Possessing timeless sound quality and being considered one of the best planar magnetic headphones today, Timeless still has one point that many users are not very interested in: the MMCX connector. Understanding this problem, 7Hz Audio decided to launch 7Hz Timeless AE.
Possesses the same design language as the Timeless version, but now, the MMCX connector has been replaced by a 2-pin connector. Not stopping there, 7Hz also refines the sound quality of Timeless AE so that it is more attractive than before and more worthy of the price users have spent.
Table of Contents
Packaging and accessories
7Hz Timeless AE has packaging designed in a completely new style and looks much better than the Timeless version. The entire front of the cardboard box is a depiction of galaxies, planets and space beyond Earth. The content of the painting is very consistent with the meaning of the name Timeless. Adding to the picture are the 7Hz brand logo, the Angel Eas logo and the product name TIMELESS AE. On the back, in addition to the technical specifications table, there will be an image detailing the internal structure of the headset.
HiFiGo 7HZ Timeless AE 14.2mm Planar in-Ear Monitors IEMs, Upgraded for Bass, Treble and Cable (Timeless AE): Buy it now
The series of accessories that come with 7Hz Timeless AE will include:
- 1 cable
- 3 jack modules 2.5mm/3.5mm/4.4mm
- 5 pairs of semi-transparent silicone eartips (1 pair pre-installed)
- 3 pairs of wide tube silicone eartips in white color
- 3 pairs of narrow blue silicone eartips
- 2 eartips boxes
- 2 mesh filters
- 1 faux leather carrying case
- Instructions for use
- Insurance card
Compared to the Timeless version, the 7Hz Timeless AE has a slightly more diverse set of accessories. Replacing the metal case with a faux leather case is also a huge plus for Timeless AE.
Design and wearing experience
The appearance of 7Hz Timeless AE has not changed much compared to Timeless. The housing continues to be made of monolithic aluminum with extremely good anti-interference, impact resistance and scratch resistance. Each line on the housing is machined by 5-axis CNC technology and then undergoes anodization to increase durability.
On the faceplate of Timeless AE, many concentric circles converge when reflecting light, which will look very beautiful. Prominent on the faceplate is the white text 7Hertz Timeless AE. The inside of the headset is arranged with up to 4 air vents and L/R symbols to help users easily distinguish the left and right ears. Placed in the sound duct there will be a metal filter screen.
Although using the same design language, 7Hz Timeless AE still has three differences compared to the Timeless version. First is about the paint. Covering the housing of the Timeless AE is blue paint that looks much more beautiful and sophisticated than the black paint on the Timeless.
The second difference is that the connector has been changed from MMCX to 2-pin 0.78mm. Compared to MMCX, the 2-pin connector is more user-friendly and provides a stronger, more durable connection.
The final difference lies in the cable. Instead of having to choose a jack, now with the modular cable design, users can flexibly change the jack from Single-Ended to Balanced and vice versa. Timeless AE’s cable is nicknamed Thunderbird. The cable has all 4 cores made of conductors made of silver-plated copper. Covering the outside of the wire cores is a soft, transparent PVC layer. The connector on the cable is also clearly marked L/R.
Driver configuration and sound quality
There is only one planar magnetic driver integrated inside the 7Hz Timeless AE. This driver has a diameter of 14.2mm, uses a speaker membrane with an ultra-thin thickness of only 2μm and is equipped with an N52 magnet system to produce a large amount of magnetic flux. In terms of parameters, Timeless AE operates at an impedance of 14.8 Ohm, has a sensitivity of 104dB and a frequency response range of 5Hz – 40kHz.
Using the same 14.2mm planar magnetic driver, the 7Hz Timeless AE and Timeless have slightly different sound quality. The main difference comes from the Timeless AE’s bass range being enhanced by 3dB. Although it only adds a little intensity in the bass range, the timbre on Timeless AE becomes smoother. The low notes have a bit more body and the overall sound is fuller.
The bass range performed by 7Hz Timeless AE has fast response speed, good texture and more internal power. Although it only adds 3dB in the bass range, that alone helps Timeless AE more clearly describe the sounds of the kick drum, snare drum and bass guitar.
The mid range is slightly forward but not too much so the vocals don’t press too close to the listener’s ears. The male voice has a good texture, is not thin and sounds very pleasant. Female voices like Teresa Teng sound sweet and catchy, and the slightly enhanced upper mid helps add a bit of brightness to the female voice. There is no phenomenon of the bass range overwhelming the low mid, the transition from low mid to upper mid is smooth and does not cause any buzzing.
Timeless AE has treble that sounds detailed, airy and smooth. Although the amount of detail is high, it does not cause annoying sib sounds even when the user adjusts the volume to a high level. The fact that the treble sound becomes smoother is due to the rocking effect from the enhanced bass range.
The soundstage is a bit lacking in dimensionality and is more 2D than 3D. This comes from the fact that the soundstage is better expanded in height and width, but the depth is not really impressive. The sound imaging is excellent, the ability to separate super detailed layers along with the ability to accurately position helps Timeless AE create clear separation between vocals and instruments as well as between instruments and music together.
7Hz Timeless AE is not too picky about the pairing source, most current dongle models can pull this flat magnetic headset. However, combining Timeless AE with a strong source will help the bass range have better dynamics, be more tightly controlled, and the soundstage will be more expanded.
Compare
Vs Dunu Talos
Although there is a deeper soundstage, sometimes the sound stage set up by Talos is a bit artificial due to too much space between layers. In terms of retrieval ability, 7Hz Timeless AE is superior to Talos even when Talos switches to hybrid mode. Talos has a drawback: when in hybrid mode, although the resolution becomes more detailed and the soundstage is more open, the sound will be a bit too bright, easily causing sibilance and creating tiring for the listener. Both have quite similar bass “quality”, but the “amount” of bass on Timeless AE is more. Therefore, Timeless AE brings more interesting music listening experiences.
Vs Tangzu ZetianWu
ZetianWu has a warmer tone and sounds a bit more comfortable, the midbass is emphasized better by ZetianWu. As for the 7Hz Timeless AE, its sound is flatter and pushes the mid range more forward. The technical part on both headphones is excellent, but in terms of access alone, Timeless AE is superior to ZetianWu. Overall, ZetianWu has a sound that is tweaked in a safer direction, while Timeless AE’s sound quality is more detailed and funny.
It can be said that if you are both a fan of timeless sound quality and a fan of the 2-pin connector, don’t miss experiencing and upgrading Timeless to 7Hz Timeless AE.