Sound Rhyme is a chifi company that isn’t very well known outside of China but they have been actually making IEMs since 2017. The DTE500 is a $460 USD tribrid IEM that has a 5 driver configuration – 2BA, 2EST, 1DD. The presence of EST at this price range is appreciated. My source used for review is the Lotoo Paw Gold Touch.
The packaging for DTE500 is very good and expected from a chifi brand at this price level as they generally offer good bang for buck. You get 6 pairs of silicone eartips and 2 pairs of foam eartips, cleaning tool, microfiber cloth, aluminum puck case, and a SFC cable with swappable terminations.
Bass:
The bass is slightly pushed up but not too much so. This is not a bassy IEM or for bassheads nor does it have the level of bass harman lovers enjoy. For me, it has just the right amount where it’s good quality, doesn’t bleed into the mids and generally well executed with good subbass response since it has dynamic drivers.
Mids:
The mids are a standaout – they are not pushed too forward but also not too recessed but rather at a neutral level and well detailed. I love my vocals and mids so I think this is very enjoyable and a good change from v shaped IEMs that often recess the mids too much, while also not pushed up enough to be shouty either.
Treble:
The treble are also well detailed and extended thanks to those EST drivers and while they are pushed up, it is not to a level where they ever feel fatiguing or harsh. It is forward just the right amount in my opinion creating a nice sense of airiness.
Technicals:
With the stock cable, they are just average so I would highly suggest upgrading the cable a bit as this IEM has potential and with a swap to the Eletech Raphael, this IEM easily clears some $1k+ IEMs like ThieAudio Monarch MK4 or Dunu Glacier.
Overall:
I think this is one of my favorite IEMs around this price range, my only minor quabbles are with the stock cable being very average and the appearance being a bit tacky. Some might find the bass a bit weak in quantity but for me this is a very well tuned IEM for a nice relaxed balanced type of tuning. Since nothing is pushed up too much or recessed too much it’s a very smooth laid back listen and with a cable upgrade it can start competing with IEMs like Aful Dawn X, Fiio FX17 or UM Mest Jet Black in tuning and technicals.
The packaging for DTE500 is very good and expected from a chifi brand at this price level as they generally offer good bang for buck. You get 6 pairs of silicone eartips and 2 pairs of foam eartips, cleaning tool, microfiber cloth, aluminum puck case, and a SFC cable with swappable terminations.
Bass:
The bass is slightly pushed up but not too much so. This is not a bassy IEM or for bassheads nor does it have the level of bass harman lovers enjoy. For me, it has just the right amount where it’s good quality, doesn’t bleed into the mids and generally well executed with good subbass response since it has dynamic drivers.
Mids:
The mids are a standaout – they are not pushed too forward but also not too recessed but rather at a neutral level and well detailed. I love my vocals and mids so I think this is very enjoyable and a good change from v shaped IEMs that often recess the mids too much, while also not pushed up enough to be shouty either.
Treble:
The treble are also well detailed and extended thanks to those EST drivers and while they are pushed up, it is not to a level where they ever feel fatiguing or harsh. It is forward just the right amount in my opinion creating a nice sense of airiness.
Technicals:
With the stock cable, they are just average so I would highly suggest upgrading the cable a bit as this IEM has potential and with a swap to the Eletech Raphael, this IEM easily clears some $1k+ IEMs like ThieAudio Monarch MK4 or Dunu Glacier.
Overall:
I think this is one of my favorite IEMs around this price range, my only minor quabbles are with the stock cable being very average and the appearance being a bit tacky. Some might find the bass a bit weak in quantity but for me this is a very well tuned IEM for a nice relaxed balanced type of tuning. Since nothing is pushed up too much or recessed too much it’s a very smooth laid back listen and with a cable upgrade it can start competing with IEMs like Aful Dawn X, Fiio FX17 or UM Mest Jet Black in tuning and technicals.
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