REVIEW: Shozy Zero In-Ear
Website:
www.shozy-hk.com/zero-earphone
Specifications:
Housing material:
Rosewood
Frequency range:
20Hz-18KHz
Sensitivity: 94dB
Impedance: 32 Ohms
Cable length: 1.2 m
Price (MSRP): U$D 60. Can be purchased directly from
Shozy website.
Accessories:
3 pairs of single
silicone tips (S/M/L)
Carrying pouch
Build & Design:
Build quality is about
average; not bad, but nothing outstanding. The housings are probably the better
made part of the whole Zero IEM, half wood and half metal. The main driver
chamber is made of wood and fully sealed, while the front and nozzle part is
metal; both parts well attached together. The nozzle is quite peculiar; the lip
is cut, apparently for better venting purposes, which seems to work pretty
well. The cut is a bit sharp, and mounting the eartips is a bit tricky at
first. It'd be better if the lip ends where smoother. The strain relief at the
housings is a bit short and stiff, but well glued; the R and L markings are a
bit difficult to see. The cable is a bit springy and kind of rubbery. The plug
and Y-split are also made of wood, a bit small and lack a proper relief, and a
chin slider is also missing. The design itself is quite attractive, like its
sound, it looks rather smooth and elegant yet discreet.
Fit, Comfort,
Isolation:
In short, really good!
This is a strong characteristic on the Shozy Zero. The straight and compact
housings are very light and easy to fit and can be worn both down and over-ear
ways. They stay fixed and are among the most comfortable earphones I've tried.
Just for reference, the fit is similar to the Zero Audio Tenore and Hifiman
RE400/600, and just as comfortable. Same goes for the isolation, which is quite
good being a sealed back IEM. Some driver flex is present, mainly on the right
side (at least on my pair). Microphonics are about average.
Sound:
The Shozy Zero has a warm,
sweet and very smooth sound. Like its design, the sound is very comfortable,
relaxed and easygoing, with slight punch, good clarity and a rich tonality; which
could be expected for a wooden in-ear.
Bass is not large
quantity wise but has good body and decent natural decay. When needed the
mid-bass is very slightly enhanced giving some fullness to the overall sound.
Quality is rather good without a noticeable bloat, very well controlled but not
the tightest or quickest at its price range, and rather limited in depth but reasonably
well balanced.
The midrange is laid
back, well rounded but not too upfront. It's very smooth and rich, and nicely
balanced from low to upper mids and almost clean of any hint of bass bleed.
Vocals are sweet but don't carry the best texture; mainly upper vocals can
sound a bit off due the lack of treble emphasis. On the whole, the mids show a
quite good level detail and clarity. They sound very coherent and have the rather natural texture and richness
that 'wood' earphones usually present, but definitely not meant for those who
seek in crispness and transparency.
The transition from mids
to high is very smooth (even more than from lows to mids). The treble is very
delicate and laid back in comparison to the midrange. Probably one of smoothest
and most forgiving earphones I've got to listen. Clarity is not as impressive as
with the midrange, and might sound a bit dull or off next to a Fidue A65 or
VSD3s which aren't especially trebly sounding IEMs. As a result they
Zero won't be as airy and may sound congested at times. The good thing is there
are zero hints of sibilance and harshness even with brighter tracks and very
forgiving on poor recordings.
Extension is limited on both ends, giving
a closer and more intimate presentation. Soundstage is a bit narrow but less
compressed than mid-centered in-ear sets such as the A63. Still, the overall
presentation is competent for having a more intimate sound.
There's also a very
interesting thing on the Zero. It responds quite well to equalization which can
help to achieve a better balance.
Conclusion &
Value:
With the Zero as a first
IEM Shozy is offering a very good option to the so crowded sub $100 range. The
Zero is a very comfortable earphone and has a very unique smooth, rich and laid
back sound presentation that is well worth the money.
Pros:
Price; Fit/Comfort;
Smooth, rich and detailed sound; Nice design
Cons:
Might be too smooth
for some people; Limited extension and not very airy; Some driver flex