7Hz Salnotes Zero IEM Review

[Berwhale]

If it's moisture, cleaning with IPA and then allowing to air dry should remove any water

Yes, I was going to try that later. The filters are quite fragile on the Salnote Zero/Zero 2, so I don't think you'd be able to clean them many times without destroying the, but still worth trying if it extends their lifespan.

My Truthear Zeros came with extra sets of filters (maybe just the metal and membrane parts?). I haven't had to change the filters on either my reds or blues, so I don't know if there is foam part in there.

 

[goldark]

I purchased these and they're wonderful and so cheap that I bought another one just to have lying around. One thing I haven't been able to test yet is how they fare on planes.

Has anyone tried them in this situation? How do they fare? I have ER2XR's as well which works pretty good on planes. If the Zero is even close, I may sell the ER2XR's.

 

[DavidK442]

A coincidence that the same night I bring my Zeros back out for a listen you resurrect the thread. One thing I noticed immediately, compared to the Chu ii’s that I have been listening to, is that the Zeroes do a better job at passive isolation. I assume that level of isolation will be beneficial on a plane.
As you are used to the sound of the Emotics I’m sure that the original Zero’s increased bass is a nice upgrade. I personally prefer the Zero ii’s for even more bass.

 

[LevityProject]

These sound positively terrible without correction above 10khz.

As a cheap, high quality intro to headphone tuning, these are 12/10 though. That is their purpose.

 

[DavidK442]

These sound positively terrible without correction above 10khz.

As a cheap, high quality intro to headphone tuning, these are 12/10 though. That is their purpose.

Amir was somewhat agnostic about eq’ing the top end. For my 55 year ears I’m sure things get a bit fuzzy up there so that sharp peak at 12.7K doesn’t bother me. Might be an issue for younger users though, even “positively terrible”.

 

[markanini]

Amir was somewhat agnostic about eq’ing the top end. For my 55 year ears I’m sure things get a bit fuzzy up there so that sharp peak at 12.7K doesn’t bother me. Might be an issue for younger users though, even “positively terrible”.

Two factors that make even objective data doubtful in this area: 1. Hearing is less tonal, more textural, above 3-4kHz unelss you feed your ears with loud synthetic tones-excludes most recorded music. 2. Measurement rigs are very poor at predicting individual listeners FR above 3-4kHz.

If you want to take IEM measurement literally that high up I suggest at a minimum that you carry out an experiment involving adding high-Q peaks to a speaker setup and check if that sounds familiar or not.

Not disputing that this set has a hot treble BTW, that's definitely my impression. But more likely it's from accumulative treble energy rather than any peaking FR features.

 

[DavidK442]

Two factors that make even objective data doubtful in this area: 1. Hearing is less tonal, more textural, above 3-4kHz unelss you feed your ears with loud synthetic tones-excludes most recorded music. 2. Measurement rigs are very poor at predicting individual listeners FR above 3-4kHz.

If you want to take IEM measurement literally that high up I suggest at a minimum that you carry out an experiment involving adding high-Q peaks to a speaker setup and check if that sounds familiar or not.

Not disputing that this set has a hot treble BTW, that's definitely my impression. But more likely it's from accumulative treble energy rather than any peaking FR features.

Just to beat the last bit of fun out of this conversation, I was quoting a previous post and don’t personally believe that the measured high frequency peak makes the Zeroes bad.

 

[sejarzo]

Not disputing that this set has a hot treble BTW, that's definitely my impression. But more likely it's from accumulative treble energy rather than any peaking FR features.

Finally bought some, and that was my impression. This set is very hot compared to the Truthear x Crinacle Zero (blue.) I have wide but shallow ear canal openings and the red tips wouldn't maintain a good seal, so that's what I attributed it to at first. Gave up on those and found that while the yellow tips were a PITA to install, they maintain a good seal

This is what I came up with for EQ based on the measurements in the OP plus my personal impression. I should note that whenever I have used EQ to a Harman target that I need to reduce the roughly 2-4 kHz region by 2-3 dB and lower the overall range above ~1 kHz by 1 dB.

I'm 67, and I know I don't hear much above 14 kHz. TBH I can't be certain I hear any difference with that filter at 12.7 kHz.

 

[sejarzo]

Finally bought some, and that was my impression. This set is very hot compared to the Truthear x Crinacle Zero (blue.) I have wide but shallow ear canal openings and the red tips wouldn't maintain a good seal, so that's what I attributed it to at first. Gave up on those and found that while the yellow tips were a PITA to install, they maintain a good seal

This is what I came up with for EQ based on the measurements in the OP plus my personal impression. I should note that whenever I have used EQ to a Harman target that I need to reduce the roughly 2-4 kHz region by 2-3 dB and lower the overall range above ~1 kHz by 1 dB.

I'm 67, and I know I don't hear much above 14 kHz. TBH I can't be certain I hear any difference with that filter at 12.7 kHz.


View attachment 438741

After a few more days, I felt this pair was getting brighter. At first I thought it was not real, but listening to a variety of music, and switching back and forth with the TcCZ Blue with the old EQ I've used for ages, I had to believe it was real.

I ran white noise through them for 7 hours and it was even worse.

This is where I am at now to get them listenable. Another 3 dB cut around the peak of the Harman curve.

 

[SteveL]

I purchased these and they're wonderful and so cheap that I bought another one just to have lying around. One thing I haven't been able to test yet is how they fare on planes.

Has anyone tried them in this situation? How do they fare? I have ER2XR's as well which works pretty good on planes. If the Zero is even close, I may sell the ER2XR's.

They're not close. I keep my ER2XR (which for me require quite a bit of EQ whereas I don't use any with the Salnotes) around for when I need serious isolation.

 

[SteveL]

After more than 2 years these continue to nail my personal preference curve without EQ. They are not bright, they are simply realistic. The timbres of instruments in well-recorded symphonic music are very true to what I hear in a concert hall. Maybe that's not what's needed in highly processed recordings of other musical genres, but that doesn't matter to me. (I too bought an extra pair for $16 to put away just in case.)

 

[goldark]

They're not close. I keep my ER2XR (which for me require quite a bit of EQ whereas I don't use any with the Salnotes) around for when I need serious isolation.

I'm with you. The Salnotes are just so good, I've sold all my full sized headphones besides my 560S. You can get any number of sub $20 IEM now with incredible measurements and be completely happy. I'll keep these and my ER2XR.

 

[XaviMartinez55]

I just received them, after hearing the samples at Dan's Audio reviews YT channel......I ordered the red ones (Mecha edition) which I really love how they look, but so far they are leaving me completely cold. I liked the Zero 2 better... I much prefer the Wan'er SG,

The OG Zero has treble detail indeed, however imho saying that it has "lean" bass is being overly benevolent, but then again, this is the beauty of this hobby...there are SO MANY to choose from, it's endless....

Next for me to try in the sub $20 are the Sgor Adonis and the KZ Saga balanced.

 

[bismuth]

Put the sony 755 stock tips on my pair of 7hz Zero and find them better that stock ones regarding seal comfort and sound. I was using the provided red ones before. Any other tip recommendation for this great iems ?

 

[HissingFree]

They need 2-3db more bass, otherwise, they sound good to me stock, but that's why we have software eq, more so with newer cheap dongles that have integrated parametric eq if you are not using equalizer apo or the likes.

 

[ajd578]

I bought these in December 2023. They sounded good for a while but recently I noticed they are substantially quieter with drastically attenuated bass. Not the most comfortable, either. Too bad.

 

[DavidK442]

I bought these in December 2023. They sounded good for a while but recently I noticed they are substantially quieter with drastically attenuated bass. Not the most comfortable, either. Too bad.

I have not experienced that problem with the Zero’s though I don’t use them much any more. I had a very similar thing happen with a set of Chu II’s. Googled to find that the nozzle filter can become partially blocked with debris (wax, lint, etc.). Cleaned both filters with alcohol and good as new. Seriously night and day difference. I thought one of the drivers had failed and ordered a replacement set before learning about the filters. Have since ordered replacement filters if/when it happens again. An annoyance but a quick and cheap solution.

 

[markanini]

I bought these in December 2023. They sounded good for a while but recently I noticed they are substantially quieter with drastically attenuated bass. Not the most comfortable, either. Too bad.

The porous filters in the nozzle are clogged with debris and/or humidity. 7Hz doesn't offer replacement AFAIK, you may experiment when soaking the filters in isopropyl alcohol.

Choose IEMs that use Knowles filters this bothers you.

 

[SuicideSquid]

They need 2-3db more bass, otherwise, they sound good to me stock, but that's why we have software eq, more so with newer cheap dongles that have integrated parametric eq if you are not using equalizer apo or the likes.

The Zero 2 is basically exactly this.

I have not experienced that problem with the Zero’s though I don’t use them much any more. I had a very similar thing happen with a set of Chu II’s. Googled to find that the nozzle filter can become partially blocked with debris (wax, lint, etc.). Cleaned both filters with alcohol and good as new. Seriously night and day difference. I thought one of the drivers had failed and ordered a replacement set before learning about the filters. Have since ordered replacement filters if/when it happens again. An annoyance but a quick and cheap solution.

Yup. Common problem with almost all IEMs if they're used regularly.

 

[Contrario]

What's for sure is I have read a few reports now about the z2 slowly losing output in one or both channels. I suspect something of a weakness in design possibly around moisture / wax. Perhaps the more technically competent members with failed units could do a bit of cracking them open and inspecting?

I've experienced the same channel imbalance problem with my pair. I've inevitably ended up removing the filters and membrane from both of them. The channel imbalance problem has been solved but they've become very shouty.

Has anyone experienced the same thing? Do you think filters and membrane dramatically change their frequency response?