7HZ SALNOTES ZERO Universal IEM

Introduction
The acclaimed 7HZ Salnotes Zero are IEMs with a single dynamic driver per side that shook the IEM market a few months ago, receiving support from top reviewers and being highly recommended by many users for their excellent performance at a more than acceptable price ($20 USD).
Video Review here
If you wish to read this review in spanish, click here
Unboxing, Build and Comfort
The box is simple but expected in this price segment. Like in most cases, upon opening it, we find the pair of headphones, and underneath them, two small bags: one with the 2 pin 0.78mm cable and another with 5 extra pairs of silicone tips.



The construction of the IEM itself feels cheap. The 10mm driver with a metal composite diaphragm is protected by a plastic molded housing and a metal faceplate with the brand and model inscriptions. A positive aspect of this type of construction is the variety of colors offered for this model, with a total of 6 options: white, black, light blue, red, pink, and orange.



Moving on to the cable, it is quite good for the price. It has good flexibility, doesn't tangle easily, and has a straight 3.5mm connector, relieving the tension at the cable termination point compared to "L-shaped" connectors. As negative points for this cable, it is slightly microphonic when it rubs against clothing, and the plastic ear guides may be uncomfortable for some.



Regarding the silicone tips, I was surprised by the quantity included (6 pairs, counting the ones already on the IEMs). Some of these are "wide bore" tips like the orange ones (which retain better bass and treble frequencies), while others have a narrow bore like the light blue ones (which reduce treble frequencies without affecting the bass, resulting in increased bass emphasis).

Lastly, the comfort of these headphones was excellent from day one. I always used them with the small-sized (S) orange tips, and both the shape of the IEM and those tips contributed to an exceptional seal in my outer ear. They are so lightweight and comfortable that I can wear them for hours without needing to readjust them. They are a great option for anyone needing peace in noisy environments.

Frequency response description

Credits: crinacle.com

• Deep sub-bass extension and well-presented bass
• Smooth transition from bass to the mids
• Mid frequencies following almost strictly the Harman target
• Laid back but airy treble with good extension

Subjective sound description

Bass
The sub-bass has a lot of authority, as demonstrated in songs like "Xanny" by Billie Eilish and "Hot In It" by Tiesto. The sensation of "rumble" in these and other songs is very good, and the sub-bass can be felt in the chest.

On the other hand, the bass frequencies (>50-60 Hz to 200 Hz) are slightly lacking for my taste, as evidenced in EDM songs like "Follow" by Martin Garrix. However, this prevents the bass frequencies from "bothering" the mid frequencies and allows for a smooth transition between them.

Mids
I listened to several different singers to have a good reference for this frequency range. Freddie Mercury, Billie Eilish, Adele, and Calamaro - all these artists sounded correct here.

Both male and female voices are reproduced naturally with more than adequate presence, although female voices have a slightly more authoritative presence, as I heard in "Vivere" where Bocceli sings together with Gerardina Trovato.

The articulation between the different instruments and voices occupying this range is very good, without any interference or "disturbance" between them at any moment.

Treble
In general, the high frequencies may leave something to be desired for those who prefer a brighter and more detailed tuning. However, this is a very positive aspect for long listening sessions, where this IEM will reproduce the entire music library with exceptional musicality. In "Black Magic" by Slayer (Live Undead), the drummer's cymbal in the first 30 seconds is never offensive to the ear and has good presence. In "Revelations" by Iron Maiden, the variety of cymbals played by the drummer during the guitar solos have a gentle presence without being aggressive or overly bright.

Timbre
The timbre of these headphones is something that other companies should take note of. I understand that it's not a bold tuning as it follows the Harman curve, but the instruments are so well represented that despite not being the best IEM in terms of resolution/detail, they can be compared to others that are far above their price range thanks to the excellent execution of timbre. All the instruments in Vivaldi's "Winter: Allegro non Molto" - performed by Fabio Biondi - are excellently distinguished from each other, from the lead violinist to the cellos and double bass accompanying the rest of the violins.

Soundstage & Imaging
As mentioned earlier in the frequency response description, the soundstage or spatiality of the sound is above average. Songs like Iron Maiden's "The Great Unknown" and Queen's "Bicycle Race" reveal that these headphones have a wide soundstage that can be deep when needed. In the latter mentioned song, a well-crafted three-dimensional scene is created, placing all the backing vocals and drums behind Freddie, with one of the cymbals having a distinct presence located behind and to the right during the chorus.

Regarding imaging, this is one of the few weak points I see in the Zeros. In Calamaro's "Alta Suciedad," it's difficult for me to discern between the guitars playing on the right and left channels. The same occurs during the introduction of the Iron Maiden song mentioned in the previous paragraph.

7HZ Salnotes Zero vs KZ DQ6
I decided to make a brief comparison between these two models as they are both in the same price range internationally and in Argentina (Price: $20 USD for any of them)

Credits: crinacle.com

• The DQ6 has more punch and rumble due to a more pronounced elevation in the bass frequencies. They are comparable in the sub-bass range, with the Zero having slightly better extension in this range.
• The more "correct" transition between the bass and mids makes vocals and instruments sound a bit more natural on the 7HZ compared to the DQ6.
• The high frequencies are two opposite poles in my experience: the DQ6 has bright highs at times that help create a sense of detail but may have some small sibilance, while the Zero has more relaxed/dark highs that are not as detailed but contribute to its musicality.
• In terms of timbre, there is no competition; the 7HZ Zero has achieved a better tuning in this aspect.

Conclusion
It is quite obvious that this is a product easy to recommend: good comfort, impeccable tuning for the price, a good amount of accessories of respectable quality for $20 USD. The few negative points I mentioned during my analysis clearly are not enough to lower this product from the pedestal it deserves to be on.

7hz is a company that I find sometimes I enjoy their products, and at other times I don’t. They do some great work, but I’m not always confident in everything as the Salnotes Dioko left me bored and a little sad. Surprisingly this iem doesn’t disappoint, and I’m shocked by it.

I bought this iem with my own money. My opinions are my own.
You can buy this on Amazon or Linsoul. These are listed here for convenience only.



Product Features

Song Choice: Tidal list here:
I listen to a wide variety of music. I pick the songs because of various reasons. But I picture myself locked away like Andy Dufresne from Shawshank blasting music and shut off from the world. It’s a blissful image.
The Marriage of Figaro -The opera song from Shawshank Redemption, terrible recording but fun and gets me in the mood to listen to music.
O mio Babino caro -This is a modern less operatic version but a song with great female vocals.
Video Rigoletto - “La donna e mobile” Sung by one of the three Tenors, great song for high-performing male vocals. Pavarotti is the greatest classic singer maybe ever. Fight me!
Iron man - The sound at the beginning is hard to make sound great, great drums, and cymbals, and if done right it feels like an old-school band.
I Will Survive (1981 recording, I like her voice, and the old vocals, the drums, and various natural instruments really make this a favorite for me.
There is a light That never goes out - Smiths ( A classic, I just love it. It’s mellow, and I can tell a lot of the tuning if this song is done right.)
Jump (I like how the sound effects are in this!)
Star Child Someone recommended this song to me, and I like how funky it sounds and has nice vocals and a mix of music and things going on.
Dicke Titten Ramstein The beginning is amazing and the bass hits hard. Great song. I love rock and metal. The German language fascinates me
Master of Puppets: Very fast song. Helps me determine if the driver can keep up.


Shell - The shell is easy on my ears, and I fully enjoy it. No problems from me.



Case- This is one of the faults of this headphone, it doesn’t come with a case. A cheap leather pouch would have been nice, but they need to cut costs somewhere. You could use the box it came in if you really need to, but it’s not ideal.

Cable- The cable is fine, it won’t twist or come into a knot. It doesn’t need to be replaced. It feels a tiny bit cheap, and it is disappointing compared to the Hola Cable, but what isn’t?



Tip Selection - Good colorful tip selection. Typical of 7hz. I like their color choices and have no problem with them here. It adds value to the set and is fine.

Comparison: In a competitive market there are many choices. It’s very hard to say. I personally feel that the Truthear Hola is packaged bettered, but the Salnotes Zero sounds a tiny bit better. Either way they are both good values, and fantastic iems for your collection.


Quick-Fire Comparisons

In this section, I'll quickly compare Zero to other relevant IEMs in its price bracket.

Salnotes Zero VS. Truthear Hola
Overall Tuning: Salnotes Zero
Details: Tied

Salnotes Zero VS. Kiwi Ears Cadenza
Overall Tuning: Kiwi Ears Cadena
Details: Salnotes Zero

Salnotes Zero VS. Moondrop Chu
Overall Tuning: Salnotes Zero
Details: Salnotes Zero


Value: It’s a good value product, and I’d highly recommend it. Nice surprising sound, and it’s fun looking.

Graph:


Bass

The Salnotes base is strong and full sounded. Despite being a simple DD one driver. My music sounds good on it and it is reliably good across anything that I play with it. I hear a nice rumble in all the right songs, and in Dicky Titten I hear the slam at the appropriate levels. The speed in the base is great, I love it.

Midrange

The Midrange of the Zero is smooth and clear. Voices sound great on it, and it feels great. The body of my songs sound good, and hits when I need it to hit.

Treble

The treble on The Smiths There is a Light That never Goes out sounds so right. The iem is flat and perfect where I want it to me. Nothing sounds bad that I throw at this IEM. It’s shocking and pleasurable.


Gifting/who is it for: I think this iem is for anyone. It’s my defacto budget pic. I’ve gifted away two of these to friends, and everyone has enjoyed them. The colors are nice options as well. It has multiple colors to pick from, and it’s just cool. Keep it in your pocket.

Pairing: I used a Quidelix 5k and a Topping DX1 dac through a SMSL SH-8s AMP. I don’t find the pairing to matter too much, but it certainly can.

Summary-
This headphone is great. It’s not lame, and it’s fun and enjoyable. Pick up a pair if you want a cheap set that you can lose or keep at work in case of a headphone emergency! It’s a Wolverine to me, colorful, dynamic, charismatic, and takes a beating like no other. I 100% recommend this iem to anyone who is in the market for a budget iem, and is my defacto pick under 50 dollars. This iem is fire, it’s orange, it’s just a terror to compare to others as to my ears it’s just that good. Nothing is bad, the bar has been set.


Thanks for reading. Any feedback is welcome. I’ll be posting my preference list of iems, dacs, and headphones soon. It’s in process.

7HZ Salnotes is a brand that has gained popularity among audiophiles and music enthusiasts since 2021, after the launch of their Planar Driver IEM called “Timeless”. In this review, we’ll be discussing the 7HZ Salnotes Zero In-Ear Monitors, one of their most popular models under the Rs. 2000 price segment.

What makes these IEMs stand out is that they are tuned by Crinacle, a very popular YouTube reviewer who recently broke his silence on this collaboration project in his video. Let's dive into the details and find out if the 7HZ Salnotes Zero is worth the hype.

Design and Build Quality:​

The design of the 7HZ Salnotes Zero IEMs is simple yet stylish. They are made of soft and glossy plastic material, and the faceplate is made of metal material with the brand logo and name printed on it. The ‘R’ and ‘L’ markings are present on the backside of the IEMs and on the cable as well.

The cable of the Salnotes Zero is made of sturdy and flexible plastic material, and it is tangle-free. The cable is long enough to avoid any inconvenience, and the earpieces are attached at an angle to provide a comfortable fit. The IEMs come with a variety of ear tips of different sizes and bright colors.

Comfort and Fit:​

The Salnotes Zero IEMs are mid-sized, and they fit well in the ears. They are lightweight and provide a decent amount of noise isolation. This makes them suitable for long listening sessions without causing any discomfort or ear fatigue.

Sound Quality:​

The 7HZ Salnotes Zero In-Ear Monitors are known for their smooth, detailed, and musical sound quality. The IEMs have a decent high and depth, and the music feels like it's all around you, like a stereo sound system.

Bass:​

The bass of the Salnotes Zero IEMs is warm, textured, and deep. You can feel a good presence in your head without any distortion. Tracks like "Sell Your Soul" by Slippy and TYNAN hit hard, without compromising the midrange and treble. In other tracks like "Gaya Gaya Gaya" by Rupali Moghe and Shashwat Singh, the bass has a good amount of weight and thickness, which adds to the overall richness of the sound.

Midrange:​

The midrange of the Salnotes Zero IEMs is very realistic and emotional. Male and female vocals both sound great, and the mids are at the sweet spot from where you can enjoy the most. Tracks like "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage" by Papon and "Kehna Hi Kya" by K.S. Chithra sound amazing, and the emotions in the vocals are well-represented.

Treble:​

The treble of the Salnotes Zero IEMs is clear, detailed, and non-offensive. The instruments, such as Sargam, Sitar, Tabla, violin, and ghungroo, are all played beautifully in tracks like "Jagaave Saari Raina" by Rekha Bhardwaj.

Soundstage:​

One of the most impressive aspects of the Salnotes Zero is its soundstage. It has a wide and spacious soundstage that creates an immersive listening experience. You can feel like you are sitting in the middle of all the artists, and they are all playing just for you. The soundstage is so well-defined that it can even make some songs sound better than they did before. For instance, when listening to Teri Fariyad by Rekha Bhardwaj and Jagjit Singh, the soundstage is so wide and open that it almost feels like the performers are in the room with you. The soundstage is one of the best we have experienced at this price point, and it's a testament to the quality of the Salnotes Zero.

Imaging:​

The imaging on the Salnotes Zero is also noteworthy. It is better than any other model we have heard in this price range. You can easily feel the direction of the instruments and singers. The imaging is so precise that you can almost point out where each instrument is coming from. This level of imaging is not common in earphones at this price range, and it is impressive that Salnotes Zero has been able to deliver it. With the Salnotes Zero, you can enjoy a level of clarity and separation that is rare in budget in-ear monitors.

Microphone Quality:​

It is important to note that the 3.5mm version of the Salnotes Zero does not come with a microphone. However, the Type-C version of the earphones comes with a microphone that works decently well. During this review, we used the 3.5mm version, but we also tested the Type-C version and found that the microphone works well enough for making calls and voice chats.

Value and Competition:​

The Salnotes Zero is an excellent value for its price range. It outperforms other IEMs in the same price range by a significant margin. The sound quality, build quality, and design all make the Salnotes Zero stand out from its competition.

Some of the competitors in this price range include the KZ ZST X, the CCA Lyra, and the BLON BL03. While these earphones are also popular in their respective price ranges, the Salnotes Zero is definitely a step above in terms of sound quality and overall value.

Pros and Cons:​

To summarize the review, we have compiled a list of Salnotes Zero's pros and cons in a markdown table.

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Conclusion:​

In conclusion, we highly recommend the 7HZ Salnotes Zero. It is an excellent choice for anyone looking for their first IEM or for experienced audiophiles who are looking for a great value for their money.

The Salnotes Zero has a simple and cool-looking design that is made from high-quality materials. The earphones fit nicely in all sizes of ears and provide excellent comfort for long listening sessions.

The sound quality of the Salnotes Zero is where it truly shines. It has a warm and detailed sound signature that is both musical and smooth. The bass is deep and textured, while the midrange is realistic and emotional. The treble is clear and detailed, without being offensive or harsh. The soundstage is wide and immersive, making you feel like you are sitting in the middle of the music.

The Salnotes Zero outperforms its competitors in terms of sound quality, design, and value. At its price point, it is a steal and should not be missed by anyone who is passionate about music.

You can purchase the 3.5mm jack version of the Salnotes Zero for Rs. 1690/- and the Type-C version with a microphone for Rs. 1990/-.