QKZ x HBB Hades

Introduction

Again QKZ, 'Quality Know for Zero Defect', again HBB (HawaiiBadBoy from "Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews") and again a special tuning. And the name of the model is Hades, a dual dynamic driver with a high performance 9mm LCP diaphragm. According to the brand itself, "Hades effectively increases output across the entire frequency spectrum while minimising the total harmonic distortion of each speaker unit. In particular, the liquid crystal polymer (LCP) diaphragm enables excellent audio reproduction due to its high rigidity and responsiveness compared to traditional dynamic drivers. By dividing the frequency spectrum across two drivers, each speaker unit can be adjusted to better target its respective frequency range, improving audio quality and texture. On the other hand, this new model has been tuned with extremely powerful bass response and treble that delivers crisp, clear articulation of instruments and vocals through natural, fatigue-free curvature in the upper harmonics.
These are truly IEMS for bass heads. But let's see what else these specialised IEMS have to offer.



Specifications

• Driver Type: Dual dynamic driver with 9mm PU+LCP diaphragm.
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz.
• Sensitivity: 95dB
• Impedance: 16Ω ± 15%.
• Distortion Ratio: 1% at 1kHz.
• Jack Connector: SE 3.5mm gold-plated.
• Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm
• Cable: Oxygen-free copper.
• Price: $49.99.

Packaging

The QKZ x HBB Hades come in a square box decorated like a comic book on its main side, whose dimensions are 183x183x47mm. At the top left is the brand logo and slogan. To its right, in the centre, is the Hades logo, while in the top right corner is the HBB logo. In the centre is a realistic photo of the capsules, under the drawn cartoon. At the bottom, the model name in bright purple letters.
On the back is the frequency response, an exploded view of the capsule, the specifications, some logos of the specifications it meets, the brand name and importers. After removing the cardboard, a black box simulating scales with the triangular logo of the brand inverted and in gold is revealed. After lifting the lid there is a sheet of onion paper with the same logo with holographic lines in various colours. The lid has a foam sheet, while the product is contained in a foam mould. The contents are well protected and consist of:

• The two capsules QKZ x HBB Hades.
• A white plastic box with clip closure.
• One gold coin with HBB logo.
• Three pairs of white silicone tips with black core, sizes SxMxL.
• One black, four-stranded, oxygen-free copper conductor, microphone and 2Pin 0.78mm interface cable.

The case is made of rigid white plastic, very generic. With the clip fastener, it could be hooked to the cable, as its size is a bit tight. The cable is classic, very generic and the silicone tips are just enough. You would expect more for 50$, but QKZ doesn't make an effort to improve a very basic accessory.



Construction and Design

The capsules have been built in resin using 3D printing technology on a fourth-generation industrial DLP machine. The outer face has a transparent plate that reveals a kind of blue glitter dune inside. The rest is a dark translucent colour. The inner face is made of one integral piece with a subtly rounded shape, with the nozzles slightly inclined. There is no step in the nozzles and their bore is protected by a metal grille. There is a hole on the inner side, close to the edge of the capsule. They are thick, the connection interface is flat and integrated into the capsule. There is an oval hole at the adjacent apex. Next to it, on the right capsule is the channel lettering and the HBB logo, while on the left capsule is also the channel lettering, but next to the brand logo, all in gold ink. The diameter of the mouthpieces, at their outermost part, exceeds 6mm.
The cable is the classic 4-strand black coiled cable, with semi-rigid plastic over the ear. It has a microphone and control. It is the typical basic cable that comes with the vast majority of IEMS in this price range. Fortunately, this time it's a 2Pin 0.78mm visible cable, and superior cables can be found at a fraction of the price. The plug sleeve is metal with diagonal notches in the shape of moving water droplets. The splitter is a cylinder with a bevelled base. There is no adjustment pin, but there is a control with a button and a microphone. The over-ear guides are somewhat closed, but the connector sleeve is cylindrical, metallic, with coloured grooves to identify the channel. It's still a really basic cable with microphone and control. There doesn't seem to be much effort put into upgrading the accessories. Will the vast majority of the money be spent on the sound?



Adjustment and Ergonomics

Although the capsules are relatively large, there is no shape to the mouthpieces, their slope is subtle and the inside face is relatively flat, and the thickness is high, the ergonomics are better than expected. The over-ear guides can be annoying and the 6mm thickness of the mouthpiece, in combination with some tips, can be too thick. Luckily, my ear canals are wide and with my homemade foam-filled tips I get a fairly occlusive fit, albeit shallow and very free. There is hardly any rotation and the lack of shape of the inner side is not a bad thing. The size of the capsule makes the fit just right for my ears, but these are not small capsules. But, all in all, this is a very light set with a thick canal that feels tight inside the canal, or rather at its entrance. The level of isolation can be good and with the durable fit it can be suitable for everyday use and in noisy environments such as the street or public transport.



Sound

Profile

The QKZ HBB Hades has a clear Bass-Head profile. You could say that it is a decreasing V tuning, where the first peak is broad and high and the second peak is softer, but shifted. Normally, V-profiles have a more energetic treble. However, in the Hades the treble is very soft and it is the energy of the upper midrange that brings clarity to the ensemble. The second peak of the V is in those upper midranges, but with a softer character. The result is a clear and largely bass-centred tuning, quite dark, with the midrange sinking and then rising very quickly. Finally, the treble is distinctly depressed and not overly extended.
As usual with QKZs, a good reserve of energy is needed to get them moving.



Bass

The bass is thick, dark, very powerful. It dominates the ambience, takes up a lot of space and stays there. There is a lot of energy in the hit and that is hard to dissipate, it is not the fastest bass, although it is relatively compact and tight. Again, it is quite dark and deep. Going straight to the very low frequency pure tone test, the Hades performs the lower notes in an audible but well behaved way. There is a good sensory character that makes it deep and powerful, but the audible part persists. Certainly, the energy is felt from very low, mixed with a rather dark timbre. This is how the very low frequency notes come across quite well. As you move up the hertz the sonority becomes more predominant and you feel that overwhelming power. The behaviour in real music is almost straightforward: the energy level goes hand in hand with darkness and power, while volume and space increase with the midrange bass. The bass extension is wide towards the midrange and intrudes into it, especially in the first half.
In the unfiltered and dirty bass reproduction test, there is relative control when the frequencies are very low. As the bass gets higher in hertz, the behaviour can become more critical and uncontrolled, taking on an unrealistic, even overwhelming, sonority. Admittedly, I expected worse behaviour, with less technical ability. But so much volume, presence and energy, as well as such a wide low range, can lead to exaggerated sonorities and situations that are not too realistic or natural. Despite all this, the Hades manage not to muddle, mix or clump all the bass and have some control in layering and distinguishing bass lines. But, I still think their technique is better in the sub-bass area, while in the midrange the result can be more unpredictable or excessive.



Mids

The midrange is dominated by darkness and an overly warm, even muddy feeling. The absence of treble does not help to add light to the first part of the midrange. In that sense, this initial phase is too thick, nuanced, muffled. It even feels louder because of the intrusion of the bass in the central range. The base of the male voices is broad, though they don't feel on a close plane. There is a clear imbalance between their fundamental and the rest of the harmonics, showing themselves in a poorly defined, rather nuanced way, lacking detail and brilliance. The darkness engulfs the instruments, the timbre is not natural, nor realistic, and a sense of suffocation predominates, from which it is difficult to escape. The female voices do not escape this sensation either, although they come out somewhat more favoured by the enhancement of the second half of the midrange. But the midrange as a whole is unbalanced, dark, almost muddy, lacking in detail and very nuanced. In terms of distances, it is not clear either. There is a little more proximity in the female voices, but if the music has bass, the feeling of drowning in the ambience returns. On the other hand, the informative level of the midranges is low, all detail feels nuanced, even macro-detail.



Treble

The treble is very soft, not very extended, nuanced and thick. There is hardly a trace of sparkle and brilliance. No energy is perceived and the high notes linger very little in the atmosphere. The high notes are unnatural, they feel drowned out, too shallow or poorly defined. There is hardly any sense of air.



Soundstage, Separation

The scene feels deep in the bass and somewhat open towards the sides. However, many elements are in the middle distance, while the bass does seem to travel from a point close to the background.
Micro detail is not perceived, macro detail is nuanced, without sparkle. There is little clarity, low transparency, as well as a low level of information and description. With so much depth, the feeling of the image is somewhat diffuse, vague. With hardly any definition and light, the level of resolution feels low. As a result, the sound is clumped and not separated.



Conclusion

The QKZ HBB Hades are specialist IEMS, totally focused on bass. In the lower range their qualities are power, punch, darkness and depth. The lower range is very voluminous and the behaviour improves the lower the frequencies. On the other hand, the midrange and treble seem to move away from a more natural or realistic level, being relegated to second and third place. The midrange is unbalanced, while the upper range is too soft. The levels of sparkle, brightness, sense of clarity or transparency are low. All in all, the Hades are a far cry from the other IEMS I own, and certainly a model to consider if you're looking for a sound that is so heavily weighted towards the bass, where the other bands are almost less important. On the other hand, this is just my humble personal opinion and, no doubt, the Hades will certainly appeal to those who see these features as major advantages.



Sources Used During the Analysis

• Burson Audio Playmate.
• EPZ TP50.
• Hidizs S8 Pro Robin.
• Tempotec V3.

Purchase Link



You can read the full review in Spanish here

Intro


The QKZ x HBB Hades is the collaboration of QKZ and Hawain Bad Boy with his YouTube channel Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews. It is tuned to satisfy bass pips out there with its good and impactful slam. Let see how it performs.


Disclaimer


I would like to thank Linsoul Audio for arranging a unit for me. My opinions are unbiased, and I haven't been influenced or instructed to praise these IEMs. Every detail in this review is actual experience made by listening for hours everyday.


Specifications

Drivers : 9mm+9mm LCP Diaphragm Dual-Driver

Sensitivity : 95dB

Cable Connector : 0.78mm 2-pin

Frequency Response : 20-20kHz

Impedance : 16 ohms

Distortion : 1%

Price at $49.99 USD




Build and Comfort


The build is made in 3D resin, and the design is eye-catching tranparent purple faceplate gives a more premium look than expected in this price range. The earphones are lightweight making them comfortable for extended use.





Sound Aspects


Source used :


Realme 9 Pro

Jcally AP7

Ibasso DC04 pro

KiwiEars Allegro


This iems spend 50-60 hours of burn in before taking details of this review

Burn-in this IEM really matters. After some time it changed a lot.


Bass


Bass is the specialty of this IEM where the midbass more prominent over the subbass. The midbass has good and impactful quality. The sub bass is quite good producing satisfying rumbles while also maintaining a clean quality from the midbass.


Midrange


The mids is quite recessed it is also suffers by midbass bleed and heavily covers vocals and instruments. Lower midrange are natural, smooth, and thick sounding. In the upper midrange it is lack of energy and too safe for my preferences. By giving this more power there is noticeable more forward midrange presentation.
Treble
Treble is tamed, darkish, relaxed and smooth presentation. it is present enough to be heard with just the right amount of detail. I can’t find any sibilance especially even in high volume. It also lack air and sparkle in my preferences. This safe treble tuning contributes for long listening sessions.
Technicalities
The soundstage has right amount of sense of space and width. Imaging is average. The separation is also suffers to the midbass bleed I can't easily pinpoint instrument placements in the presentation. Detail retrieval can be better. If you give ample power to drive this Hades there is noticeable improvement in the overall technicalities
Pairing

with KiwiEars Allegro
The overall sound quality is more correct to my ears. The bass is impactful and controlled it shows less midbass bleed but still there. Midrange is more forward to my liking. It balances the frequency from end to end of the presentation.
I found the treble produces more air in my experience. This combo is really good. The musicality of the allegro gives the hades enjoyable and engaging presentation.


With DC04 Pro


The presentation with DC04 Pro is cleaner in my taste. The bass is big and boomy. Midrange quite recessed the midbass bleed is still there. The most noticeable improvement with this combo is the technicalities. The soundstage and imaging improved a bit.

If you want more cleaner and safe presentation DC04 Pro take the seat but
If you want more musical and engaging presentation Allegro is the best option.





Conclusion


I really enjoying this set. If you give ample power this Hades. It serves you the right music presentation but you cannot escape the boomy side of it. It a solid choice to add to their collection for those pips seeking more bass, natural timbre, smooth and thick mids.


Order here using the non -affiliated links below :
https://www.linsoul.com/products/qkz-x-hbb-hades

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Disclaimer:
- I don’t read FR graphs. I only use my ears, as how earphones should be used.
- Linsoul sent this unit to me in an exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Rest assured that this review will do its best to devoid from any bias/es as much as possible.
- The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
- No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
- Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

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Burn-in time: 4-8 hours per day, 5 days.

Source/s used:

• - Non-HiFi smartphone (Infinix Note 12 G96), PC.
• - Tanchjim Space DAC
• - Kiwi Ears Allegro DAC
• - Aiwa XP-V710C CD Player (12 sec. EASS)
• - Fosi Audio DS1.
• - Sony Xperia X Compact
• - Local Files via Foobar, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

IEM/Earbud/Setup configuration: Stock medium eartips, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 40-60% volume.

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Sound signature:

• - Just like most HBB collab sets, the Hades follows the same HBB signature wherein bass is the highlight of the show, which is tuned according to his preferred genre. In a nutshell, this IEM is a L/V-shaped fun, smooth, thick, basshead set.

Lows:

• - HBB-tuned sets have always been an IEM tuned for bassheads at heart (and ears), and the Hades is no exception. The bass is definitely elevated on this set, and both midbass and subbass are greatly elevated in this region. It is thick, boomy, and smooth in character, and the decay and attack lean to the slower side of the spectrum. Overall, the bass on this set is definitely for the bassheads, particularly those who prefer the same genre as HBB, which is hip-hop, rap, pop, EDM, and the likes. I enjoyed listening to UK Garage on this set!

Mids:

• - Due to its basshead level of elevation, the mids of the Hades is greatly affected, which can be a good or a bad thing depending on one’s preference. It is definitely recessed, suffers midbass bleed, and has a noticeable veil on vocals and instruments. Lower mids are warm, smooth, and thick. Upper mids are ever so slightly elevated, with a decent amount of clarity, but lacks the air and sparkle to my liking. This also means that I haven’t experienced any form of harshness and sibilance in this area, and I can confidently recommend this set for those who do not want to experience any form of harshness. Overall, the mids of this set is smooth and laid back, which can also greatly improve with additional volume and power.

Highs:

• - The treble also blends well with the rest of the frequencies - it is non-fatiguing, borderline dark, and lacks air to my liking. Microdetails are quite absent on this set for the most part and will only show the more volume or power you feed it, making this IEM not recommended for clinical listening as intended based on what I see (and hear), at least. On the positive side, this will be a good set for easy and casual listening for long sessions.

Soundstage, Imaging, and separation:

• - Just like the other frequencies, this part of the overall sound is heavily affected negatively to my preference, particularly on the separation and layering as it sounds quite cramped on heavy passages. The soundstage exhibits good height, width, and depth. Imaging is accurate enough for casual usage.

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Other IEM Comparisons!

VS 7Hz Legato

• - The Legato is the slightly expensive alternative for the Hades, to put it simply. Their differences are very minimal and are only heard when heard side-by-side. The Legato is better in build quality due to its shells being metal in material, and its accessories.

VS Kiwi Ears Cadenza

• - Both exhibits the same warm character, but the Cadenza leans to the neutral side of the spectrum. Its overall tonality is better when compared, particularly its mids. Their technical performance is identical to my ears. The Cadenza is not as bassy compared to the Hades when compared.

VS Simgot EM6L

• - Their price difference also says it all, the EM6L is the better set between the two, at the expense of sounding “too normal” to some enthusiasts due to its Harman-ish sound. Everything sounds better on the EM6L, from its bass quality down to its clarity and technical performance.

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Pros:
- Fun, bassy signature (subjective)
- Bass-centric sound for pop and EDM genres.
- Thick, smooth, overall bass response.
- Rumbly, big bass response.
- Smooth, thick mids.
- Non-harsh upper frequencies.
- Sound quality scales with additional power/volume.
- Very good fit, comfort, and isolation (for medium-large sized ears).
- Eye-candy IEM appearance.
- Eye-candy packaging!

Cons:
- Heavy midbass bleed that drowns/veils vocals and details significantly.
- Bass is nearly monotonous.
- Bass is boomy and sloppy in character.
- Treble is borderline dark.
- Treble lacks air.
- Technical performance is affected significantly, particularly on separation.
- Needs a bit more volume/power than usual to sound good.
- Accessories are quite underwhelming for its asking price in terms of quantity and quality.
- Overall packaging/presentation is not fitting on the model naming (very subjective).
- IEM shells may not fit smaller ears (subjective)
- Overall sound is genre-dependent (subjective)
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Before you put your pitchforks and probably point my listening preferences, I am here to say that I quite enjoyed this set for most mainstream genres and playlist, and I believe that HBB really tuned this set for those genres he mostly listen, at the expense of sounding “normal” in the audiophile hobby. Despite being an unusual set for most, these types of IEMs exist for a group of people who need the unusual out of the norm. After all, personal enjoyment should matter more than anything else. If you prefer that chunky, smooth, big bass, this one’s for you!

Pairing recommendation/s:

• Source: This IEM is one of those IEMs in the market that needs additional power to shine, because this IEM sounds underwhelming when underpowered, or in low volumes. I prefer using a neutral, fairly powerful source for this set, like the Tanchjim Space for example.
• Eartips: The stock eartips included decent enough for the most part. You may still use your preferred eartips.
• Cable: The cable is good and sturdy enough for daily usage, but it is quite flimsy and thin in quality for its asking price. You may still use your preferred cable.

Thank you for reading!

Non-affiliated link here!: https://www.linsoul.com/products/qkz-x-hbb-hades