HIDZS Unveils The New MK12 IEMs With Diaphragms Made From 91% Pure Magnesium

There’s plenty of competition in the market for high-performance in-ear monitors for listening to hi-res music on something like a digital audio player. IEM is just a fancy term for a high-spec pair of wired earphones such as these new HIDIZS MK12 Turris

The new and relatively affordable MK12 have a high specification and innovative magnesium diaphragms. HIDIZS claims that the MK12 are the world’s first IEMs with 12mm drivers and diaphragms made from 91% pure magnesium just 0.03mm thick.

By using magnesium, HIDIZS has managed to reduce the weight of the diaphragm by up to 40% of the weight of regular materials. The result is drivers with lower mass which are easier to move, producing a more dynamics and energy for a sound that has plenty of volume.

The MK12 are primarily designed for use with high-quality digital audio players or an external DAC/amplifier that’s streaming hi-res music from either WAV files or a service like Tidal or Qobuz. Theses IEMs have a specification with a noticeable sonic uplift compared to many regular wireless earbuds or wired headphones on the market.

According to HIDIZS, the reason why the MK12s produce such clear sound is partly due to the way the design and ear tips prevent a lot of unwanted external sounds from reaching the ear. And thanks to such a high level of passive noise isolation—along with some advanced acoustic engineering used in the driver housings—the MK12 can punch above their weight.

The driver housings are CNC-machined and made of aluminum with a high strength-to-weight ratio that provides durability and resistance to the creation of unwanted resonances and interference.

The natural acoustic damping properties of the MK12’s housings serves to reduce overall distortion and, says HIDIZS, the IEMs provide a cleaner and more stable sound than might otherwise be possible with a more traditional design. The curved lines of the housings are inspired by the shape of a jellyfish and it’s the shape that designers claim promotes a more balanced airflow to produce a more detailed sound.

The MK12’s unique 12mm dynamic drivers and their 91% pure magnesium diaphragm with an M-shaped dome, provide a tuning capable of a deep bass and quick dynamic response. The rigidity of the magnesium diaphragm produces a crisper and more detailed treble without losing the fulsome bass that creates an immersive soundstage.

Thanks to an extended frequency range, high sensitivity drivers and good temperature tolerance, these IEMs have a sound signature that’s closer to the type of sound produced by expensive electrostatic and planar-magnetic models.

To ensure the MK12 can work with a wide range of music, there is the option to customize the sound using a combination of nine different tuning styles by using a choice of three different pneumatic tuning filters and nine separate ear tip styles.

The filters and tips are tailored for vocals, balance and bass. When used together, they can considerably alter the sound the MK12 produce. By swapping things around, users can experiment with adjusting high, balanced and low frequencies, whichever suits their listening preferences.

The cable that ships with the MK12 is made from pairs of twisted and silver-plated, oxygen-free copper wires with a high level of purity. This means low resistance and high conductivity and it’s this combination that minimizes signal loss and boosts resolution in the mid-to-high frequencies, making the MK12s able to project clear and open vocals.

The cable has two-pin connectors with a 0.78mm pitch for connecting to the earpieces. The cable is available with 3.5mm single-ended or 4.4mm balanced terminations.

Thanks to the relatively low 32Ω impedance and 111dB sensitivity, the MK12 can pair well with smartphones, DACs/amps and digital audio players. These IEMs also offer quite high volume levels as well as a fast and dynamic response from the magnesium diaphragms for clean mids as well as punchy bass from all that dynamic energy.

Pricing and Availability:

The HIDIZS MK12 IEMs are launching now on Kickstarter with prices starting at $129 for early birds and a with regular MRSP of $299. As with all crowdfunded projects, it’s advisable to exercise due diligence as consumer protection may vary by country.