KZ ZS12 Pro X VS TRN VX Pro + : Two Proper Budget Hybrids!!

[@taidee]

Thank you Akros for these comprehensive reviews, we appreciate them pal.

[@TheRebelLion13]

You are absolutely right, Sir! The budget-tier IEMs are on a whole new level these days. And even KZ, though not yet that consistent, has improved significantly in their tuning; and when they're good they're good.

[@bokomokoksarimanoktiktilaokkok]

Agree! Their recent releases over the last two years have been quite good. I love to drive my kz pr1 pro on a daily basis.

[@anatol1204]

Hydro is a fantastic eq platform but I can t wear it for a long time it's too fat in the base of the nozzle.I wish I could make it custom someway and not have to sell it 😐.Nice review Tony!

[@MariaAudioChick]

Tony you got interested in the V80 last year. I got it for $14 just before it was discontinued. Was my first BA hybrid, took some time to get used to the tonality and believe it or not the details, layering and Soundstage. The highs are typical TRN and the were a lot, drowned out the bass. I was determimed to fix it and love it and I do love the V80! The shell is small and beautiful. I have it on the black cat cable. There is no reason they couldn't have used metal on this one. ORCA, Conch and White Tiger are metal. So not sure why they went with plastic. I just picked up the KZ ZSTX which is surprisingly very good TOO. Now I'm waiting on the V10 Pro. Curios how it will stack up to the V80 at such a cheap price. Oldies that I will enjoy along with the news! What are your thoughts on a modded V80 vs the new school of 2/2s? I feel they were well ahead of their time. Shame they dropped the 2DD model for so long. Glad it's back 😁

[@CervezasObsonMex]

Got my conch for $15 around 2 months ago.

[@KURRYOUS]

Hey Tony, I think it would be interesting if you made a part 2 on the CCA Rhapsody, just to see how it compares with the latest $150 - $200 price range hybrids

[@KURRYOUS]

​​@@luvingyouuTo tell you the truth I own both the Delci and T10.... From a Technical standpoint the Delci does not beat the Rhapsody in any way, although tonally I do agree that it's much more appealing to my tastes (or even others).... As for the T10 you must remember it's a planar IEM... imho you should only compare it to fellow planar iems and not hybrids... Else it wouldn't be "fair".

[@KURRYOUS]

​​​ Well actually, the mids on the Rhapsody are handled by one of the 8mm dynamic drivers (instead of the BA's). Which if i were to guess are liquid silicone dynamic drivers. The Rhapsody's inherent weakness actually lies not in the quality of the Dynamic driver, but it's balanced armatures... On several (older) songs you could really make out artifacts in the rendition caused by the BA's being strained... For me there is no direct "upgrade" to the rhapsody under $90, except maybe it's Younger brethren the Hydro.... After comparing it to the EM6L, Supermix4 And even EM10 it surprisingly holds itself extremely well. Overall it's a win for us customers.... The less we pay and the more we get, the better. I just hope that kz changes the nozzle filter material they've been using for the past 1 - 2 years (those white nylon filters are an abomination, and must be eradicated).

[@MariaAudioChick]

Agree on KZ filters needing to be put into a deep grave or burned. I've never heard anyone else address this. Ive change the filters on nearly all KZ and wow, what a difference! The sound is being sadly restricted as is.

[@MariaAudioChick]

Also I don't have the Rhapsody but the zs12 is really good! To me it definitely Sounds like an upgrade to zs10 pro x. Surprisingly I haven't felt the need to mod it though I'm sure I eventually I will 😅

[@littlehaltedbee]

Hi Tony, how would you compare the TRN VX Pro+ with the ZiiGaat Estrella in terms of sound signature and technicalities?

[@nightringer9815]

Thank you gor this reviews and comparison. It gives me an in depth views on what to expect. I'm a TRN VX Pro user and from what I got here, for me personally I will stick to my VX Pro because of the metal body do have impact on the sound. May I ask whether you use the same cable or different cable on each IEM? Clearly you have different eartips and despite the difference of cable color, I'm curious what cable you are using to test both.

[@Laowei1]

Solid reviews and comparisons, Tony! 😃👍 Have great respect for KZ & TRN price/performance ratios. Have not experienced QC issues with either company (over 20+ units combined) in the past 6 years.

[@kr33k00]

No QC issues? Lucky you, I guess. This is not value! They prey on people with limited budgets. Peeps, get the EW300 instead! 😊

[@woka_kawanua-hw2hj]

​@@kr33k00, really can NOT disagree with you.

[@gercollins1520]

I have 10 KZ iems. Only one QC issue on PR1 pro. Contacted kz and they sent me a replacement within a fortnight. KZ are excellent value for money and very durable.

[@MariaAudioChick]

I got Ew300 for $55 and returning because my Ultra budget sets sound just as good or better. Got Phoenixcall for same price, it smashes EW300 in every aspect. Returned Delci, Adonis New and Fudu, all great but not better than sets available under $20. There are other pricy sets I want but at this point I'm so spoiled with budget sets that I'm not sure the next time I'll bother.

[@adven111]

Hello, will be videos about Tfz aquarius?

[@nataalcon7304]

Hi, i had the ZSX terminator for almost 2-3 years and i like it very much... te question is that all the people said in internet that the zs10 prox whas better and it is, in tuning, the sound is more accurate to the real sounds and all just sounds more decent... but the soundstage seems to be like really normal and even bad as the soundstage of the ZSX. Like yestreday i tried to play CS2 with the 10prox and i didnt get to hear the steps ok, in the right position and where they are coming from. In contrast with the ZSX... ans i feel it too in all the music that i hear, like the slundstage its just to much closer than the other I wanna now if the zs12prox its better than it in soundstage. Thnks very much

[@MariaAudioChick]

It is and is more detailed. You can try changing the filter on ZS10 Pro X. The filter it has suppresses the clarity.

[@faisalfirdausiinn4708]

Simply put.. ZS12 Pro X is the better option over Simgot EW200 in most aspects..?

[@ticoss]

i have both, the ZS12 PRo is superior in all aspect. No joke.. even if the EW200 is a pretty decent iem (except maybe the packaging... but it'sca question of price of course)

[@faisalfirdausiinn4708]

@@ticoss Thank you so much for the answer. i appreciate it. Will definitely look forward to get ZS12 Pro X.

[@MariaAudioChick]

Did you get the ZS12? Wonder how you like it since you love the 200. I think it's really nice. Btw not impressed by EW300. It is good but It doesn't sound like anything special, despite the driver set up. The pink nozzle is my preferred sound signature and because of that I own that sound already. Same with the silver nozzle. The bass is good but sounds like planar bass. It's not the kind of bass you can feel. Could try to mod it, but why. Conch looks better, sounds at least as good and has better accessories. ZS12 pro x is great. Orca is great. Both SAGAs are great. White Snow is like the ew300 nozzles having a baby with a more organic sound.

[@faisalfirdausiinn4708]

​@@MariaAudioChick i did get myself ZS12 Pro X(NO switch). For the price, i am pretty impressed though i was hoping for more. For the reason i think it is just slightly better than EDC Pro. Hence i could argue the price gap between the two is NOT justified. it still cannot beat ew200 in my opinion. And i also think the ea500LM i've got just recently is inferior even to EW300, let alone ew200.

[@faisalfirdausiinn4708]

@@MariaAudioChick Just to put more context. i would choose either EDC Pro/ZS12 Pro X over ew300/ea500LM on any day. Both simgots are not worth the asking price. i even purchased another ew200 for backup along with the ea500LM. The backup i purchased (once again) amazed me from the very first 15 seconds unlike ea500LM which comes with 3 pairs tuning nozzles.

[@mypetvelociraptor]

Are you a musician? Just curious because some people are playing video games with these.😂

[@anatol1204]

I don't understand why KZ makes all this similar high edgy tunings

[@HoseaSigrid]

530 Chase Curve

[@Helmond2017]

Ngl im gonna choose kz over trn if I go ultra budget.

[@MariaAudioChick]

I use to prefer TRN but KZ has definitely worked it's way up. Both have very good offerings these days.

[@Helmond2017]

@@MariaAudioChick yeah but KZ releases way too fast. When I decided I'll get the saga, they released the Castor pro haha

[@MariaAudioChick]

@@Helmond2017 true but you really can't lose. EdX pro X is even an excellent sounding IEM. Really aestheticis and price are the biggest things that sets many of these sets apart

[@kr33k00]

I choose not to gamble my money on what could either be a “proper” IEM or carbon garbage because of poor QC issues and absolutely no CS these 2 companies demonstrate over and over again. There ARE better options! Great video, as always!

[@MarkPlier-id9ni]

Ok? Then name something in the same price you think is better?

[@MariaAudioChick]

ZS10 and ZS12 are excellent value. ZVX and Castor too. ZS12 AND ZVX are beautifully built too. TRN also has a good amount of gems. Bare bones but upgrading cables and tips is ridiculously cheap too. The prices are great to start out and in sales, there are generally no risk. Especially with Amazon offering more chifi and AliExpress' new generous return policy. Have fun paying more money which doesn't guarantee much.

[@wrbrown571]

That was an argument a couple years ago, but it appears KZ has righted the ship since then. I have the KZ EDC Pro, CCA CRA (silent update) and now the ZS12 Pro X. All budget sets with great tunings and solid builds with no driver flex. If you like bright sets and chase detail, the ZS12 Pro X is your next move. I got the tunable version, with mic for $36. It's so much fun.

[@MariaAudioChick]

@@wrbrown571 I'm a/b'ing zs12 VS zsn pro 2... They sound very similar! zs10 pro x is also excellent. All 3 heads over ZSN PRO X which gets better with a filter but doesn't sound as detailed.

[@mypetvelociraptor]

For a musician, the KSN 12 Pro X blew my mind. I got it from AliExpress for 30 bucks. also got the KSNs for my Bass Player. Those were the first ones that I tried. The first thing I realize is that they are so so so much better than the shure 215s

[@JohnWhiteiii]

You’re talking way too fast.

[@MariaAudioChick]

I crank him to 1.25 speed and everyone else to 1.5 to 1.75.