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KZ ZS10 PRO X vs KZ ZS10

Baker69

Baker69

Mar 24, 2008
2,048
1,149
UK
#1
I’ve been using KZ ZS10 PRO earphones for IEM for some time now (as well as using them for personal music listening), however I accidentally trod on them after they had inadvertently fallen onto the floor resulting in the plastic around the 2 gold pins on one of the buds getting broken and the pins bending.

There was very little left of the plastic surrounding the pins, it just seemed to crumble. I tried to straighten the pins as best as I could but they are fragile (and hollow to receive the pins on the cable). I had a gig coming up and needed to do something quickly so I ended up applying several layers of superglue to hold the cable in place. It managed but I decided to buy a new set of earphones to be on the safe side.

Although I was happy with the ZS10 PRO’s I noticed that KZ had bought out a new model ie the ZS10 PRO X. After reading a few impressive reviews I decided to get these instead of a ZS10 replacement. Playing my MP3 through the ZS10 PRO X earphones they did sound very nice, not quite as harsh in the top end as well. When I tried them with my bass however I wasn’t quite sure, they seemed to lack that punch that the ZS10 PRO’s have and also I could hear a slight vibration or buzzing if I pushed them too hard.

Anyway, at the gig I was a bit disappointed and they did indeed seem to lack that punch, yes they had the depth in bass but not that punch, and as the night progressed they started to distort.

As they were bought off Amazon I decided to send them back for a refund. I still need to get some new earphones but the dilemma is do I get some ZS10 PRO’s or order another set of ZS10 PRO X’s as the one’s I had and returned may have been faulty? I have been reading more reviews again today and reviewers are saying they are a definite upgrade over the ZS10 PRO model.

Have any of you guys bought the ZS10 PRO X or even ‘upgraded’ your ZS10 PRO’s for some? I would love to hear other people’s views and experience with them?
 
#3
Just my opinion, but I believe that the impact of version differences is going to be a pretty individual thing...where one person might say "Well worth the upgrade" and the next might say "They're basically the same"

We hear differently, so you can get sincerely given answers that say opposite things

The anecdote that I come to this from is that in my last little flurry of trying chi-fi buds I got
KZ PR1s and KZ PR1 Pros, at I believe a $20 difference. The specs, graphs and all of the "audiophile" reviews I saw pegged the Pros as superior..."Possibly KZ's best upgrade ever!" I think one said

I don't believe I could tell them apart. I even put them on the same cable and tried one in one ear and one in the other. I was expecting that I would at least hear a volume difference based on the difference in impedance and sensitivity, but I couldn't really even perceive that. Just sounded like a pair of buds.
 
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#4
drpepper said:
Just my opinion, but I believe that the impact of version differences is going to be a pretty individual thing...where one person might say "Well worth the upgrade" and the next might say "They're basically the same"

We hear differently, so you can get sincerely given answers that say opposite things

The anecdote that I come to this from is that in my last little flurry of trying chi-fi buds I got
KZ PR1s and KZ PR1 Pros, at I believe a $20 difference. The specs, graphs and all of the "audiophile" reviews I saw pegged the Pros as superior..."Possibly KZ's best upgrade ever!" I think one said

I don't believe I could tell them apart. I even put them on the same cable and tried one in one ear and one in the other. I was expecting that I would at least hear a volume difference based on the difference in impedance and sensitivity, but I couldn't really even perceive that. Just sounded like a pair of buds.
Click to expand...


Hi drpepper,

There is definitely a difference between the PRO and PRO X upgrade model, but as you say whether it is an improvement or not is subjective.

I’m tempted to re-order another set of ZS10 PRO X’s as it is quite possible I got a duff set. The beauty of Amazon is that it is easy to return to them should an item not be suitable.
 
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#5
Baker69 said:
Hi drpepper,

There is definitely a difference between the PRO and PRO X upgrade model, but as you say whether it is an improvement or not is subjective.

I’m tempted to re-order another set of ZS10 PRO X’s as it is quite possible I got a duff set. The beauty of Amazon is that it is easy to return to them should an item not be suitable.
Click to expand...
Order another set. Return them if the outcome is the same and get another PRO set.
 
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#7
Man, the X’s are so inexpensive I am tempted to grab a pair just to A/B test. I have been using the regular non-X pro’s and frankly, I don’t see any need to upgrade at all. I get more than enough of everything, they’re capable of being way too loud, and my bass sounds excellent through them.
 
#9
InhumanResource said:
Man, the X’s are so inexpensive I am tempted to grab a pair just to A/B test. I have been using the regular non-X pro’s and frankly, I don’t see any need to upgrade at all. I get more than enough of everything, they’re capable of being way too loud, and my bass sounds excellent through them.
Click to expand...

Yes the ZS10 PRO’s are brilliant, I was hoping the ZS10 PRO X’s would be even better (for me), but that might not be the case.
 
#10
I think expectations need to be set and if you prefer one version over the other, then go for those.
$100 for ears monitors is not going to get the best results but might be decent bang for buck.

FWIW, I have the 10 Pro's and I wouldn't expect their model upgrade to amount to too much.
 
#11
I've had the 10s (non pro) and when those failed I got the Pro's. Initially I had a similar experience as the OP going from Pro's to Pro X's. If this really is the case, they seem to make them "flatter" with each iteration thus reducing some of the low-end punch they were known for.

With that said, I've tried the Pro's at rehearsals and had no lack of lows. Instead it allowed for the mids of my bass to be a bit more apparent thus making it easier to hear myself without blasting a lot of low-end volume in my ears.

All very small differences, maybe some of it was placebo. But I would be happy with either. And when this set fails I'll probably get the Pro X's just see what's what.
 
#12
I think I’m going to order another set of PRO X’s, the glue I used on the damaged PRO’s is still holding out so I can always fall back on those for the next gig if I’m still not happy with the new PRO X’s.
 
#15
PeaveyPlayer said:
I suggest looking at headfi

I event posted there

Currently I use cca C12

very bright and great low end

but my suggestion is the tips
Find a proper foam tip and any iem will sound great imo
Click to expand...

I’ve always used the Comply Foam tips which are great for sound isolation and comfort. I have the same foam tips on my Shure SE215’s but IMHO they are nowhere near as good as the ZS10 Pro and Pro X IEM’s.
 
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#16
This is a decision I need to make in the next couple of days as I'm intending to upgrade from my MEE Audio M6 pro buds (not sure of the specs but I think they're only a single 5mm driver) to either the ZS10 Pro X or ZS 10.
Looking at the specs the ZS Pro 10 goes lower than the X version (7Hz vs 20hz), but the X version is supposed to be the newer model. I'm not even sure if the human ear will hear that low? Is the X version just less scooped?
Any pointers on which one to plum for, or will I be happy with either?

Edit:
Specs for the MEE audio M6 pro
Driver: moving coil (dynamic)
driver size 10 mm
frequency response 20 Hz to 20 kHz
 
#18
boristhespider7 said:
This is a decision I need to make in the next couple of days as I'm intending to upgrade from my MEE Audio M6 pro buds (not sure of the specs but I think they're only a single 5mm driver) to either the ZS10 Pro X or ZS 10.
Looking at the specs the ZS Pro 10 goes lower than the X version (7Hz vs 20hz), but the X version is supposed to be the newer model. I'm not even sure if the human ear will hear that low? Is the X version just less scooped?
Any pointers on which one to plum for, or will I be happy with either?

Edit:
Specs for the MEE audio M6 pro
Driver: moving coil (dynamic)
driver size 10 mm
frequency response 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Click to expand...

Hi there,

After having now owned the ZS10 Pro and two sets of ZS10 Pro X I can honestly say that for use as a bass IEM the best one to go for is the ZS10 Pro.

I am on my second set of ZS10 Pro X buds (after I felt the 1st set was faulty). The 2nd set is a bit better but (for bass IEM) it is still not as good as the ZS10 Pro IMHO.

I will probably keep the Pro X set however as I do think it is a nicer sound for personal music listening.

I will probably order another set of ZS10 Pro’s to replace my damaged set.

The ZS10 Pro just seem to have the right frequency to get that bass punch and depth whereas the Pro X I feel just had the depth?

Hope this is of help to you.
 
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#20
Baker69 said:
Hi there,

After having now owned the ZS10 Pro and two sets of ZS10 Pro X I can honestly say that for use as a bass IEM the best one to go for is the ZS10 Pro.

I am on my second set of ZS10 Pro X buds (after I felt the 1st set was faulty). The 2nd set is a bit better but (for bass IEM) it is still not as good as the ZS10 Pro IMHO.

I will probably keep the Pro X set however as I do think it is a nicer sound for personal music listening.

I will probably order another set of ZS10 Pro’s to replace my damaged set.

The ZS10 Pro just seem to have the right frequency to get that bass punch and depth whereas the Pro X I feel just had the depth?

Hope this is of help to you.
Click to expand...

Would you say the X version has a flatter, more neutral sound compared to the pro (non X)?
I appreciate it still has a V shaped freq profile, but i'm wondering if its still flatter ?
 

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