KZ-ZS3 Hifi High-End 3.5mm In-Ear Earphone Headphones Earpiece Original Headset Bass Earbuds With Microphone

BACKGROUND

After having all over-ears for a while (for the good duration of 3 years or more), I kinda missed IEMs. Checking reviews online for the best budget IEMs, I came across Knowledge Zenith (KZ). Reading good reviews about their IEMs, I started researching on what their best offering is at that time (2017). Most reviews pointed me towards the KZ ZS3. I’m a sucker for good soundstage and reviews seem unanimous, it has good soundstage for an IEM so I decided to buy one online. Does it meet my expectations? Let’s find out.


ABOUT ME

I listen to almost all genres of music but my favorites are rock, blues, and jazz.

I am a music lover, not an audiophile. I need to veer away from the audiophile persona from now on. I love music more than the equipment to play music with. I recognize that decent equipment is important but decent is good enough. Expensive is not necessary. I’m not willing to go past the $100 mark for any reason. I firmly believe in the law of diminishing returns.

I believe in burn-in but it depends on the headphones. Some do not need much. Some do not need any at all.

I believe in measurements but I never relied on them. I solely rely on my ears.

I believe that blind test is the only real test, without any visual influence or biases, without placebo.

Audio nirvana for me is a state of mind, not a state of equipment.

Regardless of my beliefs, I respect all audiophiles and music lovers for their passion and dedication.


PACKAGING

Here are the pictures of the basic packaging and the IEMs themselves. I also purchased the upgrade cable but what I chose is originally intended for the ZST so I needed to carve some plastic off surrounding the two-pin plugs for them to fit perfectly. Why did I choose one for a different model that doesn’t fit on the on-set? Simply because they’re beautiful! See for yourself:




SPECS AND FEATURES

For complete specs and features, please check here - https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...Music-Sports-Earbuds/1358152_32720789438.html.


BUILD QUALITY, DESIGN, AND COMFORT

Build quality is impeccable for the price. It’s plastic but very high quality. I say the cable is pretty decent and the mic that also works for play or pause is more accurate and reacts faster than the ones found in the VE Monk Plus. Cable is quite rubbery too so if you do not like that type of texture, then upgrade cables abound online for KZs.

Comfort is average for an IEM. I’ve got an average size ear so it fits me well and I don’t find it unpleasantly painful for long listening sessions (past the 1 hour mark). It doesn’t “disappear” and you’ll know it’s there but the housing is shaped to the outer ear so you don’t have the feeling that it’s digging in to something. Quite comfortable overall.

Design is really beautiful, don’t you think? It almost looks like a custom IEM. I believe it is inspired by custom IEMs. Not that I own one but I think that’s where they’re going with those looks. With the upgrade cable, it looks ten times more expensive than it really is. And because of the over-ear wearing method, plus the shape of the housing conforming to the outer ear, fit is very secure. I like the fact that it doesn’t slide off often as with traditionally worn IEMs.


SOUND

Burn-in: Well it did not change that much after 100 hours or so I don’t think it benefits too much from burn-in.

SET-UP USED:

• Lenovo K4 Note Smartphone (with Wolfson WM8281)
• Dolby Atmos engaged at Music mode where EQ is flat
• Stellio music player EQ is flat with Replay Gain engaged
• Also tested with Fiio A3 in low gain and bass boost off

Let’s get one thing out of the way right away – these are bassy, too bassy for my liking. Do I hold it against them? No. Not so much. I’m not a basshead but I would say these are worthy of a basshead’s attention. Nonetheless, the quality of bass is great. It’s powerful. It’s not dreary or anemic. It’s not the fastest, but it’s not a slouch either. The overall sound signature is warm and enjoyable. That extra bass adds fun to the music, especially for pop and other bass heavy genres.

Mids and highs are not drowned out by the powerful bass but there is considerable bleeding. I believe that’s intentional. They’re going for a big, wholly sound and I believe they achieved that. One merit I would laud them for is, this sound signature is perfect for the commute. Bass can be easily drowned by outside noise and the extra bass to these IEMs compensate well for that. A big plus is that they give you great isolation because of their shape. If isolation’s your thing, these are worth considering. It’s the type of isolation though where you would hear yourself chew or swallow so there’s a fair warning. If you hate that type of isolation, go with classic earbuds instead.

A lot of reviewers are not wrong about soundstage either. It’s mostly outside your head, a few inches away. It’s not too wide as you would expect for an IEM but it’s decent, great even, for the price they’re in. Imaging is also great for the price. It’s not hard to pin-point where instruments are or where they’re coming from. I also enjoy movies with these. I believe that bass has some influence on soundstage. I find that over-ear studio monitors sound wider than bassier sets because they are tuned flat. That gives all of the instruments a breathing space. Bass can push things forward and not too spread out, affecting soundstage. This is very noticeable when engaging the bass boost in headphone amplifiers, like the Fiio A3 in this regard. These, apparently, do not need a bass boost. With that said, kudos to KZ for still giving this IEM a good soundstage relative to the bombastic bass.


CONCLUSION

The KS ZS3 is a very competitive budget IEM. Is it a giant killer? You tell me. I never owned no giants nor tried some in the IEM department. As I said, I am an over-ear person. I find them most comfortable and enjoyable. I equate comfort to sound because there’s no point enjoying music if it gives you pain.

If you’re looking for a set perfect for the daily commute, this one’s for you. If you are looking for a daily driver just for sheer music enjoyment, this one’s for you. If you enjoy movies using IEMs, this one’s for you too. For professional monitoring, I wouldn’t say so. I have the Shure SRH440. That is tuned for monitoring purposes. Not this one. If you love powerful bass, go get one! It’s definitely a great budget find in that department! Enjoy! And…

Happy listening, everyone!

Knowledge Zenith (KZ) is a well known Chinese manufacturer of high quality earphones for a low price. KZ have released a wide variety of earphones, that always have a good price quality ratio. In this KZ ZS3 review I will discuss the KZ3 into more detail. Overall KZ delivered another great pair of earphones, which positively surprised me on many aspects, like comfort, isolation and its soundstage.

Sound
The KZ ZS3 are delivering a great sound, marked by a wide soundstage containing a deep bass and clear mid’s. The most remarkable aspect of the KZ ZS3 is the soundstage it’s able to deliver. The earbuds of the KZ ZS3 are positioned deep into your ears, which enables to deliver a deeper soundstage then other earphones. When you listening to music with these earphones, your really get surrounded with the sound, like it’s all around you. This aspect is something the KZ ZS3 is really setting itself apart from other earphones. The bass of the earphones are also really nice, they deliver a deep bass, that is punchy, and being well presented in the music. Usually I don’t prefer a overemphasized bass, but I have the feeling that the combination of the wide sound stage, with the well presented bass, provides a great listening experience. On higher volume’s the bass, can be sometimes a bit overwhelming and pushing the mid’s away. However, I only experience this with ‘bassy’ songs. The mid’s are also of great detail, vocals are really clear, and being pushed a bit into the front. Finally, the high’s are good but not excellent, I feel they could be a bit more presented, however for me this is always a trade-off. In the case the high’s are more presented, they earphones usually get unpleasant listening to them for longer hours, which is with the KZ ZS3 definitely not the case. Overall, they provide a really great sound that is pleasant listening to for long listening sessions.

Build Quality & Design
The KZ ZS3 build quality is great, as most of the earphones KZ released on the market. The earbuds are created of plastic, but the black shining paint is making them feel and looking great. The cable feels strong and has a L-shaped headphone jack, which is for me always a must, since they won’t break that fast. Besides the materials of which the KZ ZS3 is created, the earbuds are detachable. You can unplug the earbuds of the earphone cable. I detached them a few times, but it’s hard to get them back on the cable. I suggest to not detach them a lot, because I have the feeling you can easily break the pins on the cable. Something I really love about the these earphones, is that the end of the cables, the part where the cables are getting connected to the earbuds, is made of stiff material. You can bend the cable around your ears, so they will fit stay on place, and makes it almost impossible for the earbuds to fall out.

Comfort
As I mentioned in the introduction, the comfort is the part where the KZ ZS3 really surprised me. I never thought I would put so much value on comfort since I own the KZ ZS3. First of all, the shape of the earbuds makes them fit really comfortable in your ears. They sit deep and comfortable in your ears. In combination with the stiff cable ends, as I mentioned before, you can bend the cable around your ears. This combination makes the earphones perfect for using them being active, like working out. I like to go to them gym or to go running, and these earphones are my new favorites for this. They stay perfect in place, and besides the comfort they offer great isolation. You don’t hear any outside sounds, when you wearing the KZ ZS3.

Conclusion
Overall I am really surprised by the value the KZ ZS3 delivered to me. They exceeded my expectations by far. They sound they deliver is great, defined by it’s great sound stage, a deep bass and great mid’s. The build quality and comfort is also of a great level, which you can hardly find at this price level. Finally, the comfort is the part the KZ ZS3 distinguish them from it’s competition. The shape of the earbuds, he stiff part of the cables, and the great isolation makes them perfect for using them while working out and running. All in all, these are currently the best earphones you can get for everyone with an active lifestyle.

GearBest link: https://www.gearbest.com/on-ear-over-ear-headphones/pp_436717.html?lkid=11945712

This review was originally posted on EarphoneKing.com.

this is my first iem that i bought because i just recently destroyed my free earbuds on my phone. i dont usually like iems because of the way that its too close to your ears, it may be irritating for me, and yet it did. the kz zs3 for me is very uncomfortable at first, but after a few days of pain and torture my ears started to adapt and i can now listen for it for a significant amount of time.

the sound quality of this headphones is close to neutral, but with the added bass boost it sounds dark on some certain songs. i also did the slater mod which is to remove the tuning foam inside, the only minor thing i notice is the high mids or the low treble (whatever you called it) is a bit recessed or laid back to my hearing. its sometimes being overwhelmed by the lower frequencies, which can be a good or bad thing depending on what you like, personally its a downside for me since it removes the microdetails of the song, but it causes less fatigue on longer sessions. the treble is not harsh, its quite good actually, theres no sibilance here which is great. Imaging and soundstage is just average.

for the build quality, its acceptable but not that great, but it will guarantee you to last a long time, but the thing i hate about this design is that its not for everyone. since i have smaller ears compared to everyone im having difficulty of using it at first, it really is painful on the top and back of my ears and the soreness may last for hours. so what i did is train my ears to endure the pain and after a few days it adapted. so for everyone who has larger ears than me its not a problem.

I got these earphones as a review unit from Gearbest.com, i specifically requested to review these in light of my positive testing of my friend's KZ ATR which is a model below the ZS3.

I wholeheartedly recommend buying from GB as they always provided me with the proper support\warranty\refunds for the products i bought from them.

Product page:
http://www.gearbest.com/on-ear-over-ear-headphones/pp_436717.html


On to the review:

Package\accessories:

These came in a cardboard box. Inside you can find S\M\L sized silicone tips and the detachable cable.




Sound:

At first I plugged them into my HRT HeadStreamer DAC/AMP and I was pleasantly surprised at how good these sounded without any EQ or burn in period. They provide a thick sound with an elevated Bass region, yet the Mids and Highs are very much alive as well.


I think these do scale up with better equipment as they sounded better on the HRT than on my MOTO G (1st gen).


Surprisingly, the biggest strongpoint of the ZS3 turned out to be performance in Movies in Gaming due to their great imaging. Action scenes in movies were very enjoyable as you can hear everything in the environment of the scene: from the crickets in the woods to the placements of gunshots being fired.

In Gaming these proved to be even better, I played a multiplayer FPS game and I felt as if the ZS3 really gave me a "sonic image" of whatever was going around me.
I was on the stairs leading to a 2nd floor of a building yet I could clearly hear that a flashbang was being thrown in the lower room to my left and I could hear the gunfight between the 2 other players. I could also hear the location of aircrafts above me without looking at the minimap.





Bass: The bass Is powerful and clean, very enjoyable for various Electronic genres. (Grade: 5/5)


Midrange (500hz-2.5K): The Mids on these are full bodied, enjoyable and well separated from the bass even though these are a V-shaped set (Grade: 4.7/5)


Upper Midrange (~2.5khz-5.2khz): This area is a bit harsher on the ZS3 as it is with all of the budget IEMs I ever tried, I tend to EQ it down by a bit on all of my earphones.

Having said that, the ZS3 probably took the smallest EQ cut in this region to sound pleasant to my ears (about -1.5db) so maybe it's just my personal sensitivity to these frequencies. (Grade: 4.3/5)


Treble: The Highs on these are fairly smooth/pleasant rather than harsh/detailed and are meant for long listening sessions, yet I don't find any lack of energy in this region. (Grade: 4.5/5)

Fit:

These took me a bit of time and practice to get used to, but after a few times of using them it became second nature to install them in my ears and deal with the memory wire.

Verdict:
I really like these so i rated them 5/5.
I view the ZS3 as a "must buy" and i think i'm going to buy a 2nd pair as backup.
Sometimes when they're inside my ears I wonder if they're worth 9$ or 50$.

What's with the tacky company name:
 
From what I gathered, Knowledge Zenith (KZ) is an infamous name in the budget Chinese Hi-fi community. Directly rivaling the likes of Xiaomi, 1More and other Chinese Conglomerates, KZ specializes in the mass manufacture of wallet-friendy earphones for the consumer who isn't willing to fork out copious amounts of cash for gaudy looking, multi-driver earphones. Over the past 3 years, the head-fi community has constantly sung praises with regards to the company's simple offerings and its no-nonsense approach in manufacturing. No frills, no pretention. What you hear is what you get.
 
This is most definitely the case with the KZ Zs3, one of their latest offerings in the Southeast Asian Market. 
 
 
 
Accessories
 

The Accessories Package
 
 
 
1 X Kz3 Drivers
1 X 2-Recessed pin detachable cable
3 X Pair of rubber tips
1 X Instruction manual 
 
With a 20 dollar iem, it is somewhat expected that the product at hand would have a sparse offering of accessories. The no frills ideology adopted by KZ is somewhat understandable. Corners had to be cut to produce a budget-friendly product. However, in light of recent iem offerings by Fiio with their F1 and F3 earphones, I expect at least a carrying case to be provided. Apart from the lack of a carrying case, the accessories included are enough to get you started. 
 
 
 
Build Quality and Design
 

Inear's Stagediver Series 
 
 
Stealing its innovation from a reputable German company, Inear-Monitoring, the driver housings are shaped like the concha of our ears, replicating the signature "custom-universal" fitment of the Inear line of iems. The fitment of the actual earpieces are surprisingly comfortable. The weight of each driver is feather light, with its weight evenly spread across the ear. The cables are worn over-ear, with a recessed 2-pin connector cable. For 20 dollars, a detachable cable is unheard off, let alone a 2-pin cable commonly utilized in custom iems. The cable sheathing is springy and retains memory, clumping together like a ball of tangled wires. Despite its shoddy cables, the earphones themselves are smartly designed. 
 
 
 
Sound Quality:
 
Audio Setup:  Cowon Plenue D
                      Aune X1S + Spotify Premium 
                      Sony Xperia Z5 + Fiio K1
 

My Selected Playlist:

 

Moanin by Art Blakey and His Messengers (Imaging/Sound-stage)

Lover Killer by My Brightest Diamond (Female Vocals)

Loose (Remastered) by The Stooges (Fatigue)

Handyman Blues by Billy Bragg (Male Vocals)

 

Like my previous reviews, my summarized impressions will be featured at the end of this review. Do take note that I am not a firm believer in burn-in. YMMV. The Kz3 has 18 ohms of impedance and it is easily driven by weak sources. Like other dynamic drivers, more juice= more power. I would encourage other head-fiers to test the Kz3 both amped and un-amped. 

 

Imaging/Sound-stage: Surprisingly, the Kz3 impressed me on first listen. The soundstage wasn't the most expansive "left-right" experience. However, the height and spacing between various instruments hit way above its pay grade. The overall sound was coherent, slightly bombastic with a punchy mid-bass region. Art Blakey's drum section comes to life, with the Kz3's enhanced V-shape sound signature. The wind section featured in the track had ample sparkle and airy treble for it to sound pronounced. Overall, the Kz3 left me impressed with its outstanding performance. I'll take this over "faux" channel separation any day.

 

 

Female Vocals: First off, I am a huge fan of My Brightest Diamond (aka Shara Nova) of Asthmatic Kitty Records, This test meant a lot to me and it's safe to say that the Kz3 did the track justice. The melodic trumpets and groovy bassline sounded lively and energetic, bereft of any sibilance or harshness. Cymbals and other instruments that are higher in pitch sound a little thinny, lacking a meaty mid-range for more accurate timbre. Shara's vocals, on the other hand, is presented in a forward manner, with her voice at the forefront. Not the greatest listen, but it certainly is the greatest relative to its low price point. 

 

 

 
Fatigue: The Stooges are the epitome of unadulterated rock and roll. Sharp snares, howling vocals and a cavalcade of messy power chords permeate their discography. With the track "Loose", there is no exception to that rule. The Kz3 presents the Stooges in a more "melodic" light. The bombastic basslines are present, the snares toned down a notch, Iggy Pop's wails sounding a tad timider than the original hotly mastered recordings. Nonfatiguing and musically engaging, the Kz3 does a great job at taming poorly recorded tracks. 
 

 
 
Male Vocals: Billy Bragg is an English Americana Singer-songwriter. Handyman blues is one of my favorite track of his in recent years. The low-end of his guitar is thick and heavy, with each pluck of the string resonating audibly with authority and presence. His mellow vocal range paired with his ballad-like guitar rhythm suits the elevated bass-response of the Kz3. It emphasizes the low notes well with superb tonality. A fine track on a fine pair of earphones.
 

 
 
 
In Conclusion:
 
After a barrage of tests from many different sources, I can simply say the Kz3 is a fine addition to any collection. Its forgiving price tag, solid build quality, and engaging sound signature are enough to warrant a purchase. Alongside my Fostex te-04's, this serves as a fine respite from my daily drivers. 
 
The sound is engaging. lively and energetic. The shimmery treble while detailed enough, lacks any harsh peaks. The mids are present, without any shouty upper mids. The bass has a nice mid-hump that doesn't bleed into the mids (for me at least). It is any easy must have for the budget oriented audio enthusiast. The Kz3 is an excellent pair of earphones and is easily KZ's best offering yet. For the head-fiers that are interested in snagging a pair, do follow the links listed below: 
 
 
AliExpress: 
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2016-Original-KZ-ZS3-Noise-Cancelling-Headset-With-Mic-Hifi-Sport-In-ear-Earphone-Dynamic-Driver/32679857635.html?scm=1007.13339.60109.0&pvid=8f606813-4754-4a21-9a4c-58853e86e7ef&tpp=1&src=google&albch=search&acnt=479-062-3723&isdl=y&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&albcp=266121556&albag=7593673036&slnk=&trgt=dsa-42862830006&plac=&crea=64152518716&netw=g&device=c&mtctp=b&memo1=1t1&gclid=Cj0KEQiAgJTGBRDLr5_az_Ouk44BEiQAIxaA4hOzwedgAWjbaaFYkfuUUdZVg557K-A_cRRCR7O_NFoaAsDe8P8HAQ

This is my first review so bear with any shortcomings please! I have had countless advice from many KZ owners that I can't fully keep track of, but I should definitely credit our common space the KZ thread. I know that many people have different view on the same IEMs due to fit, preferences, production flukes etc so if there are different view I want to clarify I'm not rejecting them, just adding my own for everyone to consider and interpret Specs: 18ohm impedence, 20-45000hz frequency range 108db/mw sensitvity 8mm DD (may be inaccurate due to inaccuracy of translations etc)
 

 
First things first, my music preferences and purchase background:
I listen to almost anything except heavy metal. Currently I favour pop with a EDM/house twist (Ellie Goulding, Flo Rida, Robin Schulz), vocals (Sara Bareilles, Jackie Evancho, Pixie Lott), jazz (Hiromi, Nikki Yanofsky, Steve Gadd, Keiko Matsui), musicals and soundtracks (even Frozen?!) and classical music.
Given this range it is horrid finding good cheap earphones due to the wide gamut. Flat signatures are incredibly boring to listen to and sometimes do not do justice to the music anyway, while fun signature don't fit all my tastes. I was tiring of the one-dimensional, mid-centric approach (albeit smooth and singable vocals) my Aurvanas gave and wanted some of the kick of my Ultimate Ears models without the kind of boomy rubbish bass some expensive brands offer. Totally by chance, I stumbled on the KZ thread (link on top) and there it went!
Testing was done primarily with my Fiio M3 playing primarily 320k MP3s and FLAC files, occasionally on my ThinkPad via MusicBee ASIO4ALL/WASAPI on stock soundcard. For now I will just summarise: ease to drive is about average (33% volume is about enough on the commute with the M3) and not too sensitive (so I won't get background hisses in a quiet room).
 
Sound:
Let's get to the elephant in the room, they sound really good! After UE discontinued cheap models like the 200-600 it was really difficult to get a fun yet controlled signature. But here we are! Written with about 20 hours of burn in (for those who believe in it but I'll get to that later).
Bass - Not enough for a basshead, too much compared to things like Etymotics. I found them similar to my UE400/500, in that the presence is definitely strong. Overall it is controlled but depending on some tracks, it can boom too much. I don't specifically look out for sub-bass as my ears only pick out notable things, but suffice to say sub-bass should be fine as I don't have issues of mids being drowned out. For me coming from my past earphones I have EQed down the best just by one notch. I thought I would not like the bass, but it gives a very warm live sound for my Jazz tracks which I like!
Mids - Average but in a good way. No smooth lushness of my Aurvana BAs but they do what they need to do. I wouldn't call it forward but they are more present than some more extreme v-signature IEMs. In orchestral string lines they aren't the lushest around, but it presented no unnatural elements (unlike cymbals) which allowed it to pass for listening.
Treble - Extension is decent. Somehow manages to be sparkly without being sibilant, which I like. My instrumental music cannot do with hiding treble just because of sibilance. One of the less grainy trebles compared to other KZs. Only criticism is that cymbals due to sparkliness sound a tad artificial. Funny thing is other than cymbals female vocalists etc. sound fine to my ears. But this is really nit-picking and I have not heard natural cymbals from many IEMs that are not TOTL.
Soundstage and signature - I have too few earphone tests to try out, but soundstage definitely wasn't offensive. It felt like the width was average, though over time I'm starting to appreciate its 3D positioning. It is still quite subtle so do demo it or ask some others who can do an A-B comparison of soundstage. Signature is v-shaped. Can't test the frequencies but a more pronounced bass boost than the treble (if at all). This leads to a generally warm feeling on stock cables.
After a few days of listening I didn't detect major differences in sound. I personally believe that burn in is neither all-important not fiction. There is burn in but not so much so you have to take extreme measures. I listened to my music, ran some pink/white noise back at home when free/remembered to, and just took care not to blast the volume too loud. KZ recommends 5mins to multiples of 20hrs depending on which manual/product page you see so take it easy and chill These earphones are pretty detailed. Someone mentioned hearing singers' breath sounds but I didn't feel that big a difference. I did enjoy a little bit of added touches like drum brushes and other graduated actions which might not be obvious unless listening in a quiet place.
 
Build quality, ergonomics
These are cheap IEMs they are alright for the price. No fatal flaws for my set though some have sworn by buying multiple sets in case. The shell pieces could be joined more closely, but the only issue I had was a loose nozzle filter than threatened to drop into the sound tube. Thankfully it is only an issue when swapping earbud tips (will explain why below why so much swapping is needed...)
Average is starting to become overused but for lack of a better word, the removable cable connectors are average. Not loose but not the tightest/most secure around.
Shape is like it or hate it. It is not a flush design and the shape doesn't fit all perfectly, although KZ's Chinese press kit claims they averaged out the ear dimensions of the general population. They worked ok for me, but some had to take ages with tip swaps to achieve something decent. This shape also limited the sound isolation of the IEMs, slightly below average.
All KZ cables (stock and upgrade) have a thin memory loop over the ears. Currently I find them irritating to mould but that's only because I came from Aurvanas without memory cables. Branded ones from other companies definitely are easier to mould and use than these, but all get the job done. I will continue monitoring but I have noticed that in spite of the over-ear wearing there is still some microphonics. Adding a tie further up the y-split is what I'm doing to reduce it for now.
I cannot emphasise more but trying different tips (compulsory for all IEMs anyway) is very important for the ZS3 to avoid messing up the sound signature and regarding it as a waste of cash. Really sensitive to fitting here.
I am leaving out an unboxing section as the box is super small and super simple. IEMs, separate cable, separate tips, instruction cards. The box is around the size of cigarette case.
Update: after about 1 month my left ZS3 stopped having sound. After A-Bing the problem was identified as the ZS3 itself, as swapping cables were fine. I am now on another new set of ZS3. The first pair saw quite a few times of switching between silver and default cables. This time I will only switch to silver and leave it there, hopefully switching less will let it last longer!
 
Tweaks:
As hinted by the sound signature and ergonomics, many users have had their tweaks. When writing this I haven't gotten much addons except the KZ silver-coated copper upgrade cable so I will share what I know.
Most important change you should consider is getting the 10USD silver cable. Swapping it is easy due to the connectors, just look out for right and left. Tried them and noticed indeed the sound became clearer, slightly less warm and the signature leveled out. The bass was less strong and the trebles were a tad smoother. Of all these changes I must frankly admit the most obvious two are the clearer sound and the less strong bass. This make the resolving detail another step better than the Shure SE215 I demoed and never liked for its muddiness despite good efforts for a smooth likeable sound. So long as the price is within budget go for it. Love professional look from the braided cable too (although some suggest getting the ATR instead with the same money, read the KZ thread). 
For the sceptics who do not believe in cable upgrades, I thank @CoiL for his measurements. They explain why I am hearing a difference. The issue is that the stock cable while durable is so meh that a simple cheap replacement will already improve sound, unlike branded cables with a much smaller improvement compared to each other.
Next is earbuds. Many people have tried changing around for better fit and sound. For me fit is not an issue but I have widebore tips and KZ star tips on order to hopefully dial in the bass a bit more for my mixed music collection and will update again.
 
Comparisons
I had the fortune of demoing other KZ sets and one unlucky **** 4in1 from my local contact who brings them in for resale. Not sure about the burn in but I am sure they are accurate as they are roughly in line with others' comments. All comparisons were done in stock form (tips and cables)
 
ATR: Basically a lower-energy, more laid back approach to the ZS3. Other than less (but still prominent bass) it is similar to the ZS3 for mids and highs. Key difference is bass and soundstage. Bass is less but arguable a bit tighter than the ZS3.
ATE/ATES: Don't bother, they are the predecessor of the 2016 ATR which tightened up the bass and smoothened the original's grainy treble.
ED12: This Amazon review sums it up the best honestly so read it. Particularly the W signature which is effectively ATR with boosted mids and treble too. Some have criticised the ED12 heavily, they may be right but I suspect it is again fit issues like the ZS3. The ED12 honestly was closest to my mid-centric Aurvanas but I decided on the ZS3 as overall the signature sounded more engaging for my music.
ZST: ZST is a very difficult IEM to compare and review. I am waiting for my set to arrive but the one I demoed had a split personality. The bass was a bit boomier than the ZS3 yet treble was smooth and clean due to the BA, which affected coherence especially on instrumental jazz tracks. The treble is definitely the best quality of the whole bunch just that the signature was just weird. Rumour has it they sound comparable or better than the ZS3 with burn in (urgh not again) and silver cables (urgh more money spent) so I have given in to temptation and ordered them for the 11/11 sale. Really appreciate treble that is present yet not irritating (that's why I play the viola not violin too HAHA)
I think ZS3 has the widest soundstage then ATR and ED12 roughly the same. Don't quote me on soundstage as usually I pay more attention to sound in terms of what frequencies are emphasised. ZST is excluded as the split personality just messes with my head in stock form...
**** 4in1: Too bad for **** the contact had one set on him. So much more coherent than the ZST I didn't know how many BA/DDs there were. BUT the treble was a no-go. More grainy AND sibilant than the ATE (which is the grainiest KZ I heard). Barring fit and production flukes I wrote this on off. Like ZST in stock form, no point having coherent signature 80% of the time but 20% keeps messing up your music you listen to. 
 
Conclusion
Overall, the ZS3 is really good for the money. Most issues I had were resolvable, particularly in sound where there are mods available and the bass of the ZS3 appears to be responsive to some EQing. Other than a slightly unnatural/grainy treble (ONLY cymbals) which can't really be EQed (at least on my Fiio) and is really only a very small problem, it is an engaging signature to listen to music with. Build is also acceptable and allows you to get one of the cheapest over-ear IEMs with removable cables around. Surprising thing I enjoyed is despite being cheap and consumer oriented in sound they still let you be analytical when you wish (picking out cymbals and recording noises). A great replacement to the entry/mid level UE sound I have not heard as my UE earphones started dying from poor reliability. Now they will probably last me till I make the jump to CIEMs or IEMs like the UE900s, which is praise enough. 
 
I spent very brief listening sessions and definitely they are more worth it than the Sennheiser Momentum In-ears, A-Jays, Mee M6Pro (too v-shaped and tip sensitive), Shure SE215 (MUDDY), Audio-Technica IM-70 (overhyped less muddy SE215). So far the only other appealing signatures I have heard are the Aurvanas I used to own (if you can accept less bass) and the Audio Technica ATH E-40 (great sound that is more balanced and controlled and extended than the ZS3, to me the best value in the entire ATH IEM range that is what the SE215 and IM70 should have been). So if you are on a low budget, stick with the ZS3s. The only other exception I would have considered is getting the 100USD ATH-E40s if I had the money.
 
Can't emphasise the importance of finding a good fit and not obsessing over burn in before judging earphones!! Learnt that the hard way with my Aurvanas where I only discovered its bass after 9 months and heard it only for 3 months. Also, average is not a bad thing. It is rare to have cheap earphones that give sound that you can't find fault with. Coherent overall signature makes particularly instrumental music sound much better than imbalanced sound (e.g. good bass poor treble).
 
I have spent too much time writing this so for queries PM me, I will reply when I have caught up with my work :/
 
Updates
I am now using the ZS3 with KZ star tips. The difference is minimal to me. The star tips seem to just let the sound of the ZS3 flow more freely, so I hear a little more boomy bass. But overall I prefer it as the whole frequency range just seems to have a thin (very thin) veil lifted off. My wide bore tips were cancelled in transit but I'm happy enough with this. Were driven easily by my Fiio M3 before I sold it. Overall with the upgrade cable and starline tips, it is starting to sound less boomy bass overall and I am starting to find the sound actually quite lifelike, as what the Amazon review above stated.
 
Burn In
I feel burn in has benefits still, but not so much that you should run dedicated burnin sessions. What I advise is to burn in overnight when you just receive your IEMs. After that is free and easy as listening to music is also burning in too. Just take note initial burn in and listening should not be done at loud volumes as they may damage the hardware. A break every few hours helps too.
I usually burn in by looping a playlist of downloaded noise from https://archive.org/details/TenMinutesOfWhiteNoisePinkNoiseAndBrownianNoise on my PC/DAP. For phone, you can use this Chinese app from 1More that works on any earphones and Android phone: http://img.1more.com/2013/10/10/10/2013093013530025.apk Although in Chinese the icons are self-explanatory with minimal setup needed. More explanation at: http://bbs.xiaomi.cn/t-11165083 but use Google Chrome's translate function!
 
Got a Shanling M1 to replace my Fiio M3. I don't have time to review, but the M1 is really one power-packed tiny thing with DSD-PCM transcoding. I can't any difference from DSD to 24/192 FLAC of the same track so that isn't the most important. It works great on low gain and seems to be just a bit more detailed versus the M3.

I admit it seems gratuitous to write this missive, since this IEM has already been comprehensively reviewed by B9Scrambler (who I've always found to be particularly credible). However, largely motivated by my desire to procrastinate at work, I thought I'd offer some brief impressions:
 
I don't generally prefer over-the-ear designs, and I found the included (detachable) memory cable to be overly stiff and difficult to contort and fit. The proprietary 2-pin connector is also somewhat frustrating to insert, and seems like an odd design choice, since it precludes cable upgrades. Once inserted, however, the connection seems secure. Build quality overall seems solid and isolation is excellent, although microphonics are  significant.These are very easy to drive with a mobile phone and didn't seem to change much with amping.
 
Soundwise, I'd characterize these as "basshead," in the sense that their defining characteristic is their voluminous, deep and impactful low end. Subbass and midbass are well-controlled and quite fast, if not as well-articulated as the best sets, and there's little bleed-over into other frequencies. However, the sheer quantity of the low end gives the ZS3 a slightly less-than-seamless quality, as if you're listening to a separate subwoofer rather than  perfectly integrated drivers. In this regard they remind me of the Velodyne V-Pulse, another good IEM titled a bit too much to the bottom end. I should probably try eq-ing or trying different tips with the view to better balancing the bass.
 
Mids are very rich and clean-sounding; voices and guitars are presented with a lot of body but still sound quite natural. Treble is a little warmed over but likewise has a lot of body and good clarity; it's not especially extended or detailed, but neither is it sharp or strident. Resolution is not close to the level of say, the XE800, tho drums, piano and other quick transients are quite well-rendered. In general, the ZS3 seems to be going for a big, expansive sound which eschews microdetail and intimacy for more excitement.
 
Where these really excel is in soundstage and imaging/instrument placement, which (like the ED9) is incredible--you can place the location of each musician precisely on a very wide stage. In this regard they remind me of the Tennmak Pro and Piano, two similarly-configured  IEMs which also present a very big, accurate stage. However, the ZS3 has better-controlled bass than the Pro or the Piano, and as a result perhaps better overall clarity (the Pro and especially the Piano do have more highend resolution/detail, however).
 
Compared to my favorite KZ, the ED9, the ZS3 are warmer and has more and tighter bass; the ED9 sounds considerably smaller but more transparent/natural. The ED10 is probably clearer than both, and has almost as much tight bass as the ZS3, but sounds more congested and less expansive to my ears. IMO, the ZS3 are clearly better than the ATE which have less lowend and oomph.
 
It's impossible to write critically about a KZ without reference to their insane, giveaway pricing; as one struggles to find their flaws, or to compare them to much pricier units, you're reminded the damn things cost less than a couple of lattes. Like other KZs, the ZS3 won't compete with $100 IEMs in terms of refinement or resolution, but for sheer rocking out, I might prefer these--they're big and bad.
 
These KZs are like crack--very hard habit to kick...

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at the ZS3, yet another excellent new earphone from the masters of bang-for-your-buck, Knowledge Zenith.
 
If anyone has been following the rise of budget earphones spilling out of China over the last couple years, you surely have come across Knowledge Zenith. They're best known for offering earphones costing around 10 USD that bat well above their price point in pretty much every way; sound quality, build, materials, etc. Where they seem to stumble is on consistency and quality control, though the latter is not something I personally have had many issues with.
 
The ZS3 was revealed earlier this year, and followed up quickly with a mass recall due to some issues with the manufacturing process. Once working models got into peoples hands and ears, we were seeing some pretty positive reception. Their design looks almost like a custom earphone and brings a removable, recessed socket, two-pin cable to the hyper-budget market. As far as I know, and please feel free to correct me, but the use of a two-pin connector was essentially unheard of in this price range at the time of release.
 
Many were hoping that this earphone would be the one that showed KZ was serious about stepping up their game and bringing a more premium product to the market. Does the ZS3 succeed in being more than the sum of it's predecessors, or it is just another great earphone with features and sound quality beyond what it's meager price tag suggests? Neither of those options sound bad to me to be honest...
 
Disclaimer:
 
The ZS3 was purchased at the full initial release price of 26 CAD from 888999 store on AliExpress. Prices have come way down since then and you can find them elsewhere for much less, such as on Gearbest for around 11 CAD at the time of this review.
 
I am not associated with KZ or any retailers. All opinions within this review are mine and do not represent KZ or any other entity.
 
A Little About Me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done.
 
The gear I use for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. An XDuoo X3 (shout out to my cousin Rob!) has recently been added to the crew and was used for the majority of my testing. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

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Packaging and Accessories:
 
Generally KZ doesn't do anything unique when packing their earphones. A small cardboard box usually does the trick. Sometimes they will try something different, such as with the shield-shaped case that the ED10 arrives in, or the simple yet classy rectangular prism design used for the ED9 and ATE.
 
This time, KZ has decided to try something new...to them. If you are familiar with VSonic you will know that they released their VSD series earphones in a very attractive little box. The entire front portion is a plastic viewing window with the left side containing a cardboard insert displaying the model name in vibrant red writing backed by geometric texturing. The right side contains the earphones nestled in a lined, foam insert. It's very nice packaging and gave me a positive first impression.
 
Looking at KZ's package for the ZS3, you will see that they took heavy inspiration from VSonic, right down to the red writing and geometric texturing. KZ's package is much more compact, however, and the ZS3 is held securely in place with a plastic tray instead of foam. The cardboard insert also splits the window horizontally. While not necessarily unique, KZ picked something nice to emulate and executed it well.
 
Removing the plastic window reveals two bags, one containing the removable, two-pin cable, the other KZ's standard small and large silicone tips. There was also to my surprise an instruction manual. Unfortunately, I speak English only. The manual is written almost entirely in Mandarin or Cantonese. It looks to be a pretty in-depth read with information on how long you can listen at certain frequencies, something other more established brands should learn to include. There are also a few diagrams peppered throughout which make up for my inability to read another language.
 

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Build, Design, Comfort, Isolation:
 
Once again, KZ has lifted inspiration from another company for their housing design. This time looking to InEar and the StageDiver series. From InEar's website site I found that the StageDiver housing was created by digitally superimposing 500 ear impressions over each other to create what amounts to the ultimate universal housing.
 
I'm not sure how close the ZS3's dimensions come to matching InEar's since I've never seen a StageDiver "in the flesh", but from images they look shockingly similar and I can confirm that they are supremely comfortable. That is, as long as you seat them correctly. I found it best to use a twisting technique to maneuver them into position. This technique paired with tips that use a very soft silicone, such as Sony's Hybrids or those from Ultimate Ears UE600, means they nearly disappear or would if it wasn't for the ear guide. With the right tips and a good seal, the ZS3 also isolates better than average for a dynamic driver-based earphone.
 
The housing on my particular pair of ZS3 is made from very durable feeling plastics with an attractive matte coating. You can also pick them up with a shiny finish. You better like your earphones in black, because at this time that's the only color to choose from. Personally I think it looks great.
 
The cable material is what you would expect from KZ, but is removable. This isn't KZ's first removable cable earphone but you would have to look pretty far back in their catalog to find another example, that being the wood-bodied R3. What differentiates KZ's removable cable from most is that it isn't terminated in an MMCX connector, or the other type used on the R3, but with a two-pin connector. Even better is that it is recessed into the housing making it extra stable and secure. I don't know if KZ is using a proprietary connector or if it is going to be something that is easily replaceable, but I'm sure we will find out quickly as more people get their hands on them. The cable is equipped with a built in ear guide. Personally, I'm not a fan and would rather it not be there. On the plus side it is well-molded and keeps the cable securely behind your ear.
 
*Edit: @vapman has noted that the ZS3 uses a standard TF13/Sennheiser two-pin format. Good to know it is not proprietary. Thanks for clarifying buddy!*
 
The inline microphone I can say sounds the best of any KZ has used before, at least of those I've tried. There is a bit of background hiss and it can be sibilant if you raise your voice, but for the most part it performs far beyond what I've come to expect from such a low-end product.
 
While the design isn't entirely unique, it is comfortable, well-built, and the removable cable is a welcome addition if it isn't proprietary.
 

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Sound:
 
Tips: The stock tips on the ZS3 just didn't work for me as it was too easy to lose a good seal. After playing around a bit, I found a few options that worked particularly well. Wide bore tips such as those from Ultimate Ear's UE600 softened the bass and let out the treble making the ZS3 brighter and more energetic. These are my preferred tips. Sony's Hybrids sounded basically the same as the stock tip, keeping the treble soft and the bass explosive, but I was able to get and hold a good seal much more consistently. The tips from the Mixcder ANC-G5 also worked really well with the ZS3 boosting treble a touch and lessening bass presence a bit, but not to the extend of UEs tips.
 
Amping/Source Matching: The ZS3 worked just fine with the HTC One M8 and XDuoo X3, but I did prefer them filtered through the Topping NX1. It removed some of the warmth and color the M8 and X3 brought to the table, making the ZS3 more balanced. I don't think amping is required as the ZS3 is pretty easy to drive, but if your amp has a particular sound or signature there is a good bet the ZS3 will pick it up. It's overall sound seems to be easily effected by the source device.
 
KZ is known for offering up great sound at very low prices. The ZS3 is no different and while it isn't the huge leap forward I was hoping for, they're probably the best KZ to date.
 
The ZS3 comes across to me as a mixture of many of my favorite past KZs. Treble is clear and tight, though it could use a bit more sparkle and is a little too smooth for my preferences. Compared to the EDR2 the ZS3 is lacking in detail and clarity, but is without a doubt easier on the ears. It toes a fine line between being dull and overemphasized, and I suspect would be just right for most listeners.
 
The midrange is probably the ZS3s most accomplished aspect, topping KZ's own ATE. Vocals and instruments have excellent presence, sounding natural and detailed. I absolutely adore the way female vocals are presented. Warm and inviting, and slightly more forward than male vocals, they pull you in and delicately caress your ears. Give Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep' or 'Send My Love' a go and you'll see what I mean. Outstanding midrange here.
 
Bass on the ZS3 is a bit of a mixed bag for me personally, but not because it's poorly done. On a technical level it is more or less outstanding; excellent extension, well balanced, surprisingly quick, and awesomely punchy (especially at high volumes). It's even got lots of texture. My issue is that the ZS3 can be overly bassy, something I was hoping KZ would avoid this time around. They're not bass-head earphones, but can be bass cannons when called upon. Kavinsky, known for his retro 80s style has changed things up a bit taking a more traditional EDM approach with some of his 2016 releases. Give his track Solli a go. The sub-bass line in the opening moments really shows off the ZS3's low end capabilities.
 
The ZS3's party piece to go along with their engaging midrange is a monster of a soundstage, besting even the ZS1 and ZN1 Mini which offered some of the most spacious sound you could get in this price range. They give you an honest sense of space that combined with great imaging and instrument placement enables you to become enveloped in your music, movie, or whatever form of media you're listening to at the time.
 
What all the above leads up to is an earphone that sounds pretty impressive. Smooth treble, stunning midrange, and a low end that can thump with some serious authority.
 

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Select Comparisons:
 
Mi In-Ear Headphones (14.99 USD): Better known here in North America as the Piston 3.0, these two have more in common than you would expect. Their overall signature is very similar with the ZS3 having better extension at both ends, a more forward midrange, a much larger and more airy soundstage with improve imaging, and greater refinement across the board. I would consider them a direct upgrade to the 3.0.
 
Accutone Pavo (51.00 USD): The Pavo offers more sparkle and energy than the ZS3 due to a more emphasized treble region. It is also more detailed through the midrange, though the ZS3 is more forward. The ZS3 digs deeper into sub-bass regions than the Pavo, but falls just short in offering up the same levels of detail. While the Pavo falls more in line with my personal preferences, the ZS3 is a more fun listen resulting from their greater mid-bass presence and the extra punch this brings.
 
Brainwavz S5 (99.50 USD): I found the S5 to be exceptionally smooth and mellow; almost neutral if it wasn't for an overly recessed midrange. The S5 and ZS3's midranges sound very similar with KZ's mids being notably more forward. Treble on the S5 is slightly more emphasized and detailed, while bass on the ZS3 is way more punchy, detailed, and exciting. The ZS3 has a more spacious soundstage, but the S5's improved separation and detail makes up for this deficit. The S5 is overall the more accomplished earphone, as I would expect from a near 90 USD price difference. That said, the ZS3 brings a level of musicality to it's sound that the S5 is missing and is again the most entertaining listen in most circumstances.
 

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Overall:
 
What can I say other than KZ has done it again, releasing what is arguably their best earphone yet. The ZS3 has a great design, uses quality materials, sings with a well-rounded sound signature, and offers features that belie their price tag. Their sound quality pretty easy competes with or bests more expensive products.
 
While they're not my favorite KZ (that title is shared by the ANV and EDR2), they're probably the one that would resonate best with a wide range of listeners as they impress on many levels. Unless KZ has really stepped up their game with the newly released ED12 that I still need to hear, or someone else swoops in with a doozy of a hyper-budget earphone, the ZS3 is certainly one of the best deals out there.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
Test Albums/Tracks
 
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Going to Eat That?
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach