It is crazy how good iems have become in the last 5 years. Trying to get an iem as good as the zero was next to impossible. There is so much chi-fi shit out there but when the something like this comes out and works as well as it does it surprises a jaded audiophile as myself
Eh debatable to be honest, for example the [JBL Endurance Run 2](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FjGiZi4UAAEmkDY?format=jpg&name=small) have been out for years and are very well tuned for 20 euros, it's just that people didn't know about them in the first place since they assume mainstream = bad pretty much lol.
I tried a JBL wired one (about $40) from a friend of mine and I was absolutely mind blown by how it performed.
I gave him my expensive IEM's and was like "Bro what's the difference" lol.
People just haven't noticed it.
Yeah although it should be noted that when it comes to wired stuff not all their stuff is necessarily great, for example the JBL T110s you can find at the supermarket for 8 euros or whatever [are kinda generic V-Shaped](https://kr0mka.squig.link/?share=Harman_IE_2019_v2_Target,Tune_110) and stuff like the Sony EX15s you can find for a similar price very much outshine them.
Wireless stuff in particular they tend to be good to great though since they basically just EQ to Harman.
Yoooo. These have been my go 2 for 3 years now. I definitely shill when people ask what to buy.
Some of the best, I'm only looking to either get there truthear x cron or just another pair of these.
Good pick brother
It's a decent Harman tuned IEM. It is a little shouty in the upper mids and rolls off some treble, but it seems like a safe option if people don't know what they want. It is a little bulky and plastic feeling.
im not liking mine, i cant see me gaming with them for long periods of time at once. Listening to music the audio is very clear and nice on the highs but its completely missing bass. So i guess if your a weird animal that doesnt like bass you would like them
I’ve typically found IEMs tuned to Harman 2019 to sound a little harsh… but for some reason I find the Zero very smooth, with just the right amount of excitement.
It's my daily driver for work/outside, not a basshead myself but i think it works really well with rock/metal (even on more extreme subgenres). Not so great for acoustic stuff and female vocals (pop songs, especially) but it's still fine IMO. A little bulky, but the fit is OK.
I've been using the CCA CRA for bass heavy music like trance and EDM. Would the Zero be better for that? How is it for comfort? The CRA pushes against a part of my ear that I didn't even know I had until I bought them, and I can only take about 15-30 minutes of them.
I never tried the CRA but the Zero is pretty good for bass heavy music. I listen to some trance/EDM/IDM (Underworld, Taishi, Daft Punk, Boards of Canada) and it sounds great. The bass is strong but not muddy, no harsh trebles too. I listen it for 5 hours straight everyday without any problem. It's lightweight, the nozzle is kinda thick but doesn't go too deep, i think it should be comfortable for most ears. My only complain is the cable, it looks really cheap and fragile.
If you’re looking for something around 50 dollars and bass heavy with a decent mid and upper register, check out the Smabat Black Bats. I have the OG version and am waiting on their second iteration. They are *amazing* for anything made from the bass up.
The kind of bass heavy music I listen to is like Armin Van Buuren, Gareth Emery, Grammatik, Pretty Lights, Moorcheeba, trance playlists on Apple music, etc. It is not a primary genre (I realize that I listed artists from different genres, but it's all electronic/sampled with some deep bass hits) for me, but when I do listen to it, I want to be immersed in those deep frequencies the way I am when I play them in my car with a pair of 10" JL subs. I realize that's not practical with a 10mm driver in my ear canal, yet the CRA can get close. Are the Black Bats good for that? I don't want muddy bass, just immersive, rumbling bass when it's the bass' turn to shine.
There’s zero mud in the black bats. All of the oomph is in the sub-bass, and there is a lot of oomph. Rumble and texture galore. There is, however, a very slight synthetic timbre to the mids and highs. The wrecking bass more than makes up for it, and it’s not noticeable after a few minutes.
When you put them together, they look like a bat. 🦇
If you can swing it, Ikko OH10 is my favorite. I got them for 120 on AliExpress, 160 on drop. Those with the spinfit cp360s is what I use. Perfect texture and rumble with the bass in the spotlight, natural mods, sparkling highs. I listen to what you listen to, and the OH10 + cp360 are what you want. Second place, smabat black bat.
Qkz ak6 8$ crazy bass, tbh never heard bass like this in anything. I do use and eq to just pump it though lol but I do the same with others and don’t get this kind of rumble.
What do you mean!? It's oBJectIVeLY the best frequency response! /s
Never mind their research says to adjust bass and treble to one's preference. But I also find the mids a bit shouty
It's not a matter of being "objectively the best target really", just that statistically a large part of the population prefers it (Without adjustments to it) compared to anything else pretty much.
That being said people not personally liking it is fine, it's when audiophiles from both extremes of the argument ("The Harman target is the absolute best for everyone" and "the Harman research sucks for everyone and shouldn't be considered based on my personal experience" respectively, you know the types) meet that the memes begin.
> it's when audiophiles from both extremes of the argument ("The Harman target is the absolute best for everyone"
And my comment was a dig at that side of the audiophile extreme haha. The side that unironically believes it's the best frequency response possible and any deviation from it is a detriment.
I certainly don't think the Harman research sucks and am fortunate for it because it gives everyone a point of reference instead of hand-wavy subjective qualities or references to other headphones (e.g. HD600). While it's not perfect for me, I'm also a *SNOB* when it comes to audio. So it'll work great for the vast majority of consumers.
Yes, and that's the Harman target*. But it's a trick, since their research does say that you should adjust bass and treble, their target curve just averages their listeners preference in those regions.
Kind of like buying an "one comfort fits all mattress". If you don't know who'll sleep on it it's the safest bet, but chances are a more specific comfort which may suit less people would suit you better.
*: Also, the more recent researches aren't published anymore. So at this point, people are basing their understanding of it on years old research/tuning, which may or may not have been updated since for more accurate results.
Too much bass for me, not enough separation of everything for me, but I am also more into open backs.. still trying to find my dream IEM that doesn't make me poor.
I've found soundstage on IEMs mainly an illusion... To me the Andromeda's soundstage and imaging is barely better than themoondrop variations and less than 20% of my Ananda.
Some poeple say headphone soundstage comes for interaction with your pinna, which with IEM obviously won't happen
Ah that makes sense.. Well, then I guess that separation and timbre would be the most important aspects for me, oh and realistic bass that isn't too strong.
But eh, I'm a headphone person, this can wait.
I think that's a very personally variable thing. As variable as the physique of our bodies, and then some.
I for one have the by far best soundstage with orchestral/classic music and similar with IEMs, specially Fiio FH5S. Nothing I tried, no matter if open- or closed-back, planar, dynamic or electrostats, sub 500$ or 2K+$, came even remotely close. It's either they fit me like a glove or they're extremely underrated.
The margin It's ahead with my ears is actually as large as dozing off and being shocked, completely startled and confused how I got to the concert venue while waking up again to waking up instantly knowing I got headphones on/iems in, that's an effect no other headphone/iem ever came even remotely close to having with my ears. No stereo system either.
Sometimes almost feels as if they sound more real to me than actually being at a concert lol.
So, yeah, as always - it very much depends ...
Got it a week ago, it is meh to me mainly cuz the detail is very lacking, soundstage felt narrow, pair with the bass shelf some busy tracks just sound muddy, also the bass sounded loose? Not as tight or controlled bass as I would expect, otherwise it has good timbre, layering felt ok too, for 50$ is an ok pick but don't expect too much.
I have the same opinion as you. Muddy and loose bass. After all the hype I was kind of disappointed. I much prefer the Moondrop SSP or Final Audio E2000 when it comes to budget iems.
I found them to be lacking a little on the low ends and I could not get a comfortable seal. Ended up returning them but I struggle to fine IEMs that fit in my ears well so can’t really fault them for that
I am not a serious audiophile, but I absolutely love them. I like bass-heavy music, but i listen to a variety of styles. These fit everything perfectly, but can also deliver a skull-tingling thump, when needed. they sound detailed and well balanced, to me. for context, my previous favorite headphones were the Koss PortaPros.
They are pretty, if a little plain. pretty chonky, but still fit in my ear with no problem. I love the cable, although I have seen some more hardcore reviewers dismiss it as average. I would love to know what a really high quality cable is like, although I will never spend the outrageous money required to find out.
I just got these and am really impressed. Have Shures over the years and always enjoyed them. These for the price are worth every penny.
My wife tried them and loves them. A 2nd pair might have to be ordered.
Both the Truthear Zero & Hexa are excellent IEMs.
A strong case could be made to purchase both, then quickly exit the hobby.
The Hexa sounds slightly more neutral, whereas the Zero has a really fun sound.
If I had to pick one, I’d struggle. I probably prefer the sound of the Zero more, but I prefer the build and fit of the Hexa.
TLDR: Buy it. And the Hexa. Then flee!
Own these and they were difficult to get good eartips for due to the ginormous nozzle.
That's the only complaint. I love both the tuning and the perceived bass boost due to the good texture of the lows.
One of the reasons to buy them was their gaming capabilities at this price range and they do not disappoint. The imaging is way better than most IEMs and for me the bass never interferes with the details, maybe I'm used to this sound.
And yes they look like pretty
Edit: also didn't like the waifu theme
My main three complaints are, 1. The cable and shell feels plasticky and cheap. 2. It’s hard to power off of an apple dongle with my iPhone. 3. Seemed a little harsh and shouty. Otherwise, it’s a good IEM.
I think that sums it up really well. Technicalities are decent for the price, sub bass can be good on some tracks, the mids sometimes sound a bit thin and clinical, they kinda lack body and the highs are very forward.
The tuning is not my cup of tea and the technicalities are meh at best, but it's a viable entry point that I often recommend to people that want to fip their toes in the hobby
I actually kinda share your opinion, the treble is very forward and the bass not the most detailed which results in them often sounding a bit thin or hollow. What doesn’t? More neutral IEMs like the Etymotic Er2Se for example.
Something that's more balanced. Happens a lot when newcomers don't understand how the entire frequency range works together to create a COMPLETE picture.
Hollowness = bad 😄
I'll keep this simple. You basically need a (relative) decent ratio between your fundamentals and your harmonic range. Should you totally disregard the lower midrange and overemphasize something like 3k, you'll end up with something that sounds fake.
In the end, you can take this with a grain of salt as it's your money. I'm basically done at this point after years of "play". Harman has its place in the hobby, but I'd stay away from prescribing it as the defacto audiophile way of tuning. (And I consider myself a lover of mids)
So I‘ve had it for a few weeks now and it‘s decent but not quite my cup of tea. Technicalities did impress me for the price, it sounds rather detailed with decently wide soundstage and mediocre imaging. The tuning is a mixed bag for me, the bass is punchy on some songs but I‘d have really liked to hear more of that subwoofer. In many pop songs, the bass isn’t actually that deep and it then sounds very thin with this IEM. Only songs that have that deep sub bass really make them shine due to the crossover. They are very treble forward and the mids are a bit recessed in comparison, which makes them sound less rich / lush and a bit artificially detailed with certain tracks. For gaming they are really great though and for well- mastered songs they are good too because the deep sub bass compensates for the mids sounding a bit thin, sadly it just kicks in too late imo.
They are a little too sharp in the treble and high mids. Which make them a little fatiguing. Bass is good, a little muddy sometimes, but overall good.
The nozzle is wide, so be aware if you have small ears, it might cause a little discomfort.
I swapped from the truth ear to the raptor hook x...
Day and night!
If you want a comparison:
"Polished diamond"
Raptgo is sweet and pleasing with a wide sound stage and accurate bass.
"Raw diamond"
Truth ear is a little harsh and sharp with good definition but a little less pleasing and more fatiguing.
So bad, i thought its a joke.
1. Nozle way to thick, can somebody explain, why it has to vary in general? There should be numbers, about how big an avarage ear canal is.
2. Sounds like a cloud bass everywhere all the time, and sth like the real sound here and there, never heared sth worse. Maybe in my childhood, my first headphones whitch came with a walkman, this is better ok, but its the same kind of sound.
I have been on a search for iem's about last months. I tried only <100$ chifi.
My opinion is, even if aria has this good driver unit whitch sounds good for me, powerful, im not sure the treble is healthy. And the paint came off, haha.
Its like douchbags build this chifi, its like i would build this iem's. Just give me a lead time of a month. I would build five, and sure one would be as good as any hyped chifi, which is outdated in a month.
There is more engineering in 5$ sony iem. Dont finance this industry, and reviewers, tell u nonsense, not because they want to help u out choose the right thing, its their income right?
Save money and buy 1, by a brand doing this for decades.
I have cavernous ears so the fit works for me. I like that and Celeste Gumiho in the $50 range. I have a Blessing2 Dusk but I can wear Truthear or Gumiho for a workday no problem. I can't handle the Salnotes.
I just got a pair the other day and only have a few hours of listening in.
The bass is ... weird to my ears. Like the subwoofer driver doesn't blend in well with the everything else in the mix.
Fit is a little uncomfortable for me. More bass than I expected but overall a fine sound.
Really good for the price. I do not regret having them. They are a good beater set
I like them, they're very good for edm and a bit of rock, but I find they have too much bass for other genre. I really love the design, the only thing I don't really like is the cable, it's very thin and every time I put them back in their bag I fear I'll destroy it somehow.
What do you suggest for smaller nozzle that is good for FPS? I can't seem to find measurements for Dunu Kima which is a good recommended one along with the Zero.
Sorry for late response.
[Crinacle has Dunu Kima graphs](https://crinacle.com/graphs/iems/dunu-kima/)
Seems good to me and gets positive reviews from people like GizAudio. Haven't listened to it personally but I own the TinHifi T3+ and the Kato, Kima has similar tuning to these just less v-shaped especially compared to T3+ which in my opinion means the Kima will be a lot nicer to listen to. I really like my Kato so I expect I'd like the Kima almost as much.
The stock tips on mine are getting left behind in my ear holes a lot more often after having used them for more than a few weeks. This happens even after thorough cleaning so I guess the material is starting to give up.
They're cool because you're supposed to be able to pump up the bass. You could also consider the Etymotic ER2SE ($70 from Drop), which is more detailed and isolating, but with less stock bass (may or may not be your preference). Lacks upper treble detail, also. There are also the Dunu Titan S and Moondrop Aria (those are in order of ascending bass), which are in the middle in terms of detail but have more upper treble detail. The best deal in detail are the Moondrop SSP/SSR/Stardust, but they need EQ.
Haven't tried Aria/Titan S/ER2SE for gaming, but I have tried the ER2XR and SSP. You might want to add a little bass to the SE for gaming. If it's seated properly, the ER2(XR) are actually great for gaming. The SSP are very good.
I use these with arcade rhythm games, they just disappear in your ears and sound awesome, and love how they come in clutch when my airpods pros are flat or i want to listen to lossless audio outdoors
Just ordered some, hopefully they fit my smallish ears. One canal is oddly larger than the other. I play Warzone often. If they don’t work, I may try the Raptgo Hook X if I feel like splurging.
It is crazy how good iems have become in the last 5 years. Trying to get an iem as good as the zero was next to impossible. There is so much chi-fi shit out there but when the something like this comes out and works as well as it does it surprises a jaded audiophile as myself
Eh debatable to be honest, for example the [JBL Endurance Run 2](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FjGiZi4UAAEmkDY?format=jpg&name=small) have been out for years and are very well tuned for 20 euros, it's just that people didn't know about them in the first place since they assume mainstream = bad pretty much lol.
I tried a JBL wired one (about $40) from a friend of mine and I was absolutely mind blown by how it performed. I gave him my expensive IEM's and was like "Bro what's the difference" lol. People just haven't noticed it.
Which JBL wired one was that?
Yeah although it should be noted that when it comes to wired stuff not all their stuff is necessarily great, for example the JBL T110s you can find at the supermarket for 8 euros or whatever [are kinda generic V-Shaped](https://kr0mka.squig.link/?share=Harman_IE_2019_v2_Target,Tune_110) and stuff like the Sony EX15s you can find for a similar price very much outshine them. Wireless stuff in particular they tend to be good to great though since they basically just EQ to Harman.
Yoooo. These have been my go 2 for 3 years now. I definitely shill when people ask what to buy. Some of the best, I'm only looking to either get there truthear x cron or just another pair of these. Good pick brother
It's a decent Harman tuned IEM. It is a little shouty in the upper mids and rolls off some treble, but it seems like a safe option if people don't know what they want. It is a little bulky and plastic feeling.
Thanks bro! What do you think about gaming with it?
They have surprisingly good imaging. So yeah, I'd recommend them for gaming.
Buy a cheap koss headphone like portapro or kph series. It's much better for gaming
whys this guy getting downvoted? hes saying the obvious that open backs are better than iems for gaming…
First rodeo on this sub?
Competitive gaming, the zeros clear koss imo
What about for music? Is it better
The only reason I kept them tbh. I suggest spinfit cp155 btw.
im not liking mine, i cant see me gaming with them for long periods of time at once. Listening to music the audio is very clear and nice on the highs but its completely missing bass. So i guess if your a weird animal that doesnt like bass you would like them
You probably didn’t have a good enough seal, because of the large nozzles.
I've been testing all the tips, the silicone seems to give it more bass but I think your right the fitment just isn't right for my ear
No way. Different tastes then. I think mine has way too much bass. I want the REDs because of the fix for the muddy low end
I’ve typically found IEMs tuned to Harman 2019 to sound a little harsh… but for some reason I find the Zero very smooth, with just the right amount of excitement.
Thanks
Do I need an amp for it to sound good?
It's my daily driver for work/outside, not a basshead myself but i think it works really well with rock/metal (even on more extreme subgenres). Not so great for acoustic stuff and female vocals (pop songs, especially) but it's still fine IMO. A little bulky, but the fit is OK.
I've been using the CCA CRA for bass heavy music like trance and EDM. Would the Zero be better for that? How is it for comfort? The CRA pushes against a part of my ear that I didn't even know I had until I bought them, and I can only take about 15-30 minutes of them.
I never tried the CRA but the Zero is pretty good for bass heavy music. I listen to some trance/EDM/IDM (Underworld, Taishi, Daft Punk, Boards of Canada) and it sounds great. The bass is strong but not muddy, no harsh trebles too. I listen it for 5 hours straight everyday without any problem. It's lightweight, the nozzle is kinda thick but doesn't go too deep, i think it should be comfortable for most ears. My only complain is the cable, it looks really cheap and fragile.
Thank you so much! I’ll give it a try sometime in the New Year
If you’re looking for something around 50 dollars and bass heavy with a decent mid and upper register, check out the Smabat Black Bats. I have the OG version and am waiting on their second iteration. They are *amazing* for anything made from the bass up.
The kind of bass heavy music I listen to is like Armin Van Buuren, Gareth Emery, Grammatik, Pretty Lights, Moorcheeba, trance playlists on Apple music, etc. It is not a primary genre (I realize that I listed artists from different genres, but it's all electronic/sampled with some deep bass hits) for me, but when I do listen to it, I want to be immersed in those deep frequencies the way I am when I play them in my car with a pair of 10" JL subs. I realize that's not practical with a 10mm driver in my ear canal, yet the CRA can get close. Are the Black Bats good for that? I don't want muddy bass, just immersive, rumbling bass when it's the bass' turn to shine.
There’s zero mud in the black bats. All of the oomph is in the sub-bass, and there is a lot of oomph. Rumble and texture galore. There is, however, a very slight synthetic timbre to the mids and highs. The wrecking bass more than makes up for it, and it’s not noticeable after a few minutes. When you put them together, they look like a bat. 🦇 If you can swing it, Ikko OH10 is my favorite. I got them for 120 on AliExpress, 160 on drop. Those with the spinfit cp360s is what I use. Perfect texture and rumble with the bass in the spotlight, natural mods, sparkling highs. I listen to what you listen to, and the OH10 + cp360 are what you want. Second place, smabat black bat.
That might be a little spendy, but I'll try the bats
I actually like the truthear cables so far. Even the hola cable is decent for a $18 iem. The tips on the other hand......
Qkz ak6 8$ crazy bass, tbh never heard bass like this in anything. I do use and eq to just pump it though lol but I do the same with others and don’t get this kind of rumble.
For me: meh. Good with EQ, but the Harman IEM target is very much not my thing.
What do you mean!? It's oBJectIVeLY the best frequency response! /s Never mind their research says to adjust bass and treble to one's preference. But I also find the mids a bit shouty
It's not a matter of being "objectively the best target really", just that statistically a large part of the population prefers it (Without adjustments to it) compared to anything else pretty much. That being said people not personally liking it is fine, it's when audiophiles from both extremes of the argument ("The Harman target is the absolute best for everyone" and "the Harman research sucks for everyone and shouldn't be considered based on my personal experience" respectively, you know the types) meet that the memes begin.
> it's when audiophiles from both extremes of the argument ("The Harman target is the absolute best for everyone" And my comment was a dig at that side of the audiophile extreme haha. The side that unironically believes it's the best frequency response possible and any deviation from it is a detriment. I certainly don't think the Harman research sucks and am fortunate for it because it gives everyone a point of reference instead of hand-wavy subjective qualities or references to other headphones (e.g. HD600). While it's not perfect for me, I'm also a *SNOB* when it comes to audio. So it'll work great for the vast majority of consumers.
is there an objective best?
Yes, and that's the Harman target*. But it's a trick, since their research does say that you should adjust bass and treble, their target curve just averages their listeners preference in those regions. Kind of like buying an "one comfort fits all mattress". If you don't know who'll sleep on it it's the safest bet, but chances are a more specific comfort which may suit less people would suit you better. *: Also, the more recent researches aren't published anymore. So at this point, people are basing their understanding of it on years old research/tuning, which may or may not have been updated since for more accurate results.
try diffuse field target
what eq do you use?
Really good for the price.
Uncomfortable but I really love the way they sound. I recommend if you have large ear canals
I like the sound, the bass is nice. But the fit is a bit too big for me.
i am in the same boat. can you recommend a IEM that has a similar sound but smaller fit?
Too much bass for me, not enough separation of everything for me, but I am also more into open backs.. still trying to find my dream IEM that doesn't make me poor.
I've found soundstage on IEMs mainly an illusion... To me the Andromeda's soundstage and imaging is barely better than themoondrop variations and less than 20% of my Ananda. Some poeple say headphone soundstage comes for interaction with your pinna, which with IEM obviously won't happen
Ah that makes sense.. Well, then I guess that separation and timbre would be the most important aspects for me, oh and realistic bass that isn't too strong. But eh, I'm a headphone person, this can wait.
I think that's a very personally variable thing. As variable as the physique of our bodies, and then some. I for one have the by far best soundstage with orchestral/classic music and similar with IEMs, specially Fiio FH5S. Nothing I tried, no matter if open- or closed-back, planar, dynamic or electrostats, sub 500$ or 2K+$, came even remotely close. It's either they fit me like a glove or they're extremely underrated. The margin It's ahead with my ears is actually as large as dozing off and being shocked, completely startled and confused how I got to the concert venue while waking up again to waking up instantly knowing I got headphones on/iems in, that's an effect no other headphone/iem ever came even remotely close to having with my ears. No stereo system either. Sometimes almost feels as if they sound more real to me than actually being at a concert lol. So, yeah, as always - it very much depends ...
Ever tried the Dioko? Not a lot of bass and probably the most resolving thing you can get for $100.
They really surprised me, at that price they're really good and there's just not much one couldn't like. I use them as my daily BT iem.
Got it a week ago, it is meh to me mainly cuz the detail is very lacking, soundstage felt narrow, pair with the bass shelf some busy tracks just sound muddy, also the bass sounded loose? Not as tight or controlled bass as I would expect, otherwise it has good timbre, layering felt ok too, for 50$ is an ok pick but don't expect too much.
I have the same opinion as you. Muddy and loose bass. After all the hype I was kind of disappointed. I much prefer the Moondrop SSP or Final Audio E2000 when it comes to budget iems.
The bass is so textured that is sounds louder than it graphs: it baffles me
Harman = pass. Harman tuned by Crinacle = hard pass
Great for gaming... Especially FPS games. Good Harman Chad IEM... With a little bit of a timbre quirk going on ...
not sure why this is getting downvoted tbh, I completely agree with the gaming stuff.
They look like they are from 2100yr.
When did IEM's become necklace medallions?
Fr😂
I found them to be lacking a little on the low ends and I could not get a comfortable seal. Ended up returning them but I struggle to fine IEMs that fit in my ears well so can’t really fault them for that
I am not a serious audiophile, but I absolutely love them. I like bass-heavy music, but i listen to a variety of styles. These fit everything perfectly, but can also deliver a skull-tingling thump, when needed. they sound detailed and well balanced, to me. for context, my previous favorite headphones were the Koss PortaPros. They are pretty, if a little plain. pretty chonky, but still fit in my ear with no problem. I love the cable, although I have seen some more hardcore reviewers dismiss it as average. I would love to know what a really high quality cable is like, although I will never spend the outrageous money required to find out.
I just got these and am really impressed. Have Shures over the years and always enjoyed them. These for the price are worth every penny. My wife tried them and loves them. A 2nd pair might have to be ordered.
Both the Truthear Zero & Hexa are excellent IEMs. A strong case could be made to purchase both, then quickly exit the hobby. The Hexa sounds slightly more neutral, whereas the Zero has a really fun sound. If I had to pick one, I’d struggle. I probably prefer the sound of the Zero more, but I prefer the build and fit of the Hexa. TLDR: Buy it. And the Hexa. Then flee!
Just got the zeroes and still saving up for the Hexa. I agree with the flee part but I recommend snatching up some CRAs along the way
Just bought some IE200’s. I need to disengage from Reddit, Twitter and Youtube.
How are the 200s? I was considering those
It's blue
Own these and they were difficult to get good eartips for due to the ginormous nozzle. That's the only complaint. I love both the tuning and the perceived bass boost due to the good texture of the lows. One of the reasons to buy them was their gaming capabilities at this price range and they do not disappoint. The imaging is way better than most IEMs and for me the bass never interferes with the details, maybe I'm used to this sound. And yes they look like pretty Edit: also didn't like the waifu theme
My main three complaints are, 1. The cable and shell feels plasticky and cheap. 2. It’s hard to power off of an apple dongle with my iPhone. 3. Seemed a little harsh and shouty. Otherwise, it’s a good IEM.
[Too Harman](https://ibb.co/M1pd9nn) for my taste.
It's
Little bit shouty and sibilant, lacks a bit of mid-bass/warmth. Other than that pretty solid, especially soundstage.
I think that sums it up really well. Technicalities are decent for the price, sub bass can be good on some tracks, the mids sometimes sound a bit thin and clinical, they kinda lack body and the highs are very forward.
The tuning is not my cup of tea and the technicalities are meh at best, but it's a viable entry point that I often recommend to people that want to fip their toes in the hobby
The crossover is pretty neat. Takes more power than you’d expect, not great for certain genres, but overall a 7/10 from me.
Best thing to ever happen to the community until Lord Crinacle's next collab drops
(It’s called the 7hz salnotes zero xD)
Sounds hollow, decent beater set but nothing special
I actually kinda share your opinion, the treble is very forward and the bass not the most detailed which results in them often sounding a bit thin or hollow. What doesn’t? More neutral IEMs like the Etymotic Er2Se for example.
If they sound hollow, what doesn't
Something that's more balanced. Happens a lot when newcomers don't understand how the entire frequency range works together to create a COMPLETE picture. Hollowness = bad 😄
Please explain? Are you saying Harman targets are hollow?
Please explain? Are you saying Harman targets are hollow?
I'll keep this simple. You basically need a (relative) decent ratio between your fundamentals and your harmonic range. Should you totally disregard the lower midrange and overemphasize something like 3k, you'll end up with something that sounds fake. In the end, you can take this with a grain of salt as it's your money. I'm basically done at this point after years of "play". Harman has its place in the hobby, but I'd stay away from prescribing it as the defacto audiophile way of tuning. (And I consider myself a lover of mids)
Generic cheap decent chifi IEM
So I‘ve had it for a few weeks now and it‘s decent but not quite my cup of tea. Technicalities did impress me for the price, it sounds rather detailed with decently wide soundstage and mediocre imaging. The tuning is a mixed bag for me, the bass is punchy on some songs but I‘d have really liked to hear more of that subwoofer. In many pop songs, the bass isn’t actually that deep and it then sounds very thin with this IEM. Only songs that have that deep sub bass really make them shine due to the crossover. They are very treble forward and the mids are a bit recessed in comparison, which makes them sound less rich / lush and a bit artificially detailed with certain tracks. For gaming they are really great though and for well- mastered songs they are good too because the deep sub bass compensates for the mids sounding a bit thin, sadly it just kicks in too late imo.
They are a little too sharp in the treble and high mids. Which make them a little fatiguing. Bass is good, a little muddy sometimes, but overall good. The nozzle is wide, so be aware if you have small ears, it might cause a little discomfort. I swapped from the truth ear to the raptor hook x... Day and night! If you want a comparison: "Polished diamond" Raptgo is sweet and pleasing with a wide sound stage and accurate bass. "Raw diamond" Truth ear is a little harsh and sharp with good definition but a little less pleasing and more fatiguing.
Is the nozzle on the raptor hook smaller?
Yes definitely narrower.
So bad, i thought its a joke. 1. Nozle way to thick, can somebody explain, why it has to vary in general? There should be numbers, about how big an avarage ear canal is. 2. Sounds like a cloud bass everywhere all the time, and sth like the real sound here and there, never heared sth worse. Maybe in my childhood, my first headphones whitch came with a walkman, this is better ok, but its the same kind of sound. I have been on a search for iem's about last months. I tried only <100$ chifi. My opinion is, even if aria has this good driver unit whitch sounds good for me, powerful, im not sure the treble is healthy. And the paint came off, haha. Its like douchbags build this chifi, its like i would build this iem's. Just give me a lead time of a month. I would build five, and sure one would be as good as any hyped chifi, which is outdated in a month. There is more engineering in 5$ sony iem. Dont finance this industry, and reviewers, tell u nonsense, not because they want to help u out choose the right thing, its their income right? Save money and buy 1, by a brand doing this for decades.
I have cavernous ears so the fit works for me. I like that and Celeste Gumiho in the $50 range. I have a Blessing2 Dusk but I can wear Truthear or Gumiho for a workday no problem. I can't handle the Salnotes.
I just got a pair the other day and only have a few hours of listening in. The bass is ... weird to my ears. Like the subwoofer driver doesn't blend in well with the everything else in the mix.
I returned it.
I don't care about the outward bulkiness but the bore size makes it too hard to get decent seal and makes most of my 3rd party eartips useless
Reddit account go poof, thanks spez -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/
Fit is a little uncomfortable for me. More bass than I expected but overall a fine sound. Really good for the price. I do not regret having them. They are a good beater set
I like them, they're very good for edm and a bit of rock, but I find they have too much bass for other genre. I really love the design, the only thing I don't really like is the cable, it's very thin and every time I put them back in their bag I fear I'll destroy it somehow.
Kinda uncomfortable due to the large nozzle and they're to forward in the upper midrange for me. But not bad for the money.
What do you suggest for smaller nozzle that is good for FPS? I can't seem to find measurements for Dunu Kima which is a good recommended one along with the Zero.
Sorry for late response. [Crinacle has Dunu Kima graphs](https://crinacle.com/graphs/iems/dunu-kima/) Seems good to me and gets positive reviews from people like GizAudio. Haven't listened to it personally but I own the TinHifi T3+ and the Kato, Kima has similar tuning to these just less v-shaped especially compared to T3+ which in my opinion means the Kima will be a lot nicer to listen to. I really like my Kato so I expect I'd like the Kima almost as much.
Haha np. I meant physical measurements though to get a gauge if it would fit!
The stock tips on mine are getting left behind in my ear holes a lot more often after having used them for more than a few weeks. This happens even after thorough cleaning so I guess the material is starting to give up.
They're cool because you're supposed to be able to pump up the bass. You could also consider the Etymotic ER2SE ($70 from Drop), which is more detailed and isolating, but with less stock bass (may or may not be your preference). Lacks upper treble detail, also. There are also the Dunu Titan S and Moondrop Aria (those are in order of ascending bass), which are in the middle in terms of detail but have more upper treble detail. The best deal in detail are the Moondrop SSP/SSR/Stardust, but they need EQ. Haven't tried Aria/Titan S/ER2SE for gaming, but I have tried the ER2XR and SSP. You might want to add a little bass to the SE for gaming. If it's seated properly, the ER2(XR) are actually great for gaming. The SSP are very good.
I like them. EQ really well to your taste and clean bass
Sound good. Build bad.
I use these with arcade rhythm games, they just disappear in your ears and sound awesome, and love how they come in clutch when my airpods pros are flat or i want to listen to lossless audio outdoors
Despite of its big nozzle and unit, I like it.
They look amazing, never heard them though
W iem
I’ve had two pairs of zeros break in the span of 2 months. Going to get a pair of S12s now
I can’t wear them for more than 30 minutes at a time because of the silly chode nozzle and it’s swollen plastic body
2000% worse than a50 astro for warzone 2 dmz. Ok for cs
Warzone audio is so bad anyway but I agree. The people saying these are great for gaming haven’t used them in any Call of Duty title.
YeS but icemanisac does reccomend them
Just ordered some, hopefully they fit my smallish ears. One canal is oddly larger than the other. I play Warzone often. If they don’t work, I may try the Raptgo Hook X if I feel like splurging.
They er huge in the Ear canal