KZ X HBB: DQ6S : Warm, Smooth and Engaging Tuning

Oi! mates, this is yours truly, a bloke that always providing a new IEM review content at monthly basis as yours truly will provide another product review article. What we have here is another collaboration project of In Ear Monitor product from Knowledge Zenith (KZ) as they partnered with this gent from Hawaii, HBB (Hawaiian Bad Boy).

As we all know that who HBB was, as he was one of the well-admired IEM reviewer in YouTube. We are also aware of his preferred tuning that he has his own reference curve that are usually more on “consumer-friendly” or majority of people’s preference on tonality who aren’t tuned for more advanced tonality like reference-neutrals and other sound signatures that most veteran audio enthusiasts’ favours. Another thing that HBB and me have almost the same taste of genres as we both fan of classic rock, metal and even old school hip-hop. But we have different preferred sound signature that I will pointing it out later.

Due to his popularity among audio enthusiasts and hobbyists alike, Knowledge Zenith (KZ) decided to partnered with HBB for a collaboration project and here it is the result of their effort, The KZ X HBB: DQ6S. The DQ6s is actually a variant of KZ DQ6 (which I didn’t test it out yet and doesn’t have them in my collection) with some rework like improvement of tuning and some newer DDs that they’ve implemented on this one.

Let me introduce the basic specifics on KZ DQ6S. KZ DQ6s is a multi-driver set-up IEM that is quite a contrast to their other products that were also multi-driver set-up, but mostly of hybrid implementation which was usually a mix of dynamic driver and balanced armature driver, and in a recent release new type of driver, a magnetostatic . It has three (3) dynamic drivers of different sizes that each of them will handle the different section of frequency range.

What I have here is a Dark Graphite colour version on its faceplate with an opaque grey-shaded polycarbonate cavity base. The aesthetics of the face plate is more on being a minimalist one which I somehow fond of it with a new KZ logo etched on it. It also has a vent hole in cavity base near on a metal alloy nozzle that will release some excess air pressure coming out from the dynamic drivers. The size of DQ6s is more on average to medium that they snugly fit well in most lug holes out there but here is the catch, it has protruding stabilizing fin that might give some unpleasant experience to some wearer and user of this IEM.

Inside of the KZ DQ6s has three kinds of dynamic drivers that you will look upon. Two of them are 6mm dynamic drivers and the other one is a 10mm that all them are dual magnetics with array-type clear diaphragms to provide a fuller and sustaining dynamic response.

Like most KZ products, the packaging of KZ DQ6s is a bit more of a spartan as they offer contents inside pretty basic a that they try trim down the price to be more affordable to their customers either new or their loyal ones.

Here are the included accessories:

• A pair of KZ DQ6S IEMs
• White 2-core parallel SPC cable with a L-shaped 3.5mm termination jack
• Three (3) pairs of a white silicon eartips of typical different sizes.
• An instruction manual.

When it comes to drivability and scalability on audio sources, DQ6S are really easy to drive and it will really shine to all multimedia device sources that has an ample power on it such as smartphones, tablets and DAPs. Dynamics are already fuller sounding on this set due to a high rating of sensitivity and an impedance value that needs only a sufficient power to scale these promising set of IEM.

To determine in what kind of tonality that KZ DQ6S has, like I say before that this kind of tuning was based on HBB’s preference as we all know that he prefers a warmer sound signature for his choices of selection of tracks and DQ6S has all of its aspect. It has a typical V-shaped sound signature with emphasis on both bass and treble while mids in on the notch.

I will describe each sound characteristics from each part of audio frequency spectrum.

LOWS/BASS:

  This is actually the best part of the overall tuning of KZ DQ6S and it is the bass response, both qualitative and quantitative.

It has a tactile bass that it really sounds thumpy, punchy, sustaining and gravelly. Sub bass is noticeably present on the bass region it really reach the deepest part of low frequency range as you will the rumbling and reverberating sound when I tested on some synth-pop or new wave tracks which has electronic bass instruments like synthesizers and drum machine that I hear them very clearly.

Mid bass has a good and well-defined texture as it give a well bodied sound on bass kicks as more impacting and authoritative one (test out some John Bonham’s awesome bass kicks). The bass guitar will even benefited on a well-textured mid bass as it gives a more growl, resonant and a tad weighty as very plucking on its strings are so detailed that I hear it audibly. Bass-Baritone vocals sounds more fuller and guttural as this type of male voice as intended to sound like that naturally. In some tracks that I’ve tested, I hear a tad of bass bleeds but it won’t really ruin the overall listening experience.

Easy-peasy, I can really recommend this one to the most adherent bassheads out there that surely that they will be pleased on how the bass response on this one.

MIDS:

  As I mentioned the V-shape tuning. It is indeed a recessed one as you expected. Despite of being a recessed in general frequency range, it has a warmth, a more linear and sufficient density to have a decent quality.

Male vocals are more prominent on this one rather than females ones. The reason I can assuredly say it is that male vocals are more define on clarity, closer to natural sound of being throaty and growly one especially on falsetto range singers and has stronger emphasis due to more dense note specifically on sopranos and alto vocals. Female vocals are bit subdued on this one as they have that lethargic and insufficient resolution in my opinion that I really want my female vocals to sound more opened, brimming with details and more energetic.

 When it comes to musical instruments, strings like guitars has this kind of soulful and pleasantly rounded sound that it has lack of a crisp and brilliance in my liking, violins and cellos that has a lack of emotion that it has this wafting and less sparkling…perhaps an bit austere to my preferred sound which should be more lustrous and vibrant sounding. Piano tone sound more on a mellow and a bit dark. And lastly the snare drums, it is quite likeable as it has this sharp and penetrates well every the strikes I hear.

 Lastly, for a perspective of a mid-centric head like me, despite of the perceived trough on mids, I still find it enjoyable and satisfying enough to listen these set.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

  Verifiably, in my perception on the treble quality is more on smoother side of treble gamut. Despite of the smooth and relaxed delivery. It has noticeable some upper mid peak as it gives a very miniscule of hissing when I listened to some tracks that are prone to being sibilant but in most cases, it is insubstantial to be a major issue.

 Resolution capability is just average as it is more concentrated on macro-detail retrieval rather than micro-details for its being engaging and physical aspect on its dynamic tuning.

When it comes to clarity and airiness, they are just sufficient and unexceptional as they are not my ideal treble quality as I want it to have it sounded even more with sparkle and a well-extended airiness. Cymbals and high/low hats sounds at least more natural with a lesser degree of being of that a shimmery and glistening while the hats with its muted and shorted sound characteristic is acceptable as good.

Overall, the quality of treble is justifiable on its price point as it is quite few on its contemporaries in similar price range that delivers a smooth and less fatiguing sound.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

  Certainly when I’m pinpointing out its technicalities. The perceived sound field on its staging is just average on its wideness, with better depth and a good height reach. And definitely they are not that most spacious sounding out there as if I put up separation and layering capabilities in the picture that has just an ample gap and spacing of each placement of vocalists and musical instruments. Spatial panning is just more a typical left and right stereo distribution rather than being a holographic one. Just imagine that you are in a small recording studio.Despite of these inadequate aspects of technicalities, its discerningly have at least a decent proportion.

As for driver coherency, the triple DD driver system really performs very cohesively, nimble and resolving dynamics that distortion is non-existent. As for timbre, it is more on being organic with added warm.

To end my review and putting a concrete conclusion on my assessment of KZ DQ6s. If you are a type of listener who wants a more engaging, fun and lively sounding for long term listening leisure at extended hours then this unit is perfectly for you.

I give a brief recap of my review once again that KZ DQ6s was indeed a warm, v-shaped sound sig with more relax and smoother highs on it and this is a collaboration effort between KZ and HBB. Thank you for having your time to reading my article.

KZ X HBB: DQ6S is currently price at $32/£24 and it is readily available to be purchase in most e-commerce sites.

Please check out my other reviews on other Knowledge Zenith products:

• KZ EDX
• KZ ZEX
• KZ ZEX PRO
• KZ EDC

 

PROS:

• That bass quality and quantity that bass head’s want for.
• Clean and minimalist design choice on it faceplate's shell.
• Very cohesive sounding triple dynamic driver system.
• Certainly one of the well-tuned and balanced V-shape sounding IEMs out there on its price range.
• Scales well in all multimedia devices sources as they are very easy to powered up.
• Warm and smooth tonality.
• 
  

 

CONS:

• Definitely not for neutral heads.
• Some of occurrences of sibilance (usually on several sibilant-prone tracks)
• QDC-type connector as my always complain to most KZ’s and CCA’s product (Subjective)
• Starkly underwhelming technicalities aspect.

 

SPECIFICATIONS:

MODEL: KZ X HBB: DQ6S

IMPEDANCE: 25Ω

SENSITIVITY: 116dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz - 40KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M

PIN TYPE: QDC-TYPE 2-PIN CONNECTOR

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm 

DRIVER UNITS: (3) DYNAMIC DRIVERS

 Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *

Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **

Mountain - Mississippi Queen *

Queen - Killer Queen **

Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*

Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'

Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'

Pearl Jam - Daughter **

Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *

Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*

Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *

New Order - Blue Monday *

The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *

The Madness- Buggy Trousers *

Metallica - Motorbreath **

Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *

Destiny's Child - Say My Name *

Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *

Mozart - Lacrimosa *

New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*

Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *

Exciter - Violence and Force *

Diana Krall - Stop This World **

Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*

Sister of Mercy - Lucretia My Reflection **

Eagles - Hotel California (MTV live) ‘*’

 P.S.

  I am not affiliated to Knowledge Zenith nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to thank Jeff Yang for providing this review unit, I truly appreciate on his generosity towards me and other reviewers.

If you are interested this IEM product from Knowledge Zenith (KZ), Just check out the link below:

https://www.kztws.com/products/hbbxkzdq6s