7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM Review

[ziggurcat]

Tripowin Zonie is good for the money

Can confirm. Highly recommended.

I ended up landing on this cable:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007585194978.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.15.5c341802zctPSd

I was really looking for ones with the softer nylon shells because I am not a particular fan of the plastic-y cables, but I know that the Tripowin ones are quite good. And for less than $20 CAD. I'm ignoring the fluffy, snake oil language because it's not too expensive.

 

[ziggurcat]

Question:

How would one convert the .csv file that Amir posted to simplify it to be something like the attached sample (change .txt to .csv)?

 

[staticV3]

Question:

How would one convert the .csv file that Amir posted to simplify it to be something like the attached sample (change .txt to .csv)?

Load it into Excel or Sheets.

Delete description text and export separate Left/Right .csv files.

Drag and drop into REW, click Average responses.

Export measurement as .txt, uncheck include header and phase.

 

[DazST]

I got a pair of these last week as my first ever foray into IEMs. These really do sound fantastic on both my phone (relative) and desktop amp. My only concern now is whether I just made my other 2 pairs of over-ears redundant!

 

[Dk33145]

I got a pair of these last week as my first ever foray into IEMs. These really do sound fantastic on both my phone (relative) and desktop amp. My only concern now is whether I just made my other 2 pairs of over-ears redundant!

You'd be pleased to know they wouldn't be redundant! This is because you will get listener fatigue from even the "best" headphones or IEMs when your brain gets used to them. Meaning that you would need to rotate between them every so often for them to "sound good".

 

[Vulneraria]

Hello everyone, first post here. I just bought the Zero:2 to replace my tired Galaxy Buds and I spent the last two days hooked to them - I must say I'm utterly impressed by them.

I never had much thought about headphones/IEMs; I just bought them to listen to music while walking. But I've been a speaker audiophile for 10+ years, and I started immediately to compare the Zero:2 to various setups I had in the past and to my current Klipsch RF-7 and 300B valve amplifier. I was stoked... to think about comparing 25€ IEMs and a JM6 Pro DAC to my setup is utterly nonsense in my mind.

I really like them, but I found a couple of flaws. Since I have no prior experience with audiophile-level headphones/IEMs, I'd like to hear your opinion:

1. When there is a lot going on (like multiple guitars, voices, drums at the same time), it gets kinda difficult to separate each instrument. This reminds me of some full-range speakers I had before (MarkAudio 10P in a frugal horn enclosure - loved them!), so I was asking myself if this is a "limitation" of the single driver in the IEM or if it's something common to all IEMs.
2. Soundstage - I find the soundstage a bit "cramped," like all the instruments feel on top of each other. Again, I don't know if this is something related to this IEM or something to be expected.

Technicalities aside, I really love them and I really like their tuning. I haven't tinkered with EQ and I just replaced the provided tips with foam tips, which are much more comfortable for me. The fact that the main drawbacks of this 25€ IEM are technicalities speaks volumes about the quality and the insane performance/cost ratio.

 

[Curupira]

Hello everyone, first post here. I just bought the Zero:2 to replace my tired Galaxy Buds and I spent the last two days hooked to them - I must say I'm utterly impressed by them.

I never had much thought about headphones/IEMs; I just bought them to listen to music while walking. But I've been a speaker audiophile for 10+ years, and I started immediately to compare the Zero:2 to various setups I had in the past and to my current Klipsch RF-7 and 300B valve amplifier. I was stoked... to think about comparing 25€ IEMs and a JM6 Pro DAC to my setup is utterly nonsense in my mind.

I really like them, but I found a couple of flaws. Since I have no prior experience with audiophile-level headphones/IEMs, I'd like to hear your opinion:

1. When there is a lot going on (like multiple guitars, voices, drums at the same time), it gets kinda difficult to separate each instrument. This reminds me of some full-range speakers I had before (MarkAudio 10P in a frugal horn enclosure - loved them!), so I was asking myself if this is a "limitation" of the single driver in the IEM or if it's something common to all IEMs.
2. Soundstage - I find the soundstage a bit "cramped," like all the instruments feel on top of each other. Again, I don't know if this is something related to this IEM or something to be expected.

Technicalities aside, I really love them and I really like their tuning. I haven't tinkered with EQ and I just replaced the provided tips with foam tips, which are much more comfortable for me. The fact that the main drawbacks of this 25€ IEM are technicalities speaks volumes about the quality and the insane performance/cost ratio.

Try decreasing the subbass and the pinna gain at around 3kHz by a few dB. The bass decrease helps with busy passages, and the pinna reduction, in some cases, makes the instruments less in your face.

 

[Matias]

Also save up for a Truthear Zero Red and you should appreciate them even more.

 

[Jazigo]

Hello everyone, first post here. I just bought the Zero:2 to replace my tired Galaxy Buds and I spent the last two days hooked to them - I must say I'm utterly impressed by them.

I never had much thought about headphones/IEMs; I just bought them to listen to music while walking. But I've been a speaker audiophile for 10+ years, and I started immediately to compare the Zero:2 to various setups I had in the past and to my current Klipsch RF-7 and 300B valve amplifier. I was stoked... to think about comparing 25€ IEMs and a JM6 Pro DAC to my setup is utterly nonsense in my mind.

I really like them, but I found a couple of flaws. Since I have no prior experience with audiophile-level headphones/IEMs, I'd like to hear your opinion:

1. When there is a lot going on (like multiple guitars, voices, drums at the same time), it gets kinda difficult to separate each instrument. This reminds me of some full-range speakers I had before (MarkAudio 10P in a frugal horn enclosure - loved them!), so I was asking myself if this is a "limitation" of the single driver in the IEM or if it's something common to all IEMs.
2. Soundstage - I find the soundstage a bit "cramped," like all the instruments feel on top of each other. Again, I don't know if this is something related to this IEM or something to be expected.

Technicalities aside, I really love them and I really like their tuning. I haven't tinkered with EQ and I just replaced the provided tips with foam tips, which are much more comfortable for me. The fact that the main drawbacks of this 25€ IEM are technicalities speaks volumes about the quality and the insane performance/cost ratio.

I am not an expert, but I have listen to the Zero:2 for many hundred of hours, since I use them for commute and most of my workdays. I have been tweaking eq in every possible way to try to get the best out of them and this is my eq: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...rve-vs-speaker-flat-target.65766/post-2493679

It is still a bit "cramped", but I do think that this is an IEM thing. I mean, we don't use our outer ear with IEM's, so I guess getting the spaciousness "correct" is very difficult for an IEM.

 

[Vulneraria]

thanks a lot for your answers, i guess it's time to start really tinkering with EQ.
right now i'm using: spotify lossless -> JM6 PRO dac -> IEM.
for the EQ i tried both poweramp EQ (i like the precise volume control) and wavelet EQ (i like the fact that i can import an eq profile from squiglink), do you have any better option?

i guess for now i don't need a dac that support PEQ since my only source is my phone

 

[Jazigo]

thanks a lot for your answers, i guess it's time to start really tinkering with EQ.
right now i'm using: spotify lossless -> JM6 PRO dac -> IEM.
for the EQ i tried both poweramp EQ (i like the precise volume control) and wavelet EQ (i like the fact that i can import an eq profile from squiglink), do you have any better option?

i guess for now i don't need a dac that support PEQ since my only source is my phone

I have only tried EQ on the USB Audio Player Pro app and ended up with the Moondrop FreeDSP Mini.

Word of caution: While an EQ can improve things it can also wreck things. Less is more. What I found was that doing EQ on high frequency never turned out good. There was always something strange happening with the audio. Some experts here may know why. I also found that just reducing (and not increasing) output sounded better.
In the end, I just reduced thing in the lower 20hz - 2khz range and I found that to sound the best overall.

 

[Bl00dWolf]

Two Zero Two

I bought a second pair to replace my EDC PRO for work, this time the white version with a microphone.

Spoiler: photo

What can I say—these are some of my favorite, most beloved IEMs.
I have Gate, Nova as IEM; NOIRE X, and WH100XM4 full-size headphones.

The Nova doesn't fit my ears very well and gets tiring.
The Gate \ Zero 2 fits perfectly.
The sound of the Zero 2 is excellent, both for music and gaming.
I used them with a DX9, G14 2025 laptop, dx180, and Steam Deck.
I really like how they sound in all scenarios.
I highly recommend them =)

It's difficult to choose between GATE and ZERO 2, but subjectively, I like zero 2 better.

 

[DazST]

Can anyone suggest some good tips for these which would be equivalent to my preffered stock ones (yellow large, rounded ones with narrowest bore)? I got some comply foam ones (large) which feel and fit nicely, but the bore is a bit wide and reduces bass a bit more than I'd like. I'm open to either foam or silicone.

 

[BeeKay]

I bought these from shenzenaudio and can highly recommend.

MOONDROP SPRING TIPS Silicone Eartips

Highlights Available in four sizes; Compatible the nozzle diameter for 4.8mm-6.4mm Combination of Softness and Elasticity Medical-Grade Silica Gel Material Spring Tips ensures the surface of the Tips cap fits well to the ear canal and prevents stickiness through special mold treatment. The picky...

shenzhenaudio.com

 

[mc.god]

Can anyone suggest some good tips for these which would be equivalent to my preffered stock ones (yellow large, rounded ones with narrowest bore)? I got some comply foam ones (large) which feel and fit nicely, but the bore is a bit wide and reduces bass a bit more than I'd like. I'm open to either foam or silicone.

You can consider KBEAR 07 tips, they are pretty cheap and sell in a lot of sizes you can chose from, pretty convenient.
Just note that bore is 1mm wider than Zero yellow tips (I just checked with a caliper).

 

[svisner]

This is a review, listening tests, EQ and detailed measurements of the 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM. It was kindly donated to me by a member and costs US $24.99.
View attachment 335107
The cable is soft and longer than typical which I like. They take fair amount of effort to push it but then they make a reassuring soft click. The tips look cheap and are quite soft. You may need aftermarket ones. I tested and listened using the default red ones you see in the review picture.

Compared to 7Hz Zero IEM that I reviewed recently, these supposed to have a bit more bass and less treble. Let's measure to find out if that is the case.

7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM Measurements
Let's start with our standard measurement on GRAS 45CA measurement fixture. I was pleased that they fit instantly and generated the predicted results:
View attachment 335108
At high level, this is excellent compliance with our target leaving enough room for manufactures to tune and owners to decide based on their taste. Getting specific, ignoring sub-bass, we have a bit of lift between 100 and 300 Hz and some short fall from 4K to 8K. So overall I expect these to have a bit more bass and more closed in/less sparkle than the original Zero. Here is the relative response for EQ development:
View attachment 335109
While the differential is not great, developing precise filters may be bit challenging due to their shape. Then again you may not need to modify the response anyway.

The distortion measurements made my jaw drop:
View attachment 335110
As you see, even 114 dBSPL generates negligible distortion by transducer standards. It was so low that I decided to zoom way in. You see noise on the blue 94 dBSPL indicating corruption due to measurement noise. So in reality performance is better than that (SINAD of nearly 80 dB). This is one clean sounding IEM.

Absolute levels also show the same:
View attachment 335111

Group delay shows no news which is what we like to see (and is typical of IEMs):
View attachment 335112

Impedance is flat and low which is as expected:
View attachment 335113

Combined with average sensitivity, just about any source can drive it:
View attachment 335114

7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM Listening Tests and EQ
First impression was that familiar sound I hear from accurate transducers with two differences: the highs were a little recessed and at times I was hearing bass I didn't even know was there! I went after the former with EQ:
View attachment 335115
The measured shortfall in treble is 5+ dB. I started there and while that brought fantastic amount of detail and great improvement in spatial qualities, after some listening, I realized it is too bright. I pulled it down to 3 dB. Listening to bass heavy tracks I started to be bothered a bit about the extra upper bass. I dialed in a filter for that which solved that but them made the sound bright. I took down the treble EQ to what you see and reduced the amount I had taken down the Bass. These values are basically 40% of what measurements indicated. AB tests of EQ and no EQ showed preference for EQ.

Then I sat back and listened. That deep, impressive sub-bass is there and is now so clean. The highs are to die for. I have no immediate comparison but I kept getting surprised by the clarity up high in tracks that I have listened to hundreds of times for review. As much as I have had the pleasure of listening to some really great headphones and IEMs, I continue to be startled by moment to moment level of fidelity as I continue to listen to them. I think this IEM will likely make you not like your regular speaker system unless it is of highest caliber! The sound is just so good.

Also amazing is the level of instrument separation/spatial qualities. So, so satisfying. I can't say enough good things.

Conclusions
You have to shake your head when you see and read about the performance of this $25 IEM. It displays a level of performance with a bit EQ that is world class. Feed it some well recorded music and you are there: the pinnacle of high fidelity sound. I don't care if you don't want to use an IEM. Get one of these (or the original Zero) and get calibrated on what good sound is.

As to whether to get the zero or zero:2, I would say that with the above EQ, Zero:2 sounds more to my liking than the original 7Hz Zero. That one though sounds more correct without EQ. Your opinion may vary.

I am happy to recommend the 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM.

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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

Listening to them now. Better than average inexpensive IEMs and better for some for which I paid more money. Impressive when listening with a good headphone amp (i.e., Topping DX3 Pro+) and also with a Soundblaster G6 (for which I use the mic input). I find them a bit anemic in the low end when using a Bluetooth dongle, possibly an artifact of Bluetooth. I note that they are not difficult to drive, but not the most sensitive. So, a good headphone amp is probably required for the best performance.