I sing a lot of backing vocals and a few leads and use the ZS6s. For my band I cannot see me wanting anything more, they are an order of magnitude better than floor monitors.
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Recommend a <$300 set of buds
- Thread starter Bodeanly
- Start date
Okay, gang... The ZS7's and V80's are here. Out of the box, they both fit my ears like heaven. Is this unusual? I'm gonna hook em up in bit. Gotta get some work done first. Stupid work.
Both appear to have a great build quality. Both are packaged well. Cables don't appear cheap. Weird that I feel like I totally payed zero money for these when it's actually more money than I've ever paid on listening devices, probably combined, my entire life (except my studio monitors).
Both appear to have a great build quality. Both are packaged well. Cables don't appear cheap. Weird that I feel like I totally payed zero money for these when it's actually more money than I've ever paid on listening devices, probably combined, my entire life (except my studio monitors).
s0c9
Supporting Member
I wish I could use universal buds.. they simply don't stay put in my ears, no matter the size/type of material used for the tips.
Congrats.. I'm JEALOUS !
Has anyone tried the KZ ZSRs? Before pulling the trigger on the ZS6s, this review with FqResp comparison has leaning towards the 6s.
I have a box of memory foam tips, but I'm scared I'll just mess up the fit. My goal is to wear em for a couple hours and see how I feel then.I wish I could use universal buds.. they simply don't stay put in my ears, no matter the size/type of material used for the tips.
Congrats.. I'm JEALOUS !
s0c9
Supporting Member
Before I went the custom route and an audiologist informed me that universals would probably never work for me... I tried everything I could get my hands on.. from foam (Comply) to.. you name it.
Whenever I turned my head, opened my mouth, etc.. pop! the seal went.
Since going customs I have not had that problem
Let us know how they work out for you!
Thanks a lot for this awesome thread OP and everyone!
My wife being back to school, 600-800 dollars IEMs is out of the question for me.
For the last 3 years, I've been in a punk-rock cover band (Bad Religion, NOFX, Pennywise, No Use for a Name, etc.), and we're all doing lead and backing vocals. This is a headache for many bars and small venue, as they often have only two or three stage monitors. So we bring our own, and they get smashed by the crowd or end up drinking more beer then I do! Hahaha! That's why I'm going down the IEM road.
I'm ordering a pair of ZS7, and probably some double flange tips that I know I'll like.
I'll be sure to leave a comment about them as soon as possible. Amazon Canada isn't selling them, so it'll take a week or so before I get them.
My wife being back to school, 600-800 dollars IEMs is out of the question for me.
For the last 3 years, I've been in a punk-rock cover band (Bad Religion, NOFX, Pennywise, No Use for a Name, etc.), and we're all doing lead and backing vocals. This is a headache for many bars and small venue, as they often have only two or three stage monitors. So we bring our own, and they get smashed by the crowd or end up drinking more beer then I do! Hahaha! That's why I'm going down the IEM road.
I'm ordering a pair of ZS7, and probably some double flange tips that I know I'll like.
I'll be sure to leave a comment about them as soon as possible. Amazon Canada isn't selling them, so it'll take a week or so before I get them.
yeah, me too.
@Bodeanly, what the verdict with the 7s and v80s? pros/cons/stupid work?
I used the ZS7's for a couple hours this afternoon. I was not completely blown away by the way that they sounded, but they are still leaps and bounds ahead of the Shure SE215's that I was borrowing. The way everyone described these, I was expecting rainbows and unicorns once I plugged them in. They were very comfortable for me, right out of the box, as though they were made for my ears. It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not. I will use them on Friday's gig and don't plan to go right out and buy customs. I wasn't going to post this because I knew everyone would ask me to describe what I thought they lacked in sound quality. It's not that they really lack. I can hear everything. The best I could describe it is a sort of empty space above the actual music. That space fills with distortion if you crank them, but you would go deaf to get them that loud. They are plenty loud. I'm hoping there's a bit of a breaking in period. Bottom line: they are cheap, they are comfortable, they sound good enough, but not "these were made by Midas" good. I am very pleased with my purchase.yeah, me too.
@Bodeanly, what the verdict with the 7s and v80s? pros/cons/stupid work?
Thanks for the reply. I suppose you could try a couple of different sources if you haven't already. I have a good old Creative Zen that I'm anxious to try. Anyway, I don't believe in "perfect sound heaven". 
Many phones sound OK, some sound great. Most computer integrated soundcards sound like hell. Haha! I'm also anxious to plug them into my Scarlett 2i4.
Amazon's telling me I'll get them on Feb 25. Can't wait!
Many phones sound OK, some sound great. Most computer integrated soundcards sound like hell. Haha! I'm also anxious to plug them into my Scarlett 2i4.
Amazon's telling me I'll get them on Feb 25. Can't wait!
That's a really good description of my IEM experience. I would like to hear of people that can say this isn't the case with any IEMs. I attribute the "emptiness" to the fact you have less access to the ambient room - you miss all of the din, natural reverb and ambient overtones. I can hear everything just fine, but the instruments/voices don't really blend - kind of like eating a salad one vegetable at time. Have to really trust the sound guy to control FOH balance, because I have little idea of where I sit in the mix with IEMs.
s0c9
Supporting Member
I don't find that to be the case at all... but I've been a long time user.
Stereo will help with that, 'cus mono IS pretty sterile. So will adding some effects into your mix.
You definitely do NOT want to let FOH control your IEM's.. that's a disaster waiting to happen.
It's just like listening thru headphones only you get to choose what you want in it, and (with stereo) where you want to place it in the mix.
Personally, I don't think anyone should expect a studio-level CD mix in your IEM's. I don't put toms or OH's in mine. Don't need them to do my job.
IME. missing "all of the din, natural reverb and ambient overtones." is the best part of using IEM's. You exclude all the garbage that prevents accurate monitoring when using a wedge
I'm of the opposite field of thought on this i use all the drums, backing tracks ect. in my mix I go for the best sounding mix I can get on my iems. I do agree about not overdoing ambient effects as that is a easy path to a muddy mix though. I keep seeing people try arguing about ba drivers and dynamic drivers I'll take a moment to clear this up dynamic drivers (aka regular mini speakers) move air they result in fuller punchy bass at the cost of adding distortion and ear fatigue from pneumatic pressure build up in the ear especially in not properly vented iem designs. Sealed Iem design dont allow the air to release and puts said pressure straight to your eardrum. Next balanced armature drivers (comonly used in hearing aids) function different they are more controlled in frequency response but in more limited fields In order to get to louder volumes without adding distortion you will see more drivers added. Generally speaking Balanced Armature drivers offer better instrument seperation and clarity but lack bass response and punch as they do not push air the way a dynamic driver does. The other issue with BA drivers is they are more complicated to implement and tune. Multi driver iems have a crossover, sound tubes and dampeners (at least on well designed models, designs lacking this tend to sound congested and bloted), and finaly phase / time alignment. As a result good designed sets tend to be more expensive as the design takes alot more thought to execute properly. My personal bias is for hybrids utilizing both designs in one, especially ones featuring dual dynamic drivers for the lows like the kz zs6. There are lots of other factors that can make or break a good set of iems too. The driver count is another thing that gets argued about often. To me this should be simple imho more drivers should if properly implemented add more headroom, better instrument sepperation, and frequency response. for me single and dual driver iems wont cut it but for some playing in basic rock bands blues or things that the mix isn't super busy they should be perfectly suitable.I don't find that to be the case at all... but I've been a long time user.
Stereo will help with that, 'cus mono IS pretty sterile. So will adding some effects into your mix.
You definitely do NOT want to let FOH control your IEM's.. that's a disaster waiting to happen.
It's just like listening thru headphones only you get to choose what you want in it, and (with stereo) where you want to place it in the mix.
Personally, I don't think anyone should expect a studio-level CD mix in your IEM's. I don't put toms or OH's in mine. Don't need them to do my job.
IME. missing "all of the din, natural reverb and ambient overtones." is the best part of using IEM's. You exclude all the garbage that prevents accurate monitoring when using a wedge
s0c9
Supporting Member
I'm a big proponent of multi-driver buds too.. and agree with everything you stated above - minus what you put in your mix.
I've been on customs for 5+ yrs with 4 and now 8 drivers (BA).
I've never found a single dynamic driver I liked and few vendors I found have more than 1 - and even fewer with hybrids. Even WITH multi-drivers, the sealed approach causes ear fatigue [as you mentioned], but the 8's (64 Audio A8's with ADEL diaphragms) equalize the closed internal/external pressures, so I have ZERO ear fatigue from them - which is a departure from the 4 driver [closed} IEM's I used to use. I also like to keep my volumes as low as possible, which enhances the "ambient" effect of the ADEL diaphragms, allowing me to hear the stage "ambience" pretty well.
The 4 LF BA drivers in the A8's most certainly provide more bass definition and it's easy to EQ the feed to boost the bass to where I can get stupid/silly amounts of it in my mix, yet retain that definition and clarity.
The new hybrids (N8) that 64Audio have are ridiculously priced, so I'm not planing on going there.
I've listened to/auditioned the ZS5 and 6 models, but I have small canals so they don't stay put. That makes them [and any other universals] a no-go, no matter how many dynamic drivers they embed.
YMMV
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I spent most of my time with the KZ's, but put the TRN's in for a bit to see if there was a notable difference. There was not. For Friday, the TRN's will be my backup, but I'd be fine if they were all I had. For now.
I jammed all last night with the TRN's. They sounded fantastic. Might use the KZ's as my backup.
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