Knowledge Zenith ZEX: V is for Viably Affordable, Innovative IEM.

  Oi! mates and welcome to my another review spot and I'll talking about a new product from a well-known audio company from the land of ancient middle kingdom, Knowledge Zenith.

   As we are all aware of Knowledge Zenith or KZ as we know in audio enthusiast community on how influential the company was and on how they shape the current trend of audio market scene. We also know the background of the company as they are founded by classical musician and a former audio engineer from a one of the most reputable audio company, Audio-Technica and their misison is to deliver an affordable hifi IEM for people who are on tight budget but wants to experience a better sound quality on their ear gears.

   For additional information about them, This is the first audio company that introduced a cheap and affordable hybrid driver set-up IEM in the market a few years ago and once again they try to innovate and also to please the whims of audio community with their even more exciting products. I'll introduce to you their latest and first product on a different Hybrid set-up, The KZ ZEX.

The KZ ZEX is quite innovative on this part as it has a different hybrid driver set-up compare from their previous offering for it has a single dynamic driver and their newly develop "electrostatic" (electret, or more correct term, magnetostatic) driver. This is now available to all e-commerce store sites at $22.00/£16.00.  I'll give some insights and information on how magnetostatic drivers works based on my understanding.

   The principle on how magnetostatic driver works, It uses a current output unlike electrostatics that uses high voltages as these current travel all way to those static magnets with some wire or strips that attaches to a diaphragm that provides a sound due to interaction of magnetic fields and conductor. If you look upon the whole process and try to understand about it, it has a similar fundamentals with a dynamic driver with some added some complexity on its mechanism.

   The KZ ZEX is made of an opaque polycarbonate plastic at base part with a magnesium alloy faceplate to add more rigidity and protection on its internal parts. The position of vent port is meticulously placed at the buttom part of the IEM in borderline seam between faceplate and base part. It has decent built quality in my standard that can stand on daily wear and tear usage. The fitting of this set is somehow decent as the size of its shell is on a medium scale albeit it is quite a little bit hefty. The nozzle length is average on length but I occasionally feels the looseness and some wobbly feeling in my lug holes while I'm doing some daily walking while listening to music.

Packaging content-wise, It still as usual bare-bones KZ stuff as it has just basic accessories included in box. It has a white-coloured box sleeve with illustration of ZEX at front and some basic infos while the contents inside consist of pair of IEMs, a four (4) core SPC white with a L-shape 3.5mm termination jack (mine was a with mic option with basic mono single control button for receiving and ending calls and also play or stop on playing a music track), three (3) pair of white eartips of different sizes and a simple instruction manual.

Like all previous KZ products, KZ ZEX is an easy to drive IEM as it only needs a decent power output to any sources whether from PC, laptops, smartphones, tablets and even DAPs. It really scales well on any sources and no additional contraption like USB DACs or DAC amps for further improvement unless your audio output source has unremarkable implementation.

   The tonality of KZ ZEX is still leaning more on a V-shape sound signature due to its elevation of bass and treble with niche mids on the frequency range spectrum.

  Here are some sound characteristics of each frequency range and some technicalities.

LOWS/BASS:

  I should say that ZEX is more on qualitative aspect as it has a good detail on the sub bass extension reach as I've discerningly hear the guttural rumbling and gruffy sound its lowest bass specturm.

  Midbass has a sufficient texture on a density note that gives some body for authoritative bass kicks and a decent growl and rasping sound of a bass guitar. Overall, the bass quality of these set is on a punchy, with moderate pace transients and just slight amount on being impactful as some bassy tracks demands to show in quantitative manner.

MIDS:

 The midrange part of IEM is recessed (in my liking) on the mix like most typical KZ tuning. Despite of recessed nature, It still deliver well rounded, cleaner and warm sound. Male vocals are more on a natural side and slightly laidback in some tracks for they have just an ample amount of weight note body as they sound more on leaner texture compare to the female vocals. Female vocals has more emphasis and body on this one as it has that energy and more open for it has reach well on its intended range.

  Percussive, rhythm and wind instruments are passable to be sound natural when it comes on scaling it up on timbre and harmonic sense but still I feel some lackness and sometimes sounds blunt such as lacking of crunchiness of guitar especially on acoustic guitars as its sound a little bit dry and mellow in my hearing, a rustling sound of snare drums which needs more impactful and more rounded yet less textured and somber sound of a piano.

Coherency turns out to decent one on how both drivers works well as it synchronize the rendition of  overtunes of all musical instruments and vocals present on the mix to sound more pleasing and convincing harmoniously.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

  This is actually impressive on KZ's tuning on its treble compare to their previous ones as it very pleasant and pleasurable to hear.

  The upper mids/lower treble is likely smoothen out that sibilance is very miniscule to be noticeable, probably minimum up to zero and harshness is thoroughly absent as I can listen and use them for an extended time of usage without experiencing any ear fatigue and stress.

  It has a smooth and sufficient detail retrieval. It is less shimmer and yet it can deliver a substantial crisp and modest vivid sound in the presence part of treble.        

The airiness part of treble is somewhat on an average range and some treblehead will define it as a roll-off one as cymbals strikes lacks of that shimmering trait and hi-hats sounds a little bit dull.

To be fair, this is a decent and good treble but it still lacking one step below of being the best treble quality.

SOUNDSTAGE AND IMAGING:

This is the part where I will lay down the  deficiencies of this item. The width of its soundstage is just of an average to above average size, while its substantial depth and fair amount of height ceiling as its sound more on an intimate side.

Separation is just average as it has only decent amount of spacing on each instrument and vocalist which isn't that impressive. Imaging quality is somewhat more on an ordinary left and right stereo panning or should I say, two-dimensional though I can still perceive on pinpointing the location of each instrument but still on a hazy point of its respective channel.

As I conclude my review of KZ ZEX, the big million dollar questions are on how does it fare compare to its current competitor and what are its advantages? Does it has an improvement of its tuning over these past years?

For me, KZ is still relevant up to this day as it working hard trying to improve their product that can offer a competitive pricing and adding some innovative features to make it more viable attractive to its potential commercial. When it comes to tuning, it really matures up and step up of its game as KZ seriously making some adjustments on its tuning as it removes some of inherent peakiness that affect the whole audio frequency spectrum specifically on treble area as it don't have a sibilance and harshness nature anymore that mostly encountered on their previous products but it take more steps to improve furthermore as audio market constantly evolving. I applauded on how KZ finally did their job well-done. Expecting for more product from you and give us even more surprises, Knowledge Zenith.

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: KZ ZEX

IMPEDANCE:25Ω

SENSITIVITY: 103dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz-40KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M

PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (QDC TYPE)

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm

DRIVER UNITS: 1 DYNAMIC DRIVER + 1 "ELECTROSTATIC" DRIVER

PROS:

- Balanced, matured V-shape tuning

- Satisfying bass quality

- Decent detail retrieval

- At last, a more smoother treble response.

- Improved 4-core SPC cable

CONS:

- QDC-type 2 pin connector (to be honest, I have issues with this kind of connector)

- Inadequate quality on technicalities like soundstage and separation.

- Still a barebone included accesories in the packaging box.

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 affliated 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 Love Jr. David 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 their official store link below:

Shopee for ASEAN market:

https://shopee.ph/kzearphone.ph?smtt=0.0.9