I am going to order the apple USB C to 3.5mm and test it to see if I can tell a difference. I am sure my headphone jack on my PC isn't the best way to test these. Thanks for offering some information to help me out I appreciate it.

Ok cool I’ll give that a look thanks for the recommendation!

I do have a USB C port maybe I will pick up that dongle. I would prefer more bass though as that's what triggered this whole confusion. I thought the S12 Pro being higher on the frequency chart was assuming that meant "more bass" but in the end I was naive and not understanding it completely.

So buying a higher quality IEM, with better frequency response in the areas I wanted to see an improvement I was just thinking it would have had more bass. The clarity is there for sure just a noticeable decrease in the bass buy a good margin.

Well I volume matched them to the best I could with my own ears. I don't have a good device to determine if they are accurately at the same level.

I did try to increase the volume little by little on the S12 Pro until it appeared to be at the same volume and even went a little further thinking maybe they just need to be pushed more but that just increased the volume and didn't give me more bass.

I did tip swap them and it didn't make a difference sadly. I even tried the foam tips that came with the S12 (although the middle ones were missing). Maybe I should buy another IEM tip and try that out instead?

Yeah that's what I am learning. I do really like the S12 Pro's from the fit, the cable and just the overall quality I feel like I could wear these long periods of time without issues.

I really need to start understanding the graphs better, I am not sure what to look for with the "down tilt" you speak of. I would like to understand this better for sure. Thank you for responding and helping me figure this out.

Just the headphone jack on the front of my computer. Here's a screenshot of the amp that's build into the motherboard if that helps any. https://imgur.com/a/sQDD84L

I am at the ground floor with learning about this hobby. Is there a program people like to use to EQ headphones? I use windows 11 if that helps.

My computer headphone jack, I do know that I had to increase the volume on the Zero's to have it the same sound quantity as the S12 Pros.

Not sure if this helps? https://imgur.com/a/sQDD84L

Thank you for responding and helping me understand this a bit better. I guess I was naive thinking "higher" on the frequency chart meant "better" but I was mislead by my own understanding.

I think I will listen to the S12 Pro's for a few days and try to get adjusted to them more. My initial impressions were just "these don't have more bass, but the graph says they should"... so I knew I was missing something.

Thank you again for explaining it to me so I can understand it better.

Thank you for your response and it makes total sense. I guess I was guilty of just thinking "higher up" on the frequency was "more bass" but as you said that's not the case.

I do really like the feel, shape and cable of the S12 Pro's so I will take your advice and just give them a better shake for a few days. I do like the way they sound but I guess I am so use to the thump that I was taken back a bit.

Thank you again for helping me understand this better.

Well that answers that now I feel dumb not understanding the graph. I just saw the S12 Pro outshining the Zero's in the area's I wanted and figured they would be the better sounding IEM.

In your opinion should listen to the S12 Pro's to get adjusted to their sound, or since I enjoyed the bass better from the Zero's I should just return the S12's?

I am new to IEM's and trying to understand what I am missing. I even tried to tip swap the ear tips from one IEM to the other and it made no difference, the Zero's just sound like they have more bass.

Plugging them into the computer port: https://imgur.com/a/sQDD84L

Bass Boosted Song, The Weekend - Hills: https://youtu.be/T6szBIcBAd8

Game 7.1 Tested: https://youtu.be/jnv8lIq7pOM

Binural Car Racing Test: https://youtu.be/0fZ2tj9Idgo

All That Remains - Chiron: https://youtu.be/dqw2WAcv8Tw

Connor Maynard - Nothing but you https://youtu.be/SD5EwigRcNg

Final Countdown - https://youtu.be/9jK-NcRmVcw

Reminds me of exhaust tips, looks incredible!

Sorry I didn’t specify it’s being plugged into the headphone jack on the front of my PC. So your comment is irrelevant thanks anyways.

So wouldn’t the front headphone jack that’s plugged into the mobo with a small pin connector be less amplified compared to the sound port that’s soldered directly to the mobo on the back of the computer where the audio chip traces to?

I’m sorry yeah I was just assuming the mobo has a slightly better output than the standard front panel jack. I’m still learning and trying to figure things out and kind of lost.

You’re correct! And I’m trying to learn about this hobby so do you have any cool info to help me out?

This has been my experience. You’re absolutely right, it’s probably stupid that I was using the front headphone jack on my Pc and should try the rear port.

https://i.imgur.com/zdCFVWY.jpg

Looks like there’s an amp that’s helpful powering them. Do you think a 3’ 3.5mm extension cable from the back of the computer would hinder the sound in anyway?

So maybe I’ll have to try the rear port on my PC where the amp is.

https://i.imgur.com/9EMnKnH.jpg

I was using the front mic/headphone jack so I’m guessing that’s the culprit and they aren’t being driven properly it sounds like.

Do you know if a 3.5mm extension cable (~3’) would ruin the sound in anyway?

Why can my KZ’s get stupid loud but the X’s at full volume are just enough with no room for more? What am I missing or not understanding. Could the X’s be broken?

Can you let me know how or what I should be looking at to understand it better?

Loooks so nice! I wish Keychron has the same type of USB hub to attach their Q0. Love the caps too.