Reviewed on: SoundStage! Solo, May 2022
I measured the KZ x Crinacle CRN earphones using laboratory-grade equipment: a GRAS Model 43AG ear/cheek simulator/RA0402 ear simulator with KB5000/KB5001 simulated pinnae, and an Audiomatica Clio 12 audio analyzer. For isolation measurements, I used a laptop computer running TrueRTA software with an M-Audio MobilePre USB audio interface. The headphones were amplified using a Musical Fidelity V-CAN amplifier. I used the supplied medium-sized silicone tips for all measurements because they fit best in the ear simulator. These are “flat” measurements; no diffuse-field or free-field compensation curve was employed. If you’d like to learn more about what our measurements mean, click here.
This chart shows the CRNs’ frequency response. Pretty normal stuff, except that the peak seen at 4kHz would more commonly be centered around 2.5 or 3kHz.
This chart shows how the CRNs’ tonal balance changes when they’re used with a high-impedance source, such as a cheap laptop, some tube amps, or some professional headphone amps. There’s almost no difference—just a 1dB boost in the treble from the high-impedance source—which is surprising, considering the mix of drivers employed.
This chart shows the CRNs’ right-channel response compared with various earphones, including the AKG N5005s, which are said to be the passive earphones that come closest to the Harman curve. Other than the relatively high frequency of the lower-treble peak noted above, the CRNs clearly aren’t outliers in terms of frequency response.
The CRNs’ spectral-decay plot looks pretty clean, with no significant resonances.
Other than that weird little peak centered at 900Hz (which is within such a tight band that it’s very unlikely to be audibly apparent), the CRNs’ total harmonic distortion is very low.
In this chart, the external noise level is 85dB SPL, and numbers below that indicate the degree of attenuation of outside sounds. The lower the lines, the better the isolation. In the 43AG ear/cheek simulator, the CRNs offer isolation that’s typical for similar models with over-ear cable routing. I added an earphone model with excellent active noise canceling so you can see what that adds in terms of isolation.
The impedance curve of the CRNs is admirably flat, especially considering the exotic driver array.
Sensitivity, measured between 300Hz and 3kHz, using a 1mW signal calculated for 25 ohms rated impedance, is 112.7dB, which means the CRNs will deliver loud volume from any source device.
Bottom line: Nothing to worry about here.
. . . Brent Butterworth
brentb@soundstagenetwork.com