Review on Armatures Customized Headphones Detachable Audiophile Headphones by Heidi Monroe

The KZ headphones have grown in quality and price compared to the last models. It seems after selling lots of multi-driver headphones at bargain prices, they've finally hired talented engineers with good hearing to make their products sound. I have many models and almost all of them sound good; no exception. However, each new model comes a step closer to the balanced, pleasant sound that is only possible through careful scoring in the design phase. Early KZ models have surprisingly good equipment for the asking prices. The catch was that they didn't sound good. However, they looked good on paper. They were uttered intentionally. I like tuning. It's "fun" but not boomy or overly harsh. Sounds good on a balanced cable via EarStudio. The high price (for Chi Fi) is most likely due to the extra engineering required to sear them properly. They're intended for on-the-go listening, not mission-critical analytical listening or studio track mixing where it's best to use as flat a response curve as possible. They're more like an AU shape, but not too loud, harsh, or boomy. Some bassheads will be disappointed, but not me. For BA IEM, the bass is really good. If I want to squeeze out another half octave, I use a hybrid pair with a dynamic woofer. They're still good for heavy tracks with bass and drums. Lots to satisfy. They're "thicker" than any KZ headphones I've seen, so they stick out of my ears a bit more, but the shape is comfortable. The standard silver cable is fine, better than the brown one that came with many KZ phones. But I replaced it with a decent silver balanced cable for everyday listening via EarStudio. Like every headphone I've come across, this one wins in terms of speed, accuracy, and punch. I recommend a balanced cable and a player with a balanced output. You will enjoy the best sound. One of the great things about almost all Chi-Fi headphones is their detachable cables with standard connectors for connecting additional accessories like balanced or Lightning cables or TWS dongles. I've gotten to the point where I don't even look at the headphones unless they have detachable cables. Cables are always a source of error, and I never intend to throw away good headphones prematurely because of a broken cable. KZ risked entering the middle price zone with ASX. They have an impressive build to match the price but most importantly these are the best sounding KZ headphones I've heard and I've heard almost all of them. Some of my favorites are under $20. ASX is three times better than ZSX Hybrid? Are they 8 times better than the cheap ZS3? I do not know. Put on pricier headphones and it becomes a choosy play with form and sound that's deeply personal. These work for me. They might be too damn big for your ears, or you might not like the sound. Headphones are hard to rate because we all hear differently. I found the ASX to be comfortable, with a sound and build quality that justifies the price. There are other phones in this price range that I like. KZ competes well with its peers. I'm glad I got it.