7Hz Salnotes Zero IEM Review

[Sebby]

Despite graphing similarly Zero 1 and Red are in different leagues as far as bass responce. Bass is one of Reds high points, just ask around.

The RED's bass has no impact or definition.

 

[half_dog]

The RED's bass has no impact or definition.

That's funny. I gabe my Salnotes Zero cause for me there was no bass on that. In contrast Zero red is spot on.
Maybe I had gotten a "defective" unit?

 

[markanini]

That's funny. I gabe my Salnotes Zero cause for me there was no bass on that. In contrast Zero red is spot on.
Maybe I had gotten a "defective" unit?

Assuming you got good seal on both sets, like I did, my impressions totally match yours. Red bass was just right, 7Hz Zero was just too lean.

 

[half_dog]

Assuming you got good seal on both sets, like I did, my impressions totally match yours. Red bass was just right, 7Hz Zero was just too lean.

Exactly, too lean! And that peak around 12kHz... ouch.
I believe I have enough experience to perceive if the sealing is okay... I quoted defective because that pair has a good channel matching (checked with a IEC711 clone coupler). Perhaps it is related to user's ear impedance?

 

[TabCam]

As for a lot of IEM's, bass response is a lot dependant on how well the tips fit your ears. If I do not insert them properly I have hardly any bass and they also do not passively isolate me. When the 7Hz Salnotes Zero is properly inserted it isolates very well, the bass is really good and IMHO better than the Zero Red.

I was lucky as the red tips are quite a good fit for me. On the negative side, I find the other tips I would like to try too difficult to replace.

 

[Emlin]

As for a lot of IEM's, bass response is a lot dependant on how well the tips fit your ears. If I do not insert them properly I have hardly any bass and they also do not passively isolate me. When the 7Hz Salnotes Zero is properly inserted it isolates very well, the bass is really good and IMHO better than the Zero Red.

I was lucky as the red tips are quite a good fit for me. On the negative side, I find the other tips I would like to try too difficult to replace.

Yes, the tips are very difficult to replace, even with the ones provided. I had to stretch them using a teaspoon handle (what I had to hand). It was still a bit fiddly even then.

 

[DSJR]

Just got mine with twenty four hour delivery on Amazon Prime. I didn't feel I needed a little more bass and my ears need all the hf they can get, so the slightly lower hf oputput in the 'Zero 2' model was rejected for me as I doubted I'd now notice the 13kHz peak in the Salnotes Zero.

Cable is too short for the use I want to put it to (can you get longer cables please?). I chose a smaller dome which seems comfortable enough but got me knickers in a twist getting left and right identified and of course the over-ear cable routing took some getting used to.

Sound is great for my twenty two quid. The cheaper Betron BS10 ear buds I've been using are bright and clear, but obviously TOO bright if these Zeros are neutral. No issues with bass here at all and no requirement for a bit more as the '2's' offer and no, I can't now hear the 13kHz peak - just maybe, the snap and crackle of vinyl is slightly exaggerated, but that's not an issue for me really.

I can't believe this performance can be got so cheaply. I'm a cheapskate very happy bunny!

 

[Matias]

@DSJR Yes, you can get a 3rd party cable that is longer or just a 3.5mm extension cable.

 

[Tircuit]

Got these and the 2. 2 is more comfortable, both from softer cable on back of ear and outer ear pressure from case.

Best part of both is clarity and separation of every sound and the bass quality.

Trying to decide which I prefer, whether I miss the brighter sound of these vs the comfort of the 2. (iPhone + Spotify no good eq). Both have great sound and play way louder than I’d ever listen, and I play loud (US Lightning adapter).

Edit: Yes, I prefer the treble in these without EQ. I will use the 2 on my PC with EQ. So basically what Amir found in his 2 review. Maybe I’m easily suggestable

 

[nawfal07]

Hi all, honestly never in my life used an IEM before, but lately I feel like listening to music at work. I want it to be subtle so when I come across this review I’m all set to start with one, what else to look for but a cheap but excellent performing set as a starter.

While browsing, I realised there’s a Zero:2 preorder available for a little bit more money. I have no idea if it’s any better for sure without a review here which could be a while (although unlikely, it’s not unheard of that a model got messed up in a new successor version).

Should I get this model now, or preorder the new version? Preorder over here means I have to pay full price in advance and no cancellation.

Thanks!

 

[Jimbob54]

Hi all, honestly never in my life used an IEM before, but lately I feel like listening to music at work. I want it to be subtle so when I come across this review I’m all set to start with one, what else to look for but a cheap but excellent performing set as a starter.

While browsing, I realised there’s a Zero:2 preorder available for a little bit more money. I have no idea if it’s any better for sure without a review here which could be a while (although unlikely, it’s not unheard of that a model got messed up in a new successor version).

Should I get this model now, or preorder the new version? Preorder over here means I have to pay full price in advance and no cancellation.

Thanks!

The Zero 2 was reviewed on here a few days ago and is available to buy in many territories.

 

[nawfal07]

The Zero 2 was reviewed on here a few days ago and is available to buy in many territories.

Figures, just found the review just now. Thanks!

 

[mc.god]

Finally decided to order my backup unit, now with 3.5mm mic cable.
I already have mic cable of the Hola but it's plug is a tad bulky and doesn't fit perfectly into my smartphone case hole, Zero ha straight thin plug so I pulled the trigger.

 

[mc.god]

Finally decided to order my backup unit, now with 3.5mm mic cable.
I already have mic cable of the Hola but it's plug is a tad bulky and doesn't fit perfectly into my smartphone case hole, Zero ha straight thin plug so I pulled the trigger.

They just arrived.
They sound just the same of my 1 year old no-mic unit
So burn-in and cable don't make a difference, can you believe that?

Jokes aside, the mic cable works perfectly and it can control volume (5% steps) and play\pause on Linux laptop too, would be useful if I did't already have a usb volume control (set at 1% step). The buttons on the remote feels a bit cheap, but nitpicking.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Seriously contemplating just selling my Moondrop Variations and getting a set of these. That will leave me with a nice bit of spare cash. I even EQ the upper treble of the Variations on my Qudelix 5K towards what's already present in the stock tuning here.

I'm receiving variations tomorrow and 7zero2 somewhere in the next 2 weeks.

If you are interested I can write some of the impressions, just ping me in the two weeks or so

 

[Dunring]

Good news, I found the exact same tips only in black after taking all measurements with a micrometer and going through some sets I bought in the past. These look and feel the same, probably the same factory makes them. They have a more sturdy sidewall and don't make flappy noises when moving in your ear, and sound exactly the same. It's from an eBay collection I got for $8 here. I got a TRN T2 Pro16 multi kit and a couple of adapters to check for functionality all the amplifiers I get through. Those clown color tips are the only downside, new daily drivers along with the Hifiman He5xx.

I measured the large red stock tips at:
4.9mm exterior nozzle
6.3mm locking ring on the nozzle
5.4mm below the the locking ring
Tip overall:
9mm high
13mm wide

 

[mc.god]

Good news, I found the exact same tips only in black after taking all measurements with a micrometer and going through some sets I bought in the past. These look and feel the same, probably the same factory makes them. They have a more sturdy sidewall and don't make flappy noises when moving in your ear, and sound exactly the same. It's from an eBay collection I got for $8 here. I got a TRN T2 Pro16 multi kit and a couple of adapters to check for functionality all the amplifiers I get through. Those clown color tips are the only downside, new daily drivers along with the Hifiman He5xx.

I measured the large red stock tips at:
4.9mm exterior nozzle
6.3mm locking ring on the nozzle
5.4mm below the the locking ring
Tip overall:
9mm high
13mm wide

View attachment 339585

Aren't Zero:2 in the photo?
I'm fine with the stock yellow big tips, they give perfect fit and comfort the color don't bother me at all, anyway me too have many spare cheap tips from Aliexpress times ago, I rolls them to when an iem stock tips can't fit well, i.e. with old Revonext QT5 and TRN MT1 i had to try several.
TRN T2 Pro modular cable has really nice feel, got it for about 12€ with all the 3 plugs during last black friday from Aliexpress TRN official store, really good deal, togheter with 2 sets of largest TRN T tips, didn't try them toroughly yet but seems to have good stickiness ad nice fit.

 

[oratory1990]

In the oratory measurements there is nothing of that kink.

I measure earphones with an ITU T.Rec P57 Type 2 ear simulator (the Gras 43AC).
Amir measures all headphones and earphones with a Type 3.3 ear simulator (the Gras 45CA).

The difference is that a Type 2 ear simulator consists of a coupler with a metal ear canal extension, whereas the Type 3.3 ear simulator has a rubber pinna attached to the coupler.

The "kink" as you call it is a mass-spring resonance (mass of the total earphone, stiffness of the eartip/fleshy part of the ear canal). On a Type 3.3 ear simulator like the Gras 45CA this resonance is slightly more exaggerated than what we typically see on actual humans (by e.g. measuring an earphone with a microphone inserted into the front volume into the earphone).

You can mostly ignore it.

 

[Dunring]

Aren't Zero:2 in the photo?
I'm fine with the stock yellow big tips, they give perfect fit and comfort the color don't bother me at all, anyway me too have many spare cheap tips from Aliexpress times ago, I rolls them to when an iem stock tips can't fit well, i.e. with old Revonext QT5 and TRN MT1 i had to try several.
TRN T2 Pro modular cable has really nice feel, got it for about 12€ with all the 3 plugs during last black friday from Aliexpress TRN official store, really good deal, togheter with 2 sets of largest TRN T tips, didn't try them toroughly yet but seems to have good stickiness ad nice fit.

Yep it's the blue 7hz Zero:2 I was happy with the sound, so went for a cooler look by measuring them off to find the match in a better color. I have a couple of kits coming this weekend that have the built in microphone, going to check sound quality mainly. I bought the original and Zero:2 and the tip assortment looked identical.

 

[Somafunk]

A question for @oratory1990 now he's turned up, what is your personal choice of iems in daily use and why?