HZSound is another obscure earphone brand from China and this is HZSound Waist Drum Review below. HZSound is relatively unknown but with HM (Heart Mirror) they made a huge launch. Having not used the conventional promotion methods, that model won the heart of many – including old time hifiers. Now before further ado let’s start the review with PROS and CONS.
PROS
Energy and dynamism is high
Clarity is high
3d imaging is near to HM
Technical parameters are all above good
Cable is replaceable and the case is very tiny in volume
CONS
Soundstage is not very airy and large or huge
Needs an amp to shine
Stock cable is dragging its SQ down
Casing design is making cable rolling awkward and harder to find the right upgrade
Very hard to find objective CONS for it’s price
Box
A decent and tiny box with nothing unusual. Plenty of eartips within the box. And the denim carrying pouch is a nice addition.
Build is in bullet style 0.6mm 1DD shiny metallic. There are tiny venting holes like the cap of a salt shaker at the back of the drivers. L and R markings are placed below in light gray color.
Cable is silver plated and thin. Plus replaceable. All the connectors are plated in shiny metal. Y split is a good feature for budget priced Waist Drum.
Driver unit: φ6mm DD Mic Sensitivity: -42±3db Rated impedance：16Ω（±15%） Distortion: 1% @ 1kHz Speaker sensitivity：104±3db Plug type：φ3.5mm L-bend Frequency response: 20hz-40kHz Cable specification ：About 1.2m high purity OFC silver-plated
Sound
Timbre is neutral to somewhat bright. Playback is carrying HM’s signature but they look like they had learned their lessons. Meaning slightly cold although low end is more emphasized at it’s tuning. I am listening Limehouse Blues from Jazz at the Pawnshop and on stage live transparency is unexpectedly good for it’s price. Pub customers chit chat are with me on Waist Drum’s black background. I can’t say it’s pitch black but its near that level. Soundstage is not that large as the shaker like back covering implies. Recently reviewed BS1 was better than it at that point. This soundstage issue is netting in a relatively smaller sound field compared to the jazz pub it was recorded live.
At electronic music test I am hearing high clarity and somewhat bodied sound. Layering is good. But with the weak background effects, I am suspecting an amp or dongle will be useful. Dynamism is better than decent anyway though not yet amped. Heard of it’s bass yet? They are not almost non existent like Tin Audio t2 but even though low end is stronger that HM, still not that boosted (which is the HZSound family sound signature. And I have to admit that this is pretty helpful in smooth jazz where the bass is mainly from the bass guitar. I am hearing bass guitar strings stressed and producing the somehow low end and very slightly boomy sound. The Modest Jazz Trio is thankful for this personal listening performance. Bass slam or thump or vibration seekers should look for something else. Maybe to Lea at this price point. (I have to give its right. It’s neutral character is responding well to equalisation and to the song played..I am hearing a solid bass at Heavy Weight of Infected Mushroom)
Mids are leaning to be metallic when the record permits. This is a sign of its neutrality. HM is clinical and sterile if I leave reviewing and start comparing. But with Waist Drum’s better than decent technicalities and clarity is creating the fun at multiple instrumented records.
Treble is a sweet feature of the Waist Drum although not at the legendary levels of HM’s resolution. It is generous in it’s slightly recessed high frequencies. But this is a double edged sword as in electronic music treble they can be too much depending on the track. However the treble is organic and non disturbing at say Hostsonaten – Toward the Sea. This is Good
Amping HZSound Waist Drum
Like water to the tree
Amp is Qudelix Q5K. My suspicions I stated in the beginning ended! Soungstage improved and the soundstage matured. Detail withdrawal got better. Edges smoothed out and tonality had increased substantially. Bass had gained weight and turned into tighter slams in the end.
+ Soundstage
+ Authority
+ Tonality
– Need for amping
Recabling HZSound Waist Drum
Adding maturity to the tree
Used the same 6N Pure Copper cable. Despite its silly looks and usage (it’s stock cable looks like connectors are specifically for it), resolution is the best improvement. Second is a little tamed down high frequencies. Now the live performance at the Pawnshop is almost like what It must be.
+ Resolution
+ Control
+ Bass
– Look and usage
HZSound Waist Drum Review
Conclusions
HZSound Waist Drum Review is ending here…Take a HM and subtract the treble but add low end and bear the slight loss of things what made HM a legend to have a very nice playing and smallest iem I have ever seen. I thank Keephifi for expressing my take on the Waist Drum freely. The link is non affiliated and non tracked.
