HiFi Mai Tai

The KZ Za12 is a hybrid IEM I purchased from Amazon for £50. It is an IEM that has been kicking around for some time now but is never really talked about. So what is it? Let’s find out in the Bartender’s KZ ZA12 Review.

KZ ZA12 Review – The Cocktail:

Counting the drivers you may conclude that there are only 5 drivers per side but KZ has a liberal approach to mathematics and have decided that actually there are 6 drivers per side. Well you can’t argue with their will to produce good IEMs. They are willing to risk rewriting the laws of the universe for this one.

The specs are fairly typical. Frequency Response of 20 Hz to 40 kHz. Impedence of 45 Ω. Sensitivity of 103 dB. The impedance is higher than a kite that can sense its freedom but everything else is pretty down to earth. So maybe less rewriting the universe and more heavy drinking, squiggly writing and a nice bright gaslight for good measure.

Drivers: 10mm Super-linear Dynamic Driver Unit & 8mm High-performance Dynamic Driver & 30019 Balanced Armature x 2 & 31736 Composite Balanced Armature x 1
Frequency: 20 to 40 Hz
Impedence: 45 Ω
Sensitivity: 103 dB

KZ ZA12 Review – The Taste Test Setup:

Turning switches were set to 1100 boosting the bass a little. I quite quickly settled on this configuration. I felt the bass just need more. the KZ ZA12 are very polite and intoxicated by the 1100 setting they did get a little more rowdy but I still wouldn’t have concerns about introducing them to my parents. They haven’t got any controversial hidden opinions that only come to light when embolden by drink.

I didn’t do any back to back eartip testing. My intention had been to conduct the review with the original eartips but I didn’t factor in the time to journey into the wild and recapture them so I just went with my already domesticated Spinfit W1 tips. Hence this KZ ZA12 Review makes use of the Spinfit W1 tips.

A tripowin Zonie 4.4mm cable and Moondrop Dawn Pro 2 were used with Spotify lossless tracks providing the tunes.

I think this setup is a fair reflection of how most people will use these. They aren’t super expensive and as such aren’t going to be treated as royalty. These are to be used. To be used out and about. To be used with some good equipment but nothing crazy.

DAC/AMP: Moondrop Dawn Pro 2
Cable: 4.4mm Tripowin Zonie
Eartips: Spinfit W1 (Silicon)

KZ ZA12 Review – The Non-Audio:

This is a KZ set so build and accessories are already well established. That is to say the build seems good but you probably won’t have to look too hard to find reports of early breakages and premature demises. Through out use I had no problems with the build and I have actually owned these for quite a long time now. They do feel solid.

The IEM package is bare with only a poor cable provided with some silicon tips (small, medium and large). This may be a little disappointing as its basically the same as KZ’s really cheap sets. But as previously stated, ‘This is a KZ Set so build and accessories are already well established’. For accessories that is to sat there aren’t any.

They are not the smallest or the lightest but are still very comfortable. I think I like minimal shaping on the interior edge. The semi-custom idea makes very little sense to me and wings just aren’t my thing. Ergonomic designs around the ‘Average Person’ are always designs that work for know one doesn’t matter if you are looking at flight suits or IEMs. Don’t design for everyone as it will end up working for no-one.

They look fairly good nothing special but not bad and not dull. The bling is a nice touch of flare. The curved indent over the name stops them from just being a single slab. I wouldn’t expect to many comments on their appearance but I certainly wouldn’t be embarrassed to wear them.

Accessories: Drink Only (Nothing Else Worth Talking About)
Style: Call Liquor (A cocktail with measured bling and some small shaping)
Build: Dishwasher Proof (Solid Pint Glass)
Comfort: Sat in the Booths (Not the Smallest or the Lightest but Work Well)

KZ ZA12 Review – The Audio:

After a little experimenting (only a little) I set the switches to 1100. This may not be most peoples preferred setting. I guess I just like a little (okay may be a fair bit) of bass. I guess some of my reasoning is that KZ have always had bass. Sometimes its punchy and fast sometimes slower and droning. But its always there. Its always part of the KZ sound. You can’t have a bacon butty without bacon. You can’t have make an omelet without breaking eggs. You can plan breakfast while writing an IEM review but now I am just getting distracted. I should probably break for food.

Okay where was I? Still on the bass? Well lets get back to it. Even with the switches set to boost the bass the KZ ZA12 is not a bass heavy IEM. It is clearly intending to deliver a bass with fast clean slam and this it does well though bass heavy music would benefit from more. More slam, more rumble more more more. Sometimes the slam is pretty impressive but the quick clean decay never allows you to swim in the bass rumble. Its a bit like being punched hard, falling into a swimming pool and then the water magically disappearing. This particular tuning will certainly have appeal. If your not a bass swimmer then these could be for you. They are a paddling pool not the ocean but they still have that cold hit that strikes when you get in.

The mid to high frequencies are strong and very much the focus of the show. The mid frequencies give instruments a lot of presence. The KZ ZA12 is pretty bright and this can leave some instrumentation a little thin but other instruments can really shine. For me it never got to thin. Its not 2000s models and actors thin. Certainly I don’t think the KZ ZA12 is going to give other IEMs body image complexes. But sticking with this tortured metaphor its the sort of weight a wouldn’t mind getting to.

The high frequencies also show off this brightness. There is a good sense of air and clarity. There is sparkle and shimmer. Some people well certainly find it too bright. They will blinded by the sometimes near sibilant tones. I, on the other hand, found this very enjoyable. I never found myself reaching for the volume and did not experience an fatigue. If however, you are treble sensitive, or maybe if you just prefer a smoother more ‘easy listening’ style then this treble tuning is probably not for you.

The vocals are positioned well. To me they sound like they are in a neutral position. They aren’t hiding at the back of the stage like the shy kid in a primary school play who asked for a non-speaking part but the teachers decided it would be good for your confidence to make you the primary narrator and have to open the entire play with a huge scene setting monologue. That wasn’t supposed to get so personnel. Back to the KZ ZA12 vocals. They also aren’t pushed forward. It doesn’t feel like the some guy significantly shorter than squaring up, there head looking at your chest, and their fists clenched ready for a fight. Vocal lovers may want something a little more forward but I think these vocals will satisfy everyone.

The details of the the KZ ZA12 are really good bringing forth small sounds and textures. Such details can be delivered with a very analytical approach. As though under a microscope and being presented by a top scientist in a white coat. This clean clinical approach is an approach that KZ takes with a lot of their IEMs but for the KZ ZA12 it works maybe a little better. Being bright and with a tight clean bass it makes really good sense for details to be almost slightly forced.

The Bass Spirit (Bass): 70.05% (The feather weight ready to brawl!)
The Modifier (Mids): 77.02% (A satisfying thirst Thursday)
The Sweetener (Treble): 87.26% (Only the finest bottles)
The Vocals: 73.36% (Not sharp. Not Sour)
The Garnish (Details): 90.87% (The house special on the house)
The Presentation (Technicals): 77.99% (The tab is open)

KZ ZA12 Review – Overall:

I am intending to start this section with some comparisons. But for continuity and consistency I am only go to make comparisons with IEMs that I have reviewed. As the KZ ZA12 review is the first of my cocktail reviews there is nothing for me at this time to compare it with. But in future cocktail reviews of other IEMs I will be sure to check back and compare to the KZ ZA12. So don’t forget in the future to check out the cocktail menu.

So to summarized my KZ ZA12 Review, there is a lot to like about these. The detail. The style. The comfort. They perform really well. But the price is a problem at least at the price I paid. If in a good sale then they may be worth it. These are good just not good value. Though in detail they can punch above the price point in other aspects they are merely good or perhaps even price point leading. If you are looking for a bright detailed IEM then these could be for you but at this price there are lots of other very similar options and though I would not hesitate to recommend the KZ ZA12 I would also recommend to thoroughly consider these other options.