102dB
Impedance:
10Ω
Distortion:
0.015%
Frequency Response:
20Hz–35kHz
Driver Configuration:
1DD + 2 Planar Drivers
Total Score
Introduction
Greetings to all Hifitopia followers from our final review of February. Bassheads, make yourselves known. Today we’ll be reviewing the latest IEM from a company that specifically produces products for bassheads. Introducing the Punch Audio Portazo!
Let’s see what else the Portazo has to offer besides big bass. The product in my hands was provided to me by Linsoul for an independent and honest review. I would like to thank them here for adhering to our principles of honesty.
Design & Build
Punch Audio Portazo comes in a stylish and colorful box, just like its elder brother Martilo. While much of the contents are the same, the Portazo box contains the following items:
- 1x Punch Audio Portazo
- 1x Leather Case
- 3.5mm and 4.4mm adapters
- 4x filter meshes
- 6x Pairs of Ear Tips
- 1x User Manual
Shells, Cable, Case, Tips
The shells have an acrylic construction and a textured green faceplate. Unlike conventional designs, they feature a straight cut toward the nozzle, with a plastic nozzle being the preferred choice. I believe this is a strategic move aimed at reducing costs and lowering the price. Ultimately, Martilo is in a higher price range. Other than that, the shells are medium-small in size. They fit comfortably in the ear. The isolation is average. Looking at the cable, it’s nice that it has a replaceable jack. Other than that, it’s black and unassuming. The cable’s connection points look very sturdy, and the cable is soft. There is no microphone feedback.
The carrying case that comes with the Portazo is the same as the one that comes with the Martilo. It’s large and functional, but average in terms of quality. The tips that come with it are quite satisfying. The liquid silicone tips are quite successful. In addition to these, spare nozzle filters are available. I’m happy that this is now the new standard.
Synergy
The listening tests I conducted on both devices were performed via the 4.4mm jack.
Punch Audio Portazo With Roseselsa RS9039
The pairing of these two produces a very pleasing result. The sound is balanced and reasonably priced. It is both technically adequate and sufficiently entertaining. I think the Portazo and RS9039 are tonally compatible. This pair is particularly enjoyable when listening to hip-hop, and it’s not bad at all for instrumental tracks either. I would describe the resulting sound profile as U-shaped.
Punch Audio Portazo With FiiO BTR7
Yes, I know the previous match was very attractive in terms of total price, but Portazo performs much better with Btr7. Here, the sound is both more homogeneous and more resolved. The profile I achieved is like a combination of W-shape and L-shape. The vocals here are both smoother and more prominent. I really enjoyed hip-hop and EDM tracks with this pairing too, but it’s clear that I got significantly more enjoyment from other genres with this pairing compared to the previous one. I think the BTR7 brings out almost all of Portazo’s technical capabilities. My rating for this pairing is 9/10.
Sound
Punch Audio Portazo is a basshead headphone with a musical sound signature. First of all, it’s not as V-shaped as the Martilo. It’s more like a combination of U and L shapes. The trebles aren’t piercing, but there’s enough energy in the air frequencies. The micro planar driver seems to be doing a good job here. Moreover, the bass strives to remain full and deep rather than delivering killer punches. In this sense, the Portazo is a more balanced IEM than the Martilo, despite being cheaper.
Bass
The sub and midbass are similar in weight. The bass is powerful relative to the rest of the spectrum but not overpowering. Still, I think it slightly affects the tone of male vocals. Other than that, it has high speed and tracking ability. It is satisfying both in genres like hiphop and EDM and in terms of instruments like drums and bass guitar.
Mid
The mids are quite transparent as they approach the upper range, and warmer as they approach the lower range. There is a slight break in homogeneity here in technical terms, but there is no roll-off and it is not very noticeable. Everything works quite well here except for the lower mids. Guitars and strings are consistent and full-bodied. Wind instruments are average. Vocal balance is quite good, with female vocals positioned where they should be. In this respect, the tonal preference is somewhat reminiscent of the old Sennheiser sound. It feels a bit veiled, but it’s definitely very accurate.
Treble
Surprisingly very good. It feels well above its price point compared to the rest of the spectrum. It’s very successful and accurate in terms of tone and extension. Beyond that, it’s both clear and non-piercing, making a significant contribution to the soundstage. In terms of tonality, the upper treble is more dominant than the lower treble, but it does so subtly, and its placement is superb. I can say that the Punch Audio Portazo’s treble performance exceeded my expectations.
Technique
Sufficiently clear and detailed. Very successful in terms of consistency and tonal accuracy. Average in terms of overall texture. The technical distribution is not completely homogeneous, but only with minor differences. The sound is detailed in general terms, but average in terms of microdetail production. The overall sound focuses on musical enjoyment rather than technical precision, and they have succeeded well in this. In terms of the soundstage, the width is slightly above average, while the depth is good. Separation is adequate, layering is good at the top end and average at the bottom end. Positioning across the spectrum is largely accurate. The overall imaging ability is good but not perfect.
Last Words
Punch Audio Portazo is an IEM that appeals to a wider audience with its calmer and more balanced tone compared to its sibling, Martilo. Portazo blends pure entertainment with sharp V-shaped sound and good technical performance. Portazo, on the other hand, has a much more balanced sound that prioritizes consistency and delivers musicality without being tiring. It does this with quite powerful and well-placed bass. If you like L-shaped tuning and the old Sennheiser sound, I think it could be a great option.
