HZSOUND Luna

Firstly, I would like to thank @KeepHifi for allowing me to review and providing me with this unit of the HZSound Luna. This is a 13.3mm single planar magnetic driver, which is said to be the same type of driver found in the Letshuoer S08 and the 7Hz DUDU. Both those IEMs have gotten some level of positive attention, and I preface this by saying the Luna deserves the same level of attention, as it's a very capable IEM that would serve as a great starter kit for those looking to dip into their first planar IEM or someone who might have experienced planars negatively in the past.


I first became aware of planar magnetic IEMs with the release of the RHA CL2, which I bought when it first was released, as it was selling for $800, but I got it for a much cheaper price than that, but still around the same price as what the Audeze Isine 20 planar was selling for, but with a much more conventional form factor. Now it was a decent IEM. It was incredibly analytical, clean and clear, and had wicked treble extension, but the bass was typical for the time planar bass, which meant speed and resolution, but lacking note weight and impact. It also was slathered in planar timbre. I ended up selling it, and eventually bought both the 7Hz Timeless and the Tangzu Wu Zetian OG planars. I enjoyed both these IEMs, but eventually sold off the Timeless, and would later pick up the NiceHCK F1 Pro and recently the Letshuoer S12 (2024). This would complete my planar magnetic IEM collection, along with the Luna, the IEM I'm reviewing today. So that's my background with planars.


The unboxing was quite surprising. The box was a decent size, and sturdy. I remember the same unboxing experience with the HZSound Heart Mirror ZERO, which is one of my favorite budget IEMs. Stellar performer for $30.00 or so. So upon opening the box, you are greeted with these beautiful IEMs in a holder, and the HZSound logo with a protective lid covering the slot where the protective case sits, and within the case are the accessories. This includes a gorgeous modular cable (3.5mm-4.4mm), that looks classy, but it's a bit thin, but pliable and behaves. It's certainly a step up from the usual $100 and under stock cables. Then inside the case we find a very nice tip case, with several rows of tip of all sizes (though not really any XL, so if you have big ear holes, you'll need aftermarket tips). Also the modular jacks, filter mesh, and a carabiner. The case is standard and could hold your IEMs, cable, jacks, and some spare tips.





The shells are a very attractive lacquered faceplate with the HZSound logo, and aluminum body, so these are very sturdy but lightweight shells. They prove to be very comfortable and sit flush with no discomfort even after long listening sessions. The nozzles are tiny. They are on the thinner side, so if you're someone with smaller ear holes, or smaller ears, these would be an ideal buy, as they will NOT cause any wearing issues or discomfort. Cable is quality enough that I see no need to cable roll, unless you absolutely want to, or if you want to use this with 2.5mm cables (I did that, as I prefer 2.5mm for my FiiO amps).

Where to buy : https://keephifi.com/collections/ne...78mm-double-pin-replaceable-cable-leather-bag - $119.00.

What did I use for my listening sessions for my review??

For this review, and for these sessions, I went untethered (i.e. without a portable or desktop amp). Even though that might seem counterintuitive due to planars usually demanding more power to optimize their sound, I used my iBasso DX170, which has plenty of power output, and can even run my Dita Project M, a notoriously power hungry IEM to full potential, as well as the Tri i3 mk III with it's planar driver for highs. So the iBasso has no issues driving any of my planars to full potential. Then I used the Sony NW-A25 (Japanese version), which is unlocked and is one of my most powerful Sony daps, (and I have 5 of them of various models), and always seems to sound it's best untethered. I did not use the stock tips, as they don't fit me, so I use AZLA Crystals. I also did not use balanced outputs, as I know most laymen will have access to 3.5mm SE, so this was the jack I used for all listening.



Albums used for the review?

Ezra Collective - Where I'm Meant to Be
Robert Glasper - Canvas
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Survival
Rob Van Bavel Trio - Dutch Weather
Junior Kelly, Bounty Killer, and Capleton - The Good, The Bad, and the Blazin'
Dominik Eulberg - Avichrom
Abysmal Dawn - Phylogenesis
Cognizance - Phantazein
Adon - Adon
In Aphelion - Reaperdawn

Published FR graph :



SOUND IMPRESSIONS :
So to start, we're at the point where everyone has been waiting for! Now, my rating system is from 1-5. So 1 means we stink! P.U.!! 2 is barely capable. 3 is average to capable. 4 is above average to highly capable and 5 is near flawless to flawless. This is pinnacle performance. So a 3.5 would be very capable to slightly above average, and 4.5 would be well above average but not quite at peerless. Got it? Good! Let's continue....
Dynamics : 3.5
Resolution : 3
Details : 4
Instrument separation : 3.5
Sibilance : 4 (very little. Smooth tuning)
Soundstage : 3
BASS :
This is a tricky one, because the bass isn't exactly old school planar anemic, but with the Luna, the focus is more on the sub bass, which can drop and hit. Listening to Robert Glasper, with those bass drums, or Dominik Eulberg, with that electronica FUMP, the bass depth can deliver! What the Luna doesn't have is a lot of mid bass presence and punch. So the mid bass can come off a little lean. A bit dry. S othere's very little to no bleed from the mid bass to the midrange, so it's a relatively clean approach, with sub bass drops, but not much punch. Now on reggae and acid jazz tracks, the punch will appear, but again. when it does, it can sound a bit dry in delivery, but there's quite a bit of planar speed and the resolution is high quality. So you can hear the notes in the bass, and it can keep up with speedy finger plucks or slides, and notes are not one dimensional, so the quality of the bass is high, it's just on the drier side, so excitement and energy is less dynamic driver and more a dry planar slam. (3/5)
MIDRANGE :
Clean, clear, and detailed. That's the best way to describe the midrange. There is little warmth from the midbass, so that drier tonality does carry over into the midrange, but for complex passages, or for jazz or heavy metal, this proves to be an advantage. guitars, piano, keys, and other wind instruments that live within the midrange are beautifully rendered and have a clarity that is a trademark of planar drivers. Female and male vocals are present and full, without a hint of sibilance or peakiness, but without the warmth of the bass, the intimacy of the presentation is a bit compromised. So female vocals can be staged a bit more distant, but still very articulate and with a natural timbre and tonality from the way these IEMs are tuned. I personally enjoy a bleed free midrange, so this really pleases me overall, and male vocals can really have a bit of an edge to them, if a bit distant as well. The sharp focus of guitars are enjoyable, as there is plenty of bite and the tone is really accurate, so metal and hard rock are very pleasurable in the playback. Now because the treble and upper mids are tuned in what I would describe as a safe tuning, there isn't quite the resolution that I would like. Now it's not terrible, but because of this tuning choice, the soundscape within the midrange isn't the widest, and instrument separation is just average, while detail retrieval is above average, so there's a slight intimacy in the midrange as well as a slight imbalance within that midrange. Still, for those who listen to music with complex passages, the Luna can handle it with aplomb, and never feels congested or confused, and when called upon, the stage does have very good left to right width. It's just not very 3 dimensional. (3.5/5)

TREBLE :
Here's where some will like it and some might be wanting for more? Now the beauty of the tuning of the HZSound Luna is that there is very little planar timbre or that sharp metallic tinge that you will find in many planars (like the F1 Pro, Timeless, or CL2). It's a very controlled and non-peaky upper midrange/lower treble, with well behaved upper treble, that has good extension, but not the supreme extension of say something like the Tri i3 mk III or the Penon Fan 3. It's smooth. Ok, my longwinded description can be boiled down to the Luna's treble is smooth. It's present. It provides good shimmer on hi hats, cymbals, and crashes, but it's not the airiest or most spacious treble, which in turn is one of the factors in it's average soundstage. Now again. it's not narrow or congested stage, but it's not orbital or out of the head/outside the ears. Trebleheads will definitely want to look elsewhere, as would bassheads, but anyone who enjoys a really well tuned and present treble region, that will not fatigue the ears even after a 6 hour listening session, will absolutely adore the Luna. Smooth as buttah for a planar driver. (4/5)
OVERALL :
So we have a very balanced sound signature here. Deep hitting sub bass, dry mid bass, clean and clear midrange with sufficient bite and presence, and smooth treble with good extension and a very mature tuning. There is no stridency up top or bloom at the bottom. We're talking a very capable and balanced sound signature that would prepare the listener for very long sessions that are fatigue free and filled with detailed smoothness. Because of this, I wholeheartedly can recommend the HZSound Luna as a perfect Planar driver starter kit for the casual or audiophile who is looking to jump into their first planar, or who had a negative experience with a previous planar, like I have. No planar tinge, no planar stridency, no anemic planar bass, and no deep v shaped signature like the Timeless with recessed mids. None of that. At $109.00 (and during the Alix sales, you can get it for under $100.00), it's a great value, has absolutely great ergonomics and looks, and the cable doesn't suck, so no need to aftermarket cable this thing. Performance is at a 4/5, especially at the price, and to upgrade this type of sound, you'll have to pay double for it just for starters.
COMPARISONS :
So I listened to the HZSound Luna alongside the NiceHCK F1 Pro, Tangzu Wu Zetian, and the Letshuoer S12 (2024).

NiceHCK F1 Pro :

Dynamics : 2
Resolution : 4
Details : 4
Instrument separation : 4
Sibilance : 1 (very sibilant)
Soundstage : 3
Bass : 3
Midrange : 4
Treble : 2.5

So the F1 Pro is the OPPOSITE in tuning philosophy from the Luna. The Luna is smooth, controlled, and sub bass focused. The Luna can present vocals without the hint of sibilance, while the F1 Pro is more punchy bass, has more strident highs with that metallic tinge, and vocals, especially female, can get sibilant and peaky. Now if we're focusing solely on instrumental music, then I think the F1 Pro has better resolution, note weight, and warmth to create a fuller sound as far as soundstage is concerned, with a tad more depth, but due to the lack of sub bass and the often times strident treble, this affects the overall dynamics as soon as you introduce vocals into the equation or with music that has heavy bass or a lot of cymbals action. Overall, I'd say the Luna would make a far better introductory planar experience, unless you're a treblehead or someone looking for that heightened resolution while listening to instrumental music (like classical music or instrumental jazz/acoustic), then the F1 Pro might be a more apropos choice. Just stay away from vocal arrangements!! $100.00. ADVANTAGE : HZSound Luna

Tangzu Wu Zetian :

Dynamics : 4
Resolution : 4
Details : 3.5
Instrument separation : 4
Sibilance : 4 (very little. Smooth tuning)
Soundstage : 4
Bass : 3.5
Midrange : 3.5
Treble : 4

As mentioned earlier, I bought the Wu Zetian and Timeless at the same time. At the time, both were super hot on the market, with tons of positive reviews, so I couldn't decide which I wanted more, so I bought BOTH! After awhile, I found the recessed mids and the metallic treble of the Timeless a bit more distracting than what it was worth, and sold it, despite it's amazing stage, detail retrieval and bass impact. Now the keeper? The Wu Zetian! These beautiful purple planars are one of the very best tuned planars on the market. Now mind you, the original Wu Zetian, which is the one I own, is discontinued. If you're lucky enough to find one on the used market, or aftermarket, then it's worth looking into, but these are anywhere from $150-$199.00. The HBB version is $199.00. So almost double the cost of the Luna, so keep that in mind. The Wu Zetian is a bit warmer affair than the Luna. It's warmer and more mid bassy. The midrange is a lot less clear and clean, and the treble is a bit more extended, with more air. Soundstage is also wider, but with that warmth, you trade off for a bit less bit in the midrange, so guitars aren't as sharp or focused, and detail retrieval isn't quite as fluid and clear as the Luna. Both can be described as smooth in the treble delivery, but I'd say the upper midrange of the Luna is sharper and more forward, while note weight is heftier with the Wu, due to the bleed from the midbass. There's a bit of mid bass punch and snap in the Wu, but I believe, to my ears, resolution wise, the Luna and Wu are equals, and so the trade off is simply about mid bass punch vs sub bass slam. Overall, the Wu Zetian is a slightly more energetic and less dry sound scene, with similar tone, but just a bit warmer, with a bit more treble range and air, with slightly better resolution, so it's quite a bit of a toss up between the two. $199.00. ADVANTAGE : Tangzu Wu Zetian (discontinued).

I also recently scored the Letshuoer S12 (2024), but really didn't have much time to compare this with the Luna, or the others, plus this one is also $199.00, and a limited edition, so not really a fair comparo tbh. The S12 (2024) is a great set if after the Luna, you'd be interested in the direct upgrade, and willing to spend $100+ more than the Luna to get that upgrade fix. The S12 (2024) is above the Wu Zetian as well, so keep that in mind.

CONCLUSION :

After a couple weeks listening to the HZSound Luna (I also took it to Las Vegas with me as a travel partner), I can conclusively say that this is a great planar starter kit. Want a taste for what a very well tuned planar can sound like? This is it. Want an IEM that you can listen to for long sessions without discomfort or fatigue? This is it. Want a great sounding IEM with a fantastic modular cable and nice accessories at a very affordable price? This is it. Are you a metalhead, rockhead, or acid jazz enthusiast? This is it! Clean crisp midrange, thumping deep bass, and controlled and smooth highs without spiciness of sibilance? This is it!

Thank you all for reading and thank you again to @keephifi for the HZSound Luna.

Some of you might be familiar with Hzsound from their Mirror series, which was well-known for its detailed beast IEMs in its price range while back.. Surprisingly, Hzsound is back this year with a promising comeback. This time, they are introducing newly iems with planar driver configuration called 'Luna,' featuring a 13mm flat magnetic driver, similar to the TinHiFi Dudu and Lethshouer S08. Do these IEMs compete in the crowded market of planar IEMs? Let's find out, starting with:

Packaging and Accessories:



The packaging of these IEMs looks standard, resembling the older design of the Hzsound Mirror Pro box. It comes in a matte black box with a picture of the IEMs on the front and their name at the bottom right. The accessories are quite generous and remind me of their older products.

Inside, you’ll find:
>The IEMs themselves
>A cable with:
- 3.5mm jack modular plug
- 4.4mm jack plug
>Black case
>Carabiner hook
>6 pairs of eartips



The cable is of good quality, so you don’t need to replace it. It’s made of OFC silver-plated copper material and features an interchangeable termination jack plug design. The cable braid is solid and not thin.




Design, Build Quality & Fitting:




The design is pleasant, featuring transparent epoxy resin adhesive on the faceplate with the Hzsound name with black patterns inside.. The full shell is made of CNC aluminum, known for its durability and lightweight. It's quite resistant to impact and wear. The shape of the shell is similar to the TinHiFi Dudu, which I like; it fits my ears perfectly.



Note: I received the Hzsound Luna directly from Keephifi. I extend my gratitude for trusting me to evalute it, However, keep in mind that my evaluation is based on my taste and preferences and should not be taken as a guarantee.

Sound Signature:

After using them for over 40 hours, or perhaps you could say burning them in, these IEMs have a fairly balanced sound toward brighter signature. From the low to the upper ranges, they have sufficient portions. Surprisingly, they are enjoyable for mid-centric tracks such as K-pop and J-pop. Let’s delve deeper:

Using the iBasso DC07 Pro and EP00 eartips, this planar IEM has moderate drive power, meaning it’s not as demanding as other planars on the market. You can still enjoy it with a decent power DAC or even an LG V60 phone.

Bass:

First time notice the Bass is pretty tight; drum sound has quite strong presence it’s not the hardest-hitting one rather well-rounded with a nice thump. The bass attack is fast when it need, similar to any other planar drivers, making it suitable for rock even metal songs. The bass guitars produces full bodied sound with great texture, offering rich and deep tonal quality that add warmth and depth to the music. pairing with ePro ep00 eartips this quality of bass probably one of best i tried in planar after P1 Max 2 from TinHifi–that i admire of the low-end sector.

Testing Songs:
- "The Faded Line" by Lamb of God
- "Muscle Museum" by Muse
- "Amazonia" by Gojira
- "Dead Inside" by Muse
- "Bird Of A Feather" by Billie Ellish

Midrange:

This planar IEM offers a commendable timbre, It handles male vocals with fuller, though female and high-pitched vocals can exhibit a slight peak and sibilance, especially with mid-centric songs that emphasize upper ranges, like certain K-pop and J-pop tracks, albeit not overly pronounced. Overall, the IEM remains enjoyable for tracks that focus on vocals. The upper range doesn't sound shouty rather captures the emotion of the singer pretty well.

Testing Songs:
- "Destiny" by Lee Sun Hee
- "I'm Sorry" by AILEE
- "Dark Cloud" by Younha
- "Dried Flower" by Yuuri
- "Love Sick" by FtIsland

Treble:

The treble is probably my favorite part of these IEMs, it's resonance and well-rendered. It captures string sounds from both electric and acoustic guitars with great details and nuances, also If you enjoy the shrill sound of violins, you’ll likely appreciate how these IEMs handle it. This suit instrumental or classical music well, However, those sensitive to treble might find the cymbal attacks a bit too sharp, As someone who enjoys treble but dislikes harsh, shouty upper mids, these IEMs sound exceptionally good. Surprisingly, even during extended listening sessions, I don’t experience fatigue.

Testing Songs:
- "Viking Kong" by Racer X
- "Bonfire" by Knife Party
- "Playing God" by Polyphia
- "My Lips" by AILEE
- "Caprice No. 24" by David Garrett

Technical aspect:

Listening to instrumental even metal tracks with the Hzsound Luna is a gratifying experience. The IEMs deliver a quite natural timbre with a subtle hint of the shimmering quality common in planar drivers, yet they manage to sound more organic compared to many planar models. This results in a lifelike representation of instruments like drums, bass, and guitar, maintaining accuracy and detail across the frequency spectrum.

This IEMs offers a notably decently wide soundstage, it doesn't quite reach the expansive quality of the MP145 by Hidizs. Nonetheless, the Luna's soundstage delivers a good sense of width and depth, contributing to an open and engaging listening experience. spatial imaging on this iems is impressive. The separation and layering of various musical elements are well-executed, avoiding the muddiness that can affect less capable models. Each component of a track remains distinct and clear, allowing for an engaging listening experience.

Detail retrieval is another strong suit of the Luna, aligning with Hzsound’s reputation for precision. The IEMs capture both high and low-level details with clarity, making subtle nuances in recordings stand out. For example, in complex tracks like "Scene Seven 1: The Dance of Eternity - by Dream Theather", the Luna reveals the texture of instruments with remarkable resolution and finer detail.

Pros:
+Durable and lightweight build
+Quite generous accessory pack
+Clean and balanced midrange
+Good bass quality, fast, well-defined with a solid thump.
+Crisp and well-rendered treble
+Excellent resolution and instrument separation
+Wide soundstage

Cons:
-Slight metallic hint in timbre.. but compare to some current planar, this pairly tame
-Treble May too sharp for some
-Bass may not be as impactful/ punchy as you might expect, rather has good thumpy
-Requires moderate drive power; not ideal for low-powered sources



Where to Buy: You can purchase the Luna from various online retailers, including
https://keephifi.com/collections/hz...78mm-double-pin-replaceable-cable-leather-bag

Conclusion:
With so many planar IEMs available today, the Hzsound Luna stands out as a strong contender. It impresses with its excellent bass, which is fast and well-defined with a satisfying thump. The midrange is clear and precise, making vocals and instruments sound engaging and accurate. The treble is crisp and detailed, adding a nice touch of clarity without becoming overwhelming.

Overall, the Hzsound Luna delivers a balanced and all rounder sound that works well across different types of music. Whether you enjoy bass tracks or more intricate acoustic music, the Luna handles it all with skill. I've really enjoyed using the Luna, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite planar IEMs. Its great sound quality, thoughtful design, and solid performance make it a standout option in the current market. If you’re looking for a new planar IEM, the Hzsound Luna is definitely worth a look.