In-Ear Monitors · owner-verdict comparison

7Hz Salnotes Zero 2 vs Etymotic ER2XR: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the 7Hz Salnotes Zero 2: 67% of 97 owners recommend it, vs 48% of 77 for the Etymotic ER2XR.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

7Hz Salnotes Zero 2

67%of 97 owners recommend
67% recommend · 23% neutral · 10% don't
Owners praise
  • Excellent sound quality and value for ~$20
  • Tight, deep, tastefully boosted bass
  • Balanced, fun all-rounder for music and gaming
Owners complain about
  • Uncomfortable or poor fit, especially smaller ears
  • Treble can be harsh, metallic and fatiguing
  • Mediocre stock tips give a poor seal and need replacing
Full owner report →

Etymotic ER2XR

48%of 77 owners recommend
48% recommend · 36% neutral · 16% don't
Owners praise
  • Passive noise isolation is exceptional, with many owners saying it matches or beats ANC headphones and is ideal for planes, motorbikes, and blocking out a household
  • Accurate, detailed, reference-grade neutral tuning that owners use as a benchmark to compare other IEMs against, with strong instrument separation and imaging
  • Exceptional value for the price, often called one of the best bang-for-buck IEMs and worth full price even years after release
Owners complain about
  • Deep-insertion fit is uncomfortable for many, with complaints about painful, tugging, or fiddly insertion and removal
  • Stock silicone flange tips can detach from the earpiece and lodge in the ear canal, a recurring safety scare that pushes many owners to switch to foam tips
  • Poor choice for sleeping since the earpieces protrude and can hurt when lying on your side or back of the head
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the 7Hz Salnotes Zero 2 if
  • ✓Budget listeners wanting a fun, bass-forward all-rounder
  • ✓Newcomers taking their first step into IEMs
  • ✓Gamers needing positional audio and clear footsteps
  • ✓Knock-around travel pair that's cheap to replace
Skip it if
  • People with small or narrow ear canals
  • Anyone relying on the built-in microphone
Get the Etymotic ER2XR if
  • ✓Frequent flyers and commuters who want passive isolation rivaling ANC headphones
  • ✓Studio/analytical listeners who want a flat, accurate reference-tuning IEM
  • ✓Deep-work and noise-sensitive users blocking out office or household noise
  • ✓Budget-conscious audiophiles wanting detail and value over flashy bass
Skip it if
  • Side/back sleepers, since the protruding stem is painful to lie on
  • Anyone prone to earwax buildup, as deep insertion can cause impacted ears

What 7Hz Salnotes Zero 2 owners say

“the Linsoul Zero:2 absolutely shock me at how good they sound driven by my old Samsung Note 9, no dongle, no nothing. I have weird small ear canals for a big guy, and these fit perfectly with the pink tips that came stock on them.”
— @thedavemusgrave on YouTube
“is now quite content with the IEM.”
— @bosansekali898 on YouTube
“the original Zero is one of the most annoying IEMs I've used when it comes to the tips.”
— @sidesaladaudio on YouTube

What Etymotic ER2XR owners say

“Every penny, just first thing to do is to swap the oem cable with a balanced one and you'll be blown by the amount of bass and clarity.”
— lnt976 on Reddit
“I consider them to have a balanced neutral response. It has been my gold standard where I compare every other IEM to. Well worth the cost in 2026.”
— Gransmithy on Reddit
“Man I got scammed like you when I bought these iems some years ago haha these things only work well if the recording of the songs is absolutely perfect”
— morkfjellet on Reddit

7Hz Salnotes Zero 2 vs Etymotic ER2XR: frequently asked questions

Is the 7Hz Salnotes Zero 2 or the Etymotic ER2XR better?

Real owners lean toward the 7Hz Salnotes Zero 2: 67% of 97 owners recommend it, vs 48% of 77 for the Etymotic ER2XR.

Who should get the 7Hz Salnotes Zero 2?

Owners point the 7Hz Salnotes Zero 2 at budget listeners wanting a fun, bass-forward all-rounder, and newcomers taking their first step into IEMs.

Who should get the Etymotic ER2XR?

Owners point the Etymotic ER2XR at frequent flyers and commuters who want passive isolation rivaling ANC headphones, and studio/analytical listeners who want a flat, accurate reference-tuning IEM.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the 7Hz Salnotes Zero 2 is uncomfortable or poor fit, especially smaller ears. For the Etymotic ER2XR, it's deep-insertion fit is uncomfortable for many, with complaints about painful, tugging, or fiddly insertion and removal.