KZ MERGA: Sparkling And Shimmering Like Its Namesake
Merga which is also known as Marrah is a star in a constellation found in a northern celestial hemisphere. It is said that this star is a bit larger than our sun in the solar system.
KZ or KNOWLEDGE ZENITH is probably one of most influential audio brands coming from Mainland China as it truly changed the landscape of portable audio enthusiasm here in the Philippines in the last quarter of 2010s. They envision that they will provide a high fidelity experience at a very affordable price to garner more audio enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. I think that the audio community becomes even stronger thanks to the audio companies that offer products at very competitive pricing with decent built quality that garners a pool of audio hobbyists who are really interested in audio technology and high fidelity experience that even budget and entry-level sets are capable of delivering those aspects.
KZ ATE was my first KZ set as I bought it around 2016 or 2017 and I'm actually quite enjoying using it for a few months. And now what I have here is their latest budget-level set, the KZ MERGA.
The KZ MERGA is an IEM with dual driver configuration as it consists of a 10mm dynamic driver that handles the low frequencies to deliver a full-bodied bass and an 8mm dynamic driver that will be responsible for midrange and highs for a crisp, detailed and clear sound. Aside from dual dynamic drivers, KZ also implemented a PCB electronic crossover for better separation of frequencies and less distortion performance.
The drivers and other components were encapsulated in a black opaque acrylic resin shell structure whereas it has a mould of a modified UIEM shell shape. Like all KZ and CCA products, it still has a QDC-type 2-pin connector as its interlocking mechanism with its detachable cable.
I can't say anything about its stock cable as it has the same lean OFC wires that were insulated in a parallel format sleeve with an L-shaped termination plug of 3.5mm single end.
As usual, the product packaging of KZ MERGA is very straightforward and its inclusions are pretty spartan but with its price, it is somehow acceptable.
Here are the following contents we can find in KZ MERGA's packaging box:
- Pair of KZ MERGA IEM transducers.
- Stock cable
- Extra Starline ear tips in different standard sizes.
- User's manual
To amplify the KZ MERGA, while it can be driven by sources with decent power output, pairing it to a device with better DAC/amps as it has a bit more power output will give this set its satisfactory performance with more lively and fuller sound. This is the first KZ set that activates the high impedance mode of my LG phones despite its 33 Ohms rating.
The tonality of this set has a V-shaped sound signature in which it more focuses on high frequency emphasis that it gives a brighter sound on its overall tonality.
LOWS/BASS:
The bass part of this set sounds on the tighter side while it has an incisive and rumbly sound on them, its mid bass presence has a lean and hollow presentation that affects the quality of tone and timbre on some instruments and deep male vocals.
While there's a perceivable sub bass presence as it generates a gravelly and reverberating response from instruments like synthesisers, drum machines and a low tuned bass guitar. As I mentioned a while ago about hollow and leanness of its mid bass texture that it will fluence the sound characteristics of instruments and vocals, bass guitars will sound hollow and earthy while bass kick drums will sound more tighter as it is softer and dull and bass to bass-baritone vocals, it has a lack of depth, weight and volume as those vocals sound less power, lesser darker tone and less warmer voice.
MIDRANGE:
While it has an energetic and transparency on its quality, it is definitely in a notch placement on its overall frequency presentation as you will notice the leanness and lack of texture in most male vocals, contraltos and classes instruments like brass and percussives.
On male vocals, most baritones will sound less smooth, fuller and richer and it has an inadequate heftiness, dark tone and depth especially on Kavalier baritones, Verdi baritones and dramatic baritones. Tenors will have brighter, metallic and spicier tones but it sounds a bit unnatural due the lack of textured and vocal weight on them and countertenors will sound too intense and raspy in my liking too. And in the case of female vocals, contraltos does not have enough texture to give a full, richer and husky characteristic from their chesty vocals, mezzo-sopranos will sound too expressive, more fiery and a tad blaring as it lose some of its tenderness and smoothness. Sopranos will fare better on this one particularly on lyric and coloratura types as those vocals do suit with bright tuning as they will sound shimmering and gleaming but might be too piercing and shrilly to some listeners.
As for instruments, strings and woodwinds will be given more highlight on this one as guitars (either acoustic and electric) will sound bright and crispy, violins sound a bit too vibrant and shrill sound and cellos have way too brilliant and vibrant to the point it will sound more incisive and sharper. Woodwinds like piccolos, concert flutes and clarinets will sound a tad screehing, intense and brilliant on this set while brasses like trumpets and trombones are too bright and overpowering. Percussives like snares drums, tom-toms and field drums will sound more dry, sharp and penetrating while the latter two will lose some of their warmth and texture. Pianos will have a more brighter tone as it even resonates more but it has some inadequacies on richness and roundness on its lower harmonics.
HIGHS/TREBLE:
The treble response of this set is very noticeable on how bright, vibrant and sparkling it is. The accentuated upper mids and presence part of the treble regions will boost and even highlight the definition and clarity of the attack of instruments on both rhythmic and percussion but the expense of fatiguing sound due to sibilance and stridency will occur.
On the brilliance section, there's an unbridled sparkle and moderate airy extension on it. Cymbal strikes will be brighter with some piercing sound on them while the hi-hats will have an excessive sizzle on them as they sound too harsh. Glockenspiels will have a shimmering and piercing sound while celestas have bright and glistening sound on them.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
In sound/speaker stage, the MERGA projects an above average sound field width and adequate height reach but its depth is rather less immersive but rather distant. Stereo imaging presents a two-dimensional stereo presentation in a less layered soundscape and I'm quite struggling a bit to pinpoint certain placements of instruments and vocals in more complex multi-instrumental tracks.
The coherences of both dynamic drivers delivers a faster transient response and doesn't have a sense of a detached sound on any part of its frequency range. While it has a sharp micro-detailing definition in terms of resolving aspect, I noticed less solidity in its macro-dynamics.
PEER COMPARISONS:
Since I don't have any sets under $10 dual dynamic driver. I can only compare it with more pricey ones.
CCA DUO
- MERGA’s more expensive cousin and it also has a dual dynamic driver inside but it was encased in a composite shell chassis which has more solid build quality. It also has a QDC-type 2-pin connector like all KZ and CCA sets and its packaging and inclusions are both rudimentary but at least the DUO has memory foam ear tips.
- As for tonality, CCA has more balanced tuning compared to the MERGA as it has a sufficient punch on its bass response, less recessed and a tad textured midrange and a smoother treble presentation although on Starline ear tips, there's a mild sibilance and sharpness on it. Technical performance-wise, it has a better depth, better layering and a more solid macro-dynamics.
QKZ X HBB KHAN
- One of HBB's collaboration projects, this set has a dual dynamic driver configuration. It uses a similar dynamic driver for lows and it has a tad smaller 7 mm dynamic driver for mids and highs. It also utilises a QDC-type 2 pin connector and among its included accessories, it has a polycarbonate storage case.
- The KHAN also has a V-shaped sound profile but it has more focus on lows than highs which is quite in contrast with MERGA'S tuning. This set has a more vigorous bass response which has a boomy and authority while it has a smooth and relaxed treble response. On its overall technical performance, The KHAN has a narrow soundstage width but it has more immersive depth, and also it has more solid macro-dynamics compared to MERGA.
The MERGA tuning might not be to everyone's preference as I don't see it as an all-rounder due to its tonal character. In that regard, The MERGA is more of a specific set that will cater more to treble heads who want a bright, lively and vibrancy on their listening experience.
The KZ MERGA is now available to almost all known online vendors in your favourite e-commerce sites. I will provide an unaffiliated link below.
For more KZ product reviews, just click the product links down.
SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: KZ MERGA
IMPEDANCE: 33Ω
SENSITIVITY: 104dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 40KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2m
PIN TYPE: QDC-TYPE 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.75MM)
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (2) DYNAMIC DRIVER
PROS:
● Probably the cheapest dual dynamic driver IEM in the market right now
● Lightweight and compact shell design
● It offers an ergonomic fitting for better comfort.
● A lively and vibrant tonal profile that treble heads will rejoice upon.
● A very few KZ sets out there activate the high impedance quad DAC mode on my LG phones.
● Tight, rumbly and clean bass presentation
● Tidy and transparent midrange presentation.
● Gives a more revealing sound on strings and woodwinds.
● Bright, sparkling and moderately airy treble presentation.
● Highly resolving set for a dual dynamic driver IEM in a budget range.
● At least it perceives an above average within its sound field.
CONS:
● Absolutely not for treble-sensitive folks due to its thin, bright and sizzling treble response.
● Lack of mid bass texture as it conveys a lean and hollow bass response.
● Lean and recessed midrange presentation.
● That boosted upper mids will give a shrill and sibilance on female vocals and instruments.
● Strident and jarring sound in some percussion and woodwind instruments.
● Lack of depth on its sound/speaker stage depth.
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 *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *
P.S.
I am not affiliated to CCA 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 send my gratitude to TYVAN LAM of KZ/CCA for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate his generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.
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