Short answer: a tie on sound quality. Both are rated 3.8/5 (#562 and #569 of 1291 in-ear headphones) at nearly the same price ($65.99 vs $69), so choose on features and fit.
The case for the KZ ZAX: Across hobbyist measurements on squig.link sub-bass sits within 0.2 dB of target down to 20 Hz, and a 3.2 dB bass lift adds warmth and punch for pop and electronic music. The catch: A 9 dB peak near 11.2 kHz lifts the top octave about 6 dB above target, which can make cymbals and sibilants sound sizzly on bright recordings, and a 3.8 dB dip near 3.4 kHz slightly recesses vocals.
What the Nothing Ear does well: A smooth response in hobbyist measurements on squig.link, at a 1.8 dB standard deviation and a preference score of 71, with every band from 20 Hz to 10 kHz within about 2 dB of target. The tradeoff: A 6.2 dB dip near 10.5 kHz trims some top end sparkle, and a 4.5 dB peak near 7.9 kHz can add a little edge to sibilance.
Buy the KZ ZAX or the Nothing Ear on features: they are rated the same for sound quality at close to the same price.
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Across hobbyist measurements on squig.link sub-bass sits within 0.2 dB of target down to 20 Hz, and a 3.2 dB bass lift adds warmth and punch for pop and electronic music.
Amazon $65.99 eBay
A smooth response in hobbyist measurements on squig.link, at a 1.8 dB standard deviation and a preference score of 71, with every band from 20 Hz to 10 kHz within about 2 dB of target.
Amazon $69.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| KZ ZAX | Nothing Ear | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $65.99 | $69.00 |
| Ranked | #562 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #569 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 71 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 71 (median of 2 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.29 dB standard deviation | 1.76 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.43 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.15 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | True wireless |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 7 balanced armature) | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 7 x balanced armature | 1 x 11mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 24 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB | - |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Weight | - | 0 lbs (4.62 g) per earbud |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 8.5 hours (40.5 with case, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LHDC 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| IP Rating | - | IP54 |
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