Just got mine today. Caveat, of course opinions are subject to change.
Initial thoughts on the KZ Libra X, a collaboration with Angelears, to the best of my knowledge. I will not dwell on packaging and cosmetics, but it has a nice silver coated cable, which just blends in, not calling any attention to itself. My version is the Libra X. There are two earlier versions, the Balanced and High Resolution. Cost of each of these, about $8, definitely less than $10.
1st impressions, a very clear clean sound. Really clear, bright. Listening via a TempoTec Sonata BHD on a Samsung smartphone, with the stock tips (the largest). Clear but bright, a bit harsh depending on the audio source, if there is any hint of harshness or distortion, it shows that up easily. But listening to music that was well mixed without harshness - Imagine - Herbie Hancock and friends, not a single hint of any harshness, just bright.
I feel for the 1st time, the limitation in the number of levels of volume adjustment in the Tempotec, and also on the default volume adjustment in my smartphone. Extremely hard to dial in the right level of loudness. Something that has not really been an issue as much. I've always yearned for finer resolutions in the volume adjustment features of the Dongle DAC and the phone, but now its a bit of a pain, not having this. This IEM is extremely sensitive, it seems to want to respond to every slight change, cos that is immediately audible. Regrettable that I am unable to deliver such fine tuned volume adjustment even with two separate gain "stages" in the audio path. Makes me yearn for the Pro version of my Tempotec, which has many more levels of adjustment - 100 I think.
Then I run against a KZ "feature", inadequate sealing. Very common feature of most KZ's I've owned. And I suspect that the lack of a seal is causing the bass to be inadequate, which is what leave the impression of brightness. Must tip toll.
Replace stock tips with TRI Clarions. And move over to listen on a computer, still via the Tempotec. This brings back some of the missing bass, but also tames some of the high end. Stereo image improves.
Definitely the TRI Clarions - solve some of the concerns. Improving the seal. But I still think this IEM is worth a lot more tip rolling, but I do not have many custom tips. Definitely better with the TRI Clarions, bass is back. But I miss some of that super high end clarity with the stock tips. Definitely a sound I can live with.
With either set of tips I used, these are stunningly clear. Everything is easier to listen to, if a bit lacking in the depth department, just a bit, or quite a bit, compared to the ARTTI T10. I'd say they are balanced bright. Takes to EQ well. Tit EQ - boost bass, drop the highs. Without EQ, will get a bit fatiguing. 1st thoughts were - this would be great for hearing in a call center, but will soon become tiring. After EQ, still remains extremely clear - extremely clear, especially vocals. Subject to EQ, I'd call this the vocal king.
It's a relief NOT to have to deal with channel imbalances, which I tend to have to deal with, in many other IEMs. Turned off all software channel stereo balance settings.
For those doing detailed editing, searching for artefacts, noise, any gremlins in a recording - this would be just the ticket., albeit with the aforementioned EQ enabled. Very easy to listen to at low volumes, cos even with EQ it remains bright and cuts through.
An impressive result, for the price.
Now to comparisons, this was a shock.
It takes a lot of bravery to say this openly. I prefer the EQ adjusted, Clarion tipped Libra X, to the Zero 2.. The Libra X, at this time, in my estimation, is more revealing, and the Zero 2 sounds more congested in the mids. Yeah I've said it. This is a Zero 2 killer, with the stated caveats - Vocals are so much clearer without a sense of distortion I hear in the Zero 2's on vocals. Judging via vocals, which are undeniably clearer on the Libra X, I think the mids on the Libra X are commendable.
The Libra X is so responsive to volume adjustments, You are not hearing something well enough, just turn it up a bit. Yes - with a bit of broad EQ shaping in the highs and lows, and setting the proper volume for the track, this is a remarkable IEM. Smooth when the song is smooth, strident, if the song has strident elements.
It definitely challenges the status quo. The bass is not the most well defined and engaging, (on a bit more listen, I think this is pretty authentic, it is portraying exactly the bass that was in the music), even when turned up, but the mids and highs - remain super clear. Super super clear, especially vocals. Sad about the need to EQ.
I think the bass is about the most accurate I have ever heard, once EQ'd. The difference in the bass, from one track to another, is quite pronounced, leading me to think this is (with EQ,) a very neutral bass. A coloured bass would tar everything with the same brush, making them sound samey. This is the opposite, each bass in each track sounds like a completely different instrument., a unique bass.
Can imagine this would be a good candidate for those who would want to physically mod to improve the frequency response, or practice/learn how to do this.
Let's see how I feel about this in a few months !! Caveat Emptor. I have been known to change my mind.
Initial thoughts on the KZ Libra X, a collaboration with Angelears, to the best of my knowledge. I will not dwell on packaging and cosmetics, but it has a nice silver coated cable, which just blends in, not calling any attention to itself. My version is the Libra X. There are two earlier versions, the Balanced and High Resolution. Cost of each of these, about $8, definitely less than $10.
1st impressions, a very clear clean sound. Really clear, bright. Listening via a TempoTec Sonata BHD on a Samsung smartphone, with the stock tips (the largest). Clear but bright, a bit harsh depending on the audio source, if there is any hint of harshness or distortion, it shows that up easily. But listening to music that was well mixed without harshness - Imagine - Herbie Hancock and friends, not a single hint of any harshness, just bright.
I feel for the 1st time, the limitation in the number of levels of volume adjustment in the Tempotec, and also on the default volume adjustment in my smartphone. Extremely hard to dial in the right level of loudness. Something that has not really been an issue as much. I've always yearned for finer resolutions in the volume adjustment features of the Dongle DAC and the phone, but now its a bit of a pain, not having this. This IEM is extremely sensitive, it seems to want to respond to every slight change, cos that is immediately audible. Regrettable that I am unable to deliver such fine tuned volume adjustment even with two separate gain "stages" in the audio path. Makes me yearn for the Pro version of my Tempotec, which has many more levels of adjustment - 100 I think.
Then I run against a KZ "feature", inadequate sealing. Very common feature of most KZ's I've owned. And I suspect that the lack of a seal is causing the bass to be inadequate, which is what leave the impression of brightness. Must tip toll.
Replace stock tips with TRI Clarions. And move over to listen on a computer, still via the Tempotec. This brings back some of the missing bass, but also tames some of the high end. Stereo image improves.
Definitely the TRI Clarions - solve some of the concerns. Improving the seal. But I still think this IEM is worth a lot more tip rolling, but I do not have many custom tips. Definitely better with the TRI Clarions, bass is back. But I miss some of that super high end clarity with the stock tips. Definitely a sound I can live with.
With either set of tips I used, these are stunningly clear. Everything is easier to listen to, if a bit lacking in the depth department, just a bit, or quite a bit, compared to the ARTTI T10. I'd say they are balanced bright. Takes to EQ well. Tit EQ - boost bass, drop the highs. Without EQ, will get a bit fatiguing. 1st thoughts were - this would be great for hearing in a call center, but will soon become tiring. After EQ, still remains extremely clear - extremely clear, especially vocals. Subject to EQ, I'd call this the vocal king.
It's a relief NOT to have to deal with channel imbalances, which I tend to have to deal with, in many other IEMs. Turned off all software channel stereo balance settings.
For those doing detailed editing, searching for artefacts, noise, any gremlins in a recording - this would be just the ticket., albeit with the aforementioned EQ enabled. Very easy to listen to at low volumes, cos even with EQ it remains bright and cuts through.
An impressive result, for the price.
Now to comparisons, this was a shock.
It takes a lot of bravery to say this openly. I prefer the EQ adjusted, Clarion tipped Libra X, to the Zero 2.. The Libra X, at this time, in my estimation, is more revealing, and the Zero 2 sounds more congested in the mids. Yeah I've said it. This is a Zero 2 killer, with the stated caveats - Vocals are so much clearer without a sense of distortion I hear in the Zero 2's on vocals. Judging via vocals, which are undeniably clearer on the Libra X, I think the mids on the Libra X are commendable.
The Libra X is so responsive to volume adjustments, You are not hearing something well enough, just turn it up a bit. Yes - with a bit of broad EQ shaping in the highs and lows, and setting the proper volume for the track, this is a remarkable IEM. Smooth when the song is smooth, strident, if the song has strident elements.
It definitely challenges the status quo. The bass is not the most well defined and engaging, (on a bit more listen, I think this is pretty authentic, it is portraying exactly the bass that was in the music), even when turned up, but the mids and highs - remain super clear. Super super clear, especially vocals. Sad about the need to EQ.
I think the bass is about the most accurate I have ever heard, once EQ'd. The difference in the bass, from one track to another, is quite pronounced, leading me to think this is (with EQ,) a very neutral bass. A coloured bass would tar everything with the same brush, making them sound samey. This is the opposite, each bass in each track sounds like a completely different instrument., a unique bass.
Can imagine this would be a good candidate for those who would want to physically mod to improve the frequency response, or practice/learn how to do this.
Let's see how I feel about this in a few months !! Caveat Emptor. I have been known to change my mind.
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