[Singaravelan]

Really? When I tested R6 Pro2 and R8II, I wouldn’t listen using class AB after hearing class A. Small SQ difference in the grand scheme, maybe, but different enough for me to favour one over the other.

But yeah, no option to turn off the Class A of R4 for now. It does run a bit warm, but not as warm as R6 Pro2 and Shanling M6 Ultra.

What makes things run warm there? Is it the DAC or some other component?
The hiby M300 can run 10 hours in a row, doesn't get warm at all. Is there a superior component in the r4 that spews off heat? (not too much i gather, just saying).

It was similar with some DAC dongles. Ibasso DC03 pro doesn't get warm at all, while couple others tend to run hot. Nothing adverse, but as compared.

 

[OceanOfLight]

The TRN ST7 a new IEM from TRN, successor of the ST5, featuring a hybrid acoustic architecture with 2 dynamic drivers (2DD) and 5 balanced armature drivers (5BA).

When I first saw the driver configuration, I had to double-check the price —only 35 dollars at launch.

Coupon Code for Aliexpress: NQDISR8JA71C

 

[o0genesis0o]

What makes things run warm there? Is it the DAC or some other component?
The hiby M300 can run 10 hours in a row, doesn't get warm at all. Is there a superior component in the r4 that spews off heat? (not too much i gather, just saying).

It was similar with some DAC dongles. Ibasso DC03 pro doesn't get warm at all, while couple others tend to run hot. Nothing adverse, but as compared.

Likely the amplifier, plus the metal shell of R4 conducting heat from the internals to the outside for cooling.

 

[PhonoPhi]

Well, tuning switches are KZ current trend that mainly stems from the buyers disagreement on how much bass is enough bass.
The fun-head keep butting head with the balanced/neutral-head.

For a short period of time, they released two (or more) version of their iem, the bass-boosted/fun-one and the balanced-one.
After that, KZ is dealing with proper crossover critisism and while at it, giving a solution to the bass amount discourse,
kz give their iem a crossover with 4 switch, 3 to adjust bass. 1 for pseudo high gain.

---

Unfortunately KZ still miles behind their competition like moondrop, 7hz, TangZu in terms of marketing and fostering an audio community.

While it does get a bit better at marketing right now with several new outward marketing persons. But the bar is f*cking low compared to their predesessor and still not up to par with competition

Exactly!
The bass preference varies significantly among audiophiles and is a great point to address.

Hence, tuning switches and nozzles make all the great sense to me.

Switches manage distribution of current/energy to different drivers or serve as impedance adapters.
AS24 switches are perfect for me from very lean (almost Hexa, no more talk of Hexa around, right? Hexa was saved for me by Penon orange tips) to too much bass (I like my bass lean).
ZAT - just an extreme of lean switches for me makes ZAT really a great IEM that perfectly competes in the $100-$150 range.

Nozzles offer differnt filtering options. One of my best experiences in Head-Fi is to read about different tuning mods (for me, mods are largely removing filters/mesh (I love my sound raw and pristine); my first mod here was done under the great patient guidance of the Master Slater, I miss him so-so much...

P. S. On another note, I really liked what you posted about ZS10 pro 2. If not Rhapsody-like, but good old V - I am all for it. Ordered.
Tangzu Wan'er is so "meh" to my ears, the only KZ competitor under $100, IMO, is Moondrop with Droplet, Chiu IIz Jiu, May, etc. I also love Celest. So those three are my self-imposed limit in ChiFi acquisition now.

 

[mathi8vadhanan]

Still in honeymoon phase with the Trio. Settled on UUDU and it sounds balanced with all my sources. Loving the synergy with Mojo2.
Still can't believe this is just $25 on AE. It is weighing quite bit on the ears and get uncomfortable after 30-45 mins. Looking forward to other KZ/CCA offerings with this 8mm driver.

 

[Rambone]

The Android is snappy on R4 indeed. No software bug so far, though I find audio and video are slightly out of sync. It was the case with R6 P2 and my DX300 as well, tested with both YouTube and streaming from my local server.

Maybe I’ll put an emulator on to test how far it can emulate. I guess it runs up to PSP and Nintendo DS.

Re: sound signature: yes, DAC chip company cannot be generalised, what I try to say is the R4 I have on my hand sounds like a generic implementation of ESS saber in dongle and micro DAP format, the edgy and clean one, not the one that “does not sound like ESS”. Side by side with W4, which is already considered neutral, bright, “sterile” by many audiophiles, and the R4 is noticeably leaner and edgier. I’m fresh out of 5 dongle review back to back so I believe that my ears are still “tuned” to listen to source differences, and I have many of them next to me here to test my claim. Maybe there is unit variations or my unit is faulty, but from what I hear with mine, telling my reader that this is “analogue” and invoking the imagery that they can get the sound of an R2R device, heck, even the sound of the DEW4X can lead to bitter buyer remorse.

Again, not saying R4 sounds bad, but just control expectation. I’ll check with HiBy to see if my unit is defective.

I know what you mean tho, I've listened to enough ESS based DACs that sometimes you feel like you know what to expect going into them until you get thrown an oddball or two that turns what you know upside down. While it would be cool if the R4 would invoke R2R or Multibit feels, I'm feeling it is probably more like a Schiit Modi E presentation at best.

 

[r31ya]

The TRN ST7 a new IEM from TRN, successor of the ST5, featuring a hybrid acoustic architecture with 2 dynamic drivers (2DD) and 5 balanced armature drivers (5BA).

When I first saw the driver configuration, I had to double-check the price —only 35 dollars at launch.

Coupon Code for Aliexpress: NQDISR8JA71C

Right on cue i suppose

Waay back then,
KZ ZS10 Pro is competing with the bassier TRN V90.
both are 5 driver (1DD + 4BA) in similar pricing.

and later when KZ resurrect ZS10 Pro X, TRN appears with fancier TRN ST5.
while it have same 5 driver setup, ST5 is a bit pricier than ZS10ProX but it have better metalic shell and fancier DD

and now KZ released ZS10 Pro 2, TRN re-appears with TRN ST7
discounted to be smack dab in range of ZS10 Pro 2.
now with more driver, 2 DDs (low and low-mid) and 5 BAs (2x 50060 mid-high freq, 2x 30095s high freq, and 1x 30019 ultra high freq)

tough while KZ is currently avoiding putting BA in the nozzle for ZS10Pro 2, TRN seems to put 2x 30095 on the nozzle.
hopefully TRN tuned ST7 right, not the shrill misses of TRN high drivers iems, and we could saw ZS10pro2 vs TRN ST7 competition.

 

[InvisibleInk]

Right on cue i suppose

Waay back then,
KZ ZS10 Pro is competing with the bassier TRN V90.
both are 5 driver (1DD + 4BA) in similar pricing.

and later when KZ resurrect ZS10 Pro X, TRN appears with fancier TRN ST5.
while it have same 5 driver setup, ST5 is a bit pricier than ZS10ProX but it have better metalic shell and fancier DD

and now KZ released ZS10 Pro 2, TRN re-appears with TRN ST7
discounted to be smack dab in range of ZS10 Pro 2.
now with more driver, 2 DDs (low and low-mid) and 5 BAs (2x 50060 mid-high freq, 2x 30095s high freq, and 1x 30019 ultra high freq)

tough while KZ is currently avoiding putting BA in the nozzle for ZS10Pro 2, TRN seems to put 2x 30095 on the nozzle.
hopefully TRN tuned ST7 right, not the shrill misses of TRN high drivers iems, and we could saw ZS10pro2 vs TRN ST7 competition.

What we have here is a veritable historian of the KZ vs TRN budget wars.

 

[Jaytiss]

I bought this unit because of the discussion here. Solid little iem, I fully enjoy it.

 

[jant71]

The TRN ST7 a new IEM from TRN, successor of the ST5, featuring a hybrid acoustic architecture with 2 dynamic drivers (2DD) and 5 balanced armature drivers (5BA).

When I first saw the driver configuration, I had to double-check the price —only 35 dollars at launch.

Coupon Code for Aliexpress: NQDISR8JA71C

On Amazon US from Shenzen no US stock just yet though. https://www.amazon.com/Fanmusic-ST7...713625879&sprefix=trn+st7,aps,483&sr=8-1&th=1

 

[r31ya]

Interesting... official graph of TRN ST7

and driver placement with stacked 10mm+6mm DD in at the middle. that two in the nozzle that's a bit worrying.

but with KZ's also being noted to be ZS6s like...
i hope both are tuned in ways that treble sensitive people still could enjoy them somewhat.

 

[Zerstorer_GOhren]

Oi! mates, I've been busy for past few days as I'm doing some business chores while typing down some product assessment. I was able to finish 3 review articles within a week.

Here are my latest product reviews:

NICEHCK F1 PRO

LINK: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/nicehck-f1-pro-planar-universal-iem.26936/reviews#review-33625

FOSI AUDIO DS2

LINK: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/fosi-audio-ds2-2024-cirrus-version.27163/reviews#review-33639

TANGZU XUANWU GATE

LINK: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/tangzu-audio-xuanwu-gate.26653/reviews#review-33623

 

[Atek2019]

Interesting... official graph of TRN ST7



and driver placement with stacked 10mm+6mm DD in at the middle. that two in the nozzle that's a bit worrying.



but with KZ's also being noted to be ZS6s like...
i hope both are tuned in ways that treble sensitive people still could enjoy them somewhat.

lacking of bass??

 

[activatorfly]

What makes things run warm there? Is it the DAC or some other component?
The hiby M300 can run 10 hours in a row, doesn't get warm at all. Is there a superior component in the r4 that spews off heat? (not too much i gather, just saying).

It was similar with some DAC dongles. Ibasso DC03 pro doesn't get warm at all, while couple others tend to run hot. Nothing adverse, but as compared.

I guess heat dissipation depends on efficient circuitry & how good the casing acts as a heatsink??.....the Sony NW ZX300a never gets warm after an all day session, whereas the R6 Pro gets fairly toasty within 20 mins.

 

[MidnightSun]

Interesting... official graph of TRN ST7



and driver placement with stacked 10mm+6mm DD in at the middle. that two in the nozzle that's a bit worrying.



but with KZ's also being noted to be ZS6s like...
i hope both are tuned in ways that treble sensitive people still could enjoy them somewhat.

Looks quite unnatural.