Seriously, pretty happy to see KZ come out with something different. I’m pretty impressed with the tuning they achieved without using dsp like the quarks. Graph reminds me of the MH750, style kind of like a Moondrop Crescent (very underrated old set!)
Definitely. To me, it seemed like they fell in a rut of very similar tunings at the end of last year, so I was genuinely surprised what they did with Linlong.
You have convinced me Paul to get a set of bullets. This set checks all the boxes for me. A non-harman fatigue free tuning gets my attention for sure. Another excellent review.
Yeah, it is an interesting one and I removed the line, but for the hobbyists, it is worth having one micro DD so you can get a feel for it. This one just happens to be very affordable.
Got them recently, they sound real nice, relaxed, i forget they are there, even good for gaming and blasting music on the side, heard nuances that my logitech g pro gaming headset did not show or the kz zsn pro, that are more pronounced and more stressing. And all that comes in a nice case for an insane price (i spent 13 euros including shipping, 2 weeks from aliexpress to germany....)
@@PaulWasabii I'm that type of person who mostly go for graphs, it actually helped me a lot throughout my journey to find my type of tuning, before I couldn't read any graphs and go by what reviewers used to say, however lots of them have their own preferences, so for example whenever they'd say "oh it has more than enough bass" but when I bought it and tried it it barely had any for my preference. So learning how to read the graph helped me save a lot of money.
These remind me of the legendary mh755 with the sub bass focus and similar pinna gain. Personally love me some good bullets so will probably be getting these.
Yep, some people are saying that, but I'd say these are better but I haven't picked up my Sonys in a long time. Graph is similar, not quite the same at least on mine.
In fact, the Micro Dynamic is not rare. As far as tuning is concerned, LINGlONG says it ranks second in this price segment, while no one dares to say first.
True and if you look around, the demand for these drivers has exploded lately. It is going to be super interesting to see the driver development accelerate in this size range.
I know the story behind your question, but where does one purchase it? I am going to have to ask around as I don't want to buy from a random place that has old stock.
excellent review! I have a set on the way and I'm also enjoying the FiiO JD3 Black Edition, could you compare the Ling Long to either og JD3 or JD3 Black, or both?!
hello, do you have any recommendation for under 100$? i've got oh-10 obsidian but it broke recently, and tried the s12 love the bass but the high are too sibilant for me :(
S12 and Olina SE are the two that get the most talk at that price point. To be honest, you tried one of the best in the S12, but as you said, and I said, it is really intense. I would think about working on the S12, foam tips, EQ, micropore on the nozzle, etc. Its a great driver, but the whole treble level needs to be dropped.
Most of the popular sets like Wan'er are what people are calling Harman. The bass is boosted above neutral but the theory behind it is to create a generally appealing sound signature. Also why there are so many sets like Wan'er, Cadenza, C3, Hola, etc that all sound similar. For folks new to the hobby, these are cheap entry points. One of the better neutral sets is an older one, Tinhifi T2 Plus, but I'd got with Wan'er or Kiwi Ears Cadenza. Ling Long is a great set, but not quite neutral either, has boosted bass but another great starting set.
@@PaulWasabii I had 2 options, now I have 5, what 🤣.... Everything is a great option. But since you've used wanner and ling long, I just wanted to know if that kz open back design really increases the soundstage compared to the wan'ner Currently using the Sony MDR 100AAP, decent headphones but bulky, can't carry it everywhere
On regular IEM shells, you will hear a difference if you cover the back. On Ling Long, the sound changes due to the angle in your ear if you try to cover the back. Covering the back is less noticeable than slightly changing the angle in your ear.
That is where I would still give the edge to a 10mm driver, the detail. Linlong is close, but I briefly said this, KZ is really good at driver revisions and that is exactly where it needs some help in the next version. For what it is, a $15usd 6mm driver, I can't fault it but if that is your priority, C2 is a great set for that.
Love me some bullet style iems. Might upgrade to these from the moondrop quarks. How do you compare them to the normal moondrop quarks? Also Apulia really appreciate if you could review the timeless ae iem.
Great review. For the price it's worth trying. :) Do you think dongle DACs can make a difference even with the recent $15-25 iems? Have been considering one of the dual oscillator DACs (Hiby FC4, Fosi DS1 and Tempotec) for the Stellaris and T3+. If it also improve the experience with the cheaper ones it's easier to justify the experience. You should make a video about the how and the gear you use to test iems. :) Regards
Yes, I have a Tempotec HD-V which they should update. Dongles move you in a positive direction, but the cheaper ones don't do it for me. For planars, you are better off skipping to something self powered and/or balanced for max power. Portable I use Qudelix 5k or TRI TK2 for more power Planars scale with everything you can throw at them. But so do other IEMs, just less noticeable as they tend to not render as much detail as the planars. Hiby FC6 is just coming out but a bit pricey. I would skip buying a few dongles and get a Q5K or Radsone ES100 or similar battery powered dac/amp.
@Paul Wasabii Thanks for taking the time to reply. The Qudelix 5K was one that caught my eye when checking the options. It has many additional cool features. It outputs “power up to 80mWatt, while 2.5mm Dual DAC up to 240mWatt.” It seems that the new DACs have more efficient chips. The Hiby FC4 outputs “3.5mm : 110mW @32Ω 4.4BAL : 340mW @32Ω”. The Fosi DS1 “120mW(SE); 220mW(BAL)”. Thanks for confirming that I should get one with the extra power. Maybe I’ll go for a small USB computer DAC instead. 👍
I am just not a Hola fan, kinda treble dark. Price is right though. Wan'er has a great bass shelf, very nice driver, and would have an edge if you are looking for that Harman-style signature. People are really liking Ling Long because it executed that signature well. It is still a 6mm and won't have that impact of 10mm, but I think people are attracted to unique, well executed sets and Ling Long did that. As I said, it is more of a hobbyist thing to have examples of DD types, shell types, signature types, etc. It ticks a lot of boxes and sounds good. Wan'er is a nice set, but probably sounds like something you already have.
@@PaulWasabii thanks. I am wondering between hola, wan'ner and linglong. The linglong looks nice because of the bullet style. It looks very comfortable. But I guess the hola and wan'ner sounds better.
@@mokisan I like how it sounds, but there's issue about inner ear pressure build-up as it has no front vent. Some say foam tips help though I don't have foam tips to prove.
The issue with Chu is the fatigue and slightly thin sound. If that appeals to you, then Chu, but otherwise Ling Long is more generally appealing without the fatigue.
No guarantees there as that is a big point of failure. My first thought is that sleeping with them will introduce annoying microphonics into your ear. At least these are affordable to try, but I noticed it and I wasn't trying to sleep.
That is a tough one as the two are quite different, not only in tuning but driver type. EDA balance was supposed to be the balanced one that still had all the detail and resolution. Ling Long tried to achieve the same but has more sub bass and the pinna area is swapped. EDA starts lower and rises, Ling Long is more traditional sounding especially if you are into female vocals and like that energy earlier. There is no easy answer though, the two are different but similarly liked by KZ fans.
Yes, there is no real way around that on these non-detachables. At least I haven't heard one. It is fine sitting at my desk but I am not sure I could sleep with it. Maybe I would get used to it.
HM20 is just a bit off balance for me. It needs less bass for balance, but if you like more bass, then it is ok. If you are unsure, I would purchase Ling Long today and wait for more KZ sets in the HM20 price range later. It is a bit more expensive than it should be to recommend without having a great idea of how it works with your music.
How much bass do you like? Plus the design is a big consideration as most people are going to be attracted to Linlongs bullet as an example of that style and still buy Wan'er as it is a great IEM style.
Probably fits but you are right, if the lack of vent is going to bother you, maybe not a good choice. There is no one answer with Ling Long as to what has positively worked for most people.
Seriously, pretty happy to see KZ come out with something different. I’m pretty impressed with the tuning they achieved without using dsp like the quarks. Graph reminds me of the MH750, style kind of like a Moondrop Crescent (very underrated old set!)
Definitely. To me, it seemed like they fell in a rut of very similar tunings at the end of last year, so I was genuinely surprised what they did with Linlong.
I've used many iems, but the KZ LINGLONG is better than Quarks definitely, both in tone and texture.
You have convinced me Paul to get a set of bullets. This set checks all the boxes for me. A non-harman fatigue free tuning gets my attention for sure. Another excellent review.
Yeah, it is an interesting one and I removed the line, but for the hobbyists, it is worth having one micro DD so you can get a feel for it. This one just happens to be very affordable.
Got them recently, they sound real nice, relaxed, i forget they are there, even good for gaming and blasting music on the side, heard nuances that my logitech g pro gaming headset did not show or the kz zsn pro, that are more pronounced and more stressing. And all that comes in a nice case for an insane price (i spent 13 euros including shipping, 2 weeks from aliexpress to germany....)
Yep, Ling Long was and continues to be solid value set. Better than most at the same price point.
I actually like the graph
Right, for graph people or people familiar with the previous bullets, it makes a lot of sense.
@@PaulWasabii I'm that type of person who mostly go for graphs, it actually helped me a lot throughout my journey to find my type of tuning, before I couldn't read any graphs and go by what reviewers used to say, however lots of them have their own preferences, so for example whenever they'd say "oh it has more than enough bass" but when I bought it and tried it it barely had any for my preference. So learning how to read the graph helped me save a lot of money.
These remind me of the legendary mh755 with the sub bass focus and similar pinna gain. Personally love me some good bullets so will probably be getting these.
Yep, some people are saying that, but I'd say these are better but I haven't picked up my Sonys in a long time. Graph is similar, not quite the same at least on mine.
The main headset is small but made of metal, and you won't feel any weight, very light.
look nice。
In fact, the Micro Dynamic is not rare. As far as tuning is concerned, LINGlONG says it ranks second in this price segment, while no one dares to say first.
True and if you look around, the demand for these drivers has exploded lately. It is going to be super interesting to see the driver development accelerate in this size range.
Can I request a review of the revised CCA CRA in the line art box?
I know the story behind your question, but where does one purchase it? I am going to have to ask around as I don't want to buy from a random place that has old stock.
excellent review! I have a set on the way and I'm also enjoying the FiiO JD3 Black Edition, could you compare the Ling Long to either og JD3 or JD3 Black, or both?!
Sorry I don't have either of those.
Good for watching movie and listening bg score? Or would you recommend anything within 20$ segment
Yeah, there aren't as many sets in this style but Ling Long was a cool one
hello, do you have any recommendation for under 100$? i've got oh-10 obsidian but it broke recently, and tried the s12 love the bass but the high are too sibilant for me :(
S12 and Olina SE are the two that get the most talk at that price point. To be honest, you tried one of the best in the S12, but as you said, and I said, it is really intense. I would think about working on the S12, foam tips, EQ, micropore on the nozzle, etc. Its a great driver, but the whole treble level needs to be dropped.
Confused between this and Tangzu Wan Er, cam you please help? I loke a neutral profile and wide sounstage.
Just starting out with this hobby.
Most of the popular sets like Wan'er are what people are calling Harman. The bass is boosted above neutral but the theory behind it is to create a generally appealing sound signature. Also why there are so many sets like Wan'er, Cadenza, C3, Hola, etc that all sound similar. For folks new to the hobby, these are cheap entry points. One of the better neutral sets is an older one, Tinhifi T2 Plus, but I'd got with Wan'er or Kiwi Ears Cadenza. Ling Long is a great set, but not quite neutral either, has boosted bass but another great starting set.
@@PaulWasabii I had 2 options, now I have 5, what 🤣.... Everything is a great option. But since you've used wanner and ling long, I just wanted to know if that kz open back design really increases the soundstage compared to the wan'ner
Currently using the Sony MDR 100AAP, decent headphones but bulky, can't carry it everywhere
Since they are open back:
How does the sound change when you for example lay in bed and cover the outside?
On regular IEM shells, you will hear a difference if you cover the back. On Ling Long, the sound changes due to the angle in your ear if you try to cover the back. Covering the back is less noticeable than slightly changing the angle in your ear.
How does it compare to 7hz zero and tinhifi c2? Does it have a lot of detail?
That is where I would still give the edge to a 10mm driver, the detail. Linlong is close, but I briefly said this, KZ is really good at driver revisions and that is exactly where it needs some help in the next version. For what it is, a $15usd 6mm driver, I can't fault it but if that is your priority, C2 is a great set for that.
Love me some bullet style iems. Might upgrade to these from the moondrop quarks. How do you compare them to the normal moondrop quarks?
Also Apulia really appreciate if you could review the timeless ae iem.
I'm also eager to know as I own both the quarks and would love to have another bullet style iem. It's also a metal shell!
Ianfann compares to quark dsp and prefer linglong.
Its seems the kz xun driver have better tech and res compares to quark dd.
I think that is the best answer right now, look at what Ian said. His Linlong review is quite good.
That case seems worth it alone tbh haha interesting tuning though…
The case is literally $5usd if you order it from them. Yeah something different than the other similarly priced recent bullets. Thanks
Great review. For the price it's worth trying. :)
Do you think dongle DACs can make a difference even with the recent $15-25 iems?
Have been considering one of the dual oscillator DACs (Hiby FC4, Fosi DS1 and Tempotec) for the Stellaris and T3+. If it also improve the experience with the cheaper ones it's easier to justify the experience.
You should make a video about the how and the gear you use to test iems. :)
Regards
Yes, I have a Tempotec HD-V which they should update. Dongles move you in a positive direction, but the cheaper ones don't do it for me. For planars, you are better off skipping to something self powered and/or balanced for max power. Portable I use Qudelix 5k or TRI TK2 for more power Planars scale with everything you can throw at them. But so do other IEMs, just less noticeable as they tend to not render as much detail as the planars. Hiby FC6 is just coming out but a bit pricey. I would skip buying a few dongles and get a Q5K or Radsone ES100 or similar battery powered dac/amp.
@Paul Wasabii Thanks for taking the time to reply. The Qudelix 5K was one that caught my eye when checking the options. It has many additional cool features.
It outputs “power up to 80mWatt, while 2.5mm Dual DAC up to 240mWatt.”
It seems that the new DACs have more efficient chips. The Hiby FC4 outputs “3.5mm : 110mW @32Ω 4.4BAL : 340mW @32Ω”.
The Fosi DS1 “120mW(SE); 220mW(BAL)”.
Thanks for confirming that I should get one with the extra power. Maybe I’ll go for a small USB computer DAC instead.
👍
is it good for gaming ?
I don't really game but they have quite a bit of bass so that is fun unless you find it distracting.
It piqued my interest to buy it, this seems to be a rare bullet style headset from KZ, looking forward to its performance.
I thought KZ had a bullet a long time ago but yeah, this is definitely a modern take on it even compared to the similar sets last year.
Hey Paul, how does the king long compare to the truthear hola and tangzu wan'ner?
I am just curious in terms of the sound. What do you like and hate ?
I am just not a Hola fan, kinda treble dark. Price is right though. Wan'er has a great bass shelf, very nice driver, and would have an edge if you are looking for that Harman-style signature. People are really liking Ling Long because it executed that signature well. It is still a 6mm and won't have that impact of 10mm, but I think people are attracted to unique, well executed sets and Ling Long did that. As I said, it is more of a hobbyist thing to have examples of DD types, shell types, signature types, etc. It ticks a lot of boxes and sounds good. Wan'er is a nice set, but probably sounds like something you already have.
@@PaulWasabii thanks. I am wondering between hola, wan'ner and linglong.
The linglong looks nice because of the bullet style. It looks very comfortable. But I guess the hola and wan'ner sounds better.
@@mokisan I like how it sounds, but there's issue about inner ear pressure build-up as it has no front vent. Some say foam tips help though I don't have foam tips to prove.
Is it better than moondrop chu? What are your thoughts.
The issue with Chu is the fatigue and slightly thin sound. If that appeals to you, then Chu, but otherwise Ling Long is more generally appealing without the fatigue.
Is it easy to drive? Can i use it with any phone without any dac or anything? My phone is xiaomi redmi note 9 pro
Yeah, outside of the planars, KZ models are designed for use with a phone.
@@PaulWasabii thankyou so much
Plz suggest me a basshead under $20
KBEAR Rosefinch is the usual rec lately
How's the linglong's cable durability? Gonna use it for sleeping
No guarantees there as that is a big point of failure. My first thought is that sleeping with them will introduce annoying microphonics into your ear. At least these are affordable to try, but I noticed it and I wasn't trying to sleep.
@@PaulWasabii thank you
How is it compared to kz eda balance?
That is a tough one as the two are quite different, not only in tuning but driver type. EDA balance was supposed to be the balanced one that still had all the detail and resolution. Ling Long tried to achieve the same but has more sub bass and the pinna area is swapped. EDA starts lower and rises, Ling Long is more traditional sounding especially if you are into female vocals and like that energy earlier. There is no easy answer though, the two are different but similarly liked by KZ fans.
is it come with mic?
Yes, it is available with mic and without
@@PaulWasabii thank you
Your cam is oversharpened
Yeah, not exactly sure what is going on.
How do they compare to USound Target?
Not quite USound as the mid bass is lifted. If you are really stuck on no bass bleed, they aren't quite that.
@@PaulWasabii thanks for the response
actually the proper translation from Chinese should be " petite and delicate "
Thank you, not the only translation I have botched and won't be the last.
No Waifu on the box? I might have to cancel order 🔉
KZ does no waifu. They are switching to very minimal eco-friendly packaging so we will be lucky if there is even printing on the box.
is the cable noisy?
Yes, there is no real way around that on these non-detachables. At least I haven't heard one. It is fine sitting at my desk but I am not sure I could sleep with it. Maybe I would get used to it.
How does it compare to the cca hm20
HM20 is just a bit off balance for me. It needs less bass for balance, but if you like more bass, then it is ok. If you are unsure, I would purchase Ling Long today and wait for more KZ sets in the HM20 price range later. It is a bit more expensive than it should be to recommend without having a great idea of how it works with your music.
Thanks
ling long or wan'er?
How much bass do you like? Plus the design is a big consideration as most people are going to be attracted to Linlongs bullet as an example of that style and still buy Wan'er as it is a great IEM style.
@@PaulWasabii im not picky about the design as long as it performs audio wise, which one is more enjoyable in general?
it lacks front vent. also, do spinfit fit with this IEM?
Probably fits but you are right, if the lack of vent is going to bother you, maybe not a good choice. There is no one answer with Ling Long as to what has positively worked for most people.