CVJ CSN

CVJ CSN Review - Hybrid at a steal?

Intro

CVJ needs no introduction in the budget scene as they’ve churned out several budget oriented earphones and also a highly praised model among reviewers which is the CVJ Mirror. Although CSN has been released for quite some time already. Let us take a look if it is able to hold itself in such competitive space today.

CSN consist of 5BAs and a single DD. 2BAs for the mids,3 for the highs and a single DD for the lows.

Source

Foobar2k -> E1DA 9038G3 -> CVJ CSN
Cayin N3 Pro - CVJ CSN

Packaging

CSN’s packaging is fairly straightforward and no BS. A box containing the L and R IEM, silicone eartips, a brown colored cloth carrying case. Not complaining anything as the savings on the packaging is passed on in order for a better sounding IEM.

Comfort/Build

CSN is built from aviation class aluminium and mixed with magnesium according to their marketing material. It does feel a little hefty on hand and it gives a solid feeling. The unit does not look/feel cheap at all. Safe to say build quality definitely looks a little premium albeit the lack of any fancy design/paint on the unit itself.

Despite it being fully built from metal. It feels very comfortable in my ears. Using it for several hours straight without feeling any discomfort.



Sound

Tonality wise, I feel CSN is U shaped. The vocal does feel a little recessed but the overall balance is still there. Neutral and slightly bright to my ears. Timbre wise, I feel there’s a slight tinge of BA timbre. Just slightly. It’s okay overall.

Bass

Bass response of CSN is rather fast and clean. Doesn’t feel bloated or interfere with other spectrum of the frequency.

Basshead will want to stay away, rather this is a set of clean and depiction of accurate bass reproduction. Nothing is over emphasized here in the lower spectrum of the frequency. The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights opening sounded very clean. Bass response is clean,tight and punchy. Fired up Slipknot’s Duality to test the driver speed, the driver responded very well and was able to catch up with the drumming to not make everything else sounds muddy.

Mids

The mids of CSN are of good quality. Detailed presentation. Guitar plucking of Muddy Waters’s Big Leg Woman sounded very lively. Vocal presentation is not intimate but there is a tendency of it feeling recessed on some songs. X Japan’s Endless Rain in particular.

Treble

I would say this is the highlight of CSN. It is energetic, but thankfully it is not sibilant and it’s comfortable to listen to for long hours. Depending on the source you are pairing it with, it is advisable to pair it with neutral/warm source to prevent it from getting shouty.

Details are good and there are a lot of sparkles, but as mentioned earlier, CSN does have the tendency to sound a lil metallic and some perceive this as unnatural.


Soundstage/Imaging

Soundstage is average. Not huge nor feeling boxed in. Average. Channel transition from left to right is well perceived without feeling too boxed in or too wide.
In songs like KItaro’s Matsuri, an adequate sense of instrument separation is perceived. Percussions and other instruments being played simultaneously can be identified and pinpointed easily.


Driveability

CSN can be driven by most DAP or even dongles. However, it does scale well with more power. Swapping in the stock cable with a balanced SPC cable, everything sounded more open and the bass is more controlled. Unfortunately, the recessed mids are still there.


Final Thoughts

It is very refreshing to see such tuning in the Chi-Fi market at this price point. Most of the IEM at this price point is leaning towards a certain signature preferred by the majority of people, warm and fun sounding. I might be wrong as I do not have the exact data, I for one is okay with clinical sounding or warm and fun sounding, depending on my mood during the session. So, are they worth the asking price of 55 USD at time of writing? Yes. Why? Such tuning is refreshing and the performance it offers is splendid, although the experience of unboxing is below average, but the sound performance of CSN says otherwise.

Will I recommend this? Yes. If you are able to look past the slight, just slightly BA timbre, then all is good, because everything else is just on point at this price point. I don’t have anything else to nitpick at such a price point.

*A big thanks for Janet from CVJ for sending this for me to review. Appreciate the opportunity given and the generosity. Despite being given the review unit, my opinion remains unbiased and honest.

Greetings, mates and welcome to my IEM review here in Head-fi and I'll do a comprehensive review about this particular IEM from CVJ, The CVJ CSN.
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This is my fourth CVJ product review and you are already familiar here in this blog on how I have a positive reviews on their products as how their tuning were quite unique compare to its budget range contemporaries who were the still almost the same v-shape tuning. All of their line-up products are distinguishable on one another when it comes to tuning from the neutralish-bright sound sig of a CS8 to an almost flat sound sig of CVJ mirror.



This is CVJ CSN, It has a hybrid set-up of 5 balance armatures to handle the mids and highs and a 10mm mono dynamic driver on each side. This set cost around US$ 45 up to $48.



The packaging box of CVJ CSN is a small rectangular shape that is identical to the latest packaging box of CVJ Mirror and CVJ CSE ( The older batches of CSN has that wooden jewelry box-style packaging which is one of my favourite in entry-level segment.) The contents are the pair of IEMs itself, a dark brown velvet pouch, a two (2) pairs of silicone eartips ( small and large), The black stock 4 core cable that you usually found on all CVJ's IEM with a 3.5mm termination jack, a vecro strap organizer and some paperworks like warranty card and instruction.




The CVJ CSN shell is made of CNC-milled aluminium for durability with a matte-like finished paint job, It has a recessed 2-pin connector which is the best connector in my opinion as it is very stable and proven to be more sturdy. The overall design of the IEM housing is very natural and well- design as it ergonomically fits very well in my ear contours and its nozzle insertion in my lug holes fits snugly. It has also decent sound isolation from external noise source



Scalability wise, CVJ CSN is a low impedance device that can be driven by decent source like smartphones, tablets, DAPs and Laptops/PC but it will be can benefited on better hifi DAC/Amps for more fuller dynamic range.

The sound signature of CVJ CSN has a balanced, mild U-shape tonality that leaning towards neutrality as it has a slight emphasis on lows, more unmalleable nature of mids and slight lift on highs.

I'll pointing out the sound characteristics of each part of audio spectrum of CVJ CSN.

LOWS/BASS:

The bass quality is tight, incisive and organic as it has that dynamic driver that provide better transients and fast decay. It has a decent presence of rumble as it penetrate well in the sub bass region. It has also a good midbass texture as bass guitar has that sustaining growl, and resonating full-bodied fret and the bass kicks has a good thudding. This is not a basshead's bass but it is quality bass that some audiophiles wants.

MIDS

The mids has a slightly recessed presentation on this one but it is still delivers a transparent and clean with a good amount of details. The vocals quality of both gender has a good texture and vivaciousness especially on high range female vocals as it is more affront, borderline aggressive nature and that well-define clarity on its timbre while the male has more smoother and organic presentation. The percussions, rhythm instruments and woodwinds has a good presence details, natural and articulateness. The plucking of guitars are lively and resonating especially on acoustic and lead guitars. The sound of a piano has that rich, full bodied and tangible mellowness. This is indeed has good sound characteristic on the mids frequency.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

I describe the treble of CVJ CSN has that bright and sparkle with a decent airy extension. Since it was driven by a pair of tweeter BAs, it has that hint of metallic timbre which might perceived it as unnatural and peaky especially on the upper mids. Good thing that sibilance is very minimal to none in this set as it still deliver a clean and decent resolving on micro-details. The crashing sound of cymbals strikes are decent enough but I still want more shimmer and vivid as it has still lack of extension range in my hearing perception.


SOUNDSTAGE AND IMAGING:

The width of soundstage is above average, with a decent depth and height, It has an adequate sense of separation of each instruments along with vocals. The imaging performs admirely as you pinpoint the spatial cues on panning of instruments' and vocalist's placement and positioning point, And there is no overlapping and smudging on a each segment on layering of instruments.



As I end my review here, There are a lot of contemporaries of CVJ CSN that shares the almost the same built, design and driver set-up cues but the tuning are just mediocre and unpolished, And this is where CVJ CSN separate themselves to their entry-level competitors which is their impeccable matured and balance tuning on their specific products. They know the basic fundamentals on catering and diversifying their products on different set of audio enthusiast consumers.





Some Tracks Tested * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - One **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
X-Japan - X *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *

SPECIFICATIONS:
MODEL: CVJ CSN
SENSITIVITY：108dB
CABLE LENGTH：1.25m
IMPEDANCE：22Ω
PLUG TYPE：3.5mm
FREQUENCY RANGE RESPONSE: 20Hz - 40 kHz
TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION：0.2%
DRIVER CONFIGURATON: 1 DDs and 5 BAs
PIN TYPE: 0.75mm 2-pin connector


I am not affliated to CVJ nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

I would like to thank Janet Hu for providing this unit, I truly appreciate on her and CVJ team's generousity.

CAN I RECOMMEND CVJ CSN AT $60?! HELL YEAH I WOULD! EVEN AT $120 I WOULD!
re
It's safe to say CVJ has less attention than any brands out there but mind me, they deserve more attention for tuning CSN and Mirror quite well. Let me tell you why.

Got it at 10 am and here I am now still listening to it. It literally got burned in inside my ears, nothing much has changed but was performing excellently right off the bat.

PROS:
Heavily engaging(im a 35 yo metalhead and found myself dancing on hiphop beats)
Highly textured sounds (some are eargasmic)
Wide staged (bar with 300 pax mosh pit)
Above average imaging
Fast transients
Deep and punchy bass
Highly holographic
Drilling micro details
Airy mids
Very good layering
Good sealing/fitting
Weighty metal shells
Zero flexing
Stock cable thats better than any other black budget stock cables out there
Tips that doesnt need to be replaced
EQ sensitive
Very easy to drive, even bt20s pro did not struggle
Design is quite neutral and can go for any fashion
Very affordable, which is why the unboxing is straight forward nothing is included unecessarily

CONS:
Mildly U shaped, like slightly.. Just because the bass is prominent and sometimes get warm but the mids and trebles are performing quite well.
2/10 mids test tracks had recessed character
Sometimes lacks sizzle but it's there when needed
Since the IEM is heavy, it gets dented quite easily when dropped
The mic buttons are sticky
Could have been available in other colors

Bass ★
Mids ★
Trebles ★
Imaging ★
Layering ★
Microdetails ★
Soundstage ★
Spatial Panning ★
Timbre ★
Tonality ★
Affordability

Overall rating ★

Comparisons:
Kc2 - has the same holographic sense but wins in most aspects specially on the bass reach
Ta1 - performed better than knowles in this iem. Even mids is better on csn than ta1
Summer - summer has the deepest and smoothest bass i have right now. Slightly better mids and trebles but lack the texture and detail that csn has. Csn also has faster transients giving it more holographic sense than summer.
Toneking t4 - t4 has knowles ba, csa dont but they sound similar. Especially in making badly recorded albums sound great!
Adonis - adonis feels like youre wearing a helmet of sounds..great sounds! While csn feels like youre listening to full ranged monitors with the same great sounds. Its even more holographic!

Tested on LG V30 Quad Dac

Final say:
To be honest, I didn't expect much on these until I listened to them and I felt my mistake immediately. Despite all the good reviews im seeing I had to try em on my own to prove it and CVJ has all my respect specially in providing a fair price on such great sounding IEM. I can't even imagine myself comparin it on a sub $200 IEM. If there's anyone out there who wants to exceed what their $60 is worth, CSN is the answer! As far as my shuffled playlist is concerned, these are very versatile. Perfect for mood setting since it's very engaging.

It's nice to have IEMs that can squeeze your creative juices like these! Great Job CVJ and thank you dearly Janet Hu for sending me these!

#berrywhitegamingandreviews #cvj #12drivers #CSN #LGV30 #quaddac

Rating: 7.1
Sound: 7

Intro
CSA, CS8 & CSN. This is the name of the current line-up of newcomer CVJ. The CSN is the flagship for just under 50 € with 6 drivers in a hybrid configuration. If the 6 drivers are a real added value and if there is tuning quality under the hood will be shown.

Handling
If the scope of delivery of a 15 € IEM like the CSA was still sufficient and could even stand out positively through the wooden box, exactly the same scope of delivery of a nearly 50 € IEM is meanwhile a bit sobering. Don't worry, I have not been spoiled and find it minimalistically rather better than from the accessories "ooh" and then tonally "pooh", but I would have wished myself here perhaps still a pair of foamtips, or at least a small adjustment.

However, we experience the adjustment in the design and the used material of the IEM. It is made of robust aluminum and feels much more valuable than the CSA.The ergonomics do not really change, which makes the CSN comfortable to wear, but there are better alternatives that fit the ear even better. The isolation is on a good level.

Sound
The CSN is a nice attempt by CVJ to make an exception in the V-signature budget world, but the result is an IEM that is exaggerated in high frequencies, thin and too bright, which doesn't sound very natural.

The bass can be considered a highlight. It's very restrained, but sounds most natural and is tuned rather neutrally. Nothing for bassheads, but just for those who like it more accurate than overloaded. The mid-bass is slightly emphasized, but in total it is more in the background and does only the most necessary, but of high quality.

In the midrange the BA drivers take over and unfortunately this can be heard, because I don't find them very well tuned. They sound too thin, have this slightly metallic basic tone, which becomes even more obvious in the trebles, and slip into the bright & unnatural, as they lack warmth and body. Vocals sound so nasal and emotionless.

In the high frequencies the somewhat artificial sound of the CSN is most noticeable. Apart from the fact that here and there unpleasant peaks are interspersed here and there, I miss the physical and the tinny timbre of cheap BA drivers comes through. Here details are more artificially suggested than that they really have substance.

The stage of the CSN is quite nice, as there is a lot happening in the panorama. But in the depth it's missing and sometimes the details that appear here and there sound more out of place artificially than it would be an added value.

Outro
The CSN is a very bright and more neutral tuned IEM, which not only needs getting used to, but unfortunately sounds partly wrong. I can highlight the subtle but detailed bass with a good conscience, because it's really very convincing. Unfortunately, there was a bit of exaggeration here in the mid and high frequencies, which clearly wastes the potential of a neutral but natural IEM.
Even the good and robust workmanship doesn't hide the fact that the sound has been left with grains and certainly doesn't require 6 drivers.
For some acoustic tracks and film music, the CSN does quite well. But it is definitely not an all-rounder. Here you need to have a clear preference for bright signatures and emphasized high frequencies as well as tolerance.



___________________________________________________________
More reviews: CHI-FIEAR
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHIFIEAR/

SOUND: 7.5/10
CONSTRUCTION&DESIGN: 9/10
PACKAGING&ACCESSORIES: 7.5/10
VALUE: 7.5/10​

Click to expand...

CVJ (Dongguan Jiuxian Acoustic Technology Co) is a newcomer Chinese audio company that gain experience with diverse audio things like hybrid IEM, TWS IEM, DIY cables and other things. It has been created in 2019 and even has an official WEBSITE.

While this company seems to come from nowhere, they surely have a lot of contact with OEM manufacture Chifi lover are familiar about, like those creating TRN housing at least. Instinctively, I put them in the same bucket as KZ, TRN, CCA and even more obscure TRIPOWIN, the 2 latter being startup trying to climb on some BA obsess Chifi craze.

And indeed, CVJ seem to be one of those Chinese budget audiophile company that is all about Hybrid IEM. They have launch 3 Hybrid lately, which is the Dual DD+BA CSA, the Hybrid DD+2BA CS8, and the flagship mode I will review today which score 1DD and 5BA and is called CVJ CSN.

While I’m pretty certain to have seen this housing design somewhere in Chifi IEM, it sure isn’t a badly crafted one. But this meant nothing if it sounds like a generic Chifi BA pumped IEM, let’s see in this review if at 60$, the CSN worth the attention of budget audiophile with nuanced hearing.


You can buy the CSN at best price on ALI EXPRESS.


SPECS

• Brand Name: CVJ
• Vocalism Principle: Hybrid technology
• Active Noise-Cancellation: No
• Style: In-Ear
• Sensitivity: 108±2dbdB
• Wireless Type: None
• Is wireless: No
• Line Length: 1.25m
• Plug Type: Line Type
• Connectors: 3.5mm
• Model Number: CVJ CSN
• Resistance: 22Ω
• Waterproof: No
• Frequency Response Range: 7 – 40000Hz
• Model: CVJ CSN
• Cable: 0.75mm 3.5mm

INTERN




PACKAGING & ACCESSORIES





CSN offers a different boxing experience due to material use for the box, which is made of wood, this give a pleasant look and can be used as a ranging box for ear tips or IEM. In term of accessories, it’s just the minimum and I admit it’s a little underwhelming for an IEM of this price. You got only 3 pair of ear tips, a kinda decent 4 strands braided copper cable and a little pouch.

CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN





The housing is made of ”CNC technic metal” that feels very sturdy and isn’t too heavy, you don’t have any plastic part which too me is a sign of quality and durability. All 3 pieces are well fit with no imperfection. The 2pin connector is flush to the housing and permit to use a wide array of 2pin cables. The nozzle is enough long fo deep insertion.

The housing DESIGN have an angular backplate that creates an intriguing light effect while the front has a slightly organic shape that permits universal fit. You don’t have any angle that touches your inner ear

SOUND



Overall tonality is comfortably sharp, but well balanced in presence because everything seems unapologetically forwarded. Bright and neutral with enough energic upper mids and upper treble, fast attack and just enough punchy controlled bass is the sound and it isn’t particularly sibilant or harsh even if slightly shouty.

SOUNDSTAGE is average but out of your head enough and quite deep, it’s clean too, but wideness and tallness are average which isn’t bad too.

IMAGING is quite good, especially with not too busy music where the sharp clarity expands instrument separation space. Most of the instruments placement seems rather centric, some percussion being very near your left and right side.

BASS is tight and punchy, with slightly elevated kick presence and light sub-bass extension. It’s fast too and does not bleed on mid-range at all. Timbre is on the thin side and impact isn’t very weighty, more still well forwarded. The texture is there, more than thickness. Sub-bass is dense but slightly boxy. Here what impresses is the articulation and tonality that permit to articulate bass line with great intelligibility. This type of bass is better for rock, IDM, and Pop than Jazz, classical or sub-heavy hip-hop.

MIDS are crisp, forwards, bright and energic, with just a slight hint of sibilance that isn’t disastrous as older chifi hybrid. Balanced armature timbre is present in mids and treble but have a good cohesion with the dynamic driver bass. It’s not too grainy and attack is thigh and energic. What impress here it’s instrument separation in midsection, and how clean they are from any congestion. Vocals aren’t particularly emotional or addictive, but they have well-centered presentation with sharp clarity. Timbre is near thin, but have an edgy presentation with just enough density to avoid to be hollow. In fact, vocal are aggressive and jumping at you, especially female vocal, and I must admit it’s not always pleasant.

TREBLE is the more energic part of CSN, but thanks god, it’s not overly aggressive, thanks to well-tuned balanced armature too, everything is sharply resolved without shouting too loud at you. Because yeah, the CSN is just slightly shouty, again, way less than 90% of similar chifi hybrid in this price range. Sure, these are unapologetically bright but free of grain or unbalanced harshness. These BA treble drivers are very snappy in attack but not very sparkly about decay. Percussions are well balanced with rest of the instrument, but micro-details aren’t as crisp as what we can expect with multi-BA.

COMPARISONS




VS TRN V90 (35$)

Both these two multi-BA hybrids have a similar all-metal construction, but V90 have semi-open back design and smaller housing with a more organic shape, making it more comfortable but more prompt to noise leakage too.
In terms of timbre, both sound very similar with slightly thin and a hint artificial approach. The V90 is a little more W shape, which tend to thicken it’s timbre a bit over CSN.
SOUNDSTAGE is slightly wider and deeper with the V90, IMAGING is crisper and has more space between instrument too. BASS is notably weightier and more punchy, it have slam while the CSN is flat and dry. MIDS are more aggressive and forwards, slightly more shouty than smoother CSN, especially for female vocal, but it gives extra dynamic that CSN lack too. TREBLE is extremely similar, but CSN has a bit more snap and better define highs.

Simply put, the CSN sounds like a bass shy V90 with less energic sound. Technically they are near identical but the V90 attack offer better dynamic and timbre seem a bit fuller so I really don’t see why you would choose the 2 times more expensive CSN over the more capable V90.


VS JADE AUDIO FA1 (40$)

Construction-wise, the EA3 is made of cheap plastic and seems less durable. The cable is better but ear hook is too tight.

EA3 is more V shape and brighter than CSN, timbre is slightly more natural and fuller even if mids are a hint more recessed. SOUNDSTAGE is notably more out of your head, taller and deeper with EA3, while it’s perhaps a hint less wide. BASS is thicker and more punchy, it’s faster and weightier, both quality, and quantity is better. MIDS have a more natural tonality but the balance favorize the highs and stole presence, as well, the bass can feel overly present and distract you from mids. TREBLE is more aggressive and forwards, it can be fatiguing and distracting while the CSN highs are more balanced and on par with other frequencies.

All in all, while the single balanced armature used with EA3 is of better quality in term of micro-resolution and timbre, tonal balance as well as overall technicalities are inferior. The CSN is more neutral and maturely tuned without harsh spikes from low to highs treble.

VS HIDIZS MERMAID MS1 (100$):

While the CSN can compete with any sub-100$ in terms of construction, the Mermaid can compete with anything under 500$ with it’s excellently crafted housing using high-grade alloy and eye-appealing design. The housing being notably bigger and heavier, it could be less comfortable for small ears.

MERMAID has a more V shape signature with a brighter lower treble. SOUNDSTAGE is way bigger, deeper, taller and airier than CSN, making it hall like and quite shocking to listen after more intimae CSN. BASS is less flat and has boosted sub-bass, the slam has more rumble and resonance but offers slower attack and seems recessed in mid-bass compared to leaner bass response of CSN. MIDS are more forwards and aggressive, it has a wider presence with more transparency, vocal tonality is more realist and resolved with MS1, it’s less intimate and thin than CSN too. TREBLE is fuller with CSN and feel more balanced and controlled, Mermaid is more spiky, sparkly and colored in the treble region, favoriting micro-details, and region that give extra brilliance and air to the sound while the CSN have thicker highs with less decay and smoother attack.

The MERMAID win in terms of musicality, soundstage, and attack weight dynamism while the CSN win in terms of overall technicalities to the cost of sounding too cold and flat.

CONCLUSION

It’s hard to find real fault in CSN sound, but it’s hard to find real talent that stands apart from the overcrowded ChiFi market too. It does everything well and has decent technicalities if you compare to a single-dynamic, but if you compare to latest TRN, CCA, KBear or KZ offering in the same price range or even at a lower cost like the TRN V90 or KZ ZS10PRO, the CSN feel more of the same, but in a more polite manner. This is mostly explainable by the fact all these companies tend to overused the same Balanced armature models that inflict on timbre similarities.


If you search for the most neutral multi-BA hybrid, perhaps the CSN worth the buy, but if you’re looking for unboring neutrality with high definition and lively bass and musicality, you should look somewhere else.

The CSN comes with the same box, pouch , ear tips and cable as the lower priced CSA from CVJ. The hard cardboard box is nice and gives a premium feel to the unboxing experience.

Build: Is a solid feeling light weight metal shell , six drivers per side 1DD - 5BA x2,. The CSN is comfortable for prolong usage even in extreme cases I tested for 8+ hours. The cable is a typical TRN, KBear, ect build not the best but far from the worst.

Sound:
Bass is clean and detailed in the Mid-Bass and natural , rapid and almost flat at times , the Sub-Bass is more emphasized and while not overly boomy has a nice bite to it.

Mids are focused and forward with a mild brightness to them, vocals seem a little forward and yet feel natural and have a great celerity them I found this refreshing and different in a sea of Vshaped IEMs at this price.
Treble:Is bright and largely clean with great details and a vast amount of sparkle at the top. sometimes there is no harshness detected with every tract I used , just some nice details and a great upper extension.
Soundstage: Is both Wide and deep, imaging is superb and together this makes for a engaging experience.

Conclusion:
The CSN is a well made and comfortable IEM with decent accessories , it stands out from the competition of V-Shaped earphones with its unique tuning and bright Mid/ High centered very detailed signature.

Chi-Fi have come a long way since few years back and now comes a new player into the market brand called CVJ. The website for CVJ brand - http://cvj-hifi.com/ The model in spotlight today is CVJ CSN 12 Units Hybrid ( 5 BA + 1 DD ) . Its their flagship model according to their website and its price at slightly above USD 50.



General Info :

1.Brand : CVJ

2. Model : CSN 5BA + 1DD

3. Earphone type : In Ear Monitor

4. Impedance : 22Ω

5. Plug Type : 3.5mm

6. Cable Length : 1.25m

7. Color Available : Midnight Black or Dark Blue

8. Detachble Cable : 2 pin Interface

9. Driver unit : 5BA+1DD hybrid driver unit (Super-sized 10mm Diaphragm + Customised BA )

Accessories

1. 3x Pairs of Silicone Ear Tips

2. 1X Single Crystal Cooper Cable

3. Velvet Storage Bag

4. Velcro Cable Tie

5. Instruction Manual (must read LOL)







BUILD & DESIGN

CVJ CSN comes in a glossy brownish hard paper box which is kinda cool looking with the specifications listed back of the box but the silver fonts is really small which is hard to read imho with the reflections. Accessories as listed above and pretty standard fare for In Ear Monitor.

The shape of the IEM is really comfortable with no sharp or rough edges and according to their specifications made of aluminium and magnesium synthetic metal. Two colour are available which are Blue and Black - I bought the Blue variant and it has a purple tint to the blue. Long session with this CVJ CSN is a blessing with no comfort issue or its just my ear shape that is suited to it!

The cable supplied with the CVJ CSN is single crystal cooper cable with ear loop with 2 pin connector. The cable is soft and nice but its a Miss Curl cause its easily tangle reason being of the ear loop and soft texture of the whole cable.

Initial Testing

First listen with phone Xiaomi MI MIx 2 was impressive with good clarity and separation. Bass was a bit thin sounding right out of the box with stock ear tip but overall it’s the kind of sound signature that I prefer. Depth perception of CSN is freaking impressive with more than average wide soundstage. Overall its a very good sounding IEM whereby each musical instrument is clearly defined and positional wise is spot on! Tested with Soul Bossa Nova - Quincy Jones and Master of Puppets - Mettallica - I kid you not! Try it out! Also vocal aspect is a delight where they are in line with the instrumentation and does not come across overwhelmed and its a star on its own. Its quite a close impression of Havi B3 Pro 1 but only lose out on wider soundstage but the clarity, details retrieval, depth is amazing and easier to drive which Havi is a hard nut to drive for those who know what I’m talking about.

The next few days further testing and running them in with no critical listening - just enjoying them with my phone.

Sound Signature with Shanling M0 DAP with high gain

Its not that I am hard core proponent of burning in but in this case highly recommended - the bass is more impactful and the initial splashy treble has mellow out a bit and according to the gibberish instruction manual with term like Shu Jin and martial arts burn in (LOL) - recommended to burn-in. Details retrieval is excellent with a tinge of forward midrange well executed.

Dedicated DAP player makes a difference compared to my smart phone which is not a good audio indicator but nowadays you can’t go on dailty life without it ! Right ?

Tested with Shanling M0 after few days of burning - the improvement was much more coherent sounding overall presentation where the Bass is much fuller with better impact and definition but not overbearing. I really like how the bass turn out ! Also its more balanced sounding between the bass midrange and treble and as I have mentioned above - vocal is a delight. It really feels like watching a live band with the positional spot on !

Further tested with a Fiio E12 strap on to the mighty Shanling M0 player really bring out another dimension to what this CVJ CSN can do - power bring even better control overall musicality.

Suggestions

- Burn In recommended

- Change to a better cable - tested with a 8 core pure silver cable = must do !

- Ear tip swap - different sound can be achieved - more bass or treble oriented

- Sound better with high gain with DAP or even better with amplifier


Conclusion

I’m amazed with CVJ CSN because of its versatility in term of sound with cable change, ear tip change and how much improvement with an amplifier really makes this IEM shines brightly.

5 Stars rating based on price paid and the performance level and technical ability. Impressed is the WORD!

Bought from Aliexpress Store

The CSN IEM is the second recent release from the CVJ company. It is a more ambitious design than the earlier dual hybrid CSA, and features six drivers per channel (1DD + 5BA). The driver complement comprises one 10mm dynamic driver for the bass region, featuring a double magnetic design using N52 neodymium. Two 50060 balanced armatures cover the midrange and three 30095 BA units are employed for the treble.


Like the earlier model, the IEMs are presented in a sturdy hardboard box in a black crackle finish with silver writing. Lifting the lid reveals the earpieces fitted in a card cutout along with two sets of black and red medium bore tips. A third set of tips is pre-fitted to the IEMs. The earpieces are finished in an attractive metallic light blue and are constructed of a magnesium and aluminium alloy. They are very well made. There is a small vent in the centre of the faceplate which has four triangular sections meeting in the middle and resembles the BA5 and ST1 models by TRN. Another small vent is placed at the base of the nozzle. The faceplate features the CVJ logo and the words “12 hybrid” in a small font on the lower edge.


The connection is standard 2-pin and the cable is a 4-core braided type identical to that supplied with the CSA model and similar to that supplied by TRN or BQEYZ. The black metal 3.5mm plug bears the CVJ logo and the Y-split is also metal. The run between the Y split and plug is quite long and there is no chin slider so the cable is a little prone to tangling. Also included in the box were three sets of silicone tips (also similar to those supplied by TRN), a brown carrying pouch, a velcro cable tie and documentation. All in all, a good presentation. However, being a more premium model, I would have liked to have seen a better quality cable at this higher price level.


I followed my usual practice of burning in the IEMs for 100 hours to settle down the components, after which they were evaluated using an Xduoo X20 DAP. The stock cable was of acceptable quality but I wanted to maximise the potential and so used a high quality hybrid balanced cable. The pre-fitted medium silicone tips were used.


After being impressed by their earlier CSA model (especially with regard to the largely neutral sound profile), I was hoping for great things from the more premium model. I have to say that I was not disappointed. The CSN similarly displayed a neutral character with a touch of extra brightness. Detail retrieval was excellent and transient response snappy and immediate. The bass region was somewhat sub-bass focused with a neutral mid-bass, the midrange was a little forward and the treble clean and well-extended.


Bass


There was a mild emphasis in the sub-bass which transitioned smoothly into the mid-bass, which was largely neutral in character and resulted in a very clean and detailed presentation. Texture and resolution were first class, as evidenced in Richard Souther’s “The Long Riders” where the deep synth bass and bass guitar formed a weighty and solid foundation for the cello’s lead melody. Throughout the complex production, the bass maintained its focus and definition. Phamie Gow’s “Regreso a Chile” similarly impressed with the lowest notes of her piano possessing excellent timbre and a natural decay. The reproduction of the harmonics here was impressive, and preserved the character of the instrument perfectly. In Rachmaninov’s “Symphonic Dance No.1” performed by the Minnesota Orchestra under Eiji Oue, double basses, bass drum and timpani impressed in equal measure with an immediacy which was testament to the fast transient response of the dynamic driver. Due to its speed, it was more reminiscent of a BA driver. The verve and life in this superb 88KHz Reference Recordings production was thrilling.


Midrange


Like its little brother, the CSA, the mids displayed a neutral, or slightly bright, tonality which was a touch forward in comparison to the bass and treble. Clarity and detail were the watchwords here and instruments sounded very natural. However, I did, sometimes, wish for just a little more warmth. The timbre of the solo cello in Holst’s beautiful “Invocation”, performed by Julian Lloyd Webber, was full of subtlety and wonderfully rich, with every nuance precisely etched. The imaging in this recording was very evident, allowing the cello’s relationship with the orchestral accompaniment to be fully appreciated. Shostakovich’s Second Piano Concerto was another perfect example in the recording by I Musici de Montreal with the composer’s grandson at the keyboard. The solo instrument was presented clearly above the orchestra and once again, showed a very natural timbre. The sweep of the supporting orchestral strings was very impressive. As a consequence of this midrange clarity, vocals were clean and articulate, allowing lyrics to be heard perfectly. Cat Stevens’s “Father and Son” was very enjoyable, with the contrast between his portrayal of the father’s voice and then the son’s, an octave above, really telling the story. The varying tonality of Cat Stevens’s voice was easy to discern above the bright and detailed guitar accompaniment.


Treble


The bright and clean nature of the CSN’s treble was enhanced by excellent transient performance and good extension, which delivered “air” and detail in spades. This region was largely free of peaks and sibilance only occurred when present in the recording. The immediacy of the digital piano in Rick Erlien’s introduction to “Yosemite” was striking. The impact and attack drove the piece along in style with animation and life. Gerald Finzi’s “Introit” is a piece for solo violin and orchestra. Lesley Hatfield’s violin sounded clear and expressive and the subtle high harmonics at the conclusion of the piece were beautifully rendered, once more displaying the natural timbre on offer. Vangelis’s “Rosetta” is an electronic work inspired by the comet probe of the same name. “Exogenesis” sounded superb with synthesised woodwind, percussion and a fast-paced complex bass line combining to great effect. The tonality of the cymbal-like effects had a wonderful metallic quality with intricate detail adding to the enjoyment.


Soundstage


The CSN’s soundstage possessed equal dimensions in width and depth and a little extra in height which lent a very spacious quality to the sound. Emmanuel Chabrier’s “Espana” rhapsody, in a version by the Minnesota Orchestra, took the listener direct to the concert hall with a rich and full presentation of an orchestra in full flow. Basses, percussion and strings occupied their assigned positions and brass shone brightly above them. Climaxes were dynamic and powerful yet retained detail and balance. The ambience of the recording venue was nicely reproduced. Robert Aeolus Myers’s “On Angels becoming Human” is a complex electronic soundscape with subtle woodwind-like figurings entwining with electronic effects, and underlain by a bass drone. The CSN managed to sort all this out and display all the elements separately yet at the same time integrated into a musical whole. The characterful, husky voice of Anne Murray in “You Needed Me” was nicely positioned centre and slightly high above the guitar and bass accompaniment. String sections added depth and harmony and the whole image was very well balanced whilst still presenting the solo voice in a prominent position with the well-defined reverb adding space.


Conclusion


The CSN enters a very crowded sector with the KZ ZSX and CCA’s C12 already well-known and respected. Joined recently by TRN’s VX and CCA’s latest CA16, the multi-driver arena is now more competitive than ever. However, with its neutral/bright tuning and excellent clarity, the CSN really does offer an interesting alternative. With a sound profile similar to Tin Hifi’s T3 and T4, it bucks the trend of V-shaped IEMs commonly found in this sector. The CSN possessed excellent coherence with the transition between the various drivers seamless. In comparison, the CCA C12 is more V-shaped, with a bright emphasis in the upper mids/lower treble. It does have a little more warmth due to the mid bass rise. KZ’s ZSX, on the other hand, has a warmer, more friendly tonality and is very smooth, but occasionally lacks definition. The CSN majors on detail and accuracy, rather in the manner of an all-BA set such as the CCA C16 or A10 but with a less incisive top end and a more powerful DD bass. It does sound quite similar to TRN’s BA5 (and resembles it in appearance), so will appeal to those seeking a mid-centric well-balanced IEM. Bassheads, of course, will have to look elsewhere. CVJ’s first two releases have been very successful and they seem to have established a neutral “house sound”. Their next model is awaited with anticipation.
Product link: https://www.amazon.com/CVJ-Earphones-Magnesium-Detachable-Audiophile/dp/B087D7KRTJ