KZ ZS7

| 4x Balanced Armature | 10mm Dynamic Driver |

? KZ ZS7, the latest 5-driver earphone from KZ.

The KZ ZS7 features a penta-driver configuration with 4 balanced armatures and 1 dynamic driver per earpiece.

To this date, the only other hybrid penta-driver headphone from KZ is the KZ ZS10 but they have different drivers inside.

The KZ ZS7 has an all-metal construction with a solid build and long-lasting feel – KZ has ditched their typical plastics and opted for materials inline with the:

• KZ BA10
• TIN Audio T2
• KZ ZS6
• BQEYZ KC2
• Yinyoo V2
• SENFER DT6
• KZ ZSA
• BQEYZ BQ3
• RevoNext QT2s
• RevoNext QT3s
• TRN V80

The KZ ZS7 name has been seen for a while already with the confusing release of the KZ ED16/KZ ZS7 – a model from KZ that got released under the ED16 name but had a “ZS7” writing on the back plate (read our review for more information).

The KZ ZS7 earphone that we are now reviewing in this article is the true and official KZ ZS7 model.

Similar to the controversially named KZ ED16/KZ ZS7, the official KZ ZS7 has been released and immediately discontinued. Being so, the number of units available is limited so do not hesitate to buy one if you think that it fits your sound preferences.

The KZ ZS7 housing’s are pretty much identical to the KZ ZS6 with the same shape and outer plate metal grids. The only aesthetic difference of the KZ ZS6 vs KZ ZS7 is the 2-color sections (blue and black) instead of a 1-color design like the ZS6.

The cable of the KZ ZS7 is detachable and has the copper-helix design seen on most of 2019 KZ earphones and 2018 KZ earphones.

The cable connector used is a 2-pin 0.75mm with the straight end that KZ has been lately calling “A paragraph pin” – KZ sells the KZ ZS7 with or without an inline mic/remote.

To avoid confusion when choosing KZ Bluetooth cables or KZ upgraded cables and to give you a quick reference to KZ pin connectors:

• A paragraph pin – compatible with KZ ZS7, KZ ZS6, KZ ZS5, KZ ZS4, KZ ZSA, KZ ZS3, etc
• B paragraph pin – compatible with KZ ZS10, KZ ZSR, KZ ES4, KZ ES3, KZ ZST, etc
• C paragraph pin – compatible with KZ ZSN
• MMCX – compatible with MMCX connectors (like the LZ A6, Toneking T3, SENFER MT100, TONEKING BL1, BGVP DMG, AUDBOS P4, LZ A5, Magaosi K5, etc)

You can buy the KZ ZS7 in :

• KZ ZS7 blue/black color

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KZ ZS7 Review

Tests & Scores

Weight

KZ ZS7 weight in Ounces and KZ ZS7 weight in grams.

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Accessories & Packaging

The KZ ZS7 unboxing results in 3 pair of eartips and the detachable bi-pin cable.

The packaging of the KZ ZS7 is a dark colored rectangular box with an book-like side opening which has a metal plate on the inside.

^7.75_/10

Bass & Sub Bass

The driver configuration inside the KZ ZS7 includes: 2x 30095 balanced armatures, 1x 31105 BA, 1x 29689 BA and a 10mm dynamic driver.

The 30095 BAs take care of high frequencies, the 31005 model covers mid-high frequencies and the 29689 will concentrate on midrange. Differently to the KZ AS10 and KZ BA10, the KZ ZS7 is an hybrid headphone that has an added 10mm dynamic driver dedicated to bass instead of the 22955 balanced armature of the BA10 and AS10.

Moreover, the balanced armature drivers of the KZ ZS7 vs KZ ZS10 (only other 5-driver hybrid KZ earphone) are different. The KZ ZS10 has 2x 30095 BA and 2×50060 BA and does not have neither the 31105 BA nor the 29689 BA.

The dedicated 10mm dynamic driver of the KZ ZS7 delivers a super punchy mid-bass and seriously deep sub-bass response.

KZ is well-known to build earphones with very energetic bass. The KZ ZS7 is inline with this tuning, having even a deeper sub-bass than many older KZ models.

The KZ ZS7 is an earphone that will perfectly fit listeners loving powerful and engaging bass and to users that need a headphone that will never lack punch nor depth.

Applying an EQ there is an insanely deep bass that can fulfill even the requisites of bassheads, of course expect a sound signature that will get mainly centered on bass.

^_9/10

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Mids & Vocals

The KZ ZS7 mids have noticeable mid-bass bleed that can congest the sound of their lower midrange and make male vocals get shy – when upper bass gets intense.

Nonetheless, if mid-bass is less present, their male vocals will not sound distant nor as congested.

Higher mids are very crisp and nearly forward, which can result in very alive female vocals but also will make them prone to exhibit harsh peaks.

Creating a custom EQ for the KZ ZS7 is much more complex than on other earphones and will result in an unbalanced sound when handled by most users.

A standard but customized EQ can improve their midrange with some lower mids clearing up and a bit of less harshy higher mids but without groundbreaking results.

On the other hand, a very advanced custom EQ by users with deep knowledge can reveal the true potential of the KZ ZS7.

^_7.75/10

Highs & Treble

The KZ ZS7 highs provide sufficient brightness for less-demanding listeners and general consumers but are not very detailed.

Their upper end and treble region of their highs is substantially rolled-off which, combined with their massive bass, add a noticeable layer of darkness to their sound.

Piercing peaks can easily show up but sibilance might be noticed less frequently (depending on the track)

An EQ can help out to reveal some detail and exterminate their darkening layer, with a much more refined overall feel over their general sound signature.

^7.5_/10

Sound Leak

The sound leaking out of the KZ ZS7 is inline with many average earphones, this means that they are not the silentest headphone that you can buy but they are perfectly usable on normal city situations and daily commuting.

^7_/10

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Sound Isolation

The sound isolation provided by the KZ ZS7 is substantially higher than many normal earphones.

User will not need to crank up the volume too much to get nearly-absolute isolation from the environment.

^8.75_/10

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Comfort

As we highlighted in the introduction of this KZ ZS7 review, the model has an all-metal build. This gives the ZS7 a “quality-feel” way above some plastic earphones such as the:

• KZ ZSN
• KZ AS06
• KZ AS10
• TRN IM1
• KZ ES4
• KZ ZS10
• KZ BTE

Moreover, the KZ ZS7 has identical housings with the KZ ZS6, which provide the same outstanding level of comfort and fit, which remains secure and stable yet not uncomfortable – KZ ZS6 owners can expect the same fit & comfort.

^9_/10

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Response to Equalization

Equalizing the KZ ZS7 is not an easy task for beginners.

Users with advanced knowledge with EQ might be able to squeeze out a much more refined sound out of the KZ ZS7 (if done correctly), that seems unexpected considering their OTB sound.

^9_/10

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Scores

KZ ZS7 Scores

• Accessories - 7.75/10
  7.8/10
• Design - 9/10
  9/10
• Bass - 9/10
  9/10
• Mids - 7.75/10
  7.8/10
• Highs - 7.5/10
  7.5/10
• Sound Leak - 7/10
  7/10
• Sound Isolation - 8.75/10
  8.8/10
• Comfort - 9/10
  9/10
• Response to EQ - 9/10
  9/10
• Value for Money - 8/10
  8/10

Summary

 

 

 

AWARDS

Pros

• ✅ Crazy powerful bass

✅ Super deep sub-bass

✅ Same outstanding design and construction as the KZ ZS6, RevoNext QT2, RevoNext QT2S, RevoNext QT3, RevoNext QT3s

✅ Acceptable brightness and detail

✅ Warm mids

✅ Very easy to driver with any device and smartphone

✅ Strong volume output

✅ Can be extremely refined with a very advanced custom EQ

✅ Detachable cable

✅ Can be transformed into Truly Wireless headphones with this cheap accessory.

✅ Crazy affordable for an hybrid penta-driver earphone

Cons

❌ Driver flex

❌ Harshy and fatiguing peaks

❌Off sound right out of the box with noticeable rolled-off on highs

Conclusion

The KZ ZS7 has a super bassy sound with some spikes on higher mids & highs and with a massively deep sub-bass that can be tuned to become a basshead's dream.

Out of the box, the KZ ZS7 is oddly tuned but can be re-tuned for a refined and higher quality sound - only with advanced EQ knowledge.

On the other hand, they could be recommended (maybe) to owned of the KZ ZS6 that wished to have less-forward highs and lower chances of sibilant peaks.

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8.3/10

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KZ ZS7 Frequency Response Curve

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KZ ZS7 Technical Specifications

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Photos

KZ ZS7 Photos

KZ ZS7

8.3

SCORE

8.3/10

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