QKZ VK4 has great bass. Vocals are going to be less forward than on typical KZs.
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KBEar KS1 is all the rage for inexpensive bass-heavy ChiFi at the moment. @ $20.00 USD
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i like this one a lot , but want to try something new , thanks guys will see some reviews about qkz vk4 and kbear ks1
between ks1 vs ks2 ? which one do you think has a better punchy bass
Not sure about 2, never heard it, but 1 sure kicks.
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Canāt seem to find any information on these TWS headphones from KZ: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QMYCFYL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_0Y6WXM3GXY21CHFBQ3HS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
There is plenty of info on the Z1 but not much on the Z1 pro. Are there any differences between the 2?
For $22, seems like a good deal. What do you guys think?
Thus far the Achilles heel of KZ TWS offerings has been their laughably short battery life. Sound quality is improving, but their best wired offerings still outshine their wireless.
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KZ ZST X
As always, this review is also available in Spanish on my blog and on YouTube, links at the end of this post.
The KZ ZST X are another update of an older model by KZ. Over the past year or so, KZ has released many of their models in the X form, sporting upgrades to models from yesteryear, or in the case of KZ, yestermonth.
I had the original KZ ZST some time ago but to be totally honest, I canāt remember much about them, therefore I am not going to be making comparisons to the originals in this review. However, at the price point of around 15ā¬, there are various competitors in the same price bracket, some of which are by KZ themselves.
Presentationā¦
The ZST X arrives in the typical KZ white box, with an image of the IEMs on the front and some specifications on the back. Inside the box is the usual foam insert containing the IEMs, underneath which we find two extra sets of KZ starred silicone tips, a user manual and the usual KZ 2 pin cable.
In my case, I also received an extra plastic bag containing some foam tips, all in the same size but in 4 different colours. This was packed outside the actual KZ box so I am not sure if they are shipped with all ZST X IEMs or just from the seller I chose.
Build and aestheticsā¦
In my case the IEMs are green but other than that, it is the usual KZ transparent plastic shell. No changes in shape from so many of their other IEMs, very lightweight and sporting the usual KZ two pin connector.
ZST X is written across the IEM in a way that resembles graffitti and in the case of this model, the phrase of choice that KZ has written on the IEMs is āUpgraded Sound Qualityā.
Really there is nothing special about these that differentiates them from so many other KZ offerings and if you find one set of KZ (that uses this shape) comfortable, you will find them all comfortable.
Soundā¦
Here is where we should be looking for something interesting, as KZ themselves say they are āUpgraded Sound Qualityā.
If I remember correctly, the original ZST was the first hybrid from KZ, something that led to many many more hybrids from the company, seemingly each time with more and more drivers. In the case of the ZST X, it is again a hybrid but is a simple 1x DD plus 1x BA driver. I believe that the original was also a 1+1, so it must be the quality of the drivers, or the tuning, that they have upgraded.
Just before I continue, let me mention that I have been using these with Xelastec tips as they are my preference for tips at the moment and they did not affect the sound in a negative way in comparison to other options.
Starting with the sub-bass, there is quite an extension down to the lowest frequencies and although these IEMs do have a V shaped tuning to them, the lowest frequencies are not as boosted as many other V shaped IEMs at the cheap end of the market.
The bass is also not of a great quality, and while it is not overly boosted, it ends up feeling quite bloated and out of control at times, this holding true for the entire low end of the ZST X. Songs like āNo Sanctuary Hereā do not sound clean in the low areas, making the song much less enjoyable.
Unfortunately the lack of cleanliness also rolls over into the lower mids, resulting in the low end of acoustic guitars sounding less than natural. Listening to songs like āSeven Nation Armyā by Zella Day, the low end of the guitar seems disconnected from the remaining frequencies, as though it is in the background.
The mids are not bad through the center of the frequencies but as soon as we start hitting the higher mids, it seems that these come across a little harsher than I would like. Voices like Becca Adams in āPretty Girlā do not sound very natural, with an over emphasis in the higher regions of her voice, lacking clarity in those ranges. Moving to songs like āDonāt You Worry Childā by Beth, whose voice can already come across as harsh on many IEMs, the harshness is very present and makes her voice, and many others, sound fragile.
Moving further up, sibilance is not avoided and makes its presence known on many songs, not just my typical sibilance test tracks. Approaching the top end, there isnāt as much of a roll off as with a single dynamic driver, however, the BA driver does not present a very natural or present sound, coming across as fragile again.
The details presented by the ZST X are a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, some of the details such as reverb and background images are presented better than I expected, however, some of the foreground details seem to be missing, or at least are not clean. It is a rather weird sensation, being able to notice the decay of a note clearly but the actual note not sounding clear itself.
As far as soundstage and imaging, nothing special to report really. The width is the general width found in most of the IEMs in the budget regions with image placement that is not great but does give you a general feel for placement of instruments.
Conclusionā¦
The ZST X is a set of IEMs that is nothing special and while it would have been a great option for 15ā¬ a year or so ago, now it is against a lot of competition in a similar price range, some of them from KZ themselves. Just to mention a few competitors in a similar price range (at the time of writing this review) I have already reviewed and how the stand against them, we have (click on any model to see the complete review of it):
KZ DQ6 (20ā¬) - A decent set of IEMs from KZ that uses 3x DD and performs very well for the price, which is only 5ā¬ more than the ZST X and is well worth it.
Blon BL-01 (15ā¬) - These donāt really have anything wrong with them in the sound sector. They do have a fixed cable and arenāt really that comfortable (to me) but I still feel they are a better buy than the ZST X at the same price.
KBEAR Lark (20ā¬) - I really wasnāt a fan of the Lark, finding lots of problems in the higher regions but there are supposedly two versions (I got the bad one) and the other one is praised by many.
Tin T1 Plus (20ā¬) - Nice mid range with a non-offensive tuning although details are not their strong point.
KZ EDX (5ā¬) - The ultra-budget king! This is probably the best bang for buck IEM I have ever tried. It is not amazing but it is 5ā¬, also made by KZ, and sounds just as good (if not better) than the ZST X.
KZ ZSN Pro X (15ā¬) - Ok, these were certainly not my favourite set of IEMs but they are also made by KZ, they are the same price, look better (in my opinion) and while I wouldnāt recommend them, I wouldnāt say they are worse than those reviewed today.
Tianderenhe TD02 (15ā¬) - These were the last IEMs I reviewed before the ZST X and while they are by no means perfect, I would choose them way before the ZST X.
I could probably go on with other options but I think you already get the point I am trying to make. While the ZST X are not a terrible set of IEMs for their price, they are by no means anything special and I feel that they have more flaws than many of their competitors, even those from inside their own company.
I donāt think someone looking to spend 15ā¬ on a set of IEMs will find the ZST X offensive but there are many other options out there for the same price.
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@InvisibleInk @SenyorC thanks guys i got my white kbear ks1 and really love them , cheap product and cool bass quality
my kz es4 can rest now
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Amazing what so little money buys us these days. 
Enjoy! 
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My VK4 just developed a 6dB channel imbalance. No problem though, the Qudelix has L/R trim control 
Worst case, I buy another VK4 and Iām out 20 bucks. Lord do I love cheap IEMs like this!
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I posted this in the Moondrop thread but I think it fits well in here also:
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Iām looking for a cheap (~ā¬20) IEM for short walks. Looking for something with some boost in the bass but not too much of it running over into the mids. Good extension to the deepest notes is a plus but not a must. Mids not too recessed but not too in your face either. Treble not too sharp. Sibilance is a big NO for me.
Currently looking at KBEar KS1 and DQ6.
Any good alternatives for these?
I saw the Moondrop SSP on sale for 25ā¬ the other day but they are back up to around 30ā¬, they are pretty good for that price and are also small and comfortable.
I liked the Openheart Resin also for around 20ā¬ and the Tiandirenhe TD02 for around the same price but they can be a little bass heavy depending on preferences.
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I use the very old and common Panasonic ErgoFit ($10) ear buds as my baseline for cheap IEMs. They are comfortable and offer okay mid-focused performance for the price. Iāve found that attempts at technical gains often backfire in the lowest price bracket, as they end up exaggerating or skipping something.
ā¬30 would still be OK I guess. I like Moondrop, but Iām a bit worried about the fit of the SSP. I think smaller IEMs just donāt agree with the shape of my ears. Blessing 2 Dusk is near perfection for me, with L eartips. 
I have some Tin T2+ which are not comfortable at all for me. (just to give a example)
Iāll check out your other suggestions.
Yep, I agree. In the budget range one should not look for all the good stuff at once. Compromises have to be made somewhere. So I try to look for the tonality I like and donāt worry about technicalities.
The Resin and the TD02 are certainly on the larger size (not quite as big as the B2 but nearly).
The Final E3000 belongs in your collection, friend.
Those are certainly not large IEMs 