Short answer: the KZ ZAX. It ranks #326 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $65.99. The TFZ T2 Galaxy ranks #340, rated 3.6/5, at $59, $6.99 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
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.
The case for the TFZ T2 Galaxy: Oratory1990’s measurement shows sub-bass about 3.7 dB and bass about 3.5 dB above the Harman target, which gives kick drums and bass lines a solid, punchy foundation that suits bassy and V-shaped tastes. Watch for: A peak of 4.9 dB near 8 kHz can make cymbals and sibilant vocals sound sharp.
Buy the KZ ZAX. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $6.99 with the TFZ T2 Galaxy does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| KZ ZAX | TFZ T2 Galaxy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $65.99 | $59.00 |
| Ranked | #326 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #340 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 71 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 69 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.29 dB standard deviation | 2.12 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.43 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.77 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 7 balanced armature) | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 7 x balanced armature | 1 x 12mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 24 ohms | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB | 110 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 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 (+4.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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How KZ ZAX compares with other leading options:
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- KZ ZAX vs Pula Unicrom
- KZ ZS10 Pro 2 vs TFZ T2 Galaxy
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 ZAX: $65.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: 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. Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of 71. Its one dynamic and seven balanced armature hybrid runs at 24 ohms and 113 dB, so any phone or dongle drives it loud.
Cons: 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. It costs more than the CCA C12 for the same rating, while the Tin HiFi T4 rates higher for a little more.
Full KZ ZAX review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.29 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 7 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 7 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 71 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.43 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.5 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 | +1.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 197 Hz | -3.9 dB | 0.41 |
| Peak | 639 Hz | +3.6 dB | 0.62 |
| Peak | 2,128 Hz | -6.0 dB | 1.80 |
| Peak | 4,125 Hz | +2.9 dB | 0.42 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,387 Hz | -3.1 dB | 5.67 |
| Peak | 9,739 Hz | -1.1 dB | 2.42 |
| Peak | 3,351 Hz | +1.7 dB | 4.33 |
| Peak | 6,468 Hz | +2.5 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
TFZ T2 Galaxy: $59.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Oratory1990’s measurement shows sub-bass about 3.7 dB and bass about 3.5 dB above the Harman target, which gives kick drums and bass lines a solid, punchy foundation that suits bassy and V-shaped tastes. The 16 ohm impedance and 110 dB/mW sensitivity mean it plays loud from a phone without an amp. The preference score of 69 is respectable for a budget wired in-ear, and its 12 mm dynamic driver stays simple and easy to drive.
Cons: A peak of 4.9 dB near 8 kHz can make cymbals and sibilant vocals sound sharp. Output above 10 kHz sits roughly 4.3 dB under target, with a 6.2 dB dip near 11.9 kHz, so the top end loses air and sparkle. The bass boost of more than 3 dB can also make male vocals and low instruments sound heavier than they should. There is no built-in microphone.
Full TFZ T2 Galaxy review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.12 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 12mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.77 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.4 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 | -3.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 750 Hz | +3.0 dB | 0.89 |
| Peak | 178 Hz | -2.3 dB | 1.50 |
| Peak | 1,788 Hz | -2.0 dB | 1.39 |
| Peak | 3,012 Hz | +2.5 dB | 3.09 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +3.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,584 Hz | -3.9 dB | 5.24 |
| Peak | 5,910 Hz | +3.5 dB | 5.10 |
| Peak | 70 Hz | +1.0 dB | 1.75 |
| Peak | 124 Hz | -0.7 dB | 2.97 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons