When them kz hardcore fans argued that, the 8khz spikes or peaks from the KZ sets are always just"coupler resonance or artifact" , i strongly disagreed. look what has happened again. bought the "legendary" cxs and popped it straight into my ears instead of measuring it first and its there but compare to the old edx pro, eds era its more platable these day probably due to the faster driver speed. but are they comparable to more expensive set? no, definitely not. maybe the driver speed does, anything else is just nope. until this ling long thing arrived. And everyone who got the linglong knows, it has proper treble at that region. Kz if you are listening, capitalize linglong exact FR into a 10/11mm driver with proper front vent and you will get your market disruptor for real. it will be competitive against those 20usd market leader. definitely not these legendary driver clones. People always been idk like brainwashed or some sort into thinking , these beats even some of the higher priced single dd yardstick, let me tell you guys, kZ is still not even at aria level yet. one can argue aria is overhyped but why dont grab a set of aria level stuff, aria or titan s , and a set of kz, and a/b yourself. instead of just listening to kz marketing
As I said, some people are not sensitive to 8k, some are very sensitive to it and that is all you hear. Sometimes it isn't as noticeable, sometimes it is very noticeable but there is a tuner at KZ who isn't bothered by it. But you are 100% right, why were those $30-$40usd Harman sets popular, they tweaked Aria's levels and for the most part, didn't have a glaring bright spot to annoy people. I do think we are back having KZ focus on driver specs and circuits, but not getting the tuning right. I do hope they read your comment and the others that have been posted.
Its ok unless you are sensitive to it then that is mostly what you hear. Sometimes I do envy people who aren't bothered by it as it is quite fatiguing.
Personally I'll prefer the tuning like AS16 Pro and Linglong which is kind of U-shape Diffuse Field-ish with sub-bass boost rather than following trends with those boring mid-range like Wan'er and Lan, just need polish Linglong-like tuning. I think that will makes KZ really stands out, like you know how hyped Linglong is, which is really, really good, because it's something different than competition but still well-done. I think that's what all we need from KZ/CCA. Make Linglong tuning, reduce 3dB a little bit in bass-region to reduce mud in the lower-mid and make the jankiness in 8k to upper-treble to more even or more linear tilt-down like MD Variation.
Sure, Ling Long is a bit of an anomaly or AS16 and Ling Long are anomalies, but the Harman thing gets you levels and a sound without major problems. It is certainly tweakable, but KZ needs to find a base tuning that works in that Harman-ish style. Its 2/3 already there. They are pretty decent at the different tunings, but to compete, they and everyone else gets compared to Aria.
The extra 8kHz energy in sets like this get quite tiring over time. I don't know what kind of internal KZ politics dictates that kind of tuning, someone might think it impresses initially, but probably even casuals will hate the KZ treble long term.
That is the issue with me as well. In short sessions, not as noticeable, but as time goes on, it does cause quite a bit of fatigue and I need to put them down.
KZ didn’t just fall “a little bit short”. As a noob I feel they absolutely failed to capitalize on the $20 budget space. Seeing as they have so many budget options, you’d think they’d be able to pull it together sooner in the 4 months between the Chu and 7Hz Zero instead of “good enough” a whole year later. KZ wasn’t even in just about any of my discussions for which IEM to consider getting as a first set or gift. 💀
You aren't alone. It is frustrating to watch actually. They should have owned the budget sets and dual DD sets. I'd like to say they will turn it around soon, but they need to step back and see what has happened to the market.
But they did, in super budget around 10usd, they have KZ EDCX and KZ ZSA, it is absolutely there. And in 20usd space, they have CCA brand - CRA and CXS. All premium look and outstanding sound in their class.
No, that is the issue, there is no magic bullet on 8K. Putting a filter on the nozzle is usually 2-4k and foam tips are upper treble, as how they used them on PR1 Pro. If you are sensitive to it, look at KZ D-Fi, that is basically ZVX re-tuned.
Wan'er's popularity was earned as a very high quality, like-able example of that tuning style. ZVX is cool to look at, but KZ has moved on to more modern sets.
Personally like ZVX more than Waner. Waner, 2 sets, boring AF and shout for me. I added a filter and tip rolled every tip I had to find a pair that actually brought out a decent bass quality and quantity. I don't hear most
Totally agree with you about the treble , I find it lacking in extension and sound stage due to the peak , I tried foam tuning filters on it , It sounded smoother but did not eliminate the peak , I think KZ is not there yet in term of driver quality in spite of their recent effort developing new drivers.
Yeah its just off balance and they need to figure it out soon. The biggest issue with peaks around 8k is that you can't throw a filter on the nozzle or just use foam tips. I think the driver quality might be there, but the tuning on this series of sets needs to be smoothed out.
This goes back to what I was mentioning on the treble boost. ZVX has a bright spot, PR1 Pro has more of a boosted upper range. Planars in general are more treble and need a nicer dac/amp but the result is detail and resolution far beyond zvx. The planar thing has a lot of benefits, but also some drawbacks so if you are just looking for casual use with your phone, stick to the something like the zvx for now.
After my KZ Zex Pro broke I've struggled to find a replacement for my AZ09 Pro's. I actually ended up pulling out the Moondrop Sparks again after hating them initially and kind of like them now but I do wish KZ would just make a smallish single DD with a slight U shape to it with good clarity and seperation. Nothing fancy or wild. Just a single IEM shell too, not this heavy metal one or any weird shapes.
They have not jumped into U-shaped yet. Their bigger audience tends to like more bass which is why they seem slow to adopt lower bass shelves. The new D-Fi appears to get closer with the swtiches version but not the plain shell. I am not sure if it is all metal or half.
Wan'er is just a bit safer, but ZVX will sound more detailed. The driver is really good, just has a bright spot which is why I say Wan'er is safer. Not everyone will care about the bright spot and in that case, you ZVX is a great set.
Actually it is. I think ZVX is the one where the QDC connector is slightly twisted which might twist the AZ09 ear hook a tiny bit. Some people notice it, most don't.
ZVX looks cool and has more bass which will thicken your mids. The truth is you need to try a couple sets and figure out some general levels that work for your preferences. I'd try KZ D-Fi with switches which might help figure out your preferences or Tinhfi C2 which is bright and more exciting.
@@PaulWasabii actually 7hz zero to me is smoother and boring sounding with little bit of sparkle It sounds nothing special is KZ ZVX any better or worse thick sounding with missing upper treble?
I watch lots of movies and listen to all types of songs and i need a theatrical effect so do u prefer this ZVX ? And my other options are eda balanced version and zsn pro x
When them kz hardcore fans argued that, the 8khz spikes or peaks from the KZ sets are always just"coupler resonance or artifact" , i strongly disagreed. look what has happened again. bought the "legendary" cxs and popped it straight into my ears instead of measuring it first and its there but compare to the old edx pro, eds era its more platable these day probably due to the faster driver speed. but are they comparable to more expensive set? no, definitely not. maybe the driver speed does, anything else is just nope. until this ling long thing arrived. And everyone who got the linglong knows, it has proper treble at that region. Kz if you are listening, capitalize linglong exact FR into a 10/11mm driver with proper front vent and you will get your market disruptor for real. it will be competitive against those 20usd market leader. definitely not these legendary driver clones.
People always been idk like brainwashed or some sort into thinking , these beats even some of the higher priced single dd yardstick, let me tell you guys, kZ is still not even at aria level yet. one can argue aria is overhyped but why dont grab a set of aria level stuff, aria or titan s , and a set of kz, and a/b yourself. instead of just listening to kz marketing
As I said, some people are not sensitive to 8k, some are very sensitive to it and that is all you hear. Sometimes it isn't as noticeable, sometimes it is very noticeable but there is a tuner at KZ who isn't bothered by it. But you are 100% right, why were those $30-$40usd Harman sets popular, they tweaked Aria's levels and for the most part, didn't have a glaring bright spot to annoy people. I do think we are back having KZ focus on driver specs and circuits, but not getting the tuning right. I do hope they read your comment and the others that have been posted.
I call the KZ 8k peak Mount KZ lol. Great review.
Its ok unless you are sensitive to it then that is mostly what you hear. Sometimes I do envy people who aren't bothered by it as it is quite fatiguing.
Personally I'll prefer the tuning like AS16 Pro and Linglong which is kind of U-shape Diffuse Field-ish with sub-bass boost rather than following trends with those boring mid-range like Wan'er and Lan, just need polish Linglong-like tuning. I think that will makes KZ really stands out, like you know how hyped Linglong is, which is really, really good, because it's something different than competition but still well-done. I think that's what all we need from KZ/CCA. Make Linglong tuning, reduce 3dB a little bit in bass-region to reduce mud in the lower-mid and make the jankiness in 8k to upper-treble to more even or more linear tilt-down like MD Variation.
Sure, Ling Long is a bit of an anomaly or AS16 and Ling Long are anomalies, but the Harman thing gets you levels and a sound without major problems. It is certainly tweakable, but KZ needs to find a base tuning that works in that Harman-ish style. Its 2/3 already there. They are pretty decent at the different tunings, but to compete, they and everyone else gets compared to Aria.
@@PaulWasabii So should I go for ling long in this price bracket I was thinking on going with zvx. My library is mostly female vocals. soul, pop, r&b.
The extra 8kHz energy in sets like this get quite tiring over time. I don't know what kind of internal KZ politics dictates that kind of tuning, someone might think it impresses initially, but probably even casuals will hate the KZ treble long term.
That is the issue with me as well. In short sessions, not as noticeable, but as time goes on, it does cause quite a bit of fatigue and I need to put them down.
full of technology and very cool to wear on your ears!
sound quality is really good!
KZ didn’t just fall “a little bit short”. As a noob I feel they absolutely failed to capitalize on the $20 budget space. Seeing as they have so many budget options, you’d think they’d be able to pull it together sooner in the 4 months between the Chu and 7Hz Zero instead of “good enough” a whole year later. KZ wasn’t even in just about any of my discussions for which IEM to consider getting as a first set or gift. 💀
You aren't alone. It is frustrating to watch actually. They should have owned the budget sets and dual DD sets. I'd like to say they will turn it around soon, but they need to step back and see what has happened to the market.
But they did, in super budget around 10usd, they have KZ EDCX and KZ ZSA, it is absolutely there. And in 20usd space, they have CCA brand - CRA and CXS. All premium look and outstanding sound in their class.
nice review! this seems like a great set.
Will that 8k peak be solved with foams or TRN T tips? Did u try to mod it? 😊
No, that is the issue, there is no magic bullet on 8K. Putting a filter on the nozzle is usually 2-4k and foam tips are upper treble, as how they used them on PR1 Pro. If you are sensitive to it, look at KZ D-Fi, that is basically ZVX re-tuned.
Like Paul says, first make sure it actually bothers you. If it doesn't then you can ignore 8k and have a lot more ootuons.
*options*
what's your opinion with Tangzu Wan'er vs. KZ ZVX? Which would you prefer?
Wan'er's popularity was earned as a very high quality, like-able example of that tuning style. ZVX is cool to look at, but KZ has moved on to more modern sets.
Personally like ZVX more than Waner. Waner, 2 sets, boring AF and shout for me. I added a filter and tip rolled every tip I had to find a pair that actually brought out a decent bass quality and quantity. I don't hear most
I don't hear most 8k peaks unless they are obnoxiously tall with some female vocals. Guess I'm lucky. Definitely good for the budget. Lol
Totally agree with you about the treble , I find it lacking in extension and sound stage due to the peak , I tried foam tuning filters on it , It sounded smoother but did not eliminate the peak , I think KZ is not there yet in term of driver quality in spite of their recent effort developing new drivers.
Yeah its just off balance and they need to figure it out soon. The biggest issue with peaks around 8k is that you can't throw a filter on the nozzle or just use foam tips. I think the driver quality might be there, but the tuning on this series of sets needs to be smoothed out.
@@PaulWasabiithey use pcb for tuning not foams and still are not able to achieve smooth line???
any comparison with pr1 pro ?
This goes back to what I was mentioning on the treble boost. ZVX has a bright spot, PR1 Pro has more of a boosted upper range. Planars in general are more treble and need a nicer dac/amp but the result is detail and resolution far beyond zvx. The planar thing has a lot of benefits, but also some drawbacks so if you are just looking for casual use with your phone, stick to the something like the zvx for now.
After my KZ Zex Pro broke I've struggled to find a replacement for my AZ09 Pro's. I actually ended up pulling out the Moondrop Sparks again after hating them initially and kind of like them now but I do wish KZ would just make a smallish single DD with a slight U shape to it with good clarity and seperation. Nothing fancy or wild. Just a single IEM shell too, not this heavy metal one or any weird shapes.
They have not jumped into U-shaped yet. Their bigger audience tends to like more bass which is why they seem slow to adopt lower bass shelves. The new D-Fi appears to get closer with the swtiches version but not the plain shell. I am not sure if it is all metal or half.
Very much like the competition at this price point, and this seems like a great set.
Got these a few days ago and I must say that I am very impressed.
which should i choose?
KZ ZVX or KZ X HBB DQ6S
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
ZVX is the current modern KZ style. If you want a 2 or 3DD set, maybe wait to see if KZ has one later in the year.
He deserves a better price.
How does this compare to the Tangzu Waner?
Wan'er is just a bit safer, but ZVX will sound more detailed. The driver is really good, just has a bright spot which is why I say Wan'er is safer. Not everyone will care about the bright spot and in that case, you ZVX is a great set.
Is this compatible to kx az09 c pin
Actually it is. I think ZVX is the one where the QDC connector is slightly twisted which might twist the AZ09 ear hook a tiny bit. Some people notice it, most don't.
7hz zero vs this? In mid range vocals and soundstage which one sounds better?
I have zero i find it lacking in mids and vocals it sounds boring
ZVX looks cool and has more bass which will thicken your mids. The truth is you need to try a couple sets and figure out some general levels that work for your preferences. I'd try KZ D-Fi with switches which might help figure out your preferences or Tinhfi C2 which is bright and more exciting.
@@PaulWasabii actually 7hz zero to me is smoother and boring sounding with little bit of sparkle
It sounds nothing special is KZ ZVX any better or worse thick sounding with missing upper treble?
@@PaulWasabii does ZVX has metal filter or cloth or paper filter?
I watch lots of movies and listen to all types of songs and i need a theatrical effect so do u prefer this ZVX ? And my other options are eda balanced version and zsn pro x
Yeah I'd go ZVX or D-Fi. The driver is very good for the price.
@@PaulWasabii i really appreciate ur response bro 💖
@@PaulWasabii zvx or d-fi no switch? will use it for casual listening and mostly fps games
😀
does it has similar sound to kbear aurora?
Aurora was a thick, relaxed set. This is more energetic and not as thick. Aurora may be closer to CCA CRA+, slightly thick fun sound.
@@PaulWasabii how about wan er? does it has similar sound to aurora? or different?