[nxnje]

What do you guys think about the kz ate/ates, hd9 and the ed4? Anyone worth having in a collection?

Own the zs6, zs7, zsn, zs10 pro, zse, ZS4, edr1, ed9, tin audio t3 and soon the tfz 2019 my love edition

You have the ed9 and edr1 from the ultra budget segment.
I think they're the greatest in the ultra budget lineup.
If you wanna know more, you can visit TheContraptionist (@B9Scrambler's website) as he has a dedicated post in which he has described every KZ he owns (and he's got even a few KZ which aren't actually easy to find around that can be a great choice if you wanna expand your collection).

If you don't search for KZ, then at like 15$ you could try the UIISII CM5 and obviously my beloved EZ AUDIO D4.

I've written a little super easy MOD some time ago.

Buy a pair of EZ AUDIO D4 and put on a pair of starline tips pushing them very hard until the nozzle ends, you'll hear which kind of bass you can carry out of them.
I think one of the most powerful bass responses i've got in a micro-driver for under than 10 euros.

 

[1clearhead]

Now that would be great! But I think it will probably be all-BA, there is a rumour that it will be the C18.

CCA just sent me another message a few days ago stating that a CCA C12 will soon be released followed by a few tweaks on the CCA C18 within a few months.


-Clear

 

[Nimweth]

CCA just sent me another message a few days ago stating that a CCA C12 will soon be released followed by a few tweaks on the CCA C18 within a few months later.


-Clear

I assume that the C12 will use the same drivers as the AS12. Their nomenclature is confusing, though, it could have been A12 and A18!

 

[PhonoPhi]

I assume that the C12 will use the same drivers as the AS12. Their nomenclature is confusing, though, it could have been A12 and A18!

So far C-series had a plastic nozzle (C10 & C16), while A -aluminum, but then CA4 would be most confusing number, especially given C04 existence...

@1clearhead - any differentiating distinction between A12 and KZ AS12 pointed out?

 

[Mouseman]

I just got my JCALLY 8-strand balanced cable that I ordered off Ali, hooked up my KZ10 Pros and plugged it in to my ES100 at lunch. I'm thinking it's a big upgrade from the upgraded silver unbalanced KZ upgrade cable that came free with the KZ10 Pros. First impressions, holy cr@p! The soundstage expanded, and I hear more separation between instruments. Once I've had a chance to listen more and A/B it with the silver cable, I'll post more details. It seems like it makes an already impressive IEM even better.

 

[Podster]

I just got my JCALLY 8-strand balanced cable that I ordered off Ali, hooked up my KZ10 Pros and plugged it in to my ES100 at lunch. I'm thinking it's a big upgrade from the upgraded silver unbalanced KZ upgrade cable that came free with the KZ10 Pros. First impressions, holy cr@p! The soundstage expanded, and I hear more separation between instruments. Once I've had a chance to listen more and A/B it with the silver cable, I'll post more details. It seems like it makes an already impressive IEM even better.

Nice, really making me excited for my balanced 16 core coming

 

[Mouseman]

Nice, really making me excited for my balanced 16 core coming

Which one did you get? I was having a hard time finding one (and a similar cable was lost in transit and I'm waiting for Ali to settle my dispute), so I jumped on the first one that looked decent without breaking the bank.

 

[billbishere]

Do the core counts really matter? I just ordered a decent 8 core. Was going to go 16 but... Didn't seem worth it

 

[Podster]

Which one did you get? I was having a hard time finding one (and a similar cable was lost in transit and I'm waiting for Ali to settle my dispute), so I jumped on the first one that looked decent without breaking the bank.

Got one from NiceHCK, have several of them already and just loved the smaller multi braid on the 16 cores and of course how supple they are. Really lay nice

So black 16 core here on the left (NiceHCK M6's) and a salt-n-peppa 8 core on the left (BGVP DM6's)

 

[1clearhead]

So far C-series had a plastic nozzle (C10 & C16), while A -aluminum, but then CA4 would be most confusing number, especially given C04 existence...

@1clearhead - any differentiating distinction between A12 and KZ AS12 pointed out?

Sorry, I don't have either of them.

 

[nraymond]

Do the core counts really matter? I just ordered a decent 8 core. Was going to go 16 but... Didn't seem worth it

If you dig into some of the cable threads, people have found that at least some of the 16-core and 8-core wires are not fully connected end-to-end for every core. Partly this may be due to quality assurance issues, but it's worth noting that soldering 16-cores and fitting it inside a standard connector leaves very little room. Since some of the cores are carrying the same signal, when they aren't fully connected end-to-end signal will still be passed in most cases and they'll pass basic testing but there will be impedance mismatches on some lines as a result. How noticeable this will be varies depending on a few factors. I've personally decided to limit myself to 8-core cables... and I'm especially suspicious of 16-core cables that are cheap, since the labor and Q&A costs should be a lot higher for 16-cores if they're done properly.

 

[mbwilson111]

If you dig into some of the cable threads, people have found that at least some of the 16-core and 8-core wires are not fully connected end-to-end for every core. Partly this may be due to quality assurance issues, but it's worth noting that soldering 16-cores and fitting it inside a standard connector leaves very little room. Since some of the cores are carrying the same signal, when they aren't fully connected end-to-end signal will still be passed in most cases and they'll pass basic testing but there will be impedance mismatches on some lines as a result. How noticeable this will be varies depending on a few factors. I've personally decided to limit myself to 8-core cables... and I'm especially suspicious of 16-core cables that are cheap, since the labor and Q&A costs should be a lot higher for 16-cores if they're done properly.

I believe it has since been verified that the problem was only with TRN 6 core and 8 core. Others including 16 core were fine. I have a Nicehck 16 core coming.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32954926911.html

 

[billbishere]

Interesting. I went with the **** 8 care from Amazon only because I am impatient... Haha it was like $16 with the coupon and next day shipping . I just hope it's a decent cable.

 

[macky112]

I do not know what do you mean latest ZS5?
I have a ZS5 from November 2018 and compared it with my ZSN.
I found that the ZS5 is more matured, more engaging in every respect.
A "bigger" sound I would say, however I tried my ZSN with an Astell & Kern Kann and it sounded so good that I didn't believe what I heard. Nowadays for $ 15 KZ ZSN is a very good IEM.

thank you for the reply

would you say if you pair your ZS5 to your Astell & Kern Kann that would sound better than ZSN + Astell & Kern Kann combo?

 

[billbishere]

That is a pretty funny pairing. The headphone cost doesn't even probably cover the tax on the DAP