CVJ KE-S

Disclaimer

• Huge thanks to CVJ for providing the opportunity for me to review the CVJ KE-S and CVJ TXS. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.
• Both of the IEMs sound quite similar. Therefore, I decided to write about both in the same article, as I think it is a little redundant to release 2 very similar articles.

Price(MSRP)

• CVJ KE-S: $10
• CVJ TXS: $12

Source(s)

• Jcally JM6 Pro
• Truthear Shio

Ear tips

• Dunu S&S

Packaging

• CVJ KE-S
  • Comes with a barebone set of accessories
    • IEM.
      • Attached to 1 pair of silicone ear tips (M sized)
    • Decent selection of ear tips.
      • 2 pairs of silicone ear tips (S, L)
        • The stock ear tips are actually quite comfortable for me, they are soft and sounds pretty decent.
    • 4N OFC cable woven with Kevlar fiber
      • Feels cheap but it is soft and doesn't tangle often.
      • Ear hooks are soft as well.

• CVJ TXS
  • Comes with a barebone set of accessories
    • IEM.
      • Attached to 1 pair of silicone ear tips (M sized)
    • Decent selection of ear tips.
      • 2 pairs of silicone ear tips (S, L)
        • The stock ear tips are actually quite comfortable for me, they are soft and sounds pretty decent.
    • High purity OFC cable
      • Decent at first look, but they feel surprisingly cheap. I did not like the feel of them.
      • Ear hooks are stiffer than the ones in KE-S
    • Switch control tool

Build Quality

• Plasticky, lightweight shell. Feels and looks very cheap.

Fit

• KE-S
  • Nozzle width and length is quite average.
  • Fit is quite comfortable for me, very lightweight so I don't feel much on my ears.
  • Ear hooks shape is a bit weird and long but it is soft so it doesn't actually bother me too much.

• TXS
  • Nozzle width and length is quite average.
  • Fit is decent, lightweight but isn't super comfortable like the KE-S.
  • Ear hooks shape is a bit weird and long, but in this case, the ear hooks are stiffer than the one in KE-S, therefore irritating me a bit more.

Tonality

• V shaped.
• For the TXS, I don't hear a very apparent difference for the tuning switch settings. Therefore, I go with the default setting for both being down.

Bass

• Quite balanced between the sub bass and mid bass, but mid bass is slightly more prominent here.
• Fun and impactful. Have good slam, rumble and decent depth.
• Bass texture and definition are average as expected, plus the speed and decay is a little on the slower side, which makes it a little harder to keep up with very busy tracks.
• Not the most well controlled bass too, bleeds a little into the midrange.
• Surprisingly, for KE-S, it has decent sub bass extension for the extra rumble.
• The TXS is lacking a little bit of that extra rumble.
• Quantity of bass is quite huge, may even be sufficient for some bass heads!

Midrange

• Midrange is somewhat recessed, making it quite scooped after the initial bleed.
• Male vocals and instruments in the lower midrange are pushed back, sounding a bit too distant to my liking.
• Higher female vocals and instruments in the upper midrange on the other hand, are very forward and energetic, but it is a little too aggressive for me, making them sounding too veil and shouty.
• The TXS isn't as bad as the KE-S in this aspect but still suffers from similar issue.
• Timbre is not the most natural as there is some bass bleed and veil-ness but is decently acceptable for a V shaped signature at this price range.
• Note weight and density are decent everywhere else other than the lower midrange which is kind of thin.

Treble

• Treble is on the brighter side.
• Not the smoothest treble as it comes with some sibilance but far from the worst I've heard.
• Treble extension is ... subpar. Basically no sense of airiness. However, the KE-S is a touch better in terms of treble extension if I had to pick one.
• Details in treble are subpar, cymbals sound blunted and smeared but this is to be expected from something in this price range.

Technicalities

Resolution

• Resolution and detail retrieval are average. However, I think this is fairly acceptable considering that this only costs $10 - $12.

Soundstage

• Soundstage is somewhat cramped, doesn't sound wide or deep in any way.

Imaging

• Imaging is also subpar, sound can be distinguished for left and right but struggles in other directions.

Separation

• Separation and layering is average.
• Suffers a bit during busy tracks but generally does alright for not-so-busy tracks

Comparison

CVJ KE-S & CVJ TXS

• Accessories: While the TXS stock cable may seem a bit more premium at first sight, KE-S has a softer cable with softer ear hooks, and the KE-S fits better on my ears. The TXS on the other hand has tuning switching but those are more of a gimmick.
• Bass: KE-S has better sub bass extension, which gives a little bit more rumble. Other than that, there isn't much noticeable difference between them.
• Midrange: Both are also quite similar in this aspect, while still being a little aggressive, the upper midrange on the TXS is slightly less veil and shouty.
• Treble: While both are bright and sparkly, having a similar smoothness as well, the KE-S has a slightly better upper treble extension.
• Technicalities: Both are very similar in this aspect.
• Overall, I would personally KE-S due to its better fit, cable and sonic presentation. However, the difference between them are not day and night.

Conclusion

• Despite all cons, these only cost around $10, therefore I think most of the cons are forgivable because of the price.
• As a conclusion, I think both are actually quite good for the price. They are fun sounding IEMs with some spiciness to it but lacks quite a bit in terms of technicalities.
• Personally, I would go for the KE-S as it is cheaper, has a softer cable with softer ear hooks, and a better fit for my ears.
• However, if you're looking for a more relaxed or neutral signature with good technicalities, I suggest looking for something else.

Thanks for reading!

CVJ, I had never heard of this brand before but I needed a cheap gift for my younger brother, thus, I have decided to review this product. I haven't been paid to mention anything positive or anything like that. It is a fairly simple presentation as it is a product that costs around 10 dollars. For this range you never expect much but let's see how the brand does.

First things first: the presentation. As I mentioned, this is really basic. It is very reminiscent of what KZ does but with a slightly more elaborate design in its drawing.



The CVJ brand name is displayed and we see the model name. Nothing to say.
Inside the box we find:
- The IEMs
- Three pairs of eartips
- The cable (2 pin .75 qdc)
- Manual



The quality of the capsules is average, remember that we are talking about 10 dollars. It is in fact a solid plastic. It is the same quality as the Edx Pro in this respect. The cable is functional. Very similar to what you find at similar prices. It is simply ok.
Comfort is good, I have no problems with this issue. It is also worth noting that the design is very interesting. Personally I like the simple futuristic style. There are three colours to choose from.



The technical features are rather humble. It is a really easy product to drive. My crummy mid-range phone amps up well at half the volume settings.
Separation is, well, meh... Don't expect too much in this aspect. I would use this product in very specific situations like walking outside or on a bus where I don't need to pay attention to every details of my tracks.
The image is decent. In actual fact, I have no problem here. The soundstage is standard but I don't expect a great performance here either when it comes to IEMs.
The timbre may not be as natural but I have heard other V-signatures that sound like listening to music through a metal tube lol. Not so annoying in my opinion. Personally I would use these earphones for musical enjoyment.

The sound signature is in V, it's fun but I like that it doesn't have aggressive treble. Let's see!

Bass: Thanks to the signature, it is evident that the bass and sub-bass are predominant and have a very good predominance. At these prices I have heard very uncontrolled lows but that is not the case here. The bass has an acceptable speed and I don't notice any distortion. They are very good for very rhythmic genres without paying too much. For the Latin taste, I think it's a very good enjoyment.

Mids: I repeat the same, it is a V-signature and therefore the mids tend to present themselves in a considerable recession. Have you heard the Edx Pro? the mids there sound as if they were far away. That doesn't happen here and that's why I think they are better developed. Obviously there are no details here.

Treble: They are not very aggressive frequencies as is usually done. Therefore, those sensitive to treble will not encounter any major problems. I didn't find any silicities at high volumes. On the other hand, the IEMs will not be the most resolving and there tends to be a loss at certain frequencies. This is purely a matter of preference. In my opinion, it's nice to hear a V-signature without as much deadly treble as in my old Edx Pros.

In summary, priced at just $9, CVJ offers a decent value for money, making them a recommended choice for those seeking a satisfying auditory experience without breaking the bank. While they may lack certain refinements found in pricier products, their satisfactory performance and affordable appeal make them a solid recommendation for those seeking an accessible and functional choice for their daily musical enjoyment.
It can be a good gift for your loved ones to whom you want to give an acceptable product. However, if you can stretch your budget a little further, you may want to go for other options where you will find a better product in technical aspects.

Introduction

CVJ is one of few chi-fi company that’s gaining their popularity in other western and eastern with many model released in their cataloge

KE-S is one of their latest option, with the main objective of trying the be as cheap as possible, without sacrificing too much in terms of sound quality and music enjoyment.

I would like to thank CVJ for giving me this unit in exchange for an honest review.


Design/Build quality

With the cost at 10$, it’s exactly like what I would imagine. The whole construction is made out of plastic, which is fine by the way. It’s smooth, light and very comfortable. The housing and faceplate are 2 seperated pieces that was glued together.

I’ve decided to opt for the grey colorway, so that I can see clearly the driver inside

The nozzle is on a medium size. I’ve installed other 3rd party tips with no prolem

Stock cable and tips feels absolutely cheap. In order to wear it long enough to write down a review, I’ve decided to change the cable to a cheap SPC cable from Xinhs. The rest of my sound impression will be with me using said cable and stock tips.


Sound impression

Test track:

• Shivers – Ed Sheeran
• Spider man 3 OST: Drive That Funky Soul
• Highway to Hell – AC/DC
• One Last Time – Ariana Grande
• Runaway Baby – Bruno Mars
• POP/STARS – K/DA
• Blank Space – Taylor Swift
• Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd (the bass rift session)
• Golden Hour - JVKE
• Love You Like A Love Song - Selena Gomez

Tonality: V-shaped

Bass

The bass region of the KE-S is very well elevated with subbass over midbass. Bass is obviously the star of this iem. The quality of the bass is average, which is good for this price. Subbass rumble is very firm, midbass has a lot of punch to it. On normal pop music, it performs adequately in terms of accurate reproduction. Kick drum, cello and bass guitar has lots of heft and body to it. However, on a more challenging rock or metal or songs with more complex bass line, the bass notes sort of feels smear together, not very well defined.

Mid

Recessed mid with slighltly veiled characteristic. Noticable bass bleed. Male vocal got good warmth, good body to it. Females sounds engaging, energetic, though not the most natural in my experience. However, both vocal got that veil feeling over it due to the bass.

Instruments on the other hand is on the acceptable level. Piano got good presentation, but violin sound a bit laid back, like one step backward in the stage


Treble

The treble is on a safe side. Microdetails and nuances act as a more backstage support for the bass and mid instead of being more forward. I can pick it out of the tracks just fine; however, stuff like hi hats and cymbal strikes don’t have that familiar shimering sound that I’m familiar with.

Technicalities:

Technicalities is below average. The sound stage is very 2D with almost no height with average width and depth. Imaging and seperation is also poor, all the elements of the songs sort of blend together. The resolution just feels a bit blunted. The timbre is not the most natural I’ve heard, especially coming from a 1DD. The overall dynamic of the iem just have so much more to be desire



Driveability

The CVJ KE-S is very easy to drive, even through my phone’s passive dongle. For most of the review, I’ve paired it with my trusty 7hz 71

Comparison

Vs 7hz Zero

The 7hz Zero has much less bass, brighter, has more clarity and overall have one notch better technicalities compare to the KE-S. Vocal and instruments sounds cleaner with better texture and timbre. If bass is the most important to you then the KE-S takes the win. However, if you value mid, treble and the overall tonal balance as well as ready to spend an additional 10$, then 7hz takes the win

Vs QKZ HBB

Both the QKZ HBB and the CVJ KE-S has a lot of similarities, where both has I would say a V-shape tonality and similar technical perfomance. However, the QKZ HBB house a more thumping, visceral bass, darker uppermid range and with slightly better treble extension. The QKZ HBB has better overall macrodynamics to my ears

Vs Simgot EA500

It’s not really a fair comparison, since it’s 10$ vs 79$. However, I want to show what an iem that’s 8 times more expensive (and it’s also the value champ in my book) can do compare to it’s counter part.

The EA500 is league better than the CVJ KE-S (obviously). The overall tonality is a milder V-shape with subbass roll off and brighter tonality. The bass feels more thumpy, have better texture and you can feel the speed, the quality of the driver itself just from the bass region. Mids on the EA500 sounds more forward with better clarity. Treble is much more emphasis; cymbal strikes and bass guitar, as well as other instruments have better decay. You can just perceive more details from the EA500. The overall dynamics of the EA500 just feels more… engaging, fuller, more satisfied. Soundstage wise, EA500 is at least 3 notches better compare to the KE-S, with better imaging and seperation to add up.

Conclusion

In and of itself, CVJ KE-S is a good solid option for 10$. Sound alone, i would have leave it at 2.5 stars. However, due to the value (price/performance) of this iem, i've brought it to 3.0. CVJ have done a terrific job to introduce iem to those that have extreme limited budget. If 10$ is all you have, KE-S is all you gonna get. But truth be told, if you can save up a little more, expand your budget up until 20$, or even 30$, you will have a wider range of choices for good iems like the Truthear Hola, Tangzu Waner, Blon Z300, QKZ HBB,…

But credit where it’s due. Thank you CVJ for making this model for the masses and thank you once again for giving me the opportunity to review this iem. I’m looking forward to see what you may bring in the future

CVJ KES - An Ultra-budget Quality Statement​

Introduction

CVJ recently launched the KE-S model, targeting a budget-conscious audience. I went from evaluating IEMs under $100 USD to testing one under $10 USD. Let's see how they fared!

Watch the video review here

Check out previous reviews here (or in spanish here)

Thanks a lot to CVJ Love for providing me with this unit to review, you can find the CVJ KE-S here: https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005005691963122.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2esp


Unboxing, Build & Comfort

Build: This is where CVJ cut costs. The build feels toy-like, entirely made of very lightweight and transparent plastic, through which the driver can be seen. Nozzle size is approximately 5.5mm.



Driver: Dynamic dual-cavity driver with a PU (polyurethane) diaphragm.



Cable: Another area where costs were reduced. The cable is simple, with QDC connectors. Its description states that the core is 4N copper (OFC) woven with Kevlar fibers. In my experience, it tangles easily, and I opted to use another cable since the IEMs are compatible with 0.78mm 2-pin cables.



Tips: 3 pairs, which is reasonable for the price. They are silicone with a standard bore. They do their job.

Driveability: The KE-S are so easy to drive (impedance: 22 ohms, sensitivity: 122dB/mW) that I have to use them at the minimum volume on my iFi ZEN Air CAN. This makes them ideal for use in any context (indoors or outdoors).

Comfort: They are lightweight with a decent ergonomic design, allowing for hours of continuous use without the need for readjustment. The seal is okay but not surprising.



Sound Description


Credits: https://ianfann.squig.link/

Sound profile: Warm V-Shape

Equipment used: IFI Zen Air Can (AMP) + Fiio E10K (DAC)



Gaming

I used these CVJ earphones to play Apex Legends. The identification of enemy gunfire direction was accurate, but it became more challenging to discern footsteps in buildings, making it a bit harder to tell whether the sounds were coming from above or below.

The problematic aspect here was that the distance at which opponents could not be distinguished adequately, possibly putting me at a slight disadvantage.



Music

Albums/singles:

• “Live After Death” – Iron Maiden
• “Pump It” – Electric Callboy
• “Happier Than Ever” – Billie Eilish
• “New York” – Frank Sinatra
• “Kx5” - Deadmau5, Kaskade
• “Goodiez” – Jauz
• “25” – Adele
• “Back To Black” – Amy Winehouse
• “Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op.20, TH.12” – Boston Symphony Orchestra
• “Greatest Hits” – Queen

Bass

It is the frequency that stands out the most in the KE-S, offering a good amount of subbass and bass for bass lovers .However, they are not extremely overpowering, but I would confidently say that it muddies the midrange more than I would prefer.

The extension of the subbass was a pleasant surprise, reaching ranges below 50Hz with ease. The elevated midbass also has a good tonal reproduction but lacks some speed, losing a bit of rhythm when it needs to keep the pace. Both of them lack a concrete texture, but I must say they are enjoyable with the right music.

To give some examples, in Heavy Metal songs like "Two Minutes to Midnight" and "Pump It," the bassists and bass drums steal some attention from the rest of the instruments, making it somewhat overwhelming for this genre. However, I thoroughly enjoyed headbanging to some heavy EDM tracks like "Goodiez" and "Eat Sleep," as the impact has a significant boost.

One anecdotal note that didn't ruin my experience but I wanted to mention: in certain songs, I noticed reverberations that don't usually occur with other earphones, causing the bass to resonate more than desired.


Mids

The mids take a back seat in general. However, the vocals retain a good presence as long as the song keeps the bass levels on the lower side. I emphasize this because even in songs with not-so-low notes (like at 1:20 minute mark of "Bohemian Rhapsody" where the lowest sound comes from the piano), these sounds can become invasive for the rest of vocals and instruments.

Taking this caveat into account, the lower mids male and female registers have a good amount of body but stand out much less than the voices in the higher midrange. Also, generally, the presentation of vocals becomes intimate.

The instrument articulation during orchestral pieces is just okay as the KE-S doesn't specialize in instrument separation and can get congested. Both violins and cellos (string instruments in general) sound with moderate or reduced tactility, with somewhat poor definition. On the other hand, in my case, the trumpets and horns were the counterpart, having a stronger/aggressive character in their reproduction without being strident (I love listening to "Luck Be A Lady" to verify this).

In other genres, electric guitars are livelier but also have limited resolution. Pianos are surprisingly harmonious and delicate with decent definition.

So, speaking exclusively about the timbre in this frequency range, it does not present significant flaws for a $9 USD IEM, and despite the bass bleed, I appreciate the lively reproduction of female vocals (especially Amy Winehouse).


Treble

In my case, it did not show any sibilance, but the lack of air is easily noticeable. The point of impact of cymbals is what stands out here, avoiding excessive brightness in most songs, and having a quick attenuation, shortening the sound extension. As you may have already noticed, the $9 USD IEM should not be your choice if you are looking to analyze every detail in your songs.

A typical test I do for the treble is with the "Act I: No. 2 Valse (Corps de Ballet)" from Swan Lake, where at the 2:15 minute, a huge number of chimes fill the scene. The KE-S passed this test with honors, and I sincerely recommend them to those who have high sensitivity to treble.


Soundstage & Imaging

The soundstage is the aspect that I enjoyed the least. The three-dimensional scene feels compact in every way, and the instruments bunch up too much.

Despite this, the imaging manages to be decent enough to distinguish instruments from left to right, and from front to back.



Comparisons

*The comparisons may not be entirely fair as most of the IEMs cost triple or more than the reviewed model*


CVJ KE-S vs Kiwi Ears Cadenza



One of the most recommended IEMs under $50 USD with a U-shaped sound profile.


Credits: https://pw.squig.link/

• To my surprise, the extension and rumble of the subgraves are better in the KE-S, but the Cadenza outperform them in perceived details and exercise better control over this frequency.
• Consequently, the Cadenza display more neutral and resolving mids. Vocals are better focused, and there is a sense of superior balance in this aspect.
• The trebles of both IEMs are somewhat safe and lacking in air. Perhaps, the Cadenza slightly excel in extracting details, but it's a close call.
• Undoubtedly, the separation of instruments, imaging, and soundstage (good width and only okay depth) go to the Cadenza; there's no comparison unfortunately.

CVJ KE-S vs Whizzer Kylin HE10



Do the measurements suggest that the KE-S is a baby HE10, but is that really the case?

• The amount of subbass is only slightly more present in the HE10, while the impact of the midbass belongs to the KE-S, both sets with average definition in this area. Additionally, both bleed towards the midrange, and is more noticeable in the KE-S.
• The midrange is the most relevant difference between these two. When the bass is not heavily involved, both have a focus on female vocals. This is where the HE10 shines, as it manages to tame the bass even in "difficult" songs like "Miss You" and makes the female vocals shine. The KE-S tries to replicate this but still leaves them slightly behind.
• Again, both sets have relatively relaxed treble without much sparkle. The perception of details is somewhat better in the HE10.
• The HE10 is slightly better in terms of soundstage, but honestly, the imaging is similar in both.

Conclusion

I know the comparisons may seem discouraging as they mostly trash the KE-S. However, we must keep in mind that we are talking about a $9 USD IEM!

Being completely honest, they won't be the first IEMs that come to mind if someone asks me for IEM recommendations on a tight budget. But for those who seek a fun sound and want to spend as little as possible, CVJ's most affordable model will leave them extremely satisfied.

CVJ KE-S, A budget Warm V-Shaped IEM

Disclaimer!

This unit was sent by CVJ. However, they did not pay me for any written reviews. I will try my best to review this unit without any bias. Please bear with me that I am not a professional sound engineer or musician, but I am just a self-learnt guitarist & vocalist, who do compose my own original music and self-learnt some mixing & mastering techniques. I am a neutral-head, analytical head and liking balanced sounding tunings. I am using an audio interface named Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen (a kind of DAC/Amp???) pairing for the whole listening impressions. Please take my reviews as grain of salts.

Pros:

- Warm V-Shaped Tuning

- Sibilance free

- Warm boosted bass shelf, perfect for soothing jazz tracks

- Good decent technicalities

- Easy to drive

- Budget with good value

- Light shell

Cons:

- Basic unbraided cable

- Slightly recession in vocals

- Highs could be more refined (limitation of budget DD driver)

- Will get congested with busy tracks

- Slight driver flex (??)

Sound Quality:

CVJ KE-S is having a warm V-shaped tuning signature. As it is a DD drivers, the tonality here is quite natural sounding, nothing weird sounding, if needing to nitpick, mid-bass could be a tad cleaner sounding or tighter and as a details head myself, I would like to have more biteness in the highs too. Technicalities are surprisingly decent especially with such asking price.

Bass:

The bass here is boosted, it could be a good bass-head set for bass lovers. The sub-bass here did rumble quite deeply. Every single kickdrum hitting could be easily heard, as it is punching inside the head. Mid bass here is warm, where it could be slightly bleeding into the mids. Bass guitar could be easily heard and might be a good IEM for monitoring bass guitar. The overall lows presentation is very fun and soothing sounding, perfect for enjoying jazzy tracks.

Mids:



Due to slight mid bass bleed, the mids are slightly recessed. The upper mids here is safe from sibilance, and not aggressive sounding. Both male and female vocalist are lush sounding. Air breathing, sweetness from vocalist is kept minimal, where analytical head might really find that it is somewhat lacking in biteness. Instrumental mids such as guitars are moderately present in the mix, neither dull sounding, nor too aggressive sounding. As a guitarist myself, I would like the guitar to be having more biteness, especially the upper harmonics reverberation region (just a nitpick). Strings instrument are quite natural sounding, maybe a tad more brightness at the top end will be more perfect?

Highs:

Highs here are quite airy sounding but did behave quite well too. Percussive highs are neither shy nor too aggressive sounding, if not, highs sensitive folks might find it slightly harsh sounding. Details retrieval here is just average, so detail head might need to look elsewhere. Highs here is not as discrete sounding, as it is a huge limitation of a budget DD set, but CVJ KE-S did manage the highs quite well, where the highs are not messy or splashy sounding.

Tonality:

A warm V-shaped tuning signature, with natural sounding DD. Soothing relaxing fun casual listening kind of tonality, with some added airs in the highs.

Technicalities:

The soundstage here is average, intimate. Instrument separation abilities is average. Able to provide some macro-details but not that much of micro-details. Suffer a bit in handling complicated track.

Conclusion:

CVJ KE-S is a well-tuned set for V-shaped and bass lovers. It is a neat, simple, sibilance free, natural sounding IEM. One could easily pick it up and listen for hours, as it is light weight, fits easily, soothing, and free-from harshness. Bass guitar player could also consider this set from their on-stage monitoring too, especially those that lacking in budget. Good job CVJ for generating such a budget friendly product for the audiophiles & musicians.

“Simplicity is an acquired taste. Mankind, left free, instinctively complicates life.”

--Katharine Fullerton Gerould, American writer and essayist.

Click to expand...

Oi! Welcome to my another IEM review item and what I have here right now is another ultra-budget IEM from CVJ. No need to do another introduction about this company as I already did a fair amount of their products. You can check out my other dossier of CVJ products at link below:


■ CVJ CS8

■ CVJ CSN

■ CVJ MIRROR

■ CVJ CSK

■ CVJ CSE

■ CVJ SHINE

■ CVJ MEI

■ CVJ TXS



This is CVJ KS-E, it's a very cheap IEM set with single dynamic driver as its only transducer on which CVJ claims that its a newer type of dynamic driver technology. The driver size of it is a standard 10mmm and it was housed in a blue-coloured polycarbonate shell and takes a UIEM-type shape form factor, there are two other colour options to choose from aside from blue, gold and black. It uses a QDC-type 2-pin connector as its interlocking mechanism with detachable cable.



The fitting and comfort of this set is fine as I didn't encounter any issue at all for my long listening session. It has a decent noise isolation as it was able to block some noises from the outside surroundings.



As for product packaging, like the majority of ultra-budget sets, CVJ KE-S has meagre and spartan inclusions.



Here are the following contents inside of its packaging box:

■ a pair of CVJ KE-S IEM
■ a 2-core parallel insulated SPC stock cable in an L-shaped 3.5mm SE termination plug.
■ extra 2 ear tips in different standard sizes.(small and large)
■ some paperwork like instruction manual, warranty card and quality control card.



CVJ KE-S is quite easy to drive as it will scale well to all types of sources whether from smartphones, PC, tablet or other multimedia devices. Even at low volume level. I was able to hear and pick up some dynamic sonic infos to its fullest frequency range.


Regarding its sound signature, CVJ KE-S has a warm, V-shaped sound which is quite a bog-standard in the ultra-budget segment. It has more emphasis and elevation on bass and treble frequency over the midrange.



LOWS/BASS:

It is elevated but not an uber-bassheads preferred bass quantity, it has rather punchy and cogent enough just to give an ample deep and slam in all audio tracks that require it. It has balanced emphasis on both sub bass and midbass.

There's a good presence of rumble as I was able to pick out it from sub-bass focus instruments like synthesisers and low tone bass guitar. Mid bass has a sufficient note texture as it was able to give a body on instruments and deep male vocals. Bass guitars have a broad and sombre sound while bass drum kicks have a thudding and yet a bit soft sound, and then a less dense and gravelly sound on bass-baritone vocals. It is also noted that it has some occurrences of bass bleeds across the lower midrange.



MIDRANGE:

It has a recessed presentation in the overall frequency range spectrum but it has an ample warmth to add some note weight on vocals and instruments. It gives some density and texture on baritones and contralto vocal types as they will have a plush, rich and warm sound. Mezzo-sopranos and countertenors sound comforting to my lugholes as they have this smooth and velvety timbre from them. On sopranos, its has a creamy sound which will fare better on dramatic and spinto types rather than on coloratura ones. Tenors somehow sounds brassy enough though its spiciness and ringing range are sort of lacking.

On instruments, it will give more emphasis and lively sound on percussives and brasses particularly on drums and trumpets. Toms have full and sonorous sound, snares have a shuffling albeit a bit dull and trumpets have a warmer and rounded sound. Strings like guitar have a warmer and buttery sound while violins seem to sound solemn. And then woodwinds like flutes have a relatively soft and wafting sound. Then on pianos, they have a tad warmer and lusher tone.



HIGHS/TREBLE:

The treble quality of CVJ KE-S is pretty balanced as it has some raise on the upper-mids just to give an ample sheen for clarity and decent detail. And then there's some slope downward between upper-mids to the presence part of the treble to minimise some instances of sibilance and harshness.

Unfortunately, it has a meagre treble air as due to the limitation of its driver. Cymbals have a bit soughing with just sufficient shimmer on this one. Hi-hats do sounds more accurate as it managed to deliver that shortened, buzzing sound that we are accustomed with.



SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

Its overall technical capabilities are fairly average. It has an average sound/speaker stage from sideways and height reach but it has depth that I can fathom from front and back.

Imaging-wise of this set is more of a typical 2-dimensional, bi-stereo channel presentation where you will be able to panned the position of instruments and vocals. Separation was decent as it was able to distinct the tones on instruments and vocals but the layering is somewhat unsatisfactory as it doesn't stack and tonal layering are jumbled that it will struggles on a complex, multi-instrumental tracks like jazz or orchestral ensemble.

Coherency of its drivers are fairly above average as it has a moderate transient speed with no hint of distortion. On resolution capability, it focuses more on macro-dynamics than micro-detail as its detail definition is blunted and blurry. Timbre colour are quite natural and with some tad warmth on it.



PEER COMPARISONS:

KB EAR STORM:

■ Both of them have similar construction material and using the same type of transducer. They are both easy to drive too as you don't need addtional set-up, a smartphone is enough for them if it still has a headphone jack.

■ They even have similar sound profile which are V-shaped. Storm has more warmer tone, more authoritative and boomy bass response, an even more recessed midrange and more boosted upper-mids that produces some sibilance and harshness. Technical performance of both sets are pretty similar from projecting sound field dimensions to resolution capabilities.


TRUTHEAR Hola:

■ Compare to KE-S, Hola shell chassis are made of polycarbonate plastic that undergoes from 3D printing process, it has a better dynamic driver which has a LCP diaphragm. It has more inclusions too and even have the basst stock cable in under £16/US$20.

■ Tonality-wise, Hola has a mild U-shape sound signature with a tad leaner texture compare to KE-S. It has sub-bass focus which has a tighter and cleaner bass response, a cleaner and better emphasis on midrange presentation particularly on strings and female voices and it alo has similar treble response with a safe, balanced and smooth quality on both devices. On technical performance, they are quite close with the exception that Hola has more refinement on separation and micro-detail retrieval.


As I end my conclusion here, it seems that CVJ released a set with more familiar tuning that will please the ears of most listeners especially the casual ones who wants a more sonic improvement from their usual cheap earphones. CVJ KE-S is a best option for starters in audio hobby or just for a leisurely casual listening session due to its compelling affordable price.


CVJ KE-S will definitely give an enjoyable, engaging and fun listening experience despite its shortcoming on its technical performance.


CVJ KE-S is now available in almost online vendors. Check out the unaffiliated links below if you are interested to purchase:


★★CVJ KE-S - SHOPEE★★




SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: CVJ KE-S
IMPEDANCE: 22Ω
SENSITIVITY: 122dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.25M
PIN TYPE: QDC-TYPE 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: 3.5MM,
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER


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 - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
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 *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **


P.S.

I am not affiliated 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.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to CVJ-HIFI Team, especially to Anna Su and CVJ Love for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.

CVJ KE-S Review!

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-DISCLAIMER-
-personally i would like to thank CVJ for sending me this product for review.
-this is base on my personal preference ,devoid from any bais review.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...77084579765827e79c3!12000034023925802!sh!MY!0

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Specification:
Product Name: CVJ KE-SEarphone
Brand: CVJ
Model: KE-S
Earphone type: In-ear
Impedance: 22Ω
Earphone sensitivity: 115dB
Frequency range: 20-20000Hz
Plug Type: 3.5mm
Cable Length: 1.2m
Color: Black/Gold/Blue
Whether with cable: Yes (OFC Cable)
Earphone interface: 2Pin S
Whether with mic: Optional
Whether can replacement cable: Yes

Sources

• Samsung S23 Ultra
• Shanling UP5
• YouTube Music, Tidal, Spotify, and Apple Music

TONALITY: 8/10
TECHNICALITIES: 7/10
CONSTRUCTION-DESIGN: 7/10
SOUND VALUE: 8/10

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Sound signature:

• The CVJ KE-S, v-shaped sounding set. Subbass-dominant bass, slight recessed mids, and non-fatiguing treble.

Lows:

• The lows are slightly elevated, bass will be slightly rumbly and.
• Speed is average and is able to handle bass heavy tracks without any audible distortion.
• If your BASSHEADS better look elsewhere but you if you’re looking for balance sounding with nice about of bass this is for you.

Mids:

• The mids are slightly recessed and experiences some slight midbass bleeds depending on tracks during a busy moment vocal will fall behind a little
• The lower mids never sounded far behind throughout my listening.
• Male vocal sounded full.
• Female vocal sounded tad thin not as lush as male vocal.
• Instruments sounded thin on a busier track.
• Upper mids are slightly elevated with nice amount of air sparkle and clarity.

Highs:

• No sibilance in 60% to 70% of volume
• Detail retrieval is not the most technical set, yet still about to picked up micro details and nuances

Imaging, and separation

• Sound separation and layer is average they might sound congested if on busier tracks likes nu metal, heavy metal or tracks consist a lot of instruments played at the same time

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is it worth spending on this IEM short answer is YES without a doubt this is of of the best 10$ IEM outhere , is not only played well with musics with movies and gaming i bet you wouldn't find any all rounder set like this without spending more than 30$.
Back in years something all rounder like this will cost around 25 to 50$ easy.

Once again I would like to thank again to CVJ for this product review and you peeps out there for this reading this God Bless
see you guys on the Next Review Cheers

Disclaimer:

• I don’t read and read FR graphs. I only use my ears, as how earphones should be used.
• CVJ sent this unit to me in an exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Rest assured that this review will do its best to devoid from any bias/es as much as possible.
• The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
• No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
• Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

Burn-in time: 4-8 hours per day, 5 days.

Source/s used:

• Hiby R3 Pro Saber
• Fosi Audio DS1
• Non-HiFi smartphone (Infinix Note 12 G96), PC.
• Local Files via Foobar, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

IEM/Earbud/Setup configuration: stock small white eartips, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 40-60% volume, low gain and high gain.

Sound signature:

• The CVJ KE-S is a warm, v-shaped sounding set. Subbass-dominant bass, mildly recessed mids, slightly elevated, non-fatiguing treble.

Lows:

• The lows are definitely elevated and subbass-dominant. This means that the bass will be rumbly and will rumble deep depending on the track. Its speed is average and is able to handle bass heavy tracks without any audible distortion. Bassheads on a budget will most likely love this IEM.

Mids:

• The mids are mildly recessed and experiences some slight midbass bleed to keep things warm. Despite being recessed, the lower mids never sounded distant throughout my tests. It is lush, smooth, but with good texture and thickness as it is evident on male vocals and instruments associated in this region. Upper mids are elevated, with great amount of clarity, air, and sparkle. Despite all of these upper mid characteristics, the KE-S never sounded sibilant, harsh, or strident in this region.

Highs:

• As for the highs, it is elevated but not as elevated compared to the upper mids. It is smooth, elevated and airy. Instances of peaks, pierce, and harshness are also absent in this IEM. Detail retrieval is also average and is able to pick up most details easily.

Soundstage, Imaging, and separation:

• In a nutshell, the KE-S’ technical performance isn’t out of ordinary, but managed to hit the good qualities of a good sounding budget IEM. The soundstage is wider than deep with a very good amount of height. Separation and layering are average and will go haywire if things get heavy, like rock or metal. Imaging is also accurate on both instrument and vocal rendition.

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Pros:

• All-rounder, fun sound signature.
• Subbass-dominant bass response (subjective).
• Warm, smooth lower mids.
• Forward, clear upper mids.
• Non-fatiguing upper frequencies.
• Very good fit, comfort, and isolation.
• Very good timbre for a budget IEM!
• Easy to drive.
• Very cheap!

Cons:

• There’s no serious flaws of this IEM in this price point tbh, but here are my nitpicks:
• There is a midbass bleed the smears to the lower mids.
• Technical performance is nothing to write home about
• A pouch or a cable winder would’ve been a great treat for everybody.

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The CVJ KE-S is now my current favorite IEM under 10USD! Its warm, fun sound will cater most usage and most people exist in this specific price range. I don’t see any major flaws or drawbacks on this IEM, and will now be my top recommendation under 10 USD as of writing of this review. It has been quite refreshing because this sound exists only within 20-50 USD a couple of years ago. Highly recommended!


Pairing recommendation/s:

• Source: This sounds just fine when plugged straight to a phone, but is vastly better when used with a proper source.
• Eartips: Eartips included are soft and good in quality, but you may always use your preferred eartips.
• Cable is soft and as good as it gets, but you may always use your preferred cable.

Thank you for reading!

Additional Photos Here:

This is my first iem review and for sure it is wildly unpolished, thus, I would love to hear from you on how I can improve on my writings and analysis.




DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank CVJ for providing this review unit but they have not thrown in any terms and conditions so the opinions are solely mine.


The KE-S can be purchased here at below non-affiliated link:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...023925805!sea!SG!0&curPageLogUid=SkzaSEEDc78f




DRIVABILITY

Followings were used to test the iem:
- iphone with Spotify and Tidal
- JCally AP90
- Cayin RU6
- Fiio BTR7
- Fiio Q11
- Ifi Hip-dac 2
- Topping G5

At 22Ω the KE-S is very easy to drive making it unsuitable for JCally AP90 as the dongle does not have independent volume control making the iem either sounding too loud or too soft.




SOUND & TECHNICALITIES


General sound characteristics

First off, the sound characteristics described in the following paragraphs are based on AET07 medium sized ear tips and KBear Glaze 4.4mm cable.

The KE-S has that V-ish, mild U-shaped sound with strong mid bass, prominent mid and somewhat dark treble.

Imaging and soundstage are average. I have a good idea the placement of the instruments but will not be able to pin point their exact locations while music plays in a moderately large lounge but without much depth.


Bass

The dual magnetic dynamic unit appears to be a good DD despite what the price and the plastic shell suggest. The mid bass has good punch and hardly bleeds into the higher spectrum. I can hear as well as feel the thumps. The quality is good too and the decay is natural. However, the sub bass rolls off a little too soon so when listening Ellie Goulding’s By the End of the Night I would have hoped the sub bass linger a tiny bit longer. Perhaps CVJ tunes it this way so the iem sound fast.



Mid

This is not a mid-centric iem but its not recessed either perhaps due to strong mid treble. This is not a warm iem so male vocals do not carry much weight. At this price we certainly cannot expect a resolving, highly detailed sound and this iem is just that so voices do not come off as crisp and clear. Nevertheless, the iem performs a good level above most iems in this price range.



Treble

This frequency region is a bit of a mixed bag in performance. While there is a strong presence in the mid treble, perhaps CVJ attempts to soften down the pinna gain, there is a slight dip at 3k, back again in 4k. Nothing wrong here and in fact for someone who is sensitive to mid treble, I do not feel any discomfort whatsoever, so I really appreciate it. But what comes next is a steep roll-off after 4k where some information go lost so some songs can sound a little dark in which means some information got attenuated. Then it goes all good again at the higher treble, airy and well extended. Diana Krall’s Like Someone In Love with the echo far to the left and lingers there, one area where it is on par with 7Hz’s Salnote Zero.




COMPARISONS

I have chosen KZ EDXS and Simgot EW100 (not the P version, the OG with un-removable cable) as they are very similarly priced.



KZ EDXS

KZ’s new iems have gradually moved away from strong V-shaped curve with strong thumpy bass. The EDXS is the latest implementation of their ‘legendary’ DD and their new favourite zorbel network tuning started with the ZVX, then the D-Fi and now this EDXS.

The EDXS comes off as smooth and balanced. The highlight is the linear treble which might sound thin to some. Perhaps due to unfiltered sound, the treble can sound a little ‘raw’.

In comparison, the KE-S is more musical and more forward sounding. It also has stronger bass.

Tonally, the CHU and JIU both follow the VSDF curve, though the JIU is slightly bassier and is a bit smoother in the treble and upper mids, which were pitfalls in the original CHU's tonality (ie CHU is more shouty).

In technical chops, these 2 siblings are pretty close, the JIU shades it just a bit, and the JIU isn't as nasal sounding, with better timbral accuracy. The JIU has better dynamics and is a bit more natural in note weight.


Simgot EW100

This entry Simgot has good bass note without the weight and a detailed treble. It has that easy and natural listening quality that punches way above its price point making it my go-to iems when I need to travel light and fast. It is also one of those iems where I do not need to swap out any accessories (well the cable isn’t removable anyway) such as the stock ear tips which are very comfortable to wear. It is also no picky with sources so I would connect it with JCally’s JM7 further reducing the weight and space.

The KE-S is more musical in comparison with stronger, thumpier bass and a more extended treble. However, the EW100’s treble is more consistent and better tuned making it suitable for most genre. The KE-S is a little more picky with sources too which I will describe below.



PAIR WITH…

JCally AP90

The AP90 has the uncanny ability to highlight all the shortcomings of the KE-S and amplify them. The KE-S sounds too bright yet to thin, very strange.



Fiio Q11

I like to test new iems with this dongle for its neutrality. But because it’s slightly bright, if an iem sounds very bright it becomes shouty when pairing with this dongle.

While the KE-S has strong mid treble presence, it’s treble is neither shouty nor sibilant. But for some reasons it does sound too bright with this dongle.



Cayin RU6

The RU6 quite an opposite of Q11, warm and organic with much less emphasis on treble. This is not an easy dongle to pair with because if the iem is warm, the combo can sound thick and muddy.

Not so with KE-S. In fact, the CVJ iems loves it! The mids comes a little more forefront and making this iem sounding warm and musical, exactly mine kind of taste, sweet!



Ifi Hip-dac 2

Similar to the RU6 this is a warm dac with more power in reserve so it is expected that it pairs well with THE CVJ. Unfortunately, the analogue volume control creates channel imbalance at lower volume. Thus, in order to sound balanced many sensitive iems sound too loud for comfort. Also, KE-S’s treble sounds grainy.



Topping G5

The G5 is a beast in every way. Its, big, its heavy, its got 1200mW worth of output power at 32 Ω and sounds damn good. It even flatters many iems and headphones with no except in this case with KE-S. Interestingly though, it doesn’t synergize with the CVJ as well as the RU6. Sound fuller bodied, sure, but just not as exciting.



CONCLUSIONS

The KE-S comes as a real surprise. The first impression was meh, the shell is hard plastic, the ear tips fit my ears well, but they make the treble sounding like loudspeakers with drives made of paper cones, the stock copper cable does absolutely no justice to what the KE-S can do. To further annoy me the sharp edges on the faceplate scrap against my ears when wearing the iems and adjusting the fit. But once replacements are made and enough hours invested in burning in, the KE-S is good sounding. Is this for bass heads? No, I don’t think so. Is this for treble heads? No, I don’t think so either. But it might be for you if you like something musical and if you like more focus on mid treble. It’s got good treble extensions, but it is no detail monster. But do I recommend it, yes I think its worth an audition.