So unfortunately I kept hearing the left sided weakness. I tried everything. I tried cleaning the filters, changing the filters, changing cables, changing sources, changing tips, I tried different volumes, and I even had 3 other people try them, and they all heard it without me mentioning it had that issue.
I contacted LZ and they said it's probably an issue with the DD driver, which makes sense for what I'm hearing. They said it's most likely due to humidity or dust (more likely dust in AZ, but I still baby these). Apparently they let the 3rd parties handle customer service, so repair is really not an option. They were pretty short with me on that regard which is a bit disappointing.
Anyways, Amazon said they could only refund me. It sucks because I really really liked these IEMs, but I don't want to get another pair to have them fail a year down the line when amazon can no longer help. :/ Hopefully you guys/gals have better luck with that.
Ouch. I wish I had seen your original post so I could also chime in sooner. I had the same problem recently, except with the right IEM. After contacting Amazon they delivered a replacement set the very next day.
I love their sound, and oh man.. The A5's BASS AND MIDS! With a small EQ cut at 5k and grey filters I was in bliss with any genre.
All was well initially but after a session listening to some Clapton, LedZep & Hiatus Kaiyote, the problem came back with a vengeance. First the volume imbalance between L&R but now on the
left. A short while later
both of them went quieter. Crap. In my case, I still felt great bass, which led me to believe the DD was fine. With how mechanically simple drivers(coils, magnets, electromagnetism) are, I'm inclined to think it's a cold solder joint somewhere between BA's and the crossover. Tried different cables, sources, interfaces, heck even ears! Nothing fixed it. And it was an obvious imbalance. Out of the realm of letting our body and ears equalize and get "used to it" before calling it quits for good.
It seems we've now had a case of 3+ LZ-A5's experiencing the same issue. Truly a shame that LZ doesn't want to deal with customers directly. Amazon told me they will stop selling A5's if the manufacturer can't get it together, so it seems we aren't the only ones to file a claim.
Moving forward, I am quite content with my FLC8S purchase that
@thejoker13 turned me onto. It didnt have that same initial "WOW!" reaction I got with the LZ-A5, and its because the A5 placed too much emphasis on certain parts of the spectrum. This over-emphasis contributed to that immediate wow effect. But it can lead to listening fatigue in some users and with some recordings or genres unless EQ'd down. At least EQ'ing down is better than up. The FLC8S on the other hand does no wrong sonically. The plastic build quality, while being tiny and lightweight, leaves something to desire. But then again, I wasn't compaining about Westone's being plastic 6 years ago. Chi-fi has definitely spoiled us!
Sorry to the folks who pulled the trigger. May your units be eternally balanced and free of defects.
To the ones still considering the A5 after the massdrop fail pricing, remember that defects occur in all products. But we have to align our purchases with businesses who have our best interests in mind.