7Hz - Salnotes Zero

you can usually get decent 10$\~ cables from amazon or aliexpress. just look for 0.78mm 2-pin cables. tripowin, xinhs, nicehck, kbear are good brands zero's are abit brighter in the treble versus the reds which might exacerbate the pitchy highs issues you're hearing rn. reds are also generally just a step up from the cheapie 20$ sets like zero i'd opt for the cable

Don’t buy Salnotes Zero with earphones Eventually your wire will get cut just below your mic as that is the only place where it is not having protection. Saying this from personal experience

What's your overall opinion on the Salnotes zero? I find them terrible without eq but I love them with it.

Hotel california cause I got my first IEM (salnotes zero)!

I have them and love them. Please clarify

Have: *Using a dac btw *Chu 2 and Kefine Klean are prone to sound damp/loss due to moisture getting trapped in the metal housing. If it happens let it air out or put silica gel next to it. -Kz edc pro(cheapest option; sounds better than my salnotes zero & chu 2 tho unreliable qc) -Salnotes zero(great budget option; clean layered sounds and a bit bassy, plastic housing not really bothersome quite reliable tbh, stock cable sucks tho, my running/jogging iem) -Moondrop chu 2(clean layered sound and neutral tuning, my preferred choice; metal housing, great stock cable, my travel iem) -Kefine Klean(a bit better sounding than every iem i have, best build quality, metal housing, great stock cable, my gaming iem) Currently eyeing: Kinera Celest Simgot ew300

kz dq6 and my second is salnotes zero 1, the kz make me realize bass is part of detail to

If you're base sensitive I recommend IEMs with a neutral tuning like the 7hz salnotes Zero 1 and maybe the Chu 1 if you can find it. All of these are in the 25 usd range.

It's not a knock on IEMs. Just my personal experience. idk what it is but across my Moondrop Aria, Salnotes zero and 1 month of Artti T10s, I couldn't get much footsteps or real in game indicators of enemy whereabouts in ***Warzone***. Pulled out my 3 year old HyperX out of the dust and everything was more clear. But, my God , do i hate how hot these Headphones get (even with aftermarket pads) and I have to cool them down between games by holding it towards my fan Lol. still IEMs are my go to for everything else throughout the day, I just put up with the b/s headphones for Warzone. FWIW I believe they did design the audio of the game focused at the console market, i.e. 99.9% of them are using traditional headphones). side note: Fortnite is perfectly fine on IEMs fwiw. Played several years of tourneys on IEMs without worries. I think Warzone sound engine is just terrible.

Okay I have this problem with IEMs I'm hoping someone would help me solve. When I record my gameplays, there is always a static noise when the mic is on. I have [7HZ - Salnotes Zero](https://www.headphonezone.in/products/7hz-salnotes-zero?variant=42607177990332).

daily driving kiwi ears cadenza, but i've went through a pair of salnotes zeros, and a pair of linsoul tangzu waners as well as daily drivers. probably gonna swap back to the tangzus once i get a new cable for em

Already ordered mine Those and the 7hz zero 2 I have the chu 2 They’re amazing The wan er too And the 7hz zero (original)

I got my salnotes zero 1 for like 12 bucks and it made my $160 TWS sound like utter dog shit. Thing with Iems is you can get insane value with a tiny budget compared to wireless buds. $80 IEMS outperform virtually any Bluetooth buds on the market. Lossless, uncompressed, clear audio for the price of a big Mac combo

I like the Salnotes Zero because they're relatively neutral and controlled bass.

salnotes zero since hindi naman bass kailangan sa fps games

bunny dsp/7hz salnotes zero/tangzu waner sg2. Personal recommendation - tangzu

bunny dsp/7hz salnotes zero/tangzu waner sg2. Personal recommendation - tangzu

Kz zsn pro is too old to consider. Meron ako nyan dati and, and hindi naman masama sound but I prefer Salnotes Zero in terms of gaming and music. Yung first 3 choices mo dun ka pumili. Yung kz castor pro ata yung magandang budget iem kung prefer mo kz brand.

I found the version 1 (OG) was surprisingly useful. I saw it was mentioned a few times and it was one of my earlier purchases. It's surprisingly capable.

I'm interested but going to wait for reviews, even though I suspect like most previous Crinacle collabs there will be an intense wall of hype that doesn't necessarily reflect the reality. I have all 4 of the Crinacle Zeroes and don't really listen to any of them as they are all just "OK", but in each case I have at least one other IEM that I prefer in some way. The main thing that interests me about these though is that the Blue/Red are both very close to something I'd listen to a lot, were it not for the massive nozzle. My thoughts on them all: * 7Hz Zero - for this tuning I prefer the original Chu, other than the crappy fixed cable. Chu sounds more resolving. Both have issues with some treble grain so I don't think either is objectively better than the other in that respect. * 7Hz Zero 2 - sounds a bit blunted to me, for this kind of warm tuning it feels a bit too "safe" and I find the QKZ HBB beats it in every way other than looks. * Truthear Zero (OG Blue) - Was innovative in some ways but it's actually only about 70% target-compliant not "full Harman". The HBB Khan is basically the same IEM made slightly better (jftr, it literally *is* the same IEM, from the same factory, with a different faceplate and tweaked tuning - I believe even the drivers are identical). * Truthear Zero Red - This one stands out in that there still isn't anything with quite the same tuning around the same price, but I find it pretty meh in terms of technicalities. It causes far too much ear canal discomfort without a sufficient payoff to be worth it, so I basically gave up on trying to listen to it. I have enough other IEMs at similar price of just above that are better such as the Artti T10, Kefine Delci and Dunu Titan S - in fairness to the Red, none of these were available at the same price point when it released and none of them has quite the same tuning. Closest thing to a direct upgrade I have is the Juzear 41t, which is nearly 3x the price and has [venting problems](https://old.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1insj4z/some_thoughts_on_the_juzear_clear_and_myer_audio/). From what I've seen of the Blue 2 graphs, it sits somewhere between the OG Blue and the Red. The tweaked eargain is similar to the Khan, but it takes bass in the opposite direction, which looks more like the Red. It's also been said by some people that the Aoshida E20 is "the Khan with a smaller nozzle" Although personally I don't hear anything like that. It's a lot more neutral, so that's another comparison I'd like to see as it may be quite similar. In fact out of these, the E20 graph is the one that looks the most like the Blue 2. Now that Crinacle has his own IEM brand, I wonder if these will be the last ever Crinacle collab? What's interesting is that despite all the effort to make the nozzle smaller on these and Crinacle himself clearly acknowledging that it was a problem, people who have tried the 3 new CrinEar IEMs say that they all have huge nozzles.

Not really in order, as different tunings: * Moondrop Chu 2 - mild v-shape, great IEM * QKZ HBB - warm/bassy, great IEM * Blon BL03 - fun v-shape (but the fit is terrible) Bright neutral has a few options - I prefer the original Chu but the crappy fixed cable lets it down. The 7Hz Zero is a bit better in that regard, but I don't think it sounds quite as good. Arguably it's better to pay the extra for the Moondrop LAN for this signature because it's the best one until you go up significantly, but OTOH it's also kind of overpriced for what it is (I think it's around $40 normally, but it's basically just a Chu 2 with less bass). The 7Hz Zero 2 is OK as well but I personally find it a bit of an overly safe middle ground between other, better IEMs. Like the QKZ HBB, if you want warm but don't want to go quite that warm. It's probably the one that's the closest competitor to the Wan'er, as a better all-rounder. Although I find the Wan'er has a stand-out feature in its vocals while being weaker elsewhere, but the Zero 2 doesn't have a single stand-out thing it does better than anything else. It could maybe get the award for the okayest $20 IEM, as it doesn't do anything bad, but nothing stands out as particularly good either. You also have things like the KZ EDC Pro as probably the best beginner IEM, for around $5. It's very close to the Chu 2 but a bit bassier and slightly less refined in the treble. Probably more comfortable than the Chu 2 and less prone to condensation issues. The KZ Castor Bass, around $15, is good for a really hard-hitting bass tuning, although it's not an all-rounder and the tuning is a bit grainy.

It's not 100% flat neutral (but nothing is in that price range), more U-shaped, but the Tin C2 is very good. It gets closer to neutral with Spinfit CP-100+ tips since those roll off the extra upper treble that they have, leaving it as pretty neutral with a slight bass boost. But they have very clean, well extended treble that IMO puts them quite ahead of the 7Hz Zero or Zero 2 for technical performance. Similar to the Simgot EW200 but that's a lot more v-shaped. Also the C2 has the best build quality out of any of those. The older one (which is now around $20) is closer to neutral than the 2025 version, which has a bit more sub-bass and sounds slightly more v-shaped. Both are very similar though. You probably wouldn't know there was a difference if you listened to them a day apart rather than A/B them side-by-side. If you want more of a bright-neutral with flatter bass, the Moondrop LAN is pretty good (around $40).

They all perform pretty similarly. I'd have to A/B to remind myself but I *think* the Chu 2 is slightly ahead of the rest. The Gate might be a bit wider sounding actually because it's a bit brighter than the Chu 2, but IMO it's not as well tuned as the others and can sound a bit "scratchy" at times. If you want to avoid too much bass, you will probably prefer the 7Hz Zero as it's a bright-neutral tuning (Chu 2 & Gate are both mild v-shape, Wan'er & Zero 2 are warm-neutral). With that said, none of these are basshead. Bear in mind that soundstage is a psychoacoustic effect anyway, so what sounds wider to one person might not sound like that to someone else. Very broadly, a slight v-shape with a lean towards more treble and less mid-bass will sound wider, but there's no guarantee everyone will hear it that way.

For the ones that get recommended there's a noticeable difference. Usually good $20 IEMs will have some limitation, like good tuning but lack extension, or vice-versa. The good $80-ish ones will have both. Around $200 you typically get a bit more refinement, but diminishing returns are definitely a thing. For a first IEM, the good ones in the $20 range are excellent and nobody will notice a difference compared to starting at $80 without having the chance to compare them directly. And even then, it might take a while before they have the listening ability to tell the difference in a comparison. The main thing about the $20 IEMs is that the good ones have a very specific signature and do one thing well, but maybe not everything. For example the QKZ HBB does warm and bassy better than anything I know of under $200, but it lacks treble extension. The 7Hz Zero is the exact opposite of that. The Chu 2 is probably the most balanced option and has the most premium look & feel overall because it's metal & comes with a decent cable & a nice carry pouch. It can have some issues with condensation because of the metal shells, so it needs a bit of looking after, especially in humid environments.

The EW200 has a lot of treble energy but also a lot of bass (although this is very dependent on getting a good seal with the eartips), so it's more of a v-shape than a bright set per se. It's a slightly more aggressive v than the Chu 2, but still the same general tuning concept. Probably the best bright-neutral set is the Moondrop LAN. There isn't really anything better than the LAN with that style of tuning until you get up to the level of the Blessing 3, which is quite a big jump. If you want to spend a bit less, the 7Hz Zero is also bright-neutral, but it doesn't sound as smooth & refined as the LAN. If you want something that has tons of treble energy and resolving ability, while also being a mild v-shape so there's a bit more kick to drums etc. (but very much a bright IEM) then consider the Simgot EA500. The original silver version, not the LM or the new black one. This one comes with a health warning though, because it is *very* bright and potentially quite fatiguing. Definitely one to avoid if you're at all treble-sensitive. This is an incredible IEM in short bursts, but I can't listen to mine for more than an hour or so at a time. It sometimes goes on sale for as low as $50 since the LM got released. It's by far the most technical IEM at that price other than maybe the Artti T10.

I would recommend the Chu 2 over the Gate. The treble on the Gate is a bit peaky and sounds unnatural at times. The 7Hz Zero (the original one not the Zero 2) is also closer to flat neutral if that's something you're looking for. I prefer the Chu 2 as it's a bit smoother and more engaging with a bit more bass. The Chu 2 is a mild v-shape, but not so v-shaped that anything is "missing". If you want neutrality though, the Zero is closer to that. Either one will give you good clarity, details etc. The Chu 2 feels a bit higher quality and the accessories package is a lot nicer, especially the cable. Because it's metal, it does require a bit more careful looking after than the Zero, which is plastic, because metal shelled IEMs are a bit more prone to moisture-related issues. The main thing is it's important to give the IEM time to rest and dry out between uses. If you live somewhere humid, it's best to invest in some silica gel to help with that. Otherwise just leave them out of the case somewhere warm and dry for a couple of hours to dry out before putting them away.

How is the directional audio (verticality) and footstep cues with Tripowin Vivace? EDIT: I just got 7Hz Salonotes Zero and they lack in that compartment, so would you recommend this or other IEMs for this use?

My first was Salonotes Zero (not 2), I was impressed for the price but it was downgrade compared with headphones I used at that time (Steelseries Arctis 1). Same would be with Zero 2 because even if they are improved still not the best for FPS gaming. After that I was considering getting Truthear Crinacle Zero Red but so many reviews that they are uncomfortable because of the big nozzle size. Zero Red should sound good enough for FPS tho and you could buy additional eartips to make them feel more comfortable but for some people that didn’t change much when we talk about comfort. So for me Zero Red were no go. I went for the Kefine Delci AE and I really like them soundwise and comfort too. I also play almost only FPS games (Apex, COD sometimes etc.) and can feel the difference. Even more difference when you adjust sound of your audio in the playstation 5 menu. Out of these, I would go with Kefine Klean, as a “safe pick” as they sound really nice for the price but Kefine Delci AE is little bit better in terms of sound compared to them but also for higher price. You can see youtuber FreshReviews sheet of best IEMs for FPS games too. P.S. I’m also new to the IEMs hobby and my opinions are based mostly on other peoples reviews I found od internet. I have tried only Kefine Delci AE and 7Hz Salonotes Zero so keep that in mind! EDIT: Also you need to know that not many IEMs is better soundwise when it comes for FPS and positional audio but for music it is night and day difference. Also, it depends from what kind of audio (headphones) you come from. So for people there could be biggers or smaller difference when they start to use IEMs.

Most IEMs have detachable cables with either a 2 pin or MMCX connectors. You can certainly buy USB-C audio cables with either of those connectors and use them with whatever IEM you'd like that has a compatible connector. Unfortunately my s24 seems to have a fair amount of noise transmitted through the USB C port so Bluetooth sounds better. I like to use something like the Fiio BTR5, but that is just adding more expense. You can try something like the SalNotes Zero which you can get with a USB C cable for like $25 as a starting point to see how you like it. (It also can be bought with a standard 3.5mm cable, so make sure you get the right version of you try it).

I use my humble Salnotes Zeros more then any other of my IEMs or full sized cans. They are so comfortable and the tuning just gets it right.

please don't make the mistake of buying kz iems. just get the 7hz zero or zero 2. or you can buy truthear gate (best gaming iem under 2k). all of these are much better value than kz iems. kz iems have a terrible cable + they only give 3 pair of eartips inside the box & nothing else. while, tangzu wan'er or truthear gate or zero/zero 2 give you 6-7 pairs of eartips + a cleaning cloth or case to carry your iem + truthear gate has the best cable quality of any iem under 3k.

if you listen to both english & hindi songs, and prefer balanced sound then - truthear gate. but if you want a little bass heavy sound signature then 7hz zero 2. now, if you only listen to hindi songs, then tangzu wan'er 2. (note skip og wan'er sg as wan'er 2 is the upgrade & has better cables, better sancai eartips & better build.) these all sell for around 1.5k - 2k and skip everything else such as moondrop chu 2, any kz iem (dont ever buy a kz iem), skip og 7hz zero as well. SPECIAL: if you can spend around 3k, then just blindly go for 7hz G1. currently the best budget iem. proper v shape fun sound signature, with great clarity & separation. metal build. truly fantastic if you dont want reference grade & just wanna enjoy & vibe to your music with great clarity.

It's ok! .. Salnotes 7hz zeros are neutral.. Well the first thing i would recommend, is to change the eartip ..try the narrow bore small size. It helps to lower down the brightness .. But if you have already tried it , then from my limited experience i think you find the signature too bright for your liking .. hence you try iems with "balanced sound signature" ( Tangzu waner sg 1/2 ) . They are comfortable for medium size ear canals and hold up to their reputation .. decent bass and easy mids and treble.. If you want to add another signature you can try something from the KZ line up KZ ZSN PRO X. it has punchy bass and bright highs ..V shaped basically. Extra tips .. 1. Go to youtube, learn how to use the Wavelet app for EQing ur iems . 2. try practicing listening to audio at volume less than 30-40% .. specially for longer listening sessions . 3. you can also add a dongle dac & amp for slight enhancement . like Shanling UA mini. Audiocular D07 ( look for mic pass through) / hpz x ddhifi dongle dac and amp .. cheers.

I regularly used a hyperx cloud 2 and I switched to a salnotes zero iem because of extreme temperatures in summer. I mostly play r6s, cs etc and the iem has been an awesome replacement. I have never felt that I would hear those footsteps better if I was using the hyperx instead.

I've got the 7hz salnotes zero (og). Every game sounds really nice and natural. You can try these as well. Usually goes for around 15$.

Hey, can you suggest safest iem. As I've found 7hz zero og fatiguing. Looking for the iem only for music purpose. Mostly for indian pop music. Around 30$

7hz Zero, usbc+mic version, so I can at least take a phone call and use it as work headset if I forgot my modded koss.

7hz salnotes zero (not the 2) very clear talaga its almost like wallhack for me in valorant. problem lang very weak yung bass and depende sa tao may iba na enough na sakanila yon and may iba na lacking yon. for me it was enough because of the clarity until nirelease nila yung 2. the 2 has more bass and honestly much better for everything else except sa FPS games where it is slightly worse than the first version. again slight lang naman so you might want to consider them pero if gusto mo talaga maximize yung clarity for fps games go for the non zero version

7hz salnotes zero (not the 2) very clear talaga its almost like wallhack for me in valorant. problem lang very weak yung bass and depende sa tao may iba na enough na sakanila yon and may iba na lacking yon. for me it was enough because of the clarity until nirelease nila yung 2. the 2 has more bass and honestly much better for everything else except sa FPS games where it is slightly worse than the first version. again slight lang naman so you might want to consider them pero if gusto mo talaga maximize yung clarity for fps games go for the non zero version

Try mo yung 7hz G1, else I prefer Zero coz neutral | Component | Link | Part | Price | Comment | |---|---|---|---|---| | **Accessories** | [LINK]() | IEM Shopee Salnotes Zero | 690 (**690**) | | | **Accessories** | [LINK]() | IEM Shopee 7hz G1 | 1380 (**1380**) | | | **Accessories** | [LINK]() | IEM Shopee Kinera Wyvern Celest Abyss | 1100 (**1100**) | |

Salnotes Zero, Zero2 or try mo ivoucher yung G1 Zero - balanced Zero 2 - more bass G1 - better Zero | Component | Link | Part | Price | Comment | |---|---|---|---|---| | **Accessories** | [LINK]() | IEM Shopee Salnotes Zero | 690 (**690**) | | | **Accessories** | [LINK]() | IEM Shopee Salnotes Zero 2 | 931 (**931**) | | | **Accessories** | [LINK]() | IEM Shopee 7hz G1 | 1380 (**1380**) | |

Salnotes zero. Same As you. The sound quality for the price is great. The standard bass canons just don't work for me. I mostly listen to classic metal, and thrash metal. The more natural sound profile really lends itself to the high vocals and not super down-tuned guitar.

I'll give you a completely different answer. For the most neutral sound go for 7Hz Salnotes Zero 1. Get it from headphones zone. I personally use it and can vouch for it, for the rest you can obviously watch videos. Here's the link https://www.headphonezone.in/products/7hz-salnotes-zero?_pos=2&_sid=d6c0e30e9&_ss=r&variant=42038030631100

I have the 7hz g1 but i only have 7hz zero 1st gen. I can say tho footsteps sound better in the 7hz zero than in the g1. Im no sound expert but just saying this by experience. Not saying g1 is bad.

As someone who yas 7hz g1 and 7hz zero. I can only say by exp im not a expert person for iem But for a game like cs2 i prefer the 7hz zero(not zero2) than the g1. Ecample footsteps in the g1 gets overwhelmed a little when theres like a lot of sounds compared to the zero. Overall i dont mind the g1. Just saying since a lot of people suggesting the g1. 7hz zero tho than the kz castor for cs2 also.

Yes 7hz salnotes zero.

Had the Salnotes Zero, they are great for their price. BUT left earbud broke after three months. Customer service send me a whole new pair. Three months later right earbud broke from the new pair. Now I have a frankenstein IEM from my two pairs. In the meantime I got myself the Truthear Hexa for 80 bucks. Muuuuch crispier and clearer sound and muuuch more comfortable in the ears. Expensive but worth every penny.

went with salnotes zero, one of the users na nag comment is spot on. the iems we're rocking rn is more 'sharper' idk if that's the perfect term kesa sa bass side. plus good quality too.

the tanchjim bunny usb c/zero ultima usb c is the best of the cheap ones

(amongst the iems have I owned) s tier: kiwi ears ke 4 and truthear hexa a+ tier: Ikko OH10, Pula PA02, Shuoer s12 pro, Sennheiser ie200, Kefine Delci, Dunu Titan S OG a tier: Dunu Titan s2, Tanchjim One, pre revision CCA CRA+ A- tier: Binary Chopin, Tangzu Waner Studio, KZ PR2 pre revision, Tripowin Olina SE B+ tier: Kiwi Ears Quintet, Tangzu Xuan Ji, Simgot EW 200, Truthear Gate and Hola, Tangzu Wan'er SG B tier: Moondrop Chu 2 and OG, KZ EDA Balanced, Kiwi Ears Quartet, Moondrop Aria Snow, FiiO Jade Audio JH3, Tripowin Lea B- tier: 7hz zero OG, Truthear Zero Blue, Whizzer BS1 C tier: KZ CRN D tier: Moondrop Quarks honorable mentions: Koss KSC75 in A minus, Porta Pro in B, Moondrop Space Travel in B-, Galaxy Buds Plus and 2 in A minus along with Airpods Pro Gen 1, and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in A plus.

For a few weeks now i own a pair of salnotes zero 7hz iems. They are connected via usb-c to my google pixel 7a. The Audio quality is good, but every so often the sound starts to crackle and the headphones disconnect while still being plugged into the phone. Do i have a broken pair of headphones or is this a general problem with pixel phones?

Big treble peaks at 11700 Hz and 14400 Hz

I use Salnotes Zero. Pretty nice IEMs use em for gaming.

Same boat as you. Glasses, etc. still like my HD650. I’ve had various cheaper iems. Salnotes Zero, blon bl05, kz zsn, truthear zero red, salnotes dioko. Favourite for gaming/every day is the zero red, followed by the zero. But it’s mainly a fit thing, I use them with a modmic kimura.

I wont call the Zero 2 neutral bright, is actually just balanced, and even a bit on the bassy side, if you want a balanced, kinda neutral iem, actually Tangzu waner is closer to that, also focusing on vocals, its a good middle groun, if you want to test bassy, you can either go for the KZ Castor Pro Bass (there is normal and Pro verions, both with bass and harman verions, you want to go for the bass version) to test a bassy V-shaped iem, more energetic, nice punch, and then you can check the Salnotes Zero original for something actually more neutral bright, leaning to vocals and treble. Also, you have alternatives like the Tanchjim Bunny to the Waner, the Kbear rosefinch for a "bass canon", or the QKZxHBB for a bassy relaxed very warm set, for better or for worse tho, there arent that many "bright" options on the budget bracket.

well, 7hz is a decent brand, the recomendation from them would be the Zero 2 for a balanced, slightly bassy iem that would be pretty allrounder, Sonus would be the mist technical option tho, but it has a moderate amount of bass that could be too little for some. Chu2 is not bad but it doesnt have the best QC, so its hard to recomend. Kiwiears Melody is quite V-shaped as an iem so, unless you like a lot of bass and a lot of treble, i wouldnt recomend it. The normal 7hz Zero is the step down from the Sonus basically. And Jiu doesnt have detachable cable, so not a great idea.

After posting earlier, I was able to listen to the demo sound samples of the 7Hz Zero:2, the successor to the Zero:1. Using the original sound as heard through the DT-770 Pro as a reference, I did a deeper comparison between the Zero:1 and Zero:2. The Zero:1 had great resolution and a natural tone, but its bass response felt lacking, which made it a bit disappointing in terms of accurately conveying the original sound. In contrast, the Zero:2 seems to have effectively addressed that weakness. (The mids were actually better represented on the Zero:1.) I had the chance to listen to the original Wan’er version, but I haven’t been able to find a demo for the SE (Studio Edition), so I’m unsure how it performs. Just as the bass performance was improved on the Zero:2, I’m wondering—does the Wan’er SE also offer more accurate bass reproduction, closer to the DT-770 Pro?

I use that same Salnotes Zero, but I run the ipod thru Topping NX1s, makes the Zero sound more exciting!

Salnotes zero https://preview.redd.it/s77gzpq9sdte1.jpeg?width=216&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c0530fc911a56917a392f1f70d4fb20325b5e56

Offensively bland with an unnecessary extra helping of treble. Imagine a bowl of dollar store vanilla ice cream. Now mix in some green beans. Offensively bland.

Hello from India too! I would suggest going for a IEM like 7hz Crinacle Zero 2 or G1, Also Salnotes Zero but i would spend a little more and get the USB DAC as well which would make a world of difference in PUBG.

salnotes zero 1 has a clean, bright and neutral sound.. salnote zero 2 has a same tuning with a bass boost and slightly lower upper mid.. which one to pick??? its all depend on what u need and what kind of music in your playlist.. kz edx pro is an old model so its not relevan for today standard but for someone who want iems with a tight budget, go for kz edc pro.. so much better driver quality, doesnt have an agresive v shape like edx pro which make it more balance (especially in vocal)..

Yeah, ive had a salnotes zero, prob the comfiest iem ive ever had, now using a Tin C2, also quite confortable. Ive already tried tip rolling with the T10, gets better, but nowhere near confortable for extended use

To my ears, the 7Hz Salnotes Zero (original) with the 7Hz H07 short barrel tips (these come with the 7Hz Timeless or can be bought on Aliexpress) sounds nearly identical to the Hexa, but with a more natural tone and timbre + better coherence + better note weight in the lower mids. The very slight decrease in resolution and separation does not justify the price difference for the Hexa. I'll keep saying this until I die. I suspect a nozzle filter mod on the Zero can improve it even further. The Zero's stock tips are very much bottlenecking its sound quality. It's possible my Hexa might have been defective or maybe I just don't like the sound of multiple-driver balanced armatures at all.

If you are really keen on being scrutinous in determining the sound you like most, I highly suggest getting something in the $20 range and go up from there. Getting something neutral like the Tanchjim Bunny, Tangzu Waner (any edition), Salnotes Zero (1) or MoonDrop Chu II would be a great start. BUT just get one pair. So for example, you get the Tanchjim Bunny first. Listen to it for at least a month, then if you find anything in the frequency lacking or copious, then find your upgrade from your findings. I hope this makes sense. My biased answer is for you to get the Hexa or 7hz Zero as these are 2 of my favorite IEMs right now. Cheers.

If you are really keen on being scrutinous in determining the sound you like most, I highly suggest getting something in the $20 range and go up from there. Getting something neutral like the Tanchjim Bunny, Tangzu Waner (any edition), Salnotes Zero (1) or MoonDrop Chu II would be a great start. BUT just get one pair. So for example, you get the Tanchjim Bunny first. Listen to it for at least a month, then if you find anything in the frequency lacking or copious, then find your upgrade from your findings. I hope this makes sense. My biased answer is for you to get the Hexa or 7hz Zero as these are 2 of my favorite IEMs right now. Cheers.

They’re a good starter set.

Oh. If you like more treble with subdued bass, yes, the OG 7hz zero is good. (Salnotes is a sub brand 7hz tried to start but I think they gave up on.)

There aren’t really any IEMs with a flat frequency response. Many follow the Harman curve or something somewhat close to it. (A lot of people in the hobby refer to this as “neutral”.) With IEMs, individual ear anatomy affects the perception of frequencies. So in this hobby, the definition of what sounds “flat” or “neutral” can be different from person to person. Two people can listen to the same IEM and disagree on the tuning (i.e. whether they're too bassy or to bright). To me, a cheap IEMs that I would consider as somewhat neutral would be the Moondrop Chu 2. Others may think of it as a bit warm. If you don’t like bass or warm tuning, the original 7hz Zero might be what you’re looking for. If you haven’t chanced upon it yet, [here's ](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1ei7lp2/newbie_advice_for_what_is_the_best/) my standard advice that may help you find the answer you need.

These are all great IEMs so good research there! Out of these, my favourite are the Tangzu Wan'Er 2 because of their V-shaped sound signature. I also have a pair of Kiwi Ears Cadenza tho. They are warm, chill and laid back. Out of all IEMs in this price range I would go Salnotes Zero :2 tho. Best in that bracket imo

The [KOSS KSC75](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006B486K) earclip "headphones" are excellent at pinpointing sounds from different locations with a cheap price rivaling any other headphones out there, though their design might not suit everyone. If you prefer IEMs, the [7Hz × Crinacle: Salnotes Zero](https://www.linsoul.com/products/7hz-salnotes-zero) (not Zero 2) should be enough and cheap for its bright neutral tuning, ideal for picking up faint nearby or distant sounds. Pair either with the [Samson Q2U microphone](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001R747SG) for reliable voice clarity. Personally, I use the [Truthear × Crinacle Zero: Red](https://truthear.com/products/zero-red) for its neutral-bass sound signature. The soundtrack always gives me chills with these.

I agree. If OP do wants to use an IEM, I recommend the [7Hz × Crinacle: Salnotes Zero](https://www.linsoul.com/products/7hz-salnotes-zero) (not Zero 2) for its bright nuetral sound signature in order to listen to faint sounds nearby or from a distance more clearly. Currently, I use the [Trurthear × Crinacle Zero: Red](https://truthear.com/products/zero-red) for its neutral with bass sound singature, I just love how the Arc Raiders' electronic musical score sounds like with these. It always give me the chills!

I'm going to recommend two kinds of earbuds: an In-Ear Monitor (IEM) and a True Wireless Stereo (TWS). If you want a budget-entry IEM, [7Hz Salnotes Zero](https://shopee.ph/7Hz-Salnotes-Zero-HiFi-10mm-Dynamic-Driver-In-Ear-Earphone-IEM-Metal-Composite-Diaphragm-N52-Magnet-3.5mm-with-Mic-i.174314413.24521700091) is a great choice for your money for its bright neutral sound signature which is a great starting point if you like to play competitive eSports titles such as Valorant or Counter-Strike 2. There is also three DSP variants where its termination is a USB-Type C. The DSP variant only has an in-line microphone and is priced at ₱779. Take advantage with vouchers to lessen the price! For an affordable TWS, then let me introduce to you the [Moondrop Space Travel 2](https://shopee.ph/Moondrop-Space-Travel-2-HiFi-Noise-Cancelling-True-Wireless-AI-ANC-Bluetooth-6.0-TWS-Earphones-i.182669784.42809033988) (₱1,699). It might be sound boring than the first iteration than the [Moondrop Space Travel 1](https://shopee.ph/Moondrop-Space-Travel-Active-Noise-Cancelling-Touch-Control-Bluetooth-5.3-True-Wireless-TWS-Earphone-i.182669784.20082532911) especially if you like bass, however it's one of the most natural sounding while being a cheap TWS so far. But hey, it has somewhat better ANC (but obviously, not the best) and better battery life than the first one. You can also watch [Hangout․Audio's Impressions](https://youtu.be/MzCJsH5Vw0Y) video to see how the microphone quality sounds like.

There are a lot of good options for gaming under $50. I personally use moondrop LAN, OG 7Hz Zero, new 7Hz Zero 2. I've even used the Sgor Luna and Artti T10 (planars) for gaming. From your music choice I would suggest something along the zero 2 which has decent but not overpowering bass.

Zero 2 is quite nice for the price. I have both the OG Zero and the 2 and find myself using the 2 much more often.OG Zero was the first item I bought, and they keep coming.

OG zero is really good for orchestral music, or as I like to use it, phone calls for work. I use my Zero 2 for gaming mostly as I have many other IEMs for music that suits my tastes better.

OG Salnotes Zero and use them everyday for work calls and gaming.

since youll be wearing it for longer hours, trust me, you need an iem which fits flush with your ear(like truthear gate), or has a small form factor (like Blon BL-03). Most of the offerings from kz, cca, and even tangzu have big shells which after sometime may hurt. My first iem was Salnotes Zero. Had such a pointy shape it started hurting after 15mins of use. Even tho i liked its sound, i had to return it. I say buy Truthear Gate, and a dac like KZ AM-01(i daily drive). Gate has a sound which you can listen to for hours, and it sits flush with my ear (my ears are big). Soo yea, try them out. One can always eq with wavelet to get a different sound signature, since eq is the only thing we budget sound enthusiasts got. Money? no bueno.

And then you realise you enjoy all kinds of tuning and you become a hapless addict like the rest of us ! I like a bumping BLON 3 type sound when I’m out and about, but for an eyes closed at home session, the salnotes 7hz zero v1 have a presentation that is more source faithful and reward you for attentive listening

ipod touch 3rd generation + 7HZ Salnotes Zero IEM 💚

The originals don’t have a lot of bass, it’s there but like the kid in the back of the room who whisper here in class.

i once brought a few cheap iems for a coworker who produces to try to get him into the iem hobby, he listened to a few and stated the first version of the salnotes zero sounded the most like his monitors back at where he produces , he went ahead and bought them

Hello, just to update. I chose to get the salnotes og. My thinking was to feel first iems with some budget ones if i am really going to like it. For the salnotes zero, i very much liked the sound and the clarity when it comes to voice and the bass were enough for me so it was a perfect first iem for me and will surely upgrade to the ones you suggested soon. Thank you!

I always have the “quit while you can” mantra on the back of my mind. The biggest proof was when I got my Hexa and comparing it to the Salnotes Zero, significant upgrade in clarity but not the x times amount of money I paid for. Since then I really understand how massive the diminishing return is in this hobby. Learning from that, now I consider the Hexa as my endgame. I don’t think my flac library can sound meaningfully better either. Maybe not until I try and listen to a half and/or kilo bucks IEMs. I'll say the thing back to you, OP. Happy listening!

I have small ear cavities. I recommend the Simgot EW300, BLON x HBB Z300 or the 7hz Salnotes 2

My first IEM got beaten up cuz I sleep on them, they were KZ ZEX pro and the plastic holding the inserts for the pins disintegrated. I do still have my 7hz Zero OG though and they're still kicking strong.

Truthear x Crinacle Blue 2, Red, or Blues are amazing for their price. They are a little more than double your price, though. Salnotes Zero's are good for about $20, but the Truthear are way better.

The usual recommendation of entry point IEM are all good. Of course I don't have all but I do have some and in case you're new and don't know, I'll name a few so you can start looking into them to see which fits your tastes better: * Mooondrop Chu 2 - metal body and small, very nice pick * Truthear Gate * Tangzu Wan'er (normal, 2 and studio edition) * Salnotes Zero (both 1 and 2) * Kiwiears Cadenza * Simgot EW100 or 200 * Tripowin Vivace - I just ordered this to try it as it has been getting a lot of praise and is supposed to perform way above its price range * Moondrop Lan - this is about 40 dollars, above of what you mentioned but I love it. Super comfortable, very neutral and pleasing sound signature. Full metal body, which is always a plus for durability. On the current sale I think it may be on your budget. If you have any more question just send them.

If you like the kz's check out the salnote zero. Similar budget comparible build quality but with a more balanced eq profile which lends itself better to stage iem's. Whether you use the kz's or the salnote's I would always use an aftermarket cable because as much as the units themselves are good the cables they provide are terrible.

I have 10-ish different models in the 10€ to 150€ range, mostly for PUBG and about 3000 hours in the game. Here are my top picks: - Tripowin Vivace 35€ - Simgot EM6L 120€ - Truthear Crinacle Zero blue 60€ (need AMP&DAC) - QKZ x HBB 20€ In that order. For other games, the Simgot and Crinacle Zero jump higher. The next ones can do, but not competitive: - Moondrop Quarks DSP 15€ - 7Hz Salnotes Zero 25€ - Apple earpods 3.5mm 20€ - KZ Zex Pro Crn 40€ Can't recommend for PUBG: - Moondrop Chu 25€ - Brainwavz Omega 15€ I recommend checking Fresh Reviews on Youtube, he checked many pricier models...

Hexa is still a perfectly solid neutral IEM. Interestingly enough, I don't think there's much alternative to the Hexa at around its price range. Most newer IEMs have pretty different tunings from the hexa, and usually have a distinct bass boost. If you go from the 7hz Zero (I'm assuming the 1st one), it's probably the best upgrade path you can get with a similar signature. I actually also used the 7hz Zeros too before I upgraded to the Hexa.

a 20-50$ iem will sound much better than any non audio brand 10$ earphone and even rival 100-150$ wireless earbuds like a samsung or oneplus. an 200$ iem will sound better than an airpods, these are just logically normal things. when it comes to actually comparing against over ear headphones or speakers. under 100$ generally iems will be the best but there are some good like 70-80$ headphones that rival them. around 100-500 or even 1000$ you really cannot beat over ear headphones for sound quality, once you spend multiple thousand dollars then speakers rule. but these categories arent really comparable since they are used in different situations most of the times. people mostly use iems outside, headphones in front of a computer and speakers in the living room. I can say that on well mixed tracks you can definitely hear a difference, it does not make the song different or anything like that but you pick up on new details when comparing a 30$ iem to a 150$ one, but usually the more important one is the sound signature of it, some are very flat and neutral some are made for bass some are made to be the most clear and detailed some are focused on male or female vocals its all depending on your personal preference. personally when listening to just popular rock songs I do notice that 150$ ie200s have more detailed guitar sounds and more separated drums than 25$ 7hz zero's in terms of really high end iems, they arent really supposed to be competing with normal headphones or speakers but trying to get as close to them while still being portable and private so you can use them anywhere. at home I would not use my iems since I already have decent over ear headphones that are much more comfortable and are open back, but ofc I cant use them on the train so I use my iems. going into iems its probably a good idea to not spend a ton of money, 20-30$ options like 7hz zero2 or tangzu waner will sound much better than what you have in every way you can imagine for not much money, if you go up to like 80$ they will become more detailed and technically better but the general sound of the music wont change much. in the end they are just a piece of tech not anything elite or smart or whatever, like 1000$ iems and such are a niche and stuff most people wouldn't care about them, but more affordable ones are just objectively great value if you care about sound.

Salnotes Zero 7Hz. parle microphone chara ta niben 3.5mm ta niben loge ekta DAC lagaia niben erpor ura dhura hunben. salnote ta durdanto mal.

People that have that experience with the 7hz zeroes mostly come from people that are using gaming headsets or airline earbuds. They're good for their price point but will not compete with headphones that are universally considered to be very good at their respective price points. The Zeroes are a budget starter set and used to determine if you want to go deeper into the rabbit hole or not.

oh, i like hate bass tbh hence i bought 7hz and they had the perfect bass for my ears like wont mind a bass upgrade of 10-15% but its great as it wins on clarity

So… I recently bought the Truthear Hexa while I was a bit drunk (thought I’d finally plug the hole in my audio setup). It just shipped, but now I’m seeing mixed reviews and wondering if I made the right choice. I used to have the 7Hz Zero, which I really liked, but it broke down recently. My main concern is that the Hexa came out around 2 years ago—so is it still a good option today? My budget is around $150, and I’m mainly looking for: * Balanced sound * Great clarity * Good separation/staging I mostly listen to old Hindi songs and pop tracks like *Blinding Lights* and *Starboy* by The Weeknd. So I want something that can handle both detailed vocals and energetic synth-heavy production. Basically just want the cleanest, best-sounding IEMs I can get in that price range. Did I mess up, or is the Hexa still a solid pick?

But I see all these nova, ew 300and now crinacles daybreak 3 years ago it was easy, 7hz zero

I got the 7hz Salnotes Zero. They are good, I like the detail in the treble (which some might find bright/sibilant) but the bass is anemic. I ordered the 7hz Zero:Two during lunch today. I understand it has a V-shape tuning, which should boost the bass I felt was missing in the original Zero. I also think a V-shape should work better for me, because I don’t like to listen at loud volumes. 65db is as loud as I ever get, so a V- shape tuning should mimic the “loudness” button that vintage receivers used to have for listening at low volumes at night. I’ll let you know what I think of the Zero:Two when it gets delivered last this week 🤜🏻🤛🏻 TL;DR I’d skip the Salnotes Zero (unless you hate bass 😝)

If presented with the right set, anyone can be a fan. My mother used to hark at me for spending too much on IEMs, so I gave her a pair of 7hz Zero's, and all of a sudden, she ditched her speaker setup. She still listens on speakers from time to time, but the majority of her sessions are on IEMs.

Agree with everything. These are $20 iems that comes with $9 eartips that Compete with $30 iems. I put it on the same level as kiwi cadenza and 7hz zero. Competition keeps heating up with a race to the bottom

Top 10, didn't bother to list more 1. HD6XX: After getting my hands on the HD6XX years ago, I don't get that "wow" feeling again no matter what I try. "Thanks to" the HD6XX whenever I try every HiFiMan, Meze, AKG, etc, I was like, 'That's it?'. HD6XX had ruined my headphones upgrade journey. 2. FiiO FT1: About a few months ago, I went to a Headphone Expo in Guangzhou, China. There I tested the FT1, it has that "oh this is nice" vibe to it which I haven't had since the Moondrop Cosmo. They offered a discounted price that I simply couldn't refuse so here I am. 3. Sennheiser Momentum 3: My travel/outdoor companion. Still one of the best built and sounds wireless over ear, no argument allowed. 4. Moondrop Kadenz: I got it at a decent price in China when released because of my membership of '客亭', a Chinese HiFi retailer.(Cheaper than KATO MSRP). My daily IEM whenever I don't feel like using my Anker A40. Sounds good, came with a nice dongle (ECHO-B), comfortable to me. 5. Sony MDR CD900ST: I bought second hand in Japan. Mainly for it's heritage and look. I use it for my studio as a secondary monitor at times. Sounds good, meh comfort and the The First Take scandal. 6. Sony MH750: My first ever "monitor", always got a soft spot for this IEM and goes back to listen to music with it. Sounds great, good comfort, compact. A bit bassy but overall sounds correct. Used it for mixing and composing in the past. Maybe it's nostalgia for it to be in the top 10. 7. Moondrop Chu 2: An IEM for testing equipment and arcade gaming. 8. 7Hz Salnotes Zero: A backup IEM for testing equipment 9. Nicehck DB2: I always use this to show people the disadvantage of BA driver. Sound good in the mid and bass because of the decent DD, missed the mark because of the BA driver handling the treble. 10. Soundcore Anker A40: A TWS for me to trash around. Sounds ok after EQ. Tbh, who needs HiFi audio quality when you're on the street or watching normal YouTube videos.

salnotes zero/zero 2. the soundstage and imaging is amazing for the price. also there’s a version with a mic

honestly, if I'm being dead serious I could have probably stopped at the 7hz Salnotes Zero for $25 just for something to play games with. Currently rocking the Ziigaat x Fresh Reviews Arete, with Spinfit W1 tips and Drop cable. I mostly use iems for gaming, since I don't have to worry about pressure on my glasses, and if I'm just listening to music I have cans that I prefer for better sound stage/bass.

I'm using 7hz salnotes zero and I say it's decent for the price. I can hear the general direction

7Hz Salnotes Zero is better for gaming than Zero:2, if you want something for gaming $30 Tripowin x 0diBi: Vivace blows them away

No joke. I just got some 7hz Zeros and man... I am impressed with how they sound. They remind me of my old AKG K612 Pro cans, but in an IEM...for $20 dollars lol.....I think I paid like $140 or something at the time for the K612s, and then almost $400 for my Audio Technica r70xs, but these $20 dollar IEMs man...where were these 6 years ago? IEMs have improved massively over the past 5 years and I'm all for it.

I've purchased a couple budget IEMs over the past few months as I introduced myself into this hobby. I started with the 7hz Salnotes Zero, then got the Truthear x Crinacle Zero:Red, and most recently the Simgot EW300 DSP. I have been listening to all kinds of music from various genres (mainly different EDM, rock, and a few others). I have also been using them for gaming as I previously use the Steelseries Arctis Pro. The difference in sound and the shear level of detail I hear in the music is remarkable. I have been trying different ear tips for the EW300 as I find the fit to be not that comfortable compared to even the Zero:Red which I think are quite large for my ears and stick out quite a bit. I love the sound of all of them but the profile for the EW300 is just great. I got into EQ a bit to see what all the hype is about and started AutoEQ to other IEMs I have been interested in. Doing research on everything, it has become quite an obsession I must admit. I understand the graphs and enjoy being able to visualize sound. I'm still learning about DACs and why they are important. I plan in the future to get another IEM that is more economic than the EW300 and have been looking into the ZiiGaat Odyssey as well as the Xenns Mangird Tea Pro. I set my EQ for the EW300 to match the Tea Pro and the sound is just that much better. The bass is clear and punchy and the miss and highs are detailed and accurate. There's not much of a point to this post. I'm not looking for information or suggestions really. Any information is always great, but I more just wanted to say thank you to the entire community for making this hobby one that is enjoyable and easy to get into. It has become my new obsession and I plan to stick with it for as long as I live. Music is my life and without it I'm sure I would be lost in this crazy world.

I was blown away with my salnotes 7hz zero for £21 from Amazon. Used with my iPod 4th gen before it died on me but the sound was great. Now use with my phone using a moondrop usb Dac.

I don't know how good it is at CoD (since every game is best EQed for, so different iems are better for different games) but the 7hz Zero was very good at footstep amplification in Valorant, only ok at imaging but damn if I didn't hear people from half way across the map. I would say OP should check out Fresh Reviews, he has reviewed at least a few of these for gaming. Sadly he doesn't always use the same games but I know he used CoD for the Blue 2 review.

Hi and thanks for the amazing write up, I feel like I’ve learnt a ton from reading it! Sorry to butt in with a noob question, but when you say “EQ’ing up to a graph,” does this mean doing it with a headphone measurement coupler? Or is this something you do by ear? I fell into this rabbit hole after attempting to EQ my Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW2s to not sound like a puddle of mud and haze (read: Harman target because that’s all I knew of at the time). I managed to successfully do it with sine sweeps, and then some refinement purely by intuition and A/B tests with my Linkbuds S with AutoEQ. Essentially, I’m just wondering if this method you’re talking about is something I can do, or if I should just stick to sine sweeps+pink noise (I’m gonna have to look into the pink noise). And in case you’re wondering how I ended up on this subreddit, I’m now the proud owner of a set of 7hz Zeros and Kiwi Ears Airosos :) Edit: And yeah, I was genuinely shocked at the result I got with the SQ1s after about few sessions of tweaking and listening. They’re quite an enjoyable pair of earbuds now, with some oddly satisfying details that I can hear without all the haze

Out of the options I think 7hz Salnotes Zero is great

Very easy to resist. Like c'mon. Just go with an actually viable choice..if you want a heavy hitter multi driver buy the Aful Performer P5+2 for 250. Sub 50 dollars? Just buy one of the many IEMs that have proved themselves time and time again, IE: Moondrop Chu 2, Tangzu Wa'ner, 7hz Zero, Truthear zero, Truthear Gate, etc. If you want a good tribrid for still pretty cheap get the Simgot EW300. (80 bucks) If you want a good 1DD+3BA hybrid for pretty cheap, get the Truthear Hexa or Truthear Pure. (80 bucks) More drivers doesn't mean better, and in lower price brackets it more often than not means that they have sacrificed actual performance for having "better specs" and more flashy marketing.

Depends on what sound you like personally. Everyone has a preference for their personal sound liking whether it be bright or warm. I currently have the 7hz Salnotes Zero and Zero 2, along as I just got the Tangzu Wan'er 2. Honestly the Wan'er 2 is a good all-rounder at about $20-ish, comes with a nice set of Sancai wide bore tips that are worth about $12 alone, and also has a decent cable (wish it was just a bit longer). I really like the Wan'er 2 but it has one small issue to me where the vocals are a little too forward, it's not really a bad thing as I can EQ it to sit lower in that range where it makes the set perfect for me ..for now (I have a few other sets I want to try out). The fit is also subjective, it has a short nozzle so don't expect a deep fit. I have no issues with short or standard fit nozzles, but the cable may or may not need a reshaping with the earhooks with a blow dryer, mine came a little warped and would pull the IEM out a little and make it sound shouty from improper sealing ..take that with a grain of salt that might not be everyone's case. The 7Hz Salnotes Zero is more neutral, very tight and detailed, not much depth (only a layer less detailed than the Wan'er 2 in terms of textures). This set to me feels more like it was meant for analytical listening as it lacks sub-bass, which isn't bad if you want to hear a more accurate dry bass and clean distinct notes. I'd honestly recommend this as a base reference, this set is probably the most balanced tuned of the three I have, since the vocals aren't very prominent but still have good clear presence. The Zero 2 on the other hand. Well if you want a ton of bass, this one trades off a bit of detail and texture for more bass heavy music. I recommend this one more for media, movies and if you don't care for any micro details, this does best to me with synthwave, J-Pop, hip-hop etc. it's also a little vocal forward, but not as much as the Wan'er 2. I eventually plan to get the Truthear Zero Red and Zero Blue 2, but my next in line is the Cadenza just to see what the hype is about and why it gets such mixed responses (my ears need to hear it not just take words of others who have a different ear than my own before writing it off).

Now, before I get into it, I posted about a month ago after getting the Zero: Red and caught some flack for showing the sum of my small collection of 5 sets saying about how it was just another consumerism show off. I bought my first sets back to back about 3 and a half months ago after watching a recommended budget list video. Me not knowing what sound I prefered went with both the 7hz Zero and Zero 2 at the same for under $30. It was here where I decided I'd like to have a good neutral analytical set and another more relaxed fun set. At the time I prefered the Zero more overall. The Zero 2 was also good for what it is but the sub was way to heavy for me. I threw wide bores on it. So like others I fell into the rabbit hole. Not fully understanding curve graphs at the time my best bet was to try them out. The following set was the Wan'er 2 (also a really good set and well worth it for the Sancai balanced tips alone). A few weeks after I got the Kiwi ears Cadenza for cheap (they were okay, bottom list for me, too dark and also too sharp, found this set better with foam tips). Last month I got the Truthear Zero: Red. I liked this set. Very well balanced and laid back but still well detailed. But ..it was lacking something, like a sizzle ..color, I wanted more of a general neutral with an analytical emphasis. So yesterday I caved and ordered the Hexa and got it in today ..my only problem is that I can't decide which tips I like better. I have the Spinfit W1, Sancai balanced and the Sancai wide bore tips. It's like none of these tips are bad with this set. I've run all my sets through the FiiO K11 and KA11 DAC dongle. This set in general I really like. It has all the technicality I was itching for, instruments sound accurate and natural and female and male vocals are very clear and defined, it really gives me that "in the studio sound" when listening to some tracks. This is especially good because I also game and play instruments, I want to hear all the analytical nuances and this is doing it for me. (I'm not gonna say these are endgame, nothing ever is). There's probably another cheap set I want to try, but, that's more out of sheer curiosity in the V area. Really wish I was in this when the Hola was in circulation, but next I want to try the Kinera celest wyvern black remaster. But that's for another time.

The 7hz Zero is a good general starter, it's more of a neutral/bright, it's still detailed. But, earlier I put them side by side with the Hexa, and the Hexa is a definite upgrade. The difference is that the 7hz Zero is more focused on the instruments in a band. The staging isn't too wide. The Hexa pushes the vocals a little more forward, like imagine sitting in the middle of a band in a recording studio. Overall I'd say the Hexa is a mature upgrade, the Hexa is also more natural sounding where the Zero can come off a little shouty.

Hmm, I feel like it's really a mixed bag. I own about 6 pair of IEM's and started off from budget $20 7hz Salnotes Zero and Zero 2, that kind of put me in focus of what I'd like to have for tuning. Naturally I tried others like the kiwi ears Cadenza, the Wan'er 2. I actually really like my Truthear Zero Red and Hexa. I had previously already owned a FiiO K11 DAC/AMP from about a year ago when I had gotten budget and mid range over-ears. I like to have a neutral-analytical set and a fun set of usually whatever I have. So it's usually doing a lot of homework before buying and there's a lot of stuff out there. Even then it's not like one always has the available spaces to try these things out beforehand. Maybe I got lucky or maybe I took into consideration the things I was looking into and what I was looking for. It's an interesting space. Though, it does make sense that it gets overwhelming and then you get disappointed when you get the results you either want or expect. Honestly.. I know people rag on the budget space ..but sometimes it's also just a bunch of people who paid a ton for their stuff and haven't even bothered trying anything there. Although it's always better to have a place where you start from the bottom up rather than going backwards. Budget space exists for a reason And that's not to say there aren't good starters or even good sets to be used as beatemups for their price. Ultimately that range exists and that's to get people started on finding out what they prefer without breaking the bank and then later sniffing out a higher quality or more refined version of that. On top of that one really does have to take into consideration which review channels are being serious and which is just trying to just push product. There's a lot of brand loyalists out there too. Don't even get me started on listening formats cause that shit is all over the place. Spotify lossless is not real lossless even if they claim it's CD quality 44.1khz, they don't use bit-perfect sampling. So there's still quality loss.

Personally, at 2k INR. None will have the clarity and details for some and many audiophiles. It kinda starts at least at the 4k-5k INR or above. If you want some details in this price range, go with a bright sound signature or V-shaped with prominent bright or trebles. Neutral Warm * Tangzu Wan'er SG \*\* * Tangzu Wan'er 2 \* Neutral Bright * 7Hz Salnotes Zero * KZ Castor Silver (Harman tuning, DDUU switches) \*\* * KZ Castor Pro Silver (Harman tuning, DDUU switches) \*\* * KZ x Angelears Libra X V-shaped * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 \* * Tanchjim Bunny 3.5mm \* * Tanchjim One 3.5mm * KZ Castor Silver (Harman tuning, UUDD switches) \*\* * KZ Castor Pro Silver (Harman tuning, UUDD switches) \*\* U-shaped * Tanchjim Bunny DSP \* * Tanchjim One DSP * DUNU Titan S2 \* (\* recommend | \*\* personally owned)

All under 3k INR (based on ConceptKart website) Neutral (including warm and bright) * Tangzu Wan'er SG (neutral warm) \*\* * Tangzu Wan'er 2 (neutral warm) \* * Tanchjim Bunny DSP (neutral bright) \* * Tanchjim One DSP (neutral warm) * Moondrop Chu 2 DSP (neutral bright) * 7Hz Salnotes Zero (neutral bright) * Truthear Gate (neutral balanced) \* * Kinera Celest Wyvern Qing (neutral balanced) \* * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver (v-warm-ish to neutral bright) \*\* V/U-shaped (including warm and bright) * Tanchjim Bunny 3.5mm * Tanchjim One 3.5mm * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 (mild v-balanced) \* * ND Planet (v-warm) * Rose Technics (Roseselsa) Aurora Ultra (v-warm-ish) \* * Moondrop Chu 2 3.5mm (mild v) * DUNU Titan S2 (v-balanced) \* * BLON BL-03 (v-warm) * BLON BL-03 II (v-warm) * Kiwi Ears Dolce (u-bright) * TRN Conch (mild v-bright) * Moondrop Chu 2 3.5mm (mild v-balanced) \* * Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss (mild v-warm) * Tangzu Shimin Li (mild-v bright) * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver (mild v-warm-ish to neutral bright) \*\* * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Black Improved Bass (v-bass to v-bright-ish) \*\* * KZ EDC Pro (u-warm) \*\* * KZ EDX Pro (v-bright) (\* recommend | \*\* personally I own)

|WARM|BALANCED-ish|BRIGHT| |:-|:-|:-| |Tangzu Wan'er SG (neutral warm)|Moondrop Chu 2 (mild v-bright-ish)|7Hz Salnotes Zero (neutral bright)| |Kiwi Ears Cadenza (neutral warm, with a touch of bright)||Simgot EW200 (mild v-bright)| All of them are good at their price point, but basing on your other IEMs, you prefer a mild-v tuning, either abit bright or abit warm. * KZ Castor Harman (Silver) which is a neutral bright to mild v-warm from switches * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 which is a mild v-balanced with a warm-ish feel * KZ EDC Pro is a u-balanced with a touch of warmness Kiwi Ears Cadenza has better brightness and air vs Tanzgu Wan'er SG, and personally experienced some minimal lower midrange mud with the original Tangzu Wan'er SG. Tangzu Wan'er SG 2 kinda fixed most of the issues with the original Wan'er SG, but its still a neutral warm IEM. Simgot EW200 has more energetic and brighter sound signature than KZ Castor Silver (Harman), but KZ Castor Silver has better soundstage and image separation vs Simgot EW200. Moondrop Chu 2 is the smallest on all of these, but might lack overall sound experience abit vs both the KZ Castor Silver and 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2. 7Hz Salnotes Zero is more neutral bright, lacks bass impact vs 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2. (fairly similar to KZ Castor Silver at DDUU/DDDU switches) * So if you want a little bit more warmness but retaining some balanced feel, Kiwi Ears Cadenza * If you want more treble energy and abit more analytical, Simgot EW200 * If you want a small IEM, Moondrop Chu 2

https://preview.redd.it/oc5qk49gnqze1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=9aa9538b56e361c6da5d2c43aba4962eff6c12fd SGOR Adonis should be also good for you, though its more v-shaped than the Salnotes Zero 2, with abit more upper midrange energy (which means female vocals and lead sounds will be more pronounced) But male vocals might get thinner abit, but advantage for the Adonis maybe slightly better on soundstage and image separation vs the Salnotes Zero 2, because of its semi-open back design (Like the KZ Castor Silver, at the UDUU switch setting)

I started with the 7Hz Salnotes Zero and immediately fell in love with its sound signature. Shortly after I pulled the trigger on a pair of Truthear Hexa and I have to say, I think I found exactly what I was looking for. This is the type of sound I like. I was really scared at first, since everybody said it was too lean on the bass, but with the small sized wide bore stock ear tips my first impression was “what the hell were these guys talking about?” I later upgraded to SpinFit W1 - S size ear tips, because I noticed I wasn’t getting the best seal on public transportations and also the stock tips just didn’t feel too comfortable tbh. Now, the IEMs are just perfect! Maybe you should experiment which size gives you the best seal, and then buy a pair of new ear tips for better comfort and seal. As many people said before on this sub, ear tips can truly make or break your experience with IEMs. I mostly use Spotify on my iPhone 15 with the EU version of the Apple dongle USB-C DAC, but I plan on paying for Apple Music subscription for better sound quality.

I just iuse my 7Hz zeros. Sometimes I use Sennheiser HD400s

A lot of people use the Celest Wyvern Pro for gaming because of the mic. Not sure how much they cost on Amazon though. Budget IEMs are fine for gaming, you could take a look at the 7hz zero (1 or 2), I've actually used the Zero 1 for gaming and they worked fine, they're also quite cheap.

These IEMs are bassy or have a decent amount of bass beyond what I'd consider neutral. I'd avoid KZ entirely (QC issues, shady business decisions etc.), so Waner or Zero 2 are the best choices there. They're usually considered less bassy than "consumer headphones", but they do have a slight bass boost. Waner has more prominent vocals than Zero 2. If you're really looking for something more bright neutral and less bassy in that price range, take a look at the 7hz Zero 1, it's even cheaper than the Zero 2.

Have you considered 7 hz zero ? The imaging on them is immaculate and hence I would say they are better for your purpose. Another good choice is final vr2000 though a bit over budget. I have these and nothing comes close to them in gaming

Why don't you consider the zero again ? The gate is also said to be really clean sounding.

Whats the budget? And by Earbuds do you mean IEMs? For budget IEMs go for **Salnotes Zero/Zero 2** (generally the most recommended for gaming), or QKZ x HBB If you wanna go even cheaper stuff like the KZ EDC Pro (literally 250 pesos) are still pretty decent from my experience, though you might wanna buy some ear-tips along side it since the stock ear-tips were not very good. **DUNU S&S/TRI Clarion** are your main choices. Reminder that proper fitting ear tips are just as important as buying a good IEM.

Please do yourself a favour and don't get the kz zs10 pro x. I have used it for a while and the treble in that thing is just not good, to the point I would call it a bit unpleasant. The 7hz zero I had comparatively had a far nicer tuning for longer sessions. I would imagine the zero:2 is similar if not better. The klean and zero:red I would imagine is a step up but I haven't used them so I won't comment on them. I hope you enjoy and like what you eventually decide to get :)

Yep get some with good treble if you play fps/comp games like valo bcs footsteps are way more distinct. If you play single player games try and get one with balanced sound signature. Fps/comp I'd suggest tangzu warner or salnotes 7hz zero (not zero 2) zero 2 are better for music and vocals. The above list are all pretty good as well.

I would say ZSN pro 2 that has v shape signature instead of these if you like energetic music to get you pumped up. For melodies 7hz salnotes zero is a much balanced iem. Also these are usually much cheaper on headphonezone.

Let’s hear your favorites! Mine are both th Sony WH-CH720Ns and Salnotes Zero IEMs.

Imo buying zero again would be the best choice, because from what I've seen from all the reviews they are good for clarity and detail when it comes to budget options.

I dont agree competitive iem or headphone are better without too much bass and hexas have been said to be pretty decent at gaming. For gaming you dont want hard bass you want precision and good soundstage and detailed sound and thats why iem's like 7hz salnotes zero , truthear GATE , KEFINE delci and others are consider top 10 in there respective price range in gaming (in fact zero are consider top 3 in there price range and delci are top1 in there price range)

I just got the 7hz zero a while ago, I skipped the chu 2 since there is a corrosion issue since I live in a tropical and humid country. Also it's cheaper I only got it for 12 usd

Zero 1 is really great!!! But if you need bass or listen to rock or bassy songs then it might be lacking. Depending on the song, some bass are heard and is suitable to my taste but some songs, I can barely hear the bass 😭. Maybe the zero 2 might be a safer choice for most people. It's really interesting that this subjective hobby where a audio equipment can be praised and also criticized at the same time.

This is the way. I've been using IEM for like 20 years now, with pretty good ones for like 15 years. I still bought these KZ when the chifi-hype really kicked in. Didn't like them at all compared to my UE900 or Etymotic, but how would I know if I don't try things? My UE900 have been broken for 6 or 7 years now, but I never replaces them with IEM in that price bracket. One thing is that I like Hexas way more already and don't need to pay more, but it's also fun to explore. Before I pay 400€ again I'd rather buy a bunch of 20€ IEM, like I did with the 7Hz Zero, even if they're worse than others I own. I still have to try Wan'ers and the Bunny, I think, I never tried planars as well, stuff like that. It's a hobby, and everyone should do whatever is fun to them within that hobby. There's no "wrong".

I know there's a quite a few people who have been waiting for me to finally make this post. I apologize for the delay, I was still waiting for an iem to be delivered. A little background: I've been an fps gamer all my life. I used to play cod semi-profressionally and participated in both online and LAN tournaments for money. The main fps games I play today are apex, cod and siege. Ever since I discovered the audiophile world with studio headphones I was amazed how much better headphones sounded compared to gaming headsets. Fast forward to present day and I am now into IEMs and discovering which ones are the best for gaming. As a disclaimer my thoughts and opinions are my own. I understand there are YouTubers such as Fresh Reviews, Ryan Ho, and Gadgetry Tech that may or may not agree with my takes. So please take my thoughts and opinions with a grain of salt as I am just a chill guy who likes to game competitively. The way I determine if an iem (or headphone) is good for gaming is by 3 main categories: soundstage, imaging, and sound separation. A good and accurate soundstage has good width (x), height (y), and depth (z). Imaging, or stereo imaging, is the spacial perception and ability to perceive the precise placement of sounds. Essentially directional audio. I.e left, right, center, back, top left, etc. Sound separation in a iem or headphone is the ability to pick up different sounds at once without it overlapping each other. So the ability to hear explosions go off, gun shots, gadgets, footsteps, etc without distorting the other sounds. With that being said here's the list of iems that I've tried each with a short review and a rating out of 5 for gaming (3 is usable, anything less is not): CCZ BC01 Pro (1) - way too bassy, bad vertical directional audio. Better options CCZ BC04 Pro (2) - same issue as the BC01 but a much more tolerable bass. Better options Moondrop Chu 2 (1.5) - sound is okay, soundstage felt narrow to me. Imaging was okay. Sound separation was below average. Premium feel and build but I didn't like how heavy they were on my ears. Better options Truthear Gate (2) - sound great but not good for gaming. Narrow soundstage, imaging is okay, below average sound separation. Better options Truthear Zero Red (?) - literally couldn't fit in my ears properly without severe pain. So I couldn't test the IEM and returned it. Will be testing the zero 2 tho Truthear Hexa (4) - comfort is not that good, better than the zero reds tho, soundstage and imaging is okay, sound separation is decent. Also not a fan of how they sound tbh. Too neutral for me Tripowin Vivaci (3) - nearly identical to the zeros 2 in technical performance but I like the zero 2 more in terms of overall sound. And for $5 more you can get the 7Hz G1 which is better than both 7Hz Zero (2.5) - a bit too bright, zero 2 is better 7Hz Zero 2 (3) - average soundstage, decent imaging, below average sound separation. Best $20 iem imo, better options as you continue to go up in price 7Hz G1 (4.5) - a Klean but cheaper with a more fun v-shaped sound signature, get this if you're on a budget 7Hz Sonus (4.5) - the most underrated iem for gaming, great imaging and great soundstage but average sound separation. EW300 is a bit better cuz it has better sound separation Kiwi Ears Canta (3.5) - a bit too bright for most people, good imaging, okay soundstage, below average sound separation Kiwi Ears Quartet (4) - best soundstage imo, super comfy fit, imaging is okay and sound separation is average Kefine Klean (4.5) - a better Delci, better sound separation and arguably better sound signature imo Kefine Delci (4) - good soundstage and imaging, slightly above average sound separation Simgot EW300 (4.5) - nearly endgame but still needs better sound separation. Simgot EM6L (5) - endgame, great soundstage, great imaging, great sound separation. Can't recommend it due to it's nozzle QC issues. Otherwise I probably wouldn't use any other IEM for gaming but this Simgot Supermix 4 (3.5) - not endgame. Might get some hate for this but I was really not impressed by this iem for gaming. It had a narrow soundstage and okay imaging, good sound separation tho. EM6L is way better Other IEMs I am planning to review: ND Planet, Tangzu Waner 2, KZ EDC Pro, Truthear Zero 2 Blue, and Kiwi Ears Airoso Note - in the end I recommend the 7Hz G1, 7Hz Sonus and EW300. The DT 900 Pro X and 770 Pro X are my reference headphones for directional audio for competitive fps games. Those headphones essentially make me feel like I have wall hacks and the iems perform 85-90% as good. The best was definitely the EM6L where I felt nearly no difference in performance with my headphones but I can't recommend it because of the nozzle QC issue. It is an easy fix by super gluing it back on but that shouldn't even happen for an iem worth $110 in the first place. With that being said I will still review iems (and headphones) above and below the respective prices but I feel that you will be perfectly happy with the performance of the iems I recommended. Side Note: I'm currently in the process of building a website with the best gaming peripheral recommendations which includes not only iems but headphones, keyboards, mice, monitors, even pro controllers and more. Hope you all have a blessed day and find this helpful in your purchasing decision!

I use Salnotes Zero IEMs, and I got rid of the silicone buds pretty much straight away and got memory foam ones. It almost completely cuts out the cymbal noise when I'm playing live. So much so, I have the soundguy give me some drums in the mix because I tend to play too hard when I can't hear myself. What monitor amp are you using?

I have the Salnote Zeros, and they're pretty good for the price, but they do have a v-sound (scooping the kids aka more bass and treble) https://preview.redd.it/b5i1be2r7ike1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=74b42f924e3ff96af92f89fb411f0e867e0d924c

I've been thinking of making my own channel, because of the exact reasonings you came up with. Everyone seems to go "oh yeah this is good, definite buy worthy." And they are talking about the salsnote zeros. These are actually the worst iems ever, because they sound just as ankers sound, but at least ankers are wireless. I want someone to say "oh this is straight up garbage" GIVE US THE REAL OPINION! You can easily tell there is a bias in there videos, because the creators want to keep getting free items sent to them, for reviews.

Moondrop chu 1, 2, LAN, Truthear gate, hola, zero blue, zero red, 7hz zero 1, 2, kiwi ears cadenza, tinhifi t2, dlc, … and the list goes on

I'd pair a Simgot EW200 or 7hz Salnotes Zero with a USB C to 3.5 dongle dac (Apple's is good and $9), and that will give good sound for a mobile setup. The dac gives better sound, and you can also use different cables or iems if you get more.

Update: I ended up deciding to buy 7hz salnotes zero. The decision was based on if I would like how a larger nozzle would fit in my ear. I can say that for the $20 they costed it was well worth it. I am leaning towards the truthear hexa as my next pair. Thanks all for the advice

Not a lot to be completely fair. 7hz zero ($20 iem), dunu titan s, letshuoer s12, moondrop chu. Either way I just feel like they don’t do what headphones do.

Tangzu Waner SG 2 for warm musical sound, KZ Castor Bass for EDM and Pop songs, 7hz salnotes Zero for balanced sound.

Well only you can really answer that. The last mind-blowing IEM I’ve heard was a $20 7hz Salnotes Zero. Bought that literally on a whim. Mainly because of the 20% off Amazon coupon. Couldn’t believe how good that was for the money.

I second the wired iem recommendations. There's also a lot of better options for them with mic at 3k or so like the Kefine Klean but the 7hz Zero is pretty solid. For TWS usually the mic can be hit or miss, luckily you can check out mic tests on YouTube. I remember some doing it for both of the moondrop tws mentioned here. There's also the space travel 2 ultra, supposed to be better than just the space travel 2. Might be worth checking out too. If you need help purchasing IEMs you can send a message. Most buy in select trusted shopee stores like fengru, xltrade, feigu

I love the 7HZ Zero but I feel like I could only recommend them to someone who already has a bit of experience with bright IEMs. I would recommend you to start Tangzu Wan'er or its studio edition. They are more of a completely neutral or neutral warm sound. If you want something fully warm without many treble Tachjim Bunny is a good option.Finally, if you want a good IEM with a V-shaped sound, I recommend KZ Saga Bass, KZ ZVX Pro or KZ Libra Balanced.

Sgor Luna at below $30 is a great option. Truthear Zero at around $45 (2 DD) is a great starting point. It has plenty of bass quality and quantity (one driver acts as subwoofer, the other handles mids and highs). T10 (single large planar driver) is awesome too, but it isn't great to look at. Planar bass packs a tight punch. It's different than bass from dynamic drivers though. At around $65-$70 (on sale): S08 and Aful Explorer. I've been using the 7hz zero on the road while maining Truthear Zero at home. I have Dioko for when I want brightness and that planar sound. Recently I went shopping for something new and ended up with: 1) KZ Castor Bass (good bass, fun, connector for KZ Az09 pro bt adapter). 2) Waner 2 (to try the new release and for Sancai tips) 3) Letshuoer S08 (expecting this dark planar to be my new main IEM. Also has a bunch of accessories I wanted). 4) Aful Explorer (similar to S08 in sound signature but with different, multi-driver tech). Plus I like its shell design. Have fun with your pick.

Tangzu wainer >moondrop,7hz salnotes

You can't go wrong with Salnotes 7 Hz, for $20 on Amazon. My daily drivers.

I have kz, salnotes, qkz, trn and blon. I'd say my fave is the blon, sound quality and fit is perfect for me.

7hz, Truthear, Mangird, Dunu. Lots of different options at different price points, and every year the tech gets cheaper/better implemented so an $80 IEM at this point is pretty close to a $300 IEM from 5 years ago. Truthear Hexa is my go-to recommendation, has a really natural presentation and good bass.

ZSN Pro X has same build quality as zsn pro, so go for the 7hz. i owned a zsn pro x in humid climate and it died after only 6 months of use

I do. 7hz got less distortions and are easier to EQ. Moondrop is notorious for their bad quality, can't expect anything from $20 iem though. Overall 7hz are a bit better and more reliable.

I love the sound of the Blue 2’s, but I tried the Tangzu Fudu, Kiwis and 7hz - the only reason I’m considering others is because they feel so much better in my ears. But the sound signature has been better on the Truths by far

Hey, same setup here! The 7Hz really sounds great on 'em even without EQ.

While I found 7hz mindblowing years ago, nothing in twice or 3 times the cost of the 10 options ive tried has presented significant improvement. The Zero Reds, on the other hand, caught me completely by surprise, outstanding sound. We all know this is just my opinion.