KZ EDR2

| 7 mm Driver | Neodymium Magnet |

? We had the KZ EDR2 on the review queue for a while and although we had purchased and received it a couple of weeks ago we had not been able to review it yet. KZ makes so many earphones and launches them so often that is difficult to catch up with their pace, the KZ EDR2 is one of the many highly praised and famous iem of the brand like the KZ ATE, KZ ATR, KZ ZST, KZ ZS3, KZ ED12, KZ ZS2, KZ ED9, KZ HDS3.

The KZ EDR2 are nicely built with a durable metal housing with an attractive design

The KZ EDR2 are nicely built with a durable metal housing with an attractive design (we have to admit that on photos we never felt attracted to them but once we got it we liked it quite a lot). Packed inside the KZ EDR2 there is a small 7mm dynamic driver with a powerful neodymium magnet. The housing uses a coloured ring near the end of the eartip that makes use of the standardized Blue/Red colours to quickly identify the left and the right earpiece. On the rear part there is a grid-like metal piece that may suggest that the KZ EDR2 are an open-back iem but they are not, it is just an aesthetical element.

Packed inside the KZ EDR2 there is a small 7mm dynamic driver with a powerful neodymium magnet

The cable is a very similar to what you can find on almost every KZ earphone; a rounded rubberized cable which allows to the see the inner copper cable. Overall their cables do a pretty good job fighting tangling. The KZ EDR2 can be purchased either with or without the inline microphone and 1 button control.

FIND ALL: Earphones Scores Compared

MORE: KZ Earphones Reviews

KZ EDR2 - Review

Tests & Scores

Weight

MORE: In-Ear Headphones Weight Comparison

SEE ALSO: Earphones Size Comparison

Accessories & Packaging

The packaging of the KZ EDR2 is the classic previous generation KZ’s tiny dark cardboard with a small bag inside with the extra accessories; in this case 3 eartips.

^6_/10

Bass & Sub Bass

The KZ EDR2 have good bass with enough mid-bass response and sub-bass depth, they are not specifically bassy or will produce any earthquake on your neighbourhood but the quantity of bass is enough to satisfy most people bass requirements and will not take over the whole sound signature. Using an eq will very noticeably enhance mid-bass punch and sub-bass depth but will produce a general recession of mids and vocals.

… mid-bass got greatly emphasized gaining a lot more of punch and sub-bass gained much more impact and depth.  Expect a marginal basshead rumble

---

---

---

---

Putting the KZ EDR2 under our extreme amplification test, while applying a custom basshead eq they were capable of handling 46% of the Fiio’s E12 maximum power (with bass boost turned on and set to high gain) as a result mid-bass got greatly emphasized gaining a lot more of punch and sub-bass gained much more of impact and depth.  Expect a marginal basshead rumble and in-ear shake similar to what the JBMMJ MJ007 and KZ ATE were able to produce and below the KZ ZST, KZ ZS2, Monoprice 8320, Elecom EHP-CA3580, Xiaomi Mi Pro HD, Xiaomi Mi Quantie Pro Hybrid or Sony MDR-XB50AP to name just a few.

^7_/10

MORE: Earphones Amplification Power Comparison

MORE: Best Basshead Earphones

SEE ALSO: Best Fun Sounding Earphones Chart

Mids & Vocals

Mids are warm, somewhat muffled but not extremely and vocals may feel laid back at times to some listeners used to clear and present earphones; for a normal listener probably this would not be an issue. Overall mids and vocals are not harsh nor boxy. With an eq a tiny bit of the recession can be improved but not a groundbreaking change and harsh or boxy mids are not introduced by much.

^6.5_/10

Highs & Treble

Highs exhibit a mild recession but still offer some definition and detail. Overall they are smooth, not particularly piercing nor sibilant but if you are very treble sensitive you might feel some piercing high disturbance when music reaches very high peaks on high frequencies. Equalizing adds a lot more of brightness and detail without changing much of the sibilant and piercing performance.

^7_/10

Sound Leak

The KZ EDR2 tricks you with the rear metal grid on their housing making you believe that they have an open back and consequently you may expect an absurdly high amount of sound leaking out from them, but this is not the case as the metal grid is just a design detail placed there for looks and they are not an open back iem at all.

… the EDR2 do a great job reducing the amount of sound that leaks out of them

To the very surprise of whom may have fallen to the “grid-trick” the EDR2 do a great job reducing the amount of sound that leaks out of them. Sound levels leaked are very attenuated and barely noticeable.

^8.75_/10

Sound Isolation

The EDR2 have a slightly above average performance regarding sound isolation, they will reduce perceived ambient noise but to get a full isolation medium and above volumes are needed.

^7.5_/10

Comfort

The idea of a metal housing sometimes sounds like heavy weight but the KZ EDR2 are light weighted and durable at the same time. Fit is secure and tight enough for any normal use and are easy to put on and take out. The way they fit does not generate any discomfort nor pain even after long continuous time using them.

^8_/10

Response to Equalization

A custom EQ can be fairly used to change some of the KZ EDR2‘s performance; highs can be brightened up and enhance their detail presence without feeding their sibilance. Mids do not respond that well, not much improvement can be made with any type of eq. On the other hand, bass can be greatly enhanced using a custom equalization.

^7_/10

MORE: Editor’s Picks Earphones Chart

MORE: Best Bang for the Buck Earphones

BUY IT AT:

Scores

• Accessories - 6/10
  6/10
• Design - 9/10
  9/10
• Bass - 7/10
  7/10
• Mids - 6.5/10
  6.5/10
• Highs - 7/10
  7/10
• Sound Leak - 8.75/10
  8.8/10
• Sound Isolation - 7.5/10
  7.5/10
• Comfort - 8/10
  8/10
• Response to EQ - 7/10
  7/10
• Value for Money - 9/10
  9/10

Summary

AWARDS

Pros

• Very balanced overall sound signature
• Excellent metal housing quality and attractive design
• Very good sound leakage performance

Cons

• Mids may feel a bit laid back to some

Conclusion

The KZ EDR2 are very attractive, strongly built and offer a great balance between quality and price. They have enough bass as to give energy to music but not too much as to sound dark or muffled, mids and highs perform well too and give enough response resulting in a greatly balanced sound signature that does not exhibit any specific audio frequency reigning the overall sound.
The EDR2 can be easily recommended to anyone that wants a nicely designed and very balanced earphone.

7.6/10

FIND ALL OUR: Earphones Reviews / In-Ear Headphones Reviews

MORE: Best Earphones Charts

KZ EDR2 Frequency Response

KZ EDR2

Photos

KZ EDR2

7.6

SCORE

7.6/10