KZ EDX Pro

$16 dollars. Keep that dirt cheap price in mind...

The best analogy I can think of to describe the sound of these IEMs is the the sound of 1980s moderately priced 3-way speakers which had passive crossovers and paper cones for the woofers and midrange speakers, and paper cone tweeters with small domes. Back then, the passive crossovers in such moderately priced speakers didn't control phase shift very well between the pair of speakers around the crossover point. In other words, okay sounding speakers which were sold to the vast majority of consumers, yet which would be barely tolerable to discerning audiophiles. Speakers of course have come a long way since then.

Yet the sound of 1980s moderately priced 3-way speakers in my opinion tends to hit the nail on the head in terms of how these IEMs sound. These IEMs offer volume with moderately clear bass and midrange combined with somewhat clearer treble, yet there is an obvious lack of truly good fidelity. My Moondrop Starfields sound better in all regards with exception of the power of the bass. The power of the base with the KZ EDX Pro IEMs is remarkable and is better than with the Starfields. Yet the Starfields have noticeably better fidelity, especially for complex tracks. Is this to say that the sound of the EDX Pro IEMs is not good? No, since sound of these EDX Pro IEMs is good for their very inexpensive price point. Nearly everything else tends to be garbage in this $10 to $20 price range, with very few exceptions such as the Moondrop Quarks.

There is some shoutiness in the treble which can become objectionable at high volume levels when listening to some tracks. Perhaps this shoutiness can be reduced by using filters?

I am keeping these $16 dollar KZ EDX Pro IEMs since their sound is surprisingly okay for the price, and since I don't care if I lose them or if they get damaged by rain.

My 4.0 rating is based on the sound versus price. Strictly in terms of sound quality, I would rate these IEMs as a 2.5 to 3, as in nothing is really bad, yet nothing really good.

UPDATE: These ZDX Pro IEMs have finally broken in. The excess shoutiness in the treble is gone, and overall clarity has improved in the midrange as well. I now rate these EIMs as a somewhat solid 4 out of 5, especially given the price.

Disclaimer: I received this review unit for free credits to #kztws.com, thank you very much

Price: 14 usd

Specifications:

Impedance: 24ohm

Sensitivity: 112dB

Frequency range: 10Hz-20kHz


Accessories:

S/M/L narrow bore silicone tips




Cable: 2-core OFC cable, no chin-slider with plastic divider/connector. Pretty decent quality.




Build: Plastic except the metal faceplate, nozzle has a lip and is thinner than average.

Fit: Great, doesn’t have the “wing” that some of their other iems have which is better for me.

Comfort: very good.

Isolation: A bit above average due to the shell covering my entire ears.

Setup: Schiit Asgard 3 (low-gain, volume around 8 o´clock), Elecom EHP-CAP20 tips L, 2 Low-density tuning foams

Lows: Very elevated bass both sub and mid-bass, on the looser side but average speed. Texture is pretty decent. Definitely not for people that don’t like a lot of bass but not really a basshead iem.

Mid-bass: Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), it is a bit bloated due to the tightness and the separation that can’t keep up, quantity is high lacks texture though. The (02:55-03:01) section with the chopper is hearable but not that clean.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), quantity is very high, but could be a bit tighter and more textured, decent speed.

Sub-bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), rumbles a lot and pretty good extension. Punch quantity is high, although not very textured and is on the looser side and a bit slow.

Will Sparks – Sick like that (03:08-03:22), very high quantity, would have been great if it had more texture and tightness.

Mids: Recessed both male and female vocals, they lack clarity and detail as well. Not a set for vocal lovers, but the female vocals are not shouty at all so it has that at least.

Female-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), recessed vocals, tonality is a bit too warm, lacks clarity but timbre is good. Instrument tonality is quite good but lacks clarity and detail, good timbre though.

Yuki Hayashi – MightU (01:58-02:55), both vocal and instrument tonality are too warm, lacking clarity and detail but has good timbre at least.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), vocals aren’t shouty and treble isn’t peaky nor fatiguing.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Crescent (02:07-02:26), not shouty vocals but a bit peaky treble.

Male-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (00:57-01:17), vocal tonality is a bit too warm, lacking clarity, detail and recessed, good timbre though. Instrument tonality and timbre are pretty good though, but still lacking in clarity and detail here.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Great vocal and instrument tonality, but lacks a lot of clarity and detail, timbre is decent.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars lack some texture and detail, tonality is a bit too warm as well. Decent timbre.

Deuce – America (03:03-03:16), not fatiguing treble but chaotic due to poor separation and imaging.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality is pretty good as well as texture, but lacks detail and clarity, timbre is decent. Violin tonality is way too warm, lacks detail, texture and clarity, decent timbre and treble-extension.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), decent tonality and timbre but lacking a lot of clarity and detail.

Soundstage: average width for this price range, but decent depth.

Tonality: Warm V-shaped, good timbre and note-weight is a bit on the thicker side. Not that versatile since it is quite bassy (not basshead levels) but does make for a fatigue-free iem.

Details: lacking a lot of detail. (As expected from this price range and for a bassy iem.)

Instrument Separation: Poor separation and imaging, bottlenecked by the tuning.

Songs that highlight the IEM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpiilPFQtwM

Good genres: EDM, Pop, Kpop, Hip-hop, R&B

Bad genres: OST, acoustic/vocal music

Comparisons:

IEM: KZ DQ6 (high-density tuning foams), Elecom EHP-CAP20 tips L, cable A3 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends a bit lower on the DQ6 but rumbles more on the EDX Pro. Punch quantity is higher, looser and slower on the EDX Pro but much more textured on the DQ6. More tonally correct and a bit better timbre on the EDX Pro though.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), more quantity on the EDX Pro but tighter, faster and more textured on the DQ6. More tonally correct on the DQ6 but a bit better timbre on the EDX Pro.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a bit more quantity on the EDX Pro but tighter, faster and more textured on the DQ6 (cleaner and more detailed on it).

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality is better on the DQ6 as well as cleaner and more detailed, timbre is similar as well as quantity. Instrument tonality is a bit better on the EDX Pro as well as timbre, but cleaner and more detailed on the DQ6.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), vocal is similarly non-shouty, but a bit more fatiguing on the DQ6 due to the brighter tonality.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Vocal and instrument tonality are a bit better on the EDX Pro similar timbre, cleaner and more detailed on thee DQ6.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are a bit sharper on the EDX Pro but somewhat tonality and timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, texture, detail and clarity are better on the DQ6 while timbre is similar. Violin tonality, detail, clarity, texture and treble-extension are better on the DQ6 while timbre is similar.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality, detail and clarity are better on the DQ6 but a bit better timbre on the EDX Pro.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), wider and deeper on the DQ6, airier and more holographic. Imaging, separation and detail are better on the DQ6. Timbre is similar.

Overall: The DQ6 is the better iem for my library and more versatile. The EDX Pro is better if you want a bassier, warmer and more relaxing set.



IEM: Blon BL-03 (mesh mod), Radius Deep Mount, Cable B3 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extension is similar but rumbles more on the EDX Pro. Punch quantity is higher on the EDX Pro a bit looser and slower as well, more textured on the 03. Tonality is a bit better on the EDX Pro but timbre is better on the 03.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), more quantity, slower and looser on the EDX Pro. Cleaner, more detailed and more textured on the 03. More tonally correct and better timbre on the 03.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the 03 due to the lower bass quantity, faster and tighter bass.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocal tonality and timbre are a lot better on the 03 as well as more forward, cleaner and more detailed as well. Instrument tonality and timbre are also a lot better on the 03 and much cleaner and more detailed.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), vocals are similarly non-shouty but peakier on the EDX Pro.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality, timbre, clarity and detail are better on the 03.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are sharper on the EDX Pro, more tonally correct and better timbre on the 03.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, texture, timbre, clarity and detail are better on the 03. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, detail and clarity are better on the 03 similar treble-extension.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality, timbre, clarity and detail are better on the 03.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), very similar soundstage but a bit airier on the 03. Imaging, separation and detail are better on the 03. Timbre is a lot better on the 03.

Overall: The 03 is the better iem for my library and more versatile. The EDX Pro is better if you want something bassier, warmer and more relaxing overall.



Conclusion: If you want a very bassy, warm and relaxing iem (after you add tuning foams), this is a pretty good iem. But as expected from the price, the technicalities (besides soundstage) are nothing to be impressed about. Avoid it if you dislike bass heavy iems.

Graph:

Cable source:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...zTm4ei7HEfP8AI1zxswrMw2ho/edit#gid=1801072063

Reference/test songs: