KZ - PR2

Under 100 the TinHifi Dudu and the Artti T10 og. The T10 pro nah, is shouty and unnatural, with eq is fixable but nah, it's not an upgrade to the T10 og A honorable mention to the PRX, PR2 and Sgor Luna, especially the KZ x HBB PR2 is the best price/performance planar iem under 50 usd IMHO. The Aether is my favorite, but yeah, 170 usd msrp and an underwhelming package.

Under 100 the TinHifi Dudu and the Artti T10 og. The T10 pro nah, is shouty and unnatural, with eq is fixable but nah, it's not an upgrade to the T10 og A honorable mention to the PRX, PR2 and Sgor Luna, especially the KZ x HBB PR2 is the best price/performance planar iem under 50 usd IMHO. The Aether is my favorite, but yeah, 170 usd msrp and an underwhelming package.

Shozy P20 is on 50% off at linsoul at the moment and would be my planar pick. It's excellent, my favourite planar I have tried (I had the KZ PR2 (poor tonality/timbre) and nicehck F1 pro (better than KZ but way too much treble, really zizzy)).

Interested to hear your take. I also have the shozy P20 and rate it highly (much better than kz PR2 and nicehck F1 pro)

I'm holding out for the Qinying. The successor to the Symphony, with a slightly larger dynamic driver (7mm) and hopefully better tuning. I never heard the Symphony, but did have a PR2 for a while, which was fine, but too treble-heavy (I had the OG version with mesh too)

No. This is a normal sale price for the PR2s They’re an older set, and they’ve been retuned from the original version so now they sound noticeably worse. If you’re willing to EQ them, I’d say go for it.

I had kz pr 2 pr 3 the planar driver is inferior

I have them and love em. Pr2 are my first planars and I like them over Castor pro, Vader, Vader pro, Libra and maybe a bit over Am16. You supposedly need an Amp but with a CX31993/max97220 you should have enough juice to drive and enjoy them. It is a good buy. I'm curious about the sgor luna and the prx. I believe it's important to find the eartips that work for you for every iem too, with the wrong eartips any equipment will sound awful.

After owning and adoring the KZ PR1 Pro, I found the PR2 to be a massive disappointment. Unbearably peaky and much harder to drive. 

The PR2 has been retuned twice. The first time ruined the stellar original sound signature by making the treble unbearable. The second time fixed the terrible treble of the first retune but the overall sound signature still wasn't as good as the original release. If you want a very good budget planar set, just get a KZ PRX. It's the most recent planar release by KZ and has a newer, updated driver.

Was using KZ ZAX now using PR2. I really like the almost-too-harsh clarity of the planar drivers for gaming.

I prefer my beyerdynamic headphones over my iems for discord calls so that I can hear my own voice better but for listening to music i prefer my eq/modded kz pr 2

Wich one do you prefer ? I own the pr2 .

Downgrading PR2 was not deliberate but after running out of stock of certain component, due to unavailability KZ sourced the component from elsewhere which changed the whole tuning. Same thing happened with CCA. Their mistake is that they should have labelled PR2 to something like PR2 alternate version or some other name to notify customers that it's not the exact same PR2.

That's not true. No company world like to ruin their reputation by engaging in malpractices which would be obvious in the public. Downgrading PR2 was not deliberate but after running out of stock of certain component, due to unavailability KZ sourced the component from elsewhere which changed the whole tuning. Same thing happened with CCA. Their mistake is that they should have labelled PR2 to something like PR2 alternate version or some other name to notify customers that it's not the exact same PR2.

I have both and I think the PRX driver is pretty much the same as the pr2, tiny differences if any, they just tuned it better  For EQ the PR2 is better cause it's cheaper

I choose planars and DDs. With EQ they can be great! DDs are super cheap, as for planars, I've owned the s12, and KZs PRX, as a platform for EQ, is super close, if not the same, just way cheaper. I could be outta the game with a cheap huaynxin DD, or a KZ pr2 I got for 8 bucks, and EQ.

Unless you are going to hook them too an amp these and the prx that folks like better are just a bit too quite. I own both of them and with an amp and a lil eq they sound great. If ya dont have an amp and/or dont want to eq them a bit to suit your taste their are probly better options for 20 dollars. But compared to the prx I like these better. I am also not sure which version of the pr2 I actually have but ive had them for a while.

I have driver flex on both PR2 and PRX, really depends on tips.

I don't know for the CCA CRA, but they struck gold with that one and the tuning changed. For the PR2 I can't let that slide. The main change was the black mesh that acted as a filter. Later batches didn't got that black mesh and it was obviously more sibilant, it could also be seen on graph (PR2 without black mesh). Some say that newer batches that you can buy today have the black mesh back and if it's true, for 20usd now it's a very good planar iem. I have the first batch PR2 so I won't order it again.

Probably because of the "power hungriness" of the planars. Those bluetooth earhooks has very small batteries so they might not push enough power for these planars. For me it depends on how loud you listen. I had a $10 DAC which I used to power my PR2 and it is too loud for me past 70% volume on my phone.

https://preview.redd.it/3lioe72j3hxf1.png?width=1278&format=png&auto=webp&s=4c6f50c59edf76c96c874ab3d378afc621eeb03d I have both PR1 and PR2 and I like PR1 more, to be honest.

I've tried the KZ PR2's, Letshuoer S12 and Kiwi Ears Aether. Of the three, I enjoyed the sound of the Aether the most and the comfort of the S12 the most. The PR2s are an absolute banger at their price.

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.

EQ will work magic on it, and target settings can be found readily. Then, it's just a matter of personalizing the EQ to taste once the target baseline is established.

The PR2 issue was interesting. First run had an additional filter between the driver housing and nozzle, which tamed the treble a bit and gave the tuning a more well-balanced and natural timbre. It was a $30 planar with an excellent tuning that was easy to recommend to new hobbyists. Blew up because HBB got behind it. Started selling like hotcakes. KZ decided to pull out the filter, wither to save costs, labor, or both. Totally changed the tuning. It was shrill, sibilant, and a tinny, metallic mess. They pulled the rug out to save a few bucks, and then reframed the change as a “retune.” It was a whole thing. Ironically, the PRX was an attempt to capture that original PR2 tuning, but I don’t think they quite captured the magic of that original set. Which I still own, because it was a genuine banger for the price. Sits in the same case as an EM6L as one of my gaming IEMs. Don’t get me started on FatFreq; big longtime supporter. Owned the original GM (before the fancy repackaging) and Maestro SE, was an early supporter of the Scarlett Mini, even had Antonio from Gladiator make a custom cable for it. Was hyped. Preordered day one, took nearly 6 months after the promised ship date to arrive. Similar thing happened with Deuce; decided to pass on their planar as a result. Still waiting on additional Noah modules for the GM, how many years later? Haven’t experienced any issues with Thieaudio or Mangird thankfully. Been happy with the Top Pro, coming from the original Top and Up. Been solid, but wasn’t happy with the included cable. Been happy with most of the Monarch lineup, except the MKIVs shitty cable. That cable is an outright crime. I curse anyone that’s given it praise in a review. I never got behind Penon’s entire guerrilla marketing/forum business model approach. Something about it was always underhanded to me, especially since it was mostly the same characters from the same forums getting their review units and heaping them with praise. I know they have some legendary sets, but I’ve mostly avoided them.

I will chime in as someone that pre-ordered the PR2 when it was first launched. KZ goofed it up so bad when the units we received did not match the review units that were sent ahead of time, as KZ decided to remove a mesh piece that dampened the extreme treble spikes (to save on production cost) and claimed that "nothing has changed, we did nothing wrong and we're not going to take the product back". I haven't even looked at anything KZ since as I despise companies that thinks it is okay to change a product last minute to a much worse version, claiming nothing changed and lying to the customers. I used my PR2's for around 30 minutes and haven't touched em since. You should look for the Artti T10 instead. Much better in every regard (if you want a planar)

Maybe u should try those plannar iem. I owned kz pr2 and its very good positioning for fps.

Funny you should say that, because I’ve found them to be the most tip sensitive IEMs I’ve had. With the stock tips there was NO bass and the rest of the range sounded harsh and shrieky. With the next set of tips (Tri Clarion, I think? I can’t remember now) I could hear the bass but it just sounded so soft and poofy, like cotton balls being thrown at my ears. Finally, with the 3rd and 4th set of tips I’ve tried there was quite a turnaround and I’m seeing why people like these. I’m really enjoying them now. With all my other IEMs, tips have just made tiny differences in the sound and I’ve changed them around more to find the best comfort than anything else. But these - oh, man, was there a difference!

? These don't sound like the BL03, but they definitely aren't lacking in bass, especially not midbass. You most likely aren't getting a proper seal, or maybe you got a faulty set. I would actually say that the CCA CRA is one of the most BL03-like IEMs, although the BL03 is better. The overall tonality is quite similar. The HBB is much warmer, with less of that sparkly upper treble that the BL03 has. The only other one I've heard that's a bit like the BL03, but a bit bassier and not quite as resolving, is the Tripowin Piccolo. It also has a more normal fit than the BL03. It's pretty good if you find it on sale - it's not so well known because it was way overpriced at release into a very competitive market at the time. If you're looking for something that sounds *exactly* like the BL03, you pretty much need to stick to the BL03 itself. There's a new version just been released with a 2pin connector. They changed the tuning slightly but I haven't heard it. Not many reviews yet. HBB says it's good, but his review is a bit hand-wavy.

They definitely do **not** sound like that normally. That's the complete opposite of how they sound. I have two pairs of HBBs and they sound identical.

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

I would recommend the HBB over the coffee bean. I have both and the CB is more v-shaped and a bit grainy. I like the shells with the rubber fin though. Other manufacturers should steal that idea.

Yeah, the coffee bean isn't worth that sort of money. I think I paid about $12 for mine and consider them "OK" for the price. Certainly not one I'm rushing to recommend to everyone. If you really want one just for the looks or whatever, add it to your wishlist on Aliexpress and look out for it popping up in Super Deals. $12 was after coupons, but those sales are at least once a month anyway. The HBB however punches well above its weight for tuning. You mainly get what you pay for in terms of looks :) I've got mine on $10-a-pair Azla eartips and $60 Hakugei cable. Planning to customise the faceplate eventually. It's my 3rd favourite IEM at any price and probably the one I listen to the most overall. The S08 is maybe creeping up on play time and they have a similar-ish sort of sound, but the S08 is a lot more vocal forward and energetic. The HBB is more laid back, so it's good for background listening. The HBB also has better quality bass in some ways (though the S08 is much more resolving, as you'd expect).

How long have you had the HBB? I didn't like them at first but they're now one of my favourite IEMs. They really need some brain burn-in. It's possible that just doesn't work for everyone, but I hope you give them a proper chance before giving up on them. I don't find them particularly tip-sensitive, so how they sound is just how they sound. But I do think you get used to how bassy they are after about a week, and then they start to sound a lot more natural. It's like you're always *aware* that they have more bass than they should, but it stops sounding wrong and any sense of muddiness goes away. I haven't heard the Hades though, so if you mean that one... yeah from what I've heard one has no redeeming features at all. I'd like to try it at some point just for a laugh, but not if they insist on keeping the price at $50.

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

The HBB is one of my favourite IEMs at any price. It's just really well-tuned, so the driver isn't being pushed beyond its capabilities. It's still a cheap driver though, and you notice it in terms of resolution. If you want to compare something that's similar-but-better (in a way) see if you can listen to the Aful Explorer and notice how much more textured the mids and treble are. I suggest that one because the tuning isn't a million miles away from the HBB. But I actually prefer the tuning of the HBB (vocals sound a lot better on it), so I'm not recommending you go and buy one as an "upgrade". Just see if you can listen to one to satisfy your curiosity. And if those differences aren't something you care about, there's no point in chasing them - just stick to an IEM like the HBB with a tuning that you like. On the one hand, there *are* differences as you go up in price (to a point) especially when you get different driver architectures. On the other hand, diminishing returns are very much a thing, and more expensive does not automatically equal "tuned better". Also, if you like the HBB and fancy something a tiny bit different, give the Ikko OH300 a try. It basically sounds the same as the HBB, except that instead of having vocals pushed back, it's more vocal-forward. That's pretty much the only difference. It's not some subtle nebulous thing like "more texture" or "resolution". It just actually presents music in a slightly different way. It's only about $40 as well and also one my absolute favourite IEMs. There are other things it does slightly better than the HBB and some places where they "trade blows" depending on the mood you're in - but whether or not you'd notice those I don't know, so I won't list them, they're all quite subtle.

Is this an upgrade from qkz hbb. The hbb to me sounds dark muffled with treble roll off and with a bloated slow bass. The bass shelf in the graph seems similar. Are they similar sounding? 

Qkz x Hbb But if you wanna get something really bassy 7hz legato although 100$

The bass has more texture and tremor is well done between these 2

I won't recommend using in-line microphone with IEMs. Its still better to separate your microphone from the IEM. And for the IEM, I usually recommend going for Planar IEMs * SGOR Luna \* * Artti T10/T10 Pro \* * NiceHCK F1 Pro \* * Letshuoer S08/S12/S12 Pro \* * Kiwi Ears Aether \* * Kiwi Ears Melody \* * Shozy P10/P20 * Kefine Klanar * Moondrop Stellaris * TinHiFi P1 Max II * KZ PR1/PR1 Pro/PR2/PRX Or planar hybrids * Rose Technics/Roseselsa Aurora Ultra \* * Simgot EW300 \* * Simgot SuperMix 4 \* * Kinera Celest Plutus Beast \* * Kiwi Ears Canta * Moondrop May \* * Moondrop Rays \* * TRN White Tiger (\* recommended)

kz planars specifically are some of the most power hungry iems out there. you need a good source to power these properly

ive seen mixed things about the budget ones like applle dongle and jm6 pro not having enough power for kz planars. blackpearl i'd take though

The Space Travels are a good idea, with suboptimal execution. The nozzle design is too short to let you use most aftermarket eartips, which also pushes the shell of the earbuds, which aren't incredibly ergonomic, against your ears and can create pressure points. The non-verbal noises to tell you different modes is confusing, battery life isn't great, there's underlying hiss/processing noise. They do handle low latency bluetooth well, but I've also had one side disconnect when my phone is in my pocket on the other side of my body... KZ PR's could have cost 500$ if they came out in 2008. They're the perfect 2nd budget audiophile IEM, and an affordable intro to planar sound.