KZ ZST

Hi everyone, here is my in depth review of the KZ ZST in the Colourful version also called the ZST Pro. I also own the ZST in Carbon and they sound exactly the same as these. The version I purchased is the one with the inline microphone. Packaging - The packaging is the usual KZ white box. On the front is a picture of the earphones, the right side says whether is mic or not, left side is plain and the rear is a quick summary of the specs and other information in English and Chinese. Inside the box is a user manual which is double sided and is in English only. Microphone - I made various calls using the microphone and the phone call recipients said my voice was clear with no issues. Cable - In the box, is the standard type KZ cable with the microphone and the multipurpose button. The button works fine in Android to play/pause tracks and holding will open the google app for your voice command. Tested with a Sony Xperia Z5. Also the cable has a built in ear hook to help keep it in place around the top and back of the ear. Comfort - In the box comes with 6 rubber/silicon ear tips, often called starline tips. The medium tips were fitted by default and were my favourite for fitment. These ZST's fit my ears really well, are a very similar shape to the ES3 and I have no issue with comfort but as everyone's ears are different, your mileage may vary! Sound - I found them to be have a slight V shaped sound. Compared to the ES3 they are a brighter sound. I heard that there is supposed to be a crossover built in to split the frequencies between the dynamic driver and the armature but I can't confirm this. Highs - Very clear without any sibilance and no fatigue at all. Very clear sound. Very good micro details. Bass - Never overwhelming the mids. Seems to be tuned for a brighter sound. Mids - V shaped sound. Mids are a little recessed but I can still hear them clearly enough. Soundstage - A wide soundstage with good depth. Sources - I have tried the earphones with Sony Xperia Z5, Xiaomi Redmi Note 4. SMSL IDEA, Mayflower ARC amp/dac/mic input and o2/odac. Audio - I have tried it with various MP3's, FLAC's and various youtube videos.

The quick conclusion is that the ZST sound clearer and have a slightly bigger sound stage. Imagine having a concert in a bathroom thats the Skullcandy, now imagine it in a living room (assuming that your living room is about 4 times the size) thats the ZST. I can only imagine that a super high end set of cans would be like being in a hall or on stage with the band. I love my skullcandy headphones and I'm not going to get rid of them because they are perfect for a throw in the pocket and not having to worry if they get damged because they're so cheap I can replace them Audio Test comparison Skullcandy Strum vs KZ ZST pro (using upgrade the upgrade cable) played on a Oneplus 3 using Spotify (songs have been downloaded as extreme quality) I've not changed the volume or sound profile. My test (Long version) Song one: Song for the Dead - QOTSA I'm using this song mostly for the drums more than anything and it's just the first minute that I'm intrested in. SC: Cymbal sounds really faint and gets hidden by the guitar then when the drums come in they sort of blend you can hear the different drums are being hit but the sound blends the high hats destroy what was left of the Cymbal also it all went to the left ear but listening to is like having a window made of clingfilm you can see through it and pick out some detail but it's not exactly crisp. KZ: Je-sus... I don't think I've hear it so crisp the Cymbal is so clear and its properly seperated and doesn't get lost then the drum and honestly its like being stood in the middle while they all play then the high-hats I didn't realise more than one was being hit until now. Song Two: One(Your name) - Swedish house mafia (full version 5:51) I'm only really intrested in the first minute but I wanted to also hear 2:30-3:00 this song was for bass. SC: They don't sound as loud or clear, I didn't hear anything particulary sooner. KZ: The difference is night and day and more sunset and night. Everything sounds a lot more crisp and clear the volume is louder the bass is a bit more punchy and going to sound like a sales person they sound more vibrant. Song Three: Ballard of the beaconsfield Miners- Foo Fighters This song is two acoustic Guitars so it allows me to hear a level of detail. The song is a beautiful piece. SC: you can hear the movement of the hands sliding up and down the neck and you can hear the finger picking but I'm sorry to come back to this it's just not clear, I'm aware that It's a recording and I'm not immersed. KZ: It's like hearing in HD I mean I feel as though I'm sat there with them playing the guitar right infront of me, I could he the difference between strings I knew which string had been plucked more than just knowing one has been plucked. Song Four: Who wants to live forever - Queen I'm using this song for a test of Vocals and it's only really the first two minutes. SC:This is going to sound repetitive but yeah you can hear the vocal yeah I could tell you want Freddie is singing but I'm not in the song, also the orchestra sounds mushed together as in you couldn't pull anyone of them apart. KZ: The clarity I mean I can tell the Freddie is not using is full ability I could hear the breaths the slight changes in a note, then the orchestra they all sounded seperated the sound stage sounded almost a little cramped (I bet this sounds mind blowing on better equipment. Honestly I could just try song after song changing to genre's but the KZ ZST are just really clear you get fully immersed into a song and it feels like a private show because you can year everything so well and the wider sound stage. (I didn't really understand what people meant until I did this test) I've only had them a day so I'm not sure how durable they are. No product is perfect though an so here is what negatives I can tell you, they're not uncomfortable but I am alway aware I have them on but maybe a foam ear tips might fix that thats about it really my only other things are I now need to either be wearing them until I find a small hardshell case for them and the upgrade cable could be just a bit longer. Oh and no fault of the ZST's but now I'm aware of this level of clarity I now notice how bad my other headphones are and not only that you can hear details in recordings which previously I couldn't like people breathing on the mic or some have a slight fuzz or white noise in the background.

Equipment used to evaluate JDS Labs EL DAC Epiphany Acoustics EHP O2 Amplifier Replacement ear-tips as I prefer memory foam ear-tips as they provide a better seal Some of the songs used to test it D’Angelo - Brown Sugar Album Kaytranada - Girl Brent Faiyaz – Gang over luv Maribou State – Steal Hans Zimmer – Main Theme (From The Dark Knight Rises) – Handles this song very well although again those highs can be fatiguing when the violins really start to kick in Hans Zimmer – Time (From Inception) Sampha – Blood on Me Woodkid – Run Boy Run Woodkid – Iron – The track opens with sumptuous and grand trumpets which sound accurate then move to the drums these have a lovely timbre, next the vocals with plenty of clarity and finally we see them all combine, unfortunately, this is where these headphones struggle the harshness and lack of sub-bass cause the drums to be lost under a veil. Still very listenable and enjoyable however just not perfect. Jimi Hendrix – All Along The Watchtower Kings of Leon – Closer – harshness in some of the vocals Four Tet – Two thousand and Seventeen George Fitzgerald – Call it Love – Bass sounds great however the midrange and treble harshness creeps in making it at times unpleasant to listen to at higher volumes George Fitzgerald – About time – As the track opens your met with underwhelming bass, it’s present but not at the level you would like, as the track progresses the detailed lower mid’s kick in and the headphones start to shine ASAP Rocky - F' Problems – Bass is clear and not muddy, but the lack of sub bass is apparent. Vocals are clear and detailed. Massive Attack – Teardrops - at 4:18 I want the bass to go reach deep into my soul, but it just doesn’t quite get there it’s a slight disappointment because you know it’s ever so close. Massive Attack – Angel James Blake – Retrograde – This track can be sibilant and harsh at points but again very listenable. In the box You receive a small box which contains the two units, cable silicone ear tips and that’s it. Build Nothing to write home about these are your standard plastic housings with an unpleasant silicone cable with memory wire next to the connectors (for those that don’t know it’s a wire which can be formed in a shape and it stays in that shape), although this detachable so can be easily replaced. These come in two colours I chose the slightly more muted faux carbon fibre variation, however, for those who like a bit more colour, there are the super bright pink and purple variations. Comfort Extremely comfortable and could use them for hours without needing a rest. Sound Bass - Decent bass which helps these to produce an overall fun sound, although I would not call these a bass head headphone as the main issue lies in the lack of rumbling sub bass especially when you compare them to the superior RevoNext RN-QT2. Midrange - is extremely detailed and generally very crisp and clear vocals but at times can be very harsh, dependent on the song. Strangely I found certain drums especially snare drums give off a very unappealing snap. In general Treble – In general, I would say the treble is sharp and crisp however much like the midrange can be harsh and fatiguing, so much so that certain tracks were close to unlistenable specifically anything with very high pitched female vocals. Strangely I was able to listen to Hans Zimmer – Main Theme (From The Dark Knight Rises) without changing headphones or track, even though the violins were on the borderline of unpleasantness. Soundstage I would describe the soundstage as relatively forward sounding especially when compared to the RevoNext RN-QT2 which are some of the most natural and laid back in-ears I own. I would say there is a good level of separation Conclusion The KZ ZST is a great headphone for anyone who’s looking for budget headphones with detail and bass. The overall sound is in your face (or ears) which for some will be great, for me they are just too forward sounding to be part of my daily use headphones. The most undesirable aspect of these earphones is the treble and upper mid peaks which can make them fatiguing and unpleasant for long listens. I understand other people’s mileage may vary as I am very aware that I am sensitive to treble. Still, these are excellent value for money the headphones I have compared them to are double the price but probably only 50% better.

Bought these after my powerbeats 3 finally died, based on some reviews I read as well as having watched Dankpods rave about KZ IEMs. These certainly dont disappoint, even as a basshead. Of course the beats had a much more bass heavy frequency response curve, but that extra bass ended up masking the rest of the sounds. The KZs are less bassy but that bass is more pleasant to listen to, and I've definitely started appreciating the top end much more now that I can actually hear it (though they're not lacking bass in the slightest!). The treble POPS, though one of my few complaints is that at louder volumes, hi hats etc can be almost painful to listen to (though that might just be my sensitive hearing). And they can get LOUD, and the sound does get a little distorted (though I cant handle it long enough to give a solid opinion). Very comfortable to wear, though I'm still figuring out how to put them on smoothly. Medium tips fit my ear canals perfectly and I tend to be on the smaller side. The body of the IEM sits perfectly in my external ear. Aesthetically superb - looks like some Fender guitar picks I have. Cable feels sturdy, love the material and braiding. After having listened to a few of my favourite songs it genuinely feels like I'm experiencing music the way its meant to be heard for the first time. I've never had the money for audiophile equipment, so to be able to find this kind of quality at this price point is amazing. Would recommend.

Headphones are fantastic for the price, however I opted for the mic option, the mic did not work, so I thought, if I turn the output volume up to 300% and the recipient there input to 200% I apparently sound like I'm whispering, mic cable is unusable, but headphones wise brilliant.

KZ (Knowledge Zenith) are well-known for producing inexpensive IEMs which have a good price/performance ratio. Amongst my collection of around 20 IEMs I have four KZ models already, the ED3 (Acme), ED3 (Perfection), HDS1 and HDS3, all of which are excellent. This ZST IEM is one of the newer models from KZ from their “Z” range of over-the-ear types. It is also their first hybrid model, employing a 10mm dynamic driver for the bass and midrange, and a balanced armature for the treble. Dynamic drivers are praised for their bass quality and punch and often display a warmer sound, whereas balanced armatures have a more delicate and detailed presentation and are perfect for high frequencies. The trick is to integrate these two technologies and produce a balanced sound. The earphones come simply, but attractively boxed. They are presented in a black plastic tray below which you will find the detachable 2-pin cable and two further sets of silicone eartips. The earpieces themselves are made from a clear, light, hard plastic which seems to be of good quality. They have a faux carbon fibre effect printed on them with “ZST” in a handwritten script font. The cable is a typical KZ type, similar to that found on the ED3 and HDS1, with a transparent greyish rubbery covering through which you can see the braided copper wires. A short section of the cable close to the earpieces is made of a kind of memory wire which helps to shape the cable when worn behind the ear. I would have liked to see a clearer indication of the left and right channels, perhaps they could be colour coded. The cables proved slightly tricky to attach, a fair amount of force being required, but once fitted they remained in place securely. I had no issues obtaining a good comfortable fit and seal with the pre-fitted tips. Being worn behind the ear, the cables did not produce any microphonic behaviour. The earphones were run for 48 hours including some audio tracks of white and pink noise in order to burn in the components. Before listening I ran the Densen Demagnetiser track which uses a special audio algorithm to remove residual magnetic fields. I also ran the Ayre Full Glide Tone which has a similar effect. Auditioning was done using a Hifi Walker H2 DAP via line out with a Fiio L16 cable and a Fiio A5 headphone amplifier, set at low gain, with volume at around 33%. I tested the earphones with a wide range of material across various genres. The first thing I noticed was how natural and well-balanced the sound was, with no part of the spectrum unduly emphasised. The dynamic bass driver has been voiced with a clean, somewhat analytical sound signature, which blends well with the balanced armature. As a result, classical music fared particularly well. “The Swan of Tuonela” by Sibelius, performed by the London Festival Orchestra conducted by Alexander Gibson begins with deep basses and brass. This came over beautifully with an excellent soundstage, both deep and wide. The placement of the various orchestral sections was easy to discern. The sound reached well into the sub-bass with the bass drums having wonderful depth. At no time did the bass dominate the midrange, which was open and airy. Treble had the requisite amount of bite without being harsh, with brass and strings being clear and detailed. The transition between the two drivers was inaudible, with no indication of the crossover frequency. “Asturias” from the “Suite Espanola” by Albeniz, performed by the New Philharmonia under Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, showed great impact and drive. Strings were smooth yet with character, brass shimmered and had plenty of attack. Bass drums and timpani came across with slam and precision. A lovely performance. Ambient and electronic music also sounded superb. “Hands of Sacred Light” by Patrick Bernard’s beautiful album “Angel Reiki” displayed plenty of detail and texture, which is ideal for this kind of music. The soundstage was three-dimensional with a perfect balance between the deep bass tones and the clean harp-like textures. “Siren’s Song” from “Archives 2” by MIDI guitar maestro Mark Dwane, is a fast- paced electronic piece with a powerful rhythmic bass line. This was reproduced with no blurring between the bass notes and a punchy, agile rhythm. The female vocals layered over the top were clear and incisive. Electronic sound effects came over cleanly and precisely. The moody atmosphere of Chris Izaak’s “Wicked Game” was portrayed wonderfully. All the emotion of his voice was preserved. Bass guitar and percussion had great texture while the distinctive tones of the lead guitar floated over the top impressively, leading to a very enjoyable experience. I also tried the ZSTs with some high-res FLAC files. Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata in a 96KHz 24-bit recording sounded very good. The decay of notes, the accurate reproduction of overtones and the natural timbre of the piano were very impressive. Background noise was non-existent and the transient response was excellent. These KZ ZST earphones represent great value. They are well-balanced, with a slight emphasis on the upper register, which adds life and sparkle. The bass is clean and precise with no bloating or bleed into the midrange. The overall effect is analytical, yet musical and enjoyable. Fed with high quality recordings from a good source, they are capable of very high quality reproduction, which at this price is remarkable. In addition, the detachable cables offer the chance to upgrade the sound (silver plated cables are available). They deserve an unreserved recommendation. The seller, Yinyoo, also deserves a mention for excellent service and friendly helpful communication.

Lasted all of 2 sessions before the right earpiece blew. Wasn't even turned up very much. Started to crackle, like you would have thought it was cranked up to maximum! Then nothing! Other member of the band has the same pair and his are also crackling after 3 gigs! Also, the piece that goes over the ears doesn't fit particularly well. Annoying really as they sounded good to start with, but they are just not up to the job for a band.

Whats up! Whats up!!!!! Fresh from the mail is the KZ ZST Mic Edition OOTB Impressions: First of all I bought these IEMS out from Amazon and as much as I want to say that there won't be any bias impressions which could or might be against the way you hear from them, but that's not going to be fair and real because we all know we each have our own impressions right from the moment you do the unboxing. Therefore, I'd like to iterate that I like bassy IEMS with enough OMPH and just the right mids with the voices clear and get as many details as the strums of the guitars. I will not be talking about the specs as you can easily find it via google. So here we go... Packaging: The KZ ZST is packed neatly in a white box which will give you the IEM's itself right after you slide the upper box. Mic: I bought the version with the microphone for travel purposes. The microphone sounds clear and picks up your voice without delay. Although it can also pick up the noises from the environment but not as much that it would bother you or the person from the other line. Bass: Now this is something that I'd really paid at least half of the time I listened to it. Listening to the Hotel California (Hell Freezes Over), I can say that the bass is there and is enough when its called for. However, this might not be good enough for bass heads like myself. It feels like the bass lacks the OMPH quality although its quite good considering the price on these IEMS are below 20gbp. Mids: I listened to more of audiophile voices every now and then. So listening to the song "So Nice" gives the IEMs the credit that it should have. The voices were well defined, but don't expect the finer details from much more expensive IEMs out there. These may also be a bit peaky and could sound piercing to some as I find it sibilant with some of the tracks. Build: It is made of hard clear plastics with blue and purple color being on the top. It has 2 pin 0.75mm connector which you can upgrade or replace later on once the stock cable is broken. It came with 3pcs silicon tips with small, medium and large. The stock cable is covered with transparent silicon I think, tangle free and have the answer button being the mic version. Summary: The KZ ZST is very good IEMS considering the price. While it didn't really give me the "WOW" factor in terms of its sound quality, however, I am amazed by the build quality of these IEMS. Would I recommend it? I'd say yes for casual listening but No if you're into critical listening. At this price point, definitely a yes for me.