DISCLAIMER: The KZ ZS12 PRO X was sent to us free of charge by the https://keephifi.com/ team for review purpose. We would also like to state here that the KEEPHIFI team has no influence over this review and the review reflects our honest opinion of the KZ ZS12 PRO X standard version. We thank the KEEPHIFI Team for their kind support for Aural Cafe.

Today at Aural Cafe we will be reviewing the KZ ZS12 PRO X standard version which is Knowledge Zenith's (KZ) latest launch from their hybrid series of IEMs.

Although Knowledge Zenith, popularly known as KZ doesn’t need any kind of introduction, we just like our previous reviews, would love to share a bit about the KZ before moving on to the KZ ZS12 PRO X review. Knowledge Zenith was our guardian angel when we entered this hobby around 2016. We say this because during that period we were still bankrupt like today and there were not many China-based Audio companies who were coming up with ultra-budget IEMs. The Chi-fi scene during that period wasn’t as bright and competitive as it is now in 2024. KZ was the sole flag bearer of ultra-budget IEMs during 2017-18 and just like most of us we entered the Audiophile hobby by purchasing a KZ ZS5. The ZS5 being our first IEMs, we at Aural Cafe hold a special love and respect for Knowledge Zenith as a brand. KZ was founded in 2008 under the parenthood of China, Guangdong-based Dongguan Yuanze Acoustics Technology Co., Ltd to offer Hi-Fi IEMs and earphones at honest prices. KZ was founded by Keith Yue, a former Audio-Technica engineer, and Zen Li, a Western-trained classical musician so that’s how Knowledge Zenith popularly known as KZ got its name. KZ as a brand actually originated in 2013 when the portable Hi-Fi scene completed its transition into the digital phase. KZ is primarily known for offering an impressive range of low-priced IEMs and currently caters to audiophiles in more than 100 countries, but in recent times the Chi-fi scene has become ultra-competitive as in 2024 numerous well-respected China-based Audio companies are coming with solid lower-priced items one after the another and it will be really interesting to see how the Knowledge Zenith holds to its bastion.

KZ ZS12 PRO X is the latest IEM offering from the Knowledge Zenith (KZ) hybrid lineup which aims at achieving reference-level sound quality. KZ ZS12 PRO X comes in two different versions, standard and tuning. We will be reviewing the KZ ZS12 PRO X Standard Edition which features a combination of 10mm super-linear inner magnetic Dynamic Driver + Double 31736 dual array Balanced Armature + Single 30019 customized Balanced Armature. The lows and mids in KZ ZS12 PRO X are taken care of by the single 10mm dynamic driver whereas the upper mids are handled by double 31736 dual array Balanced Armature drivers. Unlike ordinary single-balanced armature drivers, the 31736 in ZS12 PRO X features an array of Balanced Armatures. The highs in ZS12 PRO X are taken care of by a single customized 30019 BA driver. The new generation 10mm DD in ZS12 PRO X aims at achieving super linear vibration response and ultra-low distortion to showcase natural and life-like immersive lows. The double 31736 dual array BA drivers aim at achieving Hi-Fi resolution where there is top-level clarity across the frequency and micro details can be perceived with ease, while the single 30019 balanced armature driver aims at adding sparkle to the highs in a smoother way.

KZ ZS12 PRO X Standard Edition retails for 50 US$.

• Driver Configuration: 10mm Magnetic Dynamic Driver + Double 31736 Dual Array Balanced Armatures + Single 30019 customized balanced armature (1-DD + 5-Bas)
• Impedance: 25Ω ± 5%
• Freq Response: 20Hz-40Khz
• Connector Type: 0.75mm 2-Pin QDC-Type
• Sensitivity: 106 dB/mW @1kHz
• Termination Plug: 3.5mm

 

Unboxing Experience, Design & Build: -

KZ ZS12 PRO X, just like its predecessors, comes in simple, practical and environment-friendly packaging and takes us to our beginner audiophile days of 2017. ZS12 PRO X comes in a small rectangle-shaped white coloured cardboard box. The front of the box is dominated mostly by the ZS12 PRO X IEM’s pic in black colour along with the Knowledge Zenith trademark KZ Logo being printed at the right top corner of the box while the ZS12 PRO X specifications and features adore the back side of the box in Chinese and English dialect. On opening the box, one is greeted with the routine user manual removing which one comes across the beautiful black colour ZS12 PRO X IEM metallic shells on the top layer. The ZS12 PRO X shells follow a sharp design language and will surely attract newbie audiophiles and gamers to this hobby. KZ ZS12 PRO X jet black colour metallic shells are crafted with high precision using die-cast alloy material along with a double-layer electroplating process. The double-layer electroplating process not only improves the corrosion and wear resistance but also gives a unique lustre, texture and rugged look. We at Aural Cafe especially loved the design language of the ZS12 PRO X faceplate which it adopts from the highly acclaimed ZS series. The parallel arrow lines being engraved on the ZS12 PRO X faceplate add to the rugged look while the usage of a golden screw on the faceplate adds a touch of elegance to the whole look of the ZS12 PRO X. The ‘12 hybrid technology’ is written on the top of each faceplate in white to market the number of the driver being used in ZS12 PRO X. This is not all as the KZ team have also used metal dust-proof mesh to ensure that dust can’t enter through the carved parallel lines to keep the internals of the IEMs safe and sturdy. The lower layer of the box is where the cables, ear tips and other accessories are neatly placed. Our ZS12 PRO X review unit came with a mic version featuring an SPC Cable along with a decent mic. As per the KZ, the ZS12 PRO X comes with a high-purity silver-plated cable for lossless transmission ensuring high-fidelity sound reproduction for a unique listening affair. The SPC cable is flexible and light in weight while the mic becomes very handy for taking calls when listening to music. On our usage, the mic was decently clear and added convenience while taking calls and listening to music together during busy office hours and while commuting. When it comes to ear tips ZS12 PRO X comes with three pairs of narrow-bore silicone ear tips in standard S, M, and L sizes and one pair of high-quality narrow-bore foam ear tips in medium size. The foam ear tips on the KZ ZS12 Pro X earbuds are polyurethane foam with slow rebound characteristics, which slowly return to its original shape after usage. When it comes to fitting, the ZS12 PRO X’s shells, although metallic, are light in weight and comfortable for long listening hours while the shell design is also quite ergonomic and fits very nicely. The lightweight flexible SPC cable just adds up to the comfort factor while listening to music on the go. Although, it got tangled so easily. All in all, we at Aural Cafe were quite satisfied with the simple, minimalistic and environment-friendly packaging and build quality of the IEM shells and cable.

• Tonality: - After listening to KZ ZS12 Pro-X for quite a long time we at Aural Cafe can conclude that ZS12 Pro-X embraces a slightly V-shaped tonality. We feel they have tried to maintain a warm yet detailed sound and succeeded to some extent. The usual harshness in the higher frequencies we experienced before in other KZ earphones we have tried are carefully omitted and there is a warmth that can be observed in the lower end also. The timbre of the instruments is organic in most cases. We feel this kind of tonality suits Beginner Audiophiles in the hobby. The detailing is there along with the fun in the whole spectrum. The IEM will demand your attention so beware the casual listeners. It pairs well with warm neutral sources like Dethonray DTR1+ in our case.

• Lows: - Following its sound tonality the lows on KZ ZS12 Pro-X are one of the highlights of its abilities. The stock foam ear tips help a lot in adding a body to the lows of the IEMs even more. While listening to ‘Starboy’ by the Weekend the mid-bass hit remains compact and tight whereas when it comes to Subbass we, while listening to Jean du Voyage - Nakshathram (feat. V. Soundara Rajan) felt that while the sub-bass texture is very good on ZS12 Pro-X as it goes very low. The mid-bass improved a bit in terms of quantity as well as extension when we tried ZS12 Pro-X along with Spinfit W1 Silicone ear tips while listening to ‘The Hills’ by the Weekend. We have never experienced any bleeding of bass into the mids. We at Aural café feel that the KZ engineers worked carefully to achieve the tuning in the lows successfully.

• Mids: - The Mids on KZ ZS12 Pro-X are neutral with a bit of forwardness in the upper-mids region. We at Aural Cafe feel that the double 31736 dual array BA drivers Unit shows off its capability by rendering the mid-frequencies of ZS12 Pro-X. The Mids on the ZS12 Pro-X are balanced in comparison to its brightish V-shaped sound signature. However, we can see the influence of the trebles into the mid-frequencies a bit. Both the male and female vocals showcase good clarity along with control irrespective of the genre of soundtracks one is listening to. But we at Aural Café felt that female vocals are on the thinner side and sometimes sound unnatural. The most of musical instruments showcased better resolution and timbre on ZS12 Pro-X but we felt some string instruments were unnatural. We enjoyed listening to ‘Beat of Passion’ composed by AR Rahman for the movie ‘Taal’ and ‘Uptown Funk’ by Bruno Mars. All in all, we feel that we would have loved it if the upper mids had not been affected by the higher frequencies (with the stock cable) and sounded more natural.

• Highs: - When it comes to the highs in the ZS12 Pro-X, we feel that it remains true to its approach and complements the tonality. It has a high amount of air and extension in the upper treble region. The treble can be felt sharp for treble sensitives. However, the team at KZ were careful this time not to overdo the treble like previous sets we have experienced before. We at Aural Cafe would love a tinge of more smoothness in highs as it can sound too sharp if not matched with the right source. All in all, we did enjoy the resolutions coming out from percussion instruments at the end of the ‘Hotel California’ soundtrack. However, we can confirm that treble-heads would enjoy the sound of ZS12 Pro-X a lot.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The Soundstage on KZ ZS12 Pro-X is above average both in terms of width and depth for the value and competition around this price range. The overall separation and layering are also above average as we found very little congestion. This really helps while listening to heavy or progressive Metal soundtracks like ‘Parabola’ from the album Lateralus by ‘Tool’. However, we are really happy with the soundstage and excellent layering ability of ZS12 Pro-X which we enjoyed while listening to Michel Jackson’s Thriller.

• Synergy: - The ZS12 Pro-X comes with a decent 106dB of sensitivity which makes it fairly easy to drive. However, due to its tonality, it needs to be matched with warm hi-fi sources to add warmth to the overall brightish sound tonality of the IEMs. After listening to music on ZS12 Pro-X with different portable and desktop sources and dongles concluded that it loves a pitch-black background and neutral to warm hi-fi source. In our case, it really went well with Dethonray DTR1+ and Tanchjim Space Lite. We also like to add here that ear tips play a crucial role in extracting the best out of ZS12 Pro-X. After using different types of ear tips, we at Aural Cafe feel that they pair best with Stock foam ear tips and would not suggest using any other upgraded tips because of the value addition. We also loved using Spinfit W1 silicone ear tips with ZS12 Pro-X as it adds a bit of body and rumble to the midbass and elevates the experience even more. When it comes to cables, we are happy with the stock cable because of the same value addition. However, we at Aural Café feel that it would pair well with pure Copper cables.

 

 

 

Conclusion: -

After listening to music on KZ ZS12 Pro-X for a long time, we at Aural Cafe would like to conclude by saying that it is an energetic V-shaped IEM with a lot of emphasis on highs. We can definitely say that the tonality will demand your attention throughout the listening session. It can be borderline fatiguing for some Audiophiles. We at Aural Cafe would definitely love a better-tuned mids where the female vocals are thicker and have a body. The IEM is a solid unit for the price, and we loved that the team at KZ gave a lot of attention to the tonality while making it. The tuning is absolutely nice, so if anyone wants to enjoy treble, giving attention to the little nuances of sound without just casually enjoying music this item could be the gateway without breaking the bank.

Non-Affiliated Link: -

• https://keephifi.com/collections/kz...ort-music-noise-cancelling-headset-new-arrive
• https://www.amazon.in/ZS12-Earphone-Balanced-Detachable-Audiophiles/dp/B0D9SFNLMB

35% off link: https://keephifi.com/discount/zs12prox-b?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fkz-zs12-pro-x-metal-earphones-1dd-5ba-hybrid-hifi-bass-in-ear-monitor-headphones-sport-music-noise-cancelling-headset-new-arrive