Dynamic VS BA: Flare Audio R2Pro VS Final Audio Design Heaven VI

by Admin - 15:44

KZ ED9: The Enigma

by Admin - 07:05

Intro

TL;DR: One of the myriad of IEMs from the brand I most love to hate, the KZ ED9 offers an otherwise excellent budget package were it not for its manufacturer�s poor (if not outright lack of) quality control.

Before I begin I would like to thank George at Gearbest.com for providing the review sample of the Xiaomi Pistons 3.0 shown in this review. Please note that I am neither affiliated with Gearbest or any of its staff, nor am I being paid for writing this review. Unless otherwise specified, everything you see written in this review are my own honest opinion, so please take that with a grain of salt. All photos you see in this review are also my own unless otherwise specified. Thanks!

Knowledge Zenith, otherwise known as KZ, is as the title says � an enigma. That�s because we don�t really have that much information about them, and also because they�ve never bothered to release any of that. All we know is that they�re a Chinese manufacturer that makes a crap ton of ultra-cheap IEMs that they sell through online marketplaces like Aliexpress. That, and they have a massive cult following on Head-Fi that practically worship the brand with every post they make on the Asian brand thread or their official appreciation thread.

But I�m gonna get straight to the point. I don�t like KZ. I�m not gonna lie about that. I don�t like their lack of presence as a company. I don�t like their lack of ways to contact them. But I couldn�t ignore the cultish hype. It had me curious as to if they really were worth the continuously-spreading hype. And just a few weeks ago, the opportunity presented itself. And so here I am, reviewing one of the many IEMs from the brand I love to hate. Will they stand up to my expectations? Find out after the jump.

== Aesthetics ==

Packaging, Accessories

The ED9 comes in a plastic shield-shaped case devoid of marketing buzzwords and text, save for a list of specifications on the back of the case. It�s no Pistons 3.0, but at least it isn�t a shameless cardboard box. Inside is the ED9 itself, along with its surprising accessories package of three extra eartips and � get this � a pair of extra tuning filters.

Design, Build, Microphonics

Yes, tuning filters. I know, I couldn�t believe it myself. You really don�t get to see tuning filters � a feature more commonly found in IEMs priced $100 or above � in an IEM priced below 20 dollars. There is nothing on the package that explains what either of them is, but from here on out I�ll just call them the bass filter and the balanced filter. Build-wise, they don�t disappoint either, with rather weighty full metal housings and a surprisingly robust cable. The strain reliefs are built pretty well, and its right-angled connector is pretty solid, although I feel the diminutive Y-split might become a point of failure for the IEMs in the future. As much as I hate to admit it, I�ll say I�m impressed at how much KZ is able to pack into this sub-$20 package.

But no audio gear is without its faults, and the ED9 does have its fair share of failures, mostly in the build. Once you go past the first glances, full metal housings don�t really matter anymore when the drivers themselves have a channel imbalance issue straight out of the box. The robust cable doesn�t seem as much of a good thing anymore when it�s practically a partially-uncoiled spring that�s almost impossible to completely straighten out. And worse yet, the audio started to cut out the very first time I plugged it in. (I�m not exaggerating anything � that really did happen the first time I took it out.) But let�s face it � KZ is your typical Chinese manufacturer of cheap products. Knowing this, there�s really no surprise that they have little (if any) quality standards when it comes to mass-producing their products. But if it�s this praised throughout the budget Head-Fi community, this is an issue that becomes all the more important.

Fit, Comfort, Isolation

The ED9 actually doesn�t fit too badly, staying snug and secure in my ears whether you wear it straight down or loop the cable around the ear (that is, if you can � the cable is incredibly stubborn and literally jumps out of my ears when I try to loop it around the back). However, the ED9 seems to have a sealing or damping issue, as the IEMs do not isolate equally (one side isolates less than the other). I don�t know how exactly this happened, but it has already been like this straight out of the box, so there�s not much else to blame other than poor quality control on KZ�s part. Again.

== Sound ==

Specs

Headphone Type	Closed-back in-ear monitor
Driver Type	N/A
Frequency Response	7 � 46,200 Hz
Max. Input Power	N/A
Sensitivity	N/A
Impedance	18 ?
Weight	24g
Cable	N/A
Connector	3.5mm (1/8�) right-angled gold-plated TRRS connector
Accessories	1x set bass filter 1x set balanced filter 4x sets grey silicone eartips (S/M/M/L)

Equipment, Burn-in

The source equipment used in this review is a fifth-generation iPod Touch and an iPad 3 directly running the KZ ED9, and a PC running iTunes 12 and Foobar2k powering the Jive through a Schiit Fulla DAC/Amp. The EQ apps used in their respective test is TuneShell on iOS and Electri-Q on the PC. The eartips used on the S3 are the included medium size eartips. The list of the test tracks I listen to while reviewing the Jive can be found here, although I will include links to specific songs in the review for a more direct point of reference.

The ED9 was burned-in for around 50 hours prior to writing this review. I noted no changes over this period, so I doubt there would be any more over time. In any case, let�s talk about how they sound.

Sound Quality

Bass Filter:

The ED9�s sound is honestly really hard for me to assess as the channel imbalance is practically splitting the IEM into two different sound signatures, each channel having its own twist on the sound. And I�ll be honest, I literally have no idea which is supposedly the �correct� sound of the ED9. The right channel is just a bass monster, with massive bass whatever you listen to. Its extension and sub-bass presence is phenomenal, easily taking the �Most Sub-Bass in an IEM Award� in my entire collection. It�s so massive that it tends to overwhelm the rest of the signature with all its slightly-distorted glory (Daft Punk � Motherboard). It�s so massive that I can practically feel the bass in Condukta�s Virtual Oasis. But the strange thing is, they manage to fall back and make way for the midrange when the song doesn�t explicitly have a heavy low-end (Yiruma � Fairy Tale). Its soundstage is also pretty good, with an airy space that reminds me of the Pistons 3.0.

The left channel, however, has a much more subdued low-end, sounding quite like the Pistons 3.0. The bass doesn�t overwhelm at all, instead sounding very controlled and refined. Again, I really have no idea which is supposed to be the �correct� sound here, but as the right channel seems to actually seal properly, I�m pretty sure the bass monster should be how the bass filter sounds.

Balanced Filter:

A visual comparison of the filters. Bass filter on the left,
balanced filter on the right.

The balanced filters, in my opinion, really bring out the �true� sound of the ED9. The reason why I call it its �true� sound is because the balanced filters, well, don�t have any actual filters � it�s little more than a brass tube to hold the eartips. (In contrast, the bass filters have a black mesh that dampens a treble spike as seen in the image to the right.) The ED9 sans damping filter is more bass-light, bringing out more clarity and focus to the midrange and treble. The bass is still there, but it�s taken a few steps back, really bringing out the rest of the music to life. Guitars sound great (Sungha Jung � Coming Home). Pianos sound great (Yiruma � Indigo). Pretty much everything sounds great (Daft Punk � Give Life Back to Music). Can�t really say much more than that.

Summary:

Substandard quality control aside, I�ll admit, the ED9 sounds pretty great (how many times have I said that already?). It doesn�t have the straight-up versatility of, say, the Pistons 3.0, but its two pairs of filters do an equally effective job providing two different flavours of a similarly refined sound. So yeah, I�m gonna say it � the ED9 sounds pretty darn good.

Other Media

Okay, now I have a really hard time gauging how well the ED9 does here. Simply put, the channel imbalance really messes up the soundstage enough that I simply can�t use this for gaming properly. Audio cues coming from the left are rather distant and hard to pick out. Movies have the same problem. So no, I cannot give a proper rating of the ED9 in this section in its current condition.

Amp & EQ Response

The KZ ED9 was designed from the outset to work with phones and similarly weak sources, so one will have no trouble using it with your phones or iPods or whatever audio device you might have. Pairing it with the Fulla, I didn�t really notice any major differences sound-wise, beyond them sounding cleaner out of the Fulla�s improved DAC chip. Now, about EQ�ing the ED9�I really don�t see any reason why one would bother to tweak the sound through software when you�ve got an excellent hardware �EQ� from the get-go. So I guess I�ll leave it at that � there really isn�t much more to say at this point.

Value

The KZ ED9 can be bought from the official KZ store in Aliexpress, or a bunch of other sellers such as Gearbest for under $20. I would say the KZ ED9 offers incredible value at its price point, with its great build, great package, and innovative tuning filter system that really pinches the profit margins. But as much as I�d like to gush about its merits, all of it is shrouded by the fact that it came in partially broken. Is it really worth getting? To be honest, I can�t really bring myself to say yes, despite all the positives.

Comparison

Versus MEE Audio M9 Classic ($10):

The MEE Audio (formerly MEElectronics) M9 Classic was an impressive budget IEM, offering an unprecedented level of quality across the board at the rock-bottom price of ten dollars. From a sound standpoint, the ED9 easily blows the M9 out of the water with its refinement, its more balanced sound, and its neat tuning filter features. But when you consider the rest � the rest being the ED9�s iffy QC � the M9 ends up standing out as the winner in this face-off.

Versus Pistons 3.0 ($16):

I don�t think there�s anything to say here that I haven�t already said throughout the review. In the end, pretty much everything else beats out the ED9 by the fact that it�s not half broken. If, however, you manage to not get a dud pair, the ED9 will give you a brighter, more forward, and more aggressive sound compared to the passive-sounding Pistons 3.0.

== Conclusion ==

Earlier in this review I called KZ an enigma. But having studied and reviewed their ED9 I can say I have KZ all figured out. KZ is a manufacturer that designs very promising earphones that look to be worth it for the price, but their apparently horrible quality control leaves me still wondering why they have such a massive cult following � a cult following that bothers to spend over $100 dollars on 10 pairs of IEMs instead of two or three actually well-made pairs. They seem to not care about anything beyond designing the IEMs and stuffing them with neat features and an otherwise excellent sound. Beyond that, no, I don�t think they seem to care about actually making their products properly and consistently.

Whatever the case, as much as I want to like the ED9, I cannot recommend them under these circumstances. I know my complaints will fall on deaf � or rather, non-existent and foreign � ears, but KZ, straighten up your production process.

Category	Score	Comment
Packaging, Accessories	8/10	A nice plastic case, four pairs of eartips, and an extra set of tuning filters. Awesome.
Design, Build, Microphonics	4/10	The ED9 is actually designed and built fine, but their channel imbalance out of the box and their nuisance of a cable leaves me disappointed.
Fit, Comfort, Isolation	5/10	The ED9 fits well and is pretty comfortable in the ears, but I noticed a damping issue that affected the isolation of one channel � another result of poor QC.
Bass	7/10	With the bass filter, the ED9�s bass is strong, aggressive, and has excellent extension. Perfect for EDM lovers out there. With the balanced filter, it�s subdued to the point where it�s rather bass-light for my tastes. Very controlled and refined.
Midrange	7/10	Excellent clarity, but sounds a little rough at times with the bass filter. The balanced filter improves its clarity somewhat and makes it sound brighter and more forward.
Treble	7/10	Sharp, snappy, and pretty well-extended. Becomes brighter with the balanced filter.
Presentation	7/10	Great across the board, especially for an IEM of this calibre.
Gaming, Movies	5/10	I was supposed to leave this score out, but I couldn�t just trash the opportunity to press the horrible QC point yet again. The channel imbalance is making me insane.
Amp & EQ Response	7/10	Designed for mobile devices, the ED9 is easily driven and doesn�t really improve much under extra power. If you want to EQ it, well, there are the filters.
Value	6/10	For the price, it�s oh-so worth it � if you don�t get a dud.
Total	6.3/10	Promising, but the manufacturer�s horrible quality control disappoints in the end.

Suggestions for Improvement

FIX THE QUALITY CONTROL. I don�t think I�ve pressed a point any harder than that.

Shout-Outs, Gallery

I would like to again thank George at Gearbest.com for providing the sample of the KZ ED9 you see in this review. You could check out the rest of the images I took during the shoot here (link unavailable), and you could check out some more of my reviews here.

This has been thatBeatsguy of DB Headphones; thanks for reading!

Changelog

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Xiaomi Pistons 3.0: The Successor

by Admin - 01:57

Intro

TL;DR: The successor to the popular Xiaomi Pistons 2.0, the 3.0 offers a remarkably versatile package that is no less than excellent at its price point. Easily one of the best IEMs I've ever reviewed.

Ahh, the Xiaomi Pistons. The first IEM where I wrote a serious review, and the only one to be as popular as it is. Since that Christmas of 2012 the demand for the Pistons 2.0 exploded into a massive craze that lasted a bit over a whole year. Then, sometime around April of 2014, news came about of a successor to the Pistons 2.0, aptly named the Pistons 3. Upon its release, there was some buzz surrounding them, but the hype train never really took off the way the 2.0 did. And, well, for that entire year I never really took the chance to get a pair and review it myself. That is, until now.

So here I am, back where it all began. The sands of time have swept across the budget IEM market, with it bringing fierce new contenders. How will the Pistons 3 stand up to some of 2015�s latest and greatest? Let's find out after the jump.

== Aesthetics ==

Packaging, Accessories

The packaging of the Pistons 3.0 is, well, just like its predecessor � sleek, sharp, and with as small a footprint as ever. The clear plastic cover shows off the silicone carry case of the Pistons 3, its brushed aluminium back showing face up. Now that I think about it, there really is nothing different about the Pistons 3 case. The silicone carry case is similar, the accessories are similar�absolutely nothing has changed in the packaging. Not that I'm complaining.

Design, Build, Microphonics

One thing is for sure about the Pistons 3.0 � it looks stunning. 1More Design (the team behind the designs of the Pistons 2 and 3) really changed up the look of the new Pistons, trading in flashy gold and brown for a more understated black and silver. Either way, though, I think they're both stunning in their own ways. Along with the change in appearance came several improvements made to the build quality of the 3.0. The strain reliefs have been reinforced and integrated into the main housing, the Android-compatible 3-button remote has been redesigned, and the Kevlar-reinforced cable remains.

The 3.0 still employs metal throughout its build, with the gold-plated 3.5mm connector, the Y-split, and the housing of its Android-compatible 3-button remote. As with the Pistons 2.0, the 3.0�s cable causes a considerable amount of cable nose, which can be a bit of a nuisance when walking or running. And unlike the 2.1 (a minor revision of the original 2.0), the Pistons 3.0 does not include a shirt clip, so you're going to have to find a different solution to the cable noise problem.

Fit, Comfort, Isolation

The new design of the Pistons 3.0 really helped to improve its fit and overall comfort. Their angled, ergonomic housings easily make them one of the most comfortable IEMs I've tried. The fit is just so effortless that the Pistons 3.0 literally just slide into your ears. Oh yeah, and before you start worrying, they also stay quite securely in your ears as well � even though it does feel like they're about to fall off at any given moment.

According to the official page of the Pistons 3.0, they still employ a dual dampening system similar to that used in its predecessor. As such, the Pistons 3.0 doesn't really isolate as much as your typical IEMs such as the MEE Audio M9 Classic and the Brainwavz Jive. In fact, it actually isolates about as much as the DUNU Titan 1, an IEM actually marketed as a semi-open IEM. The Pistons 3.0 has trouble drowning out the sounds of the city streets and the interiors of loud malls. Though this isolation (or lack thereof) can be a bit of a nuisance, I personally found them pretty useful as they do give you much better aural awareness when you�re out and about.

== Sound ==

Specs

Headphone Type	Semi-open (?) in-ear monitor
Driver Type	Unknown
Frequency Response	20 � 20,000 Hz
Rated Input Power	5 mW
Sensitivity	98 dB
Impedance	32 ?
Weight	14g
Cable	1.25m Kevlar-reinforced cable
Connector	3.5mm (1/8�) straight gold-plated TRRRS connector
Accessories	4x sets black silicone eartips (XS/S/M/L)

Equipment, Burn-in

The source equipment used in this review is a fifth-generation iPod Touch and an iPad 3 directly running the Pistons 3.0, and a PC running iTunes 12 and Foobar2k powering the 3.0 through a Schiit Fulla DAC/Amp. The EQ apps used in their respective test is TuneShell on iOS and Electri-Q on the PC. The eartips used on the S3 are the included medium size eartips. The list of the test tracks I listen to while reviewing the 3.0 can be found here, although I will include links to specific songs in the review for a more direct point of reference.

I have burned-in the Pistons 3.0 for about 50 hours prior to writing this review, most of that time comprised of direct listening. Over that period I found no changes in the sound of the Pistons 3.0, and I doubt there would be any more from there on out. Anyways, that�s about as far as I could write about everything else; now let�s get to the real reason you guys are here � the sound!

Sound Quality

Bass:

Coming from the Pistons 2 � an IEM I hold in very high regard � I had high expectations for its successor. And, well, they didn�t exactly disappoint. Not exactly. The Pistons 2.0 had this big, impactful low-end which became one of its main selling points for a lot of non-audiophiles.

The 3.0�well, it�s different. Really different. It�s tighter, faster, and more sedate in comparison to its predecessor. Extension is also pretty good, with the 3.0�s driver capable of reaching down and digging up some of the deeper, more obscure bass notes that are often lost in IEMs in this price range (Spag Heddy - Onvang). But as improved as it is, I feel the low-end still lacks some control and refinement in the low-end, as it doesn�t really pull back as much during recordings that don�t really call for them (Daft Punk - Touch). Keep in mind, however, that the Pistons 3.0 is a $16 IEM, and to be honest, for an IEM at this price point, I don�t think I have any reason to complain.

Midrange:

The Pistons 3.0�s midrange is very much improved from its predecessor. So improved that, if I were to pick one quality of the Pistons 3.0 that really sold it for me, it would be the midrange. Their midrange just has this smooth, slick tone that works so effortlessly with just about everything I throw at it. Vocals and instruments alike are given a bit of weight and thickness in the lower registers, but it�s far from excessive. In fact, I could say it�s just about right, given their performance with solo piano recordings (Yiruma � Indigo). Their clarity is also quite remarkable at this price point. However, I did find them to lose their composure in some busier recordings, sounding rather muddled and cloudy to the ears (Adele � Skyfall). Overall, it�s pretty impressive for an IEM at this price point, and easily holds its own amongst some of the best IEMs I have below $30.

Treble:

Moving on, let�s talk about the treble. Quantity-wise, it did not disappoint, with the treble having enough sparkle to be heard clearly, but is far from being fatiguing to my ears. Quality-wise, it�s actually pretty refined, and especially so for a 16-dollar IEM. I can�t really say it�s completely grain-free, but that seems to be what I�m hearing, and it�s definitely better than some of the other IEMs I�ve tried around the price range of the Pistons 3.0.

Soundstage/Presentation:

Unlike the DUNU Titan 1, the Pistons 3.0 isn�t exactly a �true� semi-open IEM � to clarify, I only likened it as such since they didn�t isolate as much as a regular IEM. And unlike the Titan 1, the Pistons 3.0 also doesn�t have a massive soundstage for an IEM. It�s still remarkably spacious for one, though, and it gives a remarkable sense of space that�s a rarity amongst IEMs at this price. Instrument separation is good, but as I stated earlier, they do tend to sound rather clouded in busier recordings. It isn�t too bad, though, and again, it�s nothing to complain about.

Genre Proficiency:

The Pistons 3.0�s smooth, slightly V-shaped sound signature (bass and treble emphasis) allows it to perform decently with just about any genre. Its thumping low-end really fleshes out the bass-heavy beats of EDM, while its surprising midrange clarity grants the 3.0 a level of versatility not many IEMs in this price range offer.

Summary:

The Pistons 3.0 is an amazing, capable performer, able to play just about every genre I�ve thrown at it without ever sounding�well, bad. At this price point, there�s very little to find fault with in this IEM � so much that I feel like I�m just picking at straws trying to find something negative to write about them. I mean, from a general standpoint they sound excellent. Sure, they do have their drawbacks, but given their very tight price limitations compromises do have to be made. But otherwise, no, the Pistons� smooth sound and impressively versatile sound signature is something I find incredibly addicting, and incredible at this price point.

Other Media

Games:

One can�t really complain much when you�re using an IEM at the very bottom of the price ladder as a gaming tool. That is, beyond complaining about one�s lack of a more capable headphone or IEM. But with the Pistons 3.0, you don�t need to. I found their imaging abilities to be acceptable for gaming purposes, and though the bass does tend to obscure some of the minor details, again, if you want better performance, you might as well shell out a little extra cash.

Movies:

Okay, I�ll be honest here, the Pistons 3.0 sound great, but they aren�t exactly one of my top picks for watching movies. Why? Because let�s face it, probably the only time one would take the time to watch a full movie outside of the house would be while you�re travelling. And the Pistons� mediocre isolation has a very hard time drowning out the sounds of airplanes or most loud, droning noises in general. So as good as they sound, they�re not my go-to movie IEMs.

Amp & EQ Response

With the Schiit Fulla, my IEMs and headphones tend to sound cleaner and slightly brighter in comparison to my portable sources. The low-end becomes tighter, the midrange clearer, and the treble a little more snappy. Well, I found the Pistons 3.0 to react quite differently to a little extra power. Its low-end sounds stronger when given more power � and it�s not the good kind. With the extra power for the Fulla, the 3.0 starts to sound more like the 2.0 with its massive low-end. The rest of the sound signature doesn�t seem to be affected, though, so that�s all I can say about that here.

The Pistons 3.0 are also pretty responsive to EQ, making them quite easy to tweak to one�s tastes. Being an IEM that already sounds good from the get-go, I can�t really suggest any tweaks to improve them further, so I�ll just leave it at that.

Value

The Pistons 3.0 can be acquired from a sea of third-party sellers online, but by far the most reliable source is from Xiaomi themselves, selling it at its retail price of 99 Yuan, or about 16 dollars. However, to buy from Xiaomi directly, you would have to live in one of the few countries where they actually sell directly � China, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, or the Philippines. So basically, those in the West will have to buy the Pistons from elsewhere. And, well, once you go third-party, the prices can vary tremendously, with some matching retail price (Gearbest.com) or some pricing a little bit (by that I mean about 10 bucks) higher (Penonaudio.com).

And then you have the issue of dealing with sellers of fake products, which can be quite bewildering to the untrained buyer unless he/she has a lot of experience with purchasing from online marketplaces outside of Amazon or eBay. To save you trouble, both of the links above are reputable sellers of the Pistons 3.0, and if you�re still a bit unsure, you could try asking in the Pistons 3.0 thread.

Comparison

Versus Xiaomi Pistons 2.0 ($16):

So here we are, at the fated duel. The fun, basshead-friendly Pistons 2.0 against its younger, more matured-sounding successor. To be honest, it�s a pretty subjective fight, with a lot of opinions stating either is better than the other. And, well, the more opinions that arise, the less significant each one becomes, so basically, my own opinion won�t really be anything new.

But as it is right now, I feel the 3.0 is a very worthy successor with its major improvements across the board. Throughout the review I�ve made some comparisons of the two, but let me elaborate further. If you have the Pistons 2.0 and loved it, you might be pretty disappointed with the sound signature of this new version, mostly in the bass. The 2.0 was a hit mostly because of its big, fat bass response that clicked with the consumer and bass lover types (myself included). The Pistons 3.0 is significantly more balanced and refined across the board, so if you loved the 2.0�s bass, you will be dismayed with that of the 3.0.

Versus Brainwavz Jive ($30):

The Brainwavz Jive is (as of this writing) one of Brainwavz� latest IEMs, having been released only about two months ago. Straight out of the box it impressed me with its unusually-refined sound and its radical change of sound when you put on the included Comply eartips. Against the Jive, the Pistons 3.0 loses out sound-wise � simply put, the Jive makes the Pistons 3.0 sound like a $16 dollar IEM. Not that it�s a bad thing, though � in reality, I found myself reaching for the Pistons more than the Jive. As with all reviews, whether I like it or not, that doesn�t really matter to you, the reader, if you happen to take interest in buying either.

== Conclusion ==

The Xiaomi Pistons 2.0 has always been a consumer-oriented IEM � one of the main reasons a number of audiophile Head-Fi�ers spew hate on them while ironically hyping other products. (The reason why I say audiophile Head-Fi�ers is because not all of the people on Head-Fi are middle-class elitists with three amps and at least twice that many headphones.) The Pistons 3.0 is no different. Granted it has gained a lot of noticeable improvements to the build, fit, and the sound, but at its core it�s still an IEM meant for the people who aren�t as crazy about sound quality as audiophiles are. They don�t really have the sound characteristics that could completely outclass that of IEMs within and above its price point.

But all in all, the Pistons 3.0 is an excellent IEM in my opinion, featuring robust construction, a comfortable fit, and a versatile sound signature that bridges the gap between consumer and audiophile. For people like me � the people who can�t (or don�t want to) invest that much into the audio hobby � they�re one of the best entry points into the audiophile world that I can think of. I can�t recommend them enough.

Category	Score	Comment
Packaging, Accessories	8/10	The 3.0 has the same packaging and accessories as its predecessor. Not particularly innovative, but still pretty useful.
Design, Build, Microphonics	8/10	The 3.0�s radical redesign gave it a fresh, sleek look and a much more robust build, making it one of its more noticeable and significant improvements.
Fit, Comfort, Isolation	8/10	The Pistons 3.0 rank amongst the easiest to fit, and the most comfortable, IEMs I have in my collection. However, its isolation can be a bit wanting to those who want more.
Bass	8/10	Punchy, impactful, and a major improvement over its predecessor. However, it still lacks control and refinement.
Midrange	8/10	Smooth, clear, and accommodating enough for just about anything you throw at it. Could one ask for anything more?
Treble	8/10	Crisp, light, and snappy. Nothing too impressive, but there�s not much else to expect at this price point.
Presentation	7/10	The 3.0 provides an excellent sense of space for an IEM of this price.
Gaming, Movies	7/10	The 3.0�s sound signature is quite accommodating for media beyond music, but their isolation prevents them from doing much good as an in-flight movie kind of IEM.
EQ Response	8/10	They�re pretty responsive to EQ and can be easily tweaked to one�s tastes � within the limits of an EQ�s capabilities, of course.
Value	10/10
Total	8/10	Sixteen dollars. Sixteen dollars for an extremely versatile budget IEM package. That�s all I have to say.

Suggestions for Improvement

Can�t think of any.

Shout-Outs, Gallery

I would like to again thank George at Gearbest.com for providing the review sample of the Pistons 3.0 you see in this review. (Apologies for taking so long to post this!) You could check out the rest of the images I took during the shoot here, and you could check out some more of my reviews here.

This has been thatBeatsguy of DB Headphones; thanks for reading!

About the Company

Xiaomi is a Chinese smartphone manufacturer founded around the year 2009, with their products all offering high performance at a low price. This brought the company to be massively popular in China, eventually overtaking both Samsung and Apple in market share in just four short years.

Company website: http://www.mi.com

Changelog

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Category	Score (R2Pro)	Comment (R2Pro)	Score (Heaven VI)	Comment (Heaven VI)
Packaging and Accessories	5/10	Mediocre for its price range, but the inclusion of a nice case redeems this somewhat.	7/10	Absolutely beautiful if easily scratched carrying case with a good selection of eartips for use.
Design and Build	2/10	Solid aluminum enclosures are nice, but the cable is worse than that found on many a $50 IEM.	7/10	Wonderful shiny chrome copper housings let down a bit by its cable, but not as badly as the R2Pro.
Comfort and Isolation	9/10	The R2Pro shines as its deep fit and tiny size helps a ton in this category versus the larger and bulkier Heaven VI.	8/10	Still excellent, but not quite as good as the R2Pro � especially because it�s thicker and longer and thus not allowing such a deep fit.
Bass	9.5/10	Yummy, juicy bass with excellent impact and beautiful extension that helps with a myriad of genres from rock to electronic.	5/10	Extended fairly well, but let down by its mediocre impact which polarizes it into genres not reliant on a good bass section.
Midrange	9.5/10	Natural and flowing midrange reminiscent of how we breathe � effortless and without thinking.	9/10	Beautiful midrange in a different way as it�s emphasized to make instruments and vocals shine.
Treble	9/10	Slightly dark treble, but this suits my tastes as it�s not peaky at all while still being incredibly detailed and with only a hint of treble spike.	7/10	Good detail but somewhat emphasized presentation makes me doubt how much of it is actual detail and how much of it is artificial.
Presentation	9.5/10	I love the overall frequency response of the R2Pro, and while it won�t rival top-tier IEMs, it just clicks with the kind of natural and effortless presentation I know and love.	7/10	Its somewhat polarizing frequency response makes people either love or hate these IEMs, and while I can hear the merits, I don�t think this kind of presentation works with me.
Value	7/10	This score is driven down by two things: the R2A, which is most of the R2Pro while being only half the price and the cable, which is horrible.	5/10	As I mentioned above, I can�t say an IEM that only works with certain genres of music offers excellent bang for the buck.
Total	7.5/10	A wonderful-sounding IEM is unfortunately let down by its mediocre cable and meagre accessories, but this doesn�t stop me from loving just how wonderful the R2Pro sounds.	7/10	Somewhat the opposite of the R2Pro, the beautiful housings and case of the Heaven VI is let down somewhat by its polarizing sound signature that my brain just doesn�t click with.

Specs	R2Pro	Heaven VI
Headphone Type:	IEM	IEM
Driver Type:	Single 5mm Dynamic	Single Balanced Armature
Frequency Response:	N/A	N/A
Max. Input Power:	N/A	N/A
Sensitivity:	105 dB/mW	112 dB/mW
Impedance:	16 ?	16 ?
Weight:	9g	17g
Connector:	1/8-inch jack	1/8-inch jack
Accessories:	3 sizes Comply tips Sewn carrying case	5 pairs of different sized silicone tips Metal spring-loaded carrying case Presentation box

MeetGist

Dynamic VS BA: Flare Audio R2Pro VS Final Audio Design Heaven VI

==Introduction==

==Aesthetics==

Packaging and Accessories

Design and Build

Comfort and Isolation

==Sound==

Equipment and Burn-In

Comparisons

==Conclusion==

==Specs==

KZ ED9: The Enigma

Intro

== Aesthetics ==

Packaging, Accessories

Design, Build, Microphonics

Fit, Comfort, Isolation

== Sound ==

Specs

Equipment, Burn-in

Sound Quality

Other Media

Amp & EQ Response

Value

Comparison

== Conclusion ==

Suggestions for Improvement

Shout-Outs, Gallery

Changelog

Xiaomi Pistons 3.0: The Successor

Intro

== Aesthetics ==

Packaging, Accessories

Design, Build, Microphonics

Fit, Comfort, Isolation

== Sound ==

Specs

Equipment, Burn-in

Sound Quality

Other Media

Amp & EQ Response

Value

Comparison

== Conclusion ==

Suggestions for Improvement

Shout-Outs, Gallery

About the Company

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