Decided to dive in into the past of the KZ brand and try the old KZ (GK) C56R. I was quite surprised. These earphones only cost me $5, but they sound excellent, if you can forgive the missing sub-bass. These earphones were made for comfort and vocal-oriented music, using a simple design and common materials. Quite an impressive product.
KZ C56R
ø9.4mm Dynamic Driver
$5~$10
2.5/5.0
Pros
- Excellent sound quality, especially in the mids range - clear and warm.
- Excellent volume levels even without amplification.
- Super comfortable to wear.
- The overall build quality is sufficient.
Cons
- The sub-bass is completely missing and the highs are slightly darkened.
- The cable is stiffer than most other KZ earphone cables.
- The lack of accessories is quite disappointing.
- I didn't get the earphones in a retail package.
Package & Accessories
Package:
Plastic bag
Ear Tips - Single-Flange:
S+M+L, black, ø4mm bores
Build & Materials
Housings:
Metal + plastic (matte), ø5mm nozzles, soft strain reliefs
Y-Split:
TPE, soft strain relief
Cable:
TPE, 113cm, soft, mildly bent
Plug:
Metal, straight, short, soft strain relief
Comfort & Fit
Very comfortable earphones. Their shape offers a firm hold and seal even with the included generic tips, which aren't bad in their own right.
Lows / Bass
The lows are pretty gentle and unemphasized. There's absolutely no sub-bass involved here. Many people may actually appreciate the moderation in the bass response.
Mids / Vocals
The mids and vocals are highly emphasized and upfront. The vocals are tonality darkish and very shouty. Instruments like electric guitars are too harsh and fatiguing.
Highs / Treble
Sharp but not so bright and the level of detail wasn't polished enough. It's crisp but the silent microdetail was left out.
Frequency Response
Published on 2016-01-28 20:28:04 (GMT)