Another day, another new IEM from Knowledge Zenith (KZ). Seriously, I’m doubting whether KZ employees can keep the hàng hóa lineup straight. By my count, they have released more than 35 IEMs, each of which is named a cryptic 2-3 letter code usually followed by a number.
Bạn đang xem: Kz zs1 dual driver extra bass wide sound field sport in
My experience with KZ is primarily with their higher-end products, so I’ve missed out on most of the ‘bang-for-the-extremely-low-buck’ options that initially made them famous in IEM circles. I started with the ZS5 version 1, which has a very fun, if not overly-refined sound signature. Like many others, I liked what I heard & was hooked into the fun world of KZ IEMs.
KZ ZS10 Pro
How We Score ⧉
The ZS10 Pro is a great IEM. It isn’t a scalpel for critical listening. Nor is it a bass cannon for the ‘only-EDM’ crowd. It doesn’t have to lớn be. Paired with rock, pop, blues or anything with a back beat, it gets your toes tapping and your head bobbing. Success in my books.
Long live ZS10 Pro the king!So yes. The KZ ZS10 Pro is my new favorite IEM from KZ. Sorry AS10, you weren’t the king for very long.
This is a review of KZ ZS1, ZN1, HDS1, và ED3c IEMs.It has been awhile since my last reviews of ED9, ED10, and ATE, two budget IEMs from KZ which I still hold in high regard. One admirable thing about Knowledge Zenith (KZ), they never sit still và continuously push the envelope of budget pricing and new cool designs. That’s what you are going to find with their new HDS1 & ED3c additions to lớn IEM catalog. But at the same time, they stepped outside of their typical $10 comfort zone with two new offerings, ZN1 and ZS1. Let’s take a closer look at what I have found.ZN1 (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0140WAP5S/?tag=vectron00-20)Referred to lớn as Smart Headset, ZN1 has a dual dynamic driver (8mm for bass/mids and 6.8mm for treble) with two independent sound chambers combined at the nozzle & a smart control unit with dual TI amplifiers. The control/amp unit requires to lớn be charged (through micro-usb connector), with a battery lasting up to lớn 10hrs, & it has an independent digital volume control +/- buttons, bass adjustment +/- buttons, and treble adjustment +/- buttons. While being adjusted, these parameters are displayed with corresponding values on a small high contrast OLED display. Furthermore, you also have a multifunction button khổng lồ pick up and to answer the calls, và a separate power nguồn button.The control unit is a bit bulky and adds some weight lớn the cable while serving as “y-splitter”. Also, the cable from the control unit to lớn 3.5mm gold plated angled connector is thick, và L/R cables going to earpieces are also on a thicker side. Earpieces are big enough to house two dynamic drivers, have a plastic housing, và a durable build that can withstand some abuse. They have a clear L/R marking, multi-venting for expanded open sound, and a short strain relief which is not a problem due khổng lồ a thickness of the cable/shielding attached lớn earpieces.In terms of a fitment, earpieces themselves are very comfortable và fit secure with a wire over the ear. But the added weight of control/amp unit and thick cable is not very comfortable to walk around with. Another thing, I was able to pair it up without a problem with my smartphones và tablets, but to lớn work with DAPs you need TRRS to lớn TRS adapter. With a điện thoại thông minh it works in a powered and a passive modes, while with DAPs it only works in a powered mode & with an adapter. In my opinion ZN1 strength is NOT in a portable use, but rather khổng lồ use with your điện thoại or tablet for a portable entertainment, such as watching movies, videos, & playing games.ZN1 gives you a full theatrical experience of an open/surround amplified detailed sound where you can adjust the depth & the impact of the bass and increase or reduce the definition and sparkle of the treble. Sure, you can also listen và enjoy your music while you are relaxing in the chair or on a couch, but walking around – I wouldn’t recommend. Và if you run out of battery, you can still enjoy the sound in a passive mode, though without volume/bass/treble adjustment. In summary, I found it to lớn be not as useful with my DAPs, but very useful with my điện thoại thông minh and Tablet.Pictures.
ZS1 (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017I75XOU/?tag=vectron00-20)While testing ZN1, I was happy how it paired up with my smartphone, but wasn’t able lớn enjoy it to lớn a full potential with my DAPs. It was a bit frustrating to the point where I was ready to “convert” ZN1 into a passive wired IEMs, but I"m glad that I didn’t. I’m sure KZ received a lot of feedback from their users, & decided to lớn answer with ZS1 version which is basically a passive wired ZN1 without control/amp unit.Just like ZN1, ZS1 features a dual 8mm và 6.8mm dynamic drivers with a nearly identical plastic shell and mở cửa vents, and the same L/R clear marking. Cable is thinner, closer to lớn a more traditional KZ wires with their typical 90deg headphone plug, rubbery shielding, small y-splitter with a nice strain relief on each end, và in-line remote/mic going to lớn the right earpiece for điện thoại cảm ứng thông minh control. Everything was good until you get closer to earpieces where you have a rather long and stiff memory wire. I guess KZ decided not khổng lồ use memory wire with ZN1 because wires stayed put behind your ears under the weight of control/amp unit, while not the same case with ZS1 – but they made it too long and stiff. Again, this is not a show stopper that going to affect a comfort of wearing ZS1, but I would have preferred a shorter memory wire and without a plastic termination bead at the end. Every time I take them off for storage & put them back on, I have to lớn go through re-shaping of the memory wire which becomes a bit annoying.With a design và a fitment out of the way, the next stop was a sound test. I was pleased to lớn see that ZS1 had no issues working with any of my DAPs in addition to điện thoại thông minh and tablet, but as soon as I start playing the music, my ears got blasted with a serious BASS cannons!!! I have no idea why KZ decided to tune ZS1 khổng lồ a basshead extreme. We are talking about L-shaped sound signature with an overwhelming bass slam. Low over is deep và extended, from a thick thumping sub-bass to lớn a boomy elevated mid-bass - both dominating the sound. But surprisingly, even with such massive impact, there was still room for a quality mids, though pushed all the way back in quantity. Lower mids have a full smooth body and upper mids have a nice clarity with smooth details. Even treble has a nice definition, though not as much airiness or brightness. Also, soundstage was pretty good, though with more depth than width.Not wanting to give up, I started lớn tweak EQ và discovered that ZS1 has A LOT of potentials & can be transformed into a decent pair of headphones when you cut 6d
B around 30Hz & 3d
B around 60Hz. As soon as you trim that low over thumping và booming, you make a room for mids & treble khổng lồ come up, resulting in a more balanced and smooth detailed sound. This EQ cut easily transforms ZS1 into a solid pair of great sounding headphones with a more ear-friendly tuning và a balanced organic detailed sound. Typically, I’m not a tín đồ of using EQ, but sometime I can make an exception and SZ1 was it. But moving forward, I wish KZ would retune their sound signature to cut down on bass & to shorten the memory wire.Pictures.
HDS1 (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017NIQQSG/?tag=vectron00-20)With HDS1, KZ went back to lớn their traditional “formula” of small lightweight single dynamic driver design (this one has a small 6mm driver). It was nice khổng lồ see all these bright fresh colors, instead of a traditional black or silver, and the build chất lượng was solid metal. The shells have a clear L/R marking, short but sturdy strain relief, typical KZ thin cable with a rubbery/sticky shielding. Y-splitter was nice và small, but surprisingly it didn’t have any strain relief at the ends which I prefer to have. The headphones connector was their traditional right-angle gold-plated plug. The fitment worked both ways, wired up & wire down.There was also in-line remote w/mic on the right side of the cable, but it was very cheap và plastic. I wish they would have used a sturdier metal capsule because if you crack this in-line remote – you expose the wire connection (speaking from a personal experience of another tai nghe pair that went straight to lớn garbage). I also sensed some cable microphonics. Last, but not least, sound isolation is poor due to lớn 3 large vents on the back of the shell – great for an xuất hiện airy sound, but not good if you’re looking for a passive noise isolation. When it comes to a sound analysis, HDS1 offers a nicely tuned mid-centric signature with a focus on mids clarity and resolution - great for vocals! A found very little sub-bass, nearly rolled off, and mid-bass had a neutral fast tight punch. Lower mids are lean, missing warmth of full body, while upper mids are the focus of the tuning - clear and detailed, và at the same time not a hint of harshness or graininess. Treble is extended, bright, crisp, well defined & not sibilant at all. The sound is mid-centric và airy, but at the same time missing some organic warmth & natural body. Instead, you will get a detailed resolving vocals, neutral unique low end, nice treble sparkle, & overall non-fatigue extended listening experience. Soundstage has a great width, an average depth, và slightly below average height.Pictures.
Xem thêm: Nhận Biết Sớm 9 Dấu Hiệu Của U Não, Dấu Hiệu U Não Lành Tính
ED3c (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0174WO2LY/?tag=vectron00-20)ED3c is another step closer khổng lồ a traditional KZ design and sound, and also under $10. Here you will find a solid build quality, all metal lightweight shell in different bright colors (looking lượt thích the màu sắc was baked in), & a nice strain relief around the shell. KZ decided to vị something more original by using handwriting font to spell the Left/Right which looks classy, but also hard to read, so I was using in-line remote on the Right side as my indicator since shells are symmetrical. The cable has typical KZ multi-color wires with rubbery shielding, small rubbery y-slitter with strain relief on each end, và a traditional 90-degree gold plated tai nghe connector. Microphonics was just average, & sound isolation was not bad at all if you use the correct kích thước eartip and considering a small pinhole air-vent next to the cable attached lớn the shell.I found ED3c to have L-shaped signature with a nice low kết thúc extension & a strong bass impact. Sub-bass has a nice heft, adding an underlying weight to support fast mid-bass punch. Bass itself is not very articulate or super tight, but has an Ok control and strong impact which tilts the sound toward the low end. Lower mids are warm & full but not muddy, upper mids are clear smooth but not very detailed. Actually, mids sound a bit artificial, especially vocals. Treble is clear, a little rolled off, smooth và non-sibilant. Though I hear overall sound to be more L-shaped than V-shaped due to lớn a treble roll-off, I still wouldn"t consider these khổng lồ be basshead headphones. Soundstage was also nice with slightly above the average width/depth/height.Pictures.