KZ PRX

I wish I could give it a 5.0 score, but that's not me. 3.0 from me is EXCELLENT.

This is a contextual review. So what have I been listening to in recent months. Lots of KZ's and CCA's. And one or two others. Full list below.

1. CCA CRA (2023 Revision)
2. CCA Polaris (UDDD dip switch setting)
3. KZ ZVX
4. KZ EDC Pro
5. KZ SAGA Balanced
6. KZ Castor Pro - Harman (UDDD dip switch setting)
7. KZ Libra X
8. KZ EDX Pro X
9. ARTTI T10
10. 7Hz Zero 2
11. KZ PRX
All bought with my own money. and the KZ PRX was the most recent acquisition.

I won't cover product looks or post any pictures. You'll find these on them manufacturer's product sites/pages.

CABLING and LOOKS, and DESIGN.

Very modern, looks reliable, and the cable is the silver coated OFC copper. Mine had a peculiar plastic/petrochemical smell, which I have not experienced with any other IEM Cable.

FIT & TIPS

Excellent, not heavy. By default it includes 3 sizes of foam tip pairs, and one pair of silicone ear tips. The largest of the foam tip pairs fits me best. Great fit. But after what seems like a lifetime of tip rolling. I have standardised on the Moondrop SPRINGs, I use the XL size, on pretty much all my IEMs. My experience with ALL KZ/CCA IEMs, is that their stock tips are their Achilles heel, restricts the bass, giving them a tinny reproduction. Just not the kind of presentation that suits me. Too much treble. With little bass. I'm an audio engineer, so I'm picky about my tools, and the results they deliver.

The stock foam tips are OK,. their sound is acceptable, bright, but bass is missing. And the end result is fatiguing for me.

With the Moondrop SPRINGS, I get an even more comfortable fit, with an amazing airtight seal. The BASS where present, now seems to extend forever into the depths of the earth - low, low bass, and a 3D presentation that is lifelike. wide stereo field, with depth, and layers.

POWER NEEDS

Driven unbalanced, the PRX is the most demanding IEM in my collection, but the TempoTec Sonata BHD, drives them on the lowest gain, with tons of headroom to spare. At long term listening levels, I still have about 35 more decibels of digital gain, in my software audio player. In simple terms, you can lose your hearing, if you are not cautious.

SOUND

1. In comparison to anything else I own, subject to some EQ, which I've pasted below, and the SPRING XL ear tips. I get the best clarity, transparency, frequency balance, natural sound, fast transient response, detail, insight and ability to listen at many levels of loudness.



2. Excellent natural vocal sound. This is one IEM that needs very little EQ, definitely nothing drastic is needed.

3. That BASS, listening to Koffee., awesome. Tight, Clear,

4. Clarity. This IEM separates out all the elements so you can hear them distinctly as separate components, of different sizes. vocals can be narrow and centered and confined to a thin point in space, while the bass drum or bass synth can be fat and wide and solid. Everything sits in its own space. Never heard such good resolution on a head worn piece.

MY only complaint is the centering of the stereo image, which is either a problem with my own ears, or a fault with the IEM.

I love the non hyped natural presentation of vocals with very little need for EQ. I do not think it colours the audio in any significant direction.

It outclasses the ARTTI T10. In the authority of its portrayal. No bloat no over hang, drums percussion and bass notes start and stop with the utmost precision. Spatial cues, such as reverb, are reproduced so naturally.

5. Stereo Image - Wide, Wide enough. Able to pinpoint every element in the left right axis.

All the descriptions I may attempt to give here, will not help you, just get one and hear it for yourself. It is the best head worn listening device I have heard.

Intro

KZ on a roll on releases decent budget sets such as SAGA and ZS10 Pro 2 which makes me impressed what it offers. Now they released their new Planar set called PRX. I was surprised by its performance I can admit this is the best KZ I've heard so far.





Disclaimer

I would like to thank KZ for arranging the PRX for evaluations. My opinions are unbiased, and I haven't been influenced or instructed to praise these IEMs. Every detail in this review is actual experience made by listening for hours everyday.


Specifications

Frequency : 20-40,000Hz
Impedance : 15Ω
Plug Type : 3.5mm
Cable Type : Silver-plated cable
Cable Length : 120±5cm
Sensitivity : 94±3dB
Pin Type : 0.75mm


Packaging

Pair of KZ PRX (already inserted foam tips)
Silver-plated cable
Set of eartips
Manual





Build and Comfort

The build is hybrid, the body made of resin and the faceplate is made of sturdy aluminum material. Its a typical design you will find from the PR series of KZ and nothing new. Comfort factor? This my first PR series set and this my best fit in my KZ arsenal.


Drivability

It is quite easy to drive but still it opens up its true performance using a decent source.





Sound Aspects


Source used :


IQOO Neo 9s Pro
Onix Alpha XI1
Fosi Audio ZD3
Boaleco PX2 Tube Amp


This iems spend 50-60 hours of burn in using pink noise before taking details of this review


The KZ PRX is an evident of a budget planar evolution sporting a clean and clear paired with wide and expansive soundstage. Despite of weighty bass response it remain clean and produces satisfying slam and rumbles. The midrange is smooth and natural. There is a slight uppermids boost to compliment with the weighty bass to remain balanced. The treble exhibits airy and sparkly character without sounding harsh. It also presents the treble with great note weight and very well refined to add enjoyment to the overall presentation.


Technicalities

The soundstage is the star of the show here it exhibits wide and expansive soundscape above average for the price when paired with a decent source. The imaging and layering is also impressive for a planar technology, the instrument separation of PRX will question you how it is tuned for this price point. Just give this a decent source you will enjoy these for sure.





Conclusion

The PRX is one I easily recommended for those people who want to start with their audio hobby and in my country it only cost 40$ which a steal. The wide soundstage of PRX is really impressive and weighty low end that doesnt sound thin and one thing I want to point out it doesnt distort in higher volumes you will enjoy these even in ear shattering volumes jk take care of your ears. I will say it again these the best KZ I've heard. Highly recommended!


Non affiliated link below :
https://www.kztws.com/products/kz-prx

Introduction​

KZ needs no introduction, and their PR series is no exception since we all know that it’s their planar series.
After many other versions such as the PR1, PR1 HiFi, PR1 Pro, PR2 x HBB (with all the drama related to the mesh and no mesh versions, the tuning change and so on), PR3 and bla bla, the PRX comes as another version featuring a planar driver.
Let’s see how it performs and how it compares against similar products.

Disclaimer: the KZ PRX were sent to me by KZ so that I could write an honest review. This review represents my personal opinion on the set, it isn't promotional or paid content and I don’t get any revenue from the sales of this product.
At the time of the review, the KZ PRX were on sale for about 50$. You can find more infos and buying link on KZ-Audio's website.

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Technical Specifications​

• Driver Configuration → 1 x Planar driver (should be a 13.2 mm unit)
• Impedance → 15 Ω
• Spec-sheet Frequency Response → 20Hz-40kHz
• Nozzle Diameter (widest point) → 6mm
• Sensitivity → 94 dB
• Cable → 1.25m detachable copper cable with 0.75mm 2-PIN QDC connectors
• Plug Type → 3.5mm

Packaging​

The packaging of the KZ PRX is identical to every other KZ box. It’s a very simple and small cardboard and contains:

• The KZ PRX
• The detachable cable
• One set of starline tips (S, M, L sizes)
• One pair of foam tips
• User manual

Design, Build Quality, Comfort and Isolation​

The design of the PRX is not really unique since the PR series always had this kind of design, but it’s a design that works and that I find pretty good-looking. The build quality is pretty nice, with resin being the star of the show when it comes to the shell’s material. The faceplate looks like it’s made of aluminum but something tells me it could be a painted plastic faceplate.
In any case, the build quality is pretty good, no particular complaints here.

Comfort is very good, isolation is average and in fact I prefer using these at home (probably, and I say probably, the faceplate is truly semi-open but I am not sure about it).

Cable​

KZ has to upgrade their stock cables. This is just another cheap cable from KZ and there’s nothing “positive” I can say about it since other brands include better cables on average. The QDC connector isn’t a favorite of mine either.
No more excuses KZ, it’s time to act.

Sound​

GEAR USED FOR THE TEST

• DAC: Topping E30
• AMP: Topping L30, Fiio A3
• Mobile phones: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Xiaomi Mi A3, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
• Moondrop May’s DSP cable with PEQ=0
• Dongle: Apple Type-C dongle, Fosi DS2, Hidizs XO
• Portable DAPs: Benjie S8/AGPTEK M30B
• Bluetooth Adapters: KBEAR S1, KZ AZ10
• Other sources: Presonus AudioBox iONE, Elgato Wave XLR

Amplifier needed?
Some amplification is strongly recommended since the PRX doesn’t sport a very efficient planar driver and some power is gonna help. I really suggest picking up a cheap type-c dongle DAC at least since weak sources will give you low volume and could probably lead to disappointing performance overall.

Let’s speak about the sound.
The KZ PRX sound great, and it’s pretty much it.
Timbre is fairly natural for a planar set, even though there’s still some planar timbre, especially in the upper registers and in the bass presentation.
The low-end is emphasized on the PRX and this gives more weight to the left part of the frequency range, providing for a controlled yet speedy low-end that not only can keep up with fast tracks but that can also sound “natural”. In fact, planar drivers usually have a less natural bass response if not very boosted or heavily damped, but KZ managed to strike a great balance between note weight and speed that is super satisfying, also thanks to the sub-bass focus.
Male vocals have a nice sense of warmth and are slightly influenced by the low-end emphasis, followed by gentle and intimate female vocals. The latter aren’t hot, they are never sibilant, and even though not the star of the show they are never left behind, which is another win-win situation for KZ. The upper-midrange is, in fact, surprisingly smooth.
What about the treble? Well, the treble has some sparkle up top and the overall detail retrieval and resolution is above average for the price, but it’s far from being as fatiguing as on other KZ planar sets. For sure the PRX are not ideal for treble sensitive folks, but those those who will decide to grab a pair of these will be rewarded with a surprisingly technical yet controlled treble (which is hard to believe considering previous planar sets from KZ, but trust me).

The technical performance is very good for the price, with a pretty wide soundstage and precise imaging. Soundstage depth and height are average for the price, but the overall technical performance is definitely above average for an under 50$ planar set.

Are they something I would use considering my taste and preferences?
Yes. The low-end is rich enough to enjoy some proper dubstep and drum ‘n bass, and the technical performance is very good too so I can also play some games with these and having proper pinpointing.
I have been using the PRX since when I have received them and it’s a set that I would pick up for sure (and that I will recommend, at least until a better version comes up).

Some comparisons:​

KZ PRX vs KZ x HBB PR2

I’ll be very brief with this comparison: the PRX sound better under every aspect.
The PR2 have just a touch more details, but with a much more annoying and fatiguing treble. The PRX have better technical performance overall, better note weight, superior timbre, a more spacious soundstage, a much more natural vocal reproduction and it’s tuned in a better way in general.
Cable, comfort, isolation and packaging are identical.
Just skip the old PR2 and go for the PRX hands down: the latter are harder to drive but they will reward you.

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KZ PRX vs SGOR Luna

These are not very different and in fact the technical performance is very similar, but the PRX have better note weight and a more controlled upper-midrange with more natural vocals. The Luna are a touch faster and cleaner in the low-end and also have more lively and energetic vocals, but the PRX sound richer and warmer, leading to a slightly less neutral yet more natural sound reproduction. Both are pretty hard to drive.
In terms of comfort, the PRX are better thanks to the smaller shells, whereas the Luna are bulkier even though their isolation from external noises is superior. The SGOR Luna win when it comes to the stock cable. The packaging of the SGOR Luna is slightly better but at the end of the day there’s not much difference: although the Luna come with more comfortable stock tips, the PRX come with an added pair of foam tips, which are not included with the Luna.
I’d pick the PRX based on my own preferences, since I prefer better note weight and a richer low-end along with better comfort, but I also see the reasons why some would prefer the more energetic vocals on the Luna and their more neutral response.

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KZ PRX vs NiceHCK F1 Pro

This is fairly interesting honestly because the PRX are so close to the F1 Pro in terms of performance that I was surprised to compare these. Let’s say that the F1 Pro are a touch drier and faster but the PRX sound more refined and natural, with better note weight, better end-to-end extension and a less fatiguing, non-sibilant upper-midrange.
Soundstage is more spacious on the PRX, imaging is mostly on par but the better soundstage of the PRX makes up for better layering and positioning of the various sounds and instruments. The F1 Pro are a bit easier to drive in general.
Comfort is good on both sets, isolation is average on both sets but the F1 Pro isolate slightly better from external noises.
Packaging, cable and accessories are an easy win for the NiceHCK F1 Pro.

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Final Thoughts​

The PRX are a true surprise, especially considering the previous planar sets from KZ.
The end to end extension is very good for the price, the note weight is on-point for a cheap planar, and the overall technical performance and resolution are above average.
KZ has really managed to find a sweet spot between technical prowess and tuning that people wanted for a long time in the sub-50$ price range and I really struggled to find major issues with the PRX.
If anything, there’s still a bit of added brightness that treble sensitive folks won’t like, and a proper source is needed (and well, KZ seriously needs to upgrade the stock cable), but other than this there isn’t much to say if not “great job KZ, this is a strike!”.