The sound quality part aside, that’s way more work than I could recommend for someone just looking for their first pair.
Unless you like jumping in the deep end, straight away…
I agree, fit and ordering/waiting for/popping a foam in are too much hassle for a first set. Shame as the value is incredible.
1 Like
Since you’re new and haven’t tried any IEMs other than the ones you mentioned, I recommend you use that $70 and buy some budget ones between $15-$35 to try different flavors. This will be help you to have an idea about different tunings and which one is close of your preferences.
IMO, I would forget about my favorite music genres at this point and try different IEMs. 7Hz Zero (neutral/natural) + QKZ x HBB (bass) + KiwiEars Cadenza (balanced) looks an awesome combo to start and I believe that meets your $70 budget.
3 Likes
For the genres given, I would also say either QKZXHBB or Cadenza, depending on how much you like sub bass.
If you are in the $80 range, T3+ beats Aria, and Olina SE isn’t that much more.
I haven’t tried the Tin C3, but keep hearing great things about it.
2 Likes
Go get the Kiwi Ears Cadenza, it is just all-around great to listen to any genre with it. Though I think you should also get some widebore tips for it as well, for it shows the full potential of the Cadenzas being great (currently using a BGVP W01 set of ear tips for it.)
It’s really a killer for 35$ and a good self Christmas gift.
i opted to buy the cadenzas, what good tips do you suggest me from linsoul?
BGVP W01 are not available in linsoul and its the only place i know
3 Likes
My brother bought these for me, because he didn’t listen when I told him which IEM to get me.
These are AWFUL to my ear. The only way I’d suggest these is if someone had legitimate hearing loss, and needed exaggerated everything to hear
I listen to a lot of reggae and would not recommend the Olina SE. In my opinion they are warm neutral, more resolving and bass thin. A lot of reggae really hits with bass guitar driving the song and if it’s older reggae aren’t the best recordings. Of what I’ve heard Kai would be a better rec at least for what I’ve heard. The lower upper mids and treble made the midbass more notable and punchy on reggae. Leans more towards warm and not warm neutral. Unfortunately don’t know how well the Kai would do for the other genres listed.
3 Likes
Hence the tip rolling suggestion but yeah raised low-end, mids and treble at loud volume is tough to listen too. I definitely suggest turning down your volume ( save those ears) and letting them play for a few hours before final judgement.
Also I bought mine a few years ago and rarely listen to them now so hopefully they didn’t change them.
That’s the thing, I came to the same conclusion you did: You HAVE to play the ZS10s on LOW volume. Any volume I’d consider “normal or reasonable” was unbearable. I can see its few use cases, but I don’t personally recommend a set that I can’t use under normal operating circumstances
1 Like
Ah just saw this. On the Cadenza for reggae I like the Final Audio E-Tips. Really helps tame the treble and bring in some more bass for those phat reggae bass lines. Not sure if they’re on Linsoul though.
For me starting out in the hobby they were great. Try a dense foam tip, it might help you as well.
For the price of a good foam tip, I’d just get another set of KBear Rosefinch. It is far superior at “Too much bass and too much treble” if you want an exaggerated V-shape tuning, out of the box for $15usd
1 Like
I’m sort of with you. I’d have rec’d the Kai before the Cadenza. I bought it mainly to hear the hype. While it’s okay it’s way to much for me if I go mid to higher volume. They only get used a really low volume and with E-Tips. Helps bring out the bass more at the lower volume and tame the treble that I find kind of wonky and distracting.
Good call that’s another option.
1 Like
Rosefinch is my hood rat
Fan 2 is my bae
Haha! I need to find me a hood rat. Maybe I’ll pick up the Rosefinch with my P1 Max order I’m about to place based on your rec.
1 Like
I need to familiarize myself with lower cost IEMs cause I’ve never heard of either of them lol.
1 Like
Don’t forget, he’s going from Pink Floyd, to Fleetwood Mac, to reggae. He does need more of an all-rounder than Kai. But I can feel you on Cadenza being on the line of too intense and sometimes going over. That’s fair.
I wish he could’ve gone up to $80 and got the Fiio JD7. That was the one
I read P1 Max with Rosefinch as it’s complimentary set and I just nodded. That’s actually a nice pair for $100, dude. They’re completely different sets with two different kinds of sound. Love it!
1 Like