I have a Simgot EW200, probably more or less comparable with the EA500.
I'm happy with PR2 v2. With foam tips it's very good and I can listen for hours, with dunu s&s I find it fatiguing after a while.
Although I didn’t get the PR2 v1 that KZ promised, I still find the PR v2 upper treble performance is easier to rectify with eartips compared to my S12. I’ve tried multiple eartips on my S12, none of them mitigate the gritty treble I hear on them on a lot songs.
Which eartips? Or do you just mean, in general the problem can be rectified with them?
Specifically, I’m using long, narrow bore eartips from my 7Hz Salnotes and Dioko. But long, wide bore eartips (such as the ones found with Truthear HEXA or OG Zero) can work too although a bit less subdued. The same can’t be said of my S12. My Dioko is great with Truthear long, wide bore eartips, but I couldn’t find anything else that get the upper treble to where I liked them
treble taming narrow bore?Specifically, I’m using long, narrow bore eartips from my 7Hz Salnotes and Dioko. But long, wide bore eartips (such as the ones found with Truthear HEXA or OG Zero) can work too although a bit less subdued. The same can’t be said of my S12. My Dioko is great with Truthear long, wide bore eartips, but I couldn’t find anything else that get the upper treble to where I liked them
7Hz Salnotes eartips on PR2 v2 pictured below:
Surely, it is OK for "totls" to be quite different and made of different components during their production - they are "artisan" items with constantly perfected tuning, right?
Switched to my Xduoo X20 with 2.5mm balanced cable. Superb clarity and soundstage, excellent mids. This track is a good example:Great to hear that you liked AS16 pro.
I think it is a really great all-BA IEM for well under $50 (mesh removal worked for me great to get most enjoyable treble).
To me, the fact that many KZ IEMs are loved and hated is great - they have some specific tuning/signature and not tuned like toasters to "the curve".
Surely, it is OK for "totls" to be quite different and made of different components during their production - they are "artisan" items with constantly perfected tuning, right?
While KZ with multi-thousand unit production is expected to adhere to much higher standards. Perhaps, really great that it is expected of KZ
One person, that we know, designed/tuned recently IEM "for masses", right, with about a hundred units (perhaps 150) made. In this context, 500k+ ZS10 pros finding their pair of ears seem to be a bit more fitting to this definition. I recently revisited ZS10 pro I so much prefer it to "toasters" like Hexa (I have very limited unrefined tastes, of course).
On a related note, have you seen direct comparisons of Castors with "Project Red" - the reviewer community is surprisingly mute on it - would be great to know how exactly "garbagy" is KZ in this simple comparison.
Pwrhaps, that community is hectic with an anticipated $1099 (carefully priced) Precog & Co's IEM. Any clue why is he not assigned as a "member of trade" here now?
Re-reading my comment, I need to add that I am not associated with KZ in any form, just oddly loving their IEMs (not PR and "collabs").
Yeah I agree they are sooo much better with foam tips. I cannot stand to listen to them without foam tips, hence why I was asking earlier about how to dampen them better.
Better to go for Kiwi Ears Melody rather than PR2, at 89$.
KZ ZAT if looking within the same brand. But melody will be my choice.
I tried to attempt a KZ hybrid comparison in the last few days, but digressed to all-BAs and blue cables
Thanks my BA buddy! Glad you liked the music (after all that's what it's all about!).Great music!
To my ears BA timbre "works" nicely (since the moment I got 1 More Triple that I still cherish), especially for string music and most orchestral.
More to the contrary, many/most DDs do not sound great to me due to their perceived droniness/tubiness (There is a point of view that due to omnipresence of DD in reproduction devices, strong preference to the "DD sound" gets imprinted).
Not to digress further, AS16 pro is great. AS24 is definitely a good upgrade along these lines, but at about 2.5 times the price - more for dedicated all-AB affictionados.
I tried to attempt a KZ hybrid comparison in the last few days, but digressed to all-BAs and blue cables
Anyhow, ZAT to me is very much at par with 1 More Penta and Phoenixcall.
The bass of ZAT, while mighty, does not feel tubby to me, compared to that of Penta. Bass of Phoenixcall feels the tightest and best integrated with BAs&SPDs - and I Iearned to appreciate this tuning with its lower pinna gain slowly but surely.
My problem with ZAT is that it is too bassy for me, I have to use extreme switch positions (all bass off, all treble on), and still I would possibly dial off bass a bit. Then, again only quantity is a bit too much, quality is good to my ears.
So if Castor bass/treble balance feels right, ZAT can be a mighty upgrade (is it worth 5+ times more is for each to decide).
I hope KZ will make "more Harman/lean" version of ZAT one day.
