Yanyin Canon II : Dark and Immersive

Yanyin Technology, a relatively new audio brand established in 2020, has gave me the opportunity to review their latest product, the successor to the original Yanyin Canon, the Yanyin Canon II. Since I have no prior experience with Yanyin products, this will be my first review of one of their In-Ear Monitors.

DISCLAIMER:

• I have no affiliation with Yanyin and have not received any monetary compensation during or after writing this review. This is a loan unit in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
• As a non-professional reviewer, I aim to use simple terms that can be understood by both beginners and experts in the hobby.
• Please keep in mind that the opinions expressed in this review are subjective and based on my personal experience with the unit. I encourage you to try the product yourself to form your own opinion.

PACKAGING

The unboxing experience of the Canon II has "chi-fi" screaming on the box. The packaging itself lacks a premium appearance. Upon opening the box, it becomes evident that it appears to contain numerous items, but in reality, it is predominantly filled with foam padding.

What is inside the box?

Canon II

The cables and a faux-leather earphone case

3 pairs of silicone-eartips

Some paperworks, a postercard and...

a VIP card?

BUILD QUALITY

Regarding the build quality, I would describe it as decent. The Canon II uses a 1DD+4BA configuration. The drivers are encased in a striking all-resin shell with an attractive and stylish design. The cables, while adequately thick and functional, are not designed to be modular, which is somewhat disappointing considering the price of the Canon II.

SOUND

The Yanyin Canon II produces a dark yet inviting sound that completely immerses my ears in a rich, immersive audio experience.

BASS

The Yanyin Canon 2's bass possesses a  substantial amount of weight and thick texture without an excessive bloat. The midbass offers a modest punch that doesn't bleed into the mids, the sub-bass dominates the bass region, delivering deep and solid rumbles.

MIDS

The midrange offers a soothing and enveloping warmth that brings out the richness and natural timbre of vocals. However, I did notice that the instruments fail to stand out as I'd prefer, particularly when seeking the distinct guitar bite in tracks like Polyphia's "Playing God" and Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing." They tend to sound somewhat laid-back and lack the expected impact. Even in piano-heavy compositions like Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18: 1. Moderato (starting at 5:56), the piano strikes feel a bit too light. On the bright side (or on the warm side), for those who prefer this laid-back and warm characteristic over clarity, these IEMs are non-fatiguing and well-suited for extended listening sessions. The upper-mids exhibit a roll-off, which impacts the bite of specific instruments, resulting in a softer texture and a notable sacrifice in terms of clarity.

TREBLE

The treble is tuned to a safe and rolled-off extent, but this comes at the cost of sacrificing clarity and fine details. This can lead to issues with instrument definition, making cymbals, for instance, sound somewhat dull. The Canon II will find it a challenge to retrieve micro-details. If you're someone who values intricate treble nuances, this tuning may not be suitable. On the other hand, if you're treble-sensitive and prefer a milder treble, this could be an ideal choice for you. 

TECHNICALITIES

When you gain something, you lose something. This applies to Canon II's philosophy (in my personal take) because of its safe, darker tuning we lose some of the finest details. However, it doesn't mean the Canon II is a total slouch. Although the soundstage lacks an expansive and holographic feel, it still manages to provide a reasonably wide and deep headstage, preventing it from feeling overly congested. I can discern the instrument placement with some clarity, but the finer details and definition remain somewhat distant, and the roll-off hampers its ability to reproduce those intricate nuances.

TUNING SWITCHES

To be fair, I did not find the tuning switches having significant changes to the overall profile of the Canon II. Well, me might hear some adjustments here and there but it is not that crucial and I believe I find the Canon II perfect as it is without the switches. But yeah, I'll have them do their way. To conclude, I won't bother discussing too much about the switches.

DEVICES USED

• Astell&Kern SR25
• HIDIZS S9 PRO PLUS
• Fosi Audio DS1
• Audioquest Dragonfly Red

TEST TRACKS

CONCLUSION

Pros:

• Thick bass
• Rich, immersive mids
• Safe, smooth treble
• One of the decent dark sounding profile
• Decent build-quality

Cons:

• Rolled-off treble
• Expect technicalities to be underwhelming
• Tuning switches doesn't do much
• Underwhelming inclusion for a $379 deal

On my take, it's a rarity to come across earphones with such a dark profile that still perform admirably. While this might be a bit too extreme for some, I personally find them to be quite remarkable and a unique offering in a market saturated with earphones featuring Harman or V-shaped sound signatures. Additionally, the design is quite appealing, although the tuning switches seem somewhat redundant, as they don't change the Canon II's sound that much.  Nevertheless, if you're in search of a dark sound profile that provides a rich, immersive, and captivating listening experience, these earphones are worth considering.