Intro
Lately, I’m getting more into earbuds, and just around that time, I received an offer from Penon to review their new model — the Penon Conductor. Funny thing is, at that moment, I had absolutely zero idea about this thing. This was completely new to me.
Like always, first thing I do after hearing any new name is straight Google search. What I found out was pretty interesting — it’s an earbuds that use a dynamic driver for sound and also a bone conduction driver. Plus, you can even adjust the bone conduction driver output level!
From what I was seeing, the overall design and idea seemed really nice to me, so I immediately told Penon that I’m interested to review it. Fast forward few days later, the product finally arrived at my hand. After a long time of testing and using, today I’m here to share my proper review with you all.
Disclaimer
The Penon Conductor was provided to me by Penon Audio in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions shared here are based on my own personal experience with the product.
I was not paid or influenced to write anything specific, and everything written above reflects how I personally hear and feel about the earbuds.
As always, sound is subjective — what I hear might not be exactly same for everyone due to different source gears, ear shape, fit, and personal preferences.
Outside of this product, Penon also have many other premium IEMs, cables, and ear tips available in the market. Over time they have created a strong reputation among audiophiles because of their quality offerings.
If you are planning to level up your audio game, I would suggest checking out some of their other products too.
I am also leaving a link to their official shop below.
Build Quality and Design
First, let’s talk about build quality. Penon Conductor is a really well made earbuds. It’s made out of skin-friendly resin and the moment you take it on hand, it feels like a solid block. The front green grill is made from metal which adds a nice sturdy touch.
The MMCX connectors are strong and durable too, at least from my observation. It’s not too tight and not loose either, just the perfect balance. So yeah, in the build quality part, Penon Conductor ticks all the boxes easily. I don’t think anybody will find any complain here.
Now moving to the design part. Design wise, it’s a little different than your typical earbuds. But it’s beautiful honestly. The shell is made transparent, so you can see all the internals, which I personally love.
The shell colour is red. To me, it looks good but I know for some people maybe this red won’t be their favorite. Still personally I don’t mind it. Also they have nicely done the branding and model name with silver letters which looks simple but kinda premium too.
One thing though, the design is intended to be worn over the ear like an IEM, which is a bit unusual for earbuds. But more on that I will talk in the fit and comfort section.
Fit and Comfort
Here comes the real tricky part. The design, like I said, looks like you have to wear it over the ear. But when you try to wear it that way, it actually keeps falling off and doesn’t feel stable at all.
However, if you wear it like normal earbuds, it fits really well and doesn’t create any problems. The sound also remains perfect without any issues.
The shell is very light and the cable is light too, so there’s no downward pressure on ear. That’s why once you wear it normally, it’s quite stable and really comfortable. You can easily use it for long listening sessions without any problem.
Cable
The Penon Conductor comes with a 8-core silver-plated OCC cable as stock. The cable feels well-behaved and during my usage I didn’t notice any strong memory effect. It stays flexible and easy to handle, which makes daily usage more hassle-free.
The cable is lightweight too, so it don’t create any downward pressure on the earbuds. Because of that the Conductor remains stable and comfortable even for long listening sessions. Also I noticed there’s no microphonic noise, which is important specially for portable use when you are moving.
The cable comes terminated with a 4.4mm balanced jack and connects to the earbuds via MMCX connectors. The 4.4mm jack, MMCX plugs, and the Y-splitter are all made of metal, and they have a carbon fiber-style finishing. It looks premium and wild at the same time, matching the slightly bold design of the buds.
The vivid red color of the cable might not be for everyone though. Personally, I don’t mind it but I can understand some people who like more subtle colors maybe won’t love it. Still, it looks cool and unique on the hands.
The cable also comes with a working chin slider, which helps to adjust the fit and remove any slack when needed. Overall, the included cable is high quality and matches very well with the premium vibe of the Penon Conductor.
Tuning knob
One of the most interesting features of the Penon Conductor is the tuning knob placed on each earpiece. This knob is used to adjust the output level of the bone conduction driver.
Honestly, I was pretty excited when I first saw this feature because this kind of real-time adjustment is very rare specially in earbuds. After using it for some time, I can happily say it delivers exactly what I hoped.
Turning the knob upward increases the bass quantity and adds more body to the sound. Sub-bass rumble becomes stronger, and overall note weight also gets bigger. On the opposite, reducing the knob cuts down the bass impact and gives a cleaner, more neutral presentation.
This tuning system is not just a gimmick — it really makes a major difference to the whole sound signature. Depending on the song, the mood, or even your source, you can easily tweak it. It’s a fantastic feature if you want some flexibility without changing tips or cables all the time.
It’s also smooth to operate. It never feels loose or unstable during usage. A small but very meaningful touch from Penon.
Source Compatibility & Power Requirement
The Penon Conductor is easy to drive and does not demand big power. Even simple dongle DACs or mid-level DAPs can drive it properly without any weakness.
However, better amplification do bring better performance. With a good amp or a high-quality balanced source, the Conductor sound gets noticeably cleaner, the background turns blacker, bass becomes tighter and overall imaging sharpens.
There’s no specific source matching issue too. Whether you pair it with a slightly warm DAP or a more neutral, reference-grade DAC, it adapts without showing any odd behavior. This forgiving nature makes it a versatile choice for different source chains.
If anything, I would say it likes a clean source more because it already has some warmth built into its tuning. Feeding it from an overly warm source might make it feel a little thick sometimes.
Testing Source
- Questyle qp2r
- Cowon Plenue R2
- Astell & kern SP1000M
- Hiby RS2
- Cayin N3 Ultra
- Ibasso DX180
- Hiby R4
- Hiby R5 sabre
- F.Audio FA5
- Hiby R3 iiI
- Hiby R1
- basso DC Elite
- Cayin ru7
- Questyle M15
- Shanling H5
- ifi idsd signature
- fosi k7
- fosi gr40
- KAEI-TAP2 ( AMP )
- ONIX Alpha Xl 1
- Hiby FC5
- Hiby FC4
- epz tp35
Sound Impression
Bass Response
The bass response on the Penon Conductor is actually quite impressive for an earbud. It delivers a rounded and full-bodied bass that feels both smooth and warm, adding a nice bit of fun to the overall sound signature.
Sub-bass performance is where things gets interesting. Thanks to the bone conduction driver handling the lower frequencies, there’s a physical impact to the sub-bass that you don’t usually find in traditional earbuds. There’s a smooth and deep rumble that feels very satisfying, not just heard but slightly felt too, which is quite rare at this size and form factor. Normally earbuds don’t reach this level of depth because of poor noise isolation, but here, Penon somehow managed to overcome that limit.
Listening to “Praise The Lord” by A$AP Rocky and Skepta, the sub-bass comes alive right from the intro. The deep 808 hits carry a low-end rumble that’s physical without being bloated. The bone conduction gives an extra body to the bassline that makes the whole track feel more immersive. Even when the synth bass layers stack up, the sub-bass never gets muddy.
Mid-bass is also well handled. It carries good impact and has a natural tightness to it. Drums have a satisfying punch, and kick drums sound properly weighted. For example, in “Invincible” by TOOL, the tom drums have a very nice weight and presence. You can clearly feel the double kicks at the start, each strike sounding controlled and impactful. Sometimes mid-bass can feel just a touch weighty depending on the track, but it’s nothing that bleeds or overwhelms the rest of the sound.
Overall, the bass stays controlled, fun, and musical — a nice balance between feeling energetic and staying clean.
Midrange
The Penon Conductor delivers a warm and smooth midrange that feels full and engaging. The overall tonality leans towards a slightly lush presentation, which benefits male vocals quite a lot.
Male vocals sound heavier and more grounded, with a richness that makes them more emotional and deep. Listening to “Time In A Bottle” by Jim Croce, the warmth of the acoustic guitar comes through beautifully, and Croce’s voice sounds intimate, thick, and very lifelike. The delicate fingerpicking details are easy to hear without feeling sharp.
Similarly, in “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, the multiple layers of Freddie Mercury’s vocals during the opera section are handled well. The grand piano sounds a little warmer than neutral, but not overly blurred. The complex vocal harmonies are separated cleanly enough, maintaining that rich, textured sound that makes the track so iconic.
Female vocals are also quite enjoyable, although the added warmth sometimes gives them a little more weight than usual. It’s not overdone, but in some parts of songs, it could feel slightly thicker than some people might prefer.
For instance, “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone showcases her powerful, soulful voice perfectly. Her deeper, emotional tones blend beautifully with the warm midrange, and the background bass and piano are very well layered.
On “Eye Of The Tiger” by Survivor, the electric guitar riffs sound full-bodied without any harsh edge, and the vocals cut through the mix with authority but without sharpness.
One thing that stands out is that even though the midrange is warm, instruments don’t sound muted or veiled. There is no unnatural sharpness or sibilance either, which is a big plus if you like long listening sessions without fatigue.
Treble Performance
The treble on the Penon Conductor is smooth and very easy on the ears. It carries a good amount of sparkle without being aggressive or sharp. Treble feels clean and has enough air to make the overall presentation lively, even though the general tuning leans towards warm and weighty side. A good thing is, even with the warmth and body in the lower range, the treble do not feel veiled or muted. It still have a clarity that keeps the sound engaging.
Listening to “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, the presence of the electric guitar and the piano strikes during the layered parts sound crisp without losing their natural timbre. The treble energy is controlled, but it gives enough sparkle to let the song’s complex arrangement breathe properly.
Similarly, in “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone, the string sections, specially the violins and cymbal rolls, comes through with a natural shimmer. The higher frequencies have a smooth extension without introducing any harshness or unnecessary sharp peaks, which helps maintaining a relaxing but still lively listening experience.
The Conductor handles treble instruments like cymbals, hi-hats, and strings with a soft but detailed touch. In tracks like “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, the electric guitars during the chorus maintain a bright energy without any piercing effect, while the crash cymbals sound crisp but rounded, avoiding any splashiness.
Overall, while this is not a treble-forward earbuds and it do not have a very sharp or analytical type of treble, it still delivers a clean and tasteful performance that match well with the overall warm sound signature. Treble lovers who seek extreme sharpness might find it a bit relaxed, but for most listeners, it will offer a fatigue-free and musically satisfying experience across a wide range of genres.
Technical Performance
The Penon Conductor offers a wide and slightly holographic soundstage that feels natural and very well put together. There is a sense of 3D layering to the sound where instruments and vocals have their own place and don’t overlap each other. Imaging is solid, with good positioning accuracy that helps tracking different elements inside complex tracks.
Micro details retrieval is quite decent. Small background elements, like faint backing vocals or minor instrument echoes, are noticeable without forcing to listen too hard. Note separation is okay too – not razor sharp like pure technical-focused gears, but enough to maintain clarity between different instruments and layers.
Even though the Conductor is not aiming to be a highly technical monster, whatever technical ability it have, it complements its musical character very well. There is a natural balance between being technical and still keeping the sound engaging and emotional.
The earbuds focus more on delivering a full-bodied, rich and fun listening rather than showcasing every tiny detail clinically. And honestly, it suits the overall tuning quite perfectly.
So if someone looking for extreme analytical performance, maybe this will feel a bit soft to them. But for everyday musical enjoyment with enough technical depth to not feel lacking, the Penon Conductor does a great job.
Conclusion
The Penon Conductor comes as a refreshing and unique addition to the earbuds world. With smart use of dynamic driver and bone conduction technology together, it create a sound that feels full, rich and very enjoyable across lot of different genres. The bass performance really stand out for an earbud, offering not only depth but also a physical rumble that’s not something you usually get in this kind of design. The midrange is warm and lush, male vocals sounds engaging and female vocals still keeps good texture even though the sound lean little bit to the warmer side. Treble is smooth and lively, staying clean without bringing any sharpness or harsh edge.
The technical performance here is tuned in a way that it supports the musicality instead of stealing the spotlight. Soundstage comes wide, imaging feels solid, and overall the presentation sounds natural and easy-going. The adjustable tuning knob for bone conduction is a brilliant touch, making it easy to tweak the sound more close to your own liking.
Build quality is very solid, the included cable feels light but premium too, and the whole package seem carefully thought out. Fit and comfort is good once you understand how to wear it properly, although the design might take some time for few users to adjust.
Overall, the Penon Conductor is perfect for those who looking for a rich, full-bodied musical experience that have enough technical quality to keep things interesting but without going into dry or analytical sound. If you value warmth, smoothness, and a bit of unique innovation inside your music gears, then this one is really worth checking out.
