Overview

The ivipQ PM-01 is the first headphone from ivipQ, a China-based audio brand previously known for high-purity headphone and IEM upgrade cables. Announced around September–October 2025, it is a wired over-ear headphone built around an 80mm planar-magnetic driver, with a detachable cable offering 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and dual 3-pin XLR terminations. It is marketed for monitoring, Hi-Fi listening, and gaming, and is rated at 40Ω/98dB for direct use from phones and portable players. The original listing price was near 389 USD, while the typical discounted street price is approximately 161 USD [1][5].

Scientific Validity

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Manufacturer specifications list a THD figure of under 0.1% and a frequency response range of 10Hz–55,000Hz [1]. No ±dB tolerance or deviation from a target curve is published, so frequency-response compliance cannot be assessed, and the THD claim is stated without any test conditions but sits in the good range for headphones. No independent third-party measurements of the PM-01 are available for verification. Because the only audio-quality figure is an unverified manufacturer claim, a conservative assessment is warranted.

Technology Level

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The PM-01 uses a now-common 80mm planar-magnetic driver and standard detachable balanced cabling (3.5mm/4.4mm host side, dual 3-pin XLR headphone side) [1]. No patent, white paper, proprietary diaphragm or magnet technology, or in-house transducer development was identified. Planar-magnetic headphone drivers have been mass-produced for over a decade, and an 80mm diameter is a construction figure rather than a distinct technology. The implementation is purely mechanical, offers no lasting competitive advantage, and is readily replicated by existing competitors, placing the technology level low.

Cost-Performance

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This site evaluates based solely on functionality and measured performance values, without considering driver types or configurations. The PM-01 is a wired passive over-ear headphone with a detachable cable, single-ended and balanced terminations, and direct drivability from phones, PCs, and players, at a street price of approximately 161 USD [5]. The HiFiMan HE400se, at 109.99 USD, provides equivalent user-facing functionality and third-party-measured performance that is equivalent-or-better:

• THD: below 0.2% measured (HE400se) vs under 0.1% manufacturer claim (PM-01) — equivalent, both within the headphone good band
• FR deviation: HE400se measures with credible adherence to target curves, while the PM-01 publishes no ±dB deviation figure — equivalent at the band level

Because the PM-01 has only manufacturer specifications and no independent measurements, this comparison is provisional [1][3][4].

CP = 109.99 USD / 161 USD = 0.68

Reliability & Support

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ivipQ’s published warranty for headphones is 1 year covering parts and labor, below the common two-year baseline [2]. Construction is simple and robust: a passive over-ear with a single driver per side, no battery and no electronics, and a detachable cable that removes the most common headphone failure point. Manufacturer-direct after-sales support is available, but it is centralized with no regional service network, and warranty repairs require customer-paid international shipping [2]. No statistical failure data exists, and as a recent first product from a new headphone maker there is no established reliability track record.

Rationality of Design Philosophy

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The PM-01’s stated direction is objective-leaning: a balanced, neutral frequency response without emphasized coloration, low distortion, and deliberately easy drivability (40Ω/98dB, usable directly from a phone), with cost directed toward the driver and genuinely useful single-ended and balanced cable terminations rather than luxury finish or brand premium. As a 2025 product it is judged against fully contemporary alternatives. However, no measurements, target-curve graphs, or test conditions are published to substantiate these claims, there is no proprietary innovation, and no prior model exists to demonstrate progression. The “oversized 80mm driver” framing leans on a larger-is-better narrative rather than demonstrated audible benefit [1]. These factors balance out at a neutral assessment.

Advice

The PM-01 may appeal to listeners wanting a planar-magnetic over-ear with flexible single-ended and balanced cabling that runs directly from a phone. However, no independent measurements verify its balanced-response and low-distortion claims, so its real-world performance remains unconfirmed. A measured alternative such as the HiFiMan HE400se delivers equivalent-or-better confirmed performance at a lower price [3][4]. The 1-year warranty is shorter than typical, and after-sales support requires customer-paid international shipping. Buyers prioritizing verified performance and value should weigh these points before purchasing.

References

[1] ivipQ - PM-01 official product page - https://ivipq.com/products/ivipq-pm-01-flat-magnetic-headphones-feature-planar-magnetic-driver-technology-and-a-large-80mm-unit-for-high-quality-sound - accessed 2026-06-23 - manufacturer specifications: 80mm planar driver, FR 10–55,000Hz, THD <0.1%, 40Ω, 98dB, 3.5/4.4mm to dual 3-pin XLR [2] ivipQ - Return & Warranty Policy - https://ivipq.com/pages/return-policy - accessed 2026-06-23 - 1-year headphone warranty (parts + labor) [3] RTINGS - HiFiMan HE400se Review - https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/hifiman/he400se - accessed 2026-06-23 - standardized headphone rig; FR matches target curves well, low THD [4] Amazon - HiFiMan HE400se listing - https://www.amazon.com/HIFIMAN-Audiophiles-Great-Sounding-Sensitivity-Comfortable/dp/B08Z2SK5C4 - accessed 2026-06-23 - price 109.99 USD (Jan 2026) [5] AliExpress - ivipQ PM-01 listing - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009029931062.html - accessed 2026-06-23 - street price ≈161 USD with coupon/discount

(2026.6.23)