Our Verdict
Decent for neutral listening. They have a deep and punchy bass, an even and decently balanced mid-range and a good treble. However, they do sound a bit boomy due to the overemphasized bass while vocals and lead instruments sound like they are being pushed back in the mix. Like most in-ears, they have a poor soundstage which won't be ideal for more neutral listeners. Nevertheless, they are decent sounding in-ears for their price range and will sound good enough for most users.
- Decent sound quality.
- Good design.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- The no in-line remote variant is a bit limited.
Okay for commuting. They don’t let too much noise seep into your audio thanks to their great passive isolation, especially if you can find an air tight fit with the provided tip options. They also don’t leak much, so you can raise your volume to mask more ambient sound. Unfortunately, the variant we tested was not equipped with an in-line remote. On the upside, they are very portable and should fit in most pockets.
- Decent sound quality.
- Good design.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- The no in-line remote variant is a bit limited.
Decent for sports. The flexible ear-hook design will keep the earbuds stable enough during exercise. Being in-ears, they are lightweight and portable enough to keep on you at all times. On the downside, the variant we tested didn’t have in-line controls. However, the variant with the in-line remote doesn’t offer volume controls which isn’t ideal for working out.
- Decent sound quality.
- Good design.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- The no in-line remote variant is a bit limited.
Average for office use. If you can get a good air-tight seal, they can block passively a great amount of ambient noise. Their leakage performance is excellent, so you can mask more noise by raising your volume without bothering colleagues. Unfortunately, the variant we tested did not have a microphone for making calls. Even if these are decently comfortable, in-ears probably aren’t a great choice for an 8-hour shift.
- Decent sound quality.
- Good design.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- The no in-line remote variant is a bit limited.
Passable for gaming. They are a decent sounding pair of headphones, their design is decently comfortable and they have a basically latency-free wired connection. Unfortunately, the model we tested does not have an in-line microphone so only audio will be provided when connected to your gaming system. They are also not customizable like typical gaming headphones. The short cable isn't as ideal as some wireless headsets we've tested. On the upside, the version that comes with an in-line microphone should be compatible with your console controller or PC.
- Decent sound quality.
- Good design.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- The no in-line remote variant is a bit limited.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 29, 2023: Added a comparison to the Razer Moray in the Comfortbox.
- Updated Nov 19, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Mar 02, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
Overall, the KZ AS10 are decent wired in-ear headphones that are very similar to the KZ ZS-10. They look great due to their transparent design, and they're more comfortable than typical in-ears thanks to their angled earbuds. They also come with a braided, detachable, and replaceable cable that makes them more durable, but no extra cable comes in the box. The AS10 have decent audio reproduction that's very similar to the ZS10. Their passive noise isolation is great, and their leakage performance is excellent, making them quite versatile for different types of usage. The model variant we reviewed did not have an in-line remote and mic, but another variant does. They look more high-end than their actual price range.
See our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds, the best wired headphones, and the best cheap earbuds.
The KZ AS-10 and the KZ ZS-10 are very similar headphones. The ZS-10's sound is more accurate, while the AS-10 has more bass and a bit more punch to it. Design-wise, they are nearly identical. Both have bulky angled earbuds; the only difference being the AS-10 are a bit thinner, maybe making them a bit more suitable for everyone and more comfortable for smaller ears. The AS-10 also have better passive noise isolation.
The 1More Triple Driver headphones are slightly better than the KZ AS10. The 1More have more accurate audio reproduction and also have an in-line remote with volume control. The mic version of the KZ doesn’t even have this feature. On the other hand, the KZ look better and have more durable build quality, especially with the braided and replaceable cable. The KZ look and feel more premium than the 1More.
The KZ AS10 are better-sounding headphones than the Shure SE215. They also look better and have a better build quality, thanks to the braided and replaceable cable. You can also find a variant of the KZ in an in-line remote and mic, which the Shure lacks. However, the Shure are more comfortable and offer slightly better noise isolation. The better sound quality and cheaper price make the KZ a better choice over the Shure.
The KZ AS10 are slightly better headphones than the similar KZ ZSN. Their sound profile is more accurate, especially in the treble range. The AS10 have a different fit that isolate more ambient noise and will be a better option for commuting. Their fit also creates a more air-tight seal, which means they’ll leak less and will be better suited to listen to music at the office without disturbing colleagues. On the other hand, the ZSN have a more high-end look thanks to the metal-finish backplate on the earbuds, but that’s about it.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
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