KZ ZST Pro impressions and FR

Note: This is the new KZ ZST Pro which comes with a nicer cable and a different frequency response compared to the old one.

Rating: (7/10)

Bass: (9/10) - Its just great and fun. Full, clean and punchy! There is a bit more midbass than "audiophile" limits would allow, but its very tastefully done. Great for pop and electronic music

Mids: (6/10) - Seem to be improved over the old ZST Pro, they actually hit the Harman target pretty well! They are a bit recessed but its a V shaped IEM so thats normal. Presence starts to peak early at 2.3KHz and goes WAY up (13dB) making vocals intimate, shouty, and lovingly loud! If I want to feel like I'm at the front row of a concert, I put on the ZST Pro. Tonal accuracy is off thanks to that, obviously, but not in a bad way.

Ok, lets be honest. They are shouty, and it *can* be a problem on some songs. Its the price to pay for having an exciting vocal-centric sound - and I am willing to pay for it.

Treble: (7/10). Decent clarity and balanced with the rest of the FR. Extension isn't great but my hearing isn't good enough in that area to care too much. Tuning and phase seem to result with with fun imaging for the mid-upper treble for me due to my HRTF, and I often get very satisfying instrument placement - a variety of song detail seems to come from very precise locations to my left and right side. Its not super silky or smooth, but its definitely interesting.

Misc: (8/10). The cable is now much nicer, like ZSN's: T shaped connector, braided wire, pre-made ear loops (no need to bend the wire). Note that some sellers still sell it with the old cable for much cheaper. KZ Starline tips are still not the best, but you can easily swap them out

Frequency response:

If we compensate for Harman target:

A bit of V shape with slightly too much 2K "intimate" presence, but otherwise hits the mark pretty well. 2K boost compensates for midbass boost.

Overall impression: These are not IEMs for critical listening but to put on and have boatloads of fun. Your ears might hurt a little, but they would hurt at a loud concert anyway ;) On the other hand, you can actually get a nicely flat response with the Android 10 band EQ, for those times you want a more neutral sound.