The bass on the Mangird Top is deep, impactful, and textured. It's not overly boosted, but it's definitely present and gives the IEM a fun and engaging sound. The bass is also very well-controlled, so it doesn't bleed into the mids or highs. Better sub-bass extension. In 'Smooth Criminal' you can clearly 'feel' the heartbeats on the Zero, whereas with the E3000 you can 'only hear' them, faintly. This is a Big difference. Some of the competitors in this price range include the KZ ZST X, the CCA Lyra, and the BLON BL03. While these earphones are also popular in their respective price ranges, the Salnotes Zero is definitely a step above in terms of sound quality and overall value. Pros and Cons: Better Instrument separation. The Zero's thin instruments, more artifacts can make things sound mashed together at times. This may come as a surprise to some. We assume a more transparent (colder) IEM will have better separation.

One of the most impressive aspects of the Salnotes Zero is its soundstage. It has a wide and spacious soundstage that creates an immersive listening experience. You can feel like you are sitting in the middle of all the artists, and they are all playing just for you. The soundstage is so well-defined that it can even make some songs sound better than they did before. For instance, when listening to Teri Fariyad by Rekha Bhardwaj and Jagjit Singh, the soundstage is so wide and open that it almost feels like the performers are in the room with you. The soundstage is one of the best we have experienced at this price point, and it's a testament to the quality of the Salnotes Zero. Imaging:The mids on the Mangird Top are slightly recessed, but they're still clear and present. Vocals sound natural and realistic, and instruments are well-defined. The male vocals sound a little thin when compared to Tin Hifi T2 which is a mid-forward iem. To summarize the review, we have compiled a list of the Salnotes Zero's pros and cons in a markdown table. Pros

EDIT1 - Detail comparison against the DQ6 and ZEX Pro - The Zero wins (barely) against the DQ6 and loses (again barely) against the Zex Pro. But the tonality is better than both. No budget segment royal rumble would be complete without mentioning the big Kahuna: the venerable BLON BL-03. The treble rolls off pretty early and is on the darker side. There’s little air and sparkle, so treble-heads might want to look elsewhere. Details are surprisingly clear. I'm a real detail-head, so this is a huge part of my enjoyment of listening to recorded music. I'm going to do some more comparative listening against some of my more detail-oriented sets to see just how well it does. I think it is delivering more detail and microdynamic contrasts than the Truthears Zero. More testing to come on that... The treble is fatigue-free and smooth, with minimal sibilance, though resolution and micro-details might be dampened due to this tuning choice. ComparisonsThe cable of the Salnotes Zero is made of sturdy and flexible plastic material, and it is tangle-free. The cable is long enough to avoid any inconvenience, and the earpieces are attached at an angle to provide a comfortable fit. The IEMs come with a variety of ear tips of different sizes and bright colors. Timbre is better on the BL-03. Indeed, the BL-03 are well-known for their timbral accuracy, with only a few budget contenders besting them in this area.