Knowledge Zenith (KZ) impressions thread
Feb 25, 2018 at 7:55 AM Post #28,546 of 66,005
Chris filled me in that cables of different impedance have different effects on the sound depending on the impedance response of the iem.

Corrected that for you. :)

An IEM with a ruler-flat impedance response doesn't suffer from frequency response changes if you change the cable (/output) impedance.
 
Feb 25, 2018 at 9:24 AM Post #28,548 of 66,005
There is no official V2. but KZ could have secretly modified the ZS6 (as they did with the Ate & the ZS1), softening the trebles
I think today that the ZS6 is still the same.
Hum their marketing material changed... and the two different pages and prices over GearBest some time ago, makes me feel that indeed was a different batch with upgraded internals... but I guess only time will time...
 
Feb 25, 2018 at 10:08 AM Post #28,549 of 66,005
Agree that all these are just very subjective. But on the case of KZ's stock cable, they have tons of microphonics while the upgraded kz silver cable has little to none microphonics. Sound improvement is highly subjective imo.

Agreed, I was speaking about sonic differences, not microphonics. Thanks for pointing that out - I apologize I didn't clarify that.

Microphonics are definitely a problem with the stock cables, and so for me that's the only reason I use the upgrade cables.
 
Feb 25, 2018 at 10:12 AM Post #28,550 of 66,005
There is no official V2. but KZ could have secretly modified the ZS6 (as they did with the Ate & the ZS1), softening the trebles
I think today that the ZS6 is still the same.

Hum their marketing material changed... and the two different pages and prices over GearBest some time ago, makes me feel that indeed was a different batch with upgraded internals... but I guess only time will time...

We'll find out when my grey ZS6 show up from Gearbest.

If they are indeed different, then I'll be glad to own a different (and better) sound signature in my line up. If they turn out to be the same, well at least I'll have a complete collection of each color :)

@jeromeaparis, what color is your new ZS6? Did you get the grey "extra bass" model?
 
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Feb 25, 2018 at 10:58 AM Post #28,552 of 66,005
Hi everybody,

I'm indecided beetween these 3 model

ZS3
ES3
ZSR

Which has more bass and which is the more fun with warm suound 4 rock and electronic music? I'll prefer the ZS3 4 the low price, is it bassy enough? thx

i can say, i have them all. and i like ZSR the best.

just has "more" sound to it ZS3 is easy to listen to. ES3 is not so, better take ZSR over ES3
 
Feb 25, 2018 at 11:21 AM Post #28,553 of 66,005
After month of waiting my ZS6 has finally arrived.
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Feb 25, 2018 at 11:24 AM Post #28,554 of 66,005
After all my cable testing I also compared the ZSR to the $399 UE900S...and was still so confused that I would have not been able in a blind test to figure out which one the cheapo and which one the expensive iem was. The ZSR really are quite something. I settled for the standard white low-impedance KZ silver.
cable. Hifi Chris filled me in that cables of different impedance have different effects on the sound depending on the impedance of the iem. For example, a higher impedance cable can increase brightness or darken the sound, depending on the iem.

As to the EDR1. I also prefer them over the EDR2 because they handle better (are more substantial) and they have a bit less bass. But the sonic differences between my EDR1 and EDR2 are small...and both are lots of fun.

Presently playing with the Focal Spark...they do have a punchy and very focused bass.

As to Johnny Bach: his keyboard music can cheer/shut me up. He always has three tunes on the go, simultaneously. There are great Canadian recordings by Angela Hewitt and the late Glenn Gould.

Indeed, I have a lover'ly catalog of Glenn Gould recordings; all of the Bach piano concertos, Well tempered klavier, art of fugue, Goldberg Variations, etcetera. The odd thing is that the one recording I don't prefer is Gould's interpretation of BWV 971 ii andante (the track I posted). That doesn't mean his interpretation is wrong, he's practically an authority on interpreting Bach's intentions, but to me the backbone of the piece in his interpretation is wholly disconnected because the opening of the piece sets the tone for the piece as a whole.The tone and texture of the backbone softens and is less truncated (becomes more fluid) as the piece progresses, but the opening tone seems to detract from the overall texture of the piece as a whole (sounds quite disjointed to me) and I can find nothing so disjointed in all of Bach's works for keyboard, whether accompanied or solo.

I will say that Gould's coloration throughout the piece in general has more expression, though at times it doesn't seem as melancholic as my preferred interpretation.
My preference:


Gould's interpretation:


Note the tone Gould sets for this piece. It's more consistent with Bach's work.


I have recently discovered some of Angela Hewitt's work and I look forward to hearing more of it. Thanks for the suggestion.

I settled for the standard white low-impedance KZ silver.
cable. Hifi Chris filled me in that cables of different impedance have different effects on the sound depending on the impedance of the iem. For example, a higher impedance cable can increase brightness or darken the sound, depending on the iem.
Most of the KZ upgrade cables that I own are the cable that you speak of here. I bought several when they were released and still have two that are unopened (18 months old now). The only drawback is the oxidation/discoloration over time, but they remain a favorite for filtering out microphonics.
I also compared the ZSR to the $399 UE900S...and was still so confused that I would have not been able in a blind test to figure out which one the cheapo and which one the expensive iem was. The ZSR really are quite something.

I could not have stated your point better, myself. Let your ears determine the end result, independent of price. Confirmation bias can be a powerful factor, though I am well aware that this argument cuts both ways.

At any rate, as you put it so succinctly, "The ZSR really are quite something."
 
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Feb 25, 2018 at 12:27 PM Post #28,558 of 66,005
I've got the red ZS6 from GB,
no "hifi extra bass" in title nor in description
latest box with email 2945269***@qq.com
Maybe you can ask at this email
(replace *** by 490)

I have two with qq emails and one unopened foxmail address box. (smells the box).... can't smell anything different.
 

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