KZ ATE

ø8mm Dynamic Driver

$5~$10
4.0/5.0

Another of KZ's legendary classics - KZ ATE. These earphones are special both in design and sound. They offer a very balanced sound quality, and a slight darkish tonality in the vocals, yet they are one of the best vocal-oriented earphones by KZ. Their design is quite unique and professional and I had no problems with comfort.

Pros

  • Superb sound quality. Suitable for vocal-oriented music, and even sounds fun enough with electronic music.
  • The design looks very attractive and professional.
  • I find them comfortable to wear, but your mileage may vary.

Cons

  • The mids are a quite dark sounding.
  • The treble is not that detailed, a bit recessed with a harsh tonality.
  • Very boomy abd muddy bass response.
  • The build quality isn't the best I've seen among KZ products, but it might be to minimize materials' cost and weight.

Package & Accessories

Package:

Plastic

Ear Tips - Single-Flange:

S+L, black (translucent), ø4mm bores

Ear Tips - Foam:

Faux foam, black, ø3mm bores

Build & Materials

Housings:

Plastic (glossy), ø6mm nozzles (ø4mm bores), no strain reliefs

Remote:

Plastic (matte), single-button

Y-Split:

TPE, soft strain reliefs

Cable:

Silicone (grippy), 128cm, soft, straight

Plug:

TPE, 90° angled, short, soft strain relief

Comfort & Fit

Although the included "memory foam" tips are awful, I used the large silicone tips instead and got a wonderful seal. The earphones sit comfortably and don't fall out. Pretty impressive for over-the-ear earphones.

Lows / Bass

Depends on the source, but in general, the bass is very boomy and deep. Warmer than what I would like and some muddiness leaks into the mids.

Mids / Vocals

The mids and vocals are clear, very warm, full and fun. Yet, I hear some darkish tonality in the vocals when I compare them to KZ ED3 Youth Version or KZ S3.

Highs / Treble

The highs are sharp, even if slightly harsh-sounding. Unlike KZ ED9, the highs hold a darker tone, but are generally more suitable for long listening sessions.

Frequency Response

Published on 2016-02-03 22:36:11 (GMT)
AS06
ATE
BTE C56R DT5 ED2/EDR1 ED3 Youth Version ED4 ED9 ED10 ED11 ED16 EDR2 ES3 GR HDS1 HDS2 HDS3 IE80 RX S3 ZS1 ZS5 (V1) ZS6 ZS7 ZS10 ZS10 PRO ZSA ZSE ZSN ZSR ZST