Intro
CSK is CVJ’s latest entry into the budget scene. The budget scene is fairly competitive at the moment with brands like TRN,KZ,CCZ and a few others churning out models after models, can they hold their ground with CSK?
Packaging/Build
The packaging is CVJ styled packaging. Box, silicone eartips and a cloth carrying case with the cable and IEMs. Nothing great to shout out. Built wise, it is plastic and very lightweight. The protruding ear fin does a good job of holding the CSK on my ears without feeling any discomfort. Noise isolation is also good when a good fit and seal is achieved.
Source
CSK is fairly source sensitive in my opinion, tried pairing it with a dongle (CX-31993), it sounded very bright and the highs are just unlistenable to me. I settled with N3 Pro DAP which I find to be well synergized. Smooth out the highs.
Cayin N3 Pro (Tube Mode - Ultra Linear) -> CVJ CSK
*I swapped out the stock cable to NICEHK’s Litz Copper Cable and also used BGVP’s A07 Tips. As I am unable to enjoy the sound produced from stock cable and eartips.
Sound
Upon first listen, the V shaped tuning is obvious and the vocal is recessed. Bass is dominant and so is the high. The overall tuning for CSK is just odd. Something that I've never heard before. This is not to say that it’s bad. Just not my preference.
Bass is dominating and thus it bleeds into the mids. In busy tracks like Slipknot’s Duality Live Version, the bass bleed is very obvious, it ruins the song’s experience, everything is just muddy and all you hear is just the bass.
Switching to another song, Close to You covered by Susan Wong, the vocal is alright, it sounded recessed as mentioned earlier due to its V shaped tuning. Timbre wise it doesn’t sound metallic to my ears.
The top end exhibit a good amount of details and resolution. Just enough to my ears, not class leading for sure, however it’s good at this price point.
Soundstage and imaging is average at such a price point. Nothing to shout out. Imaging is alright when the tracks aren’t busy. However when you switch it up to some busy tracks, basically you can’t tell where the instrument is coming from. Soundstage wise, it’s not too boxed in or wide. Just okay.
Final Thoughts
Considering the mods that I need to do to make it sound better. 18 USD NICEHK’s Cable and 1 USD’s Eartip. Adding all of the cost on top of CSK’s selling price at time of writing 12 USD, totaling to 31 USD. In my opinion, you should just get something else such as TRN’s ST2 . I can’t recommend CSK if you are new to this audiophile journey, but if you have a few spare cables around and eartips to roll with, feel free to pick this odd ball up and give it a try.
Personally I don't like the tuning of CSK, but this doesn’t make it a bad earphone. Hope this will give you some insights for those looking to purchase CSK.
*Big thanks to Janet from CVJ for sending the sample over in order for an exchange of opinion and review. Huge shoutout to her service as well as i received the first unit with channel imbalanced issue and she immediately sent me a replacement and also checked on those
Comments