In this article, I review the Shozy P20 IEM. The P20 features a large 14.5mm planar driver and aluminium alloy shells. It’s priced at $139.

Disclaimer: This sample was provided by Linsoul for an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own, based on my experience with the product.

Shozy P20

Specifications

Driver: 14.5mm planar driver
Impedance: 30Ω
Sensitivity: 105dB (at 1KHz/mW)
Frequency response: 5-40KHz

In the Box

• Shozy P20 IEMs
• Detachable 0.78mm 2-pin silver-plated copper cable
• Zipper carrying case
• 12x pairs of silicone eartips

Design

The P20’s aluminium alloy shells have a matte black finish. There are some intricate laser-etched patterns on the faceplates that give the P20 a low-key sci-fi aesthetic. There are 3 small vents around the centre of the faceplate and another near the base of the nozzle.

P20 comes with standard 0.78mm 2-pin sockets and has a good lip on the nozzle that holds eartips securely in place. Internally, there’s a large 14.5mm planar driver.

Despite the large driver, the shells are average in size and are also comfortable in the ears. Passive noise isolation is slightly above average.

The included SPC cable is really nice. It is resistant to tangling, even though it’s somewhat thin. There’s no noticeable microphonics and the cable handles well overall.

Sound

Gear used for testing includes the Shanling UP4 2022, HiBy R3 II and Earmen Angel. The P20 is reasonably efficient and can be used straight out of a smartphone or dongle DAC. However, I found it performed slightly better with a beefier source.

P20 has a U-shaped sound signature with a tasteful elevation in low-end response, and the upper treble. It’s midrange doesn’t shine as brightly but is forward enough to maintain overall equilibrium.

Bass

Considering the large 14.5mm driver, you might expect the P20 to be a basshead IEM. However, Shozy chose to implement a carefully calibrated bass for an immersive yet balanced sound. Rather than aim for sheer volume, P20’s lows are all about restrained authority.

In addition to sounding authoritative, the bass sounds natural. The enriched bass, coupled with its sutained decay, imparts a cozy ambiance to the stage and midrange. It’s not the most agile bass but it can shake things up when needed with solid low-end extension and impact.

Midrange

The midrange is reasonably upfront but it’s not the focus of P20’s sound. It’s mostly in line with the treble and just slightly behind the bass. While this gives the mids plenty of fullness and warmth, they’re not the most detailed or nuanced.

The vocals possess a natural richness and depth, maintaining a balanced density without veering into excessive thickness. A subtle lift in the upper midrange adds nuance without inducing any hint of shoutiness. Furthermore, rather than striving for heightened clarity, both vocals and instruments uphold an authentic timbre.

Treble

Looking at the graph, you might think the P20 has an aggressive upper treble but that’s not the case. By attenuating the upper midrange lift, P20 is able to raise its treble without becoming overly bright or aggressive. An 8kHz peak provides overall clarity and the upper treble extension creates space and airy upper harmonics.

Due to the laid-back lower treble, some details are lost but Shozy has purposely done this to maintain a more natural and engaging tone. This approach prioritizes a smoother presentation, ensuring that the listener can enjoy extended listening sessions without experiencing fatigue. Despite the slight sacrifice in detail retrieval, the P20’s overall sound signature remains cohesive and inviting, offering a pleasing balance between clarity and musicality.

Soundstage and Technicalities

The P20 boasts an elliptical soundstage that extends wider than it does deep. While it is adept at providing left-to-right stereo imaging with a stable centre image, it lacks depth, resulting in limited layering in a three-dimensional sense. Instrument separation is good and detail retrieval is moderate.

Comparisons

Letshuoer S12 Pro ($169)

The Letshuoer S12 Pro has a brighter and more energetic sound signature. It puts more emphasis on the sub-bass and less on the mid-bass compared to the P20. S12 Pro’s bass is more textured and agile.

The mids on the S12 Pro are leaner and have cleaner attacks compared to P20 which has a more melodic, musical midrange. S12 Pro’s treble is livelier and facilitates better detail retrieval but some people might find it aggressive compared to the P20’s laid-back highs.

S12 Pro’s soundstage is wider and better organized. Moreover, it has more precise imaging than the P20.

Kiwi Ears Melody ($89)

The Kiwi Ears Melody (review here) has a similar sound signature with a couple of minor but significant differences. When it comes to bass, these 2 IEMs are hard to separate–both have similar levels of technical performance and quantity of both sub-bass and mid-bass.

Melody’s midrange is pulled back slightly more which gives a hint less body and more articulation. Melody has a small rise around 5kHz-7kHz, giving it more clarity and presence, in addition to creating sharper instrument and vocal attacks.

These differences might seem minor but as a result, Melody has better detail retrieval and midrange articulation whereas the P20 has a silkier, flowing character.

Kefine Klanar ($119)

The Kefine Klanar (review here) has a leaner and more dynamic sound signature. Its mid-bass is less upfront, resulting in a leaner albeit more articulated lower midrange.

Klanar’s upper midrange lift adds presence, clarity and brightness to the image. This, in addition to its additional lower treble lift, gives it a more dynamic and detailed sound.

Klanar has a wider soundstage with more space between instruments but some might find it overly V-shaped.

Verdict

After spending some time with the Shozy P20 planar IEM, I’ve come away impressed. Not only does it have excellent build quality, but it’s also comfortable for long listening sessions.

While it may not offer the utmost detail in its sound reproduction, I found its non-fatiguing presentation to be engaging and enjoyable. In terms of overall performance, it holds its own against other similarly priced IEMs, although there are some more affordable alternatives.