KZ ZS5 Review:
I receive this KZ ZS5 as a free review sample from Gearbest and want to thank George about this. Anyway, I have already bought a pair on Aliexpress before receiving this, but it's still not arrive! My review will perhaps change when I compare the sound of 2 different ZS5 pair to know if they sound exactly the same or have quality issue about construction. ZS5 are lot of time on Flash sale at Gearbest for the best price possible (about 20$) so check it out cause they are NOW on flash sale!!!
http://www.gearbest.com/earbud-headphones/pp_641227.html
Specifications:
Drive units:
10 mm low frequency driver x 2
6.4 mm medium frequency driver x 2
30095 Balanced Armature driver x 2
Custom 1205 Balanced Armature driver x 2
Sensitivity: 106dB/mW
Impedance: 16Ω
Frequency response range: 20-20000Hz
Plug: 3.5mm, 90 degree angled
Earphone interface: 2 pin 0.75mm
Cable: 1.2m
KZ is a budget iem company that look like to create a new earphone model every month, they are one of the biggest in china and very popular for a good reason : they really offer incredible sound value for the price. About this, ‘’legendary’’ iem like KZ ED9 with changeable nozzle, ZST dual dynamic + balanced drivers or even the old scholl Dual Dynamic driver like ZS1 or ZS2 permit to the mass to buy more than potent sound experience for a very little price, the kind of price that we can either buy a coffee (KZ EDR2), a macdonald meal (KZ ATE) or a 6 pack of beers (KZ ED9, ZST, ZS1-2).
Okay, we were use to their great price value and new ZS line like ZST prove they can even go further in sound engineering using balanced armature driver to creat sub-20$ earphone with detachable cable….
Okay, but i’m not sure people (or even chinese market) was ready for the tunderous happening of KZ ZS5 4 Drivers earphone that offer a price value in term of sound quality as well as construction and inner compenent that no other brand anywhere (and perhaps at any time) are able to compet with. 2 10mm dynamic driver and 2 different balanced armature in both earphones for a total of 8 and all that hide in a (already seen) big solid plastic housing that look ferocious and sound so too, cause the ZS5 are the sub-100$ beast all budget audiophile dream about, or don’t even have the hope to dream about.
My expectations about these was incredibly high and i’m far, very far of being disappointed by these supremely exciting budget earphone, for the price it can be found (20-35$usd) it just give a sound presentation that look to be a stole luxury from budget iem god, yeah, I was hysterical of excitation to listen to them and i’m still as much hysterical to praise them, for me -a guy that pass his time searching best value chinese iem- this ZS5 is a monumental achievment, and as I know perfection doesn’t even exist in high end iem, it offer a luxury that cannot be underatted by a bad sound tweaking because ZS5 offer a mature, full bodied sound with incredible details retreival and surround soundstage that is sure to inject lot of fun to your music!!
Packaging & Construction:
The package I receive is the same as ZS3, a little minimalist one with just the basic stuffs we need: iem, eartips and cable. Construction of ZS5 if not extraordinary look quite good and sturdy and will not break in 2 parts if you trow it on the ground even if it's just 2 plastic part glued (fastly) togheter. Metal mesh of nozzle look of good quality too. Housing is quite big and is not the most comfortable, especially for small ears, as mine are big I do not have fit problem, but with silicone tips it can be hard to keep it well sealed inside the ears wich is the only way to get full body of the sound. Cable is the same than ZS3 and other KZ iem with detachable cable, it's a little cheap but do the job. Still, this cable can create microphonice noise so I suggest to find a better cable that do not have this issue. I do not suggest to wear this while it rain because their space in housing (cable connection) were water can infiltrate.
EAR TIPS : Some iem aren’t that capricious about fitting to give their real soundsignature, Zs5 however is sure a capricious earphone, but I think this problem will not occur with everyone because silicone eartips give the best result I think-even if I don’t talk about the one that are included in ZS5 package. I have personally try the double-triple fangle, the memory foam and lot of different type of silicone tips to finally get the best one with a smaller silicone eartips with big-medium opening (withe and blue one from I don’t know what iem from Ali!). I think the real fitting is far inserted in the ear with a tip that have enough air in the nozzle to open bass roundness and a vast soundstage. Anyway, just saying here that with ZS5 fitting is a really important aspect, more than ever I would say because of a somewhate large and angular housing.
Source : Ibasso DX90 & Xduoo X3, as well as Ibasso D2+ Boa
Note : Use mustly DX90 cause amping (mid gain) current is perfect and sound is way better, clearer and more 3D with it. Xduoo X3 sound good with sensitive iem, but not quite with the ZS5 wich sound little tamed and congested (aka less sound stage), less punchier and more warm and mid centered (wich can be a plus for treble sensitive people).
(Graph to be taken with a grain of salt, as it’s the more peaky less smooth curved one from three ZS5 graph I found, still, we see a low mid bump, pushed 2k-5k mids peak and peaky high too, as if all 3 soundrange are pushed to be easily spotted on by the listener, wich can explain a very present treble.)
LOW:
ZS5 have texture to share, and a bold, thick sound signature too, and bass performance is among the more impressive and complex you can get under 100 if not more. Definition is very good and bass go deep, it have some slam but do not feel too punchy. Round, thick and textured if not somewhate dark, the bass line are easily discernable and well articulated, wich give immense listening joy, especially with electro and beat driven music because no details are really stoled by this (driver) dedicated bass performance. Still, I can’t say it’s peeeeeerfect, it do not sound ultra clear with a ultra black background because of treble push that make ZS5 sound so textured and lively. About this, as it have 4 drivers, I think it mix different treble tweaking that create a very dynamic and foward sound presentation, bass is fast and well controlled, do not bleed in the mids or highs, and can be consider as the opposite of so bass perfomance of dual drivers hybrid like **** UE’S or Urbanfun, cause this bass IMO is quite muscular with a mid-low punch that help this atletic performance. Synth bass line can sound full, chunky and well textured with ZS5, and that do not hide the kicks and sometime other bass line to be audible and quite well presented too wich make complexe beat track a real joy to listen too! Even if it can dig low, we cannot really call basshead the ZS5 because it do not emphase on sub rumble, it is still a very bass heavy iem that at high volume can make dribble your brain like a maracass.
MIDS :
I’ll say the mids are ‘’fowarded’’ instead of being naturarly foward, but do not sound artificial or cold, just a little more trebly and isolated and solitary. Female vocal can sound very good, textured and detailed, it do not have lot of decay tough, more a small, concret spot where it make himself very visible and do not struggle to be hearable in the must demanding and layered music composition. Because of this treble emphasis, some vocal can sound little nasal for ultra severe audiophile, here, I don’t talk about hissing and real harshness wich ZS5 is exempt from. Some treble sensitive find them kind of harsh but having listening to way harsher earphone (PMV A01, Plextone S50, Swing IE800), and due to the fact i’m no treble sensitive, I find the treble more prompt to make bad recording sound worse as well as avoidind a complete silent background. Mids are fast, detailed and textured, not expensive but very lively and dynamic and for certain track with hard to discern vocals will really be a revelation cause of their unique pushed presence that give an ‘’ultra hd’’ resolution to them.
HIGHS :
Treble sensitivity isn’t my disease, but perhaps i’m about to became deaf because of this, as it’s due to long music exposure as well as music producing and sound experimentation that can really be dangerous for the ears. Anyway, this explain my details obsessions and the love of well pushed treble and frequencies response to deliver HD sound resolution and fowarded microdetails that absolute ears can heard more easily, it’s a pair of binocular for the ears that I search, but that will sound musical and give a balanced impression (or even illusion). ZS5 pushed the treble quite alot, and in a special secret 4 drivers sound recipe, I don’t think all drivers have treble pushed the same way (perhaps more its far in the housing more it’s pushed?) but it have some details revealing spike and sparkle as well. I never struggle to have an exciting detailed listen with ZS5, the layerings of sound mix togheter quite well even if it lack a little bit of air between them, cause of a quite analytical treble that give lot of texture to soundsignature, you do not have a perfectly black background, clarity have teeth with ZS5 and most of time it’s for the better if your sound source (or music quality) is clean.
COMPARAISONS:
PMV A01 MK2 (1DD+2BA):
Compared to these, the ZS have a less agressive and analytical sound presentation without sacrifiing details at all, MK2 are brighter and have smaller soundstage but better instrument separation, they are more fatiguing too and have a different approcah about treble, wich permit to have a very HD like sound resolution. ZS5 have more proeminent bass, more fowards mids, and to me, an overall more exciting and wide sound presentation with more deep and rounder attacks than the MK2. Both are really good value and excellent sounding, but MK2 is more source dependent even if easier to drive than ZS5, as I use my Ibasso DX90 wich make shine ZS5 but not the MK2 that became too agressive sounding, while with the X3 it sound excellent and not the ZS5 wich sound tamed and congested. Favorite:ZS5.
WESTONE ES2 custom dual driver (1DD+1BA) :
So the soundstage is more than wide with these and a little more airy than the ZS5 but not by far, both are very sensible and can create hissing with bad tracks or wrong DAP, comfort is superior (duh!) with ES2 as it’s a custom made for my ears and it drive you completly deaf of outside world wich ZS5 is able but only when playing music. ES2 are mid-centric with emphasize on bass, but bass is less articulate and punchy than ZS5 (yep!) but go deeper and have sub rumble (the problem with articulation!). vocals are more envelopping and have more decay with ES2, and overall soundsignature is warmer and deeper, but with a treble roll off and lack of details that ZS5 deliver with way more plentiness (yep!), vocal are inferior tough and more nasal than ES2. My personal preference : ZS5 (but not for isolation and soundstage).
**** XBA 6in1 (1DD+2BA) :
XBA have a warmer sound and more congested soundstage, bass line can be more beefy and textured than ZS5 and details retreival are quite similar. Instrument separation is a drawback from XBA as it lack deepness in soundstage, ZS5 is more resolving and accurate and have more air between instrument wich make the listening experience more exciting. Vocals is better for male with XBA and for female with ZS5. Comfort wise the XBA is easier to have a quick fit (but not if you were it over-ear). Both are easy to drive but benifit from good amping cause of their multiple drivers (i guess). Favorite : still ZS5!!!
Urbanfun Hybrid (1DD+1BA):
ZS5 have way bigger soundstage and deeper too, more bass and sub and overall more dynamic and punchy soundsignature. Urbanfun have a little more sparkle in the high but details do not pop out of imaging as exiting as ZS5, bass of Urban fun, even if less agressive, feel more natural and soundsignature is less harsh. Vocal of ZS5 are more fowards but less smooth than Urban fun. COmfort wise, Urban fun are way more comfortable. My favorite: ZS5 for fun factor.
Xiaomi Hybrid Pro (2DD+1BA):
Way warmer than the Zs5, the PRO lack in instrument separation goodness like the ZS5, soundstage feel more congested and details are veil by bass performance, wich compared to ZS5 is quite hollow and not super resolved. 3D feel of ZS5 is way superior, but high of the Pro are less peircing and overall soundsignature i more neutral. The Xiaomi are more comfortable and construction of housing is a little better cause it's metal. My favorite: Big time ZS5!
OVERALL IMPRESSION :
As said, my attempt was very very big for the ZS5 as I was following positive impressions everywhere as well as on headfi, few people adept of high end iem did not like it as much as budget audiophile or music enthusiast but even this elitist listener can’t deny the complex and impressive fun the ZS5 can give with a generousity impossible to get in this price range value. After more than 50H of merely non-stop obsessive use of this incredible 4 drivers beast i’m still awed by the enjoybility of these, and i’m very happy to have bought a pair even if I receive this one as review sample because my opinion is about the bucks here and 5 stars is as well for the sound. Only negative feedback I read about the ZS5 is about quality control and defect about cable side or quality, as with every budget iem this is a commun issue and for this price value range I cannot get mad about this, but, if I have a suggestion i twill be to buy it from a trusthworthy and collaborative seller so if any defect occur you can have a replacement pair without having to struggle. So, having personally listen to 40 iem ranging from 4$(KZ Edr2) to 600$ (Westone ES2 custom), I can say with confidence that these are the best iem I heard in term of price value what ever the price is, this can look subjective but it isn’t, just the fact that the ZS5 have 2 dynamics and 2 balanced driver for such a low price make them a must have, and the other fact that it sound enough balanced and musical if not very well, deserve a special mention too, engineering of the 4 drivers was in the searching of a fun and impressive soundsignature that will create wow effect with a vast range of music, it try to give it all for a make it all that will not sound perfect but will push the bundaries of sound experience at low price, even at 60$ these would have been an enormous achievment and create a buzz with music enthusiast, but it sell at half (and even third) of this price wich is what I will call a chifi miracle for all the people with a small wallet but a big (lossless!) music collection. ZS5 create a budget beast that deliver a very precious sound that is far from the price of a diamond. Having this WOW effect from such a low price is something that will perhaps never happen again, well, from other chifi brand than KZ I mean!
Music that I listen with the KZ ZS5 for this reviews :
Electro : Arca, Jlin, Ametsub, Jon Hopkins, Rival Consoles, Slugabed, Prefuse 73, Equinoxx, Flanger, Plaid, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Laurel Halo, Andy Stott, Motion graphics, Tipper, Lapalux, Ash Koosha
Vocal (all style) : Agnes Obel, Bjork, Jessica Pratt, Hope Sandoval (Mazzy star), Arianna Savall, Timber Timbre, Linda Perhacs, Vince Staples, Lula Pena, Marissa Nadler, Julia Holter, Phaedra, Cornelius, Beach House, Sevdaliza, Meridith Monk....
Jazz : Arild Andersen, Jamie Shaft, E.S.T, Thelenious Monk, Charles Loyd, Chris Poter, Aaron Park, Lars Danielsson, Avishai Cohen, Labtrio, Mats Eilertsen, Ralph Towner....
Classical : chamber music of Bach, Purcell, Vivaldi, Corelli, Kodaly. Harpicord work of Francois Couperin, Dandrieu, Rameau, Telemann, D’Anglebert. Terry Riley, Phillip Glass, Elini Karindrou, Pengui Cafe, Rolf Lisevand...