- Disclaimer
- Recommended for people like this
- Overview of KZ ZNA
- Features of KZ ZNA
- package
- Build quality
- Fit
- Sound quality
- Sound quality features
- General comment
- Purchase link
Disclaimer
- This review is based on "private purchases" or "items rented for a consideration".
- No remuneration or compensation, such as a manuscript fee, has been received for publishing this, and it is an honest evaluation based on measurement data from personal testing and personal opinion.
- Please read the privacy policy of this website.
Recommended for people like this
- People who value low-frequency depth
- People who like colorful sound
- People who value sound balance
- People who value cost performance
Overview of KZ ZNA
This review will give an overview of KZ ZNA. A complete review of this product can be found here.
audio-sound Score
- Total Score: 9.0 / 10.0
- Package: 8.0 / 10.0
- Build quality: 8.5 / 10.0
- Fitment: 8.5 / 10.0
- High range: 8.5 / 10.0
- Mid range: 9.5 / 10.0
- Low range: 10.0 / 10.0
- Less distortion: 8.5 / 10.0
- Cost performance bonus: 10.5 / 10.0
- Want to see the score ranking? Click here!
Basic Specifications
- Frequency response: 20Hz to 40kHz
- Impedance: 34Ω
- Sensitivity: 112±3dB
- Connector: 0.75mm 2pin
Features of KZ ZNA
- DD&BA Hybrid Technology
- 12mm Dual-magnetic &Cavity Dynamic Unit
- KZ Customized 30095 Unit
- Metal Inlay Process
- Expertly Tuning
- Silver-plated OFC Cable
- 2 pin Gold-plated Connector
- Ergonomic design
- HiFi Sound Quality
Dynamic Driver+ Balanced Armature Precise frequency division to achieve complementary acoustic advantages
By complementing the advantage of the middle and low frequency of the dynamic unit with the advantage of the high-frequency of the balanced armature unit, ZNA can output professional sound in the full frequency band.
Will the sound quality be better if only upgrade dynamic unit with a new diaphragm?
The recognized weakness of the dynamic unit is that the high-frequency performance is unsatisfactory, especially in the ultra-high frequency band. The data of most dynamic earphones are good, but the actual listening sense seems that there is no high frequency. The reason why the balanced armature unit is recognized as having excellent high frequency performance is that there is no thick voice coil line under the diaphragm of it, while a thick voice coil line is dragged under the diaphragm of the dynamic unit. Theoretically, the efficiency conversion of balanced armature unit is better than that of dynamic unit because it does not have too much load when vibrating. The dynamic unit has more load when vibrating, so the load problem will directly affect the vibration efficiency of the diaphragm, and the distortion rate will increase. Then, does anyone think that changing the diaphragm material of a dynamic unit can make it reborn? Finally, we considered combining dynamic unit and balanced armature to complement each other's advantages, so as to achieve a professional sound effect.
Dual-magnetic circuit dual-cavity 12MM dynamic unit
The sensitivity of about 115dB at 1KHZ alone has surpassed all the so-called professional dynamic unit in HIFI circle. When the size of the diaphragm increases compared with that of the previous generation, the effective vibration area of the diaphragm also increases, which can calmly interpret various large dynamic rhythms and bring you to experience a wider sound field. The magnetic gap of about 0.15MM enables the dynamic unit to capture and transform some weak current signals clearly, greatly improving the ultra-high frequency detail performance of the earphone. Double magnets are not just two magnets, but two magnets, one positive and one negative, oppose each other at a fixed size and angle, so as to generate a superposed magnetic field. However, it is a nightmare for some factories without professional dynamic unit production equipment. In 2016, KZ gradually applied 10MM dual-magnetic dynamic unit to many new products, while most of the same type units of other brand products in the market are just drawing cats according to tigers. The significance of designing a dual-cavity structure on the dynamic unit is to change the acoustic curve by adjusting the volume of the two resonators. The front cavity is generally responsible for controlling the frequency band after the ultra-high frequency 8KHz, and the rear cavity can accurately control the position of the resonant peak of 2-3KHz.
package
The quality of the packaging meets the price standard.
Package contents
- KZ ZNA
- Eartips
- Manuals
Build quality
Build quality meets the price standard.
Fit
The fit is good.
Sound quality
REW Frequency Response
audio status
Sound quality description
In this review, I use the standard eartips size L and drive it with the FiiO M15.
KZ ZNA has a near-neutral U-shaped sound signature.
Please see here for detailed reviews on sound quality.
Lows / Bass
The low frequencies extend quite deep.
Bass drums sound heavy and impactful to rumble well enough.
The electric bass is also sufficiently black and expansive to give a definite sense of contrast at the bottom of the music.
It will be able to satisfy bass lovers to a great extent. Even heavy bass fanatics will be fully satisfied. The sense of balance with the midrange is also good.
Mids
The midrange of the KZ ZNA is almost completely neutral. It is a hybrid, but with fairly low distortion and high transparency. Resolution, however, is a bit lacking.
While the low resolution is in line with the price, it makes the music sound flat, which makes the ZNA sound quite lackluster. KZ is releasing the ZNA with the claim that the hybrid sounds better than the single dynamic driver, but to me the CCA CXS with the single dynamic approach sounds like a higher quality midrange. However, it is difficult to say if there is a big difference in quality.
What can be said with certainty is that the CXS is likely to sound more immersive in the midrange to many people than the ZNA, due to the difference in the sense of presence in the lower frequencies and the localization of the mid and higher frequencies. On the other hand, ZNA is expected to sound more rich and dense in the midrange with a more forward midrange, so if you like a dense sound, ZNA is the better choice.
Highs / Treble
The high frequencies of the KZ ZNA are tuned for speaker-like forward localization. Extension is lacking.
The sense of definition is adequate, and brightness may be just slightly lacking, but generally adequate. At the correct volume level, it is unlikely to have any noticeable sibilance or piercing, and is probably safe for those who are sensitive to high frequencies.
It would be reasonably usable for monitoring purposes, but as studio monitors, the CXS is probably superior, with its solid contours and more defined sense of construction. Conversely, if you like smooth and mellow ambience, the ZNA is a better choice.
Sound quality general comment
- Original Sound Fidelity: A
- Recommendation: A-
- Personal preference: B+
The KZ ZNA is one of the more well-tuned IEMs in its price range, but perhaps for many people the CCA CXS will perform a bit better. There is a difference between the metal or plastic housing, and I don't think the simple difference in sound quality is enough to choose between the two, but at least if you are choosing by sound quality, the CXS has the edge.
Sound quality features
Pros
- Excellent texture
- Good original sound fidelity
- Heavy, deep bass
- Glossy, colorful, sweet sound
- Smooth, well-damped highs
- Good focus on midrange
- Good sound balance
- Speaker-like forward localization
Cons
- Insufficient high frequency extension
- Insufficient resolution
General comment
The KZ ZNA is an excellent IEMs that offers a balanced, near-neutral sound signature at a low price. The build quality is not bad, and you can expect to get more satisfaction than the price in general, but the resolution is a bit lacking.
Purchase link
