On a completely different note, I'm picking up this tomorrow and am thrilled to have found one - anybody have a clue what it is or who made it? (just wondering if anyone else has the same other hobbies).
Knowledge Zenith (KZ) impressions thread
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Fox2twenty
Formerly known as iPhone IEM
Looks like a high powered outdoor stove /burner.On a completely different note, I'm picking up this tomorrow and am thrilled to have found one - anybody have a clue what it is or who made it? (just wondering if anyone else has the same other hobbies).
No, i not build bombs, i'm not a terrorist
Looks like a high powered outdoor stove /burner.
Close - real close actually
High on Ketamine
New Head-Fier
Nevermind about the cable differences tho. Yet with some music I actually prefer the black stock cable as its a more fun/dark listening exp compared to the silver cable. More rumbling bass and forgiving upper midrange/treble ...
vector84
500+ Head-Fier
Personally I found that the red nozzle filter contributes quite a bit to a muddied and congested sound with the ZSE, though just removing it didn't give me great results either. For a little while I was using them with a steel mesh screen covered in a thin layer of nylon and that combination struck me as a nicer result, but I honestly just haven't been inspired by them enough to keep tinkering with them.
hakuzen
Headphoneus Supremus
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ZS6: sources / impedance adapters, foam
Following @HiFiChris suggestions about using sources with higher output impedance, or impedance adapters (with any source) to tame the excessive treble peaks (without altering other frequencies), I've made some new measurements.
This effect is possible thanks to impedance features of ZS6 (ZS5 & ZS6 impedance curves).
If you try this with ZS5 v1, for example, the effect is just the opposite (harsher upper-mids and treble), due to their impedance characteristics.
Graph of ZS5 and ZS6 frequency response variation when using a higher impedance source (example: GhostAudio miniA1 amplifier, output impedance 15Ω):
Now, the result frequency response of ZS6 when using an impedance adapter of 75Ω (with "stetotip" -thick silicone- and with foam tips) compared to same source without adapter, and to ZS5 v1.
(Note: closed sub-bass vent hole in ZS6 measurements; this explains the sub-bass difference with ZS5).
The treble with Z adapter + foam is very near to ZS5 v1 level.
Of course, you'll have to apply more voltage (raise volume pot) to get same sound level than before.
Following @HiFiChris suggestions about using sources with higher output impedance, or impedance adapters (with any source) to tame the excessive treble peaks (without altering other frequencies), I've made some new measurements.
This effect is possible thanks to impedance features of ZS6 (ZS5 & ZS6 impedance curves).
If you try this with ZS5 v1, for example, the effect is just the opposite (harsher upper-mids and treble), due to their impedance characteristics.
Graph of ZS5 and ZS6 frequency response variation when using a higher impedance source (example: GhostAudio miniA1 amplifier, output impedance 15Ω):
Now, the result frequency response of ZS6 when using an impedance adapter of 75Ω (with "stetotip" -thick silicone- and with foam tips) compared to same source without adapter, and to ZS5 v1.
(Note: closed sub-bass vent hole in ZS6 measurements; this explains the sub-bass difference with ZS5).
The treble with Z adapter + foam is very near to ZS5 v1 level.
Of course, you'll have to apply more voltage (raise volume pot) to get same sound level than before.
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Well I already have the DM5 which uses almost the same shell so I'd probably go with something different for that reason alone.
groucho69
Headphoneus Supremus
On a completely different note, I'm picking up this tomorrow and am thrilled to have found one - anybody have a clue what it is or who made it? (just wondering if anyone else has the same other hobbies).
Still
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dbaker1981
100+ Head-Fier
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Well I already have the DM5 which uses almost the same shell so I'd probably go with something different for that reason alone.
How do like those? I’ve been looking at them for a while but haven’t heard much about them.
BubbleWrap86
New Head-Fier
My order from gearbest finally shipped today, green zs6 and upgraded cable.
What is this "Z adaptor" you refer to?
ZS6: sources / impedance adapters, foam
Following @HiFiChris suggestions about using sources with higher output impedance, or impedance adapters (with any source) to tame the excessive treble peaks (without altering other frequencies), I've made some new measurements.
This effect is possible thanks to impedance features of ZS6 (ZS5 & ZS6 impedance curves).
If you try this with ZS5 v1, for example, the effect is just the opposite (harsher upper-mids and treble), due to their impedance characteristics.
Graph of ZS5 and ZS6 frequency response variation when using a higher impedance source (example: GhostAudio miniA1 amplifier, output impedance 15Ω):
Now, the result frequency response of ZS6 when using an impedance adapter of 75Ω on a <1Ω source (with "stetotip" -thick silicone- and with foam tips) compared to same source without adapter, and to ZS5 v1.
(Note: closed sub-bass vent hole in ZS6 measurements; this explains the sub-bass difference with ZS5).
The treble with Z adapter + foam is very near to ZS5 v1 level.
Of course, you'll have to apply more voltage (raise volume pot) to get same sound level than before.
What is this "Z adaptor" you refer to?
triplestarfish3D
New Head-Fier
Just bought the KZ ZST and am absolutely blown away by the price to performance. Considering the ZST also has detachable cables is just simply remarkable. Will be buying KZ earphones from now on.
snip3r77
Headphoneus Supremus
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Better than zs56 right ?Well I already have the DM5 which uses almost the same shell so I'd probably go with something different for that reason alone.
hakuzen
Headphoneus Supremus
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ZS5 v1: sources
After seeing ZS5 impedance characteristics (ZS5 & ZS6 impedance curves, 4.8Ω@1kHz) and sensitiveness, we can understand some of the reasons of them being so source dependent.
1- Sources which use output coupling capacitors.
These will provoke a bass roll-off; the lower impedance phones we plug (and the lower capacity of the capacitors), the more pronounced roll-off.
2- Sources with high output impedance.
These will provoke harsher upper-mids and treble (and maybe slight less bass); the higher output impedance, the harsher.
3- Sources with low power limit for such a low impedance load (~5Ω): low current limit.
These will provoke noticeable distortion when trying to get your usual sound level (volume); the lower the limit, the sooner they'll sound distorted when raising the volume.
For example, Sansas or Benjie S5 DAPs distort and clip sound soon with such lower loads.
Frequency response graph of ZS5 when using a coupling caps (470uF) source (Zishan DSD) -bass roll-off-, a "high" output impedance source (GhostAudio miniA1 amplifier, 15Ω) -harsher highs-, and a source with no coupling caps and output impedance <1Ω:
After seeing ZS5 impedance characteristics (ZS5 & ZS6 impedance curves, 4.8Ω@1kHz) and sensitiveness, we can understand some of the reasons of them being so source dependent.
1- Sources which use output coupling capacitors.
These will provoke a bass roll-off; the lower impedance phones we plug (and the lower capacity of the capacitors), the more pronounced roll-off.
2- Sources with high output impedance.
These will provoke harsher upper-mids and treble (and maybe slight less bass); the higher output impedance, the harsher.
3- Sources with low power limit for such a low impedance load (~5Ω): low current limit.
These will provoke noticeable distortion when trying to get your usual sound level (volume); the lower the limit, the sooner they'll sound distorted when raising the volume.
For example, Sansas or Benjie S5 DAPs distort and clip sound soon with such lower loads.
Frequency response graph of ZS5 when using a coupling caps (470uF) source (Zishan DSD) -bass roll-off-, a "high" output impedance source (GhostAudio miniA1 amplifier, 15Ω) -harsher highs-, and a source with no coupling caps and output impedance <1Ω:
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