KZ EDC: Embrace the Dark Tune

Hello mates and welcome to my another IEM review in my blog page. I hope that you will enjoy reading my article,  This time I'll try to make it more concise.

 

  I have here the latest ultra entry-level offering from Knowledge Zenith, The KZ EDC. This particular unit reminds me of their throwback models, The KZ ATE and KZ ATE-S. KZ ATE was actually my first IEM and I remembered how it was decently sound that was quite satisfying enough to my ears at that time.

 

KZ EDC is a single dynamic driver IEM set-up as its single DD has a measurement of 10mm and it has of polyester diaphragm with an equivalent  hardness and strength of a diamond that provides a better signal response and less distortion. Its shells it made of an acrylic resin which is somehow skin-friendly as I don't feel any irritation and comfort in my ear's outer skin. It has a metal alloy face plate that was laminated with acrylic resin that it really looks attractive and sophisticated and it has vent hole near at base of the nozzle. As I said before that it reminds me of their older models like KZ ATE and KZ ATE-S is due to its non-detachable cable which might be cause a problem in the future if your KZ EDX will have some issue on its cable's wiring and termination. It's OFC clear cable is flatter in surface and in double parallel so that it wont entangled easily and it has a 3.5mm L-shape termination plug (mine's doesn't have a mic).

 

 Wearing on this IEM is quite comfortable as I can wear them for long time due to its light weight and it has a decent seal that it blocks some noise from the outside environment.

 

Like most KZ products, I already expected that their packaging is very minimalist as the contents inside from box are the set of IEMs, an extra ear tips and an instruction manual.

 

  When it comes drivability, this set demands more power from its source to sound more fuller. You need at least a phone with good DAC/amp like LG or a DAP just to scale them properly due to its low sensitivity rating.

 

The sound signature of this one is warmish-neutral with midrange emphasis. Overall it has warmer and dark tonality as I explained it every characteristic on each section of every audio frequency spectrum.

 

LOWS/BASS:

 

The bass has an impact, more leaning on a boomy one and sustaining, sub bass has an ample depth that I can hear some decent rumbling sound from it.

 

Mid bass has more emphasis on the bass region due to its thicker texture note that it contribute more leaning towards boomy nature and I hear some hint of bass bleeds in some tracks, Although the sounds of bass instruments is leaning towards more softer and leaner as bass drum kicks lacks that pounding that it sounds more gloomy while bass guitar sounds a little bit understated due to its less growl and sonorous.

 

Take note that this is not consider a quantity bass for basshead as it lack that thunderous and impact.

 

 

MIDS:

 

  This the most prominent one of the overall tuning of KZ EDC, as this is where the tuning more attuned to as KZ intended based on their release ad on this model.

 

Vocals of both gender are the most focus on this one as they sound more forward, organic and intimate. As they sound more natural and has a warmth but here are some of my takes, the vocals especially on females sound lacking of being energetic and immensive across the range as I find it a little bit veiled in my hearing. Male vocals  performs decently as how it renders the different kinds vocalisation on male voice in more natural way.

 

Percussive sound less detailed and less engaging as I also observed that snares is lacking of that impact and quite hollow as I want it sound more sustaining and penetrating snares strikes. Strings instruments like acoustic and electric guitars has an inadequate crunch and crisp that you find it unsatisfactory if you want an every intricate and details on plucking the strings. And lastly, the piano sounds more on a mellow and rounded that if you want more rich and lustrous sounding one, you might stay away on this.

 

 

In general sense, despite that KZ EDC is a mid focus, it is lacking on both quantitative and qualitative points on being a great midcentric, I can say this statement is due to that I'm a midcentric person and I want more mids sounds more dynamic resolution, lush and brimming with details.

 

HIGHS/TREBLE:

 

Trebleheads will agree with me on this one if they will hear this one. The treble is dark, inadequately clarity and definition and dull. It has an early roll-off on its lower treble region as I tested it all of my treble-laden tracks.

 

Surely that sibilance is practically absent and there's no presence of harshness due to that scooped upper mids and presence treble that its sounds really blunted and gloomy.

 

The airiness is almost non-existent as I hear only a faint whisp from it. Cymbals strikes dull and dim and don't expect some detail chicking sound of hi-hats and lo-hats.

 

Certainly that this is most deficient part of overall sound of KZ EDZ, its underwhelming treble response.

 

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

 

  My estimates on its soundstage dimension was that it has an average width, decent reach on depth and ample height ceiling. In general, they are just average in any sense as I'm aware the limitations of a dynamic driver.

 

Separation and layering of instrument has a sufficient spacing and gap on one another in either axes point but in a more complex tracks they sound more congested and constricted in my hearing perception. Imaging does its job just to be fairly acceptable as I hear some instrument and vocal positioning on each spatial spanning of each channel but not to the point being an accurate as it is quite a little bit hazy.

 

As for coherency, I gave a good mark on it. why not? It's no brainer that it has good dynamic driver and it performs very well and it shows its being cohesive sounding across the dynamic range.

 

The transients executes well as it a nimble and agile that it affects the faster decay rate especially in roll-off in treble.

 

Conclusively as I end this review on how I feel on this one. Its actually a miscellany one, it adheres my prefer sound signature and tonality but my issue was its inadequate performance and subpar detail resolution. Assuredly that it performs well according to its price ratio but there are some products from other competitors even their own line-up of items can outperform this one.

 

KZ EDC somehow will receive a hesitant reception from the audio community, There will be a set of users will probably love this one like vocalists and mid-focus audio enthusiasts who were on tight budget.

 

The KZ EDC cost around US$9.00/£7.00 and its now available to all every e-commerce store sites.

 

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: KZ EDC

IMPEDANCE: 35Ω

SENSITIVITY: 95dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE:  10Hz - 40KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.25M

PIN TYPE: Non-Detachable

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm

DRIVER UNITS: One (1) Dynamic Driver

 

PROS:

 

·        An attractive shell design.

·        At last, a midrange, vocal-focus IEM from KZ.

·        Decent quality vocal resolution

·        Cheapest IEM for stage monitoring

·        Soothing tonality

 

 

CONS:

 

·        Non-detachable cable (problematic due to long term usage).

·        Dark tuning, lack of treble quality.

·        Sub-par technicalities.

 

Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

 

Alison Krauss- A Living Prayer *

Debbie Gibson- Foolish  Beat *'*

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks *'*

Santana - Europa *

Europe - Final Countdown *

Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*

Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'

Barry White - Never, Never Ever Give You Up

Pearl Jam - Daughter **

Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *

Agent Steel - Bleed for the Godz*

Metallica- Fade to Black **

Camouflage - The Great Commandment *

Queen - Killer Queen **

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean *

Bad Manners - Just a Feeling *

Riot- Warrior *

Mariah Carey- Love Takes Time *

Layla Kaylif - Shakespeare in Love *

Stone Temple Pilots - Plush *

David Bowie - Heroes **

Prince - When the Doves Cry *

Exodus - Metal Command *

Marduk - Blond Beast *

P. Diddy - Last Night *

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony- The Crossroads*

 

P.S.

I am not affiliated to Knowledge Zenith nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

 

 Once again, I would like to thank Jeff Yang for providing this review unit, I truly appreciate on his generosity towards me and other reviewers.

 

If you are interested this IEM product from KZ, Just check out the link below:

Website: https://kz-audio.com/kz-edc.html

Shopee: https://shopee.ph/gkearphones.ph