7Hz Legato

I had the chance to spend three weeks with the 7hz Legato, and four other IEMs, in return for my honest impressions. Thanks to @Damz87 as always for organising.

The 7hz Legato I received didn’t come in its full retail package, however did have the leather case which is quite nice. I can’t comment on the tips, packaging etc. (which is sufficiently covered in other reviews) however the case is quite nice (if not a little on the large size) and the IEM feels well built. The cable isn’t anything special but no complaints here. The IEM is a dual dynamic driver, retailing for $109 USD.

I tested these using Final E tips, driven through my FiiO Q7, with a wide variety of music tried out.

I don’t generally read through reviews before writing mine however I had to with the Legato, my initial thoughts after listening for a couple of hours were not good. Seeing that they have an average of four out of five stars on head-fi had me scratching my head.

I listened to many of the tracks that others called out, and could pick out some of what they were getting at, but they’re such a one trick pony, with that trick being average, that I still don’t understand the rating.

Onto the breakdown:

Bass: Average (C+). The one highlight, the texture and detail isn’t great, but you get some impact and slam on certain tracks which can sound nice. It has decent weight, and feel. For bass focussed tracks I could see why you may consider these. Sub-bass was my favourite part, however mid-bass was not too bad either.

Mids: Below average (D-). Due to the elevated bass anything that exists in the region sounds dull and lifeless if bass is present. Where there isn’t much bass it can sound nice, guitar focussed tracks in particular were decent. Vocals sounded OK but quite shallow.

Treble: Below average (D-). They have a dark feel, which I don’t mind, however they clearly haven’t been tuned with treble in mind. Overall very soft.

Technicalities: Below average (D). This isn’t designed to be technical at all, it’s a bass focussed IEM.

Personal Preference: Bad (E). Not for me at all. I didn’t mind some post-rock tracks, along with guitar only music, however it’s worth noting that none of it sounded like it actually should. It’s an extremely coloured IEM.

Overall: None preference score (Below Average – D+), Overall Rating (Below Average D-). This are not the IEM for me, and I don’t think they’d be the IEM for most people. If you have some IEM’s already, and are after something bassy and not too expensive, maybe. They don't get a recommendation from me.

My rating table for this IEM:



Edit: As Head-Fi works on 1-5 I've updated my rating sheet, and subsequently this review, to fit.

My rating system:

The7hz Legato Discovery Journey.


Who Builds the Legato? 7Hz was founded in 2012 as a team of engineers and audio enthusiasts who came together to test their skills in the realmof audio. 7Hz stands for the Theta Wave, a frequency that is often associated with meditation and harmony. We know the companies other IEMs well such as the Timeless planar and Timeless AE, Salnotes Zero And the new Salnotes Zero 2, the Dioko and recently the new Sonus.


The7Hz Legato is an earphone with a dual-dynamic driver configuration with a crossover design; a 12mm woofer is paired with a 6mm midrange tweeter. The Legato has incorporated its own technology to deliver adeep and controlled bass, while the driver design on the tweeter aims to enhance the precision and detail of midrange and high frequencies.The 12mm unit uses a high-power N52 Neodymium magnet that produces a powerful magnetic flux allowing for swift movement of the diaphragm coil enabling clean and precise sound. It is machined from aviation grade aluminium for strength and light weight and is comfortable to wear. Legato is also easy to drive.


When is a review not a review?


When you are listening to an IEM that's made with one purpose in mind. I'll let Larry Fulton


of7Hz explain. He said.


“ We didn't tune the Legato JUST to please bassheads. We tune the Legato with the single-minded objective to bring back the 1960s, 70s and early 80s vintage sound. “


Instinctively in this hobby we want to compare and contrast new IEM's with units


we are already familiar with, to get a sense of how the earphones sound.


For those of us that grew up in the age of home stereos blasting out 70's and 80's pop and rock, the Legato sound is familiar. Younger listeners will find this sound unusual and even perplexing. If they have been to live music venues then the sound might make sense. Bass frequencies require speakers to move large amounts of air to transmit low and impactful sounds to your ears. To reproduce this in an earphone small enough to fit in your ear is an engineering marvel. And to produce the levels of bass that Legato can without swamping the other frequencies is pretty impressive!


RayChan of 7Hz explains.


“We understand concerns that sometimes, in the quest for technical perfection, the musicality and overall enjoyment of music can be overlooked.


At 7hz, we recognise the importance of striking a balance between technical precision and musicality. We believe that true audio enjoyment is not solely defined by crystal-clear clarity and resolution or technicalities but also by capturing the emotional essence of the music.


In line with this sentiment, we have specifically tuned our Legato to bring back the musicality that may have been lost in some audio systems. The Legato aims to deliver a rich and engaging sound experience, emphasising the warmth, dynamics, and emotional connection that music can evoke."



Thesound


I enjoy my Legato for a different listening experience from Simgot single dynamic drivers or the Hidisz MP145 planar full frequency planar. Here is what I hear. Sub bass you can feel on your ear drums.Physical sound. Rumble that sits below the vocals and bass and midbass with punch and slap. Cymbals are present but subdued in the mix. Listen to Dancing by Night, SebastiAn & London Grammar.


“Did you know there's a tunnel under Ocean Boulevard” By Lana Del Ray presents a giant and immersive soundstage with Lana's voice clear and pure in the mix. Treble is smooth and engaging. Male voices have extra chestyness while female voices have clarity and


an enjoyable timbre. Switching to modern pop with “Don't date the teenager” by Australia's answer to Taylor, namely Gretta Ray, you will find punch snap and details galore. Ear candy!


Summary


So where does the 7Hz Legato sit in the mix? If you want refreshing change of pace from the Harman approach that dominates the IEM market, you will find a warm and engaging sound with thunderous bass, lively mids and a smooth treble that’s easy to enjoy.

You can read the full 7Hz Legato review by clicking the link.



Executive summary

The 7Hz Legato is a dual-driver in-ear monitor featuring two high-performance dynamic drivers on each side. The pair houses a 12mm and another 6mm dynamic driver where the 12mm one acts as a woofer and the 6mm driver is kept responsible for the midrange and treble response. The 7Hz Legato includes a unique crossover design along with 8 Japan-made audio-grade Tantalum capacitors to provide high precision and stable performance. The unique crossover is specially-developed in accordance with the characteristics of the dynamic drivers.

The 7Hz legato is lightweight and very comfortable albeit the ear-shells being a little bulky and protruding outside the ear. Sound isolation is not bad but not great either. The appearance is modern semi-industrial and the build quality is excellent.

The 2-pin detachable cable is well made, it is soft, it doesn’t get tangled and it doesn't induce microphonic noise.

The package includes plenty of ear-tips, spare wax filters for the nozzle and a very well made and luxurious carrying case which is too big for portable use.

The 7Hz Legato has plenty of emphasized bass and great sub-bass extension, reaching bass-head levels, but at the same time it manages to sound present and clear in the higher frequencies. The tuning is made to offer a bass-heavy listening experience without carrying too much about correct tonality and balance. The low end is too colored and mostly out of tune but it will greatly satisfy with all kinds of bass music.

The mid-range is darkish and warm with enough presence and acceptable clarity but not that well defined. The treble is smooth, a little subdued and forgiving. Not the last word in clarity and definition but suitable for easy listening and fatigue free sessions. The treble doesn’t sound artificial or too metallic and instrumental timbre is quite natural. The soundstage is spacious and wide enough with good positioning traces and without exhibiting congestion.

The 7Hz legato is going to satisfy everyone looking for plenty of shaking bass without overpowering too much the rest of the frequencies.

7HZ Legato: Engaging Bass!



Summary:

Launched in late Mar'23, Legato is latest release by 7Hz featuring dual Dynamic Drivers. The 12mm Woofer Driver+6mm Tweeter/Midrange Driver
configuration is supposed to yield more engaging sonic performance which Legato promises to deliver.



Disclaimer: Linsoul had sent me a review unit for my impressions & views. The opinions below are based on my experiences with the unit and my own. I have tried to be as comprehensive & comparative as I could be - to give a complete picture to the audience.



Introduction:

Without spending too much on introduction, let's quickly dive into what the Legato has to offer. In pursuit of better sound for the price, the LEGATO comes with dual dynamic drivers: 12mm Woofer Driver +6mm Tweeter/Midrange Driver.

The 7Hz LEGATO is priced at $109




Design & Build:

The LEGATO comes with aviation-grade aluminum shells with a threaded pattern on the faceplate. It is quite ergonomic and have comfortable fit on most ears. I have tried it through long audio sessions, and it fared very well throughout.

It is described as the following on the website:

The 7HZ Legato is dual dynamic driver IEM that combines the benefits of a high fidelity sound with class-leading performance. The 12mm woofer driver adopts a customized multi-layer composite diaphragm and powerful N52 magnet for that bold, bodied and punchy bass with deep rumble. While the newly-developed 6mm tweeter/midrange driver adopts a double-cavity structure, a custom-made metal diaphragm with high-rigidity and low mass for exceptional treble performance. It is a powerful driver configuration as well as brilliant.

Driven by bringing better details, tonality and sound experience to users, the 7HZ Legato includes a unique crossover design along with 8 Japan-made audio-grade Tantalum capacitors to provide high precision stable performance. The unique crossover is specially-developed in accordance with the characteristics of the dynamic drivers. Combined with the advanced crossover technology and capacitors, the 7HZ Legato earphone surely delivers HiFi sound that is enjoyable to your ears...





Specifications:

The 7HZ Legato comes at $109 price tag and specifications are as below:

https://www.linsoul.com/products/7hz-legato









Pairing Performance with different sources:

Dongle DAC/AMPs:

7Hz LEGATO had the best pairing with @Questyle M15 & @Cayin RU7 dongles.
Having said that, it is quite power hungry and requires higher volume levels on High Gain mode than many other IEMs in similar price range.
Hence, it is fair to say that it should not be paired with dongles with lower power outputs, as they will not be able to power it to it's full potential.





Portable Players:

Obviously the 7Hz LEGATO had the best pairing with the Cayin N8ii & Questyle QP2R, since they come with Class-A amplification and superior DAC performances. But, any DAP powerful enough to power it and not too bright signature should be OK with it.



NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOUND....

Items Used for this Review:

DAC/AMP & Dongles: @Questyle M15 Dongle DAC/AMP, @Cayin RU7, C9 Portable Amplifier

Portable Players / Sources : @Cayin N8ii, @Questyle QP2R

Streaming Source: QOBUZ



Ear Tips:



The default tips I found to be quite good and there is really no need to switch to other ear tips. But, I've also tried tip-rolling with a variety of tips such as: @Final Audio E series red & black ones, JVC Spiral dots, Spiral Dots+, @SpinFit Eartip CP500, CP155. Out of all of these I have found the AZLA SEDNAFIT BLACK to be the best fit for my ears in terms of overall fit, isolation & comfort.



Tracks Used:

The tracks I have used can be found from the below playlist that I have used and generally use for most reviews...








7HZ Legato Sound Impressions in Short:

The BASS:

The bass performance of LEGATO is great. The dual DD combination seems to be working well here. The little nuances and details of the sub-bass region is clearly audible and the mid-bass comes with good amount of body & texture. The mid-bass packs the right amount of punch & slam.
Tracks like: "Hotel California (Live on MTV 1994) – Eagles" and "Fluid - Yosi Horikawa" feel quite immersive and you can enjoy all the details of the drums and the slam.

The MIDS:

The midrange of the LEGATO is a bit recessed. That being said, there's no bass bleed and the midrange is quite detailed but lacks fullness or muscle a bit. Vocals are very immersive and both male and female vocals come with good texture. Instruments felt natural and the separation between them is also great. In tracks like: "Anchor - Trace Bundy", "A dog named Freedom – Kinky Friedman" and "Ruby Tuesday – Franco Battiato" the midrange feels quite enjoyable but leaves you wanting for something more.


The TREBLE:

The Treble on the LEGATO seemed quite laid-back and peak & fatigue-free. While it is enjoyable laid-back experience, it may not be as engaging for some.
Treble in tracks like: "Paradise Circus – Massive Attack", "Mambo for Roy – Roy Hargrove” and "Saints and Angels – Sharon Shannon" feel very immersive and enjoyable from the treble perspective.

The SOUNDSTAGE:

The Staging capabilities of the LEGATO is above average. The depth in the stage is noticeably better than many others in the price range. It comes with the right amount of height and width. Tracks like: “The Secret Drawer – Bela Fleck and the Flecktones” or “She Don’t know – Melody Gardot” or “Bohemian Rhapsody (live aid) – Queen” sound enjoyable.

Imaging & Separation:

The Imaging performance on the LEGATO is stellar and sense of location is spot on with high accuracy. Tracks like: “Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) - The Beautiful South “or “Hello Again - Howard Carpendale & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” just shine through. The separation is good, but not above average.


Comparisons:

I was not able to find an IEM in my stock within same price range coming with a Dual DD architecture. Hence, I have compared it with the new Truthear Zero RED which falls into a lower price range at $55. It felt meaningful for customers who may have either of these IEMs in mind for a purchase.



7HZ Legato vs Truthear ZERO RED:

Price: The Truthear ZERO RED comes in significantly lower price of $55 compared to the $109 of Legato and hence gets advantage here.

Build, Comfort & Features: Both IEMs are well built and comfortable. The Legato feels far more premium comparing to the plastic shells of the ZERO RED.





Bass: This is likely the stronger traits of both the IEMs. The Legato felt like having better depth and details and layering than the ZERO RED. The LEGATO is clearly the one with more refined bass experience here.

Mids: The midrange on both IEMs are a bit recessed and the Legato feels like having a tad bit more texture & layering, while the ZERO RED seemed to have slightly better details and muscle.



Treble: This is where the LEGATO loses out as the ZERO RED comes with more engaging treble experience.

Soundstage, Imaging and Separation: The Legato does better in each attribute.



Conclusion:

The 7HZ Legato is a great IEM specially for people who appreciate detailed & refined bass experience. At price range of $100 it delivers almost in all aspects to ensure a great musical experience.

TLDR version on YouTube: TDLR - 7Hz Legato

The 7Hz Legato have been sent to me by Linsoul in exchange for the publication of this review. As usual, Linsoul have not requested anything specific and I will aim to be as honest and unbiased as humanly possible in this review, however, it is always good to consider the fact that these IEMs have not cost me anything.

You can find a link to the Legato via Linsoul by visiting the version of this review published on my blog (info at the end of this post).

As with all the links I share, it is a non-affiliate link.

To avoid being repetetive in my reviews, you can find all the info about how I create the reviews, equipment used, how I receive the products and how to interpret my reviews by visiting: About my reviews



Intro...

While I haven’t had a chance to try all of the IEMs by the brand, I have tried a few (I believe this is the 5th set from the brand that I have reviewed) and except for the Eternal, the remaining sets have all been good performers in their respective price ranges.

In the case of the Legato, we are looking at a dual dynamic driver which comes in, at the time of creating this review, at just over 100€ on Linsoul. This means that, while not an extreme budget IEM, we are at least looking at a set that is budget friendly.

The Legato uses a 12mm DD for the bass range, while opting for a 6mm DD for the mids and treble ranges. This is not the first time for this driver configuration but it is still a driver combination that interests me, as a fan of dynamic drivers, allowing some freedom between drivers to focus on their respective frequency ranges. So let’s see if 7Hz have made it worth the price.



Presentation…

The Legato arrives in a box showing the IEMs on the front and a breakdown of the internals on the back. Inside this box we find a large storage case, very similar to the one included with the 7Hz Dioko, a planar set of IEMs that come in at around the same price.

Inside the storage case (which could be called a transport case but there is no way you are fitting this in your pocket), we find the IEMs with the cable attached, a decent selection of silicone tips, a user manual and 4 sets of spare filters and grilles.

It is not extraordinary to receive spare filters with IEMs (although it is not really common) but I do think this is the first time I have received both spare filters and grilles.

The included tips are nothing extraordinary either but I found the transparent ones to work for me and that is what I have used throughout this review.



Build and aesthetics…

The Legato features CNC’d aluminium shells that look a lot heavier than they are. The nozzles protrude quite a bit from the shells, allowing a deeper fit with smaller tips in my case. Together with the rounded edges of the shells, I find them to be quite comfortable even for long listening sessions, without feeling any discomfort or them becoming tiring.

As far as aesthetics, these are the most “normal” looking 7Hz IEMs that I have seen to date. In a dark grey, almost gunmetal, colour and a textured faceplate, they look elegant and are not prone to showing every last fingerprint like some other smoother metal finishes. The are quite a bit smaller than models like the Timeless, Eternal or Dioko, and are far better looking (in my opinion of course) than the "toyish" like build of the Zero.

The included cable is also good, both in build quality and looks, matching the IEMs rather well. All in all, I find them to be well built, good looking and comfortable, so I can’t ask for more in the build and aesthetics category.



Sound…

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

Moving on to how the Legato sound, let’s start with the usual look at the graph comparing them to my personal preference target as a reference:



Now, starting off with the subbass, there is a lot. In fact, there is a lot of bass in general, boosted all the way to where we meet the lower mids. Although there is a lot of quantity, the Legato actually do a decent job of keeping the bass section under control, dealing well with fast moving lines and not becoming overly slow or sluggish in their response to bass heavy tracks.

However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t too much bass for my personal tastes, I’m afraid that there is far too much for me. The subbass is actually ok and I find it enjoyable on tracks that have a lot going on in those lower ranges (I’m sure you can guess my reference track at this point) but when we move into the midbass, it is just too much for me to enjoy it regularly.

I did have a few sessions where I felt like some EDM and enjoyed the result in the lower ranges but these were not the usual occurrence. With music that I listen to more regularly, featuring instruments rather than electronic samples, I found the midbass to be overwhelming.

My usual test of “Crazy” was not as bad as on some other “less capable” sets but even the clarity and speed of the Legato driver was enough to stop me from getting that feeling of nausea from the excessive reverb in the low end of the guitar.

Moving into the mids, I feel that there is a distinct lack of presence. In the lower range of the mids this is due to the wall of bass that proceeds them, but even in the higher end of the mids, there is just not enough to bring vocals forwards and make them stand out. On tracks like “Shot Me Down” by David Guetta, I found it a struggle to appreciate the voice (although the bass rhythm was pretty impressive).

In general the mids are just not present enough, leaving the center of the frequencies to sound rather dull in my opinion.

Moving into the upper ranges, there is again not quite enough presence to add some light to what I feel is a rather dark and bass centric tuning. I feel there is a lack of air and brilliance that is needed to clean things up a little. Cymbals are too dull, pianos are lacking life and, although they do avoid any sibilance, I just feel that the driver that deals with the mids and upper ranges could use a few extra dB to compete with the lower driver.

This also makes for rather a small soundstage, with placement of images that is not really very good, mainly because of that lack of air and brightness. It’s not terrible as far as soundstage but it is below what I have come to expect as average for a set of IEMs.



Conclusion...

If you are looking for a set of IEMs that offer a rather dark and bass heavy presentation, then I think that the Legato could be something very interesting. They can be very impressive in the low ranges, depending on your music taste.

However, the lack of mids and upper ranges is something that makes them not fit well with my personal tastes or personal music preferences, meaning that they are not a set that I would reach for except on specific occasions.

With 7Hz I have found that I don’t have a middle ground with them, out of 5 sets I have tried, 3 I have found to be very good and the other 2, well, let’s just say that they are not my thing. But that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy them, if your tastes fit the sound I described, then give them a try!

___
As always, this review is also available in Spanish, both 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

Introduction

7Hz is a brand widely known for its Timeless model, one of the most popular 14.2mm planar driver IEMS on the market. Based in Qingdao, 7Hz has released other IEMS models before, such as its "i" series. Today, its products enjoy much more visibility than in the past and each model generates a relative buzz. Timeles AE, Salnotes Zero, Eternal are other successful models. They even have a collaborative model with Crinacle, called Salnotes Dioko. Up to the present 7Hz Legato, a double dynamic driver with a 12mm woofer + a 6mm tweeter/midrange driver. Accompanied by a powerful N52 magnet, the Legato houses a unique crossover, with 8 audio quality tantalum capacitors made in Japan. All of this is housed in an ergonomic aviation-grade aluminium capsule. Let's take a closer look at this new 7Hz model.



Specifications

• Driver Type: 1 x 12mm dynamic driver (woofer) with custom 4th generation DLC multi-layer composite diaphragm + 1 x 6mm dual cavity dynamic driver (tweeter/midrange) with custom high stiffness, low mass metal diaphragm. N52 magnet.
• Frequency Response: 10Hz-20kHz
• Sensitivity: 108dB/v@1kHz
• Impedance: 26Ω (1kHz)
• THD: <1% (1kHz)
• Jack connector: 3.5mm SE gold-plated.
• Cable: OCC+ silver-plated OCC
• Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm
• Capsule Material: Aircraft-grade CNC Aluminium

Packaging

The 7Hz Legato comes in a medium-sized, black, glossy box with dimensions 152x111x55mm. On the main side, you can see the brand's logo, in shiny silver ink, located in the upper left corner. Below and vertically, you can read the name of the model, in gradient gold. At the top is the model description and in the centre are the two capsules. On the back is an exploded view of the inside of the capsule, with explanations in Chinese. Underneath are the specifications, also in Chinese, and finally the brand's contact details.
Inside the box there is only a large, maroon marbled transport box. It's not as big as the KiiBOOM box, it's about halfway there. On the top side is the brand logo, in gold ink, and below that, the model. After opening the zip you find the product and the rest of the accessories. In a nutshell:

• The 2 Legato capsules.
• 1 4-strand cable and a velcro strap.
• 3 pairs of blue silicone tips, sizes SxMxL.
• 4 pairs of white translucent silicone tips, sizes XSxSxSxMxL.
• 2 pairs of mouthpiece filters.
• 2 pairs of mouthpiece grids.
• 1 instruction manual.
• 1 zippered box.

The box has two compartments, on the left side there is a black grid, which goes halfway up. Inside is the manual, the bag with the tips and the filters for the mouthpieces. On the other side, protected by a transparent rigid plastic cover with flaps, are the earphones, with their cable and tips. The IEMS rest on a soft grey cradle, which has an internal design for a perfect pick-up of the IEMS. The case is very large, rigid, strong, sturdy, but a little heavy. To its credit, the headphone cradle can be removed, leaving an open box, which can be used to store a DAP, dongles or other similar products.



Construction and Design

It is worth noting that the Legato has that distinct design reminiscent of the other 7Hz models. The capsules have a large, flat outer face. It is made in a separate piece, with a pattern of concentric circles. Its shape is an equilateral triangle with very rounded corners. The capsules are quite thick and the nozzles are very projected, allowing for a medium insertion. In one corner of the rim is the 2Pin 0.78mm connection. It is on a projected cylinder. The gold-plated connections are inside a piece of rigid plastic. A red dot declares the polarity of the pins. Along the same edge you can read the model, written in white ink. On the other side, also on the edge, there are three holes. You can see how the capsule is assembled in parts. The inner side is thick and round, the entire surface is polished and its texture is subtly rough, resistant to fingerprints because of its slippery treatment. Near the nozzles there is another hole, this time smaller than the side ones. The nozzles are mounted on a projection and are actually short. Their length is 4mm. The inner diameter is 5.5mm and the outer diameter is 6.2mm. They have a grid with spiral spokes and a circle in the centre. Underneath, there is a whitish micro-perforated filter.
The cable has 4 intertwined strands. They are of a dark copper colour. They are quite manageable and do not tend to take shape. The plug sleeve is a cylinder with a surface that matches the capsules. In the centre is the brand logo. The 3.5mm SE plug is gold plated. The splitter piece is another identical cylinder, but this time you can read the model name in white letters. The pin is a ring of the same material and external treatment, small, but very effective, as it slides with difficulty. The cable has guides on the ear, made of semi-hardened plastic. The sleeves of the 2Pin connectors are formed by two metal rings, together with a black, rigid, slightly curved plastic piece, whose design is perfectly integrated with the body of the capsules.
The surface treatment of the capsules and their dark metallic colour are worth mentioning. The flat outer face, the projection of the mouthpieces and the full thickness of the capsules. The weight is also striking, its metal construction and size penalising this aspect. However, this is not a problem for the ergonomics. In any case, the construction is excellent, it has a design with personality, elegant and striking, quite personal.



Adjustment and Ergonomics

As already mentioned, the capsules of the Legato are thick and long. The base where the mouthpieces are located is very projected and allows a deeper insertion. But, from there, the mouthpieces are short and of medium diameter. I tried a medium insertion, with smaller tips. But, the result has not been good in terms of sound. In fact, I had to use my classic large tips, filled with foam, which I make myself. With them I have achieved the full bass sound that the Legato is capable of generating. In the same way, I have also gained in isolation.
It is true that this surface fit allows some oscillation and movement of the capsules in my ears. Also, it is noticeable that the capsules are quite far away from the pinna, and they clearly and visibly overhang it. This does not affect the sound or the comfort, at least not in my case. Because the fit is quite stable and doesn't fall out, the over-ear guides help to anchor the whole thing. By the way, its curvature is very pleasant and does not bother at all over the hours.
Perhaps the most negative point is the length of the capsules and their poor integration with the pinna and the ears, as they are quite far apart.



Sound

Profile

The 7Hz Legato has an L-shaped profile suitable for bass heads. With its two dynamic drivers, a large 12mm driver for bass and a 6mm driver for midrange and treble, its profile is clearly defined. The impression is that the Legato is intended to be a two-way speaker, where it is normal to use one dynamic driver for bass/midrange and one for treble. Here it seems that the larger driver is used for bass, while the smaller one is relegated to the rest of the frequencies. The problem? Clearly, it's the sinking of the mids. Just as the treble is soft, but has a more than acceptable representation, the midrange suffers from the mix of bass, its warmth and darkness. Admittedly, the high end does not help to dissipate this duller, more subdued feeling, but another representation of the upper end would have drawn a clearer U-profile.
Finally, it should be noted that the Legato's need a little extra power for their performance to be superior.



Bass

The sub-bass is the star of the show in the Legato, while the bass-midrange is no slouch either. As these 7Hz are made for enjoyment, their execution is rubbery and rumbling, not technical, refined, fine or detailed bass. The bass is all about impact, the impression it leaves, the presence, the volume it occupies, the power it demonstrates, the weight it possesses.
In the reproduction of pure tones the reproduction is surprising, I expected them to sound more physical and sensory. The reproduction is more realistic at the extreme end of the LFOs than at the higher frequencies. As the Hertzs pass, the bass colour becomes more apparent, which is definitely a negative surprise. At some point I even wonder if both drivers are sounding at the same time and the frequency divider is not activated. In any case, this is, as usual, a specific test, the results of which have a relative impact on the sound of the music in general.
Going back to the description of the lower range, the volume they occupy within the music is large. And this fact can be oppressive for the other frequencies, if the music has bass, vocals and instruments. It works very well for electronic music without vocals. To give an example, Massive Attack songs have the behaviour of Legato bass implicit in their name: they are massive, intimidating and oppressive. Yes, the vocals are there, but they have to bear the volumetric weight of a bass that is like a hot air balloon. Massive Attack's "Better Things" holds its own quite well. The Legato's are able to follow and reproduce this song's shattering bass lines. While on "Sly", it becomes apparent how the bass volume crowds out Nicolette's voice, pushing it to the side.
Something similar happens when I enjoy genres such as Amapiano. In this case, it contrasts that the female voices tend to be of higher range and the mix is balanced, except when the sub-bass appears.
I like the bass, and very much so, but I understand that on certain occasions its size is too much. And the punch, its footprint and the elasticity of its hit doesn't help either.
However, there are times when these Legato's are very enjoyable: they are great companions for sports, walking, running, weight training or outdoor activities. The power and pace of the Legato is a great partner and helps to maintain vigour in these situations.
On technical matters, as I have already mentioned, the Legato is capable of dealing with heavy bass, complex and unfiltered lines. It is able to keep up with the rhythm, even if this can be thunderous and its energy very high. It is not a fuzzy, more defined or too continuous bass, it is relatively agile and fast for its size and weight. But the notes are relatively thick, physical and full of energy, which can be tiring.



Mids

The Legato mids, on their own, i.e. without bass influence, are warm, smooth, relatively thick and dark. I miss a touch of sparkle in the female voices and a more technical approach, rather than melodious, cohesive and harmonious. They have a subdued glow, something that makes them more muted and dense, limiting their projection and clarity. Timbre and sonority are more naturally camouflaged in male voices. This density and physical fullness can even help to generate a closer, more projected and protagonist representation. It is true that the details and nuances of both voices are not very explicit, but I am surprised that the instrumental micro detail is incipient and tries to stand out more than in other, theoretically, more technically skilled ensembles. So, as long as the lows don't suffer from the bass influence, the mids can stand out as a melodious, warm, subdued and slightly dark ensemble.
There is body and physicality in the first half of the mids, the notes are rounded and relatively thick, not too far apart. The level of transparency or clarity in the second half is not very high, contributing to a darker feel to the whole, but free of sibilance and fatigue from excessive bell gain. In this way, isolated listening to the mids can become very musical, melodious, relaxed and smooth, suitable for extended listening. It is true that it lacks a certain higher level of transparency and clarity, so that it is capable of exporting a higher amount of information, as well as a more explicit and shimmering texture. This is not the case; the roundness, weight and thickness of the notes make the texture smooth and velvety, yet full-bodied and with a physical, dense, even opulent rumour.



Treble

The energy of the treble contrasts with that of the bass. There is certainly a lot of power in the low end, but the treble is well represented. They possess a limited level of energy and their vertical extension is not enough to classify them as crisp. But their restraint is not withdrawn in their initial zone, nor in the midrange. Just as in other bass-head ensembles, the treble has only an initial sparkle, followed by a clear drop in presentation, the Legato has chosen to maintain a soft, but prolonged profile. In this way, their sonority is much more realistic and balanced, very much in tune with the colour of the mids. There is a synergy between the two bands and it can well be explained by the fact that the driver is shared for both ranges.
The treble alternates between slight peaks and valleys, but extends with a certain linearity up to 10kHz, which explains why both the timbre of the mids and the treble, despite the warmth and darkness of the whole, has quite realistic characteristics, especially in the first treble. Certainly, for my taste, the first phase of the treble presents itself as a much more accurate range than the midrange as a whole. Although, it could be even better if the sparkle at 6khz were more rounded. Be that as it may, the treble is light in presence, but well represented, even if, at times, a little attention is needed to focus on it.
Lastly, there is a flash of air that I feel is insufficient to give the scene a more ethereal feel.



Soundstage, Separation

The physical sensation and the amount of bass volume create a somewhat polarised scene. The space occupied by the low end is large and certainly oppressive. The energy level is capable of pushing the rest of the musical components aside. The perception is not only deep, but the bass also occupies the foreground and even the side areas. This means that the image is sometimes supplanted, as many elements are displaced by the volume and space occupied by the bass. In lighter bass compositions, the elements return to their natural space, generating a more coherent and realistic image. Although the separation is not very great, the micro detail tends to stand out, to be intuited, but not fully developed. In those songs that we know very well, such nimble elements try to present themselves, but without coming to the fore. But, the good thing is that they don't feel ignored, nor are they imperceptible. In this way a certain technical skill is reflected, which is not entirely sufficient. You know that these details are there, but you need to notice them, or even imagine them. At other times, though, they may not even appear because of the presence and energy of the bass. On the other hand, it also doesn't help that the sense of transparency, brightness and clarity is low. The elements have a tendency to be clumped together by the softness, base and density of the sound. Although, I must also admit that it is not a completely cohesive sound with no gaps, but there is a certain amount of air and space between elements to add quality and realism to the final sound. And I think the quality of the treble helps a lot in these aspects.



Comparisons

Oriolus Finschi

Is there anything new under the sun? Surely there is, but this is not the case. The Oriolus Finschi are 2019 IEMS with a hybrid configuration that combines a 10mm dynamic driver with a Knowles BA driver. They are nothing alike in external construction, the Finschi are made of resin and are lighter. They also belong to a higher price range and could be bought for less than 200$. But how do you compare an IEMS from 4 years ago, worth $170, with a current $110 IEMS? Well, basically, because their FR is quite similar.
In terms of presentation, despite the passage of time, the Finschi had a good set of accessories, with a distinctive case and for its custom fit, filled with foam. The cable was of the period, black, thinner and not very noticeable. Nothing to do with the cable of the Legato. Their ergonomics are superior, as they are smaller and lighter, they fit more perfectly in my ears. The biggest problem is the driver flex.
In terms of sensitivity, the Finschi are slightly more sensitive. If we talk about profile, both are very similar, but I would say that the Finschi are subtly lighter and cleaner in the bass, somewhat more prominent in the mids and quite smooth in the treble. But, it is clear that their sound is not completely the same.
The Legato's bass is bigger and thunderous, it feels more spacious, energetic and powerful. They also have more volume and generate that feeling of pushing the rest of the elements aside because of their oppressive tendency. The Finschi's are not like that, their bass is more respectful and clean, more restrained and dry. It doesn't seem as deep, but it is less rubbery, more technical and agile. If you want bass that fills the scene, as well as power, the Legato is your IEMS. If, on the other hand, you are looking for bass presence, but lighter and more respectful, the Finschi is more appropriate.
The transition between bass and midrange in the Finschi is much better than in the Legato. There is not as much warmth, even though the Oriolus are not luminous IEMS. But there is more cleanness in this band change and a lower incidence of bass in the midrange. Male voices are more physical and fuller-bodied in the Legato, with such a dense and full base. Not that in the Finschi, they are a luminous feast, but they are clearly perceived to be finer and with a more correct and natural timbre. The details are finer and their edges move away from the density and roundness of the Legato, something that gives them a sense of greater dynamics, agility and technical ability. With female voices, this effect is superior. The Finschi offers more clarity and transparency in them, while the Legato remains anchored in that dense base that offers less nuance and liveliness. Without the difference being overwhelmingly towards the light, both timbre and colour in the Finschi are more appropriate, finer and more delicate. The articulation of the notes is more remarkable, as well as their speed and dynamics.
In terms of detail, the Finschi wins because their profile is cleaner and more transparent. In addition, their bass is not as oppressive. It cannot be said that they are an analytical profile, but their level is quite acceptable. Although, at the limit, at the micro level they are not much better than the Legato, in general, they have a higher and, more importantly, more evident quantity, without becoming forced or unnatural. It should be noted that the BA driver works in a very restrained way, achieving a natural tonality, more technical, more resolute, without artifice.
In the treble, I find it amusing to think that the timbre changes for the better in the Legato and that its extension is greater. Meanwhile, the Finschi sound more compressed and clipped. There is not a very high variation in their energy level, but I do feel a more pleasant naturalness in the Legato. Whereas in the Finschi, their execution is more nuanced, generating a shorter, less expansive, more limited level of harmonics. There is also a sense of lower air.
At scene level there is more depth in the Legato, but the image is more defined and precise in the Finschi. Transparency is superior, as is the level of cleanliness, which creates a feeling of greater openness and a more separated, wider and clearer environment. There is more compression and congestion in the Legato, which concentrates the scene and detracts from its expansiveness and three-dimensionality. In the Finschi, on the other hand, there is a higher degree of freedom, which gives it a more ethereal, gaseous and three-dimensional feel.



Conclusion

The 7Hz Legato is a specialised bass IEMS. Not just any bass, but a very voluminous type of bass that reminds me of what loudspeakers were like when I was a kid. For many years I lived with Infinity SM-80s that had a 203mm bass/midrange driver and a 25mm tweeter (only). I used to spend hours and hours annoying the neighbours with electronic music from the late 80's and early 90's. Well, these Legato's remind me of that sound. I had a small room and the bass echoed throughout the place. It's clear that the sound of the Legato has been something sought after, something that tries to remind me of that feeling of my adolescence. But does this sound fit today? Why not. You don't have to be 50 years old to enjoy these IEMS, but you do have to have an idea of how they sound, how invasive their bass is, their level of darkness, their density in the midrange, their greater distance, their rounder and smoother sound. However, if I have to highlight something else about these Legato, apart from their cable and level of construction, it is their treble, something that surprises on its own.



Sources Used During the Analysis

• Aune X8 XVIII Magic DAC + EarMen ST-Amp.
• Aune Flamingo.
• Hidizs AP80 PRO-X Red Copper LE.
• TempoTec Variations V6.
• Xduoo Link2 BAL.
• Burson Audio Playmate.

Purchase Link

You can read the full review in Spanish here

Review OF The 7Hz Legato​

Introduction​

Since last year, 7hz, a Chinese company that specialises in making electroacoustic products, has gained widespread recognition from audiophiles who praised their entry into the planar IEM market. Timeless developed into one of the top planar IEMs that was both technically and sonically the best of both worlds while remaining reasonably priced. Later, they released another IEM with a dynamic driver called Eternal. They also established Salnotes, a 7Hz subsidiary company, with a primary focus on more affordable products and a wider audience. Under the name Salnotes, two additional IEMs, called Dioko and Zero, were released. Both of these IEMs were well received. Basically, 7Hz have greatly influenced the ideas and knowledge about sound which they established mostly under a year. They most recently also released a dongle DAC/AMP. But the one I'll be reviewing today is their most recent offering, Legato, which, in my opinion, was made with a particular segment of the audiophile community in mind. However, I want to talk about a few things first before continuing.

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 "Legato."
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Legato based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

With a large 12mm Woofer driver and a 6mm tweeter/mid range driver, the legato has two dynamic drivers. The 6mm driver has a custom-made metal diaphragm and the 12mm driver has a multi-layered composite diaphragm. Both of these drivers are connected to a crossover unit that uses eight audio-grade tantalum capacitors from Japan. Lower frequencies are handled by the woofer driver, while the midrange and treble are handled by the 6mm driver. The faceplate has a threat pattern all over it, and the shell is made of CNC aviation grade aluminum. Although the nozzle is actually a little difficult to set comfortably fit inside my ears, the shell is enormous in order to more accurately compensate for the 12mm driver's woofer quality. I struggled with various eartips before finding a pair that fit well and allowed it to sit comfortably inside my ears. Due to the IEMs' lightweight aluminum construction, I didn't feel any weariness even after extended listening sessions. It should be noted that the shell's body is strong and rigidly constructed, so there are no weaknesses there. The provided cable is an OCC + silver-plated cable with 3.5mm straight jack connectors on one end and 2 pin connections on the other. The cable has a nice, lightweight feel to it. A storage case, 7 pairs of eartips in various sizes, and 2 pairs of nozzle filters with mesh are additional items that come with the IEMs. In terms of the technical specifications, the sensitivity is 108dB, and the impedance is 26 Ohms. The total harmonic distortion is less than 1%/1kHz, and the frequency response ranges from 10Hz to 20kHz.

Sound​

Whether I'm talking about the parent company or a subsidiary, it's the first time 7Hz has released such an intriguingly tuned IEM. Legato has a different tuning than the IEMs that 7Hz typically tunes; typically, they err towards a balanced or neutral-sounding signature tuning, but this time, they dropped the bomb and let us hear the monster bass. The bass is overwhelming and knocks you out with such a response that you might get the impression that the higher frequencies are muted. But don't worry, they are so obscurely tuned that the refinement comes through in the lively midrange and fairly approachable treble. To my surprise, their approach to bass is unique as the response that is directed to our ears is surrounding and enveloping bass that retracts as soon as it hits you with the impact while the resonating energy still lies in the mix blending with the higher frequencies but not usually overpowering them. At first, I was concerned after looking at the frequency response of this IEM and wondered if 7Hz was going to pull it off or not. As someone who prefers neutral tuning with a sub bass boost response or balanced tuning with less mid bass presence, I am a bass nut when it comes to bass rumble and its sensation. I don't care how large or how high quality it is as long as it doesn't interfere with the lower mid range. However, the methods or technology used put you up with tonnes of bass rather than making you feel drowned in it. While listening to all three regions, I come to the conclusion that this tuning is more V-shaped than U-shaped. The treble is a little funky but it is very approachable, and the mid range is very active and forward in the mix. I was able to witness a great deal of excitement and fun thanks to legato. However, there are some areas where I had hoped the IEM would have excelled, such as a smoother treble response or more energy in the upper treble, as this kind of ruins the ability to engage your consciousness with the energy in sound. I think the main cause of this reaction is that if they had tuned it more energetically in the upper frequencies, the balance would have been off, the introduction of offensive sounds might have occurred, or the presence and impact of the bass might have been diminished, ruining the experience of the bass's distinctive presentation. But it's not all bad because of the midrange and treble response; in fact, I think it would be better suited for bassheads and people who prefer a denser, more organic sound. Let's look more closely at the sound in order to explain everything.

Treble​

Legato is unique in that many IEM tuners of this type place an emphasis on the lower treble energy while pushing out a tonne of bass. This kind of tuning brings out the fun and excitement, which in turn shapes to be an IEM with a V-shape sound. Legato differs in that the midrange feels more poured, or I feel like the result of this tuning causes the midrange to bring out more audible quantity in the presentation, than it does in the treble region. The treble is ultimately not a very solid foundation. Because of what I hear, which is relaxed and gentle sounding in contrast to IEMs like the Tin Hifi P1 Max or Letshueor Galileo, it seems like a lot of information is muted. It sounds a little off, especially the upper treble region, and is not very well segmented with my emotions developing with the treble region. Although the upper treble region gives the impression that the vocals are open and airy, I can tell that this impression is just a facade designed to cover up the shadowed response in the lower and upper treble. That is demonstrated by the instruments' limited details and clarity. The vocals don't appear to be significantly impacted, but they don't extend very well, and the openness felt that might make the entire stage sound expansive is more influenced due to this specific effect from the notes residing in this region. Speaking purely hypothetically, the instruments sound clear and clearly audible throughout the area whenever listening to instrumental tracks, especially those that feature high octave producing instruments. The same can be said for the vocals, but as was already mentioned, vocals aren't significantly changed. The treble, in my opinion, sounds more like Seeaudio Rinko, where it reacts to the idea with its surround sound characteristic. It sounds like good energy is developing in the lower treble, but to my surprise, it is more like giving the instruments and vocals a sense of presence. Without a doubt, the vocals and the instruments have a strong presence in the mix thanks to notes that sound clear, smooth, and forward. The end result is that the notes sound presentable and have a nice weight, but they also sound dull. Only when vocals and drums or bass reside do the vocals somewhat drown out while the bass resonates with a strong presence. While the vocals attempt to be as energetic as they can be in the overall mix, the same is felt with the instruments, but overall, the presence is observable. The treble region can be summed up as relaxed, pristine, and smooth.

Mid Range​

The Legato's mid range does not immediately stand out in the mix, despite the fact that the emphasis is on forwardness. This is especially true when considering how the lower treble energy concentrated over the 6k to 10k region brings out the high octaves of the notes. The lack of balance in the mix makes it sound different, but when I listen to Legato, it sounds like the vocals become progressive in the mix, which is why I feel a little crowded in the mix when listening to the mid range. In contrast to other IEMs I've tried, there is unquestionably no relationship between the energy in the midrange and the treble. Only after the bass affects the mix does this response begin to play out. Although the bass doesn't completely overpower the midrange, it does make it sound dense and a little bit dull. When I contrast it with other iems in this price range, such as the LETSHUOER Galileo or the Rinko, their midrange response either has a smooth transition from the midrange to the lower treble or the energy is more over the midrange. Legato's story is different because of its influential bass and unbalanced treble, which prevent its midrange from being as strong or smooth as the other sets'. In comparison to other sets, upper mid-range sets have less energy than lower-mid-range sets. In contrast to Legato, where the energy in the mid range is not a priority characteristic, the energy is typically mostly provoked in the upper mid range. However, there is sufficient energy to match the upper mid range's forward signature. The vocals and instruments sound more dense and warm rather than open or clear. The instruments, such as the cymbal crashes or percussions, may come across as vague and dull in contrast to the vocals' soothing and rich tones. The vocals and instruments in the lower mid range, on the other hand, have a drowning effect and sound too dull to be properly identified except the bass lines. They also sound dense and note heavy. The notes coming from the instruments sound blunt while the vocals are muffled and subdued in the mix. The notes of the bass guitar have a very powerful impact, sounding thick and dense with each guitar pick. This response's strong impact makes it more interesting because it doesn't drown out the sound of the other instruments. It goes without saying that a presentation like this benefits from the mid bass bleed into the lower mid range, which it does to a good extent. The mid range is presented in a warm, dense, and soothing manner overall.

Bass​

I'll be honest and say that these are definitely for bassheads, and they're going to love the presentation coming from these bass monsters. Oh boy, here comes the bass part. The bass is given the most prominence in the overall mix, and this IEM was created exclusively with a bassy sound in mind. After hearing this beast, no one will be able to disagree. I wouldn't mind if the higher frequencies were overshadowed by the bass, which is influential and resonating with overpowering characteristics but is controlled enough to avoid doing so. These are currently the best basshead IEMs available in this price range, but I am obviously only speaking quantitatively. Usually, when I hear a lot of bass coming from an IEM, I get the impression that the quality of the bass will decline as the quantity increases. The same is true of the Legato; it doesn't sound as though the notes lack texture or detail, but bringing out such a strong and impactful bass makes it clear that quality is not the main concern in this case. Even so, I still think it's superior to the Seeaudio Rinko. The emphasis is on the sub bass, similar to the LETSHUOER Galileo, but the amount of mid bass is identical to the Seeaudio Rinko and functions primarily like it. I find it surprising that Legato was able to achieve the desired bass response with more emphasis on the subbass. With such a forceful presentation, the bass drums retain their tonal quality, the bass drums resonate very well, and the toms play clearly. Although most of that rumbling lays back after before the mix when the mid bass acts, the sub bass response is impactful with extensive whci goes deep and helps producing resonating bass. The tracks that heavily rely on the sub bass can produce a long-lasting rumbling sensation; otherwise, the rumble sensation quickly fades away as the mid bass acts over it. Although the emphasis is on the sub bass, the bass is definitely spacious but due to the amount of mid bass, takes over with boom and slams. Although the mid bass also contributes to the response, the sub bass delivers punches that are hard hitting but retract quickly once they warm the ears. Speaking of the mid bass, the slams are satisfying to hear because they instantly calm you down and assault your senses. The Legato's mid-bass control is excellent, but when I compare it to Rinko, the slams were much too loose. Nevertheless, it doesn't matter. Although I would have preferred a little less mid bass presence in the mix and more presence of upper mid range, which would've made it sound more natural and cleaner, the boomier approach of the mid bass is not overly bloating. However, since it is a basshead IEM, I do not consider it to be a flaw. I own the Thor Mjolnir MKII, a basshead IEM that sounds more lively in the upper mid range and lower treble while maintaining the same amount of sub bass and having less of a mid bass presence when compared to Legato, but feels like Legato wins with this bass performance when compared to an IEM that is three times as much as Legato, even though Legato wasn't able to overpower the Thor Mjolnir MKII. The Legato's bass presentation is overall resonant, powerful, and impactful.

Technical Performance​

Regarding technical performance, the Legato, in comparison to others in the same price range, performs better because the soundstage is not particularly wide but sounds sufficiently open to prevent objects from clumping together. The separation is also not very impressive, and the imaging is not very clear. The speed is surprisingly fast for such a response, but the detail retrieval is not very good despite the nice resolution.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

The soundstage is wide enough to sound spacious even though it is not as wide as the DUNU Kima or the LETSHUOER Galileo. It is also wider than the Seeaudio rinko. The imaging is fuzzier and less clear than I had expected. The separation does give the impression that the components are sufficiently apart, and the difference between them hardly allows one to identify the source of the sound.

Speed & Resolution​

The response overall sounds clean, but it doesn't produce clarity between notes. The resolution is nice, but the details aren't particularly expressive or clear. The speed of the attack and delicacy of the notes surprised me. If I had to order the resolution of each IEM I've mentioned, Galileo would come out on top, followed by Kima legato, and Rinko would come in last.

Sound Impressions​

Sources​

Tempotec V6 - The V6 pairing produced a more technically impressive sound because the notes were sharper and more distinct. Although there was still an unevenness, the treble was audibly more present in the mix. Most of the mid range had the same sound. More impact was heard in the sub bass with a more controlled bass sound. I prefer the pairing with the V6 because the response was generally more technically resolved.

iFi Hipdac - The vocals were more expressive when paired with the hipdac because the treble became more relaxed while the upper mid range was more provoked. Despite the fact that the mid bass made the bass more brutal, the hipdac's response had little of an impact. Regarding the technical performance, no significant changes were noticed. As a result, even though the vocals were front and centre, the hip-hop pairing was not as popular. It had a lot of bass.

Tracks Used​

Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Guns 'N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeRs
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measures
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex, Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

The amount of bass these IEMs produce while still allowing the midrange and treble to emerge and sound as clear as possible is an accomplishment, and if you really want to satisfy your bass cravings, I'd say they are definitely for you. When I say the bass will overpower you, I mean it literally. These were created especially for bassheads. Therefore, I wholeheartedly urge every basshead to give Legato a chance to make their dreams come true. Nevertheless, I would caution audiophiles who prefer sharp and brightness to treble and bright IEMs to beware of this IEM.

TONALITY: 7/10
TECHNICALITIES: 7.5/10
CONSTRUCTION: 7.5/10
SOUND VALUE: 7.5/10

INTRO

7HZ is a chinese earphones company mostly know for their best seller the 7HZ Timeless which get incredible praise and fan boi hype at the time. Since then, they seem to struggle making a successor to this IEM that will earn as much popularity. Was it a ''Driam'' like the Blon BL03 or 7HZ can offer other good IEMs that worth the attention (and $) of audio enthusiast?
While their Dioko planar was indeed a Driam that turn mediocre in term of tonal balance and musicality, 7HZ haven't said it's last word and their ultra budget Saltnotes Zero sure confirm that in term of good reception from audio communities.

Today I will review there latest offering call 7HZ Legato. The Legato is a 2 dynamic drivers earphones, priced 110$ it doesn't aim the audiophile purist but as they suggest it try to achieve a ''fun analog musicality'' that will remind us the 80's era with big boom box speakers and those bombastic sound system with over sized woofer. I'm from this era, well, i'm born in 1983 so I have pass thrue walkman, CD player, vinyl etc.

But the best way to describe the tuning approach is certainly from the tuner itself, Larry Fulton aka Kopi Okaya.

''THE TUNING PHILOSOPHY BEHIND 7HZ LEGATO

Ray Chan and I are in our 50s. Both of us grew up in the 70s, 80s and 90s. We enjoyed many music from those era - from pop/rock to R&B to jazz. We also owned many vintage HiFi systems before plunging into the in-ear monitors hobby. Loudspeakers back then had at least 12" (30cm) woofer drivers that produced deep and rumbly low-end with girthy, expansive bass notes. We didn't need a subwoofer at all. Nobody used subwoofers at home in the 1980s. Those were primarily meant for cinemas, rock concerts and large performance venues.

I inherited my dad's AKAI loudspeakers in 1978. It was a 3-way system with 1" tweeter, 5" midrange and 12" bass drivers. It was a blast to listen to. The bass was so musically satisfying.

Fast-forward to the year 2022, Ray and I had a chat over kopi (Southeast Asian coffee) on how much we missed that vintage sound. The current IEM offerings could not satisfy our cravings for that long forgotten "magical" sound. Ray suggested why not 7HZ come up with something to bring back that vintage sound? No more Harman, no more Diffuse-Field. The IEM market is already flooded with them.

"Great idea!" I nodded. "Let's do it..."

That conversation sparked the beginning of Legato. Achieving that classic sound signature is the baseline for our tuning philosophy.

"WE TUNE WITH OUR EARS AND HEARTS, NOT WITH GEARS AND CHARTS."''

Click to expand...

Now let see in this review if this IEM achieve an addictive musicality that is both fun and immersive enough, and well: Basshead approved too!

CONSTRUCTION

To be noted that these IEM have been loaned to me without cable or anything, so I can't comment on that.

In term of construction it's just OK, i don't find those very appealing design wise and the metal finish seem prompt to easy scratching-damage. I'm pretty sure my friend take care of Legato, yet we can see the the edge of shell can get scratched easily and back plate seem to collect dirt that will be hard to clean.



The shell is quite chunky too. It have an elongated nozzle as well, which is thick, so for small ears canal it might create discomfort. I find them a bit protuberant when wearing it so add that to slightly heavy metal shell and it mean cable with ear hook is mandatory here.As well, their 3 venting port directing outside the ears, so sound leakage is high here. It's not an issue for me, but if i was taking subway it would be.

All in all, construction isn't bad nor impressive for the price. But the design is a bit questionnable in term of comfort. It's certainly not the type of IEM you forget you wear.


SOUND IMPRESSIONS


Let's begin by saying I will do this review based on my pairing with the Moondrop Dawn 4.4 dongle at high gain. Why? Because I feel the Legato benefit from clear source with enough power output, in this case its 230mw@32ohm ,and while not stated, the output impedance of Dawn seem rather low. As well, i use couple of different eartips, most balanced one was with Azla but it kind of kill the fun too, so I stick with KBear KB07 wide bore that is suppose to be included with the Legato.

Disclaimer: these IEM are loan from a friend and I have no other reason than true passion to review them.

So are these true basshead IEM? Some people call basshead any V shape IEM, while for me it need to have higher than 12db bass boost, which is the case with the Legato. As well, to be true basshead fun it need big slam, again, it's the case here so YES thos are legit basshead but not bombastic 20db brain damaging boom like SuperTFZ Force1 and this is good because we can listen to those more than 5 minute without fatigue!

I tend to always have very high expectation when it come to multi dynamic driver and it's the case here again, I expect crazy bass performance but acoustic law tend to always confirm we need some trade off when we play with bass boost.

Here, Legato bass is about finding the sweet spot between a V and U shape signature, so unlike Harman tuning it will not be thin in mid bass and just about sub bass wacky boom but chunky rumbly slam with a sens of warm urgency to it. In term of resolution and definition of bass impact or extension, we are in luke warm territory, or analogish-euphonic one if we can say, it's not a fast tight punchy bass that will have sudden sub bass scoop, it's a warm but well rounded boom, bigger than life, that embrace the whole tonality in a uniquely layered way due to 2 DD implementation.
Still, sub bass rumble will dominate the kick drum definition and presence, and in fact, it's vibrant and open in an appealing resonance that add physical sensation the music where brighter mids will sit on and not get swallow. I don't think this type of bass would be possible with a single DD IEM, it's gigantic in presence, yet warmish in texture but very bodied and hefty in dynamic. The rumble sustain is fast enough as well as the slam, but don't except clean separation since their hint of bass bleed that act as a lower mid range glue.
When it come to sub bass tone and articulation, it's not the best and quite resonant, not very flexible for cleaer bass line rendering and sometime it can go muddy too, but it's when sub bass is alreayd overly boosted in a track. It's all about fast enough boom here, including the contrabass that will sound boomy, it's not about high quality and well controled extension nor fast bass attack control.

And now the mids have a trade off here for sure and I would never suggest the Legato for mids or vocal lover even if their worst than this for sure. Depending of number of bass slam in your music, it will sound open and gently bright, with above average resolution to veiled lower mids. These aren't for piano lover which sound too distant, yet, have good note weight, you will tend to raise the volume with solo piano and then if next track is bassy, it will make explode your head.
Simply put I can't enjoy any acoustic instrument timbre and tone with the Legato, their something off and it's as if presence can mix with lower harmonic, even cello sound thin which is quite disappointing. While female vocal aren't plain horrifious, they can get over shadow by bass, the track ''Fancy drones'' by Amythyst Kiah is a good example, while her vocal presence is well resolved and clean enough, the big guntry bass line seem oversized and it's hard to enjoy her voice since timbre is hint dry and thin too, yet, not sibilant and non shouty, those are relaxed mids with good but not dense texture.


With the bass, the treble is the most dynamic aspect of the sound, here it's in a lean crunchy way that doesn't go overly bright and doesn't attrack as much the attention as the bass. It have good bite for attack lead of instrument like violin, but as said the timbre isn't very dense. So yes, thin bright highs we have, fast enough in percussions rendering, well controlled even if not snappy but fastly dropping after 10khz, so we don't have sparkle and brilliance too, those aren't crisp, airy and open highs. These are here to offer extra texture to presence, which benefit electric bass grunt for ex, percussions grain, snare energy and some high pitch instrument or vocal. It add definition edge to instrument too, including vocal that can feel a bit rough. Again, this favor the presence texture and grain before anything else, it brighten it to avoid overly dark and warm bassy sonority. I can perceive slight metallic sheen to violin and saxophone, so this do not benefit acoustic instrument as I already say, it's just here to boost overall clarity and personally i find these highs a bit rough, lacking in refinement and clean rendering, percussions extension is a bit fuzzy to me, not sharply define and cymbals crash sound foggy, damped in proper extension which can avoid splashyness but tend to make macro resolution feel foggy too, never clean enough to my ears.

The Soundstage is quite impressive in term of tallness and wideness but does lack deepness even if center stage is a bit recessed. We don,t have fake deepness nor real deepness to spatial cue. It's like being surrounded by a big wall of sound which is close to us the listener.

This mean imaging is very average for the price, nothing to write about in fact. When bass occur it will swallow the perceivable space between instrument and when it don't have bass, sharp definition of instrument isn't clean and crisp enough to permit precise positioning.


COMPARISONS



VS TRI STAR RIVER (2DD-60$)

The River might be a cheaper 2DD IEM but technical performance are notably superior to the warmer Legato, anything from resolution to imaging and attack-speed is superior. But the tonal balance isn't, it's brighter, shoutier and notably more fatiguing. It's isn't a basshead either and more of a bright W shape where upper mids and treble stole the show, which is polar opposite of Legato where it's bass and lower mids that dominate whole spectrum.
But I can't bypass the fact that a 2 times cheaper IEM deliver higher technical performance, this is evident in transparency of bass and mids, as well as cleaner separation, less bass bleed, less mids and treble blur in sustain-releaste...it's very sad that treble spike kill my ears!
So the bass is leaner, cleaner, faster and more texture but thinner, less punchy and more extended in sub bass in a lifeless and cold way compared to more vibrant and heavier slam that is better rounded, thicker in density and offer proper boom with Legato, the dynamic is notably heftier and bass feel more natural, euphonic and lively even if the presence isn't as crisp, physicality is there and cold quality of Tri bass is just dull.
Then the mids are warmer with Legato, more natural and thicker in timbre, they more note weight but not as detailed rendering due to brighter presence of the Tri that can iduce more sibilance, shoutyness and fatigue. Yet, mids feel very darkish with Legato and instrument from piano to saxo to vocal will all sound more recessed but strangely more pleasing in tone and not as hot in edgyness.
The treble is notably brighter, more snappy, transparent and detailed with the River, but upper mids pinna gain is way higher too, so if your sensitive to that it will cause fatiguing shoutyness. Anyway, resolution is crisper still and treble extended furter. Imaging is more accuracte and sharper in instrument separation and sound layering is better resolve too.

All in all, Legato is bassier and more fun, but more coherent and smooth in balance too, so tonaly it's an easy way since even if Star River offer better technical performance, they can't be enjoy musicaly due to overly agressive tonality, thinner brighter timbre and light bass impact.

VS IBASSO IT01X (1DD-110$)

Now let see how a single DD IEM of about same price can stack up against Legato. Firstly, IT01X is warmer and more neutral to balanced V shape, it's more laid back too and less energic in dynamic. Main difference is timbre which is more natural too, as well as balance that feel more coherent warm way. For vocal and mids lover, the choice is easy here. So Legato are more V shape basshead, the bass roundness is better define, more boosted and more punchy and impactfull, the punch of IT01X is mellower and darker in presence, so the transition in mids is more organic and thicker, which tend to offer fuller harmonic to mids instruments. So the mids are fuller and more upfront, i can enjoy violin, saxophone and acoustic instrument way more with the IT01X even if darker in resolution and less edgy in presence, its smoother and more liquid even if as said bodied presence is louder in a softer less dry and brightish way than Legato that offer thinner mids but more abrasive with attack that have more bite and cleaner rendering.
Everything is darker with the IT01X, so the treble is no exception and doesn't attrack our attention at all, it's smoother too, more laid back, more organic in balance and their a hint of understated sparkle. Legato offer greater amount of micro details, more texture and bite but thinner and even less brilliant treble on top.
Soundstage is wider and deeper with Legato, and just a notch wide with the IT01X.
Imaging is superior with Legato even if center stage is more recessed, it have a more open and cleaner spatiality and higher layering transparency and its easier to pin point percussions for example.

All in all, tonality wise they are about on par even if cohesion is more organic and mellow with the Ibasso, for technical performance the Legato is the winner here due to more articulate dynamic range, slightly better resolution and edgier attack control.

VS ISN H40 (1DD+3BAs-195$ (or 155$ with coupon))

The H40 is warmer in tonality and more W shape in dynamic. The bass is notably more boosted and focus on sub bass region and offer deeper thicker rumble but less well define and clean punch, the mid bass is warmer and bleed and darken and thicken more the mids than Legato bass which feel thinner and less rounded in slam chunky way, but better resolved and layered than H40. For me, H40 bass offer more guilty pleasure thus induce more headbanging fun and the sub bass line are fuller and more flexibile in articulation. The the mids are less open but thicker and more natural in timbre, more colored we can say than dryer-brighter mids of Legato that are more prompt to slight sibilance, anyway, clarity and definition is superior with Legato. And then the treble is darker, thicker but snappier with the H40, strange to say but it's how I heard it. It pick up minimal amount of micro details but deliver it in faster and more controlled way than Legato DD which offer more micro details, texture.
The Soundstage is a big win from Legato, in all deparment. It's wider, taller and yes deeper, as well as more holographic and 3D compared to thick darkish macro resolution of H40.
So, the imaging is superior too, even if not particularly good.

All in all, the H40 are even guiltier basshead pleasure than the Legato, but timbre-tone wise it's thicker and more natural to my ears too, which question me about presence boost that can imply uneven timbre brightness to my ears. Technicaly speaking, the Legato is superior while tonaly it's less cohesive as a whole even if it use 2 drivers instead of 4 drivers for the H40. If your all about rumble and sub bass, and prefer warm thick mids, i will suggest the H40, if you want big open spatiality with more transparent bass and better define mid bass presence, i will suggest the Legato. For my very subjective musical enjoyment I would choose H40 since it's more laid back and fun to my ears (and i listen to alot of female vocal, so i can't stand them when too thin).


CONCLUSION

While reading the positive feedback of the Legato on Facebook audio communities, I get extremely excited and as it often happen I let my expectation grow too high, so this might explain why i'm not blown away by them.

But this doesn't mean they are bad at all and in fact it perhaps find the sweet spot between balanced and basshead IEM.

Yet, my memories of vintage soundsystem isn't similar to the one of 7HZ since i remember warmer and more presence vocal and mids, i remember enjoying Lauryn Hill and Billie Holiday vocal with my father japanese Pioneer gigantic speaker that weight like 500kg and can make rumble whole house.

This sure underline that musicality have no common ground and is all about personal appreciation, even the bass presentation have a rumble with more air vibrance and physical pressure in my memories, while treble need to be boosted with the amplifier tone control to have the presentation of Legato.

All in all, the Legato is different and a refreshing IEM release within Chifi realm, and while it doesn't choose to go warm mid range, it does avoid the muddyness inherent to this tonal coloring. We can say the Legato are Basshead IEM with above technical performance for it's price and that even if an IEM like Simgot EA500 offer higher technical performance. The fact we can have this amount of bass without going plain messy is a tour de force in it's own right. So, i would highly recommend the Legato for Basshead that want to preserve presence of their instrument and vocal, yet have a gigantic soundstage and fun dynamic tonality too.






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Legato, also referred to as a Slur, is a type of musical technique in which interconnected notes will have a smooth and fluidity curve. It is an exact opposite of the Staccato which plays the notes to have shortened, crisp and abruptly detached on its duration.

Click to expand...

It seems that 7Hz's naming convention on their product based on musical techniques is quite fitting on this model. This is actually my first product review on 7Hz and we in the audio community knows what their reputation in the ever-expanding audiosphere. 7Hz was established in 2012 by the team of audio engineers and passionate audio enthusiasts whose objective is to deliver some products with good quality drivers and a well-thought and innovative application of its circuitry and components. Their 7Hz Timeless was the main driving force on last year's Battle of the Planars and it happens that I've tested this unit and I actually like its technical capabilities with decent tonality even though I'm quite sceptical of that particular type of driver on an IEM form factor.

This product is called 7Hz Legato, it has a high-quality CNC-fabricated, aviation-grade light aluminium alloy shell chassis with a brush-finished on its faceplate. The overall shape design of 7Hz Legato is quite ergonomic in how it gives a snug and comfortable fitting on my lug holes that it gives me a decent passive noise isolation from the outside surroundings.



Inside of its shells, there's a dual-driver set up that was implemented, one 12mm composite dynamic driver with strong neodymium magnets that function as woofers and another one is a smaller 6mm dynamic driver with the same composite material that acts as a supporting tweeter. The larger dynamic driver will deliver an intense bass with good impact, grit and deep rumbling low end while the in tandem smaller dynamic will deliver a crisp and clear response on midrange and treble. According to their release ad about this set, it has a unique crossover which were specifically developed with premium tantalum capacitors from Japan, the purpose of this uncommon audio technology is simply to produce the best sound quality from its dual dynamic drivers due to better current flow within its audio-grade capacitors. There are 4 vent holes on its shells that act as an outlet for excess air pressure generated from its dual drivers to have a less distortion on its sound output.



It uses a proven and more stable 2-pin connector for 0.78mm receptacles and its cable is made of high purity OCC silver-plated copper with 3.5mm termination plug. Therefore, the stock cable of 7Hz Legato is of a decent quality and can withstand accidental pulls and drops.



The product packaging of 7Hz Legato is actually impressive for its price for its well-presented and very organised. The contents were packed in a medium-size, rectangular box for an IEM with a printed brand, model name and the pictures of Legato at the front while at the back are the explosive view of the Legato with its internals with basic specification infos of the product and manufacturer's address.



The following contents inside of the box are:

■ a pair of 7Hz Legato IEMs.
■ 4-core high purity OCC silver-plated copper wiring cable with 3.5mm termination plug.
■ a large reddish-brown coloured wood-printed zippered IEM case.
■ 8 pieces of spare nozzle filters with two different design bores.
■ 5 pairs of balanced bore ear tips of different standard sizes.
■ 3 pairs of blue-coloured, narrow-bored ear tips of different standard sizes.
■ Instructor manual.



On power scaling and amplification rating, 7Hz Legato is an easy to drive set. With 30-40% volume level from my sources like my LG phones, Legato has a good amplitude scaling as it delivers a more dynamic and even full-range sounding already.



Regarding its tonality, it definitely has a warm V-shaped signature which is quite refreshing from the tides of a lean, U-shaped, Harman-tuning IEMs in the entry-level segment. There's an elevation on bass, some peaks on treble region and a recessed midrange.



LOWS/BASS:

Boomy, authoritative, vigorous and dominating, that's how I describe the bass quality of Legato. It has a quantity that really delivers a heavy note weight especially on bass-focus tracks. The overall bass make up of this set reminds me of some speakers of our Aiwa Home Audio Stereo Component which gives me that evocative feel when I was a highschooler back then in the late 90's.

It does have deep rumbling sound on its sub bass as I felt it from drum machines and synthesisers from old school hip-hop, classic rock, electronica and synth-pop. Mid bass has a good presence that it has substantial note weight to give a guttural, more powerful and darker tone on bass-baritones vocals like Peter Steele of Type O Negative and Barry White. Bass drum kicks does have thunderous and full sound on them (John Bonham's bass kicks on When The Levee Breaks) and bass guitars with its growl and roar does have that resonant and mighty sound on them (Patricia Morrison's bass line on The Sisters of Mercy's Lucretia My Reflection).

This set is definitely tuned for über-bassheads who love bombastic and menacing low frequencies but at the expense of a bit veiled midrange and even affects the quality of treble.



MIDRANGE:

Due to dominant bass, it takes a back seat on the overall frequency range spectrum. Midrange is definitely recessed on this one, however it has that warmth due to the excessive low end that makes it smoother and rounded sounding. The male vocals and the lower female, specifically contralto does benefit the warm midrange to have that depth and consistency.

On male vocals like baritones, it has the warm, authority and richer sound especially on those steely dramatic-types like Louis Armstrong and Jimmy Hendrix. Countertenors does rather have a bit rounded but still chesty and agile enough in its fluctuations on its falsetto voice as I listen to Andreas Scholl. With tenor singers, it exhibits a tad smoother and warmer rather than a brassy and dazzling sound as I usually expected that it delivers less emotional drive especially Placido Domingo and lyrical types like Justin Timberlake. When it comes to female vocals, Contraltos fares better on this one as it has its heaviness and "chocolatey" especially on Toni Braxton and Tracy Chapman. On both mezzo-sopranos and sopranos, they sound a bit less euphonic and less energetic on how I listen to some tracks from Andrea Corr, Alison Krauss and Diana Damrau but it sounds pleasant albeit too smooth in my liking.

On instruments, strings like acoustic guitars do have a more midrangey to buttery sound from them and the violins sounds a bit muted and austere in my liking as I want a more lustrous and lively sound. As for woodwinds, it sounds more mellow than airy on flutes and fife while saxophones have this sombre and a tad paleness sound in them. Meanwhile, on brass instruments, trombones seem to have power and fuller sound on them and trumpets have a dark and rounded sound to give that intensity. Regarding percussion instruments, toms have that deep and heavy sound on them, snares seem to have a clattering and hard sound and then pianos have more rounded and warmer sound as I feel that it is quite lacking in brightness.



HIGHS/TREBLE:

As I mentioned a while ago about the overbearing bass response of Legato, it seems that they are on smoother response though my treble headed side sense says it is lack of sparkle, less shimmering and a bit subdued in my liking. With those characteristics it sounds very pleasant that I can certainly recommend this set to treble-sensitive folks out there. Notably, it seems that upper mids and presence treble regions are somewhat a bit scooped that will affect the quality of brightness and details and of all these things regarding its tuning, there's a silver lining which there's no hint of harshness or sibilance.

Cymbals sound a bit less glistening, less snappy and it doesn't sizzle so much that it only gives a modest airy extension. But on hi-hats, it was depicted accurately with its typical characteristic which are its shortened dull and dry sound.



SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING & TECHNICALITIES:

I'll be straight right away on this one with no pretensions, this is definitely not a very technical set. It only has an average to above-average sound/speaker stage width, a decent height reach and somehow a good depth distance between front to back.

The imaging presentation is rather two-dimensional, typical stereo panning between channels. It is rather mushy and hazy to pinpoint the exact location of vocals and instruments and it doesn't separate well along with its not so defined layering aspect as they quite struggle on more complex tracks from multi-instrumental genres like jazz, ska and orchestra.

There's a decent cohesion of its dual driver performance as the large DD woofer can only deliver a moderate speed on its transients as it gives a boomy nature of the 7Hz Legato while the smaller DD performs more quicker to deliver such tonal precision on other frequencies for the overall envelopment of the sound quality.

As for resolution capabilities, 7Hz Legato focuses more on macro-dynamics as you will notice its solid fundamentals of its notes while resolving on micro-details isn't that impressive as they are a bit blunted on definition to extract some nuances and subtleties on audio track data. The tonal colour of this set is on the warmer side of natural tone.



PEER COMPARISONS:

QKZ X HBB KHAN

■ This is a collaboration project between QKZ and Hawaiian Bad Boy. Like the Legato, QKZ KHAN is a dual dynamic driver IEM and it is encapsulated in a composite shell which is actually very similar to some KZ and CCA previous models. The QDC-type connector actually cheapens the overall physical aesthetic design. The inclusion of this set is rather spartan compared to Legato but the pricing of KHAN is cheaper.

■ Tuning-wise, they have very similar sound profile curves which is a warm, V-shaped sound signature. They both have powerful bass responses but KHAN has a lesser quality compared to the Legato. Both have recessed midrange and on treble, KHAN has a less airy treble and even less shimmer which give an inadequate and subdued details.

■ Comparing these sets on one another when it comes to technical performance. Both of them perform dismally in this category. Coherency on drivers is where the KHAN excels but Legato has a bit better on resolution capability.



KZ DQ6S

■ Another collaboration project with HBB (Hawaiian Bad Boy), this set doesn't only have two dynamic drivers but three dynamic drivers in total. It was encapsulated in a composite shell composed of polycarbonate plastic and magnesium zinc alloy. like the KHAN, it uses a QDC-type bi-pin connector. Like most KZ products, the product packaging has only basic included accessories.

■ Since this is based on HBB preferred tuning target, this is a warm V-shaped sound signature. Compared to Legato, the bass quality of this set is leaning towards being punchy rather than boomy. Same recession on mids but on the treble, it is less refined as it has some instances of sibilance on sibilant-laden tracks and it is even less airy compared to the Legato.

■ They have similar technical performance but Legato once again fares better on resolution capability as it has a bit better on detail retrieval.



As I end my review on this product, 7Hz specifically knows what type of listeners they are aiming for this set. They definitely distance themselves from their competitors that have something in common, usually on the same page of target curve tuning which are usually Harman and its derivative as they truly know some sentiments of audio enthusiasts.

This type of tuning is actually not on my alley when it comes to my preferred sound profile but nostalgic moments are definitely a strong emotional driver. The overall sound quality of Legato actually reminds me of our old Aiwa speakers from the home stereo audio component system that we had during the mid-90s on how I actually listen to music with my favourite tracks.

7Hz Legato is definitely a good and decent product that can easily be recommended to all types of listener whether to an experienced audio enthusiast or a mere casual listener.

7Hz Legato is now available at LINSOUL. Check out the un-affiliated link below:

◆7Hz LEGATO LINSOUL LINK◆


BASS FOR BASS GOD! SUB BASS FOR SUBWOOFERS!




SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: 7HZ LEGATO
IMPEDANCE: 26Ω
SENSITIVITY: 108dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 10Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (2) DYNAMIC DRIVERS


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

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*


P.S.

I am not affiliated to 7Hz nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to LINSOUL especially to MS. KAREENA TANG for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate her generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.

General/Build/Packaging/Comfort
7HZ made a bang with their Timeless, a Planar IEM which triggered the waves of so called “Planar War” that subsequently, many brands releasing their own planar IEMs. We’re not here to talk about that today, today it’s about the Legato, which i believe will cause another “bang” in the scene, high dosage of bass is nothing new, but what makes the Legato special is despite having a large amount of bass, the bass reproduced is of high quality bass (good control, tight, non muddy), at the same time, it doesn’t compromise other range of frequencies that much (we’re talking bout the mids here).

The build quality of Legato is solid, the shell is made out of CNC aluminium, it has a solid feel to it and it doesn’t feel weighty. I’ve been using them for several hours straight and I don't feel any discomfort. The packaging of Legato is fairly straightforward, a card box containing a large carrying case which has the IEM and the cable stored within it, also two types of eartips provided (namely the 07 and 08), and replacement filter as backup in case you need to replace it next time, very thoughtful.



Gears used for this review

• Earmen Angel Dac/Amp
• Earmen ST-Amp
• Xduoo XA-10
• Macbook Air M2 3.5 Out
• iPod Touch 5th Gen
• Legato Stock cable and Moondrop Spring Tips

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
Putting on the Legato and hitting the play button on my foobar2k, the bass is what hit me first, and depending on which song you’re listening to, the subwoofer-like rumble comes alive when the track calls for. Legato is a warm sounding IEM, the timbre is natural to my ears and I can't really find any fault with it. It does have the vintage’s “flavour” to it. If you have heard vintage stereo speaker setup before, you’ll understand what I mean by that.
Very good note weight across the frequency range
Let’s take a look at the break down below:

Bass

• Bass is the star of the show, quantity and quality, you name it, Legato has it
• Sub bass rumbles hard when the track calls for it, it has very good extension and it really goes deep
• Mid bass is punchy and has good slam to it
• Speed is quite good as it handles Metallica’s Lux Aeterna, Slipknot’s People=crap quite well
• The note weight in this frequency range is very “flavourful” to my ears, thick sounding and every note is very impactful, i’m not a basshead but i do enjoy bass when it comes to good quality bass
• I would describe the bass of Legato as bass done right, the bass doesn’t invade the music when its not needed, but when the track calls for it, that’s when it’s showcasing its strength

Mids

• The mids are slightly recessed which is expected, but it can be mitigated by swapping the stock eartips to Moondrop’s SpringTips, it will push the mids forward a little without affecting much on the bass and treble
• Male and female vocal has good texture and weight to it, from Fei Yu Ching, Zhao Peng, Leonard Cohen to Anita Mui, Teresa Teng, Billie Eilish, they all sounded very good off Legato (This is based on my listening impression using Moondrop’s Spring Tips)

Treble

• Treble is smooth and non offensive, despite the amount of bass coming from the Legato, one would expect it to be dark sounding, this is not the case for Legato
• The treble has enough air and sparkles to complement for the overall musical experience
• Detail retrieval is not Legato’s strong suite but it is adequate
• It works in tandem with the low end providing balance for the strong bass

Soundstage/Imaging

• Soundstage is deep and tall, with good width, it gives me a very good atmospheric kind of experience when listening to Toto’s Africa (Live), as if i am listening through speaker instead of IEM
• Imaging is good but it does gets a little tricky for Legato when it comes to complex track, but then again, Legato is not going for technicalities rather than musicality, of course at the same time aiming not to sacrifice much of the technicalities

Driveability

• Legato is not hard to drive, mid range dongle will do the job just fine
• However, it does love power and it scales very well with amplification
• Personally, i preferred pairing Legato with Angel (ESS based DAC.Amp)

Comparison (SeeAudio x Z Review’s Rinko)

• The Rinko is another set touted as basshead’s set, hence this comparison is happening
• In terms of bass quality and quantity, Rinko is nowhere near Legato, Rinko is focusing on the mid bass rather than the sub bass, the rumble isn’t quite there but the mid bass is certainly punchy
• Rinko is slightly better in terms of detail retrieval due to slight emphasis on the highs, not to say that Legato’s detail retrieval is bad, it's good enough
• Soundstage on the Rinko is 2D-ish while Legato has got the atmospheric feeling on for the soundstage
• All in all, both are tuned differently and i would put it as Rinko is a modern sounding set while Legato has got the vintage flavour to it, if that makes sense

Final Thoughts
The Legato is something different and stands out on its own. The tuning is niche and there are bound to be some who like it and some who don't. You have to take into consideration that this set is not a set that’s aim is to excel in technicalities rather to provide the listener with engaging listening experience (musicality). I find myself reaching out for the Legato most of the time because when I hit the play button, I find myself engulfed in the music, not just by the bass but the overall frequency range. If you are searching for that kind of experience, Legato it is.

*7HZ Legato is being sent over for the purpose of this review. I thank LINSOUL for the opportunity. I am not influenced in any way to produce this review nor do I receive any monetary compensation.

Head over to the following link if you are interested in getting a pair!

7Hz Legato - Non affiliated

7Hz became a household name in the community from its successes with Timeless and Zero IEMs. Both are tuned exceptionally well for the price and are still competitive today. Because of these two, the community is always excited to see what's next from 7Hz, and today, we have their newest release to discuss, the Legato.



Evaluation Equipment
Source: Topping A90 & D90LE
Graph Tool: Clone IEC 60318-4 Coupler (Clone 711)

Overview

The Legato is a two dynamic driver setup, one as a woofer and the other handling mids and highs. As shown in the graph below, Legato is an unapologetically bassy IEM. I don't particularly prefer this tuning choice, as I enjoy balanced signatures the most. However, I can appreciate a well-executed bassy signature; Fatfreq Maestro Mini is a good example. On the other hand, Legato falls short of delivering this signature. We'll discuss the reasons for this and some positives it does have in the Sound Breakdown.

Sound Breakdown

Bass

To say the bass is a lot is an understatement. It's 13dB of punch-to-face bass that corrects itself at around 500Hz. This amount of bass immediately reminded me of Fatfreq Maestro Mini, which was potentially the inspiration behind the Legato. The difference is the Maestro Mini's bass is clean (correcting at the acceptable 300Hz), while the Legato leans muddy. The bleed into the lower midrange hurts female vocals the most, as it makes them sound heavy and congested. The bleed is more forgiving for male vocals, but even they come across overly thick. Bass dynamic is pillowy, not dry like Balanced Armature bass, but lacks tightness and definition. The bass in Legato is simply a lot while missing other aspects that can truly make the bass shine. There's a quick fix to this that I'll discuss at the end of the article.

Midrange

We already discussed the lower midrange, so how about the upper midrange? It's natural. Yes, the Legato's executes the high frequencies nicely. Vocals and instruments have great timbre decay and mostly sound correct. My only criticism here, not exclusive to the Legato, is that it trades vocal clarity for bass quantity. The criticism also applies to Maestro Mini, though to a lesser degree, as those two have significantly more upper midrange to compensate for the bass. The Legato leans towards its bass more, again, unapologetically. Ultimately, it's a con shared between IEMs tuned in this style. Though most who seek a bassy signature are okay with this trade-off, it's worth mentioning anyways.

Treble

I don't have much to say about the treble besides that it sounds fine. It's primarily relaxed due to how much more bass you get in comparison. Instruments are represented but could be more impressive. It's okay at best and underwhelming at worst, but nothing outright wrong.



Technical Performance

Much like vocal clarity, details are also traded for bass quantity. Instruments are behind the bass, which causes a loss in incisiveness, micro details, and overall clarity. The Legato is also muddier in the bass, which adds bluntness on top of everything else. Long story short, the Legato is not detailed sounding.

The soundstage is okay; it could use more treble to feel more airiness, but okay overall.

Comparison & Summary

I usually like to compare IEMs I'm reviewing with competitors in the same price range, but given the niche tuning choice of Legato, it's not helpful to pitch the top contender at the same price against Legato due to drastic differences in the target market. The quick and dirty comparison is get anything else I usually recommend if you want a good midrange presentation, but demo Legato if you're curious about the dark side (as in, punch-to-the-face bass.) The bottom line is if you're not a bass head, this IEM is not for you, and if you're a bass head, this is still a lurk warm "demo first" recommendation at best.



Quick-Fix

Here's the quick fix I promised earlier, which is.....EQ! (you didn't see this coming at all, I know).

Using a -3dB peak filter 300Hz with a 1.1 Q factor solves the muddy issue; vocals are more natural, enhance instrumental separation, and add dynamics to the bass. You're welcome

Disclaimer, EQ is never considered part of the evaluation process.

Woof!
For me anyway I was not quite expecting to like the 7Hz Legato too much. My first impressions were simply OK, as with the price slightly over $100.00, I thought it was simply another bass heavy IEM? But then my opinion started to change. At this point I should have known better, tying the Legato with the bass heavy Sony WM1Z was a no, no. But learning to take the Legato over to the mid centric WM1A was the ticket, I was getting somewhere here, then trying the wide-bore silicone ear-tips made the response ever faster and cleaner! Now the 7Hz Legato for review came with a 3.5mm cable. So trying an aftermarket cable to access 4.4mm and get the Legato more juice was a new level of improvement. Finally feed it a brighter signal with a vocal centric cable brought about such clarity……..I reached a point, I’d never thought I’d reach? Let’s just say this IEM enthusiast audiophile went from a boring lackluster IEM called the Legato and transferred over to a fully entertaining playback well above the humble asking price of $109.00. In hindsight I should have known the 7Hz Legato would have been special. With 7Hz past track record for success, they surely know how to design and make IEMs!

$109.00
https://www.linsoul.com/collections/featured-home/products/7hz-legato

Who is 7Hz?
In 2018 a team of music enthusiasts and engineers got together to test their skills. Somewhere along the way they choose 7Hz as the company name. In 2021 7Hz released the 14.2mm Planar magnetic "Timeless" IEM. The Timeless gained a reputation for best technical resolvability under $300.00. The Timeless, priced at $219.00 seemed like the answer to everyones prayers? The unique CNC shell and double-sided N52 magnet array didn't hurt matters any! Still the Timeless was/is not perfect...........even with its popularity, there was a chance to add tuning sophistication. The next step was to bring in a high-profile tuner. Ahhh...the celebration of Crinacle.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/7h...ioko-universal-iem.25990/reviews#review-29004

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/7hz-salnotes-zero-universal-iem.25980/reviews#review-28978

In fact Crinacle tuned two IEMs for 7Hz one the Salnotes Dioko planar he got credit for and a second the Salnotes Zero single DD he was not. Crinacle got a portion of the retail sales from both except he couldn’t openly put his name on the Zero, as he was simultaneously working on another collaboration called the Trurhear Zero. As this played out I received both the Salenotes Dioko and the Salnotes Zero at the same time, their individual reviews coming out only 4 days apart in August of 2022. Yet I liked the Zero better, which is strange as it’s only a $19.99 IEM, in contrast to the $99.00 Dioko! But to simplify things……the Zero seemed to have a warmer thicker sound that I just blended with. And still the Zero is shy of bass but due to its very nature the midrange takes and is so complete………….well the Zero distracts you from throwing and rocks at it, plus it’s $19.99! So to be up-front I’ve only heard the 7Hz Dioko and Zero before this 7Hz Legato. But after talking a look-see on line, I’m pretty sure this is the most bass 7Hz has ever accomplished with a single IEM.

Specifications:

• Frequency response: 10Hz to 20kHz
• Impedance: 26Ω
• Sensitivity: 108dB/v
• Connector: 0.78mm 2pin

Features:

• Premium Dual-Driver Configuration.
• Large 12mm Dynamic Driver with Multi-Layer Composite Diaphragm.
• 6mm Micro Dynamic Driver With Composite Diaphragm.
• Exquisite Finish With metallic Ear Shells.
• 8-Japan-Made audio-grade tantalum capacitors.
• Standard 2-Pin 0.78mm Connectors.
• Clean and Powerful Sound Performance.
• Ergonomic Shape for Comfortable Fit.
• Easy Drivability.
• High-Quality OCC+Silver-Plated OCC Cable.

Packaging:
The 7Hz Legato comes in a nice zippered carrying case. In fact as you can see it is very close to the case that came with the Dioko. Only differences are the zipper starts at the top of the Dioko case and pulls downward, where the Legato case you pull the zipper upward. In fact where the Dioko case is textured, the Legato case in not. Also for whatever reason the Legato case is about 1/8th of an inch thinner. Inside you are met with 2 extra nozzle filters with backing filters. A wonderful set of 5 silicone ear-tips and three more sets of black narrow-bore silicone ear-tips. There is the OCC cable already attached as well as the small clear ear-tips. There is a warranty pamphlet with instructions too.




Surprisingly the included case shows to be almost identical from the Dioko case, though the zipper action is way smoother with the Dioko case.



The case:
Call me a weird, but I truly love these cases. Such a case is a perfect size and the tray comes out to make it even bigger to hold a DAP or a giant stiff audiophile cable. While it is too big to put in a pants pocket, the transportable nature of the case means you can take it along anyway. With a velvet like upholstery and hard sidewalls you are guaranteed not to damage what’s inside.



The case just as I opened it for the first time:
You will note 7Hz places a clear plastic shielding to protect your Legato IEMs in route.



Included cable:
OCC and silver plated OCC.The included cable sports the most comfortable of over-ear-guides. There is a smooth flexibility always, going wherever you send it. And while it didn't show-up in the photos there are subtle R and L markers on the 2Pins. The are also branding included in both the aluminum splitter and plug.

Tantalum Crossovers:
The Japan made crossover system displaces the frequency bands to the 6mm dynamic driver midrange/treble producer and sequesters the bass frequencies to the enormous 12mm dynamic driver.

CNC Aluminum Alloy Shells:
2022 was really the year of the Alloy CNC Shell. While of course there are many ways to build an IEM structure……last year and this year brought a plethora of metal shells. The SIMGOT EA500, The SeeAudio Yume MK2, The DUNU KIMA, The TINHIFI T4 Plus, The TINHIFI C2, The TRN MT3, The KZ PR1 HiFi, The TINHIFI T2 DLC, The Moondrop Stellaris, The Tripowin Rhombus, BLON Z200, The TRN ST5, The SeekReal Audio Airship, The DUNU VULKAN, The TNR TA1 Max, The TRN BAX, Tripowin Leá. Except for this years SIMGOT EA500 those are just some the metal construction IEMs I’ve reviewed since the beginning of 2022!



Build:
Showing gorgeous lines, our Legato starts with a swirl faceplate. Such a faceplate wards off against scuff and smudges and in fact adds grip upon finger placement for repositioning. There is one vent on the underside and three unusually large side vents acting to vent off the top of the driver mechanism. Three piece construction with an added forth piece cable acceptor. Such a device is flush to the sidewall inside of its own “nozzle” and angled to cables to lay inside of the ear. Meaning ear-hooks will travel out from the IEM and travel to the inside, opposed to flush or that dreaded to the outside. At only 7 grams a piece the Legato is the perfect weight. Add to that a decently prolonged nozzle and we are gifted with perfect fit. You can tell 7Hz learned by past mishaps including extra filters, where (at the start) the Dioko came shipped with the wrong filters and had to be recalled or you were sent a horrifying filter repair kit. Next the nozzle length is improved from the Dioko as well as the Legato is balanced in weight displacement, which the Dioko was not. Lol

All and all I give the 7Hz Legato a 100% fit and build rating. Obviously each listener is going to be different, yet these ideas and build concepts seem to be universal to a point?

Ear-tips:
While I commend 7Hz for going ahead and including a fabulous set of ear-tips. I went a head and utilized the L yellow centered ear-tips for a large section of the sound review. But as habit would have it, the wide-bore silicone ear-tips I use on almost every one of my reviews came into place. Such wide-bore silicone ear-tips are glorified in every user picture here in this review.

Burn-in:
At 100 hours the 7Hz somewhat congealed and became one in tone. Somehow the Tantalum crossover circuit is smoothed out as well as DDs always need substantial burn-in. And when 2 DDs are present even more important in the burn-in to guarantee frequency interlocking. I’m not sure what is happening but there was fairly substantial differences from out of the box till the 100 hour mark, finding smoother response as well as refinement in both drivers.

About Me:
Probably my most sought after quality would be note weight. Meaning some of the time it can be created with a product like the $19.99 Salnotes Zero (now priced at $25.99). But that remains as to why I would choose it over the $99.00 Dioko. But coincidently the note-weight is also provided better with bass heavy additions to our hobby. My ultimate favorite IEM just so happens to be the IER-Z1R. Now the interesting part about that model is there is a lesser bass response that the XBA-Z5 and a cleaner response even that the full-size MDR-Z1R. But it remains my reference by which I judge all other styles of playback. Simply arriving more natural and detailed, the phase correctness and timbre going on, it challenges all other IEMs in the world to the test. So it may not shock you to see how I rated the 7Hz Legoto. The dual DD drivers putting out correct timbre! But while the Sony IER-Z1R comes at you with a V response here we have an undeniable L. And with that let’s get started on the sound review.

Sound:
Bass:
Incredibly the bass response can be adjusted a few ways. As talked about earlier it can be adjusted to be slightly leaner and faster, but there is no stopping a portion of this style of bass from getting up into your soul. The very definition of what is going on here is called “room response”. And while listening I often will avoid having such talks about bass fallout, but the very definition of this style of bass simply encourages such descriptors.

Room Response:
You are going to read reviews about the 7Hz Legato sounding like floor standers from the 70s and 80s. And that is true, yet there is a very good reason for such similarities. Room response is sound waves reflecting off the sidewalls inside of a speaker. The waves are emitted off the back wall and sidewalls of a speaker and reflect off the rear and sidewalls of a listening room. These low frequency sound waves have been proven to exist through testing and this is commonly understood in the audiophile community. The waves then go to compete with the forward firing waves put out by the front speaker drivers adding a boost to the low end. This is one of the main differences you have from listening to music in a night club, where the room is coloring and delaying the music. The end result is a more laid-back approach, but also adding a smoothness to the pace and note-weight all across the frequency band! As seen in the graphical representation such waves are longer than midrange and treble and can start to connect and cancel a portion of the rhythm. So timbre can still be effective, but pace starts to be diminished. I like to call this phenomena “rock-n-slide” as a portion still holds rhythm by the sheer amount of lower kinetic energy. These have great pace, and more on why that is later. But a section of the frequencies get overlayed and smoothed out to the point of almost a single tone, when in reality it is a pulse.



Treble
The 6.5kHz kicker:
There is a single boost to this tune right at 6.5kHz, and it results is creating a balance to such bass. Typically anti-sibilance drops are seen with many regular IEMs anywhere from 6kHz to 8kHz when in fact the sibilance range can even higher. But due to the specific tonal attributes of this 6mm Treble/Midrange driver we are OK. So what I’m saying is there is a peak instead of what is normally found in this area, and I’m starting to find a few IEM tunes that operate this way, so it’s no accident.

This 6.5kHz spike is a little unconventional and creates a few treble issues. What 7Hz is doing is using the presence region to balance out the big bass region. Such an effect does work, but is not the regular way we have been conditioned to hear treble. Thus if the Legato doesn’t seen right at first believe it or not simply give it time. You can actually come out of an hour listening session fully understanding the tune, because your mind simply got used to it. This in-fact is called a coloration of treble yet it will not be always noticeable unless you are playing music which already has a strong 6.5kHz region.

Midrange:
Male vocals get an emphasis in total, still you may be surprised how nice female vocals sound. Yet believe it or not……..I consider the Legato to be one of the single greatest instrumental IEMs I’ve come across so far this year. Let me repeat it is not exactly well rounded. Yes, it plays back vocal music to a fair amount, but if you want to truly understand where they were going with this IEM turn-on some instrumental EDM! Why am I taking about instrumental music in the midrange section? Because the midrange actually suffices, but that’s not what these are truly about. What you need to do when you get your pair burned-in is put-on some beautiful electronic music and discover what the true forte of the Legato is!

Sound Demo:
Pace:
Amazing while the bass actually fairly controlled. Where this will show it self is more if you can find chill-out styles of EDM. Where what it does well is imaging of a slower prolonged style of bass playback. The fascinating part is the treble in this album too, just how well the Legato does it in it’s entirety.



While yes, pace is super important yet this style of IEM does so much correct into the imaging and localization of specific bass tones. Now they are not perfect, but the outcome is. Listening to this whole album I was especially taken with just how complete and special the 7Hz Legato is.

Song number 2:


“Flower Nebula (Original Mix)”
Logical Elements
Ascending (Compiled by E-Mantra)
44.1kHz - 24bit

So now we have a beat. At 01:57 the rhythm really starts, and while there is not the end-all, end-all in definition here, the vibe is perfect. The bass drum is thud like, at 03:04 the sequencers start and at 03:37 the synth accent starts to let you know the song has reached a style of climax. The part that makes this style of music interesting is the layers and the fact that we are witnessing a wholeness or sorts. Note-weight abounds as this song couldn’t be this good without it. At 05:17 a major break takes place…..the drums stop. It’s this instrumental magic that is taking place. Now the throbs are not so defined except we don’t care, I mean why care? The snare drum is introduced at 06:24 and while in a way this is sloppy, it’s a fair bit of entertainment despite the flaws. Maybe what really makes this is the stage, the size of it all?

Stage:


“All In Good Time”
Dead Can Dance
Anastasis
44.1 kHz - 24bit

The first thing that his you is in-fact the bass, and while it’s not the most defined, it is tonally correct. At 00:29 the male vocals start and they are omnipresent having a great fall-off out to the very edges of the stage. This song is multitracked or in effects where there is a signal which has been treated and reintroduced to the music. I can’t help but think this effect is live and his vocals actually respond to the delays? We can hear the side treatments way out to the edges of the stage……..at at 02:59! The effects take precedence in the artistic statement, at 03:38 the actual width of his singing is bewildering. And while it’s safe to say this bass is pillowy and mushy, still somehow it all works out in the end?

“The Wanderer”
Insomnium
Argent Moon EP
44.1kHz - 24bit



This song is a statement to how they do the Rock genre well. Right off 00:00 the guitar introduction, to the point of the bass at 00:30. Part of what makes the Legato work here is the full harmonics inside the guitar. The fact that multiple guitars are used and they find good separation into timbre offered. The ever so slightly dark rendition somehow sounds exactly correct, and that is the unexplainable magic the Legato holds. Each facet of the guitar introduction combines into a whole as the different guitars form chord triads among the different instruments. And…..if anything special this single feature is a clue as to the musicality at hand? At 00:30 the bass hits, and right off we realize we are commanded to accept this style of playback, as while not technical in the classic sense, the bass here becomes this rolling entity gaining points for having only the correct notes tree toped. Literally like the tops of trees in a forrest there is only a viewpoint to see the few tops rearing their heads. This is the bass reality we are given, and much like the graph above about bass frequencies touching, such personality remain a fact of life. Still somehow everything is totally correct in playback here? Nothing is left-out or to be looked around for? At approximately 01:00 the vocals come in (timestamps different on YouTube) and the male vocals own a slight feature of clarity in contrast to the female species. At 01:52 the strings come in, offering a support and added soundstage charm. Interesting too, as often the guitar strums are shown offering what the guitar does, which is both rhythm and tone at the same time. At 03:56 to 03:58 there is an either guitar synth or actual synth that is acting as a place mark for a change in song structure, as the song now ramps-up to a heavier remainder 02:13 minutes. The bass becomes in-the-pocket and so will remain acting like the guitar offering a rhythm instrument and tonal positioning. Yet this pace is once again of a more felt and not heard form of existence…..like a sprinkling of detail in only the right places……somehow it works, but I’m at a loss to explain exactly why? As this bass section is displaying the bare minimum (details) to get the job done? But it works…..like a silent guy at a party that rarely discloses much about himself, yet he is accepted for who he is and his ways.



“Chemical Redemption”
Delain
Apocalypse & Chill
44.1kHz - 24bit

This single song example could very well be a descriptor for all the 7Hz Legato does. In fact if someone wanted to hear the uniqueness and the standard abilities of the Legato, this song would do it in a very short time. Really it has it all. Vocals, bass, drums but most of all there is a rhythm guitar tone which goes ahead and showcases what the Legato is about. The song shows pace, as well as very specific treble embellishments which can go to show what the Legato is ultimately capable of doing way up there. The thing is I’m way too close to the song to look at it any different than I do now. I have used the song often to test IEMs and it never lets me down. Obviously Chemical Redemption isn’t everything to testing IEMs, but it goes a long way, helping place critical tonal and technical reference points all within a short time span. Now the thing with pace...........is in fact a critical role in how this particular song plays out.........to demonstrate. There is in-fact a wide range of both tonal reproduction and pace reproduction which ends acceptable. Basically what the IEM is in many ways is revealed upon hearing this particular song. I started with it as a way to judge guitar tone, yet after using it for years and years discovered that in-fact it was important to many discoveries with-in the IEM chosen.

Even though I know this song forward and back, it never hurts to hear a separate rendition on another pair of headphones to make 2X sure I am understanding what I’m hearing. With the 7Hz Legato at the start 00:00 the bass sequences are deep and satisfying. Often other styles of playback will showcase a thinner less deep tone, yet still be correct….to a point. Here we are witnessing the full-monty, or course you never guessed otherwise! With-in this sequence there is even a tinge maybe of distortion at 00:03? I will admit that the likes of this warmth have normally never raised notice, as a perfect example of the Legato’s innate character showing. Finally when the guitars hit at 00:08 we are gifted with a decision. Yet right before than we are also asked if the preceding sequence is shown from the sides of the stage and “are we inside” of the playback……….and yes, the Legato is providing a window into our music today and offering involvement to the playback. At 00:08 the guitars hit, the drums start-up too. And the guitar tone, while not as bright as some producers arrange, is full and beefy. In fact now starts a magic that I can’t quite get on paper? It’s the separation in the fact that the guitar becomes multiple tracks……that we have one panned-out to the left and one panned out to the right. And while the drums are doing their duty with-in the rhythm, a more broad form of clarity is arrived at. It’s not exactly sloppy but going that direction……and do I care? This is the reality of the Legato in that certain attributes just own a character in-which they call their own. Personally while not technically correct, I’m “OK” with this style of playback as it holds character, almost a guilty pleasure form of character, but not quite……….maybe it does? There is a slight blurring of the pace which somehow is blurred in the best of places, kind of like that dirt on the floor that shouldn’t be there, but because it is found at home in an out-of-the-way section of real estate, all is well.

Really I have to complement the Legato for the size of the rhythm guitar and once again comment that we are visiting an IEM that is more musical than technical. Often musical and technical meet somewhere in the middle, but not here……it’s dark and even shady darkness, and we are making a clandestine meeting on the outskirts of town. Still I’m confident of this playback, yet still wonder if everyone will be as smitten with it as I? The thing is the timbre is almost totally correct, and that my fiends is key here. So, more musicality through timbre than anyone thing!

At 00:24 Charlotte Wessels totally makes an entrance, and this is the most critical area of the song, meaning with some bass heavy IEMs the vocals get shadowed and back-placed. But the female vocals are just about correct, now that is not saying they are forward really in anyway, except their placement inside the positioning and FR is adequate and understandable. Yep, we just flew a jet though the eye of a needle. A this is total proof of the vocal competence of the Legato……remember who are buying this and the mission the Legato is on, its goal is to position vocals in an adequate and pleasurable manner and it does. Abruptly at 00:40 the chorus begins and we settle into the groove. In fact Charlotte is singing to herself backing and we can hear the separation fine.

I have objected the use
I have cried wolf, cried abuse
No more, that was yesterday
No more, I have learned from my mistakes
No more, that was yesterday
I lied, I tried to say
Oh, I want to try again
Wanna fly again
Wanna try again
With you
It is physical
This redemption of mine
It is chemical
It it it, it is physical
Truth is I was quite enraged
Truth is I was quite afraid
No more, that was yesterday
No more, reason won the war on rage
No more, that was yesterday
I lied, I tried to say
Oh, I want to try again
Wanna fly again
Wanna try again
With you
It is physical
This redemption of mine
It is chemical
It it it, it is physical
It is physical
This redemption of mine
It is chemical
It it it, it is physical
No more
No more
No more, no confusion
Sing for disillusion
Sing for thought dilution
Sing for the solution
I've wanted to know for some time
Just how feels to feel fine
Today I live on your high
Today I know I'm alive
It is physical
This redemption of mine
It is chemical
It it it, it is physical
It is physical
This redemption of mine
It is chemical
It it it, it is physical

Now at 01:34 we can hear the air-intake of Charlotte as is found throughout the song. And while noticeable accolades can be made for the evenness and clear upper-stage, there is still found a slight off-tone, like BA off tone, yet way more subtle. Of course the vocal overdubs are totally noticeable through-out. Now while the bass is heard offering its support, these are probably more focuses into the mids once you acclimate to the bass. As there is never going to be bass clarity in which to behold and bask in. So what do you have? The midrange like you always have, only there is this tagged-on loose bass baggage that is at once both slightly messed-up and correct, it simply is what it is with music like this? A loose moving rhythmic sliding and grooving, like you would hear in a big smoky nightclub. Literally like you just walked in the door!



Conclusion:
This leads us to the natural conclusion:
That in fact is both of light and of a little darkness. The darkness is part of the playback we can’t see/hear. Yep there are bass details which are left out. Now to go ahead and call the 7Hz Legato a bass cannon is still a correct term, except other bass players create a more involved and detailed rendition of actual bass structure. It is just those other bass providers cost more. Take the Sony XBA-Z5 for instance. While the Legato fits way better, the Sony XBA-Z5 offers a window into the bass tone. So it’s doing what the Legato does as far as providing ample amounts of bass, yet where the Legato falls short in bass clarity the Sony XBA-Z5 goes ahead and offers timbral information that far surpasses what the Legato is trying to do. The XBA-Z5 is way more money too, so in that regard this comparison is not a fair one. Still it’s here to provide contrast and show the reality that the Legato is not everything to all folks. Though where the Legato passes the Sony XBA-Z5 is in over all upper timbre to go ahead and use 2 DDs which provide a more realistic timbre with-in the midrange and while the treble is totally subdued, it is boosted at 6.5kHz giving the presence and anti-sibilance giving ultimate balance against the bass forces. We just are not gifted with the tone resembling tin which is emitted from the XBA-Z5 BAs. Instead we are gifted with a more balanced real timbre. So it is a trade-off and surprisingly diverts your listening focus away from the bass a little………as their is a loss of information there.

Still there is a magic at hand. I mean how or why would I even think about rating the Legato so high-up with scoring? It’s just first I want you to realize where the paradise ends…..like what is listed in the preceding paragraph. But what takes place on a daily listening schedule is nothing short of remarkable really. When the Legato is firing on all eight cylinders then the party is on. An example would be……..




What is happening is the bass has its place. And in-fact this style of music utilizes the drum/bass matrix as a moving theme as to not ever allocate too much detail or use, except for the utilitarian (bass) purpose of pushing it all forward. What we are left with is a style of backdrop and truly it almost starts to become unnoticeable? It is there but other attributes in the song take pure focus and stature. The stage littered with imaginary images of light and sound…..things traveling across (the stage) to their destination. So if I can segue to my most adorable feature, besides timbre and note-weight? It’s probably the stage? Yep, and while not the biggest ever, there is a drama to it all……….. and that drama is made even more exotic by the bass. The stage is made even bigger by the bass. I know I just went though taking about the missing detail the bass has, but it is also wildly functional without needing to be so detailed.



“Ripples in the Sand”
Hans Zimmer
Dune OST
48kHz - 24bit

At the 00:22 mark the sheer size of the bass makes a noticeable expansion with-in the stage. At 00:56 a single solitary bass drops. And for $109.00, I’m not sure you can find anything like the 7Hz Legato to do what’s going down. But not only that, the mood of the musical piece s fully conveyed as well as the reverberations at hand. Anyone who knows this song knows the reverberations are key to understanding the full-on message stated. The thing is I have other IEMs which play this back with better detail, yet they don’t even to begin to offer the reverberations present? So maybe much of this is connected to the quality of driver? Maybe the housing? Often the Legato is compared to the IER-Z1R for both their use of two DDs. Now beyond that the two are not comparable? But maybe they are a little? While in this song the overall bass is not as visceral as I have experienced it, in fact the bass is almost too far behind the scenes, except it works and it works wonderfully! Stuff is slightly congested except at the 02:54 mark we witness the imaging and spacial provocativeness going ahead to gift us entertainment……….always I do have to say, I would rather have this statement than one of 100s of Harman tunes running around making a slight bore of it all. I mean I understand why the Harman tune is used, as it’s pleasing to the masses, and here we are witnessing a bold statement with the Legato…….a statement that says take-it or leave-it………….I think I’ll take it.

$109.00
https://www.linsoul.com/collections/featured-home/products/7hz-legato

Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com/
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A267P2DT104U3C

Disclaimer:
I want to thank Kareena of Linsoul for the love and the 7Hz Legato review sample.

Disclaimer:
These are one persons ideas and concepts, your results may vary.

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
Shanling UA3 Dongle DAC/Amplifier 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Samsung Android Smartphone 3.5mm output

Technical Details​

MODEL: Legato​

DRIVERS: 12mm and 6mm dynamic drivers​

DIAPHRAGM: Fourth-generation DLC composite diaphragm​

IMPEDANCE: 26Ω <@1kHz​

SENSITIVITY: 108dB/v@1KHz​

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 10Hz-20Khz​

THD: ＜1%/1Khz​

CABLE: OCC+silver-plated OCC​

CONNECTOR: 0.78mm 2-pin​

CASE MATERIAL: CNC aviation-grade Aluminum​

A good pair of bassy IEMs is surprisingly rare. When a manufacturer claims that their IEM is bassy, they usually make the IEM too muddy. Alternatively, they would be afraid of the mud to the point of removing all the punchiness from the bass, leaving behind only sub-bass hum.

Today, we look at the 7Hz Legato, an IEM that promises to do a bassy signature properly.

Forewords​

• My review aims to tell you where an IEM is within a consistent and simple scale from 1 (poor) to 5 (outstanding). Scores are assigned by A/B tests against benchmark IEMs, regardless of the retail price.
• I focus on the poorly-defined yet important “technical performance”, such as resolution, soundstage, and imaging.
• Ranking list and measurement database are on my IEM review blog.
• This review is based on a review sample from Linsoul (Thank you!). I have no affiliation with or financial interest in Linsoul or 7Hz. The unit retails for USD$109 at the time this review was published. You can find out more info and get yourself a unit from the Linsoul store.

Specs​

• Driver: 12mm DD + 6mm DD
• Connector Type: 0.78mm 2-pin
• Impedance: 26ohm @ 1kHz
• Sensitivity: 108dB/mV@1kHz

Non-sound Aspects​

The Legato comes in very effective and efficient packaging with zero waste if you decide to keep the cardboard box around for decoration.



Inside the cardboard box, you find a giant case carrying all the goodies. You have two types of ear tips with various sizes, replacement dust filters for the nozzles, a single-ended braided cable, a user manual, and the ear pieces themselves.



The case is gigantic. It is lined with a soft insert that can be removed to further increase the storage size. I can store a few pairs of IEMs or an IEM and a thin source, such as the Topping G5. I can also store two medium-sized music players (DAP). However, I couldn’t keep a thick DAP, such as my Shanling M6 Ultra and an IEM. So I hope that 7Hz can make the case even a bit thicker in the future.



The stock cable supplied by 7Hz does not look fancy, but it is one of the most well-behaved stock cables I have seen so far. Soft, comfortable, easy to handle, and no microphonic. It’s a shame that the cable terminates with a 3.5mm plug, and there is no option to get it with a 4.4mm termination.



The earpieces are fully metal. Their shape, internal acoustic structure, and faceplate decoration strongly remind me of the legendary Sony IER-Z1R. Luckily, Legato is smaller and more comfortable than Sony’s ear stretchers.



Legato earpieces are medium-sized, but they are pretty thick.Even though the nozzles look bulky and long, the part that goes into your ear canals is relatively short. The rest of the nozzles actually hold the 6mm dynamic drivers. Due to the design, Legato is not supposed to sit flush against your ears unless you have gigantic ear canals to insert the 6mm driver inside. 7Hz has anticipated this issue and designed the 2-pin connectors to angle the cable toward your head, preventing the ear hooks from popping out from the back of your ears.



Due to the generous amount of venting and shallow insertion, the noise isolation of the Legato is below average. When I was out, I needed to turn the volume up a few notches.

The comfort of the Legato depends a great deal on the ear tips that you use. The stock ear tips are too stiff and do not work well with a shallow fit. I found that Spin Fit CP145 and W1 are good options. The HS18 tips from FiiO are another excellent option, especially if you want to reduce the lower midrange.

How it sounds​

Sources for listening tests:

• Fiio K7 (for all A/B tests)
• Shanling M6 Ultra
• HiBy RS6
• Topping G5
• Hidizs S9 Pro

Local FLAC files ripped from CDs or bought from Qobuz were used for most casual listening and A/B tests. My playlist for A/B tests can be found on Apple Music here.

All of my listening was done with Spin Fit CP145 ear tips. I listen at a medium volume. I usually turn up the volume until the midrange is entirely audible and detailed unless a treble peak or overwhelming bass prevents me from doing so.

Tonality and Timbre: 4/5 - Good​

Frequency response of 7Hz Legato. Measurements were done with an IEC-711-compliant coupler and might only be compared with other measurements from this same coupler. Visit my graph database for more comparisons.



Tonality or “tuning” is where objectivity and subjectivity meet. Objectivity exists in the squiggly lines above, called Frequency Response (FR) graphs. They are created by sweeping a signal from 20Hz to 20kHz and measuring the corresponding loudness coming from an IEM. Unless a human operator deliberately tampers with the microphone or the data, FR does not care about the price or prestige of an IEM and, therefore, is “objective.”

However, human listeners are not microphones. Our ears and brain interpret the sound and decide whether it is “enjoyable.” It is also beneficial to remember that when you play a note on a musical instrument, multiple sounds (fundamental and harmonic) appear simultaneously and mix together. Achieving a life-like balance between frequencies and adding a tasteful amount of imbalance (“colouring the sound”) is the hallmark of an excellent tonality.



The overall tuning of the Legato can be described as an “L-shape” or even a “downward slope.” You have an overwhelming amount of bass and roughly the same level of midrange and treble.

We need to discuss a bit more about the bass region of Legato. If we had talked about the Legato when I received the unit, you would remember my complaint that the Legato is not that bassy. Let me clarify: the Legato is very bassy but properly bassy. The way 7Hz approaches the bass differs from consumer “extra-bass” products with a bloated and muddy sound for the sake of “boom boom.”



No, most of the Legato’s bass energy is focused in the true bass region, below 150Hz. Moreover, the bass is carried by a (seemingly) high-quality dynamic driver. As a result, Legato has a proper bass boost, making it incredibly punchy and physical. When I listen to bassy music (think the bass line of Despacito), I feel the bass can shake my head right off.

Because the bass energy is focused in the proper bass region, Legato’s bass can take a step back when unnecessary. For instance, when I listen to non-bassy music such as Mozart’s string quintets, I don’t feel that the bass invades and destroys the music, even though cellos can sound louder than you listen with Aria or Blessing 2. Thanks to the bass, non-bassy music sounds more weighty, as if there is tactile feedback with every pluck and tap from the cellos.



The transition from bass to midrange is smooth. It means that there is a sense of warmth, or “bass bleed.” The graph shows this warmth with the 5dB boost above neutral at around 250Hz. It makes vocals a bit thicker and warmer (dare I say more “musical”?). At the same time, the midrange still sounds surprisingly linear and open, thanks to the flat response between 500Hz and 1kHz. The net result is a natural and enjoyable midrange that works well in instrumental and vocal music. For instance, I enjoy listening to Father and Son from The Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens.



The upper midrange of Legato is laidback, evident by the gentle ear gain of only 7.5dB above neutral rather than the full 12dB of the Harman target. I found the upper midrange right for me because it gives instruments and female vocals enough presence and brightness without making them shouty. Another benefit of this laidback midrange is the illusion of soundstage depth, which I will discuss later.



The treble region of Legato is not emphasised but still has a good presence. The treble response of Legato is characterised by the strong peak around 6kHz. This peak works with the sub-bass to bring that snappy and tactile sensation to drum hits and string plucks. The 8kHz is not pushed, so cymbals and hi-hats are not splashy nor too bright, making it easier to hear details in these instruments. Finally, the 15kHz region maintains a good energy level to create a sense of air, room reverberation and decay.

Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi is a good song to showcase the treble response of Legato. The airy and 3D opening of the song is reproduced nicely by Legato. If I focus, I can pull out more details from cymbals and hi-hats. However, at a glance, these high-pitched instruments are not very emphasised, and you can miss them if you don’t pay attention. Depending on your treble tolerance, this muted response is either a pro or a con.



In summary, I find that 7Hz has tuned the Legato with a clear vision and produced a sound signature that is both unique and pleasant. However, I do find that the lower midrange is a bit too high for some recordings. It introduces a degree of imbalance to the overall perception of loudness that forces me to change the volume frequently when I shuffle through my playlists. I’m not advocating a ruler-flat lower midrange, but 2 or 3dB less around 250Hz rather than 5dB would be better. I also think a little extra treble quantity to highlight cymbals and hi-hats, just a touch more, would be perfect. 4/5 - Good.

Resolution, Detail, Separation: 3/5 - Average​

Resolution is a fascinating subject due to the difficulty of pinning down what it really is. To me, “resolution” can be broken down into three components:

1. Sharpness, incisiveness, or “definition” of note attacks (see the figure above).
2. The separation of instruments and vocals, especially when they overlap on the soundstage.
3. The texture and details in the decay side of the notes.

The first two give music clarity and make it easy to track individual elements of a mix. The last provides music details and nuances. Generally, a smooth frequency response and good drivers give the best resolution.



Resolution is, unfortunately, not a strength of the Legato. At the same time, it is adequate.

The Legato does not have tack-sharp note definition and instrument separation, so tracking individual instruments in fast and busy music would take more effort, such as the Presto movement of Summer or G.O.A.T. by Polyphia. At the same time, the Legato can still convey noticeable boundaries between notes. The wide soundstage of Legato also helps with the separation by pushing instruments further from each other. Therefore, regarding the separation and clarity, I would say the Legato is around Moondrop Aria level, noticeably above Shure SE215 and below Moondrop Blessing 2.



The detail retrieval of Legato is also average. For instance, I can hear major details when I listen to a detail-rich recording such as the Flute Partita in A Minor. Still, I always feel that the music is slightly too smooth, as if a layer of information is nearly there but not yet. This “veil” is lifted when I move to Aria or Blessing.

In summary, the Legato provides adequate separation and clarity to enjoy some complex recordings. However, it is not a good choice if you want to sit down and pay much attention to micro details and nuances. 3/5 - Average.

Percussion Rendering: 5/5 - ExcellentPermalink​

Percussion rendering reflects how well the tuning and technical performance of an IEM work together to recreate realistic soundof a drum set. Good drum hits have a crisp attack (controlled by frequencies from 4kHz to 6kHz), full body (midbass frequencies around 200Hz), and physical sensation (sub-bass frequencies around 50Hz). Good technical performance (“fast” driver) ensures that bass notes can be loud yet detailed. IEMs that cannot control bass very well tend to reduce the bass’ loudness to prevent muddiness.

The bass response of Legato is simply excellent. It is much cleaner than what I expected. Bass attacks are clear, snappy, loud and physical. There are solid rumbles and resonance on the decay side of bass notes.

For instance, every kick in the iconic opening of Hotel California (live 1994 version) have a snappy attack with an unmistakable punch sensation at the top. The kicks hang around the stage just a touch longer to create a sense of rumble and resonance across the soundstage. When the bass guitar comes in, it does not get mixed up with the kick, allowing me to follow the bass line.



However, Legato’s lower frequency loses crispness and control when the music gets busy. For instance, around 2:00 of Skyrim’s main theme, Dragonborn, the clarity and separation of the bass region are greatly reduced to hums and rumbles rather than precise attacks.

Still, the Legato maintains remarkable control over its large amount of bass. The bass is generally snappy and rarely overstays its welcome. 5/5 - Excellent.

Stereo Imaging (Soundstage): 4/5 - Good​

Stereo imaging or “soundstage” is a psychoacoustic illusion that different recording elements appear at various locations inside and around your head. Your brain creates based on the cues in the recording, which are enhanced or diminished by your IEMs, your DAC, and your amplifier. Some IEMs present a wide but flat soundstage. Some present a “3D” soundstage with layering, depth, and height. In rare cases, with some specific songs, some IEMs can trick you into thinking that the sound comes from the environment (a.k.a., “holographic”)

The Legato presents a large and deep soundstage with most of my music. The width is likely due to the shallow fit of these IEMs. The soundstage also feels open, thanks to the generous venting on the earpieces.

For instance, when I listen to Hotel California, I can hear the kick drum right in the middle of the stage, whilst all other instruments spread out away from the centre and from each other. The sense of distance between layers on the soundstage is more robust than both the Aria and the Blessing 2. Thanks to the laid-back upper midrange, the whole soundstage is also pulled back from my head, further intensifying the illusion of depth.



The weakness of Legato’s soundstage imaging is the precision and clarity of the stereo image. Simply put, the Legato does not sound tack sharp or pinpoint. Musical instruments seem to exist in vague areas on the soundstage rather than a precise point.

Still, I find the soundstage imaging a bright spot of the Legato, enabling its bass-heavy tuning to work. 4/5 - Good.

Source Pairing​

Legato is an easy-to-drive IEM. You don’t need ultra high-end DAP or desktop amplifier to get the most of these IEMs. However, if you choose an audio source that tends to reduce the soundstage size and details, your listening experience would likely be negatively impacted, as the Legato can sound overly warm and congested. I personally enjoy pairing Legato with a clean source like Topping G5. A warm and rich source like HiBy RS6 does not always work with Legato.

Some Comparisons​

In this section, I compare Legato with some relevant IEMs. You can use my ranking list to compare Legato with others. Due to how I rank IEMs, if two IEMs score the same, they perform more or less similarly.



I have been searching for a replacement for the (in)famous Final Audio E5000 as a mid-fi basshead IEM.

The main problem with the E5000 is that it demands a lot from amplifiers, despite its small and unassuming shape. For instance, it even sounds different between the low-gain and high-gain settings of my Fiio K7. When not powered properly, these IEMs sound muffled, muddy, with “slow” bass. When adequately powered, the bass tucks into the sub-bass, the midrange clears up, the treble details come through, and the soundstage expands, creating a pleasant presentation. Most listeners wanting a basshead IEM would not have that kind of setup to enjoy these niche IEMs.

The Legato fills in the gap perfectly. It is way easier to drive than the E5000. It’s more affordable. It’s even bassier. It’s more transparent and less muffled. And you don’t have to worry about the QA lottery of the Final E series.

Conclusion​

The Legato is a particular pair of IEMs. 7Hz approached the Legato with a vision and carried out that vision with care and finesse. Suppose 7Hz can improve the midrange resolution of these IEMs further. In that case, I think the revision of the Legato could be an excellent IEM and a possible spiritual successor of the legendary Z1R.

Who is Legato for? I would recommend the Legato to beginners and casual listeners who look an improvement upon the usual consumer sound. These IEMs would also be an interesting addition to the collection of seasoned audio geeks. High recommendation.

Pros:

• Unique and pleasant sound signature
• Properly done bass cannon
• Large, deep, and open soundstage
• Good accessories

Cons:

• Average detail retrieval
• Average clarity and precision of stereo images

Updated: April 16, 2023

“Come and Get your Love”

It’s 1985, It’s the weekend, you want to watch a movie. You want to be at your buddy’s home with the subwoofer. You want to dance next to the basy speaker to feels something. You are listening to what is considered by many the weekend national anthem. Good then, good now when redone for Guardians of the Galaxy.

When I listened to music back in the day on my Dad’s old Plymouth duster it had this basy tube feel that can’t be described other than awesome. You could feel some vibrations, and the feel of it all. It’s this feeling of why the Legato should be in your library. A reminiscent of times old.


I bought this because of Ian Fann’s interview with the tuners at 7hz see that video here: Here!
I bought this iem with my own money. Blah Blah, my opinions are my own. I got it at Linsoul, but it’s also at Hifigo, and Amazon. 7hz, they are an interesting company. Some Bangers, some fit problems in the past, but great packaging overall. The timeless is a benchmark for many, as is the 7hz zero. How does the Legato do? Let’s find out.

Product Features
>Premium Dual-Driver Configuration.

>Large 12mm Dynamic Driver with Multi-Layer Composite Diaphragm.

>6mm Micro Dynamic Driver With Composite Diaphragm.

>Exquisite Finish With metallic Ear Shells.

>8-Japan-Made audio-grade tantalum capacitors.

>Standard 2-Pin 0.78mm Connectors.

>Clean and Powerful Sound Performance.

>Ergonomic Shape for Comfortable Fit.

>Easy Driveability.

>High-Quality OCC+Silver-Plated OCC Cable.

Technical Specifications:-
>Impedance: 26Ω.

>Sensitivity: 108dB/vRms.

>Frequency Response: 10Hz-20kHz.

>THD+N: <1%@1kHz.

>Connector Type: 0.78mm 2-Pin.

>Termination: 3.5mm.

Song Choice: Tidal list here:
I listen to a wide variety of music. I pick the songs because of various reasons. But I picture myself locked away like Andy Dufresne from Shawshank blasting music and shut off from the world. It’s a blissful image.
The Marriage of Figaro -The opera song from Shawshank Redemption, terrible recording but fun and gets me in the mood to listen to music.

O mio Babino caro -This is a modern less operatic version but a song with great female vocals.
Video Rigoletto - “La donna e mobile” Sung by one of the three Tenors, great song for high-performing male vocals. Pavarotti is the greatest classic singer maybe ever. Fight me!
Iron man - The sound at the beginning is hard to make sound great, great drums, and cymbals, and if done right it feels like an old-school band.
I Will Survive 1981 recording, I like her voice, and the old vocals, the drums, and various natural instruments really make this a favorite for me.

There is a light That never goes out - Smiths ( A classic, I just love it. It’s mellow, and I can tell a lot of the tuning if this song is done right.)
Jump (I like how the sound effects are in this!)

Star Child Someone recommended this song to me, and I like how funky it sounds and has nice vocals and a mix of music and things going on.

Dicke Titten Ramstein The beginning is amazing and the base hits hard. Great song. I love rock and metal. The german language fascinates me.

Master of Puppets: Very fast song. Helps me determine if the driver can keep up.

Shell - For reference, I find the Dioko kinda ugly and doesn’t fit my ears well. It feels… large. Invasive and just a weird shape. This is not the case at all with the Legato. It’s handsome, it feels good in the ear and I can wear it all day.

Case- This is a premium feeling case that has strong value. I’d prefer black, but dark red is classy and fun. This is maybe the best case of any iem ever. It’s large to take with you on the go, and it fits a Quidelix 5k or any dongle with you. Great for travel, better than most!

Tip Selection - It has a wide variety of tips that look classy and helpful. Better selection than the Dioko and Salnotes zero!




Comparison: It sound better than the HBB Khan. The extra driver might be what is doing it for me. HBB x Khan isn’t as good. The Legato is just better, but it’s over twice the price. HBB compares the two here, and I’d recommend the video.

Cable: It is a fine cable, and a nice dark color. It fits the theme of the iem and I appreciate that it is flexible, and doens’t tangle. High Quality cable! I don’t believe in the sonic qualities of cables, but sometimes connectors can be bad, or not fit right. The cable has a circle at the end so it won’t fit many other iems. It’s basically the same cable as the 7hz Dioko. It adds value for sure.

Value: This is a premium feeling headphone for the cost of apple air pods 2. They feel like a great gift to a friend, and a great travel reference set for yourself. Maybe endgame depending on what you need. It is the defato recommendation around 200 for me at this time. If I guessed the price, I’d say 300 dollars. It’s just a nice package out of the box for the price, sound is fantastic as well. Want a true no BS Hifi experience. Here ya go. Delivered in a tactful presentation you could give your parents, in-laws, or even as wedding gift that would feel great. Gifts! This is the best gift iem I could ever think of.

Sound: The Timbre is perfect for me. The highs seem natural and my music sounds fantastic on it with no eq. With Eq, it’s even better. I tune it down a tiny bit and it sounds like a more resolving Truthear x Zero. Imagining might be the strongest of any iem I’ve heard. Fresh reviews did a review of it recently. He also recommends it. It’s very fun, and enjoyable. It gave me that magical feeling that you can’t really describe in music and videos. It was excellent for watching movies and I was shocked how my library sounded fantastic on it. Here is a graph, shameless stolen from HBB graphs. You can see the Legato is a bit higher than the Monarch MKII, but it’s not a crazy amount.



Pairing: I used a Quidelix 5k and a Topping DX1 on this. Both sounded fantastic. This was also used on the fantastic apple dongle and sounded great as well. I'm not a huge believer in dac or amps changing most headphones, but I also wanted to be transparent about what I used on this iem.

Summary- You’ll either love or hate the tuning. I find it like a breath of fresh air in a market that is saturated with Harmon target iems.

This is an cautious recommendation for me. It’s a modern Iem that is beautiful and unique. It’s different, yet I find high value in the build quality and other things. It could add to your collections, and make a great gift to an older friend, or someone who likes base. It reminds me of my Dad for some reason, and I think he might like it. This is one of my first iem reviews, and I hope you enjoyed it.

Disclaimer: 7Hz provided me with a review unit. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Unaffiliated product link from Linsoul.

Introduction & Packaging​

7Hz Legato ($109) is a long-anticipated new release from 7Hz after a few delays during the production. It features dual dynamic driver (12mm woofer and 6mm tweeter/midrange) and active crossover with tantalum capacitors. Following off the heels of the 7Hz Timeless that restarted the planar magnetic IEM trend and the popular budget killer 7Hz Salnotes Zero, the expectations on 7Hz Legato is high. Moving away from the recent trend of neutral-warm, Harman-inspired tuning, 7Hz certainly took a bold move with a very different, niche tuning direction with Legato.




Starting from the packaging, it is similar to one of their previous release, the 7Hz Salnotes Dioko: a simple box over a huge carrying case containing the IEM, the cable, eartips, and extra filters. The cable is OCC+SPC hybrid and only available in 3.5mm termination. The included eartips is quite an improvement over Dioko's set, totaling eight sets, pretty similar to Acoustune AET07 and AET08 sets. The IEM shell is made of CNC aluminium with a fairly long stem which might dangle out a bit if you have a shallow ear canal. The entire package is simple, yet feels very premium.

Sound Impression​

Sources: Topping D90SE/A90D stack, Fiio M11S, Questyle M15, Xduoo Link2 Bal Max, L&P W2-131
Setup: Large white stock eartips/Moondrop Spring Tips, stock cable
Music Sources: Local FLAC (redbook/hi-res), Tidal Masters, Apple Music Lossless

Listening impression is a very subjective experience depending on individual ear shape, choice of eartips, music library, and personal preferences, so your experience may vary. The set has been burnt in for about 20 hours with white noise at medium-loud volume prior to the review. While I'm not primarily a basshead, due to the niche-ness of the tuning, I'll be going through this review as a basshead.

Developed in cooperation between 7Hz engineers and tuners in China and Singapore, the Legato is somewhat a reactionary product to the recent obsession over Harman target. An unabashedly bassy set, Legato does stick out among similar-sounding, Harman-inspired IEMs of recent times. Quoting 7Hz, Legato is tuned to replicate the feeling of vintage big speakers of the 80s and 90s, and I daresay that they achieved their goals amazingly well.

Bass​

Bass is definitely the major emphasis of the tuning. Not just any bass, but a real big, ground-shaking classic subwoofer bass. That does mean that it might not be the tightest bass, but it is certainly not lacking in punch and slam. Achieving this quantity and quality of bass without introducing much distortion is typically reserved to much higher tier IEMs, but somehow Legato does deliver. I have only ever experienced this amount of jaw-shaking rumble with FatFreq Maestro Mini and Maestro SE, but now Legato has joined this rank. The bassline and percussion thump in "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes rarely sound this visceral out of an IEM, reminding me of the big speakers playing the song in the football stadium. Hans Zimmer's "Dream of Arrakis" sounds so grand and vivid that you can feel the droning low frequency rumble shaking your skull.

Mids​

Given the amount of bass, it is understandable that the mids might sound a bit recessed. It is nevertheless still clean enough for the vocal details to still be present. Switching to a more mids-focused eartips like a Moondrop Spring Tips does help bringing the vocal forward slightly. Male vocals might be a tad too warm, but female vocals are a good fit. The Corrs' "Irresistable" live version and Jess Glynne's "Rather Be" sound lively and has some sort of karaoke room effect.

Treble​

The treble is definitely not overshadowed by the bass. I would not describe Legato as dark nor bright, but it's just enough to get ample presence and air. There are some treble edginess out of the box, but after a short burn in, it is mostly smoothed out. Chrono Cross OST "Time's Scar" violin portion extends well and detailed enough.

Technicalities​

I would say that technicalities are not the priorities for Legato, but it's still no slouch. Soundstage is medium-sized, about the size of a family karaoke room. Detail retrieval and layering are very competent for the price, competing with single DD or hybrid IEMs of the same tier or one above. Complex instrumentals in Yoshida Brother's "Change" and Wagakki Band's "Phony" are beautifully rendered with Legato, allowing you to pick out individual instruments pretty well.

Driving Requirements​

One thing I noticed about Legato is that it needs quite a bit more power than average IEMs. I tried running it with the 7Hz 71 dongle and VE Avani/Abigail, I find the bass is a bit loose with them and mids become quite muddy. Stepping up to something like Xduoo Link2 Bal Max, the bass gets tighter and slams harder as well as clearer mids. Running it on balanced (using NiceHCK BlackCat cable) does help bringing the mids forward a bit further. Some warmer sources like Truthear Shio and Tanchjim Space are not a very good match. Even though the power is sufficient, the additional warmth made the bass too boomy to my liking.

The best result to my ears is with the Questyle M15, having a perfect balance of bass texture, mids clarity, and smooth treble. I really recommend at least around 80-100mW of driving power to get a tight bass response.

On side note, there are indeed at least one exception to the power requirement. Trying my friend's Sony NW-A55, even with a mere 35mW, Legato can still be driven excellently.

My final preferred configuration is as such:

Select Comparisons​

QKZ x HBB ($20):
While the price range doesn't seem fair, there are quite a number of people online who are making this comparison due to QKZ x HBB's reputation as a value basshead IEM. I would say that given the price, QKZ x HBB does deliver an ample amount of bass, but Legato is quite a leap forward. Subbass and midbass are way punchier and more textured with Legato compared to the QKZ x HBB. I like the way that Legato delivers bass overall more effortlessly to my ears; at higher volumes and output levels, Legato remains cleaner and smoother. Tonality-wise, they are indeed similar, but the subwoofer effect is more visceral with Legato. I'd say that Legato is indeed a logical upgrade path for those who likes QKZ x HBB.

Fatfreq Maestro Mini ($599, borrowed unit):
Another unfair comparison looking at the price, but in the reverse now; however, even at 5x the price of Legato, the Maestro Mini is still a natural comparison to Legato, considering their similar reputation as bass monsters. I would describe Legato as a 'mini' Maestro Mini. Having overall similar bass quantity and quality, Legato has stronger emphasis in midbass compared to the Maestro Mini. Naturally, Legato's extra midbass does mean that it has less clean midrange compared to Maestro Mini which has a steeper bass shelf. Resolution is significantly better on Maestro Mini. Coherence are about the same between the two. Legato's timbre is more enjoyable to me. Fit wise, I would prefer Maestro Mini's lighter shell, but I do experience pressure buildup with Maestro Mini. That said, Legato does seem to offer a better value over Maestro Mini if bass is your ultimate priority, given the huge price difference. However, if you're looking for huge bass along with great technicalities, Maestro Mini is probably the better choice if you can afford it. Personally, between Fatfreq's Maestro line, my favourite is the Maestro SE (even more bass!), but comparing it with Legato would be even more unfair.

Truthear x Crinacle Zero ($50):
Since the TE Zero started off the recent dual DD trend, I feel that it is an apt comparison to Legato even though the price difference is quite huge. TE Zero is tuned closer to the Harman curve, so the "subwoofer" effect is not as prominent as Legato, especially since TE Zero has a more aggressive bass shelf. That would also mean that Zero's mids are more forward compared to the Legato and the treble is smoother. The technicalities on both of them are mostly on par, with Legato edging the TE Zero in soundstage width. To make it a bit more of a level playing field in terms of bass, I added a DUNU 75ohm impedance adapter ($16) to the TE Zero. While it made the Zero much harder to drive than Legato, now the bass level is more comparable. However, as a tradeoff, the impedance adapter does reduce the dynamic range and technicalities of the Zero. Again, if your priority is bass, TE Zero with 75ohm impedance adapter and a powerful enough amp might be enough for you. However, for overall convenience and value, I would still go with the Legato.

Conclusion​

7Hz Legato is an excellent basshead IEM priced really competitively given its build quality, technical performance, and accessories included. While the tuning might be quite niche, for a particular music library and matching preferences, I think Legato is currently the best value at this price range at the time of writing. If you've experienced or grown up with those big, vintage speakers of the 80s and 90s, Legato will walk you down the memory lane and immerse you in the nostalgia like no other could.