KZ - Zenith

Probably either my Simgot EM6L or KZ Zenith. Both are fairly warm, V-shaped tunings that play it safe but keep it musical. Zenith has tuning toggle switches you can mess with to slightly modify the sound and the EM6L is just nicely tuned out of the box. Nothing crazy from either of them, but I wouldn't be mad if they were all I had. Probably the best in the $50-150 price range, but I'd honestly save money for something better or stick with something cheaper like the Zero2 and CHU2 since it doesn't really get good until the $300+ area imho. I could be dead wrong about that, but that's just from my experience.

I just went ahead and got the zenith bc it had a coupon on Amazon… will let you know how it is when it arrives!

They really could have do away with the tuning switches, it is mainly for low frequency, while the bass is not at the level you will feel the need to tune it down. So far it is very clear and detailed, very suitable for vocal focus tracks like most of what I would listen to like JPOP including anime songs, Chinese POP or even KPOP. For those electronic tracks with strong bass, I think I would enjoy more with CCA Hydro.

I think I prefer KZ Zenith compared to PRX... there is something with PRX sound that I do not quite like.. hard to pin point to what it is. KZ PRX is detailed but somehow I dun quite like it as much. And you definitely need to use a more powerful source to run it like balanced output from a DAC AMP, I mean you can use 3.5mm if it provides enough power. My favorite IEM is still CCA Hydro.

With more budget, zenith

Thanks, bro. I think kz zenith is the banger upgrade option considering many reviews.

Check out my full review of the KZ Zenith @ mobileaudiophile.com here: https://mobileaudiophile.com/in-ear-earphones-iem-iems-reviews/kz-zenith-review-at-mobileaudiophile-com/ KZ ZENITH REVIEW -$55 on sale, $99 MSRP -Single dynamic driver (Ultra-Linear “Driver-X) -Four Tuning switches Hello everyone, at the link is my full review of the KZ Zenith, from KZ Audio, and I gotta say, it is in my opinion KZ's best single dynamic driver earphone to date. Really a very well crafted, well, designed, and well tuned set. After spending so much time with the Zenith it's fairly easy to hear the upgrade from previous sets. Truly a premium build made of all-alloy from front to back with what I feel is one of the coolest designs that KZ's ever come up with. The build is so very clean. To be honest, I don't feel it represents the cost at all. This set looks like it costs three times the price. My opinion of course. KZ upgraded the DD with their brand new “Driver-X” which is an ultra-linear DD along with a few other notable upgrades. Build and looks aside, the Zenith has quite the tuning! I hear a very mature sounding set, very nicely balanced, very clean sounding. Not a basshead set by any means but a high quality bass. Mids aren't too recessed, detailed, never strident or harsh, good timbre too. The treble region adds just enough air to the sound, some easy going brilliance, non-offensive. You have solid layering for an under $100 single DD along with good imaging as well. Again, detail retrieval is also very nice. Another set by KZ which is one part technical and one part musical. It's just a solid set folks. Obviously I go much deeper in my thoughts within the review along with a comparison too. So, if you are curious about the all new Zenith, feel free to check out the link attached (above & below) to read my full review. I do hope it is helpful. We'll everyone, I hope you are all gearing up to have a wonderful weekend. Take good care everyone. Comparison: Dunu Kima 2 🔥🎸 Zenith Pros 🎧🔥 -Build Quality is phenomenal -Design and aesthetic are very unique, really an awesome looking set. -Very nicely balanced U-shaped sound -Clean, punchy, well defined and textured bass region -Midrange is nicely detailed with a very pristine note definition Treble is non-offensive yet very resolving, nice extension -Imaging -Detail Retrieval for an under $100 single DD -Nice spatiality, with a layered and well-proportioned soundstage 🥶🎶 Zenith Cons 🎵🥶 -May be too heavy, bulky for some folks -Cable does not do the Zenith justice -Bassheads will not enjoy this set #kz #knowledgezenith #singleDD #Zenith #under$100 Check out my full review of the KZ Zenith @ mobileaudiophile.com here: https://mobileaudiophile.com/in-ear-earphones-iem-iems-reviews/kz-zenith-review-at-mobileaudiophile-com/

As far as overall price to performance, yes, the Zenith offers much better value. Disregarding price I would say no, the Zenith cannot duplicate or "beat" the Origin, Oxygen, or EA1000. In my opinion, the Zenith is close though. In truth, what you are paying for with those more expensive sets is incremental upgrades. We pay for increments. They aren't worlds better than the Zenith. Just slightly more refined. That said, I think the Zenith is easily one of the best single DD's on the market under $100. Truly a nice performer.

The KZ iem is phenomenal for the price. If you purchase it from Ali express is around 20 something pounds/dollars. I have many quite expensive iems and to give kz credit they did a good job. It's almost as good as the Hexa but cheaper. The Hexa I think are about to become a mark 2 'improved' version so you may get a good deal on the original. If you want the best KZ, this runs second, the first being the KZ Zenith, a neutral iem single DD which again you may want to consider. Again currently some deals on Ali express. I've just picked one up for about 30 pounds. Happy purchasing.

KZ Zenith I gotta say it far AND WIDEE KZ ZENITH BOIIIII Tuning that lasts all day, crosses this line between detailed and not too detailed (see: artificial spice that's not nice) at the same time. The correct amount of bass. Everything that's good. I also can hear a bit of sound out the back of them, and they do have some open back vibes to em. I wonder if thats where the magic comes in.  And best for gaming imho. Definitely above anything below 100 I have tried like the 7HZ Zero Red, Both 7hz zero's, Blon 03 or whatever, ew200, delci's, Wan'er, a couple random hybrids and other KZ's and a few planars like prx and s08 and etc, and Aria 2 (Aria 2 is arguably brighter and thats fun for music but not all day gaming I dont thinks) , I cant remember the rest tbh. I'm seeing why some of these people make spreadsheets.. but I dont make money off this I'm just bored so

KZ Zenith boii. I gwnuinely believe the KZ zenith is super gucci 

Moondrop Aria 2 if it's there. If not, KZ Zenith. Far above hybrid sets for coherency cause single DD

For a cheap set, I'd say Wan'er either 1 or 2, but 1 imo has the better fit because of the nozzle and nozzle angle. For the in-between, KZ Zenith. A seriously good set, I was kinda done with budget IEMs after I got that. For a I just want something really really good and dont mind spending the money even though its my first purchase in this market, Ziigaat x Fresh Reviews Arete OR Ziigaat Odyssey.

I haven't been exploring the current sub $50 much. But my long time favourite budget set is the Tangzu wan'er SG (not to be confused with the newer wan'er 2). It's fairly light on bass though but it's a very good neutral set and starting point. For KZ my favourite is the Zenith, it's slightly over $50 but I think is easily the best sounding KZ out there and it had tuning switches for you to experiment with. It uses a very good driver and tuned very well, it'll give you a taste of how higher end IEMs will sound like.

If I had to pick one only, definitely the zenith. It's the superior set in every way, the tuning switches also allow you to experiment with different tunings all in one IEM. It's got a mature sound signature that is also very resolving for what it is. My only gripe is the weight, it can get very noticeable. The wan'er is flatter sounding and you won't go wrong with it either. But the zenith is more impressive Hope you'll like it!

Wow more than me! My favs are ZS12 Pro X, Zenith, PR2 (black mesh), and Vader. How do you like the ZA12 and Hydro? I tried to get a ZA12 but it was a scam listing so I got a ZSN Pro X instead lol, at least it was free. Oh, and original CCA CRA, one of my favorite DDs to this day.

Tanchjim Origin, and in 2nd place FiiO FD15. I love KZ Zenith as well, it has elements of those other two for a fraction of the price.

From that list Castor or Castor Pro but honestly I prefer Vader Balanced, Zenith, AM16, and ZS12 Pro X as my favorite KZ IEMs.

Oh man, for the price: the CCA trio, Kefine Klean, KZ Vader Balanced and HighRes, TRN V90 pro,Tripowin Vivace, Artti T10, KZ Zenith, gaming and audiophile beasts. (personally I'm more inclined to the Klean, the Zenith and the T10) The CCA trio and the Vader Balanced are similarly tuned, but both are one of the best iems under 30 usd. The Klean have a hidden trick who is you can do a subtle mod on it for improving the bass and tuning overall (stock is still so good), is one of my go to sets in the market, excellent tuning and a soundstage and imaging, and macro and microdetails retrieval delight. KZ Vader HighRes, this is 90% the CCA Hydro, but is a hungry boy who craves good sources. Tripowin Vivace, this is an excellent tuned iem, well priced and a gaming powerhouse. TRN V90 pro, they put all the effort in the iem itself but TRN don't disappoint: Nice stock cable, good included eartips (the trn t eartips are one of my favorite eartips ever, period. Lol), and the tuning is an upgrade to the ST7 because is a fix of the flaws of the other iem. Artti T10, is the best planar iem for 50 usd or less, is bassy, balanced, an all-rounder set to enjoy music and a gaming beast. KZ Zenith, is the best DD iem of KZ, with high praise from various reviewers, HBB and Paul Wasabii included.

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.

yes zs10 pro 2 is semi open back. but isolation is quite really good. i own kz zs12 pro x both iems have the same looks just zs12 pro x is all metallic. the noise isolation is good. the semi open back on iems are not like open back Headphones so no need to worry about noise isolation. some iems which truly works like open back Headphones are kz zenith (i have this) noise isolation is still good when playing music but otherwise you'll be clearly able to hear the outside world. others are epz p50 which is kinda new and the latest kiwi ears septet. can't say about these two.

The zenith kicks way above its price point.

It is open and is easy to check, put some music block the nozzle, music comes through the back. Also if you shine a bright light you can see through the mesh at certain angles.

KZ Zenith, very well balanced, relaxed but extended highs, good detailed but not overpowering bass and clear vocals and mids.

KZ Zenith, well balanced and smooth. https://pw.squig.link/?share=KZ_Zenith_1100,7Hz_Salnotes_Zero_2,Moondrop_Chu_2

Completely different tuning, it is going to depend on your ears and preferences, no substitute for trying for yourself. Personally after trying both and some others I liked the KZ Zenith (now my daily driver) followed by the Defiant, the Explorer I didn't like.

For the type of sound you are looking for the KZ Zenith, natural sounding, smooth treble and spacious, the bass can be tweaked a bit with the switches for me they are comfortable but they can be on the heavy side for some. Around $50 I tried or have the Kefine Delci, Klean, TE Zero, Zero: RED, T10 and EW300, the EW300 is a close second but I like the treble and sense of space of the Zenith a bit more. Also a DAC/dongle is recommended because they are low impedance devises and that assures that you hear the correct sound and consistency between sources, it can be a low cost CX31993 or similar, there no need for more.

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.

I want that cable lol. I don’t need any more single dd iems though. Tanchjim origin, dunu falcon ultra, fiio fd15, ea500lm, tripowin Olina se and kz zenith have been great for me. Everyone is sleeping on that fiio, imo I like it more than origin.

Hydro ZVX Pro ZAX AM16 balanced Decet (if no pressure issues) Vader OG balanced & Pro PRX Zenith (good but too safe tuning)

For the price, nothing can beat kz zenith and kefine klean

Just a few days in but I'm a fan on the kz zenith, and by extension since its magnitudes cheaper. The zvx pro

Basically this past year after trying a lot of budget sets my sound preference was defined by the stock tuning or Tue Libra X then by ZVX Pro. Then the Zenith seems to be a refinement to the zvx pro formula and it truly is - refined treble and mids across the board. Note however - as described to me before - you pay for levels of refinement. Even though it is there would It be worth 3x the cost of the zvx pro to 1 zenith? I'd agree with a comment by Paul Wasabi - zenith quality is in the 100usd 1DD (he'd pick zenith over kima 2). Re zs10 pro even if FR would have resemblance, being hybrid might bring issues (ie coherence, ba timbre) that will make a comparison not easy.

First thing first, unless you want to try different tuning signature or driver setup, Avoid sidegrading in sub $30 market. It wont that much "better" I would recomend to save abit and hunt for $40~80 market. For fun sounding iems, From KZ house, KZ Zenith comes highly recommended. There is also the current sub $100 darling, Simgot EW300.

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.

I had good experiences with the KZ Zenith for metal, insane separation and detail. EW300 is a great choice, it's pretty comparable to the Zenith. Make sure to get the DSP version.

Have you ever tried the KZ zs12 pro x? And if yes, how would they compare? I tried the Zenith. And while it's impressive as a single driver for Kz, I'm missing a lot of micro-details and some "richness" that I could get with my Zs12.

I 100 % agree with your assessment. I read so many articles and posts praising the Reds so they were my first purchase and... I just don't hear it. Disappointed 100%. Tip rolling did improve the sound but it was still unsatisfying. It was just so... bland. I then bought Celest Wyvern Black for $25 and wow, what a difference. So clear, punchy bass, and in overall, a great sounding IEM. This led me to purchase the following: Celest Relentless, KZ PRX, KZ Zenith, and Kiwi Ears Aether. All sound amazing. While some on the list are more expensive than then the Reds, PRX (planar) and the aforementioned Wyvern are cheaper and both are leaps and bounds better than the Reds

I don’t. They’re all hype. They’re nothing special and there’s better KZ IEM’s than the castor bass. KZ Zenith. kZ ZNA The list goes on. Castor Bass and Harman are genuinely too hyped up, when they’re genuinely TRASH.

I doubt you've listened to any recent KZ releases if that's your take. Vader, Vader Pro, AM16, Zenith and other recent IEMs have all been excellent for their price

I have the Zenith, its an all-rounder set with a slight u-shape. Some advice would be that the stock cable has a higher impedance (of about 1 ohm), so do get an upgrade cable (about 0.3 ohms) it actually improved the dynamics by providing more power to the driver, resulting in better bass texture and transients. I got the TRN Redchain which also complements the Zenith's look well, its also a modular 4-core cable and man the build quality is just muah... chef's kiss!! Also the stock eartips are bad quality just like the stock cable and mess up the frequency response more than you'd think. I recommend getting the Divinus Velvet Wide Bore, I admit it doesn't completely lock onto the nozzle of the iem but still it doesn't slide down/back either and provides a wider soundstage, deeper bass, and a more open sound - overall best pick for different types of genres including alternative, hip-hop etc. I do the have the TangZu Sancai Balanced Bore as well they fit better onto the nozzle but don't sound as good as the Divinus Velvet Wide Bore. I got both the cable and the eartips in separation, independently after a while between the two and noticed substantial differences both times by upgrading to each. You can read mobileaudiophile.com's review on these too - very well reviewed. Also unlike in the review 1100 is the better tuning configuration than 1110 as the bass doesn't eat into the mids, not that it does too much - only ever so slightly; but after a few months of using the latter tuning I tried the former and it improved the midrange details substantially without sacrificing the bass response. Oh and the bass is quite something since the voice coil diameter and magnet on the driver on these is quite substantially bigger than typical drivers of the same size. Its such a tactile and articulate kind of bass that's just hard to describe but amazing to experience. Mids shine through well and the treble has a slight sparkle (not at all bright in the least bit) and a smooth listen overall. Enjoy man and have a great day :))

Hey bro, so the IEMs just arrived. The sound is perfect. Can't complain, better than my headphones. I will give it some more time for testing, but one thing that I am noticing is that they are hissing, low pitch sum when no sound is coming through, is that normal, or is that my interface ? I did not think that would happen, thought my audio interface would serve as a DAC too, just let me know what to do, other than that I'mma give it sime time for testing but so far sound quality wise - excellent https://preview.redd.it/014zstxmimvf1.png?width=804&format=png&auto=webp&s=0a0f05bde509815005fbe68d1148cb778d1f815b

Bassy IEMs: Under $5 * QKZ AK6 Pro $25 and lower (bass-focused) * KBEar Rosefinch \* * QKZ x HBB (OG version) \* * BLON BL-01 * KZ Castor Bass \* $25 and lower (neutral warm) * Tangzu Wan'er SG/Wan'er 2 \* * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 \* * Moondrop Chu 2 * KZ Castor Silver (UUDD switches) $25-60 (bass-focused) * BLON BL-03/BL-03 II \* * BLON x HBB Z300 * TinHiFi C3 Mk2 \* * 7Hz x HBB Elua * Kinera Celest Gumiho * KZ Castor Pro Bass \* * CCA Rhapsody \* * CCA Trio \* $25-60 (neutral warm) * Kefine Klean \* * Inawaken Dawn Ms \* * Kiwi Ears Cadenza \* * Tripowin x 0DiBi Vivace \* * Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss \* * Tangzu YuXuanJi * KBear KB02 * KZ Zenith (UUDD switches) \* * KZ Castor Pro Silver (UUDD switches) Special mentioned * Truthear x Crinacle Zero Blue 2 \* * QKZ x HBB Khan (\* recommend)

$25 and lower * Tangzu Wan'er SG/Wan'er 2 * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 \* * Moondrop Chu 2 * KZ Castor Silver (UDDD switches) \* $25-60  * Kefine Klean \* * Inawaken Dawn Ms \* * Truthear x Crinacle Zero Red \* * Truthear x Crinacle Zero Blue 2 \* * Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Tripowin x 0DiBi Vivace * Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss * Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast \* * Tangzu YuXuanJi * KBear KB02 \* * KZ Zenith (UUDD switches) \* * KZ Castor Pro Silver (UDDD switches) \* Or any other neutral warm IEMs, but the two Truthear Crinacle are the closest one with minimal mid-bass. Or go for planar IEMs, which their bass is speedy decay enough to be not too much mid bass: * SGOR Luna * Artti T10/T10 Pro * NiceHCK F1 Pro * Shozy P10/P20 * Letshuoer S08