Our Verdict
Passable for neutral listening. The KZ ZSN have a deep, powerful, and consistent bass, and a well-balanced mid-range, but their treble performance is very uneven, lacking detail and overly sharp on some S and T sounds. Also, their bass is slightly boomy and muddy while their mid-range is a bit recessed and will, therefore, sound slightly hollow on vocals and lead instruments. Overall, these headphones will be better suited for bass-heavy genres.
- Durable design.
- Decent for sports.
- The no in-line remote variant is a bit limited.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- Uneven treble performance.
Mediocre for commuting. They don’t block out low-end noises like the engine rumble of buses and planes very well. They won’t be the best to use in public transit if you want to isolate against ambient noise. However, you’ll never run out of battery since they are passive wired headphones. Unfortunately, their fit isn’t the most comfortable and could get fatiguing after a while, which won’t be suited for long rides and flights.
- Durable design.
- Decent for sports.
- The no in-line remote variant is a bit limited.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- Uneven treble performance.
Decent for sports. These headphones are breathable, which means you won’t sweat more than usual when using them during physical activities. Also, their ear-hook design is stable, and the buds don’t move around much when you run. They are easy to carry around, but they don’t offer the freedom of wireless headphones. However, You can buy a Bluetooth adapter cable for these headphones to make them wireless.
- Durable design.
- Decent for sports.
- The no in-line remote variant is a bit limited.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- Uneven treble performance.
Mediocre for the office. Their noise isolation is not the best, but they can do a decent job at blocking out ambient chatter and A/C system noises. They are also not too leaky, which means you’ll be able to block even more ambient noise by raising your volume without disturbing people surrounding you. Since they are passive headphones, you won’t have to worry about battery life, but it also means you won’t be able to move as freely as if you had wireless headphones.
- Durable design.
- Decent for sports.
- The no in-line remote variant is a bit limited.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- Uneven treble performance.
Poor for gaming. These headphones’ cable might be too short for PCs, but should be fine if you connect it to a console controller. The wired connection also gives you minimal latency, which is great. However, our model variant doesn’t have a microphone for online games. You also can't customize them as much as gaming headsets, and the in-ear fit won't be ideal for long gaming sessions.
- Durable design.
- Decent for sports.
- The no in-line remote variant is a bit limited.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- Uneven treble performance.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 10, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Mar 27, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The KZ ZSN are okay mixed usage wired in-ears that set themselves apart by their great build quality, like the KZ ZS10 and KZ AS10. They offer good value, but some may feel like they are overly sharp and don’t passively isolate noise as well as other KZ headphones we've reviewed so far. See our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds, the best wired headphones, and the best cheap earbuds.
The KZ ZSN and KZ ZST are very similar headphones with slight differences. The ZSN feel a bit more high-end thanks to the metal-like backplate on their earbuds. Some may find them overly sharp, but both headphones have very similar sound profiles. That said, the treble of the ZSN is more uneven. Other than that, they are practically identical and your choice will rely on which headphones you think look the best.
The KZ ZS10 and the KZ ZSN are very similar headphones, but the ZS10 have a slightly better sound profile, so they're a better choice overall. They sound more balanced and more detailed than the ZSN. However, their bud design is slightly bulkier than the ZSN, so if you have very small ears and usually have trouble with in-ears, the ZSN might fit you better.
The KZ ZSN are better-mixed usage and critical listening in-ears than the Apple EarPods. The KZ are noticeably better built, including more premium materials and a nice braided, detachable cable. The KZ have poor treble, while the Apple have poor bass performance. However, most people will find the Apple slightly more comfortable due to their one-size-fits-all design and microphone, which is useful for calls.
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.
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