YinyooIn Ear Monitors KZ ZST Hybrid Earphones Banlance Armature with Dynamic in Ear Headphone 1BA+1DD Hifi Headset (With mic, Black)

Bought these after my powerbeats 3 finally died, based on some reviews I read as well as having watched Dankpods rave about KZ IEMs. These certainly dont disappoint, even as a basshead. Of course the beats had a much more bass heavy frequency response curve, but that extra bass ended up masking the rest of the sounds. The KZs are less bassy but that bass is more pleasant to listen to, and I've definitely started appreciating the top end much more now that I can actually hear it (though they're not lacking bass in the slightest!). The treble POPS, though one of my few complaints is that at louder volumes, hi hats etc can be almost painful to listen to (though that might just be my sensitive hearing). And they can get LOUD, and the sound does get a little distorted (though I cant handle it long enough to give a solid opinion).Very comfortable to wear, though I'm still figuring out how to put them on smoothly. Medium tips fit my ear canals perfectly and I tend to be on the smaller side. The body of the IEM sits perfectly in my external ear. Aesthetically superb - looks like some Fender guitar picks I have. Cable feels sturdy, love the material and braiding.After having listened to a few of my favourite songs it genuinely feels like I'm experiencing music the way its meant to be heard for the first time. I've never had the money for audiophile equipment, so to be able to find this kind of quality at this price point is amazing. Would recommend.

Overall, this is very good product, well-constructed with quality materials. The sound quality is good, though it is a bit "bassy" for my personal preference. I typically prefer a flatter sound response, but that's just my taste.I have seen other reviews mentioning issues with the cable quality, but I personally haven't noticed any problems. While I can't comment on the long-term durability, the cable itself seems perfectly fine to me.When I use them as IEMs while playing drums, paired with a 3M Optime II, they significantly reduce outside noise. However, I should note that on their own, they are not exceptional noise isolators. You might consider getting separate foam tips to improve noise isolation, but don't expect miracles. Additionally, there is some noticeable sound leakage, which is worth keeping in mind.As I mentioned in the beginning, they are a very good product, and you can not go wrong with them.

Equipment used to evaluateJDS Labs EL DACEpiphany Acoustics EHP O2 AmplifierReplacement ear-tips as I prefer memory foam ear-tips as they provide a better sealSome of the songs used to test itD’Angelo - Brown Sugar AlbumKaytranada - GirlBrent Faiyaz – Gang over luvMaribou State – StealHans Zimmer – Main Theme (From The Dark Knight Rises) – Handles this song very well although again those highs can be fatiguing when the violins really start to kick inHans Zimmer – Time (From Inception)Sampha – Blood on MeWoodkid – Run Boy RunWoodkid – Iron – The track opens with sumptuous and grand trumpets which sound accurate then move to the drums these have a lovely timbre, next the vocals with plenty of clarity and finally we see them all combine, unfortunately, this is where these headphones struggle the harshness and lack of sub-bass cause the drums to be lost under a veil. Still very listenable and enjoyable however just not perfect.Jimi Hendrix – All Along The WatchtowerKings of Leon – Closer – harshness in some of the vocalsFour Tet – Two thousand and SeventeenGeorge Fitzgerald – Call it Love – Bass sounds great however the midrange and treble harshness creeps in making it at times unpleasant to listen to at higher volumesGeorge Fitzgerald – About time – As the track opens your met with underwhelming bass, it’s present but not at the level you would like, as the track progresses the detailed lower mid’s kick in and the headphones start to shineASAP Rocky - F' Problems – Bass is clear and not muddy, but the lack of sub bass is apparent. Vocals are clear and detailed.Massive Attack – Teardrops - at 4:18 I want the bass to go reach deep into my soul, but it just doesn’t quite get there it’s a slight disappointment because you know it’s ever so close.Massive Attack – AngelJames Blake – Retrograde – This track can be sibilant and harsh at points but again very listenable.In the boxYou receive a small box which contains the two units, cable silicone ear tips and that’s it.BuildNothing to write home about these are your standard plastic housings with an unpleasant silicone cable with memory wire next to the connectors (for those that don’t know it’s a wire which can be formed in a shape and it stays in that shape), although this detachable so can be easily replaced. These come in two colours I chose the slightly more muted faux carbon fibre variation, however, for those who like a bit more colour, there are the super bright pink and purple variations.ComfortExtremely comfortable and could use them for hours without needing a rest.SoundBass - Decent bass which helps these to produce an overall fun sound, although I would not call these a bass head headphone as the main issue lies in the lack of rumbling sub bass especially when you compare them to the superior RevoNext RN-QT2.Midrange - is extremely detailed and generally very crisp and clear vocals but at times can be very harsh, dependent on the song. Strangely I found certain drums especially snare drums give off a very unappealing snap. In generalTreble – In general, I would say the treble is sharp and crisp however much like the midrange can be harsh and fatiguing, so much so that certain tracks were close to unlistenable specifically anything with very high pitched female vocals. Strangely I was able to listen to Hans Zimmer – Main Theme (From The Dark Knight Rises) without changing headphones or track, even though the violins were on the borderline of unpleasantness.SoundstageI would describe the soundstage as relatively forward sounding especially when compared to the RevoNext RN-QT2 which are some of the most natural and laid back in-ears I own. I would say there is a good level of separationConclusionThe KZ ZST is a great headphone for anyone who’s looking for budget headphones with detail and bass. The overall sound is in your face (or ears) which for some will be great, for me they are just too forward sounding to be part of my daily use headphones. The most undesirable aspect of these earphones is the treble and upper mid peaks which can make them fatiguing and unpleasant for long listens. I understand other people’s mileage may vary as I am very aware that I am sensitive to treble. Still, these are excellent value for money the headphones I have compared them to are double the price but probably only 50% better.