Hey guys, today I am reviewing the KZ ED16 earphones. The KZ ED16 is a soon-to-be-discontinued model from KZ, so better get a pair while supplies last! I received this pair at a discounted price from the MissAudio Store on AliExpress. If you guys have a minute, consider checking them out at the link below. The MissAudio Store is one of the only sellers of the KZ ED16 on AliExpress, so I would advise everyone to pick up the ED16 while you can... https://www.aliexpress.com/store/4425183 If you don't wanna read the written review, check out the video review at the end of this post. Overview and Design I bought the ED16 from AliExpress for $12 -- regular customers can find the ED16 on AliExpress for $16-$20, mostly on the higher end of that price range. The KZ ED16 is an interesting earphone, due to a rather glaring typo or misprint on the shell of one of the earphones. For reasons unknown, one of the earphones clearly says "ZS7" on the shell. This is clearly a huge design error, and is likely the reason behind its immediate discontinuation. I am not sure if KZ has already stopped producing the ED16, but numerous sources tell me that production has already been stopped. So grab a pair while you can -- but be sure to finish reading my review first! The ED16 is made entirely out of plastic, and feels slightly cheaper than other KZ models I own. This may be due to its very light build. In any case, the ED16 looks and feels like an earphone that costs more than its budget price tag. The ED16 comes in two colors: Translucent black and translucent blue. I got the black model, and it is very interesting how KZ allows us to view the internals of the ED16. It's a very uniquely shaped earphone, and a good looking one at that. The ED16 also has detachable cables. I was a bit disappointed that KZ chose not to include their new braided cable with the ED16. Instead, they stuck with the old rubbery cable, which comes in a red and white design. However, the advantage of having a detachable cable is that you can swap it whenever you like. I'm still waiting for my braided cable to arrive from AliExpress, so when that arrives, I'll be sure to toss the old rubber cable in a drawer somewhere. Sound Quality Complain all you want about the lack of a braided cable, but you cannot complain about the sound on the ED16. The KZ ED16 blew me away -- it may even be KZ's best sounding model to date. The soundstage is very open, wide, and airy. Music sounds like it's coming from around your head. The overall sound is bright and fun. Bass is impactful and quite deep, though not as "boomy" as on the KZ ES3, which is a good thing, I thought. Bassheads will love the ED16, especially when used with an equalizer. Bass is rich and hard-hitting, perfect for bass-heavy genres. Vocals are crisp and clear, not at all recessed. Highs are clear and sharp. I did detect a bit of sibilance in some songs, but it's not very noticeable, unlike on the TRN V80. The V80 has harsh highs which can only be tamed with an equalizer. The ED16 can handle basically any genre of music, performing best with rap/trap music, but rock music will sound absolutely great on the ED16 as well. With an equalizer, you can transform the sound and bring out the ED16's full potential. I recommend JamesDSP for Android devices. Comfort The ED16 is a comfy earphone which provides a great seal. Due to its light build, it sits very well in your ears. The memory wire on the cable is a bit annoying, and normally I would cut it off, but I am just waiting for my braided cable to arrive so I can quickly swap the cables. Noise Isolation The ED16 isolates noise well, though not on the level of the KZ ES3 or the TRN V80. But you won't be disappointed if you're looking for an earphone to use on public transportation. The ED16 will cancel out most outside noise -- a great choice for work, for the bus, or just for listening at home, in bed, or wherever. Overall Review If you're looking for an earphone with an open, airy soundstage, hard-hitting, impactful bass, clear and sharp highs, crisp vocals which aren't at all recessed, and a great seal, all at a below $20 price... Well, you can stop looking, because the KZ ED16 is probably the best choice on the market today. I can say with certainty that I like the ED16 more than any of my current KZ models. Grab a pair of these while you can, you will not regret it -- you truly get the most bang for your buck. With an equalizer, you can unleash the full potential of the ED16 and you won't go back to listening without one. The ED16 is on the level of the TRN V80 -- maybe even better. But I love the V80 equally. The ED16 deserves a 9/10 rating, and most headphone reviewers will agree with me on this -- just look up "KZ ED16 review" online. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this review! Awards Video Review What's up guys? Today I am reviewing the TRN V80, a budget earphone that has received nothing but praise on the Internet. I have tested the V80 myself, and today you'll find out if this praise is deserved... I received this pair as a gift from the NiceHCK Audio Store on AliExpress. If you all have a minute, consider checking out their inventory at the link below: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1825606 Let's get started! Overview and Design The TRN V80 can be purchased from AliExpress for $26-$28, which is a bit pricey compared to headphones I've reviewed in the past. Click the above link to purchase the V80 from the NiceHCK Store on AliExpress, it's the main supplier of the V80 so you're guaranteed a quality product. The TRN V80 is a beast of an earphone. It's made entirely out of heavy, solid metal and ceramics. It feels heavy and solid in your hands and in your ears. The cable is a braided cable and also feels good quality, though not as good as the KZ braided upgrade cable. The 3.5 mm jack is also made of metal. When it comes to design, the V80 is exceptionally well crafted and feels like a quality earphone. Sound Quality Boy, this is a great-sounding earphone! The bass is deep, rich, and solid -- one of the best aspects of the V80. This is definitely a basshead's earphone. Highs are clear, sharp, and even crisp -- although they can get sibilant in some songs. Fix this by using an equalizer (which improves the overall sound greatly). Vocals are clear and audible, not recessed. The soundstage is very wide and open, even though the V80 is a closed-back headphone. Sound is balanced overall. An equalizer is highly recommended, as I use an equalizer with all my earphones so I can fine-tune the sound to my preference. This is an example of an earphone that is not only well-crafted, but also provides a more than enjoyable listening experience. For $26, this earphone tops all of my KZ models (except perhaps the KZ ED16, which I'll get around to reviewing later...). Comfort The V80 is comfy enough, the unique design provides a good fit in your ears and a great seal, too. However, they are quite heavy, and you may have to adjust them occasionally due to their weight. Noise Isolation Noise isolation on the TRN V80 is just great, even close to the KZ ES3, but not quite on the same level. But the V80 provides satisfactory isolation; you won't hear outside noise at all, and if you keep your volume on a decent level, others won't hear your music. This is a good choice for public listening; on the bus, in the park, wherever. Overall Review I am seriously impressed at how TRN managed to fit all this amazing sound into this sturdy, tough, metal tank of an earphone. Bass can only be described as rich -- bassheads, this is an earphone for you. Amazing solid bass combined with a wide, open soundstage and clear, crisp highs... Now that's the TRN V80. I can't rate this earphone anything below 9/10, so that's my final rating. My only complaints are the sibilance in some songs, but even that can be tuned down a bit with an equalizer. Personally, if the V80 could include a wider, more airy soundstage, maybe clearer, more present vocals, and a slightly more comfortable design, then I would rate this earphone a 10/10, no doubt about it. But these small but annoying details forced me to bump the V80 down from a perfect 10 to a 9. Don't get me wrong, though, this is an absolutely amazing earphone for the price. I have yet to hear better. Awards Video Review Today, I am reviewing the HP-32 variant of the TY Hi-Z earphone. This is a very cheap budget earphone that has received a lot of good feedback, but there isn't much info available about this earphone online. So today I am sharing my thoughts on this earphone. Happy reading! Overview and Design The TY Hi-Z is a pretty ugly looking earphone. In fact, it looks like the kind of earphone you get for free on an airplane. It is cheap, though, both in price and build quality. It costs around $7 on AliExpress. The earphone is made entirely of plastic; there's no metal in sight. The cable is a cheap rubber cable. However, the Hi-Z feels quite sturdy and nice, it looks cheap but it actually is well made. It's very light due to its all-plastic build. Sound Quality The Hi-Z looks like an average cheap earphone that you'd get on an airplane or find at a dollar store. But the sound is absolutely astounding. The soundstage is very wide and open, and it sounds airy. Music sounds like it's coming from around your head rather than from inside your head. Sound is very bright, including the highs, which are clear, crisp, and sharp. Vocals are recessed in some songs but they're always audible. The Hi-Z is just a pleasant, bright-sounding earphone, overall. The bass is not deep or pounding, because this isn't an IEM, after all. It's hard to get a deep bass with a regular earphone. Bass is punchy, though, and sounds quite good even in bass-heavy genres such as rap. I can't complain about the sound at all, the Hi-Z can handle any genre you throw at it. With an equalizer, it sounds even better! Comfort The Hi-Z is not a comfortable earphone. It feels too big for my ears and after about half an hour of listening, I have to take them out and massage my ears a bit. It does include some ear foams, which make the listening experience a bit more comfortable, but overall, I would not call these comfortable. But the amazing sound quality makes up for it. Noise Isolation The Hi-Z isn't an open-back earphone, but it's also not an IEM. So noise isolation isn't the best, either. People will hear your music on moderate to high volumes, and you'll certainly hear a bit of outside noise. But again, the sound quality makes up for all these problems. Overall Review The TY Hi-Z is a budget earphone which is an absolute steal at $7. You get a bright, open, and airy sound, with sharp, crisp highs and punchy bass. It's amazing how such a cheap earphone can sound so good. The only drawbacks are the ugly, cheap-looking design, the lack of bass (which is to be expected), and the poor noise isolation. But I can ignore all these faults, because the TY Hi-Z is worth absolutely every penny of its $7 price tag. I'd rate the Hi-Z a solid 8.5/10. Note: TY does make other variants of the Hi-Z which go up to around $70 in cost. I only own the HP-32 variant, but other models could sound even better. Who knows! Awards Video Review What's up guys? Today I will be reviewing the Tiandirenhe TD08, a premium custom-made earphone. The TD08 is available on AliExpress. I got this earphone for basically free from the Tiandirenhe Sales Store on AliExpress, in exchange for this review. Check them out below: https://tiandirenhe01.aliexpress.com/store/4368003 You can enjoy the written review below, or check out the video review at the end of this post. Let's get started! Overview and Design The Tiandirenhe TD08 is an amazing looking earphone with a hard-to-pronounce name. It is available on AliExpress for $20 without a cable and $28 with a cable. It is a bit pricey, I thought. But is it worth the price? Let's find out. The TD08 is superbly designed. The earphone feels like a premium earphone. It's made completely out of some type of metal, aluminum, perhaps. In any case, it looks amazing and it feels amazing -- sturdy, well-made, and built like a tank. I think it's even partially hand crafted but don't take my word for it. The cable is a braided MMCX cable, and it too feels very well made. It looks and feels similar to the KZ braided upgrade cable, but this MMCX cable has a metal 3.5mm jack, and it feels solid. The entire earphone is just beautifully designed and it should withstand many, many drops. Sound Quality Sometimes things are too good to be true. The Tiandirenhe TD08 is a beauty to look at and is built like a tank, but sound quality is where it falls flat. The overall sound is extremely boxy, flat, and closed-in, but accurate. Soundstage is dark-sounding and closed. The bass is deep and muddy. A good choice for bassheads, perhaps? Nope. The rest of the sound just ruins everything. The vocals are recessed and flat. If I said the highs are clear, I'd be doing the TD08 a favor. But seriously, highs are clear enough but are in no way sharp or crisp. The separation of instruments is bad. Vocals and instruments sound lumped together rather than spread out. Now, you might be thinking, "This sounds like absolute garbage! Why should I bother with this earphone?" Well, you're correct, but some of you may actually own this beast, so there are some ways that one can improve the sound. Let me elaborate:
So, if you perform all these modifications, you'll end up with decent sound. If the TD08 cost $5, it would be a good deal. But it costs a whopping $28 (with a cable, but who just has a spare MMCX cable lying around? You're pretty much forced to buy the cable it comes with, unless you can find a cheaper one elsewhere). I would not say this earphone sounds horrible. But it just doesn't sound good. Comfort Comfort on the TD08 is... just average. With the stock tips, you get a decent seal, but again, changing the tips to some KZ rubber tips will ensure a better seal. Noise Isolation The isolation is pretty great, on the level of the KZ ZS1, even. These are closed-back metal earphones so you can be sure that no one will hear your music. Overall Review The Tiandirenhe TD08 shines when it comes to design, build quality, and noise isolation, too. It is exceptionally well designed and feels absolutely great. If the U.S Military made service earphones, they'd make them like the TD08. But the sound, well... it just isn't good. Bass is deep and muddy, overall sound is dark, closed-in, flat, boxy, and boring. If you perform the modifications listed above, you'll end up with a decent-sounding tank of an earphone that you can bring to the gym or on a car trip -- just throw them in your bag, I'm sure you won't damage them. Overall, this is a 5/10 earphone, if you do the modifications listed above. Otherwise, the TD08 is worth 4 out of 10 stars, if not less. Awards Video Review Hi guys, today I am reviewing the KZ ZS1 earphones. Enjoy the written review below, or check out the video review at the end of this post! I got this pair for free from the KZ Global Store on AliExpress. Check them out at the link below: https://kziems1.aliexpress.com/store/4039047 Now let's get started. Overview and Design I got this pair as a free gift from the KZ Global Store on AliExpress. Paying customers can find them for around $8 on AliExpress and a number of other sites as well. The ZS1 has a unique design; it's made of hard plastic and feels like a premium earphone. The design ensures that it fits extremely snugly in your ears, but more on that later. The ZS1 does not have detachable cables, as this is an older model, KZ didn't really have earphones with detachable cables at the time of the ZS1's release. The cable is the usual KZ rubber cable. KZ has made a great new braided cable though, which is included with its newer models. Sound Quality The ZS1 is an absolute bass monster. Bass is on the level of the ES3 and ZS3. However, the overall sound is quite disappointing. It sounds muddy and muffled, in general. Highs are clear but not sharp or crisp -- same goes for the vocals, although the vocals are audible, they just aren't that sharp. The sound may be a bit disappointing, but as for the soundstage, however... you will not be disappointed. The ZS1 is a very wide sounding earphone. Instruments are separated and music sounds like it's coming from around you. The overall soundstage is dark sounding. The ZS1 is a great performer when it comes to blues or rock music. I listened to some Albert King with these earphones and I was blown away by how wide and spacious the song sounded. Rock music also sounds good, but again, not very detailed at all. Bassheads will want to consider the ZS1. It provides adequate bass, quite deep even, and rap/trap music sounds decent, at least when it comes to bass. Vocals and other instruments just sound kinda dull and muffled. Comfort The ZS1 is one comfy earphone, though. The seal is absolutely amazing. They just fit right in your ears, even with the stock ear tips. They just fit naturally in your ears and don't fall out. Noise Isolation Since the ZS1 has a great seal, it means they also isolate noise quite well, on par with the ES3, even. You will not hear outside noise, and as long as you have a moderate listening volume, others won't hear your music either. Overall Review The ZS1 has a good design and it feels like a premium earphone, well above its $8 price tag. The sound quality is rather disappointing, especially since KZ has a history of releasing great sounding IEMs for a budget price. But it's not a bad sounding earphone, especially since the soundstage is very wide and bass sounds deep and good. I like the sound overall but let's just say I have better sounding earphones than the ZS1. Comfort is good, they have a great seal and noise isolation is exceptional. So overall, I think I'd rate the ZS1 a 7/10 -- the weak, muffled sound is compensated by the very wide soundstage and booming bass. Happy listening! Awards Video Review It's Natan here with another headphone review. This time I am reviewing the KZ ZS3. Check out the video review at the end of this post, if you want! I received this pair as a gift from the KZ Headset Store on AliExpress. If you're interested in great headphone deals and discounts, check them out at the link below: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/4409033?spm=2114.12010615.0.0.2feb86b6bqJc3j Overview and Design I got this pair of ZS3's for free, from the very kind people at KZ Headset Store on AliExpress. Of course, this will not affect my review, I am not obligated to change my opinions on these headphones. I am not biased in any way. This is a completely honest review. Normal customers can find the ZS3 for around $10 on AliExpress and a number of other sites. The ZS3 comes in two colors - glossy black and matte black. However, the matte black version is hard to find nowadays and may cost more than the glossy black version. The ZS3 is made of durable plastic and features detachable cables and memory wire. The design is very unique, I mentioned in my video that it looks like a custom earphone design. The ZS3's cable is the old KZ rubber cable which is a bit sticky and rubbery. You can purchase a braided cable for $3-$4 on AliExpress, which is a great improvement over the stock cable. Sound Quality The ZS3 is a nice sounding earphone overall. The soundstage is wide but not "airy" as on the ZSA, because the ZS3 is closed back, after all. Highs are clear but not crisp. I did not detect any sibilance on any songs, even with an equalizer. The bass is prominent; fairly deep, and even rumbling, if you push the ZS3 into your ear, it becomes even deeper. The bass is not punchy but it is certainly noticeable on most bass heavy songs. A basshead will be satisfied with this earphone for sure, but the ES3 is a better choice, it's only a few bucks cheaper and provides much better, deeper, pounding bass. Sound signature is darkish, and vocals are smooth and not harsh at all. In bass heavy songs they may be overpowered by the bass. Comfort The ZS3 is comfortable and seals well in your ears. The memory wire is annoying for me so I cut it off, it's an easy modification to do, if the wire bothers you. The unique "lumpy" design will ensure a good fit in your ears. Noise Isolation Noise isolation is amazing, comparable to the ES3. You won't hear any outside noise, and others won't hear your music. A great option for listening to music in public. Overall Review The ZS3 is a quality earphone that feels and looks good. The custom design is very unique and you may even get curious stares from people if you wear the ZS3 in public. The sound quality is good, great bass and good soundstage, vocals are clear and highs aren't sibilant at all. The ZS3 is comfortable and seals well. Change the ear tips if they don't sit right for you, but this will change the sound signature, too. The noise isolation is on the level of the ES3. Absolutely no complaints here. And overall, I would rate the ZS3 an 8/10! However - pay attention here - the ZS3 is an older model of KZ's and there are now better options available for around the same price, like the ES3 or even the ES4, which I haven't reviewed yet but I am planning to in the near future. That doesn't mean that the ZS3's aren't worth buying. A chi-fi lover should consider adding the ZS3's to their collection. 8/10Video Review Hey guys, it's Natan here. Today I'll be reviewing the KZ ES3. In addition to video reviews, I will start posting text reviews as well! Hope you guys enjoy. I like feedback, so don't hesitate to let me know your thoughts! I purchased the ES3 from GearBest in late 2017 and I fell in love with this earphone. You can read my full review here, or check out the YouTube video at the end of this post. Anyway, let's get started... Overview and Design I bought the ES3 last year for around $15 from GearBest.com. The ES3 comes in two colors: blue and purple. Both colors feature semi-transparent housings. The ES3 is made of hard plastic, and doesn't feel cheap or fragile. On the contrary; it's actually quite well made. The plastic feels sturdy and won't break anytime soon. I did have a slight problem with my ES3: There appears to be some sort of glue trapped underneath the housing and it's visible if you look closely. The shell also appears to be slightly cracked or poorly put together, however, none of this affects the sound quality, and even though my ES3 has these manufacturing defects, they've performed well for about a year so far and I have encountered no issues. The ES3 also features detachable cables, which is a great feature to have in such a budget earphone. The stock cable that comes with the ES3 is good quality but feels sticky and rubbery. I highly recommend purchasing the braided cable, which can be purchased from AliExpress for $2-$3. Sound Quality The ES3 is a basshead's earphone, for sure. The bass is pounding and strong, especially when used with an equalizer. It may even be overpowering in some bass-heavy songs. But if you are a basshead, you will love the ES3. The overall sound is very detailed. For $15, you might as well be listening to a $100 IEM. The vocals are great, they're clear, but they do take a back seat on the ES3. The bass is much more noticeable. The highs are sharp and clear, not at all harsh. However, on certain songs with a lot of treble, you may notice some sibilance. Soundstage is wide but not too open, because the ES3 is a closed-back earphone. I would not describe the soundstage as "closed." You will hear sound coming from around you, but the sound is not "airy" like on the ZSA. Comfort The ES3 is comfortable to wear. I am using the stock medium sized rubber ear tips that come with the ES3. They provide a great seal. If you listen to music for hours, you may find yourself adjusting the earphones or taking them out of your ears for a second. So basically, they're comfortable, but you'll definitely notice that they're in your ears. Noise Isolation Noise isolation and noise cancellation is where the ES3 stands out. With these in your ears, you won't hear any outside noise at all. Other people won't hear what you're listening to as long as you keep the volume at a moderate level. But seriously, these cancel out every bit of outside noise. If you need earphones to wear to work or on the bus, these are the earphones you want. Overall Review The ES3 is well designed, made of hard plastic that doesn't feel cheap. But the housing on my ES3 isn't put together so well, and there is glue visible underneath the shell. Since these may just be manufacturing defects, I assume they aren't present on every ES3. Sound quality is great -- for a $15 IEM, you can't get much better than this. Bass is amazing, if you're a basshead I highly recommend using an equalizer and you will be completely satisfied. Vocals are clear, soundstage is wide, I have no complaints besides the presence of sibilance in certain songs. Other than that, the sound is great. Comfort? Acceptable. You'll have to adjust the earphones every now and then, but for short listening sessions, the ES3 won't give you any trouble. Keep in mind, changing the ear tips will not only change the sound signature, but it may increase comfort. I personally like the stock rubber tips. Noise isolation is better on the ES3 than on any KZ earphone I've tested in the past. You won't hear any outside noise, at all. Put on some meditation music and no one will bother you. Overall? I'd give the ES3 a 8.5/10. You will not be disappointed if you purchase this earphone! 8.5/10Video Review Today I am reviewing the KZ ED7 headphones. These headphones are made of bamboo and they're very cheap as well. Check out my review on YouTube at the end of this post, or read the text review below. Overview and Design The ED7 was the first KZ earphone that I've ever purchased. This was back in 2016, and I bought them for $6-$7 from AliExpress. The ED7 actually comes in two different sizes (small and medium) and I bought the medium ones. This earphone is certainly unique in terms of build -- it's made entirely of bamboo. The nozzles and the surrounding area are made of metal, which is always welcome. Does the bamboo design influence the sound quality? You'll find out in the next paragraph, but let me continue... The ED7 may look like an open-back earphone due to the grills on the back, but this is sadly just a cosmetic effect. If you look closely, the earphones are completely closed back save for a small hole in the center, whose purpose is unknown, at least to me. The ED7's cable is the old rubbery KZ cable, which is used on all of their older models. Recently they've made the switch to a braided cable which is a good choice on their part. Sound Quality The sound quality of the ED7 is decent. Keep in mind that this is a budget earphone so there isn't much room for criticism. The overall sound signature is dark-sounding, and sound is a bit muffled, I thought. Highs are clear, but not crisp or bright. Vocals sound a bit recessed. The bamboo design actually makes the ED7 sound slightly airy and light, but it isn't so noticeable to the average ear. And since this is a closed-back earphone, you won't get a wide or open sound out of the ED7. The bass is deep, not anything near the depth of the ES3, but it is deep and slightly muddy. With an equalizer, the overall sound improves greatly. In my other headphone reviews, I have mentioned that I always use an equalizer, be it on my phone or on my laptop. Specifically, I use James DSP on my phone along with Ainur Sauron, and on my Mac, I use Boom 2. Anyway, using the ED7 with an equalizer brings out more detail. Comfort The ED7 is all right in terms of comfort. The earphones aren't very heavy due to their light material, but they may be too big for some people. If you're not sure, just order the "small" size. The price is about the same, anyway. These aren't the most comfortable earphones I've ever worn, but they seal well and don't fall out of your ears. Noise Isolation The ED7 isolates noise pretty well. They're not an open-back earphone, so if you keep the volume at a moderate level, people probably won't hear what you're listening to. The ED7 should be good for listening to music in public. Overall Review The ED7 is well designed, made of bamboo and a bit of metal as well. I was disappointed to see that the grills on the back are fake, but since this is a budget earphone, again, I can't complain. Sound quality is great for the price. Bass may be a bit muddy, but it's acceptable. Highs are clear, vocals may be recessed in certain songs. The ED7 is certainly not a bad sounding earphone, and for the price, you won't find many like it. Comfort is good. The ED7 fits well in your ears, even with the stock rubber tips, and is pretty light. Noise isolation is also good, being a closed-back earphone, the ED7 isolates noise well. You will hear some outside noise but it's more than acceptable. Overall, I would rate the ED7 a fitting 7/10. They're not the best KZ model I've tested, but you can't go wrong with the ED7. 7/10Today I'll be reviewing the KZ ZSA. I appreciate all feedback, so let me know what you think in the comments! I bought the ZSA from AliExpress a couple months ago. I have written a text review on this page, and you can watch my video review at the end of this post. Enjoy the read! Overview and Design I purchased the ZSA from AliExpress a few months ago for around $17. The ZSA comes in two colors: red/black, and gray. I bought the red/black ones. The ZSA is made completely of aluminum. It feels very high quality, as most of KZ's earphones do. There are three small screws on the shell, and three vent holes. So this is a semi-open-back earphone, which means you get a wider, more open soundstage. What I really like about the ZSA is that KZ included their new braided cable in the box. In previous models, KZ has used a sticky, rubbery cable which is capable, but doesn't feel great. The braided cable is a welcome upgrade. The cables are in fact detachable. It's cool that KZ includes detachable cables on a budget earphone. But KZ has a history of including such features: exchangeable brass tuning nozzles on the ED9, a tuning knob on the IE80, etc. Sound Quality The sound on the ZSA is exceptional. The sound feels open and airy due to the vents on the back. Soundstage is wide, as well. The ZSA is a bright-sounding earphone. Highs are sharp and crisp, however, if you use the small ear tips included with the ZSA, highs may become harsh and sibilant. Personally I use the medium ear tips that came with the KZ ED9, but I may swap them out eventually. Even with medium ear tips, the highs are almost harsh. Borderline, in fact, but you'll only notice the harshness with small ear tips. The vocals are sharp and clear as well. This is a bright sounding earphone in general, which is not a bad thing at all. The bass is punchy and quick -- not fit for bassheads, but with an equalizer it becomes stronger but it does remain punchy. Bass is not deep on the ZSA. Comfort The ZSA is a small earphone. It fits right into your ear. It's important to get a good seal, to experience the full range of sound on whichever earphone you're using. I have tried using the KZ foam tips on the ZSA and I personally didn't like them much, but anyone is welcome to try experimenting. The ZSA sits well in your ear, allowing you to listen to music for hours without discomfort. Noise Isolation Noise isolation on the ZSA is good but not perfect. Since these are semi-open-back earphones, you'll hear a bit of outside noise, and others will hear what you're listening to if you listen to music on high volumes. The ZSA focuses more on bright, crisp sound than isolating noise. It's a worthy trade-off. Overall Review The ZSA is well designed with no manufacturing flaws. Build quality is great, it's made of strong aluminum and is exceptionally well crafted. Sound quality is very good on the ZSA. Sound is bright and clear, with punchy bass. Highs can be sibilant and harsh if used with smaller ear tips. Comfort: The ZSA is comfortable with all the ear tips I've tried. Surprisingly, the small ear tips provided a good fit for me, although they were a bit loose and didn't seal properly, and the highs became harsh and sibilant while using them. Noise isolation is decent, but not as good as on the ES3, for example. Keeping the volume at moderate levels will ensure acceptable noise isolation. Overall, I'd rate the ZSA 8.3/10. If you're looking for a finely crafted earphone with great, bright sound and punchy bass, then the ZSA is for you. 8.3/10Video Review |