7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM Review

[ehabheikal]

I'd suggest trying to make DIY tips from from earplugs.

Just cut the plugs a little bit shorter and punch a hole in them with hole punch pliers or make an appropriate hole some other way. I like the seal and the isolated sound with these DIY tips.

My hand is too shaky for such but thanks it is an amazing idea

 

[emulle]

Damn this set is good... Been rocking my HD 650 and AKG K371 coupled with my Topping E30/L30 stack the last couple of years.
But the Zero 2's with the TRI Clarion tips, a custom cable and a CX31993 equipped USB-C DAC sounds so good I cannot believe it.. I've already ordered another set, couple of other tips and some more cables to try out (nothing fancy, just thinner and braided for comfort).

Damn.. I've not even tried to EQ them yet..

 

[herr.jemine]

for the low selling price they are pretty awesome, but I don't like the resolution and separation, there is definitely more potential! They are simply mediocre in this area, but it works well so that it is not a negative thing when listening

 

[phoenixsong]

for the low selling price they are pretty awesome, but I don't like the resolution and separation, there is definitely more potential! They are simply mediocre in this area, but it works well so that it is not a negative thing when listening

Resolution and separation have been wonderful for me with Moondrop Sping tips. I have never had so many pre-emptive fps kills before, and it even handles metal songs better than many far more expensive headphones and iems that I have/have heard
*Edited for grammar

 

[herr.jemine]

Resolution and separation have been wonderful for me with Moondrop Sping tips. I have never had so many pre-emptive fps kills before, and it even handles metal songs better than many far more expensive headphones and iems that I have/have heard
*Edited for grammar

yes the zero2 is good but it can really be better, i started with the zero2 and then bought many many more IEMs with different drivers (multi hybrid BA etc etc)the strength of the zero 2 is the uniformity of its presentation, it is uniformly mediocre in terms of detail and separation, the bass is top notch - so there is nothing negative about it when listening, you just realise that it can be better when you try other IEMs that have better separation, detail and imaging. but for 20€ or 20$ what you get is amazing - probably enough for 90% of people.

 

[Honken]

Whenever I read descriptions like detail, imaging, resolution and separation I wonder how these things could be measured. My pet hypothesis is that the frequency response could be an answer, where descriptions such as detail and resolution probably can be found more often for IEMs with more power in the treble, compared to IEMs that do not get that description. Personally I find IEMs with more treble than the Zero:2 to have a charming effect at first, but listening to such IEMs at length is fatiguing and eventually annoying.

For what it is worth I too find the Zero:2 a bit messy out of the box, but bringing down the upper bass with a gentle peaking filter helps to clear things out. With that filter (175hz, -1db, 0.71q) the Zero:2 still have that impressive sub bass, but songs like Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God sound clearer to me (and very close to what my stereo sounds like).

--

My primary pair just had a channel go very quiet on me. I figured it might have been something with the filter but that looked clean after prying it apart. I don't recall when I got mine but it was shortly after launch. Read of others' dying in the same fashion, seems like ****** build quality. Perhaps you do get what you pay for? I am now listening to my backup pair and have another pair on the way as a new backup. Apparent QC issues aside, these are still my favorite set that I own. Sounds great, in my opinion.

 

[herr.jemine]

Amon Amarth, I think that's because of the music you're listening to, there's not much in the way of fine imaging, resolution and separation and dynamics, it's basically grunting and noise

 

[Curupira]

Amon Amarth, I think that's because of the music you're listening to, there's not much in the way of fine imaging, resolution and separation and dynamics, it's basically grunting and noise

In my very subjective experience, I find the opposite to be true: most transducers sound good on audiophile™ recordings like vocal jazz, where there are only two instruments playing at the same time, but only the really good excel in dealing with busy tracks like metal and classical.

Moreover, the busier the track, the more important the frequency response coherency becomes: the two former genres are really good test tracks for EQ changes for this reason, if there's a change in the FR, you'll hear it. Changing something while listening to Diana Krall, on the contrary, hardly ever registers.

A necessary addendum to what I just said is that classical is better recorded than metal, with better stereo mixing and, most importantly, better (actual) dynamic range. These two factors in iems, however, are highly relative. Stereo imaging reproduction in most iem's excellent because they often have superb channel matching, and the other 10% is made of intangible and/or highly personal instances, like insertion depth, HRTF reconstruction etc; and dynamic range, on the other end, is highly lackluster in headphones/iems in relation to speakers, for example. This last one is a bit personal for me though.

 

[Chromatischism]

Whenever I read descriptions like detail, imaging, resolution and separation I wonder how these things could be measured. My pet hypothesis is that the frequency response could be an answer, where descriptions such as detail and resolution probably can be found more often for IEMs with more power in the treble, compared to IEMs that do not get that description. Personally I find IEMs with more treble than the Zero:2 to have a charming effect at first, but listening to such IEMs at length is fatiguing and eventually annoying.

For what it is worth I too find the Zero:2 a bit messy out of the box, but bringing down the upper bass with a gentle peaking filter helps to clear things out. With that filter (175hz, -1db, 0.71q) the Zero:2 still have that impressive sub bass, but songs like Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God sound clearer to me (and very close to what my stereo sounds like).

Agree and For Victory or Death sounds very good as well once you EQ the issues out of these cheaper IEMs. That's one of my tests due to the range it has.

 

[herr.jemine]

Amon Amarth - Victory or Death, no sub bass at all in the recording, little dynamics, compare it with this:

 

[Honken]

Amon Amarth, I think that's because of the music you're listening to, there's not much in the way of fine imaging, resolution and separation and dynamics, it's basically grunting and noise

To each their own, but it is hardly the only thing I listen to (for example, Ane Brun is in my library). It was just an example of a song where without EQ, the upper bass was too hot for at least my tastes.

I agree with Curupira in that busy metal tracks make for good test tracks. And Victory or Death does sound great on the Zero:2 indeed.

 

[ehabheikal]

3

To each their own, but it is hardly the only thing I listen to (for example, Ane Brun is in my library). It was just an example of a song where without EQ, the upper bass was too hot for at least my tastes.

I agree with Curupira in that busy metal tracks make for good test tracks. And Victory or Death does sound great on the Zero:2 indeed.

To each their own, but it is hardly the only thing I listen to (for example, Ane Brun is in my library). It was just an example of a song where without EQ, the upper bass was too hot for at least my tastes.

I agree with Curupira in that busy metal tracks make for good test tracks. And Victory or Death does sound great on the Zero:2 indeed.

I like metal but is there any speaker or iem that does not make it sound like a mush? Will try some iron maiden on these

 

[herr.jemine]

I like metal but is there any speaker or iem that does not make it sound like a mush? Will try some iron maiden on these

No, the recording really sucks - a little noise on the right, a little noise on the left and a little grunting and roaring, the benchmark track is ready
Oh no idea, everyone is fine as they like

https://dr.loudness-war.info/:

 

[scolfaro]

Contrary to some, I don't think these need to be EQd. They also don't sound as good as the Hexa, which does need 1db up and down somewhere (which I find to be already the closest to reference mark that I have). Still, for a fourth of what the Hexa costs, and 1/40th of what my lcd-2c costs, this is a no brainer purchase. Along with the Hexa.

 

[Chromatischism]

Amon Amarth - Victory or Death, no sub bass at all in the recording, little dynamics, compare it with this:

They don't really do sub bass. There are other tests for that.

Starset, for example.

 

[Chromatischism]

Contrary to some, I don't think these need to be EQd. They also don't sound as good as the Hexa, which does need 1db up and down somewhere

Contradictory statement: if they don't sound as good as IEM X, then they do need EQ to sound better.

 

[ehabheikal]

To each their own, but it is hardly the only thing I listen to (for example, Ane Brun is in my library). It was just an example of a song where without EQ, the upper bass was too hot for at least my tastes.

I agree with Curupira in that busy metal tracks make for good test tracks. And Victory or Death does sound great on the Zero:2 indeed.

Did not know Ane Brun now i do. Thanx.

 

[scolfaro]

Contradictory statement: if they don't sound as good as IEM X, then they do need EQ to sound better.

Definitely contradictory, but not illogical.

What makes them Hexas sound better isn't necessarily their tuning, or in other words, considering what I expect from a reference monitor, they are already so close that only a touch more mid-bass and highs are enough to nudge them there (whereas the Audeze needs 5db boosts and cuts) and I know that when they sound that way it's accurate enough that I can make critical decisions with them on and it's going to be accurate.

The 7Hz isn't as technical, it has some graininess to it and the separation isn't nearly as good, BUT, the tuning is so good for a "fun" listen that it doesn't make sense trying to make it "reference" grade, because it won't be that and because it's more useful to me like a top-notch consumer grade "check."

 

[misterdog]

What makes them Hexas sound better isn't necessarily their tuning

Everyone has their opinion, this from elsewhere.

I put the Hexa in the box and sent them back while listening to the Zero 2s. This is the sequel to another day in my life titled, “When I Tried The Moondrop Arias”.

 

[scolfaro]

Everyone has their opinion, this from elsewhere.

I put the Hexa in the box and sent them back while listening to the Zero 2s. This is the sequel to another day in my life titled, “When I Tried The Moondrop Arias”.

Oh definitely, Zero 2's are shockingly good, they just lack that "clinical" edge and cleanness the Hexa has, the first thing I thought when I first put them on was "HD600 in my ears"

The zero 2s are their own thing, so much so I also didn't feel like I needed to bring them closer to anything. I'll put them on once I'm "done" working to check if things are musically working. Btw I sent the Zero Reds back exactly for the same reason, the 7Hz offering just sounded altogether better to my ears...