Knowledge Zenith (KZ) PR1 HiFi
The PR1 comes in three flavors at the moment, the regular PR1 which has a resin shell and aluminum faceplate, the PR1 HIFI, which comes as a resin/electroplated build and aluminum faceplate, and the KZ PR1 Pro. All have 13.2 Planar Drivers. The Pro version comes with a resin build along with an aluminum faceplate.
With that out of the way I’m going to be doing fast and simple comparisons between two other recent KZ creations and comparisons between two other Planar IEMs. Note the Zeitan Wu not pictured here.
left to right=KZ AS16 PRO, Kinera Celest Gumiho
left to right=KZ PR1 HIFI, KZ ZS10 PRO X
Listed in order of best to worse
A) KZ ZS10 PRO X
B) KZ AS16 PRO
C) Kinera Celest Gumiho
D) KZ PR1 HIFI
Note:
The Zetian Wu was not really in test group due to price constraints, though it's only an important comparison as another planar, to make sure I wasn't just judging the KZ PR1 HIFI's incompetence solely on planar attributes.
My rating for the PR1 HIFI is the lowest in this test group, and I will explain my. While not a bad IEM in any form or fashion…….the competition is stiff. Meaning nothing is wrong per say about the PR1 HIFI, except it lacks separation of elements in the stage. Everything else is great, and you may still be interested in the PR1 HIFI due to the great build, wonderful fit…….and of course value. As truly with the Kinera Celest Gumiho not being a true planar, with different style of Planar construction and a BA added, it’s different.
1) https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/the-new-kz-zs10-pro-x-universal-iem.26128/reviews#review-29430
The KZ ZS10 PRO X is the overall winner here. Reason being it shows a nice instrument separation, in contrast to the clogged togetherness of the PR1. Also for many other reasons it even beats out second place in our contest. This list of reasons is gone over in the review. Though a short take is that it has a slightly more (natural) laidback treble, and a more natural bass, being DD as oppose to BA bass. 5 stars!
2) https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/knowledge-zenith-kz-as16-pro.25953/reviews#review-28967
Here is KZ AS16 PRO climbs to second place despite it’s slightly controversial nature, being it's impedance dependence for tone. I personally found it charming and filled with incredible abilities. With 8 BA drivers per side, offering a slightly buzzy yet airy and thrilling take on my music library. 5 stars!
3) https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/celest-gumiho.26076/reviews#review-29411
The Kinera Celest Gumiho makes third place simply by reason of pure bang-for-the-buck………..big sound for the buck…..and really doing nothing wrong. While not perfect, its one issue is the slight BA sheen put-out by the addition of the BA to the 10mm planar driver. Still the little Gumiho has pizzaz and soul. Rocking its way into third place simply because it’s just so darn fun to listen to. In fact, I haven’t heard the KZ PRI Pro yet, but if KZ wanted to stay competitive, they would need to make the KZ PR1 Pro have the little Gumiho’s separation and clarity to still be competitive.The Gumiho got a wonderful 4.5 star review.
So that’s our four IEMs listed in the photograph.
One more……….
I got to thinking…..you know planar IEMs have a sound, a character all their own, thus popular right now………but what if I am simply judging these IEMs only with comparison on separation. With just me liking (and focusing on) separation? What I’m referring to is 1st place is a Hybrid, second place is 8 BAs, third place is also a Hybrid of a 10mm planar and a BA. So what if these judgments are purely subjective and I’m in my own little world here, not offering and value of opinion to anyone. Judging simply due to personal (read subjective) preference? So regardless of price, I threw the Tangzu ZETIAN WU into the mix.
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/th...nar-in-ear-monitors.26114/reviews#review-2938
$149.00 USD
https://www.linsoul.com/collections/featured-home/products/tangzu-wu-zetian?variant=43301859557593
$70.00 USD
https://www.linsoul.com/products/kz-pr1?variant=43415897506009
That’s right, our KZ PR1 HIFI is totally half the price of the ZETIAN WU! So why am I comparing them here? Because of planar separation. That’s right, it’s not just a character of planar technology to have the soundstage elements seemingly near one another.
Is there a huge difference between the separation going on with the Zetian Wu and the KZ PR1 HIFI?
Does a bear schiit in the woods?
In fact........again the separation issues with sound elements become really the main reason for the KZ PR1 HIFI being at the very bottom of our list today……………still it’s an enjoyable IEM.
Knollage Zenith has been on a roll lately and proving their Knollage is real……being the fit and form-factor of the PR1 rocks! It offers great sound occlusion, feels lightweight and has a great nozzle lip. The nozzle itself combined with the overall shape is totally correct. Look at the photographs of the KZ PR1 HIFI! Just look at the work of art you get. In fact due to its shape a wide range of tips can be chosen. This is often what happens with a great shape, we are able to keep getting perfect fit with a whole range of ear-tip options. I ended with the shallow profile/wide-bore as the ultimate methodology to get soundstage. So my soundstage was about average, to slightly better than average. Still there is actually a very close relationship between the three KZs talked about in this review. Offering a subtle V fun response with all the bases covered. While it could almost be said that the sound character difference was arrived at by the use of different sound making technologies? Each way to make music has its own driver idiosyncrasies.
That’s right KZ did the multi-BA, they did the Hybrid, then they made 3…..count-em 3 planars. So? Did this third KZ planar come-out (fast) due to KZ attempting to make their mistakes “fixed” or are they simply playing us? You know PRO, PRO X, HIFI PRO, HIFI PRO X............and so on? I haven’t heard the Pro model yet……..and with so many products launched/produced it simply adds to the confusion.
Knowledge Zenith (KZ) PR1 HiFi
13.2mm Dual-Cavity Planar Magnetic Driver Earphones- Ultra-thin Silver-plated Diaphragm
- N55 Double-sided Magnetic Circuit
- Exquisite Finish With Aluminum Alloy Face Covers
- Professional Tuning Adjustments For Impressive Sound
- High-Quality OFC Silver-Plated Cable
Build:
The PR1 comes in a solid three piece electroplated shell. The bottom (ear-facing) semi-custom build offers a single small vent, in contrast to the 9 slots sporting the top-plate, and 5 vents off to the side, as shown in photographs. I don’t think build is solid aluminum? The faceplate is 100% aluminum, but note the back is referenced as electroplated, and strangely it almost feels like metal due to the metal top finish. Cruising in at only 6 grams a piece, they can’t possibly be all metal………right? It’s a strange future world where KZ now offers electroplated plastic!
The nozzle goes all out to hold ear-tips on with style. Already touched-on, these nozzles are not only angled the correct way, and have the right length, they offer beautiful beveled lips and inset screens to-boot. An extruded two-pin acts as the only clear plastic seen in construction, seemingly emitted through a small (doorway) port on the aluminum faceplate! This qdc style of .078 2 pin goes to offer increased strength due to having the outside plug receptor actually add another layer of material (plastic) in daily use. Such apparatus also guarantees an absolute angle of attachment (causing you the cable fitter) to approach the pin-set-up at only an exact angle, before reception will occur. Once joined the beginning of the cable ear-hook is started by the plastic 2 pin holder. An OFC silver-plated surface wire adds to the frequency balance at hand before being quickly changed out for possibly better cables you may have on hand. Not that there is much wrong with the provided cable………it actually works fine……….it’s just a 4.4 balanced add becomes effective…………..especially when you get down-and-dirty and release how darn hard the PR1 is to drive.
This 13.2 Planar driver is difficult to drive. I mean all planar IEMs like juice, but you will be reminded fast, especially if you’re doing as many side-by-sides as I was during this review. Oh…….that’s right…….when your doing comparisons the all BA is incredibly efficient, the Hybrid KZ in the middle (as far as power requirements) and the planar IEMs the most difficult to drive.
IEM shape:
Yep…….I made a section just to reiterate on the shape! If all IEMs could only emulate this exact form……the world would be a better place. Seemingly just right……..is what Goldilocks found, you see she found balance, and balance is what is taking place here………as far as form and weight, nozzle length and angle. The other guys can simply 3D scan this IEM and replicate much of what’s going on…………….the special trait is feel too. As the electroplated plastic has both the feeling of metal and plastic, it doesn’t get cold and seems to carry the perfect middle weight. And……with all the vents you would think natural sound occlusion would be awful…..but no, it’s blocked-off by the internal driver by being a double cavity inside. Your fingers touch the very edge of the aluminum faceplate during the first adjustments and they fit so beautifully……..you then can leave them alone…….paradise!
Packaging:
Laughably the charm is again they didn’t waist paper on QC documentation, and placed a rubber stamp marking on the bottom of the box……….proof the QC person was present to inspect this IEM upon leaving the factory floor! YZ did the inspection duty on 10/15/22 using a hand stamp. While the packaging in not anything other than a box, you have to realize that I have witnessed lower quality IEMs with GUCCI packaging…….that made you question where there priorities were. Where here the effort goes into the sound and build of the product……..with generating 1/2 million examples of certain models……….you come to realize KZ is at the point now of going from strength to even greater strength! Truly I like the package……..I mean put your money where it’s important…….at this level of IEM……we care about sound and consistency of build; give us those two things and we will be happy-campers.
1) The KZ PR1 HIFI IEMs
2) Cable OFC Silver plated optional/mic/media-key
3) 3 sets of ear-tips S/M/L
4) Instruction manual
Sound:
Bass:
Probably the bass is what changed the most upon burn-in. What was a thick syrupy sludge of bass OTB, became a reserved and critically controlled spectacle. This is surprising and found as an opposite in bass response in contrast with other planar IEMs. That’s right, most planar IEMs (and this is my 7th) have started-out a bass shy experience, only for the burned-in mature bass to finally show-up at 60 to 100 hours. While here was are witnessing 7 days of full burn-in…………..the bass was definitely “fixed”. In fact it went to the total other-end of the spectrum. While still showcasing the celebrated current KZ sound……….we are now in view of a controlled, reserved and relatively fast bass response. Somehow smoothness was also the 2nd best change. Where smoothness and cohesiveness was obtained, it’s the bass that became noticeably different, more agile, better paced and in the end obtained imaging to die for. Though to be critical, the stage still shows average styles of separated imaging resulting in average clarity. And even with this new reserved stance in bass placement……..stuff is slightly jumbled-up and centered, instead of gloriously taking a fully entertaining disjointed spender in staging. I know I may sound like a broken record, going over the same issues as when this review started, but it is what it is. I mean it’s OK, nothing totally bad or anything……..it’s just not a class leading experience and not of a true value do to these issues.
Treble:
While yes, there is this planar sound, it’s developed to introduce great transients and they are clean and fast. There is a slight upper timbre issue which goes to make instruments sound ever-so-slighly higher in pitch than they truly are. It’s this ever-so-slight plasticky tone that while not so bad, is not so good either? Everything falls under this blanket of reproduced tone. Yet attacks are clean, and decays offer a great pace and clarity. The basic agility is maybe going to be the singular draw in the market-place……..that and the look and feel of these simply in your ears. This takes place with every amp I’ve tried and every cable. Doesn’t matter which ear-tip change I do either, this tone is just part of the PR1 experience though and though. What your getting for your dollar is quick and clear transients and nice pace and fast decays…………really sounding more on the digital side of sound personality, than the analogue. Still all this is fun and in a way cutting edge for the price-bracket. Especially if you have a fast rock song, where every instrument get some attention………..and the more and more you listen you kinda become under the PR1’s spell, seemingly starting to forget about the issues………almost. So it does have that?
Midrange:
It’s the midrange, the mids are what you buy the PR1 for. And crazy as it sounds these didn’t come-off sounding this way out of the box. We went from the subtle V giving way less emphasis to the midrange, almost buried in the mix……….to a celebration of midrange as the KZ PR1’s final destination. While still stuffy in character, vocals start to work their way out, and while not offering the most inner detail or even showcasing…….there comes about a utilitarian character. Just getting there, while being separated from the whole mix, still not fully human sounding. It’s this lack of relief in the mix that will have you try plain vocal music……..and again even when there is nothing around to complete with, vocals are still shown for great articulation but lacking texture………almost simply going through the motions. It’s this texture we are looking for, for involvement to take place. Guitars are exactly like vocals…….in every way both styles of sounds follow the same character issues here. Where yes, pace and bounce in there, yet this is a sterile environment missing that all important factor called simply…………life!
Conclusion:
While relatively fun and comfortable, some life essence seems to be left out. In a way I feel that it’s gone, yet at times I can’t exactly put my finger as to why it’s gone. Is it the detail texture? Is it the slightly skewed-tone? Because to pace is great, better than great, the pace is simply amazing……these just need some adjustments. Maybe that’s what the KZ PR1 Pro brings to the table, I don’t know? And……for me this is sad to find, as the KZ ZS10 PRO X is one of my favorites of the year. Really I’m 100% on board as to what the ZS10 PRO is doing, 100% of the time! You may have called me a Knollage Zenith fan back in 2016 when the first wave of popularity hit and my review was spotted on the front page of Head-Fi. And years went by, and I paid very little attention to what KZ did. I hadn’t forgotten about them, but I had no idea how far they had come with sound design and making budget IEMs capable of providing amazing sound. Meaning I actually found it pretty much unbelievable how good the 8BA a side KZ AS16 PRO is. Then they top-themselves again making the Hybrid 5 driver KZ ZS10 PRO X! So you can totally see I was excited to see how they would try and incorporate planar technology into their offerings. And in my testing here I had to rotate in a second planar IEM into the test group side-by-sides…….to use it as an extra example of planar technology…….to see if I wasn’t just making all this up. So in conclusion, and after thorough testing the KZ PR1 HIFI finds its place in the lineup, not really a bad IEM, but not really the best style either. Though this testing example I have tried to be complete and fair, I have given the KZ PR1 HIFI enough burn-in as well as ample chances to prove its worth, I have used multiple music genres and multiple amplifiers, I have tried multiple cables and multiple ear-tips too. And while the build and fitment of the PR1 HIFI is great, and singularly one of the best ever…….there is more to an IEM…..and that more takes supreme importance in sound quality. We all have our favorites of the IEM stable which don’t always fit fantastic, but sound wonderful, you know which ones I’m talking about. KZ is close on this one……I hope to see the company join the success stories of other planar manufactures, embracing this now popular form of driver technology, as it seems they got halfway there with the PR1 HIFI……..just not all the way.
Here they are:
$70.00
https://www.linsoul.com/products/kz-pr1?variant=43415897506009
Free shipping and one year warranty when you order from Linsoul.
Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com/
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A267P2DT104U3C
Disclaimer:
I want to thank Kareena of Linsoul for the love and the KZ PR1 HIFI Universal IEM review sample.
Disclaimer:
These are one persons ideas and concepts, your results may vary.
Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
UA3 Dongle DAC/Amplifier 4.4mm