Jomo Haka

Introduction

Jomo Audio is a Singapore company that specializes in making handcrafted iems, be it in universal or custom form. Their product line ranges from the entry level Haka to the flagship Flamenco. I would like to thank Jomo Audio for the review unit of Haka. At the moment, you can purchase the Haka at https://www.jomoaudio.com/collections/jomo-universal-iem/products/haka-uiem .

Specifications

• Driver: Single Proprietary Precision Balanced Armature Driver
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
• Sensitivity: 107dB
• Impedance: 18 ohms @ 1K Hz

Unboxing & Accessories

The retail packaging will consist of the iem itself, 0.78mm 2 pins detachable cable, 3 pairs of silicone tips (S,M,L), 3 pairs of double flange tips (S,M,L), flight adapter, headphone adapter, cleaning tool and case.

IEM Build & Design

The Jomo Haka has a glossy black finish to it and the surface is smooth. The shell is made of acrylic. On the faceplate, there is the Haka printed in gold. The gold colour complements the black background. The nozzle is made of brass and it is straight without any metal mesh. I am able to fit the Haka in my ears comfortably. The Haka can be paired with 0.78mm 2 pins cable. Overall, the Haka is constructed well with excellent build quality.

Cable Build & Design

The cable is not your usual stock cable. As stated in the specifications, the material of the cable is made of silver plated copper. At the 2-pin connector, you will see a marking of different colours on each respectively. Red colour will indicate the right side while blue colour will indicate the left side. It is a nice touch so users can differentiate between left & right. There is a memory wire area whereby the cable is being enclosed in a transparent heat-shrink tube. It is not very flexible due to the metal inside that helps to form the shape. The cable is braided with 4 wire conductors. The chin slider and y-splitter are translucent clear. The jack is 3.5mm right-angled gold plated and has a translucent clear housing. There is strain relief.

Sound Analysis

Lows

The sub-bass of the Haka is extended moderately with good control. The rumble is moderate and it is being presented smoothly. Each bass note is expressed with a smooth hit. Although it is not the most impactful, the presentation is musical. The mid-bass has a decent slam to it and it exerts itself well without sounding too aggressive. There is a nice punch to it and the dynamics benefit. The bass operates in a smooth approach that is relaxing to listen to. Bass articulation is rather precise.

Mids

The midrange is moderately clean and operates in a laid-back approach. The Haka displays its midrange in a relaxing manner. There is a good mastery as vocals are being produced with ease. The lower mids has a moderate quantity to it. It is sufficient to tackle male vocals and there are no signs of hollowness and dryness. The upper mids has some forwardness and despite the fact that it is not very forward, female vocals are still being expressed with moderate intimacy. There is a good control in the midrange and details retrieval is great. It is certainly smooth with emotions conveyed effectively.

Highs

The treble is being presented with a moderate extension. There is no sibilance and harshness. It is being articulated in a smooth manner. There is moderate crisp present.  The amount of air rendered is great and it helps to prevent the sound from being too congested. The treble is not bright. With such a smooth presentation, the treble will ensure a soothing and fatigue-free listening.

Soundstage

The Haka has a natural expansion in its stage width. The width has a moderate magnitude to it. It sounds realistic. The depth is not very close in with an effective amount of space rendered. There is a good open feel to it. Vocals and instruments positioning is quite accurate.

Comparisons

Jomo Haka vs Final Audio Heaven VI

The Haka has more extension than the Heaven VI for its sub-bass section. There is more quantity to it. The depth is being stretched further on the Haka for more impact. The sub-bass presentation is being expressed more smoothly than the Heaven VI. There is more agility on the Haka as the bass decay is significantly quicker. The mid-bass on the Haka has similar quantity as the Heaven VI but it is presented with more slam which helps to elevate the overall dynamics. Bass texture on both is rendered smoothly and the texture helps to provide a more relaxing listen. Each bass note on the Haka is articulated with more definition. The lower mids of the Haka has more quantity and it does male vocals justice. There is a better expression and male vocals does not sound dry. The upper mids on the Heaven VI has extra quantity and there is more forwardness. The extra forwardness contributes to more intimacy and female vocals are being delivered in a very organic presentation. The Haka still presents female vocals well but the Heaven VI does it better with more sweetness. The Heaven VI expresses them with excellent details. Next, in the treble section, the Heaven VI is slightly more extended. The Haka edges ahead with more body which helps to smoothen the top end. There is more control on the Haka but Heaven VI has more bite. The air on the Heaven VI is greater in quantity. The articulation on both is accurate. In terms of soundstage, the Haka has a more natural expansion in its width and the magnitude on both is pretty similar. There is better depth on the Haka with more space rendered.

Jomo Haka vs Campfire Audio Orion

The Haka has more sub-bass extension than the Orion with more quantity. The sub-bass has a better depth. The mid-bass on both has similar body and the slam is moderate. The bass note on the Haka is being presented smoothly and it packs details. Bass decay on the Haka is quicker with more control. On the other hand, Orion approaches it with a more weighted presentation with less impact. The bass texture on the Haka is rendered more smoothly. The lower mids on the Haka has similar quantity as the Orion but it is being expressed with extra cleanliness. Emotions are conveyed more effectively too. The upper mids on the Orion is slightly more forward which results in a nice bite. The Haka approaches it in a calm manner. There is better details retrieval on the Haka. Next, for the treble section, the Haka has better extension and the articulation is more precise. The Haka treble is more enjoyable to listen to. In terms of soundstage, the Haka has better representation with its expansion. Haka is slightly wider and has more space rendered to prevent the depth from being too close in.

Jomo Haka vs InEar StageDiver 1

The Haka has more sub-bass quantity than the SD1 and the extension is very similar. There is more control in the Haka sub-bass and it is being presented with finesse. Each bass note on the Haka has a more impactful hit. Bass decay on both is quite similar. The bass texture rendered on the Haka is smoother. The mid-bass on both is not very aggressive but there is a soothing slam from the Haka. The lower mids on the Haka has more quantity and I personally feel it tackles male vocals better than the SD1. The upper mids on both have similar forwardness and there is good intimacy. Moving on to the treble section, the extension is about the same but the Haka operates on a higher level in details retrieval. There is no sibilance and harshness. The amount of air rendered is more on the Haka. I find the Haka to be more clinical and has better mastery. The stage width of Haka is slightly better while the SD1 excels in the depth.

 Conclusion

The Haka is a smooth sounding iem that has a moderate bass response, laid back midrange and controlled treble. It is able to provide details yet ensuring a fatigue-free listening. There is finesse too. In addition, the build quality is good with nice visual appeal. Jomo has produced an excellent iem in the Haka and it delivers.