Yinyoo In 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.

Sound good and fit well. Although I’m not a fan of ‘around the ear’ cables, these were the best for the price

KZ (Knowledge Zenith) are well-known for producing inexpensive IEMs which have a good price/performance ratio. Amongst my collection of around 20 IEMs I have four KZ models already, the ED3 (Acme), ED3 (Perfection), HDS1 and HDS3, all of which are excellent.This ZST IEM is one of the newer models from KZ from their “Z” range of over-the-ear types. It is also their first hybrid model, employing a 10mm dynamic driver for the bass and midrange, and a balanced armature for the treble. Dynamic drivers are praised for their bass quality and punch and often display a warmer sound, whereas balanced armatures have a more delicate and detailed presentation and are perfect for high frequencies. The trick is to integrate these two technologies and produce a balanced sound.The earphones come simply, but attractively boxed. They are presented in a black plastic tray below which you will find the detachable 2-pin cable and two further sets of silicone eartips. The earpieces themselves are made from a clear, light, hard plastic which seems to be of good quality. They have a faux carbon fibre effect printed on them with “ZST” in a handwritten script font.The cable is a typical KZ type, similar to that found on the ED3 and HDS1, with a transparent greyish rubbery covering through which you can see the braided copper wires. A short section of the cable close to the earpieces is made of a kind of memory wire which helps to shape the cable when worn behind the ear. I would have liked to see a clearer indication of the left and right channels, perhaps they could be colour coded. The cables proved slightly tricky to attach, a fair amount of force being required, but once fitted they remained in place securely. I had no issues obtaining a good comfortable fit and seal with the pre-fitted tips. Being worn behind the ear, the cables did not produce any microphonic behaviour.The earphones were run for 48 hours including some audio tracks of white and pink noise in order to burn in the components. Before listening I ran the Densen Demagnetiser track which uses a special audio algorithm to remove residual magnetic fields. I also ran the Ayre Full Glide Tone which has a similar effect.Auditioning was done using a Hifi Walker H2 DAP via line out with a Fiio L16 cable and a Fiio A5 headphone amplifier, set at low gain, with volume at around 33%. I tested the earphones with a wide range of material across various genres. The first thing I noticed was how natural and well-balanced the sound was, with no part of the spectrum unduly emphasised. The dynamic bass driver has been voiced with a clean, somewhat analytical sound signature, which blends well with the balanced armature. As a result, classical music fared particularly well.“The Swan of Tuonela” by Sibelius, performed by the London Festival Orchestra conducted by Alexander Gibson begins with deep basses and brass. This came over beautifully with an excellent soundstage, both deep and wide. The placement of the various orchestral sections was easy to discern. The sound reached well into the sub-bass with the bass drums having wonderful depth. At no time did the bass dominate the midrange, which was open and airy. Treble had the requisite amount of bite without being harsh, with brass and strings being clear and detailed. The transition between the two drivers was inaudible, with no indication of the crossover frequency.“Asturias” from the “Suite Espanola” by Albeniz, performed by the New Philharmonia under Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, showed great impact and drive. Strings were smooth yet with character, brass shimmered and had plenty of attack. Bass drums and timpani came across with slam and precision. A lovely performance.Ambient and electronic music also sounded superb. “Hands of Sacred Light” by Patrick Bernard’s beautiful album “Angel Reiki” displayed plenty of detail and texture, which is ideal for this kind of music. The soundstage was three-dimensional with a perfect balance between the deep bass tones and the clean harp-like textures.“Siren’s Song” from “Archives 2” by MIDI guitar maestro Mark Dwane, is a fast- paced electronic piece with a powerful rhythmic bass line. This was reproduced with no blurring between the bass notes and a punchy, agile rhythm. The female vocals layered over the top were clear and incisive. Electronic sound effects came over cleanly and precisely.The moody atmosphere of Chris Izaak’s “Wicked Game” was portrayed wonderfully. All the emotion of his voice was preserved. Bass guitar and percussion had great texture while the distinctive tones of the lead guitar floated over the top impressively, leading to a very enjoyable experience.I also tried the ZSTs with some high-res FLAC files. Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata in a 96KHz 24-bit recording sounded very good. The decay of notes, the accurate reproduction of overtones and the natural timbre of the piano were very impressive. Background noise was non-existent and the transient response was excellent.These KZ ZST earphones represent great value. They are well-balanced, with a slight emphasis on the upper register, which adds life and sparkle. The bass is clean and precise with no bloating or bleed into the midrange. The overall effect is analytical, yet musical and enjoyable. Fed with high quality recordings from a good source, they are capable of very high quality reproduction, which at this price is remarkable. In addition, the detachable cables offer the chance to upgrade the sound (silver plated cables are available). They deserve an unreserved recommendation. The seller, Yinyoo, also deserves a mention for excellent service and friendly helpful communication.

This pair of in-ear monitors have a very noticeable V-shaped frequency response. That may suit some people, but I prefer a relatively flat response. It is notably difficult to hear people singing when you listen to music.I wonder if QC is an issue with them. Some people have indicated that they had much better sound quality from these, and with music that I enjoy. Audio quality is partly subjective, and it could be the case that these are just not very good when paired with my particular ears.Aside from that, they work fine. They are very comfortable to wear. I was just disappointed by the sound quality.