KZ ZS4 Review – A Lot of IEM For A Few Shekels

Accessories/packaging are minimal; however KZ has really upped its game with the aesthetics of the headshells–these have a much nicer, more premium feel that the zsr/ed16 etc. and actually remind me superficially of the it01, with decent build and quality acrylics. likewise, this is the first usable memory cable i’ve seen from KZ; tangly but free from microphonics. like the zs3, the zs4 fit and isolate extremely well and are excellent for the gym or firing range.

Soundwise, v-shaped and “consumer tuned,” with alot of extension at both ends and notably more treble detail and emphasis than the zs3. Source sensitive; these can sound somewhat veiled and hollow but opened up considerably through my lg v30, with mids moving forward and drums sounding more realistic. This is a bright phone and with most silicon tips treble can get very splashy at the extremes; foams will tame the treble but slightly deaden the rest of the spectrum. i hear the stage as fairly low and narrow, altho (like almost all KZs) imaging is vg. note texture isn’t quite as rich as the zsr/zs5 though bass is better controlled than either–upright bass in particular is well-reproduced. these lack the refinement of the trn v80 and the physicality of the multidriver KZ hybrids, but driver coherence may be better on the zs4 (probably because it’s design is less ambitious).

Overall, I’d rate them a notch below the more expensive ZSR, ED16 and ZS5 on the KZ pantheon, although they certainly have their virtues and may improve with further tip rolling.


MEASUREMENTS

KZ ZS4 frequency response
KZ ZS4 and KZ ZSN frequency responses

Author

  • KZ ZS4 Review - A Lot of IEM For A Few Shekels 1

    Head-Fier since 2014. Based in Chicago, Loomis T. Johnson is a practicing attorney, failed musician, and lifelong music fanatic and record collector. He has frequently contributed to such review sites as Headfi, Sound Advocate, and Asian Provocative Ear (as well as many other far less interesting non-musical periodicals). A former two-channel and vintage gear obsessive, he has sheepishly succumbed to current trends in home theater and portable audio. He’s a firm believer that the equipment should serve the music and that good sound is attainable at any budget level.

Loomis T. Johnson (Chicago, USA)

Head-Fier since 2014. Based in Chicago, Loomis T. Johnson is a practicing attorney, failed musician, and lifelong music fanatic and record collector. He has frequently contributed to such review sites as Headfi, Sound Advocate, and Asian Provocative Ear (as well as many other far less interesting non-musical periodicals). A former two-channel and vintage gear obsessive, he has sheepishly succumbed to current trends in home theater and portable audio. He’s a firm believer that the equipment should serve the music and that good sound is attainable at any budget level.

One thought on “KZ ZS4 Review – A Lot of IEM For A Few Shekels

  • March 3, 2019 at 6:03 am
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    240Hz minus ~10dB, then a descending decrease up till 500Hz. Then 1kHz region very slightly up, 2kHz a bit more than 1kHz. Next, 5 to 8kHz have to go up to about 4kHz levels. Maybe a slight boost at the very high freqs and the subbass. Now it’s awesome. Personally, I don’t hear any difference worth mentioning between ED16 and ZS4 after equalising. ZS4 is better at ergonomics, cable, isolation, looks, though.

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