KZ - Castor Pro (Harman Target Version)

Under $10 the best is the KZ EDC PRO (edx pro is another iem), use it with Kbear 08 eartips. In Aliexpress (sometimes using coins) you can get for $8-15 the ND planet, KZ Castor Pro/OG, KZ Libra Balanced/Hi res/X, KZ Saga balanced/bass, KZ ZVX pro, all of them have good reviews and comments. The Kbear 07 and 08 eartips are good for them.

I have bass and non bass pro version and when I listen first time I got amazed by non bass version is more refined and clean than the bass version and I return my bass version and keep my harmen target version I don't feel any difference in bass

Castor Pro (Black) is not bad, especially if you like bass music. The silver (Harman Target) version heard that it is not bad also... I think it is the only one in these 3 selection that have 2 x 10mm Dynamic Driver, the other 2 if I remember correctly is single dynamic driver.

Castor Pro have a girthy nozzle, might be too much for people with smaller ear canals.

Castor Pro (Black) is not bad, especially if you like bass music. The silver (Harman Target) version heard that it is not bad also... I think it is the only one in these 3 selection that have 2 x 10mm Dynamic Driver, the other 2 if I remember correctly is single dynamic driver.

So I've had my Castor pros for about 3 days now and I've got them to where I am happy with the tuning. For mostly classic rock, metal, stuff not extremely bass heavy. So now I am once again on the hunt, this time I was wondering what a good not pricey (I'm poor) lol, more bass heavy but still punchy. I listen to some rap also but mostly hardcore techno 155+bpm, but I still want it to be punchy. Any recommendations will help. Thx guys😊.

Castor pros, silver is the Harman curve, the black ones are the bass enhanced.☺️ I bought them as my first and I'm very happy.

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)

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)

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)

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.

It's a really nice review. I ordered a castor pro harman target version yesterday. Hopping it to perform well for gaming and music. do you think it will be good for gaming?

Yeah isolation is a tough one. I’ve had the KZ Pros and think they are garbage on all aspects from the fit, to sound isolation, to the sound reproduction. Probably my most hated IEMs that I’ve tried

I have the castor pro harman version and it's pretty good for the price.

Preorder the tangzu wan er 2 off the tangzu website or aliexpress. It has really good value. I have the castor pro and its ok but nothing crazy. I prefer my 7hz crinacle zero 2 instead.

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

Good call. I play bass and the Sure single driver couldn’t cut it. A friend in Nashville recommended the KZ. I got the dual driver for $20 and the difference is night and day. The triple driver work well too I just didn’t find them as comfortable.

I had just the OG with Bass , very good The pro with bass is a different beast. If you want relaxed smooth thick bass , the OG is better , the pro has somewhat coloured enhanced mids and all cymbals sound the same . Imagine the old one note bass of cheap speakers , now flip this into treble . I prefer the OG bass than the pro bass

There appears to be a massive dip in the upper mids low treble on the castor pro bass . Also when there’s a lot of badly constructed treble in the track, the OG sounds better Another thing, at low volumes the OG carries the bass better I have both and like them both , but the OG version plays better on most tracks except where there is too much bass

I'm enjoying the lower ends so much that I'm starting to think I should not be enjoying songs this much for such a cheap IEM 😁

I like bass so I guess it's preference on the cheaper iems

Месье! Посоветуй Не могу подобрать уши к shanling m1 plus. Слушаю в основном металы и электронку. Сразу кажется с непривычки, что вообще нет баса Castor pro с тублерами 1100 - уже почти к ним привык, но чего то не хватает. V образные TRN white tiger - середина и вокал сильно лезут вперед, отодвигая остальное на задний план. че-то не идут Truthear Crinacle zero - слабо звучат, но дефолтный кабель паршивый, норм кабель еще едет Вот теперь на форуме вместо вышеперечисленных рекомендуют эти KZ ZVX PRO, мол на голову выше звучат, хотя везде пишут, что баса маловато Как бы ты сравнил эти уши с вышеперечисленными? Спасибо!

If you end up choosing Castor, I recommend you get the Castor Pro for the same price. They fixed some shortcomings of the non-pro version.

Castor pro is much better than waner

(Im the writer of this post) Castor pro harman simply better.

Castor pro is similar in value, or rather higher than the most recommended 30-40 bucks iem at the moment. Same for both versions. I prefer castor pro bass more.. It's better than kefine delci for me. Actually, I have several excellent iem for near 150 dollars, but I use castor pro very often and I'm impressed with that.

No, I just meant that the castor pro is not too far behind when used with 150 bucks iem.

But I think castor pro is worth at least $35~40$.

**QKZ HBB:** Has more bass compared to Castor Pro, but comes with slight compromises in Mids and Treble. In certain songs the bass tends to mask the vocals. The Treble is smooth for some, but it is on the darker side. **Castor Pro:** Has Bass and good sub bass rumble and it is one of the sets that maintains a balance in everything. It has Sub bass, mid bass, decent Mids and resolving Treble. For me, this is the jack of all trades set under 20 dollars. Most bassy iems tend to sacrifice on mid bass punch to maintain the Mids. This does provide that mid bass punch but at a cost of harman-ish Mids.

**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.

**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.

For Gaming Castor Pro Silver would be better. It has better Resolution and the soundstage gives a surrounding effect feeling.

Yes, the filter is thin and prone to get clogged with wax. In my case, it was never an issue. But, yes if you are not careful with it, the filter needs to be replaced from time to time.

**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.

--- ## The Context The Kiwi Ears Cadenza has gained attention as a potential upgrade in the budget IEM category, particularly when it comes to driver and sound quality. My goal with this review is to evaluate whether it truly offers an improvement over other popular IEMs in a similar price range, such as the Tangzu Wan’er SG and Salnote Zero 2. Additionally, I aim to test the full potential of its driver to see how it performs under various conditions. This review is based on my hands-on testing and overall listening experiences. --- ## Review ### 1. Build Quality The build quality is what you can expect from a $30 IEM: it's cheap. The KZ Castor Pro feels more premium. The IEMs are so lightweight that I feel like there's nothing on my ears. It's a good thing when it is about comfort. About the stock cable I don't feel confident with it; it's very thin. Overall, it's forgivable as the IEM looks good, at least. --- ### 2. Sound When I put these on with the stock eartips, I was extremely disappointed. The sound was awful—bright and sibilant. I tried every included tip and size, but the result was the same. Then I decided to use the eartips from my KZ Castor, and it sounded good. Personally, I am not a fan of this type of tuning, but there are times when I prefer a balanced sound. So, this does suit the mood. It's boring, but it's fine. --- **__Bass:__** The bass is present but lacks weight and depth. It leans toward a flatter, more neutral presentation with minimal sub-bass extension. While it avoids muddiness, it also doesn’t provide the engaging, punchy low-end that some people might prefer (including me), especially for genres like Hip-Hop or EDM. --- **__Mids:__** The mids sounded clear, lacking warmth, but they were neutral and enjoyable. I enjoyed the acoustic guitar and piano so much on Cadenza! It puts my KZ Castor Pro to shame. The upper mids were not as forward as the Wan’er, but both male and female vocals sounded decent on Cadenza. If I am to compare the Cadenza with the Wan’er, the latter sounds fuller and warmer. This is probably due to the mid-bass scoop on the Cadenza. Still, it’s fairly good. --- **__Treble:__** The treble is where the Cadenza’s issues with stock eartips were most noticeable. It’s overly bright and prone to sibilance, which can make extended listening uncomfortable. With better eartips, the treble smooths out and becomes tolerable, though it still leans toward a brighter presentation and might need to EQ. The soundstage and imaging are fairly average. Nothing too great in terms of accuracy and separation. Busy genres like rock music can sound congested, but I think it does fairly well for the budget. --- ### Do I feel like the need to EQ? For the most part? No. But, I do find it sibilant at higher volume. So, the only adjustment that I had to make is on the Treble side. --- ## 3. Driver This is the only thing where I was impressed and really felt like it was an upgrade! The Beryllium dynamic driver is impressive. It passed my distortion test at max volume. It's very EQ friendly. Although, it struggles when there is more than +1db gain in the sub bass region and use Wavelet's "Bass Tuner" with Sustain Compressor mode. The limiter needs to be turned on for this. With stock tuning it's not a problem tho. But, to be honest, I have yet to find a set that can handle that thing without applying a limiter. Even my bassy over the ear Sony headphones couldn't handle it. So, I call this driver competent for EQ'ing. --- ## 4. Conclusion While I do like the Cadenza, but other than the driver quality, there's not much difference I've felt while listening to this. It doesn't do anything exceptionally well. It's only recommended as the first IEM if the budget is not tight. But, if someone already got something like Salnote Zero 2, Wan'er SG or Gate, this upgrade doesn't make any sense.

Castor Pro is exciting and fun, but not EQ friendly (if you are using Apple music with max volume it can't handle Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Atif Aslam and Arijit 's high pitch vocals) western songs will not have any issues. With stock tuning, there will be no problem, but if you EQ the treble region, there will be distortion. On Spotify, it's very pleasant even with EQ. If I am to compare Cadenza and Castor Pro with this EQ profile: https://preview.redd.it/qo1y7i1a07ee1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=3941703199f3e3dc6571989e848b98877f628143 On Spotify, Castor Pro gives me an Eargasm... It makes me feel excited and enjoy the music. Cadenza is just okay and sharp. They sound identical but Castor Pro will have warmth making the music more listenable.

If your budget is tight, and you only want Bass QKZ x HBB is what you need. If you want Bass and open up other genres aside from Hip Hop, KZ Saga is good at that. Saga has more bass and tonality than Castor Pro, but Castor Pro has slightly better technicals.

All the three IEMs are somewhat specialized or niche in my opinion. None of these does something exceptionally well in everything. But, if you are talking about versatile IEMs then the list goes like this: Moondrop Chu 2> Castor Pro > Wan'er If your priority is Bass and fun sounding IEM that is good for gaming and music: Castor Pro> Chu 2 > Wan'er Castor Pro is good if you want a fun V-shaped sound. Why you don't get many reviews of it mostly because reviewers do not like KZ or the sound signature it offers. So, if you want insight of Castor Pro, you have to look for user reviews. Or check the review of ToneDeafMonk's Castor Bass. Castor Pro is an upgrade and fixes the things that Castor Bass had. If your priority is vocals and smooth treble: Wan'er outshines everything in this price range. Additionally, there's Tripowin Vivace if you want something that is versatile and good for gaming in that price range.

The Castor Pro is a really good IEM; especially if you like good bass. Then you have to see with what source you read your music.

I agree with the Saga. I can't comprehend how those are cheap while sounding very nice. To me, Saga is more energetic than the Castor Bass. OP can also opt for Castor Pro. It's basically an improved Castor. But you can have a much different experience with the Saga. They are both cheap, so if you have some extra money to spend, I suggest you try both. 😂 I have the castor, castor pro, saga and vader, and I have no regrets. Eyeing on the Rhapsody and Hydro for my next purchase. 🧐

Get the KZ castor pro, also get Audiocular D07 DAC with it. These iems are great I got them a few weeks ago but I noticed that they definitely need a dac to perform at their best. My phone is Redmi note 9 pro max which has a headphone jack, but yet I got a dac and the sound difference is definitely noticeable on a large scale.

I get a tinny distortion on the right side. Only happens in specific parts of tracks that have bass and male vocals,

Get castor pro bass or edc pro, get them from [https://www.headphonezone.in](https://www.headphonezone.in) or [https://conceptkart.com/](https://conceptkart.com/) Both are pretty good. Edc pro costs 600 without mic, or 750 for with mic. Castor pro is pretty much better version of Castor Chu 2 & zero 1 both are outdated.

I’d say pass both and go for the KZ Dawn Silver. It has more bass then both QKZxHBB and Castor Pro. I’m my opinion, the Dawn Silver is also more clear sounding than QKZxHBB. I have all three.

No one mentioning the EDC Pro or newer Saga? I have all three you have listed. Of the three, I like the Wan'er the best, but only if you cover the front vent to give it a bass boost. Stock, it's great for movies and K/J-pop. Cover the front vent, it's now good for EDM (think PulsRadio Dance's poppish EDM) The Castor Pro Bass is a bit too V shaped for me. The bass and trebles are the best of the three. And has the most technical build {2 DDs) and requires more power, so buy a good DAC with 30mW per channel. And you can EQ the mids to give you an even better sound. The Chu 2 is decent Just... decent. Nothing special. I'll get hate for it, but to me, the sound boring. So I'd rank them in this order 1 Wan'er (with front vent covered. If not covered, then go with Castor Pro Bass) 2 Castor Pro Bass (probably best of three for gaming) 3 Chu 2 ...or buy the new KZ Saga and be done with it.

If your audio source is coming from a PC, I'd suggest the KZ PRX. Great planar sound, But it does require more power to run them, which your PC will provide. But between the two choices above, definitely the Zero Red. It's a decent sounding, dual dynamic driver IEM. I own a pair. If you're more into bassier tunes, like EDM, then maybe the Zero Blue. I don't own the blues, but my other dual dynamic driver IEM is my Castor Bass Pro. It's more V shaped than the Zero Red. And to me, better for EDM.

What are you looking to accomplish? Gaming? Music, and which genre? I have the Castor Pro Bass and the Wan'er 1. I like bassy tracks (EDM) and prefer the Castor Pro Bass, though I need a stronger DAC than what the easy driving Wan'er needs.

I just got my KZ Castor Pro, the Harman target with improved bass version. Here's my quick impression and comparison over the original Castor. [KZ Castor Pro, Harman target with improved bass version](https://preview.redd.it/4vk8n0mjx8xd1.jpg?width=1612&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=021a6fed2b01efe4189d57573d1ec67cf5fb0ee1) The KZ Castor Pro is a refined, slightly elevated version of the original Castor. It's slightly larger than the original and features a different driver configuration, now with two 10mm drivers. This new configuration results in a fuller sound, with a more pronounced low-end. [KZ Castor Pro \(below\) and KZ Castor \(above\).](https://preview.redd.it/pufpfxsnx8xd1.jpg?width=1612&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f1f266c00bb892a5885eef4c4c72b13d5cd9e531) The bass has slightly less impact on the mid-bass but slightly more extension to the sub-bass, resulting in a more pronounced rumble. The midrange remains clear and detailed, with good vocal clarity, especially for male vocals. The treble is slightly more detailed and crisper, offering a more energetic and engaging sound. [On the left is the original Castor using 10mm & 8mm dynamic drivers. On the right is Castor Pro using two 10mm dynamic drivers. KZ placed the low-frequency driver closer to the nozzle on the Pro.](https://preview.redd.it/bohp5g49y8xd1.jpg?width=1612&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ff4205b5df382b5ec9b3cdfe33655b5c7f15ceb7) [Castor Pro \(on the right\) is slightly larger than the original Castor \(on the left\).](https://preview.redd.it/tj2b0owhz8xd1.jpg?width=1612&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7979fa90007c0adbc1b5aaf5d8cc3c37ac1670e5)

And the answer gonna be pretty subjective. If you have a limited budget, then it's kinda redundant. Personally, I prefer the Pro over the original, but not by much.

https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/D3NUIsUL51 For me, I have no complaints getting the Pro.

Castor pro black under 2k. For a more balanced harman ish tuning castor pro silver or 7hz zero2.

Gate, castor pro black, simgot ew100, tanchjim bunny, tanchjim zero ultima, nd planet many options. Get whichever fits your library.

From my experience, gate for treble, castor pro for bass, bunny for balanced. Watch reviews, read reddit, got to squiglink and see the graphs. I admit there's a learning curve but it's worth it.

Castor pros

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.

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.

Hi!, actually, the recently launched kz x angelears libra x is an excellent choice for gaming and vocals. But, if you mate are talking about music, with Castor pro (the version more fitted to your lining) you got it!

Of course mate, no problem. Yes, you are correct, rolling is changing the stock ones to aftermarket ones (cables and eartips). Cable recs? For those Caspro bass, my choice is always the qkz t1 cable, are in 3 colors: brown/black, blue/silver and gold ( i have more than 15 of these with my kz iems mostly). For beginners Caspro bass is a no brainer, Sagas and the new ZVX pro are good options aswell. Try first the Castor pro Bass without eq, and change the switches at your liking, the og is more bassy (and it's fine if someone likes more that kind of tuning), but i prefer more this pro because is more balanced and technically superior after all, for someone entering this hobbie, those are an excellent enter drug, lol

Castor pro are more big but also ergonomic and confortable compared to the og, similar weight

If you want something which is nuetral and clear with good bass get the CHU 2(3.5mm) If you only care about BASS then get the castor pro. The have really prominent bass but lack clarity in highs. Tangzu Wan'er have a shitty build quality, since you come from the samsung AKGs, tangzu will feel really cheap, and they have okayish sound quality with nice bass. overall i would suggest moondrop chu 2, really great build(metallic/aluminium alloy) built, and have a good balanced sound with a nice bass that doesnt get into your brain, KZ castors are purely bass prominent!

I have Castor Pro Black and Tangzu Wan'er, for me Castor Pro sounds better more clear and detailed but the comfort on my ear is pretty bad I can't have It for long time, Wan'er on the other hand is just a little bit worst not much, and It's comfortable to use for many hours. So I would recommend Wan'er, is a safe option, I haven't tried Chu II It could possibly be a good option aswell since most people like It.

$16? The kz castor pro alone already cost that, this collection cost around 100~200$

I have the Chu 2 and Castor Pro Bass version. The Chu 2s are way better all around than the Castor Pro Bass - way clearer detail, midrange, treble, more ergonomic for small ears, build quality, etc. I did notice the Chu 2 sounding a bit dark and metallic & sibilant in songs with a lot of cymbals, but it's still way better than Castor Pro Bass for everything but mid bass quantity.

For the price of Kinera Celest Wyvern, you can buy two choices of KZ Castor Pro (In my ₱lace). Oddly enough, you can even toy with both by having two different types of Castor in each ear as the fit feels the same. This method sacrificing stereo imaging but enhances monotone expansion that still feels like stereo...

They're all cheap enough so i wouldn't sweat it. Wan'er and Castor Pro can be had for under $15. Little difference between them all, they are all good . Ps. Castor Pro's are ace.

Understandable. For less, the KZ Castor Pro obliterates them.

Been using this to play COD since 2 days (4 hours each day) https://preview.redd.it/7wjlmuf60ise1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=78054a2a67181ff5552c8d396b5a1ea61dbc8147 I just got my hands on the 7Hz G1, and after testing it extensively, I have to say—this IEM is an absolute beast for gaming! **Build & Specs:** Driver: 1 Dynamic Driver Tuning: Fairly balanced with a wide soundstage Volume & Bass: Both are solid, no complaints here **Music Performance:** I'll be honest—while the G1 sounds good for music, it doesn’t quite have the same excitement factor as my other IEMs. I find my KZ Castor Pro and ZS12 Pro X to be better for music and movies. The G1 is clear and detailed, but it just doesn’t hit that "wow" factor for pure music enjoyment. **Gaming Performance - A-Tier!** Where the 7Hz G1 truly shines is in gaming. I tested it on Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Nuketown) and Warzone, and the experience was nothing short of amazing. (Warzone only for 4 hrs as it is paused for today) **Here’s what stood out:** Insanely Wide Soundstage – The G1 made Nuketown feel HUGE. Warzone’s larger maps are even more immersive. Pinpoint Positional Accuracy – I could clearly track footsteps, gunshots, and even subtle movements. Whether enemies were on the left, right, front, back, above, or below, I could hear it all. Crystal-Clear Footsteps & Cues – Footsteps were loud enough without getting underpowered by other sounds such as gunshots, grenades etc. DTS:X Ultra + Shooter Mode – I used this combo with no EQ, and it worked perfectly. Best COD Audio Setting? – I tried Treyarch Mix, Headphones, and Sucker Punch, but Home Theater Mode worked best for me. It made everything sound even more massive, immersive, and lifelike—I felt like I was actually inside the game. **Final Thoughts - Is It Worth It?** If you're looking for an IEM specifically for gaming, 7Hz G1 is an absolute steal. I was considering buying an expensive IEM just for gaming, but this saved me so much money while delivering performance a lot better than my expectations. I loved it! For music, it’s decent but doesn’t replace my Castor Pro or ZS12X. But for gaming? Easily the best IEM I’ve ever used. If you want insane spatial awareness, wide soundstage, and accurate positional audio for FPS games—this is the one to get. **(Do not spend anything more than this just for gaming because I think post this every other iem will have a diminishing return).** Let me know if you have any questions!

Kz castor pro is a very good budget option

I own both of these, both are great but Castor Pro edges out Wan'er in detail and bass by a little bit. Either of these, if you are only picking from these two, will probably give a good experience but my bet will be with the Castor Pro

I still listen to them every once in a while, but not very much since I got the Castor Pro (Bass). The Zero Red is still a good set, I just don't know what value I would put on it at this point after hearing some great budget sets since I got it.

Nice comparison, thanks for doing this. I like my Castor Pro just a little bit more than the Saga but damn are they close. I really like both IEMs and they're under 20 bucks which makes them very accessible.

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.

True i bought the castor pro and it had lower volume in one of them and as you can guess I had to threaten them to return it literally

I have only tested mine for a few hours and the bass is great, i mean the lows as whole are amazing or the best I've heard on the few iems I have, (they remind me of Sony sound) what I don't like is this particular high frequency that highlights the high hats and cymbals. Anyone else feels that way? I've been using the castor pro more often and it is softer. Tbh honest they're all pretty unused and haven't burned in properly yet. Also recently got some tips to try but haven't really swapped them around and test them all. (clarion, and sancai normal & wide)

Castor Og (talking about the bass versions tho) has more focus on mid bass punch and less on sub-bass rumble, being also a more energetic, kind of V-shaped, clean sound, but that makes the mid range sound thin and/or on the background, the Pro kinda fixes most of this adding more sub-bass rumble and reducing a bit of mid bass punch, and also reduces a bit the v-shaped sound so mid-range is not so pushed to the back, but it also increases the size of the nozzle (the part of the iem that goes into your ear canal) when the OG castor was already on ther big side of nozzles, so yeah, wound should be an overall upgrade, although not by much, but the comfort took a hit for some people.

well, should be fine, is not as impressive as the castor bass, but is decent, it is a brighter iem tho (with some extra treble Energy) so i do hope it works for you, do try to play around with the switches to see what config works better for you.

Conceptkart is shitty, I had bought KZ castor pro - Silver version and I want to exchange it for Aurora( Have the exchange policy on my product) but these mind boggling piece of shits don't even care to reply!! :(

Ha ur in luck I saw this post , 🤣 hands down the castor pro for gaming and music 🎵 I have those and use it for PUBG /valo https://preview.redd.it/042jyvdlbbhe1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a720210401d7b443f6769086cf970c9630c9c8b3

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.

Owned both - wyvern I flipped asap as it was a boring listen. No regret letting it go. Castor Pro I flipped too only because I felt it wont get much listening time among my similar sets, and its large feeling fit. But it is a much more competent iem than the wyvern with tuning flexibility with its switches. I have slight regret selling it. Right now, in price range of these two, I'd recommend the hzsound white snow - best stock tuning, sq among my ultra budget collection.

It's less about being worth the upgrade if you already own one of the other sets, to me at least. I find that the question is more about just spending the little bit of extra money to begin with if it's within your budget. If it's not then an upgrade would also be out of the question either way, so that's not the focal point. As you said, the Cadenza just take EQ really well and have solid technical performance for their price, so even if you don't enjoy the tuning, they can be a really good deal. From there, newbies can easily play around with different signatures and AutoEQ other IEMs onto the Cadenza to get a fairly good impression of what they enjoy. I consider the Cadenza to be a great starter IEM for that reason and would argue that if you're looking to eventually upgrade or expand your collection, they are a top notch recommendation. Where I agree with you is that they are not ideal as a standalone one-of product. As part of an arsenal or as a first entry point they can shine but if you're only ever planning on one "do-it-all" IEM, then the 7hz Zero:2, Tangzu Wan'er and (as much as I dislike them) KZ Castor Pro are better in that regard. One last thing too, and this is a very minor criticism: Since you mentioned the Truthear Gate, which are considered very treble forward and the sharpest sounding non-KZ IEMs in their price range, I think it's a moot point to argue about the perceived sharpness of the Cadenza, especially given that a simple tip-roll can solve that issue entirely. I agree that the problem exists, I just wouldn't outright fault the Cadenza for that when other IEMs that people might be upgrading from had even sharper treble, even with better tips. Still, the default upgrade path here would go through the Truthear Zero:Red, not the Cadenza for most people and I'd levvy a lot of the same criticism against those as well (nozzle size -> stock tips, good technical performance, minor price difference to other entry level IEMs). I think it's more of an issue with ultra-budget and budget IEMs just not being all that different from one another and the most notable differences only coming once you invest more, which many people want but can't do. Then they opt to make marginal upgrades and end up disappointed at the lack of a difference. It's more of a customer behavior issue, not a product issue inherently if you ask me. Other than that, great stuff, appreciate the attention to detail.

I’m not a gamer, but IEMs that I’ve seen recommended in this sub for gaming include the QKZ HBB, 7hz Zero 2, Tripowin x 0diBi: Vivace, Truthear Zero Blue, the Truthear Nova and the Simgot EM6L. I haven’t really heard the Chu 2 or the Klean recommended for gaming. I’m not a fan of the Castor, but you may consider the Castor bass over the Castor Harman. (I have the Castor Pro Bass and it sounds similar to the QKZ HBB).

I find the Wyvern very flat in comparison to the Castor Pro. I found myself straining to hear the base and kept trying to push them deeper into my ear. I have the mic boom option and regret it. The weight of the boom is enough to cause the earpiece to constantly shift out of the desired placement in my ear. Found it annoying and nearly trashed it just cos of that. I guess a foam tip will help solve this issue. I feel like it's a quality product but I would have liked to have some ability to tweak it to my liking. As far as 'look and feel' it's probably the best looking iem right now, hard to beat in looks. Build quality is solid. The Castor Pro however also looks really good and I feel like the build slightly edges ahead of the Wyvern. I like how the connector pins on the cables have a protective housing whereas the Wyvern cables have the pins fully exposed. In terms of sound quality it's clearly superior in terms of staging and provides a richer, fuller experience. This combined with the ability to tweak the eq to a degree make it my choice between the two. The Wyvern is treble biased to the point that some of my favourite songs i listened to were nearly unrecognizable or sounded altered. Both are great products with a premium feel but the Castor Pro feels like they've put lots of time and consideration into producing a quality product that also comes in at a great price point. I must say that I was really dissapointed by the performance of the Wyvern but what it has done is give me a new appreciation of the Castor Pro.

I just bought the castor pro, and man the experience was great. The only downside is It feels heavy to wear, Compare to my Kz zsn and QKZ ak6 max the castor pro is way heavier even if you combine the weights of the two, so my ear canals are hurting and I can't wear them for longer period of time, I don't know much about IEMS and if my problem can be resolved by changing eartips but the only reason I bought the castor pro is the bass

Both have the same dual drivers (as I’ve read) but the Pro version moves their positions inside the shell. Apparently this also adds to the better sound of the Pro, regardless of the tuning, the drivers arraignment makes the sound waves “better”. Is that true? Idk but it sounds plausible. As far as the actual tuning, to me, the Pro is better but it isn’t some might and day difference. Both original and pro versions are really good for their price and sound profile. Either one is a good choice for bassheads. If you have the choice the Pro version is the one to get. If you can only get the original version you’re not missing out on much and would be quite satisfied with the original version.

I bought the silver KZ Castor Pro last week for gaming and I love them

I'm the same. My Zero Blue and Red both sit and look pretty but the nozzles are my big issue. Can handle them for a few hours but not much longer. Castor Bass is much more comfortable for long listening sessions. *Edit Zero blow to zero blue. Lol

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.

Wan‘er best tuning. Or castor pro , i dont know why someone is suggesting you the the gate , they are cheap constructed the castor are much sturdier and the gate dont impress at all as sound

The only KZ worth buying is EDC Pro or Castor Pro, unless you know how to mod and experiment with IEMs. Even then, sets like QKZ X HBB and Blon BL03 II exist for $30. Spend a bit more than bottom dollar to get value.

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

I'm going to get the castor pro after sending back my waner sg studio. I really like the kz edc pro for the 5 I paid.

Just got the castor pros this morning, and goddamn are they incredible. The last pair I used was the moon drop chu II. And they are miles ahead.

Yes, I have looked over the Castor Pro Bass for quite a while now and I'm completely fine with the pricing, I might just get two instead of one since I simply cannot decide which one to get lol The ZVX PRO seems nice due to it's price to performance single DD and I've heard a lot of good things about the Castor Pro Bass Both are the same price which is why I'm thinking of getting both at this point. I'm fine with EQing stuff either way so the easier they can handle it the better, driving them is also not an issue since I'm using an LG V20.

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.

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.

The Zero 2 is a fantastic starting iem because it is very slightly v-shaped with a slight bass boost. I have them and they a good starting point. I also have the Castor Black, and the configuration you were probably looking for was UUDD. That said, they lack the clarity that the Zero 2 has. The Zero 2 is definitely lighter in the ears, but the stock cable is garbage. Like cables-you-find-on-free-headphones bad. Personally, I put on a pair of Tripowin Zonies on them. Lucky for you, the Zonie comes in pink and would make a MAGNIFICENT match. More importantly, the Zero 2 simply made music fun. Good luck with whatever you decide!

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.

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