaudio Hype 4 and Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch are bass-heavy IEMs with a warm sound signature. They do not follow the typical V-shaped or U-shaped frequency curve, as only the bass is elevated, not the highs. In other words, they offer powerful bass, present mids, and non-offensive highs.
Treble
The treble is very similar on both IEMs. It is detailed yet pleasant and non-offensive. If you are a treble head, you might be disappointed, but I personally really appreciate this kind of tuning.
Midrange
The midrange is also very similar between them. They are not identical, so which one sounds e.g. more upfront can vary from track to track, but overall there is not much difference. Both are warm and organic sounding with good detail.
Bass
Even though both have powerful bass, the way it is boosted differs. The Punch has an unusually progressive boost, increasing the lower you go, while the Hype 4 has a more conventional boost. Because they respond differently and frequencies vary from track to track, which one feels bassier depends on the track. For the most part, both offer a satisfying boost without an over-the-top “bass-head” tuning. The bass quality is good on both, though I often find the Hype 4 sounds slightly thicker.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage size and imaging capabilities are very similar.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The overall detail level is very similar between the two. Sometimes, though, I find the bass more detailed on the Punch. Dynamics are also comparable, with which one feels more dynamic depending on the track, but in general it is hard to prefer one over the other.
When it comes to general instrument timbre, it is hard to generalize. The Punch might have slightly smoother and more relaxed mids than the Hype 4, but the difference is small and can sometimes be the other way around. The bass is often tighter on the Punch, while the treble is mostly very similar between them—pleasant and slightly relaxed.
CONCLUSION
Overall, these are two very similar sounding IEMs. Their general character and technical performance are much alike. I found that the Hype 4 generally has a slightly thicker bass, while the Punch emphasizes the deepest sub-bass a bit more. Both are warm and lush, bass-heavy IEMs. Sometimes one sounds better than the other, but on the next track, the roles can reverse. The Punch often feels a bit more laid-back and lush, but this can vary. They are essentially too similar to make strong generalizations about their differences.
Both are great, and if you are looking for a technically strong IEM with a warm, lush tuning and a bass lift, they are strong contenders.
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- Linsoul: Kiwi Ears xHBB Punch
- AliExpress: Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch
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