Please forgive me for the hyperbole. I couldn't help it. :-D
You can currently pick up the ZS6 for about $30 from a few places such as AliExpress(use the app!) and GearBest if you don't mind waiting a bit for it to arrive from China, or you can get it on Amazon for like $46.
Specs
Knowledge Zenith(henceforth referred to as 'KZ') first popped on my radar about two-and-a-half years ago. People were raving about their dirt-cheap budget offerings such as the ATE and ED9.
I popped for the aforementioned ATE, and when it arrived, I was mildly impressed. It was very good "for the price." But it wasn't Monoprice 8320 good-for-the-price if you know what I mean. I shelved them or gave them away, or fed them to a monkey or used them to help me diffuse a bomb MacGyver-style...I'm not really sure, I've drank a lot since then.
Anyway, fast forward a couple years and I'm looking to dip my toes back into the earphone game, and the KZ fervor seems to have escalated to an even greater pitch. Their hybrids catch my attention. Now, back in 2015 most hybrids were far from being affordable and even less were considered "budget." Remember the TTPOD T2? People were losing their minds at the thought of a triple-driver hybrid for <$100. Buuuuut it was more disappointing than the first time I had sex.
Techmolololgy has come along nicely however, as the KZ ZST was pretty good! Especially for the price. I wish I hadn't given it away to a girl who eventually played me. Anyway, cue the ZS6, KZ's current four-driver hybrid flagship. An evolution of the ZS5, it bears a striking resemblance to one of the sexiest earphones I've ever layer eyes on. So I had to have it. How does it sound? Read on. :-D
Unboxing/Presentation
KZ keeps things pretty bare-bones. I suppose that's one way of keeping costs down. It's just a simple white box, and when you remove the outer sleeve you're greeted by the earphones nestled behind a clear layer of plastic.
Accessories
Again, not much to talk about. I don't even know why I'm bothering with these first two sections. I suppose it will make my review seem more "professional." instead I will just tell a joke. Did you hear about the constipated mathematician? He worked his problem out with a pencil. OK, moving on.
Build, comfort, and isolation
I'm pretty confident that the ZS6 will stand the test of time. The shells are made of metal and the two halves are held together by three screws. At least I assume they are. If they're just there for aesthetics that would be a bit of a disappointment. The nozzle is also metal with a thin metal filter in the tip.
The cable the ZS6 comes with is a rubbery, springy thing that works just fine, but can be a bit of a nuisance in how it behaves. You can use a twist tie as a cable cinch and that will help it from bowing out on you while wearing it. I like the ZS6 enough that I decided to pick up something a little more subtle and aesthetically pleasing.
Comfort for me was, at first, terrible. The ZS6 isn't a small earphone and it has more than a few sharp angles. I couldn't use it for more than like 20 minutes at a time without my ears protesting. But, I got used to them. And now they're comfortable for much longer periods without any hotspots. They're pretty light too considering they're metal, so that helps. If you have small ears though, you might want to get them from a place that has a solid returns policy. Otherwise you should be fine. Oh by the way, for me these aren't sleepable. They jut out a bit too much and if you lay on your side the pressure can cause the sharp edges to go all stabby on your ears.
The ZS6 is a vented earphone, with one vent on the belly and the other three on the face behind a classy metal mesh. I'd say is isolation is pretty average. But I imagine for most people they'll suffice for the gym and jogging around the neighborhood.
Sound
Ah, the meat and potatoes. Did you guys know that really isn't considered a balanced diet? But I digress. Anyway, the ZS6 overall has a bright, energetic signature with clear mids, ample bass, and a big soundstage.
A lot of people have complained about the brightness, saying it's too much. It isn't for me. Maybe on the occasional track but not often enough to be an issue. In tracks like this, the treble provides plenty of sparkle without becoming overbearing(for me), nor does it steal attention away from the bass and mids. In Growing of the World by Jessica Curry the treble definitely comes on strong, overshadowing the vocals a bit but it does help impart a sense of air. Just maybe don't listen to too many songs like that in a row.
Regarding the mids...people refer to this as a v-shaped earphone, and I can see why. But the mids don't sound distant, or obviously recessed. The ZS6 is more balanced than say, the DM5. In songs like this the vocals come through loud and clear. Maybe a smidgen recessed.
Female vocals tend to have a bit more gravitas to them, but male vocalists sound pretty darn good through these boogers too. As far as vocal timbre is concerned they lose out to some more expensive models but the gap isn't as big as you might think.
These aren't bass monsters by any stretch, unless you compare them to something relatively bass-light like the Dunu Titan 3. The bass is rumbly and tactile with nice texture and good attack and decay. The low low bass in Losing the Light Explosions in the Sky will rattle your eardrums, but never gets in the way unless the track asks for it.
The soundstage is fantastic for the price point and up. It's one of the widest I've heard in a long time, beating out more expensive models in sheer width. Depth and height isn't as impressive but it's still pretty good as is instrument separation. I really can't speak highly enough of the soundstage of the ZS6. It's capable of throwing cues further outside your head space than something like the Shockwave 3, which is considerably more expensive.
Comparisons
Hope you guys don't mind some copy pasta...
DM5 vs. KZ ZS6
Two sub-$100 quad-driver IEMs!? Oh, what a time to be alive!
Both are two BA/two DD hybrids!
The DM5 and the ZS6 actually share a similar signature, although the latter is more balanced due to the mids being more forward in the mix. The ZS6 has a wider soundstage and as such sounds more spacious(despite the more forward mids). The ZS6 also has an elevated sub-bass response but less so than the DM5. Both have great, almost tactile rumble in songs like this.
ZS6 vs. Sony MDR EX800ST/7550 w/EX1000 cable
I know this comparison doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I thought it could be interesting to see how the ZS6, with its very impressive soundstage, matches up against one of the soundstage legends.
Let me be clear - The Sony is better in pretty much every regard. Timbre, instrument separation, it's black background, etc. And overall, it has a better stage. It's deeper, taller, and almost as wide as the ZS6. Yeah that's right, almost. That should give you an idea of how impressive the ZS6 is.
Of course, the ZS6 will provide better isolation and a more stylish profile. Also, it's roughly ten times less expensive. So there's that.
Summary
If you like a bright signature I can't recommend the ZS6 enough. It is fantastic for the price, and then some. Comfort might be an issue for a few people, as might be the treble. You can always use foam tips to mitigate the former and as long as your ears aren't small I think you'll be OK with the latter. Not to mention they look dead-sexy. For me they are an easy recommendation and a 5/5 despite the cons.
Hoorah!
You can currently pick up the ZS6 for about $30 from a few places such as AliExpress(use the app!) and GearBest if you don't mind waiting a bit for it to arrive from China, or you can get it on Amazon for like $46.
Specs
- KZ
- Shell: Aluminum alloy
- Driver unit: 2 dynamic, 2 balanced armature
- Impedance: 15 ohms
- Frequency response: 7 Hz–40 kHz
- Sensitivity: 105 dB +/- 3 dB
- Active noise cancellation
- Cable: 47.3 in (120 cm) +/- 2 in (5 cm), removable 2-pin
- Connectors: 3.5 mm
Knowledge Zenith(henceforth referred to as 'KZ') first popped on my radar about two-and-a-half years ago. People were raving about their dirt-cheap budget offerings such as the ATE and ED9.
I popped for the aforementioned ATE, and when it arrived, I was mildly impressed. It was very good "for the price." But it wasn't Monoprice 8320 good-for-the-price if you know what I mean. I shelved them or gave them away, or fed them to a monkey or used them to help me diffuse a bomb MacGyver-style...I'm not really sure, I've drank a lot since then.
Anyway, fast forward a couple years and I'm looking to dip my toes back into the earphone game, and the KZ fervor seems to have escalated to an even greater pitch. Their hybrids catch my attention. Now, back in 2015 most hybrids were far from being affordable and even less were considered "budget." Remember the TTPOD T2? People were losing their minds at the thought of a triple-driver hybrid for <$100. Buuuuut it was more disappointing than the first time I had sex.
Techmolololgy has come along nicely however, as the KZ ZST was pretty good! Especially for the price. I wish I hadn't given it away to a girl who eventually played me. Anyway, cue the ZS6, KZ's current four-driver hybrid flagship. An evolution of the ZS5, it bears a striking resemblance to one of the sexiest earphones I've ever layer eyes on. So I had to have it. How does it sound? Read on. :-D
Unboxing/Presentation
KZ keeps things pretty bare-bones. I suppose that's one way of keeping costs down. It's just a simple white box, and when you remove the outer sleeve you're greeted by the earphones nestled behind a clear layer of plastic.
Accessories
Again, not much to talk about. I don't even know why I'm bothering with these first two sections. I suppose it will make my review seem more "professional." instead I will just tell a joke. Did you hear about the constipated mathematician? He worked his problem out with a pencil. OK, moving on.
Build, comfort, and isolation
I'm pretty confident that the ZS6 will stand the test of time. The shells are made of metal and the two halves are held together by three screws. At least I assume they are. If they're just there for aesthetics that would be a bit of a disappointment. The nozzle is also metal with a thin metal filter in the tip.
The cable the ZS6 comes with is a rubbery, springy thing that works just fine, but can be a bit of a nuisance in how it behaves. You can use a twist tie as a cable cinch and that will help it from bowing out on you while wearing it. I like the ZS6 enough that I decided to pick up something a little more subtle and aesthetically pleasing.
Comfort for me was, at first, terrible. The ZS6 isn't a small earphone and it has more than a few sharp angles. I couldn't use it for more than like 20 minutes at a time without my ears protesting. But, I got used to them. And now they're comfortable for much longer periods without any hotspots. They're pretty light too considering they're metal, so that helps. If you have small ears though, you might want to get them from a place that has a solid returns policy. Otherwise you should be fine. Oh by the way, for me these aren't sleepable. They jut out a bit too much and if you lay on your side the pressure can cause the sharp edges to go all stabby on your ears.
The ZS6 is a vented earphone, with one vent on the belly and the other three on the face behind a classy metal mesh. I'd say is isolation is pretty average. But I imagine for most people they'll suffice for the gym and jogging around the neighborhood.
Sound
Ah, the meat and potatoes. Did you guys know that really isn't considered a balanced diet? But I digress. Anyway, the ZS6 overall has a bright, energetic signature with clear mids, ample bass, and a big soundstage.
A lot of people have complained about the brightness, saying it's too much. It isn't for me. Maybe on the occasional track but not often enough to be an issue. In tracks like this, the treble provides plenty of sparkle without becoming overbearing(for me), nor does it steal attention away from the bass and mids. In Growing of the World by Jessica Curry the treble definitely comes on strong, overshadowing the vocals a bit but it does help impart a sense of air. Just maybe don't listen to too many songs like that in a row.
Regarding the mids...people refer to this as a v-shaped earphone, and I can see why. But the mids don't sound distant, or obviously recessed. The ZS6 is more balanced than say, the DM5. In songs like this the vocals come through loud and clear. Maybe a smidgen recessed.
Female vocals tend to have a bit more gravitas to them, but male vocalists sound pretty darn good through these boogers too. As far as vocal timbre is concerned they lose out to some more expensive models but the gap isn't as big as you might think.
These aren't bass monsters by any stretch, unless you compare them to something relatively bass-light like the Dunu Titan 3. The bass is rumbly and tactile with nice texture and good attack and decay. The low low bass in Losing the Light Explosions in the Sky will rattle your eardrums, but never gets in the way unless the track asks for it.
The soundstage is fantastic for the price point and up. It's one of the widest I've heard in a long time, beating out more expensive models in sheer width. Depth and height isn't as impressive but it's still pretty good as is instrument separation. I really can't speak highly enough of the soundstage of the ZS6. It's capable of throwing cues further outside your head space than something like the Shockwave 3, which is considerably more expensive.
Comparisons
Hope you guys don't mind some copy pasta...
DM5 vs. KZ ZS6
Two sub-$100 quad-driver IEMs!? Oh, what a time to be alive!
Both are two BA/two DD hybrids!
The DM5 and the ZS6 actually share a similar signature, although the latter is more balanced due to the mids being more forward in the mix. The ZS6 has a wider soundstage and as such sounds more spacious(despite the more forward mids). The ZS6 also has an elevated sub-bass response but less so than the DM5. Both have great, almost tactile rumble in songs like this.
ZS6 vs. Sony MDR EX800ST/7550 w/EX1000 cable
I know this comparison doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I thought it could be interesting to see how the ZS6, with its very impressive soundstage, matches up against one of the soundstage legends.
Let me be clear - The Sony is better in pretty much every regard. Timbre, instrument separation, it's black background, etc. And overall, it has a better stage. It's deeper, taller, and almost as wide as the ZS6. Yeah that's right, almost. That should give you an idea of how impressive the ZS6 is.
Of course, the ZS6 will provide better isolation and a more stylish profile. Also, it's roughly ten times less expensive. So there's that.
Summary
If you like a bright signature I can't recommend the ZS6 enough. It is fantastic for the price, and then some. Comfort might be an issue for a few people, as might be the treble. You can always use foam tips to mitigate the former and as long as your ears aren't small I think you'll be OK with the latter. Not to mention they look dead-sexy. For me they are an easy recommendation and a 5/5 despite the cons.
Hoorah!
They were already on headfi radar, and now that a few of us have them, with impressions being very positive, I figured they could use their own thread.
![B]](https://image.ibb.co/bDQqhG/cameringo_20171231_211710.jpg[/B])
