KZ - ZEX Pro / CRN

I have 10-ish different models in the 10€ to 150€ range, mostly for PUBG and about 3000 hours in the game. Here are my top picks: - Tripowin Vivace 35€ - Simgot EM6L 120€ - Truthear Crinacle Zero blue 60€ (need AMP&DAC) - QKZ x HBB 20€ In that order. For other games, the Simgot and Crinacle Zero jump higher. The next ones can do, but not competitive: - Moondrop Quarks DSP 15€ - 7Hz Salnotes Zero 25€ - Apple earpods 3.5mm 20€ - KZ Zex Pro Crn 40€ Can't recommend for PUBG: - Moondrop Chu 25€ - Brainwavz Omega 15€ I recommend checking Fresh Reviews on Youtube, he checked many pricier models...

First time I feel like living with deaf ear when I tried chinese IEM for fun. It turns me into audiophile for a while. KZ EDX then ZS10 Pro, now Zex Pro. First two less than rm100 on shopee. Got other brands with match quality sound and price but only tried KZ. Tried alot of ear/headphone at same price range. Meh. Even airpod/buds hardly match with details I used heard to.

People hate on kz crn but I personally love it. I bought kz crn as an upgrade from my tangzu waner first gen. CRNs needed a Lil bit of tuning but after that they sound amazing.

(amongst the iems have I owned) s tier: kiwi ears ke 4 and truthear hexa a+ tier: Ikko OH10, Pula PA02, Shuoer s12 pro, Sennheiser ie200, Kefine Delci, Dunu Titan S OG a tier: Dunu Titan s2, Tanchjim One, pre revision CCA CRA+ A- tier: Binary Chopin, Tangzu Waner Studio, KZ PR2 pre revision, Tripowin Olina SE B+ tier: Kiwi Ears Quintet, Tangzu Xuan Ji, Simgot EW 200, Truthear Gate and Hola, Tangzu Wan'er SG B tier: Moondrop Chu 2 and OG, KZ EDA Balanced, Kiwi Ears Quartet, Moondrop Aria Snow, FiiO Jade Audio JH3, Tripowin Lea B- tier: 7hz zero OG, Truthear Zero Blue, Whizzer BS1 C tier: KZ CRN D tier: Moondrop Quarks honorable mentions: Koss KSC75 in A minus, Porta Pro in B, Moondrop Space Travel in B-, Galaxy Buds Plus and 2 in A minus along with Airpods Pro Gen 1, and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in A plus.

My first IEM got beaten up cuz I sleep on them, they were KZ ZEX pro and the plastic holding the inserts for the pins disintegrated. I do still have my 7hz Zero OG though and they're still kicking strong.

Ah! My bad for getting rude.. I have used kz zex and I still own now I was looking for some better tuned iem for bassy music and slightly less treble zex has enormous treble that sharpness is not what I look for My primary need is EDM listening, sometimes melody ( very rare ), and occasionally valorant (FPS shooter) I was considering castor pro with D07 dac as it is tuned for good bass and that V shaped sound signature alongwith better KZ's signature high treble. Heard a lot about warner but it is not good in gaming so neglecting that truthear zero red reviews also mentioned that lack of gaming they are more sort of music iems So finally stumbled on this. Also considering blon bl03 gen 2. FYI I trust only some reviewers like Trakin Tech English's Ershaad, Hardware Mana's Sunny and some reddit browsing for different perspectives. let me know what you think!

Thanks a lot man it was very helpful. I really want to dive into EQ just planning to get a cheap but decent IEM, probably Gate and a DAC. Currently I own KZ Zex but it have lot of bass

KZ ZEX Electrostatic technology I'm supremely surprised by the balanced sound, good all around. It's super cheap on Aliexprrss

I had to switch because i broke them ༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ, and tbh i will say that the zex kinda focuses on audience who like EDM or bassy music, even i personally listen to bassy music but after switching to zs12 pro x i kinda feel like yeah zex did have alot more bass than my zs12, zex pro does have some quality but if u are a guy who uses equaliser for that extra more punch like me, they kinda sound muffle. So i will give u an opinion based on my experience: Choose zs12 pro x if u listen to normal pop/acoustic music Choose zex if you listen to bass heavy hip hop/EDM. Option 3 : U can look for kz castor bass harmaan edition if ur looking for a mid of both. I experienced castor pro at my local iem store and was really confused between the castor and zs12 pro x, the bass in castor is detailed unlike zex and provide much more space for higher frequencies as well, like i said balanced between zex and zs12. Hope this helps and reduces the confusion.

My first IEM was the popular-in-my-circle KZ ZS10pro. I never liked it - the highs were harsh/spitty and the low end seemed lacking. A few weeks ago I took a chance on the KZ ZEX, and it’s been my go-to. Things feel and sound right, finally. Iirc, I paid $80+ for the first set, and perhaps $20 for the current set. I may buy a bunch of sets just to have them on hand…but I’ve got a set of Truthear Zero Blue 2 on the way. I may decide I’ve been wrong. Or it may verify my choice. Time will tell. I’m a 35+ year pro live sound engineer helping guide people into the world of in-ear monitoring on stage. I feel we’re in a bit of a special place right now as far as this technology goes. Don’t get hung up on price, OP: if they sound good to you, that’s enough. Good is good.

I must’ve bought older stock. I do very much like my ZEX. Considering a set of PRX

There is new kit out every year that supposedly advances the state of the art, but you should not discount older models which will tend to be more affordable, and may even outperform. I’d also caution about paying premiums for celebrity endorsements - unless you are intimately familiar with their preferences and your hearing is significantly similar to theirs, you’re just putting money in their pocket to try to influence your purchasing decisions. More often than not, that money is better spent on better sealing eartips and a better cable. I started with KZ ZS10pro ($40-50?) then upgraded the cable ($10?). Now over a year later, I’ve just bought their ZEX ($20) and recycled the cable and am impressed with the bump in sound quality. Regular memory foam eartips are what seal off the outside world so I can hear the IEM itself. Also, Amazon pricing is higher than AliExpress, so shop carefully. You have waited this long, so what’s another week for shipping?

Kz zex, 1dd 1 es driver amazing sound and very value for money at 14usd

Thanks for your quick reply! Coming from the KZ ZEX, I felt like the bass was too uninspiring. It felt muddy and without a lot of detail. The treble also felt kind of lifeless and I really had to mess with some EQ to get a good sound from it. So I guess I would prefer something with some more kick in the lower end and brightness in the top end as well. I guess this might be a tall ask but I would love your opinion on this.

I bought my first pair of IEMs, the KZ ZEX 6 months ago and have been using it ever since and I love it. Sound so much better than the cheap TWS earbuds I had. I've been thinking about upgrading and was curious to know, is the Chu 2 worth it? Also I like listening to music with punchy bass and high but not harsh treble.

Mm yeah that makes sense, I'll guess I'll just wait until I have the funds for something like the Simgot EW300. I just bought my first DAC and I'm so excited to hear the difference in audio quality on my ZEX.

Sidegrade at best imo. Unless the treble of the ZEX is too much.

You bought one of the cheapest IEMs there is and you compare them to Samsung buds that are like some hundred of dollars in price right? Now that price doesn't always mean everything but there are usually some dsp tech in those smartphone targeted buds and probably more better tuned drivers than in some 20 buck iems. But we can try to troubleshoot some things to make them sound at least a bit better since they are your first IEM I assume. Try different size tips and make sure you get *good* seal. They have to feel like they are plugging your ear and no air leaks in. Foam tips can also make it easier to get that earplug feeling. Give them some time and listen them exclusively for couple of weeks or so and then try your other buds and if they still sound horrible maybe they are just not for you and thats not the end of the world, kz zex are ultra budget iem after all and they come with many compromises even though budget IEMs can be really good for the price. DAC wont help them make sound better if you are already using dongle to plug them in your phone. Try Kiwi Ears Quartet if you want fun, warm-ish and engaging sound.

Good call. I play bass and the Sure single driver couldn’t cut it. A friend in Nashville recommended the KZ. I got the dual driver for $20 and the difference is night and day. The triple driver work well too I just didn’t find them as comfortable.

Yeah isolation is a tough one. I’ve had the KZ Pros and think they are garbage on all aspects from the fit, to sound isolation, to the sound reproduction. Probably my most hated IEMs that I’ve tried