KZ D-Fi - The Very Best of KZ! | Full Review & Comparisons

[@GLENNMPHOTOGRAPHY]

Another great review! With detailed explanation on how to tweak the tuning helps a lot of newbies like me. This IEM is now on my HIT list.. thanks Andy!

[@donglemadness]

No worries Glenn

[@lrvan]

Getting a deep and very detailed information of an IEM that you're about to buy, is very satisfying, i appreciate it so much, Andi. Now i have this, quality IEM, well-spend money, and i love it!

[@donglemadness]

My pleasure ivn

[@MZRTMusic254]

This review earned you a loyal sub sir. Now I'm convinced in buying the D-Fi Tunable. Many thanks ❤

[@donglemadness]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You will love the DF-i, such versatile IEM

[@MZRTMusic254]

@@donglemadness @donglemadness hello again I've been meaning to ask if you know of any good DAC under 25$ would pair nicely with the KZ D-Fi?

[@fiddlix]

KZ is knocking it out of the park recently. This release and the new HBB planar collaboration are on my radar. Great review Andy.

[@donglemadness]

Thanks David

[@matusjurcik6974]

still waiting for my pr2 to come, could be in my hands soon... I am very curious like you. I only found one sound demo against pr1pro. It seems that pr1 pro could be clearer and more crips sounding.

[@unclelou2366]

​@@matusjurcik6974 aliexpress bro 😶‍🌫️ 36 usd

[@matusjurcik6974]

@@unclelou2366 yes thats price I payed

[@ramaidaugirdas]

Woah! D-fi is a beast! Can't wait to hear it!

[@lordlopes2424]

In less than half year KZ released the ZVX,D-FI and now the PR2 It's good to see that after all the problems they started doing some good changes Quick question:are you going to review the new Tanchjim space lite?

[@donglemadness]

Fair is fair, KZ preserverance paid off. Once I got my hands on it, yes I would love to review Space Light.

[@DocRye1228]

Ohhhh you’re the dongle madness guy! Niceeee! Andy from NBBA.

[@donglemadness]

Cheers Ryan

[@pavanakumar270187]

Wonderful review Andy. Hope my V6/NX7 pairing drives it at its best. Thank you for your work.

[@lltechview]

Great video and measurements. I also tested it on the Xperia 1 IV and 5 IV. It sounds best with all switches off and listening to it via the Fiio Btr5 that I have. This is an endgame IEM for that price.

[@donglemadness]

Thanks. This one sure does packed some serious surprises

[@Joao_Pedro95]

Very nice review brother, i'm waiting my d-fi to arrive so i can replace my old ZSN PRO.

[@LeoSolargui-uy5oq]

Buen video! Bastante informativo y objetivo, me encanta. Saludos

[@donglemadness]

Saludos! ¡y gracias!

[@oolnairda]

Great video as usual! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@donglemadness]

🤘

[@HKS-le3hi]

Its hard to imagine what they achieved with d-fi, especially what they does after their zex pro drama, there are many single DD starting from the eda up until the lyra. every each of them felt kinda off. until boom, the CXS driver started something that is quite unexpected from them. Not sure if D-fi is the final form of that particular driver but damn its the the best kz single DD hands down agree with you andy. Great review!

[@donglemadness]

Thanks! KZ is on fire indeed

[@ngoccuong69]

thanks for the very detailed video!! Which one should I get, D-Fi or Castor?

[@donglemadness]

DF-1 if you want something closer to neutral tuning and with better transparency. Castor if you like Harman style tuning, with emphasis on Subbass

[@raynerstuelgalid]

I like its simple metallic look.

[@DavisMiller-nf4bi]

KZ seems on fire lately

[@robbieesguerra6549]

hi andy! would the cx-pro dac be enough to bring out the d-fi’s potential? great review as always!

[@donglemadness]

Yes it does. And thanks!

[@muhasri1985]

i have Fiio Q11 DAC 😁 and Pair with DFI 😁 it Will be interesting 😁 nice review 😁👍

[@donglemadness]

Thanks!

[@frederf69]

so the dip switches on them are a high pass filter? interesting design idea which i've not seen before on an IEM. i prefer headphone's & am yet to find an IEM which sounds good. Excellent review, thank you ✌😎👍

[@donglemadness]

My pleasure

[@rip13th]

My D fi Just arrived yesterday, sounds incredible. Especially for a price I have it around 10USD from shopee, sounds very versatile with no fatigue at all. I use it with only switch 4 up pair with jade audio ja11 super cheap but nice DAC. This iem is what I looking for just rigth amount of bass and good natural sounding overall. I'd decide to bought it from this video and has no regret at all.

[@donglemadness]

Congratulations! and enjoy!

[@fsvaquilar]

Interesting... I'm wondering how recessed the vocals in the D-fi is. I really like how the vocals are placed in the ZVX, not too forward, and not too recessed.

[@donglemadness]

Similar really, since both tuned with the same DNA

[@_UnknownEntity]

Andy, did you send DC voltage to measure the impedance?? If you used AC, then readings will be off specs depending on frequency of AC outputted by multimeter. This, further complicated by tuning crossovers in this iem. Further, a flat tuned single voice coil will read close to spec at say 50Hz AC. But a v tuned driver for example will read far from spec at 50Hz. Dynamic driver impedance is generally measured at 1KHz freq. 😊👍

[@Radugazon]

Exactly, measuring impedance is not measuring a static resistor 🤣. As the name says, impedance is a resistive load varying with frequency. ARTA has a special module (LIMP) dedicated to impedance evaluation, I wonder if it could give satysfying results with these tiny drivers.

[@donglemadness]

No I didn't do that. My situation, I listened to D-Fi with all switches off and I observed it needed a lot of volume/loudness to match my normal listening level, higher than most other IEMs that I use regularly (except the Etys which always needed high volume due to low sensitivity). So out of curiosity I checked the impedance at the plug, just like how I did it with tons of other IEMs for many years, curious to see what's registered there. And this video is just to share what I observed. Most of the time, I am not into measuring, unless something pique my interests

[@Radugazon]

@@donglemadness Agreed, but technically speaking, doing so you measure the static resistances of the coil and of the associated network, not really the impedance sticto sensu. I know , it's splitting hair....because your process gives already the info that you need : this things must have a higher impedance then a lower efficiency. These higher impedances have an explanation : we are dealing with passive devices, so to add something by a miracle switch, it has to be removed before. Take the example of a switch that adds bass....this is not an active EQ, so in this case the switch shunts a capacitor in serie that was filtering the bass, or a resistor that was globally lowering the output of the driver. That's why the "neutral" position (all switches off) shows a higher impedance and then a lower efficiency. What a rambling....🤪

[@_UnknownEntity]

@@donglemadness hey interesting findings nonetheless Andy. Just discussing, not a competition for correctness here. Hoping it'll help you do further 'tests'. 😁😁 Bernard seems to have some good useful info there. 👍

[@_UnknownEntity]

@@donglemadness also, you can get an oscilloscope if you wish to do impedance tests in the future. I'm not sure if the handheld types can do that, and I say I'm not sure, coz I've seen some handheld types with advanced features similar to desktop oscilloscopes. 👍

[@2011FM]

Thanks Andy for your wonderful iem and donggle reviews which I find them helpful. As a I enjoy listening to some black/death metal music like aeternus, burzum, darkthrone, dimmu borgir, dissection, satyricon, sarcofago and other scandinavian bands, please suggest some iem to suit the genre and get musically involved with midbass impact, punch, speed/transient and sonic engagement to uplift the listening adrenaline. By the way, I have a tanchjim zero you highly endorse and am curious if the kz dfi will even improve further than the zero. Warm greetings from surabaya, east java and best wishes to you. Keep on rockin'!

[@donglemadness]

Thanks man. If you have Tanchjim ZERO then I would say the only improvements DF-1 bring into the table is the upper frequency extension which is a bit more on DF-i, otherwise I always prefer ZERO over many other IEMs. As a Metalhead, if you wish to have something that I consider as an upgrade over ZERO would be Final Audio A5000 or Hidizs MP145. And also worth looking into Simgot EM6L if you want denser Midbass punch. You would also get some great results from Simgot EW200 if you looking at lower priced IEMs. Cheers

[@2011FM]

Hello again, Andy. Really appreciate your kind and prompt response. It will be interesting if someday you would feature a youtube coverage of your personal picks on iem's for Metalheads. To my knowledge, no one has ever done it in youtube as no iem reviewers digs hardcore rock music as much as you do. Also, IMHO, true music enthusiasts often emphasize the importance of PRAT factors rather than sound cosmetics (audiophile jargons). Music teachers & recording producers always stress the essence of timing, rhythm & tunefulness when auditioning a musical session. They don't judge by audiophile colours being more fundamental than the artist's instruments playing or singing performance. I guess some iems simply fail to read or interprete music while others are able to do a better job. Hope you know what i'm trying to say. Cheers

[@2011FM]

Andy, please share if you have ever auditioned a Tanchjim ONE. I'm curious if there's a similar sonic trait to the ZERO. Thanks. P.S: I have had a Simgot EW200 already.

[@donglemadness]

@@2011FM I am currently testing the ONE now

[@chefsteve8381]

Interesting review i wonder what iems have high impedance and how they would work on a otl tube amp ?

[@donglemadness]

There's a few high impedance IEMs, one of them the Etymotic ER4SR which runs on 50 Ohm and Westone MACH20 at over 80 Ohm. The Etymotic ER4S/ER4B series which has been around for 32 years is even at 100 Ohm. Yes they sounds amazing with super high powered tube amps. Then there's the ultimate stuffs like Shure KS1500 legitimate electrostatic IEM which I believe has 147,000 Ohm (but then all genuine electrostatic ear speakers has their own energizer amp companion to make sound)

[@DarenLee]

Nice video. Comments on your final thoughts…. Did you like CCA CRA? (At “that” time)

[@donglemadness]

CRA was okay, sounds like DUNU Titan-S and DUNU Kima, but a bit dry to the tone and timbre

[@cinocino9342]

Ciao ottimo video 👍, io ho i kz zs 10 pro e li utilizzo come in ear monitor per chitarra e voce!! Secondo te questi sono più adatti ? Mi serve il suono più neutro e fedele all originale possibile!! Non voglio enfatizzare nessuna frequenza!! Devono essere flat..

[@donglemadness]

Yes, DF-i has great transparency and near neutral presentation, so it is suitable for monitoring too

[@ekocahyowibowost.6219]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@kamrankambang7953]

Oh man this is shocking i wish i saw this review before ordering the kz krila and get th dfi instead. Have you tried the krila?

[@donglemadness]

Testing the Krila now. Soon I will know how different they are

[@kamrankambang7953]

@@donglemadness nice. Cant wait. I love your grading system.

[@dthliat1]

please review the new KZ PR2

[@donglemadness]

Coming soon 😁

[@Tanakrit_K]

I would love to see the comparison between no switch and switch version. Since I'm looking for a neutral sound for monitoring voice over. My main source is condenser mic connected with a cellphone or macbook air. I dun have a clue how no switch version sounds like...It might be not neutral....

[@donglemadness]

I wish I know. But from people I know, the non switch version is also amazing in their own way, but how neutral and transparent, I have no clue

[@Tanakrit_K]

@donglemadness its ok, I have ordered the switched version already. Got a good deal, only usd 15.80 :)

[@opacitty932]

Will you review and compare the standard non tunable d-fi? I heard it has a different tuning compared to the tunable and sounds better and more balanced.

[@donglemadness]

No plan for the non tuneable version yet. But DF-i and ZVX shares the same drivers and the variance of tuning will be minimal at best. All of them excellent for what they are

[@matusjurcik6974]

KZ D-fi is a flagship from KZ? Offended PR1 just left the room 😅

[@donglemadness]

That's what KZ said on their website

[@matusjurcik6974]

@@donglemadness yes, when it comes to DD options...☺ anyway nice review, I am really curious about that standart version impedance 🤔

[@E-raticWarrior]

Your test leads on the DMM are not in the correct position. The black test lead should be in the "COM" port and the red test lead should be in the port that the black lead is in.

[@dayronruiz5232]

hello!!, I plan to buy the kz zs10pro x, this kz d-fi is better buy? (I like video games and use them in my day to day to listen to music)

[@donglemadness]

I haven't tried KZ ZS10Pro X so I would not know how to compare. But yes D-Fi is great for both music and games

[@MZRTMusic254]

Which dac would you pair with this iem. If there's a good DAC under 20$ that'd be nice

[@donglemadness]

DF-i is very versatile so it pairs great with anything really. But best to pair it with something which is not natively bright. For under $20 I would use it with VE Abigail Pro or JCally JM7

[@MZRTMusic254]

@@donglemadness Hi! Thank you for the quick response. I couldn't find the Abigail on Aliexpress but found the jcally, so I'll be purchasing that. Many thanks ❤️

[@mordecuckoo9415]

Is the Standard model (without switches) tuned to the default 'All Down/Off' on the Tunable version? There's a lot of conflicting information from reviewers about the default tuning on the Standard version. I intend to buy the Standard cuz I'm not a fan of manual tuning. Where I'm from, the Standard D-Fi is selling for $14 and is cheaper than ZVX $18. I'm conflicted whether to buy the KZ D-Fi or the Tangzhu Wan'Er which are priced the same.

[@donglemadness]

I wish I could help you with that but without the non tuneable D-Fi in hand I have no idea how much they differ or how similar. But I do know Waner SG is tuned differently with more focus on smooth safe tuning, more musical and less technical/analytical, good for relaxing casual indulgences. D-Fi is more balanced between musicality and analytical prowess

[@mordecuckoo9415]

​@@donglemadnessI see. Thank you for the information! Great review as always btw.

[@mordecuckoo9415]

@@donglemadness Last question. By Analytical prowess do you mean by its Technical performance or just tuning? In actual technical prowess in terms of imaging, sound stage, separation etc. How does D-Fi compare to Wan'Er? I know they're both above average at best, cuz they're just budget sets, but how big is the gap between them?

[@donglemadness]

@@mordecuckoo9415 Wan'Er SG is average, not D-Fi. DF-Fi has great technicalities all round, which means it has superior resolution, imaging, details, speed, dynamics coherence, PRAT, layering, separation, soundstage etc.

[@nigurut]

If you have powerful dongle like 340mw , is it better to switch up #4 knob? If there is an advantage in turning #4 knob down, then I should buy a switch version.

[@donglemadness]

Switch No.4 is the only one for high frequency and it balances the entire sound. DDDU will be 75 Ohm. 340 mW is really quite good so no worries at all

[@nigurut]

​@@donglemadness So, is there any sound difference for #4 when turn on and off?, except the loudness? reviewer says that it only increase all frequency evenly

[@donglemadness]

@@nigurut No, no.4 is not for loudness, as I said it is for upper frequencies. You get better sparkle and decays

[@c.k1523]

Between the zvx and d-fi which has the larger Soundstage?

[@donglemadness]

More or less the same for ZVX and D-Fi. If you want the widest soundstage, Tanchjim ZERO has it, or even better Final Audio A5000

[@oN_eXcuses]

The KZ D-fi tuned are huge! If you have medium to small ears I wouldn't recommend. In fact, I wouldn't recommend if you have large ears either. These are way too big and bucky for my taste.

[@tarno_bejo_]

Do you have any review on nicehck like the DB3, sir?

[@donglemadness]

Sorry, no

[@muhamadsyazwan5170]

mantap

[@donglemadness]

Sting yahu

[@nidhinpavurala517]

So tuning switches act like impedence adapters....

[@donglemadness]

It's more than that I think, the Zobel design include impedance variance to the implementation

[@andrewy1983]

How does it compare to something like simgot ea500?

[@donglemadness]

EA500 has slightly different tuning approach but in general I would regard ZVX, DF-i and EA500 in the same league in many ways

[@andrewy1983]

@@donglemadness good to hear

[@lonewolf5092]

Does it perform well with android phone with a normal convertor , will there be a major performace drop?

[@donglemadness]

If you run it on atl the most high impedance, you will still get proper sound even from a weak source like Android USB C to 3.5mm adapter. But don't expect to get 100% of its maz potential especially if the output is under 1 Vrms

[@lonewolf5092]

@@donglemadness what if i plug it directly into my laptop 3.5 mm , will it run at full potential ?

[@donglemadness]

@@lonewolf5092 It depends, how powerful is your laptop. Some can be weak as well

[@chetbrunsteen8613]

​@@donglemadness What about cheap DAC Dongles like the CX-Pro Audio 31993? Will it be able to at least bring out some of its potential?

[@donglemadness]

@@chetbrunsteen8613 Yes of course, cheap does not mean lacking quality. CX-Pro is a very good DAC

[@matusjurcik6974]

100 ohm of impedance? My ovidius B1 would scream in pleasure (my ears also, no hiss :D)

[@Irthiza]

better than pr2 planer and JVX?

[@donglemadness]

No idea, I don't have PR2 yet and I am not sure what is JVX

[@Irthiza]

@@donglemadness I meant ZVX, cant keep up with these naming schemes.

[@donglemadness]

@@Irthiza Well you can see in this video I compared ZVX and DF-i side by side and that should give you a good idea about the two of them yes?

[@MrGarkin]

not having price in the tables is somewhat unfair

[@_UnknownEntity]

Do the ling long Andy 😅 Jokes aside, curious to know what you might have to say about it 😊

[@donglemadness]

If my ordered Ling Long will ever arrive

[@_UnknownEntity]

@@donglemadness 👍👍🤞🤞♥️

[@ufopulse]

is it the very best though? is it better then the zvx?" I dont even know about those abominations like the AS24 or whatever...

[@donglemadness]

ZVX and DF-i practically operating on the same level of quality

[@herniathaiboy]

Hello from thailand Tangzu wan'er vs ZVX please Andy.

[@donglemadness]

Sawadikapp. ZVX if you like analytical yet well balanced musical performance, Wan'Er SG if you prefer a safer tuning and less analytical, more relaxed sounding

[@herniathaiboy]

@@donglemadness thank you very much.

[@SudipMondal]

@donglemadness t is Shanling UA4/Ibasso DC04 pro can drive it with full potential? Please reply

[@donglemadness]

Absolutely, just make sure you run from the 4.4mm BAL side

[@Hoods_]

4.4mm BAL side in high or low gain? High gain delivers the most power right?

[@andr192]

Hey Andy, my 7hz zero broke, are this still recommended and would they be an upgrade?

[@donglemadness]

DF-i is a better sounding IEM than 7hz Zero if that's what you are wondering

[@andr192]

@@donglemadness yeah I just want something cheap but good sounding for pc use, specially in summer when full sized headphones get uncomfortably warm 😅

[@ashvinsanthosh]

for gaming such as (valorant or overwatch or apex) which would u recommend , I am confused as hell about this(zvx or d-fi), A lot of sources say vice versa , I have been looking for an upgrade from my KZ ZSN Pro X (2+ years ), i really appreciate your opinion on this, btw if i go for the d-fi its the non tunable once(20$), Thanks

[@donglemadness]

Between ZVX and DF-i, I would use ZVX for gaming because it is simpler. But really the both of them are practically the same DD with different implementations and you can't go wrong with any one of them.

[@ashvinsanthosh]

@@donglemadness oh i see, i got confused when the d-fi had a score of 9 on imaging while zvx has 8 , so that led me to think the dfi is better for gaming(btw i am talking about the non-switch ones)

[@apexz1972]

​@@ashvinsanthoshdid you buy it? is it good for gaming?

[@vrindtime]

@@apexz1972 I went with hola for comfort, for gaming i would recommend the zvx though but it's heavy