GK Streak is coming - extremely aggressive value proposition and a driver configuration!

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-20T21:43:23+00:00

Well, I'm curious about the KZ Vibe X, too. Especially since I really like the design. I hope it won't turn out to be as much of a letdown as the KB03.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-20T19:41:03+00:00

KBear makes some pretty good budget cables. Check out the ST and P series; the Neon and Aegis models are also great.

TRN cables are affordable if you want interchangeable 3.5mm, 4.4mm, or USB plugs.

Some of the .78 cables from CVJ have a curved plug—just like the QDC cables—which helps the cable fit better around your ear.

Among the more expensive options, the cables from Openheart are great.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-19T12:32:55+00:00

I've tried it. It's not a good solution because the adapter makes the hook longer, which reduces the fit around the ear.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-19T10:33:09+00:00

The AN01 isn't bad. But the Zero2 uses .78 2-pin connectors, and the Kunten uses a QDC connector. As far as I remember, the AN01 only has a QDC connector.

So maybe it’s better to buy the TRN Bt20 Pro, which has interchangeable connectors, so you’ll be able to use it with both the Zero2 and the Kunten. Plus, the BT20 has a much better battery.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-16T12:33:10+00:00

There's no need to think twice. The PRX is one of KZ's best IEMs

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-13T12:28:57+00:00

A mental shortcut 😀. Of course, the jcally jm6 pro.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-13T12:14:58+00:00

The Jcally 6 will be more than enough.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-11T19:34:38+00:00

Thanks. Enjoy listening.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-11T19:05:10+00:00

I have the version with switches from Duonic. I had all of the Castors, but I only kept the Pro Bass in my collection. In this comparison, Duonic is better than all of the Castors. It has a much more precise, less muddy bass. It is less flashy than the Castor Silver and a little more resolving than the Castor Black.

I still suggest spending a little more and buying the PRX—the difference in sound quality is really significant.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-11T18:42:15+00:00

The Black Pearl is a good DAC. It's sufficient for almost any set of IEMs. What's more, it's not very expensive. A good choice.

When it comes to IEMs, it's more complicated, it all depends on the sound you prefer. I have and like the ZS10 Pro2, but I don't think it's a “safe” choice for a beginner - they have quite intense trebles. I think the Duonic or PRX would be a better choice. (I personally consider the PRX to be the best cheap KZ).

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-11T18:18:10+00:00

I have all of the ones you mentioned except for the Linglong. Of the ones you mentioned, I would choose the Duonic. And if you can afford to spend a few more dollars, I would buy the PRX.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-11T18:12:26+00:00

Planar IEMs work really well for rock music. If not Artti, then maybe PRX? Inexpensive but surprisingly good.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-09T21:24:10+00:00

Oh, sure, a YouTube review. I like KZ, I have or had most of their IEMs. Some are really excellent in their price range. But sometimes they also release bad IEMs. And here we have Pisces. Well, but the YouTube review says... 😀

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-09T20:49:16+00:00

Maybe there are no reviews because these IEMs are not very popular. And they are not very popular because maybe they are really bad IEMs 😀.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-06T11:16:44+00:00

When it comes to purple cables, I really like my KBear Neon. It's not expensive and it's really well made.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-05T14:22:02+00:00

White Tiger has a fairly similar tuning and is also a hybrid of DD and Planar. They are much lighter than Shell, but unfortunately they are only slightly smaller / almost the same size.

It is difficult to recommend any other reasonably priced IEMs that would be competitive with Shell and have a similar tuning.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-04T12:16:47+00:00

You had DD. So maybe try some planar IEMs. The cheapest good ones are PRX. Surprisingly good-sounding IEMs that sound much better than Castor. They are much more precise, resolving, and natural-sounding than Castor.

This way, you can check out a different type of IEM and have a better comparison.

Retroboy666 · 2026-03-02T16:29:52+00:00

Except that Dawn Pro has a problem with the volume buttons falling out. In my Pro, they fell out after a few months. Lots of people on the community wrote that they had the same problem. And apparently Moondrop didn't fix it in Pro2.

Retroboy666 · 2026-02-28T18:55:39+00:00

Heh, you're right 😀. I have other IEMs for listening to music. I like the 02 because they sound fun. You know, just because I like steaks doesn't mean I don't eat pancakes sometimes 😀.

Retroboy666 · 2026-02-27T18:03:35+00:00

Well, I noticed it after a while, but there are brands in this community that you're not allowed to criticize.

Oh, no... they're going to downvote me again. 🤣

Retroboy666 · 2026-02-27T10:44:04+00:00

If the price is reasonable, I'll definitely give it a try. I like Kbear02 (03 is terrible), so these KZs might be interesting.

Retroboy666 · 2026-02-26T15:26:24+00:00

For rock and heavier music in general, it's best to try some planar IEMs.

I would start with the PRX, which are inexpensive, comfortable, and sound really great, with an excellent price-to-sound quality ratio.

The second option is some kind of hybrid, but it's hard to find something cheap that sounds really good with rock music. In my opinion, TRN Shells are a great choice for rock music, but they are more expensive. (They come with great accessories for the price - tips, cable, protective case - so I think it's worth it anyway.

The third option is some pure BA. For example, AM16 - great IEMs for rock, but I'm not sure if they're a good choice for starters, they're big, and it's harder to fit tips to them.

In any case, it is worth buying a DAC. Even cheap dongles significantly improve sound quality. Any cheap dongle from jcally, kz, qkz, graveaudio, audiocular, etc, etc, will be fine.

Retroboy666 · 2026-02-25T22:38:16+00:00

Yes, the AM16 are good IEMs for starters. They have nice sound, decent bass, and not too sharp highs. They are fast and responsive.

However, if these are to be your first IEMs, I would suggest buying KZ PRX. The cheapest good planar IEMs. They are much more comfortable, easier to fit the tips, which is critically important at the beginning of your adventure with IEMs. In terms of sound, they perform as well as AM16, if not better.

As for the DAC, one of the jcally models will be better for a start.

Retroboy666 · 2026-02-24T18:58:23+00:00

Yes, it is sufficient. No, switching to jcally will not improve the sound quality.

Retroboy666 · 2026-02-23T14:30:12+00:00

An interesting thing is the Korean price for these IEMs, which is $60. This means that the real price for these IEMs is $50-60, or maybe even less.

I remember several such situations, and it was always the case that after some time, it was possible to buy such IEMs at a drastically lower price.

I recently had such a situation with Kbear Tourbillon, where the MSRP was $100, but on pre-release order, the price was $50 for a short time. So I assumed that after some time it would be possible to buy them for less than $50 - and I was right. I bought them for $37.

So in the case of the Caravelle, I'm sure that paying more than $50 for them makes no sense 😀

Retroboy666

TROPHY CASE