KZ ZA12
Let's get started. Firstly, I'd like to thank @KEEPHIFI for sending me this set for review. I am so very appreciative for the opportunity, as I was definitely interested in listening to these IEMs. As the owner of several KZ, and as a fan of the older KZ ZS12 Pro X, I was interested in how this stacked up against that one and some other hybrids. So yes, this is a 4 BA + 2 DD hybrid, so sporting one extra DD than the ZS12 and 2 less BA's. Now you'd think the dual dynamic drivers would give you head pounding bass, especially tuned by KZ, but you'd be wrong. More on that later. The shell is reminiscent of one of my favorite budget IEMs, the CCA Trio, also made by KZ, with a sparkly faceplate. It's a comfortable fit, but driver flex is present. Again. more on that later. Ok now, so buckle your seatbelts and prepare for a 100% unbiased impression with heartfelt observations and thoughts. Now on to the fun stuff.
Let's get started. Firstly, I'd like to thank @KEEPHIFI for sending me this set for review. I am so very appreciative for the opportunity, as I was definitely interested in listening to these IEMs. As the owner of several KZ, and as a fan of the older KZ ZS12 Pro X, I was interested in how this stacked up against that one and some other hybrids. So yes, this is a 4 BA + 2 DD hybrid, so sporting one extra DD than the ZS12 and 2 less BA's. Now you'd think the dual dynamic drivers would give you head pounding bass, especially tuned by KZ, but you'd be wrong. More on that later. The shell is reminiscent of one of my favorite budget IEMs, the CCA Trio, also made by KZ, with a sparkly faceplate. It's a comfortable fit, but driver flex is present. Again. more on that later. Ok now, so buckle your seatbelts and prepare for a 100% unbiased impression with heartfelt observations and thoughts. Now on to the fun stuff.
This unboxing experience is pretty much the same as every other KZ unboxing experience, which is it's almost non-existent. Tiny white box with black lettering, proclaiming KZ's strongest hybrid sound solution. Not sure how accurate that statement is, but we'll go over that later. Inside you get the IEMs, a set of those KZ Starline tips that are useless to my ears, Tuning switch tool and one of those thin throw in cables that KZ has included with every IEM that's not called the Hydro or Zenith. All of it are toss outs. I tip rolled to DUNU S&S tips, which I found to be perfect for this IEM, and a Tripowin Altea monocrystalline copper cable. The shells are hard plastic and metal, are medium sized, with average sized nozzles, and a sparkly patterned faceplate with ZA12 branding. I got very good comfort from these shells, and could wear them very easily for hours on end without issues or discomfort. It's sold in a standard stock tuning option, or the unit I was sent, which is the tunable unit with 4 tuning switches. So now that we have those pleasantries out of the way, let's move on to the sound? That's what you're all here for anyways!! It's time to get it on!!...but first, let me share with all of you some information about the IEMs themselves. Internals, specs, and a graph? Fun times indeed!
THE SPECS :
KZ ZA12 :
TECHNICAL INFORMATION :
KZ ZA12 :
TECHNICAL INFORMATION :
Frequency Response graph provided courtesy of KZ & KeepHiFi
PRICE : $65.00
Available for purchase at this location.
The Gear :
What did I use for my listening sessions for my review??
So the gear used for this review revolved around my Cayin N3 Ultra (Classic Tube mode, Sharp roll off filter, M gain, untethered), Sony NW-A25 (untethered), FiiO JM21 + iBasso DC Elite, and the Hiby R3 II + iBasso Nunchaku (Tube mode, NOS filter, High gain). So the IEMs were privided a swath of very high performance, high quality sources to render this review.
PRICE : $65.00
Available for purchase at this location.
The Gear :
What did I use for my listening sessions for my review??
So the gear used for this review revolved around my Cayin N3 Ultra (Classic Tube mode, Sharp roll off filter, M gain, untethered), Sony NW-A25 (untethered), FiiO JM21 + iBasso DC Elite, and the Hiby R3 II + iBasso Nunchaku (Tube mode, NOS filter, High gain). So the IEMs were privided a swath of very high performance, high quality sources to render this review.
Music used for the review and all my reviews in general?
Ezra Collective - Dance, No One's Watching
Robert Glasper - Canvas
Alfa Mist - Antiphon
Mareike Wiening - Reveal
Avishai Cohen - Brightlight
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Survival
Rob Van Bavel & Joris Teppe - Dutch Connection
Kaisa's Machine - Taking Shape
Junior Kelly, Bounty Killer, and Capleton - The Good, The Bad, and the Blazin'
Dominik Eulberg - Avichrom
Abysmal Dawn - Phylogenesis
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Drive By Jehu - Self Titled
Cognizance - Phantazein
Crownshift - Crownshift
In Aphelion - Reaperdawn
Cradle of Filth - Nymphetamine
Shuffled Classic Rock, Reggae, and 80's Pop Music playlist
SOUND IMPRESSIONS :
Dynamics : 3
Resolution : 4
Details : 4.5
Instrument separation : 4
Imaging : 4
Low End Impact : 2
Sibilance : 3 (Sibilance is occasional)
Soundstage : 2.5
Overall score : 3.5/5
BASS/MIDRANGE/TREBLE :
The KZ ZA12 is an interesting new entry hybrid by KZ. The aforementioned KZ ZS12 Pro X is cheaper, yet has a metal shell, 6 drivers per side, and was given quite the marketing push. The ZA12 has less drivers, is a hybrid shell (mostly plastic), and is more expensive, and was not given any marketing push at all. The technical aspects of this IEM are through the roof. On sheer technicalities alone, this IEM punches way above it's price point, and lives in the same neighborhood as some IEMs that cost $200.00. The resolution and separation are both some of the sharpest and best that KZ has to offer, or any maker of IEMs in the $50-$200 range. This became apparent while listening to one of my test albums for timbre and resolution (both bass incisiveness & midrange resolution), spatial cues, and soundstage, Rob Van Bavel & Joris Teppe - Dutch Connection. While the stage is average at best, and more intimate that wide and deep, the imaging, instrument separation, and spatial cues are excellent. Instruments placement is above average, and note resolution and incisiveness in the bass frequencies is razor sharp. You can hear every strum, pull, and pluck of the bass strings very clearly and without any haze. This extends to the lower midrange as well. Now, for this being dual DD, the impact is lacking. While you get a very linear approach to bass, where the emphasis is on the clarity and snap, punch lacks energy, and rumble is almost non-existent. This is the definition of bass you can hear but not necessarily feel (except for the resolute snap of the bass strings).
Midrange weight is on the thinner side, with a high degree of resolution, much like the bass. There is very little natural warmth in the midrange, with almost no bleed from the bass. Tonality is crisp, resolute, and there's really good resonance and reverb in the notes. The midrange is also clean as a whistle, and clear. There is no mud. Technicalities are focus and spit out like a champ. Details are delivered with precision. When I fed the ZA12 vacuum tubes, they responded well in the midrange, providing much needed warmth and synergizing well with the stock resonances and tone. Gave it just a bit more weight to the timbre, and reigned in the sometimes hot upper mids. To boil it down...the ZA12's midrange is a technical marvel!
The treble is divisive. On one hand, it's shimmery, airy, and has lots of extension, with crispness, but at the same time, it can exhibit BA timbre, crispiness, and sibilance. Once again, like with the bass and midrange, incisiveness is king, but sometimes, it can be too much. I was able to tame it to some degree by using sharp roll off filters, and tube modes, and warmer sources. This worked to varying degrees, and for jazz, instrumental rock, and nu urban, the tuning made for a wonderous listen, and allowed you to pick up all the overtones and details present in the music. For vocals, some guitars, and cymbals and percussion, it tended to walk the edge, but you were never met with any smear, and glare was limited to BA timbre. So precise note delivery and precision clarity.
Ezra Collective - Dance, No One's Watching
Robert Glasper - Canvas
Alfa Mist - Antiphon
Mareike Wiening - Reveal
Avishai Cohen - Brightlight
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Survival
Rob Van Bavel & Joris Teppe - Dutch Connection
Kaisa's Machine - Taking Shape
Junior Kelly, Bounty Killer, and Capleton - The Good, The Bad, and the Blazin'
Dominik Eulberg - Avichrom
Abysmal Dawn - Phylogenesis
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Drive By Jehu - Self Titled
Cognizance - Phantazein
Crownshift - Crownshift
In Aphelion - Reaperdawn
Cradle of Filth - Nymphetamine
Shuffled Classic Rock, Reggae, and 80's Pop Music playlist
SOUND IMPRESSIONS :
Dynamics : 3
Resolution : 4
Details : 4.5
Instrument separation : 4
Imaging : 4
Low End Impact : 2
Sibilance : 3 (Sibilance is occasional)
Soundstage : 2.5
Overall score : 3.5/5
BASS/MIDRANGE/TREBLE :
The KZ ZA12 is an interesting new entry hybrid by KZ. The aforementioned KZ ZS12 Pro X is cheaper, yet has a metal shell, 6 drivers per side, and was given quite the marketing push. The ZA12 has less drivers, is a hybrid shell (mostly plastic), and is more expensive, and was not given any marketing push at all. The technical aspects of this IEM are through the roof. On sheer technicalities alone, this IEM punches way above it's price point, and lives in the same neighborhood as some IEMs that cost $200.00. The resolution and separation are both some of the sharpest and best that KZ has to offer, or any maker of IEMs in the $50-$200 range. This became apparent while listening to one of my test albums for timbre and resolution (both bass incisiveness & midrange resolution), spatial cues, and soundstage, Rob Van Bavel & Joris Teppe - Dutch Connection. While the stage is average at best, and more intimate that wide and deep, the imaging, instrument separation, and spatial cues are excellent. Instruments placement is above average, and note resolution and incisiveness in the bass frequencies is razor sharp. You can hear every strum, pull, and pluck of the bass strings very clearly and without any haze. This extends to the lower midrange as well. Now, for this being dual DD, the impact is lacking. While you get a very linear approach to bass, where the emphasis is on the clarity and snap, punch lacks energy, and rumble is almost non-existent. This is the definition of bass you can hear but not necessarily feel (except for the resolute snap of the bass strings).
Midrange weight is on the thinner side, with a high degree of resolution, much like the bass. There is very little natural warmth in the midrange, with almost no bleed from the bass. Tonality is crisp, resolute, and there's really good resonance and reverb in the notes. The midrange is also clean as a whistle, and clear. There is no mud. Technicalities are focus and spit out like a champ. Details are delivered with precision. When I fed the ZA12 vacuum tubes, they responded well in the midrange, providing much needed warmth and synergizing well with the stock resonances and tone. Gave it just a bit more weight to the timbre, and reigned in the sometimes hot upper mids. To boil it down...the ZA12's midrange is a technical marvel!
The treble is divisive. On one hand, it's shimmery, airy, and has lots of extension, with crispness, but at the same time, it can exhibit BA timbre, crispiness, and sibilance. Once again, like with the bass and midrange, incisiveness is king, but sometimes, it can be too much. I was able to tame it to some degree by using sharp roll off filters, and tube modes, and warmer sources. This worked to varying degrees, and for jazz, instrumental rock, and nu urban, the tuning made for a wonderous listen, and allowed you to pick up all the overtones and details present in the music. For vocals, some guitars, and cymbals and percussion, it tended to walk the edge, but you were never met with any smear, and glare was limited to BA timbre. So precise note delivery and precision clarity.
CONCLUSION :
Whereas the ZS12 Pro X has a linear but impactful bass with a relatively warm midrange, with a fuller soundstage, the Pro X falls short on the end of sheer technicalities, air, and imaging. The ZA12 is less colored, more accurate, and more technical. While the bass fun factor is dialed back, when you play Megadeth - Rust In Peace, or Abysmal Dawn's Phylogenesis, or even Robert Glasper - Canvas, the bass is so resolute and incisive, you'd swear you can hear the foot taps of the double bass drums, or the sniffles and slides of the bass player. The ZS12 Pro X doesn't have that ability to present details in that fine way. Neither does the CCA Hydro, CCA Trio, or the KZ Libra X. Detail retrieval, instrument separation, and imaging are superior to the Kefine Klean or the Sound Rhyme SP01. What it's lacking ultimately is warmth, bass impact and rumble, and maybe just a bit of upper mids roll off to reign in the hotness. The antidote to this is feed it vacuum tubes, and EQ the mid bass. Still, at the end of the day, the KZ ZA12 is satisfying listen to those who are looking for accurate, balanced, technically sharp and precise music delivery that does not skimp for details and crispness, clarity and cleanliness. SSo if you want to experience a technically superior IEM on a budget, then you cannot go wrong picking up the ZA12. Just remember the caveats, and fire up the vacuum tubes, and you should be alright?
RECOMMENDATION LEVEL : BUDGET TECHNICAL BOSS - HIGH 7/10.
Thank you so much for reading and remember to be water with your audio luv! When you do...AUDITORY ZEN UNLOCKED!
Shopping link: KEEPHIFI 35% OFF