Home  |  High-End Audio Reviews  Audiophile Shows  Partner Mags  Hi-Fi / Music News

High-End High-Performance Audiophile Review Magazine & Hi-Fi Audio Equipment Reviews
Audiophile Equipment Review Magazine High-End Audio

  High-Performance Audio Reviews
  Music News, Show Reports, And More!

  29 Years Of Service To Music Lovers

 

December 2020
Enjoy the Music.com Review Magazine

Great Audiophile Holiday Gift 2020 By Enjoy the Music.com

Great Audiophile Gift Ideas For The 2020 Holiday Season
Enjoy the Music.com celebrates our 15th annual gift ideas to give your audiophile!

 

Beteran KZ-ATE In Ear Monitors (IEMs)

 

Beteran KZ-ATE In Ear Monitors (IEMs)

 

  Back by popular demand is something we've recommended before. The KZ-ATE are the best inexpensive in-ear monitor (IEM) I've ever heard, at a ridiculously low price my review of these inexpensive IEMs is here). There has been some headphone "experts" that have written that spending a little bit more will reward the listener with better sound. I'm either not hearing what they hear, or perhaps their source isn't as good as mine. As audiophiles we're very aware of the adage "garbage in, garbage out", and so it goes without saying (even though I'm saying it) that the better your mobile device, the better the IEMs will sound.

It is sure strange that I'm using two mobile devices that cost a minimum of 40 times the price of these IEMs, the FiiO X5 Mk III, and the even better sounding Questyle QP1(r). But even when I have these headphones connected to my iPhone they sound better than even the $200 Shure SE315 that I have. Yes, the Shure's treble is more extended, and the midrange more transparent, but they have no bass, but not much more of an extended treble, and not more of a transparent midrange to justify their price versus the KZ-ATEs. Because of The KZ-ATE's bass the tradeoff is worth it. Plus, the KZ-ATE is much more comfortable and stays in my ear canal, and so if one is going to forgo custom molded earphones, those last two qualities are very important. I buy the KZ-ATE a few pairs at a time because I always seem to be misplacing them. And one pair failed after a few months. At a price of around $12.50 multiple KZ-ATEs are an affordable purchase.

 

Beteran KZ-ATE In Ear Monitors (IEMs)

 

During the 2016 awards I said, "Not only incredible because I wasn't expecting them to sound nearly this good, but incredible because they sounded good enough use on a daily basis". One shouldn't expect them to sound as good as upper-high-end models such as those from manufacturers like Noble, Shure, Westone, Etymotic, etc. because they don't sound as good. But that's not the point. The point is that one shouldn't expect sound this good from a IEM that cost less than $20. Yet the Beteran KZ-ATE delivers.

 

Beteran KZ-ATE In Ear Monitors (IEMs)

 

When I wrote the review, they cost about $15 on Amazon.com, but currently they cost around $13.50(!). "An incredible bargain" doesn't come close to what one will discover when they try these monitors on for size. Buy them by the dozen and use them as stocking stuffers, or keep a bunch wrapped in your top desk drawer to hand out to co-workers as the season approaches."

Recommended by Enjoy the Music.com's Editor Tom Lyle.

 

 

 

BTW: If $14 seems too cheap, there's another great 'n cheap set called  The Absolute IEM that is an upgrade in our humble opinion for a mere $36.99 available on Amazon. Try 'em both and you still spent only $50.

 

 

 

---> Back to Great Audiophile Gift 2020 main page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     
 

Quick Links


Premium Audio Review Magazine
High-End Audiophile Equipment Reviews

 

Equipment Review Archives
Turntables, Cartridges, Etc
Digital Source
Do It Yourself (DIY)
Preamplifiers
Amplifiers
Cables, Wires, Etc
Loudspeakers/ Monitors
Headphones, IEMs, Tweaks, Etc
Superior Audio Gear Reviews

 

 


Show Reports
Capital Audiofest 2024
Toronto Audiofest 2024
UK Audio Show 2024
Pacific Audio Fest 2024
HIGH END Munich 2024
AXPONA 2024 Show Report
Montreal Audiofest 2024 Report

Southwest Audio Fest 2024
Florida Intl. Audio Expo 2024
Capital Audiofest 2023 Report
Toronto Audiofest 2023 Report
...More Show Reports

 

Videos
Our Featured Videos

 


Industry & Music News

High-Performance Audio & Music News

 

Partner Print Magazines
audioXpress
Australian Hi-Fi Magazine
hi-fi+ Magazine
Sound Practices
VALVE Magazine

 

For The Press & Industry
About Us
Press Releases
Official Site Graphics

 

 

 

   

 

Home  |  High-End Audio Reviews  |  Audiophile Show Reports  Hi-Fi / Music News  About Us  |  Contact Us

 

 

All contents copyright©  1995 - 2024  Enjoy the Music.com®
May not be copied or reproduced without permission.  All rights reserved.