KZ ZS10 Pro 2

KZ ZS10 Pro 2 review and comparisons.

I'd like to thank Linsoul Audio for providing me this to review. Linsoul Audio never told me what I could and couldn't say, so you can be assured that this review is all my own.

KZ Audio is one of the oldest earphone brands still in business today. They produce a lot of different earphone models in quite short intervals; sometimes, they release great-sounding earphones, and I'm happy to say that the 55-dollar KZ ZS10 Pro 2 is one of them.

There are various audio camps, one of which focuses on accuracy and the other on fun. The KZ ZS10 Pro 2 falls into the latter category; it trades accuracy for a fun sound; it was never intended for critical listening, in my opinion, but because of its distinct V-shaped tuning, it sounds more like a live musical performance than many of my other accurate-sounding sets.



Packaging, eartips, and cable:

It's mundane, just the usual KZ budget packaging that doesn't waste a lot of material, and I like it for that. It includes three pairs of eartps, one of which is a foam tip, and the other two are the famous KZ Starline silicon tips.

I tried various manufacturers' tips and discovered that the ones supplied are most suited to the ZS10 Pro 2. The foam tip produces a smoother sound, but it reduces bass impact. I dislike using foam tips, therefore for this review, I only utilized Starline Tips, which sound more powerful and bassy.

The provided cable is only usable if you don't have any other cables, but it's preferable to replace it with a thicker third-party cable that doesn't tangle easily, because the ZS10 Pro 2 deserves a better cable, in my view.



The graph:

I am pleased to report that I have an amazing copy of the KZ ZS10 Pro 2. The channel matching (please see photo) is outstanding; I wasn't expecting that, but I am pleased with the measurement result. The peak at 8 kHz is a measuring artifact. I utilized silicon TRN T-tips as my normal measurement tips. I tried foam tips, and the peak was much lowered. However, I can still audibly detect a boost in response at 8 KHz, which adds bite and texture to the treble.

Switch settings:

I use only the default on,on,on,on setting as I didn't like the other settings.


Sensitivity, drivability, power handling, and distortion:

I'm also pleased to report that the ZS10 Pro 2 meets all of the criteria in this sector, since it is both sensitive and easy to drive. It is easily driven by any device having a phone output. It can handle high power and be very loud without sounding distorted; this is fantastic.

Synergy and dynamics:

The KZ ZS10 Pro 2 is not very picky about the sound of the sources it pairs with, but it dislikes sources that are very analytical and bright, such as my Fiio M15s. It sounds fantastic on my other, lower-resolution sources, like the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha, Moondrop Moonriver 2, and Dawn Pro. For this review, I used the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha, which I find to have a good balance of sounding analytical and musical, but regardless of the Dac/amps I use, the ZS10 Pro 2 sounds above average in dynamics and enthusiasm.



Sound signature:

It sounds very V-shaped at low volume levels where the midrange is recessed compared to the elevated bass and treble, but it becomes only moderately V-shaped at medium and high volumes. It sounds energetic and never boring to listen to.

Sound stage and imaging:

The sound stage size is above average, and the form is broader than it is deep, with a respectable height. The imaging is acceptable but not outstanding; it lacks the accuracy of the finest I've heard in this regard, and as a result, the holography isn't as good, as is the instrument separation. However, they are to be expected at this price point. If you want an IEM that shines in this area, you'll have to look at IEMs that cost more than $200.


Bass:

It has a strong sub-bass presence that provides perceivable excitement and tension to some music tracks, and it is also present to some degree in the majority of songs. The bass is boosted with considerable fullness and enthusiasm, but at the expense of precision, tightness, clarity, and resolution—indicating a low-cost driver. The good news is that it doesn't merge into the midrange and doesn't dominate the overall sound.

Midrange:

It is clearly recessed at low level, but it balances out with the bass and treble at mid to high volume. It provides a natural and clear sound with excellent vocal presentation, although there is a modest elevation in the upper midrange, which can sound overly enthusiastic at times. Some individuals are really sensitive to this, so be aware. On a positive note, the ZS10 Pro 2 has remarkably little distortion, and the upper midrange elevation is carefully tuned so it simply adds vitality, forwardness, details, and realism to the entire sound.

Treble:

It sounds brightly lit, open, airy, and evocative, as clear as noon on a sunny day. However, I occasionally detect too much enthusiasm in the hi-hat hits, and the details are pushed too far forward at times, but because of the low distortion, it doesn't sound awful and is quite pleasing for me, and I believe this is the price you pay for—listening to a fun-sounding set—an acceptable compromise in my opinion. Treble-sensitive people, take note.




Compared to CCA Rhapsody (50 USD):

The Rhapsody is an older cousin of the ZS10 Pro 2, and it is tuned to be near-neutral.

Bass: The rhapsody has dry-sounding bass with less sub-bass extension, while the ZS10 Pro 2 has full bodied and fun sounding bass that bubbles with energy.

Midrange: The Rhapsody has more forward sounding midrange but the ZS10 Pro 2 has a more forward sounding upper midrange, they are both fine sounding for me, but the problem with the Rhapsody is the distortion in the upper midrange, when you turn up the volume it becomes shouty, while the ZS10 Pro 2 has more linear dynamic response in this region.

Treble: The Rhapsody is somewhat congested and dynamically challenged in this region, especially when compared to the energetic ZS10 Pro 2. It also lacks micro details and upper treble extension and ultimately sounds boring in comparison.

If I had to choose between the two, without a doubt, I'd choose the ZS10 Pro 2.

Compared to the TangZu x HBB Xuan NV (79 USD):

The TangZu x HBB Xuan NV is tuned to be near neutral in the midrange and treble, but the bass is very tastefully elevated. I prefer the bass on the Xuan NV.

In the midrange and treble, they are both good-sounding but not comparable; the ZS10 Pro 2 is obviously V-Shaped in comparison.

In terms of sheer fun factor, the KZ ZS10 Pro 2 wins hands down; however, the Xuan NV sounds refined but also fun to a lesser extent, so deciding between the two is difficult for me because I can listen to the Xuan NV for many hours, whereas the ZS10 Pro 2 may cause fatigue during extended listening sessions, but it is so much fun during relatively short listening sessions. So, If I had to do it over, I'd select both since they complement each other.

Compared to CCA CRA (10 USD):

The popular CCA CRA is an old cousin of the KZ ZS10 Pro 2; they both have the KZ V-shaped house sound tuning.

This is an unfair comparison, but I included it to point out that the KZ ZS10 Pro 2 is superior to the CRA in every aspect of sound quality. It really is, so I believe the KZ ZS10 Pro 2 to be an excellent upgrade to the old CCA CRA.


Pros:

+ Excellent Value for money.
+ The Fun Factor is through the roof.
+ low distortion.
+ Sensitive and easy to drive.
+ excellent dynamics
+ clear, open and airy treble.
+ a very nicely tuned V-shaped sound.

Cons:

- could cause fatigue in long listening sessions for some listeners.
- could sound raw and unpolished on rare occasions.



Minor complaints:

On a rare occasions, I believe the KZ ZS10 Pro 2 sounds a touch raw or unpolished, but this is a minor quibble given the set's low price and other excellent attributes.

Final thoughts:

I had low expectations, but man, I was blown away on the first listen. I instantly noticed the open sounding treble that was balanced by the very extended bass, which, together with the energetic sound, made the ZS10 Pro 2 seem more like a live musical performance than my other in-ear monitor (IEM) earphones.

Let me remind you that this is a V-shaped sound signature, so if you are looking for accuracy, this is clearly not for you. However, if you are looking for a fun sounding set to complement your serious sounding earphones, or if you are a beginner looking for a better sounding V-shaped IEM than those offered at lower price points, I highly recommend the KZ ZS10 Pro 2.

Happy Listening!

5-8-2024

Intro


We see here how KZ improves their tuning with there new innovative KZ ZS10 Pro 2. I want to share my stories when I start my journey in audiophile world. KZ ZSN Pro X was my first IEM this gives me chills because of great clarity and separation of instruments. But I experienced frequent peaks and sibilance. And this is my 2nd IEM from KZ and I'm impressed how it tuned so well than previous products.


Disclaimer


I would like to thank Linsoul Audio for arranging a unit for me. My opinions are unbiased, and I haven't been influenced or instructed to praise these IEMs. Every detail in this review is actual experience made by listening for hours everyday.





Specifications

• 10mm Internal Magnetic Dynamic Driver
• Dual 31736 Balanced Armature Drivers (x2)
• Precise 3-Way Crossover Technology
• 4-Level Custom Tuning Switch
• Exceptional Acoustic FR Curve
• Classic Design Aesthetics

Build and Comfort


The build quality is quite sturdy imo made of skin-resin cavity. The IEM are lightweight, making them comfortable for extended use. It is stayed comfortably in place, making them suitable for daily use.



Sound Aspects


Source used :


Realme 9 Pro

KiwiEars Allegro

Ibasso DC04 pro


This iems spend 30 hours of burn in before taking details of this review


Important notes :


The standard tuning is UUUU switch. I found my sweet spot with UUDD switch. It's gives enough rumbles in the subbass and greatly increases mids capabilities.

It is also easy to drive. Plug and go with your smartphones.


Bass


Bass is clean and well placed in the mix where midbass is more prominent than subbass. I'm impressed there is no midbass bleed here it also helps maintaining a clear quality from the mid bass all the way to lower mids thus not overlapping each other.


Mids


The mids is open and airy. It gives space to vocals to pinpoint in the mix. The lower mids have thin texture presentation. The upper mids where the female vocals can be more energetic causes shoutiness can be fatiguing sometimes. Lower down the volume to control the peaks.


Treble


This is where well refined what I mean is. Treble is well tuned this time making less to no peaks (safe volume) you can still experience this in some tracks so be careful to turning up the volume. It is have enough sparkle and resolving capabilities to keep the enjoyment on pace. For being bright tuning expect metallic timbre on this but it is smooth trust me and trust your ears.


Technicalities


I'm also impressed with its technicalities. It is technically competent this time in its price bracket. Having wide soundstage and resolution on this is superb.
Imaging and separation pretty well implemented you can easily pinpoint instruments in the mix.





Conclusion


The KZ ZS10 Pro 2 is really something, we can say worth considering this time. It's a huge jump in performance in ZS series. It is commendable option in budget bracket. From clean bass response, open and airy mids, less peaky uppermids and good technicalities it is improved a lot from the previous ZS series.

Order here using the non -affiliated links below :
https://www.linsoul.com/products/kz-zs10-pro2

KZ ZS10 Pro 2 Review: Old KZ, New Sound!​

PRICE: $45​

PROS:​

• Faithful improvement of the KZ House sound
• Versatile tuning (from bright u-shaped to neutral bright)
• Very clean bass presentation
• Open and airy sounding vocals
• Sparkly, detailed treble
• Good technicalities for the price
• Comfortable fitting

CONS:​

• Can sound quite hot
• Lean, dry sounding vocals
• Distinctly metallic timbre
• Poor accessories

WHO THIS UNIT IS FOR:​

• People who like the old KZ sound
• Trebleheads
• People who want versatile tuning
• People who like clean, open and snappy sounding vocals

WHO THIS UNIT ISN’T FOR:​

• Treble sensitive people
• Bassheads
• People who want a natural sounding timbre
• People who want bodied vocals

RECOMMENDED GENRES:​

• Classical
• Vocal Pop
• Instrumentals

SHORT REVIEW:​

Just like the ZSN Pro 2 released a few months ago, the ZS10 Pro 2 is a faithful improvement to the legacy of the old ZS10 series cemented in Chi-Fi by keeping fun and bright sound while sounding considerably more refined than the previous sets. It’s not an everyone-everywhere set as these cater to those who love the old KZ sound, but it’s very good at reviving an old series with a new and improved sound! RECOMMENDED WITH CAVEATS!

FULL REVIEW​

Many talk about the house sound of a brand defining who their IEMs are for. Some brands stick to this mentality much more than others, while others choose to completely deviate from this mindset. But when you’ve released so many IEMs over the years that you’ve developed different house sounds, how do you choose to revive your older sets to fit modern sound standards?

DISCLAIMER:​

The ZS10 Pro 2 was sent over by KZ in exchange for my honest thought. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity. I was not paid. Rest assured, my thoughts and opinions on this product will be of my own honest opinions and will not be affected by the facts beforehand.

Audio is a very subjective hobby and as much as I try to objectively explain my thoughts and opinions, your mileage will vary. My preferences will also affect how I perceive the gear that I review. Sources and other accessories will also modify your experience. Lastly, my reviews should always be used only as a guide and not as the definitive bible. Trust your ears to know what’s good.

THE ZS10 CRAZE!​

If you started your audio journey in in-ears, you’re most likely well aware of who KZ is and familiar with their IEMs, particularly the ZS series of IEMs. Praises were sung with the release of the ZS10 series for providing a multi-BA hybrid IEM for cheap back in the day. So when KZ announced the updates to their IEMs with the ZS10 Pro 2 being one of them, many were quite excited to see what they’ve done to improve the tried and tested formula. So strap in and let’s talk about it starting with the unboxing experience!

UNBOXING​

The unboxing experience of the ZS10 Pro 2 is basically like every other KZ IEM with the IEM illustration up front and a straight-forward layout.

Here is the full list of accessories:

• KZ ZS10 Pro 2 IEMs
• QDC 3.5mm Cable
• 3 Pairs of eartips (1 pair of foam eartips, 2 pairs of silicone tips)
• Tuning fork
• Paperwork

BUILD & FIT:​

One of the weirdest changes they made to the ZS10 Pro 2 is the drivers. The ZS10 name came from the fact that there were a total of 10 drivers with the package. 1 Dynamic Driver and 4 balanced armature drivers. But the ZS10 Pro 2 cuts off 2 balanced armatures and has now become a 1DD + 2BA hybrid.



This is for the better, however, as the balanced armatures that they used are the same ones that are featured on their recent hit, the CCA Rhapsody. This new 31736 is admittedly a MASSIVE improvement compared to the aging and arguably screechy 30095 and 50060. We’ll talk more about the sound later, but the use of the 31736 is an audible improvement from the older ZS10 IEMs, despite featuring fewer drivers. Maybe KZ has finally realized that more drivers doesn’t mean better sound.



What they kept consistent is the aesthetics. The ZS10 has kept the metal faceplate with a zig-zag lightning pattern since the first ZS10 Pro. Unlike the old ZS10 Pros, the Pro 2’s grills have grills that make the ZS10 Pro 2 semi-open back. Whether you think that open backs matter or not, it’s a cool aesthetic piece that makes the ZS10 Pro 2 closer to the very first ZS10 where you can somewhat see the internals from the faceplate.

Fit-wise, it’s your usual KZ shape which is either very comfortable or slightly comfortable. I’ve never really given KZ the praise for the comfort in their IEMs, but they deserve it on many of their “normal” IEMs (looking at you, Rhapsody, and Hydro). Build quality is also your usual KZ build which means, just like the fit, is perfectly fine overall.

SOUND:​

NOTE: As the ZS10 Pro 2 has 5 official sound signatures, I’ll be talking about the default (UUUU) configuration and comparing it to the other tuning modes in their respective section.

Sound Signature:​

The ZS10 Pro 2 keeps the fundamental DNA of the ZS10 Pro with a bright v-shaped sound signature but cleans it up to modern tuning standards. This means a cleaner, tighter, and faster bass, cleaner and leaner mids, and a sparkly, bright but smoother treble. This genuinely sounds like a modern revival of their old KZ sound and I am all for it! However, they also retained the rather metallic sounding treble that was also present in the older ZS10 Pros, but you could say that’s a part of the listening experience with this series.

Drivability:​

The ZS10 Pro 2 has an impedance of 25-28 ohms and a sensitivity of 108dB, which means this thing is VERY easy to drive. Using your smartphone will be more than enough in terms of volume and enjoyment, but using a better source improves the transient smoothness and giving better technical detailing to the sound. Recent KZ IEMs have been quite the scaler, and I’d like to attribute it to the 31736 BAs, but that would be speculating.

Bass​

The bass of the ZS10 Pro 2 is lean, clean and surprisingly tight for a series that was known for being a little bloated in the midbass. The ZS10 Pro 2 completely shifts the bass to basically be a very clean yet deep and engaging bass. It goes surprisingly deep too as the overall presentation leans to subbass over midbass, which means rumble is king! This also means that the midbass is a little thin and lacks punch and texture which I found quite disappointing, but understandable considering the tuning philosophy they’ve wanted for the ZS10 Pro 2. This is definitely not for bass heads, but has more than enough low-end energy to be present when it calls for it.

Listening to Liz by Remi Wolf presented the bass in a rather clean, deep and well-defined way but lacks the midbass texture that I usually look for in this track. However, the deeper rumble in the bass feels quite satisfyingly clean to listen to as it kept the midrange uncolored from any warmth or bleed from the bass. This ensured that the instruments in the lower mids still sounded quite clean despite the boosted subbass.

Mids​

The mids of the ZS10 Pro 2 is alright. Nothing fantastic but nothing terrible as well. The lower mids are a little lean and thin due to the emphasis in the upper mids which makes the male vocals and lower octave instruments sound a little stale. It doesn’t sound pulled back or distant but it lacks nuance and note weight on most tracks that I throw it at. The upper mids are forward and very clean sounding. The forwardness doesn’t sound honky or unnatural, but it does have a brighter and metallic tinge to it that makes the vocal sound extra airy and bright compared to the rest of the mix. It might come across a little shouty for some people who are sensitive to a little bit of shout, but it’s not overly forward and peaks a little later to make it sound more balanced overall.

This is present on upper vocal focused genres like vocal pop and could be a little problematic if you like listening to tracks that are a little shouty in the mix like Adele’s tracks.

Treble​

The hallmark of the ZS series is the bright, snappy and sharp treble that brings out high-frequency nuance at the cost of timbre. The said is true even for the ZS10 Pro 2 which leads me to believe that this really just is the ZS zing. The overall presentation is quite bright and hot, but I never found that it sounded peaky or grainy. It genuinely surprised me how smooth it sounded for how ridiculously bright and metallic sounding the treble was. Obviously, treble sensitives beware as these are quite hot and can get quite fatiguing over long listening periods. It is quite airy and resolving which is always a nice thing to hear as a trelehead.

Listening to Samara Joy’s Linger Awhile is wonderful on these as the combination of the somewhat smoother treble mixing and Samara’s darker, warmer tone fits perfectly with the ZS10 Pro 2’s leaner and more analytical sound.

Technicalities​

The name of the game for the ZS10 Pro 2 is detail and resolution. While the previous set just threw a lot of treble at you and hoped for the best, the ZS10 Pro 2 throws a lot of treble at you but sounds quite resolving. Separation and layering are pretty decent, but not fantastic for the price. The same goes for the imaging and the stage isn’t very expansive and the instruments are more 2 dimensional.

REAL WORLD USAGE:​

Casual Use:​

I’ll be real, I really didn’t like the ZS10 Pro 2 for casual use. While it does fit comfortably, the sound signature isn’t really something I’d want to listen to for long listening sessions like working or binge-watching shows. I have to tick the volume more than I usually like to get a comfortable long listening session which is not enjoyable, especially in films.

Gaming Use:​

The same goes for gaming as there’s not enough low-end to be able to make games sound fun and engaging. While the separation might be great, the treble energy is way too much for most games that I’ve played which sucked because the treble was almost just perfect for competitive games like Valorant, only ruined by the lack of low-end to compliment.

VS OTHER VARIANTS​

DDDD (0000) - This is the brightest and most bass shy tuning mode and is almost akin to Etymotics without the midbass to balance out the vocal forwardness and a significant treble boost. This is perfect for trebleheads and vocal heads and nobody else as it emphasizes the brightness and sharpness quite significantly from the all up tuning, but surprisingly still has a full-sounding midrange which I did not expect coming from a set like this.



UDDD (1000) - A slight boost in the subbass which makes the overall sound a little fuller, but not enough to properly contrast from the all down setting



UUDD (1100) - A very clean boost to the sub-bass that adds a considerable amount of depth to the overall sound while still keeping the lean and analytical sound of the all-down setting. Probably my favorite setting as it kicks the bass up enough to not make it sound booming and giving the lower midrange the MUCH needed note weight.


UUUD (1110) - Basically all up, see review above


DDDU (0001) - Basically DDDD

COMPARISONS​

vs ND Nice​

The ND Nice is basically what the old ZS10 Pro sounded like, which simply means the ZS10 Pro 2 is just better in every single way. From bass dynamics to treble smoothness, the ZS10 Pro 2 is just better. The bass of the Nice is thicker and balances the brightness better, but is much slower and sloppier sounding

vs KZ ZSN Pro 2​

The ZS10 Pro 2 is basically the more technical and more refined sounding ZSN Pro since the start. Better drivers and better tuning overall makes the ZS10 Pro 2 the worth while upgrade if you’re coming from the ZSN Pro 2 or just the ZSN Pro

vs CCA Rhapsody​

These two sets achieve completely different things while keeping the KZ house sound. The ZS10 Pro 2 harks back to the old KZ sound but is improved while the Rhapsody is modern KZ/CCA. The Rhapsody sounds more fun, musical and engaging but less technical and clean than the ZS10 Pro 2.

vs CCA Pianist​

Just like the ZS10 Pro 2, the Pianist has a 1DD + 2BA configuration and is tuned to be bright neutral. The main difference is that the Pianist sounds considerably rougher, sharper, and more sibilant compared to the ZS10 Pro 2 which sounds more refined. The ZS10 Pro 2 also has a better midrange presentation overall due to the scoop being less deep compared to the Pianist.

vs Zhulinniao Qingluan Z4​

Another bright neutral set at the $40 range, the Z4 has a more natural sounding timbre with better dynamics and vocal tone compared to the ZS10 Pro 2, but the ZS10 Pro 2 sounds more technical, resolving, detailed and cleaner overall.

vs Simgot EW200​

Compared to the legendary Simgot EW200, the EW200 still has a more dynamic, more engaging and more dynamic listening experience. Oddly, the treble of the ZS10 Pro 2 sounds more refined with a smoother but still bright and hot treble presentation. Technicalities is still better on the EW200 overall, particularly dynamics and stage.

CONCLUSION​

There are 2 sides to how you may view the ZS10 Pro 2. On one end, you might think this is an outdated set from the moment it was released. Lean, bass-shy paired with a thin and dry midrange with a very bright and forward treble are things that people might criticize it for.

But after having talked to many people about their preferences and the stuff that they liked, it would be foolish for me to say that the ZS10 Pro 2 is outright bad. This is a bright neutral IEM with a LOT of treble and upper vocal energy with enough bass to compliment without being intrusive. And in a way, it’s the perfect sequel to the ZS10 Pro series of IEMs. Gone are the bloated and muddy bass with a shrill and edgy treble, the ZS10 Pro 2 cleans everything up and sounds like the modern rendition of the ZS10 series. This goes to show that KZ, as much as they release, are actually improving and innovating their sets to modern standards while keeping the fundamental DNA intact.

Thank you for reading my review on the KZ ZS10 Pro 2! If you would like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below: https://www.kztws.com/products/kz-zs10-pro-2