Zhulinniao Qing Luan Z4

Zhulinniao QingLuan Z4 Review: BEST VALUE UNDER $50??​

WATCH FULL REVIEW HERE: ​

PRICE: $40​

PROS:​

• Comes with a LOT of accessories
• Bamboo Eartips
• Superb build quality
• Interchangeable nozzles (for modding capabilities)
• Clean, bright neutral sound
• Good technicalities for the price
• Crisp and nuanced vocals
• Smooth yet detailed treble

CONS:​

• Not the best fitting
• Other nozzle doesn’t sound that good
• Not the most dynamic-sounding set
• Can get a little hot on some tracks

WHO THIS SET IS FOR:​

• Trebleheads
• Neutralheads
• People who want a vocal centric set that isn’t grainy or edgy
• People who want a VERY well built IEM
• People who want a complete package

WHO THIS SET ISN’T FOR:​

• Bassheads
• People who want a set that fits like a glove (personal)
• People who want a more dynamic sound
• Shout sensitive/treble sensitive people
• People who want a more subtle design

RECOMMENDED GENRES:​

• Jazz
• Instrumental
• Classic
• Vocal-Pop

SHORT REVIEW:​

Zhulinniao Qingluan Z4 is a solid bright-neutral set that packs a treasure trove of accessories with it. While it may lack a bit of dynamics, might come across too bright sounding and not fit that well, the overall package and how smooth it sounds for being bright neutral is very impressive for $40. Well built, well accessorized and a bright neutral sound make this an absolutely must have for vocal lovers who want a complete package. RECOMMENDED!

FULL REVIEW​

Every once in a while, you get a brand that is known for weird and interesting IEMs creating such a conventionally good IEM that it makes you question whether they have the capability of creating a masterpiece. That is me with Zhulinniao. From all the reviews that I’ve seen of their previous products, I have not seen a single one that was positive besides one. And that is today’s topic of discussion. Let’s talk about the Zhulinniao QingLuan Z4

PROUDLY CHINESE!​

Zhulinniao is unsurprisingly a Chinese brand that offers in-ear monitors and pretty awesome eartips. As I’ve mentioned, their previous releases have not been very stellar in the market and they’re more known for the Bamboo or the Zhu Rythme tips. But this $40 Z4 seems to have captured the hearts of some and I’m here to find out whether it’s worth your hard-earned $40 or not. Let’s start with the unboxing.

UNBOXING:​

Don’t let the somewhat boring-looking exterior fool you, what’s packed into this $40 set is a plethora of accessories that rival $100 sets. This is only matched by the qually ridiculous TRN Conch as that set also features a plethora of accessories.



Here is a full list of the inclusions:

• Zhulinniao Z4 IEMs
• 3.5mm Cable
• 9 pairs of eartips
  • 3 Vocal
  • 3 Balanced
  • 3 Bamboo
• Tuning Nozzles
• Carrying Case
• Paperowrk

Boy, where do we begin? The case included is a pretty normal-looking case but is quite spacious on the inside. It reminds me a lot of the KBEar/HZSound Case that I so dearly love and I appreciate them adding a net inside to place your little accessories. I put the extra nozzles in there as it’s secure enough in my opinion.



Where the Z4 really shines, however, are the eartips. You have basic normal and slightly wider bored eartips, but then you have 3 pairs of their patented Zhu Rythme or “Bamboo” eartips. These cost $10 per pack and are a very good pair of eartip. It reminds me of the Springtips mixed in with the S&S and Azla Sednafit. They are tapered and they are VERY grippy. They feel really good and using them IEMs with longer nozzles is an absolute treat. Unfortunately, it does not fit the Qingluan Z4 at all which was truly a shame.

BUILD & FIT​

The Z4 features a single 5th Generation DLC Dynamic Driver housed in an aluminum housing, detachable nozzles, and a 0.78 2-pin connector



Let’s take a moment to appreciate this $40 set is one of the most premium feeling IEMs I’ve held under $100. Seriously, the craftmanship on this IEM is unlike anything I’ve seen before. Brushed, somewhat textured metal paired with an intricate faceplate AND interchangeable nozzles for $40 is insane.



Unfortunately, the fit is not as good. I didn’t like how short and stubby the fit of the Z4 was, especially when using the patented Bamboo eartips. It just wouldn’t seal properly, and the only eartips that I found to work right with the Z4 were, surprise surprise, the S&S. Other tips just slip off, have no seal, or are just uncomfortable.



The cable is somewhat basic and reminds me of the kind of cables that Simgot and Moondrop use for their IEMs. It’s not necessarily a bad cable as I still think it’s quite functional and comfortable, but does not match the expressive aesthetics that the IEMs themselves have. Still, decent and usable cable that I’d be happy to use with other IEMs.

SOUND​

NOTE: Because the Z4 features tuning nozzles, I will be reviewing the Z4 with the stock nozzles and comparing it later to the red ring nozzle.

Sound Signature​

The Z4 has a bright neutral sound signature that borders sounding a bit U-Shaped with clean, tame bass with good enough weight for it to not sound like a dry piece of crap and a LOT of energy in the upper regions. Very airy, sparkly, bright and energetic are just some adjectives I’d honor the Z4.

Drivability:​

With an impedance of 32ohms and sensitivity of 108dB, you kind of expect this IEM to be quite easy to drive. Paired with the brighter tuning, this set sounds pretty good on even lower-powered devices. However, where this truly shines is when you throw some power. It smoothens the top end, makes the lower frequencies fuller and vocals overall sound more dynamic and rich despite the energy. Basically, it scales really well and I recommend getting a good source to pair with this.

Bass:​

The bass of the Z4 is clean, tight and mature sounding. It doesn’t boost it unnecessarily, but exists when you need it to exist. I will admit, however, that it is quite bass why. Not necessarily rolled off as the subbass is still quite prominent in bass centric tracks, but definitely not the focus of the sound at all. Texture is not the most prominent, but note definition is quite good.

Listening to any kind of bassy tracks, whether it’d be HipHop, Funk or Pop will not get you grooving. But you’ll get to appreciate each note with a sense of maturity and elegance. Listening to something like Do I Wanna Know by Arctic Monkey’s won’t make you stomp on the ground, but it’ll make you appreciate the nuance of the bass notes quite well.

Mids:​

The midrange of the Z4 is open, crisp and nuanced with both male and female vocals getting a lot of love. Instruments sound rich but sparkly. I particularly love lighter instruments like flutes, violins in the higher frequencies due to how clean and crisp they sound without any harshness. I will admit that this is not for the shout sensitives as there is a LOT of upper midrange to lower treble energy which affects female vocals, air instruments and percussive instruments. However, if you’re a vocal lover like me, this thing truly sings.

I especially love female vocals on the lower registers like Samara Joy, Laufey and Diana Krall. This is because the lower mids sounds so clean that the usually chesty sounding vocals sounds open and crisp. Especially in the case of Samara Joy’s Linger Awhile, the entire album perfectly matches the neutral bright sound of the Z4.

Treble:​

Hot and smooth. Those are the two words I would describe the treble of the Z4. Hot because the energy that the Z4 has in the treble region is honestly treblehead levels, but it’s surprisingly smooth and sibilance free. I expected a thin, edgy sound to the Z4 knowing the past of Zhulinniao. But damn, the treble of this thing is addicting. It’s not the airiest sounding treble I’ve heard, nor is it the most detailed. It straddles the perfect balance of detail and smooth so perfectly. However, I would not in any way recommend this to treble-sensitive people at all.

Anything Jazz just sounds fantastic on the Z4. Throw some Esperanza Spalding or some Samara Joy and hear those cymbals sparkle without any unnecessary bite. Samara’s vocals also sound so energetic and crisp with the Z4, so much so I’m more than willing to say this is probably the best set to listen to specifically Samara Joy under $50. But I digress, it’s just so crisp and smooth.

Technicalities:​

This is where it gets tricky. In terms of resolving ability and refinement, the Z4 is great. However, I feel like the Z4 is somewhat limited by the driver not being capable of having the cleanest separation and layering in the top end and tactility bass. I think that’s a perfectly fine compromise, especially at $40 and I still think that this is exceptional for $40. But when you’re competing with the likes of the EW200 at the same price point, it’s hard to just have pretty good technicalities especially when you’re going for a bright neutral sound. Nonetheless, it’s a very capable set at $40.

REAL WORLD USAGE:​

Casual Use​

As a casual use IEM, I found the Z4s to be satisfactory. Nothing too fantastic, but it looks and feels good to the touch. One thing I do whenever I’m just going about my day and I have nothing else going on, I take my IEM out and just stare at it. And it just so happens that the Z4 has a textured shell that I love to rub my finger against. It’s so satisfying to both touch and look at. However, I really don’t enjoy walking around with these as they often feel like they’re about to slip out. They’re quite stable with the S&S, but I still don’t feel confident in the fit. Plus, brigther IEMs are usually not my go to for media consumption or commutes.

Gaming Use​

This is where I was surprised with the Z4 as it offered the perfect balance of being just vocal forward enough to bring out the higher frequency noises while still not sounding harsh or peaky on really loud setpieces. Obviously, that bass is the mood killer as I prefer a bit of midbass when I game due to footsteps often being in that lower midrange section, but the upper mids are just perfectly tuned to games like Valorant. Immersive or narrative games are also pretty good due to the vocal energy being just perfect for dialogue or small nuances like in Firewatch, but not so much in big set pieces from action-oriented games.

VS RED RING NOZZLE​

I’ll be honest, on first listen the Red nozzle sounded kind of good to my ears. The vocal energy was so vibrant and sparkly that whatever I was listening to sounded so crisp. However, longer listening sessions made me realize how much it messes with the timbre, especially with how much the upper midrange masks the lower midrange and bass. So unless you’re listening to specifically upper mids focused genres, the stock nozzle will sound better all the time.

COMPARISONS​

vs Simgot EW200​

Compared to the Simgot EW200, the EW200 is better in terms of technicalities and detail, but is also more fatiguing and a little bit edgier in the treble. I also find the timbre of the Z4 to be just a tad bit better for specifically Samara Joy, but the bass dynamics and quantity makes the EW200 a considerably more fun IEM overall. The difference lies between the inclusions. The EW200 pales in comparison to the treasure trove that the Z4 offers. But sound wise, they’re quite on par overall but the EW200 edges the Z4 in fun and techs.

vs TRN Conch​

Compared to the OG value god, the Conch has a considerably less refined sound despite also sporting a single DLC dynamic driver. The Conch is edgier, more sibilant and less technically capable sounding overall. The only thing they have in common is a very rich set of accessories and a very good build quality. But I would take the TRN Conch

vs Tanchjim One​

Compared to the Tanchjim One, the Z4 has an overall cleaner and more open sound while the One is more fun and vibrant sounding. You get more low end impact and body with the One and you get more upper frequency energy with the Z4. Technicalities are better on the Z4 by a bit, but not by a big amount. The big difference, just like the EW200, is inclusions.

vs HZSound Heart Mirror​

Compared to my baby love, the Heart Mirror, the Z4 offers a more refined sound but lacking the body that the Heart Mirror has to balance the treble energy. Technicalities are similar between the two and depending on what you listen to, the Heart Mirror might sound better but so can the Z4. The Heart Mirror sounds better on soprano and mezzo soprano vocals like Caity Gyorgy or Norah Jones while the Z4 sounds better on Laufey or Samara Joy. Still, both fantastic sets and will all depend on whether you want something with a little bit more spice or a little bit more accessories (and refinement)

vs CCA Pianist​

Compared to the CCA Pianist, boths sets are vocal forward sets with subbass focus. The difference lies with the CCA Pianist having a ridiculously recessed midrange and a very distinct BA timbre that affects the overall timbre that the IEM has. The Z4 sounds considerably more natural while still providing a very similar level of technicalities compared to the Pianist. The Pianist does have a wider headstage thanks to the more open mids, but at the cost of lower midrange emphasis and body.

vs CCA Duo​

Compared to the Duo, the Duo has a better tonal balance on both low mids and upper mids compared to the Z4, but the Z4 has a more refined and smoother overall sound with a tilt to the bright side. The body is better on the Duo but the Z4 has a cleaner-sounding upper midrange.

CONCLUSION​

The Zhulliniao Qingluan Z4 is a fantastic first experience for me with the Zhulinniao brand. Such a clean-sounding bright-neutral IEM that fits my tastes, especially in jazzy or instrumental genres while offering a very delicious amount of accessories that only 1 IEM can compete against (in all the IEMs I’ve tried). It’s crazy how Zhulliniao was able to provide this much while also providing a very crisp and clean sound, unlike the other set that has a lot of accessories.

However, it is not perfect. The fit is not very good and it doesn’t really separate itself from the competition. There have been other vocal-centric sets that sound absolutely wonderful like the CCA Polaris, KZ D-Fi and my love the Heart Mirror that are all still very competent. The Z4 doesn’t really try to put itself out there sound wise, instead opting to provide a more complete experience than other sets. And for that I have full respect on Zhulliniao and will actively look forward to their upcoming sets.

Thank you for reading my review on the Zhulinniao Qingluan Z4. If you would like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805582634689.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt

~Zhulinniao Qing Luan Review~

Pros:
- Premium looking shell with sturdy material.
- Generous amount of accessories with signature bamboo tips.
- Tuning nozzles suits different preferences.
- Clean, transparent and smooth vocals.
- Natural and silky timbre.
- Energetic trebles without fatiguing.
- Vocal centric tuning.
- Good separation and layering of sound.

Cons:
- Small size that might not fit bigger ears.
- Bass shy.
- Tamed treble, making it less airy and snappy.
- Resolution takes a toll.
- Average soundstage.

Overall rating: 3/5
Aesthetic:
Build Quality: 3/5
Design: 4/5
Accessories: 3.5/5

Sound Rating:
Timbre: 3/5
Bass: 2.5/5
Midrange: 3/5
Treble: 3/5
Technicalities: 2.5/5

DISCLAIMER
- This is a review unit sent by Hidizs Official for the review tour in Malaysia. Regardless, all opinions remain original ideas, thus there is zero influence from any 3rd party or external opinions.
- No EQ or filter presets were used during the entire review period.
- Sound evaluations are kept neutral and does not include 3rd party accessories (ie; eartips, cable, reversible mods).
- Burn-in was done for 80 hours prior to review.

Introduction:
It is been some time that we have heard Zhulinniao has released any IEM after the debut of Zhulinniao Jing Hong in 2023. When the Qing Luan is released, it gets under the radar even in the native Chinese market. Therefore, I am here to introduce you their latest IEM available, the Zhulinniao Qing Luan.
Qing Luan is released around June in 2023. It is still their most expensive set ever released and it is sold for around 259 RMB ($36). I have to say, for the price you paid, you will have some seriously good accessories and IEM with decent build.

Unboxing and accessories:
The first glance on the box, I have no clue that this is priced at $36. The black coloured outer box is embossed with the rose gold colour branding, with the big Chinese calligraphy characters “青鸾” that enhances the Chinese aesthetic design intentions. Behind the box stated the specifications of the Qing Luan, which I will post it later on. Open up the outer box and the magnetic cover, the IEM and accessories are presented in an exquisite way.



What’s in the box?
- Zhulinniao signature bamboo tips (S, M, L)
- Balanced ear tips (S, M, L)
- Vocals ear tips (S, M, L)
- Leatherette carrying case with suede inner
- Silver tuning nozzle.
- 2 strands silver plated cable (3.5mm/4.4mm)

Not to forget to mention, the instruction and product background paperwork are presented with index tabs, which is a creative way to celebrate the minor stuffs that people will be overlooked.

Build quality & design:
The zinc alloy made Qing Luan is fascinating to look at, while providing a sturdier material for it to last long. The overall shell and half of the faceplate is frosted, to prevent fingerprint smudges and easier to grip. The Qing Luan has a aerodynamic shape, which matches the design concept of a flying bird. The juxtaposition between modern industry elements and ancient Chinese artistry is something always look interesting and fresh.
The shape of the Qing Luan is a bit on the smaller side, and this may cause some fit issue with bigger ears. Fit wise, it is okay for me as it does not protrude or weird feeling inside my ears. The lightweight shell allows me to wear it for a couple hours with ease.



Drivability:
Driving the Qing Luan is worry free, as it is easy to drive and it will also benefit other better sources with better power output to amplify this set in a more dynamic and full-range sounding. I do recommend getting warm sounding DAC like Colorfly M1P or EPZ TP50 to pair with it.

My music (don’t judge me xD) :
- Yoasobi - idol (24bit/96khz)
- Joji Nectar Album (24bit/96 kHz)
- Kamado Tanjiro no Uta (16bit/44.1 kHz)
- ReoNa - Human, Alive, Seimeisen, till the end (24/96 khz)
- Taylor Swift - We are never ever getting back together (DSD 5644kbps/ 2.8MHz)
- Radwimps - Suzume (24bit/96 kHz)
- And whole album of Kessoku Band
- G.E.M – GLORIA (24bit/96 kHz)
- Martin Garrix – In the Name of Love (24bit/44.1kHz)
- Jacky Cheung – Kiss goodbye (24bit/96kHz)
- Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra - "Kimetsu no Yaiba" Orchestra concert -Kimetsu no Kanade- (24bit/96 kHz)
- Taylor Swift “1989” album (24bit/48 kHZ)
- La La Land Soundtrack album (24bit/ 44.1kHz)

Source used:
- EPZ TP50 into Android Phone
- Aune Yuki plugged into iPad Air
- Aune S9C Pro plugged into PC
- Fiio KA17 (D.mode) plugged into PC
- Fiio KA11 plugged into PC
- Astell & Kern SR25 Dap

Tuning nozzle:
Qing Luan has 2 different tuning nozzles, which are the preinstalled transparent nozzle and red ring nozzle. After tested with my test tracks, I find it is as advertised, which the red nozzle has treble boost with snappier upper treble bite.
One thing that baffled me is how unnatural the timbre has become, and the note weight has become leaner. The best option for me is to listen with the preinstalled nozzle.

Sonic Impression (Based on transparent nozzle):


Zhulinniao focused a lot on the vocal’s presence and tonality, therefore its tuning steered towards the vocal-centric traits.

Bass:
I am happy to say I like the bass that they presented, but everyone will have different preferences as I find it will be lacking for some, especially the bassheads. These do not come with thunderous bass. The Qing Luan is sub-bass focused and it attacks fast and decays early, which produced pleasant textures and quality bass. The bass guitar sounds deep and immersive, suitable for slow rocks and EDM tracks.
Mid-bass is present but does not highlight in the audio spectrum. It behaved nicely without overshadowing the sub-bass and allow space for the midrange to come through. No bass bleed is audible.

Midrange:
The midrange is very prominent, especially the vocals took the limelight of the show. Male vocals sounded raspy with a tinge of warmth tone but does not sound husky, while the female vocals have a sweet tone and smooth without any glaring. The vocals presented quite forward to enhance the upper mids details and weight. Transients are fast and accurate while maintaining its tuning to make it smooth from lower to upper range.
Instruments sound natural and lush, which rendered the background of the tuning to elevate the vocals and create hierarchy. It has velvety tone and note weight despite having not enough dynamics in my opinion.

Treble:
Qing Luan has a tamed and controlled treble to prevent unwanted peakiness, and increases its treble energy at the same time. The treble sounds accurate but lacks transparency, which does not give snappiness. The fast roll off is audible in this case.

Soundstage & Technicalities:
It has a mediocre soundstage which does not sound expansive nor congested. But it is leaning towards the intimate side for sure. Fortunately, the distinctive vocals allow the staging to be deeper, making an oval shape headspace.
Qing Luan is not a technical beast but the main notes and melody are easily captured and presented accurately and naturally. Being less analytical, more fun and pleasant to listen. Midrange has good details and accurate notes, without a lot of sharpening and glaring.

Comparison:
i) EPZ G10
EPZ G10 is one of my favourite IEM under $50. Both have a dynamic driver setup and it is tuned to be harman-balanced. Despite the EPZ G10 does not make the vocals sounds as prominent as the Qing Luan, it has more rumble in the bass region to balanced out the emphasized upper mids. I would say Qing Luan edges the G10 with its warmer tonality and thicker note weight, but EPZ G10 has a much natural treble without losing a lot of details.
Technicalities of G10 is also better, making it a better set for gaming and daily usage. It has better imaging and headspace for the sound distribution. Overall, I am pleased with G10.

ii) CCA Pianist
The $30 CCA Pianist is a 1DD+2BA set, which is also having a lifted upper mids. By comparing them, I can feel the lean upper mids of the Pianist blasting through my ears without mercy. Qing Luan on the other hand, presented its upper mids in a warmer and soothing way to capture most of the notes accurately.
Both have lean bass, but Pianist has better treble response and upper treble extension despite being more likely to have ear fatigue over time. Technicalities on the CCA Pianist is a tad better than the Qing Luan but it is borderline sibilant and treble peakiness is insane. I will prefer the Zhulinniao Qing Luan without hesitation.

Conclusion:

Zhulinniao Qing Luan is one of the overlooked and niche sets in this competitive chifi market, but I will say it is a capable budget vocal focused set. For the price you are paying, you will get high-quality ear tips and carrying case, and delicate tuning for vocals. If you are opting for an IEM for soft pop, ACG music and R&B, this might be the one you can deal with.