having not heard the new zsn or the zs10/ba10 series, I've come to rank my kzs thusly:
1. ZSR—enveloping and engaging, with smoother highs and more forward mids than previous hybrids; these stress fun and energy over transparency and seamless coherence.
2A. ED16— better fitting than the similarly-tuned ZSR, with less oomph but better tamed bass.
2B. ED9 (gold filter)—other KZs have a bigger stage and/or more overall clarity, bit the ED9 has that indefinable naturalness
3. ED1R—rich and refined (more v-shaped that the ED2R), with very good clarity and coherence, especially through more powerful sources; stage is narrower than their pricier peers, but these are otherwise difficult to criticize.
3A. ZS5 (v.1)—giant stage and great extension at both ends, if not hyper-accurate or natural; need an amp to sound good
3B. zS6--easier to drive and better-fitting than the ZS5, but not as well tuned, with somewhat overdone, piercing treble
4. ZS4--much more detailed than the ZS3, esp. at the highend, tho inessential if you have the ZSR, etc.
5. HDS3—irrationally engaging—, energetic and surprisingly detailed, if inaccurate; low end can get unruly
6. ZS3—once you find the tips that tame its giant bass, these are the most party-hearty of the bunch; not much treble detail
7. ED10—rich and clear throughout the spectrum; could stand to be a bit more open and airy
7. ZST—much surpassed by the newer hybrids; lacks midrange presence though imaging/layering are excellent
8. ED2R—balanced and surprisingly refined for the price, with vg imaging and pretty good detail; only a slight highend graininess mars the presentation
9. EDSE—not hyper-detailed or extended, and midbass can overwhelm, but tons of fun
10. ED3c—these need a bit of midrange body, but are otherwise close in spirit to the ED9, with uncanny imaging
11. ATE—warmish and pretty good sounding, though lacking in high end extension and sparkle—the ZS3 do the same overall signature bigger and better
12. ZSE—slightly dark sounding and veiled; bass is tight and deep and mids are forward and rich, though high end lacks sizzle; much, much better when amped
13. ED7—unrefined bass/mids and poor isolation. high end is quite smooth yet detailed; still a decent listen
14. HDS2—not good
I think I have too many earphones....
Great post Loomis!
Here's my take:
1. ZS6 - better-fitting than the ZS5, better tuned with increased focus across the board.
(high definition but piercing treble for some)
2. ZSR—enveloping and engaging, with smoother highs and more forward mids than previous hybrids; these stress fun and energy over transparency and seamless coherence.
3. BA10 (nozzle foam removed) - Laid back with tons of detail (though micro-detail is tapered). Bass when it's called for and gone when it's not. Great with silicones at moderate volume levels but foam tips are mandatory at higher volumes. I find that they run smoother with a low output impedance source.
4. ZS5 (v1) - giant stage, very natural, great extension at both ends but gentle decay in lower frequencies keep them from being #2 on this list (require a low output impedance source and power to shine).
5. We have a tie!
ED10 - open, airy & energetic. rich & clear throughout the spectrum; only drawback is shallow depth.
EDR1 - rich and refined (more v-shaped than the ED2R), with very good clarity and coherence, especially through more powerful sources; stage is narrower than their pricier peers, but these are otherwise difficult to criticize.
6. HDS3 - can't put my finger on it but these just do it for me. "Irrationally engaging" is a good description. Holographic restrained energy! These are like the "honey chicken bowl at my local Japanese restaurant, sweet with the perfect amount of kick (spice).
7. We have a tie!
ED9 (gold filter with foam removed) - open, airy, natural and engaging. Dense but soft bass.
ED9 (brass filter with transplanted foam from the gold filter) - more balanced approach while retaining great clarity and that "indefinable naturalness".
8. ZST - much surpassed by the newer hybrids; lacks midrange presence though imaging/layering are excellent
9. ED3 "Perfection" - generally balanced and clean with a slight lift in the upper-treble (ZS6 sound signature via KZ's early single dynamic setup. Surreal for classical and baroque genres.
10. ZS3 - once you find the tips that tame its giant bass, these are the most party-hearty of the bunch; not much treble detail and they can be shouty with the foam mod.
11. We have a tie!
ATR(i) with ABS dynamic driver - Best all-rounder that KZ has released to date. Airy with great sense of timbre, nearly balanced, great at nothing but good at almost everything except upper-treble extension.
HDS1 - one of the few KZ's with a mid-centric (inverted "V") sound signature, not much sub-bass rumble or upper-treble but otherwise excellent.
12. ED3 "Acme" - these need a bit of midrange body, but are otherwise close in spirit to the ED9, with uncanny imaging
13. ED2R—balanced and surprisingly refined for the price, with vg imaging and pretty good detail; only a slight highend graininess mars the presentation
14. ED8 - A bassheads dream despite their heavy metal housings, good extension from sub-bass to lower-treble with a warm bent.
15. EDSE—not hyper-detailed or extended, and midbass can overwhelm, but tons of fun
16. We have a tie!
ED7 - deep bass with centered mids but a perfect seal is mandatory, smooth yet detailed high end. a decent listen but mostly used for a change of pace in my rotation.
ATE-S - slightly brighter than the ATE(ii) with faster and harder-hitting mid-bass.
17. ATE - warmish and decent sounding, though lacking in high end extension and sparkle—the ZS3 do the same overall signature bigger and better
18. HDS2—not good
Once we get past #7 on the list I could jostle some of the others into higher/lower positionings on any given Sunday depending on my mood. For example, I prefer the ED8 sound signature over the ZS3's but the ZS3 is top notch in comfort and isolation.
Haven't heard the ZS4 or ED16 yet, my ZSE is MIA.
*** EDIT ***
Completely forgot about the ZSA. I'd place it on equal footing with the HDS3, small comfortable and "Irrationally engaging". At some point I'll pick up an AS10, ZS10, ES4, ZS4, ZSN and ED16 but I'd be willing to bet that we'll see a new release or two just in time for black friday which is a couple of weeks away. I'm mostly looking forward to the ZS7 though.
. Still, I might as well wait ordering the ZSN and see how others perceive the difference between cables, they wont be going anywhere
