KZ Krila - The Kilobuck Killa? 

Yes, its kinda crazy for the price. KZ isn't typically focused on lean clarity as much as a like-able tuning for their customers but they are moving in the right direction.

Yes, I don't just look at the money, but historically, sub $100usd 1+1 sets are not good. KZ muddled the messaging on this one with the $1000 killer posts, but they should have focused on what it brought to this price point.

Almost HALF that price here in Philippines. ☝️☝️

Historically they haven't discussed their R&D efforts but this year, you can see how they have re-worked their designs between 3D printing and Zobel that they spent quite a bit of R&D getting that in place. Some new driver development too and Joyodio brand. I think marketing actually lagged this year up until Krila.

@@PaulWasabii I didn’t realize, glad to hear that. I enjoy your videos, keep up the great work!

Did they offer you that 1000usd promo extra ?

​@@MrJabinhocomeon dude don't jump on the drama

@@fuad000100 For some reviewers they did offer that 1000usd bonus.

I get it and thought about it. The issue is it sounds like a BA colored hybrid with over boosted air. I don't even know what else is similar because most budget BAs don't extend like that and certainly not boosted. Akros just published his review and said it sounds like a BA and not quite enough bass. Check it out, he is probably clearer on what it sounds like.

Yeah its real hard to figure out how it can be improved. Can they push it back, filter, Zobel the level, etc. I think they have some options to work with on a future set.

Generally I am ok on fit with KZ until they use the really small nozzle. But yes, they hit the treble extension but needed to push the bass up slightly from D-Fi to compensate. Or turn the BA down a hair. Sometimes they get caught up in showing off their drivers and they forget about balance.

@@PaulWasabii that’s the thing, they like to experiment but hardly stick to anything to really improve on it after a couple of iterations. Lately I’m into EST drivers and really like the ZES which is a marked improvement over ZEX but there’s still lots of room for improvement and clearly many manufactures add multiple drivers to complement EST for a good reason. But KZ stopped right there with just one DD.

This is similar, just tried to be more technical and it is. A bit of a trade off as dfi will sound more natural and Krila is a bit less natural but more details and separation which makes it a nice companion to dfi.

@@PaulWasabii thanks !

My choice is EA500 but still a 1DD. Krila is actually the right direction for you, maybe not the right set. I'd step away from the 1DD and think about planar like S12 Pro until the all the hybrids that are about to be released are released. I think you are covered in the sub $100 range.

Yes, that is what KZ has been trying to avoid. Use Zobel to achieve levels more than physical dampers. But yes, anything you put on the nozzle will drop the pinna area, hear more bass, but still some upper treble which may not drop at all. Might end up with a great, easier to listen to, extended set. I'd start light, Y2/Y3. Each of those is going to drop 1-2db, sounds small but makes a big difference.

You seem to be sort of a contrarian but as a hybrid, KZ has done better. There was something new in Krila but I don't think it panned out. I'd guess they used the same idea later.

Thanks. KZ has been inching towards telling their own story but not quite there. They have a unique perspective but also have no interest in burning bridges with their manufacturing partners so they have been walking a tight line without crossing over into calling out specifics.

yeah going back to the older hybrids, prior to timbre tweaking configurations. ZAX too

This is the gist of what I said about Krila, natural sounding hybrids are hard and expensive. I like Orchestra Lite and Yume 2, but neither are Olina replacements, just well done hybrids. I think the closest on paper might be Aful Performer 5 which I haven't heard. Getting a loaner P8 later though. Olina SE and Simgot EA500 will take you past most hybrids in that range. S12 Pro will get you there also, but it might require some EQ to dial it in closer to Olina. Olina/Oxygen is still pretty much the best driver/tuning pair out there around that price point. Very hard to be that 1DD. EA500 can be modded and is another outstanding set but to get better, you are looking more money in a tribrid, EJ07M, Penon 10th, Variations, etc. Lots of hybrid coming soon so I might change my mind, but I stick with Olina SE/EA500 and a planar.

@@PaulWasabii I see. Thanks for your reply, Paul. Really appreciate it, and about what you said about the Olina, it is spot on what I feel about it. It is the best iem and most expensive set I have so far in my collection. After playing around with the popular mods like shortbus and Tanya filter mod, as well as Z300 filter mod (put the filter over the stock filter) that makes it become more bassier without sacrifice too much detail, is truly a versatile set & now has place in my heart. Thanks again for your reply.😊

Yeah I have Kailua and it is a fun bassy set, at first glance, more like Kai, QKZ x HBB, or even Khan. Perhaps better extension than all those but I didn't look closely. If you go back and read or listen to what he said about Khan and that configuration, it didn't quite hit his mid-bass preference on his library. I think this one is closer to balanced sub and mid bass for his library.

Krila is closer to that description but it also has a BA so not as natural sounding as T2. You might get more details out of Krila but the timbre might bother you. Might not.

Yes, you mostly need a standalone amp. If you hear vocals above your head with other sets on the DS1, Krila will be there too. On a dongle, it wasn't quite there. I use a KAEI Tap 2 with other DACs. I like the Topping low impedance dac/amps as that might be the one difference with the FOSI, that is probably not low impedance. I think Fosi did well and Topping released the DX1.

I wasn't a big ZVX fan and I am of the group that would say the better in that series was D-Fi but both are still 1DD. If you want better technicalities, that is Krila. Also I am not a fan of too much treble for imaging, tuning, accuracy so I would love a Krila with lower upper treble and a hair more midbass which would give more accurate imaging. Maybe its just me, but too much high frequency messes with the imaging.

@@PaulWasabii Thanks for your sharing and it's spot on. Just curious how you would compare them with the older generation zs10 pro or pro x. Is it solely the difference of Harman / V-shape? I suppose the zs10 pro x has better technicalities and detailness.

In theory, KZ set out to make a better Zero and Cadenza, more so Cadenza. What is really missing on those sets is more bass on Zero and more technical performance on Cadenza. Krila hits those marks but it sounds more like a BA than a 1DD. So there is a tradeoff that some people will notice as a negative and others won't notice at all, just improved technical performance over Cadenza.

To be honest, I wasn't a fan of the staging on EW200 and would easily pick Krila. As I said, it scales out with better sources but I think other people had better experiences with EW200. Could just be me and my ears.

Simgot EW200 is a great general set. Krila is more for people who like a lot of high end treble. It is more of a specialist in that respect.

@@PaulWasabii I like something that's balanced My music choices are with more trebles so I think Krilla would be better.

At $20, worth a shot but yeah, its going to lose that transparency that KZ has been trying to achieve with less dampening. Or wait for the next one, KZ is super fast on development. Maybe a 2mm filter right over the BA and leaving the rest open might do it to.

try using eartips with longer stem or put some o rings on it.

Yes, almost always bet on newer drivers. Second, there are a ton of bad $100ish sets that most people would prefer D-fi. But D-fi competes well into those $60 sets simply because the tuning is very similar and switches for bass levels.

So did the ES4… and going back to those older sets lately I realize I don’t like them. Wondering if the Krilla is finally an improvement on that driver setup.

@@JosephFlemming yeah those older ones were the most "energetic" ones, pretty harsh high shelf.

No, I tried that. Either the vent is not a vent or KZ is doing something else. You can put a light damper on the nozzle though.

Also if you look into the designs provided by KZ, they do put a BA into the nozzle in ZST X

Yeah, the pre-timbre tweaking sets had them in nozzle occasionally. The signature is "modern" KZ meaning closer to Harman and the switches will drop you into a very slight boost. Drivers have been re-worked a few times since ZST X which was a banging set. DQS was actually closer to ZSTX.

I tried it within 15 minutes of unboxing it. KZ did something different but there is a vent. Even if t worked, the vent usually hits pretty far into sub bass on previous KZs, this needs a hair more mid. I think the proper idea is a very light damper or half damper on the nozzle which will drop the pinna area and should bring a bit more bass forward. KZ is really into no or less dampers lately but it takes you right to the edge of bright.

Eh, I will still take switched AS24 as that is unique but a slightly different sound signature, not far though. Chunky shell too. That one is really for all BA fans, this is more for DD fans who wanted a more technical set. It is the right idea, instead of continuing to release small improvements to 1DD, add a BA but they need to bring the two together in a closer pairing.

@@PaulWasabii they're improving by the day. Truth be told I'm still finding it really hard to rely on kz, they've messed me up big time. I will have to wait until I feel they're there like 50-75%, thanks for the insight.

Asking others who don't experience that problem won't be much help. I don't experience it on Krila but I tend to not notice it. I'd start with finding eartips that help with pressure for your ears. Again, asking other people won't make much sense as your ears are not their ears.

Worse

@@PaulWasabii Thank you for your answer! Could you point out which models of headphones you think are the best? I am most interested in headphones with the flattest possible characteristics and strong mids, not a V-sound. Maybye there is some better brands of chinese earbuds?

With their new setup, I think that is possible. Will they do that? Probably not unless they deem it a good idea. They are stubborn and if a company like CVJ/TRN does it, they tend to resist doing something similar.

Not really..the BA on Krila colors the sound in a way that is not like D-Fi. CCA Duo is almost there but 2DDs instead of 1DD 1BA

No, just provides enough bass to sound better. Switches primarily affect bass and nothing else

@@PaulWasabii thanks

I am not sure I need to see hearing tests, look at their stage descriptions. Pretty decent indicator of iem treble extension and reviewer treble range.

@@PaulWasabii it wasnt aimed at you perse. Just making an observation. I can hear up to 18k for example "both ears" my girlfriend does 18-22k.. I know for sure i have unbalanced hearing as i done a hearing test before requiered for armed forces. anyway. Sometimes i read what the reviewer says about the treble part... then i find out the speaker is way too bright for me to the point i crunch my teeth lol. I dont know where to pinpoint this.. I have read young and old persons on the subject. Tho, it most common on older people to like bright sets.. Like me for example i cant stand crinacles target its to blend too crisp/flat. Oratory1990 its my go to target. So its hard for me to take his perspective on mind. Everything i have thrown specially the 400se works magic with that target. Btw, this set i find no need for eq. I have all others eq they sound better "to me" This one i havent find the right target yet not even oratory1990 goes with it lol. Its the only set that i have that i kind like it without eq weird ass s*** man lol Own few like the ZS10 Pro my first IEM & also own the Pro X, T2 "OG", PR2 V1, EW200 " this is my fav of the bunch" the EA500 found them too bright... Then got the krila. Btw, i got rid of the sundaras when i heard the 400se "oratory1990 EQ" like it was a no brainer after that...

Something like that. Might be your cheapest hybrid that sounds like a hybrid.

Depends on your tolerance for that BA. It does what it is supposed to do, a cleaner, sharper playback but not as natural. Some people have more of a tolerance than others and as I said, I am a fan of hearing both drivers, it is unique at $20usd. So many bad attempts at it. Hard to declare it the best as some people will immediately not like it and others will say it plays back at a much higher price point.

@@PaulWasabii i will wish to hear your opinion just let me know i do respect ♥️

Pretty far apart in energy. HBB sets are more relaxed, long session sets. Krila is more intense

Yeah, that one, but they switched in ZAS when they went to timbre tweaking. CA10 something had it too. Not too often recently. There are expensive sets that do it, but takes more development to pull it off without slapping you with BA timbre.