KZ ASF 5 BA Universal IEM

Rating: 7.1
Sound: 7

Intro
Keep your wallet handy, KZ has two new models on the market (ASF & ASX) and is ready to help you spend money. For that KZ doesn't feel too bad to do questionable marketing. Besides the whole "everything is new and better" thing, they advertise in their renderings with an upgrade of the drivers by displaying them in black and gold instead of silver and adding an "s" to the BA driver number. Aha and what exactly should sound better now? I'm aware that this is supposed to have more of a symbolic character, but that's a bit amusing and certainly questionable even for an IEM layman. The ASF is a pure BA-IEM with 5 drivers. The ASX goes one better and has twice as many drivers per earphone. Let's take care of the ASF first.

Handling
New model, new design and packaging? Yes and no! The ASF, as well as the ASX are probably the most voluminous IEMs of KZ so far. Due to their ergonomics, they can be worn quite comfortably, but it looks quite funny to have such a juggernaut in your ear. The ASF does not make a particularly noble impression despite its light metal faceplate. It looks almost cheap, which is even more emphasized by the good view into the inner workings. Here we find a large white plastic piece, which is 3D printed and used to separate the sound of the individual drivers (allegedly 4-way).The drivers fit perfectly in this plastic part, but it doesn't look good, even though this technique is also used by well-known companies. The drivers fit perfectly in this plastic part, but it doesn't look good, even though this technique is also used by well-known companies. Surely this has advantages compared to the sound guidance through PVC tubes. In this case a non-transparent body would suit me more.
The sound openings are quite small and so not every 3-party tip will fit.

The packaging is similar to that of the former AS10, or BA10. However, the contents are as simple as with the other models, which are delivered in the "famous" white cardboard box.
The cable is KZ standard, but the tips are new. These are transparent/white and have a shorter shaft so that the ASF can be inserted further into the ear and fits more securely.

Isolation and wearing comfort is good, to very good, as with almost all models of the company, depending on the space available in the ear, which should not be too small, especially with the ASF.The sensitivity is very high, resulting in a very high maximum volume.

Sound
We had already seen 5 drivers 2 years ago in the AS10 and BA10 and their tuning and technical features made us sit up and take notice, since this was not only a novelty at that time, but also put many KZ models of prehistoric times in the shade in terms of sound. Until today a lot has happened and many other companies now offer good multi driver IEMs at very low prices. KZ has of course also developed further. For example they now grind their drivers differently or try to build the largest possible universal IEM. Joking aside, the ASF is an average IEM and not one that sets new standards, not even within the company.

That a BA-Bass can have a lot of depth was shown for example by the SHURE 846, but also the AS10, or BA10 have for my opinion a rounder BA-Bass, which above all has a more solid kick. The bass of the ASF is indeed raised properly, but unfortunately not very qualitative and a bit mushy. I have heard this better from KZ before. The upper bass also doesn't drop off enough, pushes the lower mids back and makes voices sound a bit too warm. But the biggest criticism for me is the lack of firmness and the booming upper bass, because otherwise you can work with the bass.

The KZ also sticks to a V-signature on their pure BA models is not surprising, but a pity. It would have surprised me positively if the company had taken a different path and given us a more mid-centered signature. This way they stay true to their philosophy and you still know what you can expect from the company, but in my opinion there is no real development taking place here unless you only look at the pure sales figures. The mids have a deep hole. For me they are too warm and lack a bit of liveliness. When there is a high musical density, there is a lack of clarity, also because the bass lies over everything like a veil and the mids in the lower range lack presence. Here and there, however, the mids can work despite their dark character, especially when the music is more clearly arranged. They can even become harsh at higher volumes. Tonally, however, they are never really natural.

The tweeter shines with absence, at least the higher it gets. However, it manages to fill the ASF with life from time to time and also highlights details in an appealing way. I wouldn't describe it homogeneously and even in the top end there is a lot of air to the top. Sibilants are not the rule, but can play a role in songs predestined for it. I miss airiness and also transparency. Everything seems a bit depressed and subdued. Spoiler alarm: 5 more drivers in the ASX are not much help. Something metallic resonates as well. The volume has a big influence on how clean the trebles act.

This has of course an effect on the stage. The stage is surprisingly compressed. This affects the separation, because the clarity in the mids is also missing, but the imaging is not very complex either. You rarely get a feeling of distance and it happens more horizontally than vertically or in the z-axis (depth).

Outro
In terms of sound, the ASF is more oriented towards the AS10 than the BA10. This means that it sounds warmer and darker. I'm not sure where I would see the strengths of the ASF. Somehow everything is so average and uninspired. It lacks clarity and precision. For me, it's more suitable for quieter music, but rock or more complex sounds don't suit the ASF. Not an IEM that I personally would choose to go with for any reason, due to the massive competition in the price segment.


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This review originally appeared on my blog.

I will cut to the chase with this one.

KZ ASF is an IEM I cannot recommend under any circumstances. KZ usually gets things somewhat right but this is a turd that you can’t polish, and anyone who tells me otherwise will only get a stare of disbelief.

KZ ASF is one of the new/refreshed models from KZ and apparently it replaces the AS10… or something like that among the dizzying array of IEMs they’ve released over the past three years. It almost feels like eternity, but I digress. The ASF is supposed to have a soothing sound without the trademark peaky KZ treble. In a sense, it has succeeded in that, but the solution was more like lopping the head off than cure the headache.

Extremities, man.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. The KZ ASF was sent as a review unit. Disclaimer.

Sources used: Sony NW-A55

Price (while reviewed): $60.

Accessories: The tips are decent (it’s a new variant, not the Starlines), the cable is decent, and as always KZ doesn’t find you worthy enough to throw in a carrying case or, *shudders*, pouch! But hey, we’re not getting this for silly ornaments, so we can look past that I guess.
3/5

Build: Yet-Another-Resin-Shell (YARS) makes an appearance again. The backplate of the KZ ASF is of aluminum (it seems) with some nice adornments on top. The nozzle is metal but be aware that it’s thinner (past the lip) than previous KZ offerings so some third-party tips may not fit snugly (Spinfit CP-100 for one).

The 2-pin ports are raised which sucks. Other than that, the KZ ASF shell quality and finish is adequate for the price-range. One thing that sticks out is the lack of any channel marking, even though KZ found the space for printing random text on the face-plate instead of something that’s more practical but hey… logic is at premium sometimes.
4/5




Comfort and Isolation: Despite the bulbous shape and larger-than-average housing the KZ ASF is fairly comfortable to wear. There is no driver flex as it’s an all-BA design and isolation is above-average. However, I can imagine someone with small ear-canals to have some potential fit issues but this likely won’t be widespread.
4/5


Now, onto the sound.

The KZ ASF is a 5-balanced armature design with the newly released “S” models of the previous Bellsing/Knowles clone BA drivers they were using. These drivers are apparently a new design and has improved things by a margin as per the claims. The bass driver (22955s) is apparently a vented design, though I didn’t see any bass-vent in the shell itself so I am doubtful about the proper implementation of the driver here. There is one mid-range driver (29689s), two upper-mid/lower-treble driver (31736s), and lastly one upper-treble driver (30095s). The drivers are arranged within a 3D-printed driver housing though there is no physical cross-over via tubing. KZ claims they put a lot of R&D effort behind this but the end results are hardly inspiring as we shall see.

The general sound signature of the KZ ASF is dark, with extremely rolled-off treble. The mids are overly scooped and upper-mids are too de-emphasized so there’s a severe lack of pinna gain. A dark v-shaped tuning is very hard to pull-off and KZ ASF fails spectacularly to pull off the trick.

The following impressions were made with the stock tips and cable.

Lows: Muddy, bloated, messy, flabby — pick your word. The low-end lacks sub-bass rumble and the extension is only a hum that has no definition or texture to it. The mid-bass boost also masks the subtle bass note shifts and there’s an utter lack of bass kick/slam. The bass is beyond disappointing, really, and I suspect that failure to vent a vented BA has resulted in this mess.

It’s just horrible. One listen and you’d know things are gonna go downhill.
1.5/5

Mids: The KZ ASF has a very strange midrange tuning. The lower-mids are scooped below 1KHz, but then there is a very sharp rise which peaks at 2KHz. This peak, however, isn’t enough here as there is a distinct lack of clarity. Female vocals are muffled, male vocals are nasal and honky. Nothing sounds right, midrange instruments are congested, their outlines blurred.

Resolved details in the mid frequencies are worse than some $10 IEMs nowadays. It’s incredible really how wrong things have gone here. If you thought the bass was poor, this whack mid-range tuning makes that look competent in comparison.
1/5

Treble: There is no treble extension at all. None. Nada. Zilch. Zip.

Cymbal strikes and hi-hats are barely registered. They are not just after-thoughts, they’re almost like aberrations that wasn’t even meant to be there but somehow spilled through the cracks. Even the most hardcore of metal tracks sound mushy, gushy, soggy as the sock after you accidentally step into a puddle.

There is a strange lower-treble peak around 5KHz that adds some presence but on some tracks this strange peak can induce fatigue and of course it’s just a straight downslope from there on. The treble doesn’t do much wrong because it doesn’t even exist, a bit like the second eye of cyclops.
1/5

Soundstage: Soundstage feels wide due to the de-emphasized upper-mids but there’s zero stage depth and height.
2/5

Imaging: Things are mostly placed left and right but there’s no sense of finer imaging. At this point, I have lost my hope anyway.
2/5

Bang-for-Buck: The KZ ASF will find itself short of the competition at $15.

It costs $60. Unless you want to use it as a modern art-piece (it’s not), a paper-weight (heavier things available for no cost), or something you gift to your enemies to piss them off — I can’t see the value in here.
0/5

Source and Amping: It gets very loud out of even regular phones and cheap dongles. Is that a good thing? Well, let’s assume for once it is.




SELECT COMPARISONS

vs BLON BL-03 ($25): The BLON BL-03 is much better than the KZ ASF in every single aspect apart from accessories and comfort.

vs BLON BL-05S ($35): The BLON BL-05S is much better than the KZ ASF in every single aspect apart from accessories and comfort.

vs Final E3000 ($50): The Final E3000 is much better than the KZ ASF in every single aspect.

vs Final E1000 ($30): The Final E1000 is much better than the KZ ASF in every single aspect.




Conclusion

The KZ ASF brings back nostalgia. It’s almost as if I’m listening to a no-name multi-BA IEM from 2014 bought off of Taobao, but only it costs $60 this time around instead of $6 and I’m left regretting my life choices.

Dear KZ, you have the resources, you have the capital, please oh please make use of them on something that is actually great. Not another derivative, or as is the case with the KZ ASF — not another disasterpiece.

Your fans deserve better, and you sure as heck should do a lot better.

Overall rating: 1/5
I have zero idea why this thing exists.

Test tracks: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/04350ebe-1582-4785-9984-ff050d80d2b7