KZ’s construction choices have always been middling, at best, and the Taurus is no different. It features plastic shells, a non-standard extruded 2-pin cable connector, and plastic nozzles.
 |
 |
KZ’s cable is built from SPC wire and utilizes basic, but acceptable, finishings. It has sufficiently-functional strain relief at the base of the 3.5mm jack. The earguides are pliable-enough to maintain form without being too disruptive.
Disclaimer: comfort is a highly individual metric — no two people will have the same experience.
The Taurus is of average comfort, and can be worn for extended periods of time. It is light, and not super-large, though it could certainly use a bit of slimming on its inside face. The Taurus’s cable is likewise ergonomically usable, though a bit on the thin side.
The Taurus is trivial to power. It has a slightly-higher impedance than you’ll get from multi-BA IEMs and hybrid designs, but any decent modern source should be sufficient to enjoy the Taurus’s potential.
The Taurus has a standard 30-day return window from KeepHiFi. If you order the Taurus from a different vendor, their specific warranty and return policies will apply.
The Taurus comes with 3 pairs of silicone eartips, and nothing else. This spartan accessory suite is standard-issue for KZ. For ~$20, it’s hard to demand more. These eartips are ok, but not optimal for my ears.
Comparisons are selected solely based on what I think is interesting. If you would like me to add more comparisons, feel free to make a request in the comments below!
1: KBEAR KB02 ($40)
The KB02 is bassier and has less-dramatic upper-mids. The Taurus and the KB02 trade blows when it comes to treble-detail, though I found that the KB02 did a better job at managing finer-detail in busier parts of my test-tracks. The Taurus has better-controlled-bass, though at the expense of its engagement in electronic tracks.
The KB02 is twice the price of the Taurus, but offers tangible improvements across the board — from sound quality to accessories, to build. Those who prefer leaner, mid-centric sound will likely prefer the Taurus. Those who find that level of upper-midrange emphasis tiring will absolutely gravitate towards the KB02.
2: BQEYZ BQ10 ($29)
The BQ10 is warmer and bassier than the Taurus. The Taurus, however, is far more resolving across the board. The BQ10 is an attempt at “budget-Harman” that I believe fails to deliver the detail I expect from an audiophile IEM. The Taurus, though perhaps tiring to those with an upper-midrange and treble sensitivity, is better-toned and more-performant. The BQ10 does, however, have it beat on accessories and build-quality.
3: 7Hz Eula ($30)
The Eula is another dual-dynamic IEM, though one that is a little pricier. It has a similar style of construction and cable. The Eula’s mid-bass is more-prominent than the Taurus, giving it more energy and engagement in electronic genres. The Eula has a somewhat similar amount of midrange emphasis as the Taurus, though the Taurus has a marginally-worse bridge to the treble. The Eula does a bit better in complex passages and resolves treble-bound inflections and textures more-frequently. The Eula also has slightly-better accessories, though the difference isn’t that big.
These are similar IEMs that really test your preferences. I’m partial towards the Eula’s broader bass response and more-predictable treble performance.
4: 7Hz G1 ($35)
The G1 is warmer and much bassier than the Taurus. It has a more-recessed midrange and less-forward treble, aligning it closely with other Harman-tuned IEMs. The G1’s midrange is more-cohesive and delivers more-organic male vocals. The G1 also manages to resolve weighty bass-bound percussion with more-believable oomph. The Taurus does sound more “open” when A/B’ing, but ultimately delivers a less-enjoyable, and far-more sizzle-prone, experience across my entire music library. Sure, the Taurus may surface the occasional detail more-easily, but it smudges them far-more obviously than the G1 does.
The G1 is more expensive, but its metal shells, actual accessory package, and friendlier-tuning make it a more appealing choice for me.
The Taurus is another KZ experiment in the budget segment. It attempts to deliver a “detailed” experience by boosting the upper-midrange at the expense of overall cohesion. This overbearing tuning style hearkens back to older models like the KZ ZST — another IEM I was not partial to. While the Taurus does represent a potentially high-value purchase for those who want mid-centric W-shaped IEMs, I find that the budget segment has other, perhaps slightly more expensive, options that I prefer.
As always, happy listening!
Spend Less Enjoy HIFI
