KZ ZSN Pro X Gaming Earbuds, HIFI in ear Headphones High Fidelity in ear Monitor with Hybrid Dual Driver, 1ba 1dd iem Earphone with Detachable Tangle-Free Cable for Computer Tablet (Gold, without mic)

This is about "KZ ZSN Pro X" in-ear headphones. These buds exceeded my expectations. What I love the most is that the frequency response is very balanced, it does not appear to have anything boosted or muffled. The highs are crisp and clear, the lows are silky smooth with just enough of a "boom" to keep things sensible.I am listening to 24bit 96khz hi-res classical music and can hear everything there is to hear. Nothing collides, any detail that is in the recording, it is reproduced by these earbuds. I am using these buds with LG V60 phone which is a hands down the best audiophiles phone right now and these buds makes it even more so evident. So if you are looking for in-ear buds to use wit some kind of high end portable audio player, these earbuds should be considered.Since the cable on the phones is detachable it is available with or without an in-line microphone. I happens to bought the microphone option. The microphone option is pretty inexpensive and so the microphone is just a minimum to make phone calls. It does not even offer vol+ vol- buttons. The cable itself is a jewelry and looks high end which is fitting the buds performance. Other perk of KZ ZSN family is that you can also order a Bluetooth cable replacement. This turn the wired earbuds into linked wireless. The BT cable features LDAC and AptX HD codec, it is not quite a replacement for the wire, but the option is there and it is a quality option at that. I am attaching a pic with that (but to be clear this needs to be purchased separately).Going back to the earbuds, they have a shape that fits the ear and basically disappears in it. The included 3 sizes of rubber tips are pretty regular, but if fit right, provide good outside noise blocking, but you still can hear small sounds around you if you do not have anything playing. The cable has an over the ear rigid loop which keeps the buds in place even during physical activities. I have replaced the included tips with T500 memory foam as that feels more comfortable in my ears and blocks the outside noise just a little better.By the way, these are not noise canceling earbuds. Active noise canceling is probably not what you want if you want to hear every detail available in the piece of music you are listening anyway.All in all, I am extremely happy with the buds, they have exceeded my expectations, not sure why they are priced under $25, they can compete with just about anything in my opinion. I can not find any cons apart from that they should have included some memory foam tips instead of the usual rubber ones.

Only after owning these for three years did I sit down and compare them to my expensive headphones. I was surprised to discover these sound way better than anything else I own, including much more expensive headphones.Before going on, I'd like to say: get the X variant. It's worth it. Do it. I got both, and there's a big jump in sound quality. For the same price, why would you sacrifice the rich bass and clearer treble?Key points:Sound quality is subjective, but if you like big bass and bright treble, get these. If you prefer something that doesn't colour the sound, then maybe try something else. The middle is still present, but perhaps less prominent. Despite the dip in the mids, these earphones produce sound in all ranges with excellent clarity.As I said at the beginning, I tested the KZ ZSN Pro X earphones side by side with a variety of others (prices as of August 2024):-Sony MDR-7506 headphones ($98): clear, even/balanced.-AKG K 240 MK II headphones ($97): flat/even, somewhat dull.-AKG 518DJ headphones (discontinued): bassy, but lacking a bit in the high end.-KZ ZSN Pro ($24.99): a bit too much on the high end (bass is just weak in comparison), but they're perfect for listening to spoken voice, such as in phonecalls.-KZ ZSN Pro X ($24.99): rich bass, clear mids, crisp highs.Overall, the KZ ZSN Pro X earphones are my favourites. I'm a musician and audiophile, but not a purist or fanatic. I can't back my opinions up with science. These just sound great to my ear.Final notes on choosing ear-/headphones:-compare side by side with the same music and (decent) equipment (hardware and software), and at the SAME VOLUME (louder usually sounds better, but it's an illusion... don't be fooled).-ensure good fit: loose buds will ruin your experience (and replacement silicone rubber tips could actually improve the sound more than you'd expect, just like replacement the worn out ear pads on my headphones made a huge difference).-expect diminishing returns: more expensive gear quickly yields shrinking, incremental improvements (don't expect an amazing bump in quality, even at 4 times the price).-take care of your gear and it will last: I haven't done a great job (see the photo), but they're still humming along... if you're just a little careful and maybe keep them in a bag or case, you'll get years of sonic pleasure out of them.Get these...and enjoy your music!

Pros:- Exceptional top end audio quality, snares, hi hats, "puh puh/tss tss" sounds are great.- Lots of customizability with different earplug bits.- Relatively cheap for a well made productCons:- Commonly produces low end static when plugged in to laptop(s) or DACs due to high sensitivity.- Wind noise cancellation is almost non-existent. Other noise is blocked, but not wind.- Bass is sub par, which is to be expected. These kinds of headphones aren't made for that.Overall, 4/5, worth a quick few bucks if you want decent audio out of some comfy headphones for listening to in a quiet room.