KZ - Castor (Harman Target with Improved Bass Version)

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

Yes! I would love to have a list of what IEMs in different price ranges fit under what sound signature. As a step toward trying to figure out my own tuning preferences, I just spent hours pouring through reviews and comments trying to create my own list of IEMs by sound signature and, oh my, what a royal pain that was! It would have been so nice if something like that already existed. If I want to try a certain sound signature, I need to know what IEMs to go to. And if I identify a sound signature I particularly like using budget IEMs, I will want to know which more premium IEMs share the desired sound signature so I can upgrade if I choose. I have bought my first few sets via a hit or miss process after reading a bajillion reviews and comments and, luckily, have been pretty pleased with each of them. I have the Kiwi Ears Cadenza, the Kiwi Ears Quartet, and the ZiiGaat Doscinco. (I also bought a set of KZ Castor Bass super cheap on Temu just to see what they sound like after reading a review that said everyone should buy these just to hear the crazy bass. When I saw them for only $12, I figured what the heck, why not.) I have enjoyed each of the sets I got in their own way but still don’t really know what my preferred tuning is. A resource that provides information on which IEMs have what tuning profile would go a long way in making the quest to figure that out easier. And, as another commenter mentioned, it would also be helpful to have information on what tuning profiles go best with different genres of music.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

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

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

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

**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

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/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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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 💀

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.

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

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

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...

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.

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 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 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.

I have the Castor Bass version its pretty good for the price (bit too much bass for me). I use them setting of DDUU or DDUD and wide bore eartips which sort of reduces the bass make them more enjoyable and also helps with gaming.

I do like bass but i prefer it slightly textured and balanced with vocals and treble and I have lots of eartips from other IEMs so i thought lets experiment with it. Now I listen to Castor more often than my other more expensive IEMs.I found the perfect balance with them😁.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

**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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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