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Both support hi-res Bluetooth codecs and have access to streaming apps, though with SR25 you have to side load it, while with R5 you just download it directly from Google play store. But the layering of the sound and vertical dynamics expansion is quite different with SR25 having more air between layers and more dynamic peaks, while R5 sounding more compressed and flatter in comparison. Tonality is similar, being neutral and more natural. R5 doesn’t have a wide soundstage to begin with, and it is noticeable in this comparison with SR25 expanding its staging wider.
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SR25 vs Hiby R5 – more similarities in tonality between these two, but when it comes to technical performance, the gap is wider. But if you want access to streaming and more advanced Bluetooth with hi-res codec support, and better battery life, SR25 is the way to go. I think in this comparison, those who enjoy sound tweaking and only care about local audio playback might consider R2. From a technical perspective, especially with high res FLAC files, SR25 sound is more layered and with a little better vertical dynamics expansion. But, R2 has a little more low end impact and a deeper sub-bass rumble.
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Tonality is very similar as well, neutral, detailed, with a natural body. With soundstage, SR25 stretches a little bit wider, not by a whole lot, but noticeable. SR25 vs Plenue R2 – a lot of similarities in this comparison, though some subtle differences as well. SPK has better technical abilities with more air between the layers of the sound, as expected from a flagship model. But overall tonality has a lot of similarities, being more neutral with a more natural body and great retrieval of details. I do hear SPK to have a wider soundstage, stretching further left/right, and SPK also has more sparkle in treble and a little more transparency in upper mids. SR25 vs SP1000 SS – believe it or not, the tonality here is not too far off. This technical performance difference is what sets SR25 apart from SR15 entry level performance, elevating SR25 to a more solid mid-fi level. Also, the sound of SR25 is more layered, more separated, and with better vertical dynamics expansion, making SR15 sound flatter and more compressed in comparison. SR25 soundstage is a little bit wider and has more depth, resulting in a better imaging and a more accurate positioning of instruments and vocals in space. And that is where all similarities end because SR25 technically is by far superior in comparison to SR15. SR25 vs SR15 – the tonality of these DAPs is nearly the same, both having a neutral balanced signature with a more natural fuller body tonality. In every comparison I used 64 Audio U18t IEMs, volume matched while listening to the same test track between DAPs. Other than that, the sound signature and tonality are nearly the same. Another very noticeable difference is BAL output having a wider soundstage and blacker background. The difference in power output is definitely noticeable since while going from BAL to SE I had to raise the volume by 10 clicks to match it. Here are more differences between BAL and SE outputs as I hear it. But when switching to 3.5mm (SE), the soundstage width shrinks. That is how it sounds from 2.5mm (BAL) output. The soundstage expansion is very spacious, wide, and with a good imaging resulting in a relatively accurate placement of instruments and vocals. And I found SR25 to have a black hiss-free background even with some of the most sensitive IEMs, like Andromeda and Solaris. Overall, the sound has good dynamics (vertical expansion of peaks), never felt compressed or congested. Similar to its predecessor, I found SR25 to have a neutral balanced signature with a more natural fuller body tonality, not only with U18t but other iems and headphones. The sound analysis of SR25 was done using 64 Audio U18t, playing a selection of the test tracks, such as Agnes Obel “The curse”, Sandro Cavazza “So much better” (Avicii remix), C-Bool “Never go away”, Ed Sheeran “Shape of you”, Counting Crows “Big yellow taxi”, Galantis “Hunter”, Alan Walker “Darkside”, Iggy Azalea “Black widow”, Indila “Boite en argent”, Robin Schultz “Oh child”, David Elias “Vision of her”, and Michael Jackson “Dirty Diana”.