In my search for the cheapest IEMs, I stumbled upon the FZ Liberty Z1 without checking any reviews online. I got it for around $7 and its performance surpassed my expectations.
The other IEM, the FZ Liberty Max, was also a product of my curiosity. I bought it because I was so impressed with the Z1’s performance so I thought why not give it a shot? At $9, this was slightly expensive, but still within the ultra-budget space and it didn’t disappoint me as well.
I already did a separate review of these IEMs so in this article, I’ll compare them side-by-side to see which one has a better price-to-performance ratio.
FZ Liberty Z1 vs. FZ Liberty Max: Sound Signature
The FZ Liberty Z1 has the typical sound signature of a budget IEM, which is the V-shaped sound signature.
What separates the Liberty Z1 from other IEMs is that it has nice warmth and can also be energetic at times. This is due to its elevated bass region, which makes it great for long listening sessions without experiencing ear fatigue.
The FZ Liberty Z1 is for you if:
- You want an energetic-sounding earphone.
- You want an IEM that’s suitable for most genres.
- You want an IEM with a more prominent lower region.
Meanwhile, the FZ Liberty Max also has a V-shaped sound signature but is only focused on the warmth of the sound. It also has more moderation in the lower region compared to the Liberty Z1.
Another thing to note with the Liberty Max is that it focuses more on the instrument, rather than the vocals.
The FZ Liberty Max is for you if:
- You want an instrumental-focused IEM.
- You want warm-sounding earphones.
- You just want to feel the music instead of enjoying it.
FZ Liberty Z1 vs. FZ Liberty Max: Sound Quality
The first thing I noticed with the FZ Liberty Z1 is its powerful lower region. Its mid-bass is the most powerful asset in the lower region rather than the sub-bass. However, the sub-bass is still present and delivers a nice rumble and boom to the mix.
The midrange of the Liberty Z1 is recessed, but it doesn’t affect the mids a lot. Male and female vocals are still articulate and well-spaced, while instruments are intact and don’t clash with each other even on complex tracks.
The treble is well-tuned and presented smoothly. Also, the soundstage is excellent considering its price. It has sufficient depth and width that adds a lot to the listener’s experience.
The FZ Liberty Z1 is for you if:
- You want a mid-bass-oriented lower region.
- You want an earphone that presents vocals equally.
- You want a treble that’s delivered smoothly.
The lower region of the FZ Liberty Max is well-extended and on the heavy side. It’s more controlled, has an excellent resolution, and is handled well compared with the Liberty Z1.
The midrange has good potential but needs more power if you ask me. Male vocals with the Liberty Max are more forward than the females. The female vocals sound like they’re left out and behind the instruments.
What I like about the midrange is that, even though it’s recessed, the instruments are still presented neatly and not laid back.
The treble isn’t that impressive but it does a lot for its price. It’s well-extended but also a bit dark due to the bass region crossing the highs. It’s also smooth as it keeps the necessary micro-details and doesn’t roll off even at the busiest tracks.
Sibilance is also minimal, which is good for treble-sensitive listeners.
The FZ Liberty Max is for you if:
- You want an IEM that’s more focused on male vocals.
- You want your treble on the moderated side.
- You want your tuning a bit balanced.
FZ Liberty Z1 vs. FZ Liberty Max: Caveats
I’d say that the strongest asset of the FZ Liberty Z1 is also its weakness, which is the lower region, specifically the mid-bass. The powerful mid-bass tends to get bloated and color the mids, which causes the recession in the midrange.
Another issue is that the treble region is lacking, as mentioned previously.
However, with the Liberty Z1, the pros outweigh the cons. The different regions complement each other producing an unexpectedly good sound quality coming from a budget unit.
For the FZ Liberty Max, I’d say that its midrange is its weaker area as it sounds unnatural at times. It does well with instrumental tracks, but not when it comes to the presentation of vocals. I won’t recommend it.
Another problem is that even though the bass is well-extended, it sometimes crosses the treble section, which causes the dark profile of the treble. But what’s nice about the treble is that it doesn’t suffer from harsh or piercing sounds.
Conclusion
Both the FZ Liberty Z1 and the FZ Liberty Max are great options if you’re on a budget or just discovering different sound signatures and quality.
Making a comparison review with these earphones was a bit hard as they have a lot of similarities, specifically in their good aspects. Also, their sound doesn’t differ too much from each other, especially in the lower region because they came from the same product line.
However, they have their notable quirks that made writing this comparison fun and made me a much more discerning listener.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for an IEM with excellent rumbling bass, powerful mid-bass, vocal-centric midrange, and a smooth treble that doesn’t get grainy, then the Liberty Z1 is for you.
And if you want an IEM that still has a powerful but controlled lower region, instrumentally focused midrange, and a well-extended treble, then the Liberty Max is a great option.
For my preference, I like the Liberty Max better because of its almost balanced tuning.
Shaik, a college student, part-time musician, and proud fur parent. Currently pursuing his degree in architecture.
As a part-time musician, Shaik enjoys expressing his self creatively through music. Whether it's writing original songs or performing covers, music is a significant part of Shaik's life