7Hz - Timeless (Gen 1 / V1)

Of this list, my pick would be the S12 Pros. They can do the ethereal and detailed sound for things like small ensemble jazz or classical and then crank it up to 10 for harder metal and rock styles with equal aplomb. The S12 series have been my favorite ever since the introduction of the OG S12s which quickly replaced my OG Timeless. In the years since I've owned or tried most of the major players in the planar market and they have remained my favorite single planar until you get to the CFA Supermoons.

Timeless 7Hz. Anyone else or are these too old or surpassed now?

Seconded for timeless

7hz Timeless are amazing but can be unconformable for certain ear types.

Jesus, I just got the Mest MKII, haven’t finished figuring out tips yet, but my general impression is they are very good, but I find more enjoyment from my Timeless. Surprised that was the case, thought maybe I was crazy, but good seeing someone else with the same impression. The Timeless with Dunu S&S tips just have this level of separation and speed that is in its own class. The shocking thing is that so far the Mest does not match the separation, maybe I need the right tips. But the notes are thicker and mids are better. Slightly more rumble.

I have the s08 and the s12 pro. I like the s12 pro, they sound very similar to the 7hz Timeless, and the Timeless are one of my favorite headphones of all the ones I own. I haven’t heard the MP145, but they are supposed to be incredible if they fit. The normal T10 is an amazing value. I’m not sure how good the T10 Pro are, but if you want value, the T10 is the way.

I wouldn't list the QKZ Hades, as it's pretty universally hated, unless you specifically mention that it's a *very* niche tuning most people don't like (even most bassheads). And even among people who like it at all, it's generally a one-genre set. I'd strike the Juzear Clear off the list because it appears to have [really bad unit variance](https://old.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1insj4z/some_thoughts_on_the_juzear_clear_and_myer_audio/). I still recommend it for the cable if it's on sale for $20, but only if you really want that cable (it normally costs about $15-20 on its own). It's not a highly recommended IEM anyway, it just had a brief period of hype as a basshead IEM. Rarely gets mentioned nowadays. Neither of my two units are true basshead sets (and one is quite bright), so clearly some golden units went out to reviewers. The Blon BL03 ii hasn't got particularly good reviews. It seems to be that if you care about tuning, the original is better. The new one has 2-pin but it has all the ergonomic problems that plagued the original, so I don't think it should be recommended at all, with maybe a nod to the original as being a classic if people are able to pick one up cheaply. I don't think the KBear KB02 is worth recommending unless you specifically want to know what a BC driver does, in which case it's the cheapest way to get one. I got one for that reason. It sounds pretty bad. All the reviews point out the same issue - there's some weird "springy" resonances, especially noticeable with spoken word. It also makes everything sound like you're listening through a cardboard tube. It's just weird, not good. Audio Amigo and Paul Wasabii both have good reviews btw, I agree with pretty much everything they say about them. I don't see the Tin Hifi C2 mentioned on your original list or the new one. That's a 2025 version out recently. I have both and they are both excellent. Lots of reviews out there, but fewer for the 2025 version. I'm not sure if the old one is being discontinued, but it seems to be still for sale for about $20 while the new one is closer to $40. The difference between the two versions is quite subtle. The Moondrop Starfield 2 got pretty universally terrible reviews. The Juzear 41t and the Flame are the same IEM, so I'd put them on the same line - the flame just has a different faceplate. I have the 41t and it's good aside from the annoyingly bad venting, but I'm hesitant about recommending it for the reasons mentioned in my post about the Clear. Since it's a hybrid it really *should* be fully vented and I now consider this an engineering flaw rather than "just the way it is". Every other manufacturer seems to be able to vent their hybrid IEMs properly. The 7Hz Timeless probably shouldn't be on the list because it's very outdated nowadays. It's only a classic because it was the first reasonably-tuned planar, not because it's good by current standards. It was still an early and not-very-refined version of a formula that's been iterated on continually since then. The AE is better but less widely reviewed. The 2 seems to be getting good reviews but I believe it's closer to $300.

Hey y’all, I got a review copy of the Kiwi Ears Aether in from Linsoul and I wanted to share my thoughts. The Aether has gained a lot of hype since its release, so I was really happy to get the chance to try it out. However I was a bit tempered in my excitement as I absolutely fucking hate single planar driver IEMs. Ok, hate is a strong word, but I hadn’t met a single planer driver IEM yet that competes with any of my other single dynamic or hybrid/tribrid/quadbrid driver configuration sets. The original 7hz Timeless was my first hope but I found the sound thin, V shaped, and fatiguing. The huge 14.5mm driver of the Hidizs MP 145 was another contender, but that harsh V shape destroyed my ears in a way you can’t understand. No nozzle change could tame the planar timbre, that certain “zing” that most single planar driver sets have a lot of trouble shaking. I thought I needed something with a confirmed smooth tuning, so I gave the Letshoure S08 a shot. And sure, it has a lot of low end, but I personally found a lot of boom and not as much texture. Resolution is supposed to be a strength of planar drivers but I found the sound digital and grainy. I tried the Letshoure S12 Pro and its bright tuning had me tearing them out of my ears. Still feeling like I needed to find “my” planar, I demoed a Letshoure S15. The S15 has a more neutral tuning that I thought would be to my liking, but the dreaded hiss of planar timbre and sub-par bass response followed me even to this price range. I liked the S15 at first, but my ears were ringing after 20 minutes of listening, and I found myself giving up on single planar driver IEMs. That is, until the Kiwi Ears Aether came along with its 15.3 mm planar driver, unique design, and pretty faceplate to pique my interest once more. The Kiwi Ears Aether comes with a simple but elegant and functional black cable. Alongside we have hard case and 3 sets of eartips (Bass, Balanced, and Neutral). The simple accessory package is a stable of Kiwi Ears, and I do think that’s an effort to put more attention into the development of the IEMs themselves. The IEMs themselves are fairly large and feel a bit light in the hand. I believe this is partially what leads to the Aether’s ethereal soundstage; the planar driver needs room for its sound to resonate around in the larger space on its way to your ears. This gives us a vast, open soundstage that feels dynamic and lively, not flat like most of the single planar sets I’ve heard to this point. The bass response was the standout improvement over other single planars. Not only was it well resolved, it didn’t have the same unnaturally fast attack and decay that planar sets normally have. It still has a quicker attack and decay than a typical single dynamic set, but not as abrupt and unnatural as many of the planars I’ve tried to this point. Plenty of subbass immersion and midbass kick to satisfy many bassheads. I have a need for natural, lush male vocals, and Aether is the first planar set that’s been able to give that to me. The tuning allows vocals to be forward and present without ever becoming shouty or overbearing. The only con I can give to the sound is the slightly smoothed out treble. While resolution is a strong point for the set, the 6k tuning dip may mask some of a songs microdetails. This is easily mitigated with EQ, but I personally enjoy the smooth sound and don’t feel the need. Finally I have a planar set with a stock tuning that’s well resolved, balanced, and comfortable. Overall I feel like the Aether easily punches above its weight in the world of single planar driver IEMs. It has a smooth, balanced sound that never becomes harsh or fatiguing, even at louder volumes. In fact, the 6k dip allows me to crank the volume a little more. It’s nice to see Kiwi Ears bringing us an innovative product at a relatively modest price when you consider that this is the largest planar driver on the consumer market. I think the hype is real. The size of the driver is doing a lot to kill planar timbre as we know it. For that, I am thankful. And to you as well, thanks for reading.

7hz Timeless is the best IEM I've had. Definitely buy another should the current one break.

7hz Timeless is the best IEM I've had. Definitely buy another should the current one break. Moondrop brands are a go to some audiophiles. KZ are best buy value imo.

I just got the Origin in the mail today, so this is just early first impressions, but I'd say it's primary strength is vocals. It's both full and detailed, with great tonality, but it's a very close in and intimate presentation. Guitar and piano sound good, but it lacks scale and separation to really do justice to orchestral works. If you're interested in something grand and spacious, I think it might be a bit disappointing. Enjoyable, but wouldn't be my first pick for critical listening. (This is all in comparison to my 7hz Timeless which has a very detailed, but somewhat cool and distant character.)

My first headphones were sundara. Then i got tangzu wan’er just to see what iems were like. Enjoyed them enough that i got 7hz timeless. Liked the timeless more than the sundara. Fit was part of it, but detail to i think. I got high and did an a/b one night to private investigations live by dire straight. With the sundara, i felt like i was in the crowd at the Hollywood bowl watching the performance play out. How awesome is that? I can be at home and feel like i am at a live concert? Tremendous. Then i went to the timeless. I wasnt in the crow anymore. I was walking around on stage just hanging out next to the musicians. I wasnt listening to music, i was in the music. Ok both are excellent but these win. Then i ordered arya stealth and was hoping they’d have the intimacy of the timeless mixed with the presence of the sundara. And i think thats a decent enough description. I love the aryas but i still feel them on my head and it sounds like listening to speakers. If i want the music to feel like it’s beamed directly into my head it has to be an iem.

i own the blessing 3s and the 7hz timeless among others and i still really love my tanchjim ola i just really love how vocals sound on it.

My problem with the timeless is not that they’re uncomfortable but they don’t seat deep enough in my ear. Sounds like I get a good seal but doesn’t feel like it if that makes sense.

Long useless post, TL;DR reached endgame. MH334SR good. Started with the KZ ZS1 a long time ago, with many incremental upgrades until I landed on the 7Hz Timeless. Then, after moving to Japan, I replaced it with the Variations paired with a DT990 for gaming. Somewhere along the way, I became that guy who kept making a fuss about cables, claiming they made everything sound so much better. I turned into a file format snob, only wanting to listen to FLAC and DSD. I kept talking about it to my friends (damn, I must have been really annoying). Ultimately, I purchased a used LCD i4 as a reward for enduring all the hard work of labor and finally landing a much better job. It stopped me from wearing headphones entirely since the soundstage and sound quality were more than enough. The bass and soundstage were incredibly addicting. At this point, I started to realize that cables were just snake oil, Bluetooth was a godsend, and my ears didn’t even care when listening to 128kbps audio. Qudelix is life. Recently, I got myself a pair of Diamond 220 speakers. However, they ruined my i4 in a sense that listening to speakers became so enjoyable that I spent less and less time with the i4. It felt like the entire area in front of me was a sound field. It was quite wild to be able to "see" (or feel) sound moving in front of me. The speaker itself looks like "muted", I don't hear sound from the speaker itself. Idk how to describe it haha. I still needed an IEM for outdoor use, though. Demoed the Z1R, Monarch, and others. They were okay, but it was hard to justify their sound when my main IEM was the i4. So, instead of deciding based on sound, I thought, why not prioritize comfort? That’s when I started looking into custom IEMs and came across the MH334SR on sale for 200k yen. Checked the frequency response, Immediately pulled the trigger and went to their clinic the next day to get ear impressions. It took about a month from there until the IEM was completed and delivered to my apartment. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting great bass (I thought it might be bloated) since it’s just a BA. But damn, maybe it’s the seal. It’s definitely not on the same level as the i4’s airy bass, but it’s good enough to satisfy my ears. The mids, highs, and technicalities are fine. At this price point, they’re as resolving as expected, just tuned differently. I listen almost exclusively to Japanese songs. Specifically, those leaning more into vocaloid, UTAU, visual novel OSTs, etc. If I see weeb art, I play it. Artists like DAZBEE, Nanami Urara, and Isekaijoucho are my daily dose. Below is just me trying too hard to explain the sound of the MH334SR: The highs are slightly above my preference (not that the IEM is harsh, but I butchered 4kHz in my i4). However, I got used to it pretty quickly in few hours. All instruments have presence. I don’t have to try hard to distinguish them (which is different from being able to hear all instruments). I can clearly hear vocal harmonies, which is a big plus. Can’t hear the sub-bass (drum) sound in the Aster Lore song at 3:37 - 3:50 though, which is a bit of a bummer (though so far, I’ve only been able to hear it on the Timeless). The beats are satisfying, most likely due to a bump at 200Hz. It’s not bloated, just a nice, punchy drum sound. I love that I don’t have to use EQ at all. I might even replace the Qudelix with something that looks nicer and has a knob in the future. But damn, the comfort is just peak, and the isolation is awesome. It’s close to Etymotics-level isolation without violating my ears. I desire nothing more for IEMs now (more like I don't care that much anymore), but I’ll still visit the shop regularly to demo IEMs since friends often ask for recommendations, especially in the budget range. Hopefully this doesn't make me plunge into speaker rabbit hole which is many times scarier. But so far satisfied since I only listen in very-very low volume anyway.

I use the 7hz timeless and audio quality is great. But i feel like if you get custom made iems they will be 100% worth it.

Not sub-bass boosted but the Ucotech RE-2. It has a single beryllium DD and quite frankly wipes the floor in technicalities with anything under $500 I've heard. Resolution is good, but the dynamics are flat out TOTL level and I've heard hundreds of IEMs. Keep in mind you won't get any stellar technicalities from those sub-$200 Chi-Fi hybrids because they all use the same off-the-shelf drivers. And in technicalities, the limiting factor is the driver. If you really want to stick to a warmer sound sig I'd say 7hz Timeless.

God I hate kz iems. I don’t like iems in general but I quite like 7hz timeless. You can give that a shot

Truthear Hexas are amazing for the price. Also recommended 7hz Timeless. A little more expensive, but a nice upgrade with punchier kick/bass.

The best marriage of being more than the sum of their parts is a really warm and full sound signature, with acoustic music. So I'll go with something like the QKZ x HBB and folk, or even the Hidiz MP145 as an upgrade option. That said, I could get sick of too much folk, so I'll go 7hz Timeless and synth pop. The Timeless is so resolving and fast that it makes electronic sounds a joy.

iv got smallish ears and have to use the small nozzles in everything. in sayin that i cant guarantee my suggestions will fit you so make sure you can get easy return/refunds from where you buy the iems i personally own and would recommend are the zero crinacle reds (£50)....the KZ castor (extra bass version) (£25) althrough you can get the KZs dirt cheap on ali express if you dont mind the wait....its important you make sure you get the extra bass version through if you live in the uk or have a 2nd hand store in your country (CEX in the uk) you might get a pair of 7hz timeless around £120 which are my fav iems and have amazing sound quality. i suggest only buying A or B grade i personally wouldnt buy C grade 2nd hand. nothing (a) earbuds are also really really good sound quality but they dont have super high overall volume...still worth buying imo for sound quality and they just feel and look like quality...have a decent companion app too....(£90 new but i got mine £60 second hand) lastly if your planning on getting into iems a qudelix 5k is a must have purchase. most people that use iems will have a qudelix or something similar with the qudelix most recommended....its £100 but worth it. its basically a small dac/amp bluetooth device that has 100s of pre made equaliser presets made by famous youtube/reviewers of headphones and iems etc who know there stuff. although your free to experiment with it yourself. it doesnt look like much,its just a tiny lil black box but its packed full of features to experiment with your sound through its app worth noting through as far as i know it does NOT work with earbuds you have to be wired up to it althrough AI chat tells me it does but il be damned if i can see how to connect it lol

get a 7hz timeless 2nd hand and qudelix

I went from the Timeless to the S12 to the Artti T10 and I honestly prefer the T10 for metal. They're all very similar, but luckily I like the cheapest one the best.

EQ settings are relative to frequency response. It's like asking how much should I add salt to fries without the information if they're already saltes. The question is what kind of a tuning is ideal for metal and as a metalhead at least in my youth I find that a very interesting question. Preferences matter a lot as well and someone who loves the sound of one IEM maybe just hasn't heard something better yet and can't imagine what the improvement might be. The best tuning for metal I've heard so far with maybe fifty IEMs and some EQ on top was Oluv's mainstream preset for the Free Pro 2's. Really fun yet clean bass and you could push the volume really high without any fatigue etc. Gave me chills with a lot of metal music. With IEMs I have to say I haven't found anything excellent yet and actually KZ Libra (balanced) is easily on of the best for that and costs $10. The bass is pronounced, but much cleaner than the measurements seem to imply. The straight rising bass boost might be the reason instead of a bass shelf. Old but gold would be a Tin Hifi T2 Plus as it really pushes vocals pleasantly forward and has that big energetic feel to it. Not detailed etc at all, but really enjoyable. IEMs I love otherwise like Zero Red, Hexa, MP145, Timeless, B2 Dusk, Dusk DSP just don't impress me at all with metal specifically and I would take the Libra over probably all of them for that. You can make an EQ preset for the Chu to match KZ Libra on the AutoEQ website and elsewhere. Give it a try if you want.

I was genuinely baffled in not just music but in games as well with my 7hz timeless iems, never going back

I tried TheAudio Monarch and Oracle (don't remember Mk numbers) some time ago and wasn't impressed really. The do sound good, and have good technicalities but nowhere near the headphones at this price (Arya or LCD-2C) or substantially better than good quality $200-300 planar IEMs. Tonality is different but that's taste more than anything else. Timeless (1 or 2) is where IEM peaks for me personally, and diminishing return is hitting hard after that. At least based on my hearing abilities.

This is legit... I loved my timeless but the tea pros make the timeless sound like an old fm radio station.

Sorry a $200 iem is nowhere near a really good one at a higher price. I've had the timeless and my clairvoyance, and it's not even close.