Previously, I introduced you to one of Hidizs’ ultra-large planar HiFi IEMs: the Hidizs MP145, which is a great IEM. Now Hidizs has come up with the more affordable MP143 Salt for you guys! It’s basically the little brother of the MP145, and the advantages have basically been inherited. If you’re interested in planar IEMs, please keep watching the video till the end.
Unboxing
The general design of the box remains the same as the MP145. I noticed that the box is completely Plastic-Free and smaller in size, obviously in response to the call to protect the environment.
Open the lid and inside is the MP143 itself, with all the other accessories underneath. Aside from the manual and a bunch of ear tips, what’s inside this black leather pouch is what we really need. Inside is a detachable cable like the MP145, with 2-pin gold-plated connectors and a pure copper plating shell.
There is also a small box containing three different sound-tuning filters. This is also the same giveaway as the MP145’s, they can change the tendency of the sound by filtering the cotton.
As you can see, the MP143 doesn’t lack certain accessories due to its lower price tag, which is still quite generous for Hidizs.
Design
Compared to the MP145, the MP143 will have a more minimalist design. Instead of opting to CNC carve the whale’s tail into the headphone’s casing this time around, they’ve just step-carved the whale’s folds, and the step heights aren’t as exaggerated as before.
There are air holes in the shell. It can balance the air pressure inside the earphone cavity. Ensure that the sound quality will not be muffled. While I still think the MP145’s large whale tail design would have looked better, it doesn’t mean the 143’s design is ugly. The silver version we got I think is the best-looking of the three colorways. the shine of the Aluminum alloy brings a hint of industrial beauty.
The reason the MP143 is less difficult to make this time around is simple: to bring the price down and make it more affordable for more people. So if its price is within your budget, then thank Hidizs for their efforts in case design.
What does “Salt” stand for?
Have you ever wondered why Hidizs MP143 has a “Salt” at the end of its name? We all know that Hidizs has been working with WDC since last year. So “Salt” must have something to do with whales or dolphins, right?
“Salt is actually the name of a female humpback whale. She was first spotted in the 1970s and is known for her speckled white dorsal fin, making her stand out in a crowd. She has 15 children, 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. It’s no wonder this legendary matriarch received the attention of the WDC. In honor of “Salt,” the Hidizs used her name on MP143.
This is a way to raise attention to the health of the oceans so that whales and dolphins can have a safe environment. Secondly, it suggests that the MP143 has fantastic audio quality – after all, humpback whales are renowned for their melodic songs.
Specs
As a planar IEM, the MP143 has decent specifications. 14.3mm Planar Magnetic Driver with a Nano-level diaphragm should be considered as a better configuration. The driver isn’t as big as the 145’s, but in other words, it’s more wearable.
Both in terms of size and weight, the MP143 has once again evolved to become more sensible. Weighing in at 20% lighter than the MP145, I can clearly feel that the earbuds are firmer in my ears.
Everyone should know the benefits of the Planar magnetic driver. Much lower distortion at higher volumes. More powerful bass response and so on. I said in my review of the MP145 that the biggest drawback of the planar HiFi IEMs is that they are expensive. The MP143 is even cheaper than the MP145 this time around though, with the Super Early Bird coming in at under $80. That shouldn’t make it expensive for most Hi-Fi fans.
Check out the affordable HIDIZS MP143 campaign on KICKSTARTER! The great deal just started running last week.
Experience
To be honest, I’m no audio expert. But as a melomaniac, I think I can share my experience. Overall, it is an omnivorous earphone. I didn’t find any aspect that it doesn’t perform well, songs by male or female singers, folk music, pop, rock, symphony, and even anime songs can be handled well. In all types of music, it does a great job of reproducing studio live sound.
Hidizs also put out an FR graph of this IEM, which basically matches my personal feelings as well. They were tuned to the H-2019 target curve with no particular tendencies, just like the MP145. So you like the MP145, you’ll definitely like the MP143 as well.
Summarize
Simply put, the MP143 is the budget version of the 145. The MP143 will be smaller and lighter, more wearable. The design is much simpler. The biggest difference is that the driver is a bit smaller, the rest isn’t that much worse than the MP145.
Obviously, the super cheap price is the most important reason why the MP143 stands out from the rest. It’s still crowdfunding on Kickstarter, and there aren’t many chances to get a planar IEM for less than $80. So better to hurry up and pre-order it.
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