LZ-A3 (LZ A3)

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I would like to Thank Easy Earphones for providing me with a review sample in exchange for my honest opinion.
 
Manufacturer website: I wasn't able to find one, but it's being officially distributed by Easy Earphones on Amazon and Aliexpress.
 
* click on images to expand.

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The last time I looked into a “budget” 3way hybrid IEM was over a year ago (remember T2?), and after that disappointing experience I’m a lot more cautious when it comes to newcomers who try to challenge a better known releases from Fidue, DUNU, and others.  Oriveti was definitely a pleasant surprise, but not exactly budget friendly.  Early this year I started to hear a buzz about a new IEM company named LZ, not to be confused with another line of budget iems from KZ.  As the buzz was growing around their debut A2 model, I learned that it’s no longer available and instead they have a new 3way flagship called A3, actually highly recommend by a friend of mine, Vince (@Hisoundfi) who just reviewed it HERE.
 
What caught my attention the most was the passion of their main distributor, Easy Earphones, who truly believes in LZ line of monitors and actively interacts with different members and reviewers of audio communities not only to spread the word but to collect the feedback to improve the design and the sound quality.  In a short period of time A2 was replaced with A3, and just now Easy updated it with an improved replacement cable.  Plus, I have been told that for those ordering from their AX on-line store when you put “Easy” in your order, the list price will be reduced SIGNIFICANTLY!  Even so I was impressed with my interaction with distributor, this write up is about LZ A3 3way hybrid, so let’s proceed to the review.
 
Unboxing and Accessories.
 
A3 arrived in a medium size cardboard box, nothing fancy on the cover and a basic Chinese/English spec on the back of the box.  With the cover removed, you'll find a rather nice presentation with a dense foam cutout hosting A3 earpieces and the part of the cable.  It’s a simple presentation, but very effective because right away it shows you that cable is removable and you get a good glimpse of a unique shape of A3 shells.  Once you remove that foam piece, you can see the rest of the accessories underneath.  Though this packaging is more on a budget side and not going to Wow you like some other flagships, I wouldn’t call it being cheap either.
 
The accessories include a basic small square storage case, a pair of soft earhook guides, a shirt clip, and a plethora of eartips.  You get 2 sets of S/M/L hybrid eartips (with yellow and red cores) distinguished by a slightly different shape and firmness of the eartip cap, a set of regular silicone single flange S/M/L tips, a pair of medium size double flange tips, a set of multi-color foam (non Comply) S/M/L eartips, and one unique pair of large fuzzy eartips to “tickle” your ear senses.
 
Due to a unique design shape of these IEMs, eartip selection is very critical not only to get a good seal but also to get a comfortable fit.  Don’t be surprised that despite so many included eartips you might end up tip rolling outside of the provided accessories.  Obviously, it also depends on the anatomy of your ears, but the stacked collar design at the nozzle base and the perpendicular short nozzle placement might not have the best fit synergy with different ears.  For me personally I ended up using Spiral Dot eartips which delivered the best sound quality (due to a wide bore opening and the wide cap), a very good isolation, and a secure fit.  As a result I was able to wear A3 comfortably wire down and wire up, without a need for earhook guides.
 
Unboxing.
 
 
 

 
Accessories.
 
 
 
 
The fit (wire up/down).
 
 
 
Cable.
 
I’m not sure how the cable became a controversial topic in A3 discussion (per a few other review comments), perhaps due to variation of mmcx connectors.  These connectors are usually more prone to issues related to intermittent contact, and I see many manufacturers constantly revising them.  In two weeks that I have been using A3, I never had a single issue with the cable.  Mmcx connectors were snappy and always maintained the contact, the rotation of earpieces around the connector wasn’t as loose, and the cable itself had a nice design to match earpieces.  But my experience is just a single data point, and if Easy decided to switch to a different cable with a better build and more reliable connectors – I’m a believer in where there is a smoke there is a fire.  Keep in mind, when you click on AX product link, it will have pictures of the new pink cable.
 
Since my test evaluation was done using the original white-sparkly cable, I will describe it as is.  I liked the 45deg headphone plug – it has been awhile since I seen them being used; I kind of miss it since everything nowadays is straight or 90deg.  The wires, obviously a regular basic OFC, where soft, didn’t tangle too much, and didn’t require a memory wire.  Though earhook guides are included, those were not necessary for my personal use.  The y-splitter is a small plastic cylinder in an aluminum shell matching the color of earpieces, no strain relief here.  The chin slider has a matching design; and the same with mmcx connector housing which has a matching aluminum ring and L/R clear marking.
 
Due to a removable nature of the cable with universal mmcx connectors, I was tempted to try it with my other cables since I have access to higher quality silver plated and pure silver cables.  To my very big surprise, I went back to the original stock cable.  The replacement cables with silver material tend to brighten up the sound, adding more details and resolution to upper frequencies, which is a plus with A3 where the treble is rolled off.  But at the same time, due to 1k-3kHz boost I see in FR of A3, I didn’t like silver cable improvement effect on vocals, making them more upfront and even slightly grainy.  This is just a matter of a personal taste, and if you have access to replacement cables I strongly encourage you to experiment to find your sweet spot.
 
 
 
 
 
Design.
 
As I mentioned before, the design of the shell could be a hit or a miss, depending on eartip selection.  I think LZ took a bit of a risk here by going with a rather less traditional form factor.  I mean, they didn’t reinvent the wheel and a vertical shell with perpendicular nozzle placement has been done before (I still love and use my UE600), but LZ decided to take it one step further by stuffing a single dynamic driver and dual BA inside of a rather compact metal shell.  This adds a bit of weight, and you can’t extend the nozzle design by making it longer because the shell will stick out too far.
 
With a nozzle being short, you will end up jamming them in your ears while stacked up collars at the base of the nozzle, where it's attached to the shell body, can push into the concha area of your ears.  It’s not the end of the world and actually easy to fix, just need to have patience in finding the eartip with a core stem which is not too long or too short.  This way A3 will not stick out too far and will not go in too deep.  Plus the eartip has to stay secure in to hold the shell weighting down.  That’s why wire up fit is easier than wire down.  It’s a small price to pay for rewarding sound results.
 
The design definitely looks beautiful with its carved lines, gold finish, stamped logo, proper L/R labeling, LZ label and font of the writings, and a silver nozzle mesh.  There are two pinhole vents, one by the base of the short nozzle and another one on the side of the shell.  There is no flex from a dynamic driver and the low end response is excellent, thus pinholes do their job.  One interesting observation is that vent on the side of the shell is facing inward with wire down and outward with wire up, but I didn’t hear any noticeable difference because inward facing vent still has plenty of clearance based on my wearing style.
 
Another area of a particular interest is around the bottom of the shell where mmcx connector is located.  As I mentioned before, I didn’t have any issues with a connector and actually found it to be sturdy, no flex or movement, but it does look a bit DIY-ish.  This is probably a pure aesthetic comment, but considering how much thought went into the design of the shape of these shells, LZ should have made the connector placement flush with the bottom of the shell.
 
 
 
 
 
Sound analysis.
 
One thing I learned from reviewing other 3way hybrids – there is no common rule about sound signature.  Just because you have a dynamic driver to cover your bass and dual-BA drivers to cover your mids and treble, every manufacturer still does their own tuning interpretation of how they think it should sound.
 
After approximately 75hrs of burn in, I found LZ A3 to have smooth, clean, warm tonality with an excellent low end extension, clean detailed mids, and somewhat rolled off treble. The sound signature is a bit mid-forward, not just because I see it in my FR measurements with a boost around 1kHz-3kHz region, but you can actually hear mids pushing slightly forward which puts vocals more upfront and creates a noticeable contrast with treble which is pushed slightly back.  But at the same time, bass has a strong impact as well, just more balanced in comparison to mids.  Overall, it’s a uniquely tuned signature which doesn’t exactly fit stereotypical warm sound.  Treble is slightly boosted around 10kHz-15kHz, which adds more definition to highs and even some airiness and sparkle.
 
Low end has a very nice sub-bass extension which goes deep with a nice textured rumble, though still at a modest quantity.  Sub-bass doesn't add extra bulk, but rather adds the foundation underneath of a mid-bass punch with a moderate speed.  The bass in A3 is well controlled without spilling into mids or adding muddiness to a sound.  Lower mids have a nice body, not too thick or too thin, and upper mids are clean and detailed but not too analytical or micro-detailed.  They actually sound smooth-detailed with a nice organic tonality, but their quantity is slightly boosted (what I hear as a bit of a mid-forward sound sig) and on a few occasions I had to lower the volume so the vocals wouldn't become shouty.  When volume is lowered, it also affects the treble where I feel like a more forward upper mids creates a bigger contrast with lower treble which as a result sounds more rolled off.  Treble is clear and smooth, not crisp or bright, with a good definition, and actually some airiness.
 
Soundstage has a decent width, definitely way above average, and just an average depth, but not as much height.  Don't expect a holographic staging, but separation and layering is actually good, and positioning of instruments is convincing.  With a boost around upper mids region, you get more clarity and improved layering between instruments and vocals.
 

 
Comparison.
 
A3 vs A83 - Similar soundstage width, but A83 has more depth and height.  A83 has more sub-bass quantity and mid-bass has a little more impact and faster attack, lower mids are leaner, upper mids are brighter and a little more revealing, treble is crispier, brighter, and has more airiness.
 
A3 vs DN2kJ - similar soundstage width, but DN has more depth and height.  DN low end is more neutral is comparison, similar extension but less quantity, though DN mid-bass has a faster punch; lower mids in DN are a lot thinner in comparison, and upper mids are brighter and more analytical and micro-detailed.  Treble is a lot brighter, crispier, and airier.
 
A3 vs Primacy - similar soundstage width and depth, but Primacy has more height.  Primacy has more sub-bass quantity and stronger mid-bass impact.  Very similar lower mids, while upper mids in Primacy are a little brighter and more detailed.  Primacy lower treble is crispier and brighter, while upper treble has more airiness.
 
Conclusion.
 
To be honest, I approached this review with lowered expectations because I didn’t know how this budget hybrid will turn out to be.  Finding the correct eartip was a bit of a challenge, and it will dictate not only a good seal/isolation but also the fit and the comfort of wearing these monitors.  Everything fell in place once I settled on Spiral dots, and I was able to enjoy the smooth warm detailed signature of these fine tuned 3way hybrids.  These budget 3ways do cost less than a half (don’t forget to write “Easy” if/when placing order on AX) in comparison to other more established popular hybrids.  But lower price doesn’t mean lower quality.  As a matter of fact, if you are not looking for micro-detailed, bright, airy sounds, I think LZ A3 actually compliments quite nicely sig of other 3way hybrids with a more balanced full body smooth sound that even has a bit of an edge pushing forward the organic mids, resulting in a sweet musical performance of vocals.  Considering the progress made from A2 to A3, I wouldn't be surprised if A4 is not too far away.

At the time of the review, the LZ-A3  was on sale on Aliexpress and Amazon. Here are links to their listings of the product:
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2016-Original-LZ-A3-In-Ear-Earphone-Dynamic-And-2-BA-Hybrid-3-Unit-Headphone-HIFI/32646581807.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.59.NdPnMI&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_10,searchweb201602_5_10017_10005_10006_10034_10021_507_10022_10020_10018_10019,searchweb201603_1&btsid=895dbc7c-78a7-4402-8a9f-ee405f13bb29
 
http://www.amazon.com/LZ-A3-Definition-Headphones-Earphones/dp/B01CERWT4Q?ie=UTF8&keywords=lz%20a3&qid=1460775990&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
 
Introduction
The LZ-A2 was an incredible breakthrough in the world of hybrid in-ear monitors. It marked the first time a budget hybrid came in at under a hundred dollars and still performed at a level that met or exceeded just about anything in the mid-fi hybrid price range. To tell you the honest truth, it was probably the top earphone in 2015 in terms of price to performance ratio. If you haven’t read the review, here it is:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/products/lz-a2/reviews/14722
 
If anyone wants to tell me that world class sound can’t be achieved for under a hundred dollars, I’m reaching for the LZ-A2 to dispel this type of thinking. Although it is now discontinued, it goes down in my book as the greatest sounding in-ear to fall under this price point.
 
Although the A2 sounded pretty epic, it had its downfalls. From what I’ve read, some have reported defects in how the driver sits in the housing. Some have said that too much air pressure in the housing can cause drivers to get bent out of shape and distort the sound. There were also complains about the overly wide nozzle and somewhat generic build quality. Despite this, one thing was very apparent. LZ knows how to make some great sounding earphones!
 
Upon the discontinuation of the LZ-A2, rumors began to circulate that LZ was working on a predecessor. Sellers of the A2 would clue me in, stating that LZ is going to produce an earphone that will be an improvement over the A2 in both sound and build quality/design. Knowing how darn good the A2 is, I couldn’t help it getting really excited about this.  
 
About a month ago, the rumors became a reality as the LZ A3 was released. Does the product live up to the proposed hype? Let's find out, and go over them with a comprehensive review.
 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review the LZ-A3 in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with LZ. I would like to take this time to personally thank Easy Earphones for a percentage discount in exchange for an opportunity to review and share my impressions with friends and visitors on Head-Fi.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me, especially if they can be had for low prices. I will buy the $5 to $500 earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I will discover that one new gem that can compete with the big names in this industry. If you look at my Head-Fi profile you will see that I have purchased MANY different headphones and earphones, ranging from from dirt cheap to higher end products. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and having a variety of different gears with varying builds and sound to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they have good ergonomics, and the sound is pleasing to my ears. It is my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based on gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW
     
 
The LZ-A2 was about as generic as can be. They had no packaging at all and came in a clamshell case. LZ stepped things up with the A3. They come in a black box with writing in shiny purple print. The LZ logo is located on the front along with the name of the product. The back of the box has specifications in Chinese and English. Although the packaging is still slightly generic, it’s nice to see them attempt to present their product more professionally.
 
Specifications and Accessories
 
Specification
Cable:                 120 cm, silver tinsel copper, MMCX plugs
Sensitivity:             120+/- 3db
Impedance:            16 Ohms
Frequency Response:     15/24000K
THD:                <0.5%
 
Accessories
1x Clamshell case
1x Shirt clip
1x Pair silicone ear guides
3x Pair gray/yellow narrow bore silicone tips (S,M,L)
3x Pair black medium bore silicone tips (S,M,L)
3x Pair gray/red wide bore silicone tips (S,M,L)
1x Pair black dual flange silicone tips (M/L)
1x Pair black memory foam tips (M)
 

The A3 comes with a very nice tip selection and formidable clamshell case. Although not the most premium accessories, the package is very formidable and they didn’t leave owners feeling like anything was necessarily lacking.
 
Housings

Unique and different are the first two words to come to mind. They are an all metal (I assume aluminum) gold housing in a slightly curved triangular shape. A series of rings protrudes from the triangular housing, and leads to the all metal nozzle. The A3 nozzle is pretty standard in terms of length and with, which makes it easy to do some tip rolling.
 

The A3 connects via an MMCX cable. A driver venting hole is located on the side of each housing. Right and left markers, as well as brand and model graphics are printed in faint lettering. Although the entire build of the housings are metal and feel very solid, they are also very light weight.
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

The A3 cable comes with a silver tinsel wire with clear jacketing. There is a twist braid from the jack to the Y-split, then a straight cable from the Y-split to the MMCX connectors. The MMCX jacks are very subtle and don’t offer very much in terms of strain relief. The Y-split is a piece of straight metal jacketing. A chin/neck slider comes attached to the cable and sits flush with the Y-split when not in use. The A3 cable jack is a very well built sixty degree angled cable with a gold plated 3.5 mm jack. The jack’s housing is a firm rubber material and has a somewhat bulky and very sturdy build for an in-ear monitor.
 
Something to note is that the MMCX connector looks suspect to my eyes. Where the connection sits in/on the housing, and how the wearing style puts a bit of strain on the housing, this raises a red flag for me. Although the connection is very solid to this point, I am weary of this design. If reports come in about their A3 connections becoming defected after extended periods of normal use, I will report back with an edit to this review. I have been wrong about this type of thing in the past, so for now please take this paragraph with a grain of salt.
 
Functionality
The A3 is a plug and play earphone with the stock cable. Because it has an MMCX connection, it is possible to purchase an aftermarket cable. I tested this with an aftermarket cable and it worked fine.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation
Despite being an awkward shape, the A3 was a great fitting IEM. They can be worn both over and under the ear. The only people I could see maybe having a problem would be someone with tiny ears and trying to wear these over the ear.
 

When worn under the ear, the little bit of weight the housings had was distributed nicely thanks to how they sat in my ears. When worn under the ear, microphonics were controlled much better than the average in-ear monitor, especially when using the included chin/neck slider.
 

Worn over the ear, I need to utilize the chin/neck slider to get a secure fit. When worn over the ears, the fit was very secure for me and there was no cable noise.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-V10 for portable and smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or iBasso DX80 DAP for high fidelity portable use. For desktop use, I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a ifi micro iDSD playing at 32/192kHz. I tested them with several other sources as well. I used Google Music in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justice for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection
The A3 is a warm and creamy sounding earphone, so using a warm source will further accentuate its signature. I got best results with a more neutral/bright sounding source. Although the warm tint makes the A3 pretty forgiving with poor recordings, they are also offer a considerable amount of detail. The A3 will scale up well with high bitrate music and high fidelity sources.
 
At sixteen ohms, they are pretty standard for an in-ear monitor, leaning towards the more sensitive side of things. Amplifiers and high gain aren’t needed to make the A3 sound great. For best results, use your highest quality music files through your most neutral and high quality DAP. Doing so will compliment the stock tuning of the A3, and give you a “best of both worlds” combination of tonal balance, warmth and detail. The A3 sounded awesome through my LG V10 in the HIFI setting. They also sounded excellent through my iFi micro iDSD in more sensitive settings.
 
Sound Signature

This is a graph made with my Vibro Veritas and Arta software. Although it isn't an industry standard measuring device, it should give you an idea of what the A3 tuning is like.
 
The A3 is said to be an improvement over the A2. While to my ears I consider it to be more of a sidegrade, I know there will be many who feel the A3 is a fidelic upgrade.We live in a hobby where some people feel that the best way to listen to music is with vinyl records and tube amplifiers. Anyone who has gone to audio exhibits or known somebody who pursues this type of sound. The vinyl/tubes sound is warm, smooth and expansive. Well, LZ has accomplished this type of sound with a hybrid in-ear monitor. One thing is for sure, the LZ-A3 breaks away from the conventional hybrid sound and offers another unique tuning that will win the ears of many who listen to them.
 
Because of the awesome bass, expansive midrange and relaxed treble, I caught myself turning these up higher and higher. To be honest, the A3 sounds its best at louder volumes. Although I never encourage anyone to listen at louder volumes (especially not for extended periods of time), I will say that when my favorite songs came on my DAP, I had to give them a couple extra clicks on the volume dial because the A3 rocks at medium/loud volumes.
 
Bass
LZ uses a titanium diaphragm driver. The first thing I notice about the bass is that there is an incredible level of sub bass extension and perceived forwardness that many will enjoy. There’s no limit to how low these can go. They will dig as deep as your ears can hear. The rumble is there but not forward enough to be a nuisance. This world class depth leads into what to my ears was a slightly resonating but still responsive mid bass presence. Bass guitars are responsive and sound slightly forward to my ears. During some tracks the LZ A3 bass was maybe just a touch loose as compared to what I prefer but it is definitely entertaining.   
 
Midrange
The way the dynamic and armature drivers work together to produce the A3 midrange is pretty special. First and foremost, there is a seamless transition between the two drivers, helping create a really nice and natural sound. The A3 midrange has a very warm, spacious and expansive sensation to it’s signature and is the main reason why I would describe them as “tubey” sounding. There’s a spacious and slightly forward sound that must be heard to understand. Resolution is distortion free and musical at the same time.
 
Treble
The LZ-A3 treble is somewhat relaxed, almost too relaxed for what I normally prefer. Those who are sensitive to upper frequencies will love the A3 for this reason. The A3 midrange to treble ratios sound somewhat unnatural to my ears. To be honest it’s almost to the point that I would say they are rolled off at frequencies north of 4K. While often times I would say that this would be their downfall, in this case I feel that in a way it adds to the uniqueness of their signature. The overall feel is smooth, deep, warm and easy on the ears. LZ carries this theme throughout the entire frequency range.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
The A3 depth and resolution give them a large sense of spaciousness. Although they don’t have a lot in terms of height, they score a high grade in terms of a soundstage. Imaging in the midrange is phenomenal. You’ll catch yourself wondering how they created a sense of a large stereo speakers playing through their in-ear monitors.
 
Comparisons
 
Hisoundaudio HSA-AD1 ($120 to $150 USD on many sites)
Hisoundaudio released a very nice sounding hybrid earphone earlier this year. The AD1 is a dual driver (one dynamic and one armature) earphone that carried on the Hisoundaudio sound and carried it over into a new flagship earphone. The AD1 has plenty of bass that takes center stage and some nicely detailed supporting frequencies.
 
Comparing the two, The AD1 seems more midbass forward, with the A3 being more sub bass forward. Midrange on the A3 is more forward, spacious, engaging and entertaining. The AD1 midrange is more detailed and has a more “closed in” and intimate sound. Treble on the AD1 sounds much more in balance and extended on the AD1. Overall, I give a slight edge to the A3 by a small margin. Both earphones justify their asking price and more in terms of sound quality.
 
As far as build goes, the A3 has a decisive advantage. Their all metal housings and detachable cables trump the AD1. The A3 also has more versatility, offering both over and under the ear fit. A3 also gets the advantage in terms of accessories. They offer a similar accessories package to the AD1, and come with a clamshell case (the AD1 offers no carrying case).

 
LZ-A2 (Discontinued)
The LZ-A2 is a legend. I feel blessed to have gotten my hands on a pair before they were discontinued. They offer an incredible sound that keeps me coming back for more and more. Lord forbid these ever breaking on me, I will be incredibly sad when/if they do!
 
Bouncing back and forth, the two earphones aren’t very far off from each other and carry a lot of the same traits. The A2 has a slightly thinner bass response with slightly less extension and depth at lower frequencies. The A2 also has a slightly more forward upper midrange and treble presence. Those who thought the A2 top end was a touch bright (I didn’t)  will find a solution in the A3. With the A3, LZ has given the A3 an added level of depth and smoothed out the treble presence. Both earphones have impressive soundstage. The A2 is a more balanced and entertaining sound. The A3 is a smoother and slightly warmer sounding earphone.
 
LZ-A3 gets an advantage in terms of build quality. They offered a very unique and eye catching design and build as compared to the very generic build of the A2. The detachable cables of the A3 are a nice touch as well.
 
Conclusion
When reports from the LZ camp came in that they were improving on the A2, the expectations were sky high. Do I think the A3 is a upgrade? In terms of packaging and build/design the answer is yes, absolutely. In terms of sound, I consider them a side grade to the A2. One thing is for sure, both of them offer a “giant killer” level of sound quality for their asking price.
 
I brought the A3 to the Chicago Axpona Audio Expo in mid April and had a few seasoned Head-Fiers listen to them and give their take. They all agreed that the A3 was a good earphone, stating that they sounded smooth, dynamic and entertaining.
 
The A3 is a warm and spacious sounding earphone that won’t wow you at first listen, but once your ears adjust to them, you will be thoroughly impressed with their combination of detail and musicality. While I wouldn’t recommend the A3 to someone who prefers a more linear and bright sound, I would definitely suggest them for everyone else.
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

http://www.amazon.com/LZ-A3-Definition-Headphones-Earphones/dp/B01CERWT4Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459953504&sr=8-1&keywords=LZA3
 
Intro / Preamble: These are the Long-Awaited? (relative term v.s. the speed at which Chinese manufacturers are developing and releasing new IEMS to the market recently),  Successors to the LZA2. Same Driver configuration and I’m assuming some sonic tweaking, in re-designed housings with a new detachable cable. Please bear with me until the conclusion as by the outset of comparisons you may feel that I’m under-whelmed. NOTHING could be further from the Truth. I purchased these on Amazon from Easy Earphones store. It is also now available on the Aliexpress store as well.  However I believe there is a pricing error on the Ali link, it should read $130 USD.
 
 
This is again another Brilliant creation by the audio genius of Lao Zhong
 
 
 
Disclaimer: I am a hobbyist only. I am NOT affiliated with any sellers or manufacturers for items that may be used in my review, nor at this time am I provided with any samples for endorsement or reviews. I purchase all of my own gear. I do However, post links to the particular individual seller from whom I have made my purchase of the item under review. These reviews reflect my personal opinions of the performance and general information about the item, and should not be used as a basis for any purchase. As I am sensitive to higher frequencies, your impressions may also vary from my own. I will try to offer comparisons as long as I have something similar both in price and construction to compare. If however at any time I am provided a sample for review, I will disclose this fact immediately on an additional disclaimer.
Please also note an absence of graphs unless they are included in the Seller's links. Although they are a great tool for determining what kind of EQ or other characteristics a particular IEM or Headphone should have,  alas all too often my own experience upon listening with my ears, tells me something different. Sometimes radically so. I may be correct I might not be, sound quality is VERY subjective at best. Therefore I will leave the scientific data, analysis and comparisons to more qualified and experienced reviewers.
 
 
 
 
Here is the Picture of Mine that have been "Adjusted" for Down-Cable wearing:

 
 
 
Here is the Box Plain, Simple, Nice.

 
 
The Presentation:

 
 
 

 
 
Whats hidden under the Foam Insert:

 
 
This is what you Get. Lots of goodies:

 
 
 
Close up of the assorted Tips

 
 
 
Specifications:  They are available using the link to the seller(s) posted at the top of the page
 
 
Construction: 
Gold matte finish on all metal, (possibly an Aluminum-White metal alloy), basically crescent-shaped with squared edges on the body with well marked L/R designations on upper outside bout of the body. Contains a DD + 2 BA drivers. Detachable cables with secure clicking MMCX connectors. NOTE: This review is being done with the Stock 2^nd Gen. Cables as there were connector problems with the original production cables. The “new” cable has the improved Gold matte/black rubber longer MMCX connectors and appears to be a high quality clear plastic sheathed but nicely braided Silver Plated Copper (oxygen free I’m assuming) wire that is nicely supple. Matching matte finished “Y” connector with Slider, that terminates in a Substantial L shaped Rubber sheathed  3.5 mm plug. The over-all build quality suggests durability.
The LZA3 although designed to be worn over-ear, can ALSO be worn in a more pleasing, (to this writer), down-cabled configuration. To maintain proper orientation of the curvature of the IEM body in relation to the Ear, simply swap the Left for Right bodies on the cable. They will have the wrong channel markings however, if your memory is good this won’t be a problem. As mine isn’t, I simply marked them with colored dots, (See Pics), to avoid confusion and easier dim-light identification. Also they are shipped with the same yellow-core hybrid tips as their sibling LZ-Z03A. These do neither IEM any good whatsoever. The Included Generic Black Rubber tips are MUCH better, IMO. I also tried the Auvio Large and didn’t really notice any difference OOTB.
 
 
 Source Details:  For this particular review I used my newly Rockboxed XDuoo X3 (very much improved sound quality) both amped and unamped through a Fiio E12 Mont Blanc portable amp and a Schiit Audio Vali headphone amp. Line out from source to both amps. My Files are all at Least 320kbps to 96khz high resolution files. I used this source in all comparisons. Note that there were no appreciable differences noted in sound quality using the 2 different amp sources.
 
 
 Source Material:
The following is a list of songs that I used in this review. Some I use all the time, some less frequently. They all contain some type of frequency, Detail, or EQ that make them suitable for reference.
 
Dire Straits -- Sultans of Swing
Christina Novelli -- Concrete Angel (Both Versions)
John Mayer – Clarity / Home Life
Robert Plant – Far Post / Come into my Life
Vivaldi – Four Seasons (Spring)
John Bryson --- Let the Pipes play (full pipe organ album 1^st Cut)
Jonny Lang – Get what you give / Red Light
Ai Takekawa --- Beyond the Moon (Both long and short versions)
John Waite and Alison Krauss Duet --- (I ain’t) Missing You
Robert Cray --- Strong Persuader (various cuts off full album)
Mahogany Rush --- Land of a 1000 Nights
 
 
 
Sound Details: 
These are a non-fatiguing listen, with great Sub bass extension and a somewhat elevated Bass presence that is well controlled and doesn’t intrude on the low Mids.  The bass is fast and can deliver great bass growl in the lower spectrum. I find the Mids the best point with a superb transition between the high Mids into the Treble, which is somewhat rolled off, JUST PERFECTLY. Although some are saying this is an “L” Shaped signature I’d like to depart and actually call this a very flattened Modified “W” with the Long Leg on the bass extension, shorter on Treble with the Lows transitioning into an ever so forward midrange that gives Vocals a nice ‘Open” quality, and keeps them just far enough in front of the Bass to remain clear and concise.  I find the Soundstage very well layered and instrument Placement as superb as their little brother the LZ-Z03A. It has Great dimensions to it depth, width, and height and can truly involve the Listener.
 
 
Bass:
It’s full, extended, fast, and not bloated. Present most times but not overbearing. For some it may be considered a little light, but I have no problem as it extends deep when it needs to.
 
 
Mids: Simply Beautiful. Truly this IEM’s strong suite. Natural, transparent with enough “Air” to make them sound open. Particularly in Female vocals. Male vocals are also quite rich. The low mids are never masked or choked out by the Low frequencies and he High mids blend into the Treble presentation seamlessly.
 
Highs: PERFECT for my ears, (as I’ve mentioned I’m quite treble sensitive), It rolls off very similarly to the Musicmaker TK12 just short of the “Dreaded” Treble harshness or spikes I find present in many Asian-manufacture IEMs. No Javelins through the eardrums here. The Treble is well defined, detailed, and resolution is spot on. Enough Highs to make soundstage placement quite apparent, without fatigue. In Fact the LZA3 are some of the most fatigue –free IEMs I have Heard to date.
 
 
 
Comparisons:  This is where it is going to get tricky. I’m bringing in my 2 most heavy Hitters for comparisons, which in the case of the LZA3 SPEAKS VOLUMES. Keep in mind, These are My OPINIONS only, and as the other 2 IEMs are quite Fully burnt-in and the LZA3 only has roughly 35 Hours on it, my opinion could change dramatically and in that case I will update THIS REVIEW.
 
OK. The 2 other Review Phones are Both Musicmaker brand, The Shockwave III and the TK12. Honestly I consider the LZ/Shockwave comparison “apples to oranges” due to the Driver compliments and the Basic EQ of either IEM. The TK12 is really a much more direct comparison.
 
So HOW do they Fare?  I think I will keep this to myself. Sorry…..
 
(just kidding)
 
 
PLEASE BEAR WITH ME TO MY CONCLUSION HERE. (no matter if or how you agree/ disagree).
 
LZA3 v.s. Shockwave III:
As I previously stated, IMO this is Apple to Oranges, Sound Quality-Wise there IS no comparison. The Shockwave is clearly a More Audiophile Oriented presentation with Greater Clarity, Sub Bass extension, Three dimensional soundstage and overall HIFidelity sound that becomes really apparent on Hi Res music downloads from HD Tracks and similar websites.  It is in a next level Class.
 
 
UNFORTUNATELY ……
 
 
OMG, WHAT’S HE GONNA SAY NOW???
 
 
Along with this superb analytical nature comes a Price. I Find the Shockwave to be somewhat too Bright, not painfully Bright mind you, but enough that there is some listener Fatigue involved, and TRUTHFULLY they are Brighter than I personally prefer and quite similar to the Bette 10mm overall Treble presentation.
LZA3 to SHOCKWAVE III?  Simply put:  For long listening sessions I PREFER the LZA3 with it’s slightly less impressive, but still stellar Sound Quality. IF I’m going to find a particular artifact within a song or brand-new first listen downloaded recording, I’ll reach for the Shockwaves first.
 
 
 
LZA3 v.s. TK12:
 This is a more Direct Comparison, DD + 2BA per earphone.  The TK12 IS SIMPLY MASSIVE sounding. Big Brash, a little uncouth, yet still keeps a certain amount of resolution with Rolled off Treble that ALSO becomes a very listenable long-term Quality. The TK12 is a Tad darker with a Giant Bass that is always present but fairly well controlled, with a great soundstage and involvement in the Music. The LZA3 Is more Refined with possibly a Deeper extension on Sub-Bass than the TK12 but nowhere near as present or bass saturated. The LZA3 actually could be called a Mid – Centric IEM as the Mids are Just Beautiful but really aren’t pushed THAT far forward. Resolution, Detail, and soundstage placement and layering are a Tad better than the TK12.
 
 
 
HONEST OPINION? I like BOTH EQUALLY as I seem to fall into the Semi-Basshead/ High Resolution type listener. I CAN’T decide which is better. I lean towards the TK12 but ONLY because at this point I have Far more experience with it and it’s pluses and caveats.
 
 
 
 
THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN LOSE WITH PURCHASING ANY OR EVEN ALL OF THESE IEMS. THIS IS A FACT YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK.
 
 
 
 
Conclusions: This IEM is Superb. It equally ranks up there with the Best in my Collection, given time my affection for it may exponentially increase. I would buy this again, in fact.
Job Well done Lao Zhong. VERY WELL DONE.
Thank You Easy for Your recommendation Months? Ago.
 
 
WELL, SHOULD YOU BUY THEM?
 
 
 
 
STONE COLD STEVE WOULD SAY:   “HELL YEAH!!!!”