KZ IE80
Dynamic Driver
One of KZ's classics are the KZ IE80, replicas of Sennheiser IE80. These earphones have a very balanced, yet warm sound. If you're not a basshead, and can forgive the lack of sub-bass in these, you will enjoy every moment, as long as you have a very good seal. You'll need to rotate the tuning knob to the middle (at least) to warm-up the sound signature, else it'll be too plain and cold.
Truth be told, they sound almost as good as the KZ DT5, only with a much lighter low-end and slightly brighter highs. Still, quite a rare find these days, and I'm not sure whether they are still being produced, but they're worth a try.
Pros
- A very balanced sound with accurate mids, crisp highs and balanced bass response, especially the excellent mid-bass and low-mids.
- The ability to control the amount of bass in the sound signature with a tiny knob is pretty impressive.
- I find them comfortable to wear, but your mileage may vary.
- The cable is detachable and has proper strain reliefs. It's also very soft and easy to roll for storage.
Cons
- The bass isn't remarkably deep, and there's very little sub-bass, if any. Also, the bass might get distorted by extremely deep bass content (mainly in Trap music).
Ear Tips - Single-Flange:
Extra:
Bass adjustment & cleaning tool
Housings:
Plastic (glossy) + metal*, ø6mm nozzles (ø5mm bores), cable connectors, tuning knob*
Cable:
TPE, 120cm, soft, straight
Plug:
TPE, 90° angled, short, soft strain relief
- The housings have metal back plates.
- The housings have sound signature tuning knobs. Vibro Veritas confirms that these knobs increase/decrease bass response. The measurment was performed with both knobs positioned exactly halfway.
I'm usually having a hard time with over-the-ear kind of earphones, but these proved to be quite comfortable. They hold just fine without any ear loops required and maintain a great seal. Still, this is a very individual experience.
The main drawback with these earphones is the lack of sub-bass, but many people will see it as a possitive thing, because these earphones provide a balanced/natural sound without overemphasizing the bass. Still, I wouldn't recommend these earphones for bass-heavy music because it might get slightly distorted.
The mids and vocals are warm, crisp and precise. Vocal-oriented music sounds simply awesome. Acoustic instruments sound excellent.
Even though there isn't any unordinary microdetail, the highs are crisp, quick and precise.
Frequency Response
Published on 2016-02-02 01:26:53 (GMT)
