[Chief Stringer]

Man...these ZS1s are probably the most entertaining headphone/earphone I've ever owned. I can't get over the bass they output. Like a friggin subwoofer attached to your skull  . Screw my JVC XXs, Sony XB50, UE6000, SUR s808, etc.....Dudes over in the basshead thread need to get their hands on these....geezuz. 

"The Acme"... I believe in burn in, both brain and physical, but rarely have I noticed it actually does anything. These ED3s on the other hand, holy crap. Go back to my original impressions and you will see I was really underwhelmed. I've let them sit playing DnB all day, popped them in just a moment a go, and WOW!!

I'll obviously have to spend some more time with them, but I think these may be the best KZ yet. Not as fun as the ZS1, but more technically adept than most KZs without really sacrificing anything. Good soundstage, great bass (deep subbass without any midbass bloat, reasonably quick), lots of detail and good separation, natural mids, clean stereo transitions. They're even surprisingly forgiving with poor sources, although they require a bit of extra juice to drive properly. ED10 doesn't stand a chance, and I've been a staunch supporter of those since my first listen. "The Acme" seem to offer up that extra little bit of refinement that has been lacking from KZ. Very, very impressive.

Now, the HDS1. All I can say about those is; if you were interested in the RHA S500 but not the price, build quality or accessories, the HDS1 is what you need. Very similar in signature and competency. The RHAs are a slightly more airy sounding and the KZs more focused and intimate, but they overall are pretty much on par when it comes to sound quality. If these HDS1s improve with some burn in like the ED3s, omg....I just need to find the right tips now since the Huast ones are proving to be a little finicky.

This newest crop of earphones has shown KZ stepping up their game yet again while somehow maintaining stupidly low prices. I really hope this continues, but I just don't see how it can...

Oh man youve got me excited about my zs1s that are on the way , since you like dnb how does 'Omni Trio - First Contact' sound on them? Just hoping i can get a good seal with them

 

[peter123]

I got my HDS1 today and I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with people finding them similar to the RHA S500's.

I find the HDS1 significantly darker and less aiury sounding. To my ears the HDS1 has a lift in the lower midrange making them more intimate sounding while the S500's has a lift in the higher mids making thwm more airy and also giving a perception of better clarity and details.

The HDS1 also lack the top end sparkle but are smoother in return.

The HDS1 is great on it's own though and will probably compete with them ED9 as my favorite KZ IEM.

 

[B9Scrambler]

Oh man youve got me excited about my zs1s that are on the way , since you like dnb how does 'Omni Trio - First Contact' sound on them? Just hoping i can get a good seal with them

It sounded alright. Not really a song I'm familiar with though. Very mellow....I liked it. Cymbals sounded pretty subtle. Not sure how prominent they are supposed to be.

 

[CADCAM]

Any info on this new ATE S?
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Arrival-KZ-ATE-S-In-ear-Earphone-Noise-Canceling-Hifi-Headphone-Stereo-Sport-Earphone-Super/32539938801.html?spm=2114.031010208.3.23.dspMIy&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_2_79_78_77_80,searchweb201644_5,searchweb201560_9

 

[Chief Stringer]

Any info on this new ATE S?

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Arrival-KZ-ATE-S-In-ear-Earphone-Noise-Canceling-Hifi-Headphone-Stereo-Sport-Earphone-Super/32539938801.html?spm=2114.031010208.3.23.dspMIy&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_2_79_78_77_80,searchweb201644_5,searchweb201560_9

They look nice, wonder if they use the memory wire around the ear

 

[sgl54]

They look nice, wonder if they use the memory wire around the ear

I bet they do. They look he wires on the Zs1's and unlike the brass/bronze dongles of the Traditional ATE's. Bummer I had decided that I need set  of these. I firmly believe a good portion of the fit problems I had with the Zs1's were caused by the memory wire 

 

[B9Scrambler]

I got my HDS1 today and I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with people finding them similar to the RHA S500's.

I find the HDS1 significantly darker and less aiury sounding. To my ears the HDS1 has a lift in the lower midrange making them more intimate sounding while the S500's has a lift in the higher mids making thwm more airy and also giving a perception of better clarity and details.

The HDS1 also lack the top end sparkle but are smoother in return.

The HDS1 is great on it's own though and will probably compete with them ED9 as my favorite KZ IEM.

 
I still find the general signature quite similar, but listening to them back-to-back right now I see what you mean about the HDS1 being the darker of the two (although they're not a dark earphone at all imo). As noted in my earlier comments I felt the same about the HDS1 being more intimate and S500s more airy. Personally I prefer the KZs presentation as I find it less fatiguing.

 

[Chief Stringer]

I bet they do. They look he wires on the Zs1's and unlike the brass/bronze dongles of the Traditional ATE's. Bummer I had decided that I need set  of these. I firmly believe a good portion of the fit problems I had with the Zs1's were caused by the memory wire 

Yeah looking at the page properly it clearly states they use it actually :rolleyes:, i havnt heard good things about it we'll see if it works for me when my zs1s arrive

 

[ezekiel77]

About to join the KZ gang soon. Just placed an order for ED9, ED3c and HDS1 through Aliexpress.

Just wondering how many versions of ED3 are there? I've read good things about the Acme but unsure whether I ordered it right (it showed The Acme in the pic, I said ok).
 
Also I got them from the KZ Official Flagship Store (has writing in Russian?!) but based on the number of orders they get I feel they're the safest sellers. Has anyone had any bad experiences with this or other sellers?

 

[peter123]

   
I still find the general signature quite similar, but listening to them back-to-back right now I see what you mean about the HDS1 being the darker of the two (although they're not a dark earphone at all imo). As noted in my earlier comments I felt the same about the HDS1 being more intimate and S500s more airy. Personally I prefer the KZs presentation as I find it less fatiguing.

I agree in the bold, it was in comparison 

 
As for the rest of the sound I don't think they'd been compared to each other if they haven't both been micro drivers but YMMV.
 
It's way to early for me yet to pass any final judgement on which I prefer over the other.

 

[B9Scrambler]

  I agree in the bold, it was in comparison 

 
As for the rest of the sound I don't think they'd been compared to each other if they haven't both been micro drivers but YMMV.
 
It's way to early for me yet to pass any final judgement on which I prefer over the other.

 
That was more for those who see the word dark and automatically think the HDS1 is a dark earphone. 

 
I'll be updating my microdriver thread soon (hopefully) so the comparison was inevitable. Unlike with the VSD2 vs.S500, the S500 didn't come to mind when I first heard the HDS1. Had there not been the need to a/b the two, you're right, I probably wouldn't have compared them (at least not so soon).
 
Are you planning to review the HDS1 at some point, or just drop your impressions in the thread here? Regardless, I'm very interested to see what you think since you've reviewed a lot of neat gear and I'm a blatant KZ fanboy, haha. 

 

 

[peter123]

   
That was more for those who see the word dark and automatically think the HDS1 is a dark earphone. 

 
I'll be updating my microdriver thread soon (hopefully) so the comparison was inevitable. Unlike with the VSD2 vs.S500, the S500 didn't come to mind when I first heard the HDS1. Had there not been the need to a/b the two, you're right, I probably wouldn't have compared them (at least not so soon).
 
Are you planning to review the HDS1 at some point, or just drop your impressions in the thread here? Regardless, I'm very interested to see what you think since you've reviewed a lot of neat gear and I'm a blatant KZ fanboy, haha. 

 

Ha ha, don't get me wrong: I really like what I've heard from the HDS1 so far and I will most likely honor them with a full review when I get the time. 
 
 
I've seen more people than you compare the S500 and HDS1 so I was kind of expecting them to sound more similar than what they did. To me it's great though because I'd rather have two different sounding great IEM's than two very similar ones

 

[B9Scrambler]

  Ha ha, don't get me wrong: I really like what I've heard from the HDS1 so far and I will most likely honor them with a full review when I get the time. 
 
 
I've seen more people than you compare the S500 and HDS1 so I was kind of expecting them to sound more similar than what they did. To me it's great though because I'd rather have two different sounding great IEM's than two very similar ones

 
Woot! Looking forward to your review. I'm pretty surprised at the complete lack of official reviews of KZ products given their mostly positive reputation. I'm planning to review the HDS1, "The Acme", and potentially the ZS1 at some point in the near future. ZS1 I'm on the fence about. I love them to death, but I feel they're a bit of a one-trick pony.
 
I'm have to snoop around for those other HDS1/S500 comparos.

 

[peter123]

   
Woot! Looking forward to your review. I'm pretty surprised at the complete lack of official reviews of KZ products given their mostly positive reputation. I'm planning to review the HDS1, "The Acme", and potentially the ZS1 at some point in the near future. ZS1 I'm on the fence about. I love them to death, but I feel they're a bit of a one-trick pony.
 
I'm have to snoop around for those other HDS1/S500 comparos.

Yeah I agree that there should be more reviews of the KZ's given their popularity. Makes me think that I probably should review the ED9 as well since I like them a lot. 
 
I think it might have been @Hisoundfi that also maetioned the two (HDS1/S500) in the same breath earlier but I had a ruff weekend so might remeber it wrong 

 

[CADCAM]

Hey guys wanted to hear the ED3 and ordered these ~ http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Original-KZ-ED3-Acme-Silver-Grade-HIFI-Fever-In-Ear-Headphones-The-Transient-Heavy-Low-Quality/32306483490.html
 
Are they the "right" ones? I read some positive things on the Acme ones so tried them...