I would prefer KZ to provide low-cost iems with higher and higher quality, because in my opinion iems should not be too expensive.

Nowadays I have only few selected KZ Pokemons catched. KZ: BA10, Castor Bass, D-Fi, DQ6S, Edx Pro X, ZVX, Ling long CCA: Trio, HM20, CRA, Polaris. Just 11. Maybe in future I'm going to catch CCA Hydro. But do I need it? I don't know. I like this cheap ones.

A little update

If I can suggest something.. Polaris is quite tips dependent, wide bore gives them much more space and imaging abilities. I'm using mine with EPro Horn shaped tips.

@activatorfly Hydro looks great, especially internals implementation for KZ/CCA. Tuning wise it looks also nice

A new contender for the budget favorite three and the rediscovery - the KZ DQ6S (17 USD inc. tax) The channels inside look solid, maybe something has changed since the legendary topology mishap. I don't know, sound is really good.

You can try 0011 settings. It's quite normal tuning, and what is normal is usually not impressive too, but some people will enjoy it as it is. Here's 0011 compared to Tanchjim Oxygen tuning for example

CCA Rhapsody is balanced and still praised nowadays. Main problem of this set is bulkiness of the shells

Check Polaris and D-Fi, great cheapos, and those are most neutral iems from KZ/CCA

Yes, Zs10 Pro2 is also a little bit better tuned then this two even with this low bass setting. Such tuning is useable for specific generes of music only (if so..)

Tuned similarly and bright..

Link to Castor Bass mod https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-discovery-thread.586909/post-17739901 Castor Bass is much better than Harmanish version, after mod it's beast. Advices and experience taken from @DynamicEars are priceless. I'm using materials and applying his techniques to most iems I...

The sound seems more complete in the Polaris. It is possible that it has better bass and more developed treble, but I would have to compare after work. D-Fi has nice timbre. I like a lot moded Castor Bass too (by @DynamicEars recipte) it's very cheap nowadays, those are with Polaris and Trio...

I'm not good in description of the sound. It's uncolored sound and not shouty even with high volume. You can read opinions about Olina SE IMO it sound very similar set.

Quite unique tuning, very pleasant. Softears Twilight is also similar - it is Olina SE on steroids: better air flow for sure (only dampened by foam)

For me Polaris is better set then Edx Little or Edx Pro X, D-Fi, Zvx. Edx Pro X is a bit too bright and need to be moded. Zsn pro2 is definitely too bright, but I can't fix it, so I sold mine. My moded Polaris is probably flattest pina gain iem from CCA/KZ, but unfortunately I haven't...

Polaris (1DD) is very nice iem which reminds me truly Olina SE. Very underrated stuff.

Contrary to popular opinion about problems with qc, I personally have had nearly 40 KZ/CCA models and never had a problem with them. For that I had problems with IEMs from other manufacturers, which is rather not mentioned here in this thread. Personally, I do not like multi-armature. In my...

Trio is more comfortable, but not perfect. It's still quite bulky, but for sure it's better then Rhapsody. Rhapsody is awkward.

I had Trn Conch. In my opinion, they can be skipped. After adding medium density foam to the red nozzle, they still had a sharp top. For me it is the same problem as ea500 supposedly you can seal them, but bad tuning still comes out.

I listened to Variations only once, a year ago for a brief moment. They seemed a bit wavy to me - a lot of bass, a lot of higher midrange, relative to the Dunu EST112s with which I compared them, and I wasn't particularly bitter about having the Dunu. But these impressions are also related to...

I can agree. To my ears, they may indeed complement each other (Nova and Trio). The fr comparison with Variations is also interesting.

CCA Trio have arrived. First impression are positive. For me it's a better set than the Rhapsody, I find it easier to listen to (the fit of the shells is also better). In the end, what I didn't like most about the Rhapsody was the bass, and that's what prevailed over selling them. The Trio...

I feel that these kinds of groups are like a cult. If you are not at the head of this cult, you will not be able to lead it, and rational arguments will always be perceived as offensive. The rule number one is: the more samples you own the higher status you have. Rule number two: The hype...

I sold my EST112 because it was so bulky and heavy.. also fit wasn't good enough. SQ was quite good and have not been defeated by any particular other IEMs in my case