I have both the Zen and the Oxygen. Overall I prefer the O2. The Zen has a harder hitting bass and bit more over all detail but the O2 has much better imaging, soundstage, tuning, and layering. The O2 doesnât need EQ like the Zen does but it gets much better with a little EQ. The O2 may need longer ear tips to make them comfortable. Only the AZLA SednaEarfitLight tips works for me.
@LANDWALKER000 I have one question based on the graphs. I am sensitive to energy in the 1-4k region. The Zen, is already shouty in vocals particularly for me there. Would you say the O2 has more energy there (and thus, likely even more shouty to me?)
I do not EQ for listening. I only EQ to experiment and find out what the problem is. And then I either choose to live with said problem, or not.
The O2 isnât as shouty but if you have issues then you should get a DAP or DAC/AMP that allows for EQ. Most phones have a systemwide EQ and many Fiio products and products like theirâs, have EQ as well.
I have the Qudelix. I donât EQ because the second I touch EQ it wraps the FR in plastic to me on most headphones. Best I can describe it. Drives me crazy. A simple bass shelf or simple cut somewhere in the FR is sometimes ok.
The lack of shouty for you is interesting given the graphs. The O2 is much higher throughout the 1-4k range vs the zen. Could be that the bass is boosted enough to compensate I guess.
That honestly depends on whoâs graphs you are using. I just stick to Crin and his measurements. I also like his ideal tuning but with a bass boost under 100 Hz.
Hmmm. True. Crinâs oxygen and zen graphs do look different than others. Interesting.
Well, maybe I will try the O2 at some point. Some other stuff first though.
The Zen shoutier than the Oxygen. The Oxygen has a lot more upper-treble though, thats where it can sometimes be a bit too much for me.
Ok, I misunderstood your comparison then. I donât think upper treble bothers me. Just 1-4k.
So O2 is back on the list. Thanks @Rikudou_Goku and @LANDWALKER000.
If you can handle the Zen, the Oxygen shouldnt be a problem in that area.
I can handle the timeless. Which is even worse. So maybe upper treble is playing a part there. A DD more relaxed than both of those sounds heavenly to me.
so, what we are saying is this is misleading?
https://hbb.squig.link/?share=Bad_Guy_Target,7Hz_Planar,Tanchjim_Oxygen
@drftr You might want to pay attention to this. FYI.
That means itâs partly the planar note precision/intensity that is responsible for its shouty compared to the Zen?
Timeless is definitely worse for me. (Again, I adapted, but the hp-2 sounds positively relaxing when I switch to it).
Three way with your graphs:
By the way, what are you using to do this?
Timeless has way more upper-treble (10k+). Thats going to affect things as well.
REW (software) + IEC711 (coupler) + soundcard (mic input) + dac/amp (iem output)
Iâm not really in favour of anything that has a +10 dB gain in the 1-5 kHz region. Thatâs a lot for me as compared to 1 kHz and sub- plus mid-bass. Iâd much rather have about about +6 dB or so in that region with a slow drop after that, and +3/+5 dB in the sub-bas.
drftr
You may want to try some OHM adapters. I find that all the single DD IEMs I own sound better on a 220 OHM adapter. They are also dirt cheap on Amazon, under 10 bucks most of the time. I even made a balanced resister adapter for the Zen so I can use them well with the Dethonray Honey.
I think itâs probably the combination of planar speed and the fact that they can handle a LOT of power from your amp. That means theyâre very fast, dynamic, and unclipped, which could lead to too much of an impact of vocals.
drftr
Thatâs my point. Oxygen has that lower bass on these graphs vs the ones we have been looking at. And less shouty. And there are two people above saying the oxygen solves that stuff over the Zen.
Oxygen just went back to the top of the list for me to try.
Graphs dont tell the entire story.
This is definitely true with the Oxygen.
Graphs almost the same as the Moondrop DDÂŽs, but sounds different (and massively better).
Sorry, I meant to reply to Dynamic about the adapters.
Adapters can definitely afffect BA iems. Not sure if they are supposed to have changes on single DDsâŠ