Perhaps they are just making excellent bang-for-the-buck hybrid IEMs. Read, Review: Moondrop Starfield Set the Void Alight, Review: Tanchjim Oxygen Of Growth and Geniality. KZ was founded in 2008 by classical musician Zen Li and former Audio-Technica engineer Keith Yue. The ZSN feel a bit more high-end thanks to the metal-like backplate on their earbuds. For more information, please see our The lack of thickness to the midrange yields the impression of delivering every subtle nuance within the music. While somewhat disappointing, standardizing packaging and included accessories does keep overall production costs lower. The starfields arent using thermoacoustic drivers, just regular dynamic drivers. * Due to factors such as measurement environment and temperature, it is normal if there are slight tolerances on product parameters. They also come with a sturdy carrying case to help protect them when you're on the go. 4.5 out of 5 stars. Notes hit with a punchy and controlled impact and are more than adequate to get toes tapping and your head bobbing. Therefore, I find it necessary for you to read and understand what I take a natural liking to and how that might affect my rating of a product. The lack of thickness to the midrange yields the impression of delivering every subtle nuance within the music. This is for sure my most detailed part because this part I can actually judge on. 2001-2023 Head-Fi.org. Thanks for your submission to r/headphoneadvice. been trying to find a good match but have no idea how to go about it. Hey! You forgot to include the related sister brand IEMs. The ZSX features a new zinc alloy faceplate with a concentric wave pattern similar to the AS16, but it protrudes more and is not flush with the body. Reecho Insects Awaken 4BA 2pin 0.78mm HiFi In-ear Earphones Specification: KZ ZST X - Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org Some may feel like they are overly sharp and dont passively isolate noise as well as other KZ headphones. Impressively, the Starfield held their own in sound quality, regardless of the price discrepancy. They are known for tuning based on the Harman Target Curve, and for producing excellent sounding mid-range IEM options ($100-$200). This relaxed yet remarkably enjoyable sound was exactly what I was looking for. Support Wire Loading And Unloading, More Ways To Play. Thank you for your message and kind words. These earbuds are very portable and wont make you sweat more if you use them for sports. The treble is a great counterpoint to all that tight bass on the other end. Also, their fit is better at isolating noise, so theyll also be more versatile if you want to use them for commuting. Hi James. Review: Moondrop Nekocake Can the Cat Have Their Cake and Eat It Too? The bass guitar, while more subtle in presentation, was still audible and dynamic. ZST is emblazoned on the back panel of the IEM tastefully, and looks like it wont rub off any time soon. The ZSTs treble performance is okay. These headphones do not have an in-line remote with controls. Bass, while perhaps a little less deep than the ZS10 Pro, is better controlled and cleaner on the ZSX. Their ear-hook design and the bulkier buds take up slightly more space than most in-ears, but you shouldnt have any problems carrying them around. All the technical gobblygook in the world wont save a bad sounding device. Left Right channel imbalance KZ ZS10 Pro - YouTube Now that Ive had listening time with the MoonDrop Starfield, I can absolutely report that I understand the hype. The Starfield is aptly named. According to MoonDrop, Super-sequential carbon nanotube array is a proud application technology in China, which allowing nanotubes as a micro material to be applied in macroscopic reality.. Defect in one. Rather than the IEMs demanding your attention, the music takes center stage and is the real star (ahem). The ZST has a warm-leaning sound signature, but doesnt swing too far away from a balanced presentation. With the current buzz around all the single driver, carbon nanotube diaphragm Chi-Fi IEMs, its hard not to get caught up in the excitement. Id like to add a caveat. KZ ZST Review - RTINGS.com The KZ ZST are okay mixed usage wired in-ears. I prefer a more bright upper range. Each IEM weighs 9 grams without cable or ear tip. Mediocre for commuting. Kz Zst - Earphone - Aliexpress - Avail kz zst at great price Supposedly the Blon BL-05s are using thermoacoustic drivers but I havent seen the insides of one to know for sure. Nobody releases earphones as frequently as KZ does. The ZSN feel a bit more high-end thanks to the metal-like backplate on their earbuds. KZ ACOUSTICS is a professio Magnets are neodymium and the transducer is made of Daikokus copper-clad aluminum wire (CCAW) voice coils imported from Japan, which they claim creates, excellent transient response and dynamic range, and improving the high resolution and dynamic sound. Voices remain natural and clear on the Starfield. Amazon Music vs. YouTube Music: Which Is Better? There was no question KZ would be back, but is the ZSX a worthy sequel for the franchise? Correctly distinguish right and left headphones, "L" for left, "R" for right. Overall the sound signature remains balanced but nicely extended (both high and low). That said, the treble of the ZSN is more uneven. So, have they done it with the $50, 6-driver per side, hybrid ZSX? Overall, these headphones will be better suited for bass-heavy genres. However, a quick boost to the 30Hz-100Hz range sorted that problem out quite nicely. Review: Thieaudio Legacy 5 Medium Well-Done Is Very Tasty Indeed. All rights reserved. KZ ZSN Pro X Weight: 273g Wear: Ear hook Sensitivity: 112dB Impedance: 25 Frequency: 7-40000Hz Line Length: 1255cm Plug Type: 3.5mm Pin Type: 0.75mm Configuration: 10mm DD x1 30095 BA x1 *Due to factors such as measurement environment and temperature, it is normal if there are slight tolerances on product parameters. Any ideas on a good replacement cable for them? ChiFi has made technology and sound quality available at a price that would have been unimaginable 5-10 years ago. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Unfortunately, their treble is a bit uneven and the mid-range is a bit recessed, pushing the vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix. Review: KZ ASX 20-Driver IEMs - Mo' Better Blues. - Headphonesty "KZ-ZSX" and "Right" or "Left" are printed near the nozzle in a stylized font. Seriously, these are almost impossible to see. I highly recommend testing and comparing them! All substance, zero hype. With the ZS10 Pro and now the ZSX, KZ has made strides to (*ahem*) terminate the competition at this lower (very affordable) price point. Email us: aaron@resonancereviews.com. Flexible Suspension Combines With Portable Mini USB DAC/Amp with 3.5mm Output. Voices come across natural and female vocals seem to shine a bit more than male. Earphones adopt high quality alloy material, which is not easy to damage. However, the cable might get stuck on something, yanking the headphones out of your ears or hurting you because of the ear-hook design. Since the wire is a design that does not easily come off, please be careful when inserting or pulling. Name them all. Also, their sound profile follows our target curve better and will sound noticeably better in the treble range. Not for my tastes at least. That being said, tips remained firmly in place throughout my testing. Better build. KZ ZSN PRO X supports the additional Bluetooth module, and it can be easily upgraded to a wireless headset. On the upside, they have an in-line remote and microphone, which the KZ model weve tested is lacking, though there is a variant that has them. kz zsn pro x cable, one side randomly stopped working. Oxygenfree copper wire can be used for the earphone and microphone. KZ Acoustics Laboratory measured the above data, and actual use may vary slightly depending on the specific situation. Male and female vocals are presented equally well and naturally weighted. LFE (low-frequency extension) is at 14Hz, which is excellent. The clear rubber encased 3.5 mm jack and the .78 2-pin connectors are functional if not exactly confidence-inspiring. Im also using a single driver IEM thats called TFZ no 3. Balanced or dynamic, planar or electrostatic, graphene or nanotubes its too much and man has never been good with making decisions at the best of times. The KZ sound is better, and they also feel noticeably sturdier. Hopping aboard the Carbon Nanotube train, MoonDrop looks to bring their beautiful vision of affordable Harman Curve IEMs to the masses with the divine Starfield. These headphones are not Bluetooth compatible. Review: Geek Wold GK100 Geeking Out to Technical Greatness! Inside the box you will find: While a carrying pouch of some sort would certainly be appreciated, I can understand why it was omitted. Acoustic black technology - resetting the magnetic gap and diaphragm to give the dual magnetic moving coil brand new powerful performance. The ZS10 Pro and the ZSX are incredibly similar products, at virtually the same price point, and released by the same manufacturer within a few months. The in-ear fit might not be the best to wear for hours during a work day, but on the upside, they do a good job at blocking work environment noises. It hits hard but with control and finesse. The correct assembly of the wire is with the needle head and "L R" logo facing up. https://www.linsoul.com/products/kz-zst-x, https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/04350ebe-1582-4785-9984-ff050d80d2b7, Improved 10mm XUN Dynamic Driver+30095 Balanced Armature. While there is a version of the ZST that has a universal inline remote, I have the version that does not have it. There is an abundance of bright detail available. If I am at home, thats where I spend 90% of my time, although I am currently in hospital, since January and will be here for quite some time. However, lifes all about compromises. I do it nonprofit, just with the idea of helping my Spanish speaking friends, since there isnt much information in Spanish regarding audiophilia, I hope you can give me that permission. The technological advancements in affordable IEMs keep coming at a rapid-fire pace, and its an unprecedentedly good time to be involved in this hobby. Sharing the same resin shell topped with a different metal faceplate, and simply more of the same drivers found in the ASF, this new Knowledge Zenith flagship is priced at the upper end of KZ's market range (USD $100). Seriously confusing stuff. It didnt take too much amping to achieve high volumes. The mids of Flagpole Sitta were well defined and separated, but lacked some of the finer details present in some (much more expensive) IEMs. Very good detailed survey. So that leads us to an obvious question. The overall level of the leakage is quiet too. MoonDrop states that the inner cavity is made of gold-plated brass, and integrates 5 pressure relief vents. Brand: KZ Driven by data, run by a passionate team of engineers, testers, technical writers, developers, and more. There is seemingly unending hype over KZ (as of writing: approximately 3000 pages in a single Head-Fi post). Something like that. When shop earphone, always look out for deals and sales like the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, Anniversary Sale or Summer Sale to get the most bang for your buck for earphone. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. Perhaps they are using future technology and sending it back in time to change the present. That said, the treble of the ZSN is more uneven. The curved cavity KZ ZSN PRO X follows the ergonomic design concept and fits the auricle tightly and comfortably. KZ ZST X brings the clean sound, full of a sense of speed and strength. Review: Shanling MG600 Barrel-Aged Maturity, Review: TGXear Serratus Ultra HD Experience. All music was served as MP3 @320Kbps or as FLAC. How many KZ IEMs are there? The Starfield gives plenty of detail without becoming grainy or too analytical. Confusing yes. I have serious concerns regarding the Starfield cables longevity. Plug the headset plugs into the play-back device and use it to adjust the volume before the headset is plugged into the device. Overall the midrange is transparent and uncolored, (and most noticeably) without excessive warmth or thickness. Archived post. KZ ZSN Pro - Should You Go Pro, Bro? Audioreviews.org High-bass, responsible for warmth, is overemphasized by more than 3dB, making the bass of these headphones a bit boomy and muddy. The Starfield is plenty efficient enough to work properly driven directly from a smartphone. Review: Geek Wold GK100 Geeking Out to Technical Greatness! Review: HarmonicDyne Devil Falling Short. $20.99. 2001-2023 Head-Fi.org. However, there is a model variant with a one-button control scheme on the in-line remote. Clear Concept Audio (CCA) and Tripowin are sister brands and have released very similar IEMs (sharing components, technology, design, ear tips, etc. The cable has a short 45-degree angle 2-pin connector on it which fits well into the housings of the ZST. If future KZ offerings continue to improve on the ZSX, I say, all hail our evil computer overlords!. Classic hybrid technology drive metal earphones, Classic hybrid technology drive metal earphones revolutionize again. We are passionate about all things audio and tech, and our reviews reflect that. They are very affordable but feel slightly cheaper than the other headphones in the KZ lineup weve tested so far. Its a nice bonus to receive a proper zipping storage case. So, they got most of their listening from my iPhone and a Chord Mojo DAC/amp. Guitar tonality was decent. They are very lightweight and their angled design fits nicely inside the ear without putting too much pressure. However, you can buy a Bluetooth adapter cable for these headphones to make them wireless. Has A Wide Horizontal And Vertical Sound Field. The balanced armature unit is placed at the front end of the KZ ZST X earphone to reduce the loss of high frequency and bring better ductility. On our website, shop for earphone with ease, so you can enjoy big price savings! Guess what, you can even find discount vouchers, coupons and other money saving deals of earphone on AliExpress. The sound is perhaps a bit more upscale if you are a fan of the V-shaped sound signature. And heres the rub there really are few BAD sounding options out there. Their overall build feels slightly better made than the ZST and their sound is more accurate for critical listening. Treble: Songs used: In One Ear, Midnight City, Outlands. Outlands sounded reasonably open, with decent spacing and air. Even with long listening sessions, I never experienced any lack of comfort or usability. I expect nothing less from a hybrid IEM from KZ. KZ has generated a huge amount of industry buzz by creating products that have seriously redefined the ratio of price to performance. Get amazing deals by shopping for earphone on our website. Ok. Knowledge Zenith KZ EDX Single-Dynamic Driver Earphone The midrange takes a bit of a back seat with regards to the low end. As the nanotubes expanded and contracted, they created sound waves. Compare this to only 5 grams for each resin and metal shelled KZ ZST IEM. The KZ ZSN and KZ ZST are very similar headphones with slight differences. Its a fantastic time to get into the IEM hobby. This is because creating an out-of-head and speaker-like soundstage is largely dependent on activating the resonances of the pinna (outer ear). Could you make a comparison to iBasso IT01? You are using an out of date browser. The new 10mm driver is punchy and tight. Reviewer at Audioreviews.org and Headphonesty.com. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The design of in-ears and earbuds is in such a way that fully bypasses the pinna and doesn't interact with it. KZ has come a long way since they obtained wide acclaim years ago with their ZS line-up. Also, because these headphones have a closed-back enclosure, their soundstage won't be perceived to be as open as that of open-back earbuds like the Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Truly Wireless, or the Bose SoundSport Free. The housings are quite large, similar in size to some of my 2x dynamic driver 2x balanced armature driver IEMs (despite having half the number of drivers).