KZ ZS10 Pro

Intro


Disclaimer: I purchased the KZ ZS10 Pro and this review is written of my own accord. For more reviews like these, drop by our site at www.perrivanaudio.com

The KZ ZS10 Pro is a hybrid IEM by Knowledge Zenith with 5 drivers on each side (1DD+4BA). These have been released a while back but remains as one of the most popular selling KZ earphones to date. This review looks at how it fares now in the current market.

Accessories and Build Quality (Score: 6.5/10)



Accessories are the usual as you'd expect of KZ. Nothing new or out of the ordinary. Yes, same old scrummy brown cable. Build quality is quite good, with a stainless-steel faceplate with a mirror polish. However, this is an extreme scratch magnet, and they pick up scuffs from almost anything. Not very OCD-friendly certainly. Not the most creative design, but at $35, I have no complaints.

Fit (Score: 7/10)

The fit is surprisingly poor for an IEM with this shape and form. They lack the curves in the right places and don't sit snugly in the ear. That said, they still fit securely enough for use while commuting and travelling. The nozzle is on the wide side.

Sound (Score: 7.1/10)


The Sound signature is big V-shape, which isn't much of a surprise given KZ's "house sound"

Sources Used

• Hiby R5
• Lotoo Paw S1

Albums and Tracks tested with

• Boston Symphony Orchestra - The Nutcracker Suite
• Scary Pockets - Nu Funk
• MCR - Danger Days
• Imagine Dragons - Smoke + Mirrors
• Elton John - Rocket Man, Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting
• NEEDTOBREATHE - Out of Body
• Michael Buble - To Be Loved

Bass (Score: 7.5/10)

Bass is pronounced and powerful, as expected of a KZ IEM. The sub-bass extends quite well and has a very satisfying rumble when the situation calls for it. There also isn't too much bloating in the midbass, which makes the bass and overall tuning quite enjoyable. The biggest problem in the bass would be that the midbass punch and attack is a little too blunted and doesn't help with the resolution in the bass. Bass is layered well and is very nice on Scary Pockets' rendition "Always Be My Baby" despite the complicated and fast bassline.

Mids (Score: 6.5/10)

Mids don't have anything special to them and are a little too recessed for my liking. However, I was never a fan of such big V-shape so that may explain it. My biggest praise for the mids would be that nothing sounds weird and tonality is pretty decent. Vocals sound a little too small and in tracks from My Chemical Romance's, things get a little messy and grainy in the mids. Upper mids are quite pleasant, and I especially like the tonality and airiness of the flutes when listening to "The Nutcracker Suite".

Treble (Score: 7/10)

Lower treble is quite prominent. Resolution and detail retrieval is surprisingly good, as I really wasn't expecting a lot at this price point. It still is audibly not stellar and lacks the finer details. However, the treble is inoffensive and dodges sibilant peaks while still imparting a decent amount of air and sparkle to the treble. A good way to end of the V-shape tuning. Things can get grainy in the treble on tracks with a lot of cymbals and Hihats.

Overall

The sound signature is quite enjoyable for casual listening while on the go and there isn't any issues with tonality and sounds rather coherent. Imaging is quite decent for the price.

Conclusion



The KZ ZS10 Pro is the culmination of many reiterations of the ZS series. There have been many problems plaguing the tuning of this driver-packed series. However, KZ seems to be getting the hang of things judging from the tuning of these. Of course, there is much to be improved on, and hopefully, KZ only improves from here.

These won't be my go-to recommendation to anyone, not even to Bassheads as there are many new additions at its current price point that bests it. However, out of the few KZ earphones I have tried, these seem to have the most listenable V-shape tuning and the best price-to-performance ratio. If you are ever curious about KZ, these would be the ones to get ... for now, at least.

The ZS10 Pro is one of the latest models in a new series of IEMs from KZ (Knowledge Zenith) featuring metal faceplates, revised drive units and a new type of connector. It is an update to the original ZS10 and like the earlier model, is a five-driver hybrid (1DD + 4BA). The dynamic driver is a new 10mm dual magnet design which is claimed to be equivalent to a 14-15mm unit. It is the same as that used in the new KZ ZSN Pro and the CCA CA4 and has a field strength of 1 Tesla. Two 50060 balanced armatures cover the midrange frequencies and two of the familiar 30095 units are employed for the treble region. The BAs are revised versions of the originals. This configuration is similar to that in the original ZS10 and the CCA C10, but with updated drivers.

The packaging is the usual KZ small white box with an outline drawing of the IEMs on the front and some specifications printed on the back. Inside, the earphones are presented in a cut-out with the words “10 Units Hybrid Technology Earphone” printed below. Under this cut-out you will find the detachable cable, a set of three Starline-type tips and documentation. A further set of soft silicone tips is pre-fitted on the IEMs.

The ZS10 Pro has a polished stainless steel faceplate which has three screws and three indented chevrons on its surface and is very well made. The shape is similar to that of the CCA C10 and ZSN Pro and the body of the earphone is made of a clear acrylic through which the components can be seen. The words “10 Hybrid Technology” appear on the edge of the earpieces. My particular example came in the purple option which contrasted well with the polished metal faceplates. The words “stunning hifi configuration” are printed on the side of the shells. The overall apperance is really cool.

The detachable cable is the new design, initially adopted on the above-mentioned ZSN. It has a clear plastic connector (known as “Type C”) with the pins covered in a plastic shield. It is still possible to use other cables, which just plug into the protruding sockets on the IEMs. The cable itself is the usual KZ type of braided copper and has a very long section between the chunky Y-split and the earpieces and as a result is somewhat prone to tangling. It would be nice to see an improvement in this area. The plug is a right-angled plastic 3.5mm TRS type.

The earphones were left burning in for over 50 hours before testing and included tracks of white and pink noise, glide tones and other audio conditioning tracks. After this I used a Hifi Walker H2 DAP with a Fiio A5 amplifier for evaluation.

The ZS10 Pro was tested using the pre-fitted tips and a 16 core silver plated cable which provided improved comfort. Used like this, the seal and isolation were above average. The fit was very comfortable, allowing me to forget that I had earphones in my ears! I experienced a good volume level on various devices, including a Sony NWZ-A15, the above-menioned Hifi Walker H2 and a Moto G3 smartphone. However, I found the sound balance preferable when run through the DAP via line out with a headphone amplifier.

The ZSN10 Pro displayed a V-shaped response, in traditional KZ style. In this respect the sound resembled that of the earlier ZS7 model with strong but not too dominant bass. The lower mids were slightly recessed but remained articulate, and the treble was bright and largely free of peaks or other artefacts. The sub-bass showed good extension and texture and the mid bass had plenty of impact but did bleed a little into the mids. The midrange itself was clean, clear and well-detailed with a wide but not so deep soundstage. The treble was brighter that of the ZS7 with good extension and plenty of detail and sparkle. The 50060 and 30095 BAs have been tuned with a bright tonality and certainly produce a more preferable sound to the original ZS10 and the CCA C10, which use the same drivers. The overall effect was dynamic and lively and quite forward. To be more specific:

Bass

The bass resembled that of the KZS7 but had more of a mid-bass, rather than a sub-bass emphasis. It sounded tight and immediate. The new double magnetic driver seems to be particularly well implemented here and improves upon the CCA CA4 and KZ ZSN Pro, which use the same unit. The bass drum and timpani in “Castilla”, the first movement of the “Suite Espanola” by Albeniz, had superb impact and life, with a very natural timbre. This created a perfect foundation for the fast-paced rhythm of the piece. The deep bass accompaniment in Jonn Serrie’s “Flow of Time’s Arrow” from his album “Thousand Star” took the same role, creating a solid foundation for the synth patches and sparkly electronic effects floating over the top in impressive fashion. The bass section in “The Cello’s Song” by Kostia and David Arkenstone had good timbre and presence. The natural tone of the cello and the string accompaniment completed a very satisfying performance.

Mids

There was some bass bleed from the strong mid-bass which tended to make the lower mids somewhat recessed and gave a little extra warmth, but due to the gradual rise into the treble region, a fairly balanced picture emerged. There was plenty of detail on offer here and the clean nature of the presentation allowed all the different layers to be heard clearly. This came to the fore in Vangelis’s “Celestial Whispers” from his “Rosetta” album. The stately melody progressed attractively, accompanied by clear percussive elements, all set within an attractive acoustic. The wide soundstage also showed its merits in the first movement of Roy Harris’s Symphony No.6, performed by the Pacific Symphony Orchestra conducted by Keith Clark. The orchestra was spread beautifully across the stereo image and the tonality of the various instruments was depicted very well. However, in more energetic pieces, the perspective tended to flatten and the higher frequencies tended to dominate. Very occasionally there were some more strident elements.

Treble

The treble continued where the mids left off with a bright, energetic presentation. The sharp and immediate nature of the upper frequencies was very effective in Mark Dwane’s “Planetary Rulers” from his album “Astrology”. Mark is a master of the MIDI guitar and his recordings are of audiophile quality. Percussion strikes were fast and incisive with good detail and guitars displayed impressive attack. This kind of material was perfect for the ZS10 Pro, which revelled in the complex arrangement. The bright string sonorities of Rossini’s “String Sonata No.1” performed by the Orchestra of the Enlightenment were clean and crisp and possessed an attractive timbre with the rhythmic qualities of the piece being preserved very well. As with the midrange, sometimes a harsher tonality emerged but this only occurred infrequently.

Soundstage

As mentioned above, the soundstage displayed good width and height, but a less well-delineated depth. The stereo presentation was very good, especially the left to right spread which helped with effects which moved around the image. A good example of this was in “Time” from Pink Floyd’s seminal “Dark Side of the Moon”. The tuned tom-toms danced around the image very effectively. All the elements of Alan Parsons’s excellent production could be heard clearly with good separation. It was only in more complex and energetic passages that the image condensed a little and there was a flattening of perspective. In general though, the ZS10 put in a good performance here.

Conclusion

The ZS10 Pro is the third IEM from KZ and CCA featuring a dynamic driver coupled with two 50060 BAs and two 30095 BAs. The CCA C10 has a more balanced, safe tuning with a gently rolled-off treble, a warm but well-textured bass and a clear more neutral midrange. The original ZS10 was a true V-shaped IEM with powerful bass which occasionally became dominant, a recessed midrange which sometimes displayed an odd tonality, and a bright treble in traditional KZ style with the tendency to display peaks. The ZS10 Pro addresses these issues and has a punchy mid-bass, and a clean upper register with few artefacts, resulting in a more balanced sound which is entertaining as well. It is quite full-on, however, grabbing you by the lapels, and sometimes forgetting to let go! This “full throttle” approach was occasionally fatiguing on more lively material.

It is tempting to compare the ZS10 Pro with KZ’s earlier ZS7 model. It has a different driver configuration, employing a 10mm DD coupled with a 29689 mid range BA, a 31005 mid/high BA and two 30095 treble units. The ZS7 has a superb sub-bass region and a flatter mid-bass with no bleed. The midrange is more subdued but still displays great detail. The treble is gentler but still shows sparkle and life. It also has a more three-dimensional soundstage, due to the vented earpieces, and is a more relaxing listen. The two earphones offer a real alternative in the “fun” tuning category. Both have their merits and advocates. For a lively brighter sound with a mid-bass emphasis, the ZS10 Pro is for you. If you prefer a sub-bass presentation and an overall “darker” sound, then choose the ZS7.

KZ ZS10 PRO Review :



SOUND: 8.5/10
ACCESSORIES: 7/10
CONSTRUCTION: 8.5/10
DESIGN: 8.5/10
VALUE: 9/10

I’m quite know fromaudio community as a KZ hater, but that wasn’t always the case as I was a KZ praiser at the begining of my budget audiophile journey. EDR1, ED9, KZ ATE was all praised by me (and lot of other too). And then, supreme joy happen, the KZ ZS5V1 appear and man, was I impress as ever! This is where I begin dreaming about incredible sound value potential of Chifi and begin to be neurotically active on headfi, creating the ‘’Best SUB-100$ budget earphones’’ thread and having for goal to create a reference list that will help people without money to make the best choice possible.

Then, KZ ZS5V2 stole the place of V1 and I hate it, then ZS6 appear and it was pure peaky violence to my ears and then ZS10 and I was out. I say : i’m done with KZ, they don’t know how to achieve a natural musicality and just love to throw BA in bigger and bigger housing, they are mad.

But i’m back on the KZ track! Is it because my expectation was abysally low that I find the ZS10 PRO quite great? No, because I still can hear some KZ ackwardness there and there, but they are way less problematic than before and at this price, I see one of the greatest Chifi achievment in term of price value since the Tinaudio T2. Well, T2 still kick the ass of the PRO, but they are 2 very different sounding iem that can complete eachother (why not mix them please?).

So, there you go, KZ ZS10 PRO is another multi drivers Hybrid with 1 dynamic drivers and 4 balanced armature in its body. It is extremely competitively priced and can be found for around 35$ on Aliexpress and such. There is a bunch of ackward sound chifi multi BA hybrid out there,will the ZS10PRO be an exception? Let's see in this review!



You can buy the KZ ZS10PRO from AMAZON or Aliexpress if you wanna wait 2 months.

As well, I use the TRIPOWIN C8 upgrade cable for most of this review, this is an excellent silver copper mixed cable and I really suggest you upragde you PRO or other new KZ model with it.

DISCLAIMER: As one would think, i do not buy KZ earphones anymore (this might change tough), so I wanna thanks TRIPOWIN for giving me the chance to review and appreciate these nice ZS10PRO. This came out of the blue, and I have no affiliation with Tripowin or anyone on this planet earth. My views are fully objective in their subjectivity.


ACCESSORIES, CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN :




UNBOXING is as boring as every KZ earphones I have, well, presentation is nicer than 2 years before where it was just throw in a cheap box. Still, you have nothing more than 4 pairs of cheap silicone eartips (i do not use them) and a cheap cable (i do not use it). I would prefer KZ to just sold the earphones without cable to be honnest, as we always need to upgrade it anyway...but the price is so cheap that I only complaint about the fact i’m invade with vain coppers KZ cable that take dust, please make a recyclable version at least!




CONSTRUCTION is very similar to the CCA C10, with a more futuristic metal plate design wich have the benifit to make them more singular and appealing to the eyes, but have the drawback of being easily scratched due a fragile mirror aluminium back plate. In fact. Mine even came pre-scratched, so it say alot about how prompt to scratch they are. But I don’t really care as im not very coquettish with budget earphones anyway, this little issue do not interfer with durability and the ZS10PRO feel very sturdy due to the thick plastic of other part or housing (again, the same as ZSN or C10). As well, its pretty small for a 5 drivers iem, wich is surely better for fit than proper sound rendering (how can air flow in this overcrowned shell?). MMCX connector will piss off some people as its the same as ZSN and the cable of CCA will not fit the ZS10PRO, in fact, for perfect fit you really need the very same type of mmcx female connector.

DESIGN is very comfy and will fit most ears, its near 2 times smaller than the KZ ZS10-AS10 or CCA C16. This is a uiem that is made to be wear over ear. The nozzle are righly done and long enough to go deep for good fit. As well, there no hard angle or corner that will make the ZS10PRO uncomfortable for long listening session.

ISOLATION is average and will cut enough noise relatively to volume level you listen to, but the sound leakage is quite notable due to 3 hole in back venting. Anyway, i never consider this as a big downer for my personal use.

DRIVEABILIY is super easy, making the PRO a good choice for those not having powerfull DAP or portable amp, the PRO are fully pushed whatever sound source I use, wich include Audirect BEAM dac-’’amp’’ that isnt powerfull at all. In all my more than 50 earphones collection, the one that are very easy to drive are very rare (PMV A01 MK2, Zhiyin Z5000, Brainwavz B400), so to me this is a Big plus.


SOUND IMPRESSIONS :



So, out of the box I like how the ZS10PRO sound, what hit me first in all sens of the term its the thick punchy mid bass and fowards mid range, sure, it wasn’t particularly refined in its timbre and a big grainy, but the clarity and separation was there. KZ choose a very muscular sound presentation where everything is throw with weight and hurry, we aren’t in delicate and gentle territory here, wich perhaps its why they sound that good with abrasive rock too.

One could think it is ironical that a PRO version sound that much entertaining, its because while the W sound of KZ is well balanced as a whole, its sure is very coloured and pround of it.

CABLES have used for the PRO aren't the original one but the Tripowin 8cores balanced cable, wich pair very well with my Xduoo X20 and give clearer tigher sound, even if subtle, its notable. It kinda do the same with the Vsonic 4 cores SPC cable (3.5mm) I use, but balanced way make it little more clear in the background.



SOUNDSTAGE is wide but still quite intimate, but do not feel stock in your head even if it do not have lot of deepnest to it. Were in ‘’stereo tapestry’’ like spaciality here due to warmish low and mid range of the KZ.

IMAGING too isn’t the best, but a sens of close layerings compensate the lack of air in the KZ body overcrowded with 5 drivers. Instrument placement are not very precise and will benifit from super clear audio source.

BASS extend well and have great control, the lower end is less emphased than mid bass wich is very well rounded and proeminent, what impress here its that it do not overly warm the mid range and just add a hint of extra body to it. Sub bass have good texture too, for the price range, because in term of tonality it isn’t particularly accurate and little shadowed by authoritative mid bass presence.

MID RANGE is nicely fowarded, slightly bright but without the upper mids sibilance one would expect from that level of clarity in a bassy earphones. Timbre is a little rough, but I think KZ achieve to extract the best that cheap Bellsing balanced armature could give, it do not sound overly shouty or unatural, just with some THD in its timbre ADN. Nonetheless, the mid range is rich and have smooth brightness wich lean towards dryness, but how say, in a okay way! The attack and decay is fats and give good definition to violin, less so for piano that lack some body but still have a clear presentation. When it come to vocal, perhaps it isn’t the more natural one, but again, level of presence is quite high wich make never sound recessed the signers.

TREBLE is very extended and coloured, in the sense its not particularly linear and have little push in low-mid-upper highs, nevr in a too sharp way tough. This make the ZS10 very detailed without sound too harsh, even if the highs ar emore crunchy than super crisp or sparkly and lack decay due to small soundstahe and lack of air. Again, the limit of balanced armature potential used is show here and lack of refinment in timbre of instrument will disappoint hardcore critical listener….but I do not review a TOTL earphones here and I consider layering of all this details quite nice and most importantly immersive.

SUB : 7.5/10
MID BASS : 8.5/10
MID RANGE : 8/10
TREBLE : 7.5/10
ATTACK-DECAY : 8/10
CLARITY : 8/10
SOUNDSTAGE : 7/10
IMAGING : 7.5/10
TIMBRE : 6.5/10


COMPARAISONS :

VS TIN AUDIO T2 (30-50$) :



Considered by a lot of budget audiophile like the unbeatable SUB-50$ earphones, the T2 are dual dynamic drivers with incredibly well balanced musicality that show all what it got in its lush mid range and wide imaging. Could the KZ ZS10 beat this legend?

Well ZS10PRO is a very different beast, that sacrifice some musicality for energic technicalities, one thing sure, level of clarity and imaging is better with the PRO even if SOUNDSTAGE of T2 is way wider and feel more airy too.

SOUNDSIGNATURE of T2 is more linear towards neutral than W shape of the PRO, this make it for a more laid back and musical rendering that sound less fatiguing as the vivid and fowards PRO. As well, brighter is the pro, smoother is the T2 even if both have rather rich timbre.

This is due to BASS of T2 wich is more sloppy in lower end and lack attack and grip in mid bass, while the PRO is very tigh (and bassy) in both even is less elevated in sub bass than T2. KZ is way punchier and lively in bass region than more relaxed, thick and warm bass of T2, wich perhaps extend lower but not in a controled way. This elastic bass presentation of T2 make it good for jazz and classical, while the PRO win in anything else, should it be electro, rock or pop.

MID RANGE now is very luscious, transparent and wide sounding with the T2, while the PRO have a fowards and intimate vocal presentation with brighter timbre that can give unatural presentation. With T2, vocal are star of the show when they need to, taking front seat and presenting themself with grandeur that do not interfer that much with layering due to transparence. PRO have perhaps clearer and more (artificialy) fowarded vocal, but with more grainy texture and unpleasant sharpness.

TREBLE is more extended with the PRO and dig more micro details as well as high give more sparkle and brilliance, this help for better accuracy of imaging where the T2 feel more delicate with extra presence in lower and mid treble. This make the T2 smoother and less peaky, wich to me is a plus as it give natural musicality while the PRO can sometime sound overly agressive as well as harsh with percussion being fowarded too much wich can result in splashiness.

One thing to note is the fact ZS10PRO are easier to drive, making them more versatile with low output source.

All in all, here, we have two excellent value iem, ZS10PRO win in term of details, imaging, bass and liveliness, while T2 win in soundstage, vocal rendering and musical cohesion as a whole.

VS CCA C10 (22-30$) :



Another well seen budget iem, the CCA C10 score same number of drivers and look pretty similar to the ZS10PRO as well, but the C10 is about 10 dollars less than the PRO. If you look closely, you’ll see the drivers aren’t implemented exactly the same as well as the housing of CCA C10 is a little larger at nozzle end. Now let’s see how these compare.

SOUNDSIGNATURE is pretty similar, both have a W approach but the C10 is overall smoother and have less mid bass emphasis than PRO.

BASS is way punchier and lively with the PRO wich help to have a less boomy approach than C10 mixed up bass response, the accuracy is better and impact faster, wich surely confirm they do not use both same dynamic drivers. C10 bass being warmer and thicker, it will stole some clarity to the MIDRANGE, wich is more recessed than ZS10PRO.

Vocal of thePRO are more fowards as well as slitghly brighter, timbre have more textured to it and make the vocal feel veiled for the C10. Whole PRO midrange is energic and lively with fast attack and tigh (too tigh) decay, while C10 lack in imaging accuracy, but still do a good job in term of tonality and (dryish) transparence.

TREBLE is more extended and crispier with the PRO, while C10 is more unbalanced with highs, with slight extra mid highs presence that help to dig some details but without any sparkle or decay, its soft, and it begin to drop after its 12Khz peak.

All in all, ZS10PRO is more like a CCA C10 upgrade than a ZS10 upgrade (wich is a very different earphones that donot worth your attention), its a more energic, lively, punchy and accurate version of C10.

VS KBear F1 (30-40$):


Yeah, sorry Kbear, thats kind of crual comparaisons I do here, but your really the iem in same price range that fall in my hands. I mean, I SEE your potential, really, there something here but its not ready to be lauch in the sun. KZ ZS10 PRO have some similarity with the F1, in timbre, wich perhaps confirm they use same bellsing drivers…..but man, KZ have 4 of them plus a dynamic too! And its well tuned in a fun, punchy cohesive way! So, yeah, BASS dig way deeper, have better separation and mid bass slam is incredibly lively and weighty compared to dry, shy, congested one of F1. MIDRANGE is a little similar in timbre but have better clarity, imaging and energy with the ZS10PRO. TREBLE extend further with the PRO and offer plenty of details that are well layered and have their own singularity even if the crunchy timbre of percussion or some instrument can sound slightly off. All in all, the PRO is from another league far above the F1 here and the punchy dynamic it have make it like comparing an hyperactive and muscular (but little primitive) athlete to a…..dead body.

CONCLUSION :


With KZ we never know what is due to luck or talent with their audio implementation and tuning, sometime it can be a disaster other time great audio value. In all case, the drivers used make it for compromise in overall musicality, especially in timbre and tonality, but when your able to balance nicely as much drivers than the numbers we can found in the ZS10PRO and making the whole sound cohesive yet entertaining, energic and clear as well, I think we got here a great achievment.

Sure die hard audiophile and critical listener will find ZS10PRO lacking in refinement, and surely consider the tuning as immature and too bassy. Well, if so, why did they love Campfire basshead iem then? Perhaps because of lower harmonic distortion in timbre or more vivid sharpness of treble, still, at about 35$ I can say without a doubt that the KZ ZS10PRO is among best budget buy you can make if you are a music enthusiast that listen to pop, rock, rap, electronic and even jazz to some extend. This earphones will make you became a head banger as soon as drum kick begin and the bass will not drown you favorite signer even if bass is authoritative, nope, this type of sound isn’t possible with single dynamic driver.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Many thanks to the friendly crew over at Linsoul, and in particular, Lillian - who has been patient and supportive of getting me info and started with product the past few months. You are some of the best partners out there to collaborate with!
Linsoul: https://www.linsoul.com/product-page/kz-zs10-pro-iem

WHY I DO THIS HOBBY
This month – (July) I turn 52. Out of those years, I’d say that 51 of them have included a deep love of music. Performing, (Brass – Baritone & Tuba/Sousaphone, Wind – Traditional/Celtic Flute & Pennywhistles, Keyboards - Piano/Synths, & voice (I’m a bass)) so I love almost all music. Since I started with audio, I have slowly changed from the higher-end listening set-ups I grew up with, to my current “lower Mid-Fi” set-up. I rotate my listening from portable (Opus #1S for “balanced-out audio” on the go, or iBasso DX90 – both with my iFi xCAN) to my desktop's set-up (PC --> Coaxial/USB --> iFi iDSD Micro --> Schiit Asgard II amp --> Headphone of choice). My primary recreational listening headphones are the AKG K550&553, Beyerdynamic T1(ver.2) and Sennheiser HD650. Most of my portable listening is done with IEMs - and up till now, it has mainly been with the BGVP DMG (Fun), Kanas Pro (Active Listening), and Etymotic ER4XR (Audio Analysis). For air travel, I still default to my old Bose QC25s for noise canceling.


I have extremely eclectic music tastes listening to a variety from J-POP, classical/opera, and jazz, to Heavy and classic rock. I listen to a lot of blues, jazz, folk music, metal, and alternative rock. My tonal preferences are relatively neutral/balanced, but I do have a fondness for powerful vocals, or dynamic/percussive emphasis in pieces and suspect I might have slight ‘bass-head’ preferences. Though I do not consider myself “treble sensitive”, and in the past have really enjoyed headphones like the T1 and HD800.


This is my purely subjective review – based on my gear, my ears, and my experience. Please consider and respect this - especially if my impressions do not match your own.

I have used the ZS10 Pro extensively over the past 2 weeks, so please account for my relatively short-term listening experiences with it. But I have clocked a lot of hours with the ZS10 Pro in the last week in particular.


REVIEW

Setup
For this review, I used the ZS10 PRO with its stock cable & tips PRIMARILY from my phone, (Samsung Galaxy Note 8) Opus #1S, and iBasso DX90 only because of its portable nature. However, I also tested stronger amps, (Fiio E17, iFi xCAN, iDSD Micro, iCAN SE, & Schiit Asgard II) to see if adding more power impacted the ZS1-PROs performance. This was rechecked periodically, but other than maxing-out volumes faster, I heard little change in terms of the headphones “scaling-up” performance with more powerful amps. So, enjoy using your better-quality smartphones with the ZS10 PRO knowing that these earphones aren’t picky about equipment in order to give their best!




SPECS
KZ ZS10 PRO____________KZ ZS7
Nominal impedance
24ohms_________________24ohms

Wire Length
125cm__________________125cm

Plug Diameter
3.5mm__________________3.5mm

Material
Aluminum alloy, ABS_______Aluminum alloy

Weight
25 grams________________25 grams

Pin Termination
2-Pin 0.75mm Connection___2-Pin 0.75mm Connection

Frequency response
7Hz - 40KHz______________20Hz - 40KHz

Sensitivity
111 dB__________________105 dB

Driver Configuration
2*30095 high frequency___2*30095 high frequency
2*50060 mid frequency____1*31005 upper mid frequency
1*10mm dyn. bass freq.___1*29689 lower mid frequency
______________________1*10mm dynamic bass frequency


FREQUENCY RESPONSE GRAPH

Thanks to PRIMEAUDIO.ORG for making these resources available.


PACKAGING

KZ ZS10 PRO Box Sleeve - Front


KZ ZS10 PRO Box Sleeve - Back


The ZS10 PRO comes in a plain white box with a thin printed outer retail sleeve.

KZ ZS10 PRO inside the sleeve – basic style

The KZ ZS10 PRO housings sit in a foam and cardboard holder under a clear plastic cover. Left and Right earpieces set inside cut-out shaped foam. Included under the foam is a User Guide on a dual-sided 5-fold paper stock booklet, an additional 3 ear tips, and warranty literature.


Printed User Guide – A dual-sided 5-panel foldout (English only)


BUILD

The earphones look built extremely well for their price point – with the ABS backs being rounded, rather than angular, which for me adds to the comfort since there are no sharp corners to dig into sensitive ear surfaces.



KZ ZS10 PRO ABS plastic back, pin receptacles, & output nozzle


The stock cable isn’t the worst, but it gets replaced at review’s end


The cable is almost 1.3 meters braided and twisted cord with stiff ear form sleeves for the over-ear style wearing method. The standard cord is terminated in a Right-angle 3.5mm plug. The cable is removable – but would be one of the first things I would want to replace as it can quickly become a tangled mess. It is quite kinky – and thus, not easy to coil neatly. (See photo below) Fine enough for getting you started out of the box, but I highly recommend a better coiling cable for sanity’s sake if you’re going to be on the go with these regularly.



Cable Pins and angled connector sleeve


While I appreciate the attention to detail, the cable, unfortunately, does stay “kinked”...




The extra stock “Small, Medium & Large” ear tips



The stock tips are okay but sounded relatively thin & hollow.


The ear-tips that arrive on the drivers and the 3 sets of extras in the pouch aren’t bad, but they didn’t allow the drivers to stay securely seated without regularly feeling the need to push them back deeper into my ears. I have no issues with my ears fitting the tips, and they never bothered my ear canals. The drivers just never truly seated properly though and made the ZS10 PRO sound thin - all but outright killing most of the bass. A quick swap to NEW BEE replacement foam tips and these became full and vibrant sounding with solid and deep bass response. (ALMOST too much bass, but just shy of it.)


AMP PERFORMANCE

ZS10 PROs are easily-driven by phones, but get LOUD with amps!


The performance of your SOURCE makes a big difference


The ZS10 PROs were able to be driven to louder volume levels than I am comfortable with on any phone I tried, (Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Apple iPhones 4, 5, & 8) and both Android and Apple tablets (Original and Air iPads as well as Lenovo A12) drove them even louder. So the ZS10 PROs are perfect for plain listening to music, podcasts, or videos with no added gear.

BUT, if you have a player or amp that can add to the basic levels of audio performance over what current-day phones and tablets provide, then the ZS10 PRO has the chops to take advantage and bring out increased detail or dynamic levels of highs, mids, or bass with plenty of room to grow.


AMP RESULTS BREAKDOWN
In order of performance: (Increasing as you move from 1 down)

1. Phones - Each sounds about the same... (Apple or Android) Basic, low detail and flat sounding unless you play with DSP apps. Adequate volume for most situations.
2. Tablets - Same as phones, but a little more power. Louder, but not much more than that.
3. Fiio e17 - Noticeably louder than phones and tablets, and adds a bit of “fullness” to the soundstage.
4. iFi iCAN Micro - More power than I can use! Increases soundstage width if the music offers it, and Bass boost adds more low end than I would normally want unless the audio track was already anemic around the low end.
5. iBASSO DX90 DAP - Much less power than the iCAN, but the player offers better detail and resolution than any of the previous choices in the list. The ZS10 PRO has the capability to render a good amount of the detail any of my sources can provide.
6. Radsone E100 - Surprising amount of power and the E100’s app gives you great customization choices; EQ, Crossfeed, Filters, etc.. I didn’t feel the need to alter the signature much, but the drivers handled increases of up to 5db across the full range with no evident distortion. More than I wanted.
7. iFi iDSD Micro - Devastating amounts of power for a fully-portable solution plus increased clarity and resolution due to the DAC improvement over all my phone and tablet choices. Additions of XBass and 3D were easily-tolerated with no sense of distortion.
8. Opus #1S DAP - Best mobile source I have, and the ZS10 PROs really shine with them. The player has a slightly darker coloring tonally than the DX90 does, which the ZS10 PROs balance-out perfectly.
9. iFi xDSD - Similar power to the E100. (More than enough.) A good bit of clarity and detail added to music when connected via Bluetooth. Similar performance to the E100 when connected as “amp-only”, as the iFi’s DAC benefits are lost with this method.
   
   
   FIT / COMFORT
   The ZS10 PRO is comfortable and stable in my ears. The stock tips are acceptable for basic use, but swapping the stock tips out for New Bee or SpinFit tips increased both the stability and comfort considerably. The shape of the housing works well, the lack of sharp corners and edges making the contact surfaces less irritating than units with corners like the ZS7s.
   
   
   SONIC COMPARISONS
   General frequency summary (supported by the graph above):
   
   
   
   KZ ZS7, Tin T2, Kanas Pro, BGVP DMG, ER4XR, & Super.Fi 3

Drop these stock tips ASAP!

• KZ ZS7 - The closest to the ZS10 PRO signature-wise. More bass being the biggest difference. The ZS7 bass is loose and blooms in comparison to the ZS10 PRO. The treble of the ZS7 is close, but a spike at 10k makes the ZS7 more prone to get uncomfortable with certain high female vocal tracks. Both have excellent detail and good mids presentation for vocals.
  
  
• Tin T2 - Do you want fun or accuracy? ZS10 PRO for fun, and Tin T2 for accuracy. Neither is “better”, just “different” and I switch between the two based on mood. Better-controlled bass and greater imagery accuracy in the T2.
  
  
• Kanas Pro - 3 times the KZ’s cost, so not really fair… Where the ZS10 PROs are fun and lively, the Kanas Pros are more even. This is Ferrari (Kanas) vs Camaro (ZS10 Pro). Both great performers, but the Kanas is just in a different league. Tighter bass, wider soundstage, better-controlled highs, and ability to scale-up with amplification, where the ZS10 PROs give their best as long as the amp makes them loud enough. For lows, mids, & highs description, this is the same as the T2 comparison but taken up a notch.
  
  
• BGVP DMG - (Black filters) The extremes of highs and bass are the pros of the DMGs. The mids are where the ZS10 PRO and DMGs are similar in performance. Slightly-recessed mids in the DMGs are offset by a fuller-thicker sound than the ZS10 PRO. While both image and detail well, the ZS10 PRO does it just a bit better.

• Etymotic ER4XR - These are my reference for benchmarks. Aside from slightly elevated bass, these are neutral and analytical. The exact opposite of the ZS10 PRO, which I consider more enjoyable for a daily driver role.
  
  
• UE Super.Fi 3 - My oldest iems, and what I considered in the upper-end of consumer audio 15 years ago. The ZS10 PRO surpasses these in every aspect of its performance. Soundstage, clarity, imaging, etc.. Think an AM mono crank radio vs a high end 7.1 surround sound home theater.

REFERENCE MUSIC BY GENRE
Rock –

1. “Kryptonite” – 3 Doors Down
2. “Du Hast” – Rammstein
3. “Why Me?” – Planet P
4. “Hotel California” – The Eagles
5. “Money For Nothing” – Dire Straits
6. “Amaranth” – Night Wish
7. “Money” – Pink Floyd
8. “Lucy” – Skillet
9. “Layla” – Eric Clapton
10. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” – Jeff Healey

Blues/Jazz –

1. “Round Midnight” – Thelonious Monk
2. “Smoking Gun” – Robert Cray
3. “A Night In Tunisia” – Dizzy Gillespi
4. “Mood Indigo” – Duke Ellington

Pop/Rap/Electronica –

1. “Lose Yourself” – Eminem
2. “When Doves Cry” – Prince
3. “Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga
4. “No One” – Alicia Keys
5. “Royals” – Lorde
6. “Ride On Time” – Black Box
7. “O Fortuna” – Apotheosis
8. “Obsession” – See-Saw
9. “Guren No Yumia” – Linked Horizon

CONCLUSION
The ZS10 Pro is an amazing product in the $50 US dollar price range. Just 10 years ago, an iem performing at this level could have been found near the thousand dollar price point. So for me, this is a great product that I can’t recall another iem beating in all categories for under $200, and some of those still don’t surpass these KZs.

To me, there are 3 main benefits:

1. Sound great stock – You can pick these up in an airport terminal as a last minute afterthought, and enjoy great music with no additional purchases, just using your phone.
2. These can sound even better with simple upgrades of the tips. (I had great results from New Bee foams or SpinFit CP145)
3. Better comfort allows for prolonged enjoyment without feeling punished after a few hours. These would be great for monitoring in live performances, editing, or just listening enjoyment.

Disclaimer:
This IEM was bought at my own expense and I am not affiliated to any company.

Edit: after using the ZS10 pro continuously for 2 months, I would like to add a small nitpick:
the treble timbre is slightly artificial, which has something to do with the budget BAs that are used by the ZS10 Pro. It is a small issue in the big scheme of things, considering that it is very cheap (~ 35 USD on sales) yet provides good details/clarity/instrument separation. Nothing much to complain at the cost.


Hi this is my first review at this forum.
I own a few KZs, including the original ZS 10, and I gotta say the ZS10 Pro is by far the best KZ so far.
It easily outperforms some of my Westones/expensive IEMs that I owned, and at only a fraction of the price. Truly amazing, I wonder how these CHIFI IEM company break even sometimes.


These pictures are with an aftermarket NICEHCK 8 core copper cable, which I preferred over the stock cable as it had no chin cinch. Also attached are a pair of spinfit CP100 eartips, which I found were better isolating than the stock tips.


Specifications:
- Driver: 4 Balanced Armatures and 1 Dynamic Driver (Hybrid)
- Sensitivity: 111dB
- Cable: 2 pin 0.75mm detachable cable
- Frequency response: 7 - 40kHz
- Impedence: 30Ω
- Weight of 1 earbud: 32g

Build:
The ZS10 Pro has 5 drivers each side, and comes in a good build with metal faceplate.
It comes with the standard KZ braided wire which is quite adequate, but I personally changed it to a NICEHCK 8 core copper one.
It comes with the usual KZ starline tips (small/medium/large), for which I also changed it to a spinfit as I found the isolation better.

Isolation/comfort:
The ZS10 Pro is very comfortable to fit and provides good isolation. Its predecessor the original ZS10 was very bulky and I had friends with smaller ears who complained about the poor fit.
I use this IEM on the subway with no issues. I also have tried it on stage for live monitoring in a band setting in a large hall and it provides excellent isolation without sacrificing musical details.

Sound:
This IEM is very sensitive and doesn't require external amping. I even found a slight hiss on my desktop while using it in the 3.5 mm jack due to the impedence mismatch/lousy desktop DAC. This can be easily fixed by using a volume controller or impendence mismatch device, or by using an external amp, and the hiss goes away.
It is easily drivable on my cheap smartphones.

The IEM features a V shaped sound profile, typical of other KZ brand IEMs.
The bass is very well controlled and has good quality/quantity. I personally like it a lot. The subbass and midbass are powerful but detailed and controlled, with no midbass bleed.
The mids are recessed, but still manages to maintain microdetails/seperation effortlessly. Vocals and acoustic guitars sound good and natural.
The highs are not bright or silibant, but manage to give fatigue free listening, but still maintain details and resolution.

Comparisons:
I owned the ZS6 and original ZS 10 before this, and this IEM outperforms them all definitely.

ZS6:
The original ZS6 had very harsh treble which is not the case with the ZS10 Pro. The ZS10 Pro still manages to get detailed treble across with no silibance or harshness. Microdetails/clarity/seperation/resolution are handsdown won by the ZS10 Pro. Maybe the bass is more authoratative on the ZS6, but it is not as clean/fast as on the ZS10 Pro.

Original ZS10:
The original ZS10 is totally different from the ZS10 Pro.
Probably the only area the original ZS10 is better is it has a slightly better soundstage and slightly better treble extension/details/timbre.
All other areas such as bass/mids/detail retrieval/clarity/responsiveness/technincallities are better on the ZS10 Pro. I found a very bad midbass bleed on the original ZS10, and this is not the case on the ZS10 Pro. The Pro also has better build and is more comfortable to wear as it is smaller. It has better isolation too.

Conclusions:
This is one of the best IEMs u can buy at this price point. I would say it measures up to some of my expensive westones, and at only a fraction of the price. IMHO to get a marginal improvement over the sound quality of the ZS10 Pro, you would need to pay hundreds more.
This is a very versatile IEM, provides good fit/comfort/isolation, with excellent sound quality. It is easily drivable.
I am very pleased with this purchase and this is going to be my daily driver from now on.

I love these iems, but they are my first of this quality, so I'm more of a noob here.

As mentioned by others, they can be a hint bright, but nothing a little eq didn't fix. I think it's not so much the strength of the highs, but rather the abundance of detail. Extra drivers seems to make much more of a difference here than in home speakers.

I haven't used the others from KZ, but I personally find these to have a much more flat curve than their reputation indicates. While the curve starts fairly flat, the speakers respond quickly to just a bit of eq. For me, this makes them a perfect multi-use headphone. No matter the track, I can easily make it sound just right. They start a bit brittle, but the dynamic driver became pleasantly warm after a week.

I'm testing primarily with the quad dac in my new LG G8 Thinq, listening to either 16 bit or 24 bit flac. Many genres and film soundtracks. Classical, most forms of electronic, rock, hiphop, r&b, soul, industrial, etc. No matter what, a little eq and these pleasantly bring details I've never heard.

They need the attention to feel that good. If I move from deadmau5 to Julie London, I'm opening the eq. I use Rocket Player for my own files, which lets me assign eq profiles to tracks or albums. I do wish I could do that with Tidal, especially with these.

Intro
I remember very well how excited I was when KZ released their flagship model ZS10. 1*DD & 4*BAs were very special for a price below 60 €! Meanwhile this seems to have become standard, as the subsidiary CCA or the newcomer KB EAR prove. I was also quite impressed with the sound of the ZS10, even though I saw even more potential in the mid-range, since it was very subdued, sounded rather flat and emotionless and voices were too distant.
For me, "Pro" means progress, and the ZS10 Pro fully met my expectations.

Handling
The shape of the case has become a long runner at KZ and only the front panel and number of drivers are varied for the individual models. But why not, because the ZS10 Pro, like the ZSN (Pro), is also very comfortable to wear, even though it's a lot heavier. This is mainly due to the front panel made of polished, stainless steel. Here the Pro also differs clearly from its predecessor, which appeared somewhat oversized in its size and consisted completely of plastic. Thus, the ZS10 Pro looks much more valuable and robust.

As with all KZ models, the included accessories are somewhat sobering. The meanwhile established 4-core copper cable is used, which is no longer compatible with models such as the ZS6, ZS7, AS10 and older models due to the "new" 2-pin connector, but minimizes the risk of breakage of the two pins. There are 3 different sizes of silicone tips available. No more, but no less. If you choose the cable with microphone, you get good speech intelligibility and full compatibility with Android or iOS.

The isolation is above average, but a little more music is coming out than usual, or intentionally, if you make the ZS10 Pro with the volume a little fire under his butt.

Sound
The comparison of the ZS10 Pro with its predecessor makes less sense for me here, although they have similarities in the bass range, for example, but rather with the CCA C10.

The bassimpact is very similar to the C10, although it is more powerful and has more depth. It has a hefty punch, especially on hip-hop or electro, which can make the ear shake. A bass that you not only hear, but also feel! Surprisingly, it is still controlled and can reveal some details. But his main focus is to give the music a good portion of fun on its way. In rare cases it can get a bit too intrusive, but you notice that the diaphragm acts quite fast with the help of the built-in magnet and can produce a tight, crisp bass. It sounds natural and gives the signature some warmth without overshadowing it.

It's hard to deny that the ZS10 Pro has a V-signature, but, like the C10, it's well balanced, which doesn't neglect the mids either. These are very lively, easily create emotions and give voices a natural intimacy.
But they don't tend to unpleasant peaks, as you could say from the ZS7's similarly tuned mids, and can also score with better resolution. Sibilants are hardly ever a topic and clarity, separation and details are in a higher range. The mid-range of the ZS10 Pro, like the bass, is just enjoyable and you don't have the feeling to miss anything. Especially male voices have a nice full body and female voices have a pleasant crisp in their voice, without being exhausting.

The treble creates the balancing act between a relaxed listening experience without annoying peaks or too dark timbre. They have a fine resolution, can reveal even small details and present themselves quite airy. Despite their early decay, the energy and level of detail is remarkable. If you love the ZS10 with its subtle and relaxed style, you might not feel as comfortable with the ZS10 Pro's treble. However, this was also a small point of criticism for me with the ZS10, as the highs were simply too relaxed, similar to the mid-range and so emotions were lost. The ZS10 Pro's treble looks more transparent and much clearer in its response. Here, too, the similarity to the CCA C10 is strong.
The sound stage is not too big, but also not too small and looks quite real and natural.

Outro
The ZS10 Pro is once again such an "Everybodys Darling" by Knowledge Zenith, as it will please many with its lively, fun way. He doesn't forget the clean and natural reproduction of the voices and instruments, even though he may give them a bit more warmth than one is used to with more neutral signatures. For me it's slightly above the CCA C10, which seems a bit more balanced, but not as lively in comparison, but doesn't exaggerate it as much as the ZS7, where the mids almost jump into your face. Surely this is a matter of taste. The ZS10 Pro is perfectly suited for daily use, but if you like it a bit more analytical, you might want to take a look at the CCA C16.

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KZ Z10 Pro ($45)- The Z goes Pro. The 3.5/5 rating is not a result of anything sound-wise. No, it is a result of the cable and packaging. I REALLY wish they included a case, and that cable is getting better, but still not what I would expect. And, I do thoroughly enjoy the Z10P, the sound fits my listening pleasures very well.



Thanks to Lillian from Linsoul Audio for the sample. This is the “pro” version of the Z10, a moniker, which KZ uses fairly regularly now.

Linsoul: https://www.linsoul.com/product-page/kz-zs10-pro-iem

*As per standard for me, after an initial listen to ensure all is well and good, the unit in question was set upon my Shanling M0 for 100-150 hours, as I see fit to give the reader a look down the line. One that may occur 6 months or 2 months after purchase. There may be no change, but I do it anyway. Believe what you want. *



Intro:

The Z10 is along with the BA10 line, the mid-priced flagships from KZ, a company that seems to be putting out new IEM’s like there is no tomorrow. Sometimes when this happens, the lineup can get lost in the dust. But, to me KZ has done a respectable job at keeping the line separate, and distinct enough to where there shouldn’t be complications. I have had the honor of reviewing many KZ’s, and consider the AS10, one of my niche favorites. Others may disagree, but it really is a fine sounding unit; and an unsung one as well. And with each upgrade, KZ seems to mold the IEM closer to what they are looking for sound-wise. The Z10 Pro would not be different.

In looking at the specs below, you can see that the Z10P is easy to drive, and quite sensitive. I did not at any time hear excessive noise, or hiss in the background. While not the blackest of backgrounds, it does match the price-point well (as in matches others in this price).



Scores:

Packaging - 4/10
Accessories - 4/10
Build Quality – 7.5/10
Bass – 8/10
Mids – 7.5/10
Treble - 7/10
Soundstage - 8/10
Imaging – 7/10
Layering – 7/10
Microphone - 7/10
Average – 6.7/10

*As you can see packaging and accessories bring down what is a decent offering overall. As such, sound is worthy of the C-range. Pleasant and vibrant, this would be a good commuting unit.


Specs:

Model Number: KZ ZS10 Pro
Driver: 4BA+1DD
Impedance: 24ohm
Sensitivity: 111dB
Frequency Response: 7Hz-40kHz
Length:125cm
Plug Type: 3.5mm Plug
Color: Black, Purple, Blue
Mic: Optional

Configurations
2*30095 high frequency
2*50060 mid frequency
1*10mm double magnetic dynamic



Gear used/compared (prices USD, unless noted otherwise):

TinHiFi T3 ($70)
Simgot MT3 ($70)
BQEYZ BQ3 ($60)

Shanling M5s
XDuoo x10t ii/iFi Pro iDSD
Macbook Pro/Burson Fun


Songs used:

Coldplay-All I Can think About Is You
Coldplay-A Message
Coldplay-White Shadows
Dona Onete-Sonos de Adolescente
Los Lonely Boys- Heaven (en Espanol)
twenty one pilots-Trees
twenty one pilots-Car Radio
twenty one pilots-Heathens
Damian Marley-Everybody Wants To Be Somebody
Damian Marley-So A Child May Follow
Damian Marley-The Struggle Discontinues
Ziggy Marley-Lighthouse
Ziggy Marely-See Dem Fake Leaders
Mark Knopfler-Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes
Santana w/ Mana- Corazon Espinado

The new twenty one pilots album, Trench
The new Mark Knopfler album, Down The Road Wherever

Dick Dale-Misirlou…just because.


Unboxing:

In typical KZ fashion, you get…a small rectangular box, about the size of a deck of cards. And, wait for it…no case. I have come to expect that and keep a stock of cheap round and rectangular cases on hand. Whatever. With specs on the back, and a nice color picture on the front, the presentation is decent. Sliding the cardboard cover sleeve off, you are presented with that clear plastic cover, which highlights the IEM. And I will say that I dig the industrial look of the Z10P. With machined slots, giving definitive shapes, they counter the round shape of the shell. That along with the angular shell cover make for a decent looking IEM. And it isn’t garish either. A plus.

Under is the good-looking cable (I like the looks), which does tend to tangle a bit. If there is one constant with KZ it seems to be the copperish-colored cables. Come on KZ, change things a bit! I do like the tactility and lack of microphonics of the cable, and it is the right length. With a right-angle plastic 3.5mm jack on one end and nice sub-90 degree 2-pin clear housing on the other, the cable is good and sturdy. Strain relief is good, and the bend of the memory plastic is just stiff enough to hold in place, without applying a tourniquet to your ear…

Three sets of tips (one mounted) are included, along with a basic warranty card. That’s it. The $ goes into the IEM…period.



Fit-n-finish:


Much like Thomas (aka @b9scrambler), I have come to appreciate the looks of the KZ line up, save maybe the BA10. While the BA sounds good, the looks put me off. Not here. Again, understated industrial with a touch of historical look in the bronzish cable (copperish, bronzish…). Much like the other KZ’s the Z10P is all plastic and acrylic. That industrial shell covering is chromedish plastic (in the same pattern as the less expensive ZSN). With a clear housing, you can see the innards, highlighted by the dynamic driver. Something other Chi-fi manus are doing as well. Not bad mind you, and per my likings understated. Even the chrome look of the shell cover is not that bad. The only qualm I have is the nozzle. While it is sufficiently wide with a lip to hold tips, the gold looks out of place in the overall scheme. Luckily, the tip covers it and that part will be inside your ear. No big deal, really.

I have another much more expensive IEM inhouse right now (think 10-20 times more…), and the KZ has better build quality overall. This shows that KZ is serious. In all of their models I have reviewed, the finish has been quite good, belying the cost. Another plus. I would state that you get what you pay for, and this is pretty much right there.



So…and?...

Well, when presented with something the sort of this, you need to reacquaint yourself with the brand, and the price range. I will admit it does take me a bit to adjust to the different price-points. Except here. From the off, I noted how this seems to have that typical KZ sound, which has good textured bass (if a bit muddy on some tracks), vocals that are present in sufficient detail to keep you going, and treble, which is not grating nor sibilant.

Paying Mark Knopfler’s Just A Boy Away From Home (which has the exact same music as You’ll Never Walk Alone, from Liverpool…I swear it does…), the drums are in the back, supporting the National Steel guitar, while tambourine picks a spot to the left. Mark’s vocals give a good range of deeper baritone (I think?) and thrust. If there were any misplaced notes here, the distortion would be heard and felt. None are…

I can discern the taming of this sound from the ZS10 as well. In taming the bass, KZ opened the hood, and tweaked the engine so to speak. The Pro breathes a bit easier, making more horsepower, errr…a more open, energetic sound I mean. Knopfler’s Good On You Son, is a throwback to a fast moving disco song (one I actually like…), and here you can note that bass is a bit tamed, but present in a more mature form. This is not the bass of your father’s car, err… IEM. No, this is resilient as it supports the slightly forward mids, and that added sparkle.



This would be like building a character in a role-playing game and you have a certain amount of points you can disseminate between characteristics. Taketh awayeth from the bass, addeth to thyne treble fine sir. This is a hearkening back to the initial Chi-fi sound to me, which seemed to be an “in your face” sound, but not screaming. Some did, of course. But no. Here the Pro is a bit more forward and as mentioned energetic, but in an adult-type manner. It is almost like KZ is reaching adulthood and their first job coming out of college. A “time to get to work,” attitude. And it isn’t bad either.

It’s almost like KZ is trying to branch out further, with that more mature sound. I’m not against this and appreciate their willingness to modify an arguably popular-classic. They do have their rep to keep in profile. But maybe that affords them the right or ability to do just this. Maybe I completely missed the mark, and they just wanted a fresh look at the ZS10…anyway it is a bit different. Plus, as someone who appreciates a good bass rumble (think Campfire Atlas…), this is quite acceptable.

Isolation with the silicon tips is good. For once, I did not try foam tips, since none were included. The medium worked for me, and this is par for the course. Layering of the instruments is average, as is sound stage. Not too big, not too small, but better than others at this price. I take that as a “technological improvement.” The technology is improving so fast, that it quite often does improve what is going on.



Comparison/Source gear:


KZ ZS10 Pro ($45) vs TinHiFi T3 ($70):

Not to beat a dead horse, but the T3 is what the T2 should have been from the first place. I find its capabilities to be the best of the iterations, including the T2 Pro, which I labeled as what the T2 should have been. Where KZ refines signatures, TinHiFi redefines. And to me that isn’t always good. Mature something along the way, not redefine. That would be like taking a classic Mustang and putting a middling v6 into it the next generation…oh wait… Anywho, the T3 is a capable IEM, which can be worn up or down. The soft, subtle cable is one of the best stock cables in an under $100 IEM I have afforded to use. Clean, multi-coating (silver/copper), even braiding. This is business as it should be. Throw in a quite good-looking jack and sensible, sturdy mmcx connections and this is built for the tough stuff. Plus, with its industrial good looks, there is a certain masculinity about it, that just seems right.

That said, I do believe I prefer the bass of the ZS10P. More of it, better reach and almost better control throw it for me. I am not a basshead mind you, but I do appreciate a good rumble. And here, the T3 cannot match the Pro. When we talk of clarity and cleanliness of signature, then the T3 pulls ahead. There is a decent amount of air for a $70 IEM, and that can overcome the lack of bass. Overall the T3 is a good, but different animal from the ZS10P, and I can see enjoying both.


KZ ZS10 Pro ($45) vs Simgot MT3 ($70):

The Simgot comes to me as a nice surprise and on the heels of the EM5 and EN700 Pro, which I very much liked. I found the EN700 engaging, robust and somewhat organic in sound. In other words, a nice warmish touch. The MT3 falls below the EN700 in terms of price and place in the Simgot lineup. Marketed as their budget IEM, it does take a bit of adjustment when switching from others. A cable that can be a conundrum to use (it tangles), combine with a very long ear guide; ending in a gorgeous IEM shell. With a slight pink hue to it, the silver bottom half of the cover matches nicely, giving a 50’s diner-type of look. I very much like how it looks.

And to me it has better control of the bass, with almost as much present. Control is quite good across the frequency range, with only a bit of shout up top. It does not bother me but does take to the front a bit. I would classify this as more open and airier than the ZS10P, and that really isn’t a bad thing. Where the ZS10P harkens back to the early Chi-Fi critters, which emanated treble at ungodly levels (but not in the ZS…), the MT3 has much better control. There is a bit of analytics in the midrange, to me. It feels like even “real” instruments sound digital in presentation. Not so in the ZS10P. So, if you had one qualm about the MT3, that would be my biggest. It is a very nice IEM at the sub-$75 price, and one, which crowds into an already crowded market.


KZ ZS10 Pro ($45) vs BQEYZ BQ3 ($60):

The BQ3 is my first offering from BQEYZ, and I love the look. That blue anodized look is gorgeous as well. With a bit of a cutout curve, I can see 50’s Chevy sedans in the shape. Not a bad thing in my mind. And as you might expect (maybe?) the BQ3 sounds quite different than the others here. With the most bass presentation of the four, this comes closer to my appeal than the others. There is a bit of rumble. Not as much nor as tight, succinct, or sharp of decay, it can get a bit tedious, and this is where I think the ZS10P controls bass better.

Midrange seems to be a bit withdrawn in the BQ3 as well. Not as clear, it almost hides behind to others, not wanting to put itself out there too much. Treble though is there in full force, but not sibilant or peaky. I sense a bit of roll-off, but not enough to squelch the ceiling or sound subdued and muddy. Overall the BQ3 is a decent offering, and one I would consider on par.

Using the Shanling M5S I get the whole sense of the ZS10P. On Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Tin Pan Alley, you get the whole. His guitar work alone runs up and down your spine, tingling the whole time. In this set up, the ZS10P shows the best bass of the lot listed above. Deep, rich, albeit not the cleanest, the bass matches the song perfectly. That down-low and dirty feeling you get. I like it. And this carries over (the like part, not the dirt) to other songs. The vibrancy with which Los Lonely Boys Senorita comes across is well worth it. A very nice set.

Moving up the food chain so to speak, the XDuoo x10t ii/iFi Pro iDSD (my current home go-to if you don’t know by now…) scales fairly well with the ZS10P. We are talking about a $45 IEM of course, so one should not expect much. I did enjoy the combination, and U2’s Unforgettable Fire sounded quite good. I appreciated that the ZS10P was willing to try.

Hooking through my iPhone XS Max, the microphone using the dongle worked, and calls came through reasonably well. I say reasonably, because pretty much any IEM with a mic works well these days. Isolation was good and call quality decent. This would work for on the go, and that is the point when including a mic.



Finale:

I sit here listening to Bob Marley’s Rastaman Live Up! through the XDuoo/iFi combination during a thunderstorm. And I must say that it is good. Bass, which starts the process off, just enough treble up top to keep me going, and Bob’s voice. Bob’s voice. This is an excellent way to end the evening and the review. While obviously not meant as a $200-killer, the ZS10P is an excellent starter for someone who might want to move up into the portable audio world without breaking the bank. The mic works, the cable is livable (but puLEEZ, KZ change it, for it doeth tangle…) for this price, and the sound is just about what you would expect. Good. Take a look at it for your Smartphone. I again thank Lillian from Linsoul Sound for the sample, and faith in this humble reviewer’s “talent,” it is appreciated.

I got these on a whim, having already thought I found my two daily pairs, I wasn’t looking for another just yet, but you know how that impulse is when you see a shiny new object. And this one is shiny indeed.

The KZ ZS10 as you might know by now from KZ’s nomenclature refers to the number of drivers in total, 10. My understand is that of the 5 in each earphone, there are 4 BAs (2 KZ 30095 BAs, 2 50060 BAs), and 1 DD (Tesla gen 2).

Build
The shell feels like it was custom molded for my ear, an acrylic shell which helps it stay room temperature (not cold like some of my metal ones), but with a metal plate on the outside that seems to be held together with hex screws. That plate my friends is SHINY. It’s a polished mirror chome finish that you can see yourself in, and that can be nice, or a fingerprint/scratch magnet. This is the only headphone someone at work actually commented on with a “whoa what are those?!”…(in a good way). I started having buyers remorse before they got to me, thinking they’ll be too big and uncomfortable, but I’m still amazed at how truly comfy they are even for long periods. They’re actually much more comfortable than some of my previous KZ and other brand models, to the point where I’ve been wearing them in bed at night while listening to podcasts.

The box is simple and clean and comes with a nice braided cable….not amazing, but not where I felt the need to buy a better version as in the past. Also came with your standard eartips and what seems to be a star type eartip. I was ready to chuck them and just put on my memory foam tips automatically, but was surprised at how well I liked the included large tip for my ear, so that’s what I’ve been using for about a month now.


Sound
Perhaps I got used to the previous pair of earphones I’d been using, but I really noticed the highs right away. They’re not piercing, just very present and crisp. I hate treble, but haven’t felt the need to tame them with the EQ yet. Past KZ and other earphones always had me running right to the EQ to bring the highs down, but on this set it works well for me. There’s clarity, without being tiring.


This is a V sound signature but not pushed down as much as other earphones. The mids are clear, although I tend to punch them up with an EQ for my preference.

Then we get to the bass which is the other half that stands out nicely. It stands out as having a great and meaningful assertive presence, nice and tight, without competing with the mids. It doesn’t come out as obvious as the highs do, but its there. To me the bass is fine as is, definitely strong, but I did play with the EQ and it can be made more powerful without compromise.

Overall, you leave it just as is without immediately jumping to the EQ and you’ll find a warm V signature that is clean and pleasant, not overcompensated on either end and not too analytical. I find it very capable across all genres of music that I listen to (classic country, goth/industrial/synthpop, classical, indie) and podcasts too although I find male voices a bit too relaxed on these. The soundstage is among the best of the earphones I own in the $50ish or less range


They’re now my daily earphone to/from work (subwayin NYC) where they isolate a tad better than most other earphones I have, and also at work because of the comfort.

Disclaimer: The KZ ZS10 Pro was provided by Yooaudio and can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Headphones-****-Earphones-Balanced-mic/dp/B07QTPSTHM/

Packaging: Coming from the KZ ZSN Pro, upgraded color packaging. Standard cable and tip selection though.
Comfort: The ZS10 Pro has been described as an improved ZSN Pro but using the same shell. I am firmly on the side of the ZSN Pro being one of the most comfortable IEM KZ has put out and the ZS10 Pro doesn’t change that. Same shell, same great fit and comfort.

Sound: I will side with nearly every review on the highs and lows. The mid-bass is great and not much different than the ZSN Pro. Sub-bass may be the same as well, I did not A/B them, but if you prefer a little rumble with your mid-bass punch, there is plenty on the ZS10 Pro. The treble is nice, it can sound warm and airy on the right song, think Christina Perri’s human or Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams. Honestly, Dreams sounds really amazing on these, blows me away. The mids are where there are more issues. If you read enough reviews, the mids lie somewhere between perfect and recessed or flat. I agree, depending on the song you are listening to, it can be great or not quite right. My impression is certain vocals just sounded slightly off, the tone was not quite right, often too high. I had a difficult time with Prince’s Purple Rain and Calvin Harris’ Promises. Bjork Hyperballad was a bit recessed. To me, the vocals were a bit thin and recessed. At the same time, some vocals sounded amazing like Lorde or Tracy Chapman. I used UAPP and Toneboosters EQ to adjust the mids in those cases. I do think Bjork’s vocals need a little boost to bring them where I expected them to be. In this case, the ZS10 Pro responds well to small adjustments and the Toneboosters parametric EQ has bell-shaped curves which helps roll off the edges into the upper and lower mids. After reading many ZS10 Pro glowing reviews before I received them, I thought mine were broken. If you read closely, others have noted some issues in the midsection, but perhaps it sounds better on better sources or most of it depends on your song choice. I do believe many people will never hear any issues on the ZS10 Pro simply due to their music preference so just wanted to say there may be a need for some EQ if your favorite song does not sound as you were expecting.

Overall: It is hard to dispute the ZS10 Pro’s sound quality at $50 and its status as the most talked about KZ product at the moment. Given how well received the KZ ZSN Pro was for its price, comfort, and sound quality, it should be no surprise that the ZS10 Pro ups the ante in sound quality while retaining amazing comfort and value.

Longer Video Review: Here
More photos: Here

Wanted my first post to actually be hopefully helpful to someone so here goes.

KZ has been on the CHIFI seen for awhile now, making good price to performance earphones for the masses.

The usual sound signature throughout their history has always been heavily "V" shaped, excluding a couple of various models along the way. I have been using KZ's IEM's for quite a few models now and have to come to enjoy them, for some of their merits.

Where I got them...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QNVZM8L?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details

The KZ ZS10 PRO has 5 drivers per side hence the 10 in the name. 4 balanced armatures (2 high and 2 mid) and 1 dynamic driver providing the lows.



Packaging

The ZS10 Pro comes in the usual KZ packaging.

A simple slip over a box.

Front


Back


As you can see KZ is claiming a frequency response of 7-40k which is excellent if it comes even close to this.

It also boasts 111db/mW and at 30 ohms, allowing these IEM's to be driven to decent volume levels from most portable sources.

After making it past the slip cover you are greeted by the "display" inner box showing off some beautifully polished 304 stainless steel, and of course the model info and 10 driver bragging.



Lifting the plastic and IEM's nice foam holder up reveals the usual fanfare.

Complete box contents include: IEM's, cable, a set of starline tips (my personal favorite) and the user guide.



This is the usual KZ minimalistic packaging... but I think its rather classy and if it allows them to dump the money into units themselves I'm happy.



Units Themselves/Build Quality

This time around KZ seems to have stepped things up. The back is POLISHED 304 stainless steel, attached to their typical high grade plastic. This gives them a heft and feeling of quality over the usual all plastic builds.



Removing the stock smooth medium tips reveals KZ gave us a metal sound tube WITH a tip retention groove, this also reveals the good metal screen.



I just gotta show this beautifully polished hunk of steel... Look at that reflection.



Sound Impressions

When they first came out of the box I plugged them in and popped on some music.

I was not very impressed with what I heard, the bass was boomy and dominated over the rest of the sound, the upper bass/lower mids were completely recessed and everything in that range was distant.

I wasn't about to give up on them, so knowing that BA's don't really need any burn and dynamic drivers are helped by it I didn't want to run pink noise and chance popping a BA so I played music with the bass boost on just to focus on that driver.

Viola! so please give them the chance they deserve before tossing them aside.



Here goes the actual sound impressions now that that is out of the way.



Audio equipment used for listening is as follows: Samsung Galaxy Note 9, Topping NX4 DSD, Hidizs Sonata II, Khadas tone board running into a JDS Labs atom amplifier. Audio files ranged from MP3 V0 to 24 bit flac.



Bass 8.5/10

The bass is powerful, tight, punchy but not boomy or muddy (after some burn in) but it can be overpowering at times. It doesn't bleed into the midrange as it seems well kept in check. The bass extends very low and can easily get down into the sub bass rumble region.



Midrange 7/10

The midrange (after burn in) is rather detailed albeit slightly recessed. Male vocals are present and forward female vocals get up into where the midrange BA's sing giving them deep detail and spaciousness.



Treble 8/10

The treble extends well gently rolling off in the upper registers. It's slightly emphasized in the high midrange giving it air and sparkle without getting to hot or screaming. Some sibilance may creep in on some songs but it really stays in check.

Comfort/Isolation

The ZS10 Pro is a large earphone there is no doubt about that, but if fits well in the ear and more flush than the old ZS10. The nozzle is also deeper than the old ZS10 allowing for better seal/insertion than before. The cable sits comfortably over the ear and is well braided, long enough to be convenient but short enough to not get in the way. Isolation is about average with IEM's as there appear to be air holes in the outer shell, as well as on the inner surface. Unlike other KZ models I wasn't able to detect sound changes by changing positioning what little can be. Sound leakage is the best but more than adequate to not disturb those around you.



Overall/Conclusion

kZ has stepped things up this time around, the ZS10 Pro is a vast improvement over the original ZS10. Gone is the hugely "V" shaped sound of old and I feel the ZS10 Pro is mostly well balanced leaning towards bass happy. The soundstage is about as wide as expected for IEM's but the sound is well detailed and shows great amounts of instrument seperation and depth.

They have a very fun pleasing sound that lends itself well to many music types. I have been thoroughly enjoying listening to them and will whole heartedly recommend them to anyone looking for an earphone in the $40-$50 range.

Link for Full Review: https://audiorambles.com/kz-zs10-pro/



I’ve never been a proponent of Knowledge Zenith Products; I’ve always felt the prominent Chinese company exemplified everything that was wrong with majority of Chi-Fi: Unbearable treble peaks to boost perceived clarity, releasing a barrage of low quality products to see which ones the market can tolerate, and a tunnel-visioned focus on driver counts rather than proper, mature tuning.

The KZ ZS10 Pro however, sporting 1 Dynamic Driver and 4 Balanced Armature Drivers, sound fantastic for $50 USD. Out of all the KZ products I’ve heard, I’d say these are probably the best in their lineup (not that they have much competition given how the rest of the product range sounds), perhaps bar the KZ ZS5 V1. These IEMs have really managed to subvert my expectations (Game of Thrones fans in shambles at the phrase) of KZ products. Before, I’d have likely dismissed most things churned out by the company, but I’d be lying now if I said I had no interest, should they maintain similar standards.

Packaging and Accessories


The KZ ZS10 Pro arrived in a tiny cardboard box, with an image of the ZS10 Pro on the front. Upon unboxing, the ZS10 Pros are nested inside a small paper card.

Accessories provided include:

– 3 pairs of (S/M/L) Black Silicone Tips

Kind of expected for a set within this price range, but I guess more could have been included. Still, can’t complain for $50 USD.

Build Quality, Fit, Comfort and Isolation

Build Quality (7/10): The KZ ZS10 Pro look like they’d hold up alright; the shells itself are made out of plastic, and it’s rather lightweight. While they have my preferred 2-pin cable configuration, my prior experiences with KZ in this regard aren’t great as they have a tendency to loosen up over time, so points will be docked for that.

The Stock Cable is well braided, relatively lightweight, and not particularly prone to tangle. The cable terminates in plastic covered 3.5mm jack.

Overall the use of plastic is extensive here, but they should hold up well.

Fit and Comfort (7/10): The shells of the ZS10 Pro are quite large, and after around 45 minutes of wearing them my ears do start to hurt. They don’t sit flush in my ear like the BGVP DM6, but stay on well enough.

Isolation (7/10): Isolation is decent given that they’re vented due to the presence of a Dynamic Driver, they block out sufficient noise on public transport. Expect the occasional chatter to be audible in lulls/quieter parts of your music.

Sound

The overall sound signature of the ZS10 Pro can be described as a “U” shaped frequency response, with emphasised bass and treble, while retaining a very capable midrange.

Bass (7.5/10): The Dynamic Driver of the KZ ZS10 Pro really puts in a remarkable shift. Subbass has great depth, going quite deep on tracks like Lauv’s “Breathe” or Lorde’s Royals”. It’s hard-hitting sub-bass which can be felt rather than heard, and even then it still maintains good control, only occasionally sounding a little loose.

Mid-bass received an even bigger boost on the ZS10 Pro, possessing more body and similar slam and impact. On tracks which require greater speed, the weight on the bass of the ZS10 Pro might be a detriment, but my personal preferences always lean towards a similar low-end presentation. Overall, bass hits with good natural decay and detail, and does nothing to soil the good name of Dynamic Driver bass.

Mids (7/10): The midrange is warmed up by the admirably hard hitting bass of the ZS10 Pro, and midbass bleed is occasionally present, but it’s not a significant issue. The midrange is clear and detailing is quite good.Vocal placement is just right for my tastes, not too far/near.

Male vocals have good body and presence, very adequately conveying the emotions and power of voices such as Andrea Bocelli’s. While Female Vocals sound good due to a gradually increasing peak in the upper midrange-lower treble region, it can also lead some female voices such as G.E.M or Hayley Reinhardt to sound slightly thin and nasally on occasion.

Highs (6/10): As with most KZ IEMs, the notorious Chi-Fi lower treble peak is here to stay. However, it’s not as overdone as many of their other offerings, and does well to give the midrange some air, though it can still sometimes be slightly harsh or sibilant. Keep in mind I’m sensitive to peaks in this region, so for most of you it’ll be less of an issue. It’s not particularly detailed regarding instruments like cymbals, for example in Amy Winehouse’s “Back in Black”, but is still more than capable.

The very top end of the ZS10 experiences a roll-off, though it can still be considered bright on the whole.

Soundstage, Imaging, Seperation and Timbre (7/10): The fantastic width of the soundstage becomes immediately apparent upon putting on the ZS10 Pro. Depth is not particularly impressive, however. Imaging is also a weak point, with instruments and singers mostly found on the extreme left and right panes of the stage rather than spread out across. Timbre is quite good, not the most revealing due to the warmth of the ZS10 Pro, but it remains mostly natural.

Conclusions

The KZ ZS10 Pro will definitely go a long way in changing the opinions of the company for non-believers such as myself, and is an absolute win for KZ. Their sound signature works for most genres of music, though if you’re not one for bright IEMs you’d likely still want to give this a pass. For the rest, however, at $50 USD, these are very, very good.

Source:

PC + Magni 2U + Modi 2U
Samsung Note 5, QNGEE X2


Specifications:

Drivers: 1 DD + 4 BA

Sensitivity: 111dB

Impedance: 30 Ohm

Frequency: 7-40000Hz



Package and Accessories:

ZS10 Pro earphones

Braided 0.75mm Type C 2-Pin Copper Cable(Brown Color)

A set of S/M/L Starline Silicone Tips

Preinstalled Medium Silicone Tips


Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QTPSTHM


Build Quality and Accessories:

The shell is made of acrylic with a polished metal faceplate similar to the KZ ZSN. It's very comfortable I can listen to music for hours with no pain and isolates well with a proper seal. The cable is a brown braided type c 2-pin copper cable with molded ear guides, the cable is flexible and comfortable but the cable above the y-split is a little bit long. It also comes with the standard Kz Starline tips and preinstalled medium tips.



Sound:

Bass:
The bass is very controlled with punchy bass which I don't mind but may seem overpowering at times. The Punchy bass could be a turn off for some. When Listening to "Billie Eilish - 8" The punchy bass was more apparent and overwhelming.

Mids:
The mids are slightly recessed not by much but compared to other kz iems is an improvement. The vocals are pretty clear but benefit male vocals more than female vocals, and instruments are detailed.

Treble:
The treble is quite nice has some good sparkle to them definitely an improvement compared to KZ's other iems. But I did have some sibilance but it was source dependant, on my QNGEE X2 some female vocals had piercing highs, but on my Note 5, and Magni 2u and Modi 2u it sounded perfectly fine.



Conclusion:
For the price ($40-$50) it can definitely hold its own. I can definitely recommend this iem for those that like a balanced sound. I based my review using the stock cable and preinstalled medium tips. I'm sure with some tip rolling and the right source the ZS10 Pro will sound even better.

Model Number: KZ ZS10 Pro
Driver: 4BA+1DD
Impedance: 24ohm
Sensitivity: 111dB
Frequency Response: 7Hz-40kHz
Length:125cm
Plug Type: 3.5mm Plug

-304 Stainless steel faceplate and resin cavity
-Upgraded 5 drivers, self-customized BA drivers
-Second Generation 10mm double magnetic dynamic driver
-Upgraded protective 2 pin 6N OFC detachable cable

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QTPSTHM

Here’s my review of KZ’s ZS10 Pro, an IEM design based on the popular KZ ZSN.

Full disclosure: I was provided the ZS10 Pro in exchange for an honest review.




Although I normally prefer and use earbuds as my daily drivers, I wanted an in-ear monitor in the $40-60 range to use for an upcoming month long trip where I’ll be traveling on airplanes a bit and needed isolation of noise. I do have a number IEMs at a similar price point but none of them suited me for the kind of balanced sound I was looking for. Isolation is quite good and a little better than the KZN due to the additional drivers in same shell.





Each ZS10 Pro earpiece weighs 8 grams (left in photo), slightly heavier than the ZSN weighing in at 5 grams. While the weight difference is noticeable in your hand it’s not really a factor during use.





Unlike the 3D rendered product photos from KZ, the shell is not matte in appearance and more of a stainless steel mirror finish. I prefer how it looks in real life and the larger beveled edges compared to the ZSN is also a nice touch.

Coming from open shell earbuds, nearly all IEMs have deeper bass in comparison. Bass on the ZS10 Pro is thick and voluminous with plenty of rumble in the sub bass. I wouldn’t categorize it at basshead level quantities but there’s enough to lend itself well for electronica, dance, hip hop and pop. Bass can be a tad elevated and slow at times so I switched over to foam tips and preferred that setup for extra comfort and decreasing bass levels while keeping the rest of the signature much in tact. Foams do alter sound from the original but for the purposes of noise isolation in a loud environment such as an airplane cabin, the difference is not significant.



Soundstage is standard sized for an IEM, not overly large but not tiny either. It’s wider than the ZSN with improved imaging and placement of instruments. You get a better sense of the space and distance between each component, a more complete scene if you will. Vocals benefit from this improvement as well, just slightly closer in position than the ZSN, yet still retaining a V-shaped signature.

Highs, although not a particular strength, are relatively innocuous, producing enough sparkle without getting sibilant or fatiguing. No complaints from me. And just for funsies I swapped out the stock cable for a 4-core pure silver cable from **** (below) and I’m enjoying the improvement. Mids and treble energy is brighter/more open, vocals are sweeter, more transparent, and breathy with additional micro details to be heard. Granted, the price of the cable is a little more than the IEM itself but it’s a satisfying improvement nonetheless.



After about a week of use I can say the ZS10 Pro comes closest to what I was searching for and will be one of the few IEMs I’ll be taking with me on my trip, the other being the Tin Hifi T3 with its more linear bass response and brighter signature as a change of pace to the ZS10 Pro.

Overall, it’s difficult to find a better value than KZ’s ZSN but if you’re looking for a more complete picture and holographic presence without losing its identity, the ZS10 Pro will provide that. It’s also, in my opinion, the best looking KZ product to date.

I actually had no urge to review these until I read some rich old guys on an audiophile site gushing about how well these compared to their pricy Campfires and Shures. Welcome to Chifi, suckas.

In any event, the Pro is the updated version of the polarizing ZS10 [review HERE], albeit with a sleeker design and much better comfort. Visually almost identical to the ZSN, but with a shiny stainless metal fascia which looks more upscale, at least until time and fingerprints take their toll. Stock cable is flexible and ergonomic, and isolation is extremely good.

The Pro is L-shaped, with a pronounced bias towards a well-extended sparkly treble; like the ZS7 these are very energetic, loud and efficient. These seem optimized for more intimate, nearfield listening than their more expansive-sounding KZ stablemates like the ZS6 or ZS10—the Pro’s soundstage is fairly narrow and inside-your head, but nicely rounded (think movie theater rather than concert hall). Stereo imaging and instrument placement are impressive, although the aforesaid models present more space between the performers and, as noted below, the Pro can sound congested on certain bass-heavy fare. Tonally, these are bright but not strident and sound significantly more accurate and “expensive” than their cheaper stablemates like the ZSN, though the warmer ZS7 and original ZS10 sounds truer to the source.

The treble emphasis notwithstanding, low end (particularly subbass) is voluminous and visceral; however like the ZSR and ZS5 there’s a distinct tubbiness to the bass, and attack is a step slow, which causes a little smearing on some material; the ZS7 by comparison has less slam but better lowend speed and control. (EQ and/or tiprolling can mitigate the bloom, but KZ would have been better served by dialing down the subbass a notch).

Where some have opined that the mids on the originals ZS10 were peaky and/or undercooked, the mids on the Pro are nicely forward, full-bodied and articulate—male voices and electric guitars sound rich and clear. High end is the definite focus here—very detailed and transparent compared to the ZS5/ZS7, albeit with a little bit of added shimmer. Low level details are captured impressively and sibilance is mild; they also avoid the somewhat clinical, dry quality of treble-oriented peers like the T2. These excel with acoustic material—every string, high hat and cymbal is reproduced very accurately—although I would opt for the ZS7 or ZS5 for heavier stuff.

Within the crowded $50 price class, the BQEYZ BQ3 is more coherent overall, with tighter bass and a tubier timbre, thought the Pro is more revealing at the high end and a livelier listen. The TRN V80 likewise has a more refined low end and presents an equivalent amount of high-end detail, but is more strident/digital sounding and consequently more fatiguing. The ZS7 has less extension at both ends and is less revealing but has a larger stage, better bass control and a more balanced, smoother presentation; your preference between them may be very material-dependent. Moving up to the $100 class, something like the Simgot EM2 or ToneKing 9T are significantly bigger sounding, with a less-digital, more natural tonality, although the Pro actually shows more microdetail than either and acquits itself pretty well in comparison.

Not groundbreaking, or perfect, but the Pro represents a positive step towards a more refined signature and (perhaps needless to say for a KZ) is a lot of earphone for the money.

Disclaimer of sorts: I received these unsolicited and free from ****'s Amazon store and will be sending these on to other reviewers.

I recently received a KZ ZS10 Pro sample for review – judging by the name, this is KZ’s stab at an updated version of the rather lukewarmly received non-pro ZS10. Thus, they share the same combination of drivers – 4 BAs (2 of KZ’s 30095 BAs, 2 50060 BAs), and 1 DD (Tesla gen 2), though their arrangement is different and in fact the shells are completely redesigned even down to a new style of keyed cable attachment.

Build and Accessories:

Contoured acrylic shell with a metal plate on the outside for reinforcement and aesthetics. Overall very comfortable and easily forms a good, sound isolating seal. From what I can tell, the external build is essentially the same as the cheaper ZSN, with the exception that the metal plates are a polished stainless steel on the ZS10 Pro, whereas they are a brushed aluminum on the ZSN. Comes with the newer style of KZ cable, braided with keyed connectors. The earphones are still compatible with older KZ cables, but older cables won’t be as secure. Of note is that this is the first stock KZ cable that I haven’t felt a need to upgrade – a nice braided design with a decent amount of flexibility. Comes with one pair of medium silicone tips and a set of KZ’s star-shaped silicone tips.

Now onto sound:

Highs are what stands out the most to me on this pair - nice and crisp without being overwhelming. I didn’t experience any of the sibilance issues that were present in some of KZ’s other offerings, namely the ZS6 and later ZS5 models. So far, I’ve been very satisfied with the level of clarity that they offer while still being well under control and non-fatiguing.

Mids are slightly more recessed than the highs and lows as one might expect, but the V-shape isn’t as deep as most. Vocals are therefore full and clear without having to crank up the volume too much. There’s also a nice amount of warmth towards the low end, which keeps the sound from feeling too plainly analytical.

Bass is satisfyingly impactful and fits right in with a smooth transition from the mids. A decent amount of detail here as well but doesn’t jump out right away as the treble does. So not the most exciting bass, but very well suited to the ZS10’s overall tuning.

A decently close comparison of the tuning would be the Tin Audio T2, aka a very pleasant neutral tune. The ZS10 pro has a bit more focus on treble though whereas the T2 has a bit more emphasis on the low-end sound.

Soundstage and imaging are probably the best I’ve experienced so far in a Chi-Fi IEM – instrumentals are well separated, and while playing Rainbow Six Siege I’m able to pinpoint directional audio well enough to hear where enemies are coming from (though whether I can survive given my aim is another matter…).

Concluding Thoughts:

At around the $40-50 price range it has a decent amount of competition, but the ZS10 holds its own. I’ve been a bit skeptical of what seems like KZ’s trend of cramming as many drivers as possible into their earphones, but there’s no denying that these are a solid value for the money. Of course they aren’t going to hold up to high end multi-driver arrangements, but it’s a strong contender in its bracket. It provides a good alternative to the T2, with a different style and slightly different tuning, and is very well balanced in reference to other KZ offerings. My only real complaint is with the included star ear tips as I can never seem to get a decent fit with them, though the smooth silicone ear tips are fine. Overall, it’s a very balanced listening experience that’s hard to go wrong with.

I would like to thanks to **** Audio for this great opportunity. You can find the ZS10 Pro on Yonyoo’s Amazon store

Specifications:

Wire length: 1.2m

Plug diameter: 3.5mm

Impedance: 30ohms

Sensitivity: 111dB

Frequency response range: 7 - 40000Hz


5 drivers each side


Package Details:

Earphone

3 pairs of Eartips

Test Equipment:

Zune

Schiit Magni 2

Nuforce DAC

These iems sound great and have become my new daily drivers replacing my triple drivers. The soundstage and separation is what is blowing me away. The multi driver set up is great. The mids and highs are just right without any fatigue. Right now listening to Nick Drake and it is almost perfect.

I think these will become the new king of the low price earbuds. At $50, these are a steal. Compared to the !More triple drivers, these are in a different class and are cheaper. So much more clarity and depth without being fatiguing. I was liking the TRN V80s for a while until I realized the highs were too much for my liking. The KZ has the treble without the pain. Mids are also very present.

These are not for the basshead. Bass is very good for my taste. On Primus' My Name is Mud, the bass is clear and concise. TV on the Radio's Crying comes on strong without the bass drowning out everything else. If you are one for the deep thumping bass, they may not suit you. I like it though.

Overall - Great buy! These have earned a place in the daily backpack! I will be ordering a KZ headset storage box to hold them.

ailI finally received this after almost 2 weeks of waiting! I spend some time listening to it using these cables. (1)Default Cable (2)Silver Plated Cable and (3) The new Gold & Silver plated cable. The songs I played using different cables are the same. I've tested them on my Hidizs AP80 at 25% of volume with EQ and 8ball off. (I guess this would suffice for a fair test?)

What I'm writing below is with respect to the default cable. I will make a short comparison of what I feel with different cables at the end. I will add some feedback after a few days, allowing the iem to move to its' "final signature" before giving a final verdict.

Accessories (7.5/10)
First off, the accessories are the same as usual. A clean white box, in it, are (1) The earpieces (2) Copper cable (3) 3 sets of silicone tips and (4) Instruction manual. I would not say I'm disappointed by the standard accessories since it is technically not bad to start with. But I have to admit that I would have liked the accessories to go accordingly with their "grade", ZS10 Pro being their mid-range iems, I would expect the 4 core silver plated cable or the 8 core copper cable.

Bass & Sub-bass (9/10)
The bass and sub bass is really up there and I totally enjoy it. But I find it a bit too much in comparison to the mids and highs. As a result, making the mids and highs sounded like an average joe. For now, I reduce the EQ for this range by 1dB to give space for the mids and highs. Love the overall tuning at the bass but would be great if it was not so over "powerful"

Mids & Vocals (8.5/10)
The vocals are great! In general, this range is rather flat to my perception. Do not get me wrong, I did not in any means describe this as bad. In fact, I think it is really cool to have flat mids, making it sound natural and not having bias/emphasis to a specific gender's vocal! Which also means that studio records of duet sound equally impressive without having a voice overpowering another. I say this is definitely a better experience compared to the original zsn whereas sometimes the female vocals can be very "peaky" and sounded like a penguin(LOL)

Highs & Treble (9/10)
I'm impressed by the highs and treble, with the bass being so strong and in my opinion overpowering, the highs and its' clarity can still be heard clearly. Strings like violin sound really polished and unlike those goosebump causing nails scratching on glass. When I try listening to classical (with lots of highs) I can clearly hear them without having to boost the volume. This again shows that the bass is too strong with the highs being powerful, to begin with.

Sensitivity/EQ (9/10)
This is one of the most sensitive earpieces I have come across with. This earpiece is much louder than the original ZSN I own which I typically play between 30%-40%, on the ZS10 Pro, my volume never exceed 27%. The response to EQ rather significant too, EQing to your "Perfect" taste is definitely possible in my opinion.

Comfort (9/10)
With the overall design not much different from the ZSN (other than the weight), definitely a high scorer, I wore it for 3 hours straight and I have no issue at all. Despite being much heavier due to the number of the driver, it does not pull on the ears, tiring them out.

Cable opinion
Standard copper cable, the female vocals sounded out of breath causing sudden cut-off. Better response to the bassy region than the highs. Sometimes, the female vocals experience spikes making it really uncomfortable.

In comparison, the silver plated ones, the bass drops by a little which in my opinion is a more natural sounding signature. Allowing the male vocal to stand out a little more than the copper cable. The female vocal also sounded a little smoother(less harsh and lesser occurrence of spike)

The gold and silver plated cable! From what I observe, it kept the bass at a similar level to the copper cable and also have the advantage of smoothing out the female vocals. Simply put, it feels like a hybrid cable of both copper and silver plated.

Thanks for reading, hope my 5 cents be of use to an indecisive potential user of ZS10 pro!

[NEW 19-05-19]
After a week of the burning-in process using the 1more applications, I'm back!

Using the new gold-silver plated cable and listening to it every now and then during the burn-in process, it is clear that the higher mids became even smoother and slightly louder. The bassy range remains strong, but due to the "stabilising" of the higher frequencies, the bass does not sound as overkill as before! The male vocal has this slight improvement in clarity. Along with the wide soundstage this iem has, most of my songs sound pretty much like a live/concert (without the noisy BG) although they really are studio pieces.

With all the above mentioned, I guess it won't hurt for me to drop the bass by .5dB than the aforementioned 1dB. This is solely my preferance as I sought equilibrium between music and vocals. I believe they're supposed to complement each other and not "fight for the show".

Greetings,

Today we're checking out another release from KZ, this time a Pro update to the venerable ZS10.

The ZS10 was released around late-April/early-May in 2018 and was an exciting product. It brought to the budget market a driver packed setup with four balanced armatures (BA) and one dynamic driver (DD) per side. It also brought back the use of the crossover, something missing from KZ's multi-driver earphones, save for the original ZS1. The ZS10 received mixed impressions, though I enjoyed it's warm, smooth sound which was unique among the modern generation of KZ products (post ZST).

The ZS10 Pro maintains the original's driver layout, and that's about it. The original shell has been retired for the ZSN's more ergonomic design and the sound has been completely retuned to something more reflective of the “Pro” tagline.

Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Disclaimer:

A huge thanks to Lillian with Linsoul Audio for arranging a sample of the ZS10 pro for the purposes of review. The thoughts here are my own subjective opinions based on time listening to the earphone. They do not represent KZ, Linsoul, or any other entity. At the time of writing the ZS10 Pro was retailing for around 45 USD. You can order yours through Linsoul or their AliExpress store, DD Audio.

https://www.linsoul.com/product-page/kz-zs10-pro-iem

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...ml?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.4.4a8d386cuwKaU3

Personal Preferences:

I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. My preferences for earphone tuning are quite relaxed and as such their is no one signature I look for. The HiFiMAN RE800, Brainwavz B400, and Massdrop x MeeAudio Planamic are examples of earphones with wildly varied signatures that are enjoyable for different reasons. I generally listen at very low volumes, so keep this in mind when perusing my thoughts on how an earphone sounds.

Sources:

Mobile: Shanling M0, Shanling M0 + FiiO uBTR, ZiShan DSD
@home: TEAC HA-501 with Shanling M0, ZiShan DSD, or Asus FX53V acting as a source

The ZS10 Pro is easy to drive and very revealing. If you have a noisy source, it'll pick it up. Clean source, clean files, clean sound.

Specifications:

• Sensitivity: 111dB/mW
• Impedance: 30 Ω
• Frequency: 7-40,000Hz

Packaging and Accessories:

The ZS10 Pro's packaging is as familiar as my own hands at this point. The white exterior sheath contains a digital image of the earpieces, in colour, with the model info and some driver specifications in the bottom left corner. On the back you find some KZ branding, the full specification list, as well as contact and location information for KZ. Sliding off the sheath reveals the ZS10 Pro's earpieces nestled in a paper cover foam insert set under a plastic viewing window. It's nice to see that KZ has finally added a tab to help lift the viewing window, something they've been doing with their sister company, CCA, since day one. Underneath the foam insert is the familiar KZ accessory kit. In all you get:

• ZS10 Pro earphones
• Braided 0.75mm 2-pin copper cable
• 'Starline' single flange silicone eartips (s/m/l)
• Plain single flange silicone tip (m)

Just like every other KZ product, they give you just what you need to get going and nothing more. I'm fine with it. The cable is nice, the tips high quality, and the overall unboxing experience unremarkable yet pleasant.

Build, Comfort, and Isolation:

The ZS10 Pro uses the same high quality acrylic shell as the ZSN and as such feels like a more upscale device than it's low price tag would suggest. The weighty steel face plate, polished to a reflective mirrored finish and secured in place with three tiny Torx screws, certainly helps with this impression. Further adding to the quality construction is the protruding 2-pin setup which is also screwed in place, as visible through the clear acrylic body. The drivers are neatly aligned too, with four in the main body (three armatures aligned around the dynamic driver) and one tucked neatly into the metal nozzle. It all looks and feels as good as any earphone above 100 USD I've got on hand, and better still than most. The polished chrome look is a matter of taste, however. I personally think it looks fantastic, though it does scratch easier than I'd like, a complaint that can be applied to nearly any earphone that takes this material approach.

The cable should also be familiar to any fan of the brand at this point. The brown copper cable is neatly braided with the usual VSonic-esque, angular hardware at the 90 degree angled jack and y-split. Heading up to the earpieces we see the same excellent preformed ear guides and more durable 'Type-C' plugs KZ introduced with the ZSN. I personally am a fan of the cable despite it being quite easily tangled above the y-split. It's light, it doesn't transmit a lot of noise, it is very flexible, and memory of bends and kinks isn't an issue.

Comfort is outstanding for me. This earpiece has been a staple across a couple brands in my experience with mild tweaks being made to the nozzle angle and quality of the plastics. With the ZS10 pro, it fits perfectly with little to no effort required to get and maintain a good seal. The preformed guides hold the cable securely around the ear resulting in an earphone that is stable under pretty extreme movement, even despite the weight of the steel face plates. If you have little ears or they're a particularly odd shape you might have issues with fit and comfort, but I expect everyone else to find these a pleasant product to wear.

Isolation is rated at 26dB, and I believe it. Going back to the original ZST which uses a variation of the same shell shows just how well the ZS10 Pro blocks external noise. With no music playing and the ZS10 Pro in my ears (stock preinstalled medium silicone tips in place), a firetruck blasting by, alarms and horn blaring, was still audible. However, the difference between it with the ZS10 Pro in versus out was night and day. This is an excellent earphone for commuting or use in noisy areas as a result.


Sound:

Tips: I conducted my listening with the preinstalled medium tips. Starlines sounded the same but the preinstalled set was a tad more comfortable. Wide bore tips made the treble stick out a bit too much for my liking, while small bore tips tamed the treble a bit and brought up the midbass. Personally, medium bore tips like the stock options sounded the best to my ears.

While the ZS10 Pro shares it's driver layout with the original ZS10, that being four balanced armatures and one dynamic driver per side, their signatures are quite different. The ZS10 Pro has a treble and midrange prominent sound with a low end that backs it up. The Pro is in no way light on bass, but it's not a main focal point the same way it is on other models from the brand.

Treble is emphasized and elevated with a skew towards the upper treble regions. This gives cymbals, chimes, etc. a lot of energy and air as noticed on Broken Bell's “Sailing to Nowhere”. Lower treble has just the right emphasis giving the ZS10 Pro's presentation a lot of clarity without coming across overly aggressive. Notes are well controlled, though there is some splash on cymbals that I wish was absent. Not the type of presentation for the treble sensitive, but still pretty nice.

The ZS10 Pro's midrange is more forward than most KZs, with a presentation that tilts towards being somewhat lean and fairly colourless in tone, if not slightly cold. Vocals are really quite detailed and cut through on every track. Sibilance is present, but it's one of those cases of highlighting it where it already exists, not adding it where it doesn't. Aesop Rock's “Blood Sandwich” is a pretty sibilant track, and that is VERY noticeable with the ZS10 Pro. Can say the same for the ZS10 Pro's cousin, the ZSN Pro, but we'll dive into it's problem with sibilance in it's own separate review. Given the Pro's midrange tonality, it seems better suited to male vocalists. Female vocals lack the weight and warmth I prefer.

Bass on the ZS10 Pro is snappy and well controlled with a subbass bias. Midbass is fairly reserved but offers a solid punch and avoids bleeding into the lower mids. Subbass digs quite deep and gives off a very visceral rumble. There is plenty of texture from this dual-magnet driver, leading me to believe this is KZ's best use of a dynamic yet in one of their hybrids. Better even than the ED15 thanks to it's more balanced presentation. Using it with tracks filled with rapid bass, such as those on the Havok album, 'Time Is Up', shows off the driver's capabilities nicely.

The ZS10 Pro's soundstage sets listeners fairly close to the action giving it a somewhat intimate vibe. It has no issues tossing sounds way off into the distance though, and can easily surround you in a track, film, game, etc. Imaging is sharp and precise with smooth, accurate channel transitions. I had no issues following footsteps around me in PUBG. Stage depth and width are appealing helping tracks sound layered and well separated with instruments having adequate space between them. Even on busy tracks like the last few minutes of King Crimson's “Starless and Bible Black”, the ZS10 Pro does a good job keeping individual elements just that, individual.


Select Comparisons (volumes matched with Dayton iMM-6):

KZ ZS10: The original ZS10 and ZS10 Pro couldn't be much more different. The ZS10 places the main focus on it's bass, with a midbass bias, and downplays the midrange and treble. The ZS10 Pro is much more balanced with a more even representation of treble and mid-range in conjunction with the low end. Unlike the ZS10, the ZS10 Pro skews bass focus to the sub regions. The ZS10 Pro's move to a dual-magnet dynamic worked wonders in making the Pro's bass tighter, faster, and overall more competent. The ZS10 gives the impression of a more spacious sound stage. It sets the listener further back from the performance and can toss sides further to the sides, but doesn't have nearly the depth of the ZS10 Pro. As a result it comes across more flat when listening to the two back-to-back. Imaging, layering, and separation and more impressive on the ZS10 Pro. I find these two complimentary since they offer very different experiences. This is how you do a “Pro” version right.

KZ AS10: The AS10 was KZ's first all-armature model and it's still a baller. Treble on the AS10 is not as pronounced giving users and more relaxed experience. While I prefer the Pro's extra energy, it's treble is more dry and less natural and organic sounding. The AS10's midrange is thicker but similarly pronounced. Detail and clarity go to the ZS10 Pro. Bass on the AS10 is handled by a balanced armature vs. the dynamic driver in the ZS10 Pro. It is more midbass focused with good extension, but does not quite match the ZS10 Pro. AS10's low end offers up a bit more punch and is quicker, but isn't as textured. The AS10 has a slightly larger sound stage and like the ZS10 Pro is evenly rounded. Imaging, layering, and separation performance is pretty equal, though the ZS10 Pro's leaner sound gives it an edge. The AS10 is good for when I want to listen to a more relaxed earphone, otherwise I'll take the ZS10 Pro.

KZ BA10: The ZS10 Pro and BA10 show similar levels of emphasis through the midrange and treble with the Pro offering a more sparkle in the upper treble. Clarity, detail, air, tonality, etc. are all on par. The main differences come from the low end thanks to the BA10's use of a low range armature instead of a dynamic driver. While the ZS10 Pro extends further, it's not particularly noticeable on most tracks. The BA10 does a great job balancing subbass presence and keeping midbass from being the dominant force, similar to how the ZS10 Pro is balanced. Texture is about on par with the BA10's low end being the quicker, more controlled of the two. The ZS10 Pro and BA10 set the listener about the same distance from the performance, but the BA10 ends up with a wider, deeper sound stage. Imaging feels a hint more precise on the BA10 while layering and separation are on par. The ZS10 Pro almost feels like a response to those that enjoyed the BA10 but found the low end lacking. Personally, I enjoy the BA10 more and still feel it is the best product currently available in KZ's catalogue, though that could change with the AS16. We shall see.

KZ ZS6: The ZS6 was a monumental product for KZ, though not always for good reasons. Either way, it's one of my favourite models in the lineup, though it is showing it's age when compared to the ZS10 Pro. Treble on the ZS6 is peakier and less controlled. ZS10 Pro is upper treble biased, but it's still more balanced than the ZS6. The ZS10 Pro's midrange is more forward, thicker, and warmer. ZS6's vocals also have a slight hollowness to them not heard in the ZS10 Pro. Bass on the ZS10 Pro has more punch and better extension giving off more visceral feedback. The ZS6 has the larger more open sound stage and holds it own in terms of imaging, layering and separation. Overall, the ZS10 Pro sounds more balanced, more natural, and much more refined. I thought this comparo was going to be closer to be honest, but the ZS10 Pro shows a fairly significant evolution from the ZS6.

KZ ZS7: The ZS7 and I got off to a bad start thanks to a poor pairing with the XDuoo Nano D3 which added in many dB of unwanted bass turning the ZS7 into a relentless bass cannon. That problem resolved, the ZS7 and I get along just fine now and it's quite an enjoyable earphone. When there was mention of measurements over on Head-fi comparing the ZS10 Pro and ZS7 that showed they were nearly identical, I was pretty surprised. That said, after spending a fair bit of time comparing the two I can certainly hear how similar they really are, minus some shifts in emphasis in certain areas. My observations have the ZS10 Pro displaying more upper treble energy, less midbass, and a slightly more forward but thinner midrange. Timbre, tonality, detail, clarity, texturing, etc. are all quite similar. The ZS10 Pro also feels like it has a smaller sound stage with more accurate imaging and similarly good layering and separation. Overall these two are both top tier KZs. If you like a brighter, more traditional KZ sound but with bass reigned in, the ZS10 Pro is the one for you. If you prefer something a little warmer, bassier, and less treble heavy, the ZS7 is a great pick. I feel they perform more or less at the same level.

CCA C10: The ZS10 Pro has more treble energy than the C10 helping to highlight detail and improve overall clarity. Since upper treble is also more emphasized, the Pro provides more sparkle and air. ZS10's midrange is slightly more forward as well as a touch colder and thinner, but quite similar overall. The presentation of the Pro has me preferring it with male vocals while the C10's extra warmth has me leaning towards female vocalists. Bass on the C10 is more midbass focused giving it a heavier presentation. ZS10 Pro's low end is much more textured and digs deeper offering a move visceral experience. The ZS10 Pro sets the listener closer to the performers than the C10 and as such comes across as having a smaller stage, though I find it can provide a better sense of width and depth in some instances. They both image well but I find the Pro more precise. Layering and separation is equally excellent.

TFZ Exclusive King: The King and ZS10 Pro are similarly tuned. The King is similarly emphasized in the treble with it's main peak sitting lower down. This gives it an edge in clarity and detail with the Pro sounding slightly more airy and offering a bit more sparkle. The King's midrange is slightly more forward and crisp though not as warm and as such not quite as natural sounding, particularly with female vocalists. Bass on the King is slightly quicker and even more subbass skewed. ZS10 Pro's midbass is more forward and punchier, but nowhere near to the point of being bloated or bleeding into the midrange. Personally, I prefer the ZS10 Pro's low end, even if it isn't as textured. It just feels more well-rounded. Sound stage on the King is wider and deeper with the listener sitting around the same distance from the performer. I'll giving imaging to the King with the ZS10 Pro's drivers doing a better job of keeping tracks elements layered and separated. Overall these two offer variations of the same signature to my ear. If you want more bass and upper treble sparkle, go with the Pro. If you want something a bit more balanced, go with the King.

Final Thoughts:

The me, the 'Pro' moniker means a product aims to become more of a tool than a piece of entertainment. It's for professionals, hence 'Pro'. Unfortunately, 'Pro' seems tagged to existing product names more for marketing purposes. The TinAudio T2 Pro simply cranked the treble and made the product sibilant unbalanced. Addressing the T2's downfalls by offering better low end extension and more detail would have been more 'Pro'. The TFZ King Pro was warm and bassy. This tune was quite mainstream and consumer-friendly tune when compared to the neutral-bright Exclusive King it was based on.

The ZS10 Pro uses the 'Pro' moniker well since it offers a much more focused and accurate experience than what we got out of the original ZS10. While it is skewed a little too much in the upper treble, the overall tune is well-balanced, very detailed, good end-to-end extension, and is much more tool-like than the much more casually tuned ZS10 ever was. I doubt it would be entirely suitable for a monitoring environment, but at least it's not as coloured as most earphones in this price range and is quite analytic for something under 50 USD.

The use of the ZSN shell for the ZS10 Pro was also a wise change. Comfort is much improved, as is isolation. I think the polished steel face plate looks pretty awesome, but it scratches easier than I would prefer so it needs to be babied if it is going to remain pristine for more than a couple days. KZ's braided copper cable remains better than most stock cables, but they really need to do something about that low y-split. Either raise it or add a chin cinch to address how easily it tangles above the y-split. It's been in use for a while now and this is a complaint echoed constantly.

Overall I'm quite pleased with the ZS10 Pro and think most who pick it up will be too. While similar to other models in the lineup, the overlap is minimal enough for the ZS10 Pro to get a pretty easy recommendation.

Thanks for reading!

- B9Scrambler

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Some Test Tunes:

Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid (Album)
Hail Mary Mallon – Are You Going to Eat That? (Album)
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic (Album)
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black (Track)
Supertramp – Crime of the Century (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma (Album)
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (Album)
Massive Attack – Mezzanine (Album)
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors (Album)
Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels (Album)
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy (Album)
Tobacco – screw*d Up Friends (Album)
Felt – Felt 2 (A Tribute to Lisa Bonet) (Album)
Michael Jackson – Thriller (Album)
The Crystal Method – Grace (feat. LeAnn Rimes) (Track)
Jidenna – Long Live the Chief (Track)
Skrillex – Ragga Bomb (Track)
Big Grams – Run for Your Life (Track)
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain (Track)
Aesop Rock – Fishtales (Track)

This short review will cover two of the latest In-Ear Monitors from Knowledge Zenith: The ZSN Pro and the ZS10 Pro. They both were released last month at around the same time and share so many similarities, I won’t bother making separate reviews.

The ZSN Pro is a dual driver – Single Balanced Armature and Single Dynamic Driver, while the ZS10 Pro is a five-driver setup with 4 Bas and 1 DD. Both are updated models from the previous ones released last year. I never had a chance to listen or review the ZS10, but I did really enjoy the ZSN as a budget pick with it’s neutral-ish sound signature that was only $20.

So what’s new?

Well, first off, the shell design on both is slightly changed. They both feature faceplates on their respective shells that are quite similar. The ZS10 shell faceplate actually looks like the ZSN original but in a reflective chrome color, while the ZSN Pro’s chevron marks are lifted off the faceplate, as opposed to the cut-out look on the ZS10 Pro.

The accessories package is the same as before with the newer 2-pin cable and attachment style.

The major difference, of course, is the sound tuning.




For me, these sound almost identical except one thing: the ZSN Pro is brighter and I don’t really recommend it. The ZS10, however, is tuned to have less treble and that makes it more listenable.

In general, both IEMs have similar bass and mid performance, and are improvements in that regard over the original ZSN. The bass is slightly elevated making the overall sound profile a tad warmer, and the mids are not as recessed as before. The upper-mids, which boosted on the ZSN original, has been tamed down, and the lower treble is more even on both IEMs. The ZSN Pro, again, has more treble in the middle to upper portions of the treble region, making them pretty bright.

If you’ve listened to the T2 Pro and the T2, the ZSN Pro is similar to that tuning, albeit slightly warmer. The ZS10 Pro is closer to the T3, but tamer in the upper-mids and treble. Detail retrieval on the T3 seemed better, from memory, but that could also be due to the boosted treble.

Quick Conclusions

Again, this is just a quick review. The ZS10 Pro is worth consideration. I would skip the ZSN Pro altogether, as I prefer the ZS10 Pro more and the ZSN more as well – along with a host of other budget IEMs like the Tin Audio T2, Final Audio E2000, and others.

I’d like to thank Lillian for Linsoul for providing the KZ ZS10 Pro for review. I personally purchased the disappointing ZSN Pro myself from their Amazon storefront at LSR-Direct. They are also located at http://www.Linsoul.com if you are interested in either of these two IEMs.