Hello everyone again. For this occasion, I start with a bias that I don't always have, and that is that I have to review a model from a recent brand whose catalog is based today on only 2 models, of which I already owned and reviewed the most expensive one (Martilo) back in the day. I was delighted with what they achieved at the price they launched it, in my opinion even surpassing a model from another brand that was even more expensive, like the HBB Punch. In this case, we have the other release from this brand, Punch Audio, launched at the end of last year, a model called Portazo that, with a similar configuration to its brother Martilo, tries to earn a spot at a smaller price and design.

In my opinion, they have gone all out offering both quantity and quality, proving that you don't need to sacrifice general resolution to feel the physical impact of the music. If you are looking for a purely clinical sound, you are in the wrong place. We have a set designed expressly for fun, which seems to be the goal (for now) of this recent brand, and it manages to provide an excessive energy that is frankly addictive.

What I like / What I don't like

• Blunt and clean sub-bass extension that provides a fast impact without ruining the general mix.
• Surprisingly clean and articulate treble thanks to the micro-planar drivers.
• Ultralight resin construction that allows for long listening sessions without generating physical fatigue.
• Modular cable, which is appreciated, although it is not better than the one on its big brother.
• Male vocals can feel somewhat recessed in tracks with high instrumental density.
• The nozzle is quite short, forcing you to look for eartips that help achieve a better seal so as not to lose part of this model's charm.

Specifications

• Driver: One Liquid Silicone LCP dynamic and two micro-planars.
• Impedance: 10 ohms.
• Sensitivity: 102 dB/Vrms.
• Response range: 10 Hz to 35 kHz.
• Shell: High-quality resin.
• Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin.
• Cable: Modular four-core braided OFC.
• Weight: 4.3 grams per earbud.
• Price: 189$.
• Accessories: Synthetic leather case and six pairs of eartips.

My Sources

FiiO K9: My main desktop equipment connected to my PC for critical cleanliness and power tests.

FiiO KA15: Portable DAC dongle for daily use when leaving home due to its amount of quick adjustments, its integrated equalizer, multimedia buttons to handle from the pocket...

Questyle M15i: Reference portable amplifier/DAC to search for a more organic and musical texture, when I am at home but not necessarily at the PC.

Unboxing and build

Starting as always with the product content beyond its sound, upon opening the box you find the shells accompanied by a modular cable that is somewhat thinner and more fragile than the one included with the Martilo. They include interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced connectors, a synthetic leather case, six pairs of assorted eartips between silicone and foam, and 4 replacement filters. By the way, looking closer at this cable to compare it with other models, it would resemble the modular cable included with the latest Ziigaat models more than the Martilo's. The advantage is that being thinner makes it more manageable and comfortable despite being less resistant to the touch and sight.

The body is made from Resin and is an extremely lightweight 4.3 grams. It has a vibrant and visually appealing green background pattern on the faceplate and features the bright Shiny Silver Logo. Some people don't like having the logo on the shell, something that was avoided on the Martilo by placing it on the side near the nozzle. This time you can see it large right on the shell, and for me, it gives it a touch of a better finish than if it had nothing. In my experience, the fit is extremely comfortable, but the 5.9mm nozzle is quite short because, unlike the Martilo, the shape of the IEM itself before the nozzle begins is completely flat, which by design brings them less close to the inner ear. I don't understand the reason for this choice. To get the perfect seal, I had to resort to the Divinus Velvet/Penon Liqueur Orange, which manage to texturize and masterfully control the low frequencies without taking them to something too extreme, and alternate with the Azla Sedna Origin, which open up the soundstage by providing much-needed air to the treble while fixing the shell to the ear perfectly. Still, the construction exudes superior care, with no rough edges and superior venting that effectively prevents pressure build-up in the eardrum.

Sound

Now moving on to the sound, I have to say something right off the bat and it is positive. I expected a bigger downgrade compared to the Martilo and the HBB Punch due to the price difference, but I find myself with a much cheaper model that competes very closely with them, which speaks to the good work the brand has done with the internal construction and tuning of the Portazo. The focus on low frequencies is instantly evident. We have a smooth V-shaped tuning where the bass dictates the rhythm with brutal authority. The sub-bass is very deep and has superb extension thanks to the LCP driver. Unlike basic headphones that only look for a thumping blow, here the mid-bass impact is surprisingly clear. It provides organic warmth without masking the rest of the frequencies. The impact is fast. I forget at times that this is a dynamic driver.

I don't usually stray from my usual genres, but I had to try some that would suit this model, and one of them is Hip Hop with the track FE!N - Travis Scott. This track perfectly tests whether the LCP driver can handle massive pressure without distorting at all. The constant sub-bass hits slam into your head with blunt physical violence, but the fast transitions between low notes stay under strict control, proving that the high amount of energy doesn't turn into an inaudible mass. That was my fear and hence my surprise. It fully immerses you in the dark atmosphere of the main theme.

Analyzing the mid frequencies, we notice the toll of that lower-end punch. There is a dip in the lower mids that causes male voices to sound somewhat thin, losing body in dense recordings. However, the magic of the micro-planars saves the situation quite a bit when reaching the upper mids. A very well-controlled peak provides transparency, making delicate female voices shine with absolute cleanliness. In my opinion, the instruments maintain a correct weight, projecting presence without feeling trapped behind a dark wall.

A track that reflects what I'm saying well is LUNCH by Billie Eilish. The warmth provided by the lower zone makes the synthesizers that mark the rhythm of this track sound incredibly thick and very musical to the ear. Although her whispered and close-up vocals could have easily been lost in such a dense mix, the precise boost in the upper mids manages to rescue them, projecting her vocal register with intimacy and separating her breaths from that heavy and habitual rhythmic wall that accompanies her constantly in this and many of her great songs for this type of IEM.

Finally, the high frequencies are the surprise of this model. It is what I fear most when I put on headphones focused on low frequencies. Far from being buried by the chaos below, the treble exhibits a very refined character. The upper extension provides just the right space so the music doesn't feel suffocating, scaling to high volumes without damaging your ears when you turn it up. It is a controlled presentation that provides the exact spark to percussion details. It is not the most precise and detailed set on the market, but it proves that you can enjoy low frequencies without giving up top-quality treble. Without having the extension and smoothness that, for example, the ESTs of the HBB Punch give you, here you have more quantity of treble to better counteract the high bass load.

Let's talk about Von dutch - Charli xcx. In this track, the highest electronic notes and synthetic cymbals decay naturally thanks to the micro-planar technology. In spite of a very aggressive compression, the high zone is still quite energetic and can cut through the general level of saturation with great precision so that you can still follow fast percussion detail without having to suffer ear damage from increasing the volume.

Soundstage, Instrumental Separation and Imaging

Let's talk about the soundstage, a vital technical section where this hybrid set shows its cards with total honesty. The spatial presentation is markedly intimate, just like with the HBB Punch, which, if they lacked anything despite their driver configuration, was having a stage that was a bit reserved for my taste and expectations. These Portazo bring you closer to the musical core of the track instead of placing you in the back rows of a concert. The soundstage feels notably wider than it is deep, projecting the stereo panorama with great ease toward the acoustic sides, but I would say they suffer from a certain lack of immersive tridimensionality toward the front horizon. Despite this intimacy caused by a warm tonal tuning, the design manages to offer a sufficient sense of acoustic space.

Instrumental separation is exactly where the micro-planar drivers show their true potential. Despite the heavy wall raised by the low frequencies, the general resolution and spaciousness are surprisingly well above the average for their range. Macro and micro details manifest with extraordinary clarity, allowing the listener to easily isolate multiple complex rhythmic layers without forcing auditory concentration. In my experience, it is a fascinating technical performance that does not fall behind its big brother and, I insist once more, I am surprised how close it stays given the price difference.

The imaging could easily be described as functional and direct. It fulfills its basic duty of locating the main elements in the classic stereo stage, guiding the sound from one side to the other with acceptable fluidity. It won't offer that surgical accuracy typical of analytical monitors, but it guarantees fantastic immersion to enjoy your entire music library without losing the directional nuances that enrich any modern track. After all, let's not forget that this and other models I've mentioned focus more on fun and head-banging to your songs than on precisely locating every element of the music, cinema, or video games, so it's not a priority here and Punch Audio knows it.

Comparisons

Punch Audio Martilo: The star model of the brand. It was actually thanks to the good things it gave me at the time that I wanted to try the Portazo, which is why I'm doing the review now. These Martilos offer an aggressive attitude, but with much more polished bass transient control, helping male voices not get drowned out. In my opinion, the general transition is smoother and fully justifies it remaining the absolute king in musical coherence.

Kiwi Ears HBB Punch: Stepping up the budget from the Martilo, this model features EST drivers that change the technical rules. They aren't going to slam your skull with the sub-bass violence of the Portazo, but their electrostatics provide an air, extension, and micro-detail in the treble that is objectively superior. They don't sound as clean and fast as the Martilo, nor are they as all-round for all genres. But in my experience, that hyper-realistic resolution justifies it being in this second position.

Punch Audio Portazo: Punch Audio Portazo: Our hero takes a hit, sliding to third place when up against the pricier foes. It remains the unbeatable option for 189$. It loses in extension/resolution compared to the HBB Punch's ESTs and in control compared to the Martilo, but its hybrid system gives immense fun, wonderful resin construction, and the best performance-fun-cost ratio on the market, staying not far behind those two models.

FATfreq x HBB Deuce The company is known for making headphones that sound really dark. This one does not sound good at all. The sound quality is bad. They do not make them very well. The bass is very strong. It sounds messy and overpowers the treble. This makes the music sound bad. The FATfreq x HBB Deuce does not sound as good as the Portazos micro-planars. They are more precise and faster. I do not think it is worth paying money for the FATfreq x HBB Deuce because it sounds too muddy. The way it sounds is not very good. That is why I don’t like it!!

Global Ranking Link

You can check my full ranking of all the IEMs reviewed so far on my profile (Reddit doesn't allow me to post the Drive link here)

Final thoughts

In short, and without rambling much more before the typical user who hates excessive reviews shows up, the Punch Audio Portazo are a demonstration of very well-refined brute force, a set that knows exactly which audience it is targeting and executes its job with unusual mastery for only 189 $. If you're the type who analyzes every note with a magnifying glass looking for a flat and boring sound, run away from here. But if what you want is to feel the hit of the bass thumping in your chest without losing a single detail of the music, these earphones are the best you can buy right now. Thanks to their advanced internal drivers and how little they weigh, you have brute power and total comfort in one package. There is nothing else quite like them. They're incredibly comfortable, practically addictive, and arrive with all the essentials included. I wholeheartedly recommend them.

Non-affiliated purchase link: Linsoul

Disclaimer: This unit was sent by Linsoul for review. My opinions are completely independent and have not been influenced by the brand or the store, maintaining objectivity based on my tests and personal listening sessions with my reference equipment.