Initially, my want to do a KZ EDX Pro review was driven by curiosity. I needed to know what £4 of IEM sounds like. I needed reassurances that more expensive cocktails, even those IEMs that are only 3-4 times the price, offer something that raises them above a £4 cocktail. But as I came to write this KZ EDX Pro review it dawned on me that no one would really care. The KZ EDX Pro isn’t even the latest in the KZ EDX family.If you have the same insatiable curiosity that drove me go buy your ultra-ultra-budget IEM and try them out for yourself.
What could I possibly write in a review that would interest anyone. Why would anyone want to read a review of an IEM so cheap that even those getting their first IEM are probably just skipping it? What is the point of this IEM? What drives it to get up in the morning and keep on going? What purpose does its life have and where is its place in the world? And then it struck me.
If you are thinking of buying your first IEM this almost certainly isn’t the IEM you’re thinking of but maybe you should be. The wonderful world of IEMs its not all sunshine and rainbows. It has a dark side. It has its own shadows and demons and the KZ EDX Pro provides you with an opportunity to test the waters. To dip your toe and see if you can survive the pull of the depths. Perhaps some of you have already guessed what I am on about but if not read on and all shall be revealed in the Bartender’s KZ EDX Pro review.
KZ EDX Pro Review – The Cocktail:
Looking at the specifications the first of the IEM demons is revealed. This demon is perhaps one of the worst but likely the easiest to forget about. This demon is of course marketing something that is not unique to IEMs but is perhasp even worse in the land of ‘Audiophiles’. At a cost of £4 fair marketing for this IEM would probably say nothing more than ‘What did you expect?’ or maybe it should say ‘Its impressive you can get anything at this price’ but instead it makes these IEMs sound world beating. In the case of the KZ EDX Pro the dynamic driver is even described as ‘Special’. The marketing demon has been busy.
In truth there is nothing particularly interesting, different or unusual about these specifications. Its a single 10mm dynamic driver. Typical impedance. Frequency range that covers slightly more than people can hear and looks impressive when written on the back of a box. Nothing extraordinary what so even. Its the larger of beers. The hatchback of cars. The margarita of pizzas.
- Drivers: 10mm Special Dual Magnetic Circuit Dynamic Driver
- Frequency: 10 to 20,000 Hz
- Impedence: 24 Ω
- Sensitivity: 112 dB
KZ EDX Pro Review – The Taste Test Setup:
For testing I used what has become more normal set up. Okay I will admit this set up is quite ridiculous for this cocktail. The DAC/AMP is several times more expensive than the IEMs. Even the cable is multiple times more expensive. I stopped short of using by Spinfit W1 tips that are nearly three times the cost of the KZ EDX Pro. I would not recommend this set up for this IEM. This is a pretty good starter setup but it is completely overkill for this IEM.
But it is here that the second of the IEM demons is revealed. This demon is of course inconvenience. If you have been happily living with your true wireless earbuds and are thinking about IEMs then you best be certain that you can live with the hassle that accompanies IEM use.
Firstly, there is the cable. You can try and escape it but I have never really been impressed with the wireless adapters such as those offered by KZ. Really if you are getting into IEMs you will have to live with a cable. Maybe more than one.
Secondly, there is the DAC or DAC/AMP. This is not always a problem as DACs can be included in cables but generally you will be using a 3.5mm termination and so will require a DAC to use with your phone and perhaps even with other devices such as laptops. The DAC is another variable. An AMP is another vairbale. Both are other monsters that try to steal all your money. Monsters that you just have to get used to carrying around.
And finally, there is functionality. True wireless earbuds can do everything. And so can IEMs but you do have to get creative. Some cables will have mic support. Some DACs will have some mic support. But inevitably you are not set up correctly when some one makes the call. Additionally, active noise cancellation and transparency modes are not really part of the wired IEM world.
IEMs are inconvenient. This demon sits on your shoulders making life hard but if you can live with it then they can also be rewarding and that’s where the KZ EDX Pro comes in. Buy this cocktail. Buy a cheap DAC and see how long you can survive. If you survive with easy then you are certainly ready to get an IEM and make the most of better audio.
- DAC/AMP: Moondrop Dawn Pro 2
- Cable: Tripowin Zonie 4.4mm (Balanced)
- Eartips: Stock (Silicon)
KZ EDX Pro Review – The Non-Audio:
It is here that often a third demon can be found. This is the demon of discomfort. Comfort is not all about the shell. Eartips and cables also very important but they can be changed. Often it is the shell that is the limiting factor particularly if you are not blessed with BFG sized ears. The KZ EDX Pro is however remarkably free of this demon. Its on the smaller side and I personally found it very comfortable without changing from the stock eartips. The KZ EDX Pro might be free of this third demon but many many IEMs live in the clutches of the monster that is discomfort.
It is here however that we also encounter the first of the benefits to IEMs. This IEM world after all is a magical mystical place. This first benefit is style. IEMs are diverse. Airpods maybe a fashion statement but IEMs can be a full on catwalk. There is the weird. There is the wonderful and there is so much more. You are sure to find something that aesthetically appeals to you.
In a round about way you may also argue that IEMs have build benefits. They are certainly more delicate than typical truewireless buds but the eartips are replaceable and the cable is replaceable. Failure of one aspect may not destroy the IEM in its entirety. But of course you probably can’t go running in them. You have to be careful on the rain. You may even have to watch out for having wet hair. You see there’s that inconvenience demon again. Its a hard monster to shake.
KZ EDX Pro Review – The Audio:
I won’t really spend much time on the sound of this IEM. I don’t think anyone is really interested. As I have said throughout if you are thinking of getting some IEMs get these check you can live with them and then get something else. My recommendations can be found by consulting the cocktail menu.
What I will say about the sound is that I am kind of impressed. I think these really show that you get diminishing improvements as you go up in price. For £4 this are quite incredible. Would I chose them over even only slightly more expensive (£15) IEMs such as the CVJ Vivian, Tangzu Red Lion or KZ DQS? No, absolutely not. All those are better IEMs but none of them are as good value.
KZ EDX Pro Review – Overall:
In this section I would usually do some comparisons. And this time shall be no different (well sort of). Throughout this review I have highlighted the disadvantages of living with IEMs and you may be thinking okay but how does the KZ EDX Pro compare to other IEMs when it comes to ease of living. And the truth is it compares pretty favorably. This is an easier IEM to live with. Its more comfortable the the KZ Decet. It doesn’t really benefit from amplification like the KZ ZA12. The marketing is more clearly biased than the hype that KZ can generate indirectly for its other IEMs such as the KZ Duonic . Just to be clear there are other cocktail manufactures than KZ in the world though there certainly wouldn’t be if the KZ overlords got their way.
So in summary. As a regular IEM user I cab live with this cocktails monsters. But can you? If you’re new to IEMs maybe this is the IEM to test the strength of your arm and the strength of your heart. The KZ EDX Pro does have a place in the world. It lets you battle the monsters for a price so low your unlikely to care if you lose.
