HZSOUND Heart Mirror Zero

General/Build/Packaging/Comfort
HZSOUND gained its popularity with the OG Heart Mirror, literally a mirror due to its reflective metal shell. I have not had the chance to audition the OG Heart Mirror hence no comparison will be made between HM Zero and the OG Zero.
HM Zero went for the painted look which is a good choice in my opinion, I personally am not a fan of reflective surface’s shells due to it being easily scratchable and not to mention a fingerprint magnet. HM Zero is very small and fits very well in my ears, i have no problem wearing them for several hours while working and listening to music in the background. Packaging is rather straightforward, it came with a “waifu” packaging box, a storage pouch, eartips, cable and the IEM itself, pretty standard and nothing to shout out about.

Gears used for this review

• Earmen Angel Dac/Amp
• iFi Gryphon
• Macbook Air M2 3.5 Out
• iPod Touch 5th Gen

Foreword
My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone’s ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far

Sound Impression
HM Zero to my ears is very flat and the bass response is linear, mids and trebles are good but the bass is lacking in terms of quantity. This is one of the IEM that benefits greatly from my source iFi Gryphon’s Xbass feature, it really adds that extra “ooomph” to the songs. Timbre sounds alright to my ears, a little cool in terms of tonality but pairing it with a warm source will negate it

Bass

• Bass quantity is very little, it lacks the kick nor body
• The speed however is very good and it handles complex track easily without breaking a sweat
• Mid bass lacks body and punch, sub bass rolled off very early so you literally won’t hear/feel any rumble
• This is certainly not for bassheads but more like a set for trebleheads

Mids

• Vocal presentation takes the front stage, vocal is forward and well separately from the instruments
• Female vocal especially is very pleasing to listen to, vocal lovers will love this set especially, good body for the female vocal overall
• Male vocal is as good as female vocal, good body overall
• Upper mids are not shouty, it is energetic but never shouty based on my listening experience (your mileage might vary depending on your sensitivity)

Treble

• Treble is energetic and smooth at the same time? It is lively but not offensive at the same time
• Not sibilant at all, definitely a set for the trebleheads!
• Detail retrieval is good and you can hear the nuances without trying too hard
• Extension is good for the price
• Good amount of air and presence

Soundstage/Imaging

• Soundstage is average, not too wide nor boxy sounding
• Average height, depth and width
• Imaging is good, instruments can be pinpointed easily even during complex track

Driveability

• HM Zero is not hard to drive, out of my Macbook Air M2’s 3.5mm jack, my normal listening volume is achieve at 3/10 volume steps
• It does however scale with better source, iFi Gryphon with XbassII on for example, it gave the HM Zero a better note weight overall, also boosted the bass quantity and makes it a more “musical” sounding IEM
• Pairing it with the Earmen Angel will give it a more reference sound, slightly better control on the bass and better imaging, bass quantity is more or less similar
• HM Zero also pairs very well with the iPod Touch 5th Gen due to the nature of the DAP being colored/musical

Suggested Improvements

• Use it with Dunu’s Candy Eartips for better note weight across the frequencies
• Pair it with warm source to negate the cool sounding nature of HM Zero
• Swapping the stock cable to copper cable does slightly increase the bass quantity

Final Thoughts
So, who is the HM Zero For? Definitely not for the bassheads out there. In my opinion, HM Zero is for someone who wants to listen to vocal tracks as well as someone who likes a good dose of treble. I have no problem recommending HM Zero to those who are trebleheads as well as vocal lovers, not to mention those who like a flat response, HM Zero is the one you should get. HM Zero cost 33$ at the time of writing, which is not too expensive considering the good technicalities that it offers.

*HM Zero is sent over by HiFiGo for the purpose of this review, a big thanks for the opportunity, i received no monetary compensation nor was i influenced in any way to produce this review.

If you are interested in getting a pair of HM Zero, head over to the following link below to get one!

HZSOUND Heart Mirror Zero - Non Affiliated

Review Of the HZSOUND Heart Mirror Zero​

Introduction​

Few people are aware of the history of HZSOUND, a Chinese firm that existed for a long time prior to the highly popular Heart Mirror IEM, which rose to recognition rather quickly. If I'm not mistaken, the company was founded more than 12 years ago, initially partnering with German and Japanese audio companies to assist with the releases of their headsets. However, after becoming experts in the field of headsets, they ultimately decided to launch the H&Z HZSOUND headset brand and unveiled their first product, the HZSOUND EP001, in 2014. They also offer a range of earbuds. As was already noted, they sprang to prominence after releasing the HZSOUND heart mirror, an iem with a single driver configuration. Heart Mirror's successors, such as Heart Mirror Pro and the freshly launched Heart Mirror Zero, have recently been included. Today I'm going to talk about heart mirror zero, but before, let's discuss a few things.

Disclaimer​

*Since this unit tour was organised by the kindly people at Linsoul, I am grateful to them. And as I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as "Zero."
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Zero based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

The Zero has a single dynamic driver configuration, the big 10mm driver uses highly rigid carbon nanotube diaphragm, neodymium magnet and CCAW voice coil. The shell and the faceplate are made of CNC zinc alloy. The cable is silver plated OFC cable with 2 pin connectors ending with a 3.5 L-shaped termination plug, the cable are houses an in-line control with mic. Other accessories which are offered are three pairs of eartips with different sizes(small, medium and large) and a carrying pouch. Coming to the technical specifications, the impedance is 32ohms with sensitivity of 112dB. The frequency response ranges from 15Hz to 40kHz and the total harmonic distortion is below 1% at 1kHz.

Sound​

The Zero has a sound that leans towards being bright and neutral with a hint of warmth in the bottom. With the exception of the driver and a few differences in the mid range, the Zero's frequency response is essentially identical to that of the original Heart Mirror. The treble was well-extended and sounded quite refined. The midrange has a tone that is appropriate and expressive. The bass area barely appears, yet there are still enough hits and impacts to balance the entire response. I perceived that this release, which is nearly identical to the original version, was made in response to something like a fan request. Although this is the only plausible explanation I can think of, I'm not sure. I concluded that the zero are more capable than the originals based on my findings. Let's explore the sound thoroughly.

Treble​

The tone is leaner but not inoffensive, and the treble is highly energetic, detailed, and pleasant to listen to. The top treble stretches out beautifully, with no elements blending into a single note to produce tinny sound. The vocals sound expansive and have a metallic tone, yet I didn't experience any interference with their natural mood while listening up close. Instead, I found the sound to be dreamlike. Even though I occasionally hear little metallic tones in the instrument's sound, it generally preserves the quality of each note and the entirety of the response. This could occasionally lead to harmonic mistake and turn dwindling notes into sibilance. Along with the vocals, it shines thanks to its edgier and crisper tone. The lower treble has a lot of vigor and acts realistically performed without becoming drowsy from fatigue. The instruments may lean in the rear, but the vocals sound in front with elegance in the mix, readily replenishing the energy lost by the instruments. The voices have a distinct, emotive quality that is detailed and crisp. Male and female vocal features may differ because male vocals sound more assertive while female vocals may pronounce ss and tt sounds. The natural vibe of instruments like guitar strings is present, and the sound of each string being plucked is enjoyable. To my taste, the response is favorable. The treble region's overall reaction, while bright, is vibrant, dynamic, and detailed while fending against any attacking tactics.

Mid Range​

The mid range has a tone that is similar to the lower treble range but with each note having greater vitality, character, and ability to recover more expressiveness and subtleties. Makes the entire experience plausible and amazing in its own unique manner. With additional thickness and note weight, the upper mid range has an identical sound to the lower treble. The tonal harmony truly evens out and minimises the metallic quality audible in the treble range while bringing out the natural aura of it. Particularly the female voices sound lively and linear with their presence because they don't sound tinny or hot. Although they are slightly in the background, the instruments have a decent hold on the mix and make it more pleasurable. The lower mid range has an excellent balance and lays the groundwork for denser sounding higher frequencies. The mid bass bleed adds a little warmth to the thick texture of this track. The note weight and density of the voices and the instruments are good, and they sound raised in the mix. Zero is unquestionably among the best vocal-focused IEMs in this price range based on the impressions so far. Returning to the lower midrange, the bass lines are rich and detailed, which makes them seem more natural and approachable in the mix. Instead of typically feeling backward or supportive, the presentation is thought to be forward. It sounds melodic with good details and vitality all over thanks to the complementary high treble and lower midrange. The mid range region is generally presented in a lively, vivid, expressive, and musical manner.

Bass​

Usually I find the bass response to have a 10dB shelf cutting off under 300-400Hz, but the bass response here is nearly nonexistent, which shows disregard for this presentation. By exsistence, I meant that the bass had a limited role in the overall mix; this doesn't imply that the quality was muted, just that the amount was muted. Although low sounds are audible, their characteristics are steady and act to maintain the balance. There is enough bass to make it sound deep. Although it only exists in this frequency band, it may seem like the majority of the mid-bass is highlighted. The bass lines seem revealing and have strong thick notes, yet the tones tend to impact softly. The lower mid range is given warmth by the mid bass, which also sounds strong enough to keep it slammy. I mean, there is extension there, but it feels like the rumble sensation is almost staged to keep the reaction lighthearted. The sub bass sounds unnaturally adjusted. According to what I could find, this seems unbalanced but nonetheless conveys a sense of being cinematic. Bass heads should avoid it because of the flat response in the bass and the treble's brightness. I do commend the management of the entire bass region because it keeps the overall response very clean—possibly too clean—and doesn't violate or put muddiness or overbearing sensation into the higher frequencies, which can sound bloated or unclear. I think this tuning produces excellent bass texture and details. Lean, textured, and controlled describe the bass region's overall response.

Technical Performance​

The technical performance is unquestionably superior to others in this price bracket and possibly those above. The stage is large enough, and the layering and imagery maintain a clean and sharp presentation. The separation is welcome because it makes each element's play highly fluid and distinct. The notes' pace and resolution are perfect for listening, with excellent details.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

The stage sounds expansive and maintains depth, giving off a surround-sound impression. To ensure that vocals and instruments sound sharp and clear, imaging is thorough. I can readily identify the direction the sound is coming from because to the shockingly clear and distinct way that each note or constituent is separated from the other.

Speed & Resolution​

The information that these IEM produce is quite illuminating and sounds promising when the data is approached correctly, which improves the resolution. For a dynamic driver, the speed of the note's assault and fade is astoundingly quick. It resolves swiftly and easy due to the quickness.

Sound Impressions​

Sources​

Tempotec V6 - The V6 made the coupling sound incredibly bright and alive. The mid range was comfortable yet forward sounding in the mix, in contrast to the treble region, which was quite exposing and rather manufactured sounding. Although the bass was hardly audible, it helped the treble and midrange to sound fairly tonally appropriate. Technical aspects remained largely unchanged and felt familiar. As is the case here, a combination with such a neutral and silky sounding source will sound more resolution focused. Thus, using the V6 in conjunction with the Zero was a positive experience.

iFi HipDac - The sound that came out of the zero when paired with the Hipdac was incredible. Although still retaining the same clarity and precision, the treble featured elements that sounded more buttery and rounded. The midrange had a more natural tone and a calming vibe. The bass, in my opinion, was warmer and slightly muted, but it sounded considerably better and was tonally more accommodating to a balanced listener like myself. Although the responsiveness was improved to my satisfaction and sounded wonderful with the hipdac's bass boost turned on, both the sub bass and mid bass were elevated, with the sub bass taking centre stage. Even though the bass quality was diminished, the overall response became smoother and more realistic sounding. The vocals and instrumentation, in my opinion, have good density. When the stage drew nearer and the resolution dropped a little, the technicalities felt a little underwhelming. Yet aside from the two that were listed, every trait felt remarkably similar. I enjoy listening to the coupling with the hipdac the most.

Tracks Used​

Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere(Remastered)
Toto - Africa
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Daft Punk - Tron Legacy (End Titles)
GOJIRA - Amazonia
Fergie - Glamorous
50 Cent - In Da Club
Skrillex - XENA
Skrillex - Torture You
The Neighbourhood - Sweater Weather
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Blck Cobrv - Candy Shop
LMYM - 0 (zero)
Indila - Love Story
Marina Hoiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
Wayne - Not Enough

Conclusion​

As a direct conclusion to this review, I'll say that they are made for flat/bright tuned IEM listeners because they expose such details and clarity and have such prowess within this price range. They have such gratifying vocals that they definitely break my heart. I offer Zero a thumbs up and suggest it to people with a tight budget who value clarity and specificity. This IEM stands out from the competitors due to its affordability. I'll continue to simply request that bassheads and fans of balanced sound try it out first.