Our Verdict
Decent for neutral listening. They have a deep, powerful, and consistent bass on top of a good mid range. Unfortunately, their treble is a bit uneven and the mid-range is a bit recessed, pushing the vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix. Overall, these headphones will be better suited for bass-heavy genres. However, the in-ear fit might not be ideal for long listening sessions.
- Durable design.
- Decent audio reproduction.
- The variant without an in-line remote is a bit limited.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- Uneven treble performance.
Mediocre for commuting. They don’t isolate lower-end noises like the deep rumble of a plane or bus engine. On the upside, you don’t have to manage battery life, but you might feel their wire is in your way sometimes. They are easy to carry around and will offer no delay if you watch video content during your commute.
- Durable design.
- Decent audio reproduction.
- The variant without an in-line remote is a bit limited.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- Uneven treble performance.
Decent for sports. These earbuds are very portable and won’t make you sweat more if you use them for sports. Their ear-hook design is very stable and will be adequate for sports, but this also means they won’t offer the freedom of a wireless design. You might find their cable gets in your way while exercising.
- Durable design.
- Decent audio reproduction.
- The variant without an in-line remote is a bit limited.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- Uneven treble performance.
Okay for the office. The in-ear fit might not be the best to wear for hours during a work day, but on the upside, they do a good job at blocking work environment noises. They also don’t leak much so you can listen at high volumes without disturbing your colleagues. You can also use them the whole day as you don’t need to monitor battery life.
- Durable design.
- Decent audio reproduction.
- The variant without an in-line remote is a bit limited.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- Uneven treble performance.
Poor for gaming. The model we tested doesn’t have a microphone, although there is a variant with one. Their sound is slightly boomy and their fit won’t be great for long gaming sessions. On the upside, their wired connection means you won’t have any latency issues.
- Durable design.
- Decent audio reproduction.
- The variant without an in-line remote is a bit limited.
- Slightly bulky earbuds.
- Uneven treble performance.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 15, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Mar 24, 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.
Check Price
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The KZ ZST Hybrid are passable in-ears that set themselves apart by the value they offer. They are very affordable but feel slightly cheaper than the other headphones in the KZ lineup we’ve tested so far. Some may feel like they are overly sharp and don’t passively isolate noise as well as other KZ headphones. See our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds, the best wired headphones, the best cheap earbuds, and the best earbuds under $50.
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 are better headphones than the KZ ZST. Their earbud casings feel better made and sturdier than the ZST’s. Also, their sound profile follows our target curve better and will sound noticeably better in the treble range. Overall, both headphones still have very similar sound quality. On the other hand, the ZST are more affordable and could offer a better overall value for most people.
The KZ AS10 will be a better option than the KZ ZST. Their overall build feels slightly better made than the ZST and their sound is more accurate for critical listening. Also, their fit is better at isolating noise, so they’ll also be more versatile if you want to use them for commuting. On the other hand, the KZ ZST are noticeably more affordable and offer great value.
The KZ ZST are better headphones than the Apple EarPods. The KZ sound is better, and they also feel noticeably sturdier. However, some will prefer the one-size-fits-all design of the Apple, which seem to be more comfortable than the in-ear fit of the KZ. Also, the Apple have an open design, so they don't block noise well and won't be a good option for commuting. On the upside, they have an in-line remote and microphone, which the KZ model we’ve tested is lacking, though there is a variant that has them.
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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