The discovery thread!

[LaughMoreDaily]

How many KZ IEMs are we releasing this week?
KZ: YES. We will release KZ pokemon into the wild until we run out of alphabets!

KZ ZNA. 1DD + 1BA

If they keep releasing new earphones every day... What are climate change environmentalist's going to think!?

"BOYCOTT THEM!"

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

They need proper product manager, create a distinct product line or segmentation or clear intent with their specific product designs.
Their product start to blend in together without much distinction that cause people to get confused or disinterested in.

Yep.

 

[o0genesis0o]

They need proper product manager, create a distinct product line or segmentation or clear intent with their specific product designs.
Their product start to blend in together without much distinction that cause people to get confused or disinterested in.

They are too busy acting defensive to care about trivial stuffs like designing product lines.

 

[Carpet]

Here's my guess regarding the KZ thing... it's just easier for them.

I don't speak Chinese but take for example the Shuoer Tape. If you translate tape back into Chinese, you get jiāo dài which can mean many things... including "clear." So was tape a screw up? I dunno. But there's little screwing up in translating a KZ ZSN.

Or we end up with another Chevy Nova.

I think KZs targeting is more in the tradition of the Trabant and Ford Pinto!

 

[bhazard]

I took a chance on the Aful Performer 5 and I'm glad I did. This is the second IEM in a row where I felt I didn't need to use EQ to enjoy them (KZ PR1 Pro recently as well).
I can hear the 10kHz dip which can make the Performer sound dark, but a boost there helps regain what is missing. AutoEQ from 3.kHz and up (HBB Target) gets these exactly where I want them.

The draw is in the bass region. I aim for these levels on just about everything, and these do it stock (ok I still added a few dB at 20Hz for fun). Minus the upper treble dip/darkness, these are consistently great throughout the spectrum.

I don't feel slighted at all for the $220. I use my own cables and tips on everything, so the lack of accessories is a non factor for me. Not a perfect set, but a healthy hype here.

I may revisit this after trying the Hexa and Cadenza, but that's how quick this hobby moves. Any set can be overtaken by something better or cheaper the next day.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Just a screen logo on a generic case no conspiracy here.

Agree. It’s looks like copy and paste staple format.

 

[littlenezt]

How many KZ IEMs are we releasing this week?
KZ: YES. We will release KZ pokemon into the wild until we run out of alphabets!

KZ ZNA. 1DD + 1BA




https://www.facebook.com/groups/2386473901653225/posts/3034725680161374/

my impression of these IEM are quite positive

 

[msing539]

I took a chance on the Aful Performer 5 and I'm glad I did. This is the second IEM in a row where I felt I didn't need to use EQ to enjoy them (KZ PR1 Pro recently as well).
I can hear the 10kHz dip which can make the Performer sound dark, but a boost there helps regain what is missing. AutoEQ from 3.kHz and up (HBB Target) gets these exactly where I want them.

The draw is in the bass region. I aim for these levels on just about everything, and these do it stock (ok I still added a few dB at 20Hz for fun). Minus the upper treble dip/darkness, these are consistently great throughout the spectrum.

I don't feel slighted at all for the $220. I use my own cables and tips on everything, so the lack of accessories is a non factor for me. Not a perfect set, but a healthy hype here.

I may revisit this after trying the Hexa and Cadenza, but that's how quick this hobby moves. Any set can be overtaken by something better or cheaper the next day.

I'm curious about the Performer and how it... performs?

Deep down I know I'll always want more bass deep down (dammit words), so I went for the Fatfreq Maestro Mini.

If only so I can giggle to myself like a little schoolboy.

 

[gmdb]

I think KZs targeting is more in the tradition of the Trabant and Ford Pinto!

Presumably KZ aren't just targeting a western market. I would expect that first and foremost they seek success in the very large mainland Chinese market. Certainly their approach to product development is very confusing to point of a alienating people at times. But Chinese friends tell me - not specifically in relation to KZ - that there is an expectation of lots of product diversity in their domestic market and people are pretty savvy at picking out what's good and what's not.

 

[bhazard]

I'm curious about the Performer and how it... performs?

Deep down I know I'll always want more bass deep down (dammit words), so I went for the Fatfreq Maestro Mini.

If only so I can giggle to myself like a little schoolboy.

Stock vs AutoEQ to HBB. Perfectly listenable stock, but excels when fixed/smoothed, especially near that dip.
HBB 2022 matches my preferences, so this is very much to my liking.

 

[msing539]

...pretty savvy at picking out what's good and what's not.

Glad to hear someone's good at picking out these things. I have to read hundreds... no thousands of words and buy like 10 chifi iems before I find one that I want to keep for 3 weeks.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Re-sharing an odd-ball, GS Audio ST10 since I finally found a good pairing cable to draw full potential out of it, after 30 cables try and error. Tried XINHS, Hakugei, PW Audio, TRI, Satin Audio, Linsoul, etc etc, some made sound utterly unbearable on ST10.

Also went thru a routine ear tip roll, ended up to fake SpinFit CP360.

Original

Remind you something?
ST10 is more mid-bass fat than Fatfreq Maestro Mini’s bass floor. You can imagine how it would end.

Original tuning is simply too boomy, it like this;

95% of who saw this will not recognize the existence of a hunter in wooden camouflage (look at the tree on top right)

It’s about same with ST10’s stock tuning. 95% bass, and you hardly could see anything else.

ST10’s driver info:
Sub-woofer: Sonion 38 AcuPass (2BA)
Bass-Mid: Sonion 37 (2BA)
Mid-Treble: Sonion 2389D (2BA)
Super Tweeter: Knowles SWFK (4BA)

After cable/tip rematch, ST10 ended up with following signature:
-UM MEST MKII like bass-head satisfying bass floor
-Proper Knowles SWFK x 4 tweeter backed high-density / well textured treble as you can expect from high-end models
-not overly recessed mid
-wide artificial diffusion field, it’s fun

My perception of recabled ST10 is closer to Softears RS10’s FR

How does it sound like?

It sounds like strip club at 3am.
Bass, sparkling lights & girls, night club BGM. You’re already deeply drunk but still having a tequila shot. That feeling.

EDM Electronica / Trance / Techno on ST10 is one of a kind.

Artificial Wide Diffusion Field x high layering x head knocking bass set up matches with EDM especially well.

It’s not necessarily a good IEM, but I don’t have any other IEM that sound like 3am strip club, so that’ll do it!

Some pic of ST10

 

[baskingshark]

Got my Aful Performer 5 in. Before I listen, I think some reviewers or Aful has some explaining to do.
Check out the pic of my old TRN BAX.
Check out the pic of the AFUL Performer 5.
Notice something familar?
Either AFUL is TRN, an offshoot of TRN, contracted TRN to make the box (which is identical in layout and size to the BAX box), or things are a little too oddly familar.

Anyone have any more insight?

A lot of CHIFI gear (like accessories, shells, eartips, even drivers) are probably all manufactured from a few factories, just a different logo emblazzoned on them. Otherwise, some big fish do OEM products for smaller fish?

I'm more concerned with their name... is it

A-full

Awful

or A-fool?

I guess we'll be the judges.

The AFUL name in Chinese (AH FU) (福) actually means "prosperity" or "fortune".

I know in English this translates to a mocking word though!

WOW! Time flies when your having fun and burning holes in your wallet! @Dsnuts created this thread on Dec 24th 2011! So we're a couple weeks away from 11 years! I've been here on and off and with a couple accts for the entirety of this threads life. I think it started with the Panasonics or the FX40's or something like that? Whodda thunk it that this would still be alive and vibrant as it is 11 years later, when so many other threads have gone the way of the dinosaurs! Cheers and congrats!

I wonder how many wallets over the past decade were burned due to this thread! Haha, but jokes aside, I really like the community here in this thread, and the input/feedback from everyone, new or veteran.

Sorry about your wallets!

 

[AmericanSpirit]

I'm more concerned with their name... is it

A-full

Awful

or A-fool?

I guess we'll be the judges.

Yea unfortunate abbreviation for non-english speakers.. we have a brand named 1TING too!

I'm more concerned with their name... is it

A-full

Awful

or A-fool?

I guess we'll be the judges.

yea highly suggest them to rebrand, awful performer is a bad omen for an IEM.

 

[r31ya]

It finally arrived, $42 (+$1.5 (custom tax))
smaller than i thought

Moondrop Aria (left) and KZ PR1 Pro (right)

KZ Pr1 pro is somewhat drier and sharp compared to lush and softer Aria.
need to get used to it,
and oh, its fairly thirsty for power, .