Hidizs MP143 Review: Warm and Smooth

  • Bass
  • Treble
  • Mid-range
  • Technicalities
  • Build quality
  • Box collection and accessories
  • Fit and comfort
4.1/5Overall Score
Pros
  • Build quality
  • Comfortable Fit
  • Customizable Tuning
  • Warm and smooth sound
  • No sharpness or peakiness
  • Good bass response
  • Musical sounding set
Cons
  • Average unboxing experience
  • Poor stock tips
  • Basic Cable

Hidizs MP143 Review

Hidizs MP143 Review

Intro

Planar driver IEMs really started to gain popularity when the 7Hz Timeless was released. Since then, many brands have begun creating their own versions. One of my favorites is the Hidizs MP145, which offers great sound along with solid build quality. Recently, Hidizs released the MP143, a more affordable cousin, and many reports suggest it shares a lot of similarities in sound with the MP145.

I’ve spent a good amount of time using both the MP143 and MP145 to really feel the difference between them. In this review, I’ll share my thoughts on the MP143 and what makes it special. Whether you’re a music lover or just want good sound without breaking the bank, I hope this review helps you decide if the MP143 is the right choice for you!

Disclaimer: This unit was sent to me directly by Hidizs for review purposes. I have shared my honest experiences with you, and no one has influenced me to say anything positive or different about it. Everything I discuss in this review is based solely on my personal use and experiences.

If you’re interested in purchasing this, you can order it directly from Hidizs. For those in Bangladesh looking for an easy way to buy it, you can reach out to Geek Mart for assistance.

Design

The Hidizs MP143 Salt comes in a CNC-machined aluminum shell that feels sturdy and well-built, giving it a solidly robust premium feel. My review unit came in the sleek Gun Black finish that gives it an understated yet classy look. The anodized matte finish adds to its appeal, keeping the surface resistant to fingerprints and oils to make it look clean even after extended use.

It’s aluminum, so it has that nice cool-to-the-touch feel, and the finish holds up quite well against all the minor scratches and wear and tear that come along with normal use. The faceplate features a minimalist ridged design, adding some subtle texture but not being too flashy in any way. It is sleek, streamlined, and aesthetic, one that supplies just the right amount of character while remaining subtle and refined.

The Hidizs logo is engraved in a discreet gray tone, adding a nice touch without being too loud. Overall, the design strikes a balance between elegance and functionality, giving the Hidizs MP143 Salt a premium feel.

hidizs mp143 salt review

Comfort & Isolation

The Hidizs MP143 Salt is an impressively comfortable piece for a metal-bodied IEM, considering it will be in the ears. The lightweight, compact design easily sits within the ear during long listening sessions without discomfort. For my ears, these fit securely without sharp edges or uncomfortable pressure points, even during the longest listening sessions.

Thanks to their lightweight construction, you might even forget you’re wearing them—a major advantage if you enjoy long listening sessions.

The isolation is decent on the Hidizs MP143 Salt, considering it’s a vented design. Without music playing, you’ll still pick up some ambient noise, such as people talking or background chatter. With music playing, though, it can effectively drown out most of that. It may not fully isolate you in very noisy environments, but it strikes a good balance for day-to-day listening: it’s comfortable and offers enough sound isolation.

Note that for users with smaller ears, the Hidizs MP143 Salt will stick out a little, while medium or larger ear sizes fit about perfectly. Comfort might increase significantly when paired with the right tips, making it an even better listening experience.

Stock Cable

The cable included with the MP143 Salt feels quite basic overall. If you are accustomed to some of the newer IEMs on the market, even at lower price points, you will notice how far this one falls behind, especially in terms of versatility and build quality.

To begin with, this cable is very lightweight—almost too lightweight, to the extent that it feels a bit fragile. On the positive thing is that there are no significant issues with microphonics, but its lightweight nature means that it simply does not stay in place comfortably. It also tends to tangle quite easily, which can be a pain—especially when trying to store it in a case or even during regular use.

Compared to some of the more premium or modular options available, this cable is clearly made from more budget-friendly materials. It is functional, but nothing about it truly stands out, and for daily use, you might find it somewhat lacking—especially if you have experienced higher-end cables before.

Overall, this cable would suffice for casual use, although it is certainly not the most practical or durable option. If you are the type of person who values a good cable, this one may leave you wanting more.

Hidizs MP143 Review: Warm and Smooth

Tips

The standard eartips that come with the Hidizs MP143 Salt leave much to be desired. They are rather basic and do not allow this IEM to shine as it should. The nozzle itself is quite short, and the walls are quite thin, making it difficult to achieve an effective seal. This affects both comfort and sound quality. It is quite disappointing that such a capable IEM has stock tips that are not up to the standard of the rest of the package.

Swapping out the stock tips with the NF Audio MS42 resulted in a noticeable improvement in sound quality. The MS42 tips provide a much better seal, which in turn tames the overall sound signature. The sharpness in the treble is significantly reduced, becoming more refined and less fatiguing. The midrange also benefits, sounding smoother and more detailed, while at the same time, the bass becomes better controlled and textured.

With the MS42 tips, the tonality quickly gave way to a more rounded, smoother, and better-balanced sound, greatly enhancing musicality and making for a far more enjoyable listening experience. If you want to get the most out of this IEM, I highly recommend giving these tips a try.

Hidizs MP143 Review: Warm and Smooth

Tuning Nozzle

Hidizs MP143 Salt features three tunings nozzles: Red, Silver, and Rose Gold, each having a different sound profile.

Red Nozzle: The nozzle has a focus on powerful bass, rich sub-bass, and mid-bass. It warms up male vocals but tends to overpower female vocals and instruments and darkens the treble.

Rose Gold Nozzle: Its characteristic sound is balanced, with controlled bass and not overpowering. The vocals sound clear and more natural; the instruments take on more presence, while the treble is well-defined without being aggressive.

Silver Nozzle: More mid and treble emphasis. It sounds much brighter and leaner. The female vocals sound very clear, while instruments have excellent detail and are brought forward as well, but there is practically no bass.

Personally, I preferred the sound of the stock nozzle, so I haven’t used the others as much. My full review will focus on the sound profile of the stock nozzle.

Testing Source

Dap: •Cowon Plenue R2. •Astell & kern sp1000m. •Hiby R3 ii. •Ibasso dx180. •Cayin n3 ultra

Dongle:•Questyle M15. •Cayin ru7. •ONIX alpha xl 1. •Ddhifi tc44pro e2. •Kinera cd20. •Moondrop dawn pro. •Hidizs s8 pro robin. •Dunu DTC 480. •Hidizs sd2. •Nicehck TC3. •Apple dongle type c

BT DAC:•IFI Go Blue. •Fiio btr7.

Desktop:•Shanling h5. •IFI Zen dac V2. •IFI Hip DAC V2. •Xduoo xd05 basic

The Bass

Sub-bass

Yes, the sub-bass is there on the MP143, and it articulately handles the lower frequencies. However, if you’re used to that deep rumble or physical impact from a dynamic driver IEM, you may find the Hidizs MP143 a bit on the light side in this department. For tracks like hip-hop or bass-heavy songs, it doesn’t quite give you that chest-thumping feel. That said, I have heard this is not uncommon with planar magnetic IEMs, so I was not terribly surprised.

If you don’t always listen to genres relying on a lot of bass, such as hip-hop, you’ll most likely appreciate the balance it provides. It’s just that the sub-bass isn’t weak-it’s just a bit more contained and doesn’t swamp the rest of the music. In tracks for pop or classic music, the sub-bass is more than enough, and let’s be honest, unless you’re a basshead, you might not even miss the extra rumble.

Mid-bass

The mid-bass is really where this set shines, in my opinion. I love a good punchy mid-bass, and the Hidizs MP143 nails it. It’s tight, impactful, and has just the right amount of body without feeling bloated. The clarity in this range is great, too. Listening to rock or metal, like “Hell on Earth” from Iron Maiden, drums hit hard, and the bass guitar sounds rich and full.

Separation between instruments is solid, and even with the heavier parts of the track, the MP143 does manage to keep everything in its place without it getting messy. It’s got that energetic feel which makes rock and metal tracks really enjoyable, and the vocals stay clear even with all the bass going on, which is something I really appreciate.

So, if you are one of those who really enjoy tight, punchy bass with decent control, you will probably enjoy the MP143. The sub-bass isn’t going to shake your bones, but it’s deep enough to be satisfying for most genres. And the mid-bass? That’s where it shines. If you’re not obsessed with having huge bass, I think you will really enjoy what MP143 has to offer.

Hidizs MP143 Review: Warm and Smooth
Mid Range

The mid-range of the Hidizs MP143 strikes a balance between neutrality and warmth and offers vocals clearly, with well-separated instruments, which is very important to keep everything from sounding clear and separated in complex tracks.

Male Vocals

Male vocals are reproduced with decent weight and texture, hence sounding deep naturally. On Kiss from a Rose by Seal, his voice sounds rich in tone while having enough body to keep it from sounding light yet clear. The separation ensures the vocals stay up front even on top of the background instruments.

Female Vocals

Female vocals- smooth, neither too warm nor too bright. In Killing Me Softly with His Song by Roberta Flack, her voice is soft and extended without any harshness or sibilance. Hidizs MP143 handles the upper frequencies delicately, making her voice soothing and easy to listen to.

Instrument Clarity

Guitars and pianos sound clear, natural, and mid-range clarity assures that in populous songs, the vocals and instruments will not overlap and sound muddy. Guitars have a nice swing, and in general, the separation keeps everything tidy.

Treble

The treble on the Hidizs MP143 is smooth and well-extended, offering a good balance between detail and comfort. It does not possess that sharp or piercing sound that could lead to listening fatigue; it should be easy to listen to for long periods of time. For instance, in Killing Me Softly with His Song by Roberta Flack, the highs feel airy and open, adding a nice sense of space without any harshness. The treble extension is solid, and you can catch those subtle details like cymbals or high strings without being overwhelming.

However, where the treble is clean and controlled, it does lack a little sparkle to make it bright and energetic at the top. In tracks like Iron Maiden’s Hell on Earth, for example, the sound of the treble feels somewhat laid back, with some listeners perhaps missing a little bit of that bite or excitement, particularly during the high-pitched guitar solos. There’s decent clarity and detail, but it may get too smooth and restrained at times for aggressive treble lovers. In general, the treble has a natural sound and is pretty well-controlled. These could be ideal for listeners seeking a non-fatiguing sound, while listeners wanting highly energetic, bright treble should look elsewhere.

Sound stage

The Hidizs MP143 has a pretty decent, solid soundstage considering it is an IEM – not the widest I’ve heard. There’s a good sense of space and air between the instruments, but it isn’t going to run open-back headphones or larger IEMs for much of their money. Tracks like TOOL’s Invincible do a fairly good job of showcasing this spaciousness: instruments get enough room to breathe without sounding congestive. But more about being “wide enough” rather than really expansive, so if you’re looking for something with a huge soundstage, this might fall a little short.

Imaging

Hidizs MP143 does a very decent job of placing instruments and vocals with good precision, making it quite easy to pinpoint their positions in the mix. On more complex tracks, such as Hell on Earth by Iron Maiden, imaging helps to keep everything fairly clear so you can tell where an instrument might sit in the track. It’s not ultra-sharp, but it’s good and reliable for everyday listening.

separation

Hidizs MP143 impresses with neat separations of different elements in a track. Even in busier tracks that have so much layering, the bass, mids, and highs did not bleed into each other to help preserve clarity in songs like Praise The Lord from A$AP Rocky and Skepta. You might notice a little blending of instruments in very dense sections, but nothing too distracting.

On the whole, the soundstage, imaging, and separation are pretty good for a planar IEM in this price range. It’s not going to blow your mind with some kind of enormous stage, but it is well-balanced, clean-of-artefact presentation that works for the large majority of music out there. Yes, there are a couple of minor limitations, especially to soundstage width, but it’s satisfying and enjoyable to listen to.

Hidizs MP143 Review: Warm and Smooth
Conclusion

The Hidizs MP143 Salt is a great place to start for anyone interested in planar magnetic IEMs without spending a fortune. It has a sleek metal design and a comfortable fit, providing a warm and smooth sound that can be enjoyed all day. While the standard cable and eartips may not be perfect upgrading to something like the NF Audio MS42 tips and good  quality cable brings out the best in them. If you’re seeking for an IEM that strikes a balance between clarity and polished, smooth sound, the MP143 Salt could be the perfect choice. It isn’t perfect, but for the price, it provides a lot of value.

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Md. Rohit
Md. Rohit
Articles: 10

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