KZ Castor Harman Target IEM Review

[OK1]

I own this IEM. Strong first impressions, expecially for the price, but beyond that I haven't used them much. The issue is with the sound being too V-shaped for my taste and there's some harshness up top. The distortion graph gives some clues as to why.

My pet theory about the KZ brand is that it's targeting a segment of consumers that pay attention to specs sheets. That's a reasonable assumption to make about wired IEMs. But the competition is tight in the budget segment and KZ is not putting in the final bit of effort on the acoustic tuning. KZs latest strategy is attracting consumers that pay attention to graphs and target curves. If you followed the brand over the years and a tried few of their IEMs you might agree.

Thanks Amir for the review!

I may have asked this question. What would you recommend as an alternative to the KZ Castor Harman, in this budget end of the IEM market.

 

[shuppatsu]

What else would you recommend in the budget bracket of the market.

7hz Zero 2 and Moondrop Chu 2 are well-received here and elsewhere, and compete in the $20 market. The Gen 1s can be had for $6-10, as well as the Wan 'Er.

 

[OK1]

7hz Zero 2 and Moondrop Chu 2 are well-received here and elsewhere, and compete in the $20 market. The Gen 1s can be had for $6-10, as well as the Wan 'Er.

Thank you. My research concurs. I really should spend a bit more on IEM's. KZ/CCA has made anything above $10 look expensive... .

 

[muza_1]

I don't have the Zero2 but my Silver Castor on UUDD more or less matches that measurement. It's clearly brighter than the Zero2 which is tuned closer to Harman. Zero 2 is tuned closer to Crinacle's preferred, lower pinna gain. Perhaps they changed it as @markanini suggests, they have form with changing tuning.

I have both the Castor Harman and the Zero:2, ordered both the day they were announced, so first revision (if there was any), and to me the Zero:2 sounds somewhat brighter and fatiguing but I'm sure it's my anatomy because the Chu II also sound much more relaxed and measures a bit brighter and it happens the other way too, to me the Zero: RED are dull and lacking treble (a lot) but I know is not the case because all the reviews and opinions (but I still like them).

 

[OK1]

I have both the Castor Harman and the Zero:2, ordered both the day they were announced, so first revision (if there was any), and to me the Zero:2 sounds somewhat brighter and fatiguing but I'm sure it's my anatomy because the Chu II also sound much more relaxed and measures a bit brighter and it happens the other way too, to me the Zero: RED are dull and lacking treble (a lot) but I know is not the case because all the reviews and opinions (but I still like them).

Thanks. I own none of these, but from my research, your opinions agree with my expectations. Zero 2 brightish, Chu 2 sounds softer cos the bass was boosted compared to Chu 1, and RED more neutral.

Not surprised by your opinions.

We are so spoiled for choice.

 

[OK1]

I just got the KZ ZVX for $6 shipped to California. They sound excellent and seem well made. The cable isn't the greatest but I liked the tips that came with mine, and I could have lived with the stock cable. Strangely, some friends of mine ordered them as well and got different tips and a set that I gave to my nephew had different tips in the package as well...

I also bought and received a KZ ZVX last week, converted to dollars would be about $10. I'd be interested in hearing your impressions of the ZVX, I've made an attempt to capture my opinions here. If you could add your opinions there, that would be most kind of you.

KZ ZVX - Possibly a revision - Opinions

Thought it good to start a thread, to discuss just one IEM the KZ ZVX. Single DD. I ordered and received mine 2 days ago. Not opened it to see the internals. Most likely will NOT. With some EQ, best most detailed IEM I have at this time. Very comfortable. One thing I'd like to know - is this an...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[markanini]

It is weird for me. I never heard people say it's to bright or has hard treble and I read some reviews and comments (on reddit) before I got them. Actually i heard the opposite I'd say what KZ show is accurate

https://imgur.com/N2p2566

What are you plugging in to BTW?

 

[Majster]

oh just regular Realtek on motherboard so nothing special

I have both the Castor Harman and the Zero:2, ordered both the day they were announced, so first revision (if there was any), and to me the Zero:2 sounds somewhat brighter and fatiguing

I feel the same. Zero 2 is more detailed and at the edge of fatiguing for me. It's the max amount of trebles I can handle. 1 point more and I would not like them But I'm quite sensitive for this and sibilance etc. I would trade 1 point of treble for something else like maybe a bit more bass or to put voices more forward and zero 2 would be 10/10 for me

 

[markanini]

oh just regular Realtek on motherboard so nothing special

That is likely the why you are hearing a warmer sound than the graphs indicate. Realtek 3.5mm outputs have 75Ohm on average, this interacts with the Impedance variability of Castor standard. See the second to last graph in OP. Graphed with only 30 Ohm load:

Basically, if you want to hear the response as KZs graph you need a 0Ohm 3.5mm output. A popular option is CX31993 dongle for $10.

 

[Majster]

@up This is a good suggestion but on the other hand I also have Zero 2 with the same source. I also think that the graph from KZ page I posted is warmer than this. I also tried them on smartphone via USB C> Mini Jack cable but just for a very shot time. I'll check again
EDIT: I just checked on my old smartphone (Honor 20) and Castor and Zero 2 sound very similar. I got more difference in sound on Realtek. So I think i need to get a DAC

 

[Corvuscorone]

I bought the KZ ZVX about a year ago. I think it has a little too much bass and the bass leaks a little into the midrange. Otherwise it sounds pretty good, except for the 9 kHz treble peak. The sound image is spacious and distinctive. I also have the CCA CXS, which has a very similar sound. In my opinion, these are one of the best IEMs in the 10-20 € price range, along with the Tangzu Wan'er. Of course, the resolution is not in the class of e.g. The Simgot EW 200 or planars such as the PR2 (I have the later version with a killer treble). I haven't heard the 7HZ Zero/Zero 2 nor the Moondrop Chu 2, which are probably better than the ZVX and the CXS. The Artti T10 and the NiceHCK F1 pro in the 50-90 euro price range represent the best value for me.

 

[OK1]

I bought the KZ ZVX about a year ago. I think it has a little too much bass and the bass leaks a little into the midrange. Otherwise it sounds pretty good, except for the 9 kHz treble peak. The sound image is spacious and distinctive. I also have the CCA CXS, which has a very similar sound. In my opinion, these are one of the best IEMs in the 10-20 € price range, along with the Tangzu Wan'er. Of course, the resolution is not in the class of e.g. The Simgot EW 200 or planars such as the PR2 (I have the later version with a killer treble). I haven't heard the 7HZ Zero/Zero 2 nor the Moondrop Chu 2, which are probably better than the ZVX and the CXS. The Artti T10 and the NiceHCK F1 pro in the 50-90 euro price range represent the best value for me.

There are so many IEM's in the budget category between $20 to $50 MSRP(manufacturer suggested retail price). (before sale discounts). Far too many. And every month at least one more is added to the list. It's very difficult to choose one, without being able to listen to them 1st. And no matter how many you own, only way to hear how an IEM sounds, is to order one, and listen for your own self, and return it of you do not like it.

Does not make it any easier, when KZ and others introduce silent variations, making it impossible to benefit from opinions of others. I also have a KZ ZVX ordered/received in July 2024, but no way to know if my version is same as yours. I'm pleased with mine, especially further to a bit of EQ to adjust to personal taste - accepting one terrible flaw, the paint is peeling - I have the Black, fortunately this has no impact on the sonics.!

 

[Is gangadhar shakthiman]

May be you got retuned version of KZ Castor. Even i got the retuned one. My unit also has audible distortion. They even changed driver and skipped foam eartips in the box. If you didnt get foam eartips then mostly you got new variant. New variants seems to have white wire connectors in iem .. i should have confirmed things beofre buying.. even kz dfi, zvx, zsx are changed.. sorry for bad english.

 

[Majster]

I don't think they ever put foam tips in the box. I know they advertised it but I don't think they were included. I got mine with white wires inside. Im listening on PC and smartphone and i just can't hear any distortion. It may change with other source but I will still reccomend them for about 9$. They are my daily now, I listen to KZ Castor Silver more than Zero 2.

 

[Is gangadhar shakthiman]

I don't think they ever put foam tips in the box. I know they advertised it but I don't think they were included. I got mine with white wires inside. Im listening on PC and smartphone and i just can't hear any distortion. It may change with other source but I will still reccomend them for about 9$. They are my daily now, I listen to KZ Castor Silver more than Zero 2.

They were shipped with foam tips in the initial batch sales before they started cost cutting.
Regarding you not hearing distortion might be due to good source ( pc here). A person said when castor is given the juice it wants it starts going clean. Or may be your unit is good or may be my unit was just bad (which is true because my old unit started producing low sound and i claimed warranty)..

 

[markanini]

Any info on how to tell apart newer batches of the bass edition castor? Do different tip inclusions and different internal wire color apply?
It seems to have been retuned significantly:

EDIT: FWIW My Castor standard, ordered within a month of announcement, came with with foams+starline tips, and has red and green wires inside. Suggestive of early batch? Pretty thin, scuffed treble subjectively.

A Castor bass is in transit to me. I assume I'll receive the revised version, so I'll take note of its wire color and tip inclusions.

 

[Is gangadhar shakthiman]

Oh yes ! Both bass and standard versions have that edx lite driver and white wires. Even kz dfi, zvx revisions have same driver and same white wire.. different product but same driver in all..

Any info on how to tell apart newer batches of the bass edition castor? Do different tip inclusions and different internal wire color apply?
It seems to have been retuned significantly:
View attachment 389656


EDIT: FWIW My Castor standard, ordered within a month of announcement, came with with foams+starline tips, and has red and green wires inside. Suggestive of early batch? Pretty thin, scuffed treble subjectively.

A Castor bass is in transit to me. I assume I'll receive the revised version, so I'll take note of its wire color and tip inclusions.

 

[Is gangadhar shakthiman]

Any info on how to tell apart newer batches of the bass edition castor? Do different tip inclusions and different internal wire color apply?
It seems to have been retuned significantly:
View attachment 389656


EDIT: FWIW My Castor standard, ordered within a month of announcement, came with with foams+starline tips, and has red and green wires inside. Suggestive of early batch? Pretty thin, scuffed treble subjectively.

A Castor bass is in transit to me. I assume I'll receive the revised version, so I'll take note of its wire color and tip inclusions.

You happened to havs fr graph of revised castor standard ?? If yes plz share it along with .txt fies..thanks

 

[markanini]

You happened to havs fr graph of revised castor standard ?? If yes plz share it along with .txt fies..thanks

Sadly, I don't.

 

[Majster]

They were shipped with foam tips in the initial batch sales before they started cost cutting.

Oh yes. I just noticed it. I Checked wrong review But anyway I also got a KZ Castor Bass Edition about a month ago and they have only white tips as well. No foam tip. And from what I can see the review for both versions are similar. The only problem I have with KZ Castor Harman is just this thin mesh inside ear tip is almost gone. Im thinking what can I use as a replacement. Now I'm listening without it.

Both bass and standard versions have that edx lite driver and white wires

I have KZ Castor harman, Bass edition and EDX lite. They all sound different. The drivers is definitely not the same. They look different + KZ Castor has 2 drivers vs 1 driver in EDX ite

I just weighted one KZ Castor harman without ear tip and mesh. It is 8.17g. So maybe we can check it vs older revision with black tips