TRUTHEAR - TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO

Truthear Crinacle Zero or Zero Red (with the adapter).

I only play FPS games and at that price range Aful Performer 5's. Positioning is definitely better than the Kiwis and with the Kiwis gunshots and explosions are super piercing (at least to some of us, ears differ.) The Aful's are more comfortable and are less picky about eartips. Em6l and the Truthear's (og blue version) are the only others in the list I have or had and at your price range I don't think they're worth considering. If they're on sale and you can stretch $30 the Aful 8's are just magical. It feels unfair playing Search and Destroy using them.

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!

Love my Simgot EW200 for budget gaming and music. Sound great on Warzone and Valorant. Far more comfortable than the Crinacle Zeros that everyone recommends, although the audio quality is similar IMO just different tunings. For $80 the Truthear Hexa is great and for around $100 the Simgot EM6Ls.

Tangzu Wan'er Studio Edition (SE), its a flatter tuning, with less coloration of the sound, SPECIFICALLY for Studio type work, hence the name. This is the only reasonable option in that price point. Everything else mentioned in this thread, provides too much coloration to make for a good set of Studio Mastering IEM's The OG Zero is too bright. The Zero2 is too bassy, with rolled treble, and the timbre isnt correct enough. Plus both Zero's suffer from mids that are scooped enough to hurt lower register vocals. The Truthear Gate is closer, but its a darker tuning that loses some detail up top, and doesnt push the vocal range. The Wan'er has always been known for its vocals, and the Studio Edition emphasis that by reducing the bass, to not get bass bleed into the mids that add coloration, and a smooth rolloff on the highs, so as not to get too many sparklies. Its not a musical IEM, but if you are doing production, you want accuracy, not vibrancy.

Personally I like the Trio and the Vader Balanced over any of the Truthear Zeros. You can get the Trio or Vader Balanced for under $30, and with a good cable from KBEar, you will still be under the price of the Zeros, and have better overall tonality, without the oddball shortcomings of the Zeros. I still feel, personally, that the Zero Blue is better than the Blue2. But I am in a minority for this opinion.

I have a set of the [Truthear Zeros](https://www.amazon.com/TRUTHEAR-Crinacle-Dynamic-Drivers-Headphone/dp/B0CM3H8JFK) with silicone tips. They're great for me with a medium size spinfit eartip. Anyone have a chance to compare them?

I own Zero 1 and I will definitely not buy Zero 2 because the Zero 1 itself is not made for my ears and hurts them

I love the sound of them. They aren't too small either I think, just not made for my ears.

Oof, we'll be here all day . Ok here is a list , whatever comes to mind ,, the list is going to be absolutely massive. 7hz Salnotes Zero (both 1 and 2) Moondrop Chu ( 1 and 2) Tangzu Wanner Ziigaat Nuo Kiwi Ears Cadenza Simgot EW200 Kefine Delci QoA Vesper 2 Moondrop Aria 2 Moondrop May Truthear Hexa Truthear x Crinacle Zero (all of them) Simgot EA500LM Final Audio E500 - E3000 7Hz Sonus Tanchjim Zero Tanchjim 4U Tanchjim Ola and Ola Bass HZSound Heart Mirror Pro Truthear Gate Kinera Celest Pandamon (both) Kinera Celest Plutus Beast

I'm interested but going to wait for reviews, even though I suspect like most previous Crinacle collabs there will be an intense wall of hype that doesn't necessarily reflect the reality. I have all 4 of the Crinacle Zeroes and don't really listen to any of them as they are all just "OK", but in each case I have at least one other IEM that I prefer in some way. The main thing that interests me about these though is that the Blue/Red are both very close to something I'd listen to a lot, were it not for the massive nozzle. My thoughts on them all: * 7Hz Zero - for this tuning I prefer the original Chu, other than the crappy fixed cable. Chu sounds more resolving. Both have issues with some treble grain so I don't think either is objectively better than the other in that respect. * 7Hz Zero 2 - sounds a bit blunted to me, for this kind of warm tuning it feels a bit too "safe" and I find the QKZ HBB beats it in every way other than looks. * Truthear Zero (OG Blue) - Was innovative in some ways but it's actually only about 70% target-compliant not "full Harman". The HBB Khan is basically the same IEM made slightly better (jftr, it literally *is* the same IEM, from the same factory, with a different faceplate and tweaked tuning - I believe even the drivers are identical). * Truthear Zero Red - This one stands out in that there still isn't anything with quite the same tuning around the same price, but I find it pretty meh in terms of technicalities. It causes far too much ear canal discomfort without a sufficient payoff to be worth it, so I basically gave up on trying to listen to it. I have enough other IEMs at similar price of just above that are better such as the Artti T10, Kefine Delci and Dunu Titan S - in fairness to the Red, none of these were available at the same price point when it released and none of them has quite the same tuning. Closest thing to a direct upgrade I have is the Juzear 41t, which is nearly 3x the price and has [venting problems](https://old.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1insj4z/some_thoughts_on_the_juzear_clear_and_myer_audio/). From what I've seen of the Blue 2 graphs, it sits somewhere between the OG Blue and the Red. The tweaked eargain is similar to the Khan, but it takes bass in the opposite direction, which looks more like the Red. It's also been said by some people that the Aoshida E20 is "the Khan with a smaller nozzle" Although personally I don't hear anything like that. It's a lot more neutral, so that's another comparison I'd like to see as it may be quite similar. In fact out of these, the E20 graph is the one that looks the most like the Blue 2. Now that Crinacle has his own IEM brand, I wonder if these will be the last ever Crinacle collab? What's interesting is that despite all the effort to make the nozzle smaller on these and Crinacle himself clearly acknowledging that it was a problem, people who have tried the 3 new CrinEar IEMs say that they all have huge nozzles.

KiwiEars Cadenza Truthear x crinacle Zero or Zero Red (Great bass = Zero; Fat bass = Zero Red) Can not recommend KZ products own KZ ZS10 Pros myself and it's a gamble if you get good or shitty cables as they'll choose one randomly + they've been reviewbotting. I personally won't support a company like that anymore but to each their own. Linsoul BLON x Z Note that prices are in germany so might differ for you.

For siege specifically, I can blindly recommend the truthear crinacle zero. Some players as well as content creators blindly swear by it and it is even used in the Invitationals. Footsteps sound very clean with clear imaging where it came from. You can check my top review on headphonezone for additional info. As for the comfort part, it took a few days to get used to the size of the nozzle as it is thicker.

I can’t wait for the Truthear x Crinacle Zero Blue 2 to drop. Currently use the OG ones for gaming and music but it sounds like they’re taking all of the good things from the reds plus more and putting them into these new upcoming ones. Plus they’re going to come with a mic!

I ordered them yesterday and received them a few hours ago, they are incredible! Thanks so much for your support. I’m blown away by the sound quality, i can hear things i never noticed before.

Yes, I got them! As someone who wasn’t an IEM user before, I was blown away by the sound quality — absolutely amazing! I can highly recommend them!

yess, its the right link, but tbh i don’t like playing games with them.

I think the surround sound isn’t good enough. I mainly play Valorant, where you need to hear exactly where footsteps are and so on. It just doesn’t sound right.

No, I just switched back to overears.

Don‘t get any iem with big nozzles as your first iem. There is a high chance you find it so uncomfortable that you think you just don‘t like how iems fit in general. I did exactly this mistake with the Truthear crinacle zeros. So i would forget about the hexas for sure. Not sure about the nozzle size of the other ones, do some research!

I started with the TruthEar Hexa, wanted something with more bass so I got the Crinacle Zero, loved them both so now the Novas are being shipped in a few days. TruthEar has great quality for the price.

Got these last month, then got the Crinacle Zero the next week, and I just received the Novas last week. Hexa is perfect for every genre, and using my BTR7 to give a slight bass increase, I can feel the sub bass. No distortion or muddying going on either. They killed the design for these too, I love the simple and small look.

Nope, it's easier to drive. The Original Blues are 10Ω Reds are 17.5Ω.

Same question, I personally use the OG Zero blues because lots of people, including that one IEM gamer reviewer youtuber, ranked it as like the #1 gaming IEM that fits a lower budget. One issue only for me is that its the nozzle is so thick, and I had to change my eartips to use the Spinfit W1s, and even that was a super tight fit (I even ended up tearing a bit of the tube that goes over the nozzle due to over-exertion I guess) But after switching to the Spinfits I noticed immediate comfort and I can wear it for longer hours. Now Im also wondering if it's worth upgrading to, especially given the smaller and shorter nozzle.

Driving them is super easy. Cable will fit as long as it has 0.78mm 2 pin connectors. Good choice. Awesome IEM. Make sure you don't have small ears, though. Those nozzles are thicc

Truthear x Crinacle Zero. Very affordable and excellent: [https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/truthear-x-crinacle-zero-iem-review.37380/](https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/truthear-x-crinacle-zero-iem-review.37380/)

kiwi ears cadenza are the best among the above. i would say just slightly lift your budget and get the truthear zero blue 1. in they are only (500 INR) difference. for where i live atleast.

the truthear zero is a better choice .

no? the bass is definitely better on the truthear zero blue og, imo it is better

not twice as much but i believe that paying that extra price gives you far better experience. using truthear zero after using kiwi ears cadenza feels like a massive upgrade. the sub 20-30 dollar market is just not that good considering if you pay 10-15 extra. you get a far better iem

dont get anything but IEM's...look up truthear crinnacle zero theyre a great starter set and only $50. You dont need a dac or amp for IEMs dont listen to anyone that tells you otherwise, your onboard audio card will have no issue powering them. I use an apple usb c to 3.5mm adapter and i have absolutely zero issues.

I have the TruthEar Crinacle Zeros. They definitely have a lot less bass than most headphones I’ve ever used, but a little tweaking of the EQ and you can tune it to your preference. The clarity of sound is what’s so shocking to me with these. The a40s sound muffled in comparison.

I'll say in advance it's very anecdotal and subjective, so take it how you will. Sennheiser HD560S is good for my particular use case for a headphone, at AU$300 (when I bought it). I want headphones that are good for at-home media consumption and media production (hobby-level video editing, among other things), wearable for extended periods of time, with a life span in the years (not months). Performance-wise, that means neutral-ish sound signature, discernible sound-staging and imaging. HD560S has that. Build-wise, that means decently ventilated open-backs, durable materials, and not be completely useless when a component of the headphone fails. Detachable cable (single-ended) that can be replaced if it fails, sturdy plastic with metal(?) mesh that feels light in my head and decent clamp force. For a point of comparison, there was a set of headphones that I bought at a similar price point before the HD560S: Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 80-Ohm edition (AU$290). Performance-wise, there's a noticeable amount of treble in it (not ear-splitting). Build-wise, the metal build is heavier and sturdier, but it clamped on my ears a bit more, and it didn't feel like my ears were well-ventilated. If anything, it felt like I was wearing my old Turtle Beach gaming headset - ears got hot within minutes. The final straw was when the non-detachable cable was once forcibly yanked away, damaging the jack and the AUX port on the front IO panel of my PC. There was another headphone port at the back, so that was fine, but the DT990 couldn't e saved without DIY (I learned the hard way that I shouldn't be DIY-ing cable replacement for headphones). If I was out and about, I'd instead opt for ultra-budget IEMs or clip-on stereophones - if ever they broke, it wouldn't cost much money to replace. For me, that means I have to really justify making a purchase greater than AU$80 for this use case. IEMs/clip-ons I have owned as expendable daily drivers are: 7Hz Salnotes x Crinacle Zero (1), Truthear Gate, Moondrop Aria Snow Edition (the most reckless decision for this use case) and Koss KSC75.

I have both the Supermix 4 and the truth ear crinacle zero which I bought for gaming. Found them both to be really good with a slight edge to the Supermix 4. I was looking for something a bit more fun for music under 200 or so. Do you have any recommendations? My first thought was the aful explorer or the KE4. I guess I want something a little more punchy for edm and hip hop.

Go for truthear x crincal zero

I have the Zero: Red and had the Zero Blue before the reds and they are both great for me(usually just listening to classical music, anime, rock, j-pop and game audio). In my personal opinion, the Zero Blue has more bass when it comes to listening to rock music while the Zero: Red is great for classical music and anime streaming. Both of them have big AF nozzles, but with the foam ear tips that it comes with, it is fine most of the time. Also, the Impedance adaptor on the Zero: Red doesn't really do much (or at least anything noticeable to me) to the bass as it is only 10 oms, but it is great as an 3.5mm jack extender for my phone when gaming since the Red and Blue both come with right angle adaptors. I am expecting the Moondrop Robin TWS in February 2025 so we'll see how better or worse those are to a wired IEM. (P.S. the Zero: Red's impedance adaptor broke after 1\~ish month of daily use, about 5 inserts and removals per day.)

well I already have my zero red for harman neutral tuning and blue(og) for harman bass+(but lost it) so I guess I'll go for the blue 2 for the trinity, better cable and more foam tips. thanks for the advice tho.

Truthear Zero: Blue. Sadly it was stolen from me. I do have her big sister, the Truthear Zero: Red and been using those since.

A re-tuned Zero red to harman, made brigher, reduced the nozzle just merely 0.6mm (still quite large) and added an extra cable for mic? I could bet Kefine Klean still wins over it. But sadly a lot of people seem to think that Crin is still a valid review source.

the impedance adapter is good but is also a bit wonky to use and even if it indeed doesnt affect much volume as crin claims, Zero iems are well know for needing extra volume despite having relatively low impedance and High sensitivity, so well see how that goes. what i can say is that i have a friend that tried them at CanJam and for what he told me about them + crin basically explaining is quite literally a re-tuned zero red, those arent anything impressive. i rather he just would make the impedance tuning the stock one and knock off $5 bucks of the price instead.

I have small ear canals, what he did, did not only not solve anything, but if i were to get it, thanks to the very huge nozzle, ill likely would not be able to wear the foams comfortable, so it Would be a bright harman fest for me... Impedance adaptader would likely be a must, which makes me wonder why not tuning it to the impedance Target (kinda JM-1) to beging with???

DAC usually doesnt give you that kind of extra performance for gaming, so dont sorry that much, however, do take in mind that the Truthear Zero (both) if you happend to get any of them, could use a bit of amplification, AND also, they have a really big nozzle, so that might generate fitting issues down the way of you have small ear canals.

First, you probably feel the zero red muddiee because it is a more Neutral iem, while this KZ is more V-shaped, but likely vocals on the Red are fuller, all that said, for your use case it sure isnt the best pick. besides, the lack of volume is lack of amplification, they will do a bit better with a dingle DAC. If you happend to need alternatives, Check the TKZK Ouranos and the Kefine Klean.

i also used to own the Zero blue og, it was also similar, but it was more energetic than the Klean, but for me cadenza sounded a bit shouty, too intense on upper mid range, female vocals were aggressive, the Blue OG handled it better but had that same energetic presentation, both actually have a similar style of sound, clean bass, decent punch and rumble but as a basshead myself, wont call it bassy, just balanced, and the upper treble is well controlled, but again, my problem is mid range, sound a bit thin on both (like vocals lack a bit of body), but feamle vocals sound a bit intense for me on both, specially on the cadenza tho. If you liked cadenza for how it was, is also a good upgrade, BUT, given that the Og blue has quite large nozzles, i would recomend the TKZK Ouranos instead which is kinda the samer tuning as the cadenza but with a better driver.

Btw I recommend og zero not zero 2

The best IEMs I have found for 50 are the Truthear x Crinacle Zero on Amazon, they come in a cool box, with a little baggie and include multiple ear tips including memory foam. Fanmusic TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7DS1QHZ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Same here, I find the sound from zeros warmer and bassier then the chu’s both are awesome though!

IEM's are objectively the better choice in your price bracket. Imaging (beingable to tell where sounds are coming from) doesn't depend on if it's a headphone or IEM. My truthear hexa has incredibly good Imaging, even better than my beyerdynamic dt 770. Hearing directions or above and below you is only done through software tricks. The truthear zero is a very good option in this space.

The Zero and Zero 2 may look odd but their fit and seal with Tri Clarion tips are amazing. I use OG Zero with a Ruyi cable with boom mic for work calls and the Zero 2 for gaming on my PS5.

thanks for this validation comment, i was about to regret buying zero blue 1st version a week ago, thinking blue 2 is releasing soon and might be better, and also there is no return from where i bought and in india blue 2 might launch late and yeah i bought it for gaming only and liking everything about zero blue 1 so far like in music/shows/gaming

I would get downvote but from plenty of $20 iems that I bought and tried, only 2 that fits the description. QKZ HBB and KZ castor. HBB has this advantage in imaging. It's not Truthear Zero red level yet but it's better than plenty of other $20. But the problem is it's a bass heavy + dark tilted iem. You have to buy a wide bore tips (included one is narrow which emphasize on bass). I used KZ whirlwind for this one. KZ castor got the sharpness and the positioning right (probably too sharp). The downsize is that it's a thicc iem. If you have a shallow ear pit then skip it. Also the tip is garbage. I used TRI clarion for this one as the Whirlwind is too short. Oh, you can get either bass or harman. If you purely for gaming then Harman but for others then bass. Edit : I have tried the OG Zero and it's surely clean but bad imaging & narrow soundstage so the positioning is slightly wrong. Hola has a good imaging but suffered from dark tilted tuning so I barely hear any footstep and plus it's already discontinued.

I have the gate and its very good. Comfortable, lightweight, sounds fantastic. The gate provides a decent amount of boost in bass and treble region making it an overall balanced tuning. Any more bass or treble will make its sound signature unbalanced. Chu 1 and zero og were both balanced and in their subsequent release they just went with the typical V. I would say that the sound of gate is closer to chu 1 or the zero og with a more controlled treble so that it is not fatiguing.

If you're going for mostly gaming then the original zero is better and cheaper The new zero 2 just has more bass

I'm also a first time buyer a few days back and I bought the Truthear Gate. I have listened to OG zero before. The Gate is a little better than them in treble and bass. I'm really enjoying their details. But, as other comments suggest, if you are into vocals - go for Wan'er and if you are into bass, go for the castor bass version. The Gate can be called as an all-rounder for me.

I would at least need to see a graph. I have the original if they are the same or too close. it is a pass from me

> And they aren't hot, don't mess up my hair, and don't get uncomfortable with glasses on after a few hours this is the biggest advantage of using IEM's imo. i've been using the truthear crinacle zero's for the past year... super comfortable which makes longer sessions more tolerable, incredible sound for the price, and doesn't give me "headset hair" so i can game comfortably right out the shower or prior to going out... all for like $50 no less. granted i bought a higher quality cable so my total investment is probably closer to $100 but still. while i do miss the luxury of my wireless hyperx cloud's, the advantages of a good pair of IEM's outweigh them completely.

100%, Im using the Truthear cricalce zero, and with the correct eartips, it doesnt even feel like im wearing anything, I was used the bose qc 45s as my main audio device, but it felt heavy after maybe an hour, I go most of the day listening to music with the IEMs. Close to zero fatigue. [TruthEar Crinacle Zero](https://www.headphonezone.in/products/truthear-x-crinacle-zero?_pos=5&_psq=zero&_ss=e&_v=1.0)

It means you’re gonna enjoy the zero: red more than the zero blue

I just bought the zero blues, are they not good?? Whys everyone recommending the red? I just wanna use it for gaming and rock and metal

I do prefer the nova over the Hexa, and the tuning is closer to the blue:2

I have the qkz x hbb, and then got the zero blues. Im using mine mostly for gaming, but the blues are a deffinite upgrade over the qkz x hbb. Huge nozzle though . I heard it was big, but its really big.

Im a true believer in the zero blues and the zero 2. I do own higher end bass iems but these are solid for sub $100.

No need to spend more than $10 on the dongle unless you want functionalities like PEQ, semi wireless setup etc. Interesting options and very different from each other. I hated Blue and Blue2 doesn't look much better to while Hexa is great for me. It's a very clean sound, but needs a deep insertion to get the bass which some can't get. There are plenty of options around those price points so knowing what you listen to would help since preference is what matters most.

People who is considering the Zero Blue 2 should get these instead. These are like the budget version of the Tea Pro's (according to reviews). For reference: I did try the Zero Blue, Zero Blue 2, Nova and Tea Pro.

Not sure I agree with this .. I used the HD660s for 7-8 years, but I was starting to get some discomfort using them for more than 30mins 😵‍💫 So the obvious choice for me was a pair of IEM's, which is a bit tricky for someone like me who never really used those before. I bought the Zero Blue, Gate, Nova and Zero Blue .. And sure, they all sounded fine (some better than others) except for the Zero Blue 2 😒 After reading several reviews of Xenns Mangird Tea Pro and watching pretty much everyone praise them for how good they are. I just had to give them a try myself. It was very easy to hear the difference straight away. I was able to hear sooo many details ingame (just like my HD660s). I could pinpoint footsteps with such ease, which I couldn't even do with my headset! I don't regret buying them at all. Pretty much everything I read or watched about these IEM's is 100% accurate 👌

The HD660s is/was premium enough for me. But sure, you can always find better and more expensive ones. I've tried the HD660s2 as well, which wasn't really an upgrade over the "old" version. In terms of IEM's I've had the IE300, Zero Blue, Zero Blue2, Gate and Nova, which I really enjoyed .. But the nozzle size was just too big for my ears. If it wasn't for the discomfort of wearing my headset. I would most likely still be using it .. But getting a headache after 30mins of use is just not worth it.

Awesome might just pick these ones up. I have the Zero Blue, which is very clear but the nozzles does things to my ears they didn't consent to. I recently used my old Hyper X cloud Revolver with some added bass in Steelseries GG. And I kinda realised I really like a good base for gaming. Just had a kid so i mainly play single players like POE2. But i do like FPS like COD, BF, Delta etc. So i might just get the Tea Pro. Did you switch to some other ear tips?

I too am a Val and rivals sweat but I also enjoy music so I would say try the truthear blues or Hexa through amazon for their return policy and if you like them you could keep them or if you still want more you could return it and put in another $70 and try the aful explorer as it’s a much warmer sound and probably won’t be as shouty or fatiguing although they may not be as sharp footsteps it’s not like you’re gonna hear footsteps in the wrong places as most iems have good imaging so you can’t really go wrong with one or the other but in my case I started out with the zero blues and then upgraded to the nova but I’m looking to eventually get the hype 4 or origin if my pockets can take it lol

Zero blue

Not at home at the moment to check for sure but the Quarks do have a larger nozzle than the Little Q and the Loki. I can wear the Truthear Zero with no problems with its nozzle size so none of the bullet style ones are any different to me. But quarks is bigger. The Tanchjim Zero and the newer One aren’t bad but I don’t suggest them. Nozzle is quite big for how small the IEM itself is, however both of those are a short but fat bullet shape. And the cable is much thinner than those of the Loki, Little Q, Quarks, the KBear Dumpling, etc. With the stress that a full helmet can put in the cables with pulling and snagging, I don’t suggest the Tanchjim IEM’s. I think someone else did. Just an fyi. Foams obviously seal great but with your smaller canal, I HIGHLY suggest looking into the Azla Xelastic series of tips. Xelastic 2 is newer and a little more comfortable to me. They mold to the shape of your ear from body heat and I swear, I will die on this hill against anyone saying otherwise, the Xelastic series tips isolate outside noise better than any other tip I’ve used AND better than any ANC from a wireless earbuds I’ve used. My Harley V-Rod had that annoying rumble exhaust and I couldn’t tell it was running while standing right next to it. My Street Glide is quieter but still has some of that annoying loud harley exhaust sound. Can’t hear it at all when I’m using an IEM with the Xelastic tips on it. Azla also has something like 7 sizes so the Xelastic series has a size for anyone. Worth every penny.

I have both Blue and Res zeros. Really good but after maybe an hour my ears can’t take the nozzles anymore. Audio performance they are great but comfort is what kills them for me. EM6L is fantastic and for gaming you will not be disappointed. I really like my T10 and it hits above its asking price for sure. For the money it’s the best bet. If you’re only using an IEM for gaming and not music too, the T10 is what I would suggest.

As an owner of the Zero blue which has the same shells as the red I can attest that this set is not comfortable for long sessions, if you like something comfortable you can do better. Kefine Klean, Inawaken Dawn MS, Aosheda E20 for a 2dd set (reportedly much better with EQ) are the sets that seem to be getting all the budget love right now.

Have both Zero red and blue with an aftermarket Tripowin 4.4mm cable on the blues which I do prefer for more accuracy

I have the Zero Blues. They're not especially sensitive for IEMs but aren't especially *insensitive* either, it sounds like your KZ is actually the outlier here, some IEMs are exceptionally sensitive. Provided there's not actually a problem getting them listenable and you have tried them on multiple sources only to get the same performance, it sounds like unfortunately they're just not for you. Is the "muffled" spot in the midrange but you find yourself liking them otherwise? If so, you may prefer the Blues over the Reds yourself. I have the exact opposite problem and the Blues try to scream in my ear so I don't use them much. Also, double-check the signal isn't mono somehow, that makes all headphones sound really off.

i'm a poor guy from a poor country that cant afford custom molded ears, so I will recommend two kinda cheap ones that I love: [KZ AS 16](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005962508871.html) (it's a really good and reliable one with a great price point, but has a boost on hi-mids that i personally don't like (this boost is really great for singers tho) [Truthear ZERO:RED](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005589274277.html) (this is my go to, pretty plain and clear sound. kinda of a hi-fi and higher end feel)

How’s the sound quality from those dac? I also have an iphone and the reds, and looking for a dac which will kot hamper the apple music’s quality! Enjoy the reds brw i totally loved them

Yeah the losless music is fabulous, so this truthear reds +dac are they good for Apple Music??

Wow nice im gonna get this then

I have been looking for someone who have tried and tested this and luckily you were that fellow😬😁

i was about to say THIS. Amazing very close to flat headphones, i am so happy with them. Also you can hear the low end properly unlike famous overhead headphones that people use.

I've just upgraded from the EW200 to these. The EW200 are much more bright - not much bass on them at all. But they're both a great option. It just boils down to if you want more or less bass and what sort of music you listen to etc.

You are probably going to get a lot off differing opinions on almost anything audio as we all have different preferences and hear things differently. I would also take reviews and impressions with a grain of salt for that reason including mine. Your good bass and someone else’s can be quite different. For good bass do you mean you want a lot of bass and not much matters after that? Case in point the Zero:Blues definitely bring a bit more bass than the Reds and are more of a V shaped presentation and the Reds more of a neutralish with the highs being a bit more rolled off. That said someone saying the Reds have terrible bass I really don’t know what they are talking about. Do the have the greatest bass of any IEM I’ve heard no but do the had decent bass for a $50 IEM yes they do. Just my opinion.

I'm intrigued. I just purchased my first pair of iems and I chose the reds. About a week after receiving I purchased a fiio ka3 dac and started a tidal free trial. They are so much clearer than any Bluetooth earbuds I've ever owned. The reds are a neutral sound (I'm very early in this game so I have no real idea what that means) and I use the adapter to boost the bass. I'm happy with the sound but I do wonder am I missing something?

I went from Salnotes Zero to this...it was a massive upgrade in every aspect for a small cost. Now I just need to find eartips that can reduce outside noise for wearing it in a train.

I bought it last month. I upgraded from Moondrop Chu to this. I'm happy. It fits well and sounds good!

definitely the truthear zero:red. it has amazing tuning and it sounds so good

Yeah, the zero:reds have nice bass and sounds warm

So I have my KZ ZS10 pro for a year (going 2 years next month) bought it for work purposes. It's my first IEM since my KZ Zs3 broke on 2018. Got it for $25. Using it like just once a week. Very seldom use. Just this week, I bought Truthear Zero:Red for almost $55. Planning to use it for my band for live performance vocal monitoring. So I tested both just today. I am kind of disappointed in Zero's sounds bcos it's muddier and has lower volume compared to KZ. KZ's vocal output sounds brighter, louder and livelier. Zero on the other hand, sounds good if I did not test the KZ first. I read a lot of bad reviews for KZ but I think ZS10 pro wins this. Now, I want to put my hopes up that I did not waste money for Zero. Haven't tested it in band practice to check if we sound good on live. I'll test both IEM and will get back to this thread. And please. Put my hopes up that I did not waste money on this :( lol

Just to add, I wont be able to use my Zero on work because it doesn't have a mic. And I don't want to spend money just for that.

Hey all! I tried the zero:red just yersterday and I was surprised how good the sound quality is compared to KZ ZS10 pro. I very much like the response of Zero as it is more balanced than the ZS10. ZS10 hi freq kinda hurts my ears in hi volume. I tried it with my click tracks and played drums too and FOR ME, I prefer the ZS10 for clicks esp my click sounds are high freq so I can feel my ears ticking (lol) For Zero red, I felt fatigue on my ear after using it for 2 hours. The nozzle is too big but my ear can handle it but not for long. Didnt feel any on KZ I am in a metal band btw. Hope this review helps!

I am still deciding if Im going to sell my zero. Im really disappointed with the sound quality despite the price

Hey, I haven't tried any of it in band prac. We will resume our band activities next month. Prolly 2nd week of January 2025. I will post right away in this thread after testing both. But so far, using both IEMs in my PC for sound test, Zero has flatter response compared to KZ ZS10 that's V-shaped. So I'm assuming in a band practice with monitors, I'll hear all instruments better in Zero. This is still an assumption. Still have issues with volume tho ;/

I've never had quality earphones before and I'd say for the 40 I spent on them the zero reds sound quality, I really dig them for my first iems

If the fit works for you, my favourite below 80 USD are the Truthear Zero:REDs. Nicely neutral and versatile for your varied music tastes, with the option of an impedance adaptor to add bass if needed

nothing wrong with getting the Dusk, because with it, u got your endgame without spending on incremental upgrades along the way (unless......if u know how the IEM rabbit hole works, then yeah u get what I mean) 1. Truthear Zero x Crinacle Zero:Red 2. DUNU Titan S2 3. LETSHUOER S12/S12 Pro (no diff in sound just color and cable diff) 4. Simgot EM6L 5. Aful Explorer? 6. Truthear Nova/Binary x Gizaudio Chopin (pick your poison) And no, don't use Dolby, it screws around with the imaging

Best ones: 7hz Salnotes Zero 2 Tangzu Wan'er Truthear Zero:RED Truthear Hexa Moondrop Aria 2 (no, Simgots are not better) Edit: newlines

Zero red with its 10ohm adaptor need more power to drive for sure or maybe you prefer iem with more midbass punch.

I personally use a pair of Truthear Zero:Red paired with the Apple dongle. Blocks enough noise for me to enjoy the music.

I bought these as my first IEMs and was disappointed after a week. I compared them to my old Sony xb510as earphones, and to me, they sounded similar. So I returned them.

They’re amazing

I've purchased a couple budget IEMs over the past few months as I introduced myself into this hobby. I started with the 7hz Salnotes Zero, then got the Truthear x Crinacle Zero:Red, and most recently the Simgot EW300 DSP. I have been listening to all kinds of music from various genres (mainly different EDM, rock, and a few others). I have also been using them for gaming as I previously use the Steelseries Arctis Pro. The difference in sound and the shear level of detail I hear in the music is remarkable. I have been trying different ear tips for the EW300 as I find the fit to be not that comfortable compared to even the Zero:Red which I think are quite large for my ears and stick out quite a bit. I love the sound of all of them but the profile for the EW300 is just great. I got into EQ a bit to see what all the hype is about and started AutoEQ to other IEMs I have been interested in. Doing research on everything, it has become quite an obsession I must admit. I understand the graphs and enjoy being able to visualize sound. I'm still learning about DACs and why they are important. I plan in the future to get another IEM that is more economic than the EW300 and have been looking into the ZiiGaat Odyssey as well as the Xenns Mangird Tea Pro. I set my EQ for the EW300 to match the Tea Pro and the sound is just that much better. The bass is clear and punchy and the miss and highs are detailed and accurate. There's not much of a point to this post. I'm not looking for information or suggestions really. Any information is always great, but I more just wanted to say thank you to the entire community for making this hobby one that is enjoyable and easy to get into. It has become my new obsession and I plan to stick with it for as long as I live. Music is my life and without it I'm sure I would be lost in this crazy world.

Honestly they are all good for rock and EDM. Each has its own benefit. I haven't really used the Salnotes zero as much as the others but the zero red definitely has some kick to the bass for EDM which is great. The EW300 is no slouch in the bass department either but I believe the addition of the planar and PZT drivers make the mids and highs a bit more clear and concise which I really enjoy. Especially for drum and bass which needs to have a bit of bass and tremble to sound as good as it should

I thought the Reds were underwhelming at first too when I got them a couple months ago. Now, after dialing in my EQ for them, they sound pretty good for the $45 that I paid. Just gotta give them a chance before you decide if you really like them or not.

I had the zero red and replaced it with the Klean, I wont ever come back again. The black nozzles answers the boring treble and uppermidrange of the reds. if ill compare it Red is a like person slacking and the klean is like an active person. its has a fun. and engaging sound. I mainly use my performer 7 but when i changed the nozzle to black arguably its somehow close to how my performer 7 sounds but ofcourse its more technical than the Klean.

And that ungodly dent on your hair after using headphones!! I moved to Truthear X Crinacle Zero : Red. It's pretty amazing!

Different IEMs cater to different kinds of sound profiles. It’s not just spend more money therefore it sounds better. Zero reds are extremely neutral with a slight sub-bass boost. I like that kind of tuning. You don’t. Zero reds aren’t meant to be punchy and exciting.

This sub often overhyped things. But personally i thinks the red is a good set, it do kinda sound like less compress airpods

I use the Zero:RED with the impedance adapter and with the stock narrow-bore eartips at high volume (this last part is very important if you are gonna use the adapter, you will need extra power). So, start the day using my setup without trying other headphones and without constantly plugging and unplugging the adapter... Sometimes you just need to have a "reset" ear.

I also felt Red was underwhelming in contrast to the hype. I just don't find it as the reviews said. Zero Two felt far better than the Red. I have tried a bunch of cheap and expensive IEMs and found Zero Red underwhelming compared to what everyone says. But still I'll ask you to use it for awhile.

The Zero Red is a safely tuned IEM with no treble issues because of the damping that was used crossover wise and chassis engineering wise. The impedance adapter's job is to raise the impedance curve or an IEM that doesn't have a flat impedance and to do this it down shelfs the treble even further making the mass bloomy and not snappy and everything sounds muffled. So use Red without Adapter with a dongle(portable DAC/Amp) or a big external DAC/Amp and then EQ to taste

https://preview.redd.it/5muzzzxxpjnd1.png?width=1959&format=png&auto=webp&s=c79dbd9b34bd181316ec62896a578e086401759c idk it looks like there's more bass in reds then in airpods to me

https://preview.redd.it/g0fse51l9knd1.png?width=1961&format=png&auto=webp&s=5cf38f0ae4d06aa730273a3cfd731f56a529caa6 With an adapter the difference is even greater

Yeah, you're right but original [Waidowai](https://www.reddit.com/user/Waidowai/)'s point was that OP didn't liked Reds 'cause they're not bassy enough compared to "conventional" earphones (I gave AirPods as an example because OP mentioned them first) and I showed that AirPods are even less bassy then Reds and trebles are pretty much on the same level.

Nice. I'm enjoying the reds as my first Chi-fi. But it does get a little muddy when there's a lot going on in a song.

Yes I am loving the sound profile, drums sound great with the hats, and high notes don't cause any fatigue..

I’m in the same boat mate there are hundreds of new brands I seam to find every google !! It’s a bit overwhelming I just paid today for the Truthear x Crinacle Zero:RED I have know idea how it will turn out . Like you I have heard the kz something 10 pro was recommended but have read good and bad reviews going round in circles. There are heaps of reviews out there for audiophiles but have yet to come across reviews for musicians specifically ( bass players )

i bought the red a month ago, this set are amazing

Using my Reds right now. I felt the same, you need an amp or a dongle so it gets more power and the sound quality increases. Regarding not being wide, I came from headphones and to me it still bothers that the sound is not as wide . Also the instrument separation is nothing special and the EQ is very boring. To me they really improved once I EQ them and also after I bought an interface em which gives it more power. They are good but I also expected more.

I bought a modded ps vita and wanted iems for that and got zero reds and low and behold I preferd them over my dunu falcon pros so much that I bought mangird tea pros for my main setup, zero red are truly amazing if you like the tuning.

What’s your price range? IEMs, in general, are good for gaming if you’re fine with their soundstage. I’ve used mine with my ROG Ally and desktop all the time. It started with a cheap pair of KZ’s, then the Moondrop Chu 2, Truthear x Crinacle Zero:Red, and now I have the Moondrop x Crinacle: Dusk. I don’t use my cheap KZ’s anymore except with my Sony camera so I can hear audio my wireless microphones are recording. My Chu 2 and Zero:Red cycle their way through my home office (where I game) and actual office with my Dusk being my primary pair. I had a pair of Blessing 3, but was within Amazon’s return window and decided to get the Dusk instead.

I just got mine about 20 days ago as well. I'm enjoying them with tripowin grace cables and jcally jm20pro dongle. Needs abit power from amp DAC to power it so a dongle would be sufficient. Get a change of ear tips like a spinfit w1 or cp100. It makes the iem sound better with proper seal. I'm enjoying them alot so far. Sound is a very subjective matter as you, me and many others hear differently. You may be able to hear higher frequency and may be treble sensitive or you don't like harsh bass. You should go to an iem store to test before you purchase. Once again it depends on what you enjoy. You can go check out jays audio on YouTube cuz I think he has really good insight and recommendations.

Truthear x Crinacle Zero:RED IEM. They measure very well. Better than a lot of the studio headphones that people use https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/truthear-x-crinacle-zero-red-iem-review.44865/ And they're only $55.

Can recommend Truthear Zero:Red, it's fun.

I bought the Reds with 3 others because I couldn’t make the decision. The reds are my favorite. I’m looking into something like the Crinacle Dusk next. That is just a big jump in price.

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.

How do you compare them with the Truthear Zero:RED? I found it very similar, but a little more bassier

I was listening to them until last month, when my Kefine Klean filled up this sound signature with more refinement in treble and also more comfortably in the ears. But it's still a great iem, I'm waiting for the announced Zero:RED 2.

Okay I gotchu. I'd suggest something like: Treble: Simgot EW200 Vocals: Tangzu Wan'er Balanced: Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Red, Moondrop Chu 2 (DSP ver is just slightly better than analog that it's a bit clean? Idk. Gizaudio said that). Idk category: Artti T10 and Artri R2 (idk which type they are as I didn't check on them but it's good according to Jaysaudio). You can check them and dive deeper if you'd like to. For me, I'd prefer EW200 over the Tangzu Wan'er as it's better as it should be considering Tangzu is just $29 and EW200 is $50; Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Red over the Moondrop Chu 2 (Chu 2 in fact is similar to Zero 2 but maybe a few subtle differences and again the Chu 2 is $20-25 and Zero:Red is $55). I can't prefer only one between the Zero:Red and the EW200 because they have different plus points and compliments each other. Zero:Red is balanced and EW200 has better bass texture and treble foward. You can always do your research and ask others which are the best between the ones I've listed and they'll give you better sense of what the tuning is like and how they compare in terms of tecnicak performances.

EA500 LM and Zero: Red are both good sets. Neither would disappoint.

1. Dan Clark Audio E3 2. HD 650 3. HD 660S2 4. Moondrop KXXS 5. Truthear Zero:RED 6. Sony WF-1000XM3 All about what's expected, I generally prefer accurate midrange and slight forward 2-4khz unlike a lot of others. Love extended sub-bass but generally find IEMs worse than my over-ears. Interested in trying the Softears Volume S sometime.

Hello everyone, I am currently looking for IEMs between 180-250 €. From what I've heard for now, regardless of my personal taste, the following seem interesting: * Kiwi Ears KE 4 * Truthear Nova * LetShuoer Cadenza 4 * Tanchjim Origin * ZiiGaat Odyssey My favorite IEMs so far are the Truthear Zero: Red. My most expensive ones up to now were the Kiwi Ears Singolo, but they didn't fit me at all. They always slipped out of the ear canal a little when I wore them, so the sound didn't hit properly. They were only good when I really “pressed” them into my ears with my fingers - but even then, I preferred the tuning of the Zero Red. Can you recommend IEMs that are a similar sounding improvement to the Reds in this price range? Thank you in advance for your help!

Do you think I will like the Odyssey when I loved the Zero: Red? Currently, I'm wavering between the Odyssey and the KE4. I've heard one Reviewer say that the KE4s are very comfortable, and he had the same problem with the Singolos I had, so I'm hoping they would fit perfectly.

Technicality wise, Truthear Hexa is the best out of those options. Clear vocals, detail retrieval, no sibilance. However, it's not for everyone. It can be boring and "not colorful". If you want a safe bet as your first IEM, I suggest the Truthear x Crinacle zero: red. Considered as one of the best iems under $100. Great tonality, smooth, well-tuned, and accurate. Downside, the nozzle is bigger than common IEMs so fit can be an issue. Others also find the bass a bit lacking but for me, it's adequate.

just got my zero reds like last week, first iem experience, same boat as you, mainly gaming, and otherwise pop and kpop, it's amazing, i absolutely love it, games are super fun on it and music is even more fun, i literally sit around listening to music now on this doing nothing, before I always used to use music as a background, it's very good, I came from hyperx cloud 2 to this, massive upgrade, but I do have to buy a standalone mic now...

you are comparing a 50$ product with 250$ product which even factoring the wireless advantage it's still not a fair comparison, also, iems really depend on the taste, the zero red is better if you like music with little bass but more about vocals, if you are into electric music with a lot of bass the red might sound flat or "lacks life" if that makes sense, but that can be mitigated by getting that DAC that you mentionned which is the same one i have

If you like airpods or basically any "mainstream wireless earbuds" it's almost certain you won't like the reds, or that they sound boring to you. They are basically as neutral or balanced as it gets without being flat! Many "enthusiests" like this sound signature. The "conventinal" earphones mostly boost bass and highs a lot so it sounds more exciting to people.. so if you like that the reds won't be for you. The blues are a little bit more punchy and also the highs are more exciting.. enthusiasts call it shouty.. but regardless even the blues won't have the "mainstream" sound.

Westone has been around for a very long time, before when Shure SE846 was at it’s prime. They haven’t changed much and neither have the prices for their all BA IEMs that don’t perform up to today’s standards anymore. We have far more resolving IEMs with safer tunings for less than half the price. There are still people who like the Westone house sound however. Their QC seems to be good though unlike most chifi. I want to recommend the Truthear Zero:Red ($55) and see if that’s what you’re looking for.

I believe NiKo is using a pair of Truthear Zeros, which are great for hearing footsteps

Moondrop chu 2 or Tripowin vivace + some cheap dongle is my rec , something like truthear zero is a little bit better

A budget set that will give you the bass and still retain details is the Truthear Zero, but the treble is a little spicy. An iem that sounds similar (regardless of the graph) to the Hexa but has punchier bass and a bit more life in the mids and treble is the Simgot EM6L @ $110.

I recommend any of the Truthear Zeroes, the original one probably has bass pushed up a bit more than the Reds, but the Reds have cleaner bass imo. The Hexas have the cleanest bass but they arent as present as the other IEMs. You could also take a look at something by Kinera but I have no personal experience with them so I cant really say. Hope you get something you like tho!

I have had both of them plus my current ones of the Shure 215 SE Pro. The bose ones were definitely my favorite. They were so comfortable and the sound was amazing. My dog broke them after about two years. Now I can't find a pair that isn't crazy expensive because they are discontinued (at least can't find them in canada) The truthear ones I am not sure if I got a defective pair but the sound was really muffled regardless what I did with my sound settings. I only used them for about a week. They were alright for comfort. Then I bought the shure 215 pro and I found them really good. They were really close in sound quality to bose. They are pretty comfortable too because they are really light. I ended up buying a second pair to have as a back up. They aren't as expensive as the bose either but I think they are a really good option. I know a few pros use them but I can't remember which ones

No problem. I think it's likely I just got a defective pair of truthears. You can order them both off of Amazon though and just return the pair you don't like too

I can vouch for the truth ears… they are the best of the current audio devices that I have… I have AirPods Pro and some Beyerdynamic headphones and I get more audio out of the truth ears.

Plus 1 for this, was basically gonna say the same thing. In the spring I ordered a pair of $50 IEMs on Amazon (Truthear X Crinacle Zero’s) because I wanted an alternative to my A40TR’s, I liked over ear headphones but wanted the option for earbuds sometimes. I’ve legit never worn my A40s since the first day my IEMs got here. For like 1/6th of the price they are so much clearer. Don’t get me wrong, the audio in this game can suck pretty bad, nothing is gonna magically make audio from nothing (never gonna hear someone mantle no matter what you use 🤣) , but the sound cues you do hear are crispy through my IEMs and muddy through my A40s.

I can add my experience to this. I have a Philips SHP9500 headphones and a TruthEar Zero IEM. It all comes down how you want your sound to be presented. For atmospheric and open world games, the SHP9500 is great. But for competitive FPS games like PUBG and CS2, the Zero is king. Everything is so much clearer like footsteps and gunfire direction. And also, with an IEM, you can set your sound levels lower than with headphones and still have better clarity and details. And I bought them both around the same price range too.

From my experience, the Truthear Zero is pretty good for FPS games in general. Very nice and detailed and the sound direction is pretty accurate. I can easily hear people running from 50 meters away.

Truthear Zero is generally regarded as somewhat better. They are 2x the price after all, but if you're not too discerning these will do just fine.

Aful Explorer, or any other lower pinna gain set. Truthear Zero (og), the other side of the coin for me, shouty and harsh.

Truthear Nova if u can get a promo to 100$ or Truthear zero's ( blue or red both good for 40$/50$) Don't get em6l - they are good in only comp games (you can hear the footsteps , directions etc but for me its sounds off, have a muddy feel) , Nozzle - issues (falling apart ), super smooth nozzle causes tips to pop out

I really don't recommend KZ because it sounds generic compared to my Salnote Zero. I mostly recommend Tangzu Wan'er, Truthear's Hexa and ZERO, Salnote's ZERO and ZERO:2, Simgot EW200. KZ is decent but their whole lineup sounds the same, that overwhelming bass and fatiguing treble is the most cons of their products.

Not convinced on that. Is it cool? Yeah. But like a 20$ truthear zero really isn't that bad as is. If the monarch was 200$ I'd buy it again

Your experince has some similarities with mine. I also started with the Zero (1) but it broke, so I got the Chu 2. Found the Chu 2 too V-shaped for me. Next, I got the SGOR Luna, which is like you getting the EW300. Both clearly V-shaped tuned IEM's with similar flaws. I love the Luna but it was just too V-shaped and I felt like I was missing out on the mids and vocals were distant (they never go too busy though since they're plannars). Then I got the 7hz Sonus in an attempt to save from spending for the Hexa. This was 90% there for me but it got really fatiguing ang unnatural after a month. Too "in-your-face" sound. I finally got the Hexa's and have been using them for over 2 months now. The way you describe them is almost exactly how I would too. Cheers.

You mean truthear zero? They are perhaps more neutral sounding, when I heard "dans audio reviews" yt channel. Suprisingly enough the most bass you can get from the cheapest, qkz x hbb, they of course doesn't have the best technicalities, separation, or soundstage, but vocals are clean and bass is there. Something more polished would be the Tri x Hbb Kai, but its too shiny and perhaps also out of stock. They are so cheap, that they cost less then the foam buds, and the bass is there. O course dont know if the bass clarity and separation would be enough, but I was quite surprised how good it is. Perhaps they lack in other areas bu defenitelly not in the bass area.

I love the sound of the Blue 2’s, but I tried the Tangzu Fudu, Kiwis and 7hz - the only reason I’m considering others is because they feel so much better in my ears. But the sound signature has been better on the Truths by far

Truthear Zero. Some people prefer the Zero Red’s as they have a little more/smoother bass but the originals are just as good imo and reds are a few more bucks.

It’s the same earbud, I left out the crinacle to keep it shorter

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

Shure, Westone and KZ are all terrible. The sound and build quality is bad. Get some Salnotes Zero 2s, TruthEar Zero, TturthEar Hexa or Moondrop Aria. All under $100, just get some foam tips to go with them.

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.

I have castor bass, wan'er 2, truthear zero, nicehck f1 pro, S08, and Aful Explorer. Of all of them, I love the Explorer the most and it's my current fave. The bass is awesome, mids and highs are clear. Fits very well. Cables and case are super high quality and just awesome to use. Go up a little bit and wait for sale. I got mine for ~$72 with coins in the recent spring sale.