KZ - Castor (Harman Target with Improved Bass Version)

Kz castor bass edition (tuned by harman kardon). Been using them with the bundled KZ-Am01 DAC+Amp and honestly they sound amazing. The bass is very pronounced and clear, especially for bass lovers. But the vocals are also pretty crisp and clear. The sound stage is decent but nothing mind blowing (expected at this budget though). Another option is the moondrop Chu 2. These are absolutely spectacular for the price and popular iem reviewers (crinacle, for example) recommended them at this budget because they are very very decent in terms of build quality and sound. The reason I went for the castor bass edition is because I prefer bass and it came bundled with a decent dac+amp (cs43131 dac+max97220 amp).

So I've been thinking about stepping up my music listening game and get a high quality, modern DAP paired with some good Iems (I made a post like this to ask which one was everyone's favourite and the most frequent response was the Hiby R4 so this is what I will most likely go for) and I've been browsing through the community to find what's the most popular budget IEMs that are worth the money and are decent sound quality. These five seem to be the most frequently recommended that I'm able to purchase here in England so I thought I'd ask what everyone's favourite is out of the group and record down the responses as I'm absolutely spoiled for choice and have no idea what to go with! Just for a bit of background information, I've tried the silver Castors, Crinacle Zero: 2s and KZ EDC Pros, the Castors sounded great but were a bit too heavy for me and made me feel a bit dizzy, I didn't get on with the KZ EDC Pros and thought they sounded and felt cheap and the Crinacles are my most commonly used and favourite in terms of both sound and appearance. I like a bass and treble balanced, loud, crystal clear sound that isn't muddy, drowning in bass or tinny and are wondering what would fit best with both the Hiby R4 and my audio preferences. I do apologise if you can't read the titles of each iem in the photo, I've listed them below ☺️ - Simgot EW200 - Kiwi Ears Cadenza - Tangzu Wan'er - Moondrop Chu II - Salnotes Zero (probably my last choice as they're very similar to my Crinacles)

New in the IEM community? Recommended to follow these things before using, while and after using your IEM. 1. Buy an IEM case or if you have case for it (like the Hexa or similar Truthear IEMs), make sure when you are not using it put it there to avoid accidental misplacement or possibly breaking your IEM or the cable, as well as avoid excess dust coming to your IEM. 2. Put a silica gel packet onto that IEM case, this is to avoid moisture seeping inside the IEM. Which is one common way to kill your IEM, it degrades the glue used, degrades the faceplate, sometimes even the design and finish of the IEM. It can also affect the actual drivers inside, which will degrade audio quality. Minimal moisture, happy IEM. 3. Eartips, make sure you have the best fit with the best sound isolation to fully experience the IEM. IEM nozzle sizes can vary. From what I have heard the Hexa has large nozzle. 4. Cabling, you are open to get a cable on your choice, use it like a fashion statement haha. 5. Recommended to get at least a DAC, its not a requirement if you cannot get one but it will definitely enhance your sound experience. With a much more proper DAC/AMP setup even your in-line microphone will sound nicer. Though because its much better to separate your microphone from the IEM cable, usually its recommended to at least get a USB dongle DAC with the CX31993 DAC + MAX97220 AMP. But if you can afford a better DAC/AMP setup, why not. 6. Avoid accidental dropping or being too rough with your IEM, so you won't need to always rebuy another set of IEMs. No IEM will survive especially cheap ones if it keeps falling accidentally or being used too hard. 7. You can EQ your IEM, definitely you can especially if you want to enhance a specific frequency. Lastly, enjoy your IEM to its fullest extent and welcome to the IEM community! My IEM Collection: QKZ AK6 Pro (left), KZ Castor Bass (center), Tangzu Wan'er SG (right) https://preview.redd.it/g3fy5z4hr2pe1.png?width=4860&format=png&auto=webp&s=6738c1bdd20d07099fbb122c99bd33a471c3b2ca

terms of vocals, nothing really beats the Tangzu Wan'er SG or the Wan'er 2. Maybe abit of treble, sparkles, and soundstage, that would be KZ Castor Silver. But vocals is still better for the Wan'er SG/Wan'er 2.

100% I would basically just add and test this to my growing IEM collection. Especially now I have owned and tested the original Wan'er SG. Left: QKZ AK6 Pro (previous daily driver) Center: KZ Castor Improved Bass (current daily driver) Right: Tangzu x Headphone Zone Wa'ner SG (tested, decent and amazing sound for its price, but Castor still is a winner for my personal sound feel) https://preview.redd.it/n06vww0aevoe1.jpeg?width=4160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=929adbc51920b99189669a3df55df1e5c72da86f

Here's a better shot on my IEM collection, including their wires (only the Castor uses a Jcally cable) https://preview.redd.it/o8pbd3bhkzoe1.png?width=4860&format=png&auto=webp&s=272174ff663d3f3e19b836b44602eb45b097d142 I use medium QKZ stock tips on my QKZ AK6 Pro (left) I switched my Tangzu wide bore small tips from the Wan'er to the Castor My Wan'er now has the small QKZ stock tips (QKZ tips has both small and wide bore, but the Tangzu tips feel much better for my ears, less fatiguing) Later on I might try going for their Sanchai tips. Wide bore/hole = enhances mids and treble, I went for this for my Castor Small bore/hole = enhances bass Wan'er SG sounds amazing for daily use, definitely not super fatiguing, very mellow and light to the ears as well. Though it lacks some mids and treble. For my Castor Black, I use UDUU switches (natural bass and enhancing the mids and treble, creating a more balanced sound) Then I used the Tanzgu small wide bore tips, to enhance the mids and treble abit more. I prefer a V-shaped bright sound signature with some level of warmness, which the Castor Black does deliver on my sound preference.

I am doing the reverse from you, I came from bassy IEMs to neutral or neutral-ish. My old daily driver was the QKZ AK6 Pro (left most, too boomy for my ears now) Then switched to the KZ Castor Bass (Very very V-shaped, big bass and big treble) -> Tested Tangzu Wan'er SG (Neutral Warm on my ears) -> KZ EDC Pro (U-shaped) -> Tested then switched to the KZ Castor Silver (Neutral Bright IEM) https://preview.redd.it/7fb6i40ommve1.png?width=8100&format=png&auto=webp&s=5639f5828253e1796037c4592d784a93bd3eb8b3

I am doing the reverse from you, I came from bassy IEMs to neutral or neutral-ish. My old daily driver was the QKZ AK6 Pro (left most, too boomy for my ears now) Then switched to the KZ Castor Bass (Very very V-shaped, big bass and big treble) -> Tested Tangzu Wan'er SG (Neutral Warm on my ears) -> KZ EDC Pro (U-shaped) -> Tested then switched to the KZ Castor Silver (Neutral Bright IEM) https://preview.redd.it/7fb6i40ommve1.png?width=8100&format=png&auto=webp&s=5639f5828253e1796037c4592d784a93bd3eb8b3

**Before** you definitely buy your first IEM watch this [**video**](https://youtu.be/tdmXjBlgVxo?si=kNLxejchE9sgzW6y) from Sevensoul Constanza This will help you on your purchase of you first IEM, and to *avoid wasting alot of money initially*. **Also new in the IEM community?** Recommended to follow these things *before, while, and after* using your IEM. 1. **Buy an IEM case or if you have case for it**, make sure when you are not using it put it there to avoid accidental misplacement or possibly breaking your IEM or the cable, as well as avoid excess dust coming to your IEM. Higher priced IEMs have included case in the box, some are soft cases, some are hard cases. 2. **Put a silica gel packet onto that IEM case**, this is to avoid moisture seeping inside the IEM. It degrades the glue used, degrades the faceplate, sometimes even the design and finish of the IEM. It can also affect the actual drivers inside, which will degrade audio quality. Minimal moisture, happy IEM. 3. **Eartips**, make sure you have the best fit with the best sound isolation to fully experience the IEM. IEM nozzle sizes can vary, so adjust your eartips concurrently on your ear canal. Make sure it fits right and no weird feeling, you can definitely use different sizes of eartips per ear depending on how fitting are them, and eartip bore/hole size can also change how the sound feel. Wide bore enhances trebles and allows more sound from the IEM, narrow bore enhances bass, foam tips cuts the highs and lows, and the texture, material and whatever inside the hole of the eartip can change the sound profile as well. 4. **Cabling**, you are open to get a cable on your choice, with mic or no mic, use it like a fashion statement if you wanted to. But recommended to separate your microphone from the cable, as in-line microphones are usually sounds worse than normal microphones. 5. **Recommended** ***(but not a requirement)*** **to get at a DAC**, will definitely enhance your sound experience. With a much more proper DAC/AMP setup even your in-line microphone will sound nicer. Though because its much better to separate your microphone from the IEM cable, usually its recommended to at least get a USB dongle DAC like the Apple Dongle or for Android, CX31993 DAC + MAX97220 AMP from this [**Crinacle video**](https://youtu.be/a-jlS_OlSUg?si=Zm2oqWqnzwAcRkdO). Anything more expensive than that is mainly just additional features (4.4 balanced, Bluetooth support, app support, parametric EQ, etc.) and not better sound. 6. **Avoid accidental dropping or being too rough with your IEM**, so you won't need to always rebuying another set of IEMs. No IEM will survive if it keeps falling accidentally or being used too hard. 7. **You can EQ** ***(Equalize)*** **your IEM**, definitely you can especially if you want to enhance a specific frequency, or sound experience. And welcome to the IEM community! My IEM Collection: QKZ AK6 Pro (left), KZ Castor Bass (center), Tangzu x Headphone Zone Wan'er SG (right) https://preview.redd.it/miyj4ga15kpe1.png?width=4860&format=png&auto=webp&s=bf7493565ef1d740876677e2d4892bbf06bf2468

I am new-ish in the space, but my KZ Castor Improved Bass with a basic CX31993 dongle DAC, it fits my sound preference at UDUU switches and Tangzu small wide bore eartips. Especially that one time I listened to some specific genres I usually listen. But I do also want to test and maybe own other IEMs that is fairly similar to it (upgrade or similar), I might go buy a Simgot EW300 next to test. https://preview.redd.it/ysdxcryow0pe1.png?width=4860&format=png&auto=webp&s=19cac0ada53a5515858cd7237e99f565e52588fb

I have switched years ago when I got a cheapo QKZ CK5 -> QKZ AK6 -> QKZ AK6 Pro. I don't recommend buying these for your first IEM for gaming, even though they are fine for my personal choice. My old headphone was both a Tchibo Closed Back wireless and an old Beats Studio from my ex. Best buy an IEM with an external DAC, and an upgrade cable, silver-plated. I have been using KZ Castor Improved Bass (dip switch set to 1011), replaying old single player games I played like STALKER, GTAV, Fallout series. They sound amazing and I feel like I am listening to a movie than a game. Its fine as well while playing multiplayer games, though I am currently in the process of receiving a new IEM for my collection. Tangzu x Headphone Zone Wa'ner SG (Blue) Just make sure you at least buy a DAC for it, nothing fancy. https://preview.redd.it/isfm0vzj9lne1.png?width=720&format=png&auto=webp&s=1a25d6faf9d6869c7542167457b643e82a6e3c04

I might end up joining your KZ IEM collection, I am new in the IEM game but is also interested in collecting. First KZ I got is the original Castor Pro Improved Bass, got it few months ago. Its virtually better than my old daily driver, QKZ AK6 Pro. Also waiting for my Tangzu x Headphone Zone Wa'ner SG soon, and eyeing up an EDC Pro and EDX Pro X, maybe a Angelears x Libra X as well. Current collection (as of now): QKZ AK6 Pro (purple+blue) KZ Castor Improved Bass (daily driver) Tangzu x Headphone Zone Wa'ner SG (blue, coming soon) Planned (soon): KZ EDC Pro KZ EDX Pro X Broken: QKZ CK5 QKZ AK6 (purple+blue) https://preview.redd.it/qpdpz6pemhne1.jpeg?width=4160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2498fe5741bfa99ee4b1f65020a15f0469bcb8ad

https://preview.redd.it/eamschpzsdte1.png?width=8100&format=png&auto=webp&s=64a34d73de9ac20e910cd7c60c1059ab51e04e8d I haven't noped out on any IEMs yet so far haha, lets see as I slowly grow my collection and future IEMs and upgrades. Maybe because I prefer mild or slightly coloured v-shaped/u-shaped either bright or warm. Maybe if I get the QKZ x HBB Hades I would nope out because of lack of treble and too much bass. **(from left to right, list is based on when I bought it)** 1. QKZ AK6 Pro (Original daily driver, memories) 2. KZ Castor Improved Bass (Current daily driver, may change to the KZ Castor Silver) 3. Tangzu x Headphone Zone Wan'er SG (tested and satisfied, collected) 4. KZ EDC Pro (tested and satisfied, collected) 5. KZ Castor Silver (currently testing, collected)

I loved the OG alot, but I prefer more separation of frequencies with details. So I would switch to the Silver Castor. But the Castor Bass is definitely great fun IEM, the Castor Silver is has less muddy lower mids because the Castor Bass muddies tiny bit. Though with the setting of UDUU, its close ish to a muddy free mids

https://preview.redd.it/eamschpzsdte1.png?width=8100&format=png&auto=webp&s=64a34d73de9ac20e910cd7c60c1059ab51e04e8d I haven't noped out on any IEMs yet so far haha, lets see as I slowly grow my collection and future IEMs and upgrades. Maybe because I prefer mild or slightly coloured v-shaped/u-shaped either bright or warm. Maybe if I get the QKZ x HBB Hades I would nope out because of lack of treble and too much bass. **(from left to right, list is based on when I bought it)** 1. QKZ AK6 Pro (Original daily driver, memories) 2. KZ Castor Improved Bass (Current daily driver, may change to the KZ Castor Silver) 3. Tangzu x Headphone Zone Wan'er SG (tested and satisfied, collected) 4. KZ EDC Pro (tested and satisfied, collected) 5. KZ Castor Silver (currently testing, collected)

ah the Castor Silver or the Castor Pro Silver might really not sound as good as the Bass version direct being its tuned for more neutral signature (less bass) Than the bass version which is more into giving more bass, more immersion for games plus yeah you are using it directly to a device than via a separate DAC I use mine for the most part music listening and the Castor Silver for music production, I rarely play games nowadays. For the most part single player games on PC/Laptop or games with Co-op and lots of story.

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

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

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

KZ Castor Bass PROS * Fun V-shaped sound signature, makes music more "fun" * Better sparkles and high clarity on details, abit more technical than Wan'er SG * Versatile tuning, EQ and Tuning switches * Makes movies and games feels more cinematic * SUBJECTIVE: Personally, thumpy but well rounded bass CONS * Mids especially male vocals sounds abit recessed * Treble bright, might be fatiguing for some * Accessories lack abit * Might be heavy feeling in the ears for some * Nozzle size might be abit larger than Wan'er (Personally they feel the same for me, needed to go for a smaller eartip on both) * Might not be good for some specific music genres, because of the excess of bass for some * SUBJECTIVE: Personally I don't like the stock eartips

KZ Castor Silver (Harman, personally best of both worlds, closest to the sound of EDC Pro with better general sound feel) PROS * Neutral sounding (Bright or warm, depends on the tuning) * Very versatile with tuning and EQ * Same with the Bass, better high clarity and details, technicallity better than the Wan'er SG * Closer to the Harman tuning than the two, so it sounds very harman tuning (Subjective, some dont like harman) * Its like your in between the Castor Bass and Wan'er SG, but without the cons of the Wan'er SG CONS * Treble bright, might be fatiguing for some * Accessories lack abit * Might be heavy feeling in the ears for some * Nozzle size might be abit larger than Wan'er (Personally they feel the same for me, needed to go for a smaller eartip on both) * SUBJECTIVE: Personally I don't like the stock eartips

**Before** you definitely buy your first IEM watch this [**video**](https://youtu.be/tdmXjBlgVxo?si=kNLxejchE9sgzW6y) from Sevensoul Constanza and go to our Community IEM ranking list, our **AutoModerator** automatically posts it. This will help you on your purchase of you first IEM, and to *avoid wasting alot of money initially*. **Also new in the IEM community?** Recommended to follow these things *before, while, and after* using your IEM. 1. **Buy an IEM case or if you have case for it**, make sure when you are not using it put it there to avoid accidental misplacement or possibly breaking your IEM or the cable, as well as avoid excess dust coming to your IEM. Higher priced IEMs have included case in the box, some are soft cases, some are hard cases. 2. **Put a silica gel packet onto that IEM case**, this is to avoid moisture seeping inside the IEM. It degrades the glue used, degrades the faceplate, sometimes even the design and finish of the IEM. It can also affect the actual drivers inside, which will degrade audio quality. Minimal moisture, happy IEM. 3. **Eartips**, make sure you have the best fit with the best sound isolation to fully experience the IEM. IEM nozzle sizes can vary, so adjust your eartips concurrently on your ear canal. Make sure it fits right and no weird feeling, you can definitely use different sizes of eartips per ear depending on how fitting are them, and eartip bore/hole size can also change how the sound feel. Wide bore enhances trebles and allows more sound from the IEM, narrow bore enhances bass, foam tips cuts the highs and lows, and the texture, material and whatever inside the hole of the eartip can change the sound profile as well. 4. **Cabling**, you are open to get a cable on your choice, with mic or no mic, use it like a fashion statement if you wanted to. But recommended to separate your microphone from the cable, as in-line microphones are usually sounds worse than normal microphones. 5. **Recommended** ***(but not a requirement)*** **to get at a DAC**, will definitely enhance your sound experience. With a much more proper DAC/AMP setup even your in-line microphone will sound nicer. Though because its much better to separate your microphone from the IEM cable, usually its recommended to at least get a USB dongle DAC like the Apple Dongle or for Android, CX31993 DAC + MAX97220 AMP from this [**Crinacle video**](https://youtu.be/a-jlS_OlSUg?si=Zm2oqWqnzwAcRkdO). Anything more expensive than that is mainly just additional features (4.4 balanced, Bluetooth support, app support, parametric EQ, etc.) and not better sound. 6. **Avoid accidental dropping or being too rough with your IEM**, so you won't need to always rebuying another set of IEMs. No IEM will survive if it keeps falling accidentally or being used too hard. 7. **You can EQ** ***(Equalize)*** **your IEM**, definitely you can especially if you want to enhance a specific frequency, or sound experience. **And welcome to the IEM community!** My IEM Collection: QKZ AK6 Pro (left), KZ Castor Bass (center), Tangzu x Headphone Zone Wan'er SG (right) https://preview.redd.it/gij71dscwjqe1.png?width=4860&format=png&auto=webp&s=8ee8a870b3fff4a20257519da341d419d23d9052

And for your question, IEMs for gaming maybe at or under $20 or less. Tangzu Wan'er 2 * New and will improve the original Wan'er SG, 2-pin 0.78mm (better than QDC) * Pre-order and no reviews yet so far. Tangzu Wan'er SG * Mellow and easy to daily drive both physically and sound comfort wise, one of the best stock eartips I experienced. Best low sub-bass I experienced. * Might sound a tad muddy footsteps especially Valorant, uses QDC connector. Moondrop Chu 2 * Great all rounder for competitive gaming, light and small, metal case and 2-pin 0.78mm. * Bass might be lacking for some, and especially single-player games, might be abit treble harsh sounding for some. KZ EDC Pro * General all rounder, punchy bass with good clarity and highs. Great for general single-player games and maybe some online games as well. 2-pin 0.78mm and light to wear. Mellow and not treble harsh sounding. * Might muddies out footsteps especially Valorant KZ Castor * Silver version - A more versatile version of the EDC Pro, has the better soundstage a bit, can change sound feel from a neutral bright, neutral, and abit bassy. uses QDC and might be a tad heavier in the ears, treble harsh especially at its treble and mid focused tunings. * Bass version - Best avoid with competitive games, especially Valorant. But great with single-player games that are cinematic and has alot of cutscenes and environmental stuffs. QDC and heavy as well. KZ Castor Pro * Silver and Bass versions - same with the OG Castor, but a tad bit physically heavier. There are definitely better IEMs on slightly higher price range of $50-80, but they might be expensive for you. You can wait and save some more money for a more pricey set.

Ah oh, you could try vent blocking the ThieAudio though the sound feel will change. I don't know how pricy is this but, Audiosense DT600, unvented and bassy IEM Or maybe your ears will adjust to the Orchestra Lite, just like how my ears adjusted from the QKZ AK6 Pro (bassy boomy set) to a KZ Castor Silver (harman tuned)

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

https://preview.redd.it/snok346uz5we1.png?width=8100&format=png&auto=webp&s=75fafb1987a5ab7a8175735702e898f4e399a116 I have the Wan'er SG 1 (center), and these other IEMs on my collection Personally I still prefer the sound of the KZ Castor Silver or Bass. I don't know much about the ZS10 Pro, but basing on the squiglink. Wan'er 2 is more of a neutral warm, safe tuning (minimal treble) IEM Zero 2 is a mild V-shaped IEM, while not causing issues with the midrange that much ZS10 Pro is more V-shaped than the Castor Silver, and is treble brighter-ish and has abit more bass than the Silver but lacks bass vs the Bass version. In the end it really depends on your sound preference, music genres you listen in general, and comfort level on an IEM. I would definitely suggest to buy the Wan'er SG and the 7hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 as well being those two are also cheap IEMs under $20. But if you cannot buy another one, if you have friends or people who can let you try their Wan'er or Zero 2. Same with u/Mrs_Doyles_Teabags, the IEM world is a journey to enjoy, and good luck on your IEM paths you take!

https://preview.redd.it/snok346uz5we1.png?width=8100&format=png&auto=webp&s=75fafb1987a5ab7a8175735702e898f4e399a116 I have the Wan'er SG 1 (center), and these other IEMs on my collection Personally I still prefer the sound of the KZ Castor Silver or Bass. I don't know much about the ZS10 Pro, but basing on the squiglink. Wan'er 2 is more of a neutral warm, safe tuning (minimal treble) IEM Zero 2 is a mild V-shaped IEM, while not causing issues with the midrange that much ZS10 Pro is more V-shaped than the Castor Silver, and is treble brighter-ish and has abit more bass than the Silver but lacks bass vs the Bass version. In the end it really depends on your sound preference, music genres you listen in general, and comfort level on an IEM. I would definitely suggest to buy the Wan'er SG and the 7hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 as well being those two are also cheap IEMs under $20. But if you cannot buy another one, if you have friends or people who can let you try their Wan'er or Zero 2. Same with u/Mrs_Doyles_Teabags, the IEM world is a journey to enjoy, and good luck on your IEM paths you take!

KZ Castor Silver can be bright and very technical, separation of bass and midrange is decent, not mudding each other than the Bass version. While still giving clarity and sparkles with some ok technicalities and soundstage. But it definitely follows harman tuning. The Aurora Ultra is more technical than KZ Castor Silver because of its hybrid planar+DD setup, so it can handle faster transients and changes in the music than DD only. Only issue is unsure if it would be all good with direct to device than using a USB-C DAC, being a planar set it might need some power

https://preview.redd.it/9nqznnked0se1.jpeg?width=4272&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f22eb41447bcd7067c20692ef6e9c19067d79b3 Ah my old and trusty, easy to replace QKZ AK6 Pro (since 2017 I think when I first bought this IEM). Sometimes, though they sound muddy and boomy for my ears now haha. Especially after I got my KZ Castor Bass. Though sometimes I still use this cheapo, for why not sake.

1500 INR? * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver * KZ EDC Pro If you can at least push it at 2k INR, I would suggest * Tangzu Wan'er SG 2 * Tangzu Wan'er SG * Truthear Gate * 7Hz x Crinacle Zero 2 * Kiwi Ears Dolce * Moondrop Chu 2 Prices are HeadphoneZone, Audio Store, and Concept Cart If Amazon * KZ EDC Pro above 1.5k INR * Tangzu Wan'er SG 2 * Tangzu Wan'er SG * Truthear Gate * 7Hz x Crinacle Zero 2 * Kiwi Ears Dolce * Moondrop Chu 2 * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver

yeah as long as you buy the Silver, not the bass. The silver is more all-rounder than the Black bass version which is more into EDM/Pop

- KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver - KZ EDC Pro - Tangzu Wa'ner SG/Wan'er SG 2 - 7Hz Salnotes Zero/Crinacle Zero 2 - Truthear Gate - Tanchjim Bunny

tbh all budget ChiFi has meh QC or some of its quality reduced, especially under the 3-4k INR. As long as you take good care of your IEM, they will last long, cheap or expensive. [Here is my beginner's guide for IEMs,](https://www.reddit.com/user/NinjaSiren/comments/1jil8re/beginners_intro_guide_to_iems/) including how to protect these little stuffs This QKZ AK6 Pro that is below or above 1k INR lasted with me for 3 years and still running, QKZ is one of those IEM manufacturers that is known to have iffy issues. (Btw KZ not same as QKZ, different companies) https://preview.redd.it/tz0tlx4e49te1.jpeg?width=4272&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=584f698dcd0a4488307e52f7e48f599ff7e0c052

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

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

Bass-boosted * KBEar Rosefinch \* * QKZ x HBB \* * BLON x HBB Z300 * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Black Improved Bass (v-bass to v-bright-ish) \*\* (\* recommend | \*\* personally I own)

I like the original KZ Castor Improved Bass, and still is my daily driver to this day Might also go buy and try the QKZ x HBB, I already have initially started my IEM journey from QKZ (CK5, AK6, then the Pro) Enjoy what you like and love 👌 Though I am now currently doing a test with the Wan'er SG (as it just arrived, also I know Wan'er 2 is coming, and I have also bought silica packets for these, less moisture) https://preview.redd.it/4zuciio1ogoe1.jpeg?width=4160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ebd409ae8297df465174eae4deb71f6cfc09449d

Bassy IEMs: Under $5 * QKZ AK6 Pro $25 and lower (bass-focused) * KBEar Rosefinch \* * QKZ x HBB (OG version) \* * BLON BL-01 * KZ Castor Bass \* $25 and lower (neutral warm) * Tangzu Wan'er SG/Wan'er 2 \* * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 \* * Moondrop Chu 2 * KZ Castor Silver (UUDD switches) $25-60 (bass-focused) * BLON BL-03/BL-03 II \* * BLON x HBB Z300 * TinHiFi C3 Mk2 \* * 7Hz x HBB Elua * Kinera Celest Gumiho * KZ Castor Pro Bass \* * CCA Rhapsody \* * CCA Trio \* $25-60 (neutral warm) * Kefine Klean \* * Inawaken Dawn Ms \* * Kiwi Ears Cadenza \* * Tripowin x 0DiBi Vivace \* * Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss \* * Tangzu YuXuanJi * KBear KB02 * KZ Zenith (UUDD switches) \* * KZ Castor Pro Silver (UUDD switches) Special mentioned * Truthear x Crinacle Zero Blue 2 \* * QKZ x HBB Khan (\* recommend)

Bassy IEMs: Under $5 * QKZ AK6 Pro $25 and lower (bass-focused) * KBEar Rosefinch \* * QKZ x HBB (OG version) \* * BLON BL-01 * KZ Castor Bass \* $25 and lower (neutral warm) * Tangzu Wan'er SG/Wan'er 2 \* * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 \* * Moondrop Chu 2 * KZ Castor Silver (UUDD switches) $25-60 (bass-focused) * BLON BL-03/BL-03 II \* * BLON x HBB Z300 * TinHiFi C3 Mk2 \* * 7Hz x HBB Elua * Kinera Celest Gumiho * KZ Castor Pro Bass \* * CCA Rhapsody \* * CCA Trio \* $25-60 (neutral warm) * Kefine Klean \* * Inawaken Dawn Ms \* * Kiwi Ears Cadenza \* * Tripowin x 0DiBi Vivace \* * Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss \* * Tangzu YuXuanJi * KBear KB02 * KZ Zenith (UUDD switches) \* * KZ Castor Pro Silver (UUDD switches) Special mentioned * Truthear x Crinacle Zero Blue 2 \* * QKZ x HBB Khan (\* recommend)

$25 and lower * Tangzu Wan'er SG/Wan'er 2 * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 \* * Moondrop Chu 2 * KZ Castor Silver (UDDD switches) \* $25-60  * Kefine Klean \* * Inawaken Dawn Ms \* * Truthear x Crinacle Zero Red \* * Truthear x Crinacle Zero Blue 2 \* * Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Tripowin x 0DiBi Vivace * Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss * Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast \* * Tangzu YuXuanJi * KBear KB02 \* * KZ Zenith (UUDD switches) \* * KZ Castor Pro Silver (UDDD switches) \* Or any other neutral warm IEMs, but the two Truthear Crinacle are the closest one with minimal mid-bass. Or go for planar IEMs, which their bass is speedy decay enough to be not too much mid bass: * SGOR Luna * Artti T10/T10 Pro * NiceHCK F1 Pro * Shozy P10/P20 * Letshuoer S08

Bassy IEMs: Under $5 * QKZ AK6 Pro $25 and lower (bass-focused) * KBEar Rosefinch \* * QKZ x HBB (OG version) \* * BLON BL-01 * KZ Castor Bass \* $25 and lower (neutral warm) * Tangzu Wan'er SG/Wan'er 2 \* * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 \* * Moondrop Chu 2 * KZ Castor Silver (UUDD switches) $25-60 (bass-focused) * BLON BL-03/BL-03 II \* * BLON x HBB Z300 * TinHiFi C3 Mk2 \* * 7Hz x HBB Elua * Kinera Celest Gumiho * KZ Castor Pro Bass \* * CCA Rhapsody \* * CCA Trio \* $25-60 (neutral warm) * Kefine Klean \* * Inawaken Dawn Ms \* * Kiwi Ears Cadenza \* * Tripowin x 0DiBi Vivace \* * Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss \* * Tangzu YuXuanJi * KBear KB02 * KZ Zenith (UUDD switches) \* * KZ Castor Pro Silver (UUDD switches) Special mentioned * Truthear x Crinacle Zero Blue 2 \* * QKZ x HBB Khan (\* recommend)

$25 and lower * Tangzu Wan'er SG/Wan'er 2 * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 \* * Moondrop Chu 2 * KZ Castor Silver (UDDD switches) \* $25-60  * Kefine Klean \* * Inawaken Dawn Ms \* * Truthear x Crinacle Zero Red \* * Truthear x Crinacle Zero Blue 2 \* * Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Tripowin x 0DiBi Vivace * Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss * Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast \* * Tangzu YuXuanJi * KBear KB02 \* * KZ Zenith (UUDD switches) \* * KZ Castor Pro Silver (UDDD switches) \* Or any other neutral warm IEMs, but the two Truthear Crinacle are the closest one with minimal mid-bass. Or go for planar IEMs, which their bass is speedy decay enough to be not too much mid bass: * SGOR Luna * Artti T10/T10 Pro * NiceHCK F1 Pro * Shozy P10/P20 * Letshuoer S08

If you are going for the Castor or Castor Pro for general use, do not go for the Improved Bass version (even if its being advertised by many YouTubers) The Silver Harman is the way better Castor for general use, I have the OG Bass version as well. Its great for music but with gaming it gets muddied. Castor/Castor Pro Silver > Castor/Castor Pro Bass Terms of the Wan'er 2, from the people I ask and comparing vs the original Wan'er SG. Seems its a minor upgrade, better bass and mid separation (less muddy mids), and better cable with the inclusion of their Sanchai eartips. But the tuning is still the original Wan'er SG with its slighty anemic treble and sparkles (personally)

They are for the most part similar in general sound experience and tuning. Just that Castor Pro has abit more clarity and minor details vs the original. Though the Pro is abit more larger in size and abit heavier. Like a little bit. Both are good tbh, though I personally go for the og version. If you want less treble with them, then you go for UUDD switches.

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

then go for a single DD IEM or 2DD with neutral or harman/harman-ish tuning, avoid going hybrids or planars. With the price range there are decently ones but I am unsure if they include a cable with included microphone, excluding every IEM we already listed before: * Kefine Klean \* * Tripowin Vivace \* * Moondrop Lan * Inawaken Dawn Ms \* * Kinera Celest Wyvern Pro * Tanchjim Bunny * Tangzu Wan'er SG 2 \* * Simgot EW100/EW100P * ZiiGaat Nuo \* * Truthear Gate \* * ISN Neo 1 \* * BLON BL-03 * BLON BL-03 II * BLON BL-05 * EPZ Q5 Pro \* * TKZK TK-02 * KBEar KB01 * KBEar KB02 \* * KZ Castor Harman (Silver) \* * KZ Castor Pro Harman (Silver) * KZ EDC Pro (\* recommend)

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

difference is more into maturity, general sound experience, and refinement. but it definitely depends on your preference tuning(s). I previously came from the original KZ Castors (both Bass and Silver Harman), then jumped to KZ AM16 Balanced, but I have already experienced few higher end IEMs around 50-200 USD. AM16 Balanced, especially if bought on a discount or at low price (just like mine at $33 locally here in the Philippines, but in the US it might be around $50-60). Better terms of detail retrieval, instrument separation, and "soundstage" vs the Castors (even if I EQ them to a similar preference EQ I like) But with a little bit more pricy set than the AM16 Balanced, because of its deep V-shape tuning and a little bit more refinement on those more expensive sets, those sets sound better overall. (specifically Ziigaat Odyssey 1) Though personally the AM16 Balanced with PEQ is getting there, sounds wonderful, though definitely those two sets are better, But definitely I know now what to upgrade to and most likely I know what are my end game sets. Until I don't need to EQ. My Mild-V/U shape EQ is around the Xenns Mangird Tea Pro and Ziigaat Odyssey 1. https://preview.redd.it/enkhr59aqhyf1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=35e8f417e92d2acc4f2be3885944fbb1a67f9a52

difference is more into maturity, general sound experience, and refinement. but it definitely depends on your preference tuning(s). I previously came from the original KZ Castors (both Bass and Silver Harman), then jumped to KZ AM16 Balanced, but I have already experienced few higher end IEMs around 50-200 USD. AM16 Balanced, especially if bought on a discount or at low price (just like mine at $33 locally here in the Philippines, but in the US it might be around $50-60). Better terms of detail retrieval, instrument separation, and "soundstage" vs the Castors (even if I EQ them to a similar preference EQ I like) But with a little bit more pricy set than the AM16 Balanced, because of its deep V-shape tuning and a little bit more refinement on those more expensive sets, those sets sound better overall. (specifically Ziigaat Odyssey 1) Though personally the AM16 Balanced with PEQ is getting there, sounds wonderful, though definitely those two sets are better, But definitely I know now what to upgrade to and most likely I know what are my end game sets. Until I don't need to EQ. My Mild-V/U shape EQ is around the Xenns Mangird Tea Pro and Ziigaat Odyssey 1. https://preview.redd.it/enkhr59aqhyf1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=35e8f417e92d2acc4f2be3885944fbb1a67f9a52

Castor Pro (Silver) might be touch bit brighter (abit more leaning towards neutral bright) than the OG Castor Silver, OG Silver seems to have a little bit more smoother sound experience than the Pro Silver. OG Silver, even in FR graphs is more versatile from neutral bright to a Mild-V warm-ish tuning. On the Tangzu Wan'er SG 1, yes its really warm and chill sound experience, though same with your guess it sounded abit too relaxed. Wan'er SG 2 changed that, so you can definitely go for that one as well. If you like bass, then Castor Bass definitely. Imaging wise its better than Tangzu Wan'er SG 1, though male vocals gets drowned, female vocals does not get affected as much. This based on my own personal experience on all 3 https://preview.redd.it/pq76zelzj8xf1.jpeg?width=9720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1e9a811c03703d0c885fd03d7a806392ba2ec491 Though in the end, these are just subjective and personal opinions, everything will end up on your own preferences, likes, and dislikes.

Castor Pro (Silver) might be touch bit brighter (abit more leaning towards neutral bright) than the OG Castor Silver, OG Silver seems to have a little bit more smoother sound experience than the Pro Silver. OG Silver, even in FR graphs is more versatile from neutral bright to a Mild-V warm-ish tuning. On the Tangzu Wan'er SG 1, yes its really warm and chill sound experience, though same with your guess it sounded abit too relaxed. Wan'er SG 2 changed that, so you can definitely go for that one as well. If you like bass, then Castor Bass definitely. Imaging wise its better than Tangzu Wan'er SG 1, though male vocals gets drowned, female vocals does not get affected as much. This based on my own personal experience on all 3 https://preview.redd.it/pq76zelzj8xf1.jpeg?width=9720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1e9a811c03703d0c885fd03d7a806392ba2ec491 Though in the end, these are just subjective and personal opinions, everything will end up on your own preferences, likes, and dislikes.

The original EDX Pro is really more on the V-shaped bright tuning, and many don't like its bright tuning. If you really like bass, Castor Harman is not your IEM. I would either suggest going to like Saga Bass or Castor Bass, or Dawn. Castor Harman (1100 switches), Gale, EDC Pro, EDX Pro 2, and Saga Balanced is more leaning towards balanced-ish tuning. Castor Harman (0000 switches) is more leaning to mild-V shaped bright, (0011 switches) neutral bright tuning Terms of improvement or any differences, if you want versatility and easy to adjust to almost any tuning, go for the Castor Harman (tuning switches and EQ) If you want to not fiddle with switches and/or EQ, go for the EDC Pro, EDX Pro 2, and Saga series.

EDX Pro 2 and Saga Bass would definitely be a slightly more warmer set than EDC Pro. EDC Pro would be similar-ish in bass and mids with the EDX Pro 2, but a brighter treble, abit closer to balanced than warm or bright. But the EDC Pro was original reference tuning for many newer KZ IEMs, like the EDX Pro 2 and Saga Bass. They just refined the sound overtime, Zenith was the pinnacle of that tuning, especially alot of people really preferred the warmer sound. Even other KZs have been tuned to a tamer treble than classic KZ sets. Though recent new new releases have been using the Castor and Castor Pro Bass tuning with refinements on treble, and bass for the bass versions of the new KZ IEMs. https://preview.redd.it/rwodxqaqc3yf1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=cef5c06819544d7d3340234c1640b7dc24e72474

The original EDX Pro is really more on the V-shaped bright tuning, and many don't like its bright tuning. If you really like bass, Castor Harman is not your IEM. I would either suggest going to like Saga Bass or Castor Bass, or Dawn. Castor Harman (1100 switches), Gale, EDC Pro, EDX Pro 2, and Saga Balanced is more leaning towards balanced-ish tuning. Castor Harman (0000 switches) is more leaning to mild-V shaped bright, (0011 switches) neutral bright tuning Terms of improvement or any differences, if you want versatility and easy to adjust to almost any tuning, go for the Castor Harman (tuning switches and EQ) If you want to not fiddle with switches and/or EQ, go for the EDC Pro, EDX Pro 2, and Saga series.

The original EDX Pro is really more on the V-shaped bright tuning, and many don't like its bright tuning. If you really like bass, Castor Harman is not your IEM. I would either suggest going to like Saga Bass or Castor Bass, or Dawn. Castor Harman (1100 switches), Gale, EDC Pro, EDX Pro 2, and Saga Balanced is more leaning towards balanced-ish tuning. Castor Harman (0000 switches) is more leaning to mild-V shaped bright, (0011 switches) neutral bright tuning Terms of improvement or any differences, if you want versatility and easy to adjust to almost any tuning, go for the Castor Harman (tuning switches and EQ) If you want to not fiddle with switches and/or EQ, go for the EDC Pro, EDX Pro 2, and Saga series.

Neutral Warm \\\_ * Tangzu Wan'er SG/Wan'er 2 Neutral Bright \_/ * 7Hz Salnotes Zero * KZ Castor Silver (Harman, DDUU) V-shaped \\/ * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 * Kinera Celest Wyvern Pro (Mild V) * ZiiGaat Nuo (V-bright) * Kiwi Ears Dolce * Moondrop Chu 2 * Tanchjim Bunny 3.5mm * Tanchjim One 3.5mm * KBEar KS2 * QKZ x HBB * KZ Castor Silver (Harman, UUDD) * KZ Castor Black (Improved Bass) U-shaped \\\_/ * Tanchjim Bunny DSP * Tanchjim One DSP * KZ EDC Pro

Neutral Warm \\\_ * Tangzu Wan'er SG/Wan'er 2 Neutral Bright \_/ * 7Hz Salnotes Zero * KZ Castor Silver (Harman, DDUU) V-shaped \\/ * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 * Kinera Celest Wyvern Pro (Mild V) * ZiiGaat Nuo (V-bright) * Kiwi Ears Dolce * Moondrop Chu 2 * Tanchjim Bunny 3.5mm * Tanchjim One 3.5mm * KBEar KS2 * QKZ x HBB * KZ Castor Silver (Harman, UUDD) * KZ Castor Black (Improved Bass) U-shaped \\\_/ * Tanchjim Bunny DSP * Tanchjim One DSP * KZ EDC Pro

Neutral Warm \\\_ * Tangzu Wan'er SG/Wan'er 2 Neutral Bright \_/ * 7Hz Salnotes Zero * KZ Castor Silver (Harman, DDUU) V-shaped \\/ * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 * Kinera Celest Wyvern Pro (Mild V) * ZiiGaat Nuo (V-bright) * Kiwi Ears Dolce * Moondrop Chu 2 * Tanchjim Bunny 3.5mm * Tanchjim One 3.5mm * KBEar KS2 * QKZ x HBB * KZ Castor Silver (Harman, UUDD) * KZ Castor Black (Improved Bass) U-shaped \\\_/ * Tanchjim Bunny DSP * Tanchjim One DSP * KZ EDC Pro

7Hz Zero 2 is good on gaming. With the KZ Castor (it depends on what Castor you wanted) as there are 2 version of the Castor. Silver Harman Tuned and Black Bass Boosted Tuned: Black Bass Boosted Tuned is usually recommended by majority of the YouTuber reviewers, but its only great for EDM, Hip-Hop, and Rap music and not so good for competitive gaming personally, but great for single player games. Silver Harman Tuned is more versatile, can be tuned either for gaming and/or music. And can handle more than the Bass Improved version and also decent for general gaming as well.

7Hz Zero 2 is good on gaming. With the KZ Castor (it depends on what Castor you wanted) as there are 2 version of the Castor. Silver Harman Tuned and Black Bass Boosted Tuned: Black Bass Boosted Tuned is usually recommended by majority of the YouTuber reviewers, but its only great for EDM, Hip-Hop, and Rap music and not so good for competitive gaming personally, but great for single player games. Silver Harman Tuned is more versatile, can be tuned either for gaming and/or music. And can handle more than the Bass Improved version and also decent for general gaming as well.

I have seen a comment (maybe from Audio Amigo) where the Soundbrenner might just be a rebadged TRN ST2 shells with an additional BA driver. Seen frequency response graphs of it somewhere from ASR Forums, wacky and maybe shouty and shrilly graph. https://preview.redd.it/05hgzaaiqxqf1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=bc1d239095b5772b4ab21beb2e973abb64f6a65d I would personally stay away from the Soundbrenner if this is the actual graph, I would rather personally use my KZ Castor, AM16 Balanced, or my EDC Pro over this. In your case, go ahead and buy the Kefine Klean!

Newer KZ sets like the ZS10 Pro 2 are semi-open backs, but they are not really open-backs they still has significant noise cancellation passively. All because of eartip rolling, invest on other eartips. I myself has the KZ Castor, it has a big hole on its bottom with filters. You could kinda hear stuffs outside a bit, but with the right eartips and volume you can't even hear the outside even people yelling.

Is the soundstage better than the Hola? My left Hola earbud got damaged, so I'm considering buying a new one. So far, I've only tried the Castor. While it was good, it lacked the soundstage of the Hola.

For me, Wan'er is better than Castors. I've used both and prefer wan'er 8/10 times.

Look at the KZ Castor they are tunable with the 4 dip switches on the back and they sound great and punch way above the price range.

Bunny. I think the sound stage of the Castor Harman is nicer. But your ears might not hear that. Otherwise the detail retrieval, driver quality, and fit and finish of the bunny is much better than the KZ. Unless you ABSOLUTELY need the 3.5mm, get the DSP version, and get the Tanchjim Android App, and use the DSP. It's absolutely fantastic to just be able to change the tuning on thr IEM. No stupid dip switches, no fidly knobs, just click, apply, and go. And it will remember your last setting, SK if you plug it into another USB device, it will keep whatever tuning is set.

If soundstage is the most important thing, then og castor harmman is also a very good choice. But vader also has a wider soundstage than castor bass, and is more technical and instrumental. I would recommend vader more.

**Castor:** Has punchy mid bass. The slam hits hard, but with a compromise on thin mids. Treble is sharp. Sub bass is sub par. If you only care about the mid bass slam, go for it. Keep in mind, Castor can have distortion on the treble. It's not as EQ friendly, at least for my standard. And I don't even make drastic changes. **Castor Pro:** Has lesser mid bass as compared to Castor, but the strong sub bass presence makes it overall good. The mids are not thin, it's neutral-ish but definitely not as warm as Chu 2. It's just fine. Treble is well done here. Can be sibilant for some people, but not as much. The upgrades here are definitely the balance in tonality and resolution. This has good sound imaging too. It's bassy yet balanced due to not lacking in treble. Compared to Pro, castor sounds horrible to me.

The OG Castor secondary driver is trash. It was different from the Pro. I'm pretty sure, one driver is decent and the secondary one is sub par on Pro but it's way better than OG Castor. The upgrade was 8mm secondary dynamic driver to both 10mm.

**KZ Saga Bass Edition:** If you want bass, alongwith no compromises on Mids and Treble. KZ Saga is overall the best due to its superior tonality. You can listen to various genres unlike the others. **QKZ x HBB & Rosefinch:** Strong Sub bass, warm vocals, lacks details in treble. This is great for Hip Hop, but might not enjoy other genres. The same goes for Roseflinch. **KZ Castor/Castor Pro:** Castor has more Mid bass, punchy bass. Decent rubble. Thin mids, shouty treble. Castor Pro is more balanced, it's the best of both worlds, KZ Saga has better tonality, but Castor Pro has slightly better technicalities. It's very EQ friendly. https://preview.redd.it/0vpgb08z7r8e1.png?width=2400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2d12b0acf442af8984f685492e0f7fe1c82a41e8 KZ Saga is overall best imo, due to how it's tuned.

I have been producing with castor for almost a year before it broke and i will tell you how much improvement it gave to my mix. While it is still a cheap IEM it still gives a massive difference compared to cheapy pay at my local market. I think while training your ear is good you also have to take into account what gear you are using. Castor not only improved my mix somewhat but also improved my daily music commute experience. I think spending a little bit will not make you better in mixing overnight but it will at least help your mixing activities much more comfortable.

If you compare drastically different sound signature, of course it sounds different. Like if you compare kz castor (harman) vs hexa (dead neutral). If you compare similar sound signature, you probably need to ab to notice it.

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?

KZ is definitely good but I have an experience of quality issue with them. The plastic in my KZ Castor Silver's pin port got chipped off after 6 months. I don't even remove the cable or do anything. Back to this reco, is it fine for Jpop or Kpop listening?

Wyvern is better for smoother, more relaxed listening. Balanced leaning barely bright. It’s a great set. Castors (both) are better for that analytical listening. Bass version is better for that more bassy kind of listen while Silver is better for that more detail oriented listening. If your looking for a warm super bassy listen, consider the KZ Dawn Silver.

Out of the 3? Wyvern. It’s a great set but it has smooth details so it’s not the most analytical set. Castor Silver has less sub bass than the Wyvern. Castor silver is also more bright leaning with sharper details. If you want a smooth relaxing set, the Wyvern and IgniteX Beast are great sets for that. The Castor Silver is more bright and analytical. I personally would pick the Wyvern for a relaxed and smooth listen. I have all the IEM’s mentioned above.

i have both truthear gate and kz castor personally i think that vocals are very muted on castor and rest is boosted too much and they dont have a punchy bass while gate has everything balanced bass isnt outstanding but its more punchier i enjoy gate more cuz its also smaller fits better and it feels more premium

well i have both of them also now i have experience with more expensive iems and i can easily say that gate is a lot better than castor dont worry gate will handle every genre u listen to i listen to almost everything and gate never fails to deliver a good listening experience compared to castor so gate easy recommendation for every genre castor isnt bad but its just worse compared to gate

Hello, I use 1000 switches setting with the Rhapsody. And I also use a pair of KZ Castor (Harman) with 1100 setting. I like Castor and Hola, but I prefer the Rhapsody, it's more my taste, just it has very large shells like the Castor. For comfortable listening the best of these are the Hola, but the sound is more muffled. When I don't use an Iem I listen music on a pair of Q acoustics 3020i or a pair of 3030i I love the two. I also thought to S08, Delci and also the Sivga Que. But I don't know what is the best for acoustic instruments. Looking at the shell geometry, I think the Sivga are more comfortable than the other two. The other one I thought was the Simgot EA500 LM. But I don't want harsh treble or too metallic sound. And maybe it's the case with this pair, don't know. Thank you for your suggestion, it helps me.

DUDE HASHDAJDASJDHA WE ARE SHARING ALMOST THE SAME ROUTE LMAOOO My first IEM's were some cheap random brand ones, but they got exactly the SAME design as those QKZ of yours, idk they were like 2USD from ali, then got my KZ Castor (Silver) tho using them UUDD, and just got the Wan'er, they were slightly more expensive for me than the Castor (with mic cable), but the sound feels extreeeeemely dull to me, they having a lot of eartips add a plus but it's just wasn't for me I guess (the cable was also kinda worse in comparison ngl). I was wondering which tips you prefered, apparently one set are the "bass" ones and the others the balanced ones, not sure which one them as I thought they were the same, I'm using the black ones myself.

I have the KZ Castor harman it’s okay overall a little flatish and bass is pretty absent base on my experience using it. You get less accessories when you buy it. I dont own the Tachjim bunny but i saw the accessories it includes, it seems pretty much a good pick over the castor for the value imo

2 recomendations, if you havent use the tuning switches, play around with those, and tye spinfit CP155, they will help a lot with fit, im rocking the OG Castor bass with those.

For the price both are fairly good, but is possible that Zero 2 would have the technical edge over castor by a tiby bit, and also, the Harman version isnt that impressive to begging with, the bass version is usually recomended for its really good bass quality despite lower price, Harman is just fine-ish, either way, the biggest differences would be that: Zero 2 would have a more bassy and warm sound while the Castor Harman would feel brighter (more focused on vocals and treble) that could help with details, but also make it feel more intense than needed, and even with the tuning switches, bass on the harman castor wont be as especial or good as on the Castor Bass version*. that said, given that you also want to do some gaming, Zero2 is more commonly used for that as it works quite decently, so yeah, all in all, Zero 2 is the safer option here in terms of your use case.

Rumbly boosted bass ≠ Hard hitting bass. And i do get your point, KZ Castor Bass was More in line with what you wanted, a lot of people doesnt really take sound perception and tracks they are using (their music library) into account when giving recs. That said, not sure how much time you gave to those, but of you come from using the Bl03 and just used the QKZxHBB for a few minutes, then you wont get the real sound since you are used to the hard boosted bass on the blon. If you want an energetic experience, also 7hz Elua would work better, but that one is a bassy V-shape and has a LOT of treble too, so yesh. Sadly, basshead people dont have it easy on budget picks (also, check different, smaller, eartips, on the QKZxHBB, those have a signifcantly larger nozzles than the blon).

Z300 is too much bass for people that dont like bass, and too little for bassheads, is and in all, not that great for a bassy iem, Castor is probably the best bass centric iem under $50, there are other iems with good bass, but arent as bass centric (like Dawn Ms or Kefine Klean).

under $35 there isnt that many options man. For starters, most iems like Chu2 or maybe 7Hz G1 are V-shaped, so they have a lot of bass but also a lot of treble too, not sure if youll have a problem with that. Known bassy iems that work with gaming are etiher QKZxHBB, which is kinda relaxed, boomy, a more rumbly and "involving" sound with its bass bur also could feel "muddy", not so clear, depending on your tolerance, though still is probably the most bassy recomended one. And in the other hand you have KZ Castor Bass which is more clean but also more energetic and have a more punchy bass but also more energetic treble (is a V-shape too but this one clearly leans on bass if you adjust the sound with the included tuning switches). Both should kinda work but not sure what you'll enjoy better.

If you want to check something with more bass on a budget, consider KZ Castor Bass (or Castor Pro Bass), if you want A LOT more or bass, consider the Kbear Rosefinch instead, pretty funny bass heavy sound. I think is safer for you to try around the same price range since your next upgrade would be around $70usd minimun for lack of singificantly good bass heavy iems at around $35-50usd.

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

Planars are really bad for anything metal, thrash and little lackluster mix tracks from 80s metals, rocks. Any cheap DD is a better option. Maybe Timeless is an exception. My experience with KZ PR2 with even a FiiO KA11 was not so good. My Castor is far better for metal and rock. Fortunately, my current single DD is miles ahead of both PR2 or Castor. For me personally, DD >> Single Planar for most cases for such type of music.

kz castor silver is a good choice.. i bought it july last year and it still solid..

It would recommend KZ Libra X (silver one) or KZ ZVX if you want something in that direction. Both have fairly balanced tuning and decent bass. Kz castor harman have clean bass that is nice if that what you want. But if you want fun punchy rumbly bass, this aint it. Or get KZ Castor pro bass for good quality fun bass but still not overwhelming like the og castor bass.

I tried the KZ castor with the inline mic. The iem sound was good, but the mic was weak. KZ has upped their game this past year. Linsoul on Amazon sells them. Some they sell as new, but they are returned items. I filled a complaint with Amazon about this issues. I got to keep the pair they sent me, plus amazon sent me another pair for free.

Waners, Castors, Abyss, Cadenza, Moondrop Chu 2, Blon bl3 2 are some iems you can consider. Most iems these days are good enough for flac music in this price range, only the tuning differs. As they're wired, they dont have a battery to degrade so they can ladt you forever. Just keep them away from sweat and moisture of any kind since that damages them. Considering most iems are 3.5mm, you will need a dac which converts type c to 3.5mm (digital to analog) and lets you take full advantage of your iems as it improves the sound and volumes as well. Even if you have a 3.5 on your phone or laptop, a dac will make the iems sound better.

The castor pro bass is my daily for gaming too. Love them honestly

I have the silver castor pros too but they don't drive as well directly on a ps5 controller compared to the bass version for some reason. Plus the punchy bass is sooo immersive. I'm not playing competitive games just fun single player stuff. Def using the silver ones on my laptop though!

They're so good. Idk why I enjoy them so much. I even have the Letshuoer S08 and I use the castor more

Get ready for the "Why get many cheap iem instead of one overpriced iem?" Comments. 😅 Great collection! Love my KZs. My ZS10 Pro X and castor puch way above their price. The linglong was a great surprise too

kz castor harman yeeeesssss

I have this and the HBB QKZ as my cheap bass iems….I really like the Castor but the QKZ HBB are better, I think they’re the best sounding budget ($20 range) earbuds I’ve ever tried, and I’ve tried almost all the normally recommended iems in that price range

I had an EDX Pro as my first IEM, then I got an EDX Pro X and a Castor for free on Temu. By far, the Castor is much better than both EDXs, but also a bit more expensive. The EDX Pro X was a bit more balanced than the EDX Pro, but with less bass and less agility in fast-paced songs (although the difference is not big). I recently tried the EDC Pros. Their tuning is very good. According to the graphs, the SGOR Venus has a similar tuning to the EDC Pros but with less bass, but I can't say much about them since I've never tried them. I only mention them as an alternative to KZ, since, as everyone knows, KZ isn't a brand with a very good reputation, although they're not bad as first IEMs.

I have experience with the last three and say Waner 2 first, castor last. Can't say the value of that boom mic but the wyvern (green?) is good on its own. I'm using the waner 2 on my PSVR2 and it's excellent, can't believe it's a $20ish IEM

I love the castor blacks. I don’t need another iem.

Buy a KZ Castor. Make sure it’s the black version. It has more bass.

To keep it simple, yes the other version is clearer with less bass. It is not expensive. To plug them into your phone get an Apple dongle dac. It is very cheap as well. Hope you like them.

From this list prolly the castor

just got kz castor bass version yesterday and the left sounded weaker than the right, so I'm returning them. They probably do have a quality issue (which I dont blame since its so cheap)

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

Hello. I am no means an audiophile and do not have a lot of IEMS tested. Currently owning only KZ castor Harman (Silver) And the improved bass (Black color). If in case i make any mistakes other could correct me. And im only sharing personal experience as a nooby and personal opinion. So since i have switched to the IEMS going to be honest in my personal experience i personally prefer using the IEMS over the gaming headsets. (Only experience before iems was gaming headsets like Corsair virtuoso se, Razer kraken v2, Hyperx cloud 2, and Sony headphones like Sony wh-1000xm3, Sony linkbuds s, Sony wh h910n aka h.earon and some other Sony XB headphones) Reason i wanted to switch to the IEMS was i needed a descent headphones/iems to use with my PC since because of the over ear headphones i had migraines and a lot of of them i had. To the point that i could not play games or even watch the contact im consuming for more then 30 min a day. After switching to IEMS i noticed the sound stage felt a little bigger then the Corsairs i still have and sounded much better with out even using any EQ app on my pc. If being honest i personally doubt that IEMS are leagues a head against higher end Headphones that considered good in audiophile community. Since the IEMS are small there will be limitations. I would even say it would be compering Desktop pc spec against laptop. Similar but not quite. And from what i have read in this group my personal opinion is that the IEMS over 100 maybe even over then 150 have the diminishing returns. If i look at them as a regular consumer then 80% of people might not even feel a big of a difference between iems that cost 150 euros/dollars against any other wireless headphones that consumers buy. But this is only my opinion. So personally since im on a budget i do not see a point buying iems that more then 70 euros (Since im from EU) Becasue a lot of them are definably providing me all i need for musing and playing video games. (Only now considering buying some other options to get a little bit better experience then my KZ castor Harman tuning version) Apologies if i wrote in a mishmash tried to share some experience from a nooby side. And apologies if i have offended anyone.

Hello. I am no means an audiophile and do not have a lot of IEMS tested. Currently owning only KZ castor Harman (Silver) And the improved bass (Black color). If in case i make any mistakes other could correct me. And im only sharing personal experience as a nooby and personal opinion. So since i have switched to the IEMS going to be honest in my personal experience i personally prefer using the IEMS over the gaming headsets. (Only experience before iems was gaming headsets like Corsair virtuoso se, Razer kraken v2, Hyperx cloud 2, and Sony headphones like Sony wh-1000xm3, Sony linkbuds s, Sony wh h910n aka h.earon and some other Sony XB headphones) Reason i wanted to switch to the IEMS was i needed a descent headphones/iems to use with my PC since because of the over ear headphones i had migraines and a lot of of them i had. To the point that i could not play games or even watch the contact im consuming for more then 30 min a day. After switching to IEMS i noticed the sound stage felt a little bigger then the Corsairs i still have and sounded much better with out even using any EQ app on my pc. If being honest i personally doubt that IEMS are leagues a head against higher end Headphones that considered good in audiophile community. Since the IEMS are small there will be limitations. I would even say it would be compering Desktop pc spec against laptop. Similar but not quite. And from what i have read in this group my personal opinion is that the IEMS over 100 maybe even over then 150 have the diminishing returns. If i look at them as a regular consumer then 80% of people might not even feel a big of a difference between iems that cost 150 euros/dollars against any other wireless headphones that consumers buy. But this is only my opinion. So personally since im on a budget i do not see a point buying iems that more then 70 euros (Since im from EU) Becasue a lot of them are definably providing me all i need for musing and playing video games. (Only now considering buying some other options to get a little bit better experience then my KZ castor Harman tuning version) Apologies if i wrote in a mishmash tried to share some experience from a nooby side. And apologies if i have offended anyone.

Second this. I've collected a bunch of iems over the past few years, including well discussed and more expensive sets like the Gate, Zero2, Waner, Ew300dsp, and Explorers, and none has brought me the "oh damn" feeling when I first heard the Blon 4 5 years ago. The closest I've gotten to that feeling is probably the Castor's Bass edition, which I still think is a tad bit worse and less rumbly than the OG Blon. Still would recommend it til this day

KZ Castor. No bass, shouty, just hurting my hearing

Yes, I meant the Harman version. Their bass is very very lean. The switch adds bass, but it's sound doesn't fit the rest of the tuning. The Castor Bass is much much better.

Yes, I meant the Harman version. Their bass is very very lean. The switch adds bass, but it's sound doesn't fit the rest of the tuning. The Castor Bass is much much better.

Then ignore all of those and get yourself a KZ Castor (Bass Edition). They're incredibly cheap & pretty good.

Castors are a good choice too. Castor Harman is good; gave it to my gf. Castor bass is a bit muddy, but not too muddy like kbear rosefinch; I use that personally. I personally love the edc pro more because it's smoother with just the right amount of bass, but the Harman is a bit thin for me. But I just re-read your genre of choice. I saw you like J-Pop. If that's the case, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Tangzu Waner (the original ones that came in black, white, jade, and blue colors; not the studio version or the waner 2). Tangzu waner is specialized for making vocals, specifically female vocals, pop. Wan'er is known to make Stay With Me and Plastic Love sound good. Great with YOASOBI too.

Thanks for the review, I have the Castor Bass and Harman and Castor Pro Bass versions, maybe I'll buy the Castor Pro Harman someday

Yo hace más de un año que estoy usando los KZ Castor Bass Edition con cable QKZ T1 y estoy encantado. Voy con un FIIO KA11 y estoy esperando que llegue el ECHO Mini. Le estoy dando vueltas a adquirir otros IEM pero más neutros y estoy valorando los Tangzu SG JAde o los SG2...

Enhorabuena por la reseña. Soy usuario de KZ desde el año pasado que me compré mis primeros IEM: Los Castor Bass Es. Hace unos días compré los Castor Pro Harman... y menuda decepción para mi gusto. Súper brillantes en agudos hasta el ounto de molestar. Quería algo menos basshead y no lo acerté. Devolví y me compre los Wan'er Jade. Espectaculares. Tengo en mente estos q reseñas, pero me frena el hecho que sean abiertos.... los uso en transporte público...

I only have 2 IEMs, the KZ Castor Bass Edition and the Tangzu Yu Xuan Ji. I've tried the 7HZ Salnotes Zero, Popcorn Bass X8 Pro, and the QKZ AK6 Pro before. In my experience, the Tangzu Yu Xuan Ji has the best soundstage out of all the ones I've tried. They are very bright and airy, and the sub-bass feels forward but controlled. Its punchy bass surprised me, especially since I came from the KZ Castor Bass Edition. I recommend reading this review if you want to know more about it. https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/tangzu-yu-xuan-ji.27509/reviews I've read another comment here mentioning the Kefine Klean, and I recommend you also look into that one.

I really liked the HBB x QKZ set, the KZ Castor bass version is pretty good as well.

Unfortunately, from the same manufacturer I only have/had KZ Castor Bass (fun!) and Joyodio Shine (not a fan of...).

IMHO castor > wan'er 2 if you compare just the IEMs, without the accessories.

I have to say, they have improved a lot over the years. Now i have in daily use the KZ PRX and the KZ Castor bass edition, they sound great even on high volumes, but last weekend i tested the first IEMs i bought from KZ, the EDX PRO and, wow, what an evolution, at low volume they sound ok, but you put some volume there and they sound awfull to say the least. I had too the KZ ZS10 PRO X, they are better than the EDX but they have too shrill high notes on high volumes, thats why i have gone to the Castors and now the PRX, they sound fantastic for the price in my opinion.

i have 2 dirt cheap iem use for gaming kz castor bass boost and qkz hbb, but i use qkz for fps game, e.g., on cs2 dust2 im on mid ramp i can hear both connector and A long double door footstep.

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.

KZ Castor has no bass? That's a new one. Did you get the Harman one instead of the black? I have both and even the Harman is quite bassy, but that's not the "correct" one. Anyway if you still have it the most likely reason you aren't getting any bass is the eartips aren't giving you a proper seal.

Yeah, I have both and do agree the Bass is the better one. Although the treble is slightly less grainy on the Harman one, so it's a pity they didn't include that small refinement in the bass version and forget the other version (that's not the KZ business model though).

I'm not familiar with the ones you're comparing, but if you want a hard-hitting bass with an clean, non-muddy midrange, you should be looking at the KZ Castor Bass. The Aoshida E20 isn't all that bassy in the stock tuning, it's actually more bright-leaning. It apparently takes EQ very well, but I haven't got around try trying to EQ mine yet. I think it's a bit over-hyped, but it's a decent IEM that's fairly comfortable for a 2DD. It does look & feel more like a $5 IEM than a $50 one though.

Haven't heard the Pro version myself, but from what I've heard about it, it's more of a smoothed-out version of the original. So a bit less grainy in the treble (the Castor's main weakness) but also with less of that signature punchy bass. So if you want the hard-hitting bass that the Castors are famous for, you want the original Castor Bass (black) version. Also don't get the cheaper silver Harman version by mistake! Graphs do seem to confirm that the original "Bass Enhanced" is the one you want for bass: https://audioamigo.squig.link/?share=KZ_Castor_Pro_Bass_UUDD,KZ_Castor_Bass_Switch_UUDD UUDD seems to be the most popular switch configuration (most bass, least treble) but that's something you'll want to experiment with yourself. I recommend setting them to UUDD initially, listening for a few days, then trying another setting with some of the same music you've been listening to so you can easily hear any differences. Also I recommend the QKZ T1 cable to go with these as it's only a few $ and is pretty good. They stock cable is pretty awful. If you want to spend more money on an even nicer, modular cable, the TRN RedChain is very nice. The connector type is QDC and IIRC neither of these cables come in other types, but just in case they do, pick the QDC option. Incidentally, if you want to get these so you can EQ them rather than stick to the stock tuning, the Pro is probably a better choice because of the smoother treble response, which is a harder thing to fix with EQ than if you want to adjust the bass levels. In fact you can possibly get away with the Harman version + EQ if you're on a really tight budget, as it also has slightly smoother treble. It lacks the unique stock tuning, but AFAIK the drivers are the same, so won't distort if you EQ in a load more bass. You'll just need to make more adjustments to make it more v-shaped in general.

Those are bullshit and probably mostly fake reviews by a competitor. Find some reputable reviewer(s) you can trust and whose opinions align with your own, as everyone hears IEMs a bit differently. This is the one that made me consider trying the HBB. Wasn't convinced at first, but they're now one of my favourite IEMs at any price (and I have about 60 IEMs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swejkFpZfBM The HBB has a very particular style of presentation though. It's warm and relaxing, although it also volume-scales very well and can be fun if you turn it up a bit. If you want a really hard-hitting style of bass, the KZ Castor Bass+ is better, but it's overall tuning isn't as good as the HBB & it especially has some issues in the treble (though you may not notice at first). Also the Castor doesn't have much sub-bass so it's probably not what you're looking for. The KBear Rosefinch has *tons* of sub-bass, but it has much bigger problems with treble tuning and can sound quite harsh if you try to turn it up at all.

KZ don't have a bad reputation because their IEMs are bad (though some are). Most of them are good for the price, which is how they got a following in the first place. The reason they have a bad reputation is because of deceptive practices and a bunch of odd things that could be chalked up to incompetence, But it's mainly that they've never accepted responsibility, apologised, or said they intend to do things differently in future. So there's always the risk of a rug-pull from them, and a lot of the positive reviews can't be trusted. But some of their newer IEMs like the EDC Pro and the Castor Bass are actually quite good for the price, and so far they haven't done anything sketchy with those. Here's some of the history of why they have such a bad reputation: * https://www.headphonesty.com/2022/03/kz-fake-multi-driver-iem-scandal/ * https://crinacle.com/2023/08/17/the-kz-boycott-still-stands/ * /r/headphones/comments/143hrub/so_i_guess_we_have_another_kz_controversy_with/ It's easy to write some of this off as "QC issues", but these aren't QC problems. KZ's QC used to be terrible, but in the past few years it's actually been quite good. It's more about intentional actions on their part, which at best they are never transparent about. They also have a tendency to copy & paste IEMs, so they can release a "new" model every week. But they have like 3 or 4 that sound exactly the same, just with different faceplates, being marketed as completely new IEMs. And that's on top of the dozens using the same drivers & shells that do have tuning differences. This makes it much harder for people to compare & know which ones are good, which are bad, which are identical, etc. It's basically impossible to keep up with all the models they've released. This is 100% a deliberate strategy on their part to try to confuse consumers, generate FOMO and minimise negative reviews.

KZ Castor Harman Target with an Improved Bass Version Switch 1 (Low-bass): Focuses on the deepest bass frequencies, adding a powerful "rumble" and enhancing the foundation of the sound. Switch 2 (Mid-bass): Boosts mid-bass frequencies, delivering a fuller, punchier bass response while also noticeably reinforcing the sub-bass for a balanced low-end. Switch 3 (Midrange): While not designed for bass, this switch slightly enhances the lower midrange, adding warmth to vocals and the overall sound.\*\*\*It also cause muddiness\*\*\* Switch 4 (High-end): Brightens the sound by delicately boosting higher frequencies, adding clarity, details, and a touch of sparkle. Optimal Switch Combination: (Designed for Audiophiles Who Demand the Ultimate in Deep, Resonant Bass and Crystal-Clear, Articulate Vocals) Switches 1, 2, and 4(on): This setup provides a deeply immersive audio experience with the deepest, most powerful sub-bass along with wonderful midrange and vocals. It’s the ultimate choice for bass lovers and vocal enthusiasts alike. (tested by Bass & Vocal Audiophiles) Details of the Switch 1, 2, and 4 Configuration: Switch 1: Adds a substantial boost to sub-bass, increasing it by approximately 2 dB for deep, resonant lows. Switch 2: Further amplifies sub-bass by 1 dB, creating a combined sub-bass boost of 3 dB. It also gently reduces mid-bass by about 1 dB, preventing muddiness. Switch 4: Elevates vocals and midrange instruments while reducing mid-bass by an additional 2 dB. This results in a total mid-bass reduction of 3 dB, allowing the sub-bass to shine with clarity and precision. My Preference: I love deep sub-bass and crave excellent vocals and mids. I mostly listen to EDM, PHONK, and chill music, with or without vocals. This setup has been the best for me, and I thought that if it could help anyone else, it would be worth sharing. \*\*\*NOTE: These are the results from my personal experiment with my unit, and they may vary for you. Sound quality changes depend on the DAC you use, as well as your individual preferences. Currently, I’m testing it directly on my PC without a DAC, but I plan to upgrade to one in the future. I’ve only recently begun my audiophile journey, so if anything I’ve mentioned is incorrect, please feel free to correct me.\*\*\*

I only have the kz castor bass edition and I've been looking for a substantial upgrade. Do these offer more bass than those? I'm an IEM noob btw.

I had to switch because i broke them ༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ, and tbh i will say that the zex kinda focuses on audience who like EDM or bassy music, even i personally listen to bassy music but after switching to zs12 pro x i kinda feel like yeah zex did have alot more bass than my zs12, zex pro does have some quality but if u are a guy who uses equaliser for that extra more punch like me, they kinda sound muffle. So i will give u an opinion based on my experience: Choose zs12 pro x if u listen to normal pop/acoustic music Choose zex if you listen to bass heavy hip hop/EDM. Option 3 : U can look for kz castor bass harmaan edition if ur looking for a mid of both. I experienced castor pro at my local iem store and was really confused between the castor and zs12 pro x, the bass in castor is detailed unlike zex and provide much more space for higher frequencies as well, like i said balanced between zex and zs12. Hope this helps and reduces the confusion.

The Castors do not rumble that much, but boy do they SLAM. Subbass is kind of subdued and midbass gets on the spotlight for this set. The KZ Castor Pros are more balanced in terms of rumble and slam. For the other 2 sets I can't say much, but the frequency response graphs may give you an idea.

2 large pizzas, 1kg of Brazilian dark roasted coffee, a fresh pair of best on-ear headphones in the world - KSC75, or a pair of KZ Castor Bass (not Pro), which with a little bit of bass shelf EQ turns into poor man's Variations. But I would rather choose between the first three options.

My 2nd IEM(After Kz Castor) and my favourite one among the 2❤️

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 am a beginner audiophile using the KZ Castor Bass Edition and 7Hz Crinacle Zero 2 with a Headphone Zone X ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC Pro and balanced cables. I prefer the Zero 2s due to their layered sound signature, good amount of bass, and comfortable fit for long listening sessions. I listen to all kinds of music. I’m planning to upgrade to the Simgot EW300 DSP Edition soon. What should I expect in terms of an upgrade from my Zero 2s and KZ Castors? Also, do you have any other upgrade suggestions within an $80 budget?

I've got kz castor bass edition. It's good

Been using them for 6 months now no issues. Build quality is fine and no problems after long hours of use. Altho it does get sweaty during commute (it's hot asf here) but that goes for most iems.

Cheap ones: Kbear Rosefinch, Whizzer/Opera Factory OS1 Pro, CCA CRA, More pricey ones: 7Hz Legato, QKZ x HBB Hades, Campfire Audio Honeydew. In case you are looking for a cheap one I would go for the Rosefinch. If you have more money to burn, probably the Honeydew would suffice. :) I only have the Castor Bass and I also had the QKZ x HBB Khan (not the standard QKZ x HBB), but for me the Castor was way better.

For first time user kz castor bass recommended....

depends on the iem. I went from moondrop chu 2 and kz castor bass to simgot ew300 and I think it’s quite a big improvement. I love the sound and the look and the size, more expensive is just typically a lot more polished than cheaper options. also depends on what sound you like. personally I found them really great. I still like my chu 2s a lot too and the castor bass is just meh it’s a bit large and doesn’t sound all that good but it’s just trial and error for finding what you like.

I like KZ IEMs. Current favs are Castor Bass edition.

Just told ya Castor Bass

Qkz x hbb has way more rumble than castor bass (not pro). I don't think that pro really improves on that aspect. But you need to find the right tips for your ears. Stock qkz hbb tips kinda trash like on most budget iems. Qkz x hbb hades has even more bass, sub bass a little worse than qkz x hbb, but they're more comfortable at higher volume, but it's not for everyone and not for every type of music and it's harder to drive, but i really love them, they're my favorite with qkz x hbb atm. Castor and castor pro are also a little harder to drive. You won't find better bass quality with good quantity at this price than qkz x hbb. Kbear Rosefinch has more quantity but it lacks any rumble and punch for me. Kz saga bass could be a good competitor to qkz x hbb from what I've heard. Also there is new 7hz elua, wich is hbb colab, also could be something interesting, but a little bit more expensive. I'm waiting for both of those and more pairs to hear them, since i can't really find anything to replace qkz x hbb. I'd say go with qkz x hbb. They're absolute beasts for hip hop and any other genre really, if you're into dark sound signature which helps bass. Qkz x hbb hades are absolutely fucking insane for hip hop, but could be lacking in other genres, but i like them for most other music too. But for movies i always use qkz x hbb.

I don't think you can get disappointed by 7hz legato, especially if you can get them at 70$. I'm testing them atm. My favorite iem before getting legato was qkz x hbb, at 10-12$ you just can't beat them. I tried kbear rosefinch, kz castor bass, kz castor pro bass, qkz hades, qkz khan, truthear zero blue. Qkz x hbb and 7hz legato destroys them in the bass department. It's very punchie and rumblie. And at the same time it's clean. Correct tips are very-very crucial when you are looking for good bass. Atm I can't say with 100% confidence what i like more, but I'm leaning to legato heavily. I feel like legato has a bit more bass, with a bit more quality and clarity. The soundstage is definitely wider, and it has more details, thanks to 2 driver setup. Talking about drivers. It's fucking nuts that it has 12mm driver just for bass. And 6mm for everything else. Also it's less shoutier than qkz x hbb somehow. Note that qkz x hbb is already a very dark set for most people. I have very bad sibilant hearing and the legatos sound more comfortable for me. Is it 7-10 times better than qkz x hbb? No. But it's worth the shot imo, not like there's a lot if any sets that are legato alternatives in this price range. Note that they are big, but i don't have any issue with fit. I have yet to receive blon z300, 7hz elua, kz saga bass, kz prx. But i don't think they're beating legato or qkz hbb. Although I'm hyped to hear how planars replay bass on kz prx. Also I'm in the same boat with you. I don't get obsession with clarity. But to each their own. I just think it's a bit forced. Or I'm for real hearing everything differently compared to most people. But none of my friends prefer sets that are cleaner and less bassy.

I am using fiio ka13 and kz castor bass (all up) is my favorite, as I am a basshead. Even though I am using wavelet and its base tuner, I feel like the ka13 could drive better iems. Do you recommend something from kz?

Yeah I'll give it a shot and see, thanks! One of my favorite IEMs ever is the KZ Castor Bass, which is about $12 but far more fun than much over the gear I have over $200. Technical no, fun as fuck yes.

The KZ Castor Bass consistently gives me a headache every time I try to listen to it

Only tried 3 so far. Kz edx pro, truthear gate and kz castor bass edition. Gate had the best treble

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)

Haven’t shoved them in my ear holes myself, so take this as secondhand synthesis — but here’s the general consensus: The Legato’s bass hits *way* harder — more subwoofer-like, with massive slam and long decay. It’s tuned to overwhelm, not just emphasize. The KZ Castor (Bass side) is boosted too, but it’s more about mid-bass punch than deep sub-bass rumble. The driver doesn’t move as much air as the Legato’s dual-DD setup and tends to compress earlier when pushed. If you're chasing raw, cinematic bass — the Legato is the sledgehammer. The Castor’s more controlled and polite by comparison, but not in the same league when it comes to sheer quantity.

Just recently discovered IEMs. The first one I have bought is the kz castor bass improve for 8 bucks. I can only afford affordable ones and i would appreciate it if you recommend a better one under 40$ a planar one would be better

I can vouch for KZ Castor. Amazing pair with Hardware level EQ tuning.

Improved Bass One. You can also check for the KZ Castor Pro, but I personally haven’t tried them.

I would recommend against Bluetooth earbuds entirely. I've tried several aptX Low Latency buds and I can still hear some amount of latency on even the best of them. YMMV depending on how sensitive you are to sound delays. If you absolutely want wireless earbuds, get a pair with a 2.4GHz transmitter [like these](https://www.amazon.com/Soundcore-Earbuds-Low-Officially-Co-branded-Included-Compatible/dp/B0B87MQG2N) \- note, I have not used that particular pair and I'm not vouching for them. Just giving an example. Really, though, I feel like the best results would be just using a pair of cheap wired earbuds. It's not like a phone that you keep in your pocket so having a wire attached isn't very cumbersome, in my opinion. I prefer the sound quality and comfort of IEMs but you said that you don't like the feeling of them in your ears so you probably want to look at something like the Faaeal Snow-Lotus or the Ksearphone Little Black Bell S (LBBS). If you change your mind about in-ear monitors (or someone else reading this wants a recommendation), I highly recommend the KZ Castor Bass Enhanced Edition. Fantastic sound quality for around $20 with just enough punchy bass to make gunfire and explosions sound right.

I have kz castor enhanced bass version, I'm thinking of switching and my budget is $30, what iems would you recommend for me?, i mostly listen to vocal, base and instrumental centric music, so sort of everything but mostly on the vocal side.

I like everything about it, it's my first so I can't compare it with other iems to say what I dislike, as compared to the my old bluetooth this is superior. I'm giving my kz's to my gf, and buying new pair of iems. I want to find out what I'm missing out on, in other slightly expensive iems ($30).

So far, I like it more and it’s more of a bass head IEM than the Castor Bass.

I got the castors bass edition they feel lackluster to qkz x hbb but then again if you want something with a bit of everything ew300 is a no brainer or if you got the cash and you want bass 7hz legato seems like a pretty good choice

The KZ Castor pro or bass edition would be a really good option for this price point. The sound signature is almost identical to tea pros, which are known to be good for gaming. You will not get anywhere near the spacial effects that headphones can produce, but directional audio (called imaging) will be really good. I used to use Castor bass edition for cod and battlefield, and it was good for allowing me to pinpoint the direction in which enemy footsteps are coming from. OP, you'll need to spend more money on, ideally, a hybrid (DD, BA) or planar iem to get the ability to figure out how far away a sound is coming from. The EM6L is known for doing this pretty well, though the truthear HEXA may be more within your price range if raising your budget is ever an option.

from what i know og castor bass have higher treble than castor pro. so i guess og castor bass may harsh to some while castor pro have slightly lower the bass and reduce some of treble region

They sound better with DAC. There's clearly a difference between listening to my OG Castor Bass straight out of the phone/PC, and when I connect it through my Fiio JA11.

Yes. I used to own the KZ ZS10 Pro, then moved to QKZ x HBB, TangZu Wan'Er, and the KZ Castor Bass. And honestly the QKZ, Tangzu, and Castor Bass outperforms the ZS10. I haven't heard of the 7hz Zero:2, but I would put the Tangzu Wan'er over the ZS10 all day. It sounds cleaner, and better resolution. Although the tuning of the Wan'er isn't for me. It lacks the bass that I'm looking for. I think from the 3 that I mentioned earlier, I would go for the QKZ x HBB just for it's bass quality (I still think this is unique from the budget price point), the TangZu Wan'er if you prefer a more "balanced" tuning, then the KZ Castor Bass if you prefer a V-shape, fun sounding budget IEM.

I currently own both the TangZu Wan'er, and the KZ Castor (Bass), and *used to* own the KZ ZS10 Pro 2. I think you should get the TangZu Wan'er. It fits all the things you're looking for. Balanced sound, clear details, and separation, better comfort, and no need for a DAC/AMP. And I think it also fits your music library of old J-Pop, and a bit of Classical. Although I wouldn't consider the TangZu Wan'er "FUN TO LISTEN TO". I just find it *okay*, not entirely "boring" but I just don't find it as fun and lively as the KZ Castors.

Agreed, the cheapest "good sound quality" headphones I can think of are some Koss stuff and even those are around RM140-200. (If OP's priority is sound quality anyways) Some recommendations for OP if he doesn't mind IEMs: KZ Castor Bass edition, KZ EDC Pro, Moondrop Chu II, Tangzu Wan'Er original and SE versions, 7Hz Zero 2 and original versions, and the Truthear Gate. Note that I only specifically recommend those 2 KZ models since the rest of their lineup don't sound as good unless you move up the price bracket. KZ also has issues with deceptive marketing as well with certain models where they switch out the drivers randomly in the middle of the production run. The Chu II can occasionally be found for around RM40-50 in carousell, and if you live in the Klang Valley, starspicker's store sometimes have open box Chu IIs for sale.

I’m quite a basshead myself, so probs KZ Castor Bass, or ZSN for balanced option

I use the chu 2 and they are great, my fav out of the 3 pairs of KZ ones and another one I can't remember.. Second would be the KZ harman. Both are around the $30-50 mark on Amazon. Chu 2 is definitely more comfortable, especially paired with the Comply T500 memory foam eartips.

I've got a set of Kz castor harman bass edition's I love them, even up high volume with a dac+amp they are still crystal clear. Another great budget iem are the moondrop chu 2, better highs and mids compared to the kz castors, need to eq the bass up just a touch, but the bass is clear once you do. Out of the 2 I prefer the moondrops, they are a lot smaller and a lot more comfortable, great for having a nap sleeping on your side. I've paired them with the kz az09 pro bluetooth earhooks and from both my pc and s20U they sound amazing. One must for any iem is some good eartips, I was using the spinfit cp145 which were a huge step up from the stock ones, but currently using the comply t500 foam tips, I don't think I could ever go back to silicone.

It's a slippery slope chasing great sounding audio. Still my favourite sounding earphones/earbuds are were the cheapest Skullcandy ones from back in 2008-2010, cost $35Aud, had a slight U shape sound, and so clear you could separate instruments while listening. All from a ipod nano. Then they changed the design and sound quality dropped dramatically... still yet to find anything that comes close. Currently using KZ castor harman bass edition iem or Sennheiser HD 280 pro, paired with a ymoox DS400+ DAC from my pc. All this and I'm still chasing the sound those old Skullcandy earbuds put out..

I completely agree. Had the original Castors (bass improved supposedly) and they ended up collecting dust. Worst sounding IEM in my collection. Then I got the new Pro and WOW!! Can't get enough of it. Great sub bass, great bass, decent mids and highs. For an IEM at this price, the sound stage is also very decent.

I'm a big fan of the KZ Castor Bass as well (I have pairs for home and the office) though I tend to go with something with a more neutral sound profile for gaming. My current gaming IEMs are the Kiwi Ears Cadenza.

I realy like my kz zs12 pro x and kz castor bass

Got mine for 4$ on aliexpress

My recommendation: don’t buy off hype, don’t go off ChatGPT and instead watch a lot of reviews on budget iems and go from there. I bought a planar Letshuoer S08 via the hype here: HATED IT (Ish) I bought an Arrti T10 here via hype here: hated it. I bought KZ Casyor Bass: hated it Bought a KZ ZNA on a whim… been the best IEM for me lately. Perfect sub-bass, clear details and no treble fatigue… The moral is, don’t buy via graphs or hype. Do your own research via YouTube reviews, or IEM’s you like the look of. Most for the crinacle stuff honestly is shit in my opinion. Uncomfortable nozzles… etc.

They’re not even that bassy and they suck.

It’s actually a really good IEM. Out of all the IEM’s I own so far: Letshuoer S08 Artti T10 kZ ZS 10 Pro X KZ Castor Bass KZ EDX Pro I’ve kept the ZNA as my dailies. They just work perfectly for every genre I listen to. Metal, Liquid DnB, Wave, EDM, Progressive Metal, Hip-Hop,

What I liked the most so far is KZ saga bass enhanced. The density and feedback from the bass feels amazing, theres alot of rumble and good impact. Kz castor bass is good but its mainly just the punch, it lacks body in the vocals and sometimes feels lacking. I feel like the mid range on saga feels smoother than castor bass. FIIO FD11 was surprisingly good too but it has a very strong dense bass that hits pretty hard. Its warmer than saga but has more color overall.

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

Can't argue with that really. Love my zvx and both castor bass an castor bass pro.

Yeah I enjoy it too. But honestly I can't tell much of a difference In the castor bass an the pro. what's ur switch setting?

my advice would be to buy kz castor bass version, and snowksy retro nano + a couple of extra batt(assuming your phone can support ldac.)

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

Try out the KZ Castor Harmon Improved Bass edition or the KZ Castor Pro Bass Edition. Affordable, and surprisingly fun to use.

The Punch is good. For a better Deuce, look for a cheap Aoshida E20. In the budget range, my basshead iems to go: 7hz x HBB Elua, Castor Bass og, Saga Bass, Libra Balanced, KBear Rosefinch

Sadly i don't have the Rosefinch, the others i think in my budget sets are the ones i go for when you talk about bassy boyz, not in any ranking, i love those cheap bangers. But if i want to recommend the best among those, the Elua, Castor Bass og and Rosefinch are the most basshead sets, with Rosefinch being the big cannon and Elua an underdog mini Deuce, the E20 is just a better and cheaper Deuce, lol.

the OG castor bass are my go tos for anything hardstyle (uptempo, raw style etc) lol, they’re incredible for that but for everything else i would absolutely not pick them 💀

Small list of the ones I recommend for beginners with budget 1. Moondrop chu ii 2. Kz castor (original or pro) if you like bass, pick the black one 3. 7hz Zero Red 4.sgor adonis

You can also get KZ Castor Harman Target edition, I use the same with my Boss Katana 50 and they have been great since the past year

Well I only have them Simgot supermix 4… and I’m such a sucker for the harman target so I luv them, the treble is soooo smooth, the fit, the looks I love then. I’m considering a new cable tho.

Bass isn't that good for games like Val, I'd go with the harman and see how I like it from there. The IEMs aren't crazy expensive. Also, the USB C dac should work on pc without problems

Based on ONLY what you(OP) said about your usage, between those 2 IEMs the Castor Harmon is the better option. The 4 switches on the Castors control “Bass/Bass/Mids/Treble”. By default they are all in the Off position. Turning on both Bass switches will give you a nice and easily noticeable increase in bass response. The EDC Pro is an amazing sounding IEMs for how cheap it is, but that’s the thing, it is cheap. The materials used for the EDC Pro are of the lowest quality. This may not matter to you but just doing a simple side by side comparison of the Castors to the EDC Pro, Castors have a far better build quality. I would seriously look into getting the Saga bass version. Even the Saga Balanced version sounds “better” than the Castor Harmon versions and the Saga Bass has a noticeable boost in the low end over the saga balanced while still retaining its clarity.

It really depends on what kind of sound profile you are looking for. Castor is a more capable iem in my opinion. You should check out frequency response graphs of the iems. It may give you an idea of how they sound. It's explained on the headphonezone website. There are two versions of the Castor, bass (black) and harman (silver). If you want to experience a bass head tuning this can do it well. The bass version is a fun set, not particularly correct sounding. The harman might do a better job of that ( I haven't tried the harman). The stock tips on castors are just okay. I highly recommend latex liquid silicone tips from conceptkart. Polaris is a balanced sound, still a v shaped tuning but not as pronounced as the others. It is easy to listen to but in the end is not as resolving as the castor bass. It can bring out some details but there are better iems that do it well. It is still a great beginner set if you are tight on budget. It has decent levels of bass and fairly smooth treble presentation. Widebore tips are recommended with Polaris. I have not tried the zex, partly because of some reviews mentioning harsh treble. I am a bit sensitive to treble, but overall it should give you an energetic sound. With good amounts of bass and treble. The driver combinations and features are different for these iems.

My personal journey to find the perfect audio setup that works for me was long and expensive. Put simply, I tried a ton of the gamer-focused headsets first. Went through a lot, and some of them were actually decent, but in the end, I realized the truth: gamer headphones are not a good value. They put more resources into the branding and aesthetics than they do for actual audio quality. The one exception to this was the Sennheiser/Drop PC38x. These are wired open back headphones with a built-in mic. For me, these were far and away the best sounding "gamer" headphones I ever tried, and it wasn't even close. The open back really opens up the soundstage, which, at least for me, really helped with directional audio. The convenience of the built-in mic was definitely a bonus too. Sadly, it looks like they are no longer making these... maybe Drop or Sennheiser still makes something similar but I haven't looked. I ran the Astro a40's for a long time too. These also have an open back design, but I always found them to be a bit too harsh, and I spent WAY too much time trying to tweak the EQ to get them to sound good. The terrible software didn't help matters either. IEM's are all the rage now. I was skeptical at first, but have found this to be the best way to go. IEM's were always kind of a niche item that was historically expensive for a decent set, but over the last few years, a TON of really good IEM's have hit the market for super cheap. My current favorite set are the Truthear Crinacle Zero Reds. You can find them on sale pretty often for around $50. If that's too much, there are a lot of great options in the $15 - $50 range too. The KZ Castors come to mind: I think I got mine for like $25 and I like these almost as much as the Zero Reds. The Audiovance Vibes 202's are good as well and can be had for around $30. I like them because they sound really great, and I like the cables they come with. And of course, everyone loves the Moondrop Chu II. I have those as well and they are indeed quite good, especially for the price (around $20). The amazing thing is that all of the IEM's I mentioned above sound way better than the in ear monitors I used to use back in my days of playing live music... and they literally cost hundreds of dollars less. It blows my mind. The one downside to IEM's is the lack of a built-in mic. This is easy to get around if you are playing on PC, but a little less convenient if you play on console. I have a dedicated mic for my setup since I do a lot of music recording so it isn't a problem, but if you need a built-in mic, there are cables for IEM's that you can buy that have a little mic built in. I can't really speak to how good they are, but I would think that would work ok plugged directly into your Xbox or PS controller. Anyway, I didn't set out to write a book here when I started this post, but there it is... TLDR; iems are the way to go. Even the Moondrop Chu II's sound significantly better than even the most expensive gamer-focused headsets. And that's before you even consider cost. If you are like me, and your earholes don't generally like earbuds, you may need to experiment with different tips to find something that is comfortable enough to wear for long periods, but once you do it is awesome, and definitely worth the trouble.

IEMs is the way. Just get KZ castor with a nice audiocular dac

I love my KZ Castors definitely recommend.

First of all: I am not an expert in hi-fi. I'm just a simple man who was looking for good IEMs, and this is only my subjective opinion. The IEMs I was looking for should cost between $50 and $150 and should have balanced, lively bass with pleasant treble that does not tire the ears. So far, I have tried many IEMs and tested them on my PC and smartphone without any additional devices. No DAC, no amp. It was important to me that they were ready to use right out of the box. For me, good sound is when it is carried by lively bass and deep frequencies that guide you through the music, especially for drum and bass and metal. Low frequencies, and especially bass, form the basis of a good listening experience; that's the primary purpose of why I prefer hi-fi headphones, to get into it. My rotation: **≈ 50$ IEMs which I tested:** LINSOUL TANGZU Wan'er LINSOUL SIMGOT EW200 MOONDROP CHU II LINSOUL 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 KZ Castor LINSOUL KZ ZS10 PRO 2 LINSOUL KZ ZS10 PRO X **≈ 100$ IEMs which I tested:** LINSOUL SIMGOT EW300 ARTTI T10 Pro TRUTHEAR Hexa Surprisingly, only two of the IEMs I tested impressed me with their overall bass reproduction. I couldn't decide between the KZ PRO 2 and the ZERO BLUE 2, but in the end I chose the BLUE 2 because it offers the best overall package. For me, the ZERO BLUE 2 is simply badass right out of the box. These were the only IMEs that had this deep sounding I was looking for. https://preview.redd.it/fm66t5fl5uef1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=87099e1c617e96b62bb51f28fe01520ebe96a0c6 https://preview.redd.it/pyn3x43m5uef1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=721c67332e8f8dd3db7ed8ac6e948c098e174871

I should have bought kefine klean instead of the kz castor.

Good point. Thats why i did tons of research after buying my first iem and dap which are kz castor and sony a35. Was overwhelmed with the vast number of iems and daps. Wanted to try it all in every price point but later decided it was not worth spending so much money so bought what i think is the best for me which was the wm1a and tea pros combo and sold my kz castor but kept my a35 as a backup. Now i can say i reached my endgame and no longer need to buy another device except when my current one breaks.

oh that's worrying as I use KZ castors for my daily use like office calls, fps games, music but the volume is always around 50-70%, I hope you recover from the damage take care

Kz casters cause I’m cheap, but they are better sounding than all the other headphones in my house and according to my mum sound and feel better built than AirPods

From that list Castor or Castor Pro but honestly I prefer Vader Balanced, Zenith, AM16, and ZS12 Pro X as my favorite KZ IEMs.

Agree. Zs10 pro 2 ( uppose to be upgrade ) are crap.Too bright and harsh heights. Vocals sound weird to me. Also overhiped to me are Castor Bass,HBB ''gaming'' collab. I have KZ Castor,QKZ x HBB ( these 2 are the crappiest ) Vader,Zs10 pro,PRX,and CCA Rhapsody. Rhapsody are the only ones that are good for me as a bass head.NIce sub bass rumble,punchy mid bass,present vocals,no harsh or piercing heights ( like zs10 pro 2),Decent wide soundstage.THey just sound good. Took me a while to make them comfortable,was about to give up on them. Definitely i recomend them for a basshead They need short steam eartips ( i shorten the stock ones ) to make them usable for 6,7-10 hours.Otherwise they push too much in your ear canal and cause pain due big nozzle. I ordered some eartips that suppose to work with them ( **Zhulinniao Zhu Rythme** ) but they are in transit and i didn't try them yet. I'd give them a try if u are a basshead.THey are good.

[Kz castor](https://s.shopee.ph/2B1Rl1Sztn) if looking for something affordable. [Pr2](https://s.shopee.ph/5puk88IXCi) naman if maluwag budget for the IEM.

Scandals and haters aside, I genuinely believe that most KZ IEMs are at least impressive, if not great. IMO the Castor and Castor Pro are probably the best for the price. That said, the ZS 12 Pro, shoots way above its weight.

i also want to buy that .. I've done some research with the help of some AI and seen some yt videos and read some posts and threads in reddit... I used kz castor last year and kz zs10 pro x around 3 years back but honestly didn't like it overall.... now will you plz share ur views or experience about ew300 thanks in advance

im selling 3k$ worth of amps, dacs, headphones, iems just because I accidentaly heard Kz castor (harman, white, UP UP DOWN DOWN).. no joke

way way way... im selling 3k$ worth of amps, dacs, headphones, iems just because I accidentaly heard Kz castor (harman, white)... 

Hi! You commented on my post and I thought I’d come by to give some advice! I would typically recommend the wan’er 2 as a first pair of iem’s but considering their large shell size they might not be for you. The Chu 2 are a great set absolutely and can be upgraded directly to the LAN 2 ref also from Moondrop. I wouldn’t recommend going for the ie200 because they cost a good amount of money but they take on a neutral tone which might be to your preference, I personally prefer a “fun” sound and therefore don’t use them often. Also consider tip sizes. If you find your canal is too small, most iem’s offer small tip sizes and you can find even smaller aftermarket, in which case I recommend the wan’er 2 as they have my favourite ever tips in the stock box that I use for all my iem’s. Don’t spend more than needed, I would recommend the KZ castors, Cadenza, Wan’er 1 or 2, Chu 2, or, if it’s in your budget, the LAN

I would say iems but depends upon one's use case. I am using OnePlus buds and kz castors. I like castors more for gaming and media consumption on pc but I use buds in the gym and in public places.

If you are a bass guy, KZ castor, if you want not only the bass but every other thing, tangzu wan'er, Do not buy from Amazon/Flipkart those are a rip off. I had a pretty bad experience with conceptkart, so I would recommend The headphone zone but the choice is yours to make.

KZ Castor or KZ D-Fi if there's a sale

They're very popular because of their price/sound quality ratio. You'd usually have to pay 20-30usd for that quality from other brands. There's a summer Sale now on Ali. You can get the Castor or the Castor Pro or D-FI for less than 10usd each if you have enough coins

Bruv you don't need a specific style of earphones to hear footsteps in bgmi. Anything that gives stereo audio is all that you need. For music? Hell Yea, the castors sound amazimg

The Zenith is the best one by a large margin for me, the Gale would be my second choice (EDX Pro 2 has the same tuning and about 2-3dB more bass, I prefer the balance of the Gale though, both are an incredible value for the price (+/-$8-9)). I have or had at some point the Hydro, PRX, Saga (both), Castor (both), Libra (hi-res and balanced), ZVX, ZVX Pro, Vader Balanced/Trio, ZS12 Pro X, EDC Pro, D-Fi and Polaris, of this sets I like the Saga Balanced the most.

kz castor (better bass response)

After some research and a being bit tired of using wired headphones,I decided to buy my first pair of iems (Sennheiser ie200), and found them to be a significant improvement in sound quality of both airpods pro (2nd gen) and Sony WF1000xm4 (though I think the latter is still pretty good). Out of curiosity, I also purchased a pair of KZ Castors, just to see the difference between a pair of 100$s and a pair of 10$s. While I wouldn’t exactly call it ‘night and day’, the difference is still fairly obvious, even for a complete layman. The ie200s sound quite a bit richer, fuller, and, well, ‘closer’(sorry again for the lay description, haha). The comfort of the ie200 is really outstanding, as they are positively tiny and fit snugly in my ears. The sound quality is excellent, too, at least to me. Quite well balanced, good bass, clear trebles, and just overall very ‘smooth’ and enjoyable to listen to. I find myself pulling them out, ignoring the inconvenience of chords, just to listen to my favourite songs with them, whereas with the bluetooth buds I only want to wear them when I’m commuting or working out. That said, I think the KZs are also quite good indeed, both in terms of sound and build quality(the metal part on the Castors actually feel a bit premium), especially when you consider the price, and I would have no problem recommending them to anyone who doesn’t want to spend more than 20 bucks on earphones. (At least until they break or stop working, as I heard can be a problem for inexpensive chi-fi iems. But yeah, still good value.)

In your list, I vote for the Wan'er S.G. To me it's the most balanced and sounds the best. The Castor is definitely more bassy, and the Zero is pretty similar to the SG. If you can wait, I'd hold out for the Wan'er 2 and it's reviews.

My recommendations would be -Truthear zero: Red. Be carefull as the nozzles are abit large. -truthear zero: blue 2: has really small nozzles copared to the reds. Dont go with kz as they have bad qc and nost of their products break within months.

Not all but the kz castor and the castor pro my friend has both broke in a month more or less. It sounds good when it works but not otherwise

MORMOQUE EP-06 Metallic Wired... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9TSWJ4P?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share These for unintrusiveness. KZ Castor when I want better quality. Or over the head senheizer

Enjoy your iem! You can set the 1 and 3 switch to up so that the bass improved.I have one of these and really love it.

I recommend to choose on the basis of your music preference, but castor is good for bass , tangzu for vocals , https://preview.redd.it/594207ilsyre1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=45c7d8ae407cb16602086e85c31d5c6f4dd38f71

If u wait too long ull miss a great deal on conceptkart,com for a beginner i recommend kz castor ₹1330;, deal ends today #

I have both in bass versions. Original has more bass but less clarity and pro has less quantity of bass, but it's cleaner and nicer cleared highs. If you want more bass go for the original castor bass, if you want a more balanced sound with still having more than average bass get the pro bass.

Try iems. I use kz castor

Kz castor if you want bass na may highs pa dn

Average skullcandy crusher/kz castor enjoyer

Get a KZ Castor bass and glue the front vent. You'll have bass for days, more than you bargained for.

Im a casual gamer on PC, mostly I play FPS game like PUBG, CS2, Squad and Battlefield. I mostly use KZ Castor and KZ PR3, I have CCA CRA, Salnotes Zero, JBL Quantum, Razer Hammerhead v2, Razer Hammerhead duo and couple of other budget iem. KZ castor has more boomy bass, so its great if u need more immersive sound with a lot of explosion and gunshot like Battlefield and Squad. But you can still tell what happen, where and how far.. But, when I need direction and detail like footsteps sound and gunshot direction I use KZ PR3.

>While it is still a cheap IEM it still gives a massive difference compared to cheapy pay at my local market. Without a doubt. KZ Castors have a smoother frequency response and are a better match to Harmon Target than many of the more expensive, popular full sized studio headphones https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?attachments/kz-castor-tuning-adjustable-dynamic-dual-driver-earphone-iem-harman-target-2-frequency-respons-png.368042/ For example, now look at the Sony MDR 7506 https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?attachments/sony-mdr-7506-frequency-response-measurements-png.103799/ Or the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?attachments/beyerdynamic-dt-990-pro-measurement-250-ohm-headphone-frequency-response-png.109720/ The Castors are objectively better for mixing. So it's no longer true that you can't get good IEMs for under $50 that are good for mixing. You just have to know which ones to buy, just like for more expensive headphones Here's another good cheap pair https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/truthear-gate-17-iem-review.61784/

Kz Castor is technically superior to Gate , but has a bad tuning...If you know how to EQ , Castor's output becomes much better than the Gate....But Gate is more Comfortable than Castor for wearing.

KZ Castor, Moondrop Chu II, Tangzu Wan’Er SG II are all great and less than $40

1. I would say the Castor. The gale is good too and one bonus is that it comes with a DAC in the cable. But if you can get the castor with a cheap dac I think that would be the better pick. 2. The Bass version puts more emphasis on the lower frequencies and the H target is a more "appealing" tuning, It's a sound that must people would probably like. 3. Are you talking about the Castor and Castor Pro? The regular Castor has 2 DDs in a 10mm + 8mm setup and the Pro has a 2 dd setup with 10mm + 10mm. It's basically the same but like every so slightly better. Just for for the cheaper one.

I don't recommend getting any IEM bub 10 USD. Save up 6 more usd and get the KZ Castor.

I would say so

It gets good starting from 1000 and upwards. I'm currently using the Kz Castor (1200Rs i think) and it's already very good.

I got Moondrop Chu 2 DSP last month for 2300. Before that I had KZ Castor working perfectly fine but had to change as my new phone only has Type C . The iems smaller so it doesn't hurt the ear much. And the sound is no doubt the best one in this budget. The treble to me seems a bit spicy and that's the only con for me till now. Will update if i find any other issues.

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)

I currently use kZ castor IEMs and I've found them to be decent. Not too fatiguing and you don't need them loud.

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

I like my Castors better than my Castor Pros. No bass whatsoever.

The ZS10 Pro 2 are one of my favorites, both in design and sound ✌🏾 https://preview.redd.it/b9kr63sespyf1.jpeg?width=6944&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b2a129590e21732700427c025ef7a9330ff8301a

Thanks bro, I bought to try and sell 😁 only then have I had the opportunity to go little by little looking for one or some that I like So far my favorites are the Castor Harman, Vader HR and the ZS10 Pro 2. And which ones are your favorites or which ones have you been using? ✌🏾 https://preview.redd.it/miwmgezoxpyf1.jpeg?width=9248&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4a416eccdeadf077e90c1e5d95b08d54ca1d2bdd

Ive been rotating between the kz castor, tripowin viviace, and truthear zero. Castor for bass and vivace and red just based on what im feeling. But I do feel like the vivoace is a little bit better

KZ Castor is probably the cheapest bass iem you can get thats still insane quality.

I have the KZ Castor for like two weeks and they're awesome!

i think KZ castor is pretty good.

OG castor Harman? 🤔🧐 I'm tryna break it's tuning by heavily EQ'ing it. But unfortunately it responds well to wired EQ presets.

On the ultra budget I would say KZ Castor/EDC Pro, then Crincale Red of you want more bass around 50$ and around $100 if you like a nice V shape signature the Juzear defiant or Truth ear pure if you want neutral+bass boost around $90.