This is my latest purchase from yet another Aliexpress adventure. I bought this CKX9 about 3 weeks ago and just arrived 2 days ago. I called it adventure because there are 2 or 3 sellers currently selling CKX9 and CKX9is and yet apparently I am the only one that made the purchase. So there is no comment whatsoever about the product from those sellers in Aliexpress. For 29USD I don't expect any fake earphone from those sellers. For replica or poor copy usually accessory shops will sell them at around 6-7USD, so for 29USD this is already considered a fairly normal price for any good earphone.
The moment I got the package, the notice the CKX9 that I received is black colour, not blue as I ordered. I come with only single silicone ear tip ?M size with M size audio technica C-tip or ear hook. This make me more suspiciuos as the seller sent a wrong coloured CKX9 to me. Anyway I just ignored about the wrong color and immediately try the CKX9 with my HTC 820s.
The first impression? This is the one and only earphone that sound extremely awful out of the box. It sound muffled, very congested without any bass or treble heard. Not giving up I just continue to burn in the earphone at about 1/2 max volume. 2 hours later I listened again to CKX9 . This time I heard a totally different sound. As I still have Audio technica CKX7 , I know exactly what to expect from this CKX9. They do have very similar sound signature especially the noticable coloration. I am so glad that the CKX9 has just reveal it's true sound after just minimal burn in period so I just continue with burn in process for about 20hour more.
Pictured with my CKX7 in white.If you notice actually the C-tip on CKX7 is from CKX9 since CKX7 doesn't has a vent/hole like CKX9.
Comparison with CKX7;
The most obvious different with CKX7 is the rotating nozzle in CKX7 . In CKX9 the nozzle is angled and fixed. The second different is the hole/vent on CKX9, CKX7 doesn't has that. In term of fit and comfort the CKX9 win. The rotating nozzle actually causing the CKX7 to wobble inside my ear,luckily the C-tip (which obviously belong to CKX9 ) does help to stabilise. CKX9 even without the C-tip is already quite secure in my ear because of the angled nozzle. Both original silicone tip or the red comply foam are very comfortable in ear and I can proudly say that this combination of comply foam and c-tip are one of the most comfortable and secure for CKX9 . Sound quality wise there is no competition here. CKX9 is clear winner over CKX7 due to smooth and more balanced sound. I tried to like the sound from CKX7 ,but in the end there is a very noticeable sibilance or hissing sound. Not much but still noticeable. In CKX9 - no sibilance at all, even at a very loud volume. The bass quantity is more on CKX7 but bass in CKX9 is nicer and tighter. CKX9 also have more details and bigger soundstage. In term of treble CKX9 is better. Both has fairly bright treble but not really sparkling or splasing. But as usual the treble in CKX9 is very smooth as compared to CKX7 which can sound harsh with noticible sibilance. There is only one thing that I notice from both CKX7 and CKX9, there are persistent extra sound in almost every song. It sound like an extension or echoes from music instrument like cymbal or even sometimes it sound like a maracas. It always there , so I definitely notice it but in CKX7 the extra sound can sound harsh and luckily in CKX9 it sound smooth and nice.
Comparison with CKX5;
So to complete the review I include CKX5 as part of the CKX trinity. I never own this earphone but has auditioned it many times in stores. CKX5 has more balanced sound if compared to CKX7 and generally I prefer CKX5 to CKX7. As usual ,as the lowest rank member the sound quality is definitely not comparable to CKX9. It sounds more congested, the bass is moderate at best and not very tight, and the treble is not as bright as CKX7/9. It also has very small soundstage.Both CKX5/7 actually using same C-tip design, different from CKX9 which has extra hole for the vent.
Comparison with JVC FXT90;
This is my current king of my earphones. The reason I bought CKX9 is actually to get a better sound quality earphone that can actually dethrone FXT90. Well, I fail again. In general I still like the sound from FXT90. The CKX9 sounds very smooth, with bigger soundstage and almost perfect fit to my ear. The FXT90 is better simply because it's sound very aggressive in a good way. The bass quantity is almost the same but in FXT90 bass is very tight and thumping. Song like Do What U Want from Lady Gaga/R. Kelly somehow show the different of these 2 earphones. Bass in CKX9 in this song somehow feels it coming slower and loose as compared to FXT90. Not to say bass in CKX9 is bad, just to say that FXT90 is superior in this regard. What really diferent is the treble in FXT90 which is brighter and sparkling. Treble in CKX9 is bright and smooth but personally I prefer FXT90. There are 2 things that are better with CKX9. It is definitely more secure and comfortable. With FXT90 and silicone tip sometimes I have to insert it using above ear configuration to get best fit, but the comfort has lost in this configuration.
Comparison with Sony EX650;
My current no 2 ranking before the arrival of CKX9. I have comfort issue with EX650. The sound quality is very comparable with CKX9, but bass is better in EX650. CKX9 has bigger soundstage and the smooth treble is slightly better than the already bright EX650. Not much different in sound quality between these 2, but for long hour listening the CKX9 will likely replace my go to comfortable earphone Audio Technica CKB90.
Conclusion.
What I have here is very capable midrange earphone which has excellent value thanks to Aliexpress. Will I recommend this everyone?- definitely not. The CKX trinity earphone is fairly large earphone by any standard. The cable is very long especially the distance from Y split to the actual earphone. Most people with small ear will find these CKX trinity overwhelmingly big and uncomfortable to their ears. But for me and other head-fier with big ear some of you will find CKX9 as very comfortable. Aside from comfort issue, the sound quality from CKX9 is as good as other midrange earphone like Sony EX650 and JVC FXT90. So my quest for better earphone to dethrone FXT90 will continue. Meawhile I truly recommend this CKX9 together with FXT90 and EX650 to everyone that can get the best out of them. For anyone looking at CKX7 I have to recommend either CKX5 or CKX9 as a better alternative.
