If you’ve been in the ChiFi audio space for some time now, the name KZ shouldn’t just ring a bell; it may even set off a few alarms. The brand has been around since the inception of this niche little hobby, with a product catalogue that is as extensive as it is overwhelming.

But being around for as long as KZ has is no easy feat, especially when the company has faced its fair share of controversies. One such instance became the talk of the town overnight, with many resorting to banning KZ as a whole, forcing it to momentarily lay low.

In KZ’s absence, many ChiFi brands surfaced and took over the spotlight, but the infamous “KZ controversy” still lingered in the back of everyone’s minds. Given the circumstance, it’s quite impressive to see the company still actively (albeit quietly) releasing products at a pace that almost seems illogical – almost as illogical as its product naming scheme.

The KZ ZS10 Pro 2 is one such product. Beyond its rather intriguing naming, it’s actually quite an accomplished IEM.

What It Is

The KZ ZS10 Pro 2 is a 1DD + 4BA hybrid IEM that pairs a 10mm dynamic driver with dual 31736 balanced armature drivers. The IEM also features four custom tuning switches that allow you to tweak the sound profile to your liking. This isn’t the first time KZ has implemented custom switches to its products, and the Joyodio Shine I reviewed last year had this capability as well.

Packaging of the ZS10 Pro 2 is a little too simple by today’s standards – it is no longer enough to just offer great audio quality for the money. In fact, a fancy packaging or a decent carrying pouch is almost expected in the ChiFi scene now, but alas, KZ gives you just the bare minimum.

Aside from the IEM itself, there’s a silver-plated cable, three sets of ear tips (along with a pair of foam ones), a tool to adjust the switches on the shells, and an instruction manual. Pricing wise, the ZS10 Pro 2 goes for $54.99 on Linsoul (about RM240), which was kind enough to send this review unit.

The design of the ZS10 Pro 2 is virtually identical to KZ’s previous ZS10 Pro and ZS10 Pro X, but it does add vented aluminium faceplates and a resin shell. With a rise in 3D printed shells today, the metallic design does look quite cool, if not a little dated.

Unfortunately, the stock tips don’t provide the best fit for me; the shells move about and loosen in my ears after a while. The same occurs with other tips like the Tangzu Sancai and Final Audio Type E tips, so I suspect it is the shell shape of the ZS10 Pro 2 that just doesn’t fit well in my ears.

How Does It Sound?

The KZ ZS10 Pro 2 has a bright, V-shaped tuning with a slight recession in the mids, depending on the track. The brighter signature allows the IEM to sound open and airy, with above average detail retrieval. Soundstage has quite good width and commendable instrument separation, though depth is just about average.

In its stock configuration with all four switches down/off, the ZS10 Pro 2 sounds flat and rather boring. Just like the Joyodio Shine I previously reviewed, I find this feature more of a gimmick. Sure, there is an audible difference (especially in the bass) when fiddling with the switches, but it’s not one that would drastically change the tonality of the IEM itself. Realistically, you’d probably play with the switches a bit, find a configuration you like, and just stick with that from then on.

Personally, having all 4 switches up sounds the best to me with a V-shaped sound that is fun and exciting, but you’re free to play around with any configuration you so desire. The following impressions were conducted with the aforementioned configuration.

Bass

Clean and controlled is how I’d describe the bass quality of the ZS10 Pro 2. While there is decent mid-bass impact, it’s far from a “slam” that would satisfy bassheads. There’s not much sub-bass rumble either, but it does feel sufficient for certain genres like pop and R&B. More importantly, there’s enough bass control for it to not bleed into the mids.

Mids

When it comes to the mids of the ZS10 Pro 2, male vocals sound a tad too thin for my liking, with a hint of warmth from the bass region. Female vocals, on the other hand, sound clear, but they can get shouty at times. To top it off, the overly energetic upper mids are also slightly sibilant at higher volumes.

Highs

As I’ve said before, the ZS10 Pro 2 has airy and clear audio qualities with a good amount of sparkle…that sometimes get to the point of spiky. As it uses balanced armature drivers, the BA timbre is very much evident here, which provides a less than natural, metallic tonality.

Personally, my preference leans towards a warmer sound signature with thicker note weight and the brighter tonality of the ZS10 Pro 2 isn’t something I would normally gravitate towards. That being said, I still find it to be quite a fun listen despite the less-than-stellar fit in my ears.

Is It Worth It?

In an era of Harman-sounding IEMs, the KZ ZS10 Pro 2 takes a more classic approach with a V-shaped sound signature that might sound outdated by today’s standards. But if you’re tired of all the similarly sounding IEMs these days, the ZS10 Pro 2’s bright, fun tuning might just be the throwback you need.

Li Jin Soh contributed to this review.