Reviews by C.C.S.

C.C.S.

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Very good clarity, reasonably detailed, inexpensive
Cons: A bit too bassy for some
Disclaimer: I received this earphone for free from the manufacturers. I did my best not to let that color my opinion on the product, but my impressions may not be entirely without bias.
 
Shozy Zero is a high quality value-oriented earphone, providing listeners with impressive sound in an attractive package, for a relatively low price. It is primarily focused around its powerful bass response and mostly clear midrange, placing treble a step or two back in the mix. The sound of the earphone is clean and detailed, from top to bottom, and is competitive with many options within its price range as well as some above, though the bass may distract the listener slightly from the lower midrange. I also perceive some upper midrange recession, reducing the energy, but not the clarity, of female vocals and higher pitched brass. The real selling point of this earphone is how clean it sounds; it reveals an impressive amount of detail in any track and I never perceive it as sounding muddy or unclear.
 
Ultimately, the sound this earphone reproduces is very good, and is competitive with many other earphones. Having heard several other earphones in a variety of different price ranges, I would easily recommend this as a high-value option for listeners who are not aiming to spend a great deal to achieve good sound.
 
There isn’t much more to be said about Shozy Zero. Put simply, it sounds good, it looks good and it won’t break the bank.
 
EDIT: Given further time to listen and to burn in the earphones, I cannot discern any appreciable difference in the sound quality of Shozy Zero. They earn a fantastic recommendation for anybody looking for a warm, bass tilted sound signature without sacrificing clarity and detail in the process. They are very respectable earphones and are genuinely a great option at their price range.
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C.C.S.
C.C.S.
My rating for Isolation is not reflecting what I tried to report in my review. Isolation should be rated considerably lower.
taffy2207
taffy2207
The ratings are averages from all reviews.
C.C.S.
C.C.S.
Oh. Whoops. It had been some time since I'd reviewed anything on Head-Fi when I had submitted this, so I did not remember that was the case. Thank you for letting me know.

C.C.S.

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Pretty neutral tuning, seemingly robust build quality, fantastic tip selection, fairly high isolation
Cons: Impedance, sensitivity, price
Intro (Kind of)
 
The Westone W30 is one of several IEMs in Westone's newly revamped universal IEM collection, intended as a removable-cable replacement to the older W3. For those of you who are unfamiliar, the W3 was, to the best of my knowledge, the first 3-way universal in-ear monitor, and had a sound that many loved and that many others hated. It reportedly had a fairly exaggerated "V-shaped" frequency response, where bass and treble were considerably emphasized over the mid range.
 
Sound
 
This in-ear monitor was reportedly tuned differently from the W3, and I can confirm that these feature a balanced, relatively neutral tuning. I have not tested these with frequency sweeps, so they may not be perfect, but I have not heard any deviations large enough to catch my attention. They lack the kind of brightness observed in VSonic IEMs and the warm, bass-y sound of earphones such as RHA's monitors, Ultimate Ears' UE900 and TF.10, and, reportedly, the W4/W40. Other than single-dynamic driver earphones, these also provide the most coherent response I've heard in a pair of in-ear monitors. Never does the sound feel disconnected. The bass, mid range and treble do not exist completely separately from each other. They complement each other and contribute to the overall sound presented by these monitors.
 
They are quite revealing. MP3 compression artifacts are easier to hear with these earphones than with any others I've used thus far. Details in orchestral and rock recordings are apparent, but not aggressive. And, cliche time: these earphones introduced me to details I'd never heard before in a number of John Coltrane albums that I've been listening to for 5+ years. Most earphones I've heard are capable of producing these same details, but are either less clear or more aggressive in their presentation. The W30 is resolving, but appropriately subtle about it. You don't have to strain yourself, but you need to listen carefully at times in order to really hear everything these are capable of doing. If you want earphones that won't reveal flaws in marginal recordings, steer clear.
 
tl;dr: These sound very good.
 
Build/Design
 
The build is all plastic, but feels pretty strong. Having owned them for a pretty short period of time, I can't speak about this with absolute confidence yet. This section will remain a work in progress for some time as I continue to live with these IEMs.
 
The design is classic Westone; ergonomic shells that fit snugly into the ear, with fairly long nozzles which allow users to achieve a deep seal without too much difficulty. Comfort is not as superb as the VSonic GR07, which are aided by rotating nozzles, but the ear tips (of which there are quite a few - both silicone and foam) are soft and pliable. These are unlikely to be the least comfortable IEMs you'll ever try out.
 
Isolation is not on par with custom in-ear monitors, of course, but is quite good with silicone ear tips. My most memorable reference is the VSonic GR07, which isolates a little better than average for a dynamic IEM. The W30 isolates considerably better. No doubt the lack of a pressure equalizing vent improves the isolation considerably; this is to be expected of a balanced armature IEM, though. With the included foam ear tips, isolation is superb; only the custom Heir 4.A I used to own was superior here.
 
Complaints
 
There are a lot of high-value in-ear monitors on the market today, and while I feel that these outperform every example I have tried, I must also admit that I haven't tried everything out there and that a handful of them come pretty close for considerably fewer dollars. If these ever drop to a price below $300, then I'd unconditionally recommend these.
 
Also, these are very sensitive earphones that can reach ear-splitting volumes even with relatively common portable amplifiers (Leckerton UHA-6S Mk II) on low gain. I had to have my amplifier set to a custom gain, far lower than normal, in order to avoid this problem.
 
Additionally, I suspect that W30 reaches very, very low impedance values at crossover points, so these should only be used with amplifiers and portable players with very low output impedance (less than 0.5 Ohms is ideal). Using them with something like Asgard 2 on low gain, I found that the bass becomes bloated or the treble is reduced, or both. I'm not entirely certain what is happening here, but they sound pretty funny out of the Schiit amplifier, which also has pretty low impedance (less than 2 Ohms, I believe), so the lower the better.
 
Conclusion
 
These are a little expensive, but the combination of design, comfort and sound quality has made them worth every penny for me. They are great in-ear monitors, plain and simple.
 
[Pictures may be coming soon if I can capture some almost decent shots.]

C.C.S.

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Almost neutral, fantastic bass, excellent timbre, costs less than $1k
Cons: Aggressive at 4 kHz w/ stock pads, a little bright, moderate dip between 1-3 kHz, needs a semi-strong amp, price
Short Review:
 
This is a fantastic headphone for anybody who wants to hear something that approaches neutrality. This produces a resolving, highly detailed sound, that comes pretty close to sounding flat. It's a little bright and aggressive and the transition from the midrange to the upper mids is a little bit recessed, but with mods, pad swaps, equalization or any combination of the three, you can chase down an even flatter sound that is characteristic of a reference class product.
 
It is perhaps not the last word on resolution - I have yet to hear any other headphones on this tier of technical performance - and it is not the most neutral headphone out there (the HD600 is still the best reference I currently have for neutrality), but a few tweaks to its sound has made it the best headphone I've yet heard, by far.
 
$900 is more than I like to spend on headphones, but the sound has justified the price. All things considered, I can recommend this to anyone who has at least an okay amplifier on hand. If you have the money and you can justify it to yourself, try this one out.

C.C.S.

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Fantastic balanced sound, low distortion, strong build quality, new low price
Cons: Slightly sibilant
Not An Introduction
 
This in-ear monitor does not need to be introduced, yet again, to headphone audio enthusiasts. The GR07 is one of the most popular high-performance IEMs on the market; at its original MSRP of about $180, it represented one of the best deals in headphone audio. It competed evenly with many IEMs that sold for much more money and suffered few compromises in order to achieve this performance, despite its inexpensive price tag. The GR07 have been released in several iterations since, the latest being the Classic model. Supposedly identical to the GR07 Mk II, the Classic offers the same great sound that VSonic is known for, complete with multiple color options and an even more attractive price tag, $100. I am here to confirm that the GR07 is still one of the best deals in headphone audio.
 
Sound
 
Tuned to sound similar to stage monitors, these sound a little more colored than reference-grade neutral, but no more than just a little. A very small mid-bass hump provides additional oomph in beat-centric tracks, such as pop or hip-hop. More problematic to some is its tendency to sound a little bit bright up top. Without using equalization, the GR07 can occasionally exhibit sibilance and a brighter sound than neutral. Due to slight variances between units, it is impossible to accurately describe the severity of this problem, but for those who are sensitive to sibilance: look elsewhere unless you are willing to use EQ to correct these problems. For reference, my particular pair sounds more even when EQ’d about -4 dB at 6 kHz and -3.2 dB at 10 kHz. Some pairs my need more or less than this and at slightly different frequencies in order to tame the treble.
 
Distortion throughout the entire audible range is not an issue. If any is present, it is low enough such that it is not audible at any point. All frequencies are presented in a clean manner. Many people have reported resonances in the treble which contribute to the brighter overall sound of the GR07. These cannot be entirely corrected by EQ, but when EQ’d properly, the IEMs should not be too bright to enjoy. Any ringing resulting from these resonances seems to be fairly short-lived.
 
Build
 
The GR07 Classic is the same IEM, with respect to build quality, as the original and Mk II. That is, the earpieces are very solid, high grade plastic. The rotating nozzles on the earpieces are made of strong metal and are unlikely to break, except under very high stress. The cable is the same as the Mk II; it is soft and flexible and feels reasonably strong. The only problem that seems to have carried over to this generation of GR07 is the short strain relief extending from the earpiece. Since the IEM is worn over ear, the cable should not be bearing significant stress, so I do not believe this will be an issue, either.
 
Accessories
 
Accessories are slightly downgraded from older VSonic offerings; no longer do buyers receive a billion tips with their IEM. That said, the ear tip package is still not completely disappointing. Included is one pair of foam ear tips, as well as a pair of bi-flanges and three or four pairs of different sized single-flange ear tips. Also included is a pair of cable guides to assist in over-ear wear and a small faux leather pouch to carry the IEMs in. I would have preferred a hard shelled case, but if the user is careful and mindful of the case’s limitations, this hopefully will not result in broken IEMs. IEMs at this price point have been improving their accessories packages recently, so this is slightly disappointing to me. However, the accessories presented here are at least adequate.
 
Closing Statements
 
Overall, this IEM represents a truly fantastic value. It has become an even better deal than it used to be, sporting a new, low price tag, complete with the same GR07 sound that made it famous about three years ago. I would absolutely recommend this IEM to anyone looking for an inexpensive high-performance earphone.
egosumlux
egosumlux
Glad to hear these still have great sound

C.C.S.

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Very resolving, neutral sound with a slight bass boost; large soundstage; super comfortable
Cons: Minor rolloff in highest treble
Recently, I purchased the very first "Starving Student" edition Paradox Slant. Since receiving it, I've spent a significant time listening to it and I'm starting to get a grasp of what this headphone really is.
 
LFF describes the Paradox Slant as a "classic" (my own words) Paradox with a slight bass boost and an enhanced soundstage. I haven't heard the original Paradox, but having read some impressions describing the bass as anemic and the soundstage as somewhat small or closed, I can only assume that LFF achieved his design goals with the Slant. I would never describe the bass as anemic and I wouldn't call the soundstage on the Slant small unless you listen exclusively to studio recordings which generally offer smaller soundstage on any headphone.
 
This headphone is neutral sounding overall, with a very slight emphasis on the bass response. This doesn't mean that the bass is boomy, muddy or excessive by any means. It's still very close to neutral. It simply offers a touch of extra "oomph" for listeners that prefer to feel the kick drum in addition to hearing it. The midrange is fantastic. It is neutral, clean and detailed. This headphone exhibits the now cliche planar midrange. It never sounds grainy. It is smooth and it just sounds right. The treble sounds like it may have a slight roll off toward the top, similar to other T50RP mods. However, the roll off is less dramatic and the treble sounds very close to neutral as a result. This is brighter than the Mad Dog 3.2, for instance. The treble sounds a bit more similar to the HD600, if memory serves me right. Unlike the MD, I've never listened to the Slant and felt a need to bump up the treble using EQ. It is never harsh, but it also doesn't ever sound like anything is missing.
 
The Slant is also very comfortable; I would say that it is the most comfortable one I've owned. The HD600 and MD 3.2 tie for a close second place, for different reasons. The HD600 is very light and has a comfortable headband but had a pretty strong clamping force for as long as I owned them and though the velour fabric was soft to the touch, the earpads were pretty firm and did little to alleviate the pressure that the headphones applied to my head. The MD 3.2, on the other hand, is heavier, but offers a similarly comfortable headband and some more cushion-y pads. The Slant is similar to a combination between the two. Despite being nearly as heavy as the MD, the Slant offers far better weight distribution using a suspension headband. It's a very simple solution to the weight problem; LFF hangs a thin, wide strip of soft leather between the risers on the headphone, using elastic. This allows the headphone to "float," for lack of a better way to describe it. It also uses angled leather pads, offering an experience close to MrSpeakers' Alpha Pads. The end result is a headphone that feels lighter than it really is, with a softer clamp than many other headphones.
 
Of course, for $700, you should expect a pretty high level of excellence. LFF delivers this and then some from the T50RP. The problem is that there are a lot of people who can't afford a $700 headphone, especially amongst the younger Head-Fi population. LFF goes the extra mile and solves this problem as well.
 
The "Starving Student" Paradox Slant is the same thing as the regular Paradox Slant, minus the fancier paint and cable. Externally, it looks like a plain T50RP with an additional leather suspension headband. It's not exactly pretty, nor does it look impressive, but it carries the sound of LFF's $700 headphone, at a significantly lower price: $525. This increases the value proposition by a great deal. Students, then, can get the Slant for only $30 more than the basic Paradox, offering them the ability to choose between LFF's original reference T50RP mod or the newer enhanced version without having to stretch their budgets too much if they want the Slant over the Paradox. This offer is currently only available to students. Anyone interested should contact LFF and ask for additional information.

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C.C.S.
C.C.S.
When I say "minor" rolloff, I really do mean minor. This is not the LCD 2r1, this is not the MD, etc. The treble is fully extended; it just starts to slowly get softer around 10k-12k. Their response does not drop off completely.
 
And by neutral, I mean that the midrange and treble are reasonably flat. There are no significant peaks or troughs in the response. As I mentioned, bass is slightly boosted, but it is not huge. So, this is a "neutral" headphone with some added oomph. I'm not sure if that clears anything up, but it is what it is.
grizzlybeast
grizzlybeast
which has tighter and stronger bass, the Slant or the MD 3.2
 
I have the MD Pro so I am just curious. 
C.C.S.
C.C.S.
I no longer have the MD 3.2, but when I was making comparisons for a few days, I noticed slightly better texture in the bass on the Slants. Whether it was "tighter," I cannot say for sure. Their decay seemed quite similar. The Slants' bass is also slightly elevated, particularly toward the lowest octaves, so it is probably just a little bit stronger overall.
 
I'm sorry I can't give a more definitive answer than that, but without the 3.2 here, I cannot speak with absolute confidence about the finer details.

C.C.S.

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Well-balanced Sound, Detailed, Extended Treble Response
Cons: Mild Sibilance, Not Neutral
Background:
 
About two weeks ago, I was selected to be a member of a review program that RHA was holding for their MA600 and MA750 IEMs. I had not heard any of RHA’s IEMs at that point and was only vaguely familiar with them and their growing reputation. However, I could not miss out on the potential opportunity to receive a free pair of earphones, so I nominated myself and a friend for the program. He and I both received a pair of MA750 for review. So, here’s my take on the RHA MA750.
 
Disclaimer: I did not pay anything for this review sample. RHA sent it to me for free. This has not affected the opinion reflected in this review.
 
Packaging:
 
The packaging for the MA750 is fantastic. It has a premium look and feel, complete with a plastic display window, allowing the user to look at the IEMs before opening the box. Once you open the box, you’ll be greeted with the IEMs, front and center, and below them, an ear tip holder, carrying 9 pairs of replacement tips, including two pairs of foams and two sizes of bi-flange tips. The large selection of tips is very impressive for the price, and I am glad to see that RHA included so many. A soft carrying case and a shirt clip are found under the IEMs. I would’ve preferred a hard shell instead, but the package is still quite impressive. RHA absolutely deserves credit for all of the things they’ve offered here.
 
Build Quality:
 
These IEMs are tanks. Stainless steel earpieces, a thick cable and quality strain reliefs make me feel confident that these IEMs will last a long time, even if you aren’t always super gentle with your gear. I especially like the idea of using a spring as a strain relief before the 3.5 mm jack. This provides plenty of flexibility and, at the same time, feels and appears more durable than what you would see on other IEMs. All in all, I don’t think any user should worry a whole lot about breaking these, as they are built very well.
 
Sound:
 
RHA was right to say that the MA750 was best for people who prefer a balanced sound signature. Make no mistakes, however. These are not for people who prefer a neutral sound. Bass is undoubtedly boosted significantly. Lower treble also features a minor peak that can sound a bit sibilant at times. However, these do sound very balanced in general.
 
The boosted bass is a good fit for many modern recordings. Beats are big and appropriately loud, without getting in the way of the midrange or treble. Decay is quite fast, so the bass rarely feels bloated or exaggerated, though it can occasionally obscure midrange detail if used without EQ. Bass impact is visceral and even intense at times; coming from a more neutral bass presentation, these surprised me when I turned on some hip-hop for the first time. I could’ve sworn I felt my brain shake for a second. However, I must emphasize, once more, that the boost is not huge. It is large enough to be heard and to be felt, but I did not feel like it got in the way of the rest of the music.
 
The midrange on the MA750 is clean and features much more detail than I expected from an IEM in this price range. The midrange is not as forward in the mix as the bass is most of the time. Bass bleed carries over slightly into the lower midrange, making this IEM sound relatively warm. This means that, occasionally, some details may be lost to the listener or that they may not be as apparent as they normally are. However, this is usually not the case. The mids, for the most part, feature a good amount of detail and sound more refined than any IEM I’ve heard near this price point. The timbre is also very good, though their warmer nature versus others makes them a little bit less desirable for classical and orchestral music than earphones featuring a more neutral sound signature.
 
The RHA MA750’s treble is, similarly, very clean. It features a fine amount of detail and is well extended. The biggest problem in the 750’s tuning, however, lies in the lower treble. There is a noticeable spike, and possibly some minor ringing, somewhere between 6 and 8 kHz. This emphasizes vocal sibilance a little bit and can cause cymbals to sound a little bit less natural than usual. Some people may not like this tuning very much, though EQ can improve things a lot. The rest of the treble sounds fantastic. It is detailed enough to detect the use of brushes on a drum kit in jazz and rock recordings. Other IEMs at this price are typically a bit splashier and less articulate, making it more difficult to hear this distinction. If you are not very sensitive to sibilance or are willing to overlook this flaw, the treble is pleasing and can even lend itself well to critical listening.
 
Overall, I think that the sound of this IEM is pretty well-balanced, even without EQ. It features a relatively warm tonality that most people tend to find pleasing, but does so without significantly rolling off the treble. I think that the MA750 is best suited to hip-hop and rock music, though it makes a pretty solid all-rounder if that’s what you’re looking for. For those who are okay with using EQ, this earphone can be made to sound more neutral and offers an excellent value. For those who are not, the MA750 still sounds great, even if it doesn’t exactly fit the definition of neutral.
 
Final Thoughts:
 
The RHA MA750 offer buyers a fantastic value at $120 ($130 for the MA750i version). They sound much better than the price tag indicates and are built to last. This does not mean it is without flaw. It is most certainly not neutral and sometimes I feel like it is a touch too warm. That said, these earphones present better sound than I expected and I am genuinely impressed with them. People who want balanced sound on a relatively modest budget should consider the MA750 the next time they’re on the market for IEMs.
 
Please excuse the lack of pictures in this review. I only own two cameras. One of these is the built-in webcam in my laptop and the other is the even lower quality camera on my phone (my phone isn't a smartphone and features a camera that doesn't come anywhere near qualifying as a decent point-and-shoot.). I'm sure that mechgamer123's review (the other Head-Fier I nominated to review the MA750) will be more visually appealing.
 
EDIT (11/05/2014): After comparing against some other low-cost options on the market, including the $100 VSonic GR-07 Classic and HiFiMan RE-400, I can no longer recommend this as strongly as I previously could. Its sound signature strays too far from neutral for me to consider it a high value IEM, when compared against its competitors. Its build quality and very long warranty are still very good selling points, though. For people who are not necessarily after a neutral-ish sound signature, you may want to consider this option.

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