CCZ CZ10 TIANGONG REVIEW
Disclaimer: the CZ10 was sent to me by KeepHiFi in exchange for a review. They can be purchased for $49 here.
Disclaimer: the CZ10 was sent to me by KeepHiFi in exchange for a review. They can be purchased for $49 here.
The CZ10 TianGong is a 1DD, 4BA IEM that boasts an all-metal shell, and exceptional clear and punchy sound. This is my first IEM from CCZ, and I got to say, it sounds to me like the pinnacle of Chinese budget audio. The name “TianGong” I presume means “Celestial [or Heavenly] Gears” based on the brief blurb on the info card. I’m not sure the set quite sounds heavenly, but it certainly is my new benchmark for <$100 IEMs.
Accessories: 2/5: Essentials only.
~The box is nice and sturdy with a magnetic closure. Could be repurposed, which I like.
~Since the CZ10 is equipped with the QDC [KZ calls it C-Pin] connector, the included cable is extremely similar to the stock KZ cable, and is only available in 3.5mm. I opted instead to use the NiceHCK Black Cat 4.4mm cable for listening and testing.
~One set of decent but cheap silicone tips, and one pair of memory foam tips.
Shell design and fit: 4/5: Handsome but heavy.
~The all-metal shells are nicely finished, and the little window faceplate that reveals the fake gears looks quite cool. If you look closely, you can see some blue accents and even below the gears, a shiny red underlayer inside the shells. [Using a flashlight helps see the details.] This is one of the better shell designs I’ve seen, especially on a budget set, in 2025.
~The included ear tips work just fine, but I found the Spinfit CP145 tips provide better long-term comfort and seal.
~The shells are somewhat heavy and remind me of the KZ ZS12 Pro X shells. But with the tips I suggested above, they remain reasonably comfortable. That being said, I had to tip roll quite a bit before settling on the CP145, so they aren’t very universally comfortable.
Sound impressions: 4.5/5: Vivid and impactful sound.
~The CZ10 reminds me of a matured KZ ZS6 sound. It’s spacious, moderately bright, clean and detailed, and quite powerful in the bass.
~The CZ10 is definitely a V-shaped tuning. It’s not for people wanting a neutral, warm, or laid-back tonality.
Bass: 4.5/5: Clean yet powerful.
~This is a budget set, so you might not find your endgame bass response here. It’s not the most textured or detailed bass, but it is clean and crisp while simultaneously delivering truly impactful punches to your eardrums.
~Sub-bass extends low and has satisfying rumble. I feel all but the neediest of bassheads will be satisfied with the sub-bass response. I certainly greatly enjoy it, and it does not feel weak or rolled-off, which is a pet peeve of mine. Quiet sub-bass drones are not lost in the mix, nor are they artificially elevated.
~Mid-bass is magically dynamically impactful while not being warm, muddy, thick, or intrusive. It stays in its place like a true sub-woofer. It can rattle your windshield eardrums without corrupting the rest of the frequency response.
~Realistically, the bass is 5/5 for the price. Expensive sets might have slightly better detail or texture in the bass, but the TianGong really delivers bass to my ears in a way I feel is essentially perfectly-tuned and balanced between fun and professionalism in quantity.
Mids and vocals: 4/5: Clear and precise.
~Mids stay clean and clear despite the exuberant bass response and has decent detail and separation in busy tracks.
~Honestly, the level of clarity and detail of the IEM in general is quite impressive, especially due to the fact that the bass isn’t diminished to accomplish that.
~That being said, I’m sure that lovers of warm, organic tonality will complain that the CZ10 is too sterile or dry. I beg to differ. Sure, it’s not a warm blanket for your ears, but neither is it sterile or dry. I’ve heard plenty of IEMs that sound like someone trying to sing with a parched throat. The CZ10 is not one of those. The mid-bass, while it doesn’t really bleed into the midrange, is of sufficient quantity to alleviate any true dryness in tonality.
~Vocals are very good, but not the highlight of the IEM. They are clear, accurate, well-staged, but not the most emotional or rich that I’ve heard, hence the 4/5 score in this bracket.
~That being said, the vocals are not harsh or sibilant, unlike the ZS6 I compared the set to. They are perfectly tuned to alleviate sibilance and still sound clear as a bell. People who want warmer, richer vocals, however, should look for a warmer IEM.
Treble: 4.5/5: About perfect for my tastes.
~It’s well-extended with sufficient air. Only trebleheads who have hearing like a bat would maybe say it could be even more extended.
~The treble has the detail, crispness, and sparkling tonality I look for in good treble. It’s not the best treble I ever heard, but for the price, it probably is. Very few sets in this price bracket achieve this level of detail and clarity while not being harsh or sibilant at times. KZ needs to take lessons from the TianGong!
~Treble details are almost holographic at times. I’m very impressed, which brings me to…
Soundstage: 4.5/5: Sparkly surround sound.
~I rated this bracket just to leave room for even better sets, but realistically, the CZ10 has astonishing soundstage for the price.
~It’s practically an orbital stage. Honestly. The famous “Bubbles” track by Yosi Horikawa truly immerses you while ping pong balls fall all around your head.
COMPARISONS
~Hang tight, because I’m going to breeze through quite a few IEMs I want to compare the CZ10 to, based mainly on them also having vivid, clear tonality. I could have included several more sets, but I was trying to only compare the CZ10 to other hybrids, not single driver sets.
~At risk of never being able to get this song out of my head, all comparisons will be based on “Vision One” by Royksopp. I feel the song is a decent test of bass, vocals, details, (especially note textures,) and soundstage. However, this is hardly a fair cross-genre comparison, so take my results with a grain of salt!
~This list is ordered roughly by the purchase price of the comparison IEM.
Red =Lose to CZ10, Orange = tie, Green = win over C10.
VS KZ Vader Pro [~$25, 3DD; UDDD Switches]
~Less bassy than CZ10, wispier treble. CZ10 has better note incision and soundstage. CZ10 wins.
VS KZ ZAX [~$55, 1DD, 7BA]
~Very impressive bass, vocals, and treble soundstage/detail. Slightly warmer than CZ10, which results in a rich sound that still doesn’t lack any detail or incision. ZAX wins.
VS Tangzu ZeTianWu [~$100, Discontinued; 1 planar driver]
~Less detailed treble than CZ10. Slightly warmer as well. CZ10 sounds higher definition with clearer treble. CZ10 wins, but not by much.
VS TRN Jaws [~$120; 3DD, 4BA, 1 micro-planar]
~Slightly richer sound, but I have it on a very warm cable [XINHS K15] Vocals sound slightly more natural on CZ10. Tie? Both sound very impressive to me.
VS Pula PA02 [~$120; 1DD, 4BA.]
~PA02 has richer sound with slightly more recessed vocals that are also slightly dryer. CZ10 has slightly brighter, airier treble. CZ10 wins, if only because it’s half the price and sounds better in some ways.
VS Sound Rhyme SR5 [$150, 1DD, 4BA]
~SR5 sounds more mature and polished. It’s also warmer yet still detailed. I hate to admit it, but at least for this song used for testing, I like the CZ10 better, simply because of the treble soundstage.
~But the SR5 is a set I've loudly touted the virtues of, so I tried another song: "Lonesome Hero" by Ghostly Kisses. The CZ10 plays this piece very clearly, as usual, with clean bass. But the SR5 expresses the vocals in a more tender and polished way, and won me back to the SR5's side. Tie!
VS XINHS HS80 [~$300; 2DD, 6BA]
~HS80’s tonality is not very natural, and the treble is a little zingy. Still a fun sound I still like, and it has great soundstage. CZ10’s vocals sound better, and simply, the tuning is more professional. CZ10 wins!
VS Kiwi Ears Astral [$300; 1DD, 6BA]
~Astral has a slightly warmer, more mature tuning. CZ10 sound more open and clear, and has snappier mid-bass. CZ10 wins!
VS BGVP DMA: [$300, 1DD, 2BA, 2 Bone Conduction drivers]
~DMA is warmer but still retains a very clear treble presence. Still… I like the treble on the CZ10 better! And it does female vocals very well; not too shrill but not tamed either. I’m worried I’m going crazy to prefer a budget hybrid over a set like the DMA… So, I tried another song: “Columbine’s Music Box” by Vestbo Trio.
~Here, the DMA’s bone conduction takes effect, and produces a more 3D, immersive sound. The CZ10 sounds absolutely stunning with this track, but the DMA has more magic going on. I declare a tie, because for a normal hybrid, the CZ10 is tuned about exactly to my preferences, but the DMA has lots of tricks up its sleeve, and comes out on top in many ways. If forced to choose, I’d give the hand to the DMA despite the treble tuning of the CZ10 being more my preference.
~I'm getting in the SR5S and KZ ZS12 Pro 2, and will be excited to compare them to the CZ10. Once I get to, I'll update this portion of the review!
CONCLUSION
The CCZ TianGong is…absolute fire. Gears on fire! It’s dynamic, exciting, yet fails to fall for the common pitfalls of budget (and some not-so-budget) IEMs, namely: sibilance or dryness in the treble, overly warm and bleeding bass, weak bass, or shouty vocals. It, in my mind, is the epidemy of the budget ChiFi hybrid, and it swings some heavy punches at sets more than triple its price. It caters a little to both treble-heads and bass-heads while not neglecting the mids and vocals. Vocals are admittedly not the star of the show here; I’d choose several other IEMs for better emotion and weight in the vocals, but the CZ10 still performs admirably in this area. It gets a very high recommendation from me, and should be a staple set in anyone’s collection.