KZ ED12 – Review

KZ ED12

KZ ED12

| 10 mm Driver |



? KZ has done a gorgeous earphone with the KZ ED12, size, shape, colour, construction quality are great. The ED12 is part of the new generation of KZ earphones where they have improved drastically fit and finish of their line. The KZ ED12 shares the same housing of the KZ ZST, but with a different design choice.

The ED12 has a black shiny front plate with the rest of the housing being red for the right side earpiece and a “should-be blue” (actually is purple) left earpiece. They are made entirely of plastic but a great quality of plastic that feels solid and very well manufactured. The design is flawless, and this little guy has the wonderful characteristic of having detachable cables.

The cables have a bi-pin connection and you can replace it with any other compatible cable that you wish.

KZ will sell you the package with a cable with microphone and a 1-button control or with a cable without microphone or control.

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KZ ZST vs KZS ZS3 vs KZ ED12
KZ ZST vs KZ ZS3 vs KZ ED12

KZ ED12 - Review

Tests & Scores

W

Weight

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A
Accesories & Packaging

Out of the box you get the detachable cable and 3 pairs of eartips. Everything is packed in a clean and tiny packaging; the nowadays standard KZ packaging.

gramophone-256607.5/10


B

Bass & Sub Bass

The KZ ED12 has a rich bass, deep and punchy. The bass and sub-bass coming from the dynamic driver is fun and punchy and never falls short. Sub-bass gets deep, mid-bass is present and does not bleed into the mid frequencies. Bass is engaging, makes music with good quantity of bass sound captivating and entertaining.

The KZ ED12 can be equalized to enhance bass and will noticeably get punchier

The KZ ED12 can be equalized to enhance bass and will noticeably get punchier, they can be amplified too and combined with a good bass eq it starts to deliver basshead impact, not a prize award level but fair enough.





When basshead equalized and amplified with a Fiio E12 on high gain and bass boost switched ON, the ED12 can handle up to 50% of the maximum power on the Fiio E12. At this level you get a sub-bass impact above the KZ ATE, below the KZ ZS2 and right below the Vots QT100. Remember that if you throw too much amplified power to any earphone or headphone you can break or damage them permanently. Particularly KZ earphones do not tolerate excessively amplifying, they will break immediately if you push too much on the power of the amplifier and there will be no way to repair the earphones. So, if you want to try, be very careful.

gramophone-256608.25/10

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M

Mids & Vocals

Mids are emphasized and forward to the point that they start to sound boxy and harsh when peaks are reached, fatigue starts early when using the KZ ED12. Mids are so forward that they step over high frequencies. Cutting down mid frequencies between 1kHz and 3kHz is a must to use this earphone unless you have a particular tolerance to mids harshness. Mid and vocals improve when equalizing but still they are not a strong asset for the KZ ED12.

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H

Highs & Treble

Highs get lost because of the over-emphasized mids, they get so lost that it even seems that the highs are highly recessed but at the same time there is a hint of sibilance in certain moments. If you cut down some of the mid/vocals frequencies, highs will get their space and start to gain presence. They are not forward, nor piercing but they are present.

gramophone-256605.5/10

KZ ED12
KZ ED12

SL

Sound Leak

The KZ ED12 sound leakage is acceptable but not an excellent performer at this. Sound will leak and music will be heard by people surrounding you, though not excessively.

gramophone-256606.75/10


SI

Sound Isolation

Isolation noise coming from the environment is good, it noticeably isolates and reduces the levels of noise around you.

gramophone-256607.75/10


C

Comfort

The KZ ED12 shares the form factor and comfort of the KZ ZST. They fit securely and comfortable inside the ears, they do stick out slightly and the custom-like shape is bigger than many normal shaped earphones and bigger than most older KZ earphones (KZ ED9, KZ EDR2, KZ ATE, KZ ATR, KZ HDS3)

KZ has improved a lot the comfort and fit of their earphones with this generation

Remember that the way to wear these is like a custom or sport earphone, with the cable going over and around the ear. It is a matter of taste if you like or dislike this but if you get used to it they are very comfortable. KZ has improved a lot the comfort and fit of their earphones with this generation.

gramophone-256609/10


EQ

Response to Equalization

The KZ ED12 respond very well to equalization of the bass and sub-bass frequencies; high frequencies respond well but they are too overshadowed by the mids frequency to shine. Mids can be equalized down to work around the harshness and over-emphasis and things improve a lot.

gramophone-256607.5/10

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Scores Scores

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Frequency Response (raw)

KZ ED12 Frequency Response

KZ ED12 - Frequency Response
KZ ED12 – Frequency Response

KZ ED12

Specifications

TypeDynamic
Driver Unit10mm
Sensitivity120dB/mW
Impedance16 0hms
Frequency Response10-20,000Hz
Cord Length1.2m
CordDetachable cord, Bi-Pin
PlugL-shaped stereo mini plug
Weight (Without Cord)Approx. 30g
Supplied Accessories1 x Detachable Cable, 2 x Pair of Ear Plugs

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Photos
DISCLAIMER
We highly discourage anyone from trying to apply our testings to your own earphones, the risk of damaging or permanently breaking your iems is absolutely probable to happen. With our standardized equalization and amplification tests we push the limits of the earphones to the extreme. If anyway you decide to do so, we cannot be held responsible of the damage done to your equipment. Do it at your own risk.

KZ ED12

7.6

SCORE

7.6/10

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