To be fair, Kinera Hodur is an attempt at what you’re talking about…
That Hodur is using an MST driver.
Not a Sonion EST like I assume @VIVIDICI_111 meant.
Otherwise tribrids are as cheap as 20 usd with the Senfer DT6.
3 Likes
post 48ish hour burn in on 7hz zero
I’m able to listen to songs now that I couldn’t make it all the way through before so it seems to have tamed the spike a small amount
Caleb Hyles’s cover of toss a coin to your witcher on these is just 
(In my best DJ Khalid voice): AND ANOTHER ONE!!!
First impressions: it’s good, but I dunno if I’m impressed
Second impression (after hooking up a balanced cable to my hip-dac): OH….hi there
7 Likes
7hertz Salnotes Zero Review & Comparison: The new king under $100?
It was only just a few months ago when Moondrop released the Chu and completed redefined the sub-$100 price bracket. Similarly, I believe 7hertz and the Zero has just pushed that boundary even more by building upon the Chu’s tuning by taming the uppermids from 4-8k, and the peak after 10K. However, better scaling is not the only improvement here; I don’t know what kind of magic 7hertz used, but the Zero to my ears sounds clearer than both the Chu, and its older brother the Starfields. Even though the Zero sits around the same technical level as the Chu, and is evidently behind the Starfields, it does sound the most natural and clear out of the three to my ears. In this review I will be comparing the Zero to the Modded Chu, Starfields (replaces Aria and KAI/Melee), as well as the $100 gatekeepers the ER2XR, and Modded Olina.
To start off, Traces of Time by Rainie Yang is used to test mids, and overall dynamics/details due to its amazing arrangement and mastering. Rainie’s voice transitions from low-soft to bright within the chorus has killed many IEMs (along with my ears) with uneven/spicy uppermid/treble.
Here I’m looking for:
- Cymbal crash air and decay starting from 3:11
- Clarity of Flutes at 3:11, Piano slide at 3:14, Guitar lick at 3:16
- Dynamics and openness of vocals and instruments at 3:29 (should not sound muffled or piercing)
- Clarity of Piano notes at 3:33, Violin strings at 3:35, Saxophone at 3:39, Piano notes 3:50
RESULTS:
- Zero (most natural and no sibilance)
- ER2XR (equally natural with great tech but can get hot)
- Modded Olina (most technical but not as open around 3:29)
- Modded Chu (same as Olina but not as technical)
- Starfields (a bit muffled during busier passages)
For low-end, Time by Hikaru Utada.
Here, I’m looking for:
- Impact at 0:19
- Bass texture and detail starting from 0:48
- Bass/Vocal separation starting from 1:17 (ER2SE couldn’t handle bass note)
- Drop at 3:32
- Any bass bleed from 4:10 to finish
RESULTS:
- Modded Olina (Hands down best control, texture, and extension)
- Starfields (Punchy)
- ER2XR (Controlled but not as punchy)
- Zero/ Modded Chu (lacks punch and low-end extension)
Next, Strangest Thing by War On Drugs is used to test the bite, detail/separation, and energy of electric guitars starting from 3:33; at 4:28, and 5:07.
RESULTS:
- Modded Olina (Most tech, and strikes a perfect balance between bite and note-weight)
- ER2XR (Detailed but a little too much energy at times)
- Zero/ Modded Chu (A bit too light, and not as detailed)
- Starfields (Good note-weight but fuzzy at times)
Model by Li Rong Hao is used to test cymbals, stage air, and vocal sibilance. Here, I’m looking for energy from cymbal splashes starting from 3:28, and sibilance/air at 3:56 where Li’s vocals and instruments join together. This is another track that has killed many IEMs with spicy uppermids/treble.
RESULTS:
- Zero (Most natural and sitting on the edge of being spicy)
- Modded Olina (Most 3D and not sibilant but not as natural)
- ER2XR (Equally natural as Zero but can get spicy)
- Starfields (a bit muffled)
- Modded Chu (a bit muffled + can get spicy)
To test strings, The Four Seasons: Summer 1 by Vivaldi (recomposed by Max Richter) is used. Starting from 3:00 I’m listening for the dynamics/soulfulness of the strings and details from the lingering notes.
RESULTS:
- ER2XR/Modded Olina (Perfect balance of note-weight and distance with great details)
- Zero/ Modded Chu (A bit light)
- Starfields (great note-weight but maybe too forward)
For drums, All Of The Lights by Kanye West is used starting from the drop at 0:27 to test for energy, any plastic-timbre, and speed/decay of drum-beat.
RESULTS:
- Modded Olina (best detail, extension, and energy)
- Starfields (good energy but lacking speed)
- ER2XR (good speed, but not as engaging)
- Zero/ Modded Chu (a bit light and lacks rumble)
As for vocal timbre, U by Kendrick Lamar is used. Starting from 2:25 Kendrick is cry-rapping in a druken state; here we’re looking for how natural he sounds as well as the bottle clanks starting from 3:46.
RESULTS:
- Modded Olina/ER2XR (most detailed and natural)
- Starfields (good note-weight but too forward)
- Zero/ Modded Chu (lacks detail and a bit light)
For imaging & separation, the first minute of Bubbles, and Letters by Yosi Horikawa is used to test attack, decay, accuracy, as well as the movement of sound from left, right, up, and down.
RESULTS:
- Modded Olina (Clearly above the rest)
- ER2XR/ Starfields (Still good, but not 3D and not as accurate)
- Zero/ Modded Chu ($20, what did you expect?)
CONCLUSION
Although the Zero is not replacing the $100 gatekeepers from a technical standpoint, it does however trade punches with them in tuning on certain songs like Traces of Time, and Model. The Zero to me is a better version of the Chu, and Starfields depending on the genre. For hiphop and songs with lots of low-end and bass the Aria and KAI will still be the better choice (or if you want something with a heavier note-weight), but for rock/pop/ballads/alternative I’d take the Zero over them any day.
Overall I’m very very satisfied with the Zero’s tuning regardless of the price. Aside from the Dunu Titan S that I have not heard of yet (due to reviews of bright treble), I can say for me at least the Zero is currently the king under $100. Now, I just need a company to release a similarly tuned IEM but with more/better drivers… EJ07 
but more on that later 
Thanks for reading!
Final Ranking: B-
Deeper breakdown here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dndFGgeDaRB1gxdnbHu3U7xXgBeSNI5xU30iJZXH07A/edit#gid=0
12 Likes
So I had another trip to my local audio shop and demo-ed 2 IEMs today. The Monarch MKII and the Acoustune… googles IEM name… HS2000MX ‘Sho’. The 2000USD IEM.
My main purpose for the visit today was to try out the Shanling M6 Pro again and asked for suggestion about upgrading from the Fiio Q3 DAC/AMP. I went out from the shop with a clear answer.
I first used the Monarch MKII on my M3X. I gotta say, during my first listen, it’s like a cleaner bassier version of the Variations. Imaging definitely is slightly better but not too much for me.
I gotta say that the Monarch MKII is HUGE! I am able to fit the Variations in my ears quite comfortably but this one… this one is probably the first time that I’m having a bad fitting issue cause of how big it is. It does able to snug into my ears but I’ll feel uncomfortable after a few tracks. It’s unfortunate but I’m glad I was able to demo it.
I then tried the Shanling M6 Pro with my Variations once again. Even on first listen, I’m able to tell that it’s almost 80% night and day difference in terms of sounding coming from the M3X. Everything felt fuller sounding, more spacious in the soundstage and imaging and also more detailed. From this point on, I knew I’m good with the variations and in need to look out for an upgraded DAP.
While I love the Shanling M6 Pro but deep inside, I knew there’s the M6 Ultra and M7 coming soon and also the M6 Pro is running on the old Android 7.1. I asked the shopkeeper and he said, yes they are coming to sell them but not sure yet. He did gave me a pretty decent discounted price on the M6 Pro, but I declined at the moment.
I ended my IEM demo with this Gundam looking-IEM, the Acoustune HS2000MX “Sho”. I tried it on the M6 Pro cause might as well. I don’t know how I should say this, coming from the Variations, this IEM is definitely more detailed, soundstage and imaging is damn good, but the bass felt kinda off? I’m sorry I couldn’t explain this properly or maybe cause I can’t A-B well but something just felt a bit off for me.
Maybe I’m not used to this tuning and still couldn’t wrap my head around it so it could be a “me” problem. It fits weirdly to my ears as well and not in a comfortable way. It’s really amazing to look and hold but after putting it in my ear, I felt a lil uncomfortable. Not Monarch MKII uncomfortable but it’s there. Maybe when I have a lil more time, I’ll demo it again next time.
And now came the final piece. I demo-ed the Shanling UA5 dongle. I was ready to leave, but then I asked the shopkeeper for an opinion on what is good for me to upgrade from the Fiio Q3 DAC/AMP. Cause I didn’t want a desktop dac/amp but something I could bring it out as. a portable device and for office use. He then introduced me the dongles. He showed me the RU-6 and the UA5.
From the IEMs that I have and when I told him that I mainly used the Variations, he instantly recommended me the Shanling UA5. He told me that the dongles really came a long way this year and boy how right he was.
I went to demo it on my phone and oh my lord, how is this little dongle much better than the Fiio Q3!? it’s even able to excel the M3X to a certain extend! Coming from the M3X, it’s not exactly night and day different but the sense of the upgrade is there. Imaging is clearly better and more detailed. It made my Variations sang even more, that’s for sure. There’s even a mini battery inside too! He said with the battery, it will be able to run for about 3 hours under high gain. It does help to reduce the distortion under battery mode but not by much.
So yeah! That’s about it! Oh!
I did tried the Kato for a while, I was also looking for an IEM for my Sony A55 to make it as a “Back-up” player if I need it but not important right now. I gotta say, for the price, the detail retrievel is pretty good. It’s still your usualy Moondrop sound but because it’s been a long time since i’ve listedned to the starfield, I find the Kato to be pretty good for the price and can be a casual listener’s end game. Female vocals is amazing in it!
That’s truly about it! Apologies for the very long post but I hope you guys enjoyed reading it!
Can I say how much I appreciate @hawaiibadboy , @nymz , @Rikudou_Goku , and other IEMs reviewers out there? Having to constantly AB-ing IEMs almost every few days and weeks and abiding to the audience’s requests, I now know how incredibly hard it is to tune your own head to remember what kind of tuning of certain IEMs. I tried AB-ing today with these 3 IEMs and failed miserably. Seriously, huge respect to all of you. This hobby is something else but also fun too.
14 Likes
You summed it all up in this paragraph. It aint easy, but sometimes it’s fun!
Good write-up 
4 Likes
If you struggle with remembering your impression. You could write notes down while you are listening or even use a temporary score that u can then compare with.
3 Likes
Thanks! Cookie eaten!
Yeah I can try taking notes next time. I have a set of songs ready to test as well. Not sure I’ll commit but it can be a good writing exercise. Thanks!
3 Likes
I find writing down notes on the specific parts/time of a song to be very helpful. For example the cymbals at … or the vocals at… Anyhow, good write up 
2 Likes
To piggyback on these, notes are your friend. And I’m slowly working out a rating system that works for me, that I feel conveys my brain/heart feelings into an actually corresponding “objective” score. That definitely helps focus your mind (“I know THIS bass is average to me. Is the set better or worse than that?”).
My other suggestion is have a list (or lists. I have 7 5 song lists), of songs you KNOW, inside and out. The more you practice hearing a specific song, and specific things to listen for in those songs, the better you get at picking out “what’s right or wrong” by ear.
Hope that helps
3 Likes
Shuoer S12 Thoughts:
Believe it or not, the S12 is the first time I’ve ever heard a planar driver. I’ve never heard the headphone version or anything. So, as I described in my initial impressions, I definitely had a “Hmmm” moment, that made me feel like “is this it? Planar is supposed to be more impressive than this, right?” As I’ve put more time in with S12, I am getting why planar is a very well received driver type, and why the planar hype train is real. It’s really about finding the tuning you like because the driver can kick very nicely.
Where the S12 falls in that…I don’t exactly know. I’ve already gone through phases of “I don’t get why this has so much hype” to “Yeah, this is pretty good actually” to “No, I really don’t get it”. The tuning is pretty good, but it has two major holes in it, that I can’t get past: It’s V-shape is way too lean in the lower mids, where raising up 400hz put so much body back into the replay. I can appreciate why neutral and V-shape tuning have their place, but it’s not for me. I am a more mid-centric listener, so making the sound leaner doesn’t do it for me.
The second problem with S12 is the treble, but not for the reason I expected going in. When people have described the S12 treble as spicy, too aggressive, and such, I was expecting it to be screeching and unappealing. Then I heard it and was all “Oh, I don’t get what the big deal is here, this treble is fine”. Once I played with EQ, it all clicked for me. Spicy treble doesn’t necessarily mean your ears are going to bleed. But the S12’s treble is TOO MUCH. There’s too much information, like cymbal strikes are distractingly present. It’s way too exaggerated, and just wrong. The two problems together are just something I cannot get past.
(One caveat: Plugging the S12 into balanced, and feeding them more current changes the whole equation. They sound better in EVERY way (tuning, soundstage, technicalities), when you feed them more current. If I were going to keep them, I’d say that’s the best/only way to listen to them. Which hurts for my use case because I want my IEMs for portability, and I don’t have a 2.5mm cable to make that happen. The revised S12 pro is very smart to put a modular cable in the box for that reason!).
If anyone wants actual song comparison differences, let me know, otherwise I’ll just give my overall comparison of the S12 with a couple of my IEMs
vs. 7hz Zero - This is where the Zero is making a compelling case for me to keep it, even though I don’t NEED them. The Zero is a FANTASTIC baseline, to compare anything else to. The Zero has a good tuning (though a touch too lean for my taste), where it does everything competently in bass, mids, and treble (bass is okay, mids are solid except for the upper mids, and treble is fine), where I can absolutely put this out there and ask “Is a new IEM better than this?” S12 definitely has better bass, and better upper mids. The lower mids are just lacking (again hence the EQ at 400hz). Where the S12 lets itself down is past 4k. A tighter tuning out there and I’d probably look past the other flaws and sign off on this. So while S12 IS a superior set to Zero, I can’t see myself picking it up over the $20 set.
vs. KBear Aurora - This is my best, most technical 1DD set and it goes blow for blow with S12. They’re pretty close in sub-bass but Aurora has THE BEST mid/upper bass I’ve heard. Other sets have better bass overall because they bring more sub-bass, but nothing has the physicality (with speed and precision) in the low end as the Aurora for me. And while they’re pretty even in speed, and S12 has a little more sub-bass, the way Aurora thumps just hits different to me. With that kind of mid-bass Aurora would have to be terribly tuned to not have better low-mids and it does. S12 and Aurora are pretty even in the upper-mids for me, but that wonky treble tips the scale away from S12. A better tuned S12 could give a run for it’s money, but Aurora is a step ahead to me.
Having heard S12, I’m really interested in what the Tin P1 Max sounds like, as a warmer/less spicy planar option. Also I want to see if any of these cheaper planars coming out bring anything to the table worth loking at. I haven’t been soured off of planar tech, and I think it’s good S12 introduced me to what I like and don’t like in how it is implemented. But this one just isn’t for me.
(Extra note: comments, questions, feedback etc. all is welcomed. I’m having fun with this quasi-“I’m not a real reviewer but I’m gonna share my opinions anyway” review thing I’m doing. If you like it and want more, tell me what I’m doing well and not 
)
4 Likes
Getting some rather good results tip-rolling these beauties! Thieaudio Legacy 3 Gaia, “11” switch setting.
5 Likes
This is where my heart’s still at though:
I reach for these over the Moonlight. I will have a chance to hear the Szalayi soon. Incredible things will have to be accomplished to unseat the Serial as the perfect buy along the curve of diminishing returns. For my ears and for my budget/conscience. This is not a jab at the Moonlight by any means.
10 Likes
I’m really looking forward to your thoughts when you get to try the modded vortex!
1 Like
Perhaps the Mahina in the future? 
I wouldn’t add any bass to the moonlight personally. Also diminishing returns. I know I haven’t followed up my Moonlight impressions yet, but while it’s a very good IEM, the wow factor didn’t end up lasting.
Are the Mahina a good bit smaller? My ears are on the little side 
Smaller than the Moonlight no. Exact same shell. Also neither Moonlight or Mahina are really smaller than Serial. Just a different shell shape.
