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oxford_wolfe
19
Aug 4, 2017
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I'm using some KZ ZST IEMs at the moment. I love the sound they produce. How would these compare to those?
Aug 4, 2017
Alexdre119
111
Aug 4, 2017
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oxford_wolfeIf you like the ZST, look at KZ’s newest model ZS5. I don’t have to convince you that KZ has amazing sound for their price. With 4 drivers per ear it’s an upgrade over everything KZ has made so far. Also, the KZ silver upgrade cable makes a huge difference in clarity for $12.
Get the ZS5 and it will beat anything you throw at it under $200.
Aug 4, 2017
oxford_wolfe
19
Aug 4, 2017
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Alexdre119There's a cable upgrade for the ZSTs? Post a link please hahaha. I love my cable but sometimes I wish I had gotten the one with a mic. Do you know if I can find extra cables for them? Or if the ZS5s have an option for an inline mic, I may just go with that. Looks like I know what I'll be ordering this weekend lmao
Edit: Are these them? The $13.99 one https://www.amazon.com/KZ-ZST-Upgrade-Replacement-Earphones/dp/B074H8Y76X/ref=pd_bxgy_267_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01M4NM8MF&pd_rd_r=SBG04KD4NB0AEM9846YW&pd_rd_w=1T1Pk&pd_rd_wg=1YAUi&refRID=SBG04KD4NB0AEM9846YW&th=1
Aug 4, 2017
jjwfr
223
Aug 4, 2017
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Alexdre119Beat everything under $200... while it's pretty good at it's price tag, it does not beat everything under $200
Aug 4, 2017
Alexdre119
111
Aug 5, 2017
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oxford_wolfeIt looks like your link is the silver upgrade cable for the ZST. Here’s the one for the ZS5:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWL9S2E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kKvHzbQZHGJTD
There is an option to buy the ZS5 with an in-line mic cable. The reason I recommend the silver cable in addition is because it improves the sound quality. Here’s the ZS5 with the mic cable:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0719CBPBJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VQvHzbS0ESAVS
Hope that helps.
Aug 5, 2017
Alexdre119
111
Aug 5, 2017
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jjwfrI suppose I haven’t tried every single in-ear out there, but I’ve tried quite a few in the $100-200 range and most of what people consider the best budget iems. I think part of the reason I find them to be such a strong contender is because it’s difficult to find good quality quad drivers at that price point. This allows them to be more responsive than most single or dual drivers to source upgrades like a good quality dac/amp and a better cable. That said, I guess it still depends on preference.
I’m curious to know what pairs of earphones you think are better than the ZS5’s in the range.
Aug 5, 2017
Pr0l1f1k
48
Aug 5, 2017
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Alexdre119Hell no... I am using the ZS5s currently.... The treble extension is crap. and there are much better options UNDER 200$ considering value... i.e exclusive 5 and Magaosi K3 series and Kinera H3.
Aug 5, 2017
Totalgod
46
Aug 5, 2017
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Pr0l1f1kKZ zs5 does fine in treble and lows. Its where the mids that are lacking a bit. There is bit of sibilance as well. I would like to try out KZ zs5 with wire that comes with tfz series 4 and see how sound changes. I own One more triple driver, quad driver, shure se215 and LZ a4 all are phenomenal iems. KZ zs5 gives u price for performance for sure. One more series are very clear sounding iems and shure are good on mids and bass. Compare to one more and KZ zs5 shure sounds bit boomy in base. Difference lies on build quality shure, one more and LZ has best cable and build quality compare to KZ zs5. But KZ zs5 has sound stage that shure lacks and one more quad driver there is but not as great as in KZ zs5. LZ a4 is almost perfect iems but its big and dont stay well in my ears. Not to mention it has filter system. Among all these one more series is balanced and clean sounding, kz zs5 is fun, wide sound stage, LZ a4 has filter change system and good sound stage but lacks on ergonomics, shure is good on mids and decent bass. Hope this helps. I would like to see what is this hype about on TFZ series. The wait going to be painful for sure. :)
Aug 5, 2017
Alexdre119
111
Aug 5, 2017
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Pr0l1f1kAre you using the stock cable? If not, try switching it out for something better to recover the treble.
Cool! I’ve never heard of the Magaoski K3. It looks pretty good. Also, I never realized the Kinera H3 had 48 ohms of impedance.
Aug 5, 2017
Pr0l1f1k
48
Aug 5, 2017
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Alexdre119No problem. Yes, I am using the white upgrade cable. did make the sound more intimate and the treble extended a bit. The cable is absolutely essential. But now its been half a month and I want to upgrade. :(
Aug 5, 2017
Alexdre119
111
Aug 5, 2017
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Pr0l1f1kI’m considering saving up for a pair of customs like 64 audio A3s. Considering all the money I’ve spent to find the perfect combination of sound and comfort, I’ve probably spent too much on iems already.
Aug 5, 2017
LuisAndre
9
Aug 5, 2017
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Alexdre119Did you consider Noble3 customs?
Aug 5, 2017
Alexdre119
111
Aug 5, 2017
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LuisAndreI‘ve seen them before but haven’t heard much about them.
Aug 5, 2017
LuisAndre
9
Aug 6, 2017
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Alexdre119They are now called "Noble Trident". They are an updated version of the Noble3. I have the Nobe3 version in Universal fit. A V shaped sound but still sounding balanced. Great detail and very musical and dinamic. Do t know the A3 but from what I've read, the Nobles are more balanced and have great detail. But I'm sure you'll be happy with any of them if that's your type of sound signature.
Aug 6, 2017
Totalgod
46
Aug 6, 2017
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Pr0l1f1kDo you know where can i get 2 pin cable for kz z5s with mic and remote?
Aug 6, 2017
Wain
6
Oct 11, 2017
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Pr0l1f1kThe whole "upgrade cable" thing is just placebo, though if you were to buy one for aesthetics, go ahead. If you want a proper upgrade for the KZ zs5 i'd recommend the JVC Spiral Dots, those tips makes the sound a lot more balanced, the bass gets less mushy and the shouty mids gets toned down without losing grip of it's dominance. On the flipside the male vocals gets slightly elivated, which gives more body and enlarges the sound. Though if you still want a nice cable, i'd recommend this one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-KZ-ZST-KZ-ED12-Dedicated-Cable-0-78mm-2Pin-Upgraded-Plated-Silver-Cable-2-PIN/32820604203.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.KDq1ke
Oct 11, 2017
Pr0l1f1k
48
Oct 11, 2017
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WainI heard a noticable difference with the cable swap, albeit a teensy bit. The zs5 like power and good source, the seperation got a lot better with a fiio a1. I have a fiio f9 and q1 mk2 coming. Maybe I'll do an a/b.
Oct 11, 2017
bYtock
625
Oct 11, 2017
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Alexdre119The ZS5 are trash. They're my daily drivers.
Oct 11, 2017
Wain
6
Oct 11, 2017
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bYtockThey're complete garbage if you don't tiproll them, even with the tiprolling they are still selective with the type of music you throw at them. But when the stars align, you have the correct tips, you're listening to the right music, THEN they're a steal and a half!
Oct 11, 2017
bYtock
625
Oct 11, 2017
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WainLol. any tip recommendations? I like small stock tips fit but i hate how they sound obviously.
Oct 11, 2017
Wain
6
Oct 12, 2017
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bYtockJVC Spiral Dots: What i use daily, it smoothens out the frequency range across the board while still keeping it kind of exciting, turns down sibilance and it increases size. They definetly aren't fatiguing any longer, which i recall was a big issue. The negative is that the midbass gets slightly reduced, this makes the transition from sub bas to female vocals slightly uneven, it's a very negligible though, especially at the trade of losing the fatigue and sibilance.
+size +sound +no fatigue -slightly uncomfortable -slightly thin sounding relative to other options
Comply Foam Tips T400: These are very specific, these are for female vocals and subbass, pretty much exclusively. In this combination the female vocals seem to gain more depth and airiness to them. The overall sound is more sedate and tranquil, though the high energy in the upper mids is a stark and contradictory contrast to that. The upper mids can tend to distort very slightly yet noticably at higher volumes. The soundstage is pretty much nonexistent, the sound is in the very center of your head and reaches out to about where your ears are. The frequency response gets kind of whack so the transition from bass to mids is really unnatural. Despite the negatives, I had a blast when listening to songs such as Venezuela Trains by Ravyn Lanae.
+ heavy focus on female vocals +female vocals gain depth +sedate +no fatigue -slight distortion -male singers lose right to preform -no soundstage, though might be preferable to some. (hey, im not judging)
Spinfits: The most comfortable option. The sound closly resembles the Spiral Dots but it's a bit warmer and it has more body. The spinfits does this thing where the sound sounds big, yet it kind of thunnels into your ear in a way that decreases the size along the way. The imaging is not as good as on the spiral dots because of this. The reason i don't use these is that there is still a very, very tiny sparkle in the highs that still seem to sharp, it's almost as if you can't hear it, but it's gnawing at you in the back of your head, causing some fatigue.
+comfort +midbass (more body!) +warmer (im very neutral about this though) -slight fatigue (at higher volumes) -wierd thunneling
Overall the zs5 don't seem to like my Oppo-Ha2 yet it loves my old Samsung Galaxy s5. The zs5 is a bit bright and overbearing on the oppo while being warmer and more natural sounding on my phone, so i'm assuming something like a tube amp would work pretty well since they're often regarded as warmer.
Also, there is a chance that you have the second revision of the zs5, which has both BA drivers in the nozzle. You can check this by shining a light through the grill of the nozzle, if there's two holes in the nozzle you have the second revision. apperantly the second revision is supposed to be pretty bad. I have the first revision and im happy with them, though i'd only listen to a very specific type of music with these so don't get the zs5 for an all 'rounder duty.
Please excuse me if what i said was incorrect or missleading, there was a lot of jumping back and forth, im just tired and wondering why im practically writing an essay at 2am.
Oct 12, 2017
bYtock
625
Oct 12, 2017
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Waindamn, thanks for the response man! Epic.
Oct 12, 2017
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