KZ ATE Hi-Fi IEM Sports Headphones with Copper Driver Ear Hook and Foam Eartips Specially for Music Fans, New Mic Edition

So if you look at the KZ earbuds generally they get great reviews with 4.5 ish stars. Yet the ATE gets 4 stars why? Some complain that it's tinny. Some complain that the fit is not good. Some complain that the build quality is not great. Let me address these one at a time.The sound is Tinny: The pair I have sounded good to me. I believe most that get a tinny sound are having "fitment" issues. The foam is not the best quality and earbuds require a really good seal to get a "good" sound. For me the fitment is very good, but everyone has slightly different ears. Let me assure you if they can get a good seal the earbuds will produce a good sound.The fit is not good: Once again this is the quality of the foam. if your canals can't get a good seal then yes the sound quality will suffer and the earbuds maybe loose. you can try the rubber pieces included, but really it is a matter of finding a manufacturer where you can get a "good" seal. The default foam tips fit me fine.The build quality s not good: I do have to admit i have low hopes for this. The way the cables are hooked into the earbuds mean they go through some strain in normal operation. This is doubly so if you get a really good seal. The wires are NOT replaceable so after they break you will be replacing the whole set.So why should you buy this? Well they sound great! If you do get a good seal (many many users do) then you will be rewarded. They are a great budget earbud, but keep in mind that they may not last as long as some others.

This is my personal review of the KZ-ATE In-Ear Monitors [IEM]. These words reflect my opinion and my opinion ONLY. No need to get upset! :)SUMMARYI bought the KZ-ATE Headphones as sort of an experiment, and was BLOWN away by their quality! For the price, you really can't go wrong with this pair of IEMs. If you want to know what all the hype is about concerning this headphone, just buy it! What's the most you could lose out on?DEVICE SPECIFICATIONSDevice Type: In-Ear HeadphoneDriver Type: Dynamic, Copper DriverDriver Diameter: 8.2mmFrequency Response: 15 Hz - 29,000 HzSensitivity: 106 dBImpedance: 16 ohmsRetail Price: UnknownCurrent Price (Amazon): Approx. $12Manufacturer: Knowledge-Zenith (China-based)PERSONAL SCORESBuild Quality: 8.0Sound Isolation: 8.0Comfort Rating: 8.0Sound Rating (Highs): 7.0Sound Rating (Mids) : 7.8Sound Rating (Lows) : 8.0Sound Rating (Overall): 8.0TEST ENVIRONMENTDAC/AMP: AudioQuest Dragonfly 1.2Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bitSource Material: Tidal (Master Quality Setting)BACKGROUND / HISTORYMy journey into the audio appreciation world began a few years ago and has led me to obtain some nice hi-fi quality gear such as the Highly Acclaimed Sennheiser HD600 open-back headphones, as well as the Hifiman HE-400i, Massdrop AKG K7XX, and most notably my prized Beyerdynamic DT-1770 closed-back headphones. These, paired with the excellent Schiit Jotunheim have given me a modest perspective into the amazing world of high-fidelity audio. Although I am a relative newcomer in this arena, I feel proficient enough to provide a fair and honest review.PROS / BENEFITSLow Frequency Response: First off, let's get one thing out of the way: The KZ-ATE IEMs have BASS FOR DAYS!!! Woa!! I was not expecting this when I first put them on. When I first saw them on Amazon, I thought "oh how cute". Let me be CLEAR when I say that I bought them solely on price and aethetics, and because I wanted a cheap pair of IEMs and thought "what's the worst I can lose out on?" Well, it's a good thing that I did because I'm not joking when I say that these IEMs have EARTH-SHATTERING bass and so I now have a entry-level unit that I can recommend to my "bass heads" friends, lol.Sound Isolation: The KZ-ATE IEMs have very good sound isolation. I found that even at low volumes, the KZ-ATE IEMs were able to drown out most of the noise in my office where I work. Now, keep in mind that I work in a very quiet office setting (about 32-37 dB). Still, the KZ-ATE IEMs produced a good seal inside of my ear with one of the included ear tips.Detail / Resolution: At a current price tag of $12-15 on Amazon, the KZ-ATE IEMs aren't the cleanest or most detailed IEMs around, but FOR THE PRICE boy do you get a bang for your buck! You would think that such a cheap IEM with such powerful bass response would be SEVERELY lacking in the mid-to-high audio spectrum, but in my case I was surprised by the relative clarity that these IEMs are able to achieve. For example, listening to Lindsey Stirling's "Crystallize" on Tidal with Master Quality Settings is quite a joy. Again, these by far are NOT the most balanced IEMs out there, but for the price you will be amazed at how they sound.Portability: IEMs by default are designed to be portable, and that is also the case with the KZ-ATE IEMs. With a low impedance of 16 ohms and a Sensitivity Rating of 106 dB, you won't need to pair them up with an external amplifier, but of course you will always benefit from having one.CONS / DOWNSIDESThere are some downsides that we should discuss.Audio Quality: First off, there has to be a trade-off when producing cheap products. There is a reason why high-end audio gear costs so much, but that gap significantly gotten smaller in recent years. These IEMs are proof of that!! Still, I don't want to mislead you. What you will NOT get from these IEMs is high-fidelity audio. This is most noticeable in their lack of clarity and separation. While you do get detail and bass response that you would not expect at this price range, you will NOT be blown away by pristine highs and mids. Instead, what you will get is a very fun and enjoyable listening experience if you can learn to live with the IEM's shortcomings in the middle-to-high ranges.Comfort Factor: Overall, I found the KZ-ATE IEMs to be much more comfortable that I had expected. If you check out my recent review of the Klipsch R6i In-Ear Headphones, you will see how I tear those apart for their lack of comfort. Well, I am pleased to say that the KZ-ATE is much more comfortable in my ears when compared to the R6i, and those are much more expensive headphones, so price is not always an indication of how good or comfortable an IEM will be.CONCLUSIONThe KZ-ATE IEMs are now my go-to IEMs when I want a fun and punchy sound on the go, that is, until my new Sennheiser IE80 arrives in the mail. Of course, the Senn's are much more expensive, and so if you want a cheap alternative to hi-fidelity IEMs with Earth-Shattering Bass, don't give it a second thought: The KZ-ATE is for you!! However, if you aren't a "bass head" and don't want to lose out on a whole $12, stay away from these.

I'm a snobby, elitist audiophile. I'm broke, but that doesn't change the fact that I try so hard to enjoy myself that I can't actually enjoy myself. I have to police my thoughts in order to focus on the music and not the equipment playing it. I have really high standards and to cope with this purchase I kept my expectations very low. And I have been humbled.Sound:These sound good. Very good. Frustratingly good. I bought these because I already have some other iems and headphones (Fiio F5, Tin T4, SHP 9500's recently) but I needed something with a mic for use on PS4. I never actually intended to use them for music listening, I just needed something with a decent mic that didn't sound horrible. And I knew the KZ earphones have been getting cheaper and better for years, so I figured "why not."Now I won't kid you, there are flaws in these *cough* $13 earphones. They're pretty V-shaped, and I noticed that some vocals were recessed (though the mids are still good. Perhaps it's right at the crossover point and only noticible in some songs. Regardless, my wife Lana Del Rey sounds good through them). Bass is excellent, punchy without being boomy, and I mean it! And the treble is bright but smooth. I'd say it's like a fine wine, but I don't drink, so I just have to assume it sounds like what wine tastes like.Look, I know my review may not help you much, but that's the point. You don't NEED my help to know these sound good, you just NEED to buy them so you have an extra pair for quality earphones around the house. Granted, my Tin T4's are 10-20% better in key areas that make them worth spending $80 (honestly worth more imo), but the KZ ATE's are half way there! And they cost as much as two Starbucks orders!So just do it. Pull the trigger. If it can make a no-fun snob like myself shut up, you're bound to like them too. 10/10, cannot believe they actually pulled off something this good for such an absurdly low price.Oh, and the cable is alright too. Cheers.