Earbuds Round-Up

[ttorbic]

Sharing on here: @AWSMDanny reviewed FH-01

 

[Scubadevils]

Oh good to see you here! Welcome down the rabbit hole!

Wow, congrats on getting your hands on a FQL bud - those are hard to come by!

Thank you, maybe a break from the IEM rabbit hole!

Yes, very happy to have the Nexus - a wonderful set of buds.

The Moondrop Pavane high on my radar, eager to hear more from those who have jumped in early. I owned Chaconne but sold a couple of years ago which I regret - fantastic set.

 

[samandhi]

For those interested in the topic, the moderators of this site have at least listened to our feedback about double posting. They haven't lifted it, but instead have relaxed it a bit. If you post on a thread, and there is no one else that posts for 24 hours, you may post again on that thread. Not a solution that I prefer, but better than the current way they are doing it IMHO.

just quick

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing this. There are a few things that I don't agree with on there, but I won't say one is right or wrong; just different thoughts on them.

Also, for those that DO have the Pavane, Chaconne, or Liebesleid (as mentioned in the video where he was confused until he panned music from one side to the other) there is no obvious indicator to show which bud is left and right. However, it shows on their website and in the quick guide manual included with all sets, that the groove on one of the buds is indeed the indicator. The left bud always has the groove in it. Hopefully that might help someone out there.

Thank you! They are some nice looking buds. I guess you could say the metal work definitely has some pizzazz. I measured the diameter at 16.56mm, so pretty close to the normal 15.4mm driver speaker cover diameter. The driver is a 14.2mm Dynamic Driver with Ceramic Diaphragm (per their specs).

They are nice looking. And the reason (I suppose) that they look bigger on the face is because of how small (and the shape) the shells are.

That is pretty much the description that was given for the A-Bells (if you remember), and those turned out to have a pieze driver as well as the DD. What do you think, when listening to them?

I will await your excellent impressions.

Thank you! I was going for the low key shock value. What fun would it be if I preempted the surprise by saying that I ordered them ahead of time?

You achieved that goal very nicely! haha

One of the best build qualities out there and for the first time ever a set I ended up playing with eq

…

Congrats on your new shiny!

I certainly love the looks of them. Unless those are a different version, I think I have looked into getting those in the past (they have been around for some time now).

I think FH-01 is a fantastic budget set - it is the ideal gateway earbud for someone looking to get into buds, or even as a gift. It is well-tuned, inoffensive yet musical, so it will appeal to the masses. I'm excited to see what's next in the pipeline from Flathead Audio!

Thanks very much for your detailed impressions of these.

And they arrived!

Congrats on your new shiny!

If you're really diggin' the Nobunaga Nightingale's and you're possibly into doing a little DIY, try this very easy build of my Artiste Nightingale earbuds. If you build them, I think you'll like what you hear from them.

I can certainly attest for the quality of sound that comes out of these buds. Though, I cannot say whether they sound similar to the Nobunga buds.

I’ve neglected buds for too long and in spite of very mixed reviews, took a chance on the Audio-Technica CM2000ti when I saw on sale on Amazon Japan. I can definitely understand why they don’t suit everyone - upper mids can get quite spicy, especially if brave and try screeching electric guitar! They are actually excellent though for ambient music and modern classical - very detailed and atmospheric presentation and the upper mids mostly benefit these genres giving a nice emotive sensation… been my choice for listening in bed most nights lately.



That led me to getting a set of the Nexus by FranQL - absolutely loving them, and definitely going to lead me on a bud rabbit hole again!

Congrats on your new shiny!

Also, welcome back. I have not seen you around here for some time how. I, for one am glad to have your knowledge back in the flathead world.

Is this your first set of FQL buds? If so, double congrats. They are not something that are easily come by because they are only gifted, not bought. You are welcome to share impressions on them here, but most of us that own some post on this thread so that it doesn't seem like rubbing it in the noses of those that do not own a set (being courteous ). Though, it has been a little while since anyone posted in that thread, so there is that.....

 

[frkasper]

Yes, they are MMCX. I won't tease you, how's about a little extra torment then? hehe.

It looks solid. I look forward to your impressions. Congrats.

If you post on a thread, and there is no one else that posts for 24 hours, you may post again on that thread.

Thanks for the heads up. That certainly helps in the less busy threads out there.

 

[LTNYG]

DIY PT52 - 16MM 32 ohm PU composite membrane unit

 

[GiullianSN]

Hello Guys,

I know you're much more experienced in this corner of the hobby, but as I'm dig in I'm getting more excited.

Just sharing my impressions on this interesting pair of buds. I will get Aful Polarnight impressions soon, which I'm also loving and I have my eyes on Moondrop Pavane next.

Penon Conductor

​

 

[mt877]

DIY PT52 - 16MM 32 ohm PU composite membrane unit

Very nice, not sure if you've had them for a while or new to your collection, but congrats to you. Fine folks around here have used those same shells for our own DIY builds. The sale price for the PT52 is even a little cheaper than a set of the DIY shells by themselves. So what do you think of the PT52, are they bang for buck, low budget buds?

Hello Guys,

I know you're much more experienced in this corner of the hobby, but as I'm dig in I'm getting more excited.

Just sharing my impressions on this interesting pair of buds. I will get Aful Polarnight impressions soon, which I'm also loving and I have my eyes on Moondrop Pavane next.

Penon Conductor

​

Just finished reading your review. Nice job putting your review together. I don't have any buds with a vibration unit, but do wonder how the CVJ Seven with vibration unit would compare to the Penon Conductor.

 

[ttorbic]

Hello Guys,

I know you're much more experienced in this corner of the hobby, but as I'm dig in I'm getting more excited.

Just sharing my impressions on this interesting pair of buds. I will get Aful Polarnight impressions soon, which I'm also loving and I have my eyes on Moondrop Pavane next.

Penon Conductor

​

Welcome! And we look forward to your impressions of the PolarNight and Pavane

 

[LTNYG]

Very nice, not sure if you've had them for a while or new to your collection, but congrats to you. Fine folks around here have used those same shells for our own DIY builds. The sale price for the PT52 is even a little cheaper than a set of the DIY shells by themselves. So what do you think of the PT52, are they bang for buck, low budget buds?

Some of my collections have collected dust (eg. Qian39, X6, Smabat ST10-s Gold), but I just got these earlier evening.

Keep in mind that these do not include a cable, so for those that don't make their own cables (like me lol), there is a need to get a 3rd party one, which will add up the cost (more than the X6).

For me, soundwise: Mostly mid-focused; best for vocals, but there is decent amount of mid-bass and detail seperation is quite good. Just a very fun pair to listen to music with.

Just got the 7hz Salontes Zero as well and Zero 2 are coming soon. The former are as good as some of the impressions I have read from an ASF thread. It's stuff like these prove that despite that there is a difference in cost to performance, for example, X6 vs SMG, but the margins have never necessarily been huge.

 

[ttorbic]

Another NiceHCK EBX25Ti review, this time from a korean reviewer:

 

[samandhi]

Since I have been listening to the Pavane for a while now, I thought I would throw some impressions out there. I have done some comparisons with the Chaconne as well (only insomuch as they are also in the "showerhead family" and they are reportedly using the same driver between all three models).

The first thing that I noticed with the Pavane is that the shell itself is much bigger than the Chaconne was. But, because the stem is so much skinnier than the stem on the Chaconne this makes the Pavane a little more top heavy or balanced, which in turn helps hold them in your ears a bit better. Though, I wouldn't call either of them easily useable for "mobility". I think that the Pavane do fit my ears just a tad bit better, but because of their weight they do indeed create some fatigue after about 2 hours. These are really tough because the shell is too big for the over ear hook to fit on the Pavane, and the silicone in ear hooks don't stay in place because they are so very slippery, and have no lip or ridge to hold it is place. I do plan on taking a grinding wheel or sand paper to the outer rim of the face to "scuff" it up a bit so that silicone rings or even foams will hold in place. Of course, doing this will make it so that I won't be able to wear them with nothing on them because they will scratch my ears.

Moondrop told a little fib with these where the cable is concerned as well. It is the exact same cable as the Chaconne, but with different sleeve texture and thicker overall. The outer plastic transparent coating is the same texture, and hardness as is on the Chaconne. This is not a bad thing though because the cable is actually pretty nice, I just don't think that Moondrop should have tried to use this as a selling point. Also, the Y-splitter is about twice the size as is on the Chaconne, making it VERY heavy (this also holds true with the connector). The good news, though is that where the Chaconne does not have a chin slider, the Pavane does indeed have one (also bulky stainless steel).

Moondrop typical quality controls is at work here though. The cable is just a twisted affair, and overall pretty good, but there are spots where it wasn't twisted much at all, and sort of ruins the aesthetics of the whole cable. This is pretty "nit-picky" though on my part, and doesn't affect anything in the long run, but these were almost $400 after all (the very tippy top of commercially available flatheads).

Spoiler: Pavane partially untwisted cable

I listened to these with no foams, with FiiO bass foams, HeIGI foams, and VE thin foams (I tried for half an hour with the stock donut foams, ripped a set, and gave up on them). There is a pretty stark difference between no foams, and HeIGI foams. I mean like, with the HeIGI foams, it was way too dark, warm, and actually veiled sounding to my ears. Without foams, the upper mids boost DID hurt my ears. I found the best compromise to be VE thin foams (though being so thin, they were VERY difficult to install on the buds, being so slippery, and having no lip or ridge to catch the foams on, so they get stretched and torn very easily). Also, being aware of synergy, I used my DX300 with Amp12 (high W with ultimate clarity), and Amp13 (tube amp sound), and my desktop setup (iFi Pro iCan Signature, E70V DAC) in SS and in tube modes. Listening levels were at around 70-90dB. Music ranged from OST to 80's pop, rock, metal, 90's R&B, rap, etc...

If you are looking at these because you think that they will sound anything like the Chaconne, then you are in for some dissapointment. Not only do they have a completely different tuning, they also lack many of the technicalities that make the Chaconne so special. To explain that a bit further, let's start with the Chaconne. OK! The tuning on the Chaconne all by itself, is NOT very appealing except where detail retrieval and accuracy are concerned. I know, I have said that they have the best mid and treble tuning I have ever heard, and I meant that, but without the imaging, soundstage, macro and micro detail retreival, dynamics, it would also be a bit boring. The lack of bass quantity by itself isn't an issue, but without all the previously mentioned perks, the sound would be very clinical. Having said that, add those things back into the mix, and it combines with tuning to make something VERY special (much like TONS of people find the HD800).

The Pavane are NOT these things. The tuning on these is a boosted bass (though still not bass-head territory), and also a boosted pina gain region. It threw away (or at the very least diminished) the technicalities that was achieved by the Chaconne. Also, another blunder on Moondrop's part is advertising the N52 magnet. What this achieved is exactly nothing. While the Pavane DO have a considerable amount more bass than the Chaconne, it is not near as textured, layered, or fast, let alone punchy. Having said that, the mid bass and upper bass are more of the focus on this set. This DOES give it more bass presence, and it also makes the mids much warmer. Though, the sub bass is still very rolled off, and isn't very present at any given time (which I expected though).

The mids are probably the best part of this set. That upper bass I spoke of earlier does make the mids warmer (almost too thick and warm at times), and there is also a bit of bass bleed into the mids (though not unbearable). Pretty much anything that is NOT falsetto or soprano, sounds pretty bassy, which is in stark contrast to the upper mids, or female vocals and grungy electric guitar. Unlike on the Chaconne, this section has been boosted this time. I won't say that it is TOO much because I have yet to feel any pain, but it can indeed be fatiguing after a time and also depending on the type of music you listen to.

I don't find the lower treble to be particularly boosted, but the mid treble section (attack region for second harmonics) to have a dip which diminishes the perceived detail retrieval. But, the upper treble is nice and airy (one thing that the Chaconne and these DO have in common) and is very nicely done.

Because of the way they went with the tuning, the detail retrieval is quite a bit less than from the Chaconne. There are a couple of albums from Herbie Hancock that have a small bit of noise (as part of the recording), and with the Pavane I cannot hear it where I can certainly and easily hear it with the Chaconne, as one example (of many I have noticed).

Soundstage is not near as wide as with the Chaconne (though it is certainly not considered intimate still). Depth and dynamics on this set aren't anywhere near as good here. Everything sounds pretty much at the same layer in space as everything else. Which leads to height. I can't really hear any height changes in music cues here either.

Overall I would say that the tuning is closer to a Harmon curve, where the Chaconne were closer to being Diffuse type tuning; though neither are exactly. So, if you are a fan of having more bass, and being more musical, the Pavane will be that with lots of clarity. Because of this, many who considered the Chaconne a "one trick pony" will find the Pavane more to their liking for versatility.

Having said all of that, you the reader, might think that this is completely negative in my impressions of them?! Well, it is not, and I find them to be very good. They have bass to be able to listen to everything, and are clear and smooth to be able to pick up some good details. But, if I am comparing the qualities of sonics to the Chaconne (not just the tuning), they are more like a step back. Would I buy these for almost $400 if I got a chance to listen to them first? No. I WOULD; however, buy them for about $200. They DO have TOTL sound, but not Summi-Fi sound (like I conisder the Chaconne to have). If they would have changed the tuning but kept the technicalities, these would be a very special set IMHO.

IMHO, I might compare the sound of these with the RW3000 but a tad bit less refined (slower bass, rolled off treble, etc...). Though, I am saying that blindly at this point and will need to do an A/B with them to verify this; so, this thought might change after such an experiment.

Honestly, I debated posting these impressions to begin with, because I hate to be the one to go against concensus. Even though there aren't many reviews yet, they all seem very, if not overwhelmingly positive. But, then I thought that people should have all the information possible if they are going to spend so much for a set of flatties. And besides, I don't consider what I have written to be "deal breaking" negative. Just don't expect them to be like a retuned HD800, if you get my meaning here?!

Hello Guys,

I know you're much more experienced in this corner of the hobby, but as I'm dig in I'm getting more excited.

Just sharing my impressions on this interesting pair of buds. I will get Aful Polarnight impressions soon, which I'm also loving and I have my eyes on Moondrop Pavane next.

Penon Conductor

​

Welcome to a wholly new rabbit hole!

Congrats on your new shiny!

Some of my collections have collected dust (eg. Qian39, X6, Smabat ST10-s Gold), but I just got these earlier evening.

Keep in mind that these do not include a cable, so for those that don't make their own cables (like me lol), there is a need to get a 3rd party one, which will add up the cost (more than the X6).

For me, soundwise: Mostly mid-focused; best for vocals, but there is decent amount of mid-bass and detail seperation is quite good. Just a very fun pair to listen to music with.

Just got the 7hz Salontes Zero as well and Zero 2 are coming soon. The former are as good as some of the impressions I have read from an ASF thread. It's stuff like these prove that despite that there is a difference in cost to performance, for example, X6 vs SMG, but the margins have never necessarily been huge.

Congrats on your new shiny!

Those Smabat ST10S B&G are some of their (last) best. They have gone (slowly) downhill ever since.

I have not heard the Zero series from 7Hz. I do still have the OG Timeless, and I love my (guilty pleasure) 7Hz Legato... Congrats on your (other) new shiny(s) there too!

Thanks for the heads up. That certainly helps in the less busy threads out there.

You are very welcome!

You are right, but I wish they would make it something like a few hours, rather than a whole day.

 

[ttorbic]

Since I have been listening to the Pavane for a while now, I thought I would throw some impressions out there. I have done some comparisons with the Chaconne as well (only insomuch as they are also in the "showerhead family" and they are reportedly using the same driver between all three models).

The first thing that I noticed with the Pavane is that the shell itself is much bigger than the Chaconne was. But, because the stem is so much skinnier than the stem on the Chaconne this makes the Pavane a little more top heavy or balanced, which in turn helps hold them in your ears a bit better. Though, I wouldn't call either of them easily useable for "mobility". I think that the Pavane do fit my ears just a tad bit better, but because of their weight they do indeed create some fatigue after about 2 hours. These are really tough because the shell is too big for the over ear hook to fit on the Pavane, and the silicone in ear hooks don't stay in place because they are so very slippery, and have no lip or ridge to hold it is place. I do plan on taking a grinding wheel or sand paper to the outer rim of the face to "scuff" it up a bit so that silicone rings or even foams will hold in place. Of course, doing this will make it so that I won't be able to wear them with nothing on them because they will scratch my ears.

Moondrop told a little fib with these where the cable is concerned as well. It is the exact same cable as the Chaconne, but with different sleeve texture and thicker overall. The outer plastic sleeve transparent coating is the same texture, and hardness as is on the Chaconne. This is not a bad thing though because the cable is actually pretty nice, I just don't think that Moondrop should have tried to use this as a selling point. Also, the Y-splitter is about twice the size as is on the Chaconne, making it VERY heavy (this also holds true with the connector). The good news, though is that where the Chaconne does not have a chin slider, the Pavane does indeed have one (also bulky stainless steel).

Moondrop typical quality controls is at work here though. The cable is just a twisted affair, and overall pretty good, but there are spots where it wasn't twisted much at all, and sort of ruins the aesthetics of the whole cable. This is pretty "nit-picky" though on my part, and doesn't affect anything in the long run, but these were almost $400 after all (the very tippy top of commercially available flatheads).

Spoiler: Pavane partially untwisted cable

I listened to these with no foams, with FiiO bass foams, HeIGI foams, and VE thin foams (I tried for half an hour with the stock donut foams, ripped a set, and gave up on them). There is a pretty stark difference between no foams, and HeIGI foams. I mean like, with the HeIGI foams, it was way too dark, warm, and actually veiled sounding to my ears. Without foams, the upper mids boost DID hurt my ears. I found the best compromise to be VE thin foams (though being so thin, they were VERY difficult to install on the buds, being so slippery, and having no lip or ridge to catch the foams on, so they get stretched and torn very easily). Also, being aware of synergy, I used my DX300 with Amp12 (high W with ultimate clarity), and Amp13 (tube amp sound), and my desktop setup (iFi Pro iCan Signature, E70V DAC) in SS and in tube modes. Listening levels were at around 70-90dB. Music ranged from OST to 80's pop, rock, metal, 90's R&B, rap, etc...

If you are looking at these because you think that they will sound anything like the Chaconne, then you are in for some dissapointment. Not only do they have a completely different tuning, they also lack many of the technicalities that make the Chaconne so special. To explain that a bit further, let's start with the Chaconne. OK! The tuning on the Chaconne all by itself, is NOT very appealing except where detail retrieval and accuracy are concerned. I know, I have said that they have the best mid and treble tuning I have ever heard, and I meant that, but without the imaging, soundstage, macro and micro detail retreival, dynamics, it would also be a bit boring. The lack of bass quantity by itself isn't an issue, but without all the previously mentioned perks, the sound would be very clinical. Having said that, add those things back into the mix, and it combines with tuning to make something VERY special (much like TONS of people find the HD800).

The Pavane are NOT these things. The tuning on these is a boosted bass (though still not bass-head territory), and also a boosted pina gain region. It threw away (or at the very least diminished) the technicalities that was achieved by the Chaconne. Also, another blunder on Moondrop's part is advertising the N52 magnet. What this achieved is exactly nothing. While the Pavane DO have a considerable amount more bass than the Chaconne, it is not near as textured, layered, or fast, let alone punchy. Having said that, they mid bass and upper bass are more of the focus on this set. This DOES give it more bass presence, and it also makes the mids much warmer. Though, the sub bass is still very rolled off, and isn't very present at any given time (which I expected though).

The mids are probably the best part of this set. That upper bass I spoke of earlier does make the mids warmer (almost too thick and warm at times), but there is also a bit of bass bleed into the mids (though not unbearable). Pretty much anything that is NOT falsetto or soprano, sound pretty bassy, which is a stark contrast to the upper mids, or female vocals and grungy electric guitar. Unlike on the Chaconne, this section has been boosted this time. I won't say that it is TOO much because I have yet to feel any pain, but it can indeed be fatiguing after a time and also depending on the type of music you listen to.

I don't find the lower treble to be particularly boosted, but the mid treble section (attack region for second harmonics) to have a dip which diminishes the perceived detail retrieval. But, the upper treble is nice and airy (one thing that the Chaconne and these DO have in common).

Because of the way they went with the tuning, the detail retrieval is quite a bit diminished from the Chaconne. There are a couple of albums from Herbie Hancock that have a small bit of noise (as part of the recording), and with the Pavane I cannot hear it where I can certainly and easily hear it with the Chaconne.

Soundstage is not near as wide as with the Chaconne (though it is certainly not considered intimate still). Depth and dynamics on this set aren't anywhere near as good here. Everything sounds pretty much at the same layer in space as everything else. Which leads to height, I can't really hear any height changes in music cues here either.

Overall I would say that the tuning is closer to a Harmon curve, where the Chaconne were closer to being Diffuse type tuning; though neither are exactly. So, if you are a fan of having more bass, and being more musical, the Pavane will be that with lots of clarity. Because of this, many who considered the Chaconne a "one trick pony" will find the Pavane more to their liking for versatility.

Having said all of that, you the reader, might think that this is completely negative in my impressions of them?! Well, it is not, and I find them to be very good. They have bass to be able to listen to everything, and are clear and smooth to be able to pick up some good details. But, if I am comparing the qualities of sonics to the Chaconne (not just the tuning), they are more like a step back. Would I buy these for almost $400 if I got a chance to listen to them first? No. I WOULD; however, buy them for about $200. They DO have TOTL sound, but not Summi-Fi sound (like I conisder the Chaconne to have).

IMHO, I might compare the sound of these with the RW3000 but a tad bit less refined (slower bass, rolled off treble, etc...). Though, I am saying that blindly at this point and will need to do an A/B with them to verify this; so, this thought might change after such an experiment.

Honestly, I debated posting these impressions to begin with, because I hate to be the one to go against concensus; even though there aren't many reviews yet, they all seem very, if not overwhelmingly positive. But, then I thought, that people should have all the information possible if they are going to spend so much for a set of flatties. And besides, I don't consider what I have written to be "deal breaking" negative. Just don't expect them to be like a retuned HD800, if you get my meaning here?!


Welcome to a wholly new rabbit hole!

Congrats on your new shiny!

Congrats on your new shiny!

Those Smabat ST10S B&G are some of their (last) best. They have gone (slowly) downhill ever since.

I have not heard the Zero series from 7Hz. I do still have the OG Timeless, and I love my (guilty pleasure) 7Hz Legato... Congrats on your (other) new shiny(s) there too!


You are very welcome!

You are right, but I wish they would make it something like a few hours, rather than a whole day.

Thanks @samandhi for your excellent impressions! Very informative! I think someone else on here said that the Pavane is actually quite a bassy set, so there's a hint of a consensus there. I guess Moondrop went for the crowd pleaser tuning over a showstopper

 

[samandhi]

I think someone else on here said that the Pavane is actually quite a bassy set, so there's a hint of a consensus there. I guess Moondrop went for the crowd pleaser tuning over a showstopper

I am glad that you found it to be informative!

I certainly hope that I have not caused anyone that was planning on getting them before to not get them now?! Remember that (especially with flatheads) our ears hear things SOOOO differently sometimes.

If I had to give an amount (in a non-scientific way), I would say that they have a bit more quantity of bass than the Artiste, but less than the FiiO FF3. I might say that they have roughly the same perceived amount of bass as the DUNU Alpha 3 (again, going from memory here; even though it is fairly recent memory).

Yes, I think that they will definitely appeal to the "crowd", but less to audiophiles IMO. I think that if they had put them into a lower price bracket, they could/would be WAY more popular. Masses don't like to pay so much for head gear, so they are too expensive for them. Audiophiles are willing to pay for diminishing returns but want more than what these might offer. This is the dilemma I meant to proffer in my impressions. They are really good, but not at the quality that the price might indicate, and the family that it has come from.

Having said that, I will be keeping them because they are just different enough than anything I have, and they ARE enjoyable in what they offer.

 

[Eduardiofilo]

Many years ago and a few thousand pages back, a roundup member mentioned using silicone tape and I've been doing it with all of my earbuds ever since. It helps to create a seal and preserve the bass response so many people believe earbuds are not capable of producing.

The custom silicone ring combined with a modified donut foam gets you the full package of unobstructed high frequency extension, sub bass, and everything in between. It also provides a secure grip on both the shell and the foam. I've only had a couple models fail to achieve increased bass output (Musicmaker TKY2 and ninewave NW-STUDIO NEO) but I think it's due to the drivers having nearly zero excursion.

Here's a quick and dirty job featuring the Kaisheng Temperament X3 using Loctite brand tape:

Anybody knows what is the size of that "silicone ring"? I don't know. it looks like 2-3mm

 

[mt877]

Some of my collections have collected dust (eg. Qian39, X6, Smabat ST10-s Gold), but I just got these earlier evening.

Keep in mind that these do not include a cable, so for those that don't make their own cables (like me lol), there is a need to get a 3rd party one, which will add up the cost (more than the X6).

For me, soundwise: Mostly mid-focused; best for vocals, but there is decent amount of mid-bass and detail seperation is quite good. Just a very fun pair to listen to music with.

Thanks for your quick thoughts on your new PT52 buds. They are in a good price bracket for folks that want a fun set of affordable and decent sounding set of buds.

Just got the 7hz Salontes Zero as well and Zero 2 are coming soon. The former are as good as some of the impressions I have read from an ASF thread. It's stuff like these prove that despite that there is a difference in cost to performance, for example, X6 vs SMG, but the margins have never necessarily been huge.

I agree with what you're saying. Just because some head gear is low cost and affordable doesn't necessarily equate to bad sounding and some more expensive head gear may not sound good at all, just over priced. There is some joy in finding affordable head gear that exceeds expectations and turns out to be a hidden gem. I've often looked at some of the Fengru DIY earbuds found on AE and wondered if some particular earbud would sound good or not, but who will spend the time buying every low cost Fengru DIY earbud to find the hidden gems. Out of curiosity I've added a few of those types of buds into my shopping cart before just to use a higher value coupon code during AE sales, but haven't found my hidden gem set of buds yet.