Knowledge Zenith (KZ) ZEX

KZ ZEX delivers quality treble performance and a powerful punchy bass response. The look of the ZEX is awesome. I purchase zex at the price of 1949 from conceptkart, this model coming just under 2000 rs gives a punch performance with a smooth and energetic sound tuning.

Sometimes you meet new people and immediately start to love them. This occurs in a state of psycho-emotional uplift. With this person, you quickly find common topics, you listen to each other, you develop sympathy for him (I'm not talking about sex...it could just be friendly sympathy). Such a quick fascination often ends in a breakup, as soon as you begin to get to know the person better, his true face

True and loyal friends come into your life differently, at work, with negativity or without apparent sympathy for you...

Today's hero is an example of such a friend. He does not promise all the best, although he looks like a glamorous and deceiving comrade

The design is very beautiful, a little catchy because of the pink gilding (there are other colors), but personally I like this color the most, it gives the personality of this model

The overall sound is reminiscent of CCA NRA, but with a slight difference in tonality, but I can barely pick it up

The sound turned out to be balanced for two drivers, single DD and single Electrostat. The high frequencies have an incipient layering, the middle has a pronounced texture, the bass is of medium depth, but has a good weight

These hybrids are a great find for those who want new hybrids, but have a hard time with the BA sound. Here, the treble is finely detailed for the price, but lacks the peaks that some people can very painfully tolerate

This is the bottom rung of Hi-Fi, but the rung that will guide you in the right direction

In the process of photographing, I dropped ZEX several times on a granite tile from a height of 1 meter, on the ZEX not that there were no chips, but even scratches, there were no traces on the gold faceplate either. Recently I dropped expensive IEMs on the same tile, the result was sad. Therefore, as for the IEM for $20, they are very durable, like everything that KZ/ CCA is currently producing now

Now on the market, ZEX have many competitors, both in price and in sound. But you will no longer find absolutely the same character of sound on the market, it is in the sound of ZEX and NRA that there is some kind of invisible charm, velvet and lamp-like

Shells have a very ergonomic shape, small size, 95% of people will fit. The supplied cable is very simple, but reliable, it is advisable to change it right away. If you swap it out for something over $15, you will feel a slight boost in sound quality, treble reproduction, tighter bass, and cleaner mids. I recommend Silver Plated Copper Cable for ZEX, not Pure Copper

In conclusion, I will only say that 15 years ago I could not even dream of such a sound for $20. Brands such as KZ offer the opportunity to take the audiophile path in exchange for little money. They also have more expensive solutions, but we will not talk about them today. ZEX is a real non-expensive nugget without gold (okay, there are a couple of microns of gold on the contacts lol). By purchasing ZEX or NRA you will not regret it

Remember, true friends come quietly, but they shine for a lifetime

Appreciate the small and you will touch the great ©

Link to store:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HH9271K

#KZzex #KZearphones #KZiem @KZearphones

When I heard kz will have magnetostatic driver hybrid iem I got excited , I waited patiently for the beautiful pink color which took a while to come out probably in demand the most . The when I saw the right moment I ordered it from here : https://kz-audio.com/kz-zex.html. it came in a week and when I got it I opened it asap and took pictures and listen to it. Accessories are minimum which is what I like and build quality is great , tips are ok medium density and efficiency is good too.



Sound:



Bass: the bass on the composite DD is deep and flexible with tight midbass and great texture , I don't hear any subbbass roll-off so that's nice and bass doesn't bleed into midrange. Bass quantity will depend on the recording , can be balanced one time and powerfully big the next.



Midrange: the midrange is flat and even with both male and female vocal on same level , the mids are open and clear , can also be intimate depending on song , can be recessed almost depending on song too.instruments have weight and texture and can be felt.



Treble : the treble is extended and crispy , it has weight and texture too . Treble can sound open and near depending on song as well and smooth or crispy depending on song too . I haven't found it peaky yet even on bad recording.



Conclusion: kz has been coming out with awesome releases lately and also listening to the community to improve on any problems that people have with there products if any . The zex is one example of great value and sound on a budget with breaking the bank

KZ ZEX - The Modest Performer​

For a start, this is yet another "Magnastatic" masquerading falsely as an Electrostatic unit. Clearly evident there's no Electrostatic tech being used here with the absence of proper 200-590v energizer a legitimate Electrostatic needed to produce sound. ChiFi producers should really do proper marketing not to confuse the consumers base with less than accurate information. Just use Magnastatic and be done with it.

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However I will concede that at the very least KZ implementation of Magnastat is something of a marvel. Intended to cater for higher frequencies while the companion Dynamic Driver does the lower registers.

Now, before I proceed any further, the reason this KZ ZEX gets a 5/5 ranking from me is simple. With the asking price of just $20, this thing delivers the quality I have heard from IEMs in the $150-230 range. And this largely attributed to a very simple tweak that involve pairing it with the right tips and matching sources. After tinkering with TONS of tips for good three days I settled with Misodiko Mix460 (which is a shameless ripoff of Symbio Orange). Believe me I rolled like insane amount of tips from KZ Foams to KZ Reverse Starlines to piles of multiple branded silicone tips...

Tips Assessment​

KZ Stock Silicones:
Utterly hopeless and useless for my ears, prone to Mid-Bass bleed, confined boxed in Soundstage with fuzzy imaging.

KZ Foam Tips:
Much better presentation with Mid-Bass behaving better and less overpowering into other frequencies. Soundstage improved slightly with better sense of layering, separation and imaging.

Misodiko Mix460:
And the ZEX is transformed into something which is beyond my expectation. With amazing articulation on both end of the spectrum. Bass and Treble offering crisp and smooth presentation I would normally associate with much more expensive IEMs. The Mids being brought a little bit forward than stock which now transformed this natively soft V Curve ZEX into a moderate W Curve unit.

So this is where the essence of my following impressions are based on. With the magical synergy of Misodiko Mix460 tips (or Symbio if you happen to have them).

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Timbre, Tonality, Dynamics:​

The default tuning for ZEX is a soft V Curve with warm organic timbre. It is markedly warmer than the popular sibling of KZ EDX. What I do like about ZEX from the get go is how well balanced it is with tonality, it does not sound artificial, nasal or unnaturally shouty, nor does it ended up being bass heavy or dark. In fact with the current setup that I have for my ZEX, I daresay it is pretty much natural balanced (with slight boost in Mid-Bass). Note weight felt just about right with no emphasis on being thick or thin. Dynamic wise it is surprisingly competent with admirable density and depth. Dynamic Range extends far on both ends especially when driven by equally competent sources like the CEntrance DACport HD and Questyle M12. It is as vibrant as it can be without being overly cooked like many other "energetic" or "euphonic" IEMs. There's maturity in Dynamic transients that keep things polished enough to contribute to overall coherence.

Treble, Mids, Bass:​

Even with less than stellar sources like my Sony Xperia Z5 Compact and Xiaomi Redmi 10, I can audibly recognize the quality of three frequencies.

Treble perhaps will be considered as a bit more subdued for those enjoying sparkly bright presentation, however it does not mean ZEX is a slacker. Even at low listening levels I was able to hear subtly extended Treble nuances with crisp and smooth decays, not as extended as how I prefer it but it also mean the roll-off also provide the foundation for ZEX being less likely to induce Treble fatigue. It is just smooth and pleasing - most importantly it does not sound metallic or artificial. There's ample Treble details and texture to please even an Etymotic and Shure/STAX Electrostatic geek like me. It reminds me a lot to Etymotic ER2XR Treble (with Red Filter setup on the Etys). Yet again this largely depends also on how competent the source is. I get the most technically crisp Treble from Questyle M12 and the most polished presentation out of DACport HD. Avani on the other hand delivers close to 90% of what the M12 capable of and Abigail 80% of what the DACport HD delivers.

Mids, with the Misodiko tips it is a bit more forward now and no longer felt recessed. ZEX passed with flying colors with my favorite Soprano vocalist, Alison Krauss. Her vocal being very shrill and piercing, can easily sound nasal on less than ideal listening devices. But ZEX performed admirably and even at her highest peak, Alison remained sweet and sharp. The same can be said of Diana Krall's Contralto vocals which is the exact opposite of Alison. Warm and deep without any hint of coloration. Can almost feel her breath on several songs. Somewhere in the middle, Sinne Eeg sang gloriously natural and crisp, again no hint of coloration or sibilance on upper Mids. Instruments wise I would say ZEX did it right by being transparent to the intended tonality. Perhaps a touch of warmth to the attack and decays and this could be perceived by some as lacking clinical resolution, but to me it simply mean ZEX is not overdoing it. ZEX opted to be a bit more musical here. However, a pleasant surprise when paired with my most technical dongle of Questyle M12, suddenly there's that crisp clinical precision which I find rather enjoyable as well, especially for critical listening sessions. ZEX remained largely musical on the other three of my dongles (DACport HD, Avani and Abigail)

Bass, now this is the sort of Bass that I can tolerate. Being a DF Neutral junkie for ages I am so accustomed to Etytmotic flat Bass responses and have been having hard time adjusting to many other IEMs due to overly euphonic Bass responses. KZ ZEX Bass is surprisingly so tantalizingly enjoyable to my ears. Well, with the stock tips (or most Silicone tips) I will admit that the Mid-Bass presence is a bit over the line. There's bleeding of Mid-Bass into Sub-Bass region and lower Mids. Which in turn can make things a bit fuzzy overall. In my case, this partially solved with the use of KZ Slow Rebound foam tips which dampens the bass resonance (it absorbs instead of reverbing it back like what a silicone tip would do). With the Misodiko tips, everything sounded proper to my ears now. Mid-Bass well behaved and still offering ample rumble and punch, but not sacrificing the Sub-Bass or interfering with lower Mids. All in all I would have wish for longer Sub-Bass decays but at this point I decided not to complain too much about it, if I am not nitpicking then I settled for the crisper but shorter version of it. If I want crisp, smooth and super extended Bass then I just switch over to my Shure KSE1500 or FOSTEX T40RP MK3.

Technicalities:​

Whatever it is that KZ is doing, they are doing it right. Hearing how notorious it was with the early iteration of KZ products it is hard to imagine something like ZEX exists. Let's start with the older sibling of KZ EDX, I mean the later generation of KZ EDX. The most prominent element I observed was how SPEEDY the driver is with that single DD. And I am seeing the very same thing here with ZEX. Both the Magnastat and DD being competently fast and agile. This agility allowed them to work in unison and harmony with each other, responding deftly to resolve even the most complex of passages without breaking sweat. Maintaining coherence while the speed ascends is no small feat to achieve. ZEX must be acknowledged for this accomplishment. ZEX is equally competent to handle even tracks exceeding 200 Beats Per Minute (BPM). It is easy to test this. Just play some speedy Black/Trash Metal tracks with layered guitar tremolos coupled with thundering blast beats drumming. A slow driver will result in those songs sounding outright muddy. But not ZEX, ZEX remained cool and composed under those conditions.

Soundstage for ZEX is pretty much underwhelming in width and depth with the stock setup. This is due to the design of the nozzle which is notably longer than the other IEMs I have in my collection. In fact it is almost as long as the Etymotic EVO nozzle hahaha. A long nozzle means that the projection of sound will be closer to to the ear drums, this does not help with portraying sense of space and depth. So yet again this was fixed with the right pairing of tips to reflect the biology of the listener ears. For me the Misodiko and Shallow Foam does the trick. On top of that it also depends on the capacity of the source to lay the foundation of staging. I get the widest soundstage with DACport HD and Abigail. The most confined boxed soundstage with my two Android phones 3.5mm output, and intimate presentation with Avani.

Imaging and layering depends largely as well with the tips selection and source pairing. The most precise and clinical when driven with Questyle M12 and followed by Avani, so I suspect with the likes of ASUS ROG Clavis, TempoTec Sonata E44 and HD Pro similar results can be obtained (all of which being technically sharp with imaging). But again it depends the most with the tips - and I am already repeating this more than I care to count (sorry).

ZEX is no slacker when it comes to details and transparency. Despite being natively warmer sounding, it does not cloud the resolution. Details are not as pronounced as how other bright sounding IEMs would, the bright sparkly nature often being perceived as "details". Much similar to TForce Yuan Li, the details comes subtle and smooth, it is not in your face kind of details.

Scalability:​

KZ ZEX is astonishingly easy to drive. Even with my two Android phones I can actually enjoy it just as it is. But when paired with more competent sources and amplification, ZEX scale up admirably. The pinnacle of fidelity during my 1 week testing of this ZEX being driven by the 18V VE Run About Plus 5 (RAP5) + Dongles. In this setup the entirety of sound spectrum just bloomed naturally offering very wide sense of space and precise layering. Dynamics presented super effortless and with smoothness to die for. It's just plain eargasm.


- On the other aspect of scalability, I did quick swap of cables and observed that the stock SPC is more than enough to provide the SQ I deemed satisfying. To scale further from that state it will need to be swapped with a Litz OCC based cable like the TACables Obsidian. This Obsidian can be quite finicky with pairing partner but it does jive well with ZEX. Offering marginal improvements on transparency and crispiness. With Kinera Leyding, the overall sound remained similar to the stock SPC with a touch of smoother warmth and better sense of space. But yes otherwise I used the stock cable for 80% of the time.

Epilogue​

If you are still reading by this point, then it is evident why I like this ZEX so very much. A $20 IEM that offers so much potential for tweaking to suit the listener's taste. If I want my ZEX to sound super warm and fuzzy, I can simply just swap to some large bore silicone tips and thick OFC copper cable - driven by an equally warm source. If I want it to be clinical and sharp, swap in narrow bore short tips and Litz compound cables with native ESS Sabre based DAC. And it is entirely possible to balance things out in between - being musical, organic yet technically competent. ZEX is super flexible and does not require crazy level of modding as per demanded from the likes of KZ EDX. For this review I spent the entire week with my ZEX, each day 6-8 hours trying different combinations and situations. Very rarely would ZEX disappoint me with the tweaks subjected to it.

My ZEX was provided to me by KZ directly, on a condition that I am free to say what I want. And I am keeping this one for good. Replacing my own personal unit of KZ EDX and QKZ VK4. Being a minimalist I keep only what I use, I can already see myself giving away my modded EDX, QKZ VK4 and modded TRN-MT1 because none of them would be able to compete against what ZEX offers. (I already gave away my KBEAR Aurora, CCA NRA, BQEYZ Spring 1, Moondrop Aria, HZSOUND Heart Mirror, CCZ Melody and CCZ Emerald). Yep KZ ZEX is here to stay.....until I find another budget gem to amuse me better.

#kz #kzhifi #kzzex #zex

PS:

For Malaysian and ASEAN based consumers, best to get the ZEX directly from their official store. This is to ensure less likeliness of variation issues with bad samples ( we all know how notorious ChiFi stuffs is on this one) I got mine from here:

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https://shopee.com.my/KZ-ZEX-Electr...trostatic-and-Dynamic-i.345920859.11552840977

KZ ZEX
U-shaped, lively, fun sounding. The iems are easy to drive. Most of all bang for buck.
A quick disclaimer;
The contents of this review are from the limit of my hearing capacity, tools and devices used, and insights about the iem. Please take my opinions as a grain of salt as your mileage may vary.

Bass;
mid bass has good clarity and enough body to be emphasized when listening
the sub-bass is present when needed and has a good rumble
the bass has presence but the thump is well controlled and rounded.(3 am by ALEX, Rún by Skàld, Kimi to lu Hana by AKG)
4/5
Soundstage, Clarity, and Separation
ZEX has a good separation Of instruments on tracks that are not very busy(Wagakki Band; Aria of Life,
there is also this distinct separation on the presentation on some tracks where the guitar will be isolated on a certain part of the imaginary sound room(mostly right bud) Which gives the ZEX an engaging implementation.
The soundstage is good, airy, and has a wide horizontal rendition. The clarity is above average. The minor sounds in tracks that have background sounds are very audible.(Small hours by John Martin)
4/5
Mids:
Voices sound natural, with audible separation in the lead and second vocals. clarity is above average, you can hear every detail in the vocals like breathing timing and vibratos(Junk Fujiyama's cover of Homura) . But rendition of voices are about average, lacking a bit on the emotion rendition missing some rings that create the signature of the test songs used(Anri's Last summer whisper, Cat's eye, Tanaka Yuri's cover of Amaotoha Chopin no shirabe, and Tokai, Taeko Ohnuki's Tokai and Kusuri wo takusan, Tatsuro Yamashita's Sparkle, Your eyes). But these are compensated by the beautiful presentation of instruments. Slightly recessed but clear, due to the U-shaped tuning.
3.5/5
Treble;
The highs are present, there is little to none in the sibilance section of the highs. Although, the highs tend to be a bit fast in decay this is compensated with how the highs are presented by the iems. (You've got to have freedom by Pharaoh sanders) The sparkles due to the fast decay tend to be a little bit short but acceptable.
4/5
Pricing and Quality;
ZEX is one of the new products by KZ. For KZ's range of products, it sits in the middle entry-level iems. With that said, this is a huge improvement from their previous products. The finish of the ZEX screams premium without the high price tag. Again, I believe these iems are targeted to the consumers that want to take a peek i to the Hi-Fi without breaking the bank. KZ sure has outdone themselves in this product. With the low price at this performance, this is indeed a bang for buck iem. For entry-level, to mid-level (who wishes to explore and enjoy) crowd this iem is a gem.
5/5
Overall score: 4/5
If you are interested you can buy the iem from their stores.

Workarounds:

Tip Rolling

Orthofon Tips - Apparent clarity was opened up, with a slight boost in the treble region, well-controlled bass.

Final E Wide bore - Mids became slightly forward with a slight boost in apparent clarity of the mids. The sub-bass became a bit stronger for my tastes.

Final E Tips - Mids became slightly forward with a slight boost in apparent clarity. Controlled bass.

For Philippines, Shopee Philippines store
https://shopee.ph/kzearphone.ph?smtt=0.0.9

For International Buyers, Amazon store
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HH9271K

KZ ZEX Review - 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞

Disclaimer: This unit was provided to me by kzearphone.ph in exchange for my honest opinions for this IEM. Your mileage may vary.

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Pin Type: 0.75mm 2-Pin

Driver Configuration: 1 Dynamic Driver + 1 Magneto-static Driver

Frequency: 20Hz ~ 40kHz

Impedance: 25Ω

Sensitivity: 103dB/mW

Sources Used: Zishan U1 (ES9038Q2M), Sony NW-A55 (Walkman One, Neutral Tuning)

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

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!

𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

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.



𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

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.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

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

Review: KZ-ZEX Disclaimer:
This product is sent by KZ Official store, but in not anyway the review will be biased.
Only honest and based on my experience. Listening experience may vary. Out of the box: Good looking. The black color really suits the metal faceplate on this IEM.

- V-shaped sounding for me, as usual. But boy, i was in for a surprise.
- Knowledge Zenith, or KZ implemented a new set of drivers called "Magnetostat" Drivers.
- Easy to drive. Really easy. I've tried this bare on my phone, with a dongle, and a dap.
- Mids are a bit recessed. - Vocals are clear, specially female tracks.
- When i said i was in for a surprise, Kz surprised me on the tuning of these. Kz's budget items like the kz zsn pro has aggressive tuning, and that makes the experience uncomfortable at longer periods.
- There is still a noticeable "shouty" treble, but it is negligible and is a lot better. Good job Kz!
- Compared to Zsn Pro, Zsn Pro X, Zs10 Pro, I would pick this any day.
- Nozzle is a bit narrow for me. Could be better next time
- Stock tips are better than the black ones, but still not my taste of choice. Tried with Final E tips. They're better for me.
- Bassheads may or may not like this. The bass is "boomy" more than "punchy"
- I believe this will shine so better with a colorful source. I tried with AP80 and it was really dry.
Build: Quality: Price, Affordability: Overall:
Thoughts: If you're looking for a starter iem, can never go wrong. Great for the price.
KZ You can purchase this at: https://shopee.ph/kzearphone.ph?smtt=0.0.9

Today we're going to review KZ's latest release on their budget lineup, the KZ-ZEX. I was quite fascinated by these because they have these cool faceplate and good color options and I got the Rosegold one to make things different
since this color way is new to KZ.

DISCLAIMER : THIS IS NOT A PAID REVIEW AND EVERYTHING HERE IS MY HONEST OPINION ON KZ'S IEM. THIS IS A REVIEW UNIT SENT BY KZ. Thank you so much KZ!

Build : ZEX has aluminium faceplates with a smooth matte finish and resin shells with a Dynamic driver + "electrostatic" hybrid drivers as well. What I don't like here is the nozzle especially the mesh cover since it looks thin but at least these solves the issue that some nozzles seem to pop out on some KZ models. I still like the metal mesh though.

Accessories : The unboxing experience with these pair comes with your average KZ packaging. Inside the box we have 3 pairs of silicone tips, and 1 attached to the unit itself which I recommend you to change because I did not like it myself. However, the new release of KZ's unit comes with these incredibly made cable unlike the braided one that comes with their older models, this is quite an upgrade of quality. This review unit came with a free foam tip as well.



Lows
The bass is punchy. Midbass bleed on the sub-bass and lower mids sections which make it sound fuzzy and warm especially on busier tracks.
These are probably one of KZ's best IEM with good and behaved bass when paired with good tips. Although, the stock tips are already good enough.
Mids
ZEX had surprisingly good mids especially on female and acoustic tracks, it has more emphasis on the upper mids without sounding too harsh to the ears. Lower mids can sound a bit thick and warm due to the mid-bass bleeding but it is not enough to make it sound muffled and still well presents well. It is actually rare to find these kind of mids on its budget range.
Highs
The highs on ZEX are rolled-off compared to their ZSN Series making these pair much more forgiving but detail retrieval is lesser on the treble region. But hey! At least you don't have to suffer from fatigue and harshness. ZEX has that crispy and smooth treble that doesn't sound fatiguing. So far, I haven't experienced sibilance on these pair especially when you use foam tips. I can use these pair for hours without fatigue.

Soundstage : KZ ZEX has wide and well-rounded soundstage making it very surprising for an IEM so cheap to have this wide stage.

Imaging : Has average imaging, struggles on busy tracks. But is clean enough to pick out the positions for each instruments.

Isolation : Little to no environmental noise, very great isolation. No sound leaks can be heard as well. Very great for commuting if you hate hearing the busy bustling of the city life.



To conclude this review, ZEX is a good piece made by KZ and a great buy to those who wanted an affordable IEM. Sturdy build, good cables, and amazing sound that you can buy that won't break your bank. I am currently using this as my main driver when commuting and it dos block out all the environmental noise and it looks good too! Good job for making this amazing and affordable IEM, KZ!

Once upon a time, in a very far galaxy I’ve decided to try out the new for the time brand in IEMs – Knowledge Zenith. It happened around 3-4 years ago and the unit was KZ ED16. I was never willing to try anything from this brand since than. Why? KZ ED16 turned out too piercing for me on treble, with highly accented V-shaped signature, holding quite bad against its rivals those days.

Although, time goes by, KZ has grown significantly, right to the point that I can easily purchase most of its products in local audio store of my country (Ukraine). Furthermore, lots of talks about this brand, lots of users and fans, lots of reviews and posts. Heard many good things lately which has inspired me to accept the last call from KZ reps to review their recent product. I also cannot forget the fact that KZ was founded by an engineer that worked for Audio Technica and whose idea was to develop affordable high-quality IEMs for masses. Such initiatives are the main driving force for implementing various technologies that once were unattainable in personal applications and making those much cheaper.

All of that is the reason to give KZ another chance with their new IEMs – ZEX. Another reason for me personally – it would be the first hybrid model in my practice that uses dynamic driver for mids and lows together with electrostatic unit for treble. Tried everything – armature, dynamic, piezo, planar – but never had an opportunity to play with electrostatic drivers yet. Let’s see how it goes…



KZ ZEX specs:

• Model: ZEX
• Drivers: 10mm diaphragm, dual magnetic dynamic unit + 6.8mm low voltage electrostatic unit
• FR Range: 20Hz – 40KHz
• Impedance: 25Ohms
• Sensitivity: 103dB
• Passive noise reduction: 26dB
• Cable: detachable, 2-pin, 0.75mm
• Cable options: mic, no mic
• Plug: 3.5mm
• Materials: zinc alloy + resin
• Colors: rose gold, black, graphite

Note: electrostatic drivers are still quite rare in IEMs for its complexity, power draw and cost. In terms of sound, such drivers are more accurate, producing more details, have very fast transient speed, almost no distortions and inertia. In fact, KZ might be declared a pioneer in the field of mass hybrid IEMs with such type of driver involved.



Packaging and design:

I admire how KZ packs its IEMs. Boxes are small, yet neat, rigid and cute at the same time. Whole packaging consists of outer wrap layer with product graphics, information and logos. Inner box has a transparent cover on the facing side for extra protection. IEMs rest in dedicated cutouts of soft foam layer, all accessories located underneath. This bundle includes:

• KZ ZEX IEMs
• audio cable with 3,5mm SE plug
• 4 pairs of silicone tips
• short user manual

KZ ZEX IEMs shells consist of zinc alloy facing plate cover, transparent resin middle insert and base with output nozzle. Those are the first IEMs ever in my hands which shells consist of three parts. My guess for such structure is the modular approach in KZ design to reach some degree of versality and save R&D cost by sharing same shell parts across different models.



Zinc alloy plates look gorgeous, feels like aluminum and contain machined KZ logo and folds as central design elements. This plate have different color options (rose gold, graphite, black) and mine is graphite. Middle resin insert is transparent with blue tint and holds 2-pin cable connector. My opinion, that having such protruding type of connector is more reliable rather than drowned one since it is more convenient to aim and the pins on the cable are protected by outer guiding housings.



Truthfully speaking, middle insert feels a bit odd in this shell compound (tint is a way off), as if it was deposited from another model. Nevertheless, it perfectly fits the shape and exposes the internals which are accurately accomplished. Soldering looks neat, cables moved apart, both drivers sit straight at their places. The only untidiness spotted are the signs of glue that keep shell parts together. It doesn’t worry me much since there is no influence on the sound. Resin base is transparent as well but has brown/gray tint with quite long protruding molded output nozzles which are covered with aluminum mesh. Found single compensational opening between the top zinc cover and middle insert.



KZ ZEX fit is quite comfortable and tight. Guess why the most of KZ IEMs are having similar “custom”-like design… I had around 100 pairs of IEMs by now and can tell you for sure that this shape in a combination with ear hooks is the most universal one. Nothing to worry about here.



Stock cable have two options: mic/no mic and considering the price of ZEX IEMs I would say that mic version is more reasonable – most of the people would use ZEX everyday and it would be more convenient to have the ability to answer calls. Anyway, cable seems to be built pretty well, connectors and plug has the necessary cable protection, claimed to be gold-plated and feels durable. Definitely, not a competitor to expensive thick twisted upgrade cables with lots of mixed silver/copper strands but interchangeable and seems good for this budget, at least.

In overall, the design, even though not having much unique details, didn’t disappoint either. Moreover, I would say that there are some much more expensive IEMs with less accurate crafting and cheaper feel. Therefore, I am giving it 10 out of 10. Shape is perfect, so is the fit, cable looks nice and durable, bundle is regular for any kind of budget and the packaging is one of the most logistics-friendly and optimal for this type of a product. Believe me, when you keep around 100 pairs of IEMs on the shelf – this parameter is vital indeed. I could have stored four times as much if all IEMs packaging were similar.



Sound:

Tested with: Hidizs AP80, HiBy R5, Dethonray Prelude DTR1+ DAPs, xDuoo MT602 tube amp.

Lows and midbass:

Deep bass is large with high amount of textures. Bass amount and presence are quite overwhelming and higly accentuated. Сontouring of midbass is very precise, good layering allows to distinguish different instruments performing in this range. Subbass reaches good depth and have quite good decay speed. Lows remind of full-sized closed-back headphones with slightly congested but powerful presentation. This range has the most weight in overall sound picture. Midbass section is adequately articulated, full-bodied, perfectly detailed and powerful. Drum sections sound pretty natural, creating a good feel of overall dynamics.



Mids and vocals:

Mids are less upfront than lows. Male vocals sound a bit thin and more distant than female ones which adds more emphasis on clarity and emotional appeal. Resolution is enough but there is feeling that it is achieved artificially but emphasizing lower-treble. Still voices, strings and blow instruments sound pretty impressive. There is no excessive harshness on upper mids which I didn’t like in KZ ED16, but the sound is still prone to sibilance, especially on female vocals. At the same time, such tuning adds the exceptional clarity to most of the instruments in this range which also brings good layering, instrument separation and stage depth.

Treble:

The most intriguing in ZEX is its treble performance. Twofold impression there. Good are the treble micro dynamics and resolution. Bad is the limited extension and slightly weak emphasis on this range in the entire mix. Treble sounds bright and crisp, but gets shaded by lows and mids in some tracks. The transparency and brightness is highly dependent of the record. The best results were achieved with the brighter source such as AP80 DAP in jazz, rap, blues compositions (low amount of instruments, large spacing). In overall, I can admit that I was expecting more of electrostatic treble driver.



Soundstage:

ZEX show moderate stage width and good stage depth. Instrument separation and layering are good but the lack of transparency on treble and limited extension on both ends makes the stage more congested.

Sound in overall:

KZ ZEX sounds pretty well detailed, with tendency towards lows and dark tonality, emotional and resolving on mids, with impressive mid bass range and crisp but less accented treble.



Compared to…:

Actually, I have nothing to compare ZEX with for now. Most of my IEMs are far more expensive and definitely have more strength in different aspects of the sound. Perhaps, only the Hidizs Seeds that were released quite ago with single dynamic driver and discounted down to the same budget now… Seeds have less comfortable fit, integrated cable and not as resolving and heavy on bass but those are more balanced, have more delicate tuning in overall, thicker mids and more extended and airy treble (even despite it is based on single DD unit).



Conclusion:

Have KZ evolved into more respected products with more mature sound – definitely yes. Do I like it more now than 3 years ago – definitely yes. Now I can state that KZ ZEX IEMs are pretty fine for my liking, although with some rough points that I would still like KZ to polish further. Sibilance effect, emphasized V-shaped tuning, better extensions… At the same time, ZEX are impressive and sound decent on rap, jazz, blues and any other genres with limited amount of instruments. Considering this, I would tell that it is good budget choice for everyday mobile use which is actually the target for this model. Therefore – great bargain. I would still vote for something better for long and calm listening but I would definitely won’t be afraid of having ZEX as main IEMs with fun and juicy sound on the go.

KZ ZEX available at KZ official store on Amazon USA:LINK

KZ ZEX available at KZ official store on Amazon GERMANY:LINK

KZ ZEX available at KZ official store on Aliexpress:LINK

Intro

This unit was sent to my by KZ for review. However, I will not sugarcoat my impressions. An honest review will benefit both the community and the company. I will stand by that.

I do not have the professional experience of doing reviews, but I have enough reference for sound and music. I may not have heard as many iems as others, but I have heard enough to give comparisons.

First, let me tell you guys that these are not really resolving sets. The tonality is mildly v shaped with bass emphasis.

However, they have an interesting tuning, reminiscent to an old home theatre setup with surround sound 5.1 channel speakers. It has a quality that defines space. I don’t know if that description even exists..


IS IT WORTH TO BUY THEM?

-If this will be your first set, then definitely yes.

-As a gift for you girl? Yes for the pink!

-Different tuning experience? yes

-Side grade? Yes

-Upgrade from sub $20? Yes

If your question is not here, then probably a NO or maybe. Up to you.


WHAT KIND OF MUSIC IS IT GOOD AT?

1. EDM 5/5

2. Hip hop/rnb 5/5

3. Live albums 5/5

4. Pop 4.5/5

5. Kpop/jpop 4/5

6. Rock and alternative 4/5

7. Metal 3.5/5

8. Jazz n blues 3.5/5

9. Vocals 3/5


OBSERVATIONS:

My observations are based on using **** 8 core spc cables and a short flanged wide bore tips. The stock cables are said to be SPC too, but I think the quality is not that good. With the stock tips and cables, honestly, it was hard for me to write about them. The stock is not bad at all, it was just not for me because they sounded “veiled”. KZ should have included better quality cables, but from the price point, I understand this decision.


DAP &Dongles used:
-Shanling M3x (balanced and SE, linear phase and apozing filters)
-Jcally JA21
-Jcally JM04 pro
-Jcally JM20
-VE OHD


OKAY LET’S START WITH TECHNICALITIES

-because they have a role to play in every frequency spectrum I will be explaining later.

SEPARATION, STAGE, IMAGING and LAYERING

- The stage has a really good depth, width and height. It’s a kind of 3D? . The presence region gives the “space” enough definition, and it can really get engaging when you lock you ears to the vocals, tho theyre recessed.

- This kind of 3D effect in stage is present in some TOTL sets, and this is what surprised me the most. Although they are v-shaped, the airiness of space gives the mids that 3D effect, making you perceive they sound forward, but actually they are not. It really feels like you are in a home theatre setup.. I was really enjoying listening to Bon Jovi’s “Living on a prayer”. The ZEX sounded like an expensive IEM on that track.

- The imaging and separation in these are really good for the price. Although it may sound unnatural relative to mainstream tuning, but the coherency of the DD and electret driver is so well done. They weave like yinyang seamlessly. In paramore’s “my heart”, the vocals are not really intimate, they are recessed, but I can really feel her presence.

BASS

- Bass is elevated, with good texture. There is definitely enough bass body in Billie Eillish’s Bad Guy. You just feel the “oomph”. The quantity is a bit too much for my taste tho. It was hard for me to catch bass lines really. Yes there is quantity, but I can’t say much about the quality. With the stock cable, the bass bleeds to the mids, but with my **** spc, it is cleaner.

- EDM sounds really good with ZEX.

MIDS

- Again, the Mids are a bit recessed, but because of the 3D effect, they kind of float around in space. If they were just as resolving as Heart mirrors, ZEX will be the new budget king even until $100. The snare sounded dull using stock tips and cable, but improved a lot when I changed them.

TREBLE

- The treble is gentle in contrast to being edgy. The transients are not really that good. But then again that spaciousness of the stage keeps up for it. The zex catches echoes and reverbs well. Again on paramore “my heart” at 2:30 echo and 311 “I’ll be here for a while” at 1:50, I can hear those “woah woah” from keyboards well. The cymbals of “pardon me” by incubus sounded plasticky at first, but were “kindof” resolved with tip ang cable change.

SUGGESTIONS TO SOUND BETTER

-As you can see, they really benefit with tip and cable change. As for the tips, you need a short flanged wide bore tips. If you use regular flanged tips, they will be hanging on your ears because the nozzles are already long. If you want, you can also reverse the stock tips, just so that you can have enough distance from the mesh, tho they are kindof annoying every time you take them out. See pictures.





I also suggest using hiby or UAPP with them for improved clarity. Using Tidal or apple make them sound thicker.

Using balanced on my M3X brings them to another level. Overall clarity improved. Bass became tighter, vocals gained more transient response, and treble extends well. So yeah, I think it is safe to say they scale well with power.

SHOULD YOU BUY THEM?

- With all the needed tweaking to make them sound better, do you think they are worth? Well if you already have extra spc cables and tips, they are worth the try for the experience.

FINAL THOUGHTS?

These are definitely a KZ redefined, in a good way. It is a safe buy for $20, but not more than that.

Where to buy:

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/910329131

https://kz-audio.com/

https://shopee.ph/ccaofficial.ph?categoryId=100535&itemId=10962565586

Having rocked the TRN MT1s for a while, I decided to upgrade to the KZ ZEX. The KZ ZEX is an interesting IEM - it is really warm but has great vocals, albeit a little hot, with great detail retrieval. The mids are great, and the highs are really nice most of the time. It performs really well on metal and pop songs.

For the cons, there is a bit of sibilance occasionally, for example on ESCAPE PLAN. Travis Scott's voice is especially spicy on the S's. Cymbals are also handled terribly by the ZEX, at high volumes they're very spicy. This might be because I am quite treble sensitive, and if you're coming from an pair like the ZST X's, you should be fine as this is less spicy. Theres also crazy bass, which can come off as bloated sometimes depending on the song. It's hard to explain - theres a heavily extended bottom end which is overwhelming at times.

Personally, I prefer warm IEMs, but I also really enjoy a good vocal presentation. I'm both treble and bass sensitive - I have tried both the BLONs and the Tin T2s and I found them too hot or sibilant/sparkly for me. The TRN MT1s were amazing for me, not too boomy but also not sibilant, but lacking in details. Coming from that, it took a while to get used to the ZEX's highs. When listening on one ear the cymbals can sometimes drown out everything else, which made it hard to listen to but that only happens occasionally.

Overall, the ZEXs are actually quite a good pair of IEMs, when they're not sibilant. It's a very fine line, they could either have just enough treble extension to be eargasmic or just plain sibilant.


SONGS TESTED:


Sanctuary - Joji: The low end is really good this song, not extremely boomy but just warm enough to be pleasant. Joji's falsettos are controlled superbly by the ZEX, with a hint of sibilance at high volumes. Soundstage is wide for this price range.

ESCAPE PLAN - Travis Scott: Travis Scott is the archenemy of the KZ ZEX. His voice is constantly sibilant, and listening at high volumes is quite challenging due to his sibilant S's. (Although it is probably arguably fine compared to IEMs like the ZSN or EDX.)

Taman Rashidah Utama - Wings: This is a metal song which is handled exceptionally by the ZEX. All the metal songs I've tried have given very very satisfactory results, with great vocal performance. Songs like Black Sabbath's Symptom of the Universe is also very pleasing to listen to.

KZ ZEX Review!​

Disclaimer/s:

• KZ (Love Jr David) sent this review unit to me free of charge, aside from the shipping/postage fees in exchange for an unbiased, honest review. Rest assured that everything I say and write about this IEM will be true and free from any bias/es.
• No money is/was involved during and after the creation of this review.
• KZ does not have any control over anything that I am about to say in my review. My review is created, written, and owned by me and me alone.
• Your mileage may (and always will,) vary.

Source/s Used:

• Not-By-VE Avani Realtek DAC
• Samsung Galaxy S3 (WM1811 DAC)
• Realme 5i (non-Hi-Fi smartphone)

Burn-in/Audition Time: 15 hours, for 3 days.

Sound signature: Fun-sounding, V-shaped sound signature, but can also be U-shaped depending on your setup. Big, controlled bass, warm, slightly recessed mids, extended highs.

Lows:
- Lows are definitely elevated with decent depth. It shows a slight dominance of midbass over sub-bass on most tracks. Subbass is present when needed with above-average rumble. Bass overall is controlled with fast decay. The lows can satisfy EDM tracks.

Mids:
- Mids are warm and slightly recessed. Little to no midbass bleed are present. Despite being recessed, the mids did not sound muffled or boxed at all. Lower notes have an accurate depth. Upper mids exhibits average clarity and sparkle. Sibilance and peaks are present on sibilant-prone tracks but less frequent compared to the EDX-Pro.

Highs:
- Highs is also elevated and bright, with rare instances of peaks on tracks that are prone to peak. Treble is also well extended and exhibits decent air to it. Detail retrieval is also average and enough for casual listening and most tracks.

Soundstage, Imaging and Separation:
- Soundstage is wide, a little bit wider than the EDX-Pro. It has good width with average depth. Separation is average and can handle busy tracks fairly well. Imaging is also accurate with the ability to discern 5 instruments at most with little to no congestion.

Pros:
- Very easy to be driven properly, easier than the EDX-Pro
- Fun, all-rounder sound
- Spacious, clear mids compared to its predecessor/s.
- Warm mids (subjective)
- A bit wider soundstage
- More controlled lows
- Decent imaging and separation for its price (20+USD)
- Better ear tips. I think KZ listened to the community. It comes now with a set of reverse-Starline-looking ear tips which improved the sound.

Cons:
- There is still a little bit of mid-bass bleed.
- Sibilance on upper mids is present on sibilant prone tracks.
- Nozzle lip could be a bit thicker/better for aftermarket ear tips.


Additional Photos:

Specification:



Source Used:
Acoustic Research AR-M200
XDuoo X3 (CS4398)
Realme 6 (Normal Smartphone DAC)
Foobar2000
Tidal, Spotify,Qobuz,Deezer & Apple Music
(MP3 320kbps, FLAC 16bit,FLAC 24bit,WAV,DSD256)


Build:

KZ ZEX provides a decent looking build of shells with a combination of smoked-gray transparent shells & black metal faceplate labelled with the KZ Logo and curved design. KZ ZEX comes with a decent L-type QDC 2-pin cable which some of consumers might not like it.

Sound Quality;

Well done V-shaped to U-shaped, sound may vary depending on the pairing of the source used and eartips.

Lows:

Lows has fast attack & fast decay bass, has a good bass extension and controlled compared to other KZ Model such as the famous ZSN Pro. Bass is well tuned, i love how clean the lows in this IEM without mixing too much in the middle frequency section.
Subbass is enjoyable too but i think it is better if they add slight amount of rumble for the bass heavy tracks like EDMs.

Mids:

KZ ZEX has a relaxed, recessed mids which makes its sound signature V-shaped, but aside from their typical V-shaped tuning, ZEX is less offensive compared to EDX and ZSN Pro, which makes it my favorite KZ model as of now. Instruments and vocals has a good timbre but not-so natural sounding.

Treble:

Highs or treble is non-fatiguing, controlled and does have some sparklings too.I didnt expect to hear some airyness of treble instead of sibliance, which proves that KZ improves their tuning on these IEM. Hi-hats and cymbals has a nice attack and distance without losing its control.

Soundstage & Imaging:

Soundstage is not that wide, but enough for most of the songs nowadays which is digitally mastered. Instruments has a distinguishable placement. Despite of its average soundstage, the airyness of the treble helps to add more width and to make the tracks more alive.


Conclusion:

KZ did a good job on this ZEX. I love how they improve their tuning from most of their IEMs, I think Electrostatic Driver from Knowledge Zenith is well implemented on this.

If you are looking for a good starter iem or just want to add on your collection, i recommend getting these pair specially if you love listening to kicks and snare of EDM and similar genres. I think KZ ZEX can compete other IEM which is twice its price range. I highly recommend the KZ ZEX on 20 USD budget category, it is way better than the other of IEM on its price range that I've tried. I hope KZ will cintinue to release budget friendly IEMs like this ZEX.


Test Tracks
Getting Older - Billie Eilish
Foxey Lady- Jimi Hendrix
First of the Year - Skrillex
The Husk - Rings of Saturn
Airplane Mode - Cory Wong
The Crying Machine - Steve Vai
Take the "A" Train - Nikki Yanofsky
A Little Piece of Heaven - Avenged Sevenfold
PLUR POLICE (Jauz Remix) - Knife Party
It's Oh So Quiet - Björk


Thank you for reading!

​

Hello, I'm Ah Hui aka Mr Wong. I'm a K-pop fan and audiophile from Malaysia.

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to KZ for Sending me this review unit and giving me the opportunity to review the KZ ZEX .

This is my first time working with KZ thus why I am very excited. My first ever KZ IEM is ZSN and ever since then, there've been many releases from them that I have not working. Today is a great day as I can review and listen to their KZ ZEX. Hopefully we can work again in the future

Configuration of IEM : 6.8mm low-voltage electrostatic unit + 10mm dual magnetic dynamic unit

Price of IEM : US $21.99 from KZ AliExpress official store .

FRONT OF BOX


BACK OF BOX

accessories

WHEN OPEN THE BOX WILL SEE


DESIGN OF IEM

Comfort: Comfort is great. It fits securely in my ears and I dont feel any sort of fatigue after long hours .

Design : Dark faceplate look like shell .Typical In Ear Monitor sharp .

PRO:
layering sub bass , punchy sub bass , laid back vocal present ,deep soundstage
CONS:
unnatural treble , stock eartips not suitable for me

**Disclaim : This reviews done by TRN white eartips (L size) and stock cable .

BASS: The bass here is punchy and well layered.Bass response is fast . When I listen to Daft punk - Give Life Back To Music ,I can feel the sub bass is punchy ,layered and rumbly . The Bass details on track is decent .

MIDS : laid back mids present ,details and crisp of female vocal present .When i listen to this Female Vocal track called Diana Krall - I'm an Errand Girl for Rhythm . I really enjoy the vocal present on here as it is balanced , details and crisp present here .However I more prefer body female vocal present . How about Male vocal ? Male vocal also good present , it's details crisp when I listen 许冠杰 - 梨涡浅笑 I truly enjoy the vocal present here . it's good male vocal present .

HIGH : Treble is quite well extended .But the clarity it's unnatural I feel the treble is unnatural .When I listen Daft Punk - Beyond I can feel the background of treble it's quite unnatural but well extended.

SOUNDSTAGE : it is deep and wide. When listening to the Caroline Henderson - Be Here Now i feel the backgroud is deep and wide it's more space on background .

IMAGING : it's about decent .When I listen to Daft punk - Motherboard ,I can pinpoint the instrument and the singer on stage .It's stereo position

Details : detail retrieval here is about decent When I listen to some tracks, I can pick up on the micro-details.

Conclusion:
Overall I feel the sound signature of KZ ZEX It's fun and relax sounding , quite enjoyable it's suitable for listen long time session .But just complain the treble part ,the treble tonality quite bad , I hope KZ will improve on next coming IEM .

# Tested by FiiO X1 II with stock cable and TRN White Eartips L size .

- Test songs :
Diana Krall - I'm an Errand Girl for Rhythm
许冠杰 - 梨涡浅笑
Daft punk - Motherboard
Daft punk - Give Life Back To Music
Caroline Henderson - Be Here Now
Daft Punk - Beyond

KZ ZEX: KZ IEM with the best price to performance


Immediately, from the sales package we were given 4 pairs of tips. 1 pair of starline white M size eartips that are attached directly to the iem driver, and 3 pairs of wide bore tube eartips (like the dq6). My advice is to just change to the wide bore tips, the original starline tips make Zex's potential cover up. More details come out, the treble is more crisp, but the staging and separation are worse, the staging height is not that great. The timbre is less natural, feels drier and adds an incoherent sound presentation. Maybe this will change when you reverse the starline eartips, which changes the bore to be wider than the tube tips. I haven't done something like that in Zex's stock starline white tips, but I've made a reverse starline in the black kz tips.


The faceplate material in zex feels heavier than the edx series, because the material is metal and the plastic resin feels more solid, like the dq6 with a smaller housing size, more fit and comfortable to use than the dq6 which feels bulky and fat.


Sound impressions (I use the stock tube tips Medium (M) size):
Bass: the quantity of bass is quite large with a good texture. The quantity is more dominant in the mid bass compared to the sub bass whose deep extension is sufficient, it doesn't roll off though. I'm still able to feel the rumble but it's not too deep to reach the lowest part. The bass control is quite good with a fairly fast speed and medium decay. The bass impact is quite punchy, even though the bumps aren't too thick, they still feel soft and don't make non-basshead like me feel dizzy. The bass bleeding, especially from the mid bass, still feels like crossing the mids and other instruments, luckily the bleeding is still controlled and doesn't cover up the sound of other instruments.


Mid: The presentation feels more backwards than the bass and treble. Obviously, the overall presentation is vshape. Even so, this is not an extreme vshape, because in some songs the mid presentation still feels in the middle of the mix. It's still an acceptable vshape to my ears, because the presentation isn't too backwards.
For tonal weight, the mid on this ZEX feels warm and is in the middle between dry and wet tones. Not as dry as mt1 or hzsound mirror, but not as warm and wet as ak6 pro or quarks.
The tonal weight is a bit thin, but the mid body is still good enough to cover heavier male and female vocals like Michael Buble or Adelle. The mid weight is not as thick as Quarks, but a little thicker than the ak6 pro with the detail and resolution above both IEMs. The presentation of the upper mid feels a little more advanced than the lower mid, it still feels balanced for the vocal position in both. Boost clarity and sweetness is still felt in the mid sector. It's very rare for a kz product to have a mid tuning like this. Moreover, the sibilance, shouty, and peaky levels are also minimal, at the same level as old kz like es4. Not like the other kz products, such as zsn, zsn pro, edx, dq6, zs10 pro, etc. which are still vulnerable to this problem.
Instruments in the mid appear to have more bite, the sound of guitar strumming still feels natural. The friction of the violin and piano beats are also quite good, not too thin here. The emotion in the mids, either from instruments or vocals, doesn't feel lacking either.


Treble: Here I can say it's the main star. The role of the magnetostat driver is felt here. Even though it's smooth, the extension is quite good especially on a drum cymbal. The sensation is different compared to the Driver Dynamic in its class, it feels more airy, light and extended.
In comparison, the treble dq6 feels smoother and the extension rolls off quickly. Although the treble is rolled off, but the presentation is grainier and piercing on my ears. The difference in the treble tuning of the two is really noticeable in the song I love - Official Hige Dandism, where zex has a more mature tuning than dq6. From the lower treble like an electric guitar, zex has more energy than dq6. Rough distortion of electric guitar, for example in Nirvana-Smells like teen spirit song feels have more bite in zex.


Technical and timbre
- The transient is quite fast, it is still suitable in metal songs. Playing a metal song like Penguin research - Kettou, the decay of the instrument is quite fast even though the bass quantity is quite large.
- The staging has a 3d feel, it's a shame that the width is a bit intimate or narrow, a little narrower than the hzsound mirror. Even though the depth, height, and imaging are good. The instrument placement is quite accurate and neat
- The separation is good, especially with the instrument layering, even though the bass is bleeding. It is expected in multidriver iem though
- The timbre feels quite natural even though zex is a multidriver IEM. Its timbre is similar with the single dd iem on its class. Even though it can't be compared to the Single Dynamic IEM that really focus on timbre, like blon BL03, moondrop crescent, and etc. The funny thing is ZEX has a more natural timbre than TRN MT1 dyuamic . The timbre naturalness is slightly below than ak6 pro and quarks.
- ZEX coherence level is one of the best in its class. It's hard to find any incoherenceness between the DD driver and the Electrostat in the zex sound presentation. Both drivers sound cohesive, there is no hint of metallic from both of them. One of the best multi driver implementations in kz. Because most multidriver IEMs from KZ feel incoherent for me.
- Details and micro details can be displayed well and clearly, such as in Lisa-Money song. The male backing vocal can still be heard with a fairly clear pronunciation. The clarity and separation are quite good, helping the presentation of details and micro details in zex.
- The resolution is pretty good, but don't expect this to nudge the top rank iem under 100$. The resolution is above bl03, but below TRN TA1. It is able to compete with zsx and zs10 pro, which are not really good resolution for the price.


Sources used:
Redmi note 8 pro, genshin impact
CXpro DAC (Neutral to bright)
Cayin i5 DAP (Warm)
Some DSD songs
Apple music lossless and non lossless


That's all that I can say for my first review on headfi. Thanks for the free time to read it. Sorry for my bad english.

Oi! mates and welcome to my another review spot and I'll talking about a new product from a well-known audio company from the land of ancient middle kingdom, Knowledge Zenith.



As we are all aware of Knowledge Zenith or KZ as we know in audio enthusiast community on how influential the company was and on how they shape the current trend of audio market scene. We also know the background of the company as they are founded by classical musician and a former audio engineer from a one of the most reputable audio company, Audio-Technica and their mission is to deliver an affordable hifi IEM for people who are on tight budget but wants to experience a better sound quality on their ear gears.

For additional information about them, This is the first audio company that introduced a cheap and affordable hybrid driver set-up IEM in the market a few years ago and once again they try to innovate and also to please the whims of audio community with their even more exciting products. I'll introduce to you their latest and first product on a different Hybrid set-up, The KZ ZEX.



The KZ ZEX is quite innovative on this part as it has a different hybrid driver set-up compare from their previous offering for it has a single dynamic driver and their newly develop "electrostatic" (electret, or more correct term, magnetostatic) driver. This is now available to all e-commerce store sites at $22.00/£16.00. I'll give some insights and information on how magnetostatic drivers works based on my understanding.



The principle on how magnetostatic driver works, It uses a current output unlike electrostatics that uses high voltages as these current travel all way to those static magnets with some wire or strips that attaches to a diaphragm that provides a sound due to the interaction of magnetic fields and conductor. If you look upon the whole process and try to understand about it, it has a similar fundamentals with a dynamic driver with some added some complexity on its mechanism.

The KZ ZEX is made of an opaque polycarbonate plastic at base part with a magnesium alloy faceplate to add more rigidity and protection on its internal parts. The position of vent port is meticulously placed at the buttom part of the IEM in borderline seam between faceplate and base part. It has decent built quality in my standard that can stand on daily wear and tear usage. The fitting of this set is somehow decent as the size of its shell is on a medium scale albeit it is quite a little bit hefty. The nozzle length is average on length but I occasionally feel the looseness and some wobbly feeling in my lug holes while I'm doing some daily walking while listening to music.




Packaging content-wise, It still as usual bare-bones KZ stuff as it has just basic accessories included in box. It has a white-coloured box sleeve with illustration of ZEX at front and some basic infos while the contents inside consist of pair of IEMs, a four (4) core SPC white with a L-shaped 3.5mm termination jack (mine was has a mic option with basic mono single control button for receiving and ending calls and also play or stop on playing a music track), three (3) pair of white eartips of different sizes and a simple instruction manual.



Like all previous KZ products, KZ ZEX is an easy to drive IEM as it only needs a decent power output to any sources whether from PC, laptops, smartphones, tablets and even DAPs. It really scales well on any sources and no additional contraption like USB DACs or DAC amps for further improvement unless your audio output source has unremarkable implementation.



The tonality of KZ ZEX is still leaning more on a V-shape sound signature due to its elevation of bass and treble with niche mids on the frequency range spectrum.

Here are some sound characteristics of each frequency range and some technicalities.


LOWS/BASS:

I should say that ZEX more on qualitative aspect as it has a good detail on the sub bass extension reach as I've discerningly hear the guttural rumbling and gruffy sound its lowest bass specturm.

Midbass has a sufficient texture on a density note that gives some body for authoritative bass kicks and a decent growl and rasping sound of a bass guitar. Overall, the bass quality of these set is on a punchy, with moderate pace transients and just slight amount on being impactful as some bassy tracks demands to show in quantitative manner.


MIDS:

The midrange part of this IEM is recessed (in my liking) on the mix like most typical KZ tuning. Despite of recessed nature, It still deliver well rounded, cleaner and smooth sound. Male vocals are more on a natural side and slightly laidback in some tracks for they have just an ample amount of weight note body as they sound more on leaner texture compare to the female vocals. Female vocals has more emphasis and body on this one as it has that energy and more open for it has reach well on its intended range.


Percussive, rhythm and wind instruments are passable to be sound natural when it comes on scaling it up on timbre and harmonic sense but still I feel some lackness and sometimes sounds blunt such as lacking of crunchiness of guitar especially on acoustic guitars as its sound a little bit dry and mellow in my hearing, a rustling sound of snare drums which needs more impactful and more rounded yet less textured and somber sound of a piano.

Coherency turns out to be a decent one on how both drivers works well as it synchronize the rendition of overtunes of all musical instruments and vocals present on the mix to sound more pleasing and convincing harmoniously.


HIGHS/TREBLE:

This is actually impressive on KZ's tuning on its treble compare to their previous ones as it very pleasant and pleasurable to hear.

The upper mids/lower treble is likely smoothen out that sibilance is very miniscule to be noticeable, probably minimum up to zero and harshness is thoroughly absent as I can listen and use them for an extended time of usage without experiencing any ear fatigue and stress.

It has a smooth and sufficient detail retrieval. It is less shimmer and yet it can deliver a substantial crisp and modest vivid sound in the presence part of treble.

The airiness part of treble is somewhat on an average range and some treblehead will define it as a roll-off one as cymbals strikes lacks of that shimmering trait and hi-hats sounds a little bit dull.

To be fair, this is a decent and good treble but it still lacking one step below of being the best treble quality within its price range.


SOUNDSTAGE AND IMAGING:

This is the part where I will lay down the deficiencies of this item. The width of its soundstage is just of an average to above average size, while it has a substantial depth and fair amount of height ceiling as its sound more on an intimate side.

Separation is just average as it has only decent amount of spacing on each instrument and vocalist which isn't that impressive. Imaging quality is somewhat more on an ordinary left and right stereo panning or should I say, two-dimensional though I can still perceive on pinpointing the location of each instrument but still on a hazy point of its respective channel.



As I conclude my review of KZ ZEX, the big million dollar questions are on how does it fare compare to its current competitor and what are its advantages? Does it has an improvement of its tuning over these past years?

For me, KZ is still relevant up to this day as it working hard trying to improve their product that can offer a competitive pricing and adding some innovative features to make it more viable attractive to its potential commercial. When it comes to tuning, it really matures up and step up of its game as KZ seriously making some adjustments on its tuning as it removes some of inherent peakiness that affect the whole audio frequency spectrum specifically on treble area as it don't have a sibilance and harshness nature anymore that mostly encountered on their previous products but it take more steps to improve furthermore as audio market constantly evolving. I applauded on how KZ finally did their job well-done. Expecting for more product from you and give us even more surprises, Knowledge Zenith.






SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: KZ ZEX
IMPEDANCE:25Ω
SENSITIVITY: 103dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz-40KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (QDC TYPE)
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNITS: 1 DYNAMIC DRIVER + 1 "ELECTROSTATIC" DRIVER

Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss- A Living Prayer *
Debbie Gibson- Foolish Beat *'*
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks *'*
Santana - Europa *
Europe - Final Countdown *
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Barry White - Never, Never Ever Give You Up
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Agent Steel - Bleed for the Godz*
Metallica- Fade to Black **
Camouflage - The Great Commandment *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean *
Bad Manners - Just a Feeling *
Riot- Warrior *
Mariah Carey- Love Takes Time *
Layla Kaylif - Shakespeare in Love *
Stone Temple Pilots - Plush *
David Bowie - Heroes **
Prince - When the Doves Cry *
Exodus - Metal Command *
Marduk - Blond Beast *
P. Diddy - Last Night *
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - The Crossroads*

P.S.

I am not affliated to Knowledge Zenith nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to thank Love Jr. David for providing this review unit, I truly appreciate on his generosity towards me and other reviewers.

If you are interested this IEM product from KZ, Just check their official store link below:

Shopee for ASEAN market:

https://shopee.ph/kzearphone.ph

Disclaimer : Thank you and kudos to KZ for sending a sample review unit, no affiliation nor obligation hereby, all based on individual observation and hearing impressions.

Presentation / Packaging

This is a budget set from KZ, Model is ZEX at USD$22. Inside small box comes with 4 sets of white silicon tips, soft and comfy, and 1 set foam tips, and a new KZ flat cable of decent thickness in 2pin 0.75mm and other end L-shaped SE 3.5mm.

Source
iMac Linux - RPI4 8GB -Volumio Tidal Connect - AQ FMJ - Toppings DX3Pro DAC - Toppings L30 Amp [32 bits/44.1PCM]
iMac Linux - RPI4 8GB - Volumio Tidal Connect - ifi Silencer - ifi Zen Dac V2 - Xduoo TA05 tube amp [32bits/44.1PCM]
Samsung Mobile Note 8 and LG G7+ 3.5 out Tidal and UAPP
Fiio M9 DAP and Sony A55 DAP

Music Tracks
Some of test tracks -
Dire Straits - Tunnel of Love
Billie Ellish - Happier Than Ever
Aha - Hunting High and Low
Camomile - Fields of Gold
Chicago - You are the Inspiration
Depeche Mode - Strange Love
Eagles - Hotel California
Ed Sheeran - I Don't Care
Fleetwood Mac - Big Love
Glass Tiger - Thin Red Line
Listening Test done with stock cable and tips provided.

Sound Impression

Timbre / Tonality - a tad off natural timbre compared eg. bl03, tonality is good balanced, well tuned pleasant V shaped in all 3 departments - bass, mids and treble.

Bass / Mids / Treble - Low sub bass present is tuned better than mid bass, in terms of rumble, strike and actual hit of drums heard. Quantity and Quality especially, can be improved further. For Male / Female Vocals - both are tuned pretty well, clear and clean, concise voice without much nasal, forward sounding not recessed, but not in best leading class yet. Treble high of instruments seperation are good, not exceptional, especially in busy tracks. More wider soundstage is preferred and thus air and sparkle will be better.

Conclusion

A very well tuned budget set with creativity and innovation to incorporate a Electrostatic with Dynamic Driver Combo set. Good consideration for listeners shy of bright sibilant treble high sensitive ears. Good sufficient Bass quantity and quality and Mids not recessed/veiled/nasal.

#KZ ZEX
#eagleowl
https://shopee.sg/KZ-ZEX-Electrosta...trostatic-and-Dynamic-i.432274181.12216775717

Introduction

Knowledge Zenith or simply KZ, a company whose name needs not much introduction as it stormed a wave of Chinese Hi-fi or “Chi-FI” gears in successions in the audiophile community targeting starters (“newbies”) up to a notch with their budget Mid-Fi series. While not the “de facto” pioneer, it has been a household name for not only those in the audiophile scene but as well as its targeted mass market such as music lovers and even musicians who use them not only for its technicality and availability but also because of its competitive priced point.

KZ has recently dipped its feet on the electrostatic drivers with their new hybrid offering aptly named ZEX, while the electrostatic term is indeed there in its marketing sheets, this is by no means a true electrostatic IEM. In fact, it’s far from a true electrostats or “estats” as they require a charge from an external source to power them properly.

Meanwhile these might seem to be “electrets “, these new type of drivers that holds its own charges within itself needing an audio signal to move and function. They aren’t real estats but they are a welcome addition to the portable audio industry where the driver supremacy of Dynamic, Planar, BA and Hybrid combinations are being enjoyed and offer more choices. These electrets make the treble sound pleasing without sacrificing too much extension. Electrets merely pulls back the forwardness of the BA tuned trebles thus making them more enjoyable for longer listening sessions.

Disclaimer

The unit was provided free of charge by KZ through Love Jr David of KZ Earphones with the agreement that my views and honest opinions will not be affected or swayed and I am free to write my honest opinion of the review unit.

You can check them at Shopee PH - https://bit.ly/3D2z0Hk or at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pMit5a

Package and Build Quality

Like all Chi-Fi gears that are being sold, the simple packaging is limited to a white box with a with big image of the KZ ZEX In-Ear Monitor (IEM). They included a black rubber carrying case when they sent the unit.



At the back we can find the specifications chart and the manufacturing details of KZ company in Chinese and English respectively

Opening the box, we are greeted with the KZ ZEX in flat Black, the KZ ZEX is available in different color way options and mic/non mic variants. The other colorways to choose from are Rose Gold and Graphite. The unit sent to me has a mic option.

Inside the box we can find the included cable with an L-type 3.5mm jack, a slew of tips, KZ Manual (looks more like a spec sheet).



The included cable is a QDC type 2pin 0.78mm white SPC flat Cable with an L-type 3.5mm jack. The cable is supple to the touch and did not exhibit any microphonics when connected during audio listening and voice calls. These are welcome iterations from the usual twisted black iterations that are usually bundled with different chi-fi IEMs.



The KZ ZEX comes with stock white Starline Tips, and three pairs of a similar wide bore or an iteration of a reverse Starline tips.



The KZ ZEX shell is quite robust with a nice thick metal faceplate and sexy curve lines above the KZ Logo. The shell is not too thick and not.



Specifications

Model: KZ ZEX
Drivers: Hybrid Drivers (1 x 6.8mm Electret (Low Voltage Electrostatic Driver) and 1 x 10mm Dual Magnetic Driver
Wear: In-ear
Resistance: 25Ω
Sensitivity: 103dB
Frequency: 20Hz-40kHz
Plug Type: 3.5mm
Pin Type: 0.75mm
Line Length: 120±5cm
Cable: Double line silver-plated cable

Microphone Use

The unit sent to me has a microphone option which I tested during Zoom, Meet, Viber and regular Telco calls. Specification says these are HD Condenser Microphones and offer high definition quality voice during calls.

Testing the microphone during virtual meetings like Zoom, Google Meet, Viber, Messenger Calls yielded a good experience especially during virtual meetings where the ZEX seal and comfort where evident during the long sessions while there was no audio distortion during talking with the mic despite the phone and speakers within short range. Voice is very audible and was heard loudly and clearly all throughout the sessions Talking Calls (TELCO Based) when using it a smartphone even during calls is clear. Despite the lack of ANC specifications, the microphone performed at par during commutes with calls being very audible despite the noisy environment.

Microphone Controls are easy to adapt and tested well during the course of use with the following button press and its equivalent action:

• Answering and hanging up requires a single press
• Rejecting a call requires a long press
• Play and Pause requires a single press
• Next Track requires 2 presses
• Last Song requires 3 presses

Testing Gears and Methodology:

There would not be an out of the box impression as I’ve stayed away from the NGS or (New Gear Syndrome) and left the gears in the burners with a repeat for a period of not less than 180 hours before I listen to them

For this review, Tips used are spiral dots++. I tried a slew of tips from the stocks, Acoustunes, Final E, Double Wall, Azla, Spinfits, Ortofuns, Wide Bores and decided on the spiral dots for the whole listening impression.

• DAP – Ibasso DX220 (AMP1MKII), iPhone 7
• DAC/AMP – Xduuo XD05+
• Dongle - Avani, Abigail, CX Pro

Test tracks: (offline FLAC/WAV files)

• Hotel California - Eagles
• Real Love – Paulinho Da Costa
• Wasted Time – Skid Row
• I Have Nothing – Whitney Houston
• Butterfly Mariah Carey
• Sahara Nights – F.R. David
• Friends – Amy Stewart & Mike Francis
• Over the Rainbow, Jane Monheit
• Footloose – Kenny Loggins
• Walk this Way – Run DMC

Sound Profile

Bass

The low end spectrum for the ZEX is handled by the Dual Dynamic drivers which it also shares with the midrange.

Bass has slower decay. The bass punch lacks weight despite having more body. Bass on tracks like Sahara Night, Friends and Hotel California lacks details. The sub bass seems to roll off and lacks depth.

While it presents a fun sounding low end presentation as you breeze through Run DMC featuring Steven Tyler on Walk This Way, the lingering bass attack isn’t my cup of tea as I generally like my bass to have a faster attack and decay while punching deep. This is by no means for bass heads nor is it for those who like fast and articulate bass presentation.

Mids

The Midrange is a little recessed but it seems to have a slight emphasis on female vocal presentation.

Vocals tend to lack the luster and weight especially vocal jazz and audiophile tracks that highlight the female vocals. In some cases, you can hear the vocal presentation to be shouty, like Mariah Carey’s Butterfly that tends to be in your face on higher volumes. Some of the female vocal tracks tested has good clarity but they seem to lack depth and note weight. Whitney Houston’s transition from sustain to vibrato lacks the weighty vibration and grit in addition is the lack of dynamic range and detail exhibited by both tracks that was overshadowed by the rather shouty presentation.

On Male Vocals, Kenny Loggins maintains his presence despite being flooded with a multitude of instruments panning left to right. The initial chords and the transition to the next instrument can be heard from start to the songs finish

Sebastian's Vocal Technique is on full display on the track Wasted Time, the diaphragmatic breathing coupled with his open throat and smooth transitions from chest tone to head tone makes the high notes so easy for him. The presentation by ZEX of Sebastian’s voice is in full display.

The Mids and Low end are coherent thanks in part to the dual diaphragm dynamic drivers that go so well. The coherence spreads up where the electret tries to usher a treble smooth presentation making the transition very efficient.

Treble

The Electret driver handles the treble giving it quite a smooth presentation. Clapper ticks are bodied while Cymbal splashes have good extension and clarity. Micro detail retrieval isn’t part of its technical abilities despite exhibiting a decent detail retrieval in in Over the rainbow and Hotel California.

On sibilant tracks where the vocals are nasal, the “KZ DNA” suddenly makes quite an appearance but with a slightly smoother tone than the normal piercing treble you usually hear. Take for example Jan Monheit’s rendition of Over the rainbow, while the sibilance is prominent there is a inoffensive presentation easing the S… experience.

Horn and other wind instruments are well extended with slight offensive peaks. The ivory on piano keys lack some luster. Despite the smoothened presentation without sacrificing the extensions, treble energy is lacking.

The Electret hybrid ushers in a treble pleasing sound that doesn’t sacrifice too much of an extension making the experience devoid of the forwardness of BA tuned treble for longer listening periods, it failed to capture the treble essence of a well-tuned silky smooth BA driven IEM.

While detail retrieval on these may not be as detailed or as clinical, they offer good technical capabilities if paired correctly.

Soundstage and Imaging

Soundstage has descent width and depth. Not the widest when you track how the sound pans from left to right. Height is not the tallest, as it tries to promotes an intimate staging in most tracks. Although some tracks exhibit an above average amount of height, it still feels cramped from the head down.

Imaging is good as you can pinpoint the locations well. However, it seems to struggle on busy tracks finding itself in a loop merging with some of the presented instruments spatial locations.

Seal, Fit and Isolation

KZ ZEX is quite a good fit and does not protrude much of the ear. Seal on the stock tips and its accompanied tips leaves much to be desired. Could use more tips choices to help with isolation.



Conclusion and Rating

KZ undoubtedly wet its feet with this one eyeing to make a niche in the market with a good offering without its patented formula. Surprisingly it punches wat above its price point but it won’t get perfect marks nor would slay giants. It’s a safe bet on the tilt leaning to a fun and engaging daily driver that’s put premium on a long listening sessions for a multitude of genres such as EDM, Rock, and Pop.

Is it the best KZ out there yet? Nope, but it might be going in the right direction with some twists that need to straighten as it treads the bumpy road ahead. Is the KZ ZEX exactly the kind of ZEXperience worth than its more popular identical namesake, I’d say it’s no. But if you ask me if it’s gonna please a lot those looking for a cut beyond the normal Chi-Fi, then I’ll gladly say yes.

Relax, the KZ ZExperience offers you a relaxed, engaging, fun sound coupled with a good looking pair and a not so typical Chi-Fi sound signature.

Intro​

ANOTHER KZ in the house! This time, things are a little more exciting with a brand new driver set up. The KZ ZEX is a budget IEM at $22 packing a hybrid of a low-voltage electrostatic driver and a dynamic driver within. This is the first electrostatic driver implementation at this price point (together with the sister brand CCA NRA). I can't wait to see what they have done with this pair.

Build Quality (Score: 9/10)​

The build quality of these buds was honestly very impressive. These felt NOTHING like 20 dollar earphones. The shells have a very hard almost glass-like resin, giving it a good amount of heft to them. They also seem a little brittle and might shatter if you drop them from a height (please don't try it). This is a good upgrade from the cheaper plastic shell we are more used to on IEMs like the ZX10 Pro, and EDX, among many others.

The faceplate is a matte aluminium material and the whole aesthetic just flows. Absolutely stunning product design. The ZEX also sports the new KZ cable, which is much more durable and less prone to tangling than the previous ones. These look and feel great and I'm really loving this new direction and approach KZ has taken. The one downside to the cable is that it is a little springy and doesn't coil up as well.

Fit (Score: 8/10)​

The fit is quite comfortable despite the buds being on the heavier side. It is compensated with a slightly longer than the normal nozzle to ensure a deeper fit and a good seal. I didn't experience any issues with the buds threatening to fall out of my ears so good job with the weight distribution. The cable has a stiff ear hook but it didn't affect the comfort.

Sound (Score: 7.5/10)​

Sources

• Lotoo Paw S1
• SMSL M200/Schiit Magnius

Music listened to

• Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Beethoven Symphony 7
• Boston Symphony Orchestra – The Nutcracker Suite
• The Vamps – Cherry Blossom
• Paul Kim
• NEEDTOBREATHE
• McFly
• Vivaldi’s Bassoon Concertos
• Greenday
• Joscho Stephan
• Family Company
• etc

Bass

The bass notes are weighty and extend quite deep with a satisfying rumble and punch. However, the decay is a little slow and come across as a little muddy, especially evident in drumsets and tracks with fast-moving articulated basslines like a double bass. The bass is boosted and authoritative, pretty much in line with the KZ house sound. Instruments like bass guitars have a weighty and sub-bass element that supports the music well without overdoing or overpowering. It will certainly scratch that itch for a full lower end. That said, there is quite a bit of midbass bloating and can come across as a little too muddy at times, but nothing too terrible at this price range.

Mids

Mids are quite an interesting experience. The melody lines are quite rich and warm, with vocals quite bodied and well supported. In fact, the vocals are really tastefully presented and I especially enjoyed male vocals which were lush and rich. I honestly didn't expect myself to enjoy these so much. This is quite unusual from the usual deep recession in the mids that KZ IEMs typically have. The ZEX has got to be one of the more balanced sets. "KZ IS BALANCED?" haha not exactly but relatively yes.

However, I find the music occasionally a little too coloured for my tastes. The tonality in the midrange is slightly off, and is apparent on certain genres, making them sound a little weird and warped. This is especially on songs that I'm familiar with and would pick up these issues really easily. Despite my best efforts to ignore it and let the “brain burn-in” do its job, I still found the sound a little too off. It doesn’t always sound bad, but it's certainly how it's meant to be. (or how I’d like/expect it to sound at the least).

Treble

Treble is rolled off and very subdued. This brings about a very dark sound, further adding to the colour of the sound. On certain tracks, this makes the sound a little too skewed and a little satiating. I would’ve loved more representation here actually, not even considering the sparkle or shimmer that you guys always wanna hear. Cymbals and high hats just fall flat and seemingly have their characteristics stripped from them. One positive thing I'd give it is that these don't have terrible metallic or peaky like tonality to keep the tuning relaxed and pleasant.

Overall

The biggest flaw of the ZEX is the midrange tonality issue and accuracy. Of course, in terms of detail retrieval, there is much room for improvement, but considering the price point, expectations have to be managed and I'd say it’s passable.

Conclusion​

The ZEX really has a lot of potential. For 20 dollars, this IEM exudes quality in its build and features one of the best budget IEM stock cables I’ve seen. And to top it off the ZEX doesn’t sound bad. While there is much room for improvement in the tuning, KZ certainly proved that they are onto something with the ZEX. I very much prefer this to some of the metallic timbres that some of their BA hybrids have. Now perhaps that can work towards a slightly more accurate tonality and I’m sure they would have a hit in their hands.

This is got to be one of the best thought out and constructed budget IEM KZ has put out in a while. No harm going out to grab one of these, they won't be replacing or toppling any higher priced IEMs, but I found these really enjoyable, which I'd say speaks volumes for itself.

Overall Grade: B-

Click HERE for our grading list for earphones

KZ ZEX Review

Tl;dr : 20 USD. U-shaped signature. Rolled off sub-bass with mid bass focus but doesn’t texture well. Lean tonality. Vocals are presented well. No upper midrange thinness. Treble extended until borderline, exhibits air well but can be detached from the signature and loud with certain tracks and albums.
A bit of background and disclaimer:

KZ Audio sent this KZ ZEX as a unit to review and evaluate, rest assured they won’t influence my review. I hope my criticisms can be used to improve KZ’s future releases and current ones, and guide some curious consumers. You can buy the KZ ZEX @ KZ Audio!

Packaging:

· The ZEX came in the standard KZ small-box affair with the earpieces encased in a plastic moulded holder with the transparent starline tips attached, SPC cable, extra 3 pairs of tips (which is completely different from the starlines already attached), and papers. Overall, not surprising and just okay value wise. I wish they just included more of those transparent starlines on the package.

Build:

· The shape of the shell should be very familiar if you used KZ’s ZSN lineup, but KZ improved upon it by making the nozzle longer for people with big ears, well done KZ! The whole shell consists of a black painted faceplate with lines with the KZ logo engraved and a glossy black resin body made out of 2 parts (nozzle, top body). It accepts QDC connectors.
The cable is a 2 core SPC cable with transparent ridged sheathing in QDC. I like how microphonic and tangle free this cable is, it's also very soft to the touch. Miles better than the ugly old KZ 4-core cables imo.
I can’t help but complain about the use of QDC since my right piece got a little crack on its connectors. At least KZ made a good move not placing those QDC together with the faceplate because you probably can’t sleep with it without busting the faceplates open. I did try and slept with it just fine until I suddenly woke up to the feeling that I’m using an IEM that’s likely to break when I sleep, thankfully I just scratched the faceplates.

Fit and isolation:

· They fit my ears really well with the pre-installed transparent starlines, combined with the nozzle length. The ZEX doesn’t really mute the surroundings with my good fit, so it’s kinda average in terms of isolation. Thankfully I don’t need further tiprolling in my case, but be prepared just in case the transparent starlines and the bundled TWS-like tips which are soft and don't fit my ears well.

Sound:

A bit of background for the source, I used my Meizu DAC and Zishan U1 (on my phone and laptop) and my Huawei Y9 Pro 2019 for the testing.
You could drive this well with a smartphone and gets loud easily but improvements are noticeable on amp usage but not really drastic that I would require them all the time.
My library consists of MP3 and FLAC albums on 16/44khz and few 24/96khz ones and also streaming on Spotify since I prefer its convenience. Here is my lastfm account to see what I listen to: https://www.last.fm/user/varia_ble

- Bass: The bass on these is lifted but not the usual level that KZ does surprisingly. The sub bass seems rolled off compared to the mid-bass but still has some heft in various tracks. The texturing however, is a bit muddy. I personally think it needs more tightness for better definition of texture, because the decay of 808 kicks and other bass focused instruments/elements are a bit slow.

- Mids: On the leaner side, and this is where you get the feel of its U-shape signature. There is minimal warmth in this section but never cold, and KZ struck balance on this one finally. The bass does not interfere with the midrange performance. Vocals are more forward to female vocals than it is to male ones, and to my surprise, KZ didn’t overcook the upper-mids so good job KZ!

- Treble: Well extended near the borderline. I personally think this is the star of the show for the ZEX. It’s a treble that I haven’t heard from KZ that always does the same things, the same sibilant-riddled signature for years and they finally did an actual treble tuning with these magnetostatics. Cymbals and Ssses are handled well and the presence region is not too lifted but the borderline I mentioned really shows with some tracks. Air is present on the treble performance too, and I don’t know if the magnetostatics really do work but I definitely feel the upper treble extension! Though I notice at times that the treble can be detached from the signature, maybe crossover issues?

- Soundstage, Imaging and Separation: The soundstaging is average as any IEM feels to me, but the air in the treble helps to make it less claustrophobic.
Imaging is good, spatial cues are presented well but movement of some elements are limited.
Separation is excellent, it layers the various elements well without effort, and it might be due to the treble.

Thoughts:

This surprised me alot honestly. I have tried various KZ products in the start of my audio journey and found them very lacking or even overbearing with treble presence and upper mids but the ZEX proves otherwise. I think I can finally recommend a KZ to a budding audio enthusiast with this model without the usual KZ pitfalls, but I cannot recommend these to someone who has other models and has already experienced something beyond the 20 USD price range since there are still better performing pairs out there.
I thoroughly enjoyed the companionship of ZEX in my work and my college classes. I had fun listening through various albums with it and that’s all that matters. I’ve been listening to
DJ PicaPicaPica’s Planetary Natural Love Gas Webbin' 199999 DJ compilation of eclectic EDM music and the ZEX made it an enjoyable experience throughout the listening sessions.
Hope you enjoy the music as I did!

Thanks for reading!

(edit: fixed the formatting)