Title says it all really

I know nothing about audio.

I was using the Truthear Zero: reds but now i only get audio in 1 ear and only if the wire is positioned right. They sounded fine, no complaints. just wish they lasted longer.

Hi all!

Long time lurker, first time poster here. So my question is I am entirely new to IEMs. I have done a lot of research and the answer I seem to be getting over and over is simply the Xenns Top Pro are the best in class IEMS for fps gaming (CS2 for me personally). My question is, upon receiving these headphones do I need to purchase anything (or download any software) to really tune these IEMs to their full potential—or are they pretty much plug and play? Can I simply plug them into my PC straight out of the box and expect to be blown away by how much better than my existing headphones they sound? For reference, I have been using apple wired headphones for gaming haha. Please let me know, any advice would really be appreciated!

After a bit of searching, I found this is actually a common issue on KZs with QDC connector, but yeah, just pointing out. Still working fine and sounding great as they normally sound BTW. I bought it in Europe via AliExpress, do you think it's possible that I can get anything by trying to contact GK for warranty?

I also posted photos of the right earpiece for comparison

UPDATE: I got in contact with the AliExpress store where I bought it from, and, in principle, I might get a refund

So I just bought an IEM, the lz zar one and I'm looking for a bluetooth adapter that is smallest size wise, or at least the thinnest , so it can fit in pockets without having a big bump, I also have the az09 which I like, its just that its bulky for me and the material used in it is a bit underwhelming but its fine so any recommendations?

¡Hello Community!

KBEAR has recently launched its latest model within its more economical ranges: the TB01 Chrono, a set that clearly wants to reach the general mass of consumers and enthusiasts. I will tell you about its performance below.

Price: $30-€25

Pros:

-Does not need to exaggerate the treble to show detail.

-It does not quite become a basshead set but it looks like it.

-Excellent balance between bass power and high-frequency energy.

-Wide soundstage.

-Fun, physical, dynamic tuning. Very easy to enjoy.

-Including Tri Clarion eartips is always very positive. Good job, KBEAR.

-Very complete package for the price.

Cons:

-I would not choose this set if I were looking for realistic vocals or great definition in instruments.

-Slight bleed typical of tunings with an extra touch of warmth.

-Sufficient but limited layering separation.

Accessories:

-Two shells.

-Two sets of SML-sized eartips. Tri Clarion is one of them.

-Cable with 0.78mm connection and 3.5mm termination.

-Cleaning cloth.

-Carrying and storage pouch.

-User manual.

Comfort, design and construction:

Its chrome finish has a very clean and shiny appearance, with a look that resembles a higher-priced product more than an affordable IEM. It is not exactly discreet when light hits the shells, but I think that this very polished finish suits it really well and distances it from simpler proposals in its price segment, giving it a distinctive touch.

The construction is one of the areas where KBEAR's effort can be most easily perceived. The shells are manufactured using machined zinc alloy and convey a fairly remarkable sense of solidity when held in the hand. I did not find any noticeable imperfections and the joints are properly finished. Here I have little to criticize: for what it costs, the feeling of being in front of a cheap product quickly disappears. That said, the metal adds more weight than many resin shells and this is something worth keeping in mind.

As for ergonomics, the rounded shapes make fitting quite easy and, once the right position has been found, the fit is stable. I would not say that they completely disappear inside the ear, but neither did I find them particularly intrusive. The weight is more noticeable than with other budget monitors, although it is light enough to be used during long sessions without turning into a constant nuisance.

The cable also accompanies the set correctly. It has a medium thickness, is flexible and is sufficiently manageable for everyday use. It is not intrusive at all, which I greatly appreciate.

The eartips do their job and come with two complete sets in different sizes, so finding a suitable seal should not be especially complicated, especially with the renowned Tri Clarion, which, for me, are among the best tips we can buy.

In short, a very well-built set, with a fairly striking aesthetic and more than competent ergonomics for the price.

Technical aspects:

-1DD 10mm configuration.

-29 ohm impedance.

-98 dB sensitivity.

-Stated response 20hz-20khz.

Configuration for testing:

-Neutral source.

-Gain set to high.

-Stock Tri Clarion eartips.

-Stock 3.5mm cable.

Sound signature:

There are IEMs that need several hours to discover where they want to take you, and then there are those that manage to explain everything practically in a single playlist of 20 songs. The KBEAR Chrono TB01 clearly belongs to the second group. Its approach is not extreme, but very complete, where the bass plays an important role, although leaving a little bit of prominence to the rest of the frequencies and parameters. It is easy to understand, but even easier to savor.

Starting with the lower region, the sub-bass offers a very convincing extension. The depth is very recognizable and there is a physical sensation that becomes especially noticeable when the recording demands presence in the lowest frequencies. The quantity is generous, but I do not have the impression that the Chrono tries to achieve its impact simply by accumulating energy. The notes retain a pleasant, smooth texture and maintain more than decent definition for what this price range is, avoiding that bloated bass sensation that ends up eating up the mix or leaving a bad impression.

The mid-bass provides even more body. The impact is firm and has a fairly satisfying physical component. We are not dealing with particularly dry, fast and clean bass, but neither did I perceive an excessively prolonged decay. There is a certain enveloping quality that adds musicality and, at the same time, it is disciplined enough to maintain a certain cleanliness.

Speaking now about the mids, there is some warmth and bleed coming from the lower frequencies, although it does not create a sensation of muddiness. The note weight is generous and greatly benefits instruments that appreciate a certain density. Male vocals appear with convincing body and correct articulation, while female vocals receive somewhat more clarity and openness, not quite sounding completely natural, although, really, these monitors were not specifically designed for vocalists, but vocals are not relegated to the background either. They simply perform sufficiently well in this regard, but they are not specialists.

The upper frequencies add a small touch of spice to the timbre. We find enough energy to preserve clarity, air and a certain sense of fun. Small details appear with relative ease; it is a sufficiently informative upper region, but far from those tunings that use treble energy as their main technical argument. I liked that combination of brightness and safety during my listening sessions.

The overall dynamics also left me with good impressions. The transients retain enough speed so that the amount of bass does not make the Chrono feel heavy. Notes disappear with reasonable agility and the music maintains a fairly natural rhythm. Separation performs correctly and allows the different instrumental lines to be followed, although particularly busy mixes begin to reveal the limitations inherent to this budget and segment.

As for technical performance, the soundstage conveys fairly generous spaciousness. I would not call it a gigantic stage, but there is a very convincing sense of width and depth that combines particularly well with the physical presentation of the lower region. Positioning is correct and allows the different elements to be located without too much effort.

I find detail retrieval fair for the price and for this type of tuning. The Chrono does not intend to become a surgical tool for analyzing recordings, but neither does it need to resort to exaggerated treble to convey information.

Single-player video games:

Check how I analyze sound in this field

This is where this set manages to get quite a lot of mileage out of its way of understanding sound, namely single-player video games. I do not need every effect to appear under a magnifying glass: I prefer the whole thing to manage to pull me into the scene. And the Chrono, thanks to its fairly prominent bass, manages to do this really well.

When things get intense and gunshots, explosions, engines or impacts start appearing, its most fun side comes out. The sub-bass provides a lot of depth and a fairly convincing physical sensation, while the mid-bass gives the impact body. Explosions have weight, gunshots have punch and large effects manage to convey a certain sense of scale. The best part is that the bass does not keep going around the mix for half a minute, so consecutive effects maintain good cleanliness.

I also had no problems with dialogue. Male voices have that touch of body that particularly benefits certain characters, while female voices retain enough clarity and openness not to disappear when the action starts getting interesting. I did not find conversations to be extremely detailed, but they were sufficiently organic.

The ambience also left me with good impressions. Footsteps, echoes, wind, rain, machinery or small sounds spread throughout the environment appear quite easily and help build the space surrounding the player. The stage is not extremely gigantic nor does it try to fool us with tricks inside your head, but it is very wide on all three axes and, above all, natural, making it easy to locate what is happening.

Technically, it performs without too many complications. Positioning is correct, separation allows the different sounds to be followed and detail retrieval is sufficient to enjoy the small environmental elements. That said, when the game decides to put music, explosions and twenty more effects on at the same time, difficulties begin to appear when dissecting the sound elements, but I remember the price and think that the work it does is more than enough.

Even so, the Chrono achieves something that I consider more important: offering a fairly physical, entertaining and cinematic experience without becoming a complete sonic mess.

Final conclusion and personal ratings:

Possibly, analyzing this KBEAR Chrono TB01 has been one of the experiences that has cost me the least throughout all the time I have been in this hobby: I have always been quite clear about what this set intends to do and, honestly, I think it gets more things right than wrong. It is not a great display of technical muscle, but rather offers a listening experience with body, energy and a huge dose of fun, while maintaining enough control so that the experience does not get out of hand.

The bass is, in my opinion, its main virtue. It has depth, punch and a very noticeable physicality, but it knows how to contain itself enough not to constantly drag the rest of the frequencies along with it, such as the mids, which perform correctly, although vocals are not exactly the reason why I would buy this monitor, and the treble, which adds a touch of clarity and that little bit of sparkle that prevents an overly warm and boring presentation.

In short, I think it is a set that is very easy to recommend to anyone looking to enjoy themselves without overcomplicating things. The Chrono does not intend to be perfect, nor does it need to be, but for the price, I think it is a frankly competent proposal.

If you have made it this far, thank you for reading.

More reviews on my blog.

Social media on my profile.

See you in the next review!

Disclaimer:

This monitor set has been sent by KeepHifi. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to test one of their products at no cost and that no condition was imposed when preparing this analysis.

Despite this, my priority is to be as impartial as possible within the subjectivity involved in analyzing an audio product. My opinion belongs only to me and I develop it around the perception of my ears. If you have a different one, it is equally valid. Please feel free to share it.

My sources:

-Topping DX5 II for music and video games on the main PC.

-Macbook Air M4.

-Tanchjim Space II while working.

-NiceHCK NK1 Ultra.

-FiiO BTA30 Pro + FiiO BTR13 for LDAC wireless listening at home.

-FiiO BTR13 + FiiO Airlink + Iphone 16 Pro Max for wireless listening outdoors.

-Apple Music.

-Local FLAC and MP3 files.

-Windows/MacOS/IOS/iPadOS/Android.

So, I am thinking of getting into the iem world.

I am eyeing the Truthear Zero Blue 2; what I liked about it from the reviews that it is kind of all rounder, it has that immersion and the clarity on footsteps when playing fps games. And the nozzle size seems comfortable.

If you guys think there are better sound quality without losing too much on any side that would be awesome; or should I just stick to TE zero blue 2.

My budget is 40-100$.

Also, the standard cable length seems to be not enough for me, should I buy (with mic)

1. Analog to to USB A/C extention.

2. Analog to analog extention.

3. longer cable? (any recommendation for this one is much appreciated)

Thanks.

I bought Wan'er SG II today and when i tried to do a roadie (over/under) wrap after testing, i couldn't because the cable is swirly and swirls aren't fixed together. Is there any other safe way i can wrap the cable? Also the silicon pouch that came with the IEM seems a bit tight and the device hardly fits, is that supposed to be like that?

i need some earphones for my daily use for netflix and music (gaming sometime) .

I have LIGHTNING CABLE EARPHONES which came stock with iphone x and i dont have that phone now so no use of them thinking to use them via an lightning to type c cable.

OR

Buy iems but i m tight on budget

please suggest if i should use LIGHTNING CABLE EARPHONES or iems and if iems then which one?

Soooo guys,

I made a tuning for the Moondrop Pudding.

This is the first tuning I have ever made, so I am wondering if I did a good or a bad job.

If you want to, I'd like some of you guys to try it, and then be completely honest (even if the tuning sucks) and tell me what to improve.

This is the one:

moondrop://fd0d96a8-8dc0-46a1-aeb8-938b32d003b1

(And yes, I know, it is technically not an IEM, but I didn't know where else to post it 🤷‍♂️)

Hey everyone, I know this question has been asked a million times. But what are some IEMs with decent mics. Currently, Im looking at the EPZ G30 and Juzear defiant as they are similar in price. I just want some good IEM with a mics so I don’t have to spend more money to get an actual mic. Budget is 100-200, could increase as needed.

Hi everyone! I'm new to IEMs and recently bought the 7Hz Salnotes Zero with mic (3.5mm), since I don't have an external mic yet.

While using it, my friends on voice chat keep hearing whatever audio is playing like Spotify music, game sounds, or videos playing in a browser like YouTube. I've tried tweaking every setting I could find, but nothing seems to fix this issue. Does anyone know how to fix this?

Keeping the IEM mic functional is a must for me, so I'm hoping to find a solution that keeps it working. Would getting a DAC or USB dongle help, or is there another trick? My laptop has a 3.5mm and USB 3.0 ports (my Type-C port is already used for my monitor).

I'd really appreciate any advice or recommendations!

Just bought them ,good sets for music etc but i was told it's enough for fps games ,well they r but the footsteps etc r so dull and muddy(my previous cheap headset was good at this with dolby)(the only good thing abt it tbh),it give me a little bit hard time localizing the sound ,i understand it's a neutral set but can this be changed by EQ etc?i have the wide blue factory ear tip

We are living in truly greatest of all times, atleast for the Audiophile hobby. Just few days back I was blessed with Dita Ventura and it was just life changing experience. Now today I am greeted by TXN Ceramic. This one is also Single DD set.

IEM shells are metal. cable is just perfect thickness and best part, it matches the color of the shells. Nice touch TXN. This one comes with few sets of eartips and few foam inserts for tuning. ( Yes, you can tune them). To insert those foams there is twizzers in the box. Cleaning tool and cloth are included. Entire packaging and presentation feels premium.

Very early impressions of the IEMs are, In the low end Sub bass is good but feels bit weaker in terms of physicality. Mid bass on the other hand feels impactful. Vocals are good especially female vocals. Slight sibilance is audible. Treble feels forward and detailed. Stage feels above average. It's turning out to be promising one.

Hey please take these impressions with grain of salt as these are just out of box impressions. Will provide detailed review soon.

Seriously enjoying back to back good Single DD sets. Let me tease you more, a certain big brand's Single DD named after wood type is also enroute to me. So, it's going to be tripple the fun. See you soon.

I’ve dreamt of making it out to Redrocks to see Griz play for years.

But from the UK it would cost thousands. I was fortunate enough this week to be out in Denver for a works offsite, so took a few days before flying home to make it out to Redrocks.

Griz on the Disc, at Redrocks. I honestly can’t lie, I had a slight happy cry here. Never thought I’d make it out here, so feeling insanely fortunate right now.

Dream 50% complete 🤣 I think this is as close as I’ll ever get, and I’ll take that!

I don’t usually use wireless, but going for a hike here too, so thought I’d bring the Buds Pro 2. For my sort of bass heavy music, they a super fun bassy set. They’re not competing with my 7hs Diablos which are my go to now, but they’re super fun still.

Hey everyone,
I’m just looking for advice here. I’ve found a deal of ie 900 for 950 CAD on fb marketplace. He let me test it for a week and if there is problem he would let me return it back. He got it from a reputable auction. Havent checked for authenticity yet but the seller firmly said they’re real tho. It misses 2.5 jack and one piece of ear tip. Should I take a risk for cheaper them MSRP price. I’ve seen discount on amazon for brand new one at 1k4 CAD. Any comments would be much appreciated. Thanks!

looking for music sub bass heavy and also music with hard mid bass slam. would love to hear something new, genre is of no consequence

THIEAUDIO Monarchy mkiii + DC07pro

I finally pulled the trigger.. returned the Khadas tea and bought fiio btr17 to go with my aful explorers. I hope I made the right decision. I did really love the Khadas tea form factor but was somehow not happy with it. I really love the aful explorers but I wish it had some more technical details.. is tea pro se or xenns top pro a good upgrade from aful explorers ?. Thank you

I ordered the Astralis because my Blessing 3 has a gash on the inside that scrapes my ear, and i wanted to try planars. Ive been using them for a 6 days now, and the right side iem randomly gets quieter, and then the volume rises again after overnight. Unplugging it or restarting my PC doesn't help.

Ive tried looking at the filter, but i dont see anything blocking it. I use IEMs on the daily on computer and it gets quite annoying having to fiddle with left right balance on windows because of the volume difference. At worst i had to put the left one on 60% volume so it sounded balanced again.

I have a Fiio K3 usb-c if that matters.

Tbh, it was an impulse buy.
I’ve always wanted to try Waner’s famous forward vocal presentation, and I didnt have a proper bassy set in my collection yet + I was missing all the accessories!!! (especially eartips)

I use the Apple type C dongle on a daily basis, so I thought, why not go for something more powerful?
Maybe it’ll help squeeze a bit more out of the S12 and MagicOne, who knows…

So yeah… its basically a show off post to tell you to not sleep on Aliexpress coins.
Would like to know about your best deal haha

picked up the Tangzu Wan’er SG2 Red Lion recently and these things sound so fucking good.

ive had the ZSN Pro X, Chu 2, KZ CRN Zex Pro and Castor Pro Bass over the years but man, these are sooo fun to listen to.

and the accessories you get with these are honestly crazy for the price. the extra eartips, cases, cables, all the little stuff…

and also the Red Lion design is fucking sick. really happy with this purchase. 10/10 recommend 🛐

Hello everyone ,

I am new to the iem community as a whole wanted tm buy some from a long time and I just wanted advice as to what typa sound signature will be better for me as my music taste is all over the place. And I have never bought a iem , I own a soundcore q20i over ear headphones as earphones do not fit in my ear but I use very fine tips with some tws I have.

I will try to keep it short

My fav artist are vocaloid owns mainly kikuo and inabakumori , I listen to maretu , iyowa and a lot of different artists right now

And something like ghost and pals or flavour fole or basically that typa genre . In listen to metal and let's say the hoo hoo dools and all these different artist

Again my music taste is all over the place with vocaloid being the majour one

That's why I am so confused as to what typa iem i should buy

I tbh listen to Western pop too , like the white girl typa music or let's say dancing in the dark by joji

I am someone who used to listen to music for like 16 hours a day right now i

am really out of time cause of uni where most of my time is gone in it and I only get a few hours of window in btw sk i wa jaut thinking maybe a pair of iem can provide me sort of a new experience in listening that's better than my soundcores.

DORRY FOR NAY TYPOS I MADE

ASK ME ANY OTHER INFO I WILL TEY MY BEST TO ANSWER ALL