7Hz - Salnotes Zero 2 (Gen 2 / V2)

Do you own any IEMs? Do you know what your preferred overall sound signature is, and how to describe it? If not, simply start with the very inexpensive Zero 2. A ton of us have this nice budget IEM. You can listen to the Zero 2 and then you can talk about what you want more or less of in the various regions of the overall frequency response. All four IEMs which you included in your post are very nice IEMs in terms of overall performance. Yet each of these IEMs have a different overall sound signature. An IEM can have extremely nice technical performance, yet if that IEM's overall sound signature is not what you want, then that IEM likely will be rejected by you. So again I suggest starting with the Zero 2 so that you have a reference IEM to talk about in terms of what you want. And again, many of us have this IEM and this allows us to relate to whatever you describe in terms of what you want.

My most expensive IEMs cost $300. With that said, I like the Zero 2 since it is a relaxing IEM to listen to.

You might want to consider keeping the Zero 2 since it has a fairly relaxing overall sound signature which is pleasing when it is late at night and you are really tired. It is worth having at least one "chill pill" IEM in your collection.

The only reason why I mentioned the Zero 2 is that you might want to try them when watching movies. Some movie audio tracks are somewhat poorly mixed and can be too intense. I find that the Zero 2's relaxing overall sound signature makes the Zero 2 a nice IEM to use when watching movies since the Zero 2 takes away the sharp edges in the audio for movies.

I love the 7Hz Zero 2 for watching movies. The Zero 2 smoother bass since the leading edge attack of the bass notes is softened. Even though I hear all of the bass, the smoother bass makes it much easier for me to focus on and enjoy the midrange. There is a nice dip in the Zero 2's upper midrange / lower treble region. This dip makes the upper midrange and treble sound more enjoyable for me when watching movies since this reduces any harshness in the movie's audio mix. Once again, this makes it easier to focus on the midrange. The Zero 2 is a budget IEM which you might want to try. Another more expensive IEM which I really enjoy when watching movies is the Aful MagicOne.

I really like the Zero 2 since it has decently detailed yet relaxing musical sound signature which I can enjoy for hours. I will be honest about the stock cables. The stock cables are crap, as in the worst stock cables which I have ever encountered on any IEM including KZ IEMs. Thank goodness that I had a pair of spare third party cables to put on these IEMs.

So i just recently got into the iem hobby and these are my first few pickups. Tried to get a few variety in prices that were within my means of spending. For reference i paid $25 each on the wan'er and zero2,$50for the kzs,and $110 for the fiios purchased all on amazon. Im astounded to say that the wan'er were my favorite. They sounded amazing! I couldnt believe it. For being the cheapest they had the nicest packaging,the nicest sound,and they looked the best. The fiios sounded great as well. They were definetly louder than the wan'ers but i found them to be a bit harsh when listening at loud volumes. I will be returning the other 2. Definatly keeping the wan'ers and debating keeping the fiios as well just to have a "higher end" iem to compare to when i buy more in the future but id love to hear your guys thoughts on the 2 i like and if yall have any recommendations on iems that sound better than these.

They actually might be a good fit for you. Someone else mentioned theyre good for me to keep as they use them at night for a comfortable listening experiance. They werent harsh at all. They were a touch toned back when it came to vocals. But if u want better sound quality i preffered the wan'ers. Theyre both the same price so id get both to try and just return the one u dont like

I would rec the salnotes 2 if you think they'd fit you (they have a weird shape), otherwise, the Gates If you like them, consider getting an endgame upgrade, but it definitely doesn't need to be super expensive; just a set that you like

If you can, get the zero 2.

Between these IEMs I'd choose the Zero 2. If you can get the Tanchjim Bunny DSP, get one.

I have the Zero 2 (~$25), Zero 1 (~$15), TRN Orca (~$15), TRN Conch (~$20), KZ Castor’s (~$13), Waner (~$15) and some more not worth mentioning under $25. If you can get the TRN Conch under $20 it’s a great deal for a bright mid focused set with great accessories. Other than that the TRN Orca is a smoother less energetic mid focused set. Zero 2 is decent but the plastic sound it has throws me off. Not bad just different. The Castors are both good but I would choose the Grey over the black because the extra bass that the Black has get annoying after a few songs. Waner has that same issue as the Zero 2. Strange plastic sound. I’m 100 percent sure it’s because of the driver orientation and driver quality BUT some EQ will fix it!

Agreed, I tried my friends OG Zero and it wasn't living up to my needs. Good thing I took the risk and bought the Zero 2.

Agreed, it's really comfy to wear for hours and it's not fatiguing, really good sound quality for its price. Yeah, the cable is just sad, feels like it can break anytime.

The Zero 2 cost around $18 and the cable was $9. For what I spent, I am already very satisfied with my purchase. The main reason I bought the Tripowin cable cause it had a mic and the stock cable didn't have one.

Agreed! I guess they poured most of their efforts in the iem and not in the cable, good thing it's detachable.

Best ones: 7hz Salnotes Zero 2 Tangzu Wan'er Truthear Zero:RED Truthear Hexa Moondrop Aria 2 (no, Simgots are not better) Edit: newlines

For gaming you need to check imaging/soundstage of an iem. The better it is, the better you will know where the enemy is coming from. To find out go read reviews. https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/kz-zsn-pro-2.26992/reviews Plus less bass is better for competitive or multiplayer gaming so that the sound effects do not mask more important sounds but if you play single player then you will need that bass. **Remember boat bass is considered bassy or bass head in iem world. Here if they say it has good bass or balanced then compared to boat earphone it means it has ok bass and if someone says neutral then it has very less bass.** if you want bass, qkz x hbb or kz castor bass. If you want mainly for gaming then 7hz salnote zero and Simgot ew100p (have very less bass) For in between kz zsn pro 2, 7hz salnote zero 2 and moondrop chu 2 (kz n chu2 similar in sound for most part except treble, zsn can sound harsh for some songs) Tangzu waner are ok for gaming but great for music especially if you like vocal forward and prefer a decent amount of bass. How do you pick, compare reviews and also go to youtube type iem name and add this line, sound demo or sound test.

cable is fine, I have them, a good buy

7hz Salnotes Zero:2 are great as well, super neutral. And the Truthear Gate. Both very cheap and neutral.

I have the Salnotes Zero:2 and Simgot EM6L, the EM6L are ok for EDM (my main music I listen to as well) but separate really well and have tons of detail, so you can hear each synth and sound super well. However they are light on bass. The Zero:2 have more bass but can be a little muddy, I wouldn’t say they are overpowering bassy though. I recently had a chance to listen to the Kiwi Ears Cadenza and the QKZ X HBB. The HBB have crazy amounts of bass that never felt overpowering to me, I really enjoyed them for heavier bass EDM. However, for overall I really really really enjoyed the Cadenza for basically anything and everything. Solid bass for EDM with a surprising amount of detail for a single dynamic driver, good separation, decent soundstage, and it handled every other genre well (I also listen to classical, country, rap/hip-hop, rock, and R&B). I am highly considering selling my Zero:2 and getting Cadenza because it sounds super similar but technicalities are way better on the Cadenza. 7hz Dioko is pretty solid as well if you want to try planar, they sound BIG! It’s the only way I can think to describe them.

tbh in the end, it boils down to 1. Tuning 2. Looks/Visuals 3. Accessories 4. And your music library or genres you listen 5. Treble sensitivity = sensitive, go to Safe tuning Kiwi Ears Cadenza is the safest tuning out in the two, but the tuning might not work with some music genres especially if you want a tad bit more analytical or technical. 7Hz Salnotes Zero 2 is a bit more technical-ish than Cadenza and with a tad bit more treble. The safe tuning is also up there with the Tangzu Wa'ner SG/2, which is fine for me but I still ended up with KZ Castor Silver because of abit more technical sound experience and generally abit more brighter feel. In the end its hard to say one is better or the other until you hear the difference between the two or atleast if you have a headphone then EQ it to either, or test your treble sensitivity via speakers or headphones. Personal experience based on my collection https://preview.redd.it/u014mhatspue1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8fba3241ae9d71167d526093ed0d263afe39ad07

Salnotes Zero 2, yeah its good choice for the music genres you want to listen

no worries! Salnotes Zero 2 is Neutral warm-ish

From my personal experience, waner would be the better pick, with the smaller eartips you should get a good fit, and sound is pretty safe overall, the Zero 2 would also be good but the nozzle is pretty large so would be a problem, waner, in my opinion, is the better pick.

G1 for a focus on clarity and Vivace for a focus on comfort. Speaking about gaming. the others are fine, BUT not as good for gaming specially. Zero 2 is not bad for gaming tho, but Vivace is an small upgrade.

if you already have the Zero 2, which is pretty good, ill recomend to save up and directly jump to the $80 price bracket btw xd, hope you enjoy those tho :D

I think QKZxHBB would sound just fine for you, would be my first offer. Other alternatives could be Salnotes Zero2 if you want to play It safer with the sound. If you are only listening to bassy genres, specially R&B, if you want bassy alternatives then KZ castor Bass or CCA trio, but they noticeable have more bass. Maybe tanchjim Tanya could be an option (specially DSP versión).

The usual rec for gaming for cheap Is the Salnotes Zero, if you also want it for music, and want some bass, then the Salnotes Zero 2.

The usual rec for gaming for cheap Is the Salnotes Zero, if you also want it for music, and want some bass, then the Salnotes Zero 2.

Not waner Man, the sound direction Is pretty basic, It might work for some games with audio help (i believe games like valorant have that) but anything else just wouldn't work that great. Your Best option if you dont care about bass Is the Salnotes Zero 1/OG, if you want some bass you will have to go up to the Zero 2, or either settle with something a bit less accurate like Chu2. I also believe that cheap IEMs like KZ Castor (i guess the gray/Harman version should work better for gaming, but Black/Bass version might also do the trick if you use the switches to boost the treble a bit) are fine-ish, but not not sure if they that well compares to Zero OG.

Here you go brother: https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/WfhfLLl0np Most picks from this list (that i made) are around $20 or under, you have plenty to pick from based on the general sound profile explained in it. As for your 2 options, both are great, but work better for different things, waner is a bit more relaxed, balanced option, works pretty fine for most music genres, but maybe wont be the best for everyone, as for the Zero 2, is a bit more bassy and energetic, but it sure focuses more in the bassy sound, specially good for bassy music genres like electronic music, Hip-hop, R&B and so on, but in the end, it also should work for other music genres as long as you like the type of sound. that said, The zero 2 might work a bit better if you are planing on gaming with those. As for KZ, they just have mediocre QC, but more often than not you should be fine, in the list there are just a few options that have mostly decent reputation from them.

for hip-hop Zero2 if you enjoy variety of music regularly, QKZxHBB if you wang all the bassy and rumbly sound in your music. edit: kz castor bass is a very good pick, but for mostly and energetic replay and bass slam, for hiphop i assume you also want nice enought vocals, castor bass is better if you also like electronic music.

Gate is a lot more balanced and focused to sound clean, if you compare them, Zero2 would sound less clean than gate, but being realistic, for less than $20, only the castor bass could sound as clean as the gate, but the bass would be noticeably more aggressive and will have more presence over the sound, either way, is hard to find "tight bass" under $20 that is from bassy iems, i guess castor does get closer to that, but i think Waner would do the tight bass a bit better, but It also might sound muddy too vs the gate. Zero2 cant say for sure, but i suppose that the bass should be similar to the zero in terms of control but maybe not as tactile as you would like.

I already told you my opinions in one of those post i believe, but in my experience the Castor Bass has a lot more bass than QKZxHBB, QKZ Is for me the middle ground, and Zero2 Is the less bassy. The cleanest of the 3 Is the Zero2, second by the Castor, althought you might need to crank the volume for that Clarity, QKZxHBB Is the one with most coloration, but the lesser bass than QKZxHBB makes It a more relaxed listening. That said, probably Zero2 Is the one with less bass hit, just slightly below QKZxHBB tho, castor Bass has the most punchy bass of the 3.

Just adding to the other coment, i also have, and have tried, different IEMs for around this price (Waner, Zero 1, Castor Bass, QKZxHBB, etc) Waner Is a great option just take in mind that It has the worst soundstage from all of the other sub $20 IEMs. For music Is not a problem at all, Its not even obvious, but for anything like gaming or ASMR, or anything that uses the direction of audio Is not a great pick, for that matter, your Next Best option would be the Zero 2 and hopping It does Fit well.

This is my First formal IEM Pick Mega Guide – "Revamped" (Last Updated: January 2025) PART 1 Oh well… here we go again. And this is going to be LARGE, so buckle up, this is a part 1 because turns out reddit wont let me publish this much text in one single post, so yeah, ill link the Part 2 right here: * [For part 2 Click - HERE -](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1f332k3/the_iem_pick_megaguide_part2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) # UPDATE: Now i also have a Sub $100-ish list if you want to check it: [https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/OXgg8IsbYi](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/OXgg8IsbYi) /---------------- # Gaming Update: As quite a lot of people asks for gaming options, I’ll make this update marking iems with performance rakings from the "WALLHACK TIER LIST" of Reviewer Fresh Reviews, who is known for recommending iems for gaming use, just be aware that this does not reflect my opinion about each IEM nor does it ensure that you will have an excellent video game experience just because the iem is listed. The Fresh Reviews system gives letter grades where “S” is the best grade, going down from S-A to C+, where C+ means that they are the minimum for video games. I will mark the IEMs by putting the score besides the name: "( FRS: “Mark obtained”)" (FRS = Fresh Reviews Score), example: Zero Red (FRS: C+), if you don't see this mark, it means that Fresh Reviews did not consider it for gaming, or didnt review the product. /---------------- **So, lets continue with part 1:** Some people might identify me already, I’m one of the redditors in this sub that’s usually giving recs and trying to help people left and right, things doesn’t always work, but I hope that I’m being of some help. So yeah, I finally gathered the will to do a proper post about this, I’ll try to pour everything I know after around 4 years of checking reviews and trying around more than 27 different iems (mostly under $100).   ***BTW, IF YOU SEE SOME GLARING ERROR, ANYTHING THAT JUST DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT, PLEASE LET MY KNOW, IM DISLEXIC TOO, SO YEAH XD, THANKS FOR THE FUTURE HELP.*** \----- # CONTENTS: Part 1: * Where to buy? * List of mostly recommended iems under $50. * Reviewers List. Part 2: * FACs (Frequently Asked Concerns lol – I recommend you to read this one first if you are a newbie). * Final extra details. Now, remember that I’m just another person, I have preferences and some degree of bias towards some sets, especially ones that I own, my intention is not to tell you “You should pick this”, but rather to point you out to a clearer direction as to what you might like or need. This info is not “absolute” as preferences and music library plays a huge role on the experience, but at least I hope I can make this decision less complicated for you. \----- # Where to buy? So, first, I don’t know what store you are planning to use but most common recs for buying are: * Mostly free shipping Stores: Shenzhen Audio, Amazon, and alsoAliExpress, but with ali, you need to pick the seller carefully, I have got 3 iems and some cables from there without any problems, but it isn’t as safe as Amazon and Shenzhen could be. * \- * They usually charge shipping Stores: Hifigo, Linsoul. I would recommend the free shipping Stores better since, besides free shipping, I have had less problems with them (in my very personal experience) and they usually do as much as possible to help their clients, however, this doesn’t mean that you can’t have problems with each store, sometimes life sucks and online stores do too, so always be careful when ordering online, specially check sellers on AliExpress Also, when buying, remember that if you wish to have a cable that comes with a mic, since IEMs don’t always come with one, especially around $50 and above, you need to specially pick the option of having a cable with mic when selecting the IEM for purchase if the options is given. \----- # Usually recommended IEMs under $50 If you don’t feel like reading or you have some IEM experience, skip or ignore the “FACs” part, HOWEVER, if you are new to this hobby, I recommend you to check that first, it could help clear your mind about a lot of questions you might have. ***The price in brackets is the original base price of the IEMs.*** ***Purchase links disclaimer:*** The links included are affiliate links, but make sure to check vendor reviews when you make any AliExpress purchases. The links have no influence on which IEMs are recommended or picked for the list.   # ----- # BASSY IEMS IEMs that their key point Is the lower end of sound, more Rumble and/or bass punch/kick, if you want some good bass, check this one, there will be iems from bass heavy to balanced, but overall, picks that have an elevated bass area, even if that also comes with some extra treble. * **($16) KZ Castor Bass enhanced edition (Black colored):** An IEM with a heavy, but still somewhat clean, punchy and rumbly bass, that can have the amount of bass and treble adjusted with switches, can have some more treble energy than QKZxHBB, but bass is very prominent, so vocals do get a bit overshadowed and might feel lacking intensity, recommended mostly for electronic music or bass heavy genres like hip-hop or R&B, not really recommended for vocal centric music genres like rock or ballads, Works for gaming, but bass might be too distracting. Nozzle is on the larger side. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mt6hFPl) * \- * **($17) KZ Castor Pro:** A small upgrade to the Castor bass OG, a bit more Rumble, a bit less punch, it is overall better than the OG Castor, but also comes with a larger nozzle. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKmDf4B) * \- * **($20) QKZxHBB (FRS: B-):** A lot of rumbly bass with decent vocals, altough it can sound muddy for some at fist, is mostly for those who really like a lot of inmersive bass but also still want enough vocal and treble detail. Works for gaming. Nozzle slightly on the larger side. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_msetV8R) * \- * **($50) Truthear Zero (blue) (FRS: B-):** They are actually balanced sounding, bass, vocals and treble all are very energetic, but this IEM was made to have very clean bass, like a mini “subwoofer” effect, and that’s the main focus of It, although their nozzles (the part of the iem that goes into your ear canal) are some of the biggest on the market, if you happen to have small ear canals, or you are looking for comfort, they could hurt or not fit well when using them (the biggest nozzle from this list). Usually recommended over the Zero Red for gaming, from the less bassy picks in the bassy section. You should consider using a dongle DAC if the sound is too quiet with them. If you happend to have fitting problems, check the Spinfit CP155 eartips, could help a lot, but those tips get streched kinda easy and can fall out of the nozzle, so do take in mind. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOGUNun) * \- * **($24-34) BLON BL03:** Great hard hitting bassy IEM, a lot of Energy and intensity with enough intense treble, biggest downside Is that Fit might not be great thanks to their particular shape and short reaching nozzle (the nozzle might not be large enough to enter properly into your ear canal), the nozzle itself is on the smaller side. Not a bad pick, works for gaming, but a bit outdated. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqDowxp) * \- * **($50) CCA Rhapsody:** THE Castor bass upgrade, better techs, some more clarity, all in all, a great bassy package for the price, but shell is VERY large and nozzle not so smaller, so, if you have small ears, then maybe this is not the best pick, nozzle size is in a middle ground. Works for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMQ1ytz) * \- * **($35) BLON Z300:** A very specific pick since they are just somewhat bassy, they could sound balanced for bassheads, and muddy for non-bassheads, the bass works better with well produced/mixed files, for poor quality tracks they might lack punch, they are decent for vocals, but might feel a bit on the background. They are decent for an inmerssive bassy sound, and have pretty good resolution and detail, also, sound direction is good, if you like ASMR, those are good bot a bassy relaxed replay on a budget. Should work for gaming, nozzle is pretty small, should have a comfy fit. If you want clarity and cleaness is not the best option. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mrDU1eF) * \- * **($50) Blon JOJO:** this one is like a more bassy, aggressive QKZxHBB, techs are just decent for $50, but because of its quantity of bass, aren’t the best for clarity or detail. Might work for gaming, not really recommended, best for bassy music genres. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOT3o83) * \- * **($37) CCA Trio:** This ones comes like a small upgrade from the Castor Bass, if you feel that Castor bass would be too intense, might as well go for this one, this is more of a bassy V-shaped or balanced set, but with the ability to increase the bass or treble just like the castor. should work for gaming. Vader Balanced is a good alternative if you find it cheaper. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mPAIXdp) * \- * **($31) KZ Vader Balanced:** Energetic bassy V-shape-ish sound with a less "Harman-style" approach (less obvious clean-cut bass, some warmness on vocals), so it has a bit more body, but not that much, mostly a bit less V-shaped CCA trio, a good alternative to it. Decent techs for the price, get whichever is cheaper. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m05R5aF) * \- * **($50) INAWAKEN Dawn Ms:** Warm, rumbly, a bit thick, bassy V-shaped iem, could feel slightly less technical than other iems, but clean-ish sound still, relaxed upper treble but a bit foward lower treble (shoutiness warning), warm-ish vocals, pretty good bass performance. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKp2ac3) * \- * **($25) Tachjim One (has DSP/Type-C option too):** A bullet style earphone that has a focus on Mid bass over sub bass, it’s somewhat V-shaped and energetic, a bit foward on the lower treble, and it has a bass that should work better for rock genres since it gives energy to drums without making the sound way too bassy. Could work for gaming, but being this mid-bass centric, wouldn’t recommend It. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mPULWWP) * \- * **($22) Tanchjim Tanya (DSP):** Another bullet style, the only reason I’m mentioning only the DSP version (Type-C cable connection) is because this one would pack a very good amount of bass, while keeping it reasonably clean, slightly better than Castor bass in that specific regard, but keeping an affordable price over other picks like Trio or Zero Blue. Could work for gaming, still similar problem to Castor. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKWofm3) # -- # BALANCED IEMS Section for more balanced and somewhat neutral IEMs: (For clarification on what’s “neutral” and what’s “balanced” please check the FACs) * **($19) Tangzu Waner:** a slightly rumbly IEM that has a lot of vocal qualities, with a close-to-neutral and pretty balanced sound, great for long listening sessions, not great for directional sound/gaming in my personal experience. A very versatile starter pick, but bass area can come as a slightly muddy at first, so, better for people that like some bass presence and nice body on male vocals. Nozzle size is in between, not too big, not too small. As a side note, some people say they work for gaming, i dont find them particularly good for that versus other options, your call. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0Z0EQr) * \- * **($30) Tripowin Vivace (FRS: B-):** A nice slighlty bass leaning iem that has good technicalities for the price, almost performing above its price range, a very safe sound overall, on of the safest sounds on to pick from the list. The best cheaper allrounder starting point under $30 and arguably the best gaming pick under $50. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKx3o0L) * \- * **($38-44) Sgor Luna:** While it’s a planar, it doesn’t exactly compete with other planars around this price, however, it’s a very cheap good option to try a planar driver, plus you can pick them bundled with a dongle dac which should take care of your amplification needs. As far as technical performance goes it is decent for its price range (which is around $40) but the best part is that it is like a less intense Simgot ew200, it might have an edge over them technically speaking, but the tuning of the luna doesn’t make it too obvious. It has a better bass quality and presence, making it a pretty decent and very safe pick for the price, as long as you use a dongle with them OR a DAP with decent amplfication on the 3.5mm conection. *PROBABLY THE SAFEST PICK AROUND $50.* Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKynQSJ) * \- * **($19) Truthear Gate:** A correct and pretty balanced iem, similar to waner but with a tilt to female vocals and treble, also, bass might sound slightly cleaner than waner, but just a bit. Should for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0ebw6r) * \- * **($25-30) Kinera Celest Wyvern (Abyss/black, Quing, Pro) (should had a Type-C option):** the 3 verions are around the same, pick the most appealing to you. Tuning is similar to waner with a bit of more overall energy on vocals and presence on the bass, maybe a tilt to female vocals too, and slightly cleaner in the bass. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mrlZ1Ij) * \- * **($20) Simgot ew100p (There is a DSP/Type-C variant):** Another similar one to Gate and Waner, maybe an inbetween from gate and waner, but all in all, a very decent, balanced set, slightly more treble energy than other models, nothing too much. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqIAQHH) * \- * **($19) Moondrop Chu II (There is a DSP/Type-C variant):** A pretty balanced and clean IEM, detail is nice, and they are a bit more forward on the female vocals and treble than Waner, still not too intense, another great starting pick, especially for people that do want to hear some bass, but don’t want it to affect the rest of the sound much. As a heads up tho, these are especially known for having problems with humidity and moisture because of its metal shell. Works for gaming, nozzle on the smaller side, should have a comfy fit. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mK6uRmj) * \- * **($25) 7hz Salnotes Zero 2:** A more bassy leaning version of the Chu II, the second safest allrounder performer after Vivace for any kind of music genres under $30, a good gaming replacement for the Vivace too, nozzle is slightly on the larger side. This one is not on the bassy side since it has less bass than most of the other Bassy picks, around the same as the Zero Blue, but without any fancy “subwoofer” approach. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqKyRcR) * \- * **($35) Kiwiears Cadenza:** A more energetic version of the Tangzu Waner, with a more v-shaped approeach with extra sub-bass and female vocals, overall good performance if you like that energy in your music, however, bass isn’t like super strong or super punchy, is there, is nice and has some presence, but it isn’t the focus of its sound, works well for ballads or rock style music, with some extra versatility for some electronic music, not recommended for bassy music genres like hip.hop or R&B tho. Watch out for sensitivity to 4Khz peaks, vocals in general might come as shouty for some people, I wouldn’t recommend it for people looking for bass quality, as the vocal energy can get in the way for enjoying them,. Works for gaming, nozzle leans to the larger side. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0ZUrDt) * \- * **($40) Simgot EW200 (FRS: C+):** a somewhat neutral IEM that intends to be balanced but actually has a lean on the vocal an treble side of sound, so there Is more clarity and you will perceive more detail on the sound, but some people might feel that the treble can be a bit too intense, bass is there and has presence, but Is not the main focus. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0hfYft) * \- * **($55) Truthear Zero (red) (FRS: C+):** this is a bit more expensive version of the Truthear Zero blue, It has the same build quality but the sound Is a bit more balanced and less overly energetic, it works well with more music genres. The IEM comes with an adapter to increase the bass quantity to Zero Blue Levels (in stock it has less amount of bass), but It also shares the big nozzle of the blue version. Usually less recommended for gaming over the Zero Blue. Recomended to use a dongle DAC for amplification, to get te Best performance out of them. If you happend to have fitting problems, check the Spinfit CP155 eartips, could help a lot, but those tips get streched kinda easy, so do take in mind. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMrjPcX) * \- * **($50)** [Kefine Klean](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/7PVWrvBEU2)**:** A good balanced sounding set with a small bass lean, great techs for the price and a decent fit with an average size nozzle, all in all, probably on of the best picks on the list if you have $50, want the best performance and don’t know what to pick. ***I must mention that some people have encounter situations of channel imbalance with their sets, it could be the filters unscrewing or just not being properly put on on the first place, check that if you have any problems, also, be careful with humidity since its a metal shell, and if you have any actual problem, please do contact the store where you get them from for help with the issue, or the people at Kefine for direct Help*** Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_msWNk9V) * \- * **($15) Tangzu Princess ChangLe:** A mild V-shaped bullet style iem that would be pretty versatile for most music genres but technicalities like resolution, soundstage and instrument separation (check FACs if you don’t know what these means) are slightly worse than most other sub $20 options. Its price and comfort is pretty good still, a good gift option, wouldn’t recommend it for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNZJZK7) * \- * **($10) KZ EDC Pro:** Very cheap yet good sounding iem, some less technical than its $20 peers but costing significantly less, the cheapest yet best starting point to test what iems have to offer, however don’t expect the best build quality, also, some people find the treble a bit too intense. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mrXq3FN) * \- * **($16)** [TRN Orca](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1cbec6e/trn_orca_consumer_pov_review/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) **(should had a Type-C option):** This is another pretty nice, inexpensive pick for people on a budget that doesn’t know what they like and cant spend too much money, Orca is a metal shell iem that has a kinda V-shaped tuning but with a lean on the bass, however, thanks to its 3 tuning switches, you can adjust the sound to either something kinda bassy clean like the Chu2 (switches Down Down Up – DDU), to a very V-shaped bassy tuning similar to Zero 2 (UDU) to a very bass heavy sound somewhat similar to QKZxHBB or Castor Bass (DUD - works particuarly well when amplified with a dongle dac for a somewhat "subwoofer" feel). They also gain some extra resolution when amplified with a dongle dac. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_msqEjYX) * \- * **($55) TKZK Ouranos (FRS: C+):** This one might show the similar shouty vocals than the Cadenza could have, but it is kinda the direct upgrade from them. It has a noticeable more punchy bass, but it’s very balanced with the rest of the sound, very prominent upper mids, intense in the note weight -the weight the sound hits with- and has very good techs for its price, slightly better than Truthear Blue and Red, but would recommend to get it discounted below its $55 price. Overall great if you like vocal forward leaning sound, specially female vocals, it has a bit less aggressive treble that EW200 might had. Not recommended for bassheads at all, as bass quantity will let you wanting more. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMsadP9) * \- * **($50) Tangzu YuXuanJi:** Decent techs for the price, bright leaning sound, focus on vocals and treble over bass. Around in brightness to the ew200, open back design doesn’t do much for the sound, controlled amount of decent quality bass, and fairly good technical performance. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mPz7wQn) * \- * **($30-40) TinHifi C2 OG/2025:** Very balanced sounding, enough of everything from bass to treble, good alternative to the Vivace, with a vocal focus + slightly less boosted bass. Good technicalities for the price. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKfH9Jd) * \- * **($30) Twistura D-Minor:** Somewhat V-shaped energetic set with average technicalities for the price, nice accessories that comes with a dongle dac, if you feel that it lacks bass or needs more bass try the different tuning nozzles. Basic but complete starting point pick. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mtr7wKB) * \- * **($50) Celest IgniteX Beast:** Balanced but slightly bright leaning (focus on vocal and treble) set that performs as its price point, semi-custom shell that can fit either really good or not so good depending on your ear. Decent techs for the price. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0Luh8J) * \- * **($30) TRN Conch:** This is a risky pick for the price, is better to get it on sale. The biggest upside are the accessories it comes with, is like an upgrade combo of a nice interchangeable connections cable, some decent eartips and a metal box, that comes with some extra iems included. The thing with the Conch is that it comes with interchangable nozzles, but just 1 of the 3 is useable for most people, the red nozzle, as the other 2 have a pretty forward and intense treble. The Conch has a V-shaped kind of sound, its somewhat similar to the ew200 but with more presence on the bass, which packs good punch, rumble and texture, and its also pretty clean; vocals are just fine, not that natural sounding iem, but also not bad; the treble Is energetic with some peaks of intensity, not the most refined but not super harsh, so your mileage may vary, just dont pick them if you are sensitive to treble. It works fairly well for rock genres. The nozzle is on the smaller size, however, because of the weird shape of the shell of the iem, its possible that the fit wont be the best for you, since its like a bullet style earphone, with just a cylindrical weight at the end that has very little support in the ear, so, keeping them in while moving too much could be a problem. Again, its not too bad, but it has a few “buts” to consider before buying it. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mK0gJK7) * \- * **($70) Artti T10 (and other planars):** I know the T10 stock price is around $70 bucks, but in some sales in AliExpress, and with new customer discounts, you could find it closer to $50 or even less. The main reason why I mention this one is mostly to talk about Planar iems, those are know for having good overall performance in sound and techs, but that also comes with a not so cheap price, and the need for some extra anergy from a dongle DAC to work the best. The T10 has a somewhat balanced, slightly V-shaped sound, that has just enught bass, but some people could use a bit more, overall excelent quality of sound when properly amplyfied. Build quality is also fairly good. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKBFQ47) * \- * **($50) KZ PRX:** Mild V-shaped energetic planar, technically-wise competes with its planar peers but for a reduced price, however, it needs some good amplification, you should also get a better cable, 4.4mm cable with a dongle that has the connection, if possible, would be great. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_ms7AueR) # -- # BRIGHT IEMS Now for more "bright" IEMs: Bright IEMs are more focused on vocal clarity, and especially treble intensity and details of the sound, they are not for everyone since most of the time the bass Is quite controlled and don’t really have much presence. * **($23) 7hz Salnotes Zero (Originals)(There is a DSP/Type-C variant):** Pretty detailed, vocals do take the main stage while bass it’s pretty tamed, still being plenty enough for it to be musical. The most sub $20 IEM recommended pick for gaming thanks to its price, performance and clarity. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mK0Lu71) * \- * **($39) TKZK Wave:** A very technically competent pick, borderline neutral sound, with a clear yet small emphasis on treble, boosted enough for a detailed replay, the bass is clearly very reduced, but you can still hear some of it, dont expect much bass rumble. The bass might be too little for gaming. Check it out here: [Linsoul.](https://www.linsoul.com/products/tkzk-wave?srsltid=AfmBOopjxSmV08WMQvk-Rl0f6qiqRi0A-7hiIFV35tn3Q_6sqzbao6Ht) * \- * **($16) Tachjim Zero:** slightly more mid bass than the TKZK wave, slightly less overall technicalities, but in accordance with its lower price, similar focus on vocals with less treble. And, as it’s a bullet style it should be a comfy fit in your ear. Bass might be too little for gaming. Check it out here: [Linsoul.](https://www.linsoul.com/products/tanchjim-zero?srsltid=AfmBOooqEkFsn3ddSoCxeNxxA9ZhUqALVc7TAQVwn-j-wvSlP4B-8t5f) * \- * **($21) Tangzu Waner SE (Studio Edition):** A slightly brighter, but also cleaner Waner, with some more energy on vocals and treble, nothing else special other than the memory foam ear hooks in the cable that might or might not help with comfort. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMI8dSb) * \- * **($30) Ziigaat Nuo (FRS: C+):** A more bass energetic Salnotes Zero OG, the focus is on vocals and especially treble, but it doesn’t overlook the bass, has good performance for the price, but not a safe pick for people with treble sensitivity. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKr0NOF) * \- * **($40) Moondrop Lan (FRS: C+):** This could be a small upgrade from the Salnotes Zero original. A very decent build quality and technically competitive for the price, it has a nozzle on the small side just like chu 2, so should be very comfortable. The sound might have around the same to slightly less bass than the Zero OG, but, it will also have slightly better vocals than it, besides that, they are pretty similar, good if you don’t like much bass and you just enjoy a treble focused sound, but not with an overly intense replay. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mO5eyD5) * \- * **($60) 7hz Sonus (FRS: B-):** This one might be a bit out of budget but you can find it for less than $50 on a sale. Sonus Is said to have pretty good technical performance that is above its price range, however, the biggest downside it might had is that the sound could not be as "cohesive" as it should because of the dual driver implementation, that means that some parts of the sound around upper mids and treble might sound somewhat slightly separated from the lower mids and bass, most people don’t find this as a glaring problemm but you are warned. Of course, bass is reduced, but around the same as the Zero Original, this would be more like a direct upgrade, and should work well for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mrnxgiR) * \- * **($40) Tanchjim OLA:** A bit outdated for the price, but still the special pick if you want to know what “neutral” is actually supposed to sound like, pretty similar to the Wave but it has almost no noticeable Sub-bass, in favor of a very clean sound reproduction, it has some mid-bass to it but mostly for getting that specifically neutral sound, and has just enough vocals and treble intensity for the sound to be correct and very natural. This is not a pick that is recommended for daily use, but if you love vocals and clean instruments, this one is still a great choice, although technicalities might be slightly below average at this point. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_msI48If) * \- So that’s It, those are some of the best IEMs to pick for under $50, there are more that I didn’t mention and it doesn’t mean they are bad, is just that these are the most commonly known to be good and considered that most people would probably enjoy. Also, there aren’t many KZ or CCA options here because there are already some better options for similar tunings. Besides, KZ and CCA accesories and quality control is not from the best, and they have had other problems in the past like possible silent revisions of iems (changing drivers or tunings without prior notice) so they dont give me enough trust to recommend them so easily. Any question just Let me know. Notice that I do own or have owned some of the IEMs mentioned, but most of these recs are made by checking and comparing various Reviews from different sources. # -- # Reviewers List The purpose of this is so you can check the opinion of various people that had already checked a good bunch of other iems so you can have a wider perspective of what you might deal with, don’t take the word of just 1 or 2 unless you are sure they share your exact taste in audio, ideally use them just as a reference, compare any already owned iems with their opinions to see where their preferences stand in relation to yours, DO NOT trust only one opinion just because you like it better or the reviewer just sounds more knowledgeable. * HBB (YT Is called: bad guy good audio Reviews).\* * Paul Wasabi.\* * Super Reviews.\* * Jays audio. * Audio-in Reviews.\* * Gizaudio (Channel now run by ATechReviews - New Channel TimTuned). * WhatsNew. * SuperChonk.\* * Audio Amigo.\* * AndyAudioVault. * Acho Reviews. * Tone Deaf Monk. * Prime Audio Reviews. * Akros. * Ian Fann. * Hobby Talk. * Vortex Reviews. * AV Atmos. * Joyces Reviews. * Lumerion. * Honest Audiophile (I find him to be very biased by his own taste in sound, but it’s good to have every single second opinion in this case). * Joshua Valour (More headphones but still) * Kenneth Tanaka (this Is More for TWS/Blueetooth earphones) * Dan's audio Review (mostly for IEM sound comparation).\* \--- * *And please, do not take Sharur seriously, he Is trolling most of the time.* The names marked with a “ \* “ are the ones that are mostly well known and somewhat generally respected by the community and I. There is also the Legend "Crinacle" but he stopped doing "serious" reviews, i wont explain his lore, but if you find a review of an iem from him, especially in his "Crinacle" channel, he is also very respected, but he also sells iems now, so he has a lot to gain from you buying some sets. Now timmy, original host of Gizaudio has joined Crin into his Store Channel.

you can use it, but it honestly is not the best option for gaming, if you care about amplification or sounds quality, most iems around $30 or less would be fine for it, but if you plan on do some gaming, other options could be better like QKZxHBb if you like bassy sound, Salnotes Zero 2 for a something overall pretty good sounding for music and nice for gaming, if you can do the strech, at around $30 bucks, the tripowin vivace would ensure a better comfort than Zero 2 and is really well liked around here for gaming.

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.

Every single of your selections Is good on their own way, if you want a bassy leaning, Zero2 would be the option, for still bass presence but a more balanced sound, then Waner, and if you want a clean but still noticeable bass, either Chu2 and Wyvern should work just fine, Chu 2 Is a metal Shell while wyvern Is a resin Shell, so if you have humidity problems in your city, Its a valid reason not to get metal shells over resin shells, althought chu2 small metal Shell Is know for Its usually confortable Fit, the only thing i wouldnt recomend one of the IEMs in here for Is if you plan on gaming with them, since thats the wakest part of the Waner, the sound direction on those Isnt that great, vocal performance Is great tho. Now if you want More insight on how these sound and how they might compare, i invite you to check my post: https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/RboevPbnrw Its a very extensive list of good cheap IEMs with an explanation on how they More or less should sound and compare, if interested, in part 2 i also cover most common questions that people starting the hobby might had.

The chu 2 are worth it yes. They will outperform basically any gaming headphone (hyperx, razer, corsair etc) in basically every aspect. They are also 20 dollars, they and their competition (truthear hola/gate, 7hz salnotes zero 2, wan er) are all extremely good for the price, and you likely wont be finding headphones that outperform them under 100 dollars let alone gaming headsets (ive heard ok things about the astro line, and the sennheiser one with a mic) might not even outperform them period. Also they wont affect your performance in games. I play to the same level weather i'm using a pair of apple earbuds, or my hifiman susvaras, and so do many many others. Buy Iems for how good you think they will sound for your music and the rest will come with it. As a gamer the only thing that might help is soundstage but even then, not enough to make you play any better than you already do. You can utilize sound information with literally any pair of headphones/iems to basically the same degree). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOYRu6q8qJ4&t=112s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOYRu6q8qJ4&t=112s)

i had them, they are hella bass-y. i did not try the original zeros, but it’s flatter. like 2 or 3db less bass than it. i’d say give it a shot.

lol. yeah, you don't actually need THAT much bass to play competitive shooters. ceirtanly if anyone is coming from any kind of logitech or razer headphone they will likely feel a difference.

Only my nozzle became slightly rusted, the shell was fine. I would get trio or just go with original 7hz salnotes zero. Zero 2 is more bassier and has better dynamics while the original was more cleaner and crisp.

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

Don’t listen to anyone mentioning Shure or Westone, check out InEarFidelity.org and find something in your price range. A $25 Salnotes Zero2 IEM is a better value than any Shure, and if you want to spend Shure or Westone money, get something else from the reviews on that site. The TruthEar Hexa and Hola are incredible for their price.

Shure, Westone and KZ are all terrible. The sound and build quality is bad. Get some Salnotes Zero 2s, TruthEar Zero, TturthEar Hexa or Moondrop Aria. All under $100, just get some foam tips to go with them.

Please don't buy the KZ Zs Pro. As much as the KZ sounds better than the Shures, tons of other IEMs sound that much better than the KZ at the same price. Get the Salnotes Zero 2 or the Moondrop Chu 2.

HBB is a scumbag whose name you may not want on any gear you own. I don't. Get the Salnotes Zero:2s

I have the zero 2 and recommend them although I don't play csgo. The 7hz g1 and vivace might be better for gaming though.

These are currently my go to for casual music listening and watching YouTube and twitch streams. I break out my xenns mangird tea pro for gaming and when I'm using my pc though. Also when I want to do some serious music listening since I don't want to keep switching my 4.4 mm to 3.5 mm connection repeatedly. That being said, the zero 2 are amazing for their price.

I have the castor pro and I prefer my zero 2 instead of it as well.

7hz zero 2 or tangzu wan er 2 if you can but tangzu wan er og is also good. I heard good things about the truthear gate as well.

I have them and love them. Please clarify

Salnotes Zero

It is not "doesn't have a really good bass". It is neutral. For a sub-1k, the clarity is great, the separation is 👌🏻. When tweaked using a good equalizer, the bass is nice. Pero okay, surely, not for the bassheads. Maybe not for you. Along with Salnotes Zero, I always hear Moondrop Chu (or Chu 2) as one of the better buys for this price range. I guess you've seen some people recommending Moondrop Chu/Chu2.

A 20$ iem won't be as good as a 500$ headphone but for the value each of them offer for their price, iems usually have more to give. My moondrop chu 2 is almost at par when it comes to gaming with my jbl 700bt and costs 3 times less. I'd suggest those or salnotes zero. If you have more cash to spare go for the Truthhear x Crinacle Zero BLUE ($50) to get the most bang for you buck.

even $20 iems sound better than those imo, something like salnotes zero

I heartily agree with all of this. I started about 18 months ago with a Kiwi Ears Cadenza. Since then I've bought a Fiio K7BT, BTR7, Ka11, K9 AKM and about a dozen different IEMs. These include all of the usual suspects, Wan'ers, Salnotes Zeros (& 2's), Crin red & blues, JH5s and others, up to an MP145. I've just ordered a Fiio FH7s - an IEM that I've wanted since I started. I'm telling myself now that it's my endgame - or at least my final IEM of 2024. Time will tell if I stick to it!

Well i only have the salnotes zero so them :D

I'm just a beginner in the audiophile journey. I currently own and enjoy the Salnotes Zero IEM( First IEM I bought). Now I feel like I need an upgrade in bass and overall clarity in vocals. If I get the EM6L, will it feel like a noticeable upgrade?

Ys. I bought my salnotes zero from headphonezone

My ears are small too, after trying multiple iems, this is what I think are some comfortable iems for small ears which i have owned. Sub $20 - Get Truthear Gate over salnotes zero Sub $150 - S12, ie200 Sub $200 - Meze alba (Most comfortable iem i have ever tried) Sub $600 - Symphonium meteor, ie600 Kilobuck - 64 audio

Maybe I am half deaf, but I returned them and kept my Salnotes zero. I thought the Salnotes had better clarity and more sparkle while otherwise sounding quite similar. I didn't get the hype tbh.

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.

I just got my first iem too (salnotes zero) and I really love them after a tip upgrade (the nozzle size was a bit too big for me). They are really similar but from the reviews I saw the zero 2 has a little more bass and some small change in the treble (zero is brighter I think ?). More of a taste thing, I went with the og zero because I don't want too much bass. I was skeptical of the chifi hype at first. Like why do we go with chinese iem but not chinese headphones ? But the value for the monney cannot be beat in that price range. 30$ (canadian dollars...) Is double the price of some cheap 15$ earbuds from a random store but the chifi IEMs are SO much better than those. I know it's nothing new for people that are in the iem sphere since a long time but to me at least it's new and shocking. I always hated in ear earbuds because they hurt my ears, until I tried a pair of tws earbuds that fit my ears well. Now I'm down the rabbit hole of iems... But I like it it's perfect at work and easy to carry vs a regular headphone. Still prefer a headphone at home on pc tho.

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 have salnotes zero, blon bl03, tin hifi t3 plus and airpods pro 2nd gen I find the Airpods Pro to be so much better than the others, the bass is so good. I think there may be something wrong with my ears. 😂 Even the audio quality is way better in airpods pro. Salnotes zero is the only one that comes close. I absolutely hate Tin T3 Plus. I shouldn't have wasted my money on it. Salnotes zero beats the shit out of it. Tin t3 sounds hollow with zero bass. For me it's ......Airpods Pro 2 > Salnotes Zero >> Blon bl03 >> Tin hifi t3 plus. That said, Tin T3 Plus is the best looking iem I have and fits like a glove. Such a shame that it sounds like shit.

Still looking but so far it's the Salnotes Zero (out of the it and the Chu II, QKZxHBB, and Xuan Nv)

What did you find underwhelming about the Zero and like about the Wan'er? Before you jump to the 80+ range from 20 it would be better if you had a good idea what you wanted. I found the jump in quality to be noticeable from those budget points but my favourite set I have is still a 20 dollar set because I like the tuning. Also what kind of games and what kind of music make a big difference, I like female vocals and jazz/classical music so the Zero is amazing to me but if you like booming bass or say played single player games you might not like it as much.

This was the exact IEM I came to recommend. I was working on a review, but decided they have been discussed to death, but they would fit OPs needs.

As a broke person (sim racing / audiophile / keebs / vr) there is something up with the dap side of the vr headset. So if you’re using a quest 3, stick with cheaper options that don’t require amplification or a resolving dac. Yes, I am saying to avoid getting the best iem and focus on getting an iem that can be sufficiently driven by the quest 3. The high end of this for me would be the ie200. Generally speaking, this is my favorite iem because of how small it is and the sound it puts out is tremendous. This is slightly out of your budget. It is however in my mind the nicest option. Moondrop chu ii is a very good starter iem. Salnotes zero (the og) also is a good option here especially if you don’t like the metal housing of the chu. Both of them come with an inline mic if you fancy that. I would avoid any bass monsters unless you’ve got a dac solution in place. Hbb hades comes to mind here. Going further down, tin c2 have some new releases coming out. Finally, I’m gonna rec the koss ksc75 and portapros- the 75s are perfect for the quest and the porta pros were on the cv1. Although not iems, these are great sound solutions. Finally, and only if you’re willing to stay on headphones for vr, I recommend the Sony mdr-mv1. Super comfortable and light weight. Punches way above its cost as far as sound quality goes. Edit: if you’re not using the 3.5 mm on the quest, ignore most of this as my perspective is that of a user who is using the sound solution built into the q3.

Big treble peaks at 11700 Hz and 14400 Hz

I really don't recommend KZ because it sounds generic compared to my Salnote Zero. I mostly recommend Tangzu Wan'er, Truthear's Hexa and ZERO, Salnote's ZERO and ZERO:2, Simgot EW200. KZ is decent but their whole lineup sounds the same, that overwhelming bass and fatiguing treble is the most cons of their products.

I really don't recommend KZ because it sounds generic compared to my Salnote Zero. I mostly recommend Tangzu Wan'er, Truthear's Hexa and ZERO, Salnote's ZERO and ZERO:2, Simgot EW200. KZ is decent but their whole lineup sounds the same, that overwhelming bass and fatiguing treble is the most cons of their products.

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.

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.

Same here. Was looking into another gaming haptic headset on yt and fell into an iem rabbit hole. Started around beginning of May. Now here I am 11 iems later, half as many more sent back or given away. Same feeling about the zero1. It was terrible to me. Zero2 ordered at the same time was way better. If you think the wan'er is excellent for gaming, wait until you get some with way better technicalities (stage, imaging, separation, details). The wan'er to me is below average for gaming. Its been relegated to music only. As far as spending money, I set 2 limits on myself. I'm never going over $100 for a set. I'm not an audiophile so this is easy for me. My 2 highest sets were $75 and $50. The other is to fill up a 12 slot case. This one I may break. I've already made a music only set not count because they stay in my work bag.

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.

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.

Salnotes Zero. I use 1 but I have heard 2 is also good. For music, it's top notch choice, but for gaming there are better choices. The gaming ones are not as good for music tho. I would still say Salnote's decent enough for gaming too.

Og salnotes zero .... Top quality treble and non existent bass top notch clarity and soundstage best for gaming too

At this price yes

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

I’m new to the IEM world and audio in general. I first bought the Salnotes Zero and I was a little underwhelmed. I just got in the Tangzu Wan’er and they are excellent for gaming and enjoyable for music but I’m still wanting more. For $20 I’m definitely not upset with my purchase. I don’t have the vocabulary or knowledge to explain what I want but like I said in the tittle how much do you have to spend for objectively goood not just good for the price. I’ve been looking at the project red and truthear hexa and im confident they would be a step up but im worried im gonna have the same feeling until I spend serious money. I’m open to any recommendations or advice. Thanks! I started down this path just for the gaming aspect but man it has reminded me just how much I love music

I run the Salnotes Zero with a Ruyi cable. Works great on my PS5. Another alternative I use is the moondrop lan but they are a recessed 2-pin cable so either run my external mic or just use the built in mic on the dualsense. As for DACs you can get dongle DACs such as the hiby FC1 or FC3, Hidisz S3 pro or go Bluetooth with Fiio BTR5k or hiby w3 ii which also support inline mics as well as usb c input. Or for a desktop fosi k5 pro can be found for cheap. *Edit for dac info and spelling

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.

I use 7hz Zero, Zero 2, and Moondrop LAN. All work great for gaming and situational awareness. I will occasionally break out my Dunu Titan S, but I find the others a bit better. I use a Kinera Celeste Ruyi cable with a boom mic on the zeros with no complaints about mic from friends I'm playing with.

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.

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.

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.

laugh at it all you want  but i know a producer . Dudes been producing and doing his dj tricks for over 20 years. i let him demo some of my iems and he really enjoyed the original Salnotes Zero. Stated they sounded the most true to his speakers, bought it the day after along with a cable

You said "Balanced lang sana". Salnotes Zero is tuned for balance and has controlled bass...

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.

I own both the ZSN Pro 2 and Chu 2 DSP. ZSN is a bit better for rock and EDM, but Chu 2 is preferred in a song that has female lead vocals. As for the DSP let's say it's just a bonus equalizer. I've tried the salnotes and am not a fan of the tuning.

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 zero 2 or kiwi ears cadenza are good allrounders, i'd take them over the mentioned iems

Go with the Salnotes Zero 2

I just got mine yesterday. Love them. I have more expensive headphones but these are great. https://preview.redd.it/a56aevox5hne1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ec8f2a35dda7f9cb6954b45189ca7e247da9b64

What tips do you recommend? I am kind of high jacking here. I just got mine yesterday and use the light blue and light pink tips. The smallest.

My fav is the Zero 2, but the Kiwi Ears Cadenza is also gorgeous in all colors.

Same here lol I started off with the 7hz ZERO 2 last January then months later made the jump and ordered the Truthear Zero RED and a week later ordered the Truthear Hexa which ended up arriving before the REDs 😂

I'd say the difference between the Truthear Zero RED (55usd) and the 7hz ZERO 2 (25usd), my first IEM, is very noticeable.

It's nice to hear your impression of them, given you have experience with other sets. I have been using them since Jan 4, swapping between the ZERO:2, Truthear Gate, Zero RED and Hexa and the Moondrop MOCA. At first I was reluctant about placing them above the Zero RED, and got blasted in the comments for saying they sound better than budget wired IEMs. But honestly yes I agree with you. The ROBIN have excellent sound presentation.

zero:2 imo

I also own the Zero2, Ew300, and Eml6. I agree with your comments completely. Not just for FPS but general gaming they are great. I am going to test the MP145 because the soundstage is amazing on other media like YouTube. I will also throw in to the mix for you the Kiwi Quintet. You can get it used for a great price. It has great detail, separation, and directional audio. Worth a try for sure.

If you like the sound from the Zero2, then you'll love the EW300. I have the HBB version. Imagine the Zero2 but with much better detail separation. I've compared the Zero2 with other sets before, and it's always amazing for the price until tracks get very busy. The Ew300 is one of my favorite sets even though I own a few totl IEMs. The ew300 is incredible for the price. It performs way above expectations. Edit: forgot to mention the improved soundstage as well.

I will try to compare the zero2 and 300 to see how the vocals differ. I remember the zero having forward vocals which sound great. I think the 300 spreads the sound to a wider space, so it might not be as forward as the zero. But I'll confirm a little later.

https://preview.redd.it/i93k3cl1e0le1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c1a8592c5f91eaf65b71fe3c35ddc26c5d0fa2a Hey dude! So I spent a little while going back and forth between them. The Zero2 is a very competitive IEM for being only $20. What the EW300 does great is taking that same awesome W sound signature and stretching it to a nice wide soundstage. I chose a track like this one which has lots of different instruments (layers) playing at the same time during certain parts. With busier Metal songs, the Zero2 struggles to separate instruments for sure. Something more laid back like this helps to compare with other sets. The EW300 has more clarity in the vocals and instruments. It's like taking a filter off of the Zero2 that makes everything clearer and wider. It's a great upgrade. Especially if you can get it used for a good price. Or on sale 👍🏻

I got a set of zero 2s in right now...Hexa and Aria2 are both on my shopping list. The Reds were on the list...but I'm not sure of that nozzle size. I might grab the Blue 2s that just release. IEMs are fun...but I still prefer my planar cans😅

giving Zero 2s a bump... they're better with EQ

I WHOLE HEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOUR POINTS: https://preview.redd.it/vwxf7i53neye1.jpeg?width=2377&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9aafdf70e38f01e9e6e88692e4c7f79caca103d8 This is MY collection...and I'm very early in the journey. I don't have the budget, knowledge or experience to blind buy a 500USD+ set of in ears that may or may not fit my ears or my preferences. While my journey doesn't completely fit OP's blueprint...I have/had the same thought process regarding purchasing IEMs. Not pictured are the Moondrop Chu 2 and 7Hz Sonus. I started with the Chu 2, 7Hz Zero 2 and Kiwi Ears Cadenza. From listening, watching and reading reviews...I was able to learn about all the terms, labels, and vocabulary to describe what I like or don't like. I threw money at the Wyvern Abyss...I mean...LOOK AT THEM😂. The Kz Castor Bass was a curiosity buy...want to hear if a set touting bass response was really that bassy. My next steps were the NiceHCK F1 Pros, Kiwi Ears Canta and the 7Hz Sonus. The F1 Pros and the Sonu were on sale at the time of purchase...good value and able to narrow things down more for myself. I knew I liked the planar sound...I have a set of open ear planar cans. The F1s felt disappointing (until I tip rolled) The Sonus was about much for my taste (in the mids) The Cantas were quite nice for me. By this point...I had a good grasp of what I was looking for and the direction (s) I want to go in. AFUL Performer 5+2 is currently my go-to...for all around listening. Sourced from R2R DAC lined out into a desktop tube amp. It's like a warm blanket on crisp bright and snowy winter day. I picked up the Hexa because I wanted to hear the hype...and yes...they definitely fulfill the hype and then some. I've EQed my IEMs... especially the planar. They can mimic the sound...but it's only a part of the equation. I now rotate through 3-4 sets at my desktop listening station. The cheapo ones all have 3.5mm out for around the house or for bed. If they break...ill decide if I want to replace. Tip rolling is a journey of itself. Some tips can dramatically change an IEM and rescue it from the bottom of the pile. My Planars now sport foam tips...easing off the treble was huge. Anyway...long post...if you got this far thanks for sticking with my diarrhea of words. TLDR: I agree with the OP

I have zero 2. Thinking of returning them to get 7hz g1. I am a bit treble sensitive though. Would you suggest I do that or stick to zero 2 for now. Also in terms of mids which one do you feel is good. ?? Wonderful review by the way.

These are v shaped and the zero 2 are warm and neutral tuned. So where does the difference come here? What sets them apart in terms of sound?

So I am also in the same boat as you op. I saved enough money for a good gaming iem and got the zero 2 after lots of research. Found them perfect. Except for one small thing. The fit is a hit or miss. Unfortunately for my tiny ears it's a miss. Then I returned them and just 2 days later I found out about the 7hz G1. They are especially made for fps gaming. And then this youtuber named crincle also gave them a really good review. Look into those once as well.

Yes. Please. I have been asking this to everyone. My first iem was the zero2. Wonderful sound and good for gaming. It was perfect but unfortunately they hurt in my tiny ears. So I had to return them. I had only 25 dollars worth of money so for my needs ( good music + gaming ) these were perfect. I could not find anything else , and eventually I found the 7hz G1. It is going to available for sale here locally by the end of this month. I want to know how well they fare against the zero2. I am confident they will blow the zero2 in terms of gaming. What about their sound? Are the mids in g1 as good as zero2 ? I know everything else is going to be just fine. What about the mids and vocals?

I can give you opinion on gaming iem. Either the zero 2 or vivace. Some prefer the zero2 more for its overall tuning but either is good. I strongly think it's going to either of these 2 for you eventually. I have personally used zero2. Top notch for the price. Just make sure you get the fit right.

DaVinci when I'm in the mood for a more fun sound KE4 when I want a more neutral sound Salnotes Zero 2 when I want the best comfort

Hey man, curious between the Zero 2 and the EW300, would the EW300 be a good upgrade if I liked the tuning on the Zero 2? Looking for something natural yet with good tonality and clarity (not too warm). I tried the Vivace recently and it actually sounded a touch warmer than the Zero 2 which I didn't care for.

Nice, thanks for this. The Lan is on sale for $30 where I live and I was thinking to take them as my daily driver for walking around town. That being said, I have the 7hz Zero 2s and the tuning is growing on me a bit. I was looking for a slight upgrade in the $30-40 range that I can carry around because I'm growing a bit tired of the shells on them. I was hoping the Lan would be just that aside from it having slightly less bass. I could always EQ them though and try to get close enough.

Chu 2 and Zero 2 are very close in tuning with the Chu 2 being a bit brighter. I've tried 3 of these IEMs (not the Wyverns) and I personally like the Chu 2 the most.

Zero 2 are already more energetic and also loud for me, never went above 50/60% of the volume. Bass is more than enough. Using Audiocular D07 DAC, Apple Music on S24 Plus. So maybe a bit less bass, more details in the mids and treble area. Somewhat Less energetic and more relaxing for long hours without any issues.

They are really close the Zero:2 does it for me.

For reference, I have an EW200, CCA CRA and KZ Castor Bass. I really love each of them and how bass heavy they sound. I also have the Zero 2 and although there is not a lot of bass, I love how wide it might sound with the right song. So would the EW300 be a substantial upgrade over the EW200 or would the DZ4 bring something new to the table? (I'd also shamelessly admit that I buy them mostly based on looks, so Celest Wyvern Abyss, BL03 and Truthear Nova are also in the cart for now)

I’m surprised to see the Original 7 Hz Salnotes Zero on the list but not the Zero 2. The Zero 2 is the one I see recommended most on here, with TANGZU Wan’er and Moondrop Chu II very close seconds.

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.

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.

7hz Zero is better for games than the 7hz Zero 2 IMO, though the 2 is better for music. I haven’t tried any of the others.

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 will get them today, i hope won't disappoint, because everything on them seems good. I hope for low distortion in highs (non fatiguing) and good bass extension, thats all what an budget iems should have

I have them, not perfect but i am impressed because it doesn't suck (just a little) i will post a review They are great, man, makes me listen to the whole song every time, with eq

Tangzu Wan'er Studio Edition (SE), its a flatter tuning, with less coloration of the sound, SPECIFICALLY for Studio type work, hence the name. This is the only reasonable option in that price point. Everything else mentioned in this thread, provides too much coloration to make for a good set of Studio Mastering IEM's The OG Zero is too bright. The Zero2 is too bassy, with rolled treble, and the timbre isnt correct enough. Plus both Zero's suffer from mids that are scooped enough to hurt lower register vocals. The Truthear Gate is closer, but its a darker tuning that loses some detail up top, and doesnt push the vocal range. The Wan'er has always been known for its vocals, and the Studio Edition emphasis that by reducing the bass, to not get bass bleed into the mids that add coloration, and a smooth rolloff on the highs, so as not to get too many sparklies. Its not a musical IEM, but if you are doing production, you want accuracy, not vibrancy.

There are two tunings of the Castor, Neutral, and Bass Focused. The Bass Focused IEM is kinda slow and lethargic on the bottom end. But its a $20 IEM, and if its your first, you will be happy. The Harmon Neutral tuned version can come off as a little thin until you give it at least one switch up on the bass side. Upper mids its decent with tuning as well. But the sound stage they have is quite impressive for what they are, and the price they are sold at. If i had to choose from something like the Castor Neutral, or the ChuII, i would pick the ChuII, or the original 7hz Zero, or spend another $3 on the Ziigaat Nuo. If its the Castor Bass, i would go with the Zero2, or ChuII again. Just because it graphs more bass, doesnt mean its better bass.

7Hz G1 for gaming, the elevated treble region helps with details when gaming. It is basically the Zero2 without the dark treble. Vivace is good for music, i dont think it has the positional detail extraction for gaming in the way the G1 does. Same is true of the QKZ x HBB, good for music, not exactly a detail extraction IEM.

To answer your requirements, Balanced or Original sound is subjective. Some people think that the flat sound is the original sound, how artists listen to their music at production, but it's purely for analytical purposes. Music is produced in a way, everyone can enjoy the music with their subjective preference. Some people might want a bit of bass, some might want treble or both for some. It's just like how food is consumed. That being said, Balanced or Neutral sound is subjective, but this is the latest standard from IEF. https://preview.redd.it/nqngdf78xfle1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=ca464cfee18d97408f095ea9142a72b4e6739ea7 Hexa is considered as a neutral bright IEM. While Zero: Red is balanced. Ofc, you can EQ your Zero: 2 to match the requirement while not spending money, but that is up to you.

It's mild V-shaped in my opinion. https://preview.redd.it/k1tbhykaegle1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=317c81de3668f382773769828dabddfa42077e1b This is the definition of V shaped sound signature. Salnote Zero 2 is more like someone laying in bed, meanwhile Castor Pro is like a mountain.

I'm not going to confuse myself more and will get the Zero2 as it seems the safer choice. My cousin have Gate so when I get the chance I will test it and see if it's something that worth getting. Btw correct me on this if im wrong, for open world games like zelda, halo or any mmo I think mind v-shaped IEMs will provide better experience and for competitive games like counter strike, neutral sounding IEMs like Zero or Gate will perform better than V-shaped ones. How much does it holds true?

FWIW the Zero:2 is a solid upgrade from the Zero imo. I haven't touched my Zero since I got the Zero:2.

I'd take the Wyvern or look at the 7Hz Zero2. The Wan'er sounds like a paper cone speaker in the mids. No real detail despite having volume there. The Cadenza costs double the Wan'er and sounds worse. Muddy bass with no texture, blurry mids, and peaky treble that still manages to not get in the way. All cymbals sound the same. Just a slow driver overall. I own them all and I've tried them all with many different sets of tips.

The Wyvern's mids are aggressive, and has a great amount of sub bass. I'm a mid-head. I love clean, clear, accurate mids. These are just a bit of all three but at the price point, I can't complain. Divinus Wides and the mids get *real* aggressive. Melodic death metal guitar work... hell, any distorted guitar just pops. So do electronic synths that are meant to bite and dig. Energetic treble without being harsh or piercing. The 7Hz Zero2 are, I feel, a more universal recommendation in terms of signature. V-shaped enough to capture a TWS enjoyer, but not so sucked out that the mids feel like an afterthought. It's a minor revelation to the beginner hobbyist while also being a pretty well performing unit at its price and beyond. The Tripowin Vivace is worth considering. One of my favorites, the KBEar KB01, is a no-brainer.

I'd say at that point op may as well grab the 7Hz Zero2. It's a better sounding unit and doesn't really cost much more. It's still going to knock the socks off an ath-M20 (what a pos)

The Zero2 is my choice. If you're looking at the Cadenza specifically for the beryllium driver, the KBEars KB01 does it better and is cheaper. The Cadenza sounds like a plate of hot, wet shit.

Recently upgraded from the zero:2s. The bottom line is that they sound great. IF you can get them to fit. The shells are oddly shaped, so they simply can't rest in your ears in the proper position for the seal. So you lose out on the bass and treble. And if you do somehow get them in, they slowly pop out after a while. Spinfit W1s can remedy this issue, but if the shape of your ear collides with the shell, it's a hard pass. You're better off entering the 50+ dollar price bracket. I upgraded to the Pula PA02s and haven't looked back since. Way more comfortable and sound better to me without the fatigue of several hours of long-term listening on my computer.

Welcome to the IEM world! 🎉 The **Zero:2** is an *insane* value for rock and metal—great instrument separation and clarity for the price. Love that you modded them with your Marshall tips for the best fit! 🤘 If you ever decide to experiment down the line, the **7Hz Zero Red** or **KZ PR2** (if you’re okay with planars) might be worth checking out too. Enjoy your new setup! 🔥 What’s been your favorite track to rediscover with them so far?

I love my 7Htz Zero2s. For the price, just happy as hell. However...(of course)... ...I just picked up the Hexa less than a month ago, and yeah...as with others, this thing might be over a year old, but right now, the competition is only equaling in some aspects. Many reviewers (a year or less) have been comparing the Hexa to IEMs 2-3x the price. I don't have ears for the higher price points, so finding a pair that fits my preferred 'neutralism' at this price? Sold.

I was actually look between Castor, Chu and Zero 2. But since a lot recommend Zero 2 for gaming, i choose to buy this with tripowin mic cable.

Whenever someone pops up here asking which $100 IEM they should buy, my standard response is to spend $60 on a Wan'er 2, Zero:2, and Chu II, $10 on a dongle DAC, and spend the other $30 on something else (or save for upgrade). EQ is cool, but it's not magic. And finding something close to your preference and starting there goes a long way. Also, not for nothing, but I used a different tunes of IEMs at my desk (Wan'er) vs. working in a loud office (Chu II) vs. walking my dog (Zero:2), and playing with multiple tunings helps you figure that out.

hands down the zero 2

Well, u don't have to spend so much, I found that the zero 2 are so good with notice cancellation. To give you an example, yesterday I was at university studying, in the corridor next to me they started celebrating the graduation of a boy; Shouts and applause, the noise was almost deafening. I put on zero 2, I put light music on 10 out of 100 volume and all that disappeared. I also use them to watch movies while my sister watches loud TV in the room, no disturbances of any kind. They have done wonders in this respect. They cancel the sound better than my hexa (70€) and kiwi quintet (250€). It doesnt make sense to spend so much for just notice canceling, so zeros are perfect for u, they are 15/20€ with stock tips and u r done

Zero 2 sounded like it had little note weight and I couldnt improve it with eq Gate was too bright at high volume

Add the delci, T10, zero 2, zero red, S08, chu 2, gate. I haven't heard it but the hexa is "light on bass," but I heard they're excellent otherwise. Personally I would get the T10 or S08 because they're planars. I have a zero red, gate, chu 2, zero 2. In terms of out of the box sound I find the Chu 2 to be the most exciting and lush and the most comfortable (it's absolutely TINY). I found gate too bright and the zero 2 kinda weak in note-weight but all of these things are "well tuned". If bass is your thing the zero red with some mucking around with PeaceAPO on PC (like matched to a singularity) absolutely *delivers.*

If it's not critical listening then no need to spend that much. Zero 2 are great, nice sound quality and easy to drive. Nice all-rounder and great value.

My other IEMs are the Hidizs MP145, KZ PRX and ZAR, Rosefinch, Zero Red, Zero 2, and ancient Ety ER4S. I mostly just listen to the Punch, MP145 and ZAR for portable. I love classic rock the most like Grateful Dead, Steely Dan, Beatles, Dylan, Zeppelin, etc. But I listen to everything, love classical and jazz, and EDM and Hip-hop and bassy pop, soul.

I love the Ziigaat Odyssey, clean and balanced yet still strong mid-bass punch and sub-bass slam. Totally immersive experience, a true pleasure with special sauce tuning. More modest entry level would be the 7hz Zero 2. Decent but not spectacular, it's balanced with good bass. Also there's the default Truthear Zero Red and Blue 2. I have the Red, which is neutral with bass boost, again decent but not too exciting.

Most tips will fit, but will require a bit of effort to get on because the nozzles are so big. In some cases (e.g., Render Tips) these will permenently stretch them out, so they might then be a bit loose on if transferred to another IEM afterwards. Personally I only like the Tang Sancai Wide Bore version on the 7Hz Zero 2 (another Crinacle collab) because it lacks upper treble and sounds a bit "flat" (in the bad sense) with other tips. I don't think the Red really needs the extra treble, but YMMV because everyone's ears are different. I prefer the Balanced version on every other IEM I've tried them on. The WB just tends to add too much treble and messes up the timbre. The only tips in my collection (of about 30 or 40 types) that flat out won't fit on the Red are Dunu Candy. There are a few tips specifically designed for large nozzles like Spinfit CP-155 and TRI Clarion, both of which can help *a bit* with comfort issues, but won't eliminate them completely unless you already have slightly bigger than average ear canals. The Clarions are another treble-oriented tip that I don't think complements the warm tuning of the Red very well, so the CP-155 is what I'd recommend most people start off with if buying specifically for the Red.

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.

It's very good. The Zero 2 is borderline neutral (but definitely warm tilted) whereas the HBB definitely has more bass than neutral. But it still sounds very natural. It's relaxing & non-distracting at low volumes, fun at higher volumes. BTW, if your Zero:2 doesn't sound warmer than the Wan'er then there's probably something wrong with it, you didn't get a good seal with the tips, or you have a Zero 1 not the Zero 2. If you're looking for a punchy style of bass, none of these do that. They're all the relaxing, warm style of tuning, just with different amounts of bass & low mids.

Yep, that's the 2. It should definitely be bassier than the Wan'er. The tuning is almost identical except it has more sub-bass and a tiny bit less eargain: https://squig.link/?share=Harman_Adjusted_Target,Tangzu_Waner,7Hz_Zero_2 This is how mine sound too, so it's not just a misleading graph. Of course it's also possible you have an abnormally bassy Wan'er due to unit variance, or the tips you're using are making a big difference.

For mixing/editing you might want to get something else instead, like the 7Hz Salnotes Zero (1 not 2). The others are too bassy. Apart from that I'll just repeat what I said [before](https://old.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1eeyshi/need_help_picking_my_first_iem/lfi3dvx/) about the difference between the HBB and the Castor. The Zero 2 is the compromise between the two, it's the least bassy out of these, but it's not neutral. Personally I would take the HBB for general music listening over the Zero 2 because the Z2 just tries to hard to be a jack of all trades and comes across as a bit boring. If you want something that's neutral enough for mixing/editing and still fun to listen to, look at the Tin Hifi C2 instead. Budget for Spinfit CP-100 tips as well, as those will bring the treble down a bit closer to neutral, otherwise it's a bit too U-shaped. It has a slight bass boost, but it's not too far from neutral to really cause any problems.

I mean you can use anything and it depends on what you're editing, but if you want to get a neutral sense of bass then it's probably not the best choice. Admittedly the C2 has a bass boost as well, but it doesn't extend all the way into the sub-bass like the Zero, so it doesn't have the same overall warm-tilt to the sound. Nothing sounds completely neutral anyway, so there's always some element of being used to the headphones you're using.

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.

The Zero 2 is more of a down-slope than a v-shape per se. I'd call it warm-neutral. It's bassier than neutral and some people will call anything with extra bass a v-shape, but it's not really. The Chu 2 and Gate are both mild v-shapes as they have more bass *and* more treble. but the Zero 2 actually has slightly reduced eargain and rolled-off upper treble, while the Zero 1 is more of a bright-neutral. If you are mainly planning to EQ, the Zero 2 is probably your best bet as it has the smoothest treble response - it just lacks extension in the stock tuning, so it can sound a bit blunted. You should be able to fix that easily by adding a treble shelf to taste, and maybe bring down the bass a bit. The Zero 1 stock tuning has more treble extension, but it's a bit peakier and that's the region where it's harder to make fine-grained EQ adjustments.

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).

So I finally got my Zero 2 and I'm impressed by its tuning. I'm rocking a KZ Castor Silver before buying this and Zero 2 is definitely an upgrade for me in terms of bass and sound quality. Since I want a variety of iems to experience eargasm, what IEMs do sound like Zero 2 or even better under $50?

I purchased qkz hbb out of curiosity. I prefer warm or warm meutral. Im a bit treble sensitive. I have ew300 in my cart. I want to purchase it but i was wondering about the treble. Can any one recommend any other warm or warm neutral set with smooth treble and no sibilance. I already have 7hz zero 2 (perfect for my ear, no eq) final e3000, and blon bl03 (eq the treble). Kz zs10 pro (huge amount of eq)

These sound perfect to my ear. These are my first iem that i didn't have to eq. Everything is clear and non fatiguing. They are well balanced and little bit of warmth that i love.

Hey I never got to try the davincis out, I ended up finding a hype4 during a good sale so I got them along with the dusk and listened to them for a while, the hype4 were far more of my preference but they had a sharp spikey upper treble at times that I found to be too much for me, I realize I could have eq'd that out, but I felt for the price I should not have had to do that. plus the nozzles were a bit big for my ears making them slightly uncomfortable. Going off graphs which doesn't tell the whole story the davinci seem to be very close to that without the spike but I don't believe in graphs alone so i'm not sure if it would have been a different story. For that type of music genre though if you like a thicker bottom end the hype4 were better in my opinion - the dusk are highly detailed but lack the thickness that I prefer in that style of music. I do miss the hype4 at times and still going off those as a reference here were a few iems that I wanted to try at some point: Davincis, Mangird Tea Pro, Estrella and QoA Adonis but never got around to trying them, I just use a cheap pair of zero 2s at the moment and im happy with them so I quit looking down the rabbit hole. I realize im probably going to get slaughtered for saying these things since they don't fit what most would say about these iems but just letting you know my opinion.

Are you referring to the flat head AirPods? They’re not easy to compare against an IEM. While flat heads can sound quite good, and there are some higher end ones on the market, in general, because the canal is no occluded, bass is markedly decreased and obviously external sounds intrude. So a zero 2 with a well fitting ear tip will be a more satisfying experience, so long as you are in situations where ambient sound isn’t important (I wouldn’t walk down a busy street, let alone say cycling on city streets where you need to listen to your environment as well as your music). Of course they now offer an AirPod 4 that includes ANC. I can’t figure out how that works without a sealed ear canal, and I’ve never listened to them to see if they work. But AirPods do offer you the advantage of being wireless, which for casual listening can be more convenient than a cable. If your goal is to sit and listen to music as a primary experience, the zero 2 would be a better choice. Just understand the different form factor, wireless and interactions with your environment should be understood.

I actually did buy the Prestige LTD lol. To me they have been absolutely worth it and I'll never be buying another set. But you're absolutely right, I could happily listen to my 7hz Zero 2 and still be perfectly happy, the bang for the buck is immense. In fact that's exactly what I recommend to people when they are looking for IEMs. No need to overcomplicate things, they just sound fantastic.

Sound wise Zero 2 is warmer and smoother, while Gate slight more lean kinda neutral and more forward in upper mid and treble. Tech is around the same level. It just a matter of sound preference. For fit & comfort Gate is better because less angular design. Can't go wrong with these two

Im very happy with the zero 2's

Zero 2 any day of the week.

I agree. I like my Zero 2. Great bassy sound. But I find the EDC Pro's sound to be better. That extra added treble agrees with my sound preference better, without being too harsh. I find the Zero 2's treble to be lacking a little.

I have the harman version and the treble is killing my ears. I far more prefer a flat tuning iem than this very V-shaped tuning, because it makes vocals very distant and muffled. My current daily is a pair of 7th Zero 2

most of these $20-ish IEMs are pretty much all same sound quality, detail level, QKZ Odin, Moondrop CHU II, Truthear GATe, 7Hz Zero, 7Hz x Crinacle Zero: 2, Wan'er SG, Wan'er SE but for what you are looking for QKZ Odin will imo be the best choise, Wan'er SG is also good but their build quality is step or two below everything else on the list

Beautiful setup you got there, congrats! I’m a bit further down the rabbit hole as I started with entry level ones (Chu 2, Zero 2, GATe) but upgraded recently to the RED. Waiting for the upgraded cable to arrive, in the meantime the GATe’s cable is just fine https://preview.redd.it/ndz2f2sys35e1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9067996897e9b48c51f8bc034f4516e9dc4b017c

While I feel it’s an improvement over the Chu 2/Zero 2, the RED’s fit is not for everyone and I wouldn’t recommend it as a starter IEM unless you know there’s a possibility of comfort being an issue. And the good (and bad) thing about this hobby is that there’s something new every week so there’s plenty of choices. I haven’t tested them myself but many say the Kefine Klean is an absolute steal for around the same price as the REDs.

It might sound funny, but 7Hz Zero 2. I've tried a lot of cheap and expensive IEMs, and I decided to main these for 2 simple reasons: 1. The best EQ potential out of all budget IEMs right now 2. The perfect fit with pink tips, I can easily sit with them for 5+ hours. It's basically the "All you need" IEM, if you know how to EQ, that's why I sold my EM6L and decided to stick to this one. Probably the best budget IEM ever, and one of the best IEMs to EQ

Soundwise the zero 2 probably has one of the best tonalities even under 50$, but the accessories are kinda meh. The wyvern has some good ergonomics and build quality and it also has a mic, but the sound is kinda just "ok". So I would choose between these 2 options, it just comes to what plays the leading role for you in IEMs: the comfort, build quality and accessories or sound.

Zero 2 can be a really good choice, but ONLY if you know how to EQ. If you don't, it would be better to use something else. I don't think that EW300 is a worthy IEM, because there are stil the EA500LM and EM6L, which I think are better than EW300

none of them are any extra airy, i have all of them and i would pick zero:2 for hiphop stuff

In that case you're pretty much limited to KZ, or just "ok" sounding 1DDs like the Chu 2 or Zero 2. Castor is $12 and ZSN Pro 2 is $14, those both hit well above their price. You can get D-fi for that much but it's not really any better than a Chu or Zero. If you want a very cheap 1DD I would still get the Tanya or ipviq q-100 which is basically a Cadenza in a nicer shell, you can find that for <$20 on sale. You could probably find a CCA Trio or ZS10 Pro 2 on sale for <$30 too, or get a cheap PR2 and try to EQ it.

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.

I have the Zero:2 and the wyvern abyss. Both are good. For sound I think the zero:2 just wins it but for a nicer build and better cable the wyvern is the way to go.

I’ve got a fair share of entry level iems (7hz zero2, wa’ner sg, chu2, TE zero red) but I use the castors (harmen improved bass) daily as a beater set in the gym. You can’t really beat them for the price. They do well with EQ and a really nice set of tips for solid seal (spinfit w1/dunu s&s/tri clarion)

I really like my zero 2s. And the kz castors are good too.

Yeah. I think I prefer the zero 2 between these two…but my dac probably isn’t letting the castors bass really shine.

Yes, to my taste Zero 2s are better than Kz Castor. Good layered seperated music experience, good balanced bass, not too overpowering or fatiguing the ears, good vocals.

I second the nuo, it sounds great behind some tubes. But once I attached it to the trn bt20 it found its home. Also discovered while tip rolling that the dunu candy opened up the narrow soundstage. But as far as the others the zero2 sounds the best imo.

Really good sound is subjective and on iems isn't solely based on price. Ive got really really cheap ones that sound amazing good at like 2 bucks a set. The zero 2 arent bad especially around $20 and even the red/blue sound good when paired with a good dac or dap. The $50 Juzear Clears sounds great too. Its not set in stone to be at that $200 range, but just more available at that price range that sound good.

Im a true believer in the zero blues and the zero 2. I do own higher end bass iems but these are solid for sub $100.

Chu 2 DSP > Chu 2. Zero2 imo is not competitive anymore. Hola 2 comings soon and likely will be great.

Neither are the best. Zero 2 has less issues, but sounds a bit basic overall. Gate is a bit shouty and the bass quality is quite poor. Chu 2 DSP, probably Nuo and many others are better overall.

At these prices QC and longevity can always be an issue, but I'd day Gate is better suited for EQ than Zero 2.

Gate imo is very mid. Shouty, poor bass quality. Zero 2 is a bit meh in todays market. Chu 2 is okay, but not fun or exciting. Chu 2 DSP is much better. Cadenza is very nicely tuned, but bass lacks dynamics. Wan'er sounds a bit messy. None of these have nice bass really. QKZ x HBB has really nice bass, but are pretty dark so would EQ a bit. Should try Nuo again since maybe they had good punchy bass.

I have zero 2 using it for BGMI (for India) / Pubg Mobile (Global).. Sometimes sound gets overlapped. I don't hear footsteps and even car sound. So I was thinking about upgrading any recommendations???

Samsung wired earphones tunned by AKG. This is one option The other one is to get an IEM. I own zero 2. It's a good pair but not the best. Sometimes I don't hear footsteps clearly because of the soundstage or so many things happening at the same time. You can check the fresh reviews of the youtube channel for a better options

Below $100 - which I consider to be the budget space - is full of great options for different tunings. I am a guy for neutral tunings with a little bass emphasis. I advized a friend of mine to get the 7Hz Zero 2 and I would advize you to do the same thing. They are great, cheap, have a unique design and come in a lot of colors. In my mind they adapt well to different songs and genres. If you can increase your budget to $80 I would get the Truthear Hexas every day of the week. They are EXACTLY what you want (Neutral with a bass bump). Either way, any of the iems you brought up are really great.

imo the salnotes zero 2 and 1 both are really shit, very cheap plasticy iems with good? sound i guess, I have the same kiwi ears cadenza from hpz, and they are really really good, they are better in bass and build quality for sure, the overall sound stage is also very good, if you can increase 500 INR more to your budget the truthear x crinacle zero blue are great choice

My first purchase was the zero 2s. Just got the zs10 pro and man what a difference. More bass than you could need, I turned my switches down to just 1. Super detailed and much more spatial.

Hey y'all, Recently picked up my first IEM: the 7Hz Zero 2. I really enjoy the form factor and experience of them but don't find the sound to be too mindblowing (they are, however, mindblowing considering the \~$20 pricetag). I have a nice mobile DAC/AMP (Questyle M15i) that I use with my HD6XX. Would love an IEM that takes advantage of the DAC/AMP and provides comparable fidelity and quality to my over-ear setup. As far as sound profile goes I don't think I have a specific preference and I listen to just about every genre (Rap, Indie, Jazz, Classical, Electronic, Rock, Bluegrass, etc.) Would love to find a pair that is a great, high-quality, excellent sounding all-rounder in roughly this price range. All recs appreciated! Thanks!

I might be little biased in this because I use Wan'er longer than my Castor so I will pick Wan'er because of how comfortable it is with long time gaming and also Wan'er is much more fun to be EQ. Actually 7hz Zero2 might be a better choice if you comfortable with their design. If you have more budget for IEM, Sennheiser IE 200 can do better but with that price might just go for Simgot Supermix 4

Zero2 was my 1st budget iem, also simgot ew200 is great vaule.

My first set was the Zero:2. I bought a set for my girlfriend and my buddy bought two sets for him and his wife…we all love that set!

I don't know if super* measured the castor. But he has squigglys for the other two. I own the zero:2 and wan er. I prefer the sound of the waner, but the build quality of the zero:2 appear better. I wouldn't be surprised if the waner would break quite quickly (I'd be surprised if they last a full year tbh, please someone tell me I'm wrong). Both IEMs cable feel very cheap and frail as well. Perhaps keep the zero and get a sturdy cable with a mic?

Tangzu Wan’er - Overall balanced sound signature with slightly forward vocals. Good for any type music plus vocals heavy songs sound rich and natural. 7hz Zero 2- Overall balanced sound signatures with better bass than Tangzu Wan’er. Good for any type of music and gaming as well. You can also try: Moondroo Chu 2- These are More balanced than other two with good bass balanced vocals and treble.Good for any type of music. If this is you first IEM i would suggest you to go with Chu 2 or Zero 2. I have Wan’er and l love them but forward vocals not for everyone.

I like.y zero 2 but I've seen a lot of people praise the qc20's, including pro players.

The Zero 2 is my first iem, I've had it for almost a year now and I love them. They sound better than any other headphone or earphones I've had before. I love the bass, but I do see others say the bass it outputs is not that good. I would recommend ordering a different cable with it, because my cable broke and I had to order a new one.

I got the Zero 2 as my first IEM a day ago and I think they sound very good. I Haven’t played around with EQ yet but with its base sound it makes any genre honestly sound really good. Very balanced sound when it needs to be and has a good amount of bass due to the sub bass coming in on tracks that prioritize it. I’d personally highly recommend this pair if you’re looking for bass, but keep in mind the cord is somewhat short. If you’re not arms length where you’re plugging your device in you’re cooked.

Not at all. The waner is a great vocal centric set, slightly more neutral sounding than zero 2

salnotes zero 2 😁😅

salnotes zero 2!

kung di ka basshead then this is the best

$20 to $35 is now good price point for this I’ve tried and recommend: - 7hz Zero 2 - Tangzu Wan’er - Tanchjim Bunny - Tripowin Vivace Out of these, I use Zero 2, Bunny, and Vivace the most because they’re very fun.

Of those, I have the Zero:2 and Chu 2. Curious to hear your thoughts on those in comparison. For me, the fit on the Chu 2 is incredible. Sound wise compared to the Z2 it’s a little less sub bass-ey (but not a ton — it still hits with good intensity) with just a bit more treble that can bug me on certain songs (“Dumb” by Nirvana comes to mind).

Based on our somewhat similar tastes, Zero:2 and EDC Pro (I can only speak to budget options).

Chu 2 and Zero 2 sound kind of similar, but Zero 2 is better for gaming in my experience. I tried both and had a much easier time locating things with audio with the Zero 2 than I did with the Chu 2. Wan’er is loved by many, but I don’t have it to compare, I’m afraid.

Zero:2 and Chu 2 are both good starter sets. They sound sort of similar (imo) and both have a good, comfortable fit. I find myself using the Zero:2 most often, but would be happy with the Chu 2 if that’s all I had.

Of those you listed, I have the Holas, Zero 2s, and Chu 2s. I like them all, but if you want some extra bass for rock and hip hop (mostly what I listen to also), IMO go with the Zero 2 or Chu 2. They’re not identical, but they’re not vastly different in sound either imo. Get yourself an Apple dongle instead of the DSP version. If you end up getting more IEMs, it’ll make your life easier as most have a 3.5mm plug. Holas are discontinued, but you can still find them around once in a while. I got mine when someone pointed out a batch available on AliExpress. They’re good too, but less bassy than the other two I’ve mentioned.

Zero 2 is a safe choice. Quite cheap, it has warm tonality so it is non fatiguing for long sesions.

Yes, it is my 2nd iem

Truthear x Crinacle Zero(blue) is best for gaming around that range and if it exceeds your budget then just go for 7hz Zero 2 which is the best budget gaming iem

Zero 2s easily. Great midrange, great subbass, solid treble extension. Just try out all of the tips cause the nozzle is on the bigger side

I got back into iems about three months ago. I purchased the Zero 2, the Hexa, and the Dioko. That's a continuum (v-shaped with nice bass, neutral, and treble-heavy). I realized I liked more bass. You probably read through a lot of the good advice you received that you can equalize iems - I have the Qudelix 5K and learned how to use Squiglink to equalize (took a few days of trial and error), and was able to get the Dioko to sound the way I wanted it to sound (which was with a lot of bass). After equalizing the Hexas a lot as well, I learned what I liked (the MP145 is what I like), I bought those, and wooo-boy do those fit what I like in a sound signature - I don't have to equalize them to enjoy them. You received a lot of good advice here ... get a few pair of low-cost iems, test them out, learn what you like. Heck, if you listen to Spotify on an iPhone you can use their equalization (pop, R&B, acoustic etc) to test out what sounds best to you without getting fancy. Then ask for advice based on your sound preference, and you'll get plenty of it! Good job - have fun!

Go with Tangzu Wan'er SG or Tangzu wan'er SG Studio edition, use the EQ by Timmy (from Gizaudio & now Hangouts.audio), or just use ur own EQ (which is best). They r so good. I EQ'd my wan'er studio on the Hola signature, and it is so good. Alternatively, Zero and Zero 2 are pretty great. I personally prefer zero 2 over zero but some prefer the opposite. Chu ii is a very safe bait too. Lastly I'd say take a look at Truthear Gate, tho I'm personally not the biggest fan. I heard KZs here and there from others , not a big fan of the signature. Haven't experienced any of simgot IEMs, tho heard a lot of good things about them. If u end up going with the simgot one, pls do tell your experience with it, I'm interested on them.

Kefine Delci > Simgot Ea500lm > Truthear Zero Red > Salnotes zero 2

As the other guy suggested, the Zero Two seems like a good choice as I've been using it since March 13, 2024, and it has served me well. Ao Ashida E20 isn't bad either.

The hexas made my previous sub $80 iems sound like someone was listening to music next room (reds + zero 2)

Me too, left Zero 2 and Reds as my beaters, Hexa is all you need

Gate is a tad bit better than the wan'er but a bit worse than the zero2, imo.

😿😿😿 Maybe try the truthear zero:red with adapter or the 7hz zero 2

Unironically have actually owned each of these except tgw 500LM but never touched the LM because of its tuning. Imho just get Zero 2

Go for zero 2 or moondrop chu 2.. and if ur into smooth sound like relaxed then go for tangzu waner S.G

Smart move — the Cadenza is a great baseline for a relaxed-but-clear sound, but if you want to explore different tunings before investing more, here are 3 budget IEMs that each take you in a *distinct* direction: **1. 7Hz Zero 2** – Neutral-bright and analytical. Much flatter in the bass than the Cadenza, with crisp upper mids and clarity-forward tuning. Great for vocals and detail, less warmth. **2. KZ Castor (Bass side)** – V-shaped and bassy. This gives you that fun, punchy low end with some extra energy up top too. Totally different presentation from the Cadenza — more contrast, more spice. **3. Tangzu Wan’er SG** – Mid-centric and warm. Smoother treble, fuller mids, and soft bass. Not as technically sharp as Zero 2, but excellent for chill listening and vocals. Each of these emphasizes a different part of the spectrum, so trying all three gives you a decent “flavor map” to figure out what you want more (or less) of in a future upgrade. Also, if you're interested in a more strategic deep-dive on how to actually *learn* what you like and avoid wasting money as you climb, I wrote this breakdown you might find helpful: [How to Actually Learn What You Like in IEMs (and Stop Wasting Money)](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1kd6j1t/how_to_actually_learn_what_you_like_in_i)

Don’t buy any KZ, but the zero 2 probably

I was impulsively writing "yes, you absolutely made an error", then I stopped. Why? Because I think you never go wrong if you buy something and that helps you understand what you like and what you don't. The 7Hz Zero 2 and Wan'er would probably more refined in terms of overall tuning, but the fact is that you may like the ZS10 Pro as well. Listen to it, then buy something else when you're ready on when you feel something is not sounding right to your ears with your ZS10 Pro. Best judges are your own ears

I like my pair of 7hz Zero 2s, slightly bassy but ok

Just get the black bass improved version. By the price it sounds so nice. U won't regret. I had this than sold it for 7hz zero 2 and regretting it.

I initially thought the ARTTI T10, was so much better than the other IEM's I owned, which are not that fantastic - mostly inexpensive KZ/CCA things, but even these were a revelation compared to some Sony and JVC ear bud things, and definitely better than Apple's Earpod. Then one day, I was challenged by a video by Akros(youtuber IEM reviewer), to compare the ARTTI T10 with the other IEM's I own. I was so shocked to discover that the ARTTI T10 was adding an artificial smear/sheen to the audio, making it exaggerated. It ended up being more of a distortion (i.e actually degrading the listening experience, cos the audio was NOT as focussed with the T10), and it was such a huge shock to me, that the Zero 2,, which I had sent into retirement, not initially being as pleased with it, turns out to be better than the T10. That's why I want to hear from others, who are unbiased, about how the T10 compares, with other IEMs. I feel there has been a hype about planar magnetics, which when I eventually listened critically, comparing for several hours, over a few days, came to the conclusion, that there is something not properly implemented on the only planar magnetic I have ever owned. The T10. Almost like it had been a mirror that deceived me. I almost forked out the almost £200 to get the S12 2024 Limited Edition, out of FOMO, and I am so glad I did not. I may have been disappointed. After this experience , where I bought the T10 based on a phenomenal recommendation, of another Youtuber/Influencer, I think the entire industry needs a whole new batch of really authentic reviewers, cos I was wondering, how could I have been so misled, for teh 1st few months of owning the T10, almost also upgraded to the recently released T10 Pro.. I feel a bit jaded about the industry, one ends up spending so much money on products that are hyped by so many, which as I have discovered, may not be as good as reported, by so many reviewers. I was deceived, and maybe, they are also deceived, or are really not that good at listening. Evaluating with their eyes and measurement tools, rather than with their ears. Huge shock that a $15 (when on sale) Zero 2, beats the T10 which costs typically $50 to $70., and on teh best sale at least $40. That kind of shocking truth should be out there in the open, but it seems those who may know, are not saying anything.!! And lots of people are misled. Sad. Too much hype. Too many products in the market too. Way too many., and the only way, for most of us, to thoroughly evaluate the product, is to buy it and listen to it., cos so many of the reviews online, based on my experience, cannot be trusted.

Here's what I own in IEM's. - CCA(CRA and Polaris), KZ (ZVX, EDC Pro, Libra X, SAGA Balanced), 7Hz Zero 2, ARTTI T10. I finally bought the SAGA Balanced not too long ago. It is definitely the best KZ/CCA, in my stable, no contest. But with a caveat, which also applies to other IEMs, but more so to KZ/CCA IEMs For me, the stock tips that come with KZ/CCA IEMs do not result in a good sound or a good fit, they end up having less bass than desired due to a poor fit, and I think their stock tips have narrow bores which produce a tinny unpleasant sound. It could be that my ear canal is not a good fit for their stock tips. To improve matters, I have had better success with the TRI Clarion tips. And even more success with the Moondrop SPRING tips. I tend to use the largest of these tips, the SPRING has an XL option larger than the usual Large, with a very tight but not to uncomfortable fit, for me. With the right 3rd party tips, the KZ SAGA Balanced delivers a commendable result, if a bit bright, in the top end. Its almost futile trying to describe a sound. I'll try. Decent bottom and top, with mids recessed. V-Shape. The bass is really good, and for me I am sure I do not need any more bass. If you are savvy with an EQ, this provides an opportunity to get even more value for this budget priced IEM, that delivers a truly commendable result., that takes the sound from Decent to Pretty Good. A low Q boost in the mid, of about +1.5dB to 2dB centered about 1K, and if you want, you may add or subtract from the high frequencies with a high shelf filter. Just one or two bands of EQ, are needed, to deliver a more than decent result cos the fundamental sound of the SAGA Balanced is all there, just a pity that the default tuning recessed the mids. Fortunately easily improved via simple EQ. SAGA Balanced + Moondrop SPRING Silicon tips + One or two bands of EQ = really balanced sound, with dynamics, fun, enjoyment, really great sound. Best I have ever heard on a KZ/CCA IEM. The EQ is simply to take an already commendable product to almost perfect, for an IEM at that price. A highly respectable listen. Actually a very good listen. I find that the Zero 2 also improves wih the TRI Clarion tips, and even further with the Moondrop SPRING tips. Where the ARTTI T10 takes the cake, is a level of just that extra refinement, microdynamics, balance, clarity, resolution, realism, just a more accurate more precise, driver, and an obviously more effortless delivery. Some people may be overwhelmed with the level of low level detail in the T10., and a delivery that I would find difficult to attempt to improve with EQ, cos its really good. Less sibilance, and man that bass drum sounds like a cannon went off. DEEP. I think the SAGA Balanced is the best budget($30 and below) IEM, I have heard. which is significantly improved with better eartips like the Moondrop Spring, and just that bit more, with a bit of EQ. A phenomenal result that is far above its suggested price. A really really good IEM, made better by the suggested enhancements. On the EQ, please do your own research, my suggestion here is a quick and dirty EQ suggestion, not one based on an analysing the frequency response. For casual listening, I have no problem replacing the ARTTI T10, with the SAGA Balanced, cos the SAGA sounds really really good, and punches far above its weight. Sometimes, you do not want all the detail of something like the ARTTI T10, which draws your attention to everything, and that is where the SAGA comes in, with a less detailed but more relaxed presentation, that really really should be heard, to be appreciated. Very Very Solid bass, needing absolutely no EQ, if anything an EQ cut, but definitely not a boost., in the low end. At this level of performance, the SAGA, once EQ'd and with a better tip, just sounds like a variant, of some of what I hear on the T10, another perspective on pretty good. Very hard to fault the SAGA balanced, it is very very good. and EQ/tip changes make it even better. Highly commendable. , especially for an inexpensive dynamic IEM. For bass heads, the bass of the SAGA Balanced, with all the caveats expressed here., is more than sufficient for almost anyone. Any more bass, would be a bit overblown in my opinion.

The challenge with IEM's today, is there are simply way too many of them. Way too many. I really wonder how many of these IEM businesses will survive, over the next few years. Too much competition between them. I already own 5 budget IEM's, and have two more waiting to be delivered. And may buy one or two more, that will be a total of 9 IEMs. For one person. Ridiculous. It's actually 10, because one of my IEM's is faulty, and irreparable. Clearly it is so easy to go overboard, in the quest to find the right IEM. At some point in time one has to stop and say - no more reading and following reviews, and maybe every 2 years, decide to buy maybe one more just to see how things have improved. This hobby can become addictive and consuming, No more IEM's - to any newbies, I would say all you need is : 1. A 7Hz Zero 2 2. A good dongle DAC, such as the TempoTec Sonata BHD 3. A collection of additional eartips, so you can try out different sound signatures 4. A collection of a good variety of reference music, containing both music with few elements, as well as music with lots of elements, so you can appreciate how good the Zero 2 is. It is more than good enough for most people, at a very fair budget price. We spend too much time thinking about the gear, rather than listening to the music.

Idk whats the price of both of those but assuming you have a $25 budget, you can: 1.) Get the 7hz zero 2 (has better bass, simmilar price as 7hz zero) 2.) Wait for the tangzu wan'er 2 3.) Chu II/wan'er 4.) Get a new csble for your kz Any of those listed above are good picks for $25 in my oppinion.

If you don't really know, just pick one of the recommendations and go from there. If you live somewhere that can buy and return after testing, then do that. If you can't then just blind buy one, not much you can't do really. Most people seem to like a lot of bass, so I'd just stick to sets that are not just a flat line for now. Try something cheap like the Zero 2 or the Wan er. See if you want to go brighter or not after getting a reference point.

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?

ZS10 Pro is an amazing IEM to step into this foray and trust me it is all subjective. I also own the Zero 2 and ZS12 Pro X. While I also really like the Zero 2, it’s a milder V shape than the ZS10 Pro. So they both have uses in my music genre preferences. You’ve made an excellent choice for now, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Then later you can also experience the Zero 2 or waner in your collection as well

Glad the rankings helped! Dual Drivers can be better, but it is not necessarily always the case. I'd highly recommend either picking up the Cadenza or the Zero 2 as those are both safe options that are great for someone starting out! The Castor has a ton of bass and might not be for everyone

They're overall quite similar in terms of drivers and tuning. The Zero 2 has slightly more bass, but that's about it. I'd say pick the one you think looks cooler or something especially as it's your first IEM

used my Zero 2 with tri clarion as well - the tips that comes with it are really bad imho but hey its 20 dollar. Then moved on to Tangzhu Sancai and its a noticeable comfort improvement for me.

I have the Cadenza's and they are very nice comfy iems both fit-wise and sound-wise! However, they're not exactly neutral since they have an elevated high region as well as a lowered mids region. However however, they are still an absolute joy to use for music and can also be EQ'd very well to be more neutral (and more enjoyable for me). I used Squiglink to compare it's frequency response to the Kiwi Ears KE4 (cool neutral "meta tune" iem) and did auto-EQ to get values for a parametric EQ (which i used on Equalizer APO and the Peace UI on windows, it lets you change gain and Q value for specific frequencies!). Alternatively, for android because it is good enough, the generic slider: 63: +1 dB ### 125: -1 ### 250: 0 ### 500: +2 ### 1k: 0 ### 2k: -2 ### 4k: -2 ### 8k: 0 ### 16k: 0 (### just for formatting to make them easier to read cuz mobile formatting idk :)). The only other iems i know are: 7Hz Zero 2: a pretty good budget neutral option actually! Just too bass-boosted for me so it is unpleasant to use for a long while (7Hz Zero 1 as a less bassy version?). I absolutely hate how it fits though because it has a large-ish blocky shell and short nozzles, so it doesn't feel like they insert properly. Also, it somehow does feel more boring to listen to vs my other "neutral" iems. Tangzu Wan'er Studio Edition: idk how they compare to the normal ones, but they are also a good budget neutral but without the bass boost of the Zero 2! I also hate their fit for the same reason though. Edit: I tried the Wan'er SE's again recently and I do love their tuning a lot actually! Like my EQ'd Cadenza's but less bass so it also sounds cleaner. --- but the Cadenzas are still better overall >:D. Also, the fit isn't bad though, it just takes more effort to make it good, whereas the Cadenzas are effortless to insert properly :) Simgot EW300: a bit pricier, but basically has the same-ish sound as the Cadenza's but with all the other technical parts of the sound being better! Also comes with different nozzles and foams to adjust the sound further, so I used one foam in each nozzle to reduce the treble a bit (tuning is like my EQ'd Cadenza's now) and now its perfect for me :) I also heard the Simgot EW200 would be a good option, but they're especially bright sounding

I feel like a big thing for fit is also how the nozzle is angled when protruding out from the iem shell, and how much it protrudes out by. I had the zero:2 and tangzu wan'er studio edition and their nozzles both were short and at a 90 degree angle to the body, which made it hard for me to consistently get a good fit and seal with them both. Eventually, even if I got a good seal with them by angling them in my ear in a slightly awkward way, I got headaches or a sore ear from wearing them. I now mainly use the Kiwi Ears Cadenza and Simgot EW300 and the both of them have nozzles that protrude out further and are also angled a bit too. With these, its super easy to get a nice fit (with the right tips, especially on the cadenzas because their stock tips were not good for me) and they fit so snugly and without any discomfort. It could also be that they have small shells too though, so they can actually reach my ear canals properly.

Have you tried using the gold nozzles? They're supposed to be bassier and also have a tamer treble, but i've eventually come to prefer it's tune significantly more since it sounds much more natural than the default silver nozzles, which to me sound cold, lifeless, and empty but with a bunch of bass. As a result, while the bass with the gold nozzle is more present, it feels to me like it doesn't overwhelm the other sounds as much and thus is significantly more pleasant to listen to music with. Also other fun side note, i originally had a 7hz zero 2, but to me, it was too bassy and made it harder to hear the higher notes clearly. The EW300 with gold nozzle sounds similar in tuning, but it is a whole lot more resolving and thus doesn't sound as bad! :D

I dont have a Sigmot, but i got a Salnotes zero 2 — The ZS10 pro 2 is much better than the Zero 2.

So. I started trying to get a bunch of sets to see how much the difference is between the low range and the middle range ( my middle is probably a lot of people’s low range ! ). These are like a quick comment on the sets. (Spoiler : the zero 2s were awesome ) Super mix 4 - perfectly neutral Green dragon - neutral, less dynamic range Black lightning- flat, no dynamic range , uncomfortable fit Zero2 - balanced, touch more silky smooth bass. Hyper comfortable. Kiwi ears - zero2 , bass a bit more direct

I have the Zero 2 in my ears right now, and I own a fair amount of high end buds, and these sound better than all of them. (sennheiser TW4 and edifier stax spirit s10 included) I do EQ them with wavelet though, it's one of the auto EQ settings. I think if I had to keep just 2 headphones it would be my hifiman edition xs and the Zero 2. They are both amazing quality for the price. I tend to swap between the Zero 2 and a pair of BASN Mix-PD IEMs depending on music The Zero 2 are for EDM and the BASN for vocal stuff.

Yeah for the price they sound good definitely. I think they were a bit more bassy then the hexas and arias but still had detailed sound didn't find them muddy. That being said I definitely rank them hexa/arias>zero reds>zero 2. I was listening to earth wind and fire September to compare the IEMs and some gorillas and I found the bass more pronounced then the other IEMs but I found the other 3 more enjoyable. Still I enjoyed the zero 2s but need some more time to test them but that's my initial thoughts.

Out of those 4 pairs I really like the fit of the arias but all fit my ears fine. The arias are alot smaller than the hexas and zero reds and I find them the most comfortable. The zero twos are also 2nd smallest and fit very comfortably. At least out of these 4 the smaller ones seem to fit better / be more comfortable for me.

For the sake of this thread I just compared my cheaper IEMs to each other (tangzu wan'er, moondrop chu, salnotes zero 2) to the dusk and the difference was night and day. The bass response, the soundstage the finer details I literally missed with the cheaper ones. The cheaper ones don't sound bad but yeah switching to the dusk is like going from McDonald's to a steak.

It's true. Open back headphones are superior to iems or closed back headphones in terms of sound stage/imaging. I would recommend you get something budget like the usual tangzu wan er/truthear gate/ 7hz zero 2. If you like how it sounds and fits then go ahead and actually spend and find something that you want. All those are 20 and under

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)..

Re: 1, I personally think the <$30 7hz zero 2 is a much better deal than the >$50 truthear zero red, even though they both target the same signature.

I also have Zero 2. It’s fine, I don’t want to replace it, just excited

Ive owned Zero 2 for 5 months now and although directional ound on those iems are nothing that can be compared to my EW300 that i use rn for gaming it still gets the job done! i really liked the v shaped sound on those iems too the bass is clean and i just felt a lil bit of trebble was missing. definately worth the money! specially compared to chu2 and castor

Hello! This would be my first post on this Subreddit let me get straight to the point. I have owned a 7hz Zero 2 before and i liked the tuning on that iem and after seeing some reviews found out its V Shaped so i think i will like that. I want to upgrade from my Zero2s and get something that would Sound marginally better and not something i would feel later i wasted my money on. My main con with Zero2s were the lack of details in that iem i really felt that trebles could have been a little more present i play music and love the high hats on drums and also the sound stage, Okay i am not expecting mind blowing Soundstage but i would want something that feels airy and the instruments separated. The products that i am considering rn are Hexa, Aria 2 and Dioko

Thanks for taking your time to write all that info down! I really thought Zero2 were Vshaped and probably contrary to whatever i wrote in the post i felt the bass was a lil over powering for me on that iem while still being on the okayish region what i felt lacking was the trebles i felt the drum cymbals were not very clear or ended abruptly do you think i would enjoy hexa? I have currently no way of testing the hexas i just want to know how well the treble response on those are because i think i can live with neutral bass definately

Out of these the Zero red (personally I prefer the blues over the reds, regardless they are both good). The Zero 2's are good for the price, I havnt tried the KZ's

Moondrop Chu 2 Tangzu Wan er SG/Studio edition(to be released late june) Truthear Gate Truthear Zero red Simgot EW200 Simgot EA500(LM) 7Hz Zero 2 All of these sets are well known and beloved by many in the audio community. Easily replacable too given their cheap price.

Just recieved the 7hz and IMO the imaging and resolution wasn’t as good as the gate, bass wasn’t as tight and punchy as the gates, so they’re going back! Which others did you pickup?

Simgot ew100p ftw or the 200 series if you can increase your budget. Don't buy kz if you're treble sensitive yet the kz zs 10 pro 2 should be the best in kz ones Moondrop chu 2 is also great 7hz zero 2 is better than moondrop chu 2 ig but zero 2 doesn't have a mic so boo Never heard of the kinera so no comments on that

For neutral I’d recommend chu 2 or tangzu wan’er (new one releasing soon btw) a bit more exciting would be 7hz zero 2 and even more (ideal for hip hop) would be Blon x HBB Z300

Zero 2. A perfect first IEM. Gave it away so I could have new experiences.

I also love my zero2s and I am wondering if I should upgrade to hexa, I’ve tried chu2 and some other but zero2 is my favorite by far. I’ve heard the bass is a little bit missing from the hexa. How would you compare the two?

Salnotes zero 2 are comparable to the wan'er in terms of price to performance. For me it's more of a personal preference of wan'er over the zero 2.

It depends on your tuning preference. I’m not a fan of the tuning of the APP, so I even most of my budget IEMs (Zero 2, Chu 2, Wan’er, etc.).

Don’t buy KZ. They have a bad reputation. If you want at least some bass, get the 7hz Zero 2. The original Zero has very little bass and is quite bright. The Moondrop Chu 2 is an alternative. The Wan’er is a great choice if you want more prominent vocals.

Before buying your first set, think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - QKZ HBB v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for small ear canals) Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) Unless you can sample multiple sets before you buy, try not to blind buy one set using most or all of your budget. You’ll end up wasting money in the long run buying sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped IEMs.)

Best is subjective. The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection (take note, I’m treble senstive, so some of my classifacations may be a bit skewed)… * Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP * Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 * Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) * Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er * Treble leaning - 7hz Zero (original) If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs. If you have a little more money to experiment with... * Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 * Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue* * v-shape - Truthear Nova * Neutral - Truthear Zero Red* * Slight treble focus - Truthear Hexa * Treble leaning - Simgot EW200 and Simgot EA500LM *thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. I’m not a gamer, but I’ve noticed that gamers here often recommend v-shaped IEMs like the Zero Blue, the Truthear Nova and Simgot EM6L. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ or CCA - same company. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

Best is subjective. The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection (take note, I'm treble senstive, so some of my classifacations may be a bit skewed)… * Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP * Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 * Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) * Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er * Treble leaning - 7hz Zero (original) If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs. If you have a little more money to experiment with... * Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 * Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue\* * v-shape - Truthear Nova * Neutral - Truthear Zero Red\* * Slight treble focus - Truthear Hexa * Treble leaning - Simgot EW200 and Simgot EA500LM \*thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ or CCA - same company. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

That’s KZ for you. Before buying your next set, think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for small ear canals) Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) Unless you can sample multiple sets before you buy, try not to blind buy one set using most or all of your budget. You’ll end up wasting money in the long run buying sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped IEMs.) If you have a little more money to experiment with... Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue* Slight v-shape - Truthear Nova Neutral - Truthear Zero Red* Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa *large nozzles, not recommended for small ear canals. After trying various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (I bash KZ a lot here. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get to you before your experience with them. If it’s any consolation, it happens to a lot of us.)

“Best” is subjective. The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… * Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP * Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 * Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) * Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er * bright-ish - 7hz Zero (original) (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs.) If you have a little more money to experiment with... * Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 * Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue* * v-shape - Truthear Nova * Neutral - Truthear Zero Red* * Bright-ish - Truthear Hexa, Simgot EW200 or Simgot EA500LM *thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

Short answer: That’s up to you and your ears. Long answer: The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… * Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP * Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 * Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) * Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er * Bright - 7hz Zero (original) (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs.) If you have a little more money to experiment with... * Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 * Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue\* * v-shape - Truthear Nova * Neutral - Truthear Zero Red\* * Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM * Bright leaning - Truthear Hexa * Bright - Simgot EW200 \*thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. You may want to take a look at the v-shaped Sennheiser IE 200, since they're a manufacturer that's crossing over from the music world to the audiophile space. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

Before buying your first set, think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - QKZ HBB v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) Unless you can sample multiple sets before you buy, try not to blind buy one set using most or all of your budget. You’ll end up wasting money in the long run buying sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. If you have a little more money to experiment with... Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 Warm - Truthear Zero Blue or Kiwi Ears Cadenza Slight v-shape - Truthear Nova Neutral - Truthear Zero Red Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa After trying various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like.

Sounds like you’re new to this space. The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) (If you can’t sample these before buying, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs.) If you’re willing to spend a bit more… Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue* v-shape - Truthear Nova Neutral - Truthear Zero Red* Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa *thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals.

Before buying your first set, think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - QKZ HBB v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) Unless you can sample multiple sets before you buy, try not to blind buy one set using most or all of your budget. You’ll end up wasting money in the long run buying sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. If you don’t mind spending a bit more on experimenting, then you can try the following (one might even end up your “endgame”)… Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 Warm - Truthear Zero Blue or Kiwi Ears Cadenza Slight v-shape - Truthear Nova Neutral - Truthear Zero Red Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa After trying various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like.

“Best” is subjective. The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set using most or all of your budget based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run, by buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs.) If you have a little more money to experiment with... Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue* v-shape - Truthear Nova Neutral - Truthear Zero Red* Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa *thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. After trying various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

The IEM world is quite different from the headphone world that you probably know as a musician. There’s a lot more variety (in terms of tuning) and personal preference is much more important (due to differences in things like ear canal dimensions). In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. What particular frequencies do you want to hear more? What do you want to hear less? If you really can’t sample IEMs first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs.) If you have a little more money to experiment with... Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue\* v-shape - Truthear Nova Neutral - Truthear Zero Red\* Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa \*thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. If you’re looking to spend even more you might want to look into these… Bassy - iKKO OH10 V-Shape - Sennheiser IE 200 Vocal forward - Tanchjim Origin Treble forward - Letshuoer S12

The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection (take note, I’m treble senstive, so some of my classifacations may be a bit skewed)… * Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP * Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 * Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) * Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er * Treble leaning - 7hz Zero (original) If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs. If you have a little more money to experiment with... * Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 * Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue* * v-shape - Truthear Nova * Neutral - Truthear Zero Red* * Slight treble focus - Truthear Hexa * Treble leaning - Simgot EW200 and Simgot EA500LM *thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ, QKZ or CCA - same company. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… * Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP * Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 * Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) * Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er * Bright - 7hz Zero (original) (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs.) If you have a little more money to experiment with... * Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 * Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue\* * v-shape - Truthear Nova * Neutral - Truthear Zero Red\* * Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM * Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa \*thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

Maybe the Zero 2 or the Chu 2. There’s a chance you’ll hate them both. Sampling different sets until you find your tuning preference is a reality of the hobby that people don’t normally tell newbies. You could get lucky and like your first set, but there’s a chance you won’t. There’s really a lot of trial and error until you find what’s best for you.

Cloud 2 is kinda terrible. I used it for a bit for gaming where I needed a mic. But I recently tried using it with Dying Light, and it literally hurt my ears when Rais started talking. I don't know if sibilance is the right word, but it was literally painful to listen to. I've used things like Truthear Zero Reds for gaming, and they were fantastic, though the nozzles are a tiny bit too big for me. But even Salnotes Zero 2 are probably better than Cloud 2. I never realized how bad it was until I tried better stuff.

the gate isn't bad but is in no way good, I recommend for budget get the tangzu wan'er or the 7hz zero2. but honest at this price range it won't be any really bug upgrade if you wanna hear major difference you gotta bring your budget to around 50 with things like the simgot ew300, crinicle project red or the tangzu Xuan nv

My personal fav of these would be the Zero 2, but really any of these would be a good choice as a budget option. I wouldn’t fret too hard on the decision!

Nice. Much appreciated. First IEM on its way: the 7hz Zero 2. Excited.... :)

zero 2s are great and very cheap

The Chu 2 and Zero 2's at \~25USD are pretty good entry level ones but if you can afford better ones, HEXA seems to be the common favorite although are $80.

I like the salnotes zero 2, and the wan'er. Truthears are decent as well, which I know weren't comfortable for you but they're supposed to be coming out with a newer version with smaller nozzles soon if that's of any help to you and you aren't in a hurry.

Out of those zero 2 ngl

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 have Zero 2, Zero 1, Castor Harman, Castor Bass, Waner, QKZ HBB. If you don't want to spend money on the tips and want an all rounder sound with slight vocal forward, grab the Waner. You need better eartips on the rest as the ones included are pretty much garbage, especially both Zeros. Zero 2 is pretty much identical to Waner but trading the vocal centric to be more natural. It has bass but you need to get that fit which is pretty hard or you'll get the same sound as Zero 1 with less treble fatigue. It's basically "if it fits, it's pretty much the most natural iem in this price range. But if it's not, it's probably the worst in this price range as it's nothing but a wonky, hollow iem". Castor Harman is decent if you want to taste how Harman tuning is. It's like 80-90% close. If you want more flavor just grab the bassy one but I have to say it's probably way too bassy so unless you don't mind hearing the bass hit you like a truck I think the harman (silver) is pretty fine. It's pretty clean tuning too, surprisingly. If you want bass but also smooth treble with warmish tuning, QKZ HBB.

They're not that different but I would pick either Zero 2 or HBB.

7hz zero 2 is 20$ and probably miles ahead of this

It might not be underrated or less known, but since I got it I haven't been able to take the 7hz zero 2 out of my ears, the tuning works so well for me that it made me prefer it to all my other sets most of the time. I haven't been using my delci, s12 pro, s08, Hexa, ew200, because none to me sound as natural as the zero 2. Technical performance isn't even that bad either, and comfort works very well for me. All this with stock tips! I must have won the ergonomics lottery with this lol

The closest to me is the Hexa with eq, I just ad a peak filter at 60hz, +4db, 0,4 Q, and even then the treble and the vocals don't sound as smooth as with the zero 2, but the Hexa has a bit more clarity. Adding to this that I paid just 17€ for the zero 2, I'm both happy and frustrated at the same time lol

no mention of staples like Wan’er, Gate, or maybe Zero 2 for the low budget end. Aria 2 is outclassed by newer releases and the cadenza isnt even 50, its 35 and should be in the higher end of the low budget end. No mention of other mid range staples like Crinnacle red/blue, artti t1, ew300, and especially the hexa which should be close to your pref. Even the Titan S is outdated with the Titan S2 and other competition stated High end is plagued with the same issue, lack of explanation and choice Honestly, the list is outdated and you would be better off just going to r/iems and looking at their list or doing your own research

The Wan’er is sort of a novelty with emphasized vocals while the Gate is a more neutral all rounder. I recommend the Gate for handhelds because it comes with a great cable plus good tips and it’s hard to tell a difference in sound quality when connected to these budget devices. When listening to music from a high quality source I’d rank the budget IEMs as follows: 1. 7Hz Zero 2 (Best Sound) 2. Moondrop Chu 2 (Best Total Package) 3. Truthear GATe (Best Accessories) 4. Tangzu Wan’er (Vocal Emphasis) 4. KZ Castor (Bass Emphasis)

Zero 2 is very good

Zero 2 is a good beater at $20

The best options IMO are:. - Zero:2. - Blue2. - HBB Deuce. And the endgame basshead; - HBB Punch.

The Zero 2, for sure.

Hey, I've owned the chu 2, zero:2 and truthear gate. I'd say gate sounds the best and has the best accessories. Chu 2 and zero:2 are quite similar but chu 2 wind out slightly depending on your tuning preference. Zero:2 sounds quite congested compared to the gate, and the included cable and tips are quite bad. My own chu 2 has unfortunately got channel imbalance issues after about 2-3 weeks of use so they've just been sitting in a box 🥲

A month and a half ago, I shifted from my old Marshall earbuds, which I have been loyal to for years, to an in-ear monitor (iem) which has been all the rage with audiophiles in the past half decade or so. I chose a budget iem, the 7hz Salnotes Zero:2, as my first iem as it was reportedly a good iem for rock and metal music. And when I listened to it, I was blown away with the quality of sound, especially the separation of the instruments. And this was just an entry level iem priced at just 25 USD. Two weeks after I have been enjoying the Zero:2, I listened to the And Justice For All album. I found myself pausing in the middle of Blackened. Was that Jason Newsted's bass guitar I am hearing? So I played it again, and sure enough I can hear a faint bass guitar. I finished the whole album and I can not believe it but I heard the bass guitar the whole album. Especially the Shortest Straw, which even in my old earphones I already heard some bass guitar but this time its sound is unmistakable. Later I decided to make an EQ adjustment when I listen to AJFA, boosting 62Hz by 4 db, and the 125Hz by 10 db (LOL), and then reducing 500Hz by 3 db while listening to my Zero:2. And now the bass guitar is not faint anymore even if it is still low in the mix. What the freaking black magic is this? I have a new better iem coming in a couple of days and I am looking forward to hearing more Jason Newsted. :p

If you're going for mostly gaming then the original zero is better and cheaper The new zero 2 just has more bass

Elysian Annihilator 2023. The only other stuff I own is KSC75 and Salnotes Zero 2 but thise are $20. I used to have an IE 600 that was pretty nice.

Zero:2 is the only I’d probably choose, but detail wouldn’t be on the same level as the Hexa

And I find 7hz zero 2 to sound a bit muffled but that Castor Harman to have a gentle treble extension. This is with switches 3 & 4 down. 

I'm in the same boat. Love the zero2 to death. I just wish they were a tad more comfortable. But it's still the only wired iem I use nowadays. I'm gonna wait for the new hexa 2, see if it's good. Kiwiears ke4 look like a similar signature, and should be a huge upgrade too (pretty expensive tho)

I'm a drummer & I did a gig with the 7Hz Zero 2, they worked well. If you find your IEMs fatigue your ears, talk to your engineer and get him to reduce the frequencies you're most sensitive to (usually 3kHz onwards). I'm speaking from the perspective of a drummer (we need bass - LOTS of it) but I'm sure as a singer your monitoring needs are slightly different.

https://preview.redd.it/xfvpoe6h4wre1.png?width=2159&format=png&auto=webp&s=c8248047276a8c5016030a5b5478e7e8c475dbf0 7hz salnote zero2 for me !! I do have as well the Truthear hexa which I prefer when at home (better sound although a bit too big for my ears )

KZ Castor/Krila, Tangzu Wan er, 7hz Zero 2. No EQ needed (for me at least) or if you want EQ, search AutoEQ for available setting and tweak it to your own liking. Great audio doesn't require money these days (in IEM space at least)

No mostly less expensive than this, this was my splurge. I’ve had the Explorer (still love these), the Nova, Supermix 4, Performer 5, S12 Pro, T10, IE200, Hexa, EA500 LM, and a host of the popular budgets, like the Cadenza, Wan’er, Zero 2 (still use these with a Bluetooth adapter), and EW200. Before switching tips I was about to return them and just stop at the Explorer.

Odd question: would you think these are about as easy to drive as the Zero 2s? I have a pair of those I use on the KZ AZ09 bluetooth adapter and it works well because they're easy to drive, but the adapter can't power more demanding IEMs. I'm thinking since it's a single DD it should be able to handle it. Thanks for the review! Sounds like a winner.

Buy either of the 2. Zero 2 or Wan'er. Tried both, I'd say they are about close to each other in terms of sound sig. You can always go tune it using EQ's if you think you've purchased the wrong one.

Ooo DA, clar, 7Hz Zero 2 le bate grav, până și KZ Castor sună mai bine

Hello buddy, I got a 7hz Zero 2 as my first ever pair and it took only 4 months to get the channels imbalanced. My left one got noticeably quieter. I tried many things but nothing worked. Thinking of getting something new in the same $30 budget range. What would you suggest? My main concern is channel Imbalance as I live in a very hot and humid county.

I don't build up any ear wax at all. I've pulled out both of the filters and replaced them with a thin layer of cotton. Currently using them like this. It's probably because of not storing properly which damaged the driver.

It doesn't matter for gaming, get the cheapest but still good iem like the 7hz zero 2

Depends hugely on what kind of sound you want : for casual immersive or competitive FPS shooter. So research first on that and don't waste your money. I got zero 2 without mic, great for Singleplayer games but not that for FPS shooters and has no mic.

Got mine today as well, build quality is so good. I had bought Salnotes Zero 2 before these which I returned, due to fit issues and flimsy wire. Whereas these feel so good to hear and the build is amazing. Loving these so far! https://preview.redd.it/vkx1blrv38oe1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bbe0d6499f202388c651cbb2b3fb81972db5bfd0

FYI. One thing to always keep in mind is that when it comes to IEMs and IEM recommendations, of which you’ve been given a lot so far, is buyer beware. The reason is that we don’t have your ears. We only have ours. We can’t hear things the way you do, so what may be a great sounding IEM to our ears, can be dog shit to yours. In terms of IEM recommendations, the 7hz x Crinacle Zero:2 is my personal recommendation. One of the best value IEMS on the planet. But remember. Buyer beware.

Unless you're playing multiplayer, you don't need a iem specifically designed for gaming, even some 20 dollars ones would work fine for you. You should look out for comfort as it'd be needed for long gaming sessions. You need to measure your ears To get the best iem for it. Not every iem will be good for every ear type, and the tip also matters in terms of comfort. Foam tips are usually more comfortable. My personal choice would be zero 2. It's a great all rounder.

Depend on your music taste, tangzu waner is for vocal, but its uppermid is not good, very flat( also burned in). Zero 2 and Wyvern is for bass: wyvern have better cable and accessories, zero 2 if you choose the taste of Crinacle, which helps you identify your taste. Chu 2 is for build quality, metal shell. If you want to choose the other, trn conch and castor bass, in my country conch just have 22$ but the best accessories in my view, cable, box, nozzle, ear tips,... Castor bass have many tunes, so you can identify your taste easily.

Got both the Wan'er and the Zero 2 for a few months now and I still can't decide which one I like better. Both very solid for its price.

I've only tried two of these being the Zero 2 and the Wan'er. I agree with /u/MerloBot's assessment of those two.

Stay away from KZ? Why? I have the PR2 and they sound waaay better than the Zero:2

Iem user for over 10 years now. Never had any issues with iems. Wanted to tey hps anf got Lcd2c. Sold it off and went back to my iems. Speakers are still king followed by iems to me. Budget ones that you can look into are: Waner Zero/Zero 2 Chu ii Gate Blon 03 i/ii

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

My recommendation will be 7 hz zero https://www.headphonezone.in/collections/beginner-audiophile-iems?sort_by=manual&filter.v.price.gte=2000&filter.v.price.lte=3000