KZ EDXS Earphones Review – KZ’s Hidden Vocal Gem

First Impressions

The unboxing experience of the KZ EDXS isn’t quite impressive since it came in the brand’s standard packaging, which is reasonable since this is mainly to cut costs. 

Out of the packaging, the EDXS has a modern yet sleek vibe to them. It utilizes some sharp edges and protrusions to accentuate its rather basic shape. 

There are also vents in its faceplate, which may serve as a way to release air pressure and alleviate fatigue during longer listening sessions.

The accessories that came with the EDXS were average but still performed well enough for me to not change them apart from the ear tips, which I recommend swapping out.

Build Quality

The build quality of the KZ EDXS has its strengths and weaknesses.

The combination of a metal faceplate and a polycarbonate body means that this IEM is pretty durable and can withstand heavy usage. 

This type of construction is pretty common with budget IEMs – it isn’t bad since it still looks good when executed properly.

The cable is sturdy and would last long under average use-case scenarios. Meanwhile, the silicone ear tips look and feel cheap and didn’t offer many features. 

Fit and Comfort

Overall, the KZ EDXS is comfortable and I have no problem with it in terms of fit since its

shell follows a pretty standard shape. Because of its construction, the EDXS is relatively light even with its zinc alloy faceplate.

As mentioned previously, the ear tips are cheap so sound isolation isn’t impressive – you can still hear external sounds, but thankfully, this is lessened when listening to some tunes or gaming. 

I’d recommend swapping the ear tips out with better-quality ones.

On the other hand, the silver-plated cable does a pretty good job of reducing the “stethoscopic effect” you experience when cables rub against your shirt or different objects. 

The EDXS also has its ear hooks molded onto the cable. They were comfortable and didn’t bother me too much. They were neither loose nor too tight for my ears, but this can vary depending on ear sizes.

Sound Quality

Regarding sound quality, I was caught off guard by its bright tuning at first. 

I thought the tuning was too bright, but after some time, I was eventually impressed with how the KZ EDXS sounded considering its price.

Bass

The bass of the KZ EDXS has a good definition and a fast response. It has a substantial amount of thickness which provides weight to the notes on the lower frequencies.

Compared to a typical V-shaped tuning, the EDXS has a tight bass with subtle amounts of sub-bass rumble. It’s just enough so that it doesn’t get muted out by the relatively bright tuning.

The mid-bass is well-balanced and well-controlled without any mid-bass bleed. It’s tight and features good dynamics without getting overwhelming.

Overall, the bass on the EDXS is fast and tight while the sub-bass is subtle yet still present.

Mids

The midrange on the KZ EDXS has a good mix of presence and clarity.

Vocals and instruments are positioned forward in the mix with excellent timbre and a lush presentation. They’re natural in tonality without sounding muffled or muddy due to the more toned-down bass.

Overall, the mids are very forward. They feature excellent details and clarity, making the listening experience more energetic and engaging.

Treble

The treble and upper midranges of the KZ EDXS are prominent in the mix, with similar trends with peaks at around 5kHz.

To describe the treble performance, it’s bright and open-sounding with reasonable amounts of sparkle and air.

The EDXS can sometimes be prone to treble peaks and sibilance, which can be pretty distracting. 

It may also cause some discomfort for those who are very treble-sensitive, so you have to take note of this before purchasing.

Test Tracks

I have tested the KZ EDXS on different genres of music to get a proper understanding of how they sound. I’ve listed the tracks and my findings below.

• Metal / Rock – The clean parts on tracks like Playing God and Mayonaise were presented with good details. The instruments and vocals sounded natural. The sound was free from unwanted distortion, even on high-gain parts on Mayonaise. The vocals were positioned before the mix, separating each sound element nicely. Tracks used: Mayonaise (The Smashing Pumpkins), Playing God (Polyphia), Ignorance (Paramore), Cold (Korn)
• Pop – Vocal-centric genres like pop make the KZ EDXS shine. Each element was articulate, with only the downside being some tracks sounded slightly brighter than others. This, however, didn’t affect the overall performance of the EDXS. Tracks used: Snooze (SZA), I Wonder (Kanye West), Neverita (Bad Bunny)
• Hip-Hop – Listening to the tracks in this genre was a treat with the KZ EDXS. The positioning on the vocals, sound separation, thumpy low-end, and the sparkle on top were on point. Tracks used: LOVE. (Kendrick Lamar, Zacari), Cash In Cash Out (Pharell Williams ft 21 Savage & Tyler the Creator), I Wonder (Kanye West)
• R&B / Soul – The vocal sample track on Rosalia’s and The Weeknd’s LA FAMA were nicely complemented by the tuning, which revealed its superior detail. Vocals were yet again very forward and detailed without harsh frequencies on site. The subtle sparkle of every vocal line added an excellent character to the overall mix. Tracks used: LA FAMA (Rosalia, The Weeknd), Blessed (Daniel Ceasar), Moonlight (Kali Uchis)

Conclusion

The KZ EDXS is an affordable option for those who prefer IEMs with bright tuning. 

This IEM may not be as versatile as those with a V-shape sound signature since it targets a specific market, but it performs well enough to be recognized as a good budget option.

Although the tuning is bright, the bass is still present enough and adds a subtle amount of thickness to the tracks. This is something that’s not too common with similarly-tuned IEMs at this price point. 

Overall, the KZ EDXS is perfect for those who enjoy more vocal-centric genres.

This post was last updated on 2025-01-17 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.