Today we will take a look at the brand new THIEAUDIO Hype 4 in-ear monitors. The sample for today’s review was provided by Linsoul. Much appreciated! No one paid me to make this review and all thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
Hype 4 is a hybrid IEM with 6 drivers per side (two 10mm dynamic and four balanced armature drivers). The Hype2 that I previously reviewed on my channel has the same configuration of dynamic drivers, but Hype 4 has twice the BA drivers – 4 vs 2. The IEMs also have beautiful 3D-printed resin shells, good quality de-attachable cable, and a fantastic sound signature. But as usual, we will start with the unboxing.
Unboxing
Hype 4 arrived in a large beautiful carton box with a sleeve.
IN THE BOX WE HAVE
- ThieAudio Hype 4 IEMs
- Detachable 0.78mm 2-pin cable
- Large carrying case
- 3 pairs of silicone ear tips
- 3 pairs of foam ear tips
- cleaning cloth
- and a warranty card
The impedance of Hype 4 is 17 Ohms and the sensitivity is 105 dB.
🛒THIEAUDIO HYPE 4 on Amazon
Design & build
ThieAudio Hype 4 is available in three different color schemes – white, blue, and black. Besides excellent tuning, the ThieAudio IEMs are famous for visual aesthetics, and it’s good to see that Hype 4 follows this path as well.
The shells are made out of medical-grade resin and the color pattern on the faceplate looks gorgeous. The shells are glossy, but surprisingly they don’t catch the fingerprints easily. Each faceplate is individually decorated and coated. Both faceplates say ThieAudio and there are channel indication marks on the inside part of the shell, along with a model name.
The shells have one vent hole located on the edge of the shell and it’s covered with a mesh.
Inside the shell, we have a carefully selected driver configuration – the 2 dynamic drivers working in IMPACT2 isobaric configuration, and 4 Balanced armatures from Sonion. Dual Sonion 26A drivers are responsible for midrange reproduction and dual Sonion E50 Hummingbird drivers are responsible for the treble.
The Hype 2 that I previously reviewed on my channel uses the same dynamic driver configuration (and most probably the same dynamic drivers), but the BA driver models are different.
The nozzles on Hype 4 are made from metal. The nozzle diameter is 5.4mm and the nozzles are short. There is a metal mesh at the end of the nozzle, and a lip that helps to retain the ear tip. Overall, I like the THIEAUDIO Hype 4’s design and build and it’s very pleasing aesthetically.
Cable
The cable that comes with this IEM is 1.2 meters long. It has a straight 3.5 mm connector on one end, and two 0.78mm 2-pin connectors on the other end.
If I’m not mistaken, this is the same EST 5N OCC Silver Plated cable that is shipped with Hype2, just in a different color.
The cable connectors have no usual letter channel indication, however the base on the right connector is red, so this helps with the channel navigation a bit. The cable has a metal splitter that works well too, soft pre-molded ear hooks, and a beautiful metal chin slider.
Overall, I think this cable is pretty good. It’s soft and is low in microphonics, The pre-molded ear hooks are soft too, and it helps to achieve a relaxed fit with this IEM.
Fit & comfort
The shells are large but have a very natural and ergonomic shape so they feel like a semi-custom IEM. The shells are well-polished and there are no sharp edges here. In my case the fit was excellent, but if you have small ears, you may struggle with a fit due to the shell size.
I also had no issues with the stock ear tips, and I was able to reach a good fit & seal instantly which is a huge plus for me. Switching ear tips to Spinfit CP145 has made it even more comfortable.
I’ve been using THIEAUDIO Hype 4 for extended periods and as the fit was fantastic in my case, I never experienced any discomfort. In terms of passive noise isolation, the Hype 4 also performs well. It effectively blocks out most outside noise, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your music without turning the volume too high.
🛒THIEAUDIO HYPE 4 on Amazon
ThieAudio Hype4 sound overview
Please note that all sound impressions that I am sharing on my channel are completely subjective so please take them with a grain of salt.
I also think I need to mention that my musical tastes are very diverse and I’m listening to a lot of genres of music starting from classical and jazz and ending with EDM and death metal.
At 17 Ohms of impedance and 105 dB of sensitivity Hype 4 is easy to drive, and I had no issues driving it from my Samsung Galaxy S10. While this IEM won’t benefit much from a more powerful source, I suggest using it with a quality source that can provide at least 50mW of power at 32 Ohms. This will have a positive impact on the sound and the synergy.
The sound of Hype 2 which I previously reviewed on my channel is nothing short of captivating. The Hype 4 refines it and takes it even further.
The overall tuning is very engaging, with a boosted sub-bass that doesn’t bleed into mids. The midrange is quite flat and the treble, while tamed a bit, has a good extension, and this is where the major difference between Hype 2 and Hype 4 lies.
Bass
Just like Hype2, there are two 10mm dynamic drivers in Hype4. The addition of a second 10 mm dynamic driver in isobaric configuration significantly enhances the bass response. texture and definition. The bass here doesn’t disappoint, it is rich, heavy, and punchy.
Both sub-bass and mid-bass extensions are excellent without bleeding into the midrange. The sub-bass has a lot of authority and rumble, and EDM tracks in particular sound wonderful. The mid-bass impact is great too, it has a solid body and good texture. The details of the bass are good, it’s also fast and well-controlled. Just like Hype2, the bass will please both bass-heads and those who prefer some additional punch in the low-end register that you can both feel & hear.
Midrange
The midrange on Hype 4 is quite flat, just like Hype and it can sound a bit sterile and dry on occasion which I like a lot. Vocals and instruments, while not being too upfront, have a good note definition and a good body. The midrange sounds full and engaging. Lower mids don’t sound thin which is good, while the upper mids are detailed and textured.
The upper midrange on Hype 4 is a pinch more energetic compared to Hype 2 and I also like such tuning more. Overall the midrange sounds clear and detailed and Hype 4 shines on vocals, both male and female. Despite not being too upfront, on many tracks I had a feeling that the artist was right in front of me and this was quite an emotional experience.
Treble
The treble extension of THIEAUDIO Hype 4 is great and very coherent. Hype 4 also has more air in the treble, the thing that I missed with Hype 2. The treble here is more detailed and it has a good amount of energy and texture. And it was never harsh, grainy, or intrusive, no matter what music I was throwing at this IEM.
The details and micro details are much better on Hype 4 and this is a major improvement over Hype 2 and the IEM provides a lot of sonic information. The treble on Hype 4 was particularly enjoyable when listening to genres like rock, and metal that have a lot of distortion going on, as well as heavy and busy drum passages shine with life on Hype 4.
Soundstage & imaging
Coming from Hype2, at first, I didn’t notice a lot of the difference in the soundstage department. The sound stage is average in width, and is quite tall, just like Hype2. But after some careful listening, Hype4 comes as a winner in soundstage depth, layering, sonic realism, and imaging. All of which are phenomenal.
The THIEAUDIO Hype 4 has an open and spacious presentation with a fantastic three-dimensional sonic landscape. It has a great resolution, a lot of details, and great instrument separation.
I enjoyed Hype4 both listening to my music and playing games, and I must admit it rendered a gaming sound landscape with a lot of precision and an excellent sense of distance and direction.
ThieAudio Hype4 vs Hype2
I already mentioned Hype2 a few times, so let’s talk about the differences between the models. Hype 4 and Hype 2 use different driver configurations and driver models and as a result, the IEMS are tuned slightly differently.
Hype 4 has twice the BA drivers (4 vs 2 in Hype 2) which results in better tuning, but this also increased the price of the IEM. Also, the BA drivers used in both models are different. Hype4 is using dual Sonion 26A drivers for midrange and dual Sonion E50 Hummingbird for treble. Hype2 is using a single Sonion P2356HF/4 for the midrange and E25ST001/D for the treble.
Comfort-wise both pairs are on par and come with the same amount of accessories, though I like the cable on Hype4 a little bit more.
The differences in sound might be minor to some, but in my case, the difference was quite audible. Hype4 to me is a more refined version of Hype2 with a better midrange reproduction and better treble. The sound stage of Hype 4 is also deeper, and the layering and imaging are better. So for me, the price difference is fully justified, but your mileage may vary.
If you already own Hype2 and are seeking an upgrade I would hold the horses, save money, and upgrade to Monarch MKIII.
If you don’t own Hype2, but the price for Monarch is too steep, I highly recommend checking out the Hype4. It has a more mature tuning than Hype2 and sounds much closer to the Monarch.
Conclusions
The Hype 4, just like its younger brother, the Hype 2, fully lives up to its name. I have put more than 100 hours into listening with Hype 4 and all I can say is wow. To me, the Hype4 is one of the best IEMs under $500 I have experienced so far.
I also didn’t expect it to be a major upgrade over Hype2, so I didn’t set my hopes too high. But from the moment I unboxed it and did my initial tests, I understood that Hype 4 fixed all the tiny shortcomings of Hype 2 that I wasn’t happy with.
Pros:
- Excellent design and solid build
- Excellent 6-driver configuration
- Great sound coherency
- Amazing bass response with good control
- Flat, yet full and detailed midrange
- Rounded but well-extended and airy treble
- Excellent technical abilities
- Excellent stock cable
- And a large storage case
Cons:
I don’t think this IEM has any real cons, the same as Hype2. In my Hype2 review, I said that I wished that the Hype 2 treble extension could benefit from some additional energy and texture. So this was fixed with the Hype 4. Well done ThieAudio!
THIEAUDIO Hype 4 is a stellar addition to the world of IEMs in this price bracket and another fantastic release from the company. It’s a combination of fantastic fit, excellent design, and outstanding tuning that can easily rival a lot of the competition.
Yes, It’s not cheap, but if you can afford it – get it. It’s a standout product in the sub-500-dollar price bracket and I can easily recommend it to anyone looking for a solid pair of hybrid IEMs that work well with many genres of music.
And that concludes my review for today. If you’d like to see more content like this, consider subscribing to my YouTube channel for future updates. Thank you for joining me, and until next time, goodbye!
🛒THIEAUDIO HYPE 4 on Amazon
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