Who is Boarseman? I don't know. I read good reviews on KZ HDS1 here. I have KZ ATE which is quite good for a very low price. So I made so research on the net on HDS1.So one of the link brought me to Mr Igor Eisberg's Audiobudget website. Pretty extensive collection of dirt cheap China branded and made earphone. By budget it means that all the earphones featured and reviewed on this Audiobudget are priced 20USD and lower. Some goes as low as 6USD. So it is a heaven for people looking for a fairly good earphone on a budget. Many people including me prefer to buy 5 earphones for 100USD instead of just 1 or 2 earphones for same price. Some people are just collector. They doesn't mind using 2nd or 3rd rank earphones. Buying just single good earphone for 100USD has never cross through my mind. So far I had probably spend around 300USD for about 10 earphones. So roughly about 30USD each.Some cost 60USD like Audio-technica IM50, some cost 9USD like KZ ATE. For that money probably I can buy 1 extremely good earphone like Dunu DN2000. A highly recommended earphone with all round good review. Most likely I well enjoyed it for a month or two. Then the boredom will creep in. Or I probably use it to death and the ultra-expensive earphone will fail in a year or less. Another analogy to this is when I bought a phone. Many of my friend bought top of the line Apple iPhone 6 plus 64gb for about 800USD. They will use and cling to it for three years. Myself on the other hand will buy HTC Desire 820 or Lenovo Vibe P1 for 250USD and by the end of 1st year will change or trade in for another 250USD phone. By the end of three years I have change to total of 3 phones. Of course the IPhone has the fastest and fluidest interface in the world. But for myself I just couldn't stomach the idea of looking and using the same old phone for the whole 3 years. Different people, different idea. That's why we are human.
Enough with ranting. I bought this Boarseman CX98 through Aliexpress. So far there is only one seller selling this product. The other seller has CX98s selling for 39USD. Not sure about the difference because both CX98 and CX98s has very same specs listed. It arrived quite fast just 10 days from China to Malaysia. I am very excited with the packaging. The CX98 is using fairly thin plywood box to store the CX98 earphone itself together with Boarseman branded orange-blue zipper case, earphone tips and cable clip. The amount of accessories are excellent. The housing nozzle was fitted with double flange clear ear tip out of box. The tip is quite comfortable and secure so I keep it as it is. They also supply a pair of red colour generic foam tip with 5mm core, and another 4 pairs of usual single flange silicone tip of various size. Cable clip is also supplied with Boarseman brand etched to it. So full mark for packaging and accessories.
Clockwise;cX98, ckx9, FXT90, EX650, 1more.
With 1more voice of china
Built quality ;
Generally excellent, almost on par with ultra-excellent 1more voice of china. The housing made of metal with 2 tone color. Red on the inside and another half round grey metal on the inside. This is a good design since the half empty side is on the front I can actually feel the emptiness in the dark. Since the design is straight barrel and straight nozzle this feature is really helpful to determine Left-Right of the housing. And it looks good and unique too. The housing strain relief is a hard plastic and there is a vent next to it. The Y-splitter and jack are grey metal cylinder. The audio jack is straight type and strain relief is again a hard plastic about 3mm height/long. The cable is twisted type ala current Soundmagic cable with glossy black pastic covering. They are slightly springy but fairly tangle free and flexible. There is no noticeable microphonic from the cable.
Sounds;
I will describe the sound is more towards J-shaped. Initial impression out of the box; low bass, vocal a bit recessed and the treble is moderately piercing sibilance and bright. I immediately sent it for burn in. Now it has more than 30hours to it. There are some noticeable improvement in the sound quality. The moderately piercing sibilance has tamed down to mildly piercing sibilance which I suspect is the intended sound signature. Otherwise the treble is very bright with very mild coloration heard. Details is not that great which is very common for sub 20 earphone. The bass has slightly improved after burn in. The amount is moderate but it is not very tight and thumping. Vocal somehow stay the same even after burn in. They are a bit muffled and almost drown out from the superbright treble. Soundstage is average and not as wide as CKX7/CKX9. So it is one of the few J-shaped sound earphone that I have. The other earphone that has this kind of signature in my collection is Audio-technica CKX9. It also reminds me of Audio-technica M50 which I believe has this J-shaped sound. But M50 cost more than 150USD and has very prominent treble and colouration that not only sparklingly bright, but I tend to call it as splashing and splattering. Quite unique and enjoyable sound but not natural or even balanced.
Comparison with 1more voice of china;
Obvious contender for sub 20 throne. Sound quality wise CX98 is clearly a better sounding earphone. 1more has very balanced sound signature but never excell in any of the frequency, so it is a good al rounder. CX98 on the other hand has a very good treble and good bass so it is very good for most music genre except vocal heavy song. But built quality and comfort goes to 1more.
Comparison with KZ ATE;
Another good perfomer in sub 20 area. KZ ATE has balanced sound signature which is slightly better and more fun to listen than 1more. Bass is slightly weak and not that tight compared to CX98. Vocal is better with ATE. Treble is where CX98 excell and it make ATE treble sounds very tame. CX98 is also has much better built quality and comfort.
Comparison with Audio-technica CKX9;
The only other earphone with J-shaped sound signature in my collection. But this is already in different level kind of sound quality. The bass has similar amount but tighter and smoother. Vocal is clear and details are abundant. Treble is sparkling bright but smooth with more noticeable colouration. Good try CX98.
Conclusion;
I will stop here for comparison. Both EX650 and FXT90 have even better sound quality than any of earphone mentioned above. So it is not a fair coparison. Generally I will rate CX98 slightly lower than other earphones like Soundmagic E10 and Zero Audio Carbo Basso. But within its price territory of sub 20 earphone in my own collection nothing can beat it in pure sound quality. However on Audiobudget site, this CX98 has been dethroned by even cheaper earphone the Rock Zircon which according to Mr Igor, has the perfect sound quality for a budget earphone . I have to be honest here all these 20USD earphones, however good or excellent their sound sound quality may be, will not likely surpass your excellent earphone like FXT90 or RE400 etc. Just my opinion. Maybe Mr Igor will disagree. I don't know. But for now I will likely buy the Rock Zircon to compare with this CX98. Thank you for reading.
Enough with ranting. I bought this Boarseman CX98 through Aliexpress. So far there is only one seller selling this product. The other seller has CX98s selling for 39USD. Not sure about the difference because both CX98 and CX98s has very same specs listed. It arrived quite fast just 10 days from China to Malaysia. I am very excited with the packaging. The CX98 is using fairly thin plywood box to store the CX98 earphone itself together with Boarseman branded orange-blue zipper case, earphone tips and cable clip. The amount of accessories are excellent. The housing nozzle was fitted with double flange clear ear tip out of box. The tip is quite comfortable and secure so I keep it as it is. They also supply a pair of red colour generic foam tip with 5mm core, and another 4 pairs of usual single flange silicone tip of various size. Cable clip is also supplied with Boarseman brand etched to it. So full mark for packaging and accessories.
Clockwise;cX98, ckx9, FXT90, EX650, 1more.
With 1more voice of china
Built quality ;
Generally excellent, almost on par with ultra-excellent 1more voice of china. The housing made of metal with 2 tone color. Red on the inside and another half round grey metal on the inside. This is a good design since the half empty side is on the front I can actually feel the emptiness in the dark. Since the design is straight barrel and straight nozzle this feature is really helpful to determine Left-Right of the housing. And it looks good and unique too. The housing strain relief is a hard plastic and there is a vent next to it. The Y-splitter and jack are grey metal cylinder. The audio jack is straight type and strain relief is again a hard plastic about 3mm height/long. The cable is twisted type ala current Soundmagic cable with glossy black pastic covering. They are slightly springy but fairly tangle free and flexible. There is no noticeable microphonic from the cable.
Sounds;
I will describe the sound is more towards J-shaped. Initial impression out of the box; low bass, vocal a bit recessed and the treble is moderately piercing sibilance and bright. I immediately sent it for burn in. Now it has more than 30hours to it. There are some noticeable improvement in the sound quality. The moderately piercing sibilance has tamed down to mildly piercing sibilance which I suspect is the intended sound signature. Otherwise the treble is very bright with very mild coloration heard. Details is not that great which is very common for sub 20 earphone. The bass has slightly improved after burn in. The amount is moderate but it is not very tight and thumping. Vocal somehow stay the same even after burn in. They are a bit muffled and almost drown out from the superbright treble. Soundstage is average and not as wide as CKX7/CKX9. So it is one of the few J-shaped sound earphone that I have. The other earphone that has this kind of signature in my collection is Audio-technica CKX9. It also reminds me of Audio-technica M50 which I believe has this J-shaped sound. But M50 cost more than 150USD and has very prominent treble and colouration that not only sparklingly bright, but I tend to call it as splashing and splattering. Quite unique and enjoyable sound but not natural or even balanced.
Comparison with 1more voice of china;
Obvious contender for sub 20 throne. Sound quality wise CX98 is clearly a better sounding earphone. 1more has very balanced sound signature but never excell in any of the frequency, so it is a good al rounder. CX98 on the other hand has a very good treble and good bass so it is very good for most music genre except vocal heavy song. But built quality and comfort goes to 1more.
Comparison with KZ ATE;
Another good perfomer in sub 20 area. KZ ATE has balanced sound signature which is slightly better and more fun to listen than 1more. Bass is slightly weak and not that tight compared to CX98. Vocal is better with ATE. Treble is where CX98 excell and it make ATE treble sounds very tame. CX98 is also has much better built quality and comfort.
Comparison with Audio-technica CKX9;
The only other earphone with J-shaped sound signature in my collection. But this is already in different level kind of sound quality. The bass has similar amount but tighter and smoother. Vocal is clear and details are abundant. Treble is sparkling bright but smooth with more noticeable colouration. Good try CX98.
Conclusion;
I will stop here for comparison. Both EX650 and FXT90 have even better sound quality than any of earphone mentioned above. So it is not a fair coparison. Generally I will rate CX98 slightly lower than other earphones like Soundmagic E10 and Zero Audio Carbo Basso. But within its price territory of sub 20 earphone in my own collection nothing can beat it in pure sound quality. However on Audiobudget site, this CX98 has been dethroned by even cheaper earphone the Rock Zircon which according to Mr Igor, has the perfect sound quality for a budget earphone . I have to be honest here all these 20USD earphones, however good or excellent their sound sound quality may be, will not likely surpass your excellent earphone like FXT90 or RE400 etc. Just my opinion. Maybe Mr Igor will disagree. I don't know. But for now I will likely buy the Rock Zircon to compare with this CX98. Thank you for reading.
