HBB X KZ PR2 Planar IEM

[BillG]

Just a quick FYI:

The PR2 makes an Apple dongle (non EU) beg for mercy; it'll barely drive it to an adequate volume and has no headroom once there.

I've got the following on the way. It's inexpensive and has a separate amplifier chip - I should have it in two weeks:

JCALLY JM6 Pro CX31993 Digital Audio Portable Decoding Type-C To 3.5mm Amplifier

Buy JCALLY JM6 Pro CX31993 Digital Audio Portable Decoding Type-C To 3.5mm Amplifier on HiFiGo, and you can enjoy a year warranty and the best after-sales service.

hifigo.com

 

[BillG]

When I see this level of target compliance I can't help but smile. Now, if I can just get some distortion measurements - I'm actually working on it.

 

[Human Bass]

Get a 4.4 or 2.5mm bal cable and a bal dongle like the Dunu dtc500. It really makes things easier power wise.

Just a quick FYI:

The PR2 makes an Apple dongle (non EU) beg for mercy; it'll barely drive it to an adequate volume and has no headroom once there.

I've got the following on the way. It's inexpensive and has a separate amplifier chip - I should have it in two weeks:

JCALLY JM6 Pro CX31993 Digital Audio Portable Decoding Type-C To 3.5mm Amplifier

Buy JCALLY JM6 Pro CX31993 Digital Audio Portable Decoding Type-C To 3.5mm Amplifier on HiFiGo, and you can enjoy a year warranty and the best after-sales service.

hifigo.com

 

[OnLyTNT]

I must resist the hype

 

[BillG]

Get a 4.4 or 2.5mm bal cable and a bal dongle like the Dunu dtc500. It really makes things easier power wise.

If I'd wanted something like that I would've purchased it initially.

 

[amadeogt]

The rubindum magnets are a fairly new thing as far as i can tell. Wonder how they will progate though the industry. Seems that only Chinese firms currently use it as it's a Chinese invention , here's the patent info for anyone whos intrested.

CN102832038A - Production technology of rubidium iron boron permanent magnet - Google Patents

The invention relates to a production technology of rubidium iron boron permanent magnet. Due to the adoption of the production technology, the thickness of alloy reaches 0.2 to 0.4mm, the crystalline grains are fine and uniform, rich rubidium is uniformly distributed, and the problems of an...

patents.google.com

Long time ASR reader, first post.

I ordered a KZ PR2 as well. However, your post got me thinking about something. Isn't rubidium slightly radioactive? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubidium).

I read the chinese patent - thanks for the link - and didn't find anything regarding this issue. Except that it is an alloy, rubidium mixed with iron and boron.

Am I worrying about this for no reason? After all, neodymium - which we've been using in headphones for decades - does have radioactive isotopes as well.

 

[JRS]

Long time ASR reader, first post.

I ordered a KZ PR2 as well. However, your post got me thinking about something. Isn't rubidium slightly radioactive? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubidium).

I read the chinese patent - thanks for the link - and didn't find anything regarding this issue. Except that it is an alloy, rubidium mixed with iron and boron.

Am I worrying about this for no reason? After all, neodymium - which we've been using in headphones for decades - does have radioactive isotopes as well.

In the naturally occurring form, there is one radioactive isotope with a really, really long half life of about three times the age of the universe. This means it would take a lot of it to pose a significant hazard. Turns out it is fairly common ingredient of the earth's crust--as is Radon--but the similarity ends there. I didn't run any numbers, but I strongly suspect that a few grams in magnets is not a health risk, and likely swamped by the amount of radioactive potassium in our bodies at any given time.

And welcome to ASR. Only very closed minded trolls are unwelcome, and even then after repeat offenses. Also, a much higher S/N ratio than the average audio site.

 

[Vini darko]

Long time ASR reader, first post.

I ordered a KZ PR2 as well. However, your post got me thinking about something. Isn't rubidium slightly radioactive? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubidium).

I read the chinese patent - thanks for the link - and didn't find anything regarding this issue. Except that it is an alloy, rubidium mixed with iron and boron.

Am I worrying about this for no reason? After all, neodymium - which we've been using in headphones for decades - does have radioactive isotopes as well.

Hi welcome to asr. As JRS says it should be perfectly safe.

 

[Human Bass]

If I'd wanted something like that I would've purchased it initially.

Well, or you could not had the idea initally. In my experience hard to drive iems really benefit of going balanced. And there are many affordable high quality dongles with a bal output.

 

[BillG]

Well, or you could not had the idea initally. In my experience hard to drive iems really benefit of going balanced. And there are many affordable high quality dongles with a bal output.

For the future, let's assume that I've already had whatever idea you might be thinking of tossing my way. It'll save us both time.

 

[Jochen]

Have a look how Sharur enjoyed the stingy treble:

 

[Human Bass]

Have a look how Sharur enjoyed the stingy treble:

Sharur is a problematic individual with some massive ocd and some other issues. According to him anything not the Moondrop Variation is the worst thing ever.

He either got a defective unit or some other weird issue to get this ultra boosted treble.

Squiglink - IEM frequency response database by Ian Fann

Compare hundreds of frequency response graphs between IEMs and earphones from manufacturers like Moondrop, Sony, 64 Audio, Fiio, and more.

ianfann.squig.link

 

[Jochen]

Sharur is a problematic individual with some massive ocd and some other issues. According to him anything not the Moondrop Variation is the worst thing ever.

He either got a defective unit or some other weird issue to get this ultra boosted treble.

Squiglink - IEM frequency response database by Ian Fann

Compare hundreds of frequency response graphs between IEMs and earphones from manufacturers like Moondrop, Sony, 64 Audio, Fiio, and more.

ianfann.squig.link

Sharur is fine, he may be sometimes a bit over the top, but mostly straight to the point. Just look at the FR, it is rising steeply from 12kHz, nothing I would enjoy as well (at least not without EQ). And as a matter of fact, the Variations are the best IEM, hands down. Even without any EQ.

 

[Human Bass]

Sharur is fine, he may be sometimes a bit over the top, but mostly straight to the point. Just look at the FR, it is rising steeply from 10kHz, nothing I would enjoy as well (at least not without EQ). And as a matter of fact, the Variations are the best IEM, hands down. Even without any EQ.

High treble measurements are very tricky. But Ian graph shows a 5db boost that is a lot less than Sharur 15.

Once my set arrive, I will report.

 

[LearningToSmile]

Sharur is fine, he may be sometimes a bit over the top, but mostly straight to the point. Just look at the FR, it is rising steeply from 10kHz, nothing I would enjoy as well (at least not without EQ). And as a matter of fact, the Variations are the best IEM, hands down. Even without any EQ.

Only... it doesn't actually sound like that. I have that IEM, I have decent hearing to at least 15kHz, I can use a tone generator and a have a measured and room corrected set of speakers to compare to. I don't hear that raising treble.
There might be sample variation. There might also be measurement issues. But why are you taking that single measurement as gospel, and ignoring all the ones that don't show that issue?

 

[markanini]

mostly straight to the point

I'm still waiting for him to prove that he validated his virtual reviewing process. It's his claim BTW that it sounds the same using EQ matching functions, I only asked about his process and his answers became increasingly defensive, but no more substantial. He often likes to question whether others have untrained hearing. He spends minutes in near every video reacting physically to products he's reviewing(mostly virtually). He doesn't come off as an objectivist to me, more a theory junkie subjectivist. He has made unproven claims that absolute phase reversal "increases soundstage".

 

[khensu]

Well, now I've had to go an order a pair. My wife is going to start wondering if I have extra ears hidden somewhere.

 

[Jochen]

I'm still waiting for him to prove that he validated his virtual reviewing process. It's his claim BTW that it sounds the same using EQ matching functions, I only asked about his process and his answers became increasingly defensive, but no more substantial. He often likes to question whether others have untrained hearing. He spends minutes in near every video reacting physically to products he's reviewing(mostly virtually). He doesn't come off as an objectivist to me, more a theory junkie subjectivist. He has made unproven claims that absolute phase reversal "increases soundstage".

ok, as I said, he is sometimes over the top, I agree, He also wants to judge over-ear headphones just by FR alone, which is, in contrast to IEMs, not valid, but he is an knowledgable objectivist. I discusse with him also in private on his discord server, he knows his stuff.

 

[markanini]

ok, as I said, he is sometimes over the top, I agree, He also wants to judge over-ear headphones just by FR alone, which is, in contrast to IEMs, not valid, but he is an knowledgable objectivist. I discusse with him also in private on his discord server, he knows his stuff.

So you're ok with him, because you don't expect him to justify his claims, only to discuss. Ok, then. I try not to let my personal feelings affect how I observe someone claimed to be an objectivist. Talking about someone who publicly criticizes Amir and Oratory1990, usually by taking statements out of context, it could get tricky.

The more I prefer to stick to the factual claims that are made, and whether they can be proven. That's where the engagement stops, I don't peruse someone for proof. Either they have it or they don't.

 

[Tarnith]

When I see this level of target compliance I can't help but smile. Now, if I can just get some distortion measurements - I'm actually working on it.

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I'm very keen to see the THD measures!

Looks like there might be a Dioko replacement at half the price if these hold up. Exciting times.

The one thing I'd still like to see is a low distortion planar with great QC for L/R channel matching. Even if the price was higher. There just doesn't seem to be anything with a decently compliant treble *and* good channel matching. (Even the $20 Zero beats every planar I've seen)