First Impressions: ZMF Aeolus, Thieaudio Phantom, TRN V90, KB Ear Hi7, and BLON BL-03

Another First Impressions post, but this time with a variety of new headphones and in-ears!

ZMF Aeolus Ziricote Limited

Courtesy loaner from Darthpool.

• Beautiful wood piece. Brass grill and hardware.
• Balanced sound with Universal Perforated Suede pads.
• With Universal Perforated Leather, it's very bassy and bright. V-shape.
• A tad heavy in this form.
  
  Measurements: https://measurements.antdroid.net/2019/09/zmf-aeolus.html

Thieaudio Phantom Planar Magnetic Headphone

Provided by Linsoul

• Nice lightweight build
• Headband is functional, despite being ugly
• Stock pads are shallow and not really my thing. Remind me of Hifiman Velour pads but softer.
• Stock tuning is very dark. Bass doesn't extend to subbass well, mids are recessed and missing, and treble is also missing. Very dark. Not really happy with it.
• Removing the pads reveals a THICK foam layer covering the driver!!
• Removing this foam layer brings back mids and vocals and starting to sound better.
• Pad changes to literally anything else (I tried several ZMF, brainwavz and Dekoni pads), makes treble and mids more present and much more balanced and closer to a good neutral tuning.
• Modding is required for this one -- once modded, reminds me of Hifiman Sundara
  
  Measurements: https://measurements.antdroid.net/2019/09/thieaudio-phantom.html

TRN V90

Provided by Linsoul

• Warm balanced tuning
• Cable is still same as other TRN IEM packaged cables
• Has a treble peak that may be fatiguing
• Slight V-shape
  
  Measurement: https://measurements.antdroid.net/2019/09/trn-v90.html

BLON BL-03

Provided by Linsoul

• Pretty much same tuning as TRN V90, but less peaky treble
• Still bright for me, however
• Fit is rather shallow and doesn't really work well for me.
• Nice mirror finish
  
  Measurement: https://measurements.antdroid.net/2019/09/blon-bl-03.html

KB Ear Hi 7

Provided by KB Ear

• Semi-open back shell
• Looks kind of weird, but some like it
• More of Diffuse Field tuning with a little warmth and punchiness
• Decent detail due to boosted upper mid-range and treble
  
  Measurement: https://measurements.antdroid.net/2019/09/kb-ear-hi-i7.html

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View the product ratings on Antdroid's IEM Ranking List and/or Antdroid's Headphone Ranking List