CVJ CS8

This unit was provided for review by Aimee from IZ POP via Amazon.com.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08GKXT863

CVJ's earphones released so far have not followed the popular V-shaped profile, instead displaying a more neutral sound signature. The hybrids CSA (1DD + 1BA) and CSN (1DD + 5BA) both displayed a refreshingly open presentation with the CSA being well balanced and full-bodied and the CSN being neutral with a refined cool tonality.

The latest model is the CS8. This is also a hybrid design (1DD + 3BA). The dynamic driver has a 10mm diaphragm and dual magnets and covers the low frequencies. A 50060 balanced armature is used for the midrange with the upper region handled by two 30095 BA units. There are no BAs placed within the nozzle.

The CS8 comes presented similarly to the previous models in a black wooden box with a crackle finish and silver accents. There is a CVJ logo on the front and product details on the underside. Inside you will find:

* CS8 IEMs pre-fitted with tips (Size M)
* 2 pin 4-core single crystal copper cable
* Two further sets of silicone eartips (S, L)
* Faux suede storage pouch
* Velcro cable tie
* Documentation

The IEMs themselves have a smoked transparent resin body through which the components can be seen and there is a circular vent for the DD near the base of the nozzle. The faceplate is black with a silver border surrounding the grained metal effect and there is a white CVJ logo in the centre. The 2-pin sockets are recessed. The cable is black and tightly braided. There is a straight metal 3.5mm plug with a CVJ logo and a metal Y-split and no chin slider. The build is solid and nicely finished and the presentation is good at the price.

First Impressions
I found the sound of the CS8 to be source sensitive. It was tested initially with an Xduoo X20 DAP, but this sounded too bright. I also tried a Hifi Walker H2 with a similar result. A Sony NWZ - A15 produced the best balance with a bit more warmth and this was used for evaluation. A comfortable fit was obtained with the pre-fitted tips and isolation was good. Sensitivity was fine with adequate volume achieved with all sources, amplification not being required. After a lengthy burn-in and short audition I replaced the stock cable with a Hifi Hear 16 core silver plated cable.

Like its predecessors, the CSA and CSN, the CS8 displayed a largely neutral/bright profile and was reserved in the bass. It shared some of the detail and refinement of the CSN with the midrange becoming brighter as the frequency increased. This trend continued into the treble which was also brighter than neutral but well detailed. The soundstage displayed excellent width and an average depth.

Bass
The profile of the bass was generally flat with no evidence of bleed into the midrange. It was somewhat lighter than neutral with reduced sub-bass.

In Isao Tomita's electronic version of Ravel's "Pavane" the bass was slightly subdued but was clean. Recorded ambience was well portrayed with the bass drum's reverb nicely reproduced although a little more depth would have been welcome here. This tended to bring the mids and treble forward resulting in a somewhat bass-light presentation.

"Whisper from the Mirror" by Keiko Matsui features a powerful bass with keyboards and bass drum. Once more the CS8 favoured the mids and treble and although the bass was articulate and well defined, it lacked a little weight and power and this took away some of the impact. KZ's ZSX, for example, revealed more here in the low frequencies and achieved a more entertaining balance.

The powerful bass drums in the climaxes of Ravel's "Alborada del Gracioso" performed by the Minnesota Orchestra under Eiji Oue also appeared a little low in the mix and their impact was lessened, resulting in a less exciting performance. The dynamic contrasts in this piece are essential in conveying the composer's intention and the CS8 fell just a little short.

Mids
The mids were bright and forward. The tonality became brighter towards the treble boundary and detail was prominent with occasional harshness on certain material.

With a mid-focused profile, it was unsurprising to find vocals well reproduced. Rosanne Cash's performance of "This has happened before" was enjoyable. Her vocals were placed centrally with the reverb clearly audible and with perfect diction and the accompanying guitars and Dobro on each side were clear and detailed. Clarity was especially notable on this track. This was ideal material for the CS8.

The light, delicate and graceful orchestration of Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" also suited the CS8 very well. In the performance by the Vienna Philharmonic under Karl Bohm, the bright and clean delivery highlighted the intricate counterpoint and rhythmic interplay producing an entertaining result. However, the overall balance remained a little brighter than neutral throughout the piece with the cellos and basses lacking a bit of warmth.

The timbre of the cello in Richard Souther's "The Long Riders" was nicely portrayed with just a little more focus on the higher notes, emphasising the "rosin" effect. The complex sequenced accompaniments surrounding the solo instrument were clearly depicted and the bass foundation in this track possessed adequate depth.

Treble
The treble was bright and clean but did occasionally exhibit some sibilance with an emphasis in the lower treble. The timbre of string instruments was a bit sharper than ideal and brass sometimes sounded a little thin. The upper treble was smoother with good extension and some welcome sparkle.

"Beautiful Attractor" from "In Neptune's Wake" by Robert Carty showcases a solo synth playing a meandering melody over a backdrop of keyboard washes and electronic effects. The CS8 revealed plenty of detail here with the stereo imaging and movement being particularly effective. Layering in this piece was also very good.

The high notes in the climax of Barber's Adagio for Strings were clear and crisp with just a hint of shrillness at high volume. The separation of the different string sections was well handled and it was also easy to discern the details of the counterpoint in the beautiful recording by Leonard Bernstein and the NYPO.

Sly Dunbar's superb percussion work in "Man Free" from "Dread Beat an' Blood" by Linton Kwesi Johnson displayed plenty of attack. The timbre on the cymbals was generally good with only a slight splashy quality at times. The urgency of the rhythm section was nicely preserved.

Soundstage
The CS8's staging showed good width but depth and height were a little less expansive. Layering and separation were generally good but the perspective tended to flatten in complex pieces and at higher volumes. However, simpler productions sounded fine with good definition and a sense of space. For example, string quartets fared better than large orchestral works.

Conclusion
With a neutral mid-focused profile, the CS8 acquits itself well at the price. However it faces fierce competition from other hybrids at a similar price such as KZ ZSX, CCA C10 Pro and the new KBEAR Lark, amongst others, most of which offer perhaps a more dynamic listen. The C10 Pro is V-shaped with a bright forward sound and a fast deep bass and the ZSX is mildly V-shaped with deep bass and an expansive staging and the Lark is well balanced, dynamic and powerful.

The CS8 continues the CVJ "house sound" and represents good value if you are looking for a measured presentation and a neutral, well-balanced to bright profile. However, it will not appeal to bassheads and it does benefit from a warmer source.

CVJ must be praised for sticking to their guns and supplying a valid alternative to the swathe of V-shaped IEMs on the market.

The CS8 come in the standard CVJ particle wood box, decent quality stock cable and tips with a pouch and cable tie. The IEM themselves is built light but seems good in construction. The shaped and size make them very comfortable.

Sound:

Bass: These are not ear pounding IEMs as most in this price range are V-shaped with a emphasis on bass and treble, No No these are a different animal all together. Bass is speedy with a tight punch but very neutral in its presentation , there is some good details here in the Mid Bass but Sub Bass is a little flat in response. This said still there is Bass and some EQ can wake the DD with the right recordings to be appreciated even if its slightly lighter than I like.

Mids: Are the star here, they can be very detailed with a great clarity and transparency. Upper Mids are elevated forward and can be shouty in some cases but its going to depend on the listening chain and user. For me personally most of the time they were very pleasant , full or details and I liked its bright yet non harsh nature.

Treble: Treble is definitely elevated and more so in the lower part but both have a decent amount of boost, this combined with the Mids give the CS8 is brightness to a otherwise neutral signature. It has some decent energy with details, airiness and sparkle , perhaps a little too much at times but treble heads will be happy at this price.

Soundstage etc: Is better than average, it has width and depth, imaging was good too I found the stock tips provided good passive isolation. Layering was above average but not a key feature here.

Conclusion: Its a comfortable , well built IEM with a Bright / Neutral tuning that separates it from most others in this price range. I found this can be Equalized to gain more lower end and with the right amount of Mods it performs more to my likening but still I can see this being liked despite some harshness at times.

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Janet Hu from CVJ for providing this sample, my views are my own. The CVJ CS8 can be bought on multiple shops on Aliexpress at around $30 USD.


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The CVJ CS8 is a budget hybrid with good technical performance at its asking price of sub $30 USD. Its tonality lies on the analytical side and it brings a breath of fresh air in sporting a neutralish bright tuning in the vast sea of V shaped/harmanish budget CHIFI.


SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver Type: 3BA + 1DD (10 mm)
• Frequency Response: 7 Hz – 40 kHz
• Impedance: 22 ohms
• Sensitivity: 105 dB/mW
• Cable type: 2 pin
• Tested at $30 USD

ACCESSORIES

In addition to the IEM, it comes with:

1) Wooden plywood box

2) Velvet pouch

3) Silicone tips (S/M/L)

4) OFC cable (2 pin)

The cable is pretty well braided and has minimal microphonics, though it lacked a chin cinch. I liked the fact that the CVJ CS8 uses 2 pin connectors, as I had my fair share of problems with MMCX connectors. Ear tips are also good to go out of the box, no need to mess around with aftermarket tips. The plywood wooden box is quite cool actually, it is definitely different from the usual white filmsy box other budget CHIFI generally come in.



BUILD/COMFORT

The CVJ CS8 is very light, well fitting and ergonomic, with a small profile. I had no issues with comfort even with longer listening sessions. I did not detect any driver flex.


ISOLATION

Isolation is above average, but won’t beat some non vented BA type IEMs in the isolation department.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the CVJ CS8 with a Shanling Q1 DAP, Ziku HD X9 DAP, Sabre HIFI DAC (ESS ES9280C PRO), Samsung Note 5 smartphone, Tempotec Sonata HD Pro and a Khadas Tone Board -> Fiio A3 amp. The CVJ CS8 is easily drivable from lower powered sources, but the bass quantity and some technicalities improved slightly with amping.

Since the tonality of the CVJ CS8 lies on the more analytical neutralish bright side, I preferred pairing it with a warmer sources rather than something more analytical. Do note that the CVJ CS8 sounds the best when played at a low to average volume. With boosting the volume, the upper mids/treble can get hot due to the Fletcher Munson curve. So for those that love to blast their music at high volumes, this is something to be aware of, and you might need to look elsewhere.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

The CVJ CS8 sports a neutralish bright tuning, which is a breath of fresh air from the usual dime a dozen V shaped/harmanish type budget CHIFI we regularly see at the sub $30 USD price range. I have to confess the CVJ CS8’s tuning is not my cup of tea due to my basshead tendencies, but I still think the tuning is relatively well done for the asking price and will definitely try to review this set objectively in stating its pros and cons.

The CVJ CS8 has good details, imaging, clarity and instrument separation for the $30 asking price. Soundstage is also above average in width, depth and height.

Timbre for acoustic instruments is good for a cheap budget hybrid, I was actually quite surprised on this aspect, there isn’t the usual artificial BA timbre sometimes seen at this price range for hybrids/multi BA sets, though a well tuned single DD set will still have better timbre than the CVJ CS8 in general.


Bass:

Midbass on the CVJ CS8 is of more quantity than subbass. Bass on this set actually goes down to around 25 Hz before rolling off, but the bass quantity is neutral at best, and may be anemic for some songs, especially in songs with subbass predominance, where there is a notable lack of visceral rumble/decay.

The DD bass of the CVJ CS8 is on the slightly faster side, and due to the lack of bass quantity, there is no midbass bleed. Bass is acutally above average in texturing and amping does bring slightly better bass quantity and technical performance rather than just using the CVJ CS8 from a lower powered source.

I think those that prefer a neutral bass will like this set, but my fellow basshead breathen or those who listen to bass forward music eg EDM may need to look elsewhere for their bass kick (no pun intended).


Mids:

Mids are transparent and detailed, and upper mids are boosted on this set all the way to the treble. Guitars sound crunchy and well rendered on the CVJ CS8, but the upper mids can get occasionally hot with higher volumes as detailed above (Fletcher Munson curve).

Female vocals are more forward than male ones as such, and vocals sometimes sounded nasal and thin, though they were detailed with fine nuances like breath sounds, lip smacking etc being heard in well mastered tracks. Instrumental timbre like piano reverb and vibrato on strings could be heard very well on the CVJ CS8, though perhaps the timbre of brass/woodwind instruments was slightly more authentic than acoustic stringed instruments. This is just nitpicking though, the instrumental timbre on the CVJ CS8 is definitely better than the run of the mill KZs/TRNs out there and coupled with the analytical nature, good technicalities, and neutralish bright tuning, it is quite a capable budget set for classical music.


Treble:

The CVJ CS8 is a bright set with some sibilance (unfortunately). The lower treble is boosted in comparison to the upper treble. The CVJ CS8 has quite a lot of detail and clarity to suit trebleheads, but may be fatiguing for longer sessions at the lower treble region, especially with female vocals/horns/trumpets.

One thing I didn’t like was that cymbals and high hats sounded splashy, and even though this is quite a common offence in budget CHIFI hybrids/multi BA sets, it appeared to be more splashy than the usual fare. In certain songs with predominant cymbals/high hats, that frequency took centrestage and literally became a sharp mess of clanging metal.


COMPARISONS

Comparing some budget CHIFI hybrids at the sub $30 price segment:

CVJ CS8 has better timbre and is less fatiguing than the bright and sibilant Jade Audio EA3. Though EA3 has better treble and subbass extension and wider soundstage. Other areas of technical performance may be slightly better on the CVJ CS8.

CVJ CS8 has better technical performance and timbre than the recently released KBEAR KS2, though KBEAR KS2 has better bass quantities (though not bass quality) and a wider soundstage. Tonally, the KBEAR KS2 was off, with overly recessed lower mids and a boomy bass and hot upper mids. Timbre was also poor on the KBEAR KS2. Perhaps the KBEAR KS2 does fare better with songs with synthetic instruments or bass forward music but for most other genres, I would take the CVJ CS8 over the KBEAR KS2 any day.

CVJ CS8 has better instrumental timbre than the V shaped KZ ZS10 Pro, technicalities are about on par. CVJ CS8 is slightly harsher in the upper mids/treble than the KZ ZS10 Pro, probably cause there isn’t the larger bass quantities of the ZS10 Pro to balance out the frequency spectrum. ZS10 Pro has some midbass bleed though and bass isn’t as tight as the CVJ CS8. I think these 2 sets have complimentary signatures though, the V shaped KZ ZS10 Pro and neutralish bright CVJ CS8 bring different options to the table.

The KBEAR KB04 and CVJ CS8 are quite close in the technicalities department, maybe CVJ CS8 edges it slightly in soundstage and imaging. CVJ CS8 also has better instrumental timbre. KBEAR KB04 though has the better bass in terms of quality and quantity, and is probably more all rounded due to the mild V shaped tuning compared to the bass anemic CVJ CS8. CVJ CS8 is also more fatiguing and harsher in the treble regions than the KBEAR KB04.


CONCLUSIONS

The CVJ CS8 is indeed a breath of fresh air, bringing an atypical neutralish bright tuning to the table, in contrast to the vast sea of V shaped/harmanish CHIFI budget sets at the sub $30 USD region.

The CVJ CS8 lies on the analytical side and has good technical performance for the asking price. Bassheads and treble sensitive folks will have to look elsewhere, as the bass is light, and the upper mids and treble can get occasionally hot at higher volumes, with sibilance and splashy cymbals/high hats. Admittedly, this neutralish bright tuning is not my cup of tea personally, but I still think CVJ did well with this set (for the price) and neutralheads/trebleheads and those looking for a cheap set for critical listening will find this a budget friendly option.

From reading previous reviews of CVJ products, CVJ seems to have their own house sound and tuning philosophy that embraces a neutralish sound rather than generic V shaped/harmanish tuning. This is actually a trait that may let CVJ stand out and thrive in the highly competitive budget CHIFI market, and I applaud their effort in trying something different. I sure look foward to CVJ’s next release!