Yanyin is one of many Chi-Fi brands that have been around since the early days of the hobby. However, despite its longstanding presence, it’s one of the brands we’ve yet to review—until now.
Over the years, Yanyin has produced several fan favorites, most notably the Moonlight and Canon series of IEMs. Continuing the latter series is the Yanyin Canon Pro—a hybrid IEM consisting of dynamic and balanced armature drivers.
What It Is
The Canon Pro houses a single LCP dome diaphragm dynamic driver paired with six balanced armature drivers. Compared to its predecessor, the Yanyin Canon II, the Canon Pro features two additional BA drivers and a different dynamic driver type—switching from a biological diaphragm to an LCP dome diaphragm.
What makes the Canon Pro stand out from its peers is the added flexibility of tuning switches to tweak its sound signature. While this may not be a revolutionary feature (the KZ ZS10 Pro 2 and Joyodio Shine we’ve previously reviewed have had a similar gimmick), the Canon Pro takes a more subtle approach.
According to Yanyin, these switches are not equivalent to a typical EQ adjustment; instead, they employ an electronic crossover method to prevent distortion while modifying the output. Of course, we’ll be putting that to the test.
The Yanyin Canon Pro retails for $399 (about RM1,700) on Linsoul.com, who were kind enough to provide us with a review unit.
What’s In The Box?
The packaging of the Canon Pro is quite well-presented, especially compared to your typical Chi-Fi unboxing experience. Included in the box is a round leather carrying case that holds the earphones and cable. The cable itself is a 4-core crystal copper design, with a single-core 22AWG construction and 140 precision-braided strands.
Also included are six pairs of silicone ear tips of varying sizes—three of which are clear silicone, while the other half are opaque. Additionally, there is a small pin provided for adjusting the tuning switches on the IEMs.
While the overall package is a step above what many other brands offer, at this price point, it’s also something that has come to be expected.
The IEMs themselves sport a 3D-printed face plate, featuring the Yanyin logo on one side and “Canon” on the other. The color scheme transitions from a deep purple to a blue gradient with specks of silver along the edges—making for an eye-catching design. On the top of the shells, you’ll find an air vent and two tuning switches on each side.
How Does It Sound?
The Canon Pro delivers a mostly neutral sound with an emphasis on clarity and instrument separation. The tuning lands in vocal-centric territory—leaning towards a brighter presentation—making it an interesting choice for those who prioritise midrange detail.
Bass
The bass is well-controlled but not particularly punchy, with a noticeable mid-bass tuck that aims to provide greater clarity for vocals. This tuning choice means the low-end lacks the weight and impact that bassheads yearn for.
While the sub-bass is more evident than the mid-bass, it still isn’t particularly boomy or impactful. Despite the weaker attack, decent vibration and decay can still be felt.
Mids
Vocals remain untouched by the mild low-end, free from any bass bloom. I prefer a bit of warmth in my vocals, so the brighter presentation in the midrange strays a bit from my preference. Despite that, there’s still a decent amount of weight for both male and female vocals.
The midrange is also slightly forward, with raised upper mids and lower treble. While this brings out vocal clarity, it can occasionally sound a bit shouty, especially in busy sections of female vocals. However, the tuning rolls off smoothly to avoid excessive harshness.
There’s good air present in the vocals, but I can’t help but miss a bit of lushness and weight to make the vocals a touch more organic.
Treble
The treble carries a noticeable BA timbre, which may not appeal to those looking for a more natural presentation. There’s a nice sense of air, but not much sparkle due to the rolled-off highs. While this prevents sibilance, it also limits the sense of treble extension.
What the balanced armature drivers do wonders for, however, is reveal plenty of detail. I’m able to pick up certain instruments within the sound stage that I haven’t previously. Instruments are also well-separated and relatively easy for me to pinpoint and place within the sound stage.
Tuning Switches and Clear Silicone Ear Tips
There are essentially 3 settings to set the tuning switches to: both down, either side up (tuning seems to be the same regardless of which side is up or down) and both up. The switches mainly affect the bass response, essentially offering two levels of bass boost rather than a drastic change to the entire frequency range.
Regardless of the switch setting, the bass remains controlled and articulate but never reaches a particularly impactful or basshead-level boom to my ears. I would personally keep the switches to the “Up-Up” positions and not fiddle around with it any further.
The clear silicone ear tips bundled with the Canon Pro are something a little different compared to the foam tips you normally see included. These tips isolate just the vocals and slightly muffles the rest of the sound signature, causing a loss in detail across the frequency range. The normal, opaque silicone ear tips sound more natural and exciting to my ears, but it’s good that Yanyin provides you with another option, should you choose.
Is It Worth It?
The Yanyin Canon Pro is a well-built, visually striking IEM with a tuning that caters well to vocal lovers that seek clarity instead of the usual Harman-tuned warmth. The included accessories are solid, and the tuning switches add a layer of flexibility. However, for those who prefer a more bass-heavy presentation, it may not be the best fit.
In the current Chi-Fi landscape, the Canon Pro at $399 faces stiff rivalry from lower-priced alternatives that offer comparable performance. Granted, most of these alternatives have either “Meta” or Harman tuning, making the Canon Pro a unique but pricey alternative.