[B9Scrambler]

It took KZ until ED10 to reach well-deserved recognition around here, but it only took the Zircon for ROCK to reach that recognition.

Very enthusiastic statement. KZ wa s well-regarded well before the ED10. That's just been the most recent icing on the ED9, ATE, ANV, EDSE, Micro Ring, et. cake.

 

[theuprising]

Very enthusiastic statement. KZ wa s well-regarded well before the ED10. That's just been the most recent icing on the ED9, ATE, ANV, EDSE, Micro Ring, et. cake.

Probably b/c the ED10 is v-shaped and that's the most popular type of headphone?

 

[Igor Eisberg]

  Probably b/c the ED10 is v-shaped and that's the most popular type of headphone?

Probably that. I got those EDSE (=ED2) and I wasn't impressed. Sony's earphones that were bundled with my Xperia smartphone sound more detailed, ED2 sounds more like listening through a can. The sound isn't that bad, it's just unremarkable and forgettable. KZ GR are too bass-oriented and they lack any mids and highs whatsoever, the sound is completely inaccurate, and they are so big and heavy that they barely stay in the ear. KZ IE80 is great for the Hi-Res lovers, but it's rather expensive and barely got any mass attention. Can't say much about the other KZ's only that they mostly heavy and uncomfortable to wear and/or look like overblown spaceships with childish markings on them that are laughable to look at (ED8m & ED9). That's where the ED10 comes in and changes the game. It is very comfortable and stays firmly in the ear. I'd say since ATE, ED10 and the new ZN1 they completely changed their image, and make more effort to appeal to the wider public.

 

[CADCAM]

Listened to my ED9's for several hours yesterday and I truly can't believe how marvelous they sound irrespective of price. I purchased a second pair so I can have one set up with brass nozzles and the other with the gold. Amazing! I have some decent equipment and the ED9 punches so high above its price. So glad I found this thread which turned me on to some great IEM for the hot summer here in N.E. and even though the temps are dropping I'm keeping the ED9 (ED10 & ATE also) close by. I would say if you have someone who just appreciates good sound point them toward the ED10, if they are a more analytical listener and like options the ED9 is it and if they prefer a smoother laid back yet still excellent sound quality the ATE is fantastic!

 

[RedTwilight]

Apparently there's an ED11 now. Look like the ED10 with a more golden back.
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/FGSAGHHJH/523133_32464558733.html

 

[CADCAM]

  Probably that. I got those EDSE (=ED2) and I wasn't impressed. Sony's earphones that were bundled with my Xperia smartphone sound more detailed, ED2 sounds more like listening through a can. The sound isn't that bad, it's just unremarkable and forgettable. KZ GR are too bass-oriented and they lack any mids and highs whatsoever, the sound is completely inaccurate, and they are so big and heavy that they barely stay in the ear. KZ IE80 is great for the Hi-Res lovers, but it's rather expensive and barely got any mass attention. Can't say much about the other KZ's only that they mostly heavy and uncomfortable to wear and/or look like overblown spaceships with childish markings on them that are laughable to look at (ED8m & ED9). That's where the ED10 comes in and changes the game. It is very comfortable and stays firmly in the ear. I'd say since ATE, ED10 and the new ZN1 they completely changed their image, and make more effort to appeal to the wider public.

You make some pretty bold statements there Igor, I have the EDse and although it's not my favorite Kz it does not sound like a "can" on my setup. I can tell you emphatically that the ED9 does not fall out of my ears and even the ATE's stay right in there. Its actually a bit ironic but the ED10 sits the most shallow in my ear and if any would seem likely to fall out I'd say they would, although they never have.
At any rate I've ordered the Zircon so I can hear just how good they are. More to follow but I will post on the Rock thread as I believe this thread should be for discussing Kz's offerings.

 

[Igor Eisberg]

  Apparently there's an ED11 now. Look like the ED10 with a more golden back.
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/FGSAGHHJH/523133_32464558733.html

Looks very suspicious, got to say... How come this random store has it before the official stores...

 

[soundstige]

 
Looks very suspicious, got to say... How come this random store has it before the official stores...

 
Aliexpress isn't random, they're like Amazon for other parts of the world. Many smaller companies in Asia premier their products there.

 

[B9Scrambler]

ED11...huh. Wonder if they will just be a mild retune or offer up a whole new signature.

 

[ayao]

   
Aliexpress isn't random, they're like Amazon for other parts of the world. Many smaller companies in Asia premier their products there.

Igor Eisberg is not talking about AliExpress as whole, but rather that one seller. There are some AliExpress sellers which we consider as "official" stores (ones that only sell KZ models), but maybe we should get Horton to clarify this. The fact that there is only one (random) seller selling the ED11 at the moment makes it suspicious. If it is real, then I wonder why KZ decided to give it a new model number instead of making it an ED10 variant like they did with the red/blue ED8.

 

[RedTwilight]

It isn't the first time another shop managed to get products before the 'official flagship store(s, there are 2)'  though. It happened for the ATE and ED9 too.

 

[ayao]

Has anyone that ordered the ZN1 from AliExpress already received it?

Mine hasn't arrived yet and the tracking doesn't work.

Just got my ZN1 from the AliExpress sale. I'm going back to work (went home for a quick lunch break) now, so I can't give any OOTB impressions, sorry.
 
EDIT: With my iPod Touch 5, Galaxy S5 and HTC One, there is minimal hiss when the EQBOX is on (think of an even more sensitive Ostry). There is no noise in passive mode, although the volume level is the same as when the amp/EQBOX set to max volume (14). However, the earphones don't work with my work PC. It's basically all static/noise and the audio sounds like the jack is plugged in halfway.
 
With the EQBOX, the bass can go from ED9 brass levels to ASG2 levels (too much & muddy) quantity-wise.
Overall, I would say the sound signature is warm/thick with a smooth top end. It's less V-shaped than the ED10, but those who are used to the nice sub-bass of the ED10 might not like the higher level of mid-bass on the ZN1. This is with the EQBOX/amp turned off.
Soundstage is definitely better than the ED10, and this is probably due to its design.
 
I don't have any other IEMs with me atm (still at work), so I can't go further in detail. I've been mentioning the ED10 only because that's the IEM I've been using for the past 2 weeks. I have to say though, while my initial impressions were negative with the ATE and ED9, they've been positive with the ED10 and ZN1. YMMV

 

[peter123]

It looks like it by the pictures, but let's remember that this driver is 9mm (vs 8mm of Zircon), it's input power is 3mW (vs 1mW of Zircon) and rated power of 5mW (vs 3mW of Zircon), so I'm expecting a true bomb here, no less.



+1 for the ROCK Earphones thread. If Knowledge Zenith has one, I think ROCK definitely deserves one! It took KZ until ED10 to reach well-deserved recognition around here, but it only took the Zircon for ROCK to reach that recognition.
You definitely should get the Zircon, I just ordered a spare one if anything ever happens to my current ones since I'm using them daily.

I'm sorry to breake it to you but KZ have been highly regarded for a long time, it's just you that's late to the party

This thread is 1,5 yo and was started for a reason.

Has KZ evolved and released new and better IEM's during this period? Yes ofcourse but so has pretty much every other company if you exclude the "old" big name companies that takes a looong time on every new release.

 

[HiFiChris]

Does anybody know which model was Knowledge Zenith's very first IEM?

 

[Horton]

Quote:

ED11...huh. Wonder if they will just be a mild retune or offer up a whole new signature.

ED11 is not the Formal version, it is said that is the revise the ED10, the sound is similar.
So that, If I didnot have ED10, will think about to get this one.