Basshead Glint – Punch Audio Martilo IEMs
Punch audio Martilo is a $329 USD pair of IEMs with a basshead design, having 1 Planar Mangetic Driver, 2 BA Drivers and 2 Dynamic Drivers powering them. Today we will review the Martilo and compare them with similarly priced IEMs we’ve recently reviewed, including YanYin Canon Pro (399 USD), ZiiGaat Arcanis (399 USD), and Rose Technics QT-X (439 USD).
Introduction
Linsoul keeps creating and producing amazing earphones, but Punch Audio Martilo is a unique pair, red in color, deep in bass and created to deliver that boom bombastic bombaclat sound audiophiles desire for their guilty pleasure. Linsoul makes their products available on Amazon, Aliexpress, on their own website and it is one of the largest Chifi sales channels in the whole world.
As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Huge thanks to Linosul for providing us with the sample for this review.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/46wMSLE
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oCo4Ely
Build Quality – Design
Right from the start, Punch Audio makes it clear that they are designed for a Powerful Bass and Balanced precision, featuring Dual Dynamic Drivers, Dual Knowles BA drivers and one planar tweeter plating in each IEM. This means that Punch audio can deliver a massive 14 dB of extra sub-bass boost with a tight control.
Crossover point is set at 200 Hz, so the two dynamic drivers can focus on the low-end, while above this point the two Knowles drivers can focus on the midrange and treble, with three sonic tubes designed for the bass to not muddy up the midrange and the treble. Every Martilo unit is hand built, with each driver pair-matched.
In the package you will also find a detachable cable, with a 0.78mm 2-Pin connector, and technically Martillo has a very low 9 OHM impedance, and a somewhat low SPL of 100 dB. Cable length is 125cm, and they come with a transport case, and removable jack plugs, coming with both a 3.5mm single ended jack and a 4.4mm balanced jack. Martilo is built on order, and has a lead time of around 2 weeks before it ships to you.
Fit – Subjective Usage
Punch Audio Martilo is on the larger side physically, they are somewhat heavy too, but comfortable thanks to a highly ergonomic design. Cable is thick, somewhat heavy too, but the coiling around my ears is natural, and it offers Martilo a good comfort. Fitting is secure and the whole IEM feels really well made.
Passive noise isolation is medium, at 10 dB – 15 dB, while leakage is minimal. There is no void and no driver flex when wearing the Martilo, and they feel incredibly premium for the price point. Everything shows that Punch Audio is here to stay and take on the audio world.
Sound Quality
Pairings – During my time with the Martilo I have paired it with a selection of sources, including Rose Technics RT-5000, Dethonray Clarinet, SMSL C200 PRO, SMSL M20, FiiO M21, Hiby R3 PRO II, FiiO K17. Martilo is rather easy to drive, and somewhat sensitive to source noise, it is best paired with sources that are known to not have a high background noise level. As Martilo is quite detailed and revealing, it will show the drawbacks and advantages of each source really easily.
Overall Signature – You likely expected the sound to be fairly basshead right from the title, but Martilo delivers a uniquely warm, deep sound in the lows. That extra 14 dB of sub bass really is audible, and once a song has a bit of low-end bite and kick, you hear it big and deep. Midrange is surprisingly fast, resolute, revealing and crisp, while treble is also very clear, crisp, a bit on the dry side, like the entire sound which is very fast for this bombastic approach in the low-end. Martilo simply sounds quite revealing for the type of basshead presentation it goes for. With a big soundstage and strong instrument separation, Martilo is an excellent choice for all music styles, including rock, EDM, Pop, Dubstep and also jazz.
Bass – In bass we trust, and Martillo builds on that trust, having one of the deepest, most voracious, deepest yet most revealing bass signatures I’ve heard in recent years. It is simply deep, punchy, and has a bass that extends for ages in the depth and impact, it has even more than 14 dB of extra sub-bass compared to the midrange and the treble. As this is a uniquely L shaped signature, you’d expect far more coloration, but it handles the whole concept well, giving bass depth and impact, but not coloring the midrange much. In fact, it has zero bloom, veil or unwanted bass resonance, just pure basshead pleasure for your heart with no muddiness.
Midrange – It all comes back to the midrange, Martillo is incredibly detailed, crisp and clean, even a bit fast at times, as although the sub bass is handled by those bombastic dynamic drivers, most of the sound you hear is produced by two Knowles balanced armatures, resulting in a sound that is rather fast, somewhat too detailed even, bit wide and holographic. You hear that those BA drivers have their own sonic tube, midrange is highly resolving, crisp and reveals textures with ease. There’s no favoritism or bias, both male and female voices are rendered equally pleasing, making Martilo a perfect match for all music styles, including punk, pop, EDM, Dubstep, Metal and Rock. The trick here is that, for example, if your song does not have much bass recorded, like metal and rock, Martilo does not force anything, allowing it to be enjoyable and resolving for all music styles.
Treble – You can hear a crisp, airy treble with extension up to 16 kHz, although the tonal balance is clearly in favor of the huge bass, treble is not smooth by nature or heavily recessed, but it is considerably lower in quantity compared to the bass. This results in a sound that is enjoyable and clean, maybe a bit too fast at times, but crisp nonetheless.
PRaT / Textures / Dynamic – Textures as presented by Martilo are unique, it has a fast sound, which results in most music having both the good and the bad revealed, you hear so much texture and crispness in music that at times it can get fatiguing more easily than with IEMS that have a lower resolution. Martilo sure can render every single bit of information in a song.
Volume Control – Martilo has fairly good volume control, and a loudness saturation gradient that is consistent, it does not change the signature with volume, stays consistent and does not lose control either, sounding very similar across volume levels. This is an ideal case scenario, and it shows a high headroom for the drivers.
Soundstage – Punch Audio Martilo sounds wide, has a strong but natural instrument separation, it never feels forced. Soundstage size is on the wide and holographic side of things, but especially in the bass, it sounds groovy and big, while mids and treble are expanded in the lateral plane really nicely.
Comparisons
Punch Audio Martilo vs Rose Technics QT-X (329 USD vs 439 USD) – QT-X surely comes with a much richer backage, also with detachable cables, and has the same more dense shell like Martillo. This being said, QTX is smaller, and more ergonomic, with a thinner and more flexible cable that has a textile sheathing cover, while Martilo has a modular cable with a much heavier and thicker design. Both IEMs are comfortable, but QT X comes with a DAC AMP in the default package. Sonically, both go for warm / natural, but QT-X has a more natural, musical approach with a warmer midrange, less sub-bass emphasis and less grain. Martilo is more revealing, extracts and reveals more details and more information from music, but this also means more grain and that it can sound more fatiguing. Soundstage is holographic for both, but QT-X expands more in the lateral plane.
Punch Audio Martilo vs YanYin Canon PRO (329 USD vs 399 USD) – Canon Pro is a bit smaller and more ergonomic than the Martilo, and both come with high-end cables, but I prefer the modular approach of the Martilo. There’s something nice about the design of the Canon Pro which is more flashy, while Martilo looks darker, more stealthy, and feels heavier. Sonically, both aim for a basshead with some extra oomph and a natural midrange, but Martilo has far more sub-bass, better control, a faster sound and can reveal more details in bass, mids and treble. Canon Pro is a good balance between everything, it has a really natural midrange and a smoother, more musical, more rounded sound, while Martilo simply sounds more basshead, more focused, more dry, faster and more revealing. Both are interesting options, but Martilo is more extreme in how basshead it is, Canon Pro more natural and has a big less basshead approach. Soundstage is mostly equal and comparable in presentation and size.
Punch Audio Martilo vs ZiiGaat Arcanis (329 USD vs 399 USD) – Arcanis feels lighter, but bigger, which makes it a bit less comfortable than the Martilo which is not necessarily as big but heavier. Cable quality is better on the Martilo which has a tighter coiling around my ears, and it also has a more stealthy look for the shells. Sonically, Arcanis is detailed, natural – neutral with a bit of warmth, but Martilo sounds far more bassy, with more low-end and sub-bass depth, impact and quantity. There’s far more punch and power for Martilo, Arcanis sounds lighter, snappier and less grainy too, as Martilo has the ability to reveal quite a bit more texture than Arcanis, which can make it more easily fatiguing and grainy. Soundstage is mostly equal and comparable in presentation and size.
Value and Conclusion
Punch Audio Martilo is one of the very few earphones that even dreams of delivering this bass impact, ergonomic quality and overall quality for this price point, they have an insane price / performance ratio, and an excellent deal today.
At the end of the day, if you’re looking for basshead, deep and fun, if you want to hear how the earth shakes and rattles, you want to hear the Martilo, it is incredible in resolution, clarity and definition too, one of my favorite IEMs launched this year, and it helps me dig more into my basshead guilty pleasure too. It is not just fully recommended but a pair of IEMS I personally like.
PROs
- Ergonomic fitting, and high quality, modular cable
- Reliable package with a hard transport case included in the package
- Beautiful design
- Basshead sound with a deep, powerful bass that also has excellent resolution
- Detailed and crisp in the midrange
- Easy to drive
Cons
- Despite the big bass, can be a bit dry and very fast in the whole sound
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/46wMSLE
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oCo4Ely
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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