KZ - Gale

for the money they're great yeah

if you have access to zvx pro i'd go for those otherwise i'd take the kz gale as a more balanced allrounder or caastor pro if you're a basshead

The KZ Gale's sound for me is so good that I get hard thinking how a much better IEM sounds like. It's why I am asking for recommendations at just a little bit higher pricepoint 😂

I always see something on my youtube feed like "This is good, but you know, it's KZ so don't" and I really don't have any context to understand what that means. I'm pretty happy with my KZ Gale myself, so I just want to understand why I always see videos saying avoid KZ.

I got one for less than 10 bucks on AliX using coins and this thing kinda slaps. I felt duty bound to leave a quick impression. I’d say it’s fairly neutral with a bass boost. Both mid and subbass are slightly elevated and the sound is more subbass focused. I picked this up with the more midbass focused Gale, which also slaps for the price. The edx pro 2 won out between the two in this case however because I couldn’t get over how clear the treble presentation was despite a fairly thunderous subbass, in a single dynamic driver set. For less than 10 bucks. The midbass still had plenty of kick and overall the low end was more nicely layered than it had any right to be. Vocals did not lag behind the bass and treble, and the set avoids the thin sound that typically plagues the under $10 price segment. Whenever I buy a really cheap set I don’t want to take out of my ears, that’s like crack cocaine to me. The resolution and tuning made this one impressive so I just wanted to give it a quick shout before the inevitable wave of “edx pro 2 gud” posts roll in. Slapped a KZ upgrade cable and some nicehck C04 tips on mine. KZ stock cables and tips suuuuck. So that’s it, just a quick super-budget update. Spend wisely friends.

I do believe the Gale uses the same driver, it’s a really nice set as well

KZ Gale(if you only care about vocals this is almost as good as the others), Dunu Kima 2, Tanchjim Nora/Fission.

To add on, I do buy from KZ, and I do have a Gale, but my unit sounds nothing like the EW300. Although it fits my taste better because of this, some people are **not** gonna be happy. My unit sounds like the one graphed here but with less subbass than the Nora, whereas the Gale on the Paul Wasabi graph is closer to the EW300. https://preview.redd.it/1da6wkv1wuuf1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=7cc7a9a4b0b0b2cfc184b387b8f1bd10ddb2d766 At ultra budget level there's bound to be some unit variation and poor channel matching.

KZ Gale(3.5mm version) is a less bassy EDX Pro 2 with a little more treble air. Sounds like a mild Vshape. I like that it can handle both male and female vocals well, and just a pretty versatile set overall. When facing off against my personal budget GOAT, the Tanchjim Bunny. The Gale holds up well except in subbass and treble extension, and poor isolation. On paper it has more rumble than the Bunny but it's not very textured and satisfying, and the treble rolls off sharply so I'm missing a little bit of airiness. The Gale does have a slightly more natural timbre though. I think it's fine considering 1 is $10 and the other is $20, but that's why my Gale is not really being used right now. I used stock accessories for everything, but the QKZ T1 is pretty bang for buck. I like it more than the KZ upgrade cable.

I was intrigued by this pair, then got the gale as I could have the mic version for less than 2 dollars 😂 Gale really sound nice, an improvement over the already good EDC Pro, better separation and details, insane what iems which can literally be obtained for peanuts can offer these days!

Yes, I believe it does! Slightly different tuning but very similar, from what I was able to understand

Those are my favorite ultra budget sets atm, for 10 usd or less you can't go wrong with these Iems, better than the Libra X, so much better than the EDC Pro or the EDX Lite

With EQ you can boost that Libra X bass, I got mine modded with a low density tuning foam, for its price it's absurdly technically capable, maybe that's right, it's better for gaming, but I prefer the EDX Pro 2 and Gale, definitely the trifecta of ultra budget kings

KZ Gale is by far the best vocal IEM in the sub $100 price category.

KZ Gale (DSP Cable) is your best contender!

Bad PR history, and they did have a lot of 'misses' in the past. Some shops I know actively avoid them, not to boycott, but they are reluctant to deal with customer complaints about faulty units, when there is a good to fair chance its the 'fake drivers' shenanigans again. Plus every community need a heel, KZ plays that very well and keeps things exciting. It doesn't help that this community has an aversion to brands that pump out products very frequently, when in reality its a very respectable strategy. It allows non-enthusiasts to figure out their preference at a very low price. Imo recent KZ releases have been really good. I would have been a shill if they actually made shapes that can fit my ear without extensive tip rolling. Gale, Dawn, Zenith, Duet, ZVX Pro, Vader Pro, EDC Pro, all have been hits at their price brackets, and none of these are sets that you will feel pained if you end up misplacing them or damaging them by accident. I haven't tried the Hydro from their sister brand CCA, but some users have praised those sets into the high heavens. I unironically think KZ keeps the industry exciting. Having really respectable sets that can be priced similarly to a fancy meal should keep the other players nervous and honest.

I used mine for a week (got the white version), and it sounds surprisingly good. I have it with the DSP, and it is easily one of the most bang for buck purchases available imo. I feel like no one is emphasizing this, but the built in dual-mic on the mic version is really darn good. I am getting compliments about how clear my voice sounds despite usually having a dedicated mic.

I got kz gale and it's got better mic than castor pro if you use voice chat/calls

I have Castor Pro, and it's alright for gaming, but I'd recommend KZ Gale that I also have.

I'm not into competitive games like valorant. But if you need a good mic to talk to teammates, then gale is the one to get.

I have them, and they're pretty good for gaming

Not all of them. I also have KZ Gale and DQ6. Both of their nozzles are smaller (about 5mm wide) while Castor Pro's is 0.5mm wider. It doesn't seem much, but the difference is huge.

If IEMs are expensive, then they're not worth buying. Something cheap like kz gale, I still think it's better than many earphones I've tested. It's just my opinion tho.

For the price, I really like KZ Gale and EDX Pro 2 (coming in the mail). They have almost the same exact tuning, except EDX Pro 2 has higher bass overall. Nice smooth treble, vocals aren't pushed back, sibilance is minimal, and bass is satisfying. I still can't believe I only paid $7 for Gale. Crazy value. ZVX Pro, EDC Pro, Libra X, Vader, Trio, Hydro, Saga, all pretty good, although I certainly wouldn't pay full price for any of those, only on a good sale. I like Decet with a good EQ the most of all my KZ IEMs. I heard Zenith is really good too but never ended up buying one.

Hey, nice. We've had a lot of the same sets it looks like. Loving Gale so far for the price. Got 2 of them on early bird deals. One for $7.29, and the other for $5.26. Had to get the second one for that price. Also have EDX Pro 2 on the way just to see which I like better. Man, I really need to try the Zenith...

I was shocked too. EdX Pro 2 and Gale are both extremely good for the price. These are mine 😁 https://preview.redd.it/brp1gtw5pcmf1.jpeg?width=4017&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b05b64e86a5a52962e56f184427a0f437a0a2af6

Nice grab! I have the white Gale, and had to put it on a new cable more deserving of its great sound. Very nice set for the price. https://preview.redd.it/2bvgj3l11lpf1.jpeg?width=2927&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7a17b4d0c14e42312ab46f7c4db24e515e1e96d7

The Zenith is the best one by a large margin for me, the Gale would be my second choice (EDX Pro 2 has the same tuning and about 2-3dB more bass, I prefer the balance of the Gale though, both are an incredible value for the price (+/-$8-9)). I have or had at some point the Hydro, PRX, Saga (both), Castor (both), Libra (hi-res and balanced), ZVX, ZVX Pro, Vader Balanced/Trio, ZS12 Pro X, EDC Pro, D-Fi and Polaris, of this sets I like the Saga Balanced the most.

Nice list! You should try the new KZ Gale ($9-10), it solves some of the problems of the EDC Pro, it has less bass and treble is no longer peaky or metallic. Also it uses a damper and grill instead of the usual KZ mesh filter, it might be good for long term durability. https://pw.squig.link/?share=KZ_Gale,KZ_EDC_Pro

I prefer the Gale it has better balance but most importantly the EDC Pro sounds a bit harsh and metallic to me and the Gale has smooth treble, also the gale comes with dampers instead of the usual mesh filter it might be better for longevity and is easier to clean.

The original EDX Pro is really more on the V-shaped bright tuning, and many don't like its bright tuning. If you really like bass, Castor Harman is not your IEM. I would either suggest going to like Saga Bass or Castor Bass, or Dawn. Castor Harman (1100 switches), Gale, EDC Pro, EDX Pro 2, and Saga Balanced is more leaning towards balanced-ish tuning. Castor Harman (0000 switches) is more leaning to mild-V shaped bright, (0011 switches) neutral bright tuning Terms of improvement or any differences, if you want versatility and easy to adjust to almost any tuning, go for the Castor Harman (tuning switches and EQ) If you want to not fiddle with switches and/or EQ, go for the EDC Pro, EDX Pro 2, and Saga series.

EDX Pro 2 and Saga Bass would definitely be a slightly more warmer set than EDC Pro. EDC Pro would be similar-ish in bass and mids with the EDX Pro 2, but a brighter treble, abit closer to balanced than warm or bright. But the EDC Pro was original reference tuning for many newer KZ IEMs, like the EDX Pro 2 and Saga Bass. They just refined the sound overtime, Zenith was the pinnacle of that tuning, especially alot of people really preferred the warmer sound. Even other KZs have been tuned to a tamer treble than classic KZ sets. Though recent new new releases have been using the Castor and Castor Pro Bass tuning with refinements on treble, and bass for the bass versions of the new KZ IEMs. https://preview.redd.it/rwodxqaqc3yf1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=cef5c06819544d7d3340234c1640b7dc24e72474

EDX Pro if you want brighter sound experience, EDC Pro and Gale if you want a warmer sound experience EDX Pro is also an older KZ tuning, most newer KZs originally was tuned from the EDC Pro.

EDC Pro is more V-shaped and leaning towards warm-ish. Gale is more geared towards gaming, and has a balanced V-shaped signature. Bass: EDC Pro is slighly bassier than Gale, but Gale would have more controlled and less boomy bass than EDC Pro. Mid bass is slightly highlighted for better footsteps hearing. Midrange: Both has similar-ish experience with the midrange. Gale does have a little bit more upper midrange, making it abit more vocal-focused (akin to the Wan'er) Treble: The new Super Linear driver and uses the new KZ tuning paradigm, less treble level and harshness vs. EDC Pro (around 6-10k) With decent treble extension past 13k, but not as good as higher priced IEMs. Instrument separation and Soundstage: Better vs the EDC Pro, its not as wide or as good as like AM16 Balanced or EW300. For gaming, Gale is definitely better For music or movies, EDC Pro https://preview.redd.it/5be8f0kgutrf1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=7ea1a7e9108985d8bacd328e64d6e3cf2e8c35d8

Here's a reddit post and review about the Gale https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/Rzaiph3Wj8

If you are going to play with the DSP tuning then near everything is fine, i guess consider Salnotes Zero 2 for its driver as a first option, Bunny is still a good stock iem too but it seems it will take some time, at that point you might aswell choose based on avalible sets and short shipping dates: Truthear Gate, Simgot EW100p, tangzu Waner 2, even if there is some differences on bass quality, they arent that big in this price range, the sound adjusting via the echo b would do more for you than anything else. (Kz Gale and EDX Pro 2 also have quite nice drivers, but build quality is very very basic overall). Also, not sure the specific reason for going directly to a 4.4mm cable but a 3.5mm cable would do just fine if your concern is powering the iems.

DEfinitely consider Gale for something balanced or EDX Pro 2* specifically for something bassy.

Is funny because this is more or less the EW300 tuning, on a cheaper set with still a decent driver, KZ has no right not put this out witouth any promotion and looking so budget when it could easily be a solid $20 iem option if the shell was a bit more solid and didnt come with KZ trashy cable.

Check KZ Vader (Non-pro). The balanced version gave me slightly better spatial awareness compared to Castor Harman - have to EQ down some lower frequencies though. Consider if massively discounted and similarly priced to Castors For FPS I can recommend KZ PR2 v3. Superior to Castors, both 7hz and Truthear zeroes and many other budget sets imo when it comes to fps. 15 USD or less, but you can not be 100% sure which version between v2 and v3 you're getting. Honestly great for music too KZ Gale are copying Kefine Klean to a certain extent, so check them out as well.

It sounds okay, don't expect to be blown away by a 10€ IEM. My unit is fine but I wouldnt pick it over my Tripowin Vivace which is 30€, let alone other more expensive sets. Mind that the Gale comes with awful cable and eartips, so you're going to have to swap them to something a little better

I bought them on sale and with codes and coupons they were basically free, 0.10€. However I don't really like how they perform in videogames, which is what they're advertised for. The tripowin Vivace is much better for games, it feels like it has better sound separation and a general nicer signature. For music, I think they're fine enough and I agree with the comments you made about its signature but its sound separation doesnt really improve. I think they shouldnt have advertised it as a gaming IEM because in my opinion it's not good at it. I also agree that stock tips aren't good and the cable is easily the worst I've ever received. I tried both Tang Sancai Noble tips and Render tips. Still undecided on which I prefer on the Gale

Out of your 2 choices, get the Gale with the eq wire if you can. It has gaming focused settings. EDC pro is better for music over the zero imo, but I doubt it's a significant upgrade for gaming.

KZ EDC Pro with EQ. If EQ is not available then KZ Gale or KZ EDX Pro 2 whichever is cheaper because they both are tuned well and they are cheap. If you later decide you want to upgrade, that would set you a nice baseline.

If i recalled it right gale and edx2 have same driver and general tuning But edx2 have metal grill nozzle filter that allow air and bass to travel better. And gale have fabric filter mesh that restrain the air and bass abit but it'll sound touch smoother.

Depend on your tastes The current darling would be Edx2/gale for the cheapos. Zvx pro for great budget balanced tuning Zenith, kz flagship one dd with balanced tuning Prx, zenith like tuning on planar which gives less "impact" but more details. Require more power. --- Cca trio/vader balanced, for fun v tuning with ample bass for rock music AM16, thick ish fun v with better res via multi BA setup Vader pro, attempt of giving kz fun v tuning more resolution at cost of reigning in the bass tuning. --- Sonata, kz true flagship. Detail monster for the price. --- According to some reviewers in head fi Top 3 kz (well, ish) right now would be KZ AM16, KZ ZAX/CCA trio, KZ ZVX Pro.

One of the few KZ IEMs that isn't an aggressive v-shape tune. I'm sure those eartips help bring out more bass rumble

1. I would say the Castor. The gale is good too and one bonus is that it comes with a DAC in the cable. But if you can get the castor with a cheap dac I think that would be the better pick. 2. The Bass version puts more emphasis on the lower frequencies and the H target is a more "appealing" tuning, It's a sound that must people would probably like. 3. Are you talking about the Castor and Castor Pro? The regular Castor has 2 DDs in a 10mm + 8mm setup and the Pro has a 2 dd setup with 10mm + 10mm. It's basically the same but like every so slightly better. Just for for the cheaper one.

At this budget level, EDC Pro or KZ Gale will be fine for gaming. Gale has an upgraded dual mic cable and can be found for $10-12, EDC Pro around $5-6. If you have a bigger budget, Tripowin Vivace is a good IEM. If you can access Aliexpress, can probably get the KZ’s for $1-2 as a Welcome Deal.

EDC Pro is probably better for gaming as it has a good boosted lower end and a 10k peak, which ironically the Gale is tuned for gaming and has a dip there and slightly lower sub bass. The EDX Pro 2 is almost identical to Gale apart from 2-3dB in the 20-100 region but matches the EDC Pro’s bass boost. Tbh, you can’t go wrong with any of these for an ultra budget option for gaming/music but would probably pick up EDX Pro 2 or Gale as they’re using the newest super linear driver. Gale has the ‘better’ mic, as it’s a dual setup. Paul Wasabi did a great comparison video between Gale and EDC Pro on his YT channel, would recommend checking it out. There’s not many reviews on the EDX Pro 2 yet but it’s a mix of the other 2 models.

Kz gale is better

I got both the Kz gale and Libra X and imho Libra x is still the king for budget gaming set cuz they sound cleaner (irrc Paul Wasabii said the same), gale/edx pro 2 is better for music cuz the Libra x's bass is kinda weak/neutral.