[lohjiahung]

I have heard that the ZS3s are mediocre on bad quality audio files, but is it alright for the average smartphone music listener? I am choosing between the ATR, ATE, ATE-S and ZS3 for a friend who listens to pop/electronic music and likes the bass, but prefers balanced mids and highs as well.
Has anyone put out their impressions of the ATR yet? I'm thinking of picking one up myself but I already have a pair of ATEs.

 

[Mellowship]

   

 
The ZS3 seems good. Didn't have the chance to do some critical listening yet. Having heard of some positive remarks about the comfort fitting, I personally think they are way to big and the cable should have an angled 2pin jack pointing behind. 

 

[koroshiya8]

   
The ZS3 seems good. Didn't have the chance to do some critical listening yet. Having heard of some positive remarks about the comfort fitting, I personally think they are way to big and the cable should have an angled 2pin jack pointing behind. 

After listening for a couple of hours, i will agree with the following;
 
1. Source is very important.. somehow seems too warm and unclear mid if quality is compromised. In short it's a bit of hit or miss. For e.g,. if you listen through your mobile phone on mp3 or spotify it may not suit you.
 
2. The fit... first class design of the housing ensures it stays and seal perfectly into your ears.. need to try to believe.
 
3. the 2 pins are pretty thin so must be easy when plug in to the housing.
 
4. If you listen side by side with ATE, it's immediately very clear that ATE focus more on vocals while the ZS3 emphasies more on the bass and more colored. For critical listening ATE is definitely the choice.
 
 
what i am more curious is what custom cable will improve the sound.. i know there are tonns available but they definitely add up to the cost of having a very affordable piece of IEM.. is it worth the 'upgrade'.

 

[gwompki]

Just curious if anyone in the US who ordered the ZS3 from the 10 dollar eBay seller had received theirs yet. I ordered on the 5th so have no clue when I should expect it. Seller disnt provide tracking, but eBay estimate was delivery from Aug 30- September 27.

 

[koroshiya8]

Just curious if anyone in the US who ordered the ZS3 from the 10 dollar eBay seller had received theirs yet. I ordered on the 5th so have no clue when I should expect it. Seller disnt provide tracking, but eBay estimate was delivery from Aug 30- September 27.

 
I would think they are sending you from China and usually it takes about 3 weeks to reach. Even if there is tracking it will not be accurate in the sense that it will be stuck at certain status until the day it really reaches your state

 

[gwompki]

Thanks! I will remain patient in that case. I haven't ordered from China many times before so wasn't quite sure what to expect.

 

[SuperMAG]

ok, looking to buy two headphones for my little bro and sis, both have same preference. They want something that's has the best Vocals, crystal clear detail, good bass and treble while not very fatiguing, easy to drive with just headphone, tablets and laptops and long lasting, preferably more than 6 months. My sis previously owned LG quickbeat 2 which she said the best headphone she ever heard and my bro used Panasonic RP-HJE120-K which he also liked very much.
 
Their budget is just mere 5$ and nothing more lol, i tried to increase their budget but its impossible, they think i am nuts about headphones and they dont wanna spend more. After reading this thread and headfi in general, found out if you are on an extreme budget and wanna the best quality for price, KZ is your answer.
 
Currently i have in my cart that are 5 usd or less are:
 
KZ ATR, waited long enough for someone to post some expressions but apparently no one got this but i am hoping its exactly like ATE or better and since ATE is everything that i want as described by people here and considered benchmark.
 
KZ HDS1
 
KZ ED3
 
Piston 3 Colorful, i bought this few months ago, it was clear headphones and i don't remember much, but the jack was faulty and stopped working after just 2 months.
 
i tried to hold out as long as possible to wait for few reviews about atr but they want to order asap. lol, what do you guys think.

 

[B9Scrambler]

Which ED3 are those? Do they come in either red or blue? If you can choose one of those colors, go for it. If silver only....they're not the KZ you are looking for.

 

[Mellowship]

  After listening for a couple of hours, i will agree with the following;
 
1. Source is very important.. somehow seems too warm and unclear mid if quality is compromised. In short it's a bit of hit or miss. For e.g,. if you listen through your mobile phone on mp3 or spotify it may not suit you.
 
2. The fit... first class design of the housing ensures it stays and seal perfectly into your ears.. need to try to believe.
 
3. the 2 pins are pretty thin so must be easy when plug in to the housing.
 
4. If you listen side by side with ATE, it's immediately very clear that ATE focus more on vocals while the ZS3 emphasies more on the bass and more colored. For critical listening ATE is definitely the choice.
 
 
what i am more curious is what custom cable will improve the sound.. i know there are tonns available but they definitely add up to the cost of having a very affordable piece of IEM.. is it worth the 'upgrade'.

 
1. Source and mids - I am also having this impression. I've been using them with a Sansa Clip Zip for an hour, now I changed to the Fiio X3II, same track, same format, and the mids seem to have opened a little bit.
 
2. The housings do look interesting, but they seem to be a possible approach to a custom IEM design, with all thoses curves and the way they are expected to fit in one's ears. Well, I don't have a problem with the seal (after some tip-rolling, opted for large silicone tips that came from my Xiaomi hybrids). But they just don't feel right. They don't hurt, but I think that my ear is not aligned with those weird forms. I tend to rotate it a little bit clockwise (reference to right ear) so that it sits perfectly in the cavity, but that long thinghy at the bottom levers it the other way. I end up with the cable sitting somewhat far from the ear contour. Maybe with a picture you'll get what I'm talking about. Jeez, I'll have to trim those hairs... 
 

 
4.Comparing to the ATE, the ZS3 sound more "lively", more bassy, but with a less muddy bass than the ATE's. I wouldn't say these are "basshead" IEMs, but they have quite a punch. 
With good source and files, I'm enjoying these pretty much. 
 
Meanwhile, I tested them with the same songs in my Nokia Lumia 925... comming from Fiio to the smartphone, the mids do really suffer. and the general impression is that everything gets somewhat messy and congested. I guess the ZS3 needs some amount of power to behave well. I would not recommend it to use with your regular smartphone or little chinese DAP. Go for your amps and big DAPs!  
 
(album used for this small impression: Sufjan Stevens - Greetings from Michigan , FLAC). 

 

[SuperMAG]

Which ED3 are those? Do they come in either red or blue? If you can choose one of those colors, go for it. If silver only....they're not the KZ you are looking for.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-100-genuine-high-quality-principle-KZED3-Metal-Earphone-Bass-Headset-Phone-Music-Headset-HIFI/32370457273.html
 
they are from hck, in the back its written perfection and these from another seller blue with acne written. 
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Original-KZ-ED3-In-ear-Earphone-Stereo-HiFi-Headphones-Noise-Cancelling-Ear-Buds-Bass-Auriculares-3/32654589068.html?ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_0,searchweb201602_4_10057_10056_10037_10055_10054_301_10059_10033_10058_10032_10017_10060_9999_10061_10052_414_10062_10053_413_10050_10051,searchweb201603_3&btsid=dc8d4a59-43a5-4137-8fcf-93e56bcef429
 
 
which of these 3 better and are they really better than the Infamous KZ ATE, HDS1 and Piston colorful.

 

[B9Scrambler]

  http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-100-genuine-high-quality-principle-KZED3-Metal-Earphone-Bass-Headset-Phone-Music-Headset-HIFI/32370457273.html
 
they are from hck, in the back its written perfection and these from another seller blue with acne written. 
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Original-KZ-ED3-In-ear-Earphone-Stereo-HiFi-Headphones-Noise-Cancelling-Ear-Buds-Bass-Auriculares-3/32654589068.html?ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_0,searchweb201602_4_10057_10056_10037_10055_10054_301_10059_10033_10058_10032_10017_10060_9999_10061_10052_414_10062_10053_413_10050_10051,searchweb201603_3&btsid=dc8d4a59-43a5-4137-8fcf-93e56bcef429
 
 
which of these 3 better and are they really better than the Infamous KZ ATE, HDS1 and Piston colorful.

 
The first pair are the original ED3 which are very bright, not too bassy. Probably not what your relatives would be after.
 
The second pair are the ED3c which were heavily revised. Housings are still metal, but are MUCH lighter. Sound is warmer, bassier, with really nice mids and relaxed treble. Still offer up good detail. 
 
Out of all the KZs listed the ED3c imo is the one to go for.
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Original-KZ-ED3-In-ear-Earphone-Stereo-HiFi-Headphones-Noise-Cancelling-Ear-Buds-Bass-Auriculares-3/32654589068.html?ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_0,searchweb201602_4_10057_10056_10037_10055_10054_301_10059_10033_10058_10032_10017_10060_9999_10061_10052_414_10062_10053_413_10050_10051,searchweb201603_3&btsid=dc8d4a59-43a5-4137-8fcf-93e56bcef429

 

[B9Scrambler]

Dang!!!

hoped it was more neutral. And it was said to be the best to date. Gotta pass it to my brother then.
Now we're (me) spending money: ed3 perfection, how does it compare to ed9 brass? I find mine warm as you know but I've maybe closed the vents more than anyone else.
Also I liked edr2s mids and treble but found them just a bit too bassy: how is that compared to the ed3s?

 
Missed this! My b.
 
I can't find my brass filters....crap. If I remember correctly the ED3 is brighter and much less bassy than the ED9(b) with the papers properly in place. Keeping in mind that I don't find my EDR2 bassy, I noticed that the ED3 has more midbass presence but doesn't have anywhere near the subbass extension.

 

[SuperMAG]

bright, nah i agree, they wont like that, what about hds1 and ate. i heard ate is the most smoothest and natural one.

 

[B9Scrambler]

  bright, nah i agree, they wont like that, what about hds1 and ate. i heard ate is the most smoothest and natural one.

HDS1 is pretty neutral. A bit of a mid-bass boost. They might like it. I've only got the original ATE and it's about as neutral as the HDS1. This one with the smoked shell seems to be the popular one to get. Others could give you better feedback on it;
 
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/KZ-ATE-Copper-Driver-Ear-Hook-HiFi-In-Ear-Earphone-Sport-Headphones-For-Running-With-Foam/32337313320.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.1.p2fxfA&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_8,searchweb201602_4_10057_10056_10037_10055_10054_301_10059_10033_10058_10032_10017_10060_9999_10061_10052_414_10062_10053_413_10050_10051,searchweb201603_9&btsid=cbd235de-2005-4244-b494-10717b1669fe
 
On a side note, the seller explains the differences between the ATE and ATR in that link. The important part; "The ATE with more bass and sound field is wider."

 

[Mellowship]

  bright, nah i agree, they wont like that, what about hds1 and ate. i heard ate is the most smoothest and natural one.

Personally, I don't like the HDS1. I think they lack presence and brightness. They are not neutral. They are flat and dull. Today I was testing them with my wife's Clip Zip, against TDK MT300 (her beloved iphone earbuds broke down and I'm looking within my collection for small IEMs for her to use), and the TDKs were just far superior in every aspect. 
The ATEs are a different story. Smooth, natural, timbrically accurate, a little bit muddy in some bass but otherwise very competent in the mids and with some tube-like treble. The ATE are classic budget IEMs for many years to come. 
Are there better ones? Depends on one's taste. The ED9 and the EDse are among my favourite KZs. Outside of the KZ universe, the VJJB K4, the Tennmak Pro, the Soundmagic ES18, the Moxpad X6, all great sub-20USD IEMs.