Introduction
Rose Technics might not ring a bell for you but they are a well known audiophile company that has been around since 2012 and they have been one of my favourite audio companies since then. I personally have owned a few items from them like their dual driver earbuds, Maria 2, the more recent 5 driver hybrid, the QT9 MK2 and I used to own the Mini 3 way back. Their products honestly are great with innovative design and most importantly, they sounded great. Recently I have been in touch with them for a sample review of some of their latest line of earphones, the light year series, and they have kindly sent us a pair of the Star City 5 Pro for an honest review. The light year series is a line from Rose Technics that focuses on a high performance, low price approach and I am over the moon for this opportunity moreover appreciate the opportunity given. The Star City 5 Pro is a triple hybrid IEM with a single dynamic and dual balanced armature setup and they have some pretty nifty venting systems inside along with a user-friendly price. How will they fare in this tightly contested segment? We shall find out here.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro;
- Driver Units: Self Developed LCP Dynamic Driver + 2 Sonion Balanced Armature
- Distortion: 1% @ 1000Hz
- Sensitivity: 104dB @ 1mW
- Impedance: 24 Ω
- Frequency Response Range: 10 – 25000 Hz
- Weight: 28 g
- Cable Length: 120 cm
- Connector Type: MMCX with 3.5mm Interface
- Body: CNC Stainless Steel Rear Cavity + Resin Body
Retail Price & Where to Get
The Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro can be purchased at Red Ape Headphones Store, Rose Technics Own website and AliExpress;
https://a.aliexpress.com/_oDM23Wa
Packaging & Accessories
For their asking price, the Star City 5 Pro actually is packaged decently and they do look premium with accessories fit for a king. They come in a rather large rectangular box that has a professional look to them. Inside they have included a circular PU leather hard case, 7 pairs of eartips of various sizes(4 wide bores, 3 smaller bore), a 2 core nylon OCC MMCX cable, the paperworks, a USB C dongle and of course the IEM itself. Surprisingly, they have also sent a waifu stand for me which is kinda nice. Overall, the packaging here punches well above their asking price with a flagship flair to them.
Design
The Star City 5 Pro has a different, unique type of design that is one of a kind which has a rear metal body and a front resin shell encapsulated in black with a robust yet premium design. Rose Technics uses a combination of CNC cutting for the rear part and a 3D printer for their resin and cavity front part which produces a well made, solid and product. They are lightweight and very comfortable to wear partly due to their ergonomic small size.
The nozzle is made from metal in brass colour and it is equipped with a metal mesh to keep out dust. The downside here is that the nozzle is rather too short and for some eartips, they are easily pushed off from the sides.
Inside, the Star City 5 Pro is packed with a classic hybrid combination of a single 10mm Liquid Crystal Polymer diaphragm with string N52 magnets and dual Sonion balanced armatures. Rose Technics has also stated the Star City 5 Pro has been tuned by an ex-engineer of Sony which brings some maturity in their tuning. The Star City 5 Pro has a unique 4 way damping air circulation system that actually adjusts the internal pressure and provides adequate air in the earphone to produce a deeper bass response along with an airier overall sound. One of the dampeners is located at the bottom of the faceplate and it is connected to the dynamic driver output. No flex was present in my usage which indicates that the Star City 5 Pro is very well vented and there is a total of 5 dampers used in this unit to control their overall tuning.
The faceplate of the IEM is made from stainless steel and they have a rectangular air vent for the dynamic driver rear venting system.
The Star City 5 Pro has also an inclusion of a USB C dongle that is a cherry on top and it is very well built with a Conexant CX31993 chipset inside that sounds clean, clear and has a neutral sound.
The cable came with dual-strand 6N OCC copper cables with additional wire cores and shielding layers. They are rather thin but robust with a soft nylon fabric skin and they are pliablely suited for everyday usage. It uses MMCX connectors but the body of the MMCX is made of plastic rather than metal but the 3.5mm jacks are made with metal and for the time being, only 3.5mm single ended cables are provided. As for the sound, the cable do have a thickish sound with a balanced signature that doesn’t emphasize on any frequency.
Gears Used for Comparisons
FiiO Q7
Hiby FC6
Questyle M15
FiiO BTR7
Dunu Luna
Hidizs MS3
Dunu EST112
Moondrop A8
Intime Sho DD
Rose Technica QT9 MK2
Intime Sho DD
Letshuoer S15
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The tone of the Star City 5 Pro is a mild V shaped sound that has a boosted bass and treble and a neutral warm midrange that sounds thick and has a decent overall energy to provide a fun, exciting sound. They are a warm sounding set that has some brightness to them due to their lifted high range and they are suited for a fun seeking listener while still having a good degree of overall clarity and details. They possess minimal coloration and they do sound quite accurate and they have a great organic sound.
Soundstage
The Star City 5 Pro soundstage is rather average as they do have a free field type of sound that has a direct sound approach to our ears that gives a focused sound with great impact and intimacy but they do lose some of a large soundstage. Though that being said, their soundstage isn’t too boxy, instead they are rather airy and have an open sound that doesn’t feel claustrophobic while having a medium sized headroom that is competent in their price range.
Separation and Timbre
Separation is good on the Star City 5 Pro and they are a well tuned hybrid as they have no crosstalk present with great coherency with all the drivers working in tandem even though not as good as a single driver in this region but do hold their ground here. Timbre here is rather bright and it is slightly piercy especially in the mids to high regions but isn’t too fatiguing. Though they are a balanced armature set, the Star City 5 Pro doesn’t display any metallic timbre that is typical of a low quality balanced armature unit. Rose Technics have stated they used danish which is Sonion armature drivers but they did not state what model they implement.
Drivability
Rated at 24 ohms with a 104db sensitivity, they are not hard to drive but still need some power to perform at their best. A basic good dongle, like the one included in the box is sufficient to drive the Star City 5 Pro to great extent and they do scale up pretty good in terms of their overall dynamics and also a smoother, more controlled overall sound. On basic outputs such as basic bluetooth receiver and normal 3.5mm output, they do sound a little harsh and lack clarity. They are not picky with the type of files played, instead, they are quite forgiving here but as usual, a good mastered tracks along with high bitrates ones do sound better in terms of clarity and depth but within the usual margin.
The Bass (Low)
The bass is where I feel the Star City Pro 5 performs as the bass it produces is great as they are fast, tight, energetic and accurate which showcased a well tuned dynamic driver’s immersive type of bass. They do have a healthy dose of mid bass lift contributing to a boosted overall bass but it isn’t too much that they sound muddy and bleed occurs, instead they have a bass that is authoritative while possessing great detail retrieval and good clarity with a punchy bass that is fun to listen to. The bass amount will satisfy light bassheads out there but will also suit a wide range of users as they have a good balance of power and control that blends well with alot of genres. Resolution in the bass is good but the transparency is somewhat mediocre with instances of muddiness especially on bad sources. Sub-bass amount is good and plays well with their strong mid-bass lift and they still extend deep with a decent, clear rumble that has the authority when called upon. Overall, the bass here is very enjoyable for their amount of fast and tight response with decent clarity and it is very well controlled.
The Mids
Midrange here is a neutral mids that is rather flat and they have a mild warmth to them producing a rather natural midrange. They aren’t a recessed midrange but due to their boosted bass and high range, they will sound a little behind the aforementioned frequencies. Details here are superb along with adequate clarity and they blend more towards the high frequencies making the midrange possessing a mild brightness to them producing some brilliance in the overall mids. Resolution is good with a vivid sound that has minimal coloration that keeps the natural state of sound intact while having some portion of fun sound without any sterility but in return, they aren’t a clinical set that is suited for critical listeners or for monitoring purposes. Transparency here is average but they do sound clear without any major problems. For vocals, the Star City Pro 5 is acceptable as they aren’t really tuned for top notch vocal presentation but they are deep and have adequate brilliance to make vocals sound sweet and intimate, on the other hand, instrumentals sound superb with a full range sound for most instruments especially with drums, bass instruments and strings.
The Highs
The high range present on the Star City 5 Pro is a forward high that is boosted just a little and they have the criteria of a balanced armature high range with their great detail retrieval capabilities and superb clarity. Though being strong in this region, they manage to escape harshness and a metallic sound that is typical from a low quality balanced armatures. The high range is what I would describe as spicy but in a good way for treble lovers as they have a great sparkle that is crisp and sweet at the same time. Extension here is good with an airy presentation and a slow roll off that gives music a good lively sound. Resolution and transparency is great with the high range sounding clean and clear without any issue. Treble here is surely on a higher intensity but they still manage to pull off a smooth sound that isn’t peaky though there are some instances of shout present towards the lower high range and the high mids especially with bright source. Sibilance here is minimal as well as fatigue and this is where a good pairing will be of utmost importance but for me as a treble head, I do find the high range is rather exciting.
Comparisons
VS Rose Technics QT9 MK2
The bigger brother of the Star City Pro 5, the QT9 Mk2 from Rose Technics is a very capable mild V shaped hybrid that is one of my go to hybrids ever since they were launched. They are equipped with 4 balanced armatures with a single dynamic and cost double the asking price of the Star City Pro 5 but surprisingly, the Star City does possess better packaging and accessories like the inclusion of a high quality dongle. The cable looks and sounds the same as well.
High region of the QT9 MK2 is leaner but still has a great strong treble in a more forgiving way free of any harshness in any setup. Details are similar but clarity seems to lean towards the Star City 5 Pro. Extension in the high range is better on the QT9 MK2 along with an airier sound. Resolution here is also leaning towards the QT9 MK2.
Midranges on QT9 MK2 has a more forward sound and even though they are a similar neutral to flat midrange, the QT9 MK2 does sound thicker and has more body to the overall sound. Details and clarity on the QT9 MK2 is better in a small margin. The midrange of the Star City 5 Pro sounds brighter hence a better brilliance is produced. Resolution is better on the QT9 MK2 while transparency is better on the Star City 5 Pro marginally.
Bass quantity on the QT9 MK2 is bigger and deeper along with a better extended sub-bass response. Star City Pro 5 bass do sound tighter and sharper while the QT9 MK2 bass sounds bigger with a bigger rumble. Both basses are actually quite similar and there are just tiny nuances that make them sound different.
Soundstage on the QT9 MK2 is wider and taller with an airier presentation.
VS Hidizs MS3
The MS3 by Hidizs is a recent release from them sporting a dynamic driver and 2 balanced armature with tuning filters. They are a neutral sounding unit with a lean bass, neutral mids and a strong high range but in a roll off sub-bass. They are similarly priced but the Star City 5 Pro does excels in the packaging department as they are packaged like a flagship unit with more accessories.
Highs on the MS3 are slightly stronger highs that slightly possess more presence but the Star City Pro 5 sounds crisper and has a smoother sparkle. Details and clarity is similar in both with the MS3 having better air and texture. Extension in this region is wider on the Star City Pro 5.
Midrange of the MS3 has a better resolution and clarity but transparency on the Star City 5 Pro is slightly better. MS3 has a more forward midrange and possesses a cleaner tone but the Star City 5 Pro has a lusher tone to them. Vocals on the Star City 5 Pro sound livelier and more intimate while the MS3 has a more natural type of vocal presentation.
Bass on the Star City 5 Pro has a tighter slam and they have the edge in their bass quantity as well as in the sub-bass region versus the flat, roll-off bass of the MS3. Bass texture is better on the MS3 by a small margin. Details here on both are rather similar with both having a good degree of detail and clarity.
Soundstage in the MS3 is wider, taller and airier but only in a small margin.
Synergy
FiiO Q7
The big brick of FiiO’s portable DAC/amplifier the Q7 is a transportable power station when it comes to driving power and they are packed with all the main features you will need. They have superb driving power and also a well controlled sound for in-ears and can bring out a lot of details for some IEM.
The bass the Q7 provides here is cleaner and clearer without any amount added but it adds some extra rumble in the sub-bass region. The bass also does sound more fun and It has added some resolution into the bass response. Bass seems to sound tighter and it is more enjoyable as it is cleaner and clearer overall.
Midrange sounded more forward and had better overall performance with vocal notes clearer with a more balanced presentation. The overall midrange sounded a little more balanced and blended even better in terms of their presence among the boosted bass and treble of the Star City 5 Pro. They are still an intimate midrange but they do add some space here giving a more balanced overall midrange.
High range has been smoothed out a little and they seemed to be more natural while retaining strong highs. They do not possess any shout with this pairing and they are smooth while being strong in this region.
Soundstage is wider and taller with an accurate placement while increasing air.
Questyle M15
The Questyle M15 is my favourite portable DAC/amplifier with Questyle’s signature direct current amplification and they are a neutral to bright sounding device suitable for most scenarios also suited for a critical listening. The M15 does possess a great extension and they are packed with details on both ends displaying none of the Sabre chip glare.
Bass sounded clearer with added details and clarity. The bass has a more forgiving lean presentation and has a cleaner overall response that sounded more natural. Sub-bass depth remained mostly the same but they do sound cleaner and clearer in this department.
Midrange does sound more spacious and they are able to give the midrange a more natural sound while providing better transparency to give a cleaner sound while retaining the warmth and their overall details. Vocals sound more natural with a slightly more forward sound with a lusher mids.
High range has a less spiky treble and better sparkle. Treble has slightly toned down in intensity and they are still very well controlled retaining their airiness and extension. Details seem to remain mostly the same but they do sound leaner here.
Soundstage has increased in their width and height and they do add some spaciousness.
Who Is It For?
Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro is a fun oriented IEM that is suitable for daily usage as they possess a full, immersive sound that has decent technicalities for a wide genre. They have a bid bass response that is suited for light bassheads as well as a strong high range suited for treble heads but they won’t suit purists that yearn for a sterile sound for monitoring purposes. Their immersive soundstage sound does go well with gaming and movies but may slightly lack in their spaciousness region. They are very musical sounding earphones that match very well with EDM, instrumentals, hip-hop and pop but not very so for metal as they might sound harsh at times.
Final words
While I have known Rose Technics as a brand a long time ago, it is great to see how they develop as a brand and keep on the times striving for audio perfection while maintaining a user reachable price. The Star City 5 Pro is certainly a unique product with a bold tuning with the almost forgotten V shaped sound done masterfully. With a fun, musical sound along with a dynamic bass and energetic high range, they are hard not to love as it is refreshing to hear something out of the box while sounding jovial with great technicalities. The unboxing and design of these IEM feels like a top of the line product especially with the inclusion of the Conexant dongle. Though their soundstage isn’t large and their high range might get hot at times, they are actually acceptable for this price range and still competitive. The Star City 5 Pro is certainly a must try at this price range and a salute to the team of Rose Technics for their endeavour to produce this Star City 5 Pro.
I would rate this product a 4 and half over 5 stars.
Pros
- Decent technicalities
- Ergonomic fit and lightweight
- Good quality MMCX
- Good casted resin body and robust stainless steel rear
- Superb V shaped tuning with a warm tone
- Good cohesion and separation for a hybrid
- Decent overall details and clarity
- Good dynamic range and separation
- Amazing control of a big bass response
- Healthy dose of mid-bass lift
- Thick, intimate midrange
- Strong, crisp high range
- Airy sound
- Decent resolution and transparency
- Superb packaging and accessories
- High quality Conexant dongle
- Relatively easy to drive
- Value for money
Cons
- A little shouty at the higher frequencies
- Midrange slightly underpowered by bass and high range
- Soundstage a little small
- Not suitable for monitoring purposes
- Bass might be a little too strong on some sources (preference)
- Cable MMCX is made out of plastic (nitpick)
