KZ ZEX Review - ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
Disclaimer: This unit was provided to me by kzearphone.ph in exchange for my honest opinions for this IEM. Your mileage may vary.
๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
Pin Type: 0.75mm 2-Pin
Driver Configuration: 1 Dynamic Driver + 1 Magneto-static Driver
Frequency: 20Hz ~ 40kHz
Impedance: 25ฮฉ
Sensitivity: 103dB/mW
Sources Used: Zishan U1 (ES9038Q2M), Sony NW-A55 (Walkman One, Neutral Tuning)
๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
To be honest it's has been a long time since I had a KZ IEM, the last KZ IEM that I had is the KZ EDX which I already sold. I also placed an order for the Pro version of it, but the parcel was lost by the courier. We all have such unlucky times. I was given opportunity when KZ has contacted me and asked if I want to review one of their latest releases which is the KZ ZEX. I would like to thank kzearphone.ph for the opportunity to review the KZ ZEX. Now onto the review!
๐๐๐๐ค๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
I think by now we are all familiar with the packaging KZ has in their budget lineup. It's the usual KZ unboxing experience. Simple does it, right?
Now onto the ear tips. I find it weird that the ear tips that was on the earpiece is the usual KZ Starline ear tips. But inside the packaging is a different set of eartips, different from the usual KZ Starline ear tips. And I find the fit of the new eartips to be horrendous. I find it hard to fit it in my ears as they don't provide a secure seal and proper insertion. So I tip-rolled and settled with Final Audio Type E Eartips for the entirety of this review.
On the bright side, we can see that there is improvement on the stock cable of the KZ ZEX. Instead of the old 4-core twisted braid cable, they now opted to a simpler looking SPC cable. Some may prefer the old cable, but to me I prefer the new cable compared to the old one. It feels really sturdy and has a simple look. Now the question is will this cable oxidize after some time, seeing that this is a SPC-like cable? That's a question only time can answer.
The build of the earpieces of the KZ ZEX is very good. It has a metal front plate with like powder finish, so it's not a fingerprint and dirt magnet. As for the body of the IEM is a translucent black plastic, it allows you to have a peek in the insides of the KZ ZEX. The nozzle of the KZ ZEX has a thin nozzle, so you have to keep this in mind when tip-rolling. Using a ear tip that has a wide bore may result with ear tips getting stuck inside your ears when you remove the earpiece out of your ear. Only use ear tips that can securely fit in the nozzle of the KZ ZEX.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
Sound Signature: V-shaped sound signature. Not overly aggressive recession in mids. Very easy to drive even with phone alone.
Bass: I find the bass of the KZ ZEX to be tight and punchy. With adequate sub-bass enough to be felt, but lacking the sub-bass rumble. While the mid-bass has definitely more presence as it is forward and has more heft to it, its not over-dominant and well controlled throughout the spectrum. Details is well retained as bass instruments can be easily defined. Overall very good controlled bass.
Mids: The recession of the mids in the KZ ZEX is not as aggressive as most V-shaped IEMs in the market. Meaning the mids manages to remain detailed with adequate body for it to not become to be thin sounding in the ears. Vocals and instruments sounds natural and clean, average separation with no signs of congestion. There is more emphasis that is being put to in the upper mids, making the mids vivid and lively.
Treble: Corresponding with the signature, the treble is elevated. It is natural and smooth sounding, though lacking in sparkle in the upper treble. Nevertheless still very enjoyable with decent amount of details.
Soundstage and Imaging: Average soundstage and intimate sounding. It's like when you're in a stage and the performers are in front of you, the stage is more focused right in front of you making it much more engaging to the ears. Whilst separation is well done with instruments can be clearly identified, imaging on the other hand falls behind it, sometimes failing to discern where and instruments are coming from specially in some busy tracks.
๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Overall, KZ did a really good job with their first attempt to have an IEM with a magnetostat driver. It is indeed KZ's typical preferred signature which is V-shaped, but I can definitely hear that the tuning on this one is much more refined compared to their releases before. Out of many KZ IEMs that I've tried before, I only liked the KZ ED16 and the KZ EDX. Now the KZ ZEX will join the ranks of KZ IEMs that I personally like. I hope that KZ's will follow this trend and release more refined products from now on. Thank you for reading! If you have any questions, comments, opinions that you want to share, put it in the comment section below.
Links (Non-affiliated):
https://shopee.ph/kzearphone.ph
#KZZEX #kzhifi #kzofficial #KZAudio #ElectrostaticEarphone #Earphone
Disclaimer: This unit was provided to me by kzearphone.ph in exchange for my honest opinions for this IEM. Your mileage may vary.
๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
Pin Type: 0.75mm 2-Pin
Driver Configuration: 1 Dynamic Driver + 1 Magneto-static Driver
Frequency: 20Hz ~ 40kHz
Impedance: 25ฮฉ
Sensitivity: 103dB/mW
Sources Used: Zishan U1 (ES9038Q2M), Sony NW-A55 (Walkman One, Neutral Tuning)
๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
To be honest it's has been a long time since I had a KZ IEM, the last KZ IEM that I had is the KZ EDX which I already sold. I also placed an order for the Pro version of it, but the parcel was lost by the courier. We all have such unlucky times. I was given opportunity when KZ has contacted me and asked if I want to review one of their latest releases which is the KZ ZEX. I would like to thank kzearphone.ph for the opportunity to review the KZ ZEX. Now onto the review!
๐๐๐๐ค๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
I think by now we are all familiar with the packaging KZ has in their budget lineup. It's the usual KZ unboxing experience. Simple does it, right?
Now onto the ear tips. I find it weird that the ear tips that was on the earpiece is the usual KZ Starline ear tips. But inside the packaging is a different set of eartips, different from the usual KZ Starline ear tips. And I find the fit of the new eartips to be horrendous. I find it hard to fit it in my ears as they don't provide a secure seal and proper insertion. So I tip-rolled and settled with Final Audio Type E Eartips for the entirety of this review.
On the bright side, we can see that there is improvement on the stock cable of the KZ ZEX. Instead of the old 4-core twisted braid cable, they now opted to a simpler looking SPC cable. Some may prefer the old cable, but to me I prefer the new cable compared to the old one. It feels really sturdy and has a simple look. Now the question is will this cable oxidize after some time, seeing that this is a SPC-like cable? That's a question only time can answer.
The build of the earpieces of the KZ ZEX is very good. It has a metal front plate with like powder finish, so it's not a fingerprint and dirt magnet. As for the body of the IEM is a translucent black plastic, it allows you to have a peek in the insides of the KZ ZEX. The nozzle of the KZ ZEX has a thin nozzle, so you have to keep this in mind when tip-rolling. Using a ear tip that has a wide bore may result with ear tips getting stuck inside your ears when you remove the earpiece out of your ear. Only use ear tips that can securely fit in the nozzle of the KZ ZEX.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
Sound Signature: V-shaped sound signature. Not overly aggressive recession in mids. Very easy to drive even with phone alone.
Bass: I find the bass of the KZ ZEX to be tight and punchy. With adequate sub-bass enough to be felt, but lacking the sub-bass rumble. While the mid-bass has definitely more presence as it is forward and has more heft to it, its not over-dominant and well controlled throughout the spectrum. Details is well retained as bass instruments can be easily defined. Overall very good controlled bass.
Mids: The recession of the mids in the KZ ZEX is not as aggressive as most V-shaped IEMs in the market. Meaning the mids manages to remain detailed with adequate body for it to not become to be thin sounding in the ears. Vocals and instruments sounds natural and clean, average separation with no signs of congestion. There is more emphasis that is being put to in the upper mids, making the mids vivid and lively.
Treble: Corresponding with the signature, the treble is elevated. It is natural and smooth sounding, though lacking in sparkle in the upper treble. Nevertheless still very enjoyable with decent amount of details.
Soundstage and Imaging: Average soundstage and intimate sounding. It's like when you're in a stage and the performers are in front of you, the stage is more focused right in front of you making it much more engaging to the ears. Whilst separation is well done with instruments can be clearly identified, imaging on the other hand falls behind it, sometimes failing to discern where and instruments are coming from specially in some busy tracks.
๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Overall, KZ did a really good job with their first attempt to have an IEM with a magnetostat driver. It is indeed KZ's typical preferred signature which is V-shaped, but I can definitely hear that the tuning on this one is much more refined compared to their releases before. Out of many KZ IEMs that I've tried before, I only liked the KZ ED16 and the KZ EDX. Now the KZ ZEX will join the ranks of KZ IEMs that I personally like. I hope that KZ's will follow this trend and release more refined products from now on. Thank you for reading! If you have any questions, comments, opinions that you want to share, put it in the comment section below.
Links (Non-affiliated):
https://shopee.ph/kzearphone.ph
#KZZEX #kzhifi #kzofficial #KZAudio #ElectrostaticEarphone #Earphone