QKZ Audio QKZ x HBB

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬
I would like to thank Linsoul Audio and Mr. Eiji Romero for organizing the tour of the QKZ x HBB and for providing me with the opportunity to take part in it. Thank you very much.
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𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
In my experience, this is my first exposure to a collaborative tuning done by one of the most popular audio reviewers on YouTube, who is known as HBB or HawaiiBadboy. It is my first time hearing this. the brand QKZ was known for its budget sets, such as the AK6 and others, but recently they decided to step up and make this set and I will tell you that this is a decent start for Qkz, which I will discuss later on. In other words, buckle up and get ready for this heavy ride, and start your engines.
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𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
It includes the drivers and the cable itself, which is equipped with a 2-pin QDC connector and the default plug of the cable is 3.5 mm. The drivers are provided in the box together with a variety of eartips and the cable itself. For me, this cable is a very common one since I always encounter it, especially in this price range. The packaging in gatcha is not bad as far as looks go, it is on a common tier. That's basically all, so that's it for me
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𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞/𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲
Firstly, I don't think the sound suits my personal preferences because it has that warm-v shape sound that is very targeted at bass lovers and in shoert bass-heads, but if you're someone who likes the bass you may like the sound. Male vocals will benefit from the bass since its really emphasize on the overall track.
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𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐬
It has a strong punch and thrump and this type of bass is usually favored by bass lovers because it has a lot of impact, but I consider this bass right at the borderline between bad and good since it has this punch and impact that makes it very appealing to me. Subbass also has that heavy penetration because it has that impact and punch. Midbass has some bleed, but it is fine, since it is aimed at bass lovers. However, I am not a fan of it.
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𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐬
Since it is a warm sound that has a V-shape, I would consider this acceptable, but in my opinion, this would not fit me as my preference is for mids in my music. However, in spite of the fact that the overall mids presentation is recessed and the violin sounds weak to no emotion at all, the overall sound is acceptable for an overall warm, V shape sound. This bass will have a heavy noteweight and will benefit male vocals, whereas the female vocals might sound weak because of the bass.
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𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐥𝐞
As a matter of fact, it is on average pretty good. It has that brillance, but not enough for my tastes, but it may do the trick for some people. However, for me, it was not a song that impressed me at all. While it does have a bit of detail, it also lacks for me. However, for casual listeners, it will be enough for you to enjoy. Sibilance factor is almost to none which is i like. Peak factor is usually depends on the track and volume of your audio source i only encounter it when i accidentally increased my volume and when the track is more on energetic side.
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𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡
Firstly, the soundstage is a little disappointing as the width and layering are small and need more refinement, the stage is extremely congested, and other instruments have a hard time being heard due to the cluttered space. The imaging of the HBB x Qkz is average as it cannot handle too many busy tracks since it is not capable of that. In general, the technical aspect of the HBB x Qkz is passable for casual listeners, but if you wish for technical performance, this is not for you.
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𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫
Its very easy to unleash its true sound potential even your typical smartphone can juice it up but with a better dac/dongle it can improved more.
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𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠
The set itself is not bad at all, but given that QKZ is trying to step up, which I commend them for doing, and the sound is passable for casual listeners, I know my closing will be short versus in my past reviews where I would have made it longer, but the set just isn't for me, and that's that.
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𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
- Euterpe-EGOIST
- Departures-Anata ni Okuru Ai no Uta-EGOIST
- Fake Off- Merm4id X Rondo ( D4DJ DOUBLE MIX)
- Gravity Wall- Gemie, SawanoHiroyuki[nZk], and Tielle
- Shout- Gemie, SawanoHiroyuki[nZk], and Tielle
- Seisyun complex- Kessoku Band
- 4 challenges- Photon Maiden
- OPPO A95
- 4.4mm balance cable
- Tempotec E44
- KBEAR 07 size M+

Disclaimer: I bought this with my own expense on Shopee. Also, my reviews are based on aftermarket tips due to the poor fit of the stock eartips, but i'll talk about it later

Packaging

Similar to many other cheap iem, the packaging for the QKZxHBB is quite... minimal. Bare bone as i'd say. Inside the box are the iem itself, a cable, a package of spare tips.


Design/Build quality/Comfort

The QKZ HBB feature a dark, semi-translucent resin shells with a clear faceplate that shows the QKZ logo on the left and HBB logo on the right. Surrounding the faceplate is a gun metal colored frame that's part of the aesthetic. The nozzle itself is made from metal with gold coloring and a lip to hold the tips in place. I'd say the overall build quality is quite good for a 20$ set



As i mention above, the stock eartips didn't do justice for these iem. I can't manage to get a seal with those tips, both the black and white ones. With its nozzle on a longer side, i found these iem quite compatible with after market short nozzle, wide bore tips.

The stock cable was not that good either. I find the cable to be flimsy with the earhook having too big of a curve, which tend to yank the iem out of my ear. At least it was usable for the testing period.

To me, the shells are on the medium size which fit me perfecly. Its smooth shell didn't give my ears any painful spot even after several hours of wearing them


Sound impression

Test gear:

- Source: Poco F3 with Hiby Music

- Dongle: 7hz 71, Hiby FC4

- Eartips: Whizzer SS20, Springtips



Sound signature: Warm, V-shaped
Drivability: I found my 7hz 71 with the stock cable to be more than enough the reach enjoyable volume.

Bass

This is definitely the highlight of the iem. It’s the first thing you’ll notice when you put on this iem. “Powerful” is what I would describe it. When I listen to “Naruto Main Theme” from Naruto OST, the drums and the bass guitar was *chef kiss*. Like holy smokes, I still get goose bump listening to it when I wrote these review. Same case for “Sweet Leaf” by Black Sabbath. EDM track overall are quite enjoyable too, as you would expect from a bass-heavy set

That being said, as much as I enjoy the bass from these, I find myself sometime getting a headache if I listen to a fast paced pure drum+bass guitar track, or rock/J-pop songs that feature a lot of those. It was that much bass. It’s just borderline boomy. Or perhaps it was just me being weak

Fun fact, because the driver itself actually move the air in my ear canals, so much so that sometimes I even go to tone generator website, generate the sound from 30hz to 150hz just to have the driver “scratch” my itchy eardrums by vibrating it lol.

Mid

As satisfying as the bass region is, there’s a price that it has to pay which lies in the mid. The mids overall are nice, but you get some bass bleed/muddiness due to the strong general bass emphasis. The weird thing is that it’s actually quite track dependent for some reason.

When I listen to the songs “Mighty Down Fall” by One OK Rock, I can’t really focus on Taka’s voice without the bass guitar and the drums keeps blowing in my face. His voice also gets push more to the background. Yet when I listen to “Way Back Home” by Shaun, the bass didn’t affect his voice too much. As for female vocal like Taylor Swift, her voice are very sweet and lush as usual, with a slight sense of being veiled.

Treble

I find the treble on this set to be on a darker, more relaxing side. Cymbal strikes are good enough with an adequate amount of attack and decay. I wish it sounds a little bit more crisp, but I can live with it.

That being said, same as the mids, on some rock/heavy tracks, the bass quantity simply overwhelmed the treble region. You can still hear it if you listen for it, but the bass kinda “masked” it in a way. Whenever I try to focus on the little details, the bass just keeps remind me that it’s there. Treble-head won’t find this set enjoyable.

Technicalities

I'd say the QKZ HBB has below average points in terms of clarity, detail and instrument seperation. The imagine and soundstage is alright, nothing is out of place or weirdly position. You can pin point which instrument is on the right, on the left or get push back to the back ground and that’s it. On some busy orchestrated track, you can feel some of the instrument blended with each other. It’s not a deal breaker, just something to point out.

These set were not built to be an analytical or technical set, but more for a fun, relaxed listening session anyway.

That being said, i find the Whizzer SS20, or many short nozzle wide bore tips in general, help open up the soundstage a little bit. The Springtips somehow helps control the overall bass quantity too.

Example of some short nozzle, wide bore tips that i enjoy for the QKZ HBB: Stock wide bore that comes with Olina SE, Whizzer SS20 and Alza Light Short. All of which are size M.

Comparison

- QKZ HBB vs 7hz Zero

I'd say the 7hz Zero being the exact opposite of the QKZ HBB. The 7hz Zero has a neutral type of tuning. The bass on these are noticably lighter than the QKZ HBB, which makes the overall tonality of it brighter than it seems. The mids are definitely better on the 7hz Zero. It was much cleaner. Part of it was due to its lack of bass which in turns can help me perceive vocals better as well as having a better sense of clarity. The trebles on the Zero are noticably brighter and airier compare to the QKZ HBB. Some may like this, some may not. It’s an iem that I’d normally use for a busier or orchestra-oriented playlist, or whenever I feel like doing an analytical listening session. Many people said these two iem compliments with each other and i agree with them.

- QKZ HBB vs Blon 03
The Blon 03's bass are not as authorative as the QKZ HBB, yet it is noticably cleaner. The bass bleed/muddiness are greatly subdue. The mids are more forward, yet still a bit recessed to my liking. The treble are sparklier but not as smooth. Technicalitie are more or less the same. I enjoy the overall tonallity of the Blon 03 a bit more because it's more balance compare to the QKZ HBB, although it's still on a warmer side.

Bonus
As i mention in the pros, these set was suitable for gym session. Because my gym playlist has mostly EDM or bass heavy music, when using these with a bluetooth adapter, it was like a match made in heaven. It just makes we want to be active. Sure, I may lose some of the smart feature that a dedicated TWS can bring, but that’s the price I’m willing to take.

Conclusion
Overall, I think this is a pretty good set for someone looking for a bass-oriented,fun yet non-fatiguing type of tuning. This may not be my personal favorite iem, but I can see how a lot of people like it. With the price tag of less than 20$, I saw this as a fine and easy way to find out if i was a bass head or not.

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1. Introduction and Accessories​
2. Sound
3. Brief Comparisons
4. The verdict

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Driver Setup: 1DD
Price: $20
Purchase link and info: Linsoul
Included in the box:

• QKZ HBB​
• QDC 2-pin cable with a 3.5mm termination​
• 6 Pair of silicone tips​

Comfort, fit and isolation: Great comfort and fit, isolation is average.
Source used: Topping L70, Xduuo Link2 Bal, Sony ZX300 (Mr. Walkman Firmware)
Tips used: BGVP W01
Measured volume level: 77db @ 440 hz
Test playlist with some of the songs used: Tidal

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Introduction and Accessories​

By now, neither QKZ or HBB need an introduction, as both are very well established trademarks in this hobby, teaming up to heist the end-of-the-year-sprint towards the gold medal of probably the most competitive bracket of the year (aside from planars, of course): the sub-20$ segment that proves my faith on that good tuning should be free.

Now, before I can share my conclusions about it and without further rambling, I’ll leave here just some quick notes about the accessories and physical aspects of the QKZ. Starting from the latter, the build quality feels sturdy and well finished given its price tag, shaped in the form of a semi-custom fit, helping me achieve a great fit and comfort throughout long sessions and never tiring. If anything I’d note here would only be the isolation that is average to above average, given its vent placed in the bottom of the faceplate.

As for the accessories, that’s a totally different story. The offered tips are just decent and the cable is actually terrible. A lack of carrying pouch or something of the sorts would be amazing but again, I can see how much every corner has to be trimmed down to achieve such low prices and still apply every penny into the sound related stuff, so no complaints from me personally, as I switched the cable right away.

Now, into the candy store, shall we?

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Sound​

The QKZ HBB falls into the tuner’s preferred signature: a warm balanced curve with a late self-correction bass-shelf and some well extended treble, without much elevation.

Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves and going by “the first things first” moto, comes the sub-bass. The close to 10 db raise in the lower tail brought nothing but joy during the replay of tracks like “Why So Serious?” or “Limit To Your Love”, helping with physicality required.

Given the sub-bass region has nothing for me to point on, I will rather spend my words talking about the mid-bass and its transition into the lower mids, as I have a feeling it will be the most divisive aspect of this set. With that in mind, there’s two aspects I would like to note:

• The bass in on the looser side, à la Blon Bl-03 or Sony N3;
• The elevation and the late self-correction will turn the replay warmer than your average neutral or harman sets.

And… I like it. Ok scratch that. I love it. But let’s dissect that, shall we?

By calling it looser (or uncontrolled like some people like to call it but I refrain from that as it has a negative connotation rather just a tuning a preference), it means that there is more bounce it it, as opposed to overly tight drivers – like the foster dynamic drivers always come to the table. This effect won’t feel as good for genres like prog metal, where the tightness helps with the clarity on busier parts and smearing is the enemy, but shines on genres like Hip-Hop, R’n’B, classical rock, some EDM, etc etc.

You can easily see the pattern here: the trend follows the tuner’s library. When replaying Kendrick Lamar’s Collard Greens or Backseat Freestyle, the QKZ HBB comes alive in the mid-bass. Its bouncy nature helps with the sense of fullness to the track, allied with the sense of impact and the rest of the tuning, that we will come to in a second.

Speaking of the tuning, the second note referred to mid-bass’ elevation and late correction. On an objective note, this means there’s warm coloration to the replay, flushing out the sense of heavy note weight, opposed to the (once again) an harman tuning. A great example for this would the be the jazzy-soul-warmer track I’ve Got a Sousamaphone, by Riot Jazz Brass Band, that turns into a full jam session and I can’t guarantee you that not even critical listening will be done sitting down with on your lazy boy, but rather up and doing those crazy dance moves like none’s watching.

All of this shouldn’t come really as news, as anyone that has followed HBB or knows his tastes will know that this works well with his library, and this late correction has been used before on another collaboration of his (Olina and DQ6s from the top of my head). On a replay level, this translates on emphasized instruments like kick-drums and bass guitars.

This effect can be really perceived during Pomplamoose’s Daft PTX Mashup (2:43m – 2:49m), that once the bassist starts the (really nasty) bass slap, it takes a step more forward that it’s usually considered neutral versus the main vocalists’ voice. But hell yeah if it sounds good, and so does her voice, which segways us into the next section.


The mid-range has been briefly referenced above in the lower regions, alluding to its warmth, but let’s dive briefly into it. The pinna region is only elevated by around 5 or 6 dbs, not overcompensating the bass shelf, which would turn it into a V-shaped tuning. It rather adapts the warmth but keeps the mid-range just north of neutral on its positioning, hence the balanced warm tag.

When listening to pianos such as Hania Rani’s Glass or Yann Tiersen’s Comptine D’un Autre Ete – L’apres-midi, despite the warmer note weight, all the information is kept, turning the replay more “musical”, as it’s usually referred as. The separation and layering are just enough to not feel like a creamy potato mash and given that, there’s not much I can complain about it given the price range.

Where the QKZ HBB really starts to shine for my library in the frequency is regarding the vocals.

Firstly, the lack of overdone pinna compensation translates into a pretty much untouched timbre accuracy to the vocals, while the ever-so-slight bump around 4.5k helps retrieving back some of the bite and detail to the warm replay, which I can only see as welcome, without ever feeling shouty or sibilant, as more elevation in this or a subjacent zone would have done. From Adele’s replay of Oh My God to the more warm and rounded interpretation of Tainted Love by Karen Souza, there’s nothing but pure joy to write home-about. Lacking some bite and having a hair more huskyness than I’d prefer comes the male vocals on In Hell I’ll Be In Good Company, interpreted by The Death South, which is a sin I’ll allow since I’d rather take this over any recessed or thin male vocals.

The treble region is rather subdue, but just the right amount. I have to say it was the biggest surprise of the set for me and one of the main reasons I really like it. It does a slope down after the pinna gain area, but never falls off or dips too much after that, plateauing across the range, culminating in a very pleasant and rather rare extension among the more budget segments. Live replays like The Fearless Flyers’ album, Live at Madison Square Garden, turns into a joy and never claustrophobic or lacking harmonic extension. The cymbal strikes during The Sleepwalker in that album are just a pure bliss of decay and never fatiguing hits.

Good tuning is free and at the end of the day, we are talking about the ultra budget segment, and just like anything in this world, nothing is perfect. Given the price range, it’s safe to assume this would fall down into the more subjective part: the technicalities.

I would be hard pressed to call this new generation of IEMs bad in the technical bits, but it still is what it is, and won’t touch well established IEMs, costing five times as much, like the tuner’s own Olina, but the QKZ HBB is not dull on its own turf. The imaging chops are actually not that claustrophobic, as seen on other more expensive offerings – yes, I’m looking at you Performer 5 – and the resolving power is actually above average given its tuning and competition. Where it falls short is in the sense of macrodynamics (Polyphia – Playing God) but, again, looking at its tag, the QKZ HBB gets a free pass all day long.

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Brief Comparisons​

• 7hz Salnotes Zero

The Zero tuning follows closely the harman tuning, which means that it’s on the brighter side, polar opposite of the QKZ HBB that is warm. Contrasting with a more pillowy bass, the latter displays a more impactful lower region, while the Zero has more clarity across the spectrum, coming out as better separated in the mid-range. Due to a big elevation in the pinna gain, Zero’s female vocals are way more prominent, borderline shouty on some tracks, while the QKZ displays a more relaxed approach in exchange for detail, until the upper regions where it shines over the former.

Taking a look at the technicalities, they are very close, but Zero has a slight advantage due to the brighter tuning, but overall I would not call one more technical than the other.

• TANGZU Wan’er SG

This comparison is closer in tuning than the previous one, with the Wan’er coming out as more tonally balanced given the earlier and more prominent pinna region, while cutting the bass shelf by around 2 dbs. Again, the clarity goes up but when we isolate the treble itself, the Wan’er isn’t brighter but rather darker, especially past 6k during sine sweeps.

On bass heavy tracks, the Wan’er does feel more neutral and less warm, thanks to the cleaner cut of the bass-shelf and tighter nature, while the QKZ HBB’s bass is more prominent but also more tactile.

The mid-range (especially pianos and male vocals) does sound cleaner and more correct on the Wan’er, while I find the timbre accuracy of the female vocals better preserved in the QKZ HBB.

Technicalities are again close, but this time I feel I have to give the advantage to the QKZ, especially on the resolving power and imaging accuracy, while the Wan’er has more stage depth.

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The verdict​

The year of 2022 closes out with a budget bang, with the QKZ most likely taking the spot as my favorite $20 IEM of the year, taking the podium together with the 7hz Zero and the Tangzu Wan’er SG, elevating the price to performance ratio of this segment.

But personal preferences and hair splitting aside, it’s probably a good time to reflect on how good an IEM can sound for so little price nowadays. It’s incredible how much the budget scene has evolved in just a year, and I can’t wait to see what the next one brings us.

Congratulations to QKZ for making a stylish comeback and to HBB for releasing yet another banger. Touché.

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Thanks for reading!

Oi! And welcome to my another IEM review, this time is a product collaboration between HBB and QKZ. We all know who HBB (Hawaiian Bad Boy) was in the audio community, So no need for further introduction about him. We are also aware of his preferred sound signature as it also happens that I've tested his previous collaboration with another IEM brand (Checkout my KZ DQ6S HERE) that's why I already have some ideas on what this earphone will sound like.


I'm also familiar with the QKZ brand as I have some old budget-level products from them that I usually give away as a gift to my mates. Their products are actually decent and very affordable, QKZ VK1 was one of my first IEMs in my collection along with CK1s which I usually give them as a gift . And here is another information, they are not a sub brand nor related to KZ (Knowledge Zenith) which most people tend to believe in the audio community. As I remember, QKZ gained some substantial momentum from their VK4 which is quite very popular to most budget-conscious audio enthusiasts due to its balanced sounding and price-to-ratio performance.


Here is the QKZ X HBB, it's a single dynamic driver IEM with a titanium coated diaphragm on its 10mm dynamic driver which gives a more coherent and lesser distortion performance. Its shell is made of polycarbonate plastic and it aesthetics design reminds me of some CCA and KZ products (namely CCA CA10 and KZ ZEX Pro). The looks of its faceplate is quite cool in my opinion as it has an black marble finish with respective logos of HBB and QKZ are on both sides. It has a QDC-type 2-pin connector which I have some mixed opinions about it.




It has a white stock SPC cable which is similar to budget-segment IEMs from KZ and CCA with a L-shaped 3.5mm termination plug for easy analogue connection on mobile devices to lessened bending issues that might cause stress on wires. The shells are in medium size proportion and yet they fits well to my lug holes without any issues and also offers a decent sound isolation from external noise.

Like almost ultra budget-level sets, QKZ X HBB product packaging is very basic and barebones when it comes to inclusions. The contents inside consists of the IEMs itself, the white stock cable, some extra silicone ear tips of different sizes and a simple instruction manual.




With an impedance of 22 Ohms, QKZ X HBB are easy to drive sets that even a smartphone with decent power output can already amplify this set to its peak performance to sound more dynamic and good audible volume level in our lug holes.




Regarding its tonality, QKZ X HBB is typically a V-shaped sound signature with warmer tuning which will be good for classic rock and old hip-hop on which HBB prefers based on his library track . It has a very dominant bass, recessed mids and some emphasis on treble.

Here are some of my observations on its sound characteristics to its overall frequency range spectrum.


LOWS/BASS:

The bass of this set is very tactile, with a good slam and thumpy that will give a clout in the overall frequency range sound. Perhaps QKZ X HBB is a good recommendation for basshead listeners who want a very impactful low end on their tracks. Sub bass is definitely present on this one as a discerningly feels its rumble and reverberation. Sub bass instruments like low register bass guitar, electric bass drum and synthesisers from synth-pop and old school hip-hop are clearly detailed.

Mid bass has even more body and that gives more authoritative sounds on bass kicks, bass guitars and bass-baritone vocals. Bass kicks has a fuller sound and thunderous one, a weighty and sustaining sound of a bass guitar and lastly, the bass baritone vocals has this guttural and a deep sound.

This is not indeed a clean bass response as there are some obvious bass bleeds that smear on the midrange that gives a more warmer sound and at the same time a sense of bloatedness.


MIDRANGE:

The midrange of this set is definitely recessed on this one but due to its added warmth it does give a dense and weight especially on male vocals. It is evident that male vocals of different voices types do really benefit on this one as it gives more strength and gruff on tenor or even falsetto. Female vocals have a very luscious and sweet but you will hear that it has that lack of energy on it.

As for instruments, it gives more emphasis on percussive and some brass instruments, it gives snare drums more impact, penetrating and harder sound. Field drums also have harder and full sounding. Brass like trumpets has power and sonorous sounding, tubas seem to have this weighty and more resonant sound. Saxophone which is really not a brass instrument as it is more of a woodwind, has a very robust and warm sound. Strings like guitars and violins have rather less crisp sound as guitar sounds a bit more buttery and violin sounds rounded and lustrous. Pianos have a more lush sound due to a richer tone with more warmth into it to make it more velvety and vibrant.



HIGHS/TREBLE:

Despite of the emphasis in the treble range. It is quite a bit veiled and distant in my liking due to that possible scooped upper mids to presence region that gives less sparkle and detail but there's a silver lining into it especially to treble sensitives, it gives a non-fatiguing listening experience without troubling on sibilance and grating sound.

It has too modest treble air that it will not give that Hi-Fi sounding due to lack of boost on air and with subdued harmonics. Cymbals strikes seem a bit stale and lack of snap on its lacking of sparkle and shimmer. Hi-hats sounds accurate on its shortened sizzled and hiss.



SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

The overall soundstage proportion of QKZ X HBB is rather more in average width, good reach on height and depth to make at least a more immersive sound experience. For sure that it does give at least a substantial spatial room in my headstage.

Imaging is more of a typical binaural stereo panning. I can locate the positioning of vocals and instruments decently. It has decent separation and layering seems reasonable on how it was place in the frequency on the sonic canvas but here's some of my concern when I played a more complex, instrumental track, it is tad congested and a bit chaotic that all elements are stacking one another.

Coherency of driver is quite cohesive as it performs well as it has a very nimble driver with good transients on attack and decay without any distortion and other bottlenecks the impedes the performance of the drivers.

Resolution is more focused on macro-dynamics rather on micro-detail retrieval on how it portrays it overall definition. But micro-details retrieval of this set is somehow decent but not the best out there. Timbre is more on a warmer side of tuning.



PEER COMPARISONS:

KZ EDA (Heavy Bass)

◆ Both sets are quite comparable as their shells are made of polycarbonate material. They even the same choice of connector which is QDC-type 2 pin. They are using 10mm dynamic drivers but the QKZ X HBB has a titanium-coated diaphragm while EDA has a newer generation of dynamic driver which is even more responsive and more detailed.

◆ They have similar tonality which is a warm, V-shaped sound signature. Bass on EDA is bit more boomy, a more recessed midrange, and more observable sibilances and a tad harshness unlike a more smoother and velvety sound of QKZ X HBB. Treble air of both sets are eerily identical given its lack of airy extension.

◆ As for technicalities, they are pretty much alike from soundstage presentation to resolution capabilities. So no contest on these both devices unless I insert the "Hi-Res" variant of the EDA which is pointless.



TangZu Wa'ner

◆ Wan'er has the same polycarbonate shell like the QKZ X HBB with a newer generation of dynamic driver. Overall product presentation. Tang Zu Wan'er is superior in any aspect as it has better quality inclusions from the ear tips and stock cable.

◆ As for tonality, they have stark differences as Wa'ner has sound signature which is quite a rarity on its price range, a mild-U shaped with utmost balanced-neutral sounding into it. Bass is definitely tighter and precise to give a clean sounding one, a more detail and transparent midrange and a more airy and delineated treble register.

◆ Even in technical aspects, Wa'ner is even better as it has more spacious head room and better layering and separation. It is even more detailed that it will provide better resolution.


Certainly that QKZ X HBB is aimed at such specific type of listeners, uber bassheads and a casual one who want an enjoyable listening experience that will be versatile to modern and popular music genres. If you are a fan of HBB's type of tuning with similar library tracks then this set is really for you, but if not look another way around.


As I put my conclusion in my assessment on QKZ X HBB. This set is purely for fun and enjoyable listening who doesn't want any added complexity and over-analysing on details on the tracks. This is not an "audiophile's sound" as it doesn't have that Hi-Fi feel and it focuses rather on warm sounding that will be pleasing to most casual listeners.


QKZ X HBB is currently available in LINSOUL, you can check it out HERE.





SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: QKZ X HBB

IMPEDANCE: 22Ω

SENSITIVITY: 115dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.25M

PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78MM)

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 *




P.S.

I am not affiliated to QKZ AUDIO 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 Ms. Kareena Tang of LINSOUL for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity towards me and other reviewers.

The QKZ x HBB have been sent to me by Linsoul for me to try out and share my opinions in this review. They have not requested anything specific and, as always, I will do my best to be as sincere and unbiased as possible in my review.

I have left a link to the QKZ x HBB via Linsoul on my blog, you can find it by visiting the version of this review published on my blog (link at the end of this post) or just google Linsoul

It is a non-affiliate link, as are all links that I share, meaning that I receive nothing in exchange for clicks or purchases made via the link.



Intro…

There is no denying that HBB (Hawaiian Bad Boy) of Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews has become the king of collaborations in previous times. I really can’t keep up with the amount of models that he has helped tune in recent times, a lot of them in the budget segment. The QKZ x HBB is another of those in the budget segment, costing less than 20€ and placing itself firmly inside the sub 50€ bracket that I consider extreme budget on Acho Reviews.

I have tried a few of HBBs collaborations and I have to say that they have impressed me in general, offering a lot for very decent prices and I will say that these are another of those models. They may not be for everyone, I will get into details on my thoughts in a second, but I can confirm that, without even getting into the review, yes, these are more than worth the asking price. Is the tuning going to be to your preference, well, I guess that is something that I can use as an excuse for you to read the review. But if you want a TLDR… if you want a 20€ stocking stuffer (with the holiday seasons approaching), then you can do a lot worse than these IEMs.



Presentation…

When we are talking about a set or earphones that cost not much more than a meal at McDonalds and we want them to sound good, there has to be something cut somewhere. What better place to cut it than in the packaging and accessories section?

In a plain small box that is overloaded with info on the exterior, we get the IEMs, a cable with inline microphone and 6 sets of silicone tips. It is an unboxing experience that is very reminiscent of KZ (or other budget QKZ models) but is more than adequate for a budget model.

Yes, the presentation is very basic and cheap, but there are models that cost triple this amount with similar presentations and, again, I would rather the costs be cut here than in the IEMs.



Build and aesthetics…

The IEMs use a generic shape that is comfortable for most people, with translucid shells and a face plate that sports the HBB logo on one IEM and the QKZ logo on the other. The logo is behind a perspex window that gives depth to the aesthetics, with grey lightening bolts on a black background behind. Surrounding the faceplate there is a metal coloured frame that gives some more “boost” to the aesthetics.

These IEMs are not something that aims to look boutique in their aesthetics but at the same time have their own original design that is nice to see.

The cable is also very reminiscent of the cables included by KZ. I don’t want to say that it’s identical but… it seems to be. The inline microphone works for the odd phone call and for talking to your assistant but is not something that you will be recording your latest single with.

In general, these are a 20€ set of IEMs and I have to say that the build and aesthetics are more than worthy of their price (or more).



Sound…

All tracks mentioned are clickable links that allow you to open the reference track in the streaming service of your choice (YouTube, Tidal, Spotify, etc.)

I am going to be sincere and straight to the point here, I am not a fan of the sound of these IEMs. I know that I said just a moment ago that these IEMs are well worth their price and that you could go out and buy them even without reading the review, and I stick by what I said. They are a good set of IEMs for their price but… cinnamon is a good ingredient but it doesn’t mean that I personally like the flavour.

If you have followed any of my reviews, you know by now that I am not a huge fan of overly present bass, especially midbass. Yes, there are sets with overly present midbass that I enjoy, for certain genres and at certain times, and I have enjoyed these for some stuff. However, overly present midbass does cause me fatigue over longer listening periods and the QKZ x HBB are one of those sets.

Now, I am still not going to complain about these IEMs as I think they will be a great buy for those who do like more in the bass, I especially found these a lot of fun for EDM. But before I get into describing each of the sound sections that I usually do, lets take a look at the graph in comparison to my personal preference target:



In the subbass, we have plenty, giving us enough rumble (in my opinion) for even the extreme bass heads amongst us. My usual subbass test with “Chameleon” I found to be overpowering… and then the bass kicked in

Now the biggest problem, for me personally, is that there is one big ramp from 500Hz down. That means that everything is boosted in the low end, from Subbass to almost the center of the mids. This is a sensation that I personally do not like yet I do know plenty of people that do. Listening to “No Sanctuary Here”, this was enough to give me fatigue but it is one of those experiences that is very impressive for those that like the bass to move them.

I went through quite a large selection of EDM and it was like being in a night club on a Saturday night, the party is great but my ears (and head) start feeling it after a while.

To my surprise, the mid range does not seem to be recessed or absent, something that I would have expected with such a large presence in the lower frequencies. Yes things like “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa are clean with no lack of presence in vocals.

Even “Make Noise” by Busta Rhymes and Lenny Kravitz did not place vocals any further back than usual. This track is already pretty weird in its recording, with Busta’s vocals taking a back seat to the backing vocals and the instrumental, but on some V shaped sets his vocals disappear almost completely, and that wasn’t the case here.

I would have also expected the upper mids to need more boost that they have in order to counteract that low end but, again, I was surprised to find that they are actually quite clear and respectable. I really didn’t find that things were struggling to fight for their place in the music, they were upfront and clear enough.

The treble extension is also not back, not the smoothest of trebles but acceptable. It has a few peaks here and there but it is not something that I think will offend many people who are looking at this kind of signature at this kind of price.

Soundstage is around average I guess, nothing spectacular going on, and I would say that image placement is about the same. Things are place well enough but they are not milimetric, not that I think that is something that should be a factor in such a tuned IEM.

Details are not great but those upper high range peaks do help give them more of a sense of detail (even if they are not that detailed), something that I think will be appreciated by many who enjoy EDM.



Isolation is also about average but one thing I will say is that you are not going to have any issues hearing the bass. If you are listening to anything with a good bass presence and at a level that is common for many EDM fans, then you will not need to worry about external noise



Conclusion…

I know this is going to come across as a very strange review. On one hand I say I don’t like the QKZ x HBB, yet on the other hand, I say that they are worth buying without a doubt. And they are.

The thing is, these IEMs, due to their tuning, give me a headache and cause me fatigue. However… I am not you. There are millions of people out there that have tastes very different to mine and I know a lot of people like sets with very present bass. And I would say that at 20€, these give a lot for their price.

There is a lot of competition out there lately in this price range, with me preferring a lot of other models over these, yet I cannot deny that if you are looking for a bassy set of IEMs on a very low budget, the QKZx HBB have a lot to offer.

*********

As with all of my reviews, this is also available in Spanish on my blog (www.achoreviews.com) and on YouTube (www.youtube.com/achoreviews)

All FR measurements of IEMs can be viewed and compared on achoreviews.squig.link

All isolation measurements of IEMs can be found on achoreviews.squig.link/isolation

QKZ HBB has entered the scene
against some other hyped and good iems at this price point
turns out it is an impressively tuned bassy iem

a well done basshead tuned iem
of course the main focus of this iem is about dat bass but it is a well tuned bassy iem
midrange sounds a bit warm, full bodied and sweet

(access more of my measurement in aftersound.squig.link)

treble positioning definitely behind that bass but in terms of extension and texture it is good indeed
my main complain is maybe that bass could be too big for my preference, on some heavy tracks could simply overwhelming the other frequency

personally when i wore them i use em without proper seal on purpose, so i could lower the bass qty also open up a bit mid and high frequency

i have joined several audio meets bringing this iem to the crowd and gotta say, this is the majority’s favorite for $20 iem
easily reccomended for bass lovers that still want a decently tuned mid to treble area

QKZ X-HBB Review​

25 October 2022

QKZ X-HBB Review ($19)​

Collab​

Here we go with another Hawaiian Bad Boy collaboration. Today I am reviewing the QKZ X-HBB which sort of took me by surprise upon seeing news of this set in the wild. I purchased the XHBB off of Amazon US for around $20. I have to say, right out of the gate, that I’m a fan of HBB (YouTube channel “Bad Guy Good Audio”). Always have been. I’m a direct type of person and seem to gravitate to anyone similar.

I won’t go into a whole spiel, but I have been a fan of nearly all HBB collab iems. Minus the DQ6S which I still have yet to have in my ears for longer than 5 minutes (they weren’t mine), as well as his most expensive sets. I just don’t have the cash for those at the moment. Oh well. I Adore the Olina, like the Mele a lot and absolutely enjoy the Kai (review will be coming soon).

I think it is a cool thing to see a collaboration with one of the lower budget brands in chifi and one of the bigger names in the hobby. This is good on many fronts, but the best part is that we “the consumer” actually reap some rewards of such partnerships. With this recent string of collaborative efforts of late, I think there has been an evident spike in quality within the budget sector in general. Competition and standards grow, and eventually better gear hits the market. That is how it seems anyhow.

This was fun… ​

Anyways, I had a good time reviewing this set. It was kind of a surprise to a small extent just how nicely the tuning was done. Maybe I should’ve expected something worthy of HBB’s name. I won’t make that mistake in the future. If they can do this with a $20 iem then c’mon… High expectations people. There are a growing number of well-tuned and relatively great sounding ultra-budget iems in the market right now, but for me there are a select few which I truly enjoy. Just to get it out of the way now… in my opinion… the XHBB is one of those select budget beasts which seem to really excell.


Full Review: https://mobileaudiophile.com/qkz-x-hbb-review/



Gear used
–Fiio Utws5
–Zooaux Dongle Dac
–IFi Go Blu
–Ibasso DX240 w/ Amp8 MK2

Packaging​

The packaging for the XHBB is about what one would expect. It is pretty sparse as all that’s included is the earphones, the ear tips and the cable. The cable is perfectly fine and functional but I did swap it out for a balanced cable for balanced sources. The included eartips are actually of decent quality but I did also swap those out for KBear 07 tips.

[IMG alt="QKZ X-HBB Package & Accessories
"]https://i0.wp.com/mobileaudiophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20221012_175633.jpg?resize=1024,1024&is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1[/IMG]

Full Review: https://mobileaudiophile.com/qkz-x-hbb-review/​

Cable​

The included cable is simply a SPC, Silver Plated Copper cable. I do not know how many cores are involved with the Construction. I simply haven’t seen much in the way of information. The cable actually is almost a replica of KZ cables. Like I said I did swap cables back and forth depending on the source being used. I used a balanced cable quite a bit as well for my balanced sources. I don’t think it is a necessity to cable swap but I understand perfectly why you would.

Build / Design / Fit​

Build ​

The build is actually much better than I would have expected. Truthfully this set is built solid! It appears that it was constructed from two pieces (Faceplate & Shell) glued together. QKZ also added what appears to be an aluminum ring around the Faceplate which is a nice touch. The nozzle is sturdy and golden in color with a nice lip for holding tips as well as some scored marks around the lip. The grill is also not some flimsy cheap mesh grill but is solid & all metal which adds a bit of a premium flare.

The build is very well put together and without any glue spots or rough surfaces or slight misalignment. This set seems to be built pretty well and actually looks pricier than it is.

What’s Inside? ​

The XHBB has a 10mm Dynamic Driver which is a Titanium-coated Diaphragm. It is also said to have a high-intensity magnetic circuit.

10mm Titanium-Coated Diaphragm
With times of experiments, QKZ acoustic engineers eliminated ordinary diaphragms and eventually selected the unique 10mm Titanium-Coated Diaphragm to deliver a detailed, accurate sound that is different from any other product in the market.
Optimized Magnetic Circuit, Double Power
Enhanced high-intensity magnetic circuit greatly improves bass performance. With HBB’s special tuning, the earphone reproduces crystal clear sounds with enough bass for people who want to crank it out a bit, yet still be able to hear every instrument and vocal details of what is playing through their headphones. It is a good choice for R&B, DJ, stage performance, metal…
QKZ Promotional

Click to expand...

​

Design​

These look flat out tough! They are striking in appearance! All black except for some dope looking accent colors and trim. The faceplates are the jewel of this set with HBB’s cool looking logo in the center and lightning graphics imposed around the logo. The XHBB screams “Dude” through and through! An alloy ring edges the Faceplate creating a perfect contrast of color. Then you couple that with the golden looking nozzle, and you got yourself feeling you should’ve paid more. Really the Design coupled with the actual build is second to none right now at the price. Off the top of my head anyways, I’m sure there are some I’m not recalling. That last thought is obviously debatable.

Fitment​

The fit for me is like “Peas & Carrots”, or like a “Hand in a Glove”. This (Fitment) is obviously a subjective thing and really… I have zero idea why I waste digital ink on explaining it, but the XHBB fit me very well.

Drivability ​

I have zero issues driving this set. Even from an iPad 2018 I hear decent dynamics. The Zooaux Dongle Dac paired well with Xhbb which tells me similar small dongles will work perfectly fine. I also really enjoyed this set attached to the Fiio Utws5. What a nice pairing for a Bluetooth tws type option. The AK dac within seems to reach a nice synergy with this budget gem.

More Power​

Moving to the IFi Go Blu and the Fiio KA3 with a 4.4 balanced cable was equally great. Both seem to really bring out better separation and increased perceived soundstage with the additional power. Finally, as always, I spend the most time with my Ibasso Dx240 with Amp8 MK2 Installed (Ibasso DX248 MK2). The DX240 paired with this little budget wonder sounds absolutely great. I can honestly say there are incremental upgrades in fidelity and overall dynamics with power and improved devices with better internals. This should surprise nobody. But hey, if all you have is a small dongle dac, trust me… you’re good, the XHBB will sound nice with it.

Sound Impressions ​

The XHBB has a warmer tonal character yet with good extension and dynamic expression both ways for an ultra-budget iem. This is a V-shaped iem with a definite emphasis in the bass region. I hear a semi-smooth replay with a non-fatiguing sound yet still with some defined edges to notes and an energetic warmth which sounds decently compelling.

The bass hits with authority and has some good texture. I wouldn’t call it a bass-head level low-end. The Mids aren’t pushed too far back either, what a pleasant surprise. Vocals sound convincing and weighty for males. Females sound emotional and spirited. Treble has some spritely energy but not even close to fatiguing.

The X-HBB is a steal… ​

The XHBB isn’t tuned to precisely emphasize the minutiae within a track and if you are going to purchase this set for its technical capabilities then I’d say you could find better in this regard. For what they are though, details aren’t absent. I’ll get more into that later. All in all, though, this set absolutely rocks! Tuned with a certain easy-going vivaciousness! The XHBB is slightly soft at note edges, yet as a whole they are well enough defined, just not the crispest. For a well-tuned iem under $25, this is an absolute steal in my most honest opinion.


Right away I check the bass when going through a review process. I immediately noticed the tighter boom of this bass region. Especially on “Billie Jean“, the remake of Michael Jackson’s famous hit by Weezer. There is a decisive, forward and commanding thud from the soloed-out kick-drum. Bass hits aren’t the crispiest or most clean lined, but they are as clean as they are aggressive. By the way, this set can be aggressive. In the same breath, the low end isn’t too overdone, and the bass doesn’t infringe on the midrange in an intrusive way, more so in a helpful way. No muddiness, no veil and also nothing pillowy or hollow.

Sub & Mid Bass​

The sub-bass has that extended and deep haptic vibration which is sonorous and juddering. Take any Billie Eilish track, trust me… we agree. The mid-bass can detonate when called upon but doesn’t appear to be at a “Bass Boi” level. I feel it just misses that mark. I realize I’m using descriptions which sound like bass-head terms but the rest of the tuning balances everything out just enough to miss that moniker. It simply growls deep and with good authority. The mid-bass is just as authoritative. It hits hard and does so without trying it seems.

The bass is tight for its size and bolsters the overall tuning like an anchor. Texture is clearly evident while resolution is closer to average. I’d say that relative to the amount of visceral slam, boom and growl is a tidy and pretty clean bass for $20. Attack is rigid and full of a semi-solid leading edge as the decay/sustain bleeds a note down with a nice atmospheric trail-off. It isn’t the speediest of low ends but also, I wouldn’t want it to be. Another thing, it isn’t slow at all.

There is a ton of texture to bass guitars and the overall bass in general. I think it strikes a nice clean, melodic, authoritative and textured balance. “Feelin the Miles” by The Wilder Blue shows off that guttural bass guitar like a budget champ. Or “Heavy is the Ocean” by Bush on their brand-new album. People just trust me that XHBB absolutely kills it. There is nice depth to the bass while chaos is playing around the bassline. Pretty darn good.

​

Midrange​

Mids in general​

The Midrange to me has a certain velvet touch to it. Rich and syrupy. Lush is the word we normally reach for, and I don’t think I could find a better word in the English language. I need a word describing something full sounding yet smooth and not even close to dry. Um, how about lush? Lush it is. Because of this lushness I don’t get that super resolute or detail-oriented playback. Honestly, I don’t care. The XHBB sounds so melodic in the Mids. Yes, there are ridiculously picky drawbacks which I will quickly outline but all in all, great job with this moist and full sounding, smooth replay which comes across rather…lush. You won’t find shout here, you won’t hear sibilance either, you won’t throw these iems off your head from the piercing ringing in your ears. It’s easy, not completely recessed and it doesn’t offer fatigue.

Lower midrange (Male Vocals) ​

The low-mids come through with a nice warmth and decent weight to vocals. I wouldn’t call this the most natural of male vocals, but I wouldn’t say they are completely unnatural. Possibly a hair too much mid bass emphasis in this region for some. However, this mid-bass push helps in other areas which make it an easy trade-off. Males are forward and focused enough, even in the midst of the slight recession. Truthfully, I like the way males sound. Marcus King in “Blood On The Tracks” renders his raspy yet smooth voice very well on the XHBB. Definition could be a hint better in the face of the melody surrounding Marcus, but the musicality and warmth is there with enough solid presence to carry the track well.

Upper-Midrange (Female Vocals) ​

Females are more forward and energetic without offering fatigue in the upper-mids. They come across sveltely defined and steal the midrange show. I think they come across more naturally than males to me. By the way, ‘natural’ is a ridiculous subjective term we use. I’d love for someone to try to describe what “natural” is. Anyways, sorry, “Hold the Girl” by Rina Sawayama showcases her vocal abilities in an almost ballad style. I would like a bit more of a controlled sheen as there is the ever so slightest lack of shimmer here. Very slight.

This is me being ridiculously picky over a $20 iem. Truthfully most other female lead vocals sound resolute and forward enough, emotional enough and are done so with a good body to the sound. To sum up vocals, both male and female sound very nice for the price, which also means they sound really nice at any price… nice is nice.

Treble​

The treble has a nice downward sounding slope which actually has some nice extension. The treble region simply does its job. In my opinion it does the treble region well. No, it isn’t expanded to the furthest reaches of the galaxy. No, it isn’t the most heightened or accentuated. Also no, the treble doesn’t contrast tiny minute details with the surrounding melody like a detail forward budget king. Definitely no, treble-heads probably won’t treasure this set. The treble doesn’t expand the stage or brighten the mix or add any sparkles or shine. The treble on the XHBB casually just… does its job. Vibrant enough to add some clarity and boost the overall sound while maintaining that leisurely smoothness. The treble to some will be the downside to this set, but for long listening sessions, trust me… it is an upside to the XHBB.

Not too much​

The XHBB treble is a non-fatiguing, but still a fairly energetic treble which walks that fine line not to disrupt the overall warmish, easy-going replay. The upper 3rd maintains an exuberant and bodied sound. Perhaps if I was picky, I’d ask for a bit more air up top, but in totality I love the choice and the direction of the tuning. Very nice for long periods and even short sessions. I’m not missing anything and in truth there is still plenty of vibrancy when it is called upon. Let’s put it this way, the XHBB is not a dark sounding set at all. It’s energetic enough to almost balance the tonal equilibrium and doesn’t force any emblazed or embellished brilliance like some budget sets. Well, even many non-budget sets push the envelope and end up going a bit too far.

Furthermore, about the Treble…​

Cymbals have a nice “chisk” to them and trail off with enough volume while not sounding weird to me. Piano and sax sound “natural” to me. Honestly, I don’t have a ton to say about the treble region. I think it is very nicely done considering the asking price and the library of music this set was catering to. Again, there is still a smoother and less crisp, less separated and less defined leading edge to instruments though I hear good enough clarity to easily satisfy me.

So, details are not going to pop up with some crazy distinctness, but seriously folks… what are you actually trying to hear? What details do your ears need that this set can’t give you? If you need to hear the scrape of a napkin 10 rows back in your favorite live song… please trust me… you aren’t enjoying the music. Also, the XHBB prob isn’t for you.

To add to that last point. The XHBB represents, to me, a musical and emotionally pulling sound which would all be lost with some ultra-transparent and detail focused tuning. Yes, there are sets that can give you both, but guess what… they don’t cost $20. This set does cost $20, and for $20 I like the final result of the treble area. Not much is lost here.

Soundstage/Separation/Imaging/Details​

The soundstage has a good size to it. These are iems so… I’m not looking for a coliseum. Depending on the track and source; the XHBB have above average width for the price point with decent height and have some depth to them. I don’t hear a simple 2D plane and wall of sound. Also, my biggest concern about stage size… is it appropriate to the music I am listening to? Without question the answer is yes.

Separation​

Separation isn’t the Xhbb’s finest attribute. Granted it isn’t bad either. Providing the track being played isn’t too hectic, separation isn’t bad at all. Now, if I’m playing “I’m Not Okay” by My Chemical Romance at high volumes or “Under the Gun” by The Black Keys then no you won’t hear crazy good separation. Forgive me for the song choices by the way, the best I could do off the top of my head that I used for testing. Anyways, even with those tracks my ‘written notes’ say that separation wasn’t horrible but a slight bit blended at the more congested chorus parts for those particular songs.

Imaging​

Imaging is pretty good. Nothing jumped out at me as a problem. Most of my music isn’t so chaotic that the XHBB can’t keep up and position well. I can pretty easily locate everything within my music putting the X-HBB above average to me. I’ve heard sets that are horrible in this area and the XHBB isn’t one of them. I’d say nothing is out of place or blended, which is all that we should be asking of this price tag and tuning. There is good enough clarity to distinguish decently etched out elements of a stage.

Details​

Details are again, not mind blowing. For the tuning, details are fine, but the XHBB is not a detail king. I am glad for this as I don’t want to lose the emotional pull to my music. Most of the details which are illuminated on the XHBB fall into the macro area to my ears. This is simply not XHBB’s strong suit. Of course, anyone who has followed the tuning and library and style of HBB himself should know what genres and types of music he is tuning to. Still, details aren’t absent, they aren’t awash in a blended cocktail of sound. Resolution & clarity; while not class leading, it is good enough to fulfill the appropriate demands of most music and pull-out surface details for a melodic playback. That’s about the gist of it.

Comparisons ​

*Note: My comparisons are not competitions. I use comparisons as a tool to help somewhat explain the audio gear which I am reviewing. Unless the discrepancy between the two is obvious to everyone.

7hz Salnotes Zero ($19)​

Talk about an overachiever… the 7hz Salnotes Zero is quite a nice budget sector iem. I purchased this set with hopes to review but my schedule was just too crazy. Maybe someday soon. To some this is the set which draws new standards, while to others it is a dull hype train. I’ve heard both. I guess anyone who can appreciate a very mature and balanced sound will appreciate this fantastic little gem. Truly the Zero has brought many to answer the question, “Why am I spending so much on iems?”. In many ways it out classes it’s price point fairly easily as I am giving the XHBB some stiff and unforgiving competition. Not that this is a contest.

The Zero is a single Dynamic Driver set with a 10mm Metal Composite Diaphragm. I believe it comes in at around $20, at least in the States. It has a very stylish minimalistic design with a somewhat unique shape which is very well built.

Differences​

As far as differences go between the Zero and the XHBB, there are quite a few. Honestly these two don’t graph altogether too differently past the midrange. When actually listening to them both, the differences are easily highlighted. The difference is in the bass section, lower mids and in the stuff which doesn’t graph. In fact, these two are almost at opposite ends of listening styles and sound signatures to me.

Contrasting styles​

The Zero is much quicker down low with much less bass quantity and a speedier response. Some refer to the Zero as “Bass Light”. I suppose there is some subjective truth to that but really the Zero have a very dialed-in and quality low-end. The XHBB hits with a lot more authority and represents a much more dynamic and emotive listen. The XHBB has better texture to my ears and simply sounds full while remaining in decent control.

The Zero sounds airy in the midrange where it is also cleaner and more technical in nature. The XHBB counters that clean playback with musicality and an emotional aspect which is hard to beat at the price. There is a slight bit more emphasis in the upper-mids to lower-treble on the Zero and coupled with the attenuated lower bass region the Zero has a better chance at fatigue. The XHBB is smoother and easier going.

The treble region on both of these sets is very well done. The Zero sounded brighter with better outward extension to the XHBB’s warmer and more ardent and impassioned replay. Obviously, in regard to technicalities the Zero pulled ahead across the board. The Zero is drier and more analytical, yet still retains a certain musicality. The XHBB has a more of a full sound, weightier in all regions with a more accurate timbre in my opinion.

Which one to choose?​

Personally, I do enjoy the QKZ X-HBB a bit more. It simply is closer to my target and what I prefer when listening to music. However, I can’t say that it isn’t extremely close considering all that the Zero does well. The difference for me lies in the fuller and more dynamically expressive sound of the XHBB, with its more robust and deeper low end and the way vocals come across more saturated in the “feels” department. This is in no way a rebuke of the Zero and I want to make sure there is no misunderstanding. I thoroughly enjoy that set. It is a budget Marvel in my opinion, and I do believe that it will be some time before we see another which is so well executed.

CCA Lyra ($19)​

Oh, the Lyra! My schedule never permitted me to review it unfortunately either. That’s okay there are a million reviews already, I don’t think the world needs my take.

The Lyra comes hot off the heels of many KZ/CCA single Dynamic killers! The cool part… the Lyra out-performs them all in my opinion. Of course, this is easily debatable. The Lyra has a 10mm Dual Magnetic, Single Dynamic Driver. It is the culmination of KZ/CCA slowly dialing the tuning in to where they truly are creating fantastic iems for the price. The Lyra looks pretty darn cool and is built decently for the Low cost.

Differences​

As far as differences go with the XHBB, I believe this all comes down to small differences. These two are pretty close when all is said and done. The Lyra has a bit more of an open sound with a sliver more emphasis in the upper mids/lower treble. Note weight on the XHBB edges the Lyra in my opinion. Though definition and clarity are a hair better on the Lyra with a bit more of a snappy attack. The low-end of the XHBB has more impact and is simply more full sounding, deeper and the slightest bit more aggressive.

I think treble extension is slightly in favor of the XHBB while the Lyra has a hint more emphasis, especially in the low-treble. The soundstage actually has more depth and more of a holographic sensation on the X-HBB with a slightly more fun and dynamic sound. Still, I’d say the Lyra has a wider stage. The overall timbre and tonality of the Lyra has an airier quality to it with better spacing and a touch more resolute overall.

A Tough Call…​

This one is the tougher call to make for me. I honestly feel these two are tops in my absolute favorites in the ultra-budget sector. Ultra-budget in my mind is less than $25 by the way. I could also add the EDX Ultra to this list as well, but I don’t have them on hand to compare. Truthfully these two are more alike than they are different. Any area where one sort-of outperforms the other is by the smallest of margins. Also, ‘outperform’ is subjective and only my opinion, and probably a bad choice of words. More like subtle differences. Honestly, if you already have the Lyra, it may be pointless to hit the “Buy Now” button from your favorite dealer on the XHBB & vice-versa. For me, right now… I may be a prisoner of the moment, but I simply enjoy the XHBB more than the others.

Conclusion​

Folks I never would have thought we would start seeing budget iems which perform so very well. The audio world has been turned on its head with iems so spectacular as the 7hz Zero or the QKZ X-HBB or the Lyra. No these won’t best very good $200 iems. Sorry they aren’t that good. In the same breath these will best “some” much pricier iems, and I typed that without cracking a smile.

I thoroughly enjoy the set under review here. The XHBB is no doubt a great performer with a quality sound that I can easily listen to for long periods and not get tired of. At times I downplayed my feelings over this ‘Budget Baddy’ as I try not to hype anything but… let the “hype-train” roll people. This set absolutely will not be for everyone. This I promise. It is not the most technically inclined as the XHBB cannot stand next to some others in that regard. Some of you already know if this is for you or not just by understanding the HBB’s library and past tuning efforts. It should come as no surprise however that he (HBB) once again absolutely NAILED his tuning style and co-created one heckuva iem. Bravo.

Other Perspectives​

Well, there you have it. Another fun review where I get to do what I enjoy and put my little ‘reviewer hat’ on. It’s therapeutic Fellas and Ladies. With that said, please don’t take only my word for it, don’t do that. Read and listen to, or watch, other reviewers and take in other perspectives. I understand that not many of the people within the community have a ton of money burning a hole in their pocket. For most, your purchases have to matter. I hope to help at least a little bit. I will give my honest take on whatever I review, and this review was no different than any other. I’ve always been a fan of HBB but still I would not let that affect my description of what I hear and think.

Thank you to anyone who took the time to read this review. I hope it helps. Please take good care and stay safe.

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