My first impressions of the Hook is that it actually has a mid-range that reminds me of the softness and lower-resness of Aftershokz, which I have listened to recently within the last couple weeks. That said, its a pleasant sound, maybe too smoothed over, and missing exacting detail and edge. It's tonality is for the most part fine, it just presents sound a little softer and different. I wouldn't call this hi-res audio for some reason, but this is just my initial impressions after about an hour of listening. These are very comfortable to wear and the color of the cable is really nice. Connectors are also swappable. This is maybe out of character but I want to use a song to explain the treble. This album was in-fact the creative work of one of Head-Fi’s very own members. In charge of the total sound of the movie..........was his responsibility. Though this album would have been a favorite anyway..............even if I did know someone who worked on it. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the mids of the Hook-X are disappointing, but it feels that way as the other sections of its frequency range are that good. Note weight of both instruments and vocals, for example, can sound a bit thin on the Hook-X. While the mids are full of detail with excellent spacing, they’re warm enough to be engaging too. The ultimate test for me is the connection I feel to the music and with Hook-X I’m consistently singing along and strapped in for the emotional rollercoaster ride. Listening to Dimash Kudaibergen’s “Sinful Passion”, the vocals are full of sentiment and the cello is textured but at the same time oozes with an enchanting richness.

Because folks it’s 2022. And this is the kinda surrealism that’s going on. Don’t believe me? Think I’m making this up? Buy a pair. When I heard other reviewers say there is nothing bad to say about the HOOK-X, I thought they were just saying that. I didn’t realize they absolutely mean it?At the top you’ll see the two-pin connector with “Raptgo Hook-X” written just beneath. Closer to the nozzle is a small front vent and covering the nozzle is a nice-looking metal filter plate. What I mean is "The HOOK" had the kind of sarcasm attached to anything you could imagine being 1/2 Planar 1/2 Piezoelectric! You know all great ideas are met with doubt until they work out. The car was at first laughed at, the airplane, ridiculous at first. The TONALITY of the Hook X HBB can be summarized as a balanced W shape with a lively and weighty dynamic. It's this kind of IEM that magnifies the best part of bass, mids, and highs and can offer a versatile performance that is never boring, unlike safer tuning that over-tamed energy of our beloved music.

This is the first hybrid planar iem that I’ve tried, and it really does what a hybrid should; combine the strengths of the different driver types. If you’ve tried a planar iem before and loved the crisp detail and realistic instrument placement, but wished it had a little more of the dense buttery low-end of a dynamic driver – then this might be the iem for you. The hook-x has a really pleasing warm tuning which highlights the bass while also allowing for a great sense of clarity and detail. So I’ll be the first one to stand up and say bravo! Not only is this 100% great sounding, it’s mature sounding. The size is a bit chunky but not too big, part of the shell that enters your ears has an organic shape and isn’t thought for deep insertion unless you use super long triple-flanged ear tips (but why?). These aren’t too heavy and I find them super comfortable for long-time listening.The effect is just hearing more. Especially this trait becomes known in the vocal areas. As when higher detail is arranged for the vocals you start to notice how many variations there are. They of course were always there except never revealed. The phenomenon that is super noticeable is pace. Note weight in the treble area has body to it. At least that’s what I hear. Cymbals crash and not splash. Granted cymbals also play a lot in the upper mids but the decaying crash is not tizzy, but more focused. Instruments in my library never sound harsh or peaky. The extension of the Highs rolls off on a pretty nice downward slope to capture most information well. Percussion and even strings residing in the upper areas sound as they should with enough vibrancy for me. I Will Survive (1981 recording, I like her voice, and the old vocals, the drums, and various natural instruments really make this a favorite for me.

Here an older song results in a just "OK" sound, nothing special, or nothing bad. Some transducers gussy up the tones, though here we are left with the true reality of music. Cables - Some In-ear monitors will come with removable or detachable cables that let you upgrade, or change them in case of any accidents. Some IEMs come with a fixed cable, which is not removable by design. Just the right amount of decay and reverb, which maybe means it’s faster than other methods of producing bass, yet it’s all good. A stripped down and still “there” bass. All I can say is the word Planar, and hope you may get the clue? As it’s a different neighborhood we are visiting, and not exactly a place I’ve been to before. Probably the way the bass pushes into the music, that fact that it comes and goes with additional precision and still has texture. Though the texture isn’t big and totally tactile, it’s almost invisible at times, but that is in-fact which makes it unique. The fact that it caresses the midrange in ways never before thought possible. So there is really no occlusion going on. No frequency is being stifled or smeared in the mids.Of course the included cable is OCC silver-plated with coaxial shielding offering dynamic results, questioning ever rolling cables. Amazingly the cable and IEM are color matched stifling OCD desires you may have. IEMs: qdc Anole V3, Magaosi K5, BLON BL-01, Triptowin TC-01, Sony XBA-Z5, BGVP DM6, Noble Audio K10 Encore, BQEYZ Spring 2, DUNU Studio SA6, Sony IER-Z1R, Fearless Audio S6Rui, BQEYZ BQ3, THIEAUDIO Legacy 4, Sony XBA-N3, DUNU ZEN, KB EAR Lark, SeeAudio Yume, EarSonics ONYX, Tipsy TTROMSO PineStone Sea, Tripowin Leá, TRN Bax, RAPTGO HOOK-X, TINHIFI T1S, TINHIFI P1 Max, Hidizs Mermaid MM2, THIEAUDIO Elixir, TRN TA1 MAX, CCA CRA+,Tansio Mirai Sands, Reecho SG-01 OVA, Rose Technics QT-9 MK2S, ECCI YST-02, Seek Real Audio Airship, DUNU VULKAN, BQEYZ Topaz, ECCI YST-03, SHOZY SCB2, ISN H50, ISN D10, ISN EST50, ISN H40, TINHIFI Tin Buds 3, 7Hz Salnotes Zero, KZ AS16 pro, 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Dioko, Penon Globe, Tanchjim Zero, Cat Ear Meow, BLON Z200, TRN ST5, SuperTFZ-Force1, Penon VORTEX, Penon SERIAL, Kinera Celest Gumiho, Tripowin Rhombus, TANGZU Zetian Wu,TINHIFI T2 DLC, Moondrop Planar Stellaris, TSMR Land, ISN H30, KZ ZS10 PRO X, Tripowin Cencibel, SIMGOT EN2R, SHOZY AVA TWS, Penon Orb, Penon Fan 2, KZ-PR1 HI-FI, TRN MT3, MEAOES Eagle, KiiBOOM Evoke, KiiBOOM Allure, LETSHUOER S12 PRO, NF Audio RA10, Penon Fan 1, SeeAudio Yume II, TANGZU Wan'er S.G, DUNU Kima, SHOZY T1, TINHIFI C3, Kiwi Ears Cadenza, TINHIFI C2, Kinera Pandamon, TINHIFI T4 PLUS, TRN XuanWu, Pi 3.14 PLIISEN727, TSMR-5, Noble Audio Savant 2, QKZ+HBB Kahn, JOYODIO SHINE, THIEAUDIO Ghost, TKZK Ouranos, SIMGOT EA500, Kiwi ears Orchestra Lite, TINHIFI C5, IMR BC 2023, 7Hz Legato, TRIPOWIN-Piccolo, BLON x HBB Z300, SIMGOT EW100P, Penon Audio Volt, PENON TAIL DAC AMP, ISN Neo 5, Kiwi ears Quintet, Tripowin x HBB Kailua, KZ AS24, Penon Audio 10th Anniversary Special Edition, TANGZU Princess Chang Le, Kiwi Ears Dolce, Geek Wold GK100, SIMGOT EW200, Penon Audio Turbo, BLON x Z JOJO, SIMGOT EW100 DSP, SIMGOT EM6L, Thieaudio Hype2, 7Hz Sonus, TANGZU Fudu, TinHIFI C0 “ELF”, Sound Rhyme SR7, HISENIOR OKAVANGO, HiBy Yvain, HISENIOR Mega5P, SIMGOT EA1000, Penon Dome, Incoming: 7Hz Timeless II, Kiwi ears Melody, Kiwi ears Forteza, ISN NEO1