Raptgo Hook-X

Welcome to written review of the product. We are going to talk about the Raptgo Hook in its original version.
Before talking about this product, I remember that inother reviews another headset with planar technology was reviewed, the Hifiman Edition Xs. If you want to see the video it´s on my channel.
Time does not usually play in favor of iems since many models are launched every month. An increasingly saturated market seems to be what Chi-fi is looking for. In the case of the Raptgo Hook Today it is still an excellent option below the €300 range.
Raptgo Hook It is not an easy task. Raptgo is a fairly recent brand that has more models, although I think the best performance is found in the Hook X. This iem has a retail price of around €200. There is now a slightly different version called Hook HBB which is blue.

When we open the box and see the contents of the product we already appreciate that it is very well presented. It would not be the first IEm that sells for over €200 that we notice is lacking in accessories or useless accessories. This is not the case with this headset.



Raptgo offers us quite a few white tips in small, medium and large sizes, all very similar, but at least we have spares. The differences are the color of the base of the tips, some come in black, others in white and others in cyan.
The carrying case feels rigid and roomy. One of the best cases I have had for its protection, feel, and portability. It's not too big, heavy or too flashy. It's what a carrying case should be.
The cable is wonderful. Raptgo opts for a greenish design of standard length fabric that is very pleasant to the touch. A flexible cable, but at the same time it feels resistant. Of course, don't expect it to not get tangled...it won't be like that.
They want more? Well, we have 2.5mm – 3.5mm – 4.4mm connectors included. Will they say a 4.4mm connector is necessary for an iem? In planar technology iems it is necessary. Later I will tell you why.
The design of the Hook X seems peculiar to me. I wouldn't be able to tell from a first impression if it seems pretty or ugly. Its green and black external contour matches the cable, also of the same colors. The exterior part is perceived with a different touch and, of course, open. It has small and multiple perforations that make this iem semi-open, which will give special characteristics to its sound.

I consider the Raptgo Hook to be a very versatile iem capable of practically everything. He is quite fun to listen to with various genres, although with electronics he is very enjoyable. It can be used to edit audio and video because it has enough detail, for monitoring I do not recommend it because perhaps its timbre is not 100% accurate although for its price it is the best... Basically it has no weak points if we compare it with sub300€ options.
Isolation
The insulation is good. Despite its semi-open design, it is nothing dramatic. It is true that you will not notice the isolation like that of deeper inserted iems like a Mangird Tea but I honestly consider that its isolation is comparable to that of, for example, an Ikko Oh5. Its leaks will not be anything out of this world either and are less than expected. At higher volumes, as is evident, you will hear a little more of what you hear compared to completely closed IEMs.



The sound signature is quite fun, but it feels technical. It is not the classic sub200€ iem with good bass, but that's it. I would say that Raptgo wanted the music to come first, giving importance to a tonality with a U-shaped signature, but quite natural...although with nuances. It has a strong low range, sub-bass presence, somewhat thinner and more neutral mids and highs on the limit of what I consider harsh. I will delve deeper into each section later.
Will a powerful amplifier be needed?
Will an amplifier be needed? Yes. We have an iem with 105 decibels of sensitivity and 15 ohms. Typical values for planar type headphones. Low sensitivity and low impedance. Sensitivity tells us that it will require energy to function. In fact, the sonata hd pro, a dac dongle capable of 120 mw at 32 ohms does not get 100% out of this iem.
Therefore, we are faced with an iem that a mobile phone can move but that will remain scarce and will not allow the full performance of the iem to be extracted.

SOUND SECTION – TECHS
To analyze the headphone I used an IFI hip dac. A portable amplifier capable of generating more than 250 mw at 32 ohms through the normal output. Taking advantage of the modular cable, I tested it through the 4.4 mm connection and the testing was done from this connection. 400mw of energy so that the iem can give its 100%. It should be noted that I have hardly noticed any difference between the balanced output and the normal 3.5mm output.
As in all reviews, only music in Flac quality at least is used in testing and analysis.
Aural purposes (mastering, music, editing…)
Before starting the sound analysis, it must be made clear that this headset is intended for enjoying music. As I said before, we are going to have a sound with enough detail to also use it for editing, although I believe that listening to and enjoying music is its fundamental purpose.
In terms of soundstage, open-back IEMs should offer something special to the soundstage, helping it achieve a level of extension closer to that of open-back headphones.
This is so? Half. Its sound feels quite expansive but is nothing spectacular. Iems like Olina, with a closed design, I consider to have a more surprising scene since they are capable of removing sounds in a very curious way.
In general, the sound field is wide and expansive, but perhaps the best thing is its stratification, which reaches levels that I don't think I have experienced with an IEM until now below €300…or €400.
In terms of image and instrumental separation, the Hook-X favors a spacious image so that its sound elements show everything they have to give, separating instruments, effects and voices with tons of air. That extension in the treble gives that air to the sound.
You always have a spacious feeling inside the Hook-X, offering your stage a huge amount of free space. Its layers give the image an enveloping depth in which it is easy to get lost. I recommend ambient type tracks to experience these spatial qualities.
All its incredible dimensions and location are perceived too naturally without being exaggerated.



SOUND SECTION – BASS
The bass is boosted slightly above normal, but this is not an IEM for bassheads. Hook-X's bass adapts to the music, so if a recording has meaty bass, Hook-X will respond in kind. As you'd expect from a planar transducer, bass is fast and tight, but if low notes have decay in the recording, you'll hear it on the Hook-X.
The presence of the subwoofer is more than evident. It appears when it has to appear and it shows... boy does it show.
For me the bass is the best thing about the headphone. I consider them to be on par with the OH5 although that extension of the subwoofer makes me prefer these.

SOUND SECTION – MIDS
While the mids have enough detail with excellent spacing, they are warm enough to be engaging as well. For me, the ultimate test is the connection I feel with the music. Everything sounds balanced.
Vocal lovers will appreciate Hook-X's vocal presentation. The male voices are full-bodied and powerful. Female vocals also benefit from the slight bump in the upper midrange; They are sonorous without being shouty and well articulated.
The negative point is that the midrange feels somewhat thinner. It seems that it lacks body in this part. It should be noted that on congested tracks with several voices or instruments the iem suffers and is not as crystal clear as on calmer tracks. Obviously this is noticeable if we compare it with more expensive equipment. A lot more.

SOUND SECTION – TREBLE
In the treble I find that the Raptgo is more difficult to describe. On the one hand, it should be noted that I don't find them soft and in certain songs, I find that they play very close to the limit of sibilance.
It's basically detailed with that extra shine. On the other hand, from time to time I hear a strange ringing or resonance. It reminds me a lot of the BQEYZ Spring 2 IEMs which also contain a piezo driver. I'm not sure if it's the piezo or just the 8 kHz peak, but luckily it doesn't appear frequently enough to be a problem.

Raptgo Hook X is an iem that can last for years and years. It has no weak points except the most crystalline and fine midrange... something that will surely please more than one person equally.



Its bass and subbass are a delight. Its treble gives a spark to the music that makes everything sound more alive and airy. Its stage is wide and attractive enough to enjoy the music and its layers are felt in ambient music.
For €200 or more, that product is even a recommendation for me.

Cable is so-so, the fit is less-so. It starts to hurt after 3-4 hours, but it's okay until then.
Should absolutely not be paired with a warm source, everything becomes soupy. Needs extra clarity and definition to help its shortcomings.

Raptgo Hook-X Review​

INTRODUCTION AND DISCLAIMER:​

The Raptgo Hook-X is an in-ear monitor (IEM) which uses a 14.2mm planar-magnetic driver and a piezoelectric driver. The Hook-X retails for $239 at Linsoul, which sent me a unit in exchange for my impressions.

SOURCES:​

I have used the Raptgo Hook-X with the following sources:

• Qudelix 5K
• Hidizs S9
• Reiyin DA-PLUS
• Moondrop Dawn

MUSIC:​

I have tested these headphones with local FLAC and Spotify Premium. Visit my last.fm page to get an idea of what I listen to:

XenosBroodLord’s Library | Last.fm

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:​

The Raptgo Hook-X comes in a medium-sized square-ish grey cardboard box with a grey slipcover. The front of the slipcover features a blueprint-style illustration of the Hook-X. The rear of the slipcover features an exploded diagram of the Hook-X along with Raptgo’s corporate contact information. The packaging is stylish and the unboxing experience is appropriate for a product of this price point.




The Hook-X includes nine pairs of silicone eartips (3xS, 3xM, 3xL) in three different colorways. The eartips appear identical other than having different colored bores. Including three sets of the same type of eartips is excessive and I would have preferred a set of foam tips if not just a differently shaped set of silicone eartips.
The Hook-X includes a grey zippered semi-rigid carry case.



The Hook-X also includes a detachable .78mm 2-pin cable with swappable terminations. 3.5mm single-ended, 4.4mm balanced, and 2.5mm balanced terminations are included, which I appreciate as opposed to including just one kind of balanced connection or the other.


In terms of documentation, the Zero includes an owner’s manual and a warranty booklet, which are both written in English and Chinese.

BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN:​

The Raptgo Hook-X has gunmetal aluminum housings with perforated black faceplates. The rim of the faceplate contains metallic green accents, a detail which is also found on the detachable 2-pin cable in several spots. The 2-pin connector base is slightly raised from the surface of the shell. There is a single circular vent in the center of the inside face of the housing. “RAPTGO HOOK-X” and the unit serial number are printed in white on the top face of the housing, along with “L” and “R” indicators. The nozzles are made from the same gunmetal aluminum as the rest of the housing and feature metal mesh nozzle covers and extruded rims to secure eartips.

The cable uses fabric-sheathed wires wrapped in a double-helix below the Y-split. The fabric is black with a metallic green accent, in keeping with the overall aesthetic. The cable has pre-formed heat-shrink earguides and a metal chin-adjustment choker. Despite the use of fabric sheathing, the cable is less microphonic than I would have expected, even when the chin-adjustment choker is not used.

The modular jack has a straight form factor. To swap terminations, one simply pulls the lower 2/3rds of the jack away from the upper third. The jack hardware uses a 4-pin connector between the swappable termination and the cable. The design is not locking and relies on friction to stay in place. I did not have any issues with the termination coming loose when I did not wish to detach it during my review process. There is strain relief above the jack but none at the Y-split.

Unfortunately, the cable included with my first unit experienced a quality control failure out of the box. The wiring for the right channel was faulty somewhere above the swappable termination and only outputted at full volume when held in certain orientations. Swapping to another cable fixed the issue. I also obtained a replacement unit, which did not have this issue with the cable. This failure has been reported by other end-users on Head-Fi. It is a shame that this issue exists because I like the Hook-X’s cable from an aesthetic and functional perspective, and I presume that the modular cable design is in large part responsible for the Hook-X’s price premium over similarly-specced planar-magnetic IEMs like the 7Hz Timeless and Letshuoer S12.

COMFORT, FIT, AND ISOLATION:​

The Raptgo Hook-X is intended to be worn cable-up. The earpieces have a shallow insertion depth. While comfortable, secureness of fit is problematic and requires frequent re-adjustment to maintain an optimal seal. As one might expect from a planar-magnetic design, there is no driver flex.

For most external noise, the Hook-X offers better isolation than one would expect from a semi-open design. The foremost exception is the user’s own voice, for which isolation is noticeably worse than other sounds, even compared to other IEMs. This makes the Hook-X a great candidate for gaming use. If one is not using an external mixer or software-based real-time monitoring solution which allows latency-free playback of one’s own voice, playing online games with friends can be disconcerting with highly isolating IEMs. This is even more of an issue if one wants to use their usual audiophile-focused external DAC/AMP solution for gaming rather than a gaming-focused peripheral. The Hook-X has quickly become my go-to IEM for gaming, as it has a better uncorrected tonality than the ancient pair of Sennheiser HD 500A over-ear headphones I typically use.

MEASUREMENTS:​

My measurements of the Raptgo Hook-X can be found on my expanding squig.link database:

Raptgo Hook-X — Squiglink by Bedrock Reviews

SOUND:​

The Raptgo Hook-X has a warm, relaxed sound signature.

The Hook-X’s bass is most elevated in the sub-bass region, but rather than confining the bass emphasis exclusively to the sub-bass, the Hook-X retains a moderate amount of mid-bass presence. This mid-bass presence rolls off gently into the lower midrange. The Hook-X is a dynamic-sounding and impactful IEM. Sub-bass extension is excellent. Bass texture and detail retrieval are about what I would expect for an IEM of this price.

The approach the Hook-X takes with its mid-bass contour is a compromise that sacrifices a smidge of midrange clarity in order to retain the warmth and body in the lower midrange which more Harman-compliant IEMs frequently lack. As with many Harman-ish IEMs, vocal delivery takes center stage with the Hook-X. However, male vocals are noticeably more forward and present than is common on many contemporary IEMs, and have grit and bite in spades when called for. Female vocals have a bit too much low-end energy and can sound slightly husky. Vocal intelligibility is also mildly superior for male vocals as compared to female vocals. I did not notice any sibilance in the Hook-X’s midrange. The presence region is in line with the relaxed midrange. Overall midrange clarity is middling and there is a sense of graininess where one would expect more midrange detail. The Hook-X has very good midrange timbre and comes across just a smidge on the dry side.

The Hook-X has a pronounced lower treble peak which can create an excessive sizzle to high-frequency percussion like cymbals. This can be mostly tamed with the use of foam eartips. There is a faint but distinct sense of oversharpening to transients in the lower and mid-treble, which is a timbral inaccuracy inherent to piezoelectric drivers. With that said, it is much less severe than on other IEMs with piezoelectric drivers I’ve used in the past. The Hook-X has very good upper treble extension, which combined with the semi-open design, creates a spacious soundstage. The Hook-X also has excellent instrument separation. Imaging is quite good as well, which is useful for gaming.

AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SOURCE PAIRING:​

The Raptgo Hook-X is surprisingly easy to drive even without the use of balanced source devices. I did not notice hiss with any of my devices.

CLOSING WORDS:​

The Raptgo Hook-X is a very good-sounding IEM, but if your sole use-case for an IEM is listening to music, the Hook-X is not the best value for your dollar. As stated earlier, I suspect that the inclusion of a modular cable is responsible for a large part of the higher sticker price relative to contemporary planar-magnetic IEMs. This cable system is nice to have but not strictly necessary given that the Hook-X is easy enough to drive off of a single-ended connection. Further, QC issues with the cable are evidently not uncommon, which should give potential buyers pause. The Hook-X has additional value for use cases where the semi-open design gives unique benefits, such as gaming, but it is up to the individual buyer to decide whether these benefits are worth an additional $40 over the 7Hz Timeless or nearly $90 over the Letshuoer S12.

The Raptgo Hook-X can be purchased below:

RAPTGO HOOK-X Planar + PiezoElectric Drivers Hybrid IEM — Linsoul Audio