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Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X Review

Gorgeous sound and a comfortable feel with an affordable price tag
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Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X Review
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Price:  $22 List
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Manufacturer:   Linsoul
By Graham Faulknor, Genevave Bradshaw, and Clark Tate  ⋅  Sep 28, 2024
69
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#11 of 25
  • Sound Quality - 40% 7.3
  • User Experience - 20% 4.0
  • Noise Cancellation - 15% 5.3
  • Battery life - 15% 10.0
  • Call Quality - 10% 9.0

Our Verdict

The Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X is among the best of the top-ranked earbuds we've tested. If you don't mind wires, these offer impressive sound quality at a great value. They layer sound with clear separations between crisp vocals and nuanced instrumentals, creating intricate soundscapes. They are clear across all frequencies but excel in the mid-ranges, which suits textured pop music like “Parking Lot” by Allie Paige and “Intern” by Angel Olsen. While they can get loud, they lack warmth in the lowest sub-bass frequencies, and treble notes may distort slightly at the highest volumes. However, most users won't need to push them that far. These earbuds are easy to dislodge, so they're not ideal for active use. They work well for phone calls, though. They don't require a battery and block external noise well despite lacking active noise cancellation. While not perfect, these earbuds offer excellent sound at a very affordable price.
REASONS TO BUY
Excellent sound quality
Comfortable on-ear design
Powerful volume
Clean bass
REASONS TO AVOID
Less secure
Wires can get in the way
Lack heavy bass

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Wired Earbud
Best Buy Award
Best Budget Wireless Earbuds
 Best Buy Award
Best Wireless Earbuds on a Tight Budget
Price $22 List
$23.99 at Amazon
$18.00 List
$17.97 at Amazon
$150 List
$98.35 at Amazon
$19.00 List
$19.00 at Amazon
$50 List
$24.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line Trades wireless ease for great sound, comfort, and a pleasantly low priceForgoing flash for a great fit and impressive sound at a great price, these wired earbuds are hard to argue withThese buds offer an impressive soundstage and sturdy construction — if they fitThese have an ancient earbud design with a new connectorIf you don't need noise cancelation or top-notch audio, these are a good deal
Rating Categories Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X UliX Rider - 3.5mm Jaybird Vista 2 Apple EarPods - USB-C Amazon Echo Buds
Sound Quality (40%)
7.3
8.1
7.8
6.3
5.0
User Experience (20%)
4.0
5.6
6.4
3.2
6.2
Noise Cancellation (15%)
5.3
2.5
3.6
2.3
2.3
Battery life (15%)
10.0
10.0
6.0
10.0
5.7
Call Quality (10%)
9.0
8.8
7.6
8.4
6.7
Specs Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X UliX Rider - 3.5mm Jaybird Vista 2 Apple EarPods - USB-C Amazon Echo Buds
Active Noise Cancelling No No Yes No No
Earbud Location Tracking No No Yes No Yes
Measured Battery Life N/A N/A 6.3 hr N/A 5.9 hr
Waterproofing N/A N/A IP68 IP54 IPX2
Measured Weight 1.06 oz 0.62 oz 0.24 oz 0.42 oz 0.18 oz
Quick Charging N/A N/A 5 mins = 1 hr N/A 15 mins = 2 hrs
Charges Per Case N/A N/A 2 N/A 3
Wired Charging Port 3.5mm jack 3.5mm jack USB-C USB-C USB-C
Wireless Charging Option No No Yes No No
Claimed Battery Life N/A N/A 8 hrs N/A 5 hrs
Charging Carrying Case N/A N/A Yes N/A Yes
Transparency Mode No No Yes No No
Multipoint No No No No No
In-ear Detection No No Yes No Yes
Multiple Ear Tips Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

The KZ ZSN Pro X are audio champions for the masses, offering well-balanced, high-quality sound at a fraction of the cost of other earbuds on the market. The trade-off is their dangly, tangly wires. If you can manage them, you'll have an excellent set of earbuds to help you rock out at will. They're available with or without a mic, and we tested the mic'd version, which means you can buy these buds for an even lower price.

Performance Comparison


The Linsoul impressed in our tests with admirable sound quality and powerful volume.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Sound Quality


To evaluate each pair of earbuds, we wear them in a variety of situations while listening to our wide-ranging GearLab test mix, covering genres from country to EDM, hip hop, and pop. These earbuds sound great across the board. The sound mix is balanced, never sounding overly sculpted. While they lack force in the low, sub-bass frequencies, their clarity and precision compensate for the loss in most genres.


High-frequency treble notes are clear, full, and smooth at lower volumes but can lack detail and precision. At higher volumes, they may sound tinny or echoey, as heard in “Without a Doubt” by The Roots. In “100% Dundee” by The Roots, the treble frequencies sound a bit distorted at times.

linsoul kz zsn pro x - while these earbuds are marketed as studio monitors, we find they're...
While these earbuds are marketed as studio monitors, we find they're an inexpensive and excellent-sounding entertainment option.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

The middle frequencies are well-defined and powerful. Though they don't sparkle, they're clear and sound well-formed, which is great for pop songs. For example, “Parking Lot” by Allie Paige features textures from looping background vocals, gentle guitar, mellow percussion, and piano accents, all complementing each other without compromising the distinct timbre of each instrument. The electric organ in “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae sounds fabulous. It's forward and present in the mix, with warm and well-developed vocals. We boosted the score for this frequency range because it was a joy to listen to.

linsoul kz zsn pro x - wireless earbuds have to figure out how to transfer high quality...
Wireless earbuds have to figure out how to transfer high quality files across an air gap. It's easier for earbuds with wires to maintain a great sound.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

The bass is clear, fresh, and clean in most mixes and never sounds muddled. It's less powerful at the lower end of the range, below 70 Herz, in the sub-bass frequencies that are felt more than heard. It sounds stronger and more defined as it rises. A good example is “Rocky” by Still Woozy, where the athletic, bouncing bass line is distinctive and has a clean, forward sound without dominating the track, so these may not be the best choice for those seeking a warm, heavy bass.

Expert Panel Sound Quality Ratings
ProductBassMid-RangeTreble
Best8.79.08.7
Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X7.37.86.5
Average6.66.96.5
Worst2.03.53.0

These earbuds also get loud, offering some of the most powerful gains in the test while maintaining their audio integrity at every volume with no discernable distortion. Although quality seems to suffer at the highest levels, they're too loud for us to handle at those levels anyway.

The Linsoul's had some of the best immersive soundstage in our test suite.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Soundstage


The soundstage that a set of earbuds creates refers to where the music seems to originate in space. The compact, in-ear nature of earbuds often limits their ability to recreate a live-like music experience, where the sound comes from various instruments spread across a stage in front of you. Tech advancements have made them better than ever though, taking the music out of your head and making it seem like it's coming from the world around you.

Soundstage Ratings
ProductSoundstage Rating
Best10.0
Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X9.0
Average7.2
Worst4.0

The KZ ZSN Pro X creates an impressively expansive soundstage, one of the best in the test evoking space, depth, and a sense of atmosphere.

Our panel of experts agrees these earbuds invite you to the party. They create a layered, nuanced sound profile that offers a sense of atmosphere. They excel at showcasing complex, eclectic, and atmospheric songs like “1st Time” by Bakar, “Intern” by Angel Olsen, “What They Do” by the Roots, “A Small Flame / Bitter”, and “Either Side” by LOONY.


The chart above shows the relative intensity or loudness of each frequency for the KZ ZSN Pro X compared to our idealized GearLab House Curve. You'll notice the bass starts higher, with a more drastic curvature throughout this range. This could be the “felt” versus “heard” distinction we had when listening to low-end bass segments that didn't match our curve, and as a result, they miss the warmth that comes with a well-sculpted base.

At the other end of the spectrum, the treble dips and rises match our concerns about the detail and precision of instruments and higher pitch vocals coming through. That being said, this frequency response curve did show signs of great correlation that was reflected in our pleasant listening experience overall.

linsoul kz zsn pro x - darwin's our ultimate objective tester, charting each earbud's...
Darwin's our ultimate objective tester, charting each earbud's frequency response curve.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

User Experience


The Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X earbuds aren't as comfortable as we'd like. We had over a dozen testers try them to gauge their fit for various ear shapes and sizes. They feature shiny, metallic wires and a glossy, translucent coating, and while they're comfortable enough for an hour or more, their large size can be cumbersome. They also lack stability, and there's no option to adjust the different frequency bands to your preferences.


Comfort


These earbuds come with four silicone ear tip sizes, and it's beneficial to take the time to find the best fit for your ears. Once the right size is selected, the fit is quite comfortable. They are lightweight and easy to wear, sitting on the ear instead of in the ear canal itself, reducing ear fatigue and allowing for longer wear. We never felt pressure points, even after wearing these earbuds for hours at a time.

linsoul kz zsn pro x - these earbuds feel fine, but they're too easy to dislodge.
These earbuds feel fine, but they're too easy to dislodge.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Stability


The Linsoul earbuds are less stable than we'd prefer. The wires do little to secure them, and we frequently dislodged them during everyday activities like washing dishes or sitting at our desks. When exercising, even reduced impact circuits of lunges or crunches, we found it far too easy to end up without an earbud by the end. Linsoul doesn't provide information about how well these earbuds handle splashes of water or sweat. It's probably best to avoid finding out.

Customization


These wired earbuds do not require an app for operation and offer minimal adjustments. Unlike many wireless earbuds, you aren't able to adjust or equalize the bass, mid, and treble frequencies. They also lack a location feature to help find misplaced earbuds. These earbuds are compatible with both Apple and Android devices, so you have your freedom there, but we are disappointed with the versatility overall.

linsoul kz zsn pro x - you'll need an adapter to use these earbuds with your phone. luckily...
You'll need an adapter to use these earbuds with your phone. Luckily it comes in the box.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Noise Cancellation


These earbuds don't actively cancel noise, but they do physically block some of it from entering your ears. This is known as passive isolation, and the KZ ZSN Pro X earbuds do a surprisingly good job, given that they rest over your ear rather than acting as an earplug.


As shown below, passive isolation is better at blocking high frequencies, while active noise cancellation (ANC) excels at tracking and canceling low-frequency sounds. Unlike many earbuds without ANC, the Linsoul buds effectively quiet both, improving our listening experience.


We had SoundCheck quantify how much sound they actually block. The results are impressive, quieting bass notes by 5 to 15 decibels and higher frequency sounds by 20 to almost 40 decibels. Few earbuds can match this result, which you can hear for yourself in the video below.

While these earbuds don't actively cancel noise, simply placing them in your ears quiets distractions.
Credit: GearLab Staff

Battery Life


The best thing about wired earbuds is that you never have to deal with charging them. They also tend to be less expensive than their wire-free counterparts. Since you don't need to worry about battery life, you also never have to make concessions to save power. You can blast these headphones as loud as you please with power impunity (though your ears are unlikely to thank you).


When compared to wireless options that need regular charges, it's easy to see why they earn top scores in this category. The price of this battery freedom comes in the form of restrictive wires, which can easily snag on hair or clothing to pull the buds right out of your ears, interrupting your listening experience.

We tested the version of the KZ ZSN Pro X that includes a microphone for phone calls. It does an outstanding job of isolating your voice from background noise.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Call Quality


The KZ ZSN Pro X earbuds are available with and without a microphone for phone calls, recording, voice commands, and other communications. We tested the version with a microphone by recording male and female voices, and then having the Bruel and Kjaer 5128-B play these recordings through the microphone placed in its mouth while wearing the Linsoul buds. We assessed the recordings for clarity in three scenarios — a quiet room, with office noise, and with the clamoring sounds of a subway.


Our stress test really set these earbuds apart. The Subway recording is so loud and chaotic that few earbuds can transmit a clear voice. The KZ ZSN Pro X excel here where most fail. They subdue background noise and allow us to hear the recorded voices very clearly amidst the chaos of the screeching train cars and announcements.

The Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X buds excel in the public transit call quality test, particularly impressing us by picking out callers' voices on a Subway platform. (Don't forget to unmute).
Credit: Natalie Kafader

They also work similarly well for office noise. The background hum is audible but doesn't distract from the conversation.

The Linsoul KZ's aced the office phone call test, nearly eliminating distractions.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

In a quiet room, both male and female voices were clear and easy to hear through the earbuds' microphone.

These earbuds transmit male and female voices beautifully on a phonecall in a serene room.

Should You Buy the Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X?


These earbuds are so reasonably priced that they're worth a try if you don't mind dealing with wires. They are marketed as a studio monitor, helping singers and musicians hear themselves without affecting the recording or live performance. If you're in the market for those, these will do an excellent job, with their good noise isolation dampening background noise. They're also lovely to listen to and make some of the clearest phone calls in the test. These earbuds do fall out so easily though, so we don't recommend them for active use.

linsoul kz zsn pro x - the linsoul's are great for making phone calls.
The Linsoul's are great for making phone calls.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

What Other Earbuds Should You Consider?


If you are in the market for studio monitors, we recommend the more expensive Sennheiser IE 100 Pro earbuds over the Linsoul option. While the Sennheisers don't sound quite as good and lack a microphone, they are much more secure in your ear. The UliX Rider earbuds are another excellent option for casual wear, with a better sound profile than both the Sennheiser and Linsoul options, and they are easier to use. They do very little to block background noise though. If you decide you don't want to deal with the wires, consider the Jaybird Vista 2, which offer great value for the price.

linsoul kz zsn pro x - we hope our extensive testing process helps you understand the ins...
We hope our extensive testing process helps you understand the ins and outs of these earbuds.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Graham Faulknor, Genevave Bradshaw, and Clark Tate