Knowledge Zenith (KZ) impressions thread

[iGmole]

I have been experimenting with EQ, a 7hz Zero:2 and a Truthear Gate. So for a few days those two have been what I mostly listen to.

Going for a harman+loudness -type curve they basically nailed a perfect sound, that tonally sounds very close to my room corrected home studio setup (therefore any other halfway decent studio setup).

..then I tried the ZVX Pro without any EQ and had a revelation. For me it's endgame quality. It's just that good. For me. Damnit. And it's one of the cheapest there is.

Haha. And here come the famous last words: no more IEMs for me!

EDIT: just ordered two pairs of the ZVX pro as backups. HAHAHA

 

[muza_1]

Well after spending a couple of days with the ZVX Pro I think it was just a case of new toy syndrome, in the end and to my ears the Zenith sounds much more natural and yes in direct comparison the ZVX Pro appears to be more clear and crisp but in long term use they sound a bit thin, vocals are a bit sharp and treble is elevated for me, I prefer the fullness of the Zenith (the feeling of booming mid-bass disappears in a few minutes), I found them more pleasant and relaxed especially for long sessions.

The Zenith (UUDD) remains my favorite for now, PRX arrives in a few days and the Jcally JM20 MAX in a week or so, I'll wait for the dongle for a proper comparison.
One more thing and I don't know if it's true for everyone but for me the Zenith are tip sensitive unlike any other IEM I have or tried, the wrong tip can make them quite dull.


Note to self: Don't get carried away, wait to post impressions until you are sure of them!

 

[Fat Larry]

Well after spending a couple of days with the ZVX Pro I think it was just a case of new toy syndrome, in the end and to my ears the Zenith sounds much more natural and yes in direct comparison the ZVX Pro appears to be more clear and crisp but in long term use they sound a bit thin

I agree on the thinness. Haven't fully disowned them yet but it did strike me and I found myself trying to ignore it because the separation is top tier and the value is absurd.

*edit @muza_1 check out this post from @kennyhack about changing the filter out to warm them a bit. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/knowledge-zenith-kz-impressions-thread.698148/post-18638567

Will try and report back in a few weeks.

Note to self: Don't get carried away, wait to post impressions until you are sure of them!

Something I also need to remember as well. Ie: when I posted my negative first impression of the Dawn I'd only given them a short listen from a phone with an eq îd forgotten was on and set up for another iem.

 

[jbfps116]

I agree on the thinness. Haven't fully disowned them yet but it did strike me and I found myself trying to ignore it because the separation is top tier and the value is absurd.

If you think they're thin [and I agree at times they could use more richness,] then do NOT try the TRN Jaws or XINHS HS80! lol. I guess I like that sound more often than not.

 

[countryboyhk]

Received my ZVX Pro today, immediately find it delivers better details and soundstage than my Saga Balanced. Compared to my current daily drive EW300, the ZVX Pro gives more "accurate" sounds, though the EW300 has warmer and organic tuning. I don't feel the ZVX Pro sounds inferior to the EW300

 

[Thie]

I have been experimenting with EQ, a 7hz Zero:2 and a Truthear Gate. So for a few days those two have been what I mostly listen to.

Going for a harman+loudness -type curve they basically nailed a perfect sound, that tonally sounds very close to my room corrected home studio setup (therefore any other halfway decent studio setup).

..then I tried the ZVX Pro without any EQ and had a revelation. For me it's endgame quality. It's just that good. For me. Damnit. And it's one of the cheapest there is.

Haha. And here come the famous last words: no more IEMs for me!

EDIT: just ordered two pairs of the ZVX pro as backups. HAHAHA

I swore not to take any more budgets below $30 because I already have a lot of them well above. But here I came here and took the ZVX Pro. It's crazy what we can have today for $10 well ok it's still an exception because the edc pro is far away in terms of performance. It is also a complicated iem to recommend precisely because of the low price many believe that it is still something that will end up in a drawer after 3 days.

 

[jbfps116]

I swore not to take any more budgets below $30 because I already have a lot of them well above. But here I came here and took the ZVX Pro. It's crazy what we can have today for $10 well ok it's still an exception because the edc pro is far away in terms of performance. It is also a complicated iem to recommend precisely because of the low price many believe that it is still something that will end up in a drawer after 3 days.

I know this is the KZ thread, but the Tangzu Wan'er 2 is... stunningly good. Easily among the top single DD sets I've tried. Musical, lush, bassy when needed, detailed, and ... EMOTIONAL vocals. Really, they sound like Penon did some of their "magic mids" work on them.

 

[Thie]

Yesterday I test do a test on my very good onix alpha dongle 4.4

The Celest Phoenixcall hotter than the kz ZVX Pro otherwise very very similar in details, the kz is much easier to drive, zk scene is more wider and bass better resolved and deeper. So the sound of the phoenix seems thinner or wider. This phoenixcall I easily placed it in my top 3 in 2023 with the fan2... There I just have a 12$ kz iem which is better, everything is fine..

 

[kalo86]

As soon as I receive my ZK ZVX Pro, I will test them in my iBasso DX220 with the dedicated AMP in balanced mode 4.4mm jack. I will keep you posted!

 

[muza_1]

Well the PRX arrived and are a compete waste of money, the level of imbalance between L & R is incredible (especially on the bass) each side sounds like a different IEM.

Also the need of a powerful source is BS, sound between the Apple dongle and the JM20 MAX is the same just a few click away (35% on the Apple is already too loud).

I'm going to leave them a few hours at full volume and see if something happens, so far this is my first bad experience with KZ.

EDIT.
Imbalance remains, might be even worse, very frustrating because they had potential and are very comfortable. I guess I'm using them and the frustration as an excuse, no more IEMs for a while.

 

[Fat Larry]

If you think they're thin [and I agree at times they could use more richness,] then do NOT try the TRN Jaws or XINHS HS80! lol. I guess I like that sound more often than not.

Duly noted. I might pick up a TRN Shell at some point.

Well the PRX arrived and are a compete waste of money, the level of imbalance between L & R is incredible (especially on the bass) each side sounds like a different IEM.

Also the need of a powerful source is BS, sound between the Apple dongle and the JM20 MAX is the same just a few click away (35% on the Apple is already too loud).

I'm going to leave them a few hours at full volume and see if something happens, so far this is my first bad experience with KZ.

EDIT.
Imbalance remains, might be even worse, very frustrating because they had potential and are very comfortable. I guess I'm using them and the frustration as an excuse, no more IEMs for a while.

Sounds very similar to my prx experience. It's frustrating for sure. Not a good sign.

You can eq them back to where they should be, being planars they're very happy to eq.

Did you get them on Aliexpress?

 

[muza_1]

Sounds very similar to my prx experience. It's frustrating for sure. Not a good sign.

You can eq them back to where they should be, being planars they're very happy to eq.

Did you get them on Aliexpress?

Yes ordered from AliExpress, I already sent it back and I'm waiting for the reimbursement (store credit), now I don't know if I test my luck and try again or order something else instead, problem is I don't know what.

Truth is I didn't had the patience to EQ* and I was frustrated so I just printed the return label and sent it back.

*One side was really bassy especially sub-bass, the other barely had any and most of the "airy" sound came from one side, too much trouble.

EDIT.
That was FAST! I already received the reimbursement, just sent the package about an hour ago.

 

[Fat Larry]

Yes ordered from AliExpress, I already sent it back and I'm waiting for the reimbursement (store credit), now I don't know if I test my luck and try again or order something else instead, problem is I don't know what.

Truth is I didn't had the patience to EQ* and I was frustrated so I just printed the return label and sent it back.

*One side was really bassy especially sub-bass, the other barely had any and most of the "airy" sound came from one side, too much trouble.

EDIT.
That was FAST! I already received the reimbursement, just sent the package about an hour ago.

Oh good. My seller decided to fight me and my set would only sound bad to someone that knew what they were looking for + I'm not paying for return shipping on something that should have worked right to begin with so I still haven't got a refund yet. It'll happen eventually, just have to push it along for a bit longer.

 

[muza_1]

Oh good. My seller decided to fight me and my set would only sound bad to someone that knew what they were looking for + I'm not paying for return shipping on something that should have worked right to begin with so I still haven't got a refund yet. It'll happen eventually, just have to push it along for a bit longer.

No return shipping fee, no fight just ask for a refund because of defect, printed the label, packed the IEMs and drop them at the shipping company (15 minutes form home) about an hour later mail came with the confirmation and amount of refund, checked my account and it was there, maybe is different in other countries.

 

[Fat Larry]

No return shipping fee, no fight just ask for a refund because of defect, printed the label, packed the IEMs and drop them at the shipping company (15 minutes form home) about an hour later mail came with the confirmation and amount of refund, checked my account and it was there, maybe is different in other countries.

That sounds simple and effective, in NZ the only way to return Ali items as far as i know is to pay out of pocket through our postal service.