TSMR Halo: Summit-Fi Price, But Not Summit-Fi Performance.

Pros

• Fairly small size
• Snappy, clean bass despite the extra mid bass
• Energetic upper midrange without being overly shouty
• Sufficient treble sparkle
• Smooth treble 
• Good treble extension 
• Good detail retrieval
• Pinpoint holographic imaging

Cons

• PRICE
• Slight stiffness in stock cable
• Meh accessory inclusions
• Short nozzle
• Limp BA bass, lacking impact and physicality
• Recessed lower midrange

Disclaimer

• Huge thanks to Penon for providing the opportunity for me to review the TSMR Halo through a discount on the Halo. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way. 

• Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

• $1999.00

Source(s)

• Fairly easy to drive.

• Any decent, modern dongle DAC/Amp should be more than sufficient. 

Ear tips

• Dunu S&S

Packaging

• TSRM Halo. 

• Storage case

• It is a bit too small. It can barely fit the IEM with the stock cable due to the stiffness of the cable.

• Ear tips
• 9 pairs of ear tips, with different bores and sizes

• Feels like generic silicone ear tips, nothing special

• Honestly, I expected more specialized or premium tips like the Penon Liqueur Silicone tips to be included for a product in this price range. 

• Tansio Mirai 2 Strands OCC Silver-plated HiFi Earphone Cable

• Good thickness but can be stiff and a little uncomfortable to use at times, personally much prefer a softer cable. 

• At this price point, I definitely expected a better cable. 

• Cleaning brush

(Picture from official Penon site)

Build Quality

• Build quality is alright, standard resin build. Not outstanding but not terrible. 

Fit

• Nozzle is quite short and made entirely out of resin, so tips can be a bit hard to put on and the insertion depth can be a bit tricky to adjust. 

• Shell is quite small and lightweight for an IEM with this many drivers. 

• Fit is not the most ideal for me due to the shorter nozzle, but it is decent overall. 

Tonality

• Mild V-shaped

Bass

• Mid bass is noticeably more prominent compared to sub bass.

• Doesn't really rumble well, kind of present but that's about it, not really deep, a little forgettable. 

• Thumps and slams are ... not very hard hitting, its on the pillowy side. 

• Well controlled and speedy despite the amount of mid bass.

• Quantity is a little bit more than average but still considered relatively balanced and not overpowering. 

• Overall ... the bass is underwhelming, especially for the price range

• Personally I wish that they used DD for bass instead of BAs, even though I know that they used vented BAs this time. The bass definitely sounds better than your standard BA bass but not as good as Turbo's or Supernova's bass that uses the same vented drivers. 

Midrange

• Lower midrange is on the warmer side, but it still retains enough clarity due to the speedy bass. 

• Striking quite a nice balance between weight and clarity, male vocals and instruments has some body and meat to them without being bloated.

• However, they do sound a teeny bit recessed or thinned out, perhaps due to the warmth being from BAs. 

• Upper midrange is on the energetic side but never enough to be shouty or fatiguing. 

• Female vocals and instruments are quite forward in the mix, without being too shrill. 

• Overall, the midrange on the Halo is quite good and balanced, with no major flaws.

• Only nitpick would be it being a teeny bit recessed compared to other frequencies, but that's up to one's taste to decide. 

Treble

• Treble has ample of sparkle and air.

• It also has a rather smooth presentation to my ears, without any noticeable peaks or dips.

• It is also extended very well, providing great micro nuances while keeping timbre in check.

• Details can be perceived very easily due to how smooth and well extended the treble is.

• Overall, the treble is very well executed and presented, probably the main highlight for me.

• Sparkly, airy, smooth, nuanced, natural. 

Technicalities/Others

• Resolution and detail retrieval is great.

• This is quite impressive because the treble not being overly boosted and emphasized.

• Soundstage has pretty good width to it but doesn't go very deep at all. 

• Imaging and accuracy is good. 

• Holographic 3D imaging with pinpoint accuracy, which is expected for a product of this feat. 

• Separation and layering is good, instruments and vocals are separated and spaced out very nicely. Never congested no matter how busy the track gets.

• Note weight is adequate, not thin or thick. 

• Timbre is good. Natural without any oddities in any way. 

Conclusion

• As a conclusion, the TSMR Halo has a well balanced and well executed mild V shaped sound signature, which is pleasant and easy to listen to, with just enough spice to adds  excitement to the listening experience. 

• Technicalities are also pretty good with a wide, detailed and precise presentation. 

• However, is it unique? Is it worth the price? Not at all...

• Although the TSMR Halo sounds good overall ... but it is definitely overpriced IMHO. If the MSRP is anywhere around 500 to 1000 USD, it would be much more easier to recommend.

Thanks for reading!