KZ ZS5 (V1)

ø10mm + ø6.4mm Dynamic Drivers + 2 × B.A.

$20~$25
4.5/5.0

KZ has become a serious brand, and their latest ZS5's sound quality absolutely blows away most of the earphones on AudioBudget, if not all of them. They have deep bass, yet aren't boomy. The mids and highs are not ressesed at all and are highly detailed.

My only complains would be the design (especially from a comfort standpoint), the materials used for the housing, and the included cable, which is very basic but better than the common gut-looking cable KZ have been using. However, for a small extra fee, you can get yourself a much better cable.

Putting it short, these are one of those earphones you just must have!

NOTE: This review discusses "ZS5 v1", with a single BA in the nozzle and the other one inside the housing. Apparently, KZ arbitrarily decided to rearrange the BAs and placed both of them inside the nozzle, this is known as "ZS5 v2". According to reports from users, this setup introduces noticeable sibilance to the sound. You are very likely to get "ZS5 v2" if you ordered a pair after late August.

Buy on

Pros

  • Unbelievably detailed sound quality.
  • Extremely deep sub-bass response.
  • Performs exceptionally good even on weak sources, like a smartphone.
  • Detachable cable, which extends the lifespan of these earphones.

Cons

  • A few instances of sibilance, especially if you're not used to the sound signature yet.
  • A basic design and the housings are made of plastic.
  • No additional accessories, like a shirt clip or a carrying case, considering the price tag.

Package & Accessories

Package:

Chipboard (textured)

Ear Tips - Single-Flange:

S+M+L, starline, black, ø4.5mm bores

S+M+L, grey (translucent), ø4mm bores

Build & Materials

Housings:

Plastic (matte), ø5mm nozzles (ø4mm bores)

Connectors:

2-pin (standard 0.75mm)

Remote:

Metal, triple-button*

Y-Split:

TPE, soft strain relief

Cable:

Silicone (grippy), 127cm, soft, mildly bent, memory-wire ear loops

Plug:

TPE, 90° angled, short, soft strain relief

Comfort & Fit

I would admit that these aren't the most comfortable ones, as their shape has nothing ergonomic about it, it's blocky and has sharp edges. Putting them inside the ears isn't straightforward and takes some getting used to.

Lows / Bass

The bass is quite balanced and just a bit subdued. It doesn't leak into the mids at all, almost as if the bass is completely separate from anything above low frequencies. These earphones' configuration was indeed well designed, but might be underwhelming for many.

Mids / Vocals

The mids are highly impressive, considering the fact that neither the lows nor the highs were sacrificed in the process of designing these earphones. The vocals are clear and upfront, emphasized but not exaggerated. Instruments are properly separated, even though the soundstage doesn't seem to be exceptionally large. Because of the emphasis in the upper-mids/lower-highs, there seem to be some instances of sibilance, so keep the volume level adequate to avoid any unwanted piercing notes. These earphones will excel at any genre you'll throw at them!

Highs / Treble

Might seem just a bit too bright in the beginning, but after a few minutes of hearing adjustment, the highs become bright and delicate, with high emphasis on brilliance and detail. Some well-tuned peaks in the upper-highs are responsible for those pleasant high-pitched notes you can hear in the background. I was listening to all kinds of music with these earphones for hours and I felt no hearing fatigue.

Frequency Response

Published on 2017-06-15 22:06:34 (GMT)
AS06 ATE BTE C56R DT5 ED2/EDR1 ED3 Youth Version ED4 ED9 ED10 ED11 ED16 EDR2 ES3 GR HDS1 HDS2 HDS3 IE80 RX S3 ZS1
ZS5 (V1)
ZS6 ZS7 ZS10 ZS10 PRO ZSA ZSE ZSN ZSR ZST