7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM Review

[Sebby]

I can't really relate. Cadenzas tuning makes everything sound dry and closed in, everything sounds like Steely Dan vinyls om my parents hifi system.

I could name a few sets that have a more immersive, less closed-in playback than Truthear Red. But it's not a multi-tier difference to me.

I find Zero Red much drier (if I understand what you mean). Cadenza doesn't have the mid frequencies tuned counterclockwise, it doesn't have that hole at 150Hz (the point where the subwoofer activates on Zero Red) and it has more air and the FR measurements seem to confirm this.
Then, different ears and variation in production... anything could be. On both IEMs I use Eartips FinalAudio.

 

[markanini]

I find Zero Red much drier (if I understand what you mean). Cadenza doesn't have the mid frequencies tuned counterclockwise, it doesn't have that hole at 150Hz (the point where the subwoofer activates on Zero Red) and it has more air and the FR measurements seem to confirm this.
Then, different ears and variation in production... anything could be. On both IEMs I use Eartips FinalAudio.

Check again. Firstly Cadenza has less energy around 6kHz. Secondly it has more bass below 250Hz which will mask higher frequencies. Normalizing the graphs to the bass frequencies corresponds better with what I hear.

 

[Art of sound]

I’m not buying another $20 IEM after OG ZERO and Hola and a bunch of the hit models like zex pro i eventually donated. There is a clear difference in timbre, detail retrieval, seperation on the expensive ones. Why not get aria or a planar that is $100-150 and EQ them if need be. There are so many now that are worthy unless you misplace a lot.

 

[Sebby]

Check again. Firstly Cadenza has less energy around 6kHz. Secondly it has more bass below 250Hz which will mask higher frequencies. Normalizing the graphs to the bass frequencies corresponds better with what I hear.
View attachment 338019

No offense, but crossing the graphs like this makes me smile.

 

[muza_1]

I’m not buying another $20 IEM after OG ZERO and Hola and a bunch of the hit models like zex pro i eventually donated. There is a clear difference in timbre, detail retrieval, seperation on the expensive ones. Why not get aria or a planar that is $100-150 and EQ them if need be. There are so many now that are worthy unless you misplace a lot.

Not my experience at all after owning some $500.00+ sets over the years and lately trying the Thieaudio Monarch MKIII (I really like them but not worth the price difference compared to other low cost ones), 64Audio U12t (not for me at all) and other revered and expensive ones, I decided that I have never going to spend more than +/-$70.00 on IEMs ever again. I really don't care about looks or build quality even the cheapest Sony MH755 are still working and in good condition after years of use.

Also there is no such thing as "detail retrieval" as for sound-stage all IEMs sound similar to me the rest (separation, clarity and such) is up tu frequency response and low distortion. I just choose the ones closer to my preference (with low distortion) and EQ them.

 

[jools]

Mine arrived today and I'm comparing with Truthear Zero Blues. Visual and tactile impression is cheap compared to the Truthears - so the difference in price seems totally reasonable. Then again, being lighter and narrower than the Truthears, they fit me a little better. Comparing sound is tricky because the 7Hz are louder (so that's always better, right?) but swapping back and forth basically goes (7Hz)... ooh that bass is nice... (Truthear)... hello cymbals... and then round and round. I was supposed to be just doing a quick listen because I had stuff to do... That was a couple of hours ago. What a time to be alive.

 

[Metrallaroja]

Just got a pair, love them

 

[AudioJester]

@Pearljam5000
You should buy IEMs. These circa $50 comparisons is like you comparing SOTA Genelec/Neuman etc., but at a ridiculously affordable price. Then it comes down to which kind of perfection do you prefer

 

[markanini]

No offense, but crossing the graphs like this makes me smile.

Maybe, but you talked about measurements and I looked. Normalizing to the mids is no better to the Cadenza. The 6kHz deficit is probably responsible for what I hear as dry drums. The trend stands when comparing with more wet sets like Tin C2 or Moondrop Lan. Do you browse AHS server by any chance?

 

[Sebby]

Maybe, but you talked about measurements and I looked. Normalizing to the mids is no better to the Cadenza. The 6kHz deficit is probably responsible for what I hear as dry drums. The trend stands when comparing with more wet sets like Tin C2 or Moondrop Lan. Do you browse AHS server by any chance?
View attachment 338057View attachment 338060

I accept these graphs.
Yes, you might be right about some things, but wait until I explain: as you see in the low-mid frequency region, Cadenza is fuller and Zero Red on the other hand has a dip before rising back towards the bass.
That deficit for me makes the midrange too anemic and in one track I realized that a percussion had almost literally disappeared from the stage; with Cadenza he was present again.
As for treble and air and as you can see from the graph, Cadenza has a little dip between 4kHz and 8kHz and then comes back up and is louder than Zero Red around 10kHz. Playing with parametric EQ over the years, I realized that it is the contrast between levels that makes the difference and not the absolute levels, or at least my brain noticed this and masking probably comes into play... not I want to take a chance.
Zero Red felt like the sound was more tiring and emptier.
Cadenza seemed drier in some places, you're right about that but it made up for it with the rest. The perfect IEM doesn't exist, but if I put everything on the scale the pot falls towards Cadenza for me...

 

[Palladium]

Not my experience at all after owning some $500.00+ sets over the years and lately trying the Thieaudio Monarch MKIII (I really like them but not worth the price difference compared to other low cost ones), 64Audio U12t (not for me at all) and other revered and expensive ones, I decided that I have never going to spend more than +/-$70.00 on IEMs ever again. I really don't care about looks or build quality even the cheapest Sony MH755 are still working and in good condition after years of use.

Also there is no such thing as "detail retrieval" as for sound-stage all IEMs sound similar to me the rest (separation, clarity and such) is up tu frequency response and low distortion. I just choose the ones closer to my preference (with low distortion) and EQ them.

I never tried any megabuck IEMs, but I did try the Blessing 3 Dusk and came out utterly unimpressed. Not because its bad per se but I'm not gonna pay 20-30x over Zeros etc just for a bit more treble.

Anybody who tries to argue price isn't the most important factor of all is deep into some serious cope.

 

[muza_1]

I never tried any megabuck IEMs, but I did try the Blessing 3 Dusk and came out utterly unimpressed. Not because its bad per se but I'm not gonna pay 20-30x over Zeros etc just for a bit more treble.

Anybody who tries to argue price isn't the most important factor of all is deep into some serious cope.

And a bit more treble that can be had with equalization anyway.

With the performance of IEMs today there is no reason to spend a lot if you main priority is audio quality.

 

[Yevhen]

Did someone try their open back IEMs with the planar driver? I have a problem walking with the closed back - they are making the noise after every step, like when touching the hoodie or when the wire swings back and forth...

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Did someone try their open back IEMs with the planar driver? I have a problem walking with the closed back - they are making the noise after every step, like when touching the hoodie or when the wire swings back and forth...

Audeze did I believe

 

[nawfal07]

This is crazy good for the crazy price, I couldn’t find any fault with the sound except the bass in Yuna/Usher’s Crush a little bit unrefined but the bass is heavy in that song though. My first ever IEM and it fits comfortably with the default tips. I don’t feel like taking them off after an hour so that means they could be something I could get into seriously.

Anyway, like I said I’ve never used IEM before, should the pins on the connector go all the way in? I already feel like I have forced a little to get that far, I’m worried that I will break it.

PS: I’m posting on the phone so I couldn’t see if the image is too big, I hope it’s not.

 

[staticV3]

should the pins on the connector go all the way in? I already feel like I have forced a little to get that far, I’m worried that I will break it.

This is as far in as they go:

 

[Sebby]

This is crazy good for the crazy price, I couldn’t find any fault with the sound except the bass in Yuna/Usher’s Crush a little bit unrefined but the bass is heavy in that song though. My first ever IEM and it fits comfortably with the default tips. I don’t feel like taking them off after an hour so that means I they could be something I could get into it seriously.

Anyway, like I said I’ve never used IEM before, should the pins on the connector go all the way in? I already feel like I have forced a little to get that far, I’m worried that I will break it.

View attachment 338221


PS: I’m posting on the phone so I couldn’t see if the image is too big, I hope it’s not.

I also noticed that Pins are very hard to insert.
I inserted them making very small lateral movements until I reached the bottom. In your photo you can see that you inserted them correctly

 

[nawfal07]

Did you source this from Amazon or Linsoul? Thanks.

We have local sellers here in my country but they have it out of stock so I bought this from AliExpress. Took 5 days to arrive from China but my country is in South East Asia so it’s not that far.

Fot the case, it can fit the Zero:2 with the lightning dongle but seems too tight in there so I use my WD USB portable drive case temporarily.

 

[nawfal07]

This is as far in as they go:
View attachment 338222

That’s where I have them on mine too. I feel good about it now, thanks.

I also noticed that Pins are very hard to insert.
I inserted them making very small lateral movements until I reached the bottom. In your photo you can see that you inserted them correctly

Thanks! That’s good to hear!

 

[threni]

This is crazy good for the crazy price, I couldn’t find any fault with the sound except the bass in Yuna/Usher’s Crush a little bit unrefined but the bass is heavy in that song though. My first ever IEM and it fits comfortably with the default tips. I don’t feel like taking them off after an hour so that means they could be something I could get into seriously.

Anyway, like I said I’ve never used IEM before, should the pins on the connector go all the way in? I already feel like I have forced a little to get that far, I’m worried that I will break it.

View attachment 338221


PS: I’m posting on the phone so I couldn’t see if the image is too big, I hope it’s not.

These are my first "proper" iems (ie that cost more than about £8, which have detachable wires, measure well etc). I had no idea how hard to push the pins in, how far, if there was a polarity and whether they weren't going in all the way because I was getting that wrong. I can't see l/r indicators on the units themselves or the wires. And both wires curl around and touch my face which is annoying. I tried a few tips (I had to google for how to put them on as that was a struggle too) but ended up using the original ones. Anyone else get three orange tips? So 10/10 for sound quality but some instructions/clearer labelling for noobs might be an idea and I want either replacement cables (although they seem to cost almost as much as the iems themselves plus the hassle of locating compatible ones because of course there's no standard here) or to somehow uncurl the wires so they hang down properly.