[PhonoPhi]

You're right, i forgot about AS16. Maybe that's when they've shifted their focus.
Though, i gotta say, the marketing for the AS16 was....weird?

KZ marketing language is largely on a wild side, as always; recent ASX and ASF are a bit more refined, but the same "good KZ".

Having compared AS16 with two $200 all BAs, I now decided to stay with KZ/CCA exclusively and enjoy the ride that is reasonably affordable for me

(Recent ZSN pro X and CCA C10 pro were not "bingos" for me, but CA16 and ZAX were; and then knowing that they are the best efforts of the company makes more sense and more rewarding for me, compared to going for some mid- or low-budget lines of "established" companies).

 

[fullmoon280]

The "hotness" will be ZS10 pro that gets closer to $30.
For the smooth treble in this range CCA C10 will work nicely at under $25 or so (CCA is the sister/twin brand of KZ).

At $50 or so, recent CCA CA16 and KZ ZAX are very competitive offerings for smoother and brighter, respectively.

Unfortunately the ZS10 Pro and CCA C10 are $40+ on amazon which is where I would prefer to buy them(which I forgot to mention).

 

[PhonoPhi]

Unfortunately the ZS10 Pro and CCA C10 are $40+ on amazon which is where I would prefer to buy them(which I forgot to mention).

Then others may comment on ZST X and ZSN pro X as suitable recent candidates for ZST upgrade in this range.

 

[snowmind]

My EDX has also arrived, I must confirm, it is gaining a lot of hype in the extreme budget category and there are motivations for that to happen.

There is simply nothing very wrong or unbearable about the signature, everything is fine with the timbre, it looks much more natural than a low-cost hybrid iem (ZSN Pro with its high piercing and artificial treble, I'm looking at you). Considering the huge benefit you get from paying less than $ 9, other competing companies will have to work to fight KZ in that price range.

 

[Barusu Lamperouge]

My EDX has also arrived, I must confirm, it is gaining a lot of hype in the extreme budget category and there are motivations for that to happen.

There is simply nothing very wrong or unbearable about the signature, everything is fine with the timbre, it looks much more natural than a low-cost hybrid iem (ZSN Pro with its high piercing and artificial treble, I'm looking at you). Considering the huge benefit you get from paying less than $ 9, other competing companies will have to work to fight KZ in that price range.

Totally. The season was hyped with OnePlus going back to it's roots with Nord but in reality it's KZ which went back to it's roots. EDX does a lot of things right which has again set the benchmark in the sub-$10 category. It's like they're making a statement that they're still great at creating a good IEM which costs no more than a cup of Starbucks coffee. They changed the game with ZSN in 2018 and in 2020 they have done it again with EDX.

 

[Barusu Lamperouge]

EDX arrived today, so couple of hours with it and I'm happy
Nice, deep and quick Bass - clear, articulated Mids - forward, not fatiguing Treble
Every range is detailed (no burn-in yet)
Good imaging, smaller soundstage
V-shape sound
With 2,5 mm OCC cable EDX is very detailed, somehow a bit U-shaped
Detail-wise and even in tuning it is on similar level with iBasso it-00

(Source is Shanling M5s)

The balanced out does enhance mids a little making the signature lean towards balanced as opposed V-shaped when played via 3.5mm output. Maybe the driver needs slightly more juice to display it's full potential. I am driving it via my Walnut F2 and Redmi K20 Pro.

 

[zentro]

very slight differences, i think i like the c10 pro a bit more, great comparisons on other iems too

 

[purplesun]

So its been a long time since Ive bought a KZ iem and was curious as whats the current hotness for around $20-$30. Last pair of KZ iems I owned was the ZST Colorful and am curious how the newer iems within my price range compare to it.

Would be good info to know your favourite music genres and artists to better recommend a suitable IEM.

 

[purplesun]

I think @PhonoPhi is joking

I think discussing orchestral strings sound accuracy is about the only time @PhonoPhi is deadly serious.

 

[baskingshark]

I received my EDX last week and I must say after a long time I've thoroughly enjoyed something which didn't burn a hole in my wallet.

There aren't many IEMs in that price range which can give fun and clean sound. The bass is tight and clean with emphasis more on sub-bass than midbass. Mids are slightly recessed but have pleasant texture to it. Treble sort of still suffers from the vintage steeliness but it's less than ZSN. Their compact size gives superb isolation and fit.

The million dollar question, is it a budget killer like ZSN? Or iconic like ED9 or EDR1?

IMO it is probably the most refined sub $10 IEM especially when we see folks getting it for as low as $5. At that price, a good sounding IEM with detachable cable is extremely hard to beat.

Despite all it's goodness, it still falls a little short of ED9 probably because of tuning filters and modding which elevates them to their current status. I haven't modded them yet but might do in near future. And IMO, they're very close to EDR1. But they cost 2x more, and that probably tilts the balance in EDR1's favour.

For folks who are looking for an upgrade to their cellphone bundled earphones or a replacement, EDX are an excellent IEM which gives them the luxury of replaceable cables and sound quality way above of their current gear.

KZ has got a winner in the ultra budget category. When was the last time that happened? Probably ages ago.

This is one random guy's opinion in the vast world of WWW, please take it with a grain of salt and not the absolute truth. YMMV. I'll be glad if folks find this helpful.

Thanks for your impressions. Do u happen to have a legit Sony MH755 to compare the EDX with?

 

[seanwee]

Thanks for your impressions. Do u happen to have a legit Sony MH755 to compare the EDX with?

That's the thing you see. If the MH755 was more widely known I doubt the early chi-fi iems would have stood much of a chance.

 

[Makahl]

I got the KZ EDX some days ago. My initial impression is that it's basically a baby Urbanfun YBF. Very energetic, tons of bass but more in the "massive" side compared to YBF due to slightly more boost at the mid-bass. I'd say it's a refined old school KZ V-shape signature but not as intense and with a faster driver compared to something like their older 1DD ZS3/ATR. Really, if you just want a beater pair with a fun sound the EDX is a no-brainer at $6-7.

My pair hasn't any major mismatch, actually pretty damn good for its price:

Spoiler

Disclaimer: BOYA-MIC1 + vinyl tube + Apple dongle - it's not comparable to the IEC711 measurements. Expect fake extension past ~6k. Although I think it can be useful for modding and spot some differences since I'm measuring using the same rig.

 

[cleg]

My video with ZAX impressions

 

[Nimweth]

ZAX on the way!

 

[hmscott]

My KZ ZAX arrived yesterday, along with several other IEM's for review - and found time tonight to put it together with SednaFit ML tips - better sealing fit for me than KZ tips - and found the KZ ZAX cable is a new KZ cable, very soft and "silver" encased in clear jacket, no chin slider - plastic splitter, and then I plugged it in to the Topping A90 and flipped into some Tidal Jazz - Chet Baker...and what am I hearing - or not hearing?

Out of the box this the first new KZ IEM that comes out of the box "Mellow" almost like it's already broken in! - maybe it is, this KZ ZAX was sent to me as part of a review Tour but came directly from Hifigo, I've emailed them to ask if this KZ ZAX is new or if it really is "broken in" already by the previous reviewer

The ZAX is tuneful and clean on everything I am throwing at it - A90 L Gain -15.0dB PRE mode volume straight up 12 noon, and also on my FiiO M15 - L Gain with or without "over-ear headphone" mode the ZAX sounds rich and full, with a wide soundstage.

I had been enjoying listening to my new / pre-owned DT 990 600 ohm that has also clearly been broken in - mellow sound and wide sound stage, and switching over to the KZ ZAX gave me the same full sound with an even wider sound stage - both with well defined and detailed bass and vocals - neither has too much treble either, on most recordings so far.

The KZ ZAX is a bit less mellow than the broken in DT990 600ohm, but still much better than any other KZ out of the box.

Transitioned across a number of genres of music, really getting into each one as they pass by my senses...

In New York [Original Jazz Classics Remasters] by Chet Baker — 7 Tracks — 51:30 MASTER Released 09/01/1958
https://tidal.com/browse/album/91579862
https://music.amazon.com/albums/B01LY1Q7QU?ref=dm_sh_8be2-89c7-9f59-cb66-6bc18

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly — 6 Tracks — 36:05 Released 06/01/1968
https://tidal.com/browse/track/24510381
https://tidal.com/browse/album/24510375
https://music.amazon.com/albums/B00H9EEPTW?trackAsin=B00H9EEUD8&ref=dm_sh_9bd6-0f19-81e9-c903-2b66c
https://music.amazon.com/albums/B00H9EEPTW?ref=dm_sh_b2a4-1197-1fd3-bb4f-abc40

Sampling: Nas Created by TIDAL — 191 Tracks — 15:01:42
Nas has one of the most stellar sampling archives in the game. With a career spanning 15 albums, his musical influence spreads wide and deep. Celebrate his catalog with
this fire playlist of samples the Queens rapper has used. (Photo: Rovi)
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/b57ddbc1-89ac-4327-af50-c08de3745a69

Inexplicably I've been looping and rocking out on this track from the Traveling Wilbury's:
https://tidal.com/browse/track/61155967
https://music.amazon.com/albums/B01G8IFGQA?trackAsin=B01G8IFCVE&ref=dm_sh_966e-4fb1-7314-256d-2f35e

The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1 by The Traveling Wilburys — 10 Tracks — 36:27 Released 10/25/1988
https://tidal.com/browse/album/61155958
https://music.amazon.com/albums/B01G8IFGQA?ref=dm_sh_f5a1-b45f-1607-742c-3f2d6

I think it might be because I'd previously been binge re-watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine - getting as far as S1E8 before switching to Tidal and then unpacking the IEM's..:
https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/pla...08916_01/e5700cad-6478-322e-9ade-7a28c910f7ee

For me the KZ ZAX is a "keeper", I heard it that way instantly switching over from the Beyerdynamic DT990 600 ohm. Usually it takes a good long time of break in before I feel this way about an IEM, or headphone. There's a first time for everything I suppose.

Update:
The model I received is the "Blue" no-mic with Silver shield with Black grills, very nice looking, nice finish.
https://hifigo.com/products/kz-zax?variant=32380350660657

@cleg noticed no difference in sound after 60 hours burn-in, so maybe the KZ ZAX really is this mellow right out of the box.

Update:
Hifigo confirmed all of the IEM's they sent in the Tour including the KZ ZAX are all new unused - no burn-in hours. So the KZ ZAX is mellow right out of the box, wow, that's a first

The KZ ZAX was sounding so sweet on everything with it's stock cable, so I moved on to the KBEAR 16 core silver plated 4.4mm cable, and the ZAX kept singing beautifully.

Impatiently, I quickly moved on to see if the KZ ZAX would be well behaved on the new KBEAR limpid 4 core 4N 99.99% Purity silver 2-pin 4.4mm cable delivered from AliExpress a few days ago:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-discovery-thread.586909/post-15907369

The Blon BL-03 will need to step aside and let the ZAX have the room for a while. It's just amazingly detailed sounding - with no sibilance or discomfort with treble filled female and male vocals.