Please forgive me for the hyperbole. I couldn't help it. :-D

You can currently pick up the ZS6 for about $30 from a few places such as AliExpress(use the app!) and GearBest if you don't mind waiting a bit for it to arrive from China, or you can get it on Amazon for like $46.

Specs

• KZ
• Shell: Aluminum alloy
• Driver unit: 2 dynamic, 2 balanced armature
• Impedance: 15 ohms
• Frequency response: 7 Hz–40 kHz
• Sensitivity: 105 dB +/- 3 dB
• Active noise cancellation
• Cable: 47.3 in (120 cm) +/- 2 in (5 cm), removable 2-pin
• Connectors: 3.5 mm

Intro
Knowledge Zenith(henceforth referred to as 'KZ') first popped on my radar about two-and-a-half years ago. People were raving about their dirt-cheap budget offerings such as the ATE and ED9.

I popped for the aforementioned ATE, and when it arrived, I was mildly impressed. It was very good "for the price." But it wasn't Monoprice 8320 good-for-the-price if you know what I mean. I shelved them or gave them away, or fed them to a monkey or used them to help me diffuse a bomb MacGyver-style...I'm not really sure, I've drank a lot since then.

Anyway, fast forward a couple years and I'm looking to dip my toes back into the earphone game, and the KZ fervor seems to have escalated to an even greater pitch. Their hybrids catch my attention. Now, back in 2015 most hybrids were far from being affordable and even less were considered "budget." Remember the TTPOD T2? People were losing their minds at the thought of a triple-driver hybrid for <$100. Buuuuut it was more disappointing than the first time I had sex.

Techmolololgy has come along nicely however, as the KZ ZST was pretty good! Especially for the price. I wish I hadn't given it away to a girl who eventually played me. Anyway, cue the ZS6, KZ's current four-driver hybrid flagship. An evolution of the ZS5, it bears a striking resemblance to one of the sexiest earphones I've ever layer eyes on. So I had to have it. How does it sound? Read on. :-D

Unboxing/Presentation



KZ keeps things pretty bare-bones. I suppose that's one way of keeping costs down. It's just a simple white box, and when you remove the outer sleeve you're greeted by the earphones nestled behind a clear layer of plastic.

Accessories

Again, not much to talk about. I don't even know why I'm bothering with these first two sections. I suppose it will make my review seem more "professional." instead I will just tell a joke. Did you hear about the constipated mathematician? He worked his problem out with a pencil. OK, moving on.

Build, comfort, and isolation

I'm pretty confident that the ZS6 will stand the test of time. The shells are made of metal and the two halves are held together by three screws. At least I assume they are. If they're just there for aesthetics that would be a bit of a disappointment. The nozzle is also metal with a thin metal filter in the tip.


The cable the ZS6 comes with is a rubbery, springy thing that works just fine, but can be a bit of a nuisance in how it behaves. You can use a twist tie as a cable cinch and that will help it from bowing out on you while wearing it. I like the ZS6 enough that I decided to pick up something a little more subtle and aesthetically pleasing.

Comfort for me was, at first, terrible. The ZS6 isn't a small earphone and it has more than a few sharp angles. I couldn't use it for more than like 20 minutes at a time without my ears protesting. But, I got used to them. And now they're comfortable for much longer periods without any hotspots. They're pretty light too considering they're metal, so that helps. If you have small ears though, you might want to get them from a place that has a solid returns policy. Otherwise you should be fine. Oh by the way, for me these aren't sleepable. They jut out a bit too much and if you lay on your side the pressure can cause the sharp edges to go all stabby on your ears.

The ZS6 is a vented earphone, with one vent on the belly and the other three on the face behind a classy metal mesh. I'd say is isolation is pretty average. But I imagine for most people they'll suffice for the gym and jogging around the neighborhood.

Sound

Ah, the meat and potatoes. Did you guys know that really isn't considered a balanced diet? But I digress. Anyway, the ZS6 overall has a bright, energetic signature with clear mids, ample bass, and a big soundstage.

A lot of people have complained about the brightness, saying it's too much. It isn't for me. Maybe on the occasional track but not often enough to be an issue. In tracks like this, the treble provides plenty of sparkle without becoming overbearing(for me), nor does it steal attention away from the bass and mids. In Growing of the World by Jessica Curry the treble definitely comes on strong, overshadowing the vocals a bit but it does help impart a sense of air. Just maybe don't listen to too many songs like that in a row.

Regarding the mids...people refer to this as a v-shaped earphone, and I can see why. But the mids don't sound distant, or obviously recessed. The ZS6 is more balanced than say, the DM5. In songs like this the vocals come through loud and clear. Maybe a smidgen recessed.

Female vocals tend to have a bit more gravitas to them, but male vocalists sound pretty darn good through these boogers too. As far as vocal timbre is concerned they lose out to some more expensive models but the gap isn't as big as you might think.

These aren't bass monsters by any stretch, unless you compare them to something relatively bass-light like the Dunu Titan 3. The bass is rumbly and tactile with nice texture and good attack and decay. The low low bass in Losing the Light Explosions in the Sky will rattle your eardrums, but never gets in the way unless the track asks for it.

The soundstage is fantastic for the price point and up. It's one of the widest I've heard in a long time, beating out more expensive models in sheer width. Depth and height isn't as impressive but it's still pretty good as is instrument separation. I really can't speak highly enough of the soundstage of the ZS6. It's capable of throwing cues further outside your head space than something like the Shockwave 3, which is considerably more expensive.

Comparisons
Hope you guys don't mind some copy pasta...
DM5 vs. KZ ZS6


Two sub-$100 quad-driver IEMs!? Oh, what a time to be alive!
Both are two BA/two DD hybrids!
The DM5 and the ZS6 actually share a similar signature, although the latter is more balanced due to the mids being more forward in the mix. The ZS6 has a wider soundstage and as such sounds more spacious(despite the more forward mids). The ZS6 also has an elevated sub-bass response but less so than the DM5. Both have great, almost tactile rumble in songs like this.

ZS6 vs. Sony MDR EX800ST/7550 w/EX1000 cable


I know this comparison doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I thought it could be interesting to see how the ZS6, with its very impressive soundstage, matches up against one of the soundstage legends.

Let me be clear - The Sony is better in pretty much every regard. Timbre, instrument separation, it's black background, etc. And overall, it has a better stage. It's deeper, taller, and almost as wide as the ZS6. Yeah that's right, almost. That should give you an idea of how impressive the ZS6 is.

Of course, the ZS6 will provide better isolation and a more stylish profile. Also, it's roughly ten times less expensive. So there's that.

Summary

If you like a bright signature I can't recommend the ZS6 enough. It is fantastic for the price, and then some. Comfort might be an issue for a few people, as might be the treble. You can always use foam tips to mitigate the former and as long as your ears aren't small I think you'll be OK with the latter. Not to mention they look dead-sexy. For me they are an easy recommendation and a 5/5 despite the cons.

Hoorah!

TLDR; Excellent, comfortable v-shaped earphone for the price, only let down by a couple(possibly isolated) build quality issues.

BGVP SIDY DM5 2BA+ 2 Dynamic Drivers Hybrid Hi-Fi MMCX Detachable IEM

Comes with 2 Cables , 1 without mic (2 kinds optional , choose by yourself ) , 1 with mic .

Description

• BGVP DM5 adopts Physical Capacitance Three - frequency Tuning Technology: BGVP original patented technology with open cavity design, make the sound field to the best
• Dual Knowels 30042 BA + Dual Graphene coaxial composite dynamic driver
• MMCX pluggable interface: Effectively solve the headset cannot be used because of the problem, the shell using precision CNC machining and environment-friendly plating process, low-key is not mediocre.
• Ergonomic design: Fit the ear, avoid prolonged wearing discomfort, distract the ear pressure, let you enjoy the fun of music
• Using durable headset wire: Equipped with durable and enhanced headphone cable, while easy to replace the same time, but also take into account the durability of headphones

Wire control & Mic cable

• It use 72-core single-share oxygen-free copper to build, double-encircling process shielding, Kelaf fiber, tensile and durable. Excellent oxygen-free copper can make the signal transmission more stable, so that the overall sound more balanced and hearable.
• Cable length:1.2M

Silver-plated without Mic Cable

• using a single share 18-core 0.05 oxygen-free copper silver-plated to make, 72 silver-plated wires winding, silver-plated can reduce the loss of current signal, provide a better sound source, restore the authenticity of music in a bigger limitation.
• Comfortable to wear, reduce the wind noise and stethoscope effect, the passive noise reduction to do the best
• Cable length:1.2M

8 Shares Silver-plated without Mic Cable

• Plug: American standard 3.5mm interface CTIA
• Inductance: 120PF
• Capacitance: 3.8UF
• Impedance: 0.86 ohm (2.6 meters)
• Skin material: PU
• Wire: single share 12 core 0.05mm * 8 shares, a total of 96
• Wire-based material: 5N OCC silver-plated handmade
• Cable length: 128CM

Specification

• Model :BGVP DM5
  
• Driver: 2 Balanced Armature + 2 Graphene Composite Dynamic Driver
  
• Sensitivity: 120Db/mW
• Impendence: 32ohm
• Frequency response: 10 Hz - 40000 Hz

Package

• BGVP DM5 In-ear Earphone
• 1 cables with mic
• 3 pairs of Silicone eartips(S/M/L)
• 2 pairs of Foam eartips
• 2 pairs of transparent silicone eartips (S/L)

Get them at PenonAudio

Build, Comfort, Isolation

Let me get the bad stuff out of the way. I've had some build quality issues with my DM5. First off all, the nozzle of the right earphone came out one day.


It was like it had never been glued-in, in the first place. I toyed with the idea of sending it back, but the nozzle didn't have any sort of threading on it nor could I see any way of holding it in place other than glue. So, I figured they'd just glue it. So that's what I did. I glued it in. All good.

The other issue I've had is severe driver flex in the left earpiece(not the piece I applied glue to so don't even go there). Foam tips make this a non-issue, otherwise once I insert the earphones I have to wiggle them around a bit. Pretty annoying at times.

The DM5 comes with two cables. The stock cable is a basic b*tch cable with a mic and remote. It's a decent cable, but it's a little springy.

I sprung for the secondary upgrade cable. It's a silver-plated copper cable with very nice aesthetics. It's also pretty supple and seems to be moderately tangle-resistant. It's available separately with or without the mic/remote, the latter being pictured below. One thing worth noting is I've experienced a bit of "greening" with mine. Which can negatively impact the aesthetics.


The comfort is actually really good despite the weight of the DM5. They fit really well and sit flush in my ear. I've got no problem sleeping in these, and I can wear them basically indefinitely without discomfort. So, big points there. They don't quite "disappear", but still. 9/10

You'd assume isolation would be garbage due to all the vents in them, but that hasn't been the case in my experience. They're passable. Good enough that I can use them at the gym. And that's about all I need.

Sound

Overall, these are a v-shaped earphone. I personally like v-shaped, but this might be too much for some. Despite this, they sound pretty clear, being that the bass emphasis is further down in the nether-regions rather than in the mid-bass. That sub-bass though, make no mistake about it, is pretty darn strong. There have been times when I'm listening to a song with heavy, accentuated sub-bass already in the mix and with the DM5, by the end of the song I'm starting to feel slightly nauseous. Well, admittedly, it might take listening to such a song a few times in a row for that to occur, but still. The bass is also nicely textured and pretty nimble.

These DM5s are pretty punchy as well - helps add a little soul to percussion and makes bands like Katatonia that much more of a joy to listen to.

The midrange is very clear. Recessed, yeah. But clear, and with good timbre. I say "good"...well, take that with a grain of salt as it has a slight metallic tonality to it not dissimilar to that of the Dunu Titan 1. There's also a nice airy quality to it I really enjoy. Aaand occasionally some stridency in the upper mids/lower treble which for the most part never pops in.

Treble is bright and crisp. Too bright for some perhaps, but if you have no problem using something like the Shockwave 3 you won't have any problems here either as it's a bit more laid back.

The soundstage is the only area sonically in my opinion where the DM5 falls a little short. It isn't bad by any means, but it's a bit more in line with what you'd expect for the price. Average/below average width, with decent-to-good height, depth, and separation. Now, some people have criticized the DM5 for poor imaging abilities - that doesn't really matter a whole lot to me, but I figured I'd mention it in case someone wants these to pull double-duty as gaming IEMs.

Comparisons

DM5 vs. KZ ZS6


Two sub-$100 quad-driver IEMs!? Oh, what a time to be alive!
Both are two BA/two DD hybrids!
The DM5 and the ZS6 actually share a similar signature, although the latter is more balanced due to the mids being more forward in the mix. The ZS6 has a wider soundstage and as such sounds more spacious(despite the more forward mids). The ZS6 also has an elevated sub-bass response but less so than the DM5. Both have great, almost tactile rumble in songs like this.

DM5 vs. Shozy Hibiki


The Hibiki is a single dynamic driver earphone with a slight mid-forward tuning. It doesn't have the punishing sub-bass response of the DM5 but it isn't lacking either. The Hibiki has a bigger and better soundstage in pretty much every regard, but loses out to the DM5 when it comes to clarity. The Hibiki is also warmer. The DM5 is the more complete package for the price but the Shozy has the better build(no issues so far). Both are very comfortable but you can sleep with the DM5!

Summary

I'm a pretty big fan on the DM5. It has a hell of a lot going for it. It's clear with visceral sub-bass, airy upper mids and treble, and is very very comfortable. If you like a v-shaped signature good luck getting a better overall package for $65. The only thing stopping it from being worthy of five stars is the build. But my issues seem to be unique to me so I won't knock it too much.

When writing reviews, or giving impressions of an IEM, or any product for that matter, it can be hard to predict how long something might last.

Unfortunately, despite initial impressions, my opinion now is that while seeming like a tank, the build of the GT100S is a bit of fool's gold. First of all, you have heavy earpieces attached to a non-detachable cable. So any time you drop one earpiece while putting the earphones away or what-have-you, that's a lot of force tugging on the cable.

The earpieces themselves seem almost invincible...and yet mine came apart. I'm on my second pair, and it has something wrong with the cable near the plug. I have to keep it kinked up to get sound out of both earpieces.

I stand by the rest of my review. Just be aware that if you pick these up they might not stand the test of time.


(not my pic)

I stumbled upon these Macaws randomly on eBay while looking for a lifelike David Hasselhoff mask. Decided to take a chance on them because they were tickling my spider-sense, and also I just really dig this form-factor(the VSD5 was my first, this is already my fourth). Aaaand the case kinda-sorta pushed me over the edge. They were already on headfi radar, and now that a few of us have them, with impressions being very positive, I figured they could use their own thread.



There are some useful instructions on the back for getting your new IEMs out of the packaging. If you don't want to resort to using a hammer.


Here's the GT100s with the Dunu Titan and Vsonic VSD5.





The in-line remote. It's nice.





The case.



And lastly, here's a pic showing the issues I've had with the accessories of this earphone so far.


Build quality

They come with three sets of filters(balanced, trebly, and bassy) which can be easily swapped out by screwing them into the housings, and while installing the gold(trebly) filters, a piece of said filter sort of threaded off(it's the squigly metal bit in the pic) and got lodged inside the earphone. I was able to get it out with a bit of effort. Weird. So I can't use the gold filters; a bit bummed out about that. Also, one of the tips ripped apart while I was taking it off. Never had that happen before.

Build quality seems exceptional otherwise. I have my reservations now after my issue with the filter, but I hope that's just some sort of weird isolated incident. Even the zombie apocalypse Aurisonics Rockets have had at least one reported build quality issue. It's also worth nothing that the filters are not the same size; the black(bassy) filters are larger than the silvers(balanced) for instance, which could impact which tips you use.

Fit

These are heavy as far as IEMs go, but I've not had an issue once I have them in. One of the reasons I greatly prefer using IEMs over-the-ear is because I like to be able to take them out and leave them hanging - for me it's like the earphone equivalent of having a pair of cans around your neck. And heavier IEMs have a propensity to swing and slowly descend when you leave them like that while moving around a lot, but so far I haven't had much issue with these, although they don't stay put up there as easily as something lighter like the VSD5. And again, if you want the earphones to fit flush you might need a specific set of tips for each filter since they're different sizes(the black ones are, anyway). They'll probably be a little uncomfortable for some, as the belly of the earphone is hardly ergonomic:



Sound

Twister has stated in his review/impressions that these sound like a hybrid BA+DD, but to me they just sound like a straight-up BA. Using the stock silver filters they are very lean(some people will probably hear them as being "thin"), with excellent detail retrieval and clarity. I'd also consider them, at least using the silver filters, to be a little bass-light. I've only briefly used the black filters, so I can't really speak on how much of a difference they make. They sound to me almost like what I remember the Ety ER4S sounding like, but brighter. Even when it comes to the shoving-detail-down-your-throat and holy-macrel-these-are-clear qualities of the ER4. They also aren't very impactful, so they won't make you feel like you're getting whacked in the head during drum solos; whether that's a good or bad thing is gonna come down to personal preference. I enjoy getting whacked in the head, myself.

Soundstaging and instrument separation are both very good(especially the latter); but whether that has anything to do with the inverted dynamic drivers is tough to say. Anyone wanna take them apart, flip the drivers around and tell us what they sound like?


Another point of note, is that they aren't terribly easy to drive, which is a bummer. I'm not sure what the point is of designing an IEM with smartphone users in mind and making it tough to drive from a smartphone(looking at you, KEF M200). I haven't A/Bed them against anything yet, but plan to against the Titan and also the VSD5. Pretty sure these Macaws are gonna hold their own against both, easily. For $70 they're easy to recommend, but here are some other impressions:

Twister's review and impressions:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/macaw-gt100s-hifi-with-mic-in-ear-earphone-silver/reviews/13359

Quote:

Excellent bottom and top end extension, 3D staging (soundstage expands both in width and depth). Sounds almost like a hybrid with a tight punchy low end and vivid detailed upper mids/treble (nearly analytical quality, can even get a touch hot with some recordings but never harsh/peaky/sibilant); also lower mids do lack some body. SS reminds me A LOT of Titan 1, a lot, except Titans have mids a bit more forward. I prefer GT100s over Titan 1, btw.

Click to expand...

http://www.head-fi.org/t/586909/the...-iems-by-twister6-pg-1949/29220#post_11668323

DannyBai's impressions

Sound is excellent all around. Treble sticks out for me. Reminds me of the Titan. I think twister also noticed this. Bass sounds a bit flabby to me but not boomy. Vocals are forward and nice. Overall this is one heck of a bargain. - DannyBai

Click to expand...

http://www.head-fi.org/t/586909/the...-iems-by-twister6-pg-1949/29280#post_11678509



Quick comparisons

Vsonic VSD5



The VSD5 is bassier, both mid and sub-bass. By a decent margin. The GT100s has better clarity, and not just clarity by way of a lot of treble either. The Gt100s is more detailed with better instrument separation. VSD5 has a bigger soundstage, but the GT100s has excellent, excellent depth. VSD5 is on the dry side, whereas the GT100s is more liquid. I find both to be very engaging, but damn if I don't prefer the Macaws.


Ostry KC06



Doing some back-and-forth with the GT100s and the KC06. They're priced similarly, and both IEMs are made by birds, so maybe a good comparison. First thing you notice is, as is becoming par for the course, the GT100s is clearer. It makes what is generally considered to be a very clear earphone(the Ostrich) sound a little bit on the stuffy side, exacerbated by the better instrument separation of the Macaws.

A few posts back I said "These things are just soooo clear and they have an almost audible black space between instruments, if that makes any sense", and in reading Twister's review I noticed he experienced the same thing but maybe said it in a way that makes better sense.

You literally hear layering airy effect between sounds.

Click to expand...

The KC06 is warmer, bassier, and places vocalists much closer to you. The GT100s has a stronger treble response.


Pros:
Excellent build quality
Very detailed, very clear, vivid and spacious sound
Filter tuning system
Value

Cons:
Potentially uncomfortable
Somewhat difficult to drive from a phone(admittedly I like to use high volumes at work, the gym, the coffee shop etc., so YMMV)

6/10

SHOZY Hibiki Dynamic Driver 2-pin 0.78mm Detachable HiFi In-Ear Earphone IEMs

Description

• A single dynamic design for daily commuters
• The AAW x Shozy Hibiki is unique in its form – a combination of an agronomical in-canal design fused with real carbon elements, together with a meticulously machined cable of fine audio qualities and strength. The high quality mems mic and line controls on the detachable 2-pin cable are perfectly functional on iOS and android.
• Premium hand polished carbon face-plate
• CIEM grade high quality copper internal wiring
• Pull-resistance design with in-line control for iOS/android
• High quality 2-pin copper recessed socket
• 10mm high-efficiency dynamic driver
• 3 buttons in-line remote control with reliable MEMS microphone
• Hibiki comes with the 26AWG Ethos Black high-purity copper earphone cable. The 4-wire braid structure is insulated with ultra-flexible TPE sleeve, minimizing cross interference.
• Hibiki features high quality recessed socket commonly seen on custom monitors, also an over-mold detachable cable
• The system allows users to switch to higher-end cables or to use the Ethos Black cable on may other in ear monitors.

Specification

• 10mm Bio Cellulose Membrane Proprietary Full Range Dynamic
• Single Sound Bore Design
• Frequency response:20Hz-40000Hz
• Sensitivity: 102dB SPL@1mW
• Impedance: 18Ohm@1KHz
• THD≤0.5%@1KHz
• Connector: 2-pin 0.78mm
  
• Plug:3.5mm

Package

• Shozy hibiki
• Eartips
• Case

I've had my Hibiki for a little while now and have a pretty good handle on how they sound as well as how well I think they're gonna hold up to wear-and-tear from general day-to-day use.

First of all, I just want to say that up until recently I thought the Hibiki sounded somewhere in the neighborhood of OK to good. Not great. I've used it off and on since receiving it, but never for very long as it's always left me reaching for something else.

I do believe in burn-in, but some claims I've read of something needing like 200 hours or whatever always seemed slightly absurd to me, since in my experience most changes occur in the first ten hours or so of listening(Shozy recommends at least 100 hours for these). Maybe it's brain-in. I'm not sure. BUT, I'm definitely enjoying listening to them as of late more than I did like a month and a half ago.


Build, Isolation, Comfort

The Hibiki is well-built. The carbon fibre face plates are nice, and mine haven't suffered any noticeable scratches in the time that I've had them(almost three months). The shells are plastic but are holding up just fine.

The (braided)cable is excellent, especially taking into account that this isn't something you have to "upgrade" to - it's the default cable. It's supple, flexible, and not terribly prone to tangling. It terminates in what seems to be a pretty durable L-plug. There's also this little...I don't know what it's called, but you can see it in the pictures. That little piece serves to adjoin the left and right cables. This is actually a pretty smart innovation since with cables that have inline controls and a mic, a typical chin slider isn't very effective. Well, they solved that little issue with that little whatchamacallit!

I don't think the Hibiki is a tank, but you shouldn't have any problems with it standing the test of time assuming you take care of your stuff even a little bit.

I find it to be a pretty comfortable earphone, but if you have smaller ears you might have some issues. As far as isolation goes I find them to be "good enough." Being that they're dynamic drivers, they are vented but at least it's on the belly of the earphone.

Sound
I find the Hibiki to have moderately elevated bass, forward mids, and relatively laid-back treble with just enough sparkle to give them a slightly shiny character.

Both male and female vocals have good weight, but I would venture to say that there's a little more emphasis on the upper mids as female vocals tend to sound a little more forward.

I can't imagine anyone but bass heads being disappointed with the quantity of bass on offer here. Listening to "Fire" by Jack Garratt is very satisfying, as the bass goes deep with a lot of rumble and a nice amount of air.

One of my favorite aspects of this IEM is the soundstage. It isn't the widest I've ever heard, getting soundly defeated in that department by my Sony MDR 7550, and slightly falling behind the KZ ZS6. But it has excellent height, depth, and separation.

Where timbre is concerned, I find it to be above average, but that's about it. If you're coming from something with really good timbre you might pick up on a slight plastic tonality, but I think you'll get used to it pretty quick.

Comparisons

Hibiki vs. KZ ZS6


The ZS6 has to be one of the best values of 2017, assuming you don't mind a bright signature and aren't treble-averse. It's a quad-driver hybrid earphone with two dynamic drivers and two balanced armatures in each earpiece. It should crush the Hibiki, right? No.

It has a wider stage than the Hibiki, with more liquid mids. Not necessarily more realistic sounding mids, but more liquid with a hint of metallic tonality, à la the Dunu Titan 1. The ZS6 is more V-shaped and less forward compared to the Hibiki. The ZS6 features an all-metal build, but is also far more likely to cause comfort issues than the Hibiki. The stock Hibiki cable is WAAAAY better than the cheap cable the ZS6 comes with.

Both are great options but the Hibiki will probably be the safer choice for most people.

Hibiki vs. BGVP DM5

The DM5 also represents one of the very best values of the year. A quad-driver earphone just like the ZS6, with a metal shell and excellent ergonomics. It's another V-shaped earphone, with a punishing sub-bass presence. Tickle your ear drums kinda stuff. But because the bass emphasis is so far down the overall presentation remains pretty clean.

I've had some build quality issues with my DM5 so I'd give the Hibiki the nod on that one despite the former having an all-metal build(well, except for the nozzles). The sonic presentations of these two earphones is pretty different - picking one depends on what kind of sound you prefer.

Hibiki vs. Zero Audio Carbo Tenore


The Tenore probably doesn't need much of an introduction. It made waves back in 2013 for the immense value it served up, with many people comparing it favorably to IEMs costing considerably more. Even today, they're held in high regard for their excellent tuning, jack-of-all-trades signature, and excellent ergonomics and isolation. Compared to the Hibiki, the Tenore is a little less mid-forward with less elevated bass, bass which doesn't move as much air. Their treble is similar but the Hibiki has occasional peaks the Tenore doesnt. The Hibiki does of course have a tendency to sound a little brighter which is my preference so I can deal with the occasional peak. The Tenore has the more natural timbre but isn't as spacious as the Hibiki. The Hibiki will almost certainly last longer under heavy every day use due to the Tenore's flimsy, fixed cable. I'd probably pick the Hibiki just because of the detachable cable.

Summary

At first I had mixed feelings about the Hibiki. I mean, I liked it. But it wasn't quite the "giant killer" I had hoped it would be, like the Macaw GT100S was over two years ago. I'm not sure if it was burn-in, or brain-in, or both. But I like it now more than I did. Could it be better? Sure. But for $60 are you getting your money's worth, and more? Yes. For your money you get a nice build, a fantastic detachable cable, very good comfort, style, decent isolation, and very, very good SQ.

I had a hard time scoring them, but relative to their price, and considering their flaws aren't terribly pronounced, I think they deserve the score I gave them. Or, 8.5/10

Now where's my shot glass?