Shozy & Neo CP
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Hey everyone! Welcome back to InToit Reviews. It’s Your Friendly Neighborhood Reviewer here, and today we’re going to be looking at the Shozy Neo CP. I don’t know if I’ve heard a Shozy IEM that I haven’t liked yet. For what they are, the Form 1.1, Form 1.4, and Rouge are all pretty unique and fulfill niches within the audiophile marketspace. But what about the Shozy Neo CP?
Let’s get InToit!
So before we get started, let me give a big “Thank You,” and shoutout to Farsil The Wizard for sending the Neo CP into the channel for review. Farsil knows that I was pretty excited for the Neo CP since I discovered its existence. Why? Well, unlike Shozy’s other offerings that I have reviewed at the channel, which have all been hybrids. The Neo CP is only constructed of three balanced armatures. I tend to like BA only driven sets when they do a good job of handling the low end, and offer a natural tone. And while sets like those may be a scarcity, I had hopes for the Neo CP given what I have heard from Shozy to date. But, we’ll get to how the Neo CP preforms when we talk about the sound.
Check Farsil The Wizard at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq4oZDBAZABMTPdIFHi8IxA
For now, let’s start things off with the build. Like I’ve already said, this is a 3 BA set, which are encased in a resin shell with an MMCX connection. The shape of the shell is reminiscent of Shure IEMs, and it mostly fits comfortably in my ear depending upon tip selection. With most tips, my ear had plenty of clearance, but with larger tips, the back curve of the IEM might rest up against my posterior concha, towards the anthelix. Even so, this wasn’t much of a bother, but it did make the fit more awkward when utilizing tips of this variety.
Uniquely, the BA’s in this set are resign encased, and sound tubes are utilized to deliver sonics to and through the stem. This is a technic generally, reserved for more expensive IEMs, so this was nice to see. This set also comes with two sets of metal, screw-on filters to adjust the sound to your liking. We’ll get into the impact of these different filters on the sound, when we get to that portion of the review. The colorway of the shells is described by Shozy as being clear, red and blue, but in actuality these look more like a clear shell with metallic, pink and teal, BA’s showing underneath.
The cable terminates in an unbalanced 3.5mm connector, and like I’ve already said, utilizes MMCX connections at its initiation points. And, this may be the best cable I have ever received in the box with an IEM a touch and play perspective. It is soft to the touch, remains free from tangles with use, and seems like it would come with a much more expensive IEM. This is the type of cable that should have come with the Shozy Rouge.
Beyond the cable and the filters, the Neo CP’s package comes with a variety of tips and the standard, black, Shozy carrying case that also comes with the Form 1.1. Like in the case of the Form 1.1 and the 1.4, one thing to know about the included tips is that, while you get a large amount of choice in terms of type of tip, you do not get many choices in terms of size, as it only comes with what appears to be super small, small, and medium varieties included for a number of different tip types, including the double-flanged silicones that I liked on the Form 1.4, and also would recommend for this set. Other, third-party tips that I enjoyed on this set were ePro Horn-Shaped Ear Tips, and JVC Spiral Dots- the latter of which was my preference for what I’m going to call the “laid-back” filter, while the double-flanged silicones or my preference for the “intense” filter.
So, in general, this is what I would call a “neutralish” set, with each filter acually pushing the tone of this IEM towards either side of the neutral line. In other words, the “intense” filter was quite a bit brighter than the “laid-back” filter, which has a warmer tone in comparison.
Nevertheless, this is a mid-forward set, overall, no matter the filter. But, the laid-back filter is smoother and more cohesive, especially in the mid-range, while the intense filter is more audibly “W-shaped,” with greater vocal separation and presence, greater bass percussion, and heightened treble in comparison. While, the intense filter should be seen as a more average presentation in the grand scheme of things, it is also notably leaner and more piercing in comparison to the laid-back filter, which has a thicker and smoother tone.
With more specific regard to the treble, graphs available online show that there is a relatively early roll in the treble, as things begin to drop off steeply at around 8K. I would suspect that these graphs were measured with the more laid-back filter, but I was unable to verify this in the course of this review, as these graphs also do not list which filter the measurements were taken with. Notably, I will say that there is decreased brilliance and air because of its roll off, but there is also more noticeable in the laid-back filter in comparison to the intense filter.
However; no matter the filter, there is some BA harshness, grain, or grittiness, which negatively impacts clarity and resolution for this set on the whole, and also dates it within the audiophile marketplace. Nevertheless, I find the laid-back filter more gritty, and the intense filter more harsh in its upper mid-range and treble presences.
The stage is also somewhat different between the filters. The laid-back filter provides a more spacious, natural sounding stage with good depth, height, and width to it, while the intense filter is more narrow, and less cohesive overall. In other words, switching to the intense filter seemingly shrinks the stage.
Consistent between filters, these IEMs are straight-up, imaging monsters, and they have decent decay, good transients, and excellent peripheral details. But, with that said, I find the overall presentation of the laid-back filters most certainly the enjoyable between the two sets. On this set of filters, image placement is accurate, instrument distinction impressive, and image separation sufficient.
With that said, where this IEM really suffers is in the low-end. The bass is rather one-note, lacks detail, and often lacks presence, even on its more intense set of filters where the bass has greater impact and pressure. But, no matter the filter, the bass comes across at least somewhat compressed, and neither macro nor micro dynamics are particularly strong points on this set. And it’s not just the bass that suffers from compression, but whole the sound profile, at least somewhat, in general.
It may sound like I am being too harsh on the Neo CP. And honestly, I don’t want to be, because ultimately this is a good IEM, even despite its faults. Having said that, its price is too high, and its level of resolution and clarity is insufficient to justify not only its price, but also its place in the audiophile marketplace at this stage in the game.
This IEM screams that it is outdated. With regard to resolution, these are akin to something like the TinHiFi T4 at best (which is commonly $79), which falls in between the Form 1.1 and the Form 1.4, being better than the 1.1, but having less detail and clarity compared to the 1.4; and don’t get me started on the Rouge.
For the money at $165, I don’t think these do anything that the Rouge doesn’t do significantly better at $180. And while, I understand that the Rouge is $15 dollars more expensive, and you will need to buy both tips and a cable, it is still worth it in my eyes to invest in the Rouge instead of the CP. So, unless you’re allergic to a solid, linear low-end, I can’t imagine recommending these over the Rouge to anyone, in any case. In my eyes, by releasing the Rouge, Shozy has effectively made the Neo CP irrelevant amongst its own IEM lineup. I just wish they would give the Rouge the Neo CP’s cable. And, with that, I’m out… for now…
YouTube Review of the Shozy Neo CP by InToit Reviews:
InToit ReviewsYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDhV3KByLSY2roqZ2aQ0XKg
InToit Reviews Twitter: https://twitter.com/IntoitReviews
InToit Reviews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intoitreviews/
Join the InToit Reviews Discord Server: https://discord.gg/tePQKfT
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intoitreviews
Let’s get InToit!
So before we get started, let me give a big “Thank You,” and shoutout to Farsil The Wizard for sending the Neo CP into the channel for review. Farsil knows that I was pretty excited for the Neo CP since I discovered its existence. Why? Well, unlike Shozy’s other offerings that I have reviewed at the channel, which have all been hybrids. The Neo CP is only constructed of three balanced armatures. I tend to like BA only driven sets when they do a good job of handling the low end, and offer a natural tone. And while sets like those may be a scarcity, I had hopes for the Neo CP given what I have heard from Shozy to date. But, we’ll get to how the Neo CP preforms when we talk about the sound.
Check Farsil The Wizard at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq4oZDBAZABMTPdIFHi8IxA
For now, let’s start things off with the build. Like I’ve already said, this is a 3 BA set, which are encased in a resin shell with an MMCX connection. The shape of the shell is reminiscent of Shure IEMs, and it mostly fits comfortably in my ear depending upon tip selection. With most tips, my ear had plenty of clearance, but with larger tips, the back curve of the IEM might rest up against my posterior concha, towards the anthelix. Even so, this wasn’t much of a bother, but it did make the fit more awkward when utilizing tips of this variety.
Uniquely, the BA’s in this set are resign encased, and sound tubes are utilized to deliver sonics to and through the stem. This is a technic generally, reserved for more expensive IEMs, so this was nice to see. This set also comes with two sets of metal, screw-on filters to adjust the sound to your liking. We’ll get into the impact of these different filters on the sound, when we get to that portion of the review. The colorway of the shells is described by Shozy as being clear, red and blue, but in actuality these look more like a clear shell with metallic, pink and teal, BA’s showing underneath.
The cable terminates in an unbalanced 3.5mm connector, and like I’ve already said, utilizes MMCX connections at its initiation points. And, this may be the best cable I have ever received in the box with an IEM a touch and play perspective. It is soft to the touch, remains free from tangles with use, and seems like it would come with a much more expensive IEM. This is the type of cable that should have come with the Shozy Rouge.
Beyond the cable and the filters, the Neo CP’s package comes with a variety of tips and the standard, black, Shozy carrying case that also comes with the Form 1.1. Like in the case of the Form 1.1 and the 1.4, one thing to know about the included tips is that, while you get a large amount of choice in terms of type of tip, you do not get many choices in terms of size, as it only comes with what appears to be super small, small, and medium varieties included for a number of different tip types, including the double-flanged silicones that I liked on the Form 1.4, and also would recommend for this set. Other, third-party tips that I enjoyed on this set were ePro Horn-Shaped Ear Tips, and JVC Spiral Dots- the latter of which was my preference for what I’m going to call the “laid-back” filter, while the double-flanged silicones or my preference for the “intense” filter.
So, in general, this is what I would call a “neutralish” set, with each filter acually pushing the tone of this IEM towards either side of the neutral line. In other words, the “intense” filter was quite a bit brighter than the “laid-back” filter, which has a warmer tone in comparison.
Nevertheless, this is a mid-forward set, overall, no matter the filter. But, the laid-back filter is smoother and more cohesive, especially in the mid-range, while the intense filter is more audibly “W-shaped,” with greater vocal separation and presence, greater bass percussion, and heightened treble in comparison. While, the intense filter should be seen as a more average presentation in the grand scheme of things, it is also notably leaner and more piercing in comparison to the laid-back filter, which has a thicker and smoother tone.
With more specific regard to the treble, graphs available online show that there is a relatively early roll in the treble, as things begin to drop off steeply at around 8K. I would suspect that these graphs were measured with the more laid-back filter, but I was unable to verify this in the course of this review, as these graphs also do not list which filter the measurements were taken with. Notably, I will say that there is decreased brilliance and air because of its roll off, but there is also more noticeable in the laid-back filter in comparison to the intense filter.
However; no matter the filter, there is some BA harshness, grain, or grittiness, which negatively impacts clarity and resolution for this set on the whole, and also dates it within the audiophile marketplace. Nevertheless, I find the laid-back filter more gritty, and the intense filter more harsh in its upper mid-range and treble presences.
The stage is also somewhat different between the filters. The laid-back filter provides a more spacious, natural sounding stage with good depth, height, and width to it, while the intense filter is more narrow, and less cohesive overall. In other words, switching to the intense filter seemingly shrinks the stage.
Consistent between filters, these IEMs are straight-up, imaging monsters, and they have decent decay, good transients, and excellent peripheral details. But, with that said, I find the overall presentation of the laid-back filters most certainly the enjoyable between the two sets. On this set of filters, image placement is accurate, instrument distinction impressive, and image separation sufficient.
With that said, where this IEM really suffers is in the low-end. The bass is rather one-note, lacks detail, and often lacks presence, even on its more intense set of filters where the bass has greater impact and pressure. But, no matter the filter, the bass comes across at least somewhat compressed, and neither macro nor micro dynamics are particularly strong points on this set. And it’s not just the bass that suffers from compression, but whole the sound profile, at least somewhat, in general.
It may sound like I am being too harsh on the Neo CP. And honestly, I don’t want to be, because ultimately this is a good IEM, even despite its faults. Having said that, its price is too high, and its level of resolution and clarity is insufficient to justify not only its price, but also its place in the audiophile marketplace at this stage in the game.
This IEM screams that it is outdated. With regard to resolution, these are akin to something like the TinHiFi T4 at best (which is commonly $79), which falls in between the Form 1.1 and the Form 1.4, being better than the 1.1, but having less detail and clarity compared to the 1.4; and don’t get me started on the Rouge.
For the money at $165, I don’t think these do anything that the Rouge doesn’t do significantly better at $180. And while, I understand that the Rouge is $15 dollars more expensive, and you will need to buy both tips and a cable, it is still worth it in my eyes to invest in the Rouge instead of the CP. So, unless you’re allergic to a solid, linear low-end, I can’t imagine recommending these over the Rouge to anyone, in any case. In my eyes, by releasing the Rouge, Shozy has effectively made the Neo CP irrelevant amongst its own IEM lineup. I just wish they would give the Rouge the Neo CP’s cable. And, with that, I’m out… for now…
YouTube Review of the Shozy Neo CP by InToit Reviews:
InToit ReviewsYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDhV3KByLSY2roqZ2aQ0XKg
InToit Reviews Twitter: https://twitter.com/IntoitReviews
InToit Reviews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intoitreviews/
Join the InToit Reviews Discord Server: https://discord.gg/tePQKfT
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intoitreviews
This is my first review, great!
INTRO:
I'm a 15 year old student that casually discovered this magic world of audio. At around three years ago, I was searching for a pair of bluetooth headphones, not knowing a single thing about equipment, specs, drivers, amps, DACs, sound quality, file formats etc. Then I started to watch videos on youtube, going from BT headphones to everything you can imagine, and so I went on and on, always discovering something new. So the years continued to pass, and as I started to talk with experienced people, I decided to get myself a gift. I bought a FiiO M3K and a pair of KZ ZSN's to start off my journey, downloaded some flac files and literally went: "What?". And that's how it all started, from a pair of 20$ iems... I have to thank a lot of people like Zeos, DMS, Joshua, Metal 571 and many others, I've learnt a ton of stuff from them and I will never get bored to watch their videos, simply because I think that before being nice reviewers, they are nice guys.
So now I'm here, to share my opinion and help the others!
Before getting into it, I'm basing my review with the filters that came pre-installed in combo with the silicon tips.
Let's talk about the packaging first.
![IMG_20191016_145119[1].jpg](https://cdn.head-fi.org/a/10376235.jpg "IMG_20191016_145119[1].jpg")
This is the box that it comes with,
Some specs and additional info on the back:
Carrying case
Inside the carrying case...
I took 10 minutes for putting everything perfectly lined up together like this and it didn't even go that greatly, because when I tried to move them they kept bouncing here and there, sooo...
Here are the iems themselves with the cable, tips and the additional filters.
The shells:
They are made of resin and there's no space inside, they are well built and you can easily see through them. There are no edges or major imprecisions in the build, there you can see the crossover sitting just behind the proprietary mids and treble drivers and under the THICC knowles CL22955, wich throws out the bass. The left and right are so damn separated that you have to be real high to not tell wich one is wich XD.
And boi... They are utterly comfortable (also with glasses on), part of that is due to the angle of the nozzle, and in my opinion they are one sexiest looking in-ears avaliable.
The cable:
It's basically the best i've had so far, it's solid, soft and smooth, 1.2 m of lenght, it doesn't fight me and I really like the color, lastly it has a metal splitter and a effective chin slider that I basically use everytime I walk out my house. It terminates in a 3.5 mm metal straight plug with a carbon fiber texture on the oustide and it has a strain relief. There is a thing worth noting tho, and it's the T I G H T N E S S of those mmcx connectors (they are marked left and right too!) wich I didn't manage to pull out barehanded... Now for me that's something great because I tend to put the cable under my shirt, so when I need to pull them out of my ears they just hang on it and I'm sure they're NEVER going to fall off. However this makes cable swapping a big deal, so for you out there be sure to call Hulk.
The tips:
3 pair of silicons (S, M and... M?) yes, you have two pairs in the same size, one already comes installed on the iems. These are what I use the most, i'll talk about the differences between the tips in the sound portion of this review.
3 pair of memory foams (S, M and L), I use them for extended listening sessions and they isolate the most, to the point you hear your voice like it's more muffled than it is when you're underwater.
3 pair of double flange silicons (S, M and L), I don't really use them that much but they block out a bit more than the standard ones.
All of them are of a good quality, but they could included another size for people with bigger ears, however for me (medium sized ears) the M size works the best.
The carrying case:
It's all black, rubberized on the outside and it's pretty sturdy and it opens with a metal zipper. It has enough space for another pair of iems to fit in with some tips, on the front there is the "Shozy" logo. Inside it you'll find everything, in the upper side there is a web-like leap with an elastic on the top containing the tips, no paperwork included. The only issue I have with this is that it's not that pocket friendly due to its dimensions, tho you could fit it in if you have large pockets.
Here on the left earbud, with this prospective, you can see the Knowles driver, the sound tubes on the left side, and the "Shozy" logo that is, luckily, fixed into the resin, so there's no way the letters could eventually fall off.
On the right earbud, with this prospective, you can see the mid frequencies driver (the bigger one), placed under the high frequencies driver, the crossover board and on the inner side there's the model number and the word "NEO" "sculpted" outside of it.
Now let's jump into drivability.
I'll make it short. You can drive these off of anything due to the pretty low impedance and high sensitivity, they sound good even off of a phone.
It's worth to mention that even if they don't get that much better with more expensive gear, they tend to pick up the flavors of various sources really nicely. For example, on my FiiO M3K they tend to have a brighter sound to them (by a margin), while on my Atom amp (Khadas Tone Board as a source) they sound warmer and more laid back.
Specs:
Drivers: 3 BAs with a crossover network, 1 Knowles Cl-22955, proprietary mid & high drivers.
Impedance: 30 ohms
Sensitivity: 107 dB/Mw
FR: 20-20.000Hz (and that's all you need).
Passive Noise Isolation: 25dB (can get even better with foams)
SOUND:
Signature: neutralish with a fun character to them, a bit warm, they somehow remind me of the HD600's in terms of tuning, they really aren't boosting any part of the frequencies, they may have some emphasis on the highs, but nothing heavy there.
Bass: it's really good for a BA, knowing this is the biggest driver Knowles currently produces. It never left me desiring more from it, EDM and Dubstep included, it's VERY well rounded, pretty tight, fat but not emphasized, it's engaging and kinda large in it's own way. It's quality bass, no questions about that. The only thing that could have been better is it's extension towards the subbass, I'll say it's present, but it doesn't go that low.
Mids: clear and lively, pretty natural, but their strongest point is their smoothness, they don't ever offend nor get on my nerves. The vocals there are not extremely open but the CP's manage to separate them from the rest of the mix easily, and I love that attribute. Male vocals sound bigger and more rounded than the female ones, wich on the other side, are a touch clearer. The problem with them is that they don't like violins, I mean, they are pretty nice, but in comparison to ALL the other instruments they tend to sound a tad muted and toned down, like someone decided to put some dampening foam just for them, but otherwise, overall great perfomance with the mids.
Highs: really clear, sparkly and extended, they have that feeling of airiness that i personally enjoy a lot and sometimes they give me goosebumps because of the level of realism they have. Tho they're not that relaxed and sometimes, with some specific songs, it can be an issue for some people sensitive to treble, I mean it's definitively not a deal breaker (also because there are some ways to tone it down quite a bit), sometimes it even bothers me, (tho consider that I listen to them with some sustained amounts of volume).
![IMG_20191101_214907[1].jpg](https://cdn.head-fi.org/a/10376420.jpg "IMG_20191101_214907[1].jpg")
Imaging: It's not that far from pinpoint accurate, and it's better than the HD600's, it gets stronger the closer you get the sides than the center.
Soundstage: this is a strange one, let me explain. Normally they tend to sound pretty intimate (usually nothing get out of my head), until you give them some wide recorded songs, for example those from Birocratic. In some songs they managed to put a particular instrument half meter to one or the other side, the first time it happened I turned my head as I tought there was someone on my left playing a trumpet. Depth and height are pretty much always restricted.
Detail Retrieval: another thing they do greatly, that sparkly treble let them breathe all the way through, from the lower mids to the very top end. I have nothing to complain about them. You can easily pick sounds like the fingers hitting on the keys of a piano or, if you focus, you can hear the movements of an orchestra in the background.
Dynamics: This is one of my favorite parts of the CP's, they slam! They hit! I was very surprised when I listened to Mountains from Interstellar, these managed to hold their integrity while making my ears explode at the same time, this ability makes them super enjoyable for electronic, disco or even orchestral music.
Separation, realism, and forgiveness: the separation there is almost with the other attributes out there, there's a good amount of space between the instruments and each of them stays firm in it's position, without bouncing here and there in a song. However, on the most complex tracks, it can get a bit congested, expecially at low volumes, but nothing especially problematic. The realism there plays a nice role, some instruments, at higher volumes, manage to be almost lifelike, that crossover chip is getting it's job done, and the transition from bass to highs is a big pro. Another thing that I liked about them is that they don't make mp3 files sound too far from flac files, I'm not saying that they aren't resolving enough to tell you the difference between the two, but you're gonna get good sound also from compressed files.
TUNING FILTERS AND TIPS:
I discovered that with these, the filters and the various tips combination, the sound changes quite a bit.
(I know that this pic sucks but the filters are so tiny that I couldn't get a decent focus on them, hopefully you can still see the difference)
The ones behind are the balanced ones: they give that sparkle to the treble and that pretty neutral presentation to the sound, however if paired with the silicone tips (standard or bi-flange) that same treble can get fatiguing for long listening sessions (however this is my favorite combo despite the highs issue because it opens the sound like anything).
Swapping the silicons with the foam ones brought the treble a notch down, and I prefer them for longer listening session and extra noise isolation (people will yell at you).
The ones in the front are the bass ones (they don't have a name but I call them like this): they tone down the treble considerably and bring up the bass, to the point I'd call it boomy, as it becomes overbearing and tends to mask a bit the mids. However when I swap the silicon tips with the foams, magic happens. Now the bass comes down a bit and the treble remains pretty much unvaried, while the mids can breathe again... And you have this mellow, warm, romantic and laid back sound that I just put behind the silicone-balanced combo as far as preference goes (it sacrifices some of the details and airiness for more low end and completely solves the harshness/sibilance problem) I thought I've been amazed enough, but I was wrong.
Other tips: I don't see much of a difference swapping the included silicons with some aftermarket tips, so, until you need a bigger size of eartips, the stock ones are fine.
CONCLUSIONS:
What to say? These are a spectacular all rounder, complete package, good build, good cable, comfortable AF, sexy and great sounding iems that can reminds me of an HD600. As a review I can't knock off anything from the cons, my job here is to be honest with you and if there's something wrong/that I don't like I'm going to say it. However! For 165$ you get what you could ever need from a pair of in-ears that managed to put a smile on my face several times and even made me go "what the ****" more than a few times... Hope that tells you something
.
These get my recommendation without thinking twice.
I'm done here, I hope this was useful to you! Ciao!
INTRO:
I'm a 15 year old student that casually discovered this magic world of audio. At around three years ago, I was searching for a pair of bluetooth headphones, not knowing a single thing about equipment, specs, drivers, amps, DACs, sound quality, file formats etc. Then I started to watch videos on youtube, going from BT headphones to everything you can imagine, and so I went on and on, always discovering something new. So the years continued to pass, and as I started to talk with experienced people, I decided to get myself a gift. I bought a FiiO M3K and a pair of KZ ZSN's to start off my journey, downloaded some flac files and literally went: "What?". And that's how it all started, from a pair of 20$ iems... I have to thank a lot of people like Zeos, DMS, Joshua, Metal 571 and many others, I've learnt a ton of stuff from them and I will never get bored to watch their videos, simply because I think that before being nice reviewers, they are nice guys.
So now I'm here, to share my opinion and help the others!
Before getting into it, I'm basing my review with the filters that came pre-installed in combo with the silicon tips.
Let's talk about the packaging first.
This is the box that it comes with,
Some specs and additional info on the back:
Carrying case
Inside the carrying case...
I took 10 minutes for putting everything perfectly lined up together like this and it didn't even go that greatly, because when I tried to move them they kept bouncing here and there, sooo...
Here are the iems themselves with the cable, tips and the additional filters.
The shells:
They are made of resin and there's no space inside, they are well built and you can easily see through them. There are no edges or major imprecisions in the build, there you can see the crossover sitting just behind the proprietary mids and treble drivers and under the THICC knowles CL22955, wich throws out the bass. The left and right are so damn separated that you have to be real high to not tell wich one is wich XD.
And boi... They are utterly comfortable (also with glasses on), part of that is due to the angle of the nozzle, and in my opinion they are one sexiest looking in-ears avaliable.
The cable:
It's basically the best i've had so far, it's solid, soft and smooth, 1.2 m of lenght, it doesn't fight me and I really like the color, lastly it has a metal splitter and a effective chin slider that I basically use everytime I walk out my house. It terminates in a 3.5 mm metal straight plug with a carbon fiber texture on the oustide and it has a strain relief. There is a thing worth noting tho, and it's the T I G H T N E S S of those mmcx connectors (they are marked left and right too!) wich I didn't manage to pull out barehanded... Now for me that's something great because I tend to put the cable under my shirt, so when I need to pull them out of my ears they just hang on it and I'm sure they're NEVER going to fall off. However this makes cable swapping a big deal, so for you out there be sure to call Hulk.
The tips:
3 pair of silicons (S, M and... M?) yes, you have two pairs in the same size, one already comes installed on the iems. These are what I use the most, i'll talk about the differences between the tips in the sound portion of this review.
3 pair of memory foams (S, M and L), I use them for extended listening sessions and they isolate the most, to the point you hear your voice like it's more muffled than it is when you're underwater.
3 pair of double flange silicons (S, M and L), I don't really use them that much but they block out a bit more than the standard ones.
All of them are of a good quality, but they could included another size for people with bigger ears, however for me (medium sized ears) the M size works the best.
The carrying case:
It's all black, rubberized on the outside and it's pretty sturdy and it opens with a metal zipper. It has enough space for another pair of iems to fit in with some tips, on the front there is the "Shozy" logo. Inside it you'll find everything, in the upper side there is a web-like leap with an elastic on the top containing the tips, no paperwork included. The only issue I have with this is that it's not that pocket friendly due to its dimensions, tho you could fit it in if you have large pockets.
Here on the left earbud, with this prospective, you can see the Knowles driver, the sound tubes on the left side, and the "Shozy" logo that is, luckily, fixed into the resin, so there's no way the letters could eventually fall off.
On the right earbud, with this prospective, you can see the mid frequencies driver (the bigger one), placed under the high frequencies driver, the crossover board and on the inner side there's the model number and the word "NEO" "sculpted" outside of it.
Now let's jump into drivability.
I'll make it short. You can drive these off of anything due to the pretty low impedance and high sensitivity, they sound good even off of a phone.
It's worth to mention that even if they don't get that much better with more expensive gear, they tend to pick up the flavors of various sources really nicely. For example, on my FiiO M3K they tend to have a brighter sound to them (by a margin), while on my Atom amp (Khadas Tone Board as a source) they sound warmer and more laid back.
Specs:
Drivers: 3 BAs with a crossover network, 1 Knowles Cl-22955, proprietary mid & high drivers.
Impedance: 30 ohms
Sensitivity: 107 dB/Mw
FR: 20-20.000Hz (and that's all you need).
Passive Noise Isolation: 25dB (can get even better with foams)
SOUND:
Signature: neutralish with a fun character to them, a bit warm, they somehow remind me of the HD600's in terms of tuning, they really aren't boosting any part of the frequencies, they may have some emphasis on the highs, but nothing heavy there.
Bass: it's really good for a BA, knowing this is the biggest driver Knowles currently produces. It never left me desiring more from it, EDM and Dubstep included, it's VERY well rounded, pretty tight, fat but not emphasized, it's engaging and kinda large in it's own way. It's quality bass, no questions about that. The only thing that could have been better is it's extension towards the subbass, I'll say it's present, but it doesn't go that low.
Mids: clear and lively, pretty natural, but their strongest point is their smoothness, they don't ever offend nor get on my nerves. The vocals there are not extremely open but the CP's manage to separate them from the rest of the mix easily, and I love that attribute. Male vocals sound bigger and more rounded than the female ones, wich on the other side, are a touch clearer. The problem with them is that they don't like violins, I mean, they are pretty nice, but in comparison to ALL the other instruments they tend to sound a tad muted and toned down, like someone decided to put some dampening foam just for them, but otherwise, overall great perfomance with the mids.
Highs: really clear, sparkly and extended, they have that feeling of airiness that i personally enjoy a lot and sometimes they give me goosebumps because of the level of realism they have. Tho they're not that relaxed and sometimes, with some specific songs, it can be an issue for some people sensitive to treble, I mean it's definitively not a deal breaker (also because there are some ways to tone it down quite a bit), sometimes it even bothers me, (tho consider that I listen to them with some sustained amounts of volume).
Imaging: It's not that far from pinpoint accurate, and it's better than the HD600's, it gets stronger the closer you get the sides than the center.
Soundstage: this is a strange one, let me explain. Normally they tend to sound pretty intimate (usually nothing get out of my head), until you give them some wide recorded songs, for example those from Birocratic. In some songs they managed to put a particular instrument half meter to one or the other side, the first time it happened I turned my head as I tought there was someone on my left playing a trumpet. Depth and height are pretty much always restricted.
Detail Retrieval: another thing they do greatly, that sparkly treble let them breathe all the way through, from the lower mids to the very top end. I have nothing to complain about them. You can easily pick sounds like the fingers hitting on the keys of a piano or, if you focus, you can hear the movements of an orchestra in the background.
Dynamics: This is one of my favorite parts of the CP's, they slam! They hit! I was very surprised when I listened to Mountains from Interstellar, these managed to hold their integrity while making my ears explode at the same time, this ability makes them super enjoyable for electronic, disco or even orchestral music.
Separation, realism, and forgiveness: the separation there is almost with the other attributes out there, there's a good amount of space between the instruments and each of them stays firm in it's position, without bouncing here and there in a song. However, on the most complex tracks, it can get a bit congested, expecially at low volumes, but nothing especially problematic. The realism there plays a nice role, some instruments, at higher volumes, manage to be almost lifelike, that crossover chip is getting it's job done, and the transition from bass to highs is a big pro. Another thing that I liked about them is that they don't make mp3 files sound too far from flac files, I'm not saying that they aren't resolving enough to tell you the difference between the two, but you're gonna get good sound also from compressed files.
TUNING FILTERS AND TIPS:
I discovered that with these, the filters and the various tips combination, the sound changes quite a bit.
(I know that this pic sucks but the filters are so tiny that I couldn't get a decent focus on them, hopefully you can still see the difference)
The ones behind are the balanced ones: they give that sparkle to the treble and that pretty neutral presentation to the sound, however if paired with the silicone tips (standard or bi-flange) that same treble can get fatiguing for long listening sessions (however this is my favorite combo despite the highs issue because it opens the sound like anything).
Swapping the silicons with the foam ones brought the treble a notch down, and I prefer them for longer listening session and extra noise isolation (people will yell at you).
The ones in the front are the bass ones (they don't have a name but I call them like this): they tone down the treble considerably and bring up the bass, to the point I'd call it boomy, as it becomes overbearing and tends to mask a bit the mids. However when I swap the silicon tips with the foams, magic happens. Now the bass comes down a bit and the treble remains pretty much unvaried, while the mids can breathe again... And you have this mellow, warm, romantic and laid back sound that I just put behind the silicone-balanced combo as far as preference goes (it sacrifices some of the details and airiness for more low end and completely solves the harshness/sibilance problem) I thought I've been amazed enough, but I was wrong.
Other tips: I don't see much of a difference swapping the included silicons with some aftermarket tips, so, until you need a bigger size of eartips, the stock ones are fine.
CONCLUSIONS:
What to say? These are a spectacular all rounder, complete package, good build, good cable, comfortable AF, sexy and great sounding iems that can reminds me of an HD600. As a review I can't knock off anything from the cons, my job here is to be honest with you and if there's something wrong/that I don't like I'm going to say it. However! For 165$ you get what you could ever need from a pair of in-ears that managed to put a smile on my face several times and even made me go "what the ****" more than a few times... Hope that tells you something
.These get my recommendation without thinking twice.
I'm done here, I hope this was useful to you! Ciao!
Attachments
Sweet Mid Tank - Shozy CP IEM Review
Shozy CP is an IEM (In-Ear Monitor) priced at 150 USD, which promises to deliver a sweet and midrange-forward experience, along with excellent reliability and outstanding build quality. I'll be testing whether it delivers on those promises, and where it stands in the market, compared to very well-known competitors.
Introduction
Shozy is a pretty widely known name with music lovers, and I have written quite a few reviews about their products before, and have always had a great experience with them. They rely on an excellent track record of providing a sweet sonic signature, with a forward midrange, a leaner and more neutral bass, and a smoother treble, and they also rely on good build quality, and good price to performance ratios.
It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Shozy or Linsoul Audio, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. This review is not sponsored nor has been paid for by Shozy or Linsoul Audio or anyone else. I'd like to thank Linsoul Audio for providing the sample for this review. The sample was provided free of charge, along with Linsoul's request for an honest and unbiased review. This review reflects my personal experience with Shozy CP. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in Shozy CP find their next music companion. There are no affiliate links in the review.
Purchase Link
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/SHOZY-NEO-CP-Customized-Detachable/dp/B07H4JXXDV
Linsoul: https://www.linsoul.com/product-page/Shozy-Neo-CP-Earphones
About me
https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/about.html
Packaging
First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:
Shozy CP comes in a tiny package, and well, for a more entry-level IEM, the package is quite enough, serving well to present this IEM.
Inside the cardboard package you will find the carrying case, which is a pretty cool accessory to Shozy CP, and quite welcome to them, adding to the package value.
Besides the IEMs themselves, you will find spare tips, and extra filters.
The cables are already connected to Shozy CP, but they have detachable cables, relying on the MMCX connectors. If I were to make a list of IEMs that come with interesting cables, Shozy CP would be on that list, for their thick and soft cable that looks and feels very high-end, and really amazing for the price. The cable is braided and not very springy.
Considering the price of 165 USD for Shozy CP, the package is very good and in line with other similarly priced IEMs. They do not reach a golden level, since they do not include balanced cable, nor a solution to use balanced cables, like iBasso IT01S / IT04 does, but still, the package of Shozy CP will be enough and even more than enough for pretty much anyone getting a pair.
What to look in when purchasing an entry-level In-Ear Monitor
https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/what-to-lookl.html
Technical Specifications
Driver: 3 Balanced Armatures (22955 Knowles Low Frequency, Custom Mid and High)
Impedance: 30 ohms
Sensitivity: 107 dB SPL/mW
Frequency Response: 20-20kHz
Passive Noise Isolation: 25dB
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort
Starting with the build quality, you will be absolutely amazed. This is not your everyday Chi-fi IEM, and everything about it screams that, and in a very loud and resounding voice. The IEM shells are not empty inside like most IEMs out there, but rather they are full, basically there being material all around the drivers and the tubes.
This means that the IEMs themselves are a bit heftier than you'd expect them to be, but they're not quite as heavy as larger, multi-driver IEMs, like Rhapsodio Zombie, which is quite a bit larger and has quite a few more drivers inside. Rather, Shozy CP is pretty much in line with iBasso IT-01 in terms of weight.
The cable is pretty soft, and braided, it is not the springy type, it doesn't tangle, and it feels extremely nice to the touch. There are no cable microphonics, and I experienced no issues with it while in usage. Furthermore, the cable plug is absolutely beautiful, being a 3.5mm Gold Plated, Single Ended jack.
Shozy CP is also extremely comfortable, with a small shell size, good ergonomic design, rounded shell, there is literally nothing to impede your comfort, and they are one of the most comfortable IEMs I have ever tested. I tend to use smaller tips with them, and the included tips are very comfortable, and do not require an immediate replacement, or a replacement at all.
You can feel some void while wearing them, since they are an all-BA setup, and they don't require vents, so take care when inserting them and pulling them out. This also means that they have an above-average, to excellent isolation, the tips actually being a tad less isolating. If you wanted extreme isolation, you could use foam tips, and with the thick full-shell bodies, and foam tips, you'd get almost custom levels of isolation out of Shozy CP.
The aesthetics are quite interesting, they are one beautiful-looking IEM, with an asymmetrical design, the right earpiece being red in color, while the left earpiece is blue, according to the color coding for most products. They are even more beautiful in reality, than I could picture them in photos, and the fact they are made so well, makes them really fun to look at, hold, and use.
All in all, Shozy CP is one of the best build, most ergonomic, most comfortable IEMs with one of the best looks in this price range, and should be given a crown for doing things so well, reaching the golden level, and setting a new standard in their way.
Sound Quality
Shozy has a "house signature" that is quite hard to mistake, and which they have been implementing in all their products to date. This is usually a midrange-forward sound, and since they kept to their guns, people who love a sweet, more forward midrange, have been quite happy with getting Shozy products so far.
Shozy CP is also in line with their typical signature, offering a warm, smooth, midrange-forward sound, that has a good clarity, quick and nimble treble that is fatigue-free, a more intimate soundstage, and a really really natural midrange.
Starting with the bass, they have a more neutral bass, that is present when needed, but which isn't much above the neutral line. It is fast enough for most styles of metal, and it is present enough to hear the bass guitars in Pink Floyd's albums, but the bass is not overly dramatic nor explosive, Shozy CP being a IEM for those that prefer a more neutral bass presentation, rather than a bass-heavy one. The bass speed is walking the line of natural, not being a typically BA-Fast Bass.
The midrange is warm, enthusiastic, slightly euphonic, sweet and clear. The instrument separation is fairly good for the price range, and the tonality of Shozy CP, being slightly euphonic, will do good favors to happier and more clean-toned music, although they can play some metal fairly well, with their good detail and textures complimenting solo guitars fairly well. Being a happy IEM, Shozy CP isn't very dramatic, so they don't present violins or sad songs quite as well, most other Shozy products working also better with happier music. This works extremely well with rock, punk, pop, indie and even with older recordings, but it doesn't work well with sad music, or violins. The midrange is also fairly fatigue-free being natural and relaxed, not extremely forward, or in-your-face.
The treble is smooth and fatigue-free, being a friendly treble that you can listen to for hours in a row, which does compliment older recordings fairly well. The detail levels aren't the most expressed since the treble is more friendly, but they avoid a "false detail", where details are virtually enhanced, rather going for a more old-fashioned type of sound, where everything is made to sound natural, and to be fatigue-free.
All in all, their soundstage is natural, to slightly intimate, which favors music, if you prefer feeling like you're sitting in the same room as the singer, Making Freddie Mercury's interpretation more emotional and direct. The good instrument separation and detail also compliments the forward presentation.
Portable Usage
The portable usage is excellent.
Shozy CP is slightly sensitive to hiss, and being an all-BA setup, with low impedance, this is to be expected, but still, the hiss isn't audible while music is playing, even at low volumes, so most sources will do just fine. Furthermore, they are complimented nicely by something small, like FiiO BTR3, which can drive them quite well, making them even more portable.
Not all IEMs are fit for running and jogging, but Shozy CP is, and I can easily recommend it for doing more intensive activities, including taking a trip around Bucharest, as I did recently while using CP.
The cable is soft and doesn't tangle nor is springy, complimenting their already excellent fit and ergonomics, and with the around 25 dB of passive noise isolation, you won't feel the need to adjust the volume too loud, as you won't be hearing the chatter of noisy cafes, nor the noise of the subway, making CP a really good IEM for an active urban lifestyle.
Comparisons
Shozy CP is in a very competitive price range, and there are many other options in the 100 - 150 - 200 USD price range, but I'll try to pick some that are more prominent, to compare Shozy CP with, since it has to stand its ground against the bests of this price range, to make sense for its purchase.
Shozy CP vs FiiO F9 Pro - Starting with the package, F9Pro wins in terms of the raw package, and by a good margin. F9Pro comes with two cables, one that is single ended, and one that is balanced, and also comes with two carrying cases, one that is peli-style, and one that is made of soft fabric. F9Pro also comes with a wider selection of tips. In terms of build quality, Shozy CP is better built, and the fact that the shells are full rather than empty inside makes them feel much better and trustworthy, but both F9Pro and CP are similar in terms of comfort, and both are extremely comfortable for me. Both provide similar amounts of passive noise isolation, although F9Pro isolates a bit less and CP a bit more, especially side-by-side. The sound is very different between the two, with F9Pro having a larger, quicker and more punchy bass, a less forward and more neutral midrange, and a more sparkly, better extended and more engaging treble. By comparison, Shozy CP feels considerably more neutral in the bass, more forward in the midrange, has a more intimate soundstage, and has a much more fatigue-free treble. If you wanted a fatigue-free experience, with a smooth treble, a neutral bass, and a natural, yet forward midrange, then Shozy CP is the one for your, while if you wanted a neutral overall IEM, with a neutral bass, neutral midrange, and a brighter, more sparkly and more engaging treble, F9Pro makes a very compelling offer as well.
Shozy CP vs iBasso IT01 - iBasso IT01 is slightly less expensive than Shozy CP, and has recently been replaced by IT01S, which is very different from the original, but for now those having IT01 and looking to upgrade to Shozy CP, or those looking into getting either of the two are curious about how IT01 compares to CP. Starting with the package, the transport case of IT01 is better than the one CP comes with, because it is made of metal, but it is smaller in size. The build quality and comfort is quite comparable, and I actually do think that IT01 is just as comfortable as Shozy CP, but the passive noise isolation is better on Shozy CP. The build quality feels similar, and iBasso's attention to details in the build of IT-01 makes good competition for the excellent housings Shozy CP has. The sound is quite different, with IT01 having a much much warmer and more enhanced bass and upper bass, a recessed midrange, and a much more sparkly treble with more emphasis on emotion. IT01 also has a larger soundstage, leading to a very different sonic presentation from Shozy CP. If you're looking for a more V-shaped sound, with more treble emphasis, and with a warmer and larger bass, that will surely glaze everything for pure fun, then IT01 is still very easy one of the best IEMs for the 100 USD price range, but if you're looking for a more intimate soundstage, with a more midrange-forward sound, with more emphasis on euphonics rather than sparkle, and if you want a smooth and fatigue-free sound, you should check out Shozy CP.
Shozy CP vs Simphonio XCITED 2 - XCITED 2 from Simhonio has been a personal favorite, as I had quite a bit of fun with it. They are uniquely built, but their sound is extremely detailed and clear, and they have a really addictive overall tuning. The packages of Xcited 2 and Shozy CP are pretty much the same, with a similar carrying case and a similar accessory set included with the IEMs. The build quality feels better on Shozy CP, and they have detachable cables, making XCITED 2 feel a little fixed with a non-detachable cables. The comfort is better on Shozy CP, but they isolate similarly well. Since XCITED 2 has a dynamic driver inside, it has ventilation holes, so it may isolate a bit less than Shozy CP, but this also means that they don't have void while being worn. The sound is extremely different, basically being an absolute opposite, XCITED2 being a strongly V-Shaped IEM that makes the bass quick, punchy and forward, the midrange recessed, yet extremely clear and playful, and the treble sparkly, and engaging. Compared to Shozy CP, XCITED 2 has more impact, a considerably larger soundstage, better instrument separation, but a considerably more recessed midrange, and a much more sparkly treble, while CP has a more neutral bass, with a more intimate soundstage, a more forward vocal presentation, and a considerably smoother treble that is sure to be fatigue-free. If you're looking for an exciting experience, than XCITED 2 should serve you quite well, while if you're looking for a smooth and relaxing experience, then Shozy CP should be your main choice.
Recommended Pairings
Shozy CP is slightly sensitive to hiss, and you may want to consider sources that are inherently less hissy for them, but this isn't an issue while music is playing. Furthermore, they scale fairly well with sources, but most Players and DAC/AMPs below 300 USD should power them adequately, and should provide a very fun and complete experience. Shozy CP is even drivable by a typical smartphone, and doesn't require much in terms of source to sound good, not being very picky with their source.
Shozy CP + FiiO M7 - FiiO M7 is quite nice for driving Shozy CP, because it is a very neutral Player, so it may help with their smooth treble, making it a bit more engaging than the average of players. M7 also has quite a few abilities under the hood, making it an excellent DAP for today's world, especially if you like the small shape, and the rather good battery life it offers. The pairing sounds pretty engaging, more neutral in the midrange, and with more treble sparkle, with the bass being slightly quicker, thanks to M7's very neutral and quick presentation. M7 also has more than enough power for driving Shozy CP.
Shozy CP + iBasso DX120 - iBasso DX120 may be a little overkill for Shozy CP, given its really amazing sound that could pair even with a flagship, but it is a really easy to recommend player if you have Shozy CP and want a warmer, more bassy sound. In fact, with DX120, and its selectable filters and music modes, you can easily fine tune it to pair with Shozy CP the way you'd want it to, and with its dual microSD slot, and with the quick speed, and outstanding size and design, you're in for a lot of fun if choosing to go with this pairing.
Shozy CP + xDuoo XD10 Poke - xDuoo XD10 poke is quite interesting, because, like DX120, it is quite a bit overkill for Shozy CP, but like M7, it has a very very neutral sound, with a colder overall tonality, which pairs quite well with Shozy CP, if you want a colder, more analytical sound that also compliments sad music a bit better than CP's original tuning. As a bonus, you also have a wide-coverage bass-boost that can make CP much much warmer and more bassy, but which won't make them distort nor flabby, making XD10 Poke quite a great choice if you already have a smartphone and if you want to have access to bells and whistles like streaming services.
Value and Conclusion
Shozy CP surely stands its ground nicely to other IEMs priced similarly, even to the kings of this price range, especially if you prefer the style of sound that CP has.
Starting with the package, you get a lot with Shozy CP, from the IEM shells which are quite nice, to the flexible braided cable, and a good selection of tips and two dust filters.
The IEM shells are designed very ergonomically, and are beautiful, and the cables are also built quite well, so you don't have to worry about cable noise (microphonics), or discomfort while wearing them. They also provide almost 25 dB of isolation from the outside noise, especially if you're using them with foam tips, so they can be used as performance In-Ears if you wanted to.
The sound is one-of-a-kind, or rather, it is part of Shozy's house signature, which became quite known after the previous successful IEM releases. The bass is neutral, the midrange is pushed forward, and the treble is smooth and fatigue free, yet there is a good amount of clarity, detail, and instrument separation, all presented in a more intimate soundstage.
If you are wondering about how hard Shozy CP is to pair with other devices, then you have no reason to be afraid, they are easy to pair with sources and you could be driving them from a smartphone, being a really convenient and easy-to-drive IEM.
All in all, if you're looking for an euphonic, sweet, and happy-sounding IEM, with a forward midrange, an intimate soundstage, and a clear sound, you should totally check out Shozy CP, and for the best warranty, don't forget to order it from Linsoul, one of the best shops for Chi-Fi IEMs.
Purchase Link
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/SHOZY-NEO-CP-Customized-Detachable/dp/B07H4JXXDV
Linsoul: https://www.linsoul.com/product-page/Shozy-Neo-CP-Earphones
Playlist used for this review
While we listened to considerably more songs than those named in this playlist, those are excellent for identifying certain aspects of the sound, like PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you're searching for new most, most of them being rather catchy.
Bats - Gamma Ray Burst: Second Date
Eskimo Callboy - Frances
Incubus - Summer Romance
Electric Six - Dager! High Voltage
Kishida Cult - High School Of The Dead
Dimmu Borgir - Dimmu Borgir
Breaking Benjamin - I Will Not Bow
Thousand Foot Krutch - The Flame In All Of Us
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.
Infected Mushroom - Song Pong
Attack Attack - Kissed A Girl
Doctor P - Bulletproof
Maximum The Hormone - Rock n Roll Chainsaw
Rob Zombie - Werewolf, Baby!
Escape The Fate - Gorgeous Nightmare
SOAD - Chop Suey
Ken Ashcorp - Absolute Territory
Machinae Supremacy - Need For Steve
Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop
Crow'sclaw - Loudness War
Eminem - Rap God
Stromae - Humain À L'eau
Sonata Arctica - My Selene
Justin Timberlake - Sexy Back
Metallica - Fuel
Veil Of Maya - Unbreakable
Masa Works - Golden Japang
REOL - Luvoratorrrrry
Korn - Word Up!
Papa Roach - ... To be Loved
Fever The Ghost - Source
Fall Out Boy - Immortals
Green Day - Know The Enemy
Mindless Self Indulgence - London Bridge
A static Lullaby - Toxic
Royal Republic - Addictive
Astronautalis - The River, The Woods
We Came As Romans - My Love
Skillet - What I Believe
Man With A Mission - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Yasuda Rei - Mirror
Mojo Juju - Must Be Desire
Falling Up - Falling In Love
Manafest - Retro Love
Rodrigo Y Grabriela - Paris
Zomboy - Lights Out
Muse - Resistance
T.A.T.U & Rammstein - Mosaku
Grey Daze - Anything, Anything
Katy Perry - Who Am I Living For
Maroon 5 - Lucky Strike
Machinae Supremacy - Killer Instinct
Pendulum - Propane Nightmares
I hope my review is helpful to you!
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Contact me!
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Shozy CP is an IEM (In-Ear Monitor) priced at 150 USD, which promises to deliver a sweet and midrange-forward experience, along with excellent reliability and outstanding build quality. I'll be testing whether it delivers on those promises, and where it stands in the market, compared to very well-known competitors.
Introduction
Shozy is a pretty widely known name with music lovers, and I have written quite a few reviews about their products before, and have always had a great experience with them. They rely on an excellent track record of providing a sweet sonic signature, with a forward midrange, a leaner and more neutral bass, and a smoother treble, and they also rely on good build quality, and good price to performance ratios.
It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Shozy or Linsoul Audio, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. This review is not sponsored nor has been paid for by Shozy or Linsoul Audio or anyone else. I'd like to thank Linsoul Audio for providing the sample for this review. The sample was provided free of charge, along with Linsoul's request for an honest and unbiased review. This review reflects my personal experience with Shozy CP. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in Shozy CP find their next music companion. There are no affiliate links in the review.
Purchase Link
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/SHOZY-NEO-CP-Customized-Detachable/dp/B07H4JXXDV
Linsoul: https://www.linsoul.com/product-page/Shozy-Neo-CP-Earphones
About me
https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/about.html
Packaging
First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:
Shozy CP comes in a tiny package, and well, for a more entry-level IEM, the package is quite enough, serving well to present this IEM.
Inside the cardboard package you will find the carrying case, which is a pretty cool accessory to Shozy CP, and quite welcome to them, adding to the package value.
Besides the IEMs themselves, you will find spare tips, and extra filters.
The cables are already connected to Shozy CP, but they have detachable cables, relying on the MMCX connectors. If I were to make a list of IEMs that come with interesting cables, Shozy CP would be on that list, for their thick and soft cable that looks and feels very high-end, and really amazing for the price. The cable is braided and not very springy.
Considering the price of 165 USD for Shozy CP, the package is very good and in line with other similarly priced IEMs. They do not reach a golden level, since they do not include balanced cable, nor a solution to use balanced cables, like iBasso IT01S / IT04 does, but still, the package of Shozy CP will be enough and even more than enough for pretty much anyone getting a pair.
What to look in when purchasing an entry-level In-Ear Monitor
https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/what-to-lookl.html
Technical Specifications
Driver: 3 Balanced Armatures (22955 Knowles Low Frequency, Custom Mid and High)
Impedance: 30 ohms
Sensitivity: 107 dB SPL/mW
Frequency Response: 20-20kHz
Passive Noise Isolation: 25dB
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort
Starting with the build quality, you will be absolutely amazed. This is not your everyday Chi-fi IEM, and everything about it screams that, and in a very loud and resounding voice. The IEM shells are not empty inside like most IEMs out there, but rather they are full, basically there being material all around the drivers and the tubes.
This means that the IEMs themselves are a bit heftier than you'd expect them to be, but they're not quite as heavy as larger, multi-driver IEMs, like Rhapsodio Zombie, which is quite a bit larger and has quite a few more drivers inside. Rather, Shozy CP is pretty much in line with iBasso IT-01 in terms of weight.
The cable is pretty soft, and braided, it is not the springy type, it doesn't tangle, and it feels extremely nice to the touch. There are no cable microphonics, and I experienced no issues with it while in usage. Furthermore, the cable plug is absolutely beautiful, being a 3.5mm Gold Plated, Single Ended jack.
Shozy CP is also extremely comfortable, with a small shell size, good ergonomic design, rounded shell, there is literally nothing to impede your comfort, and they are one of the most comfortable IEMs I have ever tested. I tend to use smaller tips with them, and the included tips are very comfortable, and do not require an immediate replacement, or a replacement at all.
You can feel some void while wearing them, since they are an all-BA setup, and they don't require vents, so take care when inserting them and pulling them out. This also means that they have an above-average, to excellent isolation, the tips actually being a tad less isolating. If you wanted extreme isolation, you could use foam tips, and with the thick full-shell bodies, and foam tips, you'd get almost custom levels of isolation out of Shozy CP.
The aesthetics are quite interesting, they are one beautiful-looking IEM, with an asymmetrical design, the right earpiece being red in color, while the left earpiece is blue, according to the color coding for most products. They are even more beautiful in reality, than I could picture them in photos, and the fact they are made so well, makes them really fun to look at, hold, and use.
All in all, Shozy CP is one of the best build, most ergonomic, most comfortable IEMs with one of the best looks in this price range, and should be given a crown for doing things so well, reaching the golden level, and setting a new standard in their way.
Sound Quality
Shozy has a "house signature" that is quite hard to mistake, and which they have been implementing in all their products to date. This is usually a midrange-forward sound, and since they kept to their guns, people who love a sweet, more forward midrange, have been quite happy with getting Shozy products so far.
Shozy CP is also in line with their typical signature, offering a warm, smooth, midrange-forward sound, that has a good clarity, quick and nimble treble that is fatigue-free, a more intimate soundstage, and a really really natural midrange.
Starting with the bass, they have a more neutral bass, that is present when needed, but which isn't much above the neutral line. It is fast enough for most styles of metal, and it is present enough to hear the bass guitars in Pink Floyd's albums, but the bass is not overly dramatic nor explosive, Shozy CP being a IEM for those that prefer a more neutral bass presentation, rather than a bass-heavy one. The bass speed is walking the line of natural, not being a typically BA-Fast Bass.
The midrange is warm, enthusiastic, slightly euphonic, sweet and clear. The instrument separation is fairly good for the price range, and the tonality of Shozy CP, being slightly euphonic, will do good favors to happier and more clean-toned music, although they can play some metal fairly well, with their good detail and textures complimenting solo guitars fairly well. Being a happy IEM, Shozy CP isn't very dramatic, so they don't present violins or sad songs quite as well, most other Shozy products working also better with happier music. This works extremely well with rock, punk, pop, indie and even with older recordings, but it doesn't work well with sad music, or violins. The midrange is also fairly fatigue-free being natural and relaxed, not extremely forward, or in-your-face.
The treble is smooth and fatigue-free, being a friendly treble that you can listen to for hours in a row, which does compliment older recordings fairly well. The detail levels aren't the most expressed since the treble is more friendly, but they avoid a "false detail", where details are virtually enhanced, rather going for a more old-fashioned type of sound, where everything is made to sound natural, and to be fatigue-free.
All in all, their soundstage is natural, to slightly intimate, which favors music, if you prefer feeling like you're sitting in the same room as the singer, Making Freddie Mercury's interpretation more emotional and direct. The good instrument separation and detail also compliments the forward presentation.
Portable Usage
The portable usage is excellent.
Shozy CP is slightly sensitive to hiss, and being an all-BA setup, with low impedance, this is to be expected, but still, the hiss isn't audible while music is playing, even at low volumes, so most sources will do just fine. Furthermore, they are complimented nicely by something small, like FiiO BTR3, which can drive them quite well, making them even more portable.
Not all IEMs are fit for running and jogging, but Shozy CP is, and I can easily recommend it for doing more intensive activities, including taking a trip around Bucharest, as I did recently while using CP.
The cable is soft and doesn't tangle nor is springy, complimenting their already excellent fit and ergonomics, and with the around 25 dB of passive noise isolation, you won't feel the need to adjust the volume too loud, as you won't be hearing the chatter of noisy cafes, nor the noise of the subway, making CP a really good IEM for an active urban lifestyle.
Comparisons
Shozy CP is in a very competitive price range, and there are many other options in the 100 - 150 - 200 USD price range, but I'll try to pick some that are more prominent, to compare Shozy CP with, since it has to stand its ground against the bests of this price range, to make sense for its purchase.
Shozy CP vs FiiO F9 Pro - Starting with the package, F9Pro wins in terms of the raw package, and by a good margin. F9Pro comes with two cables, one that is single ended, and one that is balanced, and also comes with two carrying cases, one that is peli-style, and one that is made of soft fabric. F9Pro also comes with a wider selection of tips. In terms of build quality, Shozy CP is better built, and the fact that the shells are full rather than empty inside makes them feel much better and trustworthy, but both F9Pro and CP are similar in terms of comfort, and both are extremely comfortable for me. Both provide similar amounts of passive noise isolation, although F9Pro isolates a bit less and CP a bit more, especially side-by-side. The sound is very different between the two, with F9Pro having a larger, quicker and more punchy bass, a less forward and more neutral midrange, and a more sparkly, better extended and more engaging treble. By comparison, Shozy CP feels considerably more neutral in the bass, more forward in the midrange, has a more intimate soundstage, and has a much more fatigue-free treble. If you wanted a fatigue-free experience, with a smooth treble, a neutral bass, and a natural, yet forward midrange, then Shozy CP is the one for your, while if you wanted a neutral overall IEM, with a neutral bass, neutral midrange, and a brighter, more sparkly and more engaging treble, F9Pro makes a very compelling offer as well.
Shozy CP vs iBasso IT01 - iBasso IT01 is slightly less expensive than Shozy CP, and has recently been replaced by IT01S, which is very different from the original, but for now those having IT01 and looking to upgrade to Shozy CP, or those looking into getting either of the two are curious about how IT01 compares to CP. Starting with the package, the transport case of IT01 is better than the one CP comes with, because it is made of metal, but it is smaller in size. The build quality and comfort is quite comparable, and I actually do think that IT01 is just as comfortable as Shozy CP, but the passive noise isolation is better on Shozy CP. The build quality feels similar, and iBasso's attention to details in the build of IT-01 makes good competition for the excellent housings Shozy CP has. The sound is quite different, with IT01 having a much much warmer and more enhanced bass and upper bass, a recessed midrange, and a much more sparkly treble with more emphasis on emotion. IT01 also has a larger soundstage, leading to a very different sonic presentation from Shozy CP. If you're looking for a more V-shaped sound, with more treble emphasis, and with a warmer and larger bass, that will surely glaze everything for pure fun, then IT01 is still very easy one of the best IEMs for the 100 USD price range, but if you're looking for a more intimate soundstage, with a more midrange-forward sound, with more emphasis on euphonics rather than sparkle, and if you want a smooth and fatigue-free sound, you should check out Shozy CP.
Shozy CP vs Simphonio XCITED 2 - XCITED 2 from Simhonio has been a personal favorite, as I had quite a bit of fun with it. They are uniquely built, but their sound is extremely detailed and clear, and they have a really addictive overall tuning. The packages of Xcited 2 and Shozy CP are pretty much the same, with a similar carrying case and a similar accessory set included with the IEMs. The build quality feels better on Shozy CP, and they have detachable cables, making XCITED 2 feel a little fixed with a non-detachable cables. The comfort is better on Shozy CP, but they isolate similarly well. Since XCITED 2 has a dynamic driver inside, it has ventilation holes, so it may isolate a bit less than Shozy CP, but this also means that they don't have void while being worn. The sound is extremely different, basically being an absolute opposite, XCITED2 being a strongly V-Shaped IEM that makes the bass quick, punchy and forward, the midrange recessed, yet extremely clear and playful, and the treble sparkly, and engaging. Compared to Shozy CP, XCITED 2 has more impact, a considerably larger soundstage, better instrument separation, but a considerably more recessed midrange, and a much more sparkly treble, while CP has a more neutral bass, with a more intimate soundstage, a more forward vocal presentation, and a considerably smoother treble that is sure to be fatigue-free. If you're looking for an exciting experience, than XCITED 2 should serve you quite well, while if you're looking for a smooth and relaxing experience, then Shozy CP should be your main choice.
Recommended Pairings
Shozy CP is slightly sensitive to hiss, and you may want to consider sources that are inherently less hissy for them, but this isn't an issue while music is playing. Furthermore, they scale fairly well with sources, but most Players and DAC/AMPs below 300 USD should power them adequately, and should provide a very fun and complete experience. Shozy CP is even drivable by a typical smartphone, and doesn't require much in terms of source to sound good, not being very picky with their source.
Shozy CP + FiiO M7 - FiiO M7 is quite nice for driving Shozy CP, because it is a very neutral Player, so it may help with their smooth treble, making it a bit more engaging than the average of players. M7 also has quite a few abilities under the hood, making it an excellent DAP for today's world, especially if you like the small shape, and the rather good battery life it offers. The pairing sounds pretty engaging, more neutral in the midrange, and with more treble sparkle, with the bass being slightly quicker, thanks to M7's very neutral and quick presentation. M7 also has more than enough power for driving Shozy CP.
Shozy CP + iBasso DX120 - iBasso DX120 may be a little overkill for Shozy CP, given its really amazing sound that could pair even with a flagship, but it is a really easy to recommend player if you have Shozy CP and want a warmer, more bassy sound. In fact, with DX120, and its selectable filters and music modes, you can easily fine tune it to pair with Shozy CP the way you'd want it to, and with its dual microSD slot, and with the quick speed, and outstanding size and design, you're in for a lot of fun if choosing to go with this pairing.
Shozy CP + xDuoo XD10 Poke - xDuoo XD10 poke is quite interesting, because, like DX120, it is quite a bit overkill for Shozy CP, but like M7, it has a very very neutral sound, with a colder overall tonality, which pairs quite well with Shozy CP, if you want a colder, more analytical sound that also compliments sad music a bit better than CP's original tuning. As a bonus, you also have a wide-coverage bass-boost that can make CP much much warmer and more bassy, but which won't make them distort nor flabby, making XD10 Poke quite a great choice if you already have a smartphone and if you want to have access to bells and whistles like streaming services.
Value and Conclusion
Shozy CP surely stands its ground nicely to other IEMs priced similarly, even to the kings of this price range, especially if you prefer the style of sound that CP has.
Starting with the package, you get a lot with Shozy CP, from the IEM shells which are quite nice, to the flexible braided cable, and a good selection of tips and two dust filters.
The IEM shells are designed very ergonomically, and are beautiful, and the cables are also built quite well, so you don't have to worry about cable noise (microphonics), or discomfort while wearing them. They also provide almost 25 dB of isolation from the outside noise, especially if you're using them with foam tips, so they can be used as performance In-Ears if you wanted to.
The sound is one-of-a-kind, or rather, it is part of Shozy's house signature, which became quite known after the previous successful IEM releases. The bass is neutral, the midrange is pushed forward, and the treble is smooth and fatigue free, yet there is a good amount of clarity, detail, and instrument separation, all presented in a more intimate soundstage.
If you are wondering about how hard Shozy CP is to pair with other devices, then you have no reason to be afraid, they are easy to pair with sources and you could be driving them from a smartphone, being a really convenient and easy-to-drive IEM.
All in all, if you're looking for an euphonic, sweet, and happy-sounding IEM, with a forward midrange, an intimate soundstage, and a clear sound, you should totally check out Shozy CP, and for the best warranty, don't forget to order it from Linsoul, one of the best shops for Chi-Fi IEMs.
Purchase Link
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/SHOZY-NEO-CP-Customized-Detachable/dp/B07H4JXXDV
Linsoul: https://www.linsoul.com/product-page/Shozy-Neo-CP-Earphones
Playlist used for this review
While we listened to considerably more songs than those named in this playlist, those are excellent for identifying certain aspects of the sound, like PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you're searching for new most, most of them being rather catchy.
Bats - Gamma Ray Burst: Second Date
Eskimo Callboy - Frances
Incubus - Summer Romance
Electric Six - Dager! High Voltage
Kishida Cult - High School Of The Dead
Dimmu Borgir - Dimmu Borgir
Breaking Benjamin - I Will Not Bow
Thousand Foot Krutch - The Flame In All Of Us
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.
Infected Mushroom - Song Pong
Attack Attack - Kissed A Girl
Doctor P - Bulletproof
Maximum The Hormone - Rock n Roll Chainsaw
Rob Zombie - Werewolf, Baby!
Escape The Fate - Gorgeous Nightmare
SOAD - Chop Suey
Ken Ashcorp - Absolute Territory
Machinae Supremacy - Need For Steve
Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop
Crow'sclaw - Loudness War
Eminem - Rap God
Stromae - Humain À L'eau
Sonata Arctica - My Selene
Justin Timberlake - Sexy Back
Metallica - Fuel
Veil Of Maya - Unbreakable
Masa Works - Golden Japang
REOL - Luvoratorrrrry
Korn - Word Up!
Papa Roach - ... To be Loved
Fever The Ghost - Source
Fall Out Boy - Immortals
Green Day - Know The Enemy
Mindless Self Indulgence - London Bridge
A static Lullaby - Toxic
Royal Republic - Addictive
Astronautalis - The River, The Woods
We Came As Romans - My Love
Skillet - What I Believe
Man With A Mission - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Yasuda Rei - Mirror
Mojo Juju - Must Be Desire
Falling Up - Falling In Love
Manafest - Retro Love
Rodrigo Y Grabriela - Paris
Zomboy - Lights Out
Muse - Resistance
T.A.T.U & Rammstein - Mosaku
Grey Daze - Anything, Anything
Katy Perry - Who Am I Living For
Maroon 5 - Lucky Strike
Machinae Supremacy - Killer Instinct
Pendulum - Propane Nightmares
I hope my review is helpful to you!
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Greetings!
Today we're checking out a collaborative effort from Shozy, this time with Neo Audio; the Shozy x Neo CP.
The CP is a triple-armature earphone with custom drivers for the treble and mid-range and a Knowles' 22955 low range driver handling the bass. It has hand built acrylic housings with MMCX equipped removable copper braided cables and a sub-200 USD price point. I'm not entirely sure who Neo Audio is, possibly a loudspeaker manufacturer, but Shozy is pretty well known within the industry and has years of well-received DAP, earphones, and ear buds in their back catalog. They know how to make a quality product and the CP is just one of numerous examples of this.
Lets take a closer look and see why.
Disclaimer:
Thanks to Lillian with Linsoul Tech for arranging a complimentary, financially incentive free sample of the Shozy & Neo CP for the purposes of review. The thoughts and opinions here are my own based on over a month of use and do not represent Linsoul, Shozy, Neo Audio, or any other entity.
The Shozy & Neo CP retailed for 165 USD at the time of writing: https://www.linsoul.com/product-page/Shozy-Neo-CP-Earphones
Source:
The CP was paired with a number of sources. The Shanling M1 was a nice match with the stock filters while the warmer M0 was a better match with the brighter, alternate filter set. The more neutral HiFi E.T. MA8 was fine with both options. The Shozy & Neo CP is easy to drive and can be powered just fine from a phone or more budget friendly source. It is somewhat unforgiving in regards to file quality. While listening to Youtube and Soundcloud isn't a terrible experience, I'd definitely recommend sticking with something of a bit better quality at minimum.
Personal Preferences:
I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. In 2018 I learned that I no longer have a preferred signature and can understand and appreciate vastly different earphones. The HiFiMAN RE800, Brainwavz B400, and Massdrop x MeeAudio Planamic are examples of earphones with wildly varied signatures that are enjoyable for different reasons. I generally listen at very low volumes, so keep this in mind when perusing my thoughts on how an earphone sounds.
Specifications:
Packaging and Accessories:
I'm guessing Shozy opted to save on packaging with the CP, and funnel it towards the earphones instead. The box is not entirely unlike what KZ used to use back in the day, but a bit larger and with a snazzy silver/grey coloring. On the top is a C/P logo in gold foil. The left and right sized contain the angular Shozy logo, while the bottom outlines a few features and a product statement that does a pretty good job of explaining the CP:
“Presented by SHOZY x NEO Audio, CP in-ear monitor offers premium hand craftsmanship with meticulous sound tuning. Fusing Knowles balanced armatures and a specially designed high-extension tweeter unit, you will experience detailed, natural sound with precise imaging and enjoyable sound stage.”
Pulling the front flap and lifting the lid reveals a Shozy branded, clam-shell carrying case that takes up the entirety of the box. Inside are the earphones and accessories. In all you get:
Build, Comfort, and Isolation:
The CP features hand-built acrylic housing and my god are they beautiful. In regards to shape they follow the old-school jellybean, low profile design of something like the Shure SE846. The clear acrylic allow you to see the drivers, wiring, and crossover inside, as well as tunnels from the nozzle to the drivers. On the main faceplate, seemingly floating just over the low range driver is the Shozy brand name in gold in their distinct font. Some blue tint is also added to the face which breaks up the otherwise perfectly clear shell. Flipping it over you find Neo and a product number stamped, again in gold, into the acrylic. Overall the fit and finish is the best I've seen for an acrylic housing with zero faults that I could find anywhere. The MMCX port up to[ and steel nozzles are integrated perfectly which special mention going to the smooth filter threading that does not loosen up over time.
The braided copper cable is another excellent example of what Chinese manufacturers have been including with their products lately, putting lots of the competition to shame. It's not stiff and noisy like the Whizzer Kylin's cable and even retains flexibility out in cold weather, nor simple and basic like HiFiMAN's fixed cable on the RE800 Silver. The well-relieved straight plug is wrapped in chrome and carbon fibre with the smallest Shozy logo I've even seen lazer etched into the lower silver band. The off-color, metal y-split is free of relief, but this style of cable doesn't really need it since there is no soldering inside. The quad strands simply split into two groups of two as they exit the top of the split, heading up to each ear piece. As you head up to the plugs you find a useful bead-like chin cinch and some well-formed and flexible pre-formed ear guides. They effectively hold the cable in place around your ear, even during fairly heavy activity like running and jumping. The MMCX plugs are also metal with color coded plastic bands at the base to denote channel; red for right, clear for left. Overall, it's a pretty killer cable. It's well-built, it looks expensive, it behaves well in terms of tangling and stiffness, and it's comfortable around the ear.
When it comes to comfort, the CP is outstanding. The rounded shells are free of any angles that could cause hot spots around your ear. The use of acrylic means that are also exceptionally light so even during activity they remain securely in place. Something I was surprised at is that despite being completely sealed shells (not ruling out that i've missed a vent, but I checked pretty thoroughly), I don't feel any pressure build-up as experienced with other sealed earphones. These are simply a joy to wear.
Isolation on the CP is pretty good with a 25dB passive isolation rating. I have no way for formally testing that, but using it in noisy coffee-shops, walking around a busy city, in a car during a long drive, etc. I can tell you that the isolation is outstanding. These are well-suited to daily driver duty for those that use their iems in especially noisy places, regardless of whether you prefer to use silicone or foam ear tips.
Sound:
Filters: The CP is shipped with two filter options. I haven't been able to find any official explanation of what they do. Shozy's site doesn't acknowledge they exist, retailers simply mention them, and the usual measurement freaks haven't covered this product. So, the following is based on my time swapping between the two. Using ears is horribly unreliable, I know. Sorry about that.
At first I thought the inner mesh was different with the stock filter set having a slight checker-box like pattern and the alternates having simple lines, but it was just the lighting. Both filters look identical so sure to keep them separate. Some color coding would have been welcome.
Sound wise they are quite different. The pre-installed set is warmer with additional mid-bass quantity and impact, as well as lesser upper treble energy. It also has a denser, more confined presentation. The alternate set knocks the mid-bass down a notch, but doesn't seem to hurt extension, while adding more treble energy and additional detail in the mids. In summary, the stock filters provide a smooth, mellow listening experience, whereas the alternate filters mix in some additional treble for a very slightly more aggressive sound. I prefer the alternate set most of the time since it better lines up with my personal sound preferences, though I can't deny the extra mid-bass helps with CP out quite a bit with my preferred music genre; Liquid D'n'B. That said, the below impressions were conducted with the stock filters since I still quite enjoy the CP with them, and also suspect they will be favored by most listeners.
The Shozy & Neo CP comes out swingin' with a shockingly confident, refined, and neutral signature with just a touch of added warmth. Pretty nice for a product resting just north of 150 USD.
Treble is silky smooth and not at all fatiguing, but doesn't skimp on detail or speed. Whomever produced this custom armature dialed it in perfectly. On Aesop Rock's “Molecules”, the cymbals in the background sound outstanding with just the right decay and sizzle. It's not the most airy presentation I've heard from an all-BA earphone, but space between notes is clear and distinct and they're not so light as to lack body.
The mid-range is warm and prominent, clearly well-suited to vocal performances. On Daft Punk's “Touch”, Paul Williams performance is full of emotion and intimacy with a genuine feel few of the CP's competitors can reproduce with such adequacy. Female vocals are especially delightful. On Big Gram's “Born to Shine” and “Run for Your Life”, Sarah Barthell's seductive, breathy crooning has a trace-like quality to it that sucks you in and doesn't let go until the tracks are done. The CP's timbre is spot on too with Supertramp's trademark saxophone, string, and guitars sounding amazing during Rudy, especially in the final half of the track where the tempo increases.
The CP's bass clearly plays a supporting roll to my ears, coming in and offering up some punch and slam only when needed. Otherwise, it stays out of the way making the CP feel quite bass light much of the time. Sub-bass extension is decent but overall fairly limited as experienced on Kavinski's “Solli”. Run The Jewel's “Call The Ticketron” is one track that really plays well to the CP's presentation showing it can hit with some authority, though texture is a little soft. In general, the CP has a presentation that isn't as visceral as you'll find on the majority of earphones with a dynamic driver handling the low end. If you're looking for an all-BA earphone with killer bass, check out KZ's AS10, BA10, and to a lesser extent the Brainwavz B400.
The Shozy & Neo CP provides a fairly intimate experience with it's imaging, layering, and separation qualities taking up the slack. BT's surreal “The Antikythera Mechanism” from This Binary Universe does a good job of showing off what the CP can do and is one heck of an experience. The intimate presentation does hurt at times though, taking away from the grandiose performance of Lynard Skynard's “Free Bird” and making it a more personal affair.
Select Comparisons (volumes matched with Dayton Audio iMM-6):
Brainwavz B400 (199.50 USD): The quad-armature B400 and triple-armature CP are more alike than not, sharing a neutral-warm signature. The CP offers slightly better treble extension and emphasis, mostly with the alternate filters installed, while the B400's bass shows greater texture, depth, and weight. Both have a full sounding, forward mid-range with above average clarity and timbre quality. Sound stage isn't particularly massive with either earphone, while both offer above average imaging, layering, and separation. CP's staging shows a touch more depth to the B400's extra width, while I found the B400's imaging more accurate and nuanced, especially when using them for gaming and film. The B400's extra clarity also gives it the edge in terms of instrument separation and layering, keeping it near the tippy top of my headphone heap in regards to technicals. In terms of build, the Shozy & Neo CP is a ways ahead with the B400's 3D printed shells, at least on my sample, coming across much less refined and professional. Comfort is equally near perfect with the CP isolating slightly better. If you only care about comfort and sonic performance the B400 can't be beat, though the CP comes closer than I was expacting. If you want the full package (build, looks, sound, comfort), the CP is the one to choose.
Tenhz P4 Pro (120 USD): The quad-armature P4 Pro and triple-armature CP certainly share some qualities, especially if you equip the CP with it's alternate filters. First off, the both feature Knowles 22955 low range drivers for the low end and as you might predict, perform very similarly. With the stock filters in place, the CP is slightly bassier with more mid-bass emphasis. With the alternate filters in place, the CP's bass sounds virtually indistinguishable. Heading into the mids, the CP is a bit thicker and warmer regardless of the filters, though the effect is less pronounced with the alternate filters. The P4 Pro sounds a little more detailed to my ears, but at the expense of the harshness and mild sibilance not present in the CP. Treble in the P4 Pro is more emphasized with similar extension and a touch greater clarity, though it comes across somewhat artificial when heard back-to-back with the CP. Shozy did a better job with the tuning of their custom mid and treble drivers, though I would expect that given the price difference. Sound stage goes to the P4 Pro which sounds larger and more open, but lacks the same sense of depth. Imaging seems ever so slightly more precise on the P4 Pro and while it sounds larger, layering and separation qualities are quite as nuanced. The CP is clearly the better sounding product to my ears, though the P4 Pro doesn't fall too far off. If you can't afford the extra dollars for the CP, the P4 Pro is a great direction to take.
Final Thoughts:
2018 was the year I really got to experience a wide variety of armature based earphones. Sure, I had dabbled in them here and there, but in 2018 my eyes were opened to the types of experiences they could provide. I was hoping to get this review out before the end of the year, but alas it was not to be. Even so, the CP is easily one of the best products I experienced in 2018 and is a the perfect product to kick off the new year with.
Since tuning preferences vary from listener to listener, the CP's neutral-warm sound won't be for everyone. However, those who do like that style of tune will be rewarded with an experience that is detailed and natural. And if you want a bit more treble energy but are opposed to EQing for whatever reason, you've got the option via the alternate filter set included. The acrylic housings are probably the nicest I've come across in terms of visual appeal and construction quality, neatly matched with a premium cable that just adds additional value to the experience. If there is anything I'm not sold on, it's the tip selection. While impressive in quality and variety, I fear the sizing will simply be too small for many.
Overall, I can't recommend these enough. This is one seriously good looking and sounding earphone.
Thanks for reading!
- B9Scrambler
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Some Test Tunes:
Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid (Album)
Hail Mary Mallon – Are You Going to Eat That? (Album)
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic (Album)
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black (Track)
Supertramp – Crime of the Century (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma (Album)
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (Album)
Massive Attack – Mezzanine (Album)
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors (Album)
Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels (Album)
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy (Album)
Tobacco – screw*d Up Friends (Album)
Felt – Felt 2 (A Tribute to Lisa Bonet) (Album)
Michael Jackson – Thriller (Album)
The Crystal Method – Grace (feat. LeAnn Rimes) (Track)
Jidenna – Long Live the Chief (Track)
Skrillex – Ragga Bomb (Track)
Big Grams – Run for Your Life (Track)
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain (Track)
Aesop Rock – Fishtales (Track)
Today we're checking out a collaborative effort from Shozy, this time with Neo Audio; the Shozy x Neo CP.
The CP is a triple-armature earphone with custom drivers for the treble and mid-range and a Knowles' 22955 low range driver handling the bass. It has hand built acrylic housings with MMCX equipped removable copper braided cables and a sub-200 USD price point. I'm not entirely sure who Neo Audio is, possibly a loudspeaker manufacturer, but Shozy is pretty well known within the industry and has years of well-received DAP, earphones, and ear buds in their back catalog. They know how to make a quality product and the CP is just one of numerous examples of this.
Lets take a closer look and see why.
Disclaimer:
Thanks to Lillian with Linsoul Tech for arranging a complimentary, financially incentive free sample of the Shozy & Neo CP for the purposes of review. The thoughts and opinions here are my own based on over a month of use and do not represent Linsoul, Shozy, Neo Audio, or any other entity.
The Shozy & Neo CP retailed for 165 USD at the time of writing: https://www.linsoul.com/product-page/Shozy-Neo-CP-Earphones
Source:
The CP was paired with a number of sources. The Shanling M1 was a nice match with the stock filters while the warmer M0 was a better match with the brighter, alternate filter set. The more neutral HiFi E.T. MA8 was fine with both options. The Shozy & Neo CP is easy to drive and can be powered just fine from a phone or more budget friendly source. It is somewhat unforgiving in regards to file quality. While listening to Youtube and Soundcloud isn't a terrible experience, I'd definitely recommend sticking with something of a bit better quality at minimum.
Personal Preferences:
I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. In 2018 I learned that I no longer have a preferred signature and can understand and appreciate vastly different earphones. The HiFiMAN RE800, Brainwavz B400, and Massdrop x MeeAudio Planamic are examples of earphones with wildly varied signatures that are enjoyable for different reasons. I generally listen at very low volumes, so keep this in mind when perusing my thoughts on how an earphone sounds.
Specifications:
- Driver: 3 Balanced Armatures (22955 Knowles Low Frequency, Custom Mid and High)
- Impedance: 30 ohms
- Sensitivity: 107 dB SPL/mW
- Frequency Response: 20-20,000Hz
- Passive Noice Isolation: 25dB
Packaging and Accessories:
I'm guessing Shozy opted to save on packaging with the CP, and funnel it towards the earphones instead. The box is not entirely unlike what KZ used to use back in the day, but a bit larger and with a snazzy silver/grey coloring. On the top is a C/P logo in gold foil. The left and right sized contain the angular Shozy logo, while the bottom outlines a few features and a product statement that does a pretty good job of explaining the CP:
“Presented by SHOZY x NEO Audio, CP in-ear monitor offers premium hand craftsmanship with meticulous sound tuning. Fusing Knowles balanced armatures and a specially designed high-extension tweeter unit, you will experience detailed, natural sound with precise imaging and enjoyable sound stage.”
Pulling the front flap and lifting the lid reveals a Shozy branded, clam-shell carrying case that takes up the entirety of the box. Inside are the earphones and accessories. In all you get:
- Shozy x Neo CP earphones
- 4-core copper braided cable with MMCX connectors
- Single flange silicone tips (s/m/l)
- Bi-flange silicone tips (s/m/l)
- Foam tips (s/m)
- Alternate nozzle filters
- Shozy branded clam-shell carrying case
Build, Comfort, and Isolation:
The CP features hand-built acrylic housing and my god are they beautiful. In regards to shape they follow the old-school jellybean, low profile design of something like the Shure SE846. The clear acrylic allow you to see the drivers, wiring, and crossover inside, as well as tunnels from the nozzle to the drivers. On the main faceplate, seemingly floating just over the low range driver is the Shozy brand name in gold in their distinct font. Some blue tint is also added to the face which breaks up the otherwise perfectly clear shell. Flipping it over you find Neo and a product number stamped, again in gold, into the acrylic. Overall the fit and finish is the best I've seen for an acrylic housing with zero faults that I could find anywhere. The MMCX port up to[ and steel nozzles are integrated perfectly which special mention going to the smooth filter threading that does not loosen up over time.
The braided copper cable is another excellent example of what Chinese manufacturers have been including with their products lately, putting lots of the competition to shame. It's not stiff and noisy like the Whizzer Kylin's cable and even retains flexibility out in cold weather, nor simple and basic like HiFiMAN's fixed cable on the RE800 Silver. The well-relieved straight plug is wrapped in chrome and carbon fibre with the smallest Shozy logo I've even seen lazer etched into the lower silver band. The off-color, metal y-split is free of relief, but this style of cable doesn't really need it since there is no soldering inside. The quad strands simply split into two groups of two as they exit the top of the split, heading up to each ear piece. As you head up to the plugs you find a useful bead-like chin cinch and some well-formed and flexible pre-formed ear guides. They effectively hold the cable in place around your ear, even during fairly heavy activity like running and jumping. The MMCX plugs are also metal with color coded plastic bands at the base to denote channel; red for right, clear for left. Overall, it's a pretty killer cable. It's well-built, it looks expensive, it behaves well in terms of tangling and stiffness, and it's comfortable around the ear.
When it comes to comfort, the CP is outstanding. The rounded shells are free of any angles that could cause hot spots around your ear. The use of acrylic means that are also exceptionally light so even during activity they remain securely in place. Something I was surprised at is that despite being completely sealed shells (not ruling out that i've missed a vent, but I checked pretty thoroughly), I don't feel any pressure build-up as experienced with other sealed earphones. These are simply a joy to wear.
Isolation on the CP is pretty good with a 25dB passive isolation rating. I have no way for formally testing that, but using it in noisy coffee-shops, walking around a busy city, in a car during a long drive, etc. I can tell you that the isolation is outstanding. These are well-suited to daily driver duty for those that use their iems in especially noisy places, regardless of whether you prefer to use silicone or foam ear tips.
Sound:
Filters: The CP is shipped with two filter options. I haven't been able to find any official explanation of what they do. Shozy's site doesn't acknowledge they exist, retailers simply mention them, and the usual measurement freaks haven't covered this product. So, the following is based on my time swapping between the two. Using ears is horribly unreliable, I know. Sorry about that.
At first I thought the inner mesh was different with the stock filter set having a slight checker-box like pattern and the alternates having simple lines, but it was just the lighting. Both filters look identical so sure to keep them separate. Some color coding would have been welcome.
Sound wise they are quite different. The pre-installed set is warmer with additional mid-bass quantity and impact, as well as lesser upper treble energy. It also has a denser, more confined presentation. The alternate set knocks the mid-bass down a notch, but doesn't seem to hurt extension, while adding more treble energy and additional detail in the mids. In summary, the stock filters provide a smooth, mellow listening experience, whereas the alternate filters mix in some additional treble for a very slightly more aggressive sound. I prefer the alternate set most of the time since it better lines up with my personal sound preferences, though I can't deny the extra mid-bass helps with CP out quite a bit with my preferred music genre; Liquid D'n'B. That said, the below impressions were conducted with the stock filters since I still quite enjoy the CP with them, and also suspect they will be favored by most listeners.
The Shozy & Neo CP comes out swingin' with a shockingly confident, refined, and neutral signature with just a touch of added warmth. Pretty nice for a product resting just north of 150 USD.
Treble is silky smooth and not at all fatiguing, but doesn't skimp on detail or speed. Whomever produced this custom armature dialed it in perfectly. On Aesop Rock's “Molecules”, the cymbals in the background sound outstanding with just the right decay and sizzle. It's not the most airy presentation I've heard from an all-BA earphone, but space between notes is clear and distinct and they're not so light as to lack body.
The mid-range is warm and prominent, clearly well-suited to vocal performances. On Daft Punk's “Touch”, Paul Williams performance is full of emotion and intimacy with a genuine feel few of the CP's competitors can reproduce with such adequacy. Female vocals are especially delightful. On Big Gram's “Born to Shine” and “Run for Your Life”, Sarah Barthell's seductive, breathy crooning has a trace-like quality to it that sucks you in and doesn't let go until the tracks are done. The CP's timbre is spot on too with Supertramp's trademark saxophone, string, and guitars sounding amazing during Rudy, especially in the final half of the track where the tempo increases.
The CP's bass clearly plays a supporting roll to my ears, coming in and offering up some punch and slam only when needed. Otherwise, it stays out of the way making the CP feel quite bass light much of the time. Sub-bass extension is decent but overall fairly limited as experienced on Kavinski's “Solli”. Run The Jewel's “Call The Ticketron” is one track that really plays well to the CP's presentation showing it can hit with some authority, though texture is a little soft. In general, the CP has a presentation that isn't as visceral as you'll find on the majority of earphones with a dynamic driver handling the low end. If you're looking for an all-BA earphone with killer bass, check out KZ's AS10, BA10, and to a lesser extent the Brainwavz B400.
The Shozy & Neo CP provides a fairly intimate experience with it's imaging, layering, and separation qualities taking up the slack. BT's surreal “The Antikythera Mechanism” from This Binary Universe does a good job of showing off what the CP can do and is one heck of an experience. The intimate presentation does hurt at times though, taking away from the grandiose performance of Lynard Skynard's “Free Bird” and making it a more personal affair.
Select Comparisons (volumes matched with Dayton Audio iMM-6):
Brainwavz B400 (199.50 USD): The quad-armature B400 and triple-armature CP are more alike than not, sharing a neutral-warm signature. The CP offers slightly better treble extension and emphasis, mostly with the alternate filters installed, while the B400's bass shows greater texture, depth, and weight. Both have a full sounding, forward mid-range with above average clarity and timbre quality. Sound stage isn't particularly massive with either earphone, while both offer above average imaging, layering, and separation. CP's staging shows a touch more depth to the B400's extra width, while I found the B400's imaging more accurate and nuanced, especially when using them for gaming and film. The B400's extra clarity also gives it the edge in terms of instrument separation and layering, keeping it near the tippy top of my headphone heap in regards to technicals. In terms of build, the Shozy & Neo CP is a ways ahead with the B400's 3D printed shells, at least on my sample, coming across much less refined and professional. Comfort is equally near perfect with the CP isolating slightly better. If you only care about comfort and sonic performance the B400 can't be beat, though the CP comes closer than I was expacting. If you want the full package (build, looks, sound, comfort), the CP is the one to choose.
Tenhz P4 Pro (120 USD): The quad-armature P4 Pro and triple-armature CP certainly share some qualities, especially if you equip the CP with it's alternate filters. First off, the both feature Knowles 22955 low range drivers for the low end and as you might predict, perform very similarly. With the stock filters in place, the CP is slightly bassier with more mid-bass emphasis. With the alternate filters in place, the CP's bass sounds virtually indistinguishable. Heading into the mids, the CP is a bit thicker and warmer regardless of the filters, though the effect is less pronounced with the alternate filters. The P4 Pro sounds a little more detailed to my ears, but at the expense of the harshness and mild sibilance not present in the CP. Treble in the P4 Pro is more emphasized with similar extension and a touch greater clarity, though it comes across somewhat artificial when heard back-to-back with the CP. Shozy did a better job with the tuning of their custom mid and treble drivers, though I would expect that given the price difference. Sound stage goes to the P4 Pro which sounds larger and more open, but lacks the same sense of depth. Imaging seems ever so slightly more precise on the P4 Pro and while it sounds larger, layering and separation qualities are quite as nuanced. The CP is clearly the better sounding product to my ears, though the P4 Pro doesn't fall too far off. If you can't afford the extra dollars for the CP, the P4 Pro is a great direction to take.
Final Thoughts:
2018 was the year I really got to experience a wide variety of armature based earphones. Sure, I had dabbled in them here and there, but in 2018 my eyes were opened to the types of experiences they could provide. I was hoping to get this review out before the end of the year, but alas it was not to be. Even so, the CP is easily one of the best products I experienced in 2018 and is a the perfect product to kick off the new year with.
Since tuning preferences vary from listener to listener, the CP's neutral-warm sound won't be for everyone. However, those who do like that style of tune will be rewarded with an experience that is detailed and natural. And if you want a bit more treble energy but are opposed to EQing for whatever reason, you've got the option via the alternate filter set included. The acrylic housings are probably the nicest I've come across in terms of visual appeal and construction quality, neatly matched with a premium cable that just adds additional value to the experience. If there is anything I'm not sold on, it's the tip selection. While impressive in quality and variety, I fear the sizing will simply be too small for many.
Overall, I can't recommend these enough. This is one seriously good looking and sounding earphone.
Thanks for reading!
- B9Scrambler
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Some Test Tunes:
Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid (Album)
Hail Mary Mallon – Are You Going to Eat That? (Album)
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic (Album)
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black (Track)
Supertramp – Crime of the Century (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma (Album)
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (Album)
Massive Attack – Mezzanine (Album)
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors (Album)
Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels (Album)
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy (Album)
Tobacco – screw*d Up Friends (Album)
Felt – Felt 2 (A Tribute to Lisa Bonet) (Album)
Michael Jackson – Thriller (Album)
The Crystal Method – Grace (feat. LeAnn Rimes) (Track)
Jidenna – Long Live the Chief (Track)
Skrillex – Ragga Bomb (Track)
Big Grams – Run for Your Life (Track)
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain (Track)
Aesop Rock – Fishtales (Track)
A Nice Tasting Candy
About SHOZY:
SHOZY was formed by an experienced engineering and designing team to offer exquisite products of exceptional design, build and sound quality. The team has been researching into acoustic design, circuitry design and material implementations and has released some very popular products such as the SHOZY Alien Digital Audio Player, SHOZY Magic DAC, SHOZY BK earbud or In-Ear Monitors such as the SHOZY Zero and Hibiki.
The Neo CP and Neo BG are the new eye candies of this company, from that I want review the Neo CP for you.
Disclaimer:
The SHOZY Neo CP In-Ear Monitor was provided to me by the company SHOZY via Penon Audio for review purposes. I am not affiliated with SHOZY or Penon Audio beyond this review and these words reflect my true and unaltered opinions about the product.
About Me: https://moonstarreviews.net
Price:
The MSRP price for the SHOZY Neo CP IEM is 165,00 USD and can be purchased under the following link.
Purchase Link: https://penonaudio.com/shozy-neo-cp.html
Package and Accessories:
The SHOZY Neo CP is coming in a grey cardboard box, which sports the CP model Branding in green color and on the Back of the box are some technical details about the SHOZY Neo CP In-Ear Monitor.
This box is containing the following items;
Design, Components and Build Quality:
The SHOZY Neo CP is an In-Ear Monitor with 3 Balanced Armature drivers and 3 channel crossover design.
When it comes to the build quality and design, I can confirm that the Neo CP is a nicely built In-Ear Monitor with a beautiful design which reminds me to those of a small candy.
The main body of the monitor shell is made of transparent acrylic material, while the right monitor shell has a pink and the right side a blue tint on the top along with the SHOZY logo.
The sound Nozzle of the Neo CP is angled (approx 45 degree) and is made of metal. There is a screwable filter with a mesh on the top of the nozzle that is available in two variants to fine tune the sound.
On the Top of this monitor is the MMCX (Micro Miniature Coaxial) female connector which has a gold color.
On the back side of the monitor shell is the “Neo” Branding and serial number of the monitor in golden color. From here you can see the inner components like the BA drivers, sound pipes and cablings, which looks pretty nice.
The cable that comes with the SHOZY Neo CP has a nice twisted profile and is made of a 4 core hybrid wire material (SPC + Copper), which has a soft transparent TPU coating.
The MMXC male connectors have metal housing with plastic rings in red for right and gold for left indication.
There cable sports a metal Y splitter and transparent plastic chin slider which looks quit esthetic.
The 3.5mm TRS (3 pole) headphone jack has a straight profiled metal housing with carbon fiber pattern and sports a small SHOZY logo.
Fit and Isolation:
The monitor housing is pretty small, comfortable and ideal for wearing this IEM for long listening periods, while the performance in terms of isolation is on an average level.
Specifications:
Equipment’s used for this review:
Albums & tracks used for this review:
The Sound:
The Shozy Neo CP is a slightly warmer than neutral sounding In-Ear Monitor with an upfront midrange presentation, which is musical and detailed. The bass of this IEM is fast and fairly solid, the upper midrange is lightly pronounced, while the treble is slightly recessed and forgiving.
PS: This review is written after a burn-in process of 70 Hours. I have used the stock double flange ear tips and the standard filter during this review, because the second sound tuning filter was a bit uncontrolled and unnatural in the in the upper midrange.
Bass:
The bass presentation of the SHOZY Neo CP is pretty fast, tight, slightly thick and strong with moderate depth.
The subbass of the Neo CP has sufficient depth for most genres, while the bass has enough quantity, punch and depth to satisfy most users except those who want a performance on a basshead level.
The hits of the bass are mainly concentrated in the midbass region with a character that has more slam than punch. The Neo CP is able to show this slam effect very good in bass heavy tracks, which will satisfy many listeners.
The good thing about the midbass region is that it doesn’t bleeds in to the mids, which could otherwise cause to muddiness of the overall presentation.
Bass guitars have a thick tonality, drums are fast, hitting hard and are pronounced, while artificial basses are well-extended and controlled.
I have found the SHOZY Neo especially good with trance music due to its bass and midrange performance. It is hard to find an IEM that has a bass that doesn’t overshadow the vocal in trance music and can give the bass with all its layers at the same time.
Midrange:
The main focus of the Neo CP is the midrange, which is fairly forward and more detailed than the other frequency regions. Especially those who are listening to acoustic music and like a forward vocal presentation will enjoy the Neo CP.
Vocals:
The SHOZY Neo CP is an ideal IEM for those who like to listen to music for long periods and want a musical, non-fatiguing and full bodied midrange, which is not too bright in its presentation.
The SHOZY Neo CP is with both male and female vocals quite successful. The male vocal performance of the Neo CP is in general very well, with exception of male vocals that need some extra depth.
When it comes to female vocal performance, the SHOZY Neo CP presents a slightly warm, emotional, and lush tonality that I really enjoyed during my listening sessions with the Neo CP. The SHOZY Neo CP is pretty detailed in the presentation of the vocals. Some fine details such as breathing, swallowing, proximity to the microphone are reproduced fairly realistically, which is a notable plus for the Neo CP.
Instruments:
The SHOZY Neo CP gives the instruments a soft and organic timber with to be harsh, which makes the overall instrument presentation of the Neo CP quite enjoyable and fairly realistic.
Instruments such as Guitars, flutes, violins or pianos are sounding pretty natural. For example; Guitars are soft and slightly warmish when they are played at higher notes without to be too harsh, while violins are slightly shiny, soft and with a sweet tonality.
Upper Midrange & Treble:
As I have mentioned before, the main attraction of the SHOZY Neo CP is the midrange, while the upper midrange and treble are positioned a bit at the rear of the midrange.
The upper midrange of the Neo CP is showing a transparent, mildly pronounced, soft and slightly warmish presentation.
The upper midrange transition is in general soft without remarkable negatives such as sharpness or sibilance in this region. The upper midrange transition in genres like metal music are quite soft and controlled, which makes the SHOZY Neo CP to a good choice for those who are sensitive to this area.
Due to the slightly pronounced upper midrange, it is possible to hear the details and extensions of the female vocal or instruments such as pianos or flutes, while the extension is a bit short for example with violins.
The SHOZY Neo CP has a fairly warm and pretty soft treble presentation that comes slightly from the background.
The treble of the Neo CP has a bright and clear character and is rolling-off quickly after a peak near the 7 kHz range.
For example, instruments like hi-hats are slightly more in the background than usual, sounding slightly pronounced and showing a short extension. The same situation exists with crash cymbals that have an even shorter extension, which brings me to the conclusion that the SHOZY Neo CP is an IEM with a treble response that is average in terms of quantity and extension.
The treble range of the SHOZY Neo CP is not super detailed but this doesn’t mean that it sounds muddy or lacking in detail and I think that it will satisfy most of the users who are searching for an In-Ear Monitor in this price range. The treble presentation makes the SHOZY Neo CP ideal for long listening periods and to a good option for those who are sensitive to treble brightness.
Soundstage:
Since the SHOZY Neo CP is placing the instruments in a horizontal direction, I can say that the stage width is above average and the soundstage depth is slightly less than the stage width. When it comes to the separation and placement of instruments, I can say that the Neo CP performs above its price point.
Comparison:
BRAINWAVZ B400 verus SHOZY Neo CP
The BRAINWAVZ B400 has a warmer tonality than those of the SHOZY Neo CP, which sounds also more airy than the B400.
Both IEM’s are pretty successful in terms of subbass depth. The BRAINWAVZ B400 has the upper hand in terms of subbass amount and extension, while the SHOZY Neo CP is slightly better in terms of bass speed, control and tightness. The midbass of the Brainwavz B400 are a bit more pronounced than those of the Shozy Neo CP and are showing also more impact.
The BRAINWAVZ B400 and the SHOZY Neo CP are sharing a pretty emotional and lush midrange presentation. The Neo CP has a slightly advantage while presenting female vocals due to the more pronounced upper midrange, while the B400 suits better for male vocals due to its lower midrange tuning, which shows more depth.
The SHOZY Neo CP is rendering more air between instruments, which makes it more successful in terms of instrument separation and definition transparency.
The upper midrange of the SHOZY Neo CP is superior to the B400 in terms of resolution, extension and emphasis, while the BRAINWAVZ B400 has the upper hand for control in this area.
The treble range of both of those In-Ear Monitors sounds slightly recessed. The Neo CP has better treble extension and emphasis, which makes its overall presentation more airy and spacious than those of the B400. The treble of the B400 is slightly thicker and sounds warmer in this area which makes it ideal for a fatigue free listening periods.
When it comes to the soundstage performance, both In-Ear Monitors are showing a pretty good performance for this price range. The difference is in the presentation, where the SHOZY Neo CP shows more width and the BRAINWAVZ B400 a little bit more depth.
Conclusion:
SHOZY’s new In-Ear Monitor the NEO CP is great all-rounder in terms of design, fit and sound quality. If you are treble sensitive listener and are looking for an In-Ear Monitor who has a mid-forward and relaxing presentation, the SHOZY Neo CP should be the ideal choice in this price range.
Pros and Cons:
About SHOZY:
SHOZY was formed by an experienced engineering and designing team to offer exquisite products of exceptional design, build and sound quality. The team has been researching into acoustic design, circuitry design and material implementations and has released some very popular products such as the SHOZY Alien Digital Audio Player, SHOZY Magic DAC, SHOZY BK earbud or In-Ear Monitors such as the SHOZY Zero and Hibiki.
The Neo CP and Neo BG are the new eye candies of this company, from that I want review the Neo CP for you.
Disclaimer:
The SHOZY Neo CP In-Ear Monitor was provided to me by the company SHOZY via Penon Audio for review purposes. I am not affiliated with SHOZY or Penon Audio beyond this review and these words reflect my true and unaltered opinions about the product.
About Me: https://moonstarreviews.net
Price:
The MSRP price for the SHOZY Neo CP IEM is 165,00 USD and can be purchased under the following link.
Purchase Link: https://penonaudio.com/shozy-neo-cp.html
Package and Accessories:
The SHOZY Neo CP is coming in a grey cardboard box, which sports the CP model Branding in green color and on the Back of the box are some technical details about the SHOZY Neo CP In-Ear Monitor.
This box is containing the following items;
- 1 pair x SHOZY Neo CP In-Ear Monitors
- 1 pcs x Detachable cable with MMCX connectors
- 2 pairs x Sound Tuning Filters
- 3 pairs x Foam ear tips
- 3 pairs x Bi flange silicone ear tips
- 3 pairs x Double flange silicone ear tips
- 1 pcs x White Carry Case (Zipper Case)
Design, Components and Build Quality:
The SHOZY Neo CP is an In-Ear Monitor with 3 Balanced Armature drivers and 3 channel crossover design.
When it comes to the build quality and design, I can confirm that the Neo CP is a nicely built In-Ear Monitor with a beautiful design which reminds me to those of a small candy.
The main body of the monitor shell is made of transparent acrylic material, while the right monitor shell has a pink and the right side a blue tint on the top along with the SHOZY logo.
The sound Nozzle of the Neo CP is angled (approx 45 degree) and is made of metal. There is a screwable filter with a mesh on the top of the nozzle that is available in two variants to fine tune the sound.
On the Top of this monitor is the MMCX (Micro Miniature Coaxial) female connector which has a gold color.
On the back side of the monitor shell is the “Neo” Branding and serial number of the monitor in golden color. From here you can see the inner components like the BA drivers, sound pipes and cablings, which looks pretty nice.
The cable that comes with the SHOZY Neo CP has a nice twisted profile and is made of a 4 core hybrid wire material (SPC + Copper), which has a soft transparent TPU coating.
The MMXC male connectors have metal housing with plastic rings in red for right and gold for left indication.
There cable sports a metal Y splitter and transparent plastic chin slider which looks quit esthetic.
The 3.5mm TRS (3 pole) headphone jack has a straight profiled metal housing with carbon fiber pattern and sports a small SHOZY logo.
Fit and Isolation:
The monitor housing is pretty small, comfortable and ideal for wearing this IEM for long listening periods, while the performance in terms of isolation is on an average level.
Specifications:
- Driver : 3 Balanced Armature Drivers (Bass driver is the Knowles 22955)
- Sensitivity : 107db
- Frequency response : 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance : 30ohm
- Noise reduction : -25db
- Crossover : 3 crossover and 3 in 1 channel tube
Equipment’s used for this review:
- IEM’s : Shozy Neo CP, Brainwavz B400
- DAP/DAC/AMP : Astell&Kern A&norma SR15, Sony WM1A, Cayin N5II, Fiio M9
Albums & tracks used for this review:
- First Aid Kit - My Silver Lining (Spotify)
- London Grammar – Interlud (Live) (Flac 24bit/44kHz)
- Laura Pergolizzi – Lost On You “Live at Harvard and Stone” (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Minor Empire – BulbulumAltinKafeste (Spotify)
- Leonard Cohen – You Wnt it Darker (Spotify)
- Dave Gahan – Kingdom (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Vivaldi – Le QuarttroStagioni “The Four Season” (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Alboran Trio’s – Cinque Lunghissimi Minuti (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Otto Liebert & Luna Negra – Up Close “Album” (DSF) – Binaural Recording
- Lorde – Team (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Massive Attack – Angel (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Spotify)
- Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
- Opeth – Damnation (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Metallica – Sad but True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Megadeth - Sweating Bullets (Tidal Hi-Fi)
The Sound:
The Shozy Neo CP is a slightly warmer than neutral sounding In-Ear Monitor with an upfront midrange presentation, which is musical and detailed. The bass of this IEM is fast and fairly solid, the upper midrange is lightly pronounced, while the treble is slightly recessed and forgiving.
PS: This review is written after a burn-in process of 70 Hours. I have used the stock double flange ear tips and the standard filter during this review, because the second sound tuning filter was a bit uncontrolled and unnatural in the in the upper midrange.
Bass:
The bass presentation of the SHOZY Neo CP is pretty fast, tight, slightly thick and strong with moderate depth.
The subbass of the Neo CP has sufficient depth for most genres, while the bass has enough quantity, punch and depth to satisfy most users except those who want a performance on a basshead level.
The hits of the bass are mainly concentrated in the midbass region with a character that has more slam than punch. The Neo CP is able to show this slam effect very good in bass heavy tracks, which will satisfy many listeners.
The good thing about the midbass region is that it doesn’t bleeds in to the mids, which could otherwise cause to muddiness of the overall presentation.
Bass guitars have a thick tonality, drums are fast, hitting hard and are pronounced, while artificial basses are well-extended and controlled.
I have found the SHOZY Neo especially good with trance music due to its bass and midrange performance. It is hard to find an IEM that has a bass that doesn’t overshadow the vocal in trance music and can give the bass with all its layers at the same time.
Midrange:
The main focus of the Neo CP is the midrange, which is fairly forward and more detailed than the other frequency regions. Especially those who are listening to acoustic music and like a forward vocal presentation will enjoy the Neo CP.
Vocals:
The SHOZY Neo CP is an ideal IEM for those who like to listen to music for long periods and want a musical, non-fatiguing and full bodied midrange, which is not too bright in its presentation.
The SHOZY Neo CP is with both male and female vocals quite successful. The male vocal performance of the Neo CP is in general very well, with exception of male vocals that need some extra depth.
When it comes to female vocal performance, the SHOZY Neo CP presents a slightly warm, emotional, and lush tonality that I really enjoyed during my listening sessions with the Neo CP. The SHOZY Neo CP is pretty detailed in the presentation of the vocals. Some fine details such as breathing, swallowing, proximity to the microphone are reproduced fairly realistically, which is a notable plus for the Neo CP.
Instruments:
The SHOZY Neo CP gives the instruments a soft and organic timber with to be harsh, which makes the overall instrument presentation of the Neo CP quite enjoyable and fairly realistic.
Instruments such as Guitars, flutes, violins or pianos are sounding pretty natural. For example; Guitars are soft and slightly warmish when they are played at higher notes without to be too harsh, while violins are slightly shiny, soft and with a sweet tonality.
Upper Midrange & Treble:
As I have mentioned before, the main attraction of the SHOZY Neo CP is the midrange, while the upper midrange and treble are positioned a bit at the rear of the midrange.
The upper midrange of the Neo CP is showing a transparent, mildly pronounced, soft and slightly warmish presentation.
The upper midrange transition is in general soft without remarkable negatives such as sharpness or sibilance in this region. The upper midrange transition in genres like metal music are quite soft and controlled, which makes the SHOZY Neo CP to a good choice for those who are sensitive to this area.
Due to the slightly pronounced upper midrange, it is possible to hear the details and extensions of the female vocal or instruments such as pianos or flutes, while the extension is a bit short for example with violins.
The SHOZY Neo CP has a fairly warm and pretty soft treble presentation that comes slightly from the background.
The treble of the Neo CP has a bright and clear character and is rolling-off quickly after a peak near the 7 kHz range.
For example, instruments like hi-hats are slightly more in the background than usual, sounding slightly pronounced and showing a short extension. The same situation exists with crash cymbals that have an even shorter extension, which brings me to the conclusion that the SHOZY Neo CP is an IEM with a treble response that is average in terms of quantity and extension.
The treble range of the SHOZY Neo CP is not super detailed but this doesn’t mean that it sounds muddy or lacking in detail and I think that it will satisfy most of the users who are searching for an In-Ear Monitor in this price range. The treble presentation makes the SHOZY Neo CP ideal for long listening periods and to a good option for those who are sensitive to treble brightness.
Soundstage:
Since the SHOZY Neo CP is placing the instruments in a horizontal direction, I can say that the stage width is above average and the soundstage depth is slightly less than the stage width. When it comes to the separation and placement of instruments, I can say that the Neo CP performs above its price point.
Comparison:
BRAINWAVZ B400 verus SHOZY Neo CP
The BRAINWAVZ B400 has a warmer tonality than those of the SHOZY Neo CP, which sounds also more airy than the B400.
Both IEM’s are pretty successful in terms of subbass depth. The BRAINWAVZ B400 has the upper hand in terms of subbass amount and extension, while the SHOZY Neo CP is slightly better in terms of bass speed, control and tightness. The midbass of the Brainwavz B400 are a bit more pronounced than those of the Shozy Neo CP and are showing also more impact.
The BRAINWAVZ B400 and the SHOZY Neo CP are sharing a pretty emotional and lush midrange presentation. The Neo CP has a slightly advantage while presenting female vocals due to the more pronounced upper midrange, while the B400 suits better for male vocals due to its lower midrange tuning, which shows more depth.
The SHOZY Neo CP is rendering more air between instruments, which makes it more successful in terms of instrument separation and definition transparency.
The upper midrange of the SHOZY Neo CP is superior to the B400 in terms of resolution, extension and emphasis, while the BRAINWAVZ B400 has the upper hand for control in this area.
The treble range of both of those In-Ear Monitors sounds slightly recessed. The Neo CP has better treble extension and emphasis, which makes its overall presentation more airy and spacious than those of the B400. The treble of the B400 is slightly thicker and sounds warmer in this area which makes it ideal for a fatigue free listening periods.
When it comes to the soundstage performance, both In-Ear Monitors are showing a pretty good performance for this price range. The difference is in the presentation, where the SHOZY Neo CP shows more width and the BRAINWAVZ B400 a little bit more depth.
Conclusion:
SHOZY’s new In-Ear Monitor the NEO CP is great all-rounder in terms of design, fit and sound quality. If you are treble sensitive listener and are looking for an In-Ear Monitor who has a mid-forward and relaxing presentation, the SHOZY Neo CP should be the ideal choice in this price range.
Pros and Cons:
- + Emotional Midrange
- + Fatigue Free Presentation
- + Very Esthetic Appearance
- + Small and Lightweight
- + Nice Cable
- - Maybe a too relaxed presentation
- - Missing of some dynamism
Couple of month ago we’ve got a chance to try SHOZY IEMs for the first time. It was SHOZY Zero — warm sounding and detailed model which we turned to every time there is a chance to relax at the evening. We’ve made a note for ourselves, subscribed to SHOZY channels and monitoring their current achievements. Lots of positive comments, additional information and posts by Shozy officials and customers since than. Seems that every model they come up with get the appropriate treatment on the R&D, production and tuning stages resulting in polished final product… Today we would give it another try with SHOZY & NEO CP — one of their latest IEMs equipped with 3 balanced armature drivers as the first outcome of their cooperation with NEO Audio brand. Not quite sure whether this cooperation would continue in future and what particular input did NEO Audio made (perhaps, it is about shell molding) but hopefully it is for better.
SHOZY & NEO CP technical specifictions:
Packaging and box contents:
CP IEMs came in a small metallic-color cardboard box, with model name imprint in flurescent green at the front and product description at the back.
Something was moving inside the box when shaked… Opening it would reveal storage case with the rest of the contents inside, so no problems here.
Such simple packaging might indicate SHOZY confidence in the quality of IEMs while the box wouldn’t make much difference in building the impression of the product
Box contents:
Pretty good set to find the best fit and store everything in one case.
Design, build and materials:
CP shells are made of transparent special resin with few drops of pink and green paint to give it attractive look.
Such shape and design remind us of some vitamin pills from our childhood… Choice of shell materials allows to see the insides — all 3 BA drivers, crossovers, wiring and sound passages in output nozzles. No need to disassemble if you are curious enough or have a feel that you’ve been cheated
The absence of dynamic drivers eleminates the need of additional compensation openings and using resin means filling up the entire form. Therefore, those IEMs have very stiff unibody construction. The only two openings are for inputs and outputs: aluminum MMCX connector bases sealed in resin and aluminum output nozzles sealed in resin as well. The later are covered with removable threaded filter grill.
Inner part of shells contains NEO and serial number imprints.
Another thing that we admire much is the design on output nozzles and filters in respect to the ease of exchanging eartips — very easy to remove and exchange due to curved filter edges and special flanges. No way to tear it acidently and very fast to replace.
Cable features aluminum MMCX connector housings with channel indicating rings (red for right and transparent for left), aluminum Y-splitter and 3.5mm audio jack with aluminum/carbon-fiber housing.
SHOZY & NEO CP fit is tight and comfortable. No signs of fatigue when wearing for more than four hours. Huge amount of eartip options allows to find the best combination in terms of fit and sound.
Sound quality:
Tested with Hidizs AP80, Hidizs AP200, xDuoo X3, Audiodirect BEAM
Lows and midbass:
Deep bass presence is moderate, with good texturing and warm toning. Even the best armature driver would fall short in terms of deep bass pump when compared to some capable dynamic driver IEMs but at the same time would provide more clarity and precise contouring. Adequate crossover tuning helps to keep it in a good balance with other ranges while delivering smooth and delicate sound. The main defference with dynamic models is that CP would let you listen, disclosing lots of details, rather than reaching the lowest registers that would make you feel instead…
Midbass is well articulated, rich and powerful. It is bringing good rythmic sound experience and not tending to fall into excessive crispness or brightness. Bounce effect of the midbass makes drum session sound fast and natural. A bit of elevation in this range is obvious but it is not a problem since the toning has the necessary warmth to keep the sound neat.
Mids and vocals:
We would say that mids are the most accentuated and detailed here. Slightly brought to front, with rich vocal reproduction and emotional appeal in overall. Both, male and female vocals sound rich and engaging while having the same touch of warmth of the lower end, both show almost the same presence with very small emphasis on upper mids. Mids feel kind of mellow and smooth — good characteristics for this range. Resolution on string instruments and vocals is impressive and what is the most important — it never leads to harsh or disturbing experience.
Treble:
Treble has excellent resolution and good amount of presence. Again, delicate tuning would not let it influence the entire sound picture too much — just the necessary amount to compensate other ranges. No evident coloration to overall tonality produced by treble, either. CP treble is more about the resolution and extension with more than average levels rather than stunning and excessively crisp delivery. It feels airy, transparent and flowing with reasonable sparkles and sharpening. It still might impress with the clarity of certain sounds but the main virtue is keeping away from uncontrolled behavior and act in smooth and weighted manner.
Soundstage:
Soundstage is great. SHOZY CP IEMs are capable of showing significant distance from the center to instrument distributed on stage in both vertical and horizontal planes. As a result, scene feels wider and taller and instruments don’t tend to mix. Binaural recording are extending this effect even further, bringing the sound much closer to the performace of open-back overheads…
Sound filters:
Unfortunately, SHOZY didn’t provide us with the information about exchangeable filters and which frequencies would it influence. Two pairs are almost similar, the only difference is the size of the holes in grills. After trying both pairs, our opinion is that the main effect is mostly about 1-8kHz range with larger holes in grills resulting into +gain and smaller openings resulting to -gain. The change is not so evident, mostly about the less or more bright peaks and extension to upper mids and treble. We like the default, less gain ones.
Sound in overall:
SHOZY & NEO CP sound could be described as balanced, highly detailed, neutral, with no evident coloration to the overall tonality. All frequency ranges are gently delivered and carefully tuned. Very universal IEMs that would be suitable for any music genre except those that require large amount of deep bass presence.
Compared to Anew U1:
Anew U1 is a great example of single dynamic driver IEMs. Very balanced and neutral. Their advantages in comparison to CP would be a better deep bass extension and a bit warmer overall represenation (if you like warmer sound). But SHOZY CP would definitely be better in terms of resolution throughout the entire range, treble extension and presence. Fit is more comfortable as well.
Compared to Kinera IDUN:
Kinera IDUN is another example of IEMs with very gentle sound and delicate tuning. Those are hybrid, with armature driver aided by dynamic one for better bass reproduction. Despite such structure, we would say that SHOZY CP clearly wins over IDUN in terms of bass presence and midbass power. The rest of the ranges sound very similar with a slight advance in CP treble extension and better midrange balance.
Conclusion:
In fact, we were doubting that 3BA IEMs would ever come to our favorite list. Potentially, there are too many problems with sound might show up while trying to incorporate such complicated combination of drivers. In addition, a choice of armature driver for bass is making this try even more uncertain… SHOZY & NEO CP eliminated most of our doubts, placing high in our own rating. Of course, its deep bass extension is not so telling as in some rivals with dedicated dynamic driver but this is compensated by the higher resolution thoughout the entire frequency range. Other than that SHOZY & NEO CP show very balanced, appealing and gentle sound with accurate tuning and rare emotional appeal. If the aim is to find universal IEMs with neutral tonality, smooth and delicate delivery we would definitely advice to look closely at those.
You can purchase SHOZY & NEO CP in PenonAudio store
SHOZY & NEO CP technical specifictions:
- Driver type: 3 x balanced armature drivers
- Bass driver: 22955 Knowles
- Mid driver: in-house design
- Treble driver: in-house design, supertweeter (UHF capable)
- Sensitivity: 107db SPL/mW
- Frequency response: 20 — 20kHz
- Impedance: 30Ω
- Noise isolation: 25dB
- 3-way crossover
- 3in1 output nozzle
- IEMs cable connectors: MMCX
- Cable: 1.2m, OFC, silver-plated copper, braided
- Audio jack: 3.5mm, gold-plated, straight
Packaging and box contents:
CP IEMs came in a small metallic-color cardboard box, with model name imprint in flurescent green at the front and product description at the back.
Something was moving inside the box when shaked… Opening it would reveal storage case with the rest of the contents inside, so no problems here.
Such simple packaging might indicate SHOZY confidence in the quality of IEMs while the box wouldn’t make much difference in building the impression of the product
Box contents:
- SHOZY & NEO CP IEMs
- cable
- a pair of exchangeable filters (another pair is attached)
- 3 pairs of thick silicone eartips (S|M|L)
- 2 pairs of thin silicone eartips (M|L)
- 2 pairs of memory foam eartips
- 1 pair of flanged silicone eartips (M)
- storage case
Pretty good set to find the best fit and store everything in one case.
Design, build and materials:
CP shells are made of transparent special resin with few drops of pink and green paint to give it attractive look.
Such shape and design remind us of some vitamin pills from our childhood… Choice of shell materials allows to see the insides — all 3 BA drivers, crossovers, wiring and sound passages in output nozzles. No need to disassemble if you are curious enough or have a feel that you’ve been cheated
The absence of dynamic drivers eleminates the need of additional compensation openings and using resin means filling up the entire form. Therefore, those IEMs have very stiff unibody construction. The only two openings are for inputs and outputs: aluminum MMCX connector bases sealed in resin and aluminum output nozzles sealed in resin as well. The later are covered with removable threaded filter grill.
Inner part of shells contains NEO and serial number imprints.
Another thing that we admire much is the design on output nozzles and filters in respect to the ease of exchanging eartips — very easy to remove and exchange due to curved filter edges and special flanges. No way to tear it acidently and very fast to replace.
Cable features aluminum MMCX connector housings with channel indicating rings (red for right and transparent for left), aluminum Y-splitter and 3.5mm audio jack with aluminum/carbon-fiber housing.
SHOZY & NEO CP fit is tight and comfortable. No signs of fatigue when wearing for more than four hours. Huge amount of eartip options allows to find the best combination in terms of fit and sound.
Sound quality:
Tested with Hidizs AP80, Hidizs AP200, xDuoo X3, Audiodirect BEAM
Lows and midbass:
Deep bass presence is moderate, with good texturing and warm toning. Even the best armature driver would fall short in terms of deep bass pump when compared to some capable dynamic driver IEMs but at the same time would provide more clarity and precise contouring. Adequate crossover tuning helps to keep it in a good balance with other ranges while delivering smooth and delicate sound. The main defference with dynamic models is that CP would let you listen, disclosing lots of details, rather than reaching the lowest registers that would make you feel instead…
Midbass is well articulated, rich and powerful. It is bringing good rythmic sound experience and not tending to fall into excessive crispness or brightness. Bounce effect of the midbass makes drum session sound fast and natural. A bit of elevation in this range is obvious but it is not a problem since the toning has the necessary warmth to keep the sound neat.
Mids and vocals:
We would say that mids are the most accentuated and detailed here. Slightly brought to front, with rich vocal reproduction and emotional appeal in overall. Both, male and female vocals sound rich and engaging while having the same touch of warmth of the lower end, both show almost the same presence with very small emphasis on upper mids. Mids feel kind of mellow and smooth — good characteristics for this range. Resolution on string instruments and vocals is impressive and what is the most important — it never leads to harsh or disturbing experience.
Treble:
Treble has excellent resolution and good amount of presence. Again, delicate tuning would not let it influence the entire sound picture too much — just the necessary amount to compensate other ranges. No evident coloration to overall tonality produced by treble, either. CP treble is more about the resolution and extension with more than average levels rather than stunning and excessively crisp delivery. It feels airy, transparent and flowing with reasonable sparkles and sharpening. It still might impress with the clarity of certain sounds but the main virtue is keeping away from uncontrolled behavior and act in smooth and weighted manner.
Soundstage:
Soundstage is great. SHOZY CP IEMs are capable of showing significant distance from the center to instrument distributed on stage in both vertical and horizontal planes. As a result, scene feels wider and taller and instruments don’t tend to mix. Binaural recording are extending this effect even further, bringing the sound much closer to the performace of open-back overheads…
Sound filters:
Unfortunately, SHOZY didn’t provide us with the information about exchangeable filters and which frequencies would it influence. Two pairs are almost similar, the only difference is the size of the holes in grills. After trying both pairs, our opinion is that the main effect is mostly about 1-8kHz range with larger holes in grills resulting into +gain and smaller openings resulting to -gain. The change is not so evident, mostly about the less or more bright peaks and extension to upper mids and treble. We like the default, less gain ones.
Sound in overall:
SHOZY & NEO CP sound could be described as balanced, highly detailed, neutral, with no evident coloration to the overall tonality. All frequency ranges are gently delivered and carefully tuned. Very universal IEMs that would be suitable for any music genre except those that require large amount of deep bass presence.
Compared to Anew U1:
Anew U1 is a great example of single dynamic driver IEMs. Very balanced and neutral. Their advantages in comparison to CP would be a better deep bass extension and a bit warmer overall represenation (if you like warmer sound). But SHOZY CP would definitely be better in terms of resolution throughout the entire range, treble extension and presence. Fit is more comfortable as well.
Compared to Kinera IDUN:
Kinera IDUN is another example of IEMs with very gentle sound and delicate tuning. Those are hybrid, with armature driver aided by dynamic one for better bass reproduction. Despite such structure, we would say that SHOZY CP clearly wins over IDUN in terms of bass presence and midbass power. The rest of the ranges sound very similar with a slight advance in CP treble extension and better midrange balance.
Conclusion:
In fact, we were doubting that 3BA IEMs would ever come to our favorite list. Potentially, there are too many problems with sound might show up while trying to incorporate such complicated combination of drivers. In addition, a choice of armature driver for bass is making this try even more uncertain… SHOZY & NEO CP eliminated most of our doubts, placing high in our own rating. Of course, its deep bass extension is not so telling as in some rivals with dedicated dynamic driver but this is compensated by the higher resolution thoughout the entire frequency range. Other than that SHOZY & NEO CP show very balanced, appealing and gentle sound with accurate tuning and rare emotional appeal. If the aim is to find universal IEMs with neutral tonality, smooth and delicate delivery we would definitely advice to look closely at those.
You can purchase SHOZY & NEO CP in PenonAudio store
"Constancy consists not in doing always same, and in that our affairs tended to the same purpose"
Louis XIV
Bonjour, friends! The well-aimed phrase of the king-sun which became the epigraph for today's review perfectly is suitable for the Shozy company which has the understanding of a sound and puts it in each developed model. At the same time it manages to do it in quite modest price framework.
Quite recently Shozy presented at an exhibition three new models of intra channel earphones of which I now also will tell you about one. I ask to love and favor, Shozy CP 3BA!
Specification
Driver:3BA
Sensitivity:107db
Frequency response :20hz-20khz
Impedance：30ohm
Noise reduction:-25db
3 crossover , 3 in one channel tube
Bass use Knowles 22955 and custom mid treble driver
Appearance, set and ergonomics
Shozy CP 3BA are delivered in a small silvery box of cardboard on which center in stylistics of a graphic sketch two green letters of "CP" were placed. Inside there is a black rigid case on a lightning with imprinted ravines of a brand. We open a case, and we find our IEM with the removable cable attached to them and also a bag of a set of tips (3 couples silicone one-flange, as much two-flange, 2 couples of foam Comply and pair of replaceable metal filters for sound pipes).
CP 3BA resemble IEM Shure se535 models which already became classics, and Westone UM3X superficially, only unlike them the building of CP 3BA is made of medical pitch (it is the same material which we met at NF3u earphones recently), and here sound pipes completely metal. Nozzles cover the filters with a protective grid. From above cases are placed sockets MMCX.
The right earphone of transparent-pink color, left – transparent-blue, through them is looked through all internal device, drivers and the crossover. On outer sides of ears the gold Shozy logos were placed, belonging to the new range "NEO" and serial numbers are specified back.
Weaved by the braid consisting of 4-core, the cable is made of the silvered copper. It elastic and nice (heading "poetry in one line"). On the one hand MMCX connectors of a cylindrical form, with another - 3.5 mm of a straight line of jack.
Generally, in a set there is everything that is necessary, and addition there of some not especially necessary gadgets would only increase the cost of earphones.
Pinkish and bluish droplets of earphones are similar to sweet lollipops, well or to Morfeus's pills from "Matrix". But it is not necessary to swallow of them anyway, and it is better to admire them much, and then to listen. We will also be engaged in it.
Sound
Listening was carried out on: MyST DAC 1866OCU V.2, QLS DA 9.1 Melokin, Lotoo paw Gold, iBasso DX200 (AMP7), iFI xDSD, iFI micro iDSD Black Lable, & QLS QA-361.
With all devices CP 3BA proved to be perfectly.
Just in case earphones underwent the semi-mystical procedure called Burn-in (approximately within 30 hours).
CP 3BA sounding quite equal, nice balanced, comfortable, with great detail and good division of tools. Here two rises which fall on area of a mid-bass and a joint of the top mid/high frequencies are observed. But these accents are marked out intelligently so they do not lead to discomfort, and on the contrary do a sound more emotional and picturesque. On the contrary, the high-mids, voice parts, guitar solo, a bass are ground as sea pebble because of what the general frequency characteristic of CP3BA is perceived by very balanced.
I recommend to find time for selection of tips as they considerably influence a final sound picture. Personally I most of all suited two options: complete foam Comply and SpinFit found in personal granaries silicone with a small exhaust outlet, reminding.
This IEM please with extremely spacious manner of giving sound, drawing virtual space is wide also with soul. With study of depth it turned out more modest, I would tell, so-so, but for contrast transfer of images and the atmosphere of it completely enough. And it's good.
CP3BA for 100% are ready to a style variety. They perfectly win back jazz, instrumental music, to the classic, the electronic, Rock, a New Wave and without confusion cope with heavy genres.
Low frequencies have a good articulation, density and blow. The base of the register, a subbass, sounds frostily, but for the rest everything is decent. A bass quite biting and exact, it does not overload composition and does not climb on other frequency range, harmoniously moving level with the middle. The area of a mid-bass is accurately forced, bass parties move densely, slightly round, they exactly hold a rhythm and create a warm substrate for all picture in general.
The Mids is smooth and expressive is the main fad of this IEM! She moves thoroughly, is very melodious and is alive, in a naturalistic and musical manner, here each tool or a voice part are transferred amazingly sincerely. And thanks to insignificant allocation of the high-mid string and a voice sound especially impressively.
High frequencies are reproduced accurately and precisely, periodically gleaming a pleasant spark. They add to sounding of width of space and fresh air, giving all this in a comfortable manner. Here you are not tried to be struck with refined manners and not indulged distinguished afterturns, but in too all the time it is clean, distinctly and has no obvious flaws.
For example Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson – Say Say Say
The composition sounds linearly, is perfected and is amazingly musical.
The blow is exact, hard, quantitatively there is not a lot of it, it goes approximately level with the middle. The bass which is well worked, roundish, fast and collected, it accurately fills composition with the shaking rhythmical basis, adding it depth.
Keyboard stream smooth wavy chords, creating a substrate on which guitars with the funk riffs and delicate solo are weaved.
And sweet-voiced nightingales sir Paul and Michael Jackson charm ears:
«Say Say Say
What you want
But don't play games
With my affection
Take take take
What you need
But don't leave me
With no direction..
All alone
I sit home by the phone…»
And here bravura wind instruments are connected, sending our legs to dance. In my opinion, sound of pipes lacks fullness a little, "bodies" why their giving finds an easy raid of synthetics. But it is not critical at all.
Earphones allow to take the maximum pleasure from the listened musical history, to appear in the center of a song duel of two great actors, to analyse every moment, to make out each note.
Oh, and as they charmed me, having won back "So Bad" … It’s just fantastic!
It should be noted that are quite choosy CP 3BA. If record of bad quality or is crookedly reduced then earphones will not sentimentalize, and ruthlessly all will take the bark off and smoothings.
The bottom line
Shozy CP 3BA – very interesting IEM in every respect. The quality of assembly and materials, design, ergonomics, a qualitative cable and, the main thing, a sound - everything is praiseworthy. Do not forget about selection of the correct tips, it is possible to be played with cables, and these ears will deliver you a lot of pleasure from favorite music.
And now their bargaining chip - the price! The cost of Shozy CP 3BA at the time of writing of the review was $165. In my opinion, this generous offer which should use if you are in search of good earphones, but you do not want to devastate at the same time the purse for the sake of TOP models.
Louis XIV
Bonjour, friends! The well-aimed phrase of the king-sun which became the epigraph for today's review perfectly is suitable for the Shozy company which has the understanding of a sound and puts it in each developed model. At the same time it manages to do it in quite modest price framework.
Quite recently Shozy presented at an exhibition three new models of intra channel earphones of which I now also will tell you about one. I ask to love and favor, Shozy CP 3BA!
Specification
Driver:3BA
Sensitivity:107db
Frequency response :20hz-20khz
Impedance：30ohm
Noise reduction:-25db
3 crossover , 3 in one channel tube
Bass use Knowles 22955 and custom mid treble driver
Appearance, set and ergonomics
Shozy CP 3BA are delivered in a small silvery box of cardboard on which center in stylistics of a graphic sketch two green letters of "CP" were placed. Inside there is a black rigid case on a lightning with imprinted ravines of a brand. We open a case, and we find our IEM with the removable cable attached to them and also a bag of a set of tips (3 couples silicone one-flange, as much two-flange, 2 couples of foam Comply and pair of replaceable metal filters for sound pipes).
CP 3BA resemble IEM Shure se535 models which already became classics, and Westone UM3X superficially, only unlike them the building of CP 3BA is made of medical pitch (it is the same material which we met at NF3u earphones recently), and here sound pipes completely metal. Nozzles cover the filters with a protective grid. From above cases are placed sockets MMCX.
The right earphone of transparent-pink color, left – transparent-blue, through them is looked through all internal device, drivers and the crossover. On outer sides of ears the gold Shozy logos were placed, belonging to the new range "NEO" and serial numbers are specified back.
Weaved by the braid consisting of 4-core, the cable is made of the silvered copper. It elastic and nice (heading "poetry in one line"). On the one hand MMCX connectors of a cylindrical form, with another - 3.5 mm of a straight line of jack.
Generally, in a set there is everything that is necessary, and addition there of some not especially necessary gadgets would only increase the cost of earphones.
Pinkish and bluish droplets of earphones are similar to sweet lollipops, well or to Morfeus's pills from "Matrix". But it is not necessary to swallow of them anyway, and it is better to admire them much, and then to listen. We will also be engaged in it.
Sound
Listening was carried out on: MyST DAC 1866OCU V.2, QLS DA 9.1 Melokin, Lotoo paw Gold, iBasso DX200 (AMP7), iFI xDSD, iFI micro iDSD Black Lable, & QLS QA-361.
With all devices CP 3BA proved to be perfectly.
Just in case earphones underwent the semi-mystical procedure called Burn-in (approximately within 30 hours).
CP 3BA sounding quite equal, nice balanced, comfortable, with great detail and good division of tools. Here two rises which fall on area of a mid-bass and a joint of the top mid/high frequencies are observed. But these accents are marked out intelligently so they do not lead to discomfort, and on the contrary do a sound more emotional and picturesque. On the contrary, the high-mids, voice parts, guitar solo, a bass are ground as sea pebble because of what the general frequency characteristic of CP3BA is perceived by very balanced.
I recommend to find time for selection of tips as they considerably influence a final sound picture. Personally I most of all suited two options: complete foam Comply and SpinFit found in personal granaries silicone with a small exhaust outlet, reminding.
This IEM please with extremely spacious manner of giving sound, drawing virtual space is wide also with soul. With study of depth it turned out more modest, I would tell, so-so, but for contrast transfer of images and the atmosphere of it completely enough. And it's good.
CP3BA for 100% are ready to a style variety. They perfectly win back jazz, instrumental music, to the classic, the electronic, Rock, a New Wave and without confusion cope with heavy genres.
Low frequencies have a good articulation, density and blow. The base of the register, a subbass, sounds frostily, but for the rest everything is decent. A bass quite biting and exact, it does not overload composition and does not climb on other frequency range, harmoniously moving level with the middle. The area of a mid-bass is accurately forced, bass parties move densely, slightly round, they exactly hold a rhythm and create a warm substrate for all picture in general.
The Mids is smooth and expressive is the main fad of this IEM! She moves thoroughly, is very melodious and is alive, in a naturalistic and musical manner, here each tool or a voice part are transferred amazingly sincerely. And thanks to insignificant allocation of the high-mid string and a voice sound especially impressively.
High frequencies are reproduced accurately and precisely, periodically gleaming a pleasant spark. They add to sounding of width of space and fresh air, giving all this in a comfortable manner. Here you are not tried to be struck with refined manners and not indulged distinguished afterturns, but in too all the time it is clean, distinctly and has no obvious flaws.
For example Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson – Say Say Say
The composition sounds linearly, is perfected and is amazingly musical.
The blow is exact, hard, quantitatively there is not a lot of it, it goes approximately level with the middle. The bass which is well worked, roundish, fast and collected, it accurately fills composition with the shaking rhythmical basis, adding it depth.
Keyboard stream smooth wavy chords, creating a substrate on which guitars with the funk riffs and delicate solo are weaved.
And sweet-voiced nightingales sir Paul and Michael Jackson charm ears:
«Say Say Say
What you want
But don't play games
With my affection
Take take take
What you need
But don't leave me
With no direction..
All alone
I sit home by the phone…»
And here bravura wind instruments are connected, sending our legs to dance. In my opinion, sound of pipes lacks fullness a little, "bodies" why their giving finds an easy raid of synthetics. But it is not critical at all.
Earphones allow to take the maximum pleasure from the listened musical history, to appear in the center of a song duel of two great actors, to analyse every moment, to make out each note.
Oh, and as they charmed me, having won back "So Bad" … It’s just fantastic!
It should be noted that are quite choosy CP 3BA. If record of bad quality or is crookedly reduced then earphones will not sentimentalize, and ruthlessly all will take the bark off and smoothings.
The bottom line
Shozy CP 3BA – very interesting IEM in every respect. The quality of assembly and materials, design, ergonomics, a qualitative cable and, the main thing, a sound - everything is praiseworthy. Do not forget about selection of the correct tips, it is possible to be played with cables, and these ears will deliver you a lot of pleasure from favorite music.
And now their bargaining chip - the price! The cost of Shozy CP 3BA at the time of writing of the review was $165. In my opinion, this generous offer which should use if you are in search of good earphones, but you do not want to devastate at the same time the purse for the sake of TOP models.
Attachments
