This is a free sample I have received from
@KEEPHIFI for which I am of course grateful. The opinions expressed here are, however, mine and reflect the way I hear this IEM.
What is ZA12?
It's a hybrid with 2xDynamic Driver and 4xBalanced armatures. What appears to be distinguishing it from the rest is the placement of one of the BAs directly in the nozzle, so that no sound tube is needed.
The packaging is what I came to expect from KZ, simple paper box. Cable, IEM, tips, that’s it.
The shells are very nicely built, with a combination of mirror-polished metal and a resin insert bearing a crystal-like aspect. They look very classy to me and the quality of the manufacturing is a clear step up from KZ ZS10 Pro and Pro 2.
The shells have the part facing the ear flat (no sculpted part to fit into the concha). The size leans towards big, (see comparison with other KZ sets I own). It was easy enough for me to find a good fit, even though the angle of the nozzle is not exactly right for me. The nozzles are short and stubby. You can easily see the BA in the nozzle, this is a first for me.
IEMs like Fatfreq Deuce, VE Ext are a perfect fit for my ears, just for reference.
The cable is decent, soft and thin with practically no microphonics. The kind of cable you’d want when commuting, for example. I quite like this cable, even though it does have a tendency to tangle up. It’s easy to untangle though and it does not feel fragile. It is the same one from ZS10 Pro and ZS Pro10 2.
There is audible driver flex when inserting them. Not much, but it’s present (it's tips dependent, of course, the better the seal, the more flex)
Sound
Bass is lean, almost flat with low amount of rumble and a nice warmth added to it. While the subbass is nothing to right home about, being very shy, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it gives them a rather neutral sound. There is, however, a very good, clean and fast midbass. It lacks a bit of texture, but it’s definitely the co-star of the show, along with the treble. It’s also a good counterbalance for those hyper enthusiastic highs. Without this anchor, even my insatiable appetite for cymbals would not have been enough to keep me interested. But the midbass does its job admirably.
It’s not clear to me if it is the mids that are depressed or simply the treble that is way too energetic. Unfortunately, female voices quickly become strident and tiring as I increase the volume. So if you’re looking for something that renders female voices with warmth and emotion, look elsewhere. Female voices are ok for the most part, except for those that go higher, which can be piercing. Male voices perform better, and are a tad closer to the center stage. As expected, less chances of becoming strident.
I would have liked more grit in the guitars attack, but this is so hard to do right.
Treble is the main attraction here. It’s upfront, it’s loud and it’s unapologetically energetic. Maybe it’s not unexpected with that BA directly in the nozzle, a bit a la 64 Audio. No energy is lost via sound tubes, the treble hits you right in the head, until your head starts ringing. Not for the treble sensitive ones. If you happen to like rock/metal, you’re in for a treat. In my experience, these genres benefit the most, because of the amount of cymbals used. They sound detailed, crisp and quite airy. A bit like Dita Project-M, if you want.
The stage is average, with enough instrument separation. The soundstage extends sideways, but not that much vertically. I find it quite ok for a budget set.
Overall, they have good presence, and the timbre is ok. They could sound a bit fuller, but it could also be an effect of the dominating treble.
Selection of songs
Christoph Mae - Pays des Merveilles. It works very well, the song is rendered in a very lively manner, I had problems sitting down and not dancing. Dynamics are very good,
Halestorm - Raise Your Horns. This is tough one. Is my supreme test for sibilance and female voice. There is some sibilance, but not dramatic. Lizzy’s voice is, unfortunately, a bit strident.
Dua Lipa - You got Me In Love Again. Enthusiastic rendition, nice extension of the bass with the treble ever so slightly strident. The voice is very close to the center. These things are quite detailed, you can hear well that huskiness in Dua Lipa’s voice. Once again, very dynamic, very lively. This set has the enthusiasm of a puppy.
Mark Knopfler - Boom, Like That. Sounded almost perfect. Mark’s soothing voice works very well here, things are calm, controlled. The bass has some breathing room and shows what it is capable of. Highly recommended.
Concierto de Aranjuez - Thibaut Garcia this is my favourite interpretation of it, less guitar machismo, more interplay with the orchestra. Here the treble does the job admirably. Very detailed, every breath he takes is there, the attack is great and the notes ring with enough body. Quite a surprise, really.
They are quite power hungry. With the SE cable I’ve reached volume of 90 on the Activo P1. For reference, my usual levels lingers around 50.
With a balanced cable there is more power available to them, they sound more spacious, the sound stage is a bit larger. (Tested with Eletech Eclipse).
I have tested them with a balanced cable with a variety of sources. They do benefit form the extra power, that is clear, there is more tactility to the bass, rather pleasant. The soundstage is extended and the imbalance is less obvious. There is not much rumble, they remain rather close to neutral.
Cayin RU7 and LP W4 are both good pairings. Sources that are overly analytical, like the FiiO dongles are less preferred, but the margin is small.
Comparisons
One unexpected comparison is the Dita Project-M. Although not being one of the über expensive offerings from Dita, it remains almost 8 times more expensive than the KA12.
P-M is a one DD + one BA hybrid, that has very nice treble, nice mids and one of the best mid-bass in sub 1k territory.
Unsurprisingly, Project-M wins across the board. But, there is something to be learned here. I wanted to make KA12 more similar to P-M, so I did a quick graph of both and I got this.
EQ tip: By lowering that rather large hump extending from 3K-6K, the KA12 becomes less prone to being strident, and a lot more enjoyable.
KZ ZS10 Pro
The finishing on the KA12 is much better, without any sharp edges. Sonically, the ZS10 Pro has more subbass, and dramatically capped treble. It is more balanced, but because it is so safe, some might consider it boring. The treble while being less in your face, is less detailed. I prefer KA12 to ZS10 Pro.
KZ ZS10 Pro 2
The most balanced of the bunch, but also the most difficult to find a good fit. Better finishing than ZS10 Pro but a bit worse than KA12. You can already see the direction they took, with extra bits of polished metal, no sharp edges, etc.
Sound wise, even though the most balanced, they are somehow less pleasant than KA12. There’s more rumble than KA12 but less mid-bass. The mids are rather uneventful, with a tinge of metallic timbre. The treble is more detailed than ZS10 Pro, but less than KA12. KA12 wins this one as well.
Size comparison with KZ ZS10 Pro and KZ ZS10 Pro 2
The BA in the nozzle
