This is the IEM that drove me down into a rabbit hole much deeper than I had anticipated. They were great for me as a beginner, but how do they add up now?

Overview
The QKZ VK4 is an economical single dynamic driver universal IEM sporting a 10$ price tag. Other Chi-Fi competitors at this price point and spec includes the EDX by KZ or the MT1 by TRN. The VK4 may be a bit more pricy than her competitors, but at the price point you definitely don't feel cheated by the type product you are getting.

As with other IEM from the Linsoul Sub-brands, the QKZ VK4 is packaged using the famous rectangular slide away box used also by the KZ's, CCA's, and others. The box contains the standard package of two drivers, a braided "a-type" cable, spare tips, a handbook on IEM usage, and warranty card. Overall there's nothing special here.

The drivers themselves come in two flavors: a purple candy look or a sleek carbon pattern gray both with the QKZ logo plastered to the faceplate. Whichever color you choose, the material is plastic which makes it feel flimsy on your hands. However, when you stick these in your ears you will be thanking the material because you will forget they were even in your ears.

The cable provided with the product is neither good nor bad. They retain their stiffness to their packaging induced shape that doesn't go away even with prolonged usage, you just can't get these cable to straighten out. This isn't all bad, as the cable is less likely to break on you since it feels sturdier than other cables such as the TRN cables. I still would recommend after market cables (even though they cost more than half the actual IEM price) on these just to enhance your experience.

But what matters is the sound, and here's where things get interesting.

Bass
The bass is definitely the highlight of this IEM. You get a luscious boomy base as a basis to whatever you listen too. Even the sub-bass feel very effortless coming out of this single driver. It can get a bit carried away though and at times it doesn't feel very tight or detailed. At this price point though it is to be expected, and you really can't complain about what you're getting here.

Mids
As with most entry level CIEM the QKZ VK4 presents a V-shaped signature for your listening pleasures. While making the music more fun to listen to, it does mean we have to sacrifice the mids. You definitely feel like the mids are overshadowed by the bass bleed. It does provide a warm and relaxed listen for male vocals. For female vocals, guitars, or brass instruments there is a bit more detail and clarity as the frequency response starts to climb the other side of the V.

Due to the recessed mids, at times it can feel like the instruments are too homogenous and condensed together. As such, separation and imaging is definitely not the strong suit of this IEM.

Highs
This is a really polarizing aspect of the IEM you either love it or you hate it regardless of whether you are a treble head or not. For me personally I enjoy the double horned peak that the VK4 provides. It really presents a fun listening experience and balances out some of the lost detail at the bottom end. The sharpness of the peaks might cause some sounds to lack body or have an airiness quality. In my opinion this doesn't always mean it sounds bad, on the contrary the airiness is quite enjoyable considering how congested the lower mids feel. Some might consider that the highs are overly done and feels sibilant. Again there are no wrong or right here, it all comes down to personal preference.

Technicalities
The mushy bass and congested mids really does a detriment to the IEM's soundstage and imaging. The space feels very condensed and closed, however you can still tell where the sound is coming from. It's very adequate for gaming. I would say that it's not the worst, but there are definitely better at the price point such as the ST1.

Tonality and micro detail is a hit or miss as the double peak at the top works for some sound and completely butcher others.

Separation again is not very strong because of the congestion.

Final Thoughts
The QKZ VK4 is a great entry level IEM. If you want a good introduction to the audio hobby this is a perfect choice as it really balances a conventionally familiar sound with some eccentricities at the top end. Beginners will find the bass to be very engaging and something to fit the general public's taste. Gradually you will start to notice the interesting details and features lurking behind the bass.

But what if you are well versed in this hobby, is it still worth your money to buy an IEM with a "fun" signature. My answer is yes. Sometimes there are days where I just want to drown myself in the murky waters of a chocolate lake that is the bass in this IEM. I personally daily drive this IEM with a Spinfit CP100 to mellow out the bass and dig out the detail lurking in the mids (I wouldn't recommend this if you are treble sensitive).

Beginner or just looking to make a fine addition to your collection you will not regret this $10 gateway drug.

Please be gentle, this is my first time ( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°)



The ST1 is a hybrid IEM from TRN sporting a 10mm DD and the 30095 BA. At the 20 USD price tag, this IEM competes with the likes of KZ ZSN Pro and CCA C4 in the price range and also type. In Indonesia you can get these for a price of less than 10 USD, I got mine at about 6 USD.

As with other IEM from the Linsoul Sub-brands, the TRN ST1 is packaged using the famous rectangular slide away box used also by the KZ's, CCA's, and others. The box contains the standard package of two IEM's, a braided "c-type" cable, spare tips, a handbook on IEM usage, quality control card, and warranty card. Overall there's nothing special here.

The IEM itself comes in magenta or blue (or you can choose one magenta and one blue) with a gray faceplate. For people who like a less flashy look there is an all black option that looks absolutely slick. Personally for me they fit well and provides a really good seal despite having a vented design.

One thing I have a gripe about is the cable. The ear loop is way too large for my ear, and because it has a sturdier loop than the other KZ cables I find that I couldn't stretch it to my ear size. The cable also feels very fragile and thin especially when compared to the monstrous size of the staight 3.5 mm jack. However not all is lost, the cable does use a "c-type" connector and it doesn't feel like I'm going to snap it unlike the "a-type" connectors.

So how about the sound?

Bass
The bass is definitely a bit forward in the mix. However, I don't think it is overly done and I would not consider this IEM as "bassy" as it is not the highlight. This IEM manage to hit even the sub-bass range providing a warm and visceral background for the music. If I am to point out a fault in this range is that the bass can feel kind of mushy at times, especially in the higher ranges closer to the mids.

Mids
This is the one place where I feel the ST1 really excels and flops at the same time (I know right, what an indecisive review). The mids is way more recessed when compared to the other ranges. The mids also suffer from the bass bleeding into the lower mids and especially male vocals. It is not all lost however as this provides a warmer tone to the vocals, if you are looking for that kind of sound. Female vocals however are helped by the BA providing clarity and brightness. I find that the IEM hits or misses based on each song and sound characteristics. Some songs and vocals feels crisp and others just feel all around mushy.

One thing that I found always sound good is guitars. The tuning provides a really powerful body and it's complimented by an elevated high mids/low trebles providing clarity and detailing.

Treble
I feel that the treble is definitely the highlight of this IEM. An elevated lower treble and a peak at around 12k really provides clarity and transparancy to the sound. The elevation also helps create a more detailed sound and you can really feel the musicality of the song you are listening too. If I have anything to pick against the high it's the occasional sibilance and harshness that can occur on higher volumes and in less than perfect recordings. Some symbals also feel a bit thin.

Technicalities
The vented design of the IEM with the BA provides a really wide and airy soundstage. Imaging is also fairly accurate and when combined with the spacious feel it really is quite amazing at the price range. You could definitely use these for gaming as the sound is crisp and comes from a concise direction. Separation is good, you can point out the exact instruments playing. However it does seem a little too good and sounds can feel separated and not coming from the same body.

Conclusion
The TRN ST1 provides a quality experience at its price point. Against the hybrid at its price range (KZ ZSN Pro and CCA CA4) it provides a balanced sound with more of a focus at the top end while avoiding sounding shouty or hot. The price range is also close to the QKZ VK4 which in my opinion is a good all around V-shaped IEM with substantially bigger bass, in comparison the ST1 feels flatter making it more of a U-shape sound. I highly recommend this for treble heads, and entry level hobbyist like me who is trying to move on from bass heavy IEM's. At the competitive price, there is little to lose.