Zishan Z4

ZISHAN Z4 REVIEW

edit: this DAP work for about 6 months. quality check issue with Zishan is real, its like....a DIY company that can be genius but isn't due to QC issue.

ZISHAN is an elusive audio company from China that creates ultra budget-minded Digital Audio Players (DAP), ranging in price from 25$ (Z1-Z2) to 40$ (Z3) to around 100$ (DSD, Z4 etc). While this company isn't known for it's craftsmanship qualities, it is has a solid fan base due to the high sound quality it's DAP delivers for an absurdly low price. Their DAP use top-of-the-line DAC including AK4490, AK4493, AK4497, CS43138 and now DUAL ES9038q2m for their latest release. The tradeoff for this low price come mostly in quality control and durability of their products, so, with Zishan you always play some kind of budget audiophile lottery. The last DAP I try from this company was the T1, which was unusable due to very cheap and clumsy pseudo-touch-screen and poor hardware construction, it was litterally the worst DAP I ever use in my life...and I plan never buying anything elese from this company again...

But there comes a departure from their last DAP, the Z4, which actually look like a real DAP and not a DIY audio project that needs to be completed by the consumer.

Did Zishan finally evolve and learn from their past experience?

Give a look (and subscribe!) to my video review to learn more about this ultra-budget powerhouse.


Here I forget to talk about the IMPEDANCE OUTPUT which is high at 2ohm and can be problematic with very sensitive IEM.

As well, battery life is just average, you'll get between 5-8H depending if you use balanced output. When I say it can drive the Sundara, i'm honest....but it doesn't mean it's the best pairing around! In fact, bass can even distort!

Extra impressions info:
-The attack feels a bit scooped in impact or overly softed, which translate in a smoothly bright tonality not a vivid agressive one even if treble is sharpest part of sound spectrum.
-Background noise floor is either too sensitive too revealing or a bit hissy.
-Bluetooth connection was crap with my Z4, unless i stay at less than a meter from my phone....defect?
-The Line-out have volume control AND the DAP have automatic play, so be very cautious to dont blow your ears with 100% volume loudness!
-The DAP doesn't auto-shutdown after wtv number of time...



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