Short answer: the KZ ZS10 Pro. It ranks #343 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $44.99; the KZ ZSX ranks #371, rated 3.3/5, and costs $49.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The KZ ZS10 Pro is the better-sounding choice. One dynamic driver and four balanced armatures per side earn a preference score of 69 in crinacle’s measurement, good for the price. The tradeoff: Across 20 hobbyist measurements on squig.link a 6.6 dB peak near 11.3 kHz can make cymbals sound sizzly, while a 4.3 dB dip at 6.3 kHz takes some bite off sibilants and snares.
The case for the KZ ZSX: A one dynamic plus five balanced armature hybrid at a budget price, with sub-bass within 1 dB of target and midbass about 2.4 dB above it, so electronic and hip hop tracks get punchy, full lows. Watch for: Across eight hobbyist measurements on squig.link a 10 dB peak near 11.9 kHz stands out, which can make cymbals and hi hats sound splashy and tizzy, while a 6.8 dB dip near 6.5 kHz leaves the treble uneven.
Buy the KZ ZS10 Pro. It is rated higher for sound quality than the KZ ZSX and costs less, 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 ZS10 Pro | KZ ZSX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.99 | $49.99 |
| Ranked | #343 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #371 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 65 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.44 dB standard deviation | 2.73 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.43 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.63 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 5 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature | 1 x dynamic + 5 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 24 ohms | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 111 dB | 111 dB |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 7Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How KZ ZS10 Pro compares with other leading options:
- DUNU Titan X vs KZ ZS10 Pro
- CCA C10 vs KZ ZS10 Pro
- KZ ZS10 Pro vs KZ ZS10 Pro 2
- KZ ZS10 Pro vs TFZ T2 Galaxy
- KZ ZS10 Pro vs Whizzer HE01
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 ZS10 Pro: $44.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: One dynamic driver and four balanced armatures per side earn a preference score of 69 in crinacle’s measurement, good for the price. Sub-bass is right on target down to 30 Hz with bass about 3 dB above, so electronic and hip-hop tracks get solid punch and rumble. At 24 ohms and 111 dB sensitivity it plays loud from a phone.
Cons: Across 20 hobbyist measurements on squig.link a 6.6 dB peak near 11.3 kHz can make cymbals sound sizzly, while a 4.3 dB dip at 6.3 kHz takes some bite off sibilants and snares. The CCA C12 and CCA C10 are both rated higher at a similar price.
Full KZ ZS10 Pro review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.44 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 111 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.43 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.0 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 | +1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 164 Hz | -3.7 dB | 0.62 |
| Peak | 772 Hz | +3.3 dB | 1.02 |
| Peak | 2,169 Hz | -4.3 dB | 2.52 |
| Peak | 3,267 Hz | +3.7 dB | 2.93 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,415 Hz | +4.7 dB | 3.96 |
| Peak | 4,521 Hz | -3.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 8,356 Hz | +1.6 dB | 4.13 |
| Peak | 4,784 Hz | +0.6 dB | 5.93 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
KZ ZSX: $49.99 Linsoul eBay
Pros: A one dynamic plus five balanced armature hybrid at a budget price, with sub-bass within 1 dB of target and midbass about 2.4 dB above it, so electronic and hip hop tracks get punchy, full lows. Its 24 ohm, 111 dB rating means it plays loud straight from a phone, and it rates higher than the pricier BGVP DN3.
Cons: Across eight hobbyist measurements on squig.link a 10 dB peak near 11.9 kHz stands out, which can make cymbals and hi hats sound splashy and tizzy, while a 6.8 dB dip near 6.5 kHz leaves the treble uneven. The KZ ZS10 Pro from the same maker rates noticeably higher for slightly less money.
Full KZ ZSX review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.73 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 5 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 5 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 65 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 111 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.63 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.6 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 | +0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 162 Hz | -3.8 dB | 0.64 |
| Peak | 7,279 Hz | +5.8 dB | 1.94 |
| Peak | 732 Hz | +2.9 dB | 1.14 |
| Peak | 2,111 Hz | -4.3 dB | 2.80 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,793 Hz | +3.2 dB | 2.14 |
| Peak | 3,249 Hz | +3.3 dB | 4.13 |
| Peak | 5,021 Hz | -2.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 2,553 Hz | -1.2 dB | 2.76 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons