Maximum Sound, Minimal Spend

Pula Audio, the exciting new force from the HiFiGo stable, is back. Fresh off the runaway success of the bone-conduction-equipped Anvil, they’re setting their sights on the ultimate battleground, the budget IEM throne. Meet the Arc. Packing a bespoke 10mm PET dynamic driver inside a meticulously engineered dual-acoustic chamber, it delivers a sonic signature that punches well above its weight, offering professional level tuning at a fraction of the cost. Is this the new undisputed budget champion? Let’s dive in.

First, a huge shout-out to Ooi from NEXgears Malaysia for providing the sample pair of the all-new Pula Ar. for us to share our honest take. We are not affiliated with the brand, nor have we received any form of monetary compensation for this review. As always, this is solely our honest assessment of the product.

Functions & Specifications

Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the new Pula Arc;

The Pula Arc can be purchased directly from NEXgear website and they are an authorized reseller of HiFiGo products. More products will come soon, so stay tuned.

https://mynexgears.com/products/pula-audio-arc

Pula Audio ARC 10mm PET Dynamic Driver In-Ear Monitor

Pula Arc Direct Link: https://mynexgears.com/products/pula-audio-arc

10% Discount Code Limited to First 20
AudioMonstaXPulaMY-Arc

Direct Link with Discount Code:
https://mynexgears.com/discount/AudioMonstaXPulaMY-Arc?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fpula-audio-arc

Direct Link with Discount Code in QR

Packaging & Accessories

The packaging is simple with a small paper box. Nothing much is expected here for their wallet friendly price and what matters most to me is the product performance itself. Inside we will find 6 pairs of silicone eartips (wide bore&narrow bore) in 3 sizes, a 3.5mm or USB C cable, a user manual and the Arc IEM.

Design

The Pula Arc features a 3D printed medical grade resin shell with an ergonomic CIEM fit that has an optimized hollow shell that houses the dynamic driver alongside the dual acoustic chambers and the shell is slightly thin but feels solid but. The faceplates are made from CNV aluminium alloy with fine lines carved onto it alongside the brand name printed on them. The finishing is excellent as the casting is clean, uniform and glossy.

The Arc is driven by a single 10mm polyethylene terephthalate (PET) diaphragm dynamic driver with an ultra thin 6 micron coating with high strength dual N52 magnets and high quality 32ohm coil to give fast, clean transients and a smooth, highly balanced presentation across the whole frequency. The Arc is equipped with a specialized dual acoustic chamber that is independently tuned to smoothen out frequency transitions and perfectly balance the soundstage with treble details. This dual chamber setup produces a well balanced sound profile that is precise and clean alongside giving a wider soundstage.

There is 1 tuning pinhole vent near the nozzle for pressure relief and for the dynamic drivers breathing room. No flex is present on the Arc and they are a well vented IEM with no pressure build up.

The Arc has the standard flush 0.78mm 2 pin connection that is slightly tight.

The front nozzle has a decent length with a maximum diameter of 5.5mm and they have a lip at the end to grip eartips better. The nozzles are fitted with metal mesh to prevent dust and moisture from entering.

The cable here is rather basic with a 2 core twisted silver plated oxygen-free copper design, available in 3.5mm termination or USB C and both cables are without microphone.

Gears Used for Comparisons

Songs list

Tone and Presentation

The Arc adopts a neutral tuning with a subtle bright tone tilt, resulting in a presentation that is clean and precise. The upper frequencies receive a gentle lift, producing superb clarity, while the midrange introduces a welcome hint of warmth that prevents over sterility or sounding too dull. Technically proficient, the Arc serves as a reliable monitoring earphones and a decent casual listening companion, offering an accurate, natural, and cohesive soundscape. However, listeners should note its inherently clinical sound, when paired with equally neutral sources, the Arc can occasionally feel slightly lean on musicality, though this effect is marginal at worst.

Soundstage

The soundstage is decently wide and tall, with generous headroom that never feels boxy or congested. There’s a mildly diffused quality, much like listening to near-field monitors in a well-sized room, which creates an open, airy, and a good immersive experience. Imaging is where the Arc truly shines: precise, 3D, and holographic, making it just as capable for gaming and cinematic action as it is for critical music listening.

Separation and Timbre

Separation is superb, delivering a clean stereo image with no notable crosstalk and the Arc scales impressively when driven via a balanced source. Cohesion is equally strong; there are no gaps or hollowness, only a full, rich presentation that is the hallmark of a well-tuned dynamic driver. Timbre leans slightly piercy, breathy, and natural without any major alterations in the reproduction of sound. Ultimately, the Arc achieves a nearly colourless signature, excelling in accurate reproduction and showcasing the sheer capability of its single-driver tuning.

Drivability

Rated at 32 ohms with a 104db sensitivity, they are easily driven by any source as they don’t need much power to sound great with adequate amount of loudness. Their low sensitivity does not tend to pick up noise making them a good pair of IEM for outdoor or casual usage. Scalability here is average but they do benefit from good matching especially with warm source but matching with some bright source will actually incur some fatigue for the extra piercing sound and might make the Arc a tad thin in the mids. The Arc is a slightly revealing set and they are able to show some flaws in the recording but it doesn’t necessarily need a good mastered track and higher bitrates files will actually give a cleaner sound but only marginally. The Arc surprisingly passes as a monitoring earphones for their accurate, colourless sound that is natural and well balanced but may suffer for being a little too sterile or safe.

The Bass (Low)

The bass here is neutral to flat, focusing on the sub-bass region while delivering a natural amount of mid-bass presence with a clean and clear overall low that is accurate. Detail retrieval is excellent, offering well-textured, organic bass that is essential to a typical dynamic-driver bass presentation. The pace is quick, with a tight slam that commands authority when called upon. This natural and accurate bass isn’t for bassheads, but rather for those wanting adequate meat in the low-end without overpowering other frequencies. The sub-bass dives deeply with a slight lift that adds natural rumble, giving the overall signature some immersion and an enveloping quality for purists.

The Mids

Midrange here is also a neutral flat presentation that has a mild forward signature blending well from the lower mids and a smooth uphill transition towards the upper mids. The mids here have a touch of warmth and they are intimate with a spacious feel with good spatial accuracy. Clarity here is a strength with a slight clinical presentation and they are clean with a highly resolving sound that is vivid without major coloration. Details here perform well in macro but rather average in the micro details region. The body here is slightly thin at times but the timbre here is accurate with a clear light and breathy timbre that gives an airy sound presentation. The upper mids have a mild peak but remain smooth giving a great amount of brilliance that gives some bite and life into vocals. Vocals here are more suited to female vocals for their shiny brilliance but for certain deep male vocals, they tend to lack depth and body marginally. Instruments are best paired with the likes of woodwind, strings and some lower notes like percussions but for some strings like bass and cello, they do sound and thin occasionally.

The Highs

The high range adopts a gently elevated tuning, with a presence peak around 10kHz that delivers a vibrant, airy energy. The overall high range does have the dominance and while it does border a piercing territory while managing to avoid sibilance, though higher volumes quickly invite fatigue. Sparkle is plentiful, with crisp decay that heightens liveliness. Timbre here is natural with a breathy and brassy tone that offers superb accuracy for treble enthusiasts but may be unforgiving for the treble sensitive users. Extension is solid, with a slow roll off that leaves shimmering trails that are highly enjoyable. This treble has a good intensity that sharpens clarity with an energetic tuning that keeps harshness minimal, yet it’s anything but relaxed, tailored instead for those who crave a slight bite in the hjgh range.

Comparisons

VS Kefine Klean SV(53USD)

One of the latest entry offerings from Kefine with a single DLC dynamic driver encased in an aluminum alloy shell with tuning nozzles. The Klean SV has a neutral bright tone that excels in terms of technicalities but may lack musicalities. They do cost more than the Arc but the inclusion of tuning nozzles and all metal body does balance it out. Both possess a neutral bright signature but the Klean SV is a little more refined.

• Overall details and clarity on the Klean SV is slightly better with the Arc having a warmer midrange.
  
• Klean SV does have slightly more details and are more transparent overall
  
• Soundstage on the Arc sounds a little wider and airier
  
• Bass on the Arc have a mildly bigger amount alongside deeper sub-bass while Klean SV is more textured
  
• Midrange on Klean SV is more forward and has better details while Arc is more spacious with a thicker body
  
• High range amount on the Klean SV is more refined while the Arc has a smoother decay albeit similar in their presentation
  
• Treble on Klean SV is more intense and a little strong for treble sensitive users
  

Vs Twistura Delta (25USD)

The latest ultra budget IEM from the up and coming Twistura that has a robust all zinc alloy shell with a DLC dynamic driver. Both are similarly priced but the build on the Delta is more robust albeit a little heavy. The Delta has a warm, bassy sound with an inoffensive treble that is smooth and fatigue free but isn’t as technical and balanced as the Arc.

• Bass on the Delta is bigger, deeper and more immersive while Arc has better accuracy
  
• Sub-bass is also bigger and deeper on the Delta but lack control and not as accurate
  
• Midrange on the Arc is more forward with slightly better details while Delta has more intimacy with a warmer sound
  
• High range on the Arc is livelier with better sparkle and crispness while the Delta has a smoother overall high that is inoffensive but lack bite
  
• Soundstage on both are similar in width and height but Arc does has a bigger headroom
  
• Treble on Arc is slightly more intense that gives more overall clarity while Delta has a more laid-back type of sound
  

Synergy

Good synergy: slightly warm to neutral and bassy sources

Examples: Questyle M15, FiiO, EPZ TP30, Qudelix T71, FiiO Q15, EPZ TP35 Pro, Qudelix T71, 7HZ Artemis39

Not so good synergy: Bright, clinical sources

Examples: FiiO Q7, Surfans X10, FiiO KA5

Power requirements: Very easy to drive. Has minor scalability potential.

Who Is It For?

Suited for light monitoring, casual listeners and critical listeners, travelling audiophiles, gamers

Not suited for bassheads, treble sensitive users

Recommended genres: Modern pop, rock, acoustics, live performances, classicals

Not recommended genres: ACG, metal, hip-hop, EDM

Final words

​The Pula Audio Arc is a true IEM that prioritizes precision over warm musicality, delivering an analytically clean performance and impressive technicalities from its finely tuned 10mm PET dynamic driver that is rare even in this saturated segment of ultra budget IEM. While it may not offer the most lush or emotional sound signature, its sharp resolution and low-distortion retrieval make the ultra budget segment even tighter for competing IEMs. For critical listeners seeking pure fidelity per dollar, the Arc is a formidable technical benchmark.

4½ over 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Pros

• Great technicalities for the price 
• Solid build, ergonomic fit and nice finishing
• Fairly neutral overall sound
• Good soundstage width and depth
• Clean, clear and accurate sound
• Good separation, imaging with a wide dynamic range
• Accurate , natural timbre without major colouration 
• Superb clarity and details
• Linear, textured, clean and natural bass
• Decent sub-bass with good depth
• Slightly lifted highs that is energetic 
• Mild intensity treble that is lively 
• Easy to drive 
• Good for critical listeners 
• Fair and low pricing

Cons

• Not for bassheads/bass on the lean side 
• Can be a little safe or polite 
• High range can be aggressive on louder volumes
• High range not as refined (nit-pick)
• Lower mids a tad thin