[Carpet]

Actually I stand corrected.

KZ did release some pokemons recently in 2023:


1) KZ ZAR:
1DD+7BA

$81 USD - apparently they say it is their new flagship




https://www.facebook.com/KZEarphone...8dS8EBpYqosXtx47inAtUzJvtA536tVrjnQnHQvKH9Z2l
https://www.linsoul.com/collections/all/products/kz-zar


$81 is a bit risky on a KZ IMHO, many other big boys hitting at the $80ish bracket in terms of good sound, but maybe some KZ fans might wanna try it for the team.



2) KZ DQS

$13 USD
single DD - claimed to be 5 microns thick diaphragm.




https://www.facebook.com/KZEarphones/photos/a.1192839517813819/1599669810464119/

The DQS appears to have an open back from the exploded views on the KZ AE store. They also have a resin shell with an additional separate insert to carry the driver. I suspect they may be injection molding polycarbonate shells and then 3D printing model specific inserts. That has the potential to keep production costs down while making it easier to do multiple releases (since CNC for faceplates and 3D printing don't require any retooling).

The ZAR looks like bars on a window. Perhaps an appropriate gift for any dishonest people facing criminal indictments. Otherwise good luck competing at $80!

The KZ ZS10 PRO X and KZ AS16PRO are two releases from last year that worked. I think the new drivers and better tuning have worked well on those two. A step up from TRN still using the old 50060 and 30095 drivers in ST5. Also worth noting, is that that those two were pretty much stand alone releases, rather than a cluster of clones with different faceplates.

 

[r31ya]

In 2023, we will have to see which pokemon is going to be the winner:

1) weekly KZ
2) weekly collab
3) weekly harman $20 budget sidegrade
4) weekly waifu


I have a sneaky suspicion KZ will still rule the roost when it comes to quantity and productivity of releases (but probably not win in quality of releases).

KZ might hit 3 of those four.

Apparently KZTuner program still running (in the background)
so thats means, it'll be part of KZ weekly release, it might have collab with chosen tuners (as in their name on IEM), and if the tuners want to create dead accurate Harman....
Unfortunately the current KZRep hates Waifu box, so...

well, all in all if this ended making non KZ-fun-v iems in sub $50 space with interesting tuning (well the goal is to replicate popular or TOTL tuning with least budget possible)
it'll be fun. (hopefully the tuners push kz to use "better" drivers, tough that will be at odds with the program goals)

 

[Ianus]

Audiosense on AE is back with nice discounts (44-62% off).

 

[Leonarfd]

https://penonaudio.com/penon-impact.html
Penon Impact 2499$

Had a feeling it was going to be in this league. Over my budget for now, and I'm not interested in selling my favorites in my collection to fund it. Still a interesting release from Penon.

 

[helloh3adfi]

Yup I won't buy IEMs over 800$. Hopefully Truthear will create amazing flagships in the future.

 

[Carpet]

Audiosense on AE is back with nice discounts (44-62% off).

The AQ4 and DT600 are included again too, for anyone who missed the pre-Christmas sales! The DT100 is back up to $60, so I'm glad I grabbed it when they had it at $50. Unfortunately that counts as positive reinforcement of impulse buying!

Edit: here's the link

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/sale-items/3115056.html

 

[gooberbm]

New toy coming soon from Hidizs




Pricing is unknown at the moment. I guess it is at least more expensive than the MD4 that I reviewed last year. That IEM (MD4) was surprisingly technical. I liked the resolution and soundstage imaging. However, it was held back by uncanny tonality (from slightly to very boxy, depending on your choice of the cross over) and BA bass. I hang onto that IEM for a while, but finally let that IEM “retire” to my drawer after receiving the JD7 (which might, just might, retire due to FH15. I’m still undecided).

Based on the graph, I assume that:

• The DD acts as a sub-woofer, handling all the way until 250Hz. I find the bass shelf pretty.
• The 17A003 handles all the way until around 1kHz
• The dual 2389 handles the high-mid and mid-treble.
• The E50DT handles from 10kHz up, responsible for that massive 15kHz peak (me likey)

I expect a punchy IEM (bass higher than ear-gain peak) with large soundstage (flat-ish 1kHz, massive 15kHz peak, a.k.a., “fake air”, a.k.a., 64 Audio TIA treble). The pulled back lower-treble (5k) is interesting. We will have to wait and see how it balances out with the rest. I’m generally happy with such a dip.

The shape of the ear-gain reminds me of the Dunu Vulkan. That one has an interesting soundstage structure.

Can you share where you found that promo material?

 

[Redcarmoose]

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/kinera-celest-pandamon.26255/reviews#review-29998

 

[lushmelody]

The DQS appears to have an open back from the exploded views on the KZ AE store. They also have a resin shell with an additional separate insert to carry the driver. I suspect they may be injection molding polycarbonate shells and then 3D printing model specific inserts. That has the potential to keep production costs down while making it easier to do multiple releases (since CNC for faceplates and 3D printing don't require any retooling).

The ZAR looks like bars on a window. Perhaps an appropriate gift for any dishonest people facing criminal indictments. Otherwise good luck competing at $80!

The KZ ZS10 PRO X and KZ AS16PRO are two releases from last year that worked. I think the new drivers and better tuning have worked well on those two. A step up from TRN still using the old 50060 and 30095 drivers in ST5. Also worth noting, is that that those two were pretty much stand alone releases, rather than a cluster of clones with different faceplates.

Yeah, its easy to predict those relaunches. I admire that they were fast with AS16 Pro High Imp. They are listening

 

[DynamicEars]

https://penonaudio.com/penon-impact.html
Penon Impact 2499$

Had a feeling it was going to be in this league. Over my budget for now, and I'm not interested in selling my favorites in my collection to fund it. Still a interesting release from Penon.

The Penon Legend was $1300 ish, that with 13 BA drivers (and yes the Sonion BA is open BA, my guess is the Acupass Low frequency BA so perhaps the Impact also using the same / similar BAs), but I expect the Impact around $1600-1900 being having 4 EST and +1 total driver counts. Twice the price from Penon Legend is a bit steep, even though still half of Traillii. $2500 is close to get both Z1R and Monarch MKII, that they have to compete with.

 

[Xinlisupreme]

Today is Aroma day!
I received new Aroma Entry level sets:
Jam, Neo AIR dac and Sparkle cable.
I had a short Jam session and is growing a lot, doesn’t sound as a DD+2BA, it’s incredible what Aroma done with this iem.
I plan to listen Neo soon before to cook it, it is DD+1BA and looks a specific IEMs for vocals.
Air dac is pocketable, light and provide enough power for both IEMs , I appreciate LDAC connection.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Yup I won't buy IEMs over 800$. Hopefully Truthear will create amazing flagships in the future.

Considering contribution margin of full sonion woofer + mid + knowles tweeters around 10-12BA is $400-500, and adding Sonion EST65DA is $110-125 per 2set, highest cost for 12BA + 4EST could be $500+$250 = $750. Yes $800 makes a good line for the upper limit

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Today is Aroma day!
I received new Aroma Entry level sets:
Jam, Neo AIR dac and Sparkle cable.
I had a short Jam session and is growing a lot, doesn’t sound as a DD+2BA, it’s incredible what Aroma done with this iem.
I plan to listen Neo soon before to cook it, it is DD+1BA and looks a specific IEMs for vocals.
Air dac is pocketable, light and provide enough power for both IEMs , I appreciate LDAC connection.

I guess it’s counter offer to Softears Volume, pricing around $275?

I googled Aroma Jam and reached to this website. Didn’t notice I was looking at aroma essence until very last moment after clicking “shop now”

Nvm….I found Aroma Audio’s JP website. It says the IEM(Neo) is 75k JPY , probably 500-600USD I guess that’s highest 2BA+1DD I ever saw in my life. But yes that’s how boutique high-end shops positioned them in focusing strategy for small amounts of rich nation’s target, understandable.

Actually Neo is 1BA+1DD for 75k JPY =500-600USD, and JAM 2BA+1DD for 135k JPY. roughly $1K USD.

wow!
Even that Elysian x Effect Audio‘s 4BA+1DD was like $1.2K USD


They are charing too much on intangible’s IMHO.

 

[audio123]

I guess it’s counter offer to Softears Volume, pricing around $275?

I googled Aroma Jam and reached to this website. Didn’t notice I was looking at aroma essence until very last moment after clicking “shop now”


Nvm….I found Aroma Audio’s JP website. It says the IEM(Neo) is 75k JPY , probably 500-600USD I guess that’s highest 2BA+1DD I ever saw in my life. But yes that’s how boutique high-end shops positioned them in focusing strategy for small amounts of rich nation’s target, understandable.

Actually Neo is 1BA+1DD for 75k JPY =500-600USD, and JAM 2BA+1DD for 135k JPY. roughly $1K USD.

wow!
Even that Elysian x Effect Audio‘s 4BA+1DD was like $1.2K USD


They are charing too much on intangible’s IMHO.

You got to be kidding me. Have you even tried them yet?

From my experiences in this hobby, one should not judge a gear without any first hand experience.
I have tried the JAM & NEO already. Their price tags are justifiable. It is not about how many drivers an IEM has. The most important thing is the sound.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

You got to be kidding me. Have you even tried them yet?

From my experiences in this hobby, one should not judge a gear without any first hand experience.
I have tried the JAM & NEO already. Their price tags are justifiable. It is not about how many drivers an IEM has. The most important thing is the sound.

Where did you tried Jam and Neo?