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7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM Review

Rate this IEM:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 7 1.6%

  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 12 2.8%

  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 53 12.4%

  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 357 83.2%
  • Total voters
    429
digitalfrost said:
My ears are different sizes. While in my left ear, bascially anything fits ok, my right ear is somehow much bigger.

c7840a040513870a2a287c01eb51fa20.jpg

The XL spring tips were a very good solution that works well for me. But it's kinda strange that they have such a big difference between the L and the XL.
Click to expand...
I think originally they only released S M L (thats all I got woth any IEMs they shipped with) and people complained they were on the small size compared to other tips (they are, the black L are not big enough for me for some types of IEM) so guessing they added the XL size to cover both the L and XL Spinfit sizings (Spinfit CP100 L is 13.3 mm and XL is 14mm; CP145 L is 13.5mm wide) rather than adding too more sizes to the range (who wants to admit to having XXL ears ?!)
 
threni said:
They are objectively very bassy so yours are faulty or you have a bad fit. You've gone for the blue tips which would be too small for me (and result in poor bass). I'd try other tips, starting with the red, and try inserting them in different ways, pushing quite far in, listening to something with bass as you do.
Click to expand...
Snap. I had zero bass with the blue. Red for the win. I had given up....Many thanks threni and others
 
These preset is incredibly good!
It lifts the Zero 2 on a other level
(+JVC fx9)

Bruel & Kjaer 4620 rocks.

Screenshot_20240412_132856_Neutron Player.jpg
Screenshot_20240412_132919_Neutron Player.jpg
 
Last edited:
Well, then I'm the best proof, that it's worth sharing again. Because I missed it. Unfortunately. But miracle is the right word. Because for me it really borders on a miracle. Zero 2 + fx9 + this preset.
 
A good track to show, how artificial the 711 profile sounds, compared to the 4620.

Screenshot_20240415_133246_Neutron Player.jpg
 
Yesterday I compared the Zero 2 with the Blessing 3.

20240417_063510.jpg


The JVC FX9 were used as tips.
Both IEMs were set to Crinacle's 4620 preset.

It was a short fight.

In my opinion, the Blessing 3 doesn't stand a chance. The bass in particular seems much more detached and at the same time, more energetic on the Zero 2. In the highs, the B3 seems just as lacking in detail as its predecessor.

There are tracks, such as Amberland - Oberlisk, where you can hardly believe your ears. At 1:30 min., a "hissing" sample starts. This noise is well above 10 kHz. While it can be heard clearly and distinctly on the Zero 2, it disappears almost completely on the Blessing 3! Even when I increase the FR above 10kHz by 4 dB!
It's hard to believe. I experienced exactly the same thing with the Blessing 2.


This comparison has once again shown me,
how incredibly good the Zero 2 is.
As already mentioned, I consider the FX9 tips and the 4620 preset to be a must.
 
Bow_Wazoo said:
Yesterday I compared the Zero 2 with the Blessing 3.

View attachment 364227

The JVC FX9 were used as tips.
Both IEMs were set to Crinacle's 4620 preset.

It was a short fight.

In my opinion, the Blessing 3 doesn't stand a chance. The bass in particular seems much more detached and at the same time, more energetic on the Zero 2. In the highs, the B3 seems just as lacking in detail as its predecessor.

There are tracks, such as Amberland - Oberlisk, where you can hardly believe your ears. At 1:30 min., a "hissing" sample starts. This noise is well above 10 kHz. While it can be heard clearly and distinctly on the Zero 2, it disappears almost completely on the Blessing 3! Even when I increase the FR above 10kHz by 4 dB!
It's hard to believe. I experienced exactly the same thing with the Blessing 2.


This comparison has once again shown me,
how incredibly good the Zero 2 is.
As already mentioned, I consider the FX9 tips and the 4620 preset to be a must.
Click to expand...
I think something's wrong; first, they shouldn't sound very different if eq'ed to the same target based on the 4620; second, in crinacle's own measurement of the two iems, blessing 3 clearly has better treble extension out of the box:
graph (18).png
 
That's the difference between theory and practice.
There are many members, especially in the ASR, who are of the opinion, that once we've talked about the FR and distortion, everything has been said.
I obviously don't agree with that.

Yesterday I compared the FH3 with the FH5s. Both were also adjusted to the 4620 preset.
And yes, of course, these two sound noticeably different.

But to be honest, I'm actually fed up with this fundamental discussion...
 
Bow_Wazoo said:
That's the difference between theory and practice.
There are many members, especially in the ASR, who are of the opinion, that once we've talked about the FR and distortion, everything has been said.
I obviously don't agree with that.

Yesterday I compared the FH3 with the FH5s. Both were also adjusted to the 4620 preset.
And yes, of course, these two sound noticeably different.

But to be honest, I'm actually fed up with this fundamental discussion...
Click to expand...
The thing wrong could be about the first part of what I said. Which is that, even the 4620 is not accurate enough, resulting in different frequency responses after eq-ing. With distortion and phase-accuracy out of the way (which is the case with most decently made iems these days), there is really little else that could explain a noticeable difference in perception other than undetected frequency response differences. If they were the same frequency response at your eardrum, then it is literally impossible that a hissing noise is audible on one but not the other even after boosting the treble by 4db.
 
Ultimately, I don't have a better explanation.
And I just accept it as a given.
I use the best measurement results/presets that we have, and transfer them to the corresponding in-ears. But the journey doesn't end here. Because, as I said, I notice differences, which I then evaluate.
 
I will admit my ignorance and ask for help.

How do I EQ these on an iPhone I use primarily fo listening to Pandora, please?

Thanks.
 
So I went ahead and purchased a Qudelix 5k along with a USBc-Lightning cable (Fiio LT-LT2) to use with my iPhone and the Zero2 iems.

I’m excited to be able to experiment with PEQ abilities of the device. Quick question though - is there any reason for me to look into getting a balanced cable for the iem’s, or no?

I’m about to go on a trip, and I was reading the battery life is much worse if I go balanced on the device? Just curious if it’s a worthwhile difference.

Thank you!
 
Last edited:
ronnzi said:
is there any reason for me to look into getting a balanced cable for the iem’s, or no?

I’m about to go on a trip, and I was reading the battery life is much worse if I go balanced on the device? Just curious if it’s a worthwhile difference.
Click to expand...
Balanced output only gives you more power, which you may need to drive inefficient headphones to satisfying loudness.

For IEMs, there's no advantage.
All you'd get is slightly more hiss, and worse battery life.
 
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