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Review of MOE SS01 twin-driver in-ear headphones w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of MOE SS01 twin-driver in-ear headphones. http://penonaudio.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=167 (manufacturer website: http://www.52erji.com/xiaomengerji)
A lot of people probably never heard of MOE before, but as it turns out you might be familiar with their sound already. It's because they were original manufacturer of dynamic drivers for a number of headphones from JVC, Sony, Audio-Technica, and others - http://www.52erji.com/category/product2. Finally, they spread their wings and took off with a new product, MOE SS01, which I just received from www.penonaudio.com and would like to share with you about. As I continue my journey to discover more high quality budget in-ear headphones from lesser known Asian brands, sometime I get overwhelmed with all the available choices, especially when you start reading about it on Head-Fi. That's why I do appreciate guidance with recommendations from penonaudio, and it also gives me a piece of mind that I'm getting genuine product since there are so many fake ones out there. So, let's take a closer look at what I found.
When you look at the box MOE SS01 arrived in, you notice right away these are not your traditional looking in-ear headphones. A clever display on the front of the box demonstrates an arrangement of dual-cylinder design surrounded by "S" letter. Along with a detailed specification in English and a list of accessories, that was a very nice compact presentation of the product. But the big surprise is when you take it out of the box and take a closer look at the actual design. Am I looking at headphones or a piece from my kids LEGO set? Will these even fit in my ears? That was the initial thought that went through my mind, and without hesitation the first thing I did was to put it in my ears for a quick test. These fit like a glove!!! The clever ergonomics with angled nozzle of the perfect length and rounded corners made it very comfortable to insert these dual-cylinder shells in my ears. These have 2 separate chambers, one for low frequency driver and the other one for mids/treble driver. A design detail of red plastic "S" snaked around/between these cylinders adds to a very unique visual effect. Not too often I rave about the cool looks of the headphones since I always put a value of sound quality as the most important factor. In this case - the design and the sound both share a spotlight. Coming out from the lower cylinder, these feature a narrow flat flexible cable with a decent build quality. I typically comment about lack of strain relief, but for some reason in this design it just works and feels secure enough. A separate flat cable from each earpiece goes down through a chin slider to y-splitter cylinder marked with "SS" and continues flat all the way down to a straight gold plated 3.5mm connector. The wire selection of the cable is OFC with a typical 1.2m length.
Among included accessories you get 3 pairs (S/M/L) of soft silicone wide bore (opening) eartips, a shirt clip, and a velor draw string storage pouch. For my personal taste I didn't find these eartips useful since I needed a better seal, so I ended up with original AT small bore tips. Keep in mind, the sound quality of these headphones is VERY eartip dependent where without a good seal you are not going to get much bass. I also have to mention that nozzle had a cloth filter, very similar looking to RE400 stick-on filters (need to confirm if it's the same in size, just looks relatively close). Each earpiece has a stamped L/R letter on the plastic red S piece which is not easy to see. But the unique shape with an angled nozzle and a slight front facing tab makes it very easy to distinguish which one is Left and Right without even looking at these. Also, I found that symmetrical placement of the nozzle between two cylinders actually allows use of these headphones with wire up behind your ears where chin-slider comes very handy to secure the fitment. As a matter of fact, I found wire down and wire up fitment to yield the same level of sound quality and almost an identical seal.
Now let's get down to a sound test. Straight out of the box at first the sound was a little too bright for my taste and bass was missing until I played around with different eartips settling on AT narrow opening one. I figured to give it a few hours of burn in with a pink noise loop to have a better assessment of the sound signature. It didn't take too long to realize these are bright mid-centric headphones with a rather surprising layered bass. I have tested analytical and mid-centric headphones before, and usually they either have hardly any bass or low bass quantity with a main focus on quality. Here, due to a physical separation of low frequency driver and mid/treble driver, MOE was able to create a very unique sound signature where you can literally hear two layers of the sound coexisting together in a perfect harmony. Bass comes with a punch of a fast attack, courtesy of a mid-bass hump, and a warm sub-bass layer right behind it, all very well controlled without bleeding into mids. On the other hand, mids are bright, detailed, and upfront, and treble is crisp and extended. This sound signature does give vocals a bit of a cold feeling, and at first sounded a little bit harsh. But after a few more hours of playing, I noticed an improvement where the peaking started to settle down. The sound is still bright, but a lot more smoother, full, and ear-friendly. I was especially pleased with how natural all the tones sound, either if it's vocals or acoustic instruments. The soundstage is definitely wider than average, great stereo separation. Thanks to a flat cable and it's attachment to the shell, I didn't experience any microphonics. Furthermore, because of high sensitivity and low impedance, these headphones are VERY efficient where you actually need to keep the volume a few click down from your usual setting. It paired up well with my Note 2 as well as FiiO X5.
Overall, I REALLY enjoyed these twin driver headphones and currently can't get enough of it. With some headphones I have to think hard if they offer anything unique or just an overlap with a similar slightly enhanced sound characteristic. With MOE-SS01 this was an easy decision because they offer a very unique mid-centric bright sound with a bass which is great in quality and quantity without being overpowering (not a basshead level). With this kind of bass and treble details you typically have to pay a price of recessed mids, but in the case of SS01 - you also get mids in your face!!! These are definitely worth checking out because they sound great, they look unique, and have a great value being currently on sale from penonaudio for $59.
Here are the pictures.
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Someone just asked me if these could be purchased from eBay and which seller to trust. It's always a tough question because there are so many fake headphones on ebay. But for those who are interested, penonaudio actually has ebay store (under "bigbargainonline") and I just saw these MOE SS01 in there as well: http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOE-SS01-Tw...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item43c1afb6d6

Alternative source
vectron said:
Someone just asked me if these could be purchased from eBay and which seller to trust. It's always a tough question because there are so many fake headphones on ebay. But for those who are interested, penonaudio actually has ebay store (under "bigbargainonline") and I just saw these MOE SS01 in there as well: http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOE-SS01-Tw...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item43c1afb6d6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also get it from this seller from aliexpress at the same price.
http://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/6396704439.html?orderId=64996927930152
Bought mine here. Also got the VSonic GRO7 from her. Quite reliable.

Review of Ostry KC06 and KC06A in-ear headphones w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review and comparison of Ostry KC06 and KC06A in-ear headphones. http://www.ostry.com.cn/item/detailPage?itemid=28 and http://www.ostry.com.cn/item/detailPage?itemid=29
I get a chance to review and to compare a lot of different headphones some of which represent an amazing value with an OK sound while others have a great sound with a price tag that makes you question their value. Once I got a chance to listen to Ostry's latest KC06 and KC06A headphones, I knew right away these represent a rare combination of both amazing sound and value!!! As a matter of fact, these headphones got quickly escalated to the top of my all time favorites. Let me tell you more why I'm so excited about these.
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Due to similarities in packaging and design, most of the review will be combined with an exception of sound description where KC06 and KC06A have their own individual style.
Starting with a packaging, I was truly impressed in how much thought went into its design details. Everything from a foam padded outer sleeve with a distinct cutout to reveal headphones under a plastic display cover to an etched out spec on the back of it (which unfortunately I wasn't able to capture in pictures due to unique nature of it) and ergonomics of accessories placement inside of the box - represent a great level of pride this company took to showcase their flagship product. I also noticed that original packaging of KC06 from 5 months ago has been re-designed, and now KC06 and KC06A look similar with an exception of red details of "A" version.
When it comes to accessories, both models include an ample amount to keep everybody happy. You get a pair of soft earhooks to assist with wearing these wire up in addition to a default wire down, a shirt clip, a soft velvet drawstring pouch where surprisingly KC06A had a wider one (more appropriate in my opinion), a warranty/spec card, and plenty of custom eartips. Both include a set of S/M/L wide-bore short stem eartips (enhances high frequency) and a set of S/M/L narrow-bore longer stem eartips (more balanced with bass emphasis enhancement). In addition, "A" model includes a very unique set of S/M/L eartips with a built in filter which I found to enhance bass performance even further. All these eartips look to be custom made, rather than cheap generic ones, and I was able to achieve a great fitment comfort and the best sound with narrow-bore tips. But for enhanced sound isolation, since I do have a relatively wide ear canal opening, I settled with my go-to UE900 eartips.
Moving on to a build quality, I was very impressed with what Ostry had to offer. Unlike your typical cylindrical in-ear shape that sticks out, these have a flat vertical design with a very comfortable fitment. For me personally, these didn't require any additional adjustment after the initial insertion. As a matter of fact, you can lie down with these on a pillow and they still feel comfortable. The body of the earpiece supposed to be made with some lightweight titanium material with a very durable construction. Both models have a similar pinhole opening at the tip and the body of earpiece, overall have an identical size/shape, and the only difference is the design graphics with a more neutral sort of question mark of KC06 and a more aggressive KC06A with red accents. The wire is attached to the back/side and gets wrapped in a strain relief which blends with a tear drop shape of the earpiece.
The cable between two models is identical with an only exception of red accent marks on KC06A model. The cable jacket, though offering a great protection, unfortunately is stiff and has a "memory" effect where after unfolding it doesn't get straight. I guess it's one of those things you have to live with. Y-splitter has a very interesting "Y" shape design, and the end of the cable is terminated with a very slim 3.5mm gold plated straight connector. It has a short strain relief, and I would prefer it a little bit longer considering wear of straight plug. Also, surprisingly there is no chin slider, though it's not a deal breaker and mostly useful for behind the ear wire fitment. Furthermore, I didn't sense any microphonics.
But as you know, all these eye-candy design details would mean nothing without a sound to back it up. Here, both KC06 and KC06A deliver with a top notch performance! Starting with KC06, I was very pleased to hear a well balanced sound with a touch of mid-centric brightness. Starting with a bass, you get a great quality with a detailed performance. I can clearly hear separation of sub-bass and mid-bass, but sub-bass quantity is just there to give sound a body rather than a rumbling to make you feel it. Mid-bass punch is snappy and quite satisfying to my taste. The bass feels a step above of the reference performance, and it's pleasantly well controlled within it's frequency range. Mids are very detailed, clear, slightly upfront but still in great balance with the rest of the sound. I really like how this performance translates into vocal delivery, very organic, with a touch of brightness, and still smooth. Treble is well extended, detailed, with enough brightness without being too overwhelming, and still very easy on your ears. For the comparison, if I consider RE400 to have warm reference sound, KC06 has a balanced reference sound.
Now, the KC06A kicks it up a notch into a direction of a more commercial sound signature with a slight v-shape cut (relative to KC06). Luckily, they did it a smart way without doing any extreme tuning to kill the mids which sounds a bit warmer in comparison to KC06. The bass here gets a refreshed quantity of rumbling sub-bass that can even put a smile on some bassheads. You still get a great separation between sub and mid bass where the later one is on par with KC06 performance. Bass is still well controlled without spilling into lower mids or the rest of frequency range. Mids are still detailed but now just a bit recessed to bring up a power of the low end. I was very pleased Ostry didn't reduce the quality of the mids except for smoothing out some brighter peaks, and just slightly scaled down the quantity while keeping most of the original attributes from KC06. Treble is still well extended, has a similar crisp performance without any hint of sibilance. Also, I didn't find any significant difference in soundstage width. A principal change from KC06 and KC06A is enhanced/additional sub-bass and slightly recessed warmer mids. As a matter of fact, I'm still on a fence if what I'm hearing as "slightly recessed" could be an effect of enhanced bass and a bit of brightness reduction.
Overall, I was very impressed with everything about these fantastic headphones. Well, almost everything except for the cable where I would prefer a softer jacket to get rid off that wire memory effect. Now, when it comes to ergonomics of the design and it's comfortable fitment and the sound signature - both KC06 and KC06A quickly got elevated to the top of the list of my current favorite headphones. I was actually thinking which one I would like better, and it was a hard decision to make because I enjoy both of them very much, and would highly recommend either. With a current price of around $60-$80 (newly introduced KC06A is higher in price), these headphones represent a true "giant killer" value in every aspect of their design and sound performance. Can't wait to see what Ostry going to come up with next!!!
Here are the pictures of individual models.
KC06
KC06A

For those interested, Penonaudio has KC06A in stock, listed both on their website and eBay store, along with original KC06 pair.
KC06A
http://penonaudio.com/OSTRY-KC06A
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OSTRY-KC06A...51194374?pt=US_Headphones&hash=item58b275eb06
KC06
http://penonaudio.com/OSTRY-KC06
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OSTRY-KC06-...95666575?pt=US_Headphones&hash=item58a930c08f

I've one of those (KC06) and I'me quite happy with the buy (since December), very good construction quality and stylish!
The sound is amazing (off that I don't have a lot of comparing experience), payed 45€ what I believe it was a great deal.

Review of TTPOD T1E dual dynamic in-ear headphones w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of TTPOD T1E dual dynamic driver in-ear headphones. http://penonaudio.com/TTPOD-T1E-Bass
Here you go, another in-ear headphone gem for under $50! Though I was a bit skeptical approaching it, T1E turned out to be another giant killer where this dual dynamic headphone set delivered a sound quality on par with others that cost at least twice or more. When you factor in a unique design, amount of accessories, and quality of packaging, it makes you scratch your head with a question: "weren't they suppose to cut some corners in order to keep the price down?" Well, apparently TTPOD guys figured out how to make their product look like a million bucks while still being priced under $50. Here is what I found.
Starting with a package, it arrived in high quality all black box with golden print on top of it. On the back, it has a detailed specification listing, also in gold print, though a light background made it a bit hard to read. With a box cover removed, you have a semi transparent frosted insert with headphones stored underneath. Included with headphones you will find 3 sets of S/M/L eartips, one with a narrow bore, one with a wider bore, and one custom hybrid with a wide bore. While a lot of headphone manufacturers use commonly available eartip sets, I was quite impressed to find a set of hybrid eartips like I never seen before. You also get a shirt clip and a nice draw-string pouch.
The headphones itself have a shape of a molded dual chamber shell, and the transparent color I choose for my set (it actually comes in a number of different colors) revealed both of the drivers as well as wiring and all the internal connections. Though it might look a bit uncomfortable to put T1E in your ear, it actually has a very nice fitment. Starting with a straight gold plated slim 3.5mm connector with a short but reliable strain relief, it follows with a quality OFC cable which according to TTPOD is actually silver-plated. Moving up to y-splitter which matches the cylindrical shape and finish of the connector, you have a built-in chin slider (cable cinch) which slides right into the y-splitter capsule. A very neat design idea where together it looks like one solid piece. Moving up to earpiece shells, there is also a short and sturdy strain relief labeled with L/R and a raised dot on the R side to ID it by touch. Headphones itself are very lightweight and have rounded edges which makes a fitment very comfortable. Having a selection of correct eartips will greatly assist in keeping these in, and you can also wear them wire down or wire up where a soft cable shielding goes smoothly over your ear and chin slider keeps the cable tucked in.
Now comes the fun part - how do these sound? To start off, due to its excellent bass performance these have L-shaped (balanced with an enhanced low end) sound signature, very smooth, warm, and melodic. Starting with a bass, which is a star in here, you get a deep sub-bass with a sizzling texture and a fast aggressive mid-bass punch. Bass does spills a bit into lower mids, but has a very nice separation from upper mids. I was actually surprised expecting the bass to overpower the rest of the spectrum, but found this dual dynamic design keeping its upper mids clear and well separated. These are smooth and warm; they do lack some details since they are not as bright, but I don't consider it as a shortfall. Treble is clear, though not as extended which could be just a perception due to upper mids/treble being warm. This signature makes sound non-fatigue and great for extended listening period. Don't make my reference about smooth and warm discourage you since the upper mids have a great delivery of vocals with a lot of clarity. With a right set of eartips to create a perfect seal, I found T1E to provide a very good sound isolation. Also, soundstage was definitely above the average in width/depth. Furthermore, I didn't sense any microphonics effect from a cable wearing these wired down or up. Overall, the sound was quite forgiving even with lower quality music, thanks to its warm signature.
Since I have reviewed in the past a number of other giant killer headphones, I thought to write a quick comparison with a few other headphones in this "budget" category. With T1E vs KC06A, KC06 sub-bass is not as deep, but mid-bass has a similar impact; mids are brighter where upper mids a bit more recessed and more detailed, but feels a bit harsher in comparison; treble has a bit more extension due to brightness; soundstage is not as deep. With T1E vs VSD3S, VSD3S sub-bass is similar but mid-bass is not as aggressive; upper mids are more detailed, brighter and harsher; treble has more extension; soundstage is similar. With T1E vs B3 Pro I, B3 sub-bass has a similar quality but scaled down quantity, and similar fast punch, but less quantity with lows having less overall "weight"; B3 has a much better separation and layering; upper mids are more detailed and clear, no harshness at all; treble more extended and crispier; soundstage is the best of them all; and it requires a little more power to drive, about 15 more volume clicks in comparison to other headphones.
Overall, T1E is one sexy pair of in-ear headphones that doesn't just look good, but also sounds good. Without a doubt, bass is a star of their sound, and some might even find their performance borderline basshead, especially if you switch to narrow bore eartips which exaggerate low frequency by filtering down highs. But one important thing to note, with bass-enhanced headphones you often lose a quality of upper mids which results in veiled and recessed vocals. Here, upper mids/treble might not be as bright, but its very clear and perfectly balanced with low frequencies. Definitely a great pair of headphones to consider!
Here are the pictures.
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Nice looking. I hear that dual dynamic driver IEMs sounds much better with amplifier, can you confirm that? Is there seen any crossover or it just design in that way? Can't see from picture.
I saw that tips before, I believe name of that tips was "whirlwind" (or turboeartips), here the link http://www.aliexpress.com/item/excl...eartips-sleeve-ear-pad-earbud/1689797619.html
I like how you take a picture, I think it will be nicer if you further in the future make some how visual comparison, maybe in graph with frequency response, even if it won't be exact and accurate FR. FR drawn by memory and imagination I think it will be great or fun

Shezoid said:
Nice looking. I hear that dual dynamic driver IEMs sounds much better with amplifier, can you confirm that? Is there seen any crossover or it just design in that way? Can't see from picture.
I saw that tips before, I believe name of that tips was "whirlwind" (or turboeartips), here the link http://www.aliexpress.com/item/excl...eartips-sleeve-ear-pad-earbud/1689797619.html
I like how you take a picture, I think it will be nicer if you further in the future make some how visual comparison, maybe in graph with frequency response, even if it won't be exact and accurate FR. FR drawn by memory and imagination I think it will be great or fun
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, don't have setup to capture FR curve. Tyle at InnerFidelity does it with all his reviews Also, guys at Goldenears do that with their reviews. Actually, these T1E or another IM50 dual dynamics doesn't need any amping. They sound great as is. BUT, Havi B3 Pro I - another dual dynamic gem, needs amping. B3 is among my favorite IEMs. Will have to write a review soon as well

Hey vectron, how's this comparing to xiaomi pistons 2? HI's, MID's, LOW's, Clarity?How's the bass against pistons? Is this IEM mainly aimed for hiphop or classical? Thanks!

leprophotography said:
Hey vectron, how's this comparing to xiaomi pistons 2? HI's, MID's, LOW's, Clarity?How's the bass against pistons? Is this IEM mainly aimed for hiphop or classical? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Though Pistons have a "bigger" bass, T1E beats it in clarify/details, and more accurate across mids and treble. Pistons is v-shaped with recessed mids, this one is better. Pistons advantage is in-line remote for android controls. Btw, you can also find T1E on dx.com for around $36 bucks shipped now

vectron said:
Though Pistons have a "bigger" bass, T1E beats it in clarify/details, and more accurate across mids and treble. Pistons is v-shaped with recessed mids, this one is better. Pistons advantage is in-line remote for android controls. Btw, you can also find T1E on dx.com for around $36 bucks shipped now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sweet, Thanks for the quick comparison. Just ordered 1 from dx for $35.39.

Sound leakage
Hi,
How are the T1E with sound leakage? I usually listen at above average volumes at work and therefore would not like to disturb my colleagues
Thanks

Tr1ppy said:
Hi,
How are the T1E with sound leakage? I usually listen at above average volumes at work and therefore would not like to disturb my colleagues
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These have a unique shape and a shallow fitment, so it will vary. With a right set of eartips you can get a decent isolation seal, but nothing is 100%.

You can get T1E now from dx.com (their dxsoul.com site) for an insane deal of under $35 shipped free to US with a delivery of 4-7 days: http://www.dxsoul.com/product/ttpod...one-transparent-silver-901335002#.VDVRRRa5Q09

vectron said:
This is a review of TTPOD T1E dual dynamic driver in-ear headphones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great post! Makes me very excited to get my pair in a few weeks. I was able to order one for $30 Shipped, on a group buy.
Your description sounds JUST as I hope they will sound.
..

Review of SIDY (BGVP) DGS100 2-way hybrid in-ear headphones w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of SIDY (BGVP) DGS100 2-way hybrid in-ear headphones. http://penonaudio.com/BGVP-DGS100
My adventure in a land of hybrid in-ear headphones continuous, this time looking into a new offering from SIDY with their latest flagship model DGS100. For someone who just wants to buy a pair of replacement headphones or on a budget to find something that "sounds good", it will not make a difference about a type and a number drivers used in various headphone models. But for those who understand and appreciate a sound quality and have different headphones in their collection, hybrid IEM has been the latest buzz word. Having a flexibility of dynamic driver to deliver strong low frequencies and balanced armature driver for high frequencies opens up a door to a new sound shaping opportunity. Having already a number of dynamic IEMs under their belt, SIDY decided to join the hybrid revolution with their own offering. Here is what I found.
Arrived in a very unique tin box, it was a pleasant change from a traditional headphone packaging. In addition to headphones, inside of the box I found a very impressive collection of accessories. In addition to a quality hard shell storage case, you also get red over the ear wire guides and a collection of 16 (!!!) pairs of eartips. We are talking about a set (S/M/L) of quality Foam eartips, a set of hybrid eartips with red stem (S/M/L), a set of a typical audio-technica narrow bore opening eartips (S/M/L), and another 10 pairs of wide bore opening eartips in gray/white/black colors. I actually found these foam tips to be a lot better than Comply since they are softer and more spongy with less memory effect, goes into your ear faster without a need to wait for a foam to expand. I also found them to provide the best sound isolation and also a more detailed presentation. It all depends on your personal preference and anatomy of your ears, but SIDY definitely provides you with a big variety of eartip to find the one which fits you the best.
The headphones itself have a very basic cylindrical shape, but it's made out of a solid metal material and has a nice black finish. The design revealed a few interesting details. Looking through the nozzle's mesh cover, I was able to see all the way down to a sound port opening which suggests there is no filter insert, and kind of reminded me of their other DM2 model with interchangeable filters where the nozzle itself was a shaped filter. Also, a typical port opening found at the base of the nozzle (common in a lot of headphones) was on the side of the shell facing outward in Left/Right earpieces. Furthermore, there was another port opening on the back of the shell which I found to affect low frequency content as you close and open it with your finger. The cable attachment had a very nice strain relief and clear L/R marking, including a small bump on the Right side. Cable shielding was round, not too thin or too thick, and with enough flexibility to keep it tangle free as well as folded over your ear without a need for included earguides. I was surprised a cable cinch (chin slider) wasn't included, but y-splitter had a nice touch with an individual S/N marking. 3.5mm gold plated connector had a great strain relief and was 270 degree angled for additional comfort. I didn't detect any microphonics while wearing these either wired down or up.
Even so DGS100 might look plain, there is nothing plain about it when it comes to the sound. But I have to warn you, they absolutely require at least 20-30hrs of burn in. This is a first pair of in-ear headphones where I experienced such a drastic change from when I heard them out of the box and throughout first 20hrs of burn in. Out of the box, the mid-bass was overwhelming and upper mids were recessed. Now, 25hrs later - what a difference!!! Starting with a bass, mid-bass definitely settled down in comparison to my initial impression, but it still a dominant element across entire frequency range. Sub-bass is present as well, but it's more of a fill-in layer which supports mid-bass. I feel there is a little bit of mid-bass bleed into lower mids, though bass is still under control while being "on" most of the time. Upper mids are very detailed and smooth, and no longer feel recessed. The only thing I feel it lacking is a bit of clarity.
It took me awhile to put my finger on what's going on until I came across FR curve for DGS100. I personally trust my ears more than any visual graph, but in this case when I saw a sharp dip around 6k region that made sense to me. DGS100 upper mids are warm and smooth, not too bright, which creates a perception of less clarity in comparison to some other brighter IEMs in my collection. The same with treble, it's super detailed, but not as bright. I'm not saying this in a negative sense, it's just a different sound signature. As a matter of fact, upper mids/treble of DGS100 reminds me A LOT of Westone W40 (and we are talking about $500 IEM). Soundstage is actually wider than average, while depth is average. Also, these headphones are not as forgiving when it comes to playing lower bit rate encoded files, and I noticed a difference with 192kbps mp3s.
Overall, in my opinion if you have been waiting to try out a pair of hybrid IEMs and not after a bright analytical sound but rather want a smooth fun sound - these get my high recommendation. I don't want to compare them to other BA only or dynamic only headphones because they are in a different category. Also, their smooth and laid back sound signature makes it more tolerable for extended non-fatigue listening, unlike bright sound of Altone 200. Furthermore, I prefer DGS100 sound signature over AX35 where I found upper mids to be veiled and a bit recessed. If you are on a budget and looking for a single pair of in-ear headphones to invest money into, these might not necessary be the end-game pair. But if you are a headphone enthusiast who understands and values a sound quality and has a collection of headphones with different driver technology - these will be a worthy trophy on your shelf with a great value under $80 (once you sign in to Penonaudio).
Here are the pictures.
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Review of KZ ED9 and KZ ATE in-ear headphones with remote/mic - a new budget KING!!!

removed.

I got a few PMs with people asking me why these were not available from amazon links I posted in the review. I guess it was sold out, but I just checked and it's available again.

Thanks for the review! I like this type of wires. The wires wrapped up in a clear rubbery shielding are less likely to get tangled as other common headphone wires, from my own experience.

dizzyman44 said:
Thanks for the review! I like this type of wires. The wires wrapped up in a clear rubbery shielding are less likely to get tangled as other common headphone wires, from my own experience.
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Wires are good, the whole build quality is great, and it's a sound that make them stand out!

Thanks for this thread, just ordered a pair of ED9 thanks to it

I have ordered the ATE today.
Nice review

Just to let you guys know, KZ ATE model now also comes in black/translucent finish which looks AWESOME!!! Sound is the same, everything from a driver to a housing is identical and still consistent with my original review, but now it looks even more like ATH-IM50
Also, Zhengnan Shop is now the official KZ seller on Amazon US where they dropped a price to $13.90 (+ $3 shipping): silver - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y0F6IBG/?tag=vectron00-20, and black - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZPEHYRS/?tag=vectron00-20
Unboxing
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Accessories (tips)
Design details
ATE silver vs black
ATE vs IM50

Yes, I have ordered the black/tranlucent with mic.
I hope to receive rthem soon.
Gesendet von meinem X550 mit Tapatalk

Sound ISO? Best out of the two?
im getting a pair but torn up between the two!!! if you could only keep one which one would it be and why
thanks

xercurial said:
im getting a pair but torn up between the two!!! if you could only keep one which one would it be and why
thanks
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They are so dirt cheap, I would get two. But if I have to choose one - go with ATE. It's the most comfortable and the best all-around IEM out of these two.

Nice Review mate. How does these KZ ED9 stand against Soundmagic E10. I broke my E10? I need a new pair too. E10 are old now and there are obviously better options available. I am not a basshead and I like the balanced soundstage of E10. Could you suggest an IEM that sound similar to E10? I was looking at VSD3S but I don't like the behind the ear running wires and that big piece you fit on the wires to put over the ear. I just like simple IEM design like E10. Thanks

How's this as compared to SoundMagic ES18 ?

heartbrake said:
Nice Review mate. How does these KZ ED9 stand against Soundmagic E10. I broke my E10? I need a new pair too. E10 are old now and there are obviously better options available. I am not a basshead and I like the balanced soundstage of E10. Could you suggest an IEM that sound similar to E10? I was looking at VSD3S but I don't like the behind the ear running wires and that big piece you fit on the wires to put over the ear. I just like simple IEM design like E10. Thanks
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ED9 is brighter, it meant for a more detailed analytical listening, while E10 has a fuller warmer sound with a stronger beat. ATE would be a better equivalent, but you don't like the behind the ear wire.
Hang on for a few days, I will update this post with ED10 review. That one is EXACTLY what you are looking for, and it has wire down design Just got a bunch of reviews in a queue I need to finish, but should get to ED10 soon!

This is a review of KZ ED10 IEMs.
To complete the series of my KZ "giant killer" reviews, I'm going to look closer into their ED10 IEM model I received from Zhengnan store (one of KZ official resellers on Amazon). Joining an impressive line up of EDSE, ED9, and ATE, Knowledge Zenith (KZ) continuous with ED10 offering a unique design, a great build quality, and a decent sound signature without too much overlap with other models. But what impresses me the most is the fact that you can buy all 4 models and still pay less than a single pair of IEMs with sub-par sound quality. That is a reason I refer to these KZ models as "giant killers" and here is more specific info about ED10.
ED10 arrived in a shield-shaped box like ATE black edition, and it was a nice and a compact packaging with a secure storage for IEM and accessories. At the same time even so packaging box looks cool, it doesn't make a convenient storage case, so perhaps in the future KZ can redesign it considering they don't provide anything for storage as part of the accessories package. The only thing you get is 3 sets of eartips, M/L with small bore opening, and a large hybrid eartip with a blue core. That one was actually my favorite tip since it offered the best fitment due to its springy cap, and wide bore opening worked quite well to tame down the low end and open up higher frequencies (more about it later).
Unboxing and accessories.
For those familiar with other previously mentioned KZ models, the cable design is not going to be a surprise. You are looking at the same right-angle 3.5mm gold plated plug with an excellent strain relief. Cable jacket has a translucent design where you can easily see bi-color wires, and it's soft, a bit rubbery, and flexible. Y-splitter is compact, rubbery, and has great strain relief on all 3 sides. Featured in-line universal remote with mic and a single button play/pause/call operation was slightly different from previous models, having a bright red button to see it easier, and it also has a good strain relief.
Attachment to the shell is secure and with a good strain relief as well. Considering how KZ sometime likes to "copy" some other popular designs, here I couldn't help but notice a strong resemblance with Ostry KC06x series. Obviously, we are not dealing with a titanium shell, but the finish and even the shape from the nozzle side has a lot of resemblance to Ostrys. The insertion is not too deep, shells don't stick out too much, and they are very comfortable with both wire down or wire up fitment, even to the point where I can fall asleep on a pillow while wearing these. Also, microphonics effect was not that bad.
With two vents, one by the base of the nozzle and another one toward the back of the shell, you will not have to worry about driver flex, but at the same time isolation was not bad either. I don't know exactly what material it was made out of, but I really like the smooth finish of ED10. My only gripe was cursive handwriting font used on each shell to spell out Left and Right instead of a more clear and easier to read L/R letter marking. Other than that, I really like the design and the fitment.
Design details.
Wire up/down fitment.
When it comes to a sound signature, KZ ED10 has a v-shaped smooth clear sound with an enhanced bass (strong sub-bass and mid-bass region). Their soundstage has an average width and above average depth.
In more details, low end has a nice deep rounded sub-bass and fast punchy mid-bass. The balance between sub- and mid- is skewed a little more toward sub-bass, but it's still under control without muddying a sound. There is a little bit of mid-bass spillage into the lower mids but it's not excessive and only adds to the warmth of a sound.
Lower mids are warm and smooth with a nice body, upper mids are clear and smooth, but not super detailed. Upper mids are a little recessed, but not hidden too far behind bass and treble. Vocals sound warm and organic.
Treble has a polite quantity, smooth, not too crisp or harsh, definitely non-fatigue and great for extended listening.
Keeping it in a family, here is how EDSE, ED9, and ATE compare in sound to ED10.
KZ ED10 vs ATE: ATE has nearly a similar sound minus bass-boost (less sub-bass and not as fast mid-bass punch). At the same time, ED10 is a touch brighter in upper mids/treble which slightly improves resolution of a sound.
KZ ED10 vs ED9: ED9 has less sub-bass, less mid-bass, thinner lower mids, brighter more detailed upper mids, and a better treble extension. In a contrast, ED10 is warmer, smoother, has more body, and sounds bassier, while ED9 is more revealing.
KZ ED10 vs EDSE: EDSE has less sub-bass and mid-bass, a bit thinner lower mids, and thinner upper mids, better treble extension, and also sounds more crispier/brighter.
In comparison to a few other IEMs:
KZ ED10 vs KC06A: KC06A has less sub-bass, stronger mid-bass (slightly more quantity), thinner lower mids, more upfront upper mids (brighter and perhaps a little harsher), better treble extension (brighter, crispier).
KZ ED10 vs VSD3: VSD3 has a little less sub-bass, similar mid-bass, similar lower mids, brighter/harsher more upfront upper mids, better treble extension with a higher quantity (brighter, crispier).
Conclusion.
This is another great KZ "budget" release which doesn't sound, look, or feel like a budget IEM. You will get a bigger low end impact, in both sub- and mid-bass regions, and that's probably going to be a deciding factor if this sound signature is your cup of tea, versus something more neutral and analytical. Considering the price of these KZ headphones, sometime it makes sense to get different models to cover your various sound sig preferences, and then decide later what you are in a mood for or what would fit better your current listening repertoire.

Do you happen to have a Dunu Dn1000 or even listened to it? May I know your comparison?

ej8989 said:
Do you happen to have a Dunu Dn1000 or even listened to it? May I know your comparison?
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Don't have DN1k, but I do have DN2kJ - their latest 3-way hybrid I'm reviewing right now Expect the review soon!

nice reviews!
In terms of noise isolation: KZ ED9 vs EDSE vs ATE vs Mi Piston 3? Need to use them in a noisy environment (bus)
mostly listen to electronic music: Trance, Techno, house, Jazz.. mostly electronic, but not boomin bass EDM/commercial stuff.
Recommend please?

Techguy18 said:
nice reviews!
In terms of noise isolation: KZ ED9 vs EDSE vs ATE vs Mi Piston 3? Need to use them in a noisy environment (bus)
mostly listen to electronic music: Trance, Techno, house, Jazz.. mostly electronic, but not boomin bass EDM/commercial stuff.
Recommend please?
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With these IEMs isolation will depend strongly on eartip selection to make the best seal, like using foam tips. ED9 is heavy, hangs down so seal won't be as good, the same with EDSE barrel style. Your best bet is between ATE and P3, though if you don't want too much bass go with a smoother and more balanced P3.

vectron said:
With these IEMs isolation will depend strongly on eartip selection to make the best seal, like using foam tips. ED9 is heavy, hangs down so seal won't be as good, the same with EDSE barrel style. Your best bet is between ATE and P3, though if you don't want too much bass go with a smoother and more balanced P3.
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When it comes to sound quality, are Piston 3 at par with the ED9/ATE ? Piston 3 fit better right?

Techguy18 said:
When it comes to sound quality, are Piston 3 at par with the ED9/ATE ? Piston 3 fit better right?
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We all got different ears, so fitment will vary. That's why I include with all of my reviews a picture of me wearing a pair, so you can get some point of reference. But P3 will be more comfortable. Sound quality is very subjective as well. They all sound good for their price, just different sound signature. P3 is more relaxed, not too aggressive, and should work with any music style.