KZ Symphony I was invited by KZ to test the new Symphony hybrid IEM. KZ's recent releases have demonstrated a new direction in tuning with the Krila, Castor and PR3 along with CCA's Rhapsody and Trio being examples of this. The Symphony is the latest model from the company and is a hybrid design combining a 13.2mm Planar unit (as seen in the recent PR3) covering the mid and high frequencies and a 6mm dynamic driver handling the bass region. This configuration is unusual although the new BASN Mix-PD has a similar set-up. Product link...

CCA Trio Kate, the social media representative from KZ, contacted inviting me to test the new Trio IEM from CCA. CCA (Clear Concept Audio) is a sister company of KZ (Knowledge Zenith). The company produces parallel models to KZ as well as original designs. Among its most successful models are the CRA, C16, CKX and the new Rhapsody. The Trio is its latest design featuring three 8mm dynamic drivers and four tuning switches and retails for around $40. Purchase link: https://www.kztws.com/products/cca-trio-legendary-3dd-iem The Trio comes in the...

KZ PR3 I was contacted by Kate, the social media representative from KZ and invited to test the new PR3 Planar IEMs. KZ has embraced the recent trend for Planar drivers with its PR1 and PR1 Pro models and the HBB PR2 collaboration. The new PR3 features an upgraded 13.2 mm Planar unit with a "Nano-level" silver plated membrane and electronic filter tuning. The frequency response is quoted as 20Hz - 40KHz with a sensitivity of 98 dB and an impedance of 15 Ohms. It retails for around £40. Product link: https://www.kztws.com/products/kz-pr3 The PR3...

KZ Castor I was contacted by KZ recently and invited to review the Castor IEM (Harman Target Version). This product was provided at no cost by Kate, the representative at the company. Product link: https://www.kztws.com/products/kz-castor Knowledge Zenith (KZ) is known for producing excellent value high-performing earphones, including the popular ED range of dynamic driver IEMs and the hybrid series beginning with the ZST. The company has recently taken a new direction in design and tuning and this is reflected in the nomenclature with some newer...

TRN TA2 I received this unit for review from Fedai at Amazon.com I would like to thank Ben for supplying this item. Product link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0B6HBXX8Z/ TRN TA2 The TA2 is a hybrid design with three drivers, one dynamic driver and two balanced armatures. It has a metal faceplate and detachable 2-pin cable worn over the ear. It comes attractively packaged in a sturdy white box with a slip cover bearing a full colour image of the IEMs on the front. Removing the cover reveals a plain white box with a TRN logo in the centre...

TRI x HBB Kai I would like to thank Ann from Keephifi.com for supplying this sample for review. Product link : https://keephifi.com/products/tri-x-hbb-kai Description The TRI Kai is an IEM produced in collaboration with respected online reviewer Hawaiian Bad Boy (HBB) also known as BGGAR (Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews). It has been tuned to follow HBB's preferred frequency graph which is a somewhat modified version of the Harman tuning. Collaborations with online reviewers are a new trend in IEMs. We have seen CCA, KZ and Tripowin, amongst others...

I would like to thank Ann from Keephifi.com, via Amazon.co.uk for supplying this unit for review. KBEAR Little Q Description The KBEAR Little Q is a wired earbud featuring an all-metal construction, compact enclosure and micro driver. It comes in minimalist packaging, a white cardboard box containing the earbuds fitted in a card cut-out below which are stored the three sizes of eartips and documentation. The enclosures are solidly built from a gunmetal coloured alloy and are "bullet" shaped with KBEAR branding on the outer face. There is a...

IKKO OH1S I would like to thank Rebecca from IKKO Audio for supplying this review unit. The OH1S is the latest model in the OH series from IKKO, following on from the OH1 and OH10. Like the previous models, it is a dual hybrid. It features a new 10mm composite dynamic driver with a carbon nano diaphragm paired with a Knowles 33518 balanced armature. It also has IKKO's "Separating Vector Acoustics System" (SVAS) technology, which is a unique cavity design which Ikko claims “improves volume, reflection, and diffusion angles". The interface is MMCX...

Disclaimer I would like to thank Kimberly from Fedai via Amazon.com for supplying this unit for review. Product link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09GXTHNXM?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title The Angel Wings is priced at $48.99 from Fedai. CVJ is a relatively new company on the IEM scene and their debut model, the CSA, bucked the trend of the popular V-shaped profile with its neutral/bright tuning. The CS8, CSN and Mirror followed, establishing a "house sound" for the company. They then deviated from this with the ensuing V-shaped CSE and CSK...

I would like to thank Ann from Keephifi.com for providing this item for review via Amazon.co.uk. The TRI i3 Pro is the new redesigned version of the original i3. Like the first model, it sports an 8mm dynamic driver for the bass, a 10mm planar magnetic unit for the midrange and a custom balanced armature for the treble region. The size has been reduced by more than a quarter and the MMCX connection has been changed to a 2 pin interface. The i3 Pro comes attractively packaged in a rectangular box with a colour sleeve featuring a graphic recalling a...

I would like to thank Ann from Keep Hifi for providing this unit for review. Product link: https://keephifi.com/collections/in-ear-earphones/products/cca-nra-1-electrostatic-1-triple-magnetic-circuit-dd-in-ear-headphones-monitors-earbuds-cca?variant=39496811872302 The NRA is the latest model from CCA, the sister company of KZ, and is the first of their earphones to feature an electret driver (also known as a magnetostatic unit), covering the high frequencies. This is complemented by a new design of 10mm dynamic driver with a triple magnet handling...

This item was kindly provided by Wendy Li from KBEAR. Grace-S TRI is the premier brand of KBEAR and has released some excellent IEMs in the past 18 months or so. In addition to this they produce a range of quality cables. The Grace-S is one of a new pair of cables recently introduced, along with the Grace-C. Variant reviewed: 2.5mm 2 pin The Grace-S is a 2-core design constructed from a hybrid mix of 63 strands of 6N OFC silver plated copper and 252 strands of 4N material in a coaxial configuration. There are 630 strands in total. The plug is made...

I would like to thank Wendy from KBEAR for supplying this unit for review. KBEAR has emerged as one of the leading manufacturers of quality and well-tuned IEMs as evidenced by the recent Believe, Lark and Neon models. The Robin is the latest release and is a hybrid 1DD + 4BA. The bass driver is a 10mm dual magnetic dynamic unit. The midrange and lower treble is handled by a KBEAR IF-K balanced armature and the high and ultra-high regions are covered by three KBEAR Hi-B BA drivers. A four-way crossover is employed. The Robin comes in similar...

I would like to thank Ann from Keephifi.com ror providing this sample for review. Product link: https://keephifi.com/products/hzsound-heart-mirror-10mm-driver-unit-in-ear-headphone-cnc-hifi-headset-dj-monitor-earphone-earbuds-with-2pin-0-78mm-ofc-cable The Heart Mirror derives its name from Buddhism, where "The pure heart is like a mirror and can illuminate all things". The IEM features a 10mm dynamic driver with a carbon nanometer diaphragm and powerful iron-boron magnet. It is clothed in a zinc alloy housing with a reflective finish. The...

I would like to thank Kimberly from Fedai via Amazon.com for supplying this unit for review. Product link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B097ZJBTXC The CSK is the latest 1DD + 1BA hybrid model from CVJ following on from the recent CSE and the excellent CSA. The dynamic driver is an 8mm dual magnetic design with a titanium coated diaphragm and a field strength of 1 Tesla. The BA is CVJ's custom version of the venerable 30095 balanced armature. The CSK has an impedance of 30 ohms and a sensitivity of 107dB per mW. Similar to the previous packaging...

I would like to thank Ann at Keep Hifi for providing this unit for review. Product link: https://keephifi.com/products/ccz-plume Introduction The Plume is the debut product from a new company on the IEM scene, CCZ. It is an ambitious design retailing for around $200 so faces stiff competition from the established brands in this price sector. The Plume is a 5-driver hybrid, 1DD + 4BA. The drivers are as follows: 10mm dual magnetic DD for the bass (diaphragm material not specified), 2 x CCZ IF-A midrange BAs and 2 X CCZ HI-A HF BAs for the upper...

The KBEAR Neon is the latest model from the company and is the successor to the F1. Like the earlier model, it is a single BA design. The F1 employed a 32257 type in different versions including Bellsing. The Neon uses a Knowles ED 29869 BA as found in the TRI Starsea. The Neon comes in similar packaging to the Lark with a colour sleeve showing Chinese characters within a Neon-effect border within which is written " KBEAR Neon". Also featured are "The vocals hit the soul" and "Single BA in-ear Hi-fi earphones" in Chinese and English. The reverse has...

Disclaimer This product was supplied as a review unit by Lu Xinyi from BQEYZ via Amazon.co.uk. Product link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Earphones-Isolating-Balanced-Sounding-Detachable-Black/dp/B08ZD5GGQZ Introduction The BQEYZ Summer is the latest development of the triple hybrid design previously seen in the Spring and Spring 2 models. The drivers in the Summer are all new and comprise a revised 13mm dynamic driver with a liquid crystal polymer and PU diaphragm covering the bass frequencies, a second generation balanced armature for the midrange...

This product was supplied for review by Kiwi from Whizzer Official at AliExpress. Product link: https://m.aliexpress.com/item/1005001731358565.html It is also available at Amazon: HE01 Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Whizzer-Headphones-Detachable-Noise-Isolating-Smartphones/dp/B08TTPKXY3/ The HE01 is the newest model in the Kylin series from Whizzer. "Kylin" is a mythical Chinese creature embodying both the male essence "ky" and female essence "lin". The HE01 features a single dynamic driver with a composite metal film/polymer diaphragm 10.2mm in...

This unit was provided for review by Denise of IZ POP at Amazon.com. Product link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08MWPF3HJ The CVJ CSE is a new 1DD + 1BA hybrid IEM from the company. Like the previous CSA, it is an affordable model. It employs a silicon crystal composite biological diaphragm dynamic driver 10mm in diameter covering the bass and a customised 30095 BA, placed within the nozzle, for the treble region. In a departure from their previous packaging, the CSE comes in a small black rectangular box with a sleeve featuring a colour image...