KZ - AS10 (Original / V1)

I'm using these: KZ AS10 [https://www.amazon.com/Kinboofi-AS10-B1-KZ-AS10-IEM-5-Balanced-Armature-Driver-Earphone-Stereo-HiFi-KZ-in-Ear-Monitor-Headphone-Musician-Headset-with-Detachable-2-Pin-Cable-No-Microphone/dp/B07GW8GVG1](https://www.amazon.com/Kinboofi-AS10-B1-KZ-AS10-IEM-5-Balanced-Armature-Driver-Earphone-Stereo-HiFi-KZ-in-Ear-Monitor-Headphone-Musician-Headset-with-Detachable-2-Pin-Cable-No-Microphone/dp/B07GW8GVG1) They are quite nice for the price, they sound great. They lack somewhat in bass response and let in a lot of outside sound, because that's how IEMs are supposed to work. So the main thing to keep in mind is that they will sound different from your cans, they are supposed to. I also used to have the DT 770 Pros, and now use the open back 990s instead. There's also a version with a built-in mic, and I would advise not getting that one for synths, because sometimes the TRRS cable doesn't line up properly in a synth's TRS headphones jack.

KZ AS10. My guitarist swears his $$ sure iems are better but I’m not convinced. I sing so I get plenty of bleed in my vox mic to more than hear my kit. I run them through a Behringer P2.

I've been using Linsoul KZ AS10 for a couple years now, $60. For pubg, they make audio direction finding feel very precise and the game audio sounds nice otherwise. However, if I try to listen to music on them, I find them a bit lacking, especially for heavy metal. But I only really use them for pubg so that is fine. Also - I use them with a cheap headphone amplifier with bass/treble controls.

I started with the S10 Pro but ended up getting a pair of AS10 since they are more bass pronounced and I gig with them. The S10 sound better overall, I just was able to hear my bass better in the mix during gigs on the AS10. Maybe it’s out wireless packs? Oh well.

These KZ’s are super standard for entry level in-ears. I know some pros who use them and actually prefer them to $$ custom molded ones, just because they don’t have to worry about babying them compared to the super high dollar stuff. I’ve used them a little and i think they’re great; it’s a great stepping stone until you can afford some real nice custom stuff from a company like 64 Audio. My daily drivers for in-ear gigs is the 64 audio A6t, and I love them - and man oh man do they sound good plugged straight in to synths too. Just be careful with that gain 😬

KZ AS10 5BA will offer slightly better isolation than ZS10s. I have some, they are excellent. Still not as good as using noise cancelling Sony XM4s though.

I know this thread is a couple of weeks old, but it's the thread that convinced me to order a pair of ND Planets, so maybe someone here can help. I have very little knowledge about the iem world because once I discovered KZ AS10s, I've just stuck with them. I've tried a couple of more expensive pairs, (I *think* Truthear Hexa was one I purchased but sent back), but they seemed inferior, so I have kept going back to the KZs. Even slightly more expensive versions of the KZs seemed a bit worse. However, I suspect I'm not getting a good seal, so I can't give them a fair chance. I'm going to order some new tips, but I'm not sure how to find the right size for them. Can anyone give me advice for that? I'm looking over the Top 10 IEM Eartips section of the sidebar, but I don't know how to know if they'll fit, although I'm sure it's obvious as hell. (I use Comply 500s for the KZs, are the Comply 600s the right size for the NDs, maybe?) Also, through this subreddit I recently discovered that I could use a FiiO KA11 audio adapter dongle to improve the sound, and maybe that would have made a difference when trying out the Hexa's? Sorry -- still learning, but grateful for all the information in this sub! (Also, one of the things I love about the KZs is that they're loud, so if anyone wants to recommend something better that's loud up to $100 I'd be happy to hear it! I use these for running and as in-ear monitors when I'm recording music at home.) edit: grammar #

Love my HD 25's. They can get a bit clampy around the ears after a good 2 -3 hours wearning but have a great seal on the ears and amazing sound but relatively flat sounding. I have a good in ear monitors (Linsoul KZ AS10) but find they get sweaty and painful over time when mixing for 1 hour plus. What I find myself going to the most are my Audio Technica ATH-M50X closed back headphones (if I'm not using my HD 25) as they are the most comfortable of the two. The ATH M50X are close to flat, but the one up from them, the ATH M70X, has more bass and more excitement in the highs imo. Same comfort aswell. Most closed back headphones incase the whole ear (over-ear) aswell. The HD 25's are more of an on-ear then over-ear (probably why it's a bit more clampy) Something like a closed back might be something to consider. One more type you could look at are open-back headphones. I sometimes DJ with a pair of Beyerdynamic DT990 PRO'S when I just wanna have a chilled mix and not get too hot. You'll be able to hear your environment around you and you'll get some music bleeding through. But great if you want maximum comfort, airflow and to be able to hear what's around you. But probably not a transient and bassy and existing. hope this helps :)

Two unfortunate truths for you on this sub: 1. There aren't many musicians about. 2. The audiophiles and gamers that are here hate KZ. But I'm in a similar position to you. I haven't had customs or anything but I've got "better" IEMs according to these forums in the Chi-Fi market but rarely do I find any better for performing than KZ. I use the AS10 and ZS12 for different instruments. Both are cheap but give me clarity where I need it and the ZS12 are metal, so they travel around the most. Even the "crappy" cables they come with are far more comfortable to play in than any of the "better" cables from other brands. They seem more concerned with IEMs that work for the original purpose than pandering to the casual listening market. And they'd be far less worrisome to lose or break!

I tried KZ AS10 and DQ6, Blon BL-Mini and A8 Prometheus, Moondrop Kato, B2, B2 Dusk and S8, Softears Studio 4 and TinHiFi T2 Plus. Tin were trash. KZ AS10 was okayish but not really. DQ6 super comfortable, lightweight decent SQ for the price and comfort but nothing crazy. From Kato to B2/Dusk there's a significant step up in SQ. From B2/Dusk to S8 there's an improvement but it's not something crazy. The Blons sound OK, BL-Mini is quite decent in terms of price to performance, A8 are overpriced in terms of SQ but they look amazing. Both are lower in SQ than the Kato. Studio 4 sounds amazing to me, it's a more mid centric sound signature. The S8 has a more spacious sound and has more perceived space between instruments but the S4 is just godly in terms of it's timbre, everything's sounds just right, notes are weighty of I had to describe it somehow, and vocals are on another level altogether. I'll soon hear the RSV MKI. Thus far from this lineup I'd say diminishing returns start at the Blessings, now... The S4 I think is a justifiable step up, the S8 if you have the disposable income yeah, otherwise you spend more and you get more but not that much more. The S4 is cheaper than the S8 and I'd surely recommend the former. I guess it boils down to how much you are willing to spend. There is an improvement in SQ but it's definitely not a linear function, it's evidently logarithmic, just like horsepower in cars. I'm sure though there's plenty of snake oil sets out there. I'm sure if you bought the Hexa or the Nova and compare them with the Kato the latter would feel like a scam. That being said SQ is not the only factor, I have the Blons almost exclusively for how they look. I've met people that were like meh they all sound the same. I think I trust myself as I found the S8 underwhelming compared to the cheaper S4, and I really wanted to like the S8 as they look gorgeous, but I truly believe the S4 are the better pair. And bro, damn... those TinHiFi T2 Plus, 60 bucks? I wouldn't take them for free... Everything sounds like an out of tune banjo with only two strings left played by a crackhead that lost half his fingers.

I've had my KZ AS10 since 2019. As long as you find tips that seal well, they are FANTASTIC for the money. There's nothing else in that price range that has the response and clarity. You will want to get a case for them, GIGCASE makes one for like $18

Another vote for the KZ AS10 here. They beat the absolute hell out of the se210 set I used to have. One of my band mates even started using them over his $500+ westones after trying mine. I’ve had 2 pairs over the last 5 years or so (lost the first set) and had no issues with either.

I’ve used both the KZ models. Prefer the AS10 slightly. Really fantastic for the price IMO. Absolutely hated the sure IEMs. No experience with the others you mentioned.

The KZ AS10 had their day. But they are a 7-year-old IEM. Like how they were an advancement in Chinese IEMs that offered very good sound quality for the money compared to previous IEMs, there are now better for the same price. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/truthear-x-crinacle-zero-red-iem-review.44865/ https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/truthear-x-crinacle-zero-blue2-iem-review.62096/ There are even cheaper that perform that well, but may not have the same build quality.

which one would you recommend for blues music? i have been rockingy AS10s for 5 years now

KZ ZS10 (or AS10 if you want more bass) are among the best budget IEMs. Get aftermarket foam tips for them and you're good to go!