KNOWLEDGE ZENITH (KZ) EDCX: It's All About Tonality
Oi! mates, I have another IEM review article and it is a budget one coming from the well-known audio company, Knowledge Zenith also known as KZ.
What I have here is the KZ EDCX, it is a successor of the previous model from 2021, The KZ EDC. Like its predecessor, it has a single dynamic driver on its internal but EDCX has a newer generation of PET diaphragm which is a type of polyester thermoplastic which has a strong, transparent and flexible to provide a more balanced tuning by controlling the uppermid to high frequency to have smoother response.
The KZ EDCX's transducer was encased in a high quality polycarbonate plastic shell like its predecessor. It takes a UIEM form factor without the stabilising fin and it really provide a decent fitting to my lug holes without any sort of inconveniences that might cause some discomfort. Like its predecessor, it has a non-detachable cable that might be a problematic one in the future due to wear and tear usage.
Like all KZ products, KZ EDCX still has a very barebones inclusions packed in small packaging box. Inside the contents are the IEMs itself, extra ear tips of different standard sizes and an instruction manual.
As for amplification, KZ EDCX needs at least a bit of power output to sound it more dynamics with decent loudness. In most smartphones and tablets, you need the crank up the volume level but devices with good quality Hi-Fi DAC and amp will deliver an enough power to this set.
KZ EDCX's tuning is rather different compare to its predecessor as it takes a u-shaped sound signature with a more natural tonality compare to a more darker, midcentric tuning of KZ EDC.
Here's my take on KZ EDCX overall sound quality.
LOWS/BASS:
The bass seems to be elevated in the overall frequency range spectrum. It has a sufficient punchiness and decent depth but it will not satisfy the ears of most uber-bassheads out there that looking for more thumpy and bombastic lows.
It has a decent sub bass I still hear some grumble from sub bass-laden tracks either from Hip-hop or Pop genres. Electronic drums and synthesisers has presence on it but not deep. Mid bass appears to have decent body to give a whack on bass instruments like bass kicks, bass guitar and bass-baritones. Bass kicks sounds rather hollow with just sufficient slam while bass guitars are mellow and dull sounding then bass-baritone has broader and darker presentation.
There are some instances of bass bleeds across the midrange that causes a tad of overshadowing and veiled sounding in some tracks.
MIDRANGE:
Midrange is rather warmth with ample texture and smoothness but it is a bit notched in the overall frequency range spectrum. Male vocals seems to be prominent on this set as it has a more texture to give a body on voice and deep, females vocals are neutral and sheeny but does have that lack of energy and sense of airiness but its gives a more luscious and "smoky" quality.
As for instruments, it gives a more "buttery" and bloomy sound on acoustic guitars, a solemn and austere sounding violins, a mellow and sonorous sound on woodwinds like saxophone and flutes. When it comes to brass like trombone and horns, it sounds fuller and somewhat rounded while percussive like snares drum has rattling sound but it does not hit that hard and Celesta sounds rather velvety with hint of softness and lastly the pianos sounds more warmer and richer in tone.
HIGHS/TREBLE:
Compare to the previous EDC which was a darker sounding, the EDCX is rather balanced and smoother. For sure that we want some shimmer and crisp to add some detail and clarity but KZ decided to sound like this as it eliminates any chances of sibilance and harshness to have fatigue-free listening experience.
It is quite noticeable that its presence to brilliance treble quality are rather underwhelming and mediocre given cymbals strikes sounds somewhat soughing and distant that we want a more shimmer and sizzle. Air and harmonics seems average in range as you wonder if there is a sparkle on it.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING & OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
The overall technical capabilities of KZ EDCX are pretty much average and doesn't standout by any means. Soundstage's width is average, it has a decent height and a daily immersive depth to measure the gap between front and rear placement to give a decent spatial feel within my head room. It has decent imaging, separation and layering performance as I can fairly locate the placement of instruments and vocals in a binaural, stereo manner though not the accurate as I intended. Spacing seems to a decent gap on each element but layering aren't that impressive that both dynamics and frequency of each instrumental tone are rather disorganise and misplaced that affects the sound quality on a complex, multi-instrumental tracks like orchestra.
Meanwhile in coherency, such a single dynamic driver performs cohesively and it has moderate speed able to execute an attack fairly within its transient capability.
Resolution capability are rather norm within its price range as it does have a decent detail retrieval but have up to par macro-dynamics.
The most positive aspect was it timbre quality, which sounds very natural with just an ample warmth on it to sound a more analogueish.
PEER COMPARISON
Check out my review on KZ EDC to compare whether its an improvement or just a mere sidegrade.
As I concluded in this review that KZ continues to deliver on such product within the budget range that is quite cheap and very afforable with decent sound quality and a median technical performance. With pleasant tonality that will gives a fatigue-free listening experience, this is one of few KZ's product that will not give you some unpleasant tuning like sibilance and harshness with just simply an enjoyable fun-sounding tuning.
KZ EDCX is currently available in KZ/CCA official store in Shopee. You can check the link here.
SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: KZ EDCX
IMPEDANCE: 20Ω
SENSITIVITY: 102dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 40KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: NON-REMOVABLE
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER
PROS:
● Smooth and pleasant tonality.
● Fatigue-free tuning as it pleases most treble sensitives listeners for long listening sessions.
● Neither sibilance nor harshness, it doesn't exhibit these issues.
● An enjoyable, fun-sounding set that is quite versatile of most music genre.
● Organic timbre.
● Affordable price.
CONS:
▽ Non-detachable cable.
▽ Barebones inclusions.
▽ Lack of air and clarity.
▽ Unimpressive technical performance.
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 *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
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 TYVAN LAM for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate his generosity towards me and other reviewers.
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