7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM Review

[phoenixsong]

Thanks. Just remove it with fine needles, and try not to puncture the filter fabric underneath it? Hope I dont screw this up!

There are some dental picks with really fine fish-bone/feather tips, those might work in place of q-tips if you can find them

 

[JanesJr1]

I'm curious if anyone using stock Equalizer APO would like to give my EQ a try.

For me it works a lot better than both Amir's and Maiky's filter designs. It adds that last 10% of realism without any noticeable drawbacks.

I've put the required preamp into the file name, but not into the actual filter settings.
That way, you can setup your EQApo config like this and only toggle the EQ on/off, without a change in overall volume:
View attachment 375830

I'm using MH755 eartips in S and an Apple dongle at 44.1kHz (keep in mind that filter response is Fs dependent).

Of course I'm aware of issues regarding HRTF and insertion differences, as well as good old unit variation, but thought that some of you may still enjoy the preset

I'm just catching up on the EQ you posted in June for the Zero 2 IEM.

I just ran through 30 of my test tracks, using your EQ. You've achieved something that to my ears, sounds correct in its parts (instrument timbre, etc) and also sounds perfectly natural and balanced from bottom to top. I can't recall ever before getting there in one step with a new device (i.e. reading a post and trying an EQ). I mostly liked the IEM before, but now think much better of it.

Unless I've missed it in the posts that I haven't read yet, is there something to be learned about how you did it? (... Assuming others drew the same conclusion...)

Really, a fine job, and I'm grateful!

 

[JanesJr1]

I'm just catching up on the EQ you posted in June for the Zero 2 IEM.

I just ran through 30 of my test tracks, using your EQ. You've achieved something that to my ears, sounds correct in its parts (instrument timbre, etc) and also sounds perfectly natural and balanced from bottom to top. I can't recall ever before getting there in one step with a new device (i.e. reading a post and trying an EQ). I mostly liked the IEM before, but now think much better of it.

Unless I've missed it in the posts that I haven't read yet, is there something to be learned about how you did it? (... Assuming others drew the same conclusion...)

Really, a fine job, and I'm grateful!

I'm adding a PS to my earlier reply to StaticV3 on his proposed EQ for the Zero 2, this time to comment on how I resolved related issues with the IEM's ergonomics. His EQ solution was not all I needed to enjoy the Zero 2, because of useability issues of the physical IEM. This also draws on Resolve's video on the IEM in post 1,002 above.

I have the same problem as Resolve with the Zero tips not fitting securely into my ear canal, resulting in glare on the highs and other problems. None of the tips that came with the IEM worked; nor did any of the dozens of other tips I had, all of which did not fit the big nozzle of the Zero 2. I also had a problem with the cables, because the Zero 2's plastic cable guide (curved to wrap over the top of the pinna) was curved so sharply as to be unusable on my ears.

I finally found a solution in my Blessing 2 box. (That IEM was not durable and I retired it after several attempts at repair.) The Blessing tips fit the big Zero 2 nozzle perfectly, but were made differently, and I found Blessing tips that fit me better than the Zero 2 tips and did not much change the subjective FR. I also found that the twisted pair cables from the Blessing worked perfectly as a substitute for the unuseable Zero 2 cables. I mention this for anyone else who might have some spare parts in their Moondrop box, as an alternative to blind mail-ordering of other tips or cables.

As to the SQ of the Zero 2, there are many things that I like about the EQ that StaticV3 provided, and my only residual problem is some intermittent ringing of soprano voices and a little extra bite in other situations here and there. I have to keep the SPL's from creeping up, and still have to poke those earpieces in now and then, to help prevent this occasional sharpness and loss of bass. But when I have the fit adjusted right, that EQ works very, very well for me.

 

[Curupira]

my only residual problem is some intermittent ringing of soprano voices and a little extra bite in other situations here and there.

If this isn't caused by modes in your ear canal, try decreasing the two first filters further. Also, make sure you're sampling at 44khz, as using bigger sample rates for stactic's preset will introduce ringing. A way to nail where exactly the ringing happens is to do a frequency sweep (please use low volumes for this). You can find a tone generator in the EQ section of any squig.link

 

[BZ22]

My Zero 2 arrived today.
The left and right wiring is reversed, so I had to plug the L connector into the R in-ear.
That's a shame.
I connected them to the 3.5mm headphone jack of the Babyface Pro FS

 

[Mr Swing King]

I am buying way too many iems because of this site!! Curse thee Amir!
Nahh..joking aside, I cherish the fact that I circumvent the nonsense of most hi-fi sites out there and dive straight into TOTL sound quality merely by reading up a bit on ASR from time to time. Granted the more I read the more I buy…but at least these iems are cheap!

I actually went ahead and got both the Zero and Zero 2. Couldn’t make up my mind and just ordered both.
I’m glad I did because a) they fit my ears like a glove (even with the pre-installed tips) and b) I find myself absolutely enthralled by both sound signatures.
In fact this reminds me of the iem world’s answer to the HD600 and the HD650…but with subbass.
The Zero sounds very neutral to me whereas the 2 is more of a warmer presentation. It really depends on my mood as to which I prefer.
I had two unused Tripowin iem cables lying around that I plugged in instead of the stock ones as I prefer to have some type of way to know which one is right and left. The stock ones make you guess.

…and yes that is the fabulous pink iPod Nano. Currently playing some delicious electronic-like post rock by the Belgian band Go March. The Zero’s are performing excellently. Thanks again for the reviews Amir

 

[Tell]

I am buying way too many iems because of this site!! Curse thee Amir!
Nahh..joking aside, I cherish the fact that I circumvent the nonsense of most hi-fi sites out there and dive straight into TOTL sound quality merely by reading up a bit on ASR from time to time. Granted the more I read the more I buy…but at least these iems are cheap!

I actually went ahead and got both the Zero and Zero 2. Couldn’t make up my mind and just ordered both.
I’m glad I did because a) they fit my ears like a glove (even with the pre-installed tips) and b) I find myself absolutely enthralled by both sound signatures.
In fact this reminds me of the iem world’s answer to the HD600 and the HD650…but with subbass.
The Zero sounds very neutral to me whereas the 2 is more of a warmer presentation. It really depends on my mood as to which I prefer.
I had two unused Tripowin iem cables lying around that I plugged in instead of the stock ones as I prefer to have some type of way to know which one is right and left. The stock ones make you guess.
View attachment 389023
…and yes that is the fabulous pink iPod Nano. Currently playing some delicious electronic-like post rock by the Belgian band Go March. The Zero’s are performing excellently. Thanks again for the reviews Amir

At first I was going to say that you could just EQ either one to sound exactly like the other, but then I realised that you where listening from an iPod Nano that doesn't really have a proper EQ, which in turn got me curious how my Zero 2 would sound plugged into the old Nano that I have lying in a drawer somewhere. I need to try it out!

 

[Mr Swing King]

Yeah I am one of the few around here on ASR who doesn’t equalise. It’s not that I’m against it at all - I know full well the benefits EQ can bring to the table - I just find life easier without. I can be a bit neurotic about these things and I’m sure it would be a neverending rabbithole where I would end up focusing on minor tweaks instead of getting lost in the music.

 

[Tell]

Yeah I am one of the few around here on ASR who doesn’t equalise. It’s not that I’m against it at all - I know full well the benefits EQ can bring to the table - I just find life easier without. I can be a bit neurotic about these things and I’m sure it would be a neverending rabbithole where I would end up focusing on minor tweaks instead of getting lost in the music.

Well yeah there is a pleasure to have stuff that sound exactly how you want them to without using any extra tools to tweak it. And I also like to have very bare bone stuff without any unnecessary "distracting", so playing music through a simple Nano while still sounding awesome would be really nice to have when going out for a bikeride or a walk

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

I was not using this IEMS for the last month or two.
Now I put them on and oh boy. I'm always impressed by the sound. Clean precise dynamic, with very nice tonality.
For 20 bucks...

 

[Mr Swing King]

Been listening almost exclusively to the Zero 2 the past few days. It is astonishingly good. Had a hard time taking them out of my ears last night, so the Marvin Gaye soundtrack for Trouble Man turned into Pond’s Tasmania…and well let me check out how Ochre’s Beyond The Outer Loop fairs etc etc. It was very late/early before I turned in.
One of my only complaints? Whenever I return to my HD580/600/650 I miss the bass extension. Currently thinking about giving the Focal Hadenys a go, but Focal’s non-replaceable headbands turn me off big time. Hmmm…

Edith: the Captain Beefheart fan in me wanted the Marvin Gaye soundtrack to be Mirrorman…

 

[Whatever18]

I'm curious if anyone using stock Equalizer APO would like to give my EQ a try.

For me it works a lot better than both Amir's and Maiky's filter designs. It adds that last 10% of realism without any noticeable drawbacks.

I've put the required preamp into the file name, but not into the actual filter settings.
That way, you can setup your EQApo config like this and only toggle the EQ on/off, without a change in overall volume:
View attachment 375830

I'm using MH755 eartips in S and an Apple dongle at 44.1kHz (keep in mind that filter response is Fs dependent).

Of course I'm aware of issues regarding HRTF and insertion differences, as well as good old unit variation, but thought that some of you may still enjoy the preset

You nailed it with this EQ (I did some slight mods, 5.2k was a bit too elevated for my likings), tones down a bit of the metallic harshness in the upper mids while opening up the soundstage and details with the boost in the upper treble (didn't realize that it was needed so much), kudos

 

[Leonm771]

Just received zero:2
This is my first time to get a real IEM.
The last time I listened to IEM is like 15years ago using a cheap sony earphone , it was like crap .
damn , it sounds fabulous , its just 24$... I am worrying about the cable , it looks so fragile.
Is it 0.78mm 2pin connector? I want to get a cable like normal hd6 cable , not those fancy cable.


I was planning to get a IE200 , should I ?

 

[staticV3]

I was planning to get a IE200 , should I ?

The IE200 has a lot more treble and less bass:


If you're curious, attached below is an EQ preset for your Zero:2, that would give you a feel for the IE200's tonality:


On the website below, you can upload that preset and a song of yours, then switch between EQ on and off as you listen to the song.

Listener's Clone KB006x Database

Satiate your sordid squiggle yearning!

listener800.github.io

If you prefer EQ on, then that'd be a solid indicator that you'll like the IE200.

 

[Brian Hall]

I was planning to get a IE200 , should I ?

I would get the Hidizs MP145 over the IE200. I have both. Had the IE200 first.

The IE200 doesn't really sound much better than the Zero 2.

Edited to add: I would say the MP145 is close to the sound of the Hifiman Arya Stealth Magnet headphones. Same wider soundstage and not far off from the Sennheiser HD800S.

 

[phoenixsong]

Just received zero:2
This is my first time to get a real IEM.
The last time I listened to IEM is like 15years ago using a cheap sony earphone , it was like crap .
damn , it sounds fabulous , its just 24$... I am worrying about the cable , it looks so fragile.
Is it 0.78mm 2pin connector? I want to get a cable like normal hd6 cable , not those fancy cable.


I was planning to get a IE200 , should I ?

I have both the ie200 and zero2 currently. It's been a while since I last used the ie200- hope this answers your question

 

[rsqt]

Did anyone try a 4,4mm balanced cable with good sound improvement?

 

[Eleo]

Did anyone try a 4,4mm balanced cable with good sound improvement?

I tried, with good results IMHO, this cable https://www.amazon.it/dp/B09Z6X6QSM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

 

[Jimbob54]

Did anyone try a 4,4mm balanced cable with good sound improvement?

There should be no sound improvement but it will be louder

 

[Leonm771]

I tried, with good results IMHO, this cable https://www.amazon.it/dp/B09Z6X6QSM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

how about the build quality? I think cable like this will be very fragile.