QKZ x HBB Hades - Sounds From the Depths of Hades - Honest Audiophile Impressions

HBB has a lot of collabs and several have focused on bass but is the Hades the best bass IEM from HBB? A BIG thanks to Linsoul for providing the QKZ x HBB Hades for review.
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction/Specs/Box/Hi-Res Sticker
01:30 Contents/Cable
02:45 Build/Comfort/Isolation
04:08 Source Pairings
05:15 Bass
06:43 Mids
07:35 Treble
09:20 Technical Abilities
11:30 Possible ways to Improve listening experience/Conclusion
12:50 Exiting
I am not a professional sound engineer, producer, musician, or vocalist, etc. I have not done any scientific research, measurements, or in-depth testing of any kind; just my own listening, comparing and internet reading/research. I have limited, real-life experience with recording, mixing and mastering gear. I have been involved since my teenage years with various churches as an amateur sound booth technician.
Please take these thoughts, opinions and reasonings as just that, my honest audiophile thoughts, opinions and reasonings.
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[@JohnClarkW]

I am looking forward to these, they seem like a more fun version of the original QKZxHBB, which is great warm set that was way better than its price point. I think "way too much bass" was the goal.

[@ChildrenOfDesire]

Props for saying what you really think. Your job as a reviewer isn't to be agreeable, it's to share your own opinion.

[@freefoyah2992]

Ive been waiting for this review! Thx! This is the reason I wait for your review before buying anything. I save my money to other good gears!

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Glad you found the review helpful.

[@MonoVideo93]

Such a good review!

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thanks

[@carminedesanto6746]

Good morning Dave listening on my drive into work. Take care. Have a great day.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thanks for listening. Have a great weekend.

[@saullete]

good review, thanks 4 your honesty, now i'm a subscriber

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

My pleasure, you're welcome. Thanks for subscribing.

[@Golap140]

The same reason someone don’t like an iem can be the same reason someone like it. I will recommend if you have option to audition, then purchase after listening. Tuning like this is hit or miss. You can totally like it or totally hate the tuning, cause its not an all-round tuning that can handle most genres. I think in this review Dev told how it sounds, (like too much bass etc) & it exactly has too much bass. If someone like that much quantity the go ahead purchase & enjoy. Everyone Please spread happiness, because music is for happiness.

[@mickeybreg1]

i think this iem is targeting a particular group which are the bass head. i’m pretty sure they’ve been waiting for set like this. i’m not basshead but i’d still buy just to try it.

[@jasonweaver3629]

Great, honest review, thank you.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

My pleasure, you're welcome.

[@ghostbusters666]

Thanks for your honest opinion, i just my set and your description was accurate. You confirmed this was what I was expecting it to be. Thanks for keeping it honest.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

My pleasure, you're welcome. Honesty is the best policy.

[@dante3311]

I love my rosefinch for non fatigued sound & good bass. Will hades be a upgrade in terms of low end? I have tfz t2g & mle but both have Piercing treble to me.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I've not heard the Rosefinch or the T2G or MLE.

[@ChildrenOfDesire]

If it sounds like it graphs, the Rosefinch is going to have more treble and mids. If upgrade you mean more perceived bass, very likely, but it's due to the lower level of everything else. If you want something more similar in bass level the 7Hz Legato probably looks like it'll sound more similar but it's significantly more expensive.

[@kellycny65]

So, Slick Leonard's tag line from Pacers' TV commentary fits the bass on these? "BOOM, baby!"

[@AbadyAngel]

thanks for your honesty man

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

My pleasure, you're welcome

[@limhweesoon6364]

If i change the cable to a 4.4 from openheart will it be better? Many thanks.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

As mentioned in video, swapping cables might help. I noticed slight improvement but nothing that changed my opinion on the Hades.

[@AbadyAngel]

what bass iem do you recommend thats has quality and Quantity bass and not muddy and done right in your opinion?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

$100 CTM (Clear Tune Monitor) CE110. $200 ThieAudio Elixir & Moondrop Kato $300 SeeAudio Bravery AE $400 ThieAudio Hype 4 $500 Xenns Mangird Top $600 ThieAudio Oracle mkii $700 ThieAudio Clairvoyance $1000 Empire Ears ESR $1100 Westone Mach 60 $2400 CTM (Clear Tune Monitor) Da Vinci X

[@AbadyAngel]

You are amazing, ty for your work man always helpful, god bless.@@TheHonestAudiophile

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

@AbadyAngel my pleasure, you're welcome. Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated.

[@mariocurro1041]

KATO does not have quantity of bass. 😂 Quality sure. At 200 Dollars you should have suggested the Ikko OH10 as quality and quantity.

[@AbadyAngel]

i didnt ask you, i asked the honest audiophile.@@mariocurro1041

[@marqie589]

Hello sir. Can u share what's best IEM for zx300? Or what is the best 16ohms iem ❤

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Sorry haven't heard ZX300. If looking for bass head IEM I'd look at Shanling Sono and 7hz Legato.

[@RaWActi0N]

​@@TheHonestAudiophileBut the 7hz Legato is double the price and the Sono does not show a very boosted bass in Fr Graph.

[@kr33k00]

KZ Castor Bass

[@TonkyTronicus]

Have a great weekend, Dave.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

You too. Thanks.

[@gamesturbator]

How do these compare to the regular QKZ x HBB version? $20 on Amazon.

[@pooley3l33t]

I have this set and I would go for those, they have better tuning by the looks of it... these are not worth the $30 extra

[@Lost1ntheSauc3]

You should go check out the sound demo over on Dan's Audio's channel. He has a video specifically comparing those two! The normal qkz x hbb comes across much more detailed and balanced, whereas the hades is moreso just a bass cannon.

[@Huskytickler]

Good video fella, did you happen to experience the QKZ HBB Khan,s at all ?, would be interested in your thoughts on it.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Heard the Khan a long time ago, didn't feel it warranted a review. Sounded muddy, veiled and unresolving and didn't do anything special to outperform IEM in similar price range.

[@wahid-lg1kk]

@@TheHonestAudiophile Not set up right, dude. Need a very good cable and at least 2.6 Vrms of power, very clean audio file, and suddenly, It's Alive!

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Glad you like them.

[@joefilter2923]

@@TheHonestAudiophile the Khan and the Hades seem redundant. Are they different? I got the Khan but preferred the OH10 even if it was too much in the upper trouble.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I'd take the OH10s over both.

[@kirytsu6549]

I thought this was gonna be the bassier truthear zero from the config, but kinda not expecting that the bass would be muddy by hbb collab, i think i might reconsider buying this after watch other reviewers

[@Devi_1]

Have u tried tangzu fudu, how does it compare to simgot ew200

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Sorry haven't heard the Tangzu Fudu.

[@thechamp306]

Did you plan on reviewing the nova?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Nova in house for review along with 30 plus other products.

[@Devi_1]

Can u suggest cheaper version of unique Melody MEST Mk2

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Sorry I haven't heard the UM MEST mk2

[@danielfernandez8987]

7hz timeless AE?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Sorry haven't heard the Timeless AE just the original.

[@ROCKSTAR3291]

It's not easy to make cheap basshead IEMs without sacrificing something. The only cheap basshead IEM I like is the 7hz Legato which has a lot of bass and alright details, even then the bass is still not great. Unfortunately high quality basshead sets with great details are just too expensive (Fatfreq, Empire Ear, Fir etc..)

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Totally agree. Would love to hear some of the Fatfreq products.

[@Lost1ntheSauc3]

Maestro SE is a work of art, hopefully you get a chance to try it :)

[@ROCKSTAR3291]

@@Lost1ntheSauc3 yeah i'd love to, there's no physical shops that carry this brand though.

[@Lost1ntheSauc3]

@@ROCKSTAR3291 True, that's probably my biggest gripe with this hobby, nowhere to actually demo stuff unless I get on a plane ://

[@sarmatiko]

Thanks for review! It will depend on the pricing I guess. For me personally, 49$ it's a hard skip. If it will be in 20$ range or less it could be considered. I have a weird perception of QKZ as a brand - on the one hand they sell cheapest stuff like those 1.5$ QKZ-AKX which doesn't even have detachable cables but have "Hi-res audio" sticker on the box, on the other hand they release Hades with this pricing and mediocre contents and hope to be taken seriously. It's almost the same white carrying case from 1.5$ QKZ-AKX btw and when I see it, I really question the real price of QKZ x HBB Hades.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I agree, QKZ hasn't impressed me much with the few I have heard.

[@TheChazas]

Favorite basshead IEM's that still retain detail and stage are OH10S and Maestro SE.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

OH10s is a solid choice. I'd love to hear the Maestro SE.

[@BassDad8]

Are they $50?

[@TheChazas]

@@BassDad8 OH10S is ~200$, Maestro SE is basically 2000$ set.

[@BassDad8]

I know. I’m was being facetious. lol. Two amazing sets for sure. And HBB did not ask me, nor does he need me to defend the Hades, but I did want to point out that there is a major price discrepancy A and B he makes no apologies for its tuning. That is indeed the way it’s supposed to sound.

[@gabrielroque9905]

@@BassDad8 KZ Castor bass version is a cheap option too. In my opinion has quantity but not quality.

[@nurkoleptik_art]

I really love the aesthetic box and all! The shells reminds me of "aether" from Call of duty zombie mode lol. I really thought you were gonna say "It's all about the bass... no treble" lol

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

"I really thought you were gonna say "It's all about the bass... no treble"" I would've if the bass was worthy.

[@someoneusa]

@@TheHonestAudiophile man, what a disappointment. I expected the mids and treble would suffer but the bass would be worthy. Thank God for the Rosefinch. Sometimes it is all about that bass 😁😎

[@nurkoleptik_art]

@@TheHonestAudiophile True. may I ask a question, Which set do you think have better bass and overall tonality, Hades or the KBEAR Rosefinch for basshead set? I'm actually looking for a basshead set right now. :)

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

@nrklptk4748 I've not heard the Rosefinch.

[@hixyhicks]

Any idea on the price ? I'm guessing cheap ?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

HBB confirmed it's $50

[@SileDevil]

thanks for you honest review! i was looking forward to these and i hoped for a nice budged basshead set for those who cant afford the Fatfreq stuff but i knew from the beginning that its too good to be true, that FR graph look pretty wonky. I guess the search continues...

[@kenjikodai]

Give ziigaat Doscinco a look, wait until reviews though. It's got a pretty good boost and it's advertising isobaric driver config

[@jamesNeedsCaffeine]

Feeling like the Legato is the best we can hope for in the sub $400 much less sub $100 category. 🥲

[@metoo478]

@@jamesNeedsCaffeine In Love with mine. Accessories and hugePack, too. BBC and u never go free -bigBass_cANNONS

[@someoneusa]

Kbear Bassfinch $15 ftw! 80s basshead approved 😂

[@RaWActi0N]

​@@kenjikodaiDoscinco is 5x the price of the Qkz Hbb Hades...

[@hokagoteatimereviews]

Great review. Looks very good specially the faceplate of the iem. As someone who likes the kz castor bass edition, so really curious about these.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Haven't heard the Castor. Curious to hear your impressions of the Hades if you pick one up.

[@hokagoteatimereviews]

Thanks! If the bass is like castor then I might like it if its anything like you described then no. But I dont know the price of hades, castor was very cheap at $11-12.

that sounds like the perfect iem for me

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Look forward to hearing your impressions

[@eddieschultzbsb]

It seems that the CVJ CSK has gained a little brother. Very similar FR even to the mids, where I think the CVJ did a more finely tuned pinna gain. Either way, it has brain-melting bass...

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[@Sforzabull]

Wow, thanks for the honest review Dave!

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

My pleasure, you're welcome

[@michaelmacvittie6977]

I've gotten annoyed with seeing HBB seemingly on every other IEM. I don't have an issue with collaborations but he's just everywhere!

[@wahid-lg1kk]

This review surprises me, I love my HBB Khans, awesome on double ended output, will take big power and they scale real nice. I got that same cable with my Khans, it's so comfy, but sounds horrible.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Glad you enjoy the Khan. Thanks for the comment.

[@wahid-lg1kk]

@@TheHonestAudiophile A brief comment on the Khans. They perform poorly just plugged into a phone. The cable which is included will make them sound harsh and unforgiving and lacking in bass, for a 2 DD..They suddenly surprise you with a good cable and a fine DSD on at least a midfi DAP, on double ended output. The included eartips are just ok, but can't find anything else that fits, big nozzle.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thankw for your impressions. Glad you have found a way to enjoy them.

[@razetw]

Been out of the scene for years. Looks like my blon 03 plus HipDAC xbass is still budget king. Or ikko oh10 with neutral source. Olina was unimpressive which is the last chifi purchase for me. B2DUSK is still my overall favorite after all these years.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Awesomeness 😎

[@carminedesanto6746]

Ouch ..I have his original OG Olina..a d it’s pretty good…so what happened to produce THIS 😳

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Olina was good after a little tweaking, the Hades not so much.

[@flashjor98]

Watch HBB's video on them and you'll see

[@gurukantdesai4225]

Is this better than the KHAN ?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Khan >>>>> Hades

[@samuelchan3920]

So many people complaining about the FR tuning when it's quite similar to Fir Audio XE6, a highly polarising but acclaimed IEM. I hate the XE6 and I'm sure I'll hate the Hades, but I personally know people who absolutely love the XE6 and think that no other IEM beats it, not even stuff like the Subtonic Storm. I'm sure they will consider the Hades a mini version of the XE6, or at least know how to appreciate it for what it's trying to do. As HBB said, this is meant for a small niche. That's it.

[@imaydayy]

Thanks for the honest review, the critizes you mentioned makes me wanna get the set even more :) I want to experience sbwoofers in my ear and copious amount of bass. ❤

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Look forward to hearing your impressions.

[@rajeebdas1724]

Guess Shanling Sono is the best budget basshead iem .

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Sono and Legato are both solid choices.

[@sagaman4785]

I absolutely love my Shanling Sono,it’s awesome! Didn’t like the Legato, too much Bass and not enough mids. Put some different foam in the nozzles to tame the b.a. in the nozzle.

[@svilenp]

👍

[@ifteykharulislam]

So it’s for basshead ?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

That's who it is focused toward. But it's not a good bass head IEM In my opinion.

[@RaWActi0N]

​@@TheHonestAudiophileThen what would be a good, with very boosted bass, IEM for this price in your opinion?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

@RaWActi0N Don't know exact price point yet but I'd go with Shangling Sono or 7hz Legato.

[@kenjikodai]

For posterity, this set is advertised at 50 bucks, so you're looking at his old school qkz HBB for bass leaning sets along with OG Truthear Zero

[@powerdrive906]

@@RaWActi0N try tipsy dunmer, its often on sales for 55$

[@sagaman4785]

I’ll have to pass on this one. I have the Artti R1 and love it.Maybe a review on the R1 sometime?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Artti R1 thanks for the suggestion

[@jamesNeedsCaffeine]

Second this. The R1 is really a fun set, especially for the price. If you like the Penon sound, I've seen several comparisons to the Serial.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Interesting. Haven't heard the Serial.

[@sagaman4785]

@@jamesNeedsCaffeine Artti is a sub company of Letshuoer and I haven’t had a Shuoer product since the two Tapes they came out with. They might be on to something here.

[@sagaman4785]

@@TheHonestAudiophile Me too. Arkos and Tone Deaf Monk do a lot of Penon stuff. A little out of my price range and no Amazon support.

[@larrydunn4626]

95db sensitivity? -- wow

[@larrydunn4626]

I don't think these are meant to care anything at all about resolution or detail or balance. This is the definition of "basshead" set. Basshead doesn't mean "almost balanced with a ton of bass"... it means, "only bass." Like huge woofers in the other room. A bass oriented IEM would be the MELE., which is no where near basshead.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Ehh the bassheads I know and trust opinion on actually care about details and resolution. Not to the extreme like I do but they want to hear the details and they want them resolved in a good way. They also care about quality of the tracks.

[@moonsofjupiter]

This is designed for bassheads. Too much bass is the point. It has a different market than the plethora of harman tuned sets that sound like dozens of others.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I'm well aware that it's a basshead IEM. I reviewed the performance in an honest way just like all other reviews on the channel. I gave my opinion and it's an alternative view as I am not a basshead. Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing.

[@moonsofjupiter]

@@TheHonestAudiophile I understand completely and mean no disrespect. It’s exactly like a new restaurant opened up featuring the hottest peppers in the world and a food critic who doesn’t like hot and spicy was the first one sent to do a review… cheers

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Good analogy 👍

[@tiansili]

What hip hop and trap music did you listen to review them? What about EDM?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Yes, I listened to all of that plus so many other genres of music. I put over 150 hours of playing and listening on the Hades. I am not going to list every song or artist.

[@NotTheOnlyMattAround]

You had me at "too much bass" and "insane amount of bass". Funny enough, that convinced me to pick it up as a nice ambient non-vocal music set to listen to while I work. Thank you for your honest review.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Look forward to hearing your impressions. You're welcome for the honest opinion.

[@resottolamontagna904]

Hbb minion detected. The fr is terrible for every genre.

[@NotTheOnlyMattAround]

@@resottolamontagna904 Not sure why you're being hostile, and I'm disappointed Dave liked the reply. This is a subjective hobby, and we all have different sound preferences. I own a huge variety of sets. I'm wearing an HD650 at this very moment. Do you think that's an HBB approved basshead headphone? HBB is not the only basshead in the space, nor is he the first. Would you call someone like Dave a DMS minion because they like a similar tuning? Comments like this are why people don't respect this hobby and see people in it as a bunch of snobs and purists.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I'm not being hostile. I reference Minions all the time, one of my all-time favorite animated characters. I gave the thumbs up and heart in agreement to the FR statement.

[@NotTheOnlyMattAround]

@@TheHonestAudiophile Understood. Most people use minion in a derogatory way, referring to you as a thoughtless adherent to some kind of ideology, unable to form your own opinions. Fairly certain that's exactly how the other guy meant it. If that's not how you use the term, then I apologize. I watch a variety of channels, HBB being one of them. I saw his video earlier alluding to this review and I wanted to come over here to watch yours and show my support. For everyone's opinion. They're equally valid.

[@JaredClarkBoaz]

It would be helpful if you mentioned what music you listened to, on what device, at what volume, using what source of music, etc.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I include links in the description to my "test" music. I listen to all sorts of genres of music and am not going to listen them in a video for many a reason. Below are several links that will help you understand my review process and music. www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/honest-audiophile-review-process www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/honest-audiophile-reference-gear-and-music www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/does-your-music-preference-impact-your-sound-impressions www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/how-loud-is-too-loud-does-it-sound-better-an-honest-audiophile-listening-level-challenge

[@tiansili]

​​@@TheHonestAudiophilethere is no bass heavy/ hip hop music in your listening list. How can you call yourself a reviewer if you don't have a broad range of music tastes to accurately reflect the consumer base??

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Did you read the articles? I listen to all sorts of music while testing. Do you need me to document EVERY song I listened to while doing a review? I tested the Hades with the appropriate music along with other genres of music. If you read the links you will learn about my review process. I don't list every song I listen to, those are just certain songs I always use.

[@jamesbush2720]

Thanks for this. I kinda knew when you said 2 DD's with NO BA or ANYTHING to round out the rest of the FR what this was designed for..

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Sadly when a FR like this is coupled with poor driver quality, this is the result.

[@joefilter2923]

That case is useless. Too small, too hard to open, and always trying to eat your cable. I’d rather have a slightly better cable and no bad case or little stupid coin.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Totally 💯

[@codexnecrogeddon]

I wonder why they discontinued the Khan so soon? These seem like a neutered version of those. Shame.

[@HobbyTalk]

I wanted to try this one real bad… can’t afford to purchase anything at this time tho so oh well…

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I would save the funds and find a quality product to purchase.

[@natitoalvarez234]

We need an opinion of somebody that likes bass iem and understand that kind of iem😅 There's a specific library for that kind of iem

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

@natitoalvarez234 I listen to a lot of similar music that HBB does even though it isn't my preference, I include it in my review process so that I can see how it performa with various genres of music.

[@HobbyTalk]

@@natitoalvarez234yeah this thing is probably more my thing 😅 I like dumb amounts of bass haha

[@_-Z-]

​@@HobbyTalkI would've liked to hear your opinion on it too. I value your reviews highly and I think they really should've sent it to you as a bass lover.

[@Rsalmond83]

I understand this is a niche $50 set, but not for me. After I purchased the Rosefinch, NOPE! I gave that set away. I also found the Khan to be veiled and muddy.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I haven't heard the Rosefinch but I agree the Khan was muddy and veiled.

[@wana.me003]

The Rosefinch is a brilliant set, I advise that you take out the stock mesh filter and put on a 400 or 450 mesh on it. It opens up that set wonderfully. It's a basshead but with the mesh it makes the mids come alive and it becomes enjoyable.

[@someoneusa]

The Bassfinch is a fricken gem! Lucky person who inherited it from you. Gotta love the boom!

[@someoneusa]

@@wana.me003 hell I loved it as is but eventually did the mod and still loving it! Grew up in the 80s in Florida when we cruised the beach in cars with subwoofers the size of our trunk... Rosefinch is legit!

[@ImAWSMDanny]

Thanks for the thorough review as always. This is an easy skip for me. Unpopular opinion: basshead sets should be about bass quality not quantity.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Totally agree about quality bass over quantity bass.

[@HobbyTalk]

Why not both?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

@@HobbyTalk @imawsmdanny Quality bass includes proper quantity of bass so you can have both.

[@kenjikodai]

Unfortunately quality bass at this price point is hella difficult, I only know this now that I own a good bass head quality set

[@scorpioassmodeusgtx1811]

I’ve never understood the logic behind giving basshead IEMs huge amounts of bass. The kinds of music bassheads listen to already have bass boosted in the mix. Adding even more bass through the transducer’s tuning just leads to a comical exaggeration of the low end.

[@LSDScreen]

Here's hoping you'll get the Scarlet Mini eventually.

[@jamesNeedsCaffeine]

Same hope, but also with Maestro Mini and SE for comparison.😂

[@oddballgamerpro3923]

I sense that you don't like the Hades 😏

[@bayabas4385]

😄😄

[@someoneusa]

Loves it 🤣

[@jimashby43]

Wow, and they kinda look cool. Shame.

[@MrPINKFL0YD]

Ohh dear me. That's a miss. I seriously wonder how stuff like this managed to get out to the public... Thank you for your review.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Sadly when a FR like this is coupled with poor driver quality, this is the result.

[@zenboy2000]

I've too hastily considered your assessment of this iem biased when it probably wasn't. My apologies. At least one other reviewer has come out to say that the bass content produced by this iem is of poor quality in comparison to other bass heavy iem's.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Apology accepted.

[@matreviewlab]

Damn i wasn’t expecting you to like a basshead set, but how you stomp on it and found nothing positive to say makes me hesitant about this one. Edit: You dont seems to be the target audience at all just by the genre you listen to. An auto-claimed audiophile is obviously going to find it too bassy. I will still try it and edit further upon listening to it myself. At least, the positive of your review is it will steer all none basshead away from it, as it should be.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Positive, it looks cool 👍 Actually I like a few bass head IEM, 7hz Legato, Shanling Sono and TRI Meteor. Thanks for watching.

[@matreviewlab]

@@TheHonestAudiophile are those basshead iems tho. Your suggestions are V shaped and to me a basshead iem has to be L shaped.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

The Hades isn't v-shaped but L-shaped? 😂😂😂 They're all v-shaped. I just like the others better.

[@matreviewlab]

@@TheHonestAudiophile sorry I was under the impression from your review that hades had little treble quantity wise. I have yet to hear the hades so I cannot asses the Hades in particular.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Treble extension isn't good. Mostly lower treble presence but its pretty dark in my opinion. I look forward to hearing your impressions.

[@mariocurro1041]

I’m sorry but you can never have too much bass. Especially when the whole point of this set is to slam. Shake your earwax. Sounds like he did exactly what he set out to do. Won’t even hesitate to buy it. Bass. Bass. Bass. Gotta have that bass.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Look forward to hearing your impressions.

[@eteopilus]

I do believe in burning ... Hope the bass quality will get better for your hades

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

The Hades were "burn-in" for 100 hours before the review was performed. I let them play for 4 straight days non-stop before I made conclusive opinion. Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing.

[@kr33k00]

Looks like this is Rosefinch 2.0. We want QUALITY BASS, not mud! 😢

[@leeite]

Any suggestion for basshead iem with QUALITY BASS at this price range?

[@pjmt29]

It's not meant to be neutral it's made for Bass heads listening to Bass heavy music, that was the whole point but each to his own. It would be a very boring world if we all liked & disliked the same thing.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I didn't approach it with neutral in mind. I reviewed it as I do all products, based on performance alone. The Hades is a poor performer even on it's intended bass heavy music in my opinion. My opinion was formed after 100 hours of burn-in, and about 40 hours of music listening of varying genres and then about 10 hours of critical listening with my personal test tracks. I used every dongle, DAP, DAC and amp that I have a available. I compared it to all sorts of IEM of varying presentations. I totally agree it's not neutral or intended to be. As I said in my conclusion, it may be for someone but it isn't for me.

[@ROCKSTAR3291]

He has reviewed basshead IEMs before like the 7hz Legato and he quite liked it.

[@RadoDani]

It’s all about the bass, not treble … 😁

[@denisbasshead7787]

Sound to much sh!!!!ttttt because they want to put 10 tons bass and finally the bass is bloated boomy ...

[@historyalwayslie]

Big fan of hbb. i'll love to buy it and give it a try.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Look forward to hearing your impressions.

[@shameermohamed4345]

Truthear zero blue vs Hades?! This answer is enough for all of us

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

To be honest I've not heard the Zero Blue since I reviewed it. Here's a link to my review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6abZ616rp6ga5Y

[@shameermohamed4345]

@@TheHonestAudiophile thanks for the instant reply... Love for kind of sound is differs Generally i like balanced sound... Sometimes for a change i go 4 bass iem like t3 ➕ , mele and qkz hbb.. That too for bass playlist So it seems like Hbb Hades is for iem collectors... Not for all.. Thanks for the clarity 👍

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

@@shameermohamed4345 my pleasure, you're welcome

[@exexgr6897]

You make someone Mad

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Woopsies. It's not the first time I've been in the dog house it won't be the last. Honesty is the Best Policy!

[@SuperEnforcer88]

Good iems for RAP.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I don't listen to much rap at all. Here's my favorite rap song: songwhip.com/confederate-railroad/i-hate-rap To be honest, I didn't find the Hades to sound pleasant with any genre.

[@matreviewlab]

@@TheHonestAudiophile do you listen to any other bass heavy genre?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

@matreviewlab metal, hard rock, classic rock, progressive rock, electronic, r&b, soul, etc. I'm just not a fan of rap. I listen to all sorts of music.

[@jamesmacarthur2277]

Here's a good country song with bass to test them on kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4nOnqOIas6Gd7Msi=fZh-0qIW-8x3EgPl

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

songwhip.com/rittz/dear-rebecca

[@iggy6841]

Sounds like an excellent IEM! 🤣😂🤣

[@rsvp9816]

cable is very disappointing for the price range. i like big bass but dont like muddy bass so, im disappointed. I really like the qkz hbb og collab.

[@waiik76]

It's for bass head! If you like music like prodigy!

[@EyeCanShootFL]

That’s literally what they were designed for. Bass heads. So this review should have been based on that.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

The review is based on how they perform as a basshead earphone. I reviewed it in the same manner as I do all other products. I didn't go into the review thinking that they were neutral or references tuning; I listened and tested it accordingly. Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing.

[@EyeCanShootFL]

@@TheHonestAudiophile not how it came off imo. Came off like you were comparing it to 300 blessings. Honesty is what I’m about but also keeping in my mind price and who they are aimed for.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

How did you come to that conclusion? I didn't even mention another IEM. I literally only talk about the Hades. I look forward to hearing your impressions. Hope they meet your expectations.

[@fiddlix]

This iem set is for “Bassheads” anyone else need not apply. I am not a HBB fan boy nor do I dislike him.

[@TheRebelLion13]

This is a niche tuning IEM that is intended for bassheads, and i mean real bassheads. The part i'm not down with, with this review, is the fact that i don't think Dave is someone who likes to have his eardrums pounded with so much bass all the way to his brain. What i'm trying to say is, someone like him will find the Hades overwhelming and muddy and all the other description he mentioned; because his brain and his ears are not wired for this specific type of tuning. His descriptions will be influenced by his natural preferences, the things that he likes or he's accustomed to, or what he will naturally gravitate towards. What he will describe as muddy and overwhelming will be perceived quite differently by someone who is a real basshead. The criticisms that Dave gave were exactly the things that the Hades was NOT tuned for. HBB has been quite clear even from the very beginning of this collab project on WHAT THE HADES IS FOR and WHAT THE HADES IS NOT FOR. It's like looking for oranges on an apple tree. So i mean, it doesn't seem fair to criticize something or hold it up to a standard that it was not meant for or not tuned for. It's like criticizing a Standard Manufacturing DP12 shotgun for not being like an AK-47.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I reviewed the Hades the same way I review every IEM no matter what it's intended listeners. I listened to hundreds of songs from every genre of music I could think of. HBB posted in his video his playlist and I actually had already listened to those songs. I mentioned the flaws of the Hades and why I don't think it is a good performer. Sure I'm not a "true" basshead but I've listened to hard music since my teenage years. No matter the genre I like a "cleaner" performance unless it is intended to be a certain "unclean" in the tracks. I have liked other basshead IEM in the past, they're not my preference for sure but I do enjoy them from time to time when they're good. The Hades is not a good IEM in my opinion based on performance alone, , nothing more. Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing.

[@TheRebelLion13]

@@TheHonestAudiophile Based on "performance", but subject to a certain degree to the reviewers personal preference or bias. Sir, unless you are a robot, or a.i., or you just posted a frequency graph, then it cannot be just "on performance alone, and nothing more". Anything that involves a personal opinion or individual perception, is never truly objective. Because how that "performance" is viewed, perceived, or judged, will still be based off of the individual's personal interpretation of a standard or something, and how they personally perceive a certain experience. I wish reviewers would keep in mind that anything that is based on personal perception, ie., like sound or taste or flavor, there should be room left for the people to try it out and see or hear it for themselves. We have to recognize the fact that reviews that are based on one's personal perception, which differs from person to person, is never without some sort of personal bias; and so, is never truly "objective". They should be leaving an open door instead of limiting it or closing it completely to keep others from being curious and maybe wanting to further explore. Sure they can say that it's "not good" or "good", but do so in a way that will still leave room for others to maybe want to try or maybe consider finding it out for themselves. Reviewers need to keep in mind that they are providing a subjective opinion, no matter how "objective" they think they are. Reviewers need to keep in mind that they are not "Product Endorsers"-and if they are, then they should clearly state that they are a paid promotion/review- ; but neither are they "Gate Keepers". Reviewers need to keep in mind that they are not the "End-All, and Be-All" of things. Reviewers need to keep in mind that what they say possibly can &/or will significantly influence other people's thoughts, emotions, opinions, and perceptions about someone or something. So they must keep in mind to act or speak with tact, discretion, and sober judgement. Reviewers need to keep in mind that they should not consider themselves and their opinion or whatever it is that will be based on their own personal perception(or how they experience something), more highly than they ought to.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

@TheRebelLion13 I don't claim to be objective as a reviewer, I'm subjective. I have an open mind and I encourage viewers to listen to gear they enjoy or think they will enjoy. I encourage viewer to give me their impressions of gear that I have reviewed to see if they hear it like I do or different. I like to hear about others experiences and how they came to it. On the Hades I gave my opinion but I didn't say don't buy it. I don't endorse any products. Viewers choose whether or not they want to purchase something. I just have my opinion and stated it in the video.. Please quote where I where I endorsed a product, brand or said don't purchase a product in any of my videos. I am not a salesman, I'm a subjective reviewer. I don't think my opinion is higher than anything else and it for sure shouldn't be treated Ike the gospel, it is just my opinion. if you agree with it, cool. if you disagree with it, cool.

[@TheRebelLion13]

@@TheHonestAudiophile i wasn't referring to you when i made a statement about shills. If you read that part of my statement again, it's not directed to you or at you. I was making a general statement that was me speaking to the reader, and not you. But also please consider that your words have influence over people. You don't have to explicitly say to "not buy" something for people to not buy something; and vice versa. As a reviewer, like it or not(want it or not), your words and your opinions can and/or will affect or influence people's perceptions and opinions. You, as a reviewer, like it or not(want it or not) are in a position of influence. Please consider that for someone of your status, someone who holds a position of influence, your words are never merely "just words" and your opinions are never merely "just an opinion". You are in a position of influence and your words have the power to significantly influence other people. Like it or not, want it or not, you have this responsibility.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

@TheRebelLion13 I don't sugarcoat my opinion in life and for sure don't in my reviews. My channel is called the Honest Audiophile for a reason and it is who I am. I live by the motto Honesty is the Best Policy. People who watch or read my content make up their own decisions, if they choose to be influenced by my content then so be it. It's their choice. I get your point that I have an influence but so do all the other reviewers and content creators. Viewers make the choice to follow who they follow. I'm not begging for them to follow me, I'm honored they do but I'm not begging for their commitment. I don't want sheeple as my viewers and subscribers, I want people who listen and read my opinions and then choose what action they want to take. I'm just giving my honest opinion and it's up to them to decide if they want to purchase or not purchase. My opinion may impact or influence if they understand where I'm coming from or if they've had positive experiences in the past and that's great. Viewers have to make the choice, I'm not telling them what to do. Read my responses to questions about what gear they should get, I don't say get this one, I give options and opinions and allow the viewer to choose. I will advise which one I prefer and why but it's up to them to purchase.

[@TheJo4an]

This is clearly not your thing. But reviewing it from a hifi audiophile perspective is kind of moot. This review is like... A fine dining food critic going into a fast food joint called "The Super Spicy Hot chicken wing" and putting down the resturant because they dont have white starched table cloth and no red whine on the menu. "The ball pit really destroys the ambiance of the resturant and makes for a bad dining experience". I mean.. no shit? 😂I expect this is for people who listen to hyper techno and rave, crank the volume to 11 and rather "experience" the music more than listen to it. It feels like you completely missed who the target audience is, why this was made, and completely failed to take it into consideration .¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯ And then.. it wasnt even up for preorder when this video came up, and yet you mention "if you already preordered this". Makes it seem even more like you haven't done any checking up on what it is you're reviewing. This is a critique of the review btw. Nothing against you or your opinions ofc. Audio is subjective. :)

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

So I was under impression that it was on preorder and that it sold out. I'm sorry if that caused confusion. As for missing the point of who this is focused for, um no. I clearly indicate in the video who the product is intended for, bassheads. I have reviewed numerous bass head products and have even liked a few of them. I reviewed this how I review every product whether it is a stage monitor, all-rounder or basshead. I pointed out the flaws I heard in the Hades and I even provided some pointers of how to possibly fix the flaws. The song list that HBB links in his video, I actually listened to those songs before I even saw his list while I was testing the Hades. I don't think the Hades is a good IEM, I stated my reasoning. It has nothing to do with whether or not I'm a basshead or not, it has to do with the Hades not performing. I get that some will enjoy the Hades because they think that muddy, bloated and insanely elevated bass is good quality but I hope that some will watch my review and get an alternative view and maybe learn something. Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing.

[@TheJo4an]

@@TheHonestAudiophile The "I get that some will enjoy the Hades because they think that muddy, bloated and insanely elevated bass is good quality" was a bit uncalled for 😄 I understand your view, but I still think my analogy stands. This is not a violin, it's a hammer. It's only a "in ear monitor" in shape, not in function, if you catch my drift. Like I said, I just got the feeling that you missed what it was made to do and why. 🙂 But anyway, if anyone was going to buy it with the thought that it was detailed or "just a bit on the warm side" for some reason, I'm positive your review has done them a favor for sure, and judging by the comments here, it was apparently nessesary. Myself, lm looking forward to testing it, and I'm happy that someone at least attempt to make an IEM focused solely on the basshead parts of the hobby/community. It's a rare occurrence, sadly. Looking at how many that seemingly ordered it I hope, if nothing else, that it makes more companies realise that the niche is far from filled.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

@TheJo4an I didn't miss the point at all of the Hades. I think it could be better implemented with better quality drivers. I totally understand about the in-ear hammer and I've heard some and liked them for what they are. I look forward to hearing your impressions.

[@Hakku1403]

Oh no, not again another chinese 3D printed IEM :( where are all the good amps and headphones, Dave? ;)

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Coming soon 😉

[@markevinlagsac3252]

hbb garbage?

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

HBB good reviewer Hades garbage.

[@wahid-lg1kk]

I don't follow HBB anymore as he basically told us to f off and remove ourselves if we participate in his draws for free stuff, but don't contribute to his charities. Truth. I still buy his collabs though. I am a retired guy with no money, why shouldn't I participate? Isn't buying his stuff good enough? I felt like I was being personally attacked.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Sad to hear that.

[@jasongibson3574]

Lots of stressed HBB fans. Again.

[@SnobAudiophile]

Better look out Dave, the HBB fanboys are coming for your 🍑! How dare you roast a HBB product in this manner. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for bringing to light the HBB collab and how 💩it is. Most of these reviewer collabs are just money grabs and not focusedon quality sound. I wish that you would get opportunity for a collab and show up all these other reviewers.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thanks. Would be cool to be involved with a collaboration. Honesty is the best policy!

[@resottolamontagna904]

@@TheHonestAudiophile Subscribed right now for your honesty! You rock!

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thanks for subscribing 👍

[@sorcerermax5111]

Badly tuned, muddy and with bass fatigue. I don't understand why some of these companies go to guys like HBB. If you want a budget IEM with big bass, just get something like a KBEAR Rosefinch and save money. Also tried Blon x Z Jojo. That is also not worth its price. x HBB, x Crinacle, x Z, these guys are not doing any magic here. Don't fall for blind hype and end up paying a lot more for those collab IEMs

[@wanaboed]

Have you tried KZ Castor Bass Version and CCA Polaris?

[@someoneusa]

Preach!

[@JFKaufmann]

This item is for bass heads, period. If you don’t want tons of bass (of course it will distort mids and highs), this set is not for you (in you are not the target audience). Don’t fault someone just for creating a niche product for a niche audience.

[@sorcerermax5111]

@@JFKaufmann Its not about faulting someone. The point is, there are better options at lower prices even for bassheads

[@1337wafflezz]

The frequency response on this thing is beyond horrific lol. what an embarrassing product I would be ashamed to have that much bloat on any set. Skip this and get some skullcandy jibs instead for 10$ if you really want insanely bassy nonsensically tuned crap.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

💯

[@sorcerermax5111]

I have like 20 IEMs but I still use my Skullcandy Jib. It is very musical and when properly amped, everything tightens up on it. Superb value for its price

[@kioko696]

Set for bass heads. If you ain't one then it's not for you.