Intro
There comes times when a piece of technology gets released into the world and from that moment on, everything changes. The iPhone is a prime example of this, when it came out in 2007 it was revolutionary, and now 20% of the world’s population has an iPhone in their pocket every day. 4K TVs are another great example, the first consumer unit was available for purchase in 2012 for $25,000, and over the years, 40% of the world's population has one in their home. 4K has become the new benchmark for consumer electronics, being impressive in detail and relatively cheap, with some being available for under $400.
In the personal audio space, there have been many benchmarks that come onto the scene and create a new standard in their respective category, price range, and design. Monarch MKIII comes to mind first and foremost as a standard for a flagship IEM. The level of detail and technical performance you get at the $1,000 price point makes this set the true competition to any set that is similarly priced or has a similar vision. More recently, the FiiO FT1 and FT1 Pro have exploded in popularity as sub $200 headphones that have changed how we look at the race to the bottom, with their outstanding performance and comfort at such a low price.
XENNS Mangird have made plenty of impressive IEMs, with Top and Tea Pro notably being community favorites for a long time. Their newest offering, Top Pro, in my eyes has instantly become a new benchmark for what mid-fi audio can be - offering flagship level sound, design, and accessories at the $500 price point. I think this set is really special, and in this article, we’re going to get into the nitty gritty details of build and design, sound, comparisons, and hopefully find out if this set is right for you to add to your collection.
Build and Design
First is build and design, so let’s dive into the aesthetics of this unit. Top Pro’s shell is a multicolored beauty on a translucent base that allows you to see inside the inner workings of the IEM, with the drivers being visible from the outside. I always think this is super sick. However, I do think that the color dump could be a turn off for some people. It kind of reminds me of the Damascus camo in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2019 (which I religiously grinded for). The shell itself is something we have come to expect from other Linsoul products, as it is a little bit on the larger side – not quite as large as some of Thieaudio's offerings, but certainly not a small shell like we see with some Campfire or 64 Audio IEMs. I think it strikes a good balance, and anyone who takes the time to try out proper tip swapping should be able to get a good seal.
This set has a 196-Core Copper Silver cable with interchangeable plugs (4.4mm + 3.5mm, and it includes a 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter). The cable is decent, nothing super luxurious but I have seen much cheaper feeling cables from way more expensive sets. I think that the cable quality fits the price here, it’s good, but not a standout. Like my colleague Matthew said in his video review, the chin slider kind of sucks, which is a bummer for me. It works great when sitting at your desk and listening, but if you jostle the cable around too much, it falls down pretty easily. Not everyone uses chin sliders, but I do, and this may not be the best cable for running or playing live music, as if you are moving around a lot, the chin slider will inevitably fall down.I do however think that the cable color complements the shell quite nicely, and as Super Review would say, I think it is overall a “quite handsome” set.
As far as the driver configuration,Top Pro houses an impressive 10 driver hybrid configuration, with 2 dynamic drivers on each side for a rich low-end response, and 8 balanced armatures for the mids, highs, and air regions. The DD + BA combination has been done hundreds of times, but that is not without reason. I’ve seen these drivers combined in so many different ways because it just works: BA’s provide tremendous detail, and the DD comes in to help with more low-end power. We’ll obviously dive way into this in the next section of the article, but this combo works really well together to deliver strength, detail, and clarity that is addicting.
I want to give a final shout out to the unboxing experience on this set. I actually posted a reel of the unboxing on our socials (which you can find here) and I was really impressed with the level of attention that they put into something as seemingly small as the unboxing. Again, I’ve seen much less effort from much pricier sets. In the box, you get a leather carrying case, a small soft suede bag, 9 total pairs of eartips, a modular cable, an adapter for 6.3mm, an IEM clip, and an IEM cleaning tool. They didn’t miss anything here, and it really helps this mid-fi IEM feel more and more like a flagship experience. Now, let’s get into how this thing sounds.
Sound
As always I will be starting this section by telling you my setup and personal bias. I have been living with the Top Pro for about 3 weeks now, and about 90% of my listening time has been with this set, and I do really enjoy it. Almost all of my listening has been with my desktop setup, which is the Eversolo DMP A10 as my DAC and streamer into the Cayin HA-2A amp, almost exclusively using Apple Music. For portable use I have been listening exclusively on the RU9 in classic mode. I primarily use Eletech Baroque tips on this set. With all of that out of the way, let’s break down how this set sounds.
First, let’s talk bass. Top Pro certainly has a strong low-end presence, but I don’t think that’s the main takeaway with this set. The sub-bass region is boosted, yet it is very refined in its presentation. This is partly because of how the rest of the frequency response behaves. On hip hop tracks with tons of 808 bass presence, Top Pro delivers in a mighty way, but I do not think it is going to offend anyone. If anything, I actually find it a bit on the weaker side, even though it is technically elevated in its tuning. This is where I am more of a Tea Pro enjoyer, which I’ll get into a little bit later. I do however really appreciate the low-mid presence on this set. On “CHIHORO” by Billie Eilish, the bass guitar detail is very satisfying, even during the song’s most intense middle section when the arpeggiated synths dominate the sound. I actually found myself drawn to the bass slaps and funky-ness when the hi-hats came in towards the end, totally changing the experience I had with this song, which I have listened to countless times.
The midrange is a standout for me on Top Pro. Mids come across crystal clear and dead accurate, offering flagship level qualities. Electric guitars especially come across beautifully, sounding crisp and lush. I also really enjoy acoustic strums on this set: they come across very delicate and clear, as if you can hear the pick individually brushing across each string. The instrument separation that Top Pro provides is akin to some of the most technically rich IEMs you can get your hands on, generating a level of immersion that is not nearly as common in this price bracket. A standout track for me highlighting these qualities is “IF YOU DO” by Trace Mountains. The acoustic is so clean and detailed, and the electric guitar accuracy is unreal. The multiple electric guitars complement each other quite nicely – no one part is fighting with the other. The intense imaging of all the layers in this song really turns it from a song into an experience, something to live in for a brief moment.
Vocals are incredible on this set, and it may just be my favorite part. The upper mids/treble region really complement female vocals specifically, the tuning pushes them up front and center and presents them in a soft, warm manner. On “Kiss of Life” by Sade, Sade’s vocals act as a big blanket wrapping everything together. All of the harmonies during the hook shine bright, and the detail in her voice is mesmerizing. Thom Yorke’s voice on “How To Disappear Completely” by Radiohead is all encompassing, bringing another layer of warmth to this classic. It brings out emotion towards the end that is hard to explain, and makes the song all the more immersive and beautiful.
So why is this a benchmark you might ask – and not just a benchmark, a set that you can build your collection around? The overall tonal balance is excellent, with a slight lean towards the fun side, bringing just enough warmth to avoid the clinical sound of other neutral sets The biggest standout, however, is the detail. Every part of the frequency response has intense clarity that helps you dig into the music you love so much more. It’s not a situational set, it’s not a specialty tuning. Top Pro is an all encompassing powerhouse with quality that everyone can get excited about. It just does every genre well, and can be driven off of an Apple dongle, or can scale up with an endgame setup.
Comparison - Xenns Tea Pro, Moondrop Variations
In comparing Top Pro, I wanted to pick its little sibling from Xenns, and also give my best option as a similar sounding set in this price range. In this article I am going to be comparing it to Xenns Mangird Tea Pro, and Moondrop Variations.
The Tea Pro comes in at $359 and has a very similar driver configuration with 2 dynamic drivers and 6 balanced armatures. (Another quick preface: this is my favorite IEM of all time, lol.) The main difference in these sets is the tuning and presentation. Top Pro takes the cake with presence, treble, and overall detail, as well as balance. Tea Pro is a little more fun, with a larger bass response and warmer tonality. These sets complement each other quite well, and if you are someone looking for something a tad bit more engaging on a budget, I would recommend Tea Pro. However, if you want pristine, dead accurate detail, that remains non-fatiguing, I would do the Top Pro.
Moondrop Variations comes in a bit pricier at $599, and sports 1 dynamic driver, 2 balanced armatures, and 2 electrostatic drivers. Variations has long been an easy recommendation for very similar reasons to Top Pro: its neutral-leaning tuning provides a safe option for audiophiles looking to grab a reliable daily driver. Variations’ U-shape tuning has a little less bass and low-mid emphasis than the Top Pro however, Variations makes up for it with its unbelievable detail in the upper midrange, and still delivers that true balance that satisfies just about everyone. So which one is for you? Well, I find Top Pro to be a bit more welcoming and easy to listen to, while Variations has more technical elements that I can see being a bit too “boring” for some people. While Variations is not a reference IEM, it leans a bit closer to that than Top Pro does. I think Top Pro would be great for a fun tuned IEM enjoyer who wants something more detailed, and Variations would be for someone who loves a reference set but wants something a bit more relaxed.
Concluding Thoughts
The XENNS Mangird Top Pro redefines mid-fi audio, delivering flagship-level sound, design, and accessories at a competitive $500 price point. Its 10-driver hybrid configuration masterfully balances powerful yet mature bass, crystal-clear mids, and delicate treble, ensuring every genre shines with exceptional detail and immersion. The translucent, multicolored shell and comprehensive accessory package elevate the unboxing to near-luxury, and unlike many situational IEMs, Top Pro’s versatile tuning excels with any setup, from a simple dongle to high-end desktop rigs. It’s not just a benchmark; it’s a cornerstone for any audio collection, offering unmatched precision and value. I’d recommend it to anyone seeking a do-it-all IEM that punches well above its price, whether it is your first IEM, or you have been a veteran in this space for a long time.
Be sure to check out Matthew’s video review of Top Pro on our YouTube, hear our thoughts on this set on episode 4 of Bloom Pod, and if you have any questions about this set or any others from our website, shoot us an email or hop in our live chat. We would be more than happy to chat with you!
