Synergy
Efficiency
The MP143 Salt Golden Titanium features an impedance of 17Ω and a sensitivity of 103 dB/mW, making it easily compatible with laptops, tablets, DAPs, and smartphones.
However, its resolution benefits from the added power of a dedicated amplifier or a high-performance dongle DAC.
For on-the-go testing, I paired the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium with several dongle DACs, including the ddHiFi TC3Pro E2, 7Hz SEVENHERTZ 71, iFi audio GO link Max, and the 7Hz Artemis39. For desktop use, I connected it to the FiiO K11 desktop DAC/AMP.
While the dongle DACs provided full extension and dynamics, I noticed a slight improvement in resolution and overall refinement when using the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium with the FiiO K11, showcasing its ability to scale with better amplification.
Pairings
Unlike the regular MP143 wherein I enjoyed pairing it with warmer sources, I preferred pairing the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium with more neutral sources because of its boosted sub-bass.
Amongst the sources I tested, I leaned towards pairing the Golden Titanium with the ddHiFi TC35Pro E2, 7Hz Artemis39, and FiiO K11.
Even when connected to the TC35Pro E2 via an SE connection, the dongle was able to easily drive the IEMs to a listenable volume while preserving full extension and dynamics.
With the dongle’s clean sound signature, the TC35Pro E2 became my default choice when I needed to quickly listen to the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium on my iPhone 14.
When listening to music on my laptop or at a desk, I used either the 7Hz Artemis39 or the FiiO K11.
Both sources have a similarly clean presentation that did not interfere with the IEM’s default sound signature. However, the K11 delivered superior resolution when connected to the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium.
Select Comparisons
Hidizs MP145 Golden Titanium
Technical
Both the Hidizs MP145 Golden Titanium and MP143 Salt Golden Titanium use a single planar magnetic driver. However, the MP145 Golden Titanium features a slightly larger 14.5mm driver compared to the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium’s 14.3mm version.
The MP145 Golden Titanium has an impedance of 30Ω and a sensitivity of 104dB, while the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium has a lower impedance of 17Ω and a slightly lower sensitivity of 103 dB.
In practice, the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium was noticeably easier to drive than the MP145, making it more versatile for use with lower-powered sources.
Design
Sharing the same brand lineage and design philosophy, both commemorative IEMs feature gold-plated titanium shells. Their fit and finish are nearly identical, but the primary distinction lies in their shape.
The MP145 sports a larger shell with a more intricate faceplate, defined by three strong edges that create a fin-like structure toward the center. In contrast, the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium has a shallower, more understated shell that serves as an accent rather than a defining feature.
For everyday use, I found the MP143’s smaller and lighter shell to be more comfortable. While both IEMs performed similarly in terms of isolation, the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium maintained a more consistent seal during on-the-go use, enhancing its practicality for daily wear.
Performance
The MP143 Salt Golden Titanium leans towards a V-shaped sound signature, emphasizing treble clarity, detailed vocals, and a slightly stronger sub-bass response, resulting in a more energetic and engaging presentation. It enhances microdetail retrieval and imaging, creating an almost artificially detailed tonality.
While treble and mid-range instruments exhibit superior resolution and separation, their metallic timbre may reduce overall listening enjoyment for some.
In contrast, the MP145 offers a warmer, more balanced sound profile, focusing on mid-bass and mids to deliver a fuller, more dynamic presentation.
Basslines and kick drums carry greater impact and weight, while mid-range string instruments benefit from better note weight and richer dynamics.
The MP145’s sound signature is more relaxed, prioritizing a spacious soundstage over extreme detail and precision. While it sacrifices some imaging and resolution compared to the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium, it delivers a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience.
Hidizs MP143 Salt
Technical
Being essentially identical in terms of tech specifications, the Golden Titanium and the standard version of the MP143 Salt use a 14.3mm planar magnetic driver with an impedance of 17Ω and a 103 dB 1kHz mW sensitivity. In practice, neither model was harder to drive than the other.
Design
Both versions of the MP143 Salt feature a whale baleen plate-design aesthetic. The ridges of the MP143 Salt make it visually stand out, especially when the light hits and exaggerates the contours of each faceplate ridge.
The key difference between the two is the standard version’s use of aluminum and the Golden Titanium version’s use of titanium.
The titanium version of the MP143Salt weighs a bit more, giving it a more premium heft but at the cost of reduced comfort.
Additionally, the gold finish on the Golden Titanium edition is more susceptible to micro scratches from regular use, making it more prone to signs of wear over time.
Performance
The sonic difference between the two IEMs is most apparent in the sub-bass region. When comparing both IEMs side-by-side, the Golden Titanium sounded like the standard version with a substantial boost in the sub-bass region.
This gave the Golden Titanium version a more engaging sound signature, especially in hip-hop and pop.
Kick drums and lower register hits were much more impactful on the Golden Titanium version. This gave the Golden Titanium a more V-shaped sound signature versus the mids to treble leaning signature of the standard version.
The treble and mid-range performance of both IEMs remain quite similar. The MP143 Salt Golden Titanium retains the forward mid-range presentation of the original MP143 Salt, with vocals taking center stage.
String instruments sound thin and struggle to stand out in complex mixes, while the metallic tonality becomes more noticeable in simpler tracks.
The treble remains sharp and detailed, highlighting cymbals, chimes, and metallic instruments with crisp energy. While it enhances clarity and microdetail retrieval, it also introduces a slightly artificial tonality.
The metallic edge in the treble may cause mild sibilance in less proficiently mastered tracks, making it potentially fatiguing for some listeners.
Neither sound signature is better than the other. While the Golden Titanium’s sub-bass boost makes it more exciting, it slightly hinders its resolution and detail retrieval versus the standard version.
Listeners who prefer a cleaner more analytical sound may gravitate towards the standard version, while those who prefer a more fun sound may gravitate towards the Golden Titanium.
Moondrop Blessing 3
Technical
The Moondrop Blessing 3 utilizes a hybrid driver setup, featuring dual dynamic drivers and four balanced armatures, whereas the Hidizs MP143 Salt Golden Titanium relies on a single 14.3mm planar magnetic driver.
In terms of power requirements, the Blessing 3 has a lower impedance of 14.8Ω and a sensitivity of 100 dB/mW, compared to the MP145’s 17Ω impedance and 103 dB sensitivity. Despite its lower impedance, the Blessing 3 proved to be more demanding to drive in practical use.
Design
The Blessing 3 features a resin shell paired with a polished stainless steel faceplate, creating a sleek, mirror-like finish. Its transparent shell design highlights the internal multi-driver setup, offering a modern aesthetic common among Chi-Fi IEMs.
In contrast, the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium takes a vastly different approach, prioritizing a premium feel and a distinct visual identity.
Its full titanium shell with a gold finish gives it a noticeably denser heft, while the whale-inspired geometric faceplate design sets it apart from the more conventional styling of the Blessing 3.
Performance
The Blessing 3 features a neutral sound signature, whereas the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium adopts a more energetic, V-shaped sound profile. The MP143 Salt Golden Titanium delivers stronger, deeper bass with slightly enhanced bass articulation and texture.
Male vocals have more presence and body on the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium, but the Blessing 3 offers a more forward presentation of all other mid-range instruments and sounds.
Additionally, the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium tends to have some bass bleed into the mid-range, whereas the Blessing 3 excels in maintaining a clear and natural mid-range response.
While the Blessing 3 only slightly edges out the MP143 Golden Titanium in treble resolution, the MP143 Golden Titanium can be more sibilant.
My Verdict
Hidizs approached the tail end of their 10th anniversary by making a whale-sized splash by releasing another limited commemorative pair of IEMs.
Only 499 pairs of the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium will be produced, and it’s hard to understate just how uncommon its titanium build and gold finish are within the Chi-Fi space.
By boosting the sub-bass over the stock MP143 Salt, the Golden Titanium becomes an exciting V-shaped IEM with a strong sub-bass, detailed mids, and resolving yet occasionally sibilant treble.
Taking into account its tuning flexibility with the different nozzle and tip options out of the box, the MP143 Salt Golden Titanium Edition IEM is a good way to experience engaging planar sound while also keeping a piece of Chi-Fi history.
Hidizs MP143 Salt Golden Titanium Specifications
- Driver configuration: 14.3mm Planar Magnetic Driver
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
- Impedance: 17 Ω
- Sensitivity: 103 dB
- Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin
- Plug: 3.5mm
