:
Excellent mids & extended treble with zero metallic sheen
Acoustic instruments rendering is stellar
Accurate, fast bass with no boom or bleed
Decent technicalities at this price point
:
Driver flex issue
Minimal sub-bass
KZ ZA12's build quality is excellent, sporting a gorgeous bling faceplate, alas as usual (at this price point) the included accessories are best avoided. Comprised of BA's + 2 DD's, the hybrid's crossover renders tracks very fast, hence there's no lag in dynamic cohesion, akin to that of a single DD.
Micro detailing really stands out, which perceptibly increases your sense of engagement and immersion.
Having an extra DD, what's instantly noticeable is there's no bass boom whatsoever. Plus the obligatory metallic sheen, associated with KZ tuning has now been totally circumvented. If I'd blind tested the ZA12 I wouldn't have guessed they were KZ.
The shells appear a tad more premium, smaller graphics lettering looks far more refined than previous sets, which were emblazoned with huge tacky logos. Their fit is fairly snug albeit rather large sized. Driver flex is initially an issue with this set, which ameliorates once you get used to them.
Bass
In comparison with previous KZ iterations the Hydro & Rhapsody, the ZA12 balances out the bass. Hence bass boom is no longer present. They're a set not for bass-heads, as now bass doesn't step all over or bleed into the mids. Texture of the bass sounds authentic, alas it's quantity could be elevated in the mix & sub-bass definitely needs to be boosted via EQ!
Mids
The midrange frequencies are no longer recessed as was the case with Hydro & Rhapsody, & the veil has now been lifted, as the mids join in the mix, elevating the dynamic fidelity and non metallic tonality. The improved authentic timbre is amazing for all genres, male and female voices, excelling when listening to electronica & complex binaural soundscapes.
Treble
Resolution is absolutely superb! There's no longer present, the shackles present of a V-shaped signature, as there was in the case of the Hydro & Rhapsody. The highs now have a good extension, with zero transient peaks or harshness. Micro detail rendering is excellent; & there's a good sense of "air" which helps to convey that "live" gig experience I crave!
Soundstage & image:
Soundstage width, height and depth is fairly average, alas the ZA12 manages to render the directionality of the sounds particularly well. Imaging/separation of instruments even in busy tracks is very impressive. They do have an addictive quality, due to the prowess of their technicalities. Acoustic instruments especially in Jazz & Classical really shines on this set!
Conclusion:
The ZA12 were touted as the Rhapsody Pro & they fulfil this tag & then some, elevated beyond any KZ set I added in 2024, so Kudos goes out to the tuners. Alas with KZ releases there's invariably a caveat to be taken into account.
Driver flex is in this set is unfortunate but not necessarily a deal-breaker. Over time the awareness of this issue appears to reduce somewhat. It's frustrating because in this price range, there is honestly very little to dislike about this set.
Hopefully in the next iteration they'll include rear ventilation holes for the DD's? If they also increased the bass quantity a tad & boosted the sub-bass bigtime, then KZ could easily have a winner on their hands!!
They're a set I always return to in my rota, as their larger shell size reproduces the sense of a speaker cabinet system. In that sense they pair up well when critical listening, in contrast to recently acquired full-sized cans. They certainly pique my interest regarding the flagship KZ Sonata (or Check review for it here), which I'll audition for sure at Canjam London this year!!
