7Hz x Crinacle Zero 2 - For $25? Why not!

 

4⭐️

+ Price to performance 

+ Solid tuning

+ Non-fatiguing - great for long sessions

+ Vocals

+ Fit and comfort

- Plastic build

- Stock cable is bad

- Design may not appeal to everyone

- Soundstage a bit narrow (nitpick)

Disclaimer: 

This product was purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

Gear used: 

●LG v30+

●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra

●Samsung dongle

●Hiby FC4

Source:

Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD on an LGv30+. Iems were burned in for 30 hours prior to review.

Introduction:

The 7hz x Crinacle Zero 2 features a single 10mm dynamic driver. Like the original Zero, the 2 is a collaboration with acclaimed YouTuber and founder of In-Ear Fidelity, Crinacle. They are currently priced on Linsoul's site for $24.99 and are offered in 3 color variations.

Build, fit, ergonomics:

The Zero 2 are mostly built from plastic. The build quality leaves a bit to be desired but considering the price it's understandable. The nozzle is on the shorter side which could mean fit issues for some that prefer a deeper insertion. I was able to obtain a good seal and fit with the included multicolored tips with no discomfort over long listening sessions. The included cable is touted as an upgrade over the original by 7Hz but I personally don't care for it at all. I substituted for a Xinhs gold cable.

Sound impressions:

Technicalities and resolution take a hit but that's expected at this price point. The soundstage seems a bit narrow but overall satisfactory. 

●Lows - Right off the bat I can tell the Zero 2 have a slight bass elevation. Sub bass can dig deep when pushed and mid bass slam is present without taking much away from other frequencies. The quality isn't the best and sometimes gets a bit bloated on certain tracks.

●Mid - To my ear, this is where the Zero 2 excels and gets things just right. Both female and male vocals sound great and are pushed forward slightly. The weight and texture are nice and there's no shoutiness.

●Highs - Treble is rolled off. I would have liked a bit more air and extension. On some tracks I detected a tiny bit of sibilance in S's, T's, and cymbals.

●Balanced:

Switching over to the Hiby FC4 and Pac480 4.4mm cable, the soundstage seemed to open up a bit more. Note weight gets a bit of a bump across the spectrum and the bass digs a lo little deeper. They seem to come alive and i can hear more of an excitement. Definitely good scaling with power but with that comes an added energy that may be fatiguing over long listening sessions. 

Sample track breakdown:

Below are a few tracks I used for my impressions. Let's break down a few.

●"Begin Again" - Taylor Swift (Taylor's Version) - Taylor's voice has a bit of warmth and sounds great. The bass hits at the 0:31 mark and has a nice deep extension. Mid bass slam adds a nice weight without bleeding over into the mids. I do wish the soundstage was a bit wider and the treble extension went further to add more air.

●"Sign of the Times" - Harry Styles - Harry's voice sounds perfectly placed at the beginning of the track. At the 1:21 mark the rest of the instruments hit and a spectrum gets more balanced with vocals taking a slight step back. Mid bass texture suffers on this track and sounds a bit bloated and boomy. 

●"Half of My Heart" - John Mayer - In the intro the guitar strumming timbre seems a bit off and metallic. John's voice is well placed at the front and has good timbre and weight. The elevated bass bleeds a little into the mids here.

●"Save Your Tears" - The Weeknd - A nice intro with snare hits that don't have a hint of piercing quality. Sub bass hits well and deep at the 0:10 mark. The Weeknd's voice has good timbre and weight and seems to be well balanced. The highs have a bit of muted quality due to the treble roll off. 

●"I Hope You're Happy Now" - Carly Pearce & Lee Brice - A nice hitting bass right at the start does a good job of staying in its lane. Carly's voice has good timbre and weight. It is more forward throughout the song whereas Lee's sounds more balanced. A little more treble would help here to even out the spectrum. 

Summary:

The Zero 2 has carved out a space for itself in the very crowded budget tier. At only $24.99, it is a competent iem and a fairly solid all-rounder. It excels with more intimate, vocal heavy music but struggles on complicated tracks. If you're looking for a slightly bass elevated, warm tuning with forward vocals, rolled off treble, and don't want to break the bank then definitely give the Zero 2 some consideration.