7HZ SALNOTES ZERO Universal IEM

General Information

7HZ Salnotes Zero

HiFi 10mm Dynamic Driver In Ear Earphone​

  • 10mm Dynamic Driver With Metal Composite Diaphragm
  • Ergonomic Shape & Metal Housing
  • Detachable High Purity OFC Cable
  • N52 Magnet
  • Fine Tuning
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Latest reviews

zuriotz

New Head-Fier
Zero, one year later...
Pros: Excellent build quality
Good cable
Bass performance
Cons: Some may find it bulky
It has now been a year since these IEMs were introduced. Do they survive to the present day?
I won't repeat points concerning accessories and build quality, as there is plenty to go over and we know a lot about it. I'll just say that for the price, all these points are really good.

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The unboxing is similar to the KZ experiences.

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For the source of this review I will use the well-known iBasso DC03 Pro.

Technical specifications: Given the features, it could be said to be a relatively difficult device to move. I don't want to say that you need a nuclear reactor but using it in your mobile phone, you won't get the full potential out of it. However, a basic dongle is more than enough to give it that boost.
Instrumental separation is always good considering what you are paying for. The soundstage is pretty average, not intimate at all but it can't be praised for the way it performs either.
The image may not be as holographic but it does stand out more than other iems I have tested.

Sound:
  • Balanced signature, analytical side imo.

Bass: Well controlled bass. It gives you an adequate punch but if you are a bass head, look somewhere else. However, those with a more educated ear will find the bass tastes good as it offers a good energy that overall makes it a very versatile pair. If the bass is rhythmic, the presentation will be adequate. The same is the case with mid-bass.

Mid bass: it extends quite well into the lower frequencies. I recommend this headphone for those who are not looking for a big rumble, but don't want to completely fizzle out. Do you want a mid-bass cannon? Look elsewhere

Midranges: well there is a good amount of detail, although the focus is on macro contrast and not so much on miniscule nuances. Either way there is a good resolution in their presentation. The female voices, in my perspective, show a bit more energy, on the other hand, the male voices don't lag that far behind either.
When it comes to instruments, they sound very natural. The guitars sound full-bodied enough, which is important for metal music. Do you want clarity in the guitars? You'll find here.

It's not all rosy, the high mids can be a bit emphatic in certain songs. To control this, I found the eartips with the narrow hole quite useful. It is not a totally harsh earphone but I understand that some people are sensitive to these frequencies. With a moderate volume, we will also manage to control this problem.

Treble: Good amount of detail with sufficient, but not excellent performance. Well, that's about it. Violins, trumpets sound very natural. It is safe behaviour. There will be those who feel fatigued by the quantity offered by the Salnotes. For my personal taste, I would prefer other options in the same price range.

CONCLUSIONS

The Zeros prove to be a very good choice for their price range but with a tendency to fail in high midrange range. I understand this point is mostly a personal preference and opinions may change. Even today, their sound is still relevant and interesting. I highly recommend them, of course, if you are interested in the sound they provide.
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K othic

New Head-Fier
After the hype: 7HZ Salnotes Zero Review
Pros: Exceptional timbre
Good accessories
Non-fatiguing tuning for long listening sessions
Versatility across various genres
Wide and deep soundstage
Cons: Below-average imaging
Slightly lacking midbass presence (subjective)
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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


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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
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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)
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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.

Jaytiss

500+ Head-Fier
“Cheap Doesn’t mean Bad”
Pros: Detailed and smooth sounding
Comfortable fit
Nice 2 pin removable cable.
Cons: No case included.
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?

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

Comments

keesue

100+ Head-Fier
Superb sounding for $20 USD (or for much more even). Also having the Chus, these are slightly smoother sounding in comparison. The Chus are more extended in the highs and give it to you on hard-driving music. These are superb for Jazz and R&B type music. Listening to AC/DC through CHUs is a real treat. Listening to acoustic Jazz and vocals are a treat on the Zeros.

That said, they both are good and I'm enjoying both - and for $20 USD to boot! I should also add that I got both for portable use when out and about where I do not want to use more expensive IEMs.

Would like to add that I also scored the CCA CRAs for $20.00 before both of these as my starting foray into the $20 space and like them quite a lot actually. Come to think of it, I also have the KZs (forgot the designation at the moment, maybe ZEK or somesuch). They were a few bucks more and they get down. They can rock.

Each of them are capable and satisfying in their different ways. Incredible what $20 can buy. Bang for the buck. Decided to listen to the Arias and the Tin-2s. The Tins are more sophisticated right off the bat with the Arias right behind them. I have the Timeless Planars showing up tomorrow which should be a demonstrable step up for sure. Can't wait. Will spring for the Katos next. The comment about "makes one re-think their collection (paraphrased)" is spot on. Are their differences, yes, but the Zeros do everything right. I know I'm going to like the Planars for sure but listening to the Zeros out and about is no let down, and as a very dear friend of mine used to say, "and that's for sho'"... :wink:

15 pairs of headphones acquired over the years and more than half as many IEMs acquired recently. Crazy, yes, but a hell of a lot of fun...
 
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amanieux

100+ Head-Fier
nothing wrong with 7hz zero overall, but it lacks clarity/excitment, has someone tried to remove the nozzle filter to add some clarity and details ? or does it get shouty ?
 

Surdzo

New Head-Fier
Im impressed with this IEM. I have to mention that I have quite few IEMs in my collection to mention some: Sennheiser ie600, Sennheiser ie100pro, Tripowin Olina SE, QKZ HBB, AKG S6…
This IEMs are steal for 20 usd and you can’t get better sounding iem for that price, I like them more than Olina SE which cost 5 times more not to mention cheaper ones.
Can’t compete with Sennheiser ie100pro but again then they are 5 times more expensive.
I have tested them with Questyle M15, Cayin RU6, Hiby FC4, Hiby FC1, and soon with iBasso DC04PRO. Haven’t tested them without DAC but with any DAC they sound great (so no huge difference between 35 usd dac and 250 usd dac)
They could be no brainer for iem on the go, vacation, travel, sports since they sound good enough and they are cheap enough so you don’t care if you lose them or damage them. They are also suitable as gift to someone you like to introduce to the music like, kids, friends, colleagues…
I already order 5 of them for gifts and just in case if I lose this one :) cheers 🍻
 

Redcarmoose

Headphoneus Supremus
Im impressed with this IEM. I have to mention that I have quite few IEMs in my collection to mention some: Sennheiser ie600, Sennheiser ie100pro, Tripowin Olina SE, QKZ HBB, AKG S6…
This IEMs are steal for 20 usd and you can’t get better sounding iem for that price, I like them more than Olina SE which cost 5 times more not to mention cheaper ones.
Can’t compete with Sennheiser ie100pro but again then they are 5 times more expensive.
I have tested them with Questyle M15, Cayin RU6, Hiby FC4, Hiby FC1, and soon with iBasso DC04PRO. Haven’t tested them without DAC but with any DAC they sound great (so no huge difference between 35 usd dac and 250 usd dac)
They could be no brainer for iem on the go, vacation, travel, sports since they sound good enough and they are cheap enough so you don’t care if you lose them or damage them. They are also suitable as gift to someone you like to introduce to the music like, kids, friends, colleagues…
I already order 5 of them for gifts and just in case if I lose this one :) cheers 🍻
I am still heavy infatuated with them!
 

Surdzo

New Head-Fier
I am still heavy infatuated with them!
It is very easy to be infatuated with them :)
You know when you spend 600-700 usd on IEM you expect a lot, most of the time you get what you pay for, but than again you always ask yourself should I spend that much money on IEM and you feel kind a robbed. On the other side when you discover this SQ kind of IEM for 20 usd you feel like you robbed someone else 😂
 

Redcarmoose

Headphoneus Supremus
It is very easy to be infatuated with them :)
You know when you spend 600-700 usd on IEM you expect a lot, most of the time you get what you pay for, but than again you always ask yourself should I spend that much money on IEM and you feel kind a robbed. On the other side when you discover this SQ kind of IEM for 20 usd you feel like you robbed someone else 😂
I wrote about it in my new ISN GC4 review and I have a new review coming up where I talk about it. Basically just saying that it’s my signature, or one of the ones I truly admire.
 
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amanieux

100+ Head-Fier
Im impressed with this IEM. I have to mention that I have quite few IEMs in my collection to mention some: Sennheiser ie600, Sennheiser ie100pro, Tripowin Olina SE, QKZ HBB, AKG S6…
This IEMs are steal for 20 usd and you can’t get better sounding iem for that price, I like them more than Olina SE which cost 5 times more not to mention cheaper ones.
Can’t compete with Sennheiser ie100pro but again then they are 5 times more expensive.
I have tested them with Questyle M15, Cayin RU6, Hiby FC4, Hiby FC1, and soon with iBasso DC04PRO. Haven’t tested them without DAC but with any DAC they sound great (so no huge difference between 35 usd dac and 250 usd dac)
They could be no brainer for iem on the go, vacation, travel, sports since they sound good enough and they are cheap enough so you don’t care if you lose them or damage them. They are also suitable as gift to someone you like to introduce to the music like, kids, friends, colleagues…
I already order 5 of them for gifts and just in case if I lose this one :) cheers 🍻
My experience is the opposit, i prefer olina over zero because zero has anemic bass at low/normal listening volume, at high volume zero sounds good i must admit
 

Redcarmoose

Headphoneus Supremus
My experience is the opposit, i prefer olina over zero because zero has anemic bass at low/normal listening volume, at high volume zero sounds good i must admit
With the Gold/Copper GC4 in 4.4mm with the Sony WM1Z it seems to have more bass? I do get that bass is not its forte, but the milky smoothness I’ll never get over, ever. It’s worth so much more $.
 

Dust by Monday

100+ Head-Fier
Just discovered these IEMs at my local bin store! Got ‘em for $7 today! They sound freaking amazing. I’ve paired them with the KZ AZ09 wireless adapters and now they’re my go-to on-the-go IEMs.

They fit my ears well too. I’m using the final audio type e tips (extra large)
 
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