[DocHoliday]

Wow those green shells look more enticing now. I was resisting buying a 2nd pair of ZS6s but...oh my...

They actually look even better up close and personal.

 

[Slater]

Thanks Pod, this is priceless information. That answers a ton of questions. Much appreciated! Good to know that the SS hasn't been ruined. For a little while I thought I'd have to stock up on the ZS6(i). It's good to know there is no change. Way to go KZ! If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

So wait, the ZS6 hasn't been revised now? I thought people had decided KZ did revise it, since new marketing photos shows changes to the BA arrangement and configuration?

 

[DocHoliday]

So, I liked the ZS6 so much, that I bought a second pair, here in comes my predicament, and sorry if this has been discussed, but too many pages, anyhow, they seem to sound quite different, the newer ones sounding more immediate, slightly warmer (less treble), using same cables and same tips...

Could class it as expectation bias, but I had none, additionally, the rear of the boxes are different...

Left is first pairs box, right is second... Question is, if there are different versions, which one is which (i.e. which is the newer production run), or if there isn't a newer version, is this a QC concern for new buyers)?

Didn't see this until after reading Pod's post.

My, my, my! Looks like I'll be chomping at the bit until the Pewter ZS6 comes in. Sigh...

 

[bsoplinger]

… For a little while I thought I'd have to stock up on the ZS6(i). It's good to know there is no change. Way to go KZ! If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

Through a mixture of inattention and carelessness I have 2 unopened black ZS6 from the initial big discount Gearbest offered the first time. That's in addition to the opened red and black pairs. So if it turns out that there really is a mk2 of them and someone feels a need to have an older pair I'll be happy to arrange a deal for whomever wants. Right now they're just sitting in their boxes since I have no reason to open them. Of course that's in addition to the ZS5 mk2 that's unopened sitting right there next to them since I already have 2 of those opened too. Actually they're sitting on the unopened BossHifi B3 since I ended up buying a duplicate of that too.

Good news, I thought I'd duplicated myself again when I got an ED9 and EDR2, think I got the model numbers right. They are practically identical in configuration, topology but they're obviously different sizes when compared. But I'd received them about a week apart from each other and it wasn't until I went to the burn-in pile to grab something to replace what I'd just finished with did I realize that they were different.

I like both as a small discreet for napping or sleeping IEM that sounds decent.

 

[DocHoliday]

So wait, the ZS6 hasn't been revised now? I thought people had decided KZ did revise it, since new marketing photos shows changes to the BA arrangement and configuration?

Looks like more input and more testing is necessary. I may have read too much into Pod's comments. Apparently, I made a third-party comment (haven't received mine yet). I'll comment when mine arrives.

 

[bsoplinger]

…Good to know that the SS hasn't been ruined. For a little while I thought I'd have to stock up on the ZS6(i). It's good to know there is no change. Way to go KZ! If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

So wait, the ZS6 hasn't been revised now? I thought people had decided KZ did revise it, since new marketing photos shows changes to the BA arrangement and configuration?

Could the apparent increase in efficiency just be a subtly increased midrange due to a configuration change?

 

[DocHoliday]

Through a mixture of inattention and carelessness I have 2 unopened black ZS6 from the initial big discount Gearbest offered the first time. That's in addition to the opened red and black pairs. So if it turns out that there really is a mk2 of them and someone feels a need to have an older pair I'll be happy to arrange a deal for whomever wants. Right now they're just sitting in their boxes since I have no reason to open them. Of course that's in addition to the ZS5 mk2 that's unopened sitting right there next to them since I already have 2 of those opened too. Actually they're sitting on the unopened BossHifi B3 since I ended up buying a duplicate of that too.

Good news, I thought I'd duplicated myself again when I got an ED9 and EDR2, think I got the model numbers right. They are practically identical in configuration, topology but they're obviously different sizes when compared. But I'd received them about a week apart from each other and it wasn't until I went to the burn-in pile to grab something to replace what I'd just finished with did I realize that they were different.

I like both as a small discreet for napping or sleeping IEM that sounds decent.

I'll keep that in mind about the 2 black ZS6's. It's great that you got them at a good price, too. PM me with the price you're considering. I'm thinking about using them to do this with the Pewter ZS6 when it arrives so a black ZS6 at a good price may just be the answer.

 

[stmiller]

Be aware that those are .78mm and KZ uses .75mm.

I've not used .78mm on my KZ's yet, but you should still be aware of it. Besides, they look very similar to the TRN cables which are .75mm and cost less.
I have the black and the white. It's a good cable.

Hi doc,

Just received my white cable. After testing with ZS6, i made some observations..

1. The TRN cable seems to emphasise treble response significantly, hence creating a wider soundstage and micro detail retrieval is much more noticeable.

2. It slightly reduces bass impact, more obvious in the midbass region and slightly less in subbass.

3. It doesn't come with the guide wire so thats a plus.

The above are comparisons against the Ak Upgraded ZS5 Gold Plated Cable (image from fellow head-fier) which I've been using since i purchased my ZS6 about a month ago.

Where can i find the black colour?

Seems its sold out on Ali.

 

[rayliam80]

Hi doc,

Just received my white cable. After testing with ZS6, i made some observations..

1. The TRN cable seems to emphasise treble response significantly, hence creating a wider soundstage and micro detail retrieval is much more noticeable.

2. It slightly reduces bass impact, more obvious in the midbass region and slightly less in subbass.

3. It doesn't come with the guide wire so thats a plus.

The above are comparisons against the Ak Upgraded ZS5 Gold Plated Cable (image from fellow head-fier) which I've been using since i purchased my ZS6 about a month ago.
Where can i find the black colour?

Seems its sold out on Ali.

I'm also thinking of buying the TRN Silver cable when everyone on Aliexpress comes back from CNY vacation. The black is available from banned seller when I checked last night.

 

[Podster]

Thanks Pod, this is priceless information. That answers a ton of questions. Much appreciated! Good to know that the SS hasn't been ruined. For a little while I thought I'd have to stock up on the ZS6(i). It's good to know there is no change. Way to go KZ! If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

The ZS6 has more impactful bass but it does seem to have more energy overall and looking at the specs on yhe boxes nothing is different but you can tell they have more bass right out the box.

Sent you a pm and you can ignore all thise links if you have something already just let me know.

Cheers

 

[VinceHill24]

I had asked KZ on qq last week about ZS6 v2 changes and they denied that there has been any changes. I think if what they claim is true then the difference ppl hear is either some placebo effect or inconsistent QC. Maybe they've switched up the BA driver without letting us know too ? We won't know anyway if they do... maybe some brave souls here can help verify it ? lol

And just to give a little insight, i thought KZ make their own BA driver or has been using some custom made BA driver manufactured exclusively for them all these while, turned out i was wrong when 1 of my ZST decided to fail and when i dissect it just for the sake of fun, the BA has a clear Bellsing logo on it. At this point i can almost confirm all those China brand iems with BA driver most of them surely comes from Bellsing. The ZST was quite some time back tho, probably 6 or 8 months back i can't remember.

 

[stmiller]

I'm also thinking of buying the TRN Silver cable when everyone on Aliexpress comes back from CNY vacation. The black is available from banned seller when I checked last night.

Good luck then.. as for me its back to my ak upgraded cable (without guide wires)

 

[DocHoliday]

Hi doc,

Just received my white cable. After testing with ZS6, i made some observations..

1. The TRN cable seems to emphasise treble response significantly, hence creating a wider soundstage and micro detail retrieval is much more noticeable.

2. It slightly reduces bass impact, more obvious in the midbass region and slightly less in subbass.

3. It doesn't come with the guide wire so thats a plus.

The above are comparisons against the Ak Upgraded ZS5 Gold Plated Cable (image from fellow head-fier) which I've been using since i purchased my ZS6 about a month ago.
Where can i find the black colour?

Seems its sold out on Ali.

I think it's best to wait until the whole country gets back to work in late February, then everything should be restocked and ready to go.

Thanks for the impressions about the cable pairing.

I've considered getting that orange cable, but in yellow and in grey. Is it a good and durable cable and has there been any discoloration since new?

 

[DocHoliday]

The ZS6 has more impactful bass but it does seem to have more energy overall and looking at the specs on yhe boxes nothing is different but you can tell they have more bass right out the box.

Sent you a pm and you can ignore all thise links if you have something already just let me know.

Cheers

I wonder if the slight bass increase is a result of using one midrange BA + one treble BA instead of two treble BAs. Not sure if that's the case but psycho-acoustics may play a part. The connection between the ears and the brain are far more advanced than we give credit for.

Proof, you all say? Give us proof!

Vertigo!

 

[CoiL]

To those who got silver "upgrade" cable with angled 2-pin for ZST/ZS3, white rings jack and have measured it having imbalance and high impedance, then, cut off that crappy jack and replace with better like Neutrik NTP3RC-B (though this is almost same price as cable) for example and You get around 0.5 Ohm impedance for R/L/G (multimeter leads resistance of 0.3Ohm already extracted), which is quite good and basically same as stock ZS5/ZS3 teal-color cable, just much more comfy and nicer looking. I also cut down 2-pin plastic "frame" around pins, so it fits my ZS5 like a glove.
Will post pic later.

Here is crappy smartphone pic: