KZ - Vadar Series

KZ Vader is also a good one here. Whatever you buy, you should pair it with a DAC like the Audiocular D07 for proper output.

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.

Well, I can recommend most of these.. The quality of sound for the price is the biggest reason. Please refer to my other reviews and the new ones I'll be posting soon. Within $25, the best recommendations are vader high res and castor pro bass.

Vader high res is good option, but it's not upgrade from zs12 pro x. I recommend Hydro. And za12 is noticeably better than zs12 pro x in resolution. Both has similar level of bass, and bright signature, but za12's instruments expression is better

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. 🧐

There is one. It’s the KZ Vader HiRes, if you can find it for $13 like how I did. Vader HiRes is a smooth more “warmer” listen. Only really down side is that the Vader (both of them) are incredibly hard to drive.

ZSN Pro 2 is good and the cheapest you will see a real hybrid at. The highs can get a bit spicy so you might have to EQ, and there is some BA timbre but the technicals are very strong for the price and it's way better than last-gen KZ hybrids for the most part. I can't think of an IEM with more incisive mids without at least doubling if not tripling the price. Another good cheap KZ is Vader balanced. If you want to play it safe get the one without the switches, the tuning is a little bit more relaxed.

Wow more than me! My favs are ZS12 Pro X, Zenith, PR2 (black mesh), and Vader. How do you like the ZA12 and Hydro? I tried to get a ZA12 but it was a scam listing so I got a ZSN Pro X instead lol, at least it was free. Oh, and original CCA CRA, one of my favorite DDs to this day.

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

Interesting. I took apart vader and i did not found any part number on them. Same with my zs10pro2 no part number on any components. Do you know by any chance if A30019 are superior to 31736 used in Rhapsody and zs10pro2? On paper both use the same ba but zs10 have piercing high notes,not the same case with Rhapsody so i assume the tuning is done on the circuit board. Also i think those ''silver'' wires have a role also,otherwise won't make sense to use coper and silver wires ( Rhapsody ) I swapped on my PRX those silver wires with thicker copper ones and i have the impression the bass is a bit stronger ( could be just on my mind ) Also there is a chance to remove hot glue with some chemical or something.Heat could damage the driver. In Vader they used some glue that got dissolved by acetone but in Rhapsody they used hot glue so no chance to disassemble them unless i find a way to get rid of that ho glue.

I've used the following models with success on stage and rehearsals (I play the drums): ZVX, ZS10 Pro X, Libra, Krila, Vader. At least the first two are sensitive enough to go loud even with a wimpy amp. Like you I previously used Shure 215's (and 315's). For years. And any of the models I mentioned sounds better to my ears.

Oh man, for the price: the CCA trio, Kefine Klean, KZ Vader Balanced and HighRes, TRN V90 pro,Tripowin Vivace, Artti T10, KZ Zenith, gaming and audiophile beasts. (personally I'm more inclined to the Klean, the Zenith and the T10) The CCA trio and the Vader Balanced are similarly tuned, but both are one of the best iems under 30 usd. The Klean have a hidden trick who is you can do a subtle mod on it for improving the bass and tuning overall (stock is still so good), is one of my go to sets in the market, excellent tuning and a soundstage and imaging, and macro and microdetails retrieval delight. KZ Vader HighRes, this is 90% the CCA Hydro, but is a hungry boy who craves good sources. Tripowin Vivace, this is an excellent tuned iem, well priced and a gaming powerhouse. TRN V90 pro, they put all the effort in the iem itself but TRN don't disappoint: Nice stock cable, good included eartips (the trn t eartips are one of my favorite eartips ever, period. Lol), and the tuning is an upgrade to the ST7 because is a fix of the flaws of the other iem. Artti T10, is the best planar iem for 50 usd or less, is bassy, balanced, an all-rounder set to enjoy music and a gaming beast. KZ Zenith, is the best DD iem of KZ, with high praise from various reviewers, HBB and Paul Wasabii included.

Oh man, for the price: the CCA trio, Kefine Klean, KZ Vader Balanced and HighRes, TRN V90 pro,Tripowin Vivace, Artti T10, KZ Zenith, gaming and audiophile beasts. (personally I'm more inclined to the Klean, the Zenith and the T10) The CCA trio and the Vader Balanced are similarly tuned, but both are one of the best iems under 30 usd. The Klean have a hidden trick who is you can do a subtle mod on it for improving the bass and tuning overall (stock is still so good), is one of my go to sets in the market, excellent tuning and a soundstage and imaging, and macro and microdetails retrieval delight. KZ Vader HighRes, this is 90% the CCA Hydro, but is a hungry boy who craves good sources. Tripowin Vivace, this is an excellent tuned iem, well priced and a gaming powerhouse. TRN V90 pro, they put all the effort in the iem itself but TRN don't disappoint: Nice stock cable, good included eartips (the trn t eartips are one of my favorite eartips ever, period. Lol), and the tuning is an upgrade to the ST7 because is a fix of the flaws of the other iem. Artti T10, is the best planar iem for 50 usd or less, is bassy, balanced, an all-rounder set to enjoy music and a gaming beast. KZ Zenith, is the best DD iem of KZ, with high praise from various reviewers, HBB and Paul Wasabii included.

Kz Zvx pro, kz zsn pro 2, cvj night elf, kz vader highres, trn v10 pro, trn v90 pro... The mt5 is all but analytical, is a reshell of the Orca but bad tuned lol.

I bought mine (ND planet) a few days ago so I'm waiting it to arrive the next week maybe?, the Orca is very capable in technicalities, but is not better than the V10 pro in this aspect, ZVX pro is a beast in technicalities maybe trading blows with the Vader HighRes (but the Vader is just in another league, is almost 90% of the CCA Hydro), maybe on pair with the V90 pro and Nightelf, and the ZSN pro 2 is perhaps the only on pair with the Orcas, but with a little more stage and imaging. Btw, i love my Orcas, and i hate my mt5, i know I'm crazy but whatevs ahaha. Cheers mate!

There's a lot of more than nice options mate: -Kefine Klean (but there's reports of channel imbalance and issues with the nozzles, my unit is kicking ass fine) -Inawaken Dawn ms, a little less technical than Klean but more musical (waiting it to arrive soon) -Sgor Luna one of the best planar iems for less than 50 bucks (loving it mine) -KZ PRX the best planar by the brand, trades blows with the Luna (waiting it to arrive soon) -KZ Vader Balanced/CCA Trio oh yes, so fun, musical and technical (loving my Vader Bal and HighRes) -Artti T10 the best planar for 50ish bucks -7hz x HBB Elua oh yes , a better and more technical and fun driven iem than legato, basshead approved (loving my unit, is a well received iem in head-fi) -Simgot EW200, dude, that iem doesn't need presentation 😅 -TRN White Tiger, impressive good tuned, interesting config, I'm not so much into the shell looking but is made of metal and well builded, is what matters to me

kz castor pro (harman tuned with improved bass) kefine delice ae kz vader (hi-res version) kz zs10 pro 2 or kz zs12 pro x

Sorry, haven't spent much time with the Saga Balanced yet, been enjoying the Vader High Res too much recently XD. From first listen, I prefer Saga Balanced over Saga Bass, but I prefer Castor Pro Bass over both. However, I prefer Vader High Res over all of those for overall sound.

Nice, I just bought KZ Vader High Res and this makes me happy about my purchase. It's in 6th place while also being significantly cheaper than the options above it.

then, definitely check the Tripowin Vivace, and as a second option, CCA Trio or KZ Vader Balanced.