7th Acoustics Supernova Review

Preface

I purchased my set of Supernovas with my own money and all thoughts/opinions are my own.

Since I joined this hobby (as of writing this review 2-3 years ago) I have had my eyes on this set as it had been praised for its natural and amazing midrange and treble. Now that I’ve finally gotten myself a set I am excited to write my full review!

Overview

Introduction

The Supernova is the flagship IEM from 7th Acoustics, designed by Stephen Syn. This 6-BA IEM is praised for its natural tuning and excellent coherency. Previously, purchasing one required direct contact with Syn, where buyers would select a faceplate color before he handcrafted their unit, a process taking several months. Now, availability has improved, with retailers like Hangout Audio, Elise Audio, and Bloom Audio offering ready-to-purchase units.

Sound

I will dig deeper into the sound later in the review.

Overall I describe the sound as a bright-neutral with a slight emphasis on vocals. The bass won’t satisfy those looking for a more bass-heavy IEM but the bass that is there is presented very well, with good texture, tightness, and body considering the amount. The mids are the best part of the tuning for me, vocals are presented with an outstanding timbre and forwardness without being shouty. The treble may be bright for those more accustomed to the new more popular “Meta” tuning, but the treble is presented very smoothly, with no audible peaks or harshness to my ear.

Unboxing

Unboxing the Supernova you are greeted with a handsome unboxing experience, the package includes;

• 7A Supernova IEMs

• Custom copper cable

• Metal puck case

• 3 Pairs of S, M, and L silicone eartips

• 5 Pairs of Final Type E narrow-bore eartips of SS, SM, M, and L

• Cleaning cloth

• Warranty card

I am overall happy with what comes in the box, the case feels like high-quality metal with a soft inside so as not to scratch the IEM shells, and the cable feels adequate for an IEM of this price and an upgrade is not necessary but I purchased a white Openhart cable just because the white I felt matched the faceplates better.

Build

The IEM shells are made of 3D-printed black resin, with a semi-custom molding. The faceplates are made out of abalone and come in a few colors; purple, blue, light blue, red, green

Sound

Bass

The bass is handled by dual Sonion vented BA drivers, at first I was a little disappointed by the bass amount, but the more I listened, the more I appreciated it. The bass has a nice tight and smooth texture to it, I would describe it as “clean” without being soft like how “BA bass” is described. I prefer the Supernova’s bass to a lot of dynamic drivers because of the tightness and smoothness it has. Bass guitars and cellos have a good warmth and body, vibrations are played nicely and clearly through these drivers. The downsides of the bass is it can be a little too smooth if you want sharper bass with more “definition” and it is a little bass-light so some might want to use EQ.

Midrange

This is the Supernova’s strong point. The midrange as of writing this review is the best and most natural I’ve ever heard in an IEM, vocals, and instruments have an outstandingly natural timbre without any shoutiness or muffle, and the low mids have no scoop which keeps the body of instruments and it also has no bumps making the midrange too muddy. The upper mids are slightly forward with an early pinna rise which makes female vocals more forward but it doesn't extend too much at around 3k-4k keeping it from being shouty. Vocals are airy yet smooth and keeps from being harsh or sibilant in the lower treble.

Treble

This is another point where the Supernova stands out. Compared to IEMs that use the newer “Meta” tuning these are bright in the lower treble area, I expected them to be a bit bright for me but when I’m listening they never get sibilant or overly bright. The treble kind of walks the line between smooth and detailed, the treble has natural texture and smoothness but it will not suffice for someone who wants detail or resolution. Overall the treble is very pleasant and smooth with a bit more meat on its bones.

Technical Performance

Overall the Supernova is definitely good when it comes to separation, imaging, and soundstage due to the elevated treble, but it won’t blow you away. I never wished for more separation or width, with complicated mixes still presenting well and the depth between sounds being clear. While these don’t have the widest staging, they do feel adequately open, again good just not the best. If you are someone who wants a set that can be described as “holographic” these may not be for you.

Conclusion

The Supernova scores extremely well at S+, this is due to its unmatched timbre, midrange quality, and treble smoothness.

This is a superb IEM and for anyone looking for a technically sound IEM with a focus on good vocals and timbre, this is a great endgame IEM. While the bass is light, it carries quality that will satisfy plenty. If you are willing to sacrifice bass quantity and lack of heavy warmth for smooth sparkly treble I would also recommend this.