Knowledge Zenith (KZ) ZEX PRO: KZ's First Triple Hybrid Driver IEM

  

Oi mates! and welcome to my another IEM review article. This is actually an anniversary post since my blog is already a year old, Thank you for your time on reading some my review articles for the past 12 months.

 

  What I have here is the next reiteration product from Knowledge Zenith on their ZEX series, The KZ ZEX Pro. As we all know that previous ZEX was the first new generation of hybrid drivers as it has a single DD and a magnetostatic drivers but this particular set is a bit different one. KZ added an additional driver, a balanced armature driver, as they try to rectify those inadequacies of the KZ ZEX based from the feedbacks of some reviewers and customers.

 

If you want to checkout my review on KZ ZEX, click the link below:

http://euphoniareviews.blogspot.com/2021/10/knowledge-zenith-zex-v-is-for-viably.html

  KZ ZEX Pro is hybrid set-up IEM with three different drivers. It has a dynamic driver for lows, magnetostatic driver that handles for mids and highs and an balance armature driver as a supplement to improve the mids and highs. The shell that is encapsulates the drivers is made of three sections, a polycarbonate base cavity part, a zinc alloy on its face plate and a brass nozzle. The face plate is very noticeable as its design cues was taken from the previous and recently released products from KZ's sister company, CCA. These particular design were found on CCA CSN, CCA CA24 and the recently CCA CA16 Pro that I’ve previously review before. Good thing that KZ give some choices on its customer to choose a colour on this one as it available in Black, Pearl and Rose Gold (I choose the later colour as I want something new in my collection).

 

  KZ still implemented that 2-pin QDC C-type connector (some of you are already aware on my standpoint on this type of connector). There are also two vent holes on this unit of each shell for escaping excess sound pressure generated by the drivers inside.

 

 The shells are in medium-size as when it comes to fitting of this IEM, they are snugly and comfortable in my medium-size lug holes. The bulge part that holds the cymba concha was intendedly  design as a stabilizer to provide more secure fitting.

 

  Just like its predecessor, The KZ ZEX Pro has an identical set of included accessories inside of its white packaging box. The items included are the following:

·        A pair of ZEX Pro IEMs.

·        A white 4-core SPC parallel cable with 3.5mm L-shape termination jack.

·        An extra pair of white tips of different sizes.

·        A small quality control card.

·        An instruction manual.

 

  KZ ZEX Pro are easy to drive IEMs as they only demand a decent power to power them. Smartphones, Laptops, PCs and other media devices, you named it as how KZ ZEX Pro will easily scaling on those devices.

 

  The tonality of KZ ZEX pro is more of slight V-shape or U-shape tuning. The bass and treble are emphasis and some elevation over mids which stay at bit notch on the audio frequency spectrum. In general, they sound more balanced and an un-KZ tuning that people will notice especially on more familiar on a typical KZ tuning.

 

Here are some of my observation and description in its characteristics of each audio frequency spectrum.

 

LOWS/BASS:

  The quality of its bass is articulate, punchy and clean. The sub bass has faint presence on the bass region as it shows some decent reach to show at least a gentle rumbling.

  Mid bass has a decent texture to give an ample body and weight note on some bass oriented instruments and male vocals. Because of its satisfactory texture, it gives a good thump on bass kicks, a more mellowing yet sustaining bass guitar and a reasonably depth on the bass baritone vocals.

 

The transients speed is an agile as it is gives sudden decay on its performance.

 

Overall, bass quality on this one is worthwhile to be consider, not a hint bass bleeds that spells out on the other audio frequency, clean and well-controlled.

 

MIDS:

  The mids are clean, pristine, smooth and translucent but it is still a bit recessed in my preference if I measure it on my mid-centric tonality scale. For sure that vocals are well-done on this IEM as to its more on natural approach rather than being more detail focus.

  Male vocals are less prominent than female vocals. I find soprano, falsetto and tenor a bit lacking of that depth, a bit narrow and power but still acceptable to be a good one. Female vocals has at least a decent reach and enough clarity but not the best on resolution as I find it just average but still is  pleasant and sweet to hear them.

 

As for instruments, the percussive like snare drums and congas has that penetrating, precise yet a little bit soft thudding, strings instruments such a guitars and harps has enough crisp and “ringy” tone, I almost forgot to mention that velvety and somehow a vibrant sound of violin and lastly, that mellow and lustrous sound of piano.

 

For a KZ set, this is one of the crack tuning that I really lauded them on how they try to put an importance on improving the quality of the mids of the KZ. Well-done, just keep improving.

 

HIGHS/TREBLE:

Treble on this one is more leaning on a brighter side, has a bit lacking of airy extension and just more of an average detail retrieval.

  Upper mids/ lower treble has a discernable peak that in some sibilant-prone tracks, it gives a bit an abrupt  hissy, noticeable but not the point of being irritating.

 

  Cymbals strikes has a shimmering sound and yet a bit controlled and crammed as it has almost the same muted quality of hi-hats as I really what my cymbals sounds more well-extended as it was sounds more natural and give a scintillating feel.

 

  The treble needs more further improvement in this set but for a price point, it is decent enough.

 

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

  The width of perceived sound field  is just an average to above average, a decent depth and satisfactory height, It is like that you are in small pub with at least a 3 meters of ceiling.

 

  I give a score on imaging performance an above average as I can locate the source of a sound decently in a typical stereo spatial panning. Separation and layering is a just an average as placement and spacing of instruments is a bit narrow that in some multi-instrument complex tracks it gives of a sense of compression and congestion.

Coherency-wise of its three drivers system, they have a good synchronisation as they show the output in a cohesive manner without any phasing issues.

 

My verdict on this one, That KZ finally stepping off from their comfort zone of a typical V-shape tuning as they try to explore and venture on other possible new kind of tuning that its doesn’t sound redundant compare to their most product. This is so far one of the most balanced, more closer to neutral that KZ's ever produce.

   Surely, that it will still take more steps on improving their product's quality on both aesthetics and tuning and I think that KZ ZEX Pro is just an introduction on what KZ products will release in the future.

 

KZ ZEX Pro is now available to all e-commerce sites and it is currently around $35.00/£26.00.

 

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: KZ ZEX Pro

IMPEDANCE: 16Ω

SENSITIVITY: 104dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE:  20Hz - 40KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.25M

PIN TYPE:  2-PIN QDC-TYPE CONNECTOR

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm

DRIVER UNITS: 1 DYNAMIC DRIVER, 1 MAGNETOSTATIC AND 1 BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVER.

 

PROS:

·        Well-tuned balanced sounding IEM.

·        Good all-rounder set.

·        Sufficient bass quality

·        Surprisingly, a good fitting one.

·        Currently the cheapest “Tri-brid” set-up.

·        Many colour choices to choose from.

 

CONS:

·        QDC-type connector.

·        Technicalities of this set needs more improvement.

·        Mids and Treble need more further refinement.

·        Well, KZ...Bare bones packaging and inclusion of accessories.

 

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

 

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *

Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **

Mountain - Mississippi Queen *

Queen - Killer Queen **

Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*

Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'

Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'

Pearl Jam - Daughter **

Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *

Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*

Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *

New Order - Blue Monday *

The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *

The Madness- Buggy Trousers *

Metallica - Motorbreath **

Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *

Destiny's Child - Say My Name *

Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *

Mozart - Lacrimosa *

New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*

Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *

Exciter - Violence and Force *

Diana Krall - Stop This World **

Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*

 

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 Knowledge Zenith (KZ), Just check out the link below:

https://www.kztws.com/products/kz-zex-pro