The discovery thread!

[Dsnuts]

You need to just get a different cable. The stock cable does nothing for the SG-01. Unless you absolutely need a mic on the cord. Just about anything will be an upgrade on that cable.

This stock cable is one of those throw ins. Standard OFC nylon covering with a mic. The best thing you can do for the older SG-01 is throw these things away and just about anything is better than these things.

At least the new OVA version actually throws in a more optimized much higher quality silver plated OCC cable


Truth be told however. These sound so good they are actually worthy of throwing a good aftermarket cable on. Stock cable at least here is acceptable.

 

[tendou]

I don't know about the effect on sounds but the original cable is bad just because it makes the IEM falls out. And I like the mic on them. Probably need to get aftermarket cable.

You need to just get a different cable. The stock cable does nothing for the SG-01. Unless you absolutely need a mic on the cord. Just about anything will be an upgrade on that cable.


This stock cable is one of those throw ins. Standard OFC nylon covering with a mic. The best thing you can do for the older SG-01 is throw these things away and just about anything is better than these things.

At least the new OVA version actually throws in a more optimized much higher quality silver plated OCC cable


Truth be told however. These sound so good they are actually worthy of throwing a good aftermarket cable on. Stock cable at least here is acceptable.

 

[r31ya]

What? spend $50 and you get 3 extra days?

 

[Carpet]

What? spend $50 and you get 3 extra days?

Hell, I nearly died last year. $50 for 3 extra days is a bargain!

 

[paulwasabii]

What? spend $50 and you get 3 extra days?

I think KZ/CCA picked good role models for levels with CRA+ but still kept it on the fun side rather than the more technical CRA. Perhaps the extended treble is a nod to the name but I would have been fine if the upper treble and mid-bass were closer to O2. I do EQ the mid-bass down as it has some real boom to it, but I am an Oxygen fan so you can inch towards it that way. Well done Harman-ish without some of the extra peaks that KZ has been using lately at 5k and 8k and the bigger stage that KZ has had lately.

 

[raymanh]

@Dsnuts

How does the OVA compare to other sub $100 offerings that you've tried? Specifically the Olina if you've had any experience with that?

 

[ian91]

I think KZ/CCA picked good role models for levels with CRA+ but still kept it on the fun side rather than the more technical CRA. Perhaps the extended treble is a nod to the name but I would have been fine if the upper treble and mid-bass were closer to O2. I do EQ the mid-bass down as it has some real boom to it, but I am an Oxygen fan so you can inch towards it that way. Well done Harman-ish without some of the extra peaks that KZ has been using lately at 5k and 8k and the bigger stage that KZ has had lately.

I've put my order in but the midbass is looking a bit too bold for me. I used to enjoy the BL-03 but my tastes have changed dramatically over the past year. I lean more towards the approach the Oxygen takes, like you.

Hmm, not sure if I should cancel the order...!

Edit: I think I'll keep the order given that I enjoy the CRA so much

 

[paulwasabii]

I've put my order in but the midbass is looking a bit too bold for me. I used to enjoy the BL-03 but my tastes have changed dramatically over the past year. I lean more towards the approach the Oxygen takes, like you.

Hmm, not sure if I should cancel the order...!

Edit: I think I'll keep the order given that I enjoy the CRA so much

Your call but that is why I mentioned it and why I EQ it. Maybe just my personal preference but I would have been fine with EDA Hires level too which is coincidentally close to O2. I think most people will enjoy the boom and those that don't, EQ or big open tips. I started with AZLAs

 

[Dsnuts]

@Dsnuts

How does the OVA compare to other sub $100 offerings that you've tried? Specifically the Olina if you've had any experience with that?

Never heard the olina but. There are better technical sets like Dunus Titan S and the recent ECCI YST-02 is more of a mid forward balanced set that is more of a hybrid. The OVA SG-01 has a nice balance of dynamism, tonality and musicality with very good detail for the price range. It does have a bit more coloration for its bass and slightly more for treble which makes them sound energetic in the right way, but otherwise its a very enjoyable sound. More bassier than the Titan S and slightly more bassier than the YST-02. So they are not exactly neutral but music sounds enjoyable on them. I wrote in my review they are a mix between a v shaped signature and a u signature. As it has ideal extensions on both ends of its sound. Mids have a very good rangy tonal quality to its sound not forward but certainly not recessed there.

Technicalities are not world class for is mids but it does not lack in any areas there at the same time. It has an inoffensive sound tuning while sounding superbly dynamic at the right places. I posted on my review about how they compare to something like the older Tin hifi stuff around the price range. T2, T2 plus. The T2 plus actually has some bass and comes more closer to the OVA SG-01 than the T2 but is more mid bass than sub bass and has a bigger 8khz peak than what is on the OVA. Definitely will be more noticeable.

OVA is got excellent bass for both mid to sub bass with zero roll off, much beter texture in the sub bass and the treble while it has a mild 8khz peak got very good treble balancing and extension. Again it isnt that they are the best of anything but for your Sub $50. I think they are easy to like as the sound does nothing really egrigious and sound superbly dynamic especially when amped. That is the reason why I gave them a 5 star rating.

I give ratings on how an earphone does at the price range they are sold at. There will be plenty of $100 sets that will be better here and there vs the OVA SG-01 but for the sub $50 price point. The OVA has a very enjoyable fun yet techical versatile sound tuning that will sound good with most music you all listen to just fine and will certainly excel with bass genres.

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

Mail call! YES. Oooooooh YES. Twas about time after 1 month of waiting, the HZSOUND WAIST DRUM arrive and don't disappoint at all. Well, apart from 2pin connection that i feel isn't very appropriate for bulled shape mini IEM...at least cable is good enough like with HZsound Mirror.
My fear of it being a clone of DQSM Hermit with back vent is gone now, since its like 2 times smaller housing than the Hermit, more like Moondrop Spaceship. Its real open back.
It's third product i test from HZsound and can confirm they have an house target, balanced neutral with focus on imaging and effortless detailing. This time it's hint warmer than Mirror, but more open and wide in soundstage, with more natural and dense timbre and better mids presence, it's really refined and beautifully balanced. Treble is magnificent, sparkly, yet full and rich, not metallic nor as sharp as Mirror which is more crisp W shape. Vocal are free of sibilance very well rounded with wide frontal presence and hint of breath in them (for female vocal)
Highlight for now: High unforced resolution, great transparency, natural timbre, excellent imaging
Need more than 5min listen so stay tuned about those, youll see surely a legit hype growing.
Let say my expectation were extremely high and im blown away by both tonality and technicalities, which are better balanced than Mirror in term of overall musicality.

Insane sound value. I hope the legit recognition will take less time than king of technicalities HZsound Mirror.

 

[Jmop]

Mail call! YES. Oooooooh YES. Twas about time after 1 month of waiting, the HZSOUND WAIST DRUM arrive and don't disappoint at all. Well, apart from 2pin connection that i feel isn't very appropriate for bulled shape mini IEM...at least cable is good enough like with HZsound Mirror.
My fear of it being a clone of DQSM Hermit with back vent is gone now, since its like 2 times smaller housing than the Hermit, more like Moondrop Spaceship. Its real open back.
It's third product i test from HZsound and can confirm they have an house target, balanced neutral with focus on imaging and effortless detailing. This time it's hint warmer than Mirror, but more open and wide in soundstage, with more natural and dense timbre and better mids presence, it's really refined and beautifully balanced. Treble is magnificent, sparkly, yet full and rich, not metallic nor as sharp as Mirror which is more crisp W shape. Vocal are free of sibilance very well rounded with wide frontal presence and hint of breath in them (for female vocal)
Highlight for now: High unforced resolution, great transparency, natural timbre, excellent imaging
Need more than 5min listen so stay tuned about those, youll see surely a legit hype growing.
Let say my expectation were extremely high and im blown away by both tonality and technicalities, which are better balanced than Mirror in term of overall musicality.

Insane sound value. I hope the legit recognition will take less time than king of technicalities HZsound Mirror.

I need the graph ASAP

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

I need the graph ASAP

yeah me too....somebody tell me their one somewhere on FB....on an audio group that compare them to Vesna...cant find it.

they are still blowing my mind right now....with Sony eartips included....connected to Tri Tk2.

those are hint warmer than HZsound mirror, bass isn't as well define yet it have fast slam to it, im listening to fast jazz of Gogopenguin right now...dynamic have really good weight in note impact and again imaging-layering is great, with this holographic charm that was a bit lacking with the Mirror (thinner timbre).

anyway, i will not go hysterical too much...but man. its a very pleasant surprise, wasn't expecting this cohesive near organic yet open, detailed and super well layered musicality. not for basshead for sure, but treble sensitive people will not find those as sharp and peaky as HZsound Mirror.

 

[Jmop]

yeah me too....somebody tell me their one somewhere on FB....on an audio group that compare them to Vesna...cant find it.

they are still blowing my mind right now....with Sony eartips included....connected to Tri Tk2.

those are hint warmer than HZsound mirror, bass isn't as well define yet it have fast slam to it, im listening to fast jazz of Gogopenguin right now...dynamic have really good weight in note impact and again imaging-layering is great, with this holographic charm that was a bit lacking with the Mirror (thinner timbre).

anyway, i will not go hysterical too much...but man. its a very pleasant surprise, wasn't expecting this cohesive near organic yet open, detailed and super well layered musicality. not for basshead for sure, but treble sensitive people will not find those as sharp and peaky as HZsound Mirror.

What are some of your favorite IEMs if you don’t mind sharing? It’d help me out a lot and give me more of an idea if I’d like the Drum!

 

[jant71]

yeah me too....somebody tell me their one somewhere on FB....on an audio group that compare them to Vesna...cant find it.

they are still blowing my mind right now....with Sony eartips included....connected to Tri Tk2.

those are hint warmer than HZsound mirror, bass isn't as well define yet it have fast slam to it, im listening to fast jazz of Gogopenguin right now...dynamic have really good weight in note impact and again imaging-layering is great, with this holographic charm that was a bit lacking with the Mirror (thinner timbre).

anyway, i will not go hysterical too much...but man. its a very pleasant surprise, wasn't expecting this cohesive near organic yet open, detailed and super well layered musicality. not for basshead for sure, but treble sensitive people will not find those as sharp and peaky as HZsound Mirror.

How hard are these to drive? Specs look fine but they don't always tell the true story.

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

What are some of your favorite IEMs if you don’t mind sharing? It’d help me out a lot and give me more of an idea if I’d like the Drum!

Problem with me is that im open minded with tonal balance but right now my fav IEM are my IEM in uses in fact. Their ALOT...(out of review obligation)
I tend to like well balanced tonality with good technicalities wtv the signature, W, U, V, harman, diffuse wtv. Im allergic to thin timbre most of time. I listen more to female vocal yet what affect male vocal affect cello which i listen alot too...
Now that i listen more to Waist Drum, i confirm they are source sensitive as well as amping hungry (scale up), bass is the part im not sure to like, it have warm thumping and definition is vague...extension of HZ Mirror is better yet not as warm punchy....
I tend to judge all IEM as if they all cost 1K too...until i score the sound value part.

Im confident to say HZ Waist Drum are great, not so much about how their musicality will be judge since they are gently bright neutral with slight mid bass boost, quite maturely tuned.