Short answer: the KZ ATE. It ranks #382 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $17.99; the KZ EDX Pro ranks #408, rated 2.7/5, at $17.99. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
The KZ ATE is the better-sounding pick. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz runs about 6.8 dB above target, with sub-bass up 2.8 dB, which delivers punchy, energetic low end for the money. Watch for: A 9 dB peak near 8.3 kHz makes cymbals and sibilants splashy and fatiguing at higher volumes.
Why pick the KZ EDX Pro: It costs very little and is easy to drive, with 24 ohm impedance and a 112 dB sensitivity rating that suit a phone. The tradeoff: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of 58, well short of what most listeners prefer.
Buy the KZ ATE. It is rated higher for sound quality than the KZ EDX Pro at the same price, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| KZ ATE | KZ EDX Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17.99 | $17.99 |
| Ranked | #382 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #408 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 63 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 58 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.88 dB standard deviation | 2.91 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.45 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.10 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.5 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 8.2mm dynamic | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB | 112 dB |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 29kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
KZ ATE: $17.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Bass from 60 to 200 Hz runs about 6.8 dB above target, with sub-bass up 2.8 dB, which delivers punchy, energetic low end for the money. The 16 ohm impedance and 106 dB sensitivity make it easy to power from a phone, and the V-shaped balance with a lift up to 4.3 dB in the 6 to 10 kHz range gives a lively, sparkling sound.
Cons: A 9 dB peak near 8.3 kHz makes cymbals and sibilants splashy and fatiguing at higher volumes. The bass lift of nearly 7 dB can overwhelm the low mids, adding 3.1 dB of thickness to male vocals. The CCA CSN has a higher rating at a similar budget.
Full KZ ATE review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.88 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 8.2mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 29kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 63 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.45 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.0 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +4.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 736 Hz | +6.6 dB | 0.43 |
| Peak | 119 Hz | -6.6 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 8,831 Hz | -1.6 dB | 3.38 |
| Peak | 4,548 Hz | -4.0 dB | 5.04 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,150 Hz | +3.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 2,920 Hz | -1.3 dB | 3.23 |
| Peak | 2,035 Hz | +0.8 dB | 3.13 |
| Peak | 7,523 Hz | -1.3 dB | 5.99 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
KZ EDX Pro: $17.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: It costs very little and is easy to drive, with 24 ohm impedance and a 112 dB sensitivity rating that suit a phone. Across 15 hobbyist measurements on squig.link bass sits about 4.6 dB above target and sub-bass about 3 dB above, which matches listeners who want heavy, thumping low end for pop, hip hop and EDM.
Cons: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of 58, well short of what most listeners prefer. Hobbyist measurements show a 7.7 dB spike near 11.9 kHz that can make cymbals sound splashy and hissy, and the bass boost can crowd vocals. The KZ ATE rates higher at the same price.
Full KZ EDX Pro review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.91 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.10 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -2.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 169 Hz | -4.0 dB | 0.82 |
| Peak | 9,836 Hz | +2.9 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 783 Hz | +3.2 dB | 1.23 |
| Peak | 2,062 Hz | -4.8 dB | 2.53 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,508 Hz | +3.3 dB | 2.86 |
| Peak | 4,965 Hz | -5.7 dB | 5.27 |
| Peak | 3,516 Hz | +2.7 dB | 3.58 |
| Peak | 6,291 Hz | +3.2 dB | 5.44 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons