After the success of their Timeless IEMs, 7hz released their special 10-year anniversary follow-up: The Eternal. The Eternal comes in at $250, which is a heavily contested range for audiophile IEMs. The timeless was loved because of its unique, relatively flat response, and I want to see if the Eternal finds the same niche.

What’s in the Box

• 7Hz Eternal IEMs
• 22 pairs of rubber ear tips with carrying cases
• OCC+Single Crystal Silver Cable
• Metal Carrying Case
• User guide

Look and Feel

In order to house its signature driver structure, the Eternals have a much bulkier design than most other IEMs on the market. With a backplate engraving resembling a camera aperture, they aren’t discreet, and there’s no mistaking them when you see them. Even so, they don’t feel bulky in the slightest and I felt very comfortable wearing them. The construction is durable and you definitely won’t have to replace them anytime soon.

Design

The Eternals feature a 14.5mm liquid crystal polymer diaphragm and an N52 magnet that has become a signature design of other 7Hz IEMs. While this does create the need for a larger housing, it’s the thing that allows for The Eternal’s signature sound character. 7Hz took bold steps to ensure that the Eternal functions at a high level first and foremost, without compromising its original design concept.

The 7Hz Eternal has a frequency response of 10 Hz – 20 kHz and an impedance of 30 Ohms.

Soundstage

The Eternal has a nice soundstage with good imaging. At low dynamics and minimal mixes, I could hear everything clearly, especially elements that had been hard-panned. The soundstage compresses sometimes during more crowded/chaotic mixes and would flatten slightly, but this wasn’t too often. Overall, it brought out an interesting space in the sound.

Lows

The Eternal has a relatively minimal low end that doesn’t feel the need to be present at all times. I can tell 7Hz wanted to go for a natural sound that doesn’t betray the mix in an egregious way. That being said, there is a slight boost in the lows, but it’s subtle and never feels forced. While they aren’t the punchiest lows, their presence can be felt when it’s appropriate.

Mids

The midrange curve on the Eternal is very flat, which I can tell is what 7Hz was going for. In some instances, it leans on the brighter side, but not overly so. Some lead instruments came out a bit compressed at times, but only in extreme cases; the Eternal does a great job of giving lead instruments the lead.

Highs

I find that highs can really make or break the perceived clarity of a headphone, and that goes double for IEMs. The Eternal’s highs didn’t stand out to me which, depending on your own preferences, could be a great thing. I never noticed any outstanding harshness, but also felt that they could have had more sheen to it at times. In keeping with the flat frequency response of these, it’s on-brand and subtle, which really comes down to personal preference.

Overall

The Eternal is a nice-sounding IEM. It manages to reach a middle ground in nearly every aspect, and never offends as a result. As far as IEMs go, they’re a great choice for somebody who doesn’t want too much interference with the mix. While not for everybody, those who like subtle yet tasteful detailing in their sound will love the 7Hz Eternals.

You can buy the 7Hz Eternal at Audio46