KZ Xtra Review
Intro
Well hello audio world, this review and feature covers the very latest KZ Audio true wireless earphones named the KZ Xtra. The Xtra is a single DD tws iem which has an MSRP of around $110 but is in sale right now as low as $68. I find it fascinating that folks aren’t talking about KZ Audio’s true wireless sets? I’ve reviewed one other wireless set in the KZ VXS (VXS Review) and deemed that set one of the best sounding tws you can get under $100, if not more. I reviewed the AZ20 wireless adapters (AZ20 Review) as well, and the same question; why are folks not talking about KZ’s ability to craft wireless devices? Trust me, I know how most of you feel about wireless, and I get it, I too am much more interested in “wired devices”. However, I go “NO WHERE” without a true wireless in my right front pocket. I mean…No Where. I always use true wireless. Still, I’m telling you all right now, KZ does a nice job tuning their sets. They take the knowledge they’ve gathered digitally tuning using different DSP chips etc. plus their knowledge in traditional tuning methods, and the last couple of years they’ve made some fun and well done tws.
They do a nice job
I’ve reviewed a ton of KZ/CCA iems and audio devices and usually they end up impressing. However, you may feel about KZ, one thing is for sure… they always seem to produce good “price to performance” devices (in my opinion) and the proof has been in the many devices that I’ve personally reviewed and spent time with. Lately they have been on somewhat of a tear with their wired iems and I’m very curious to see how this translates to their wireless sets as well. I can tell you this, just based on the chip being used and the tech involved, the KZ Xtra is going to have no excuse if it isn’t a very well done tws iem. Below are some of the past reviews of KZ/CCA iems and audio devices.
– AS16 Pro
– VXS
– CRA+
– PR1 Hifi
– EDCX
– Linglong
– ZVX
– D-Fi
– Duo
– EDXS
– AS24
– Krila
– AZ20
– ZAT
– Rhapsody
– PR3
They compete!
I honestly don’t know why I put those links in my KZ & CCA reviews, who knows, maybe you’re curious about another set from the brand? I suppose it’s to prove the authentic feelings I have towards some of these budget audio devices from KZ. They catch a lot of flak from all over the place but yet have never stopped crafting sets that compete in their respective price points. This isn’t a commercial for KZ/CCA, but I don’t think that everyday casual listening folks should blatantly disregard KZ. That’s it. I’ve been fortunate enough to hear many of their iems and now I’m happy to check out some of their wireless gear and to be 100% honest… They’ve all been very nice against the competition. So, with that I think I’m ready to dive into this one folks. Without further ado, the KZ Xtra everyone…
Non-Affiliated Purchasing links:
Disclaimer:
I received the KZ Xtra from KZ Audio as a review sample and in exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. This set is a review sample iem. KZ has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to KZ and thanks for reading.
Xtra Pros
-Build is nice
-Ergonomic traditional iem style fit
-Great Snapdragon Sound Qualcomm chip / BT 5.4
-Working ANC/Passive/Gaming Modes
-Control everything from the buds
-Big macro dynamics
-Smooth & full sounding set
-Deep bass
-Smooth midrange
-Non-fatiguing treble out of the box
-Good stage size for a $109 tws
Xtra Cons
-Charging Case is pretty large for a pocket
-No KZ App
-Bass may be too boomy out of the box for some folks
-Maybe the treble could use a hint more brilliance
Packaging / Accessories
Unboxing
Well, not much to report here folks. The package shows up at your door in a simple square box. Nothing too special about it. Inside you’ll see the Xtra buds within the case through the clear charging case top. Also, you’ll find a short type-c charging cable as well as the eartips. That’s about it. I wouldn’t have expected anything more to be honest.
Eartips
The eartips which come included with the KZ Xtra are some slightly flimsy semi-wide bore white silicone tips (S, M, L) which I could not use. Too flimsy for me. Thankfully the charging case is situated so that you can tip change. I actually tried many tips and the only good tips that worked inside this case were wide-bore and shallow fit. Unfortunately, KZ didn’t make the inside deep enough to use longer tips or even slightly longer. At any rate, I’m happy with the shallow fit wide-bores. They fit like a charm and the sound is very immersive with them in my ears. The tips included aren’t bad, but you may be like me and need to tip-roll a bit.
Charging Case
The charging case is the exact shape and size of KZ’s last few tws sets. It’s a round hockey-Puck style case which gives plenty of room for a larger battery. In this case they fit an extra 32 hours of battery life in the case itself. To be honest, I don’t exactly enjoy the size of this case, but I make it work. Like I said, I don’t go anywhere on planet earth without a set of True Wireless inside the small watch pocket in my front right side of my jeans. The Xtra’s case doesn’t allow me to do that and instead I have to simply put it in my pocket bulging out quite a bit. Not a bad case though, and it looks cool. It’s neat to be able to actually see your earphones inside too as the case’s lid is a clear plastic. The magnets are strong enough that they grab the Xtra buds, and I never miss the charging pins. It’s a nice case. Maybe a hint large but if that’s the least of my problems, I’m doing pretty good. Plus, it does offer quite a bit of battery life so, not bad at all.
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality
Being that the KZ Xtra is in fact a true wireless earphone, they are made entirely with plastic. The main reason being the antenna cannot operate correctly and receive signals through metals. I suppose they could’ve made the Xtra out of a number of different materials, but plastic is the way to go for 99.9% of all true wireless sets across the world. However, this is not a cheaply made device. This doesn’t feel like some chinsy type of plastic that will break very easily. It’s a nice build. I mentioned earlier that the Xtra does have a more ergonomic shape which mimics the appearance of a regular and traditional in-ear monitor. Much like some of KZ’s own iems. The Xtra has a medium length nozzle at roughly 6mm wide which makes it a pretty universally good size and length for most people. The faceplate area is the touch surface and from what I can tell the touch responsiveness is very good on the Xtra. The build is good for a tws earphone but also, it isn’t exceptionally different from other tws. It’s good.
Design
Okay now, this is an area where some folks may not be as thrilled with the actual look and design as some others. I’m pretty sure that the Xtra is mostly geared at younger folks. I mean having the big “X” on the faceplate touch area with a smaller “Xtra” underneath in a futuristic and cool font is most certainly a young kid thing. I want something plain but classy, stylish and sleek. Give me something a man wants in his ears. Not that the look is bad, it’s not. It’s just not for everyone. In fact, it doesn’t even really bother me, but I wish they would have thought that in out a hint more. However, the Xtra will definitely fit in with the younger crowd. There’s a hip style to em. Really a nicely built and nicely designed set, just maybe not for everyone. Anyways, the Xtra is an all-black set of tws earphones
Internals
Internally KZ really came to play. Starting with the driver, KZ opted for a 10mm “Super Linear” dynamic driver. This “Super Linear” Driver is one that KZ has used in prior sets and is a great addition to a set of tws. Offhand I cannot remember which of KZ’s past sets (more recent) actually have the SL driver but it’s good to see here. To add to that, KZ also went with a powerhouse of a chipset, which is surprising. They decided upon the QCC3091 chipset which has always been a great chip with a powerful amp section and dac involved as well as many features. Nobody does chipset quite like Qualcomm. So, if you see a tws which sports one of the later QCC SOC chips… it’s good. But more on the chipset later. Inside the Xtra also has three large sized multilayer ceramic RF antennas which help to provide some pretty darn good ANC as well as their CVC technology for phone calls. These QCC chips basically do it all and the one that KZ chose to use is very capable.
Chipset
Like I said, KZ chose a very talented and feature packed QCC3091 SOC Chipset which gives the listener a whole host of features at their fingertips. You get ANC, pass-through, gaming mode, two gain levels, Snapdragon Sound, some amazing Signal-to-Noise ratio numbers on top of all the best codecs not named LDAC. To be exact the Xtra has SBC, AAC, Aptx, and Aptx Adaptive. By the way, I find Aptx-Adaptive to be the best audio codec out there. I truly don’t believe that LDAC is the best. Yes, it has a better bit rate, but the sound comes across a bit flatter, it has much worse range and connection stability, and for whatever reason doesn’t seem to bring out the same dynamics as Aptx or Aptx Adaptive. My opinion, but an opinion based on too many wireless devices to name. Call me crazy. Anyways, this chip is quite impressive and certainly a selling point from KZ’s perspective. In truth, most brands like this would usually go with some obscure branded chip or a non-brand chip. No joke. This is what we always see. However, KZ started playing with the big boys when they came out with the KZ AZ20 Bluetooth adapters with its QCC chipset, and the rest is history. I’m telling you, when you see a Qualcomm chip and you see a brand who understands sound as well as KZ… Just know… there’s a good chance you are going to have one nice Bluetooth device in your hands.
A nice chipset!
The QCC3091 has a laundry list of attributes which make it an impressive chipset for any wireless device. However, a couple of quick facts is that the QCC3091 actually comes equipped with a quad-core processor. That quad-core processor has an 80mhz clock speed. The DSP on tap has a clock speed of upwards of 2x240mhz, has only 4mA of actual power consumption, some of the best Latency numbers (Game Mode) that’s on the market at 55ms, a fantastic signal to Noise ratio of 120db and ANC which is rated at 55dbs. Sorry if I repeated a few of those specs. Injust wanted it all in one place. Now, most assuredly there are better chipset out there. However, those chipsets are made by the same brand and those chipsets cost quite a bit more.
Fit
The fit will be almost exactly the same as most any medium sized iem. Think of the older KZ designs with the KZ DQ6. Do you remember the shape and how well those sets fit? Well, the Xtra is basically close in shape and size to those sets. What I’m getting at is that the Xtra fits really great. For me it fits spectacularly. I couldn’t dream of a better fit to be honest with you. Now, do they fit you? This I don’t know.
Controls / Functionality
Now, the KZ Xtra lets you control every single operation or function from the buds themselves. Except… volume. Ugh. KZ? Volume is so important! Anyways, I’m over it. Seriously though, make sure to have volume controls. Moving on. Okay so every other function and feature is able to be controlled from your fingers onto the touch surface. Those commands are as follows. Play/pause and answer/hang up is tap once. Two taps on either the left or right bud will skip or go back tracks. Tap three times puts you in “high performance mode” or, “gaming mode”. Long pressing the left earbuds cycles through ANC, pass through, and standard. Lastly you can reach Siri by long pressing the left earbud for two seconds. I think that being able to control everything from the buds is a nice thing to have and KZ made up a nice layout.
Specifications
-Brand: KZ
-Product name: KZ Xtra
-SOC Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3091
-Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.4
-ANC Depth: 55db
-Bluetooth range: 15m
-Earbuds battery capacity: 48 mah
-Charging case battery capacity: 400 mah
-Earbud playing time: 8 hours
-Total Battery life: 32 hours
-SNR: 120db
-Audio Codecs: SBC, AAC, Aptx, Aptx Adaptive
-Audio Resolution: 24-bit 96khz & 24-bit 48kHz
Features
Snapdragon Sound
This is one area where you begin to see the fruit of having such a good Qualcomm Chipset. The QCC3091 chip enables the Xtra to have what is called “Snapdragon Sound“. If you don’t know what this is I will try to fill you in as best I can. Snapdragon Sound is an all-encompassing audio solution to bring lossless (bit-to-bit) sound replay as well as an entire infrastructure that allows crazy low latency for movies, videos and games as well as the most robust connection and high-speed connection too. There is a lot more involved but one of the best features is what Snapdragon Sound does for your music through Bluetooth. Truly it is a game changer once all the wrinkles are ironed out. The best part I think is the addition of Aptx-Adaptive. Now, Adaptive has been around for a few years now and I’ve used it for a while but for whatever reason when attached to Snapdragon Sound, the Aptx-Adaptive comes through very very nicely. In my opinion just as good, if not better than LDAC just because of the dynamic range this codec seems to operate with. Of course, that also may just be me dreaming it up so… Grains of salt folks.
Codec Support
Once again, I’m repeating myself but just bear with me. Like I said, the Xtra will bring to the table SBC which is the industry lowest of the low audio codecs that can provide up to a 312-bit rate and audio resolution of 16 bits / 48kHz. Next you have AAC which is what Apple uses for all of their IOS devices. Apple users you are covered and that isn’t always a guarantee, trust me in that. AAC can get you up to a 256-bit rate but don’t let that number deceive you as AAC can handle up to 24 bit / 44 kHz audio files and can get up to 48 channels compared to SBC’s 5.1 channels. Next is Aptx which is one of the best codecs, though it’s been used for quite some time. The benefit of Aptx is the much better latency over AAC, as well as a higher bit rate of 352, and it carries an audio resolution of 24 bit / 48kHz. To be honest Aptx was one of the first game changers in Bluetooth. Finally, the Xtra can also bring you Aptx-Adaptive (if your device supports it). Aptx-Adaptive can get you between a 279 to a 420-bit rate and will fluctuate depending on connection, signal and a few other parameters. It does get you better than CD quality to Hi-Res to give you an understanding of what you are getting. It also produces up to 24 bit / 96khz resolution. I suppose I didn’t have to write all of that, but I was bored so I figured we can all be bored.
Hybrid ANC
So, hybrid ANC is actually another game changer created by Qualcomm and meant to adapt to the listener. It adapts to the environment around you like noises, wind etc. as well as to the fit of the earbuds. It has what’s referred to as feed-forward and feed-back by using microphones inside of the earbuds as well as outside the buds. The outer microphones pick up outside noises like air conditioning units, wind and so on while the inner microphone captures anything that can get to the ear by analyzing the sounds then producing what’s called “inverse sound waves” to try to cancel out any noise.
Does it work?
No does it actually work? The short answer is… kind of. Folks, there is no ANC on the planet which cancels out all noises. In fact, 75% of all claimed ANC in any set is mostly a gimmick. Please believe me when I say that. Most barely cancel out anything at all. Some will cancel out higher pitch noises only and some will only cancel lower pitched droning sounds. None of them are perfect and certainly some are better than others. Now as far as the Xtra, it cancels out droning noises and sounds which aren’t abrupt. It won’t cancel out a door slamming, human voices, or a hammer knocking. It will cancel out quite well stuff like fans blowing, air conditioning units, wind from car windows etc. I actually find the ANC quite good on the Xtra. In comparison to other $100 tws with the tech. So, the noises that the Xtra does cancel out is pretty nice. Let’s put it this way, I have my fan on at this very moment in my bedroom as I write. I cannot hear that thing at all, and I have it set at 8/10. Not bad at all KZ…nice work.
Call Quality
Now as far as call quality, the Xtra is about average. Voices come across a hint tinny which is to be expected. It isn’t perfectly natural, but none are. Okay the Airpods sound really nice and some of the Soundpeats sets sound pretty great along with other brands but for the most part all calls from Bluetooth earbuds are slightly tinny. Beyond that, the Xtra also has what’s called CVC noise cancellation which is used in calls. It basically cancels out noises to make it quieter for talking on the phone. I have been in a number of meetings over TEAMS using this set and I haven’t had a complaint.
Multi-Point Connection
KZ added in multi-point connectivity which basically allows you to pair the Xtra to more than one device. This is ridiculously handy if you are used to using more than one device at a time. Frankly, you don’t know how nice it is until you use a set with it for a while and then use one that doesn’t have the feature. If I’m being honest, I haven’t tried this feature, and I only just realized it as I’m writing this, and I have a deadline so I cannot figure it out now. So, when I do play with it, I’ll edit this review.
Game Mode / Low Latency Mode or “High Performance” mode
This is a cool feature that is very useful when you need it. It is mostly beneficial for playing games on your phone or tablet as you won’t have the lip-sync issues where voices are not in line with people’s mouths or gun fire in a game isn’t lined up with when you take a shot. I find the Xtra to be quite good. All you have to do is tap the right-side earbud three times and you’ll hear that “High Performance Mode” is on. I found that heavy games like first person shooters aren’t perfectly aligned all of the time. I’d say most of the time. Not perfect, but again, there’s not really any earbuds that are perfect in this regard. When I say “most of the time” I really do mean most of the time too. The Xtra does a nice job. Great for video playback like Netflix movies or YouTube videos as well.
Battery
The spec sheet states that the Xtra can provide up to 8 hours of battery life on each earbud, per charge. I don’t care as much about the total hours claim of 32 in total, but instead the 8 hours per charge means more to me. You can get a total of roughly 8 hours give or take of playtime before needing to be charged and thrown back into the case. I never actually tested these claims, but I can tell you I listen to these for most of my day in the office and never have any issues. That’s all I care about. Don’t die on me! Also, again, KZ claims up to 32 total hours using the charging case before the charging case needs recharged. 8 hours is pretty darn good folks.
Sound Impressions
The KZ Xtra has a nicely warm and fairly rich sound which is what I would call a slight V-shaped signature to maybe a U-shaped sound out of the box. This is a full-bodied sound as well, yet also pretty versatile in that it doesn’t come across too thick or too muddy. A very nice in between if you ask me. Thick, heavy, meaty bass with good transients and good impact, a lean-lush midrange which is actually very clean, no hiss, good note weight and a treble that is sparkly enough yet non-fatiguing and will offer up some details. The timbre comes across very nice, natural, closer to organic, yet it’s colored in a couple areas. Mainly the warmth cast from the low-end which does provide a slightly more robust sound. However, you do still have some pep up top to add some snap to snares for instance or some crash to cymbals, with some subtle crispness against an otherwise smooth sound. All of these descriptions are exactly how I hear the KZ Xtra. It’s a fun sound, but also a very clean sound, it’s a musical sound as well as a wholly immersive and very engaging sound, an emotionally driven sound. It’s pretty nice for the price folks.
Getting close…
One thing that struck me about the Xtra is the dynamics which aren’t quite up to wired quality but are very close and very good for a tws at this price. This has always been the knock against tws. Of course, resolution isn’t as good as wired as well as dynamic range in some respects, depth of sound field too. There are some variables where tws simply doesn’t match. However, the Xtra brings it very close folks and I’m not just saying that. It has some very exuberant macro-dynamics, good extension both ways, good energy in all areas of the mix and also, each area of the mix is well accounted for. I hear depth of field, some 3D qualities and a very clean sound, especially in the midrange. Again, smooth, even velvet at times with the upper edges adding some crispness to more energetic and pointed notes. Not bad. Folks, the KZ Xtra is a nicely done true wireless set of earphones. Are there better? Well of course. For example, the Fiio FW5 which is about $30 to $45 more has better sound quality overall in my opinion. Of course, it also has many more drivers and is tuned with both traditional means as well as through the DSP on the chip. That comparison will be at the end of the review and it’s closer than one might think.
Volume Levels
One other area where the KZ Xtra gets it right is with the actual volume levels that I get with the Xtra. This is no small thing folks. We want HEADROOM! Give us headroom! Force me to turn it down. This goes out to every tws manufacturer on planet earth. Give us plenty of headroom for increased volume. I only say this because a huge number of brands keep the cap on volume levels very low. I usually have to disable absolute volume and that will give me a few more clicks in volume levels. However, there are many sets where you cannot change the volume on the earbuds themselves and instead have to rely on your phone or whatever you are listening through. The Xtra for example does not offer me the luxury of changing the volume on the earbuds. That said, what KZ did was give us some good volume. These things get loud folks. At least loud enough to stop before 100% volume. I love this. Thanks KZ.
Bass Region
The low end of the KZ Xtra carries some weight to it. Certainly, the low-end is pretty heavily emphasized with what seems to be equal parts sub-bass and mid-bass. Of course, I don’t know that for sure, but they are both lifted, deep, impactful and the low-end has that bulbous and wide presence that is tight in its note structure yet isn’t scared of a little atmospheric decay. Harmonics for instruments like kick drums and bass guitar have that good and fun resonance to it yet all the while never sounding sloppy. Yes, it may be a bit too much for some (Hehehhmm…. EQ), but it isn’t sloppy in the way that bulbous bass regions are usually sloppy. The bass is big but reigned in, it’s meaty but not fuzzy on the edges. It’s a nice bass and guess what, if you don’t like it… *whisper*… EQ it.
Sub-bass
The sublevels of the bass have a solid extension with a controlled reverb and good fundamental note body. Attack is pretty well chiseled rather than frumpy or plush. You don’t have that staticky and pillowy attack like so many tws which simply don’t have the perceived sound pressure to give you that guttural and deeply pitched rumble. The Xtra can give you that. Now, I say all of this, but I wouldn’t call the Xtra basshead either. Its bass is emphasized for sure, but it’s also a measured sub-bass and very well delineated from the rest of the mix. Having said that, I also should say that the sub-bass can be a bit overbearing on some tracks. The bass as a whole can sound a hair one-noted in bass heavy jams so do keep that in mind. Also, that doesn’t make it bad either. Andrew Bird‘s track “Mancey” runs pretty deep, and the resonance levels vibrate through the Xtra very nicely with a haptic style of reverb and palpable feel to the sound.
Mid-bass
The mid-bass is also enhanced quite a bit and can come across very beefy and rotund. The mid-bass has quite a bit of slam and some very good impact as well. Listening to “2040” by Lil Durk and Lil Baby, the bass drop hits with a lot of depth and is very full sounding. Perhaps a bit too much for some but great for anyone who enjoys a beefy bass slam. Be aware that we are talking about true wireless here and so you don’t get the same amount of depth to each note. That said, the mid-bass is pretty agile and doesn’t get tripped up too easily, for my taste anyways. Of course, you can always EQ and drop this region down a bit. However, the mid-bass does add some real great fullness to bass guitars as in “Groove” by Ashley Monroe. This track begins with a pretty growling style depth to the bass guitar which serves as the foundation to the track. The out of the box sound of the Xtra’s mid-bass enhances this sound with a very colored and beefy drone.
Having said all of that, I also find that KZ did a nice job of transitioning into the midrange without a whole lot of bleed. So as big as the mid-bass is, it doesn’t negatively affect the midrange other than simply adding some slight weight to notes. I’m quite positive that some folks will have issue with the more fun tuning in this region but remember, you can always EQ. The bass is pretty darn nice.
Midrange
The midrange is pretty clean folks. You’d think that the bass region would push much further into the midrange causing some veil or haze to the area, but this is not what I hear. In fact, the midrange comes across more pristine than anything. To add to that, the Xtra doesn’t have a lot of hisses which you usually get with tws. It’s a fairly clean background. The midrange isn’t the most energetic and is slightly recessed to a slight degree. Hence why in my mind I’d call the Xtra a slightly V-shaped sound signature. Having said that, it also isn’t pushed very far into the background and the midrange has pretty good presence too. It’s a nice sounding midrange and can be pushed a bit more forward with some EQ action as well. There is plenty of space between instruments and vocals with cleaner note edges throughout the midrange and the sound is even somewhat airy and open sounding. Couple that with smooth, full, semi-rich and you got a very musical tws iem.
Lower-midrange
The lower midrange is slightly plumped-up in lush note weight which is helped to a degree by the bass spill over. We have some nice and rich notes here. In the same breath the transients still come and go without sounding congested or slow in relation to my music. The lower mids help male singers to have added heft to their voices like Chris Stapleton in the track “Higher”. His voice doesn’t sound as edgy and abrasive as it does with some sets. Best thing is that he sounds authoritative in his inflections and the Xtra catches the emotion of the track very well. Altogether, males sound great. There’s still some vibrance to notes in this area as they aren’t bogged down by warmth. It’s a very nice middle ground that KZ achieved. The lower mids certainly aren’t thin and anemic sounding and actually sound smoother, and more emotional than anything else.
Upper-Midrange
Females come across much more elated and forward. They have more of a vibrant hue compared to the lower midrange. In the same breath, the upper mids also don’t lack note weight either. They actually sound very nicely weighted with a subtle richness or a moist type of note structure. I found this to be the case with most every female voice that I listened to. Is it a female vocal paradise? Well, not necessarily, but the Xtra does a very nice job of presenting females within the scope of a V-shaped sound. Certainly not “vocal-centric” but good presence, good vivaciousness, cleaner sounding and with nice transparency for a set with a fuller sound. Females like Caitlyn Smith in the track “High” have vocals which stretch from a soft whispery and more feathery lead into a more ballad style chorus. I love how the Xtra portrays this track. Right out the box. Not tinny, sibilant, not metallic sounding and not grainy. Instruments all sound relatively nice as well. The upper mids aren’t too lifted in that they cause any glare or shout either. I feel the pinna rise is in a good spot and a casual rise at that. Nothing abrupt and nothing peaky. However, I like the macro-dynamic energy on this set and the upper mids are a huge part of that. Not bad at all for a tws.
Treble Region
The treble region is slightly emphasized, nicely weighted, somewhat airy and even has decently well contoured notes for a tws. It’s hard piecing this altogether when reviewing a true wireless earphone because they can so easily be changed with EQ. I’m sitting here and speaking to you about a digitally tuned, battery powered device which can be manipulated quite a bit to sound… well…how you want it to. However, I’m also sitting here and speaking to you all soley on how the Xtra sounds out of the box, no EQ. So, with no EQ the treble is wholly inoffensive. Extension into the upper treble is good, but there are better around the price point. I don’t think KZ was going for bright, brilliant and ultra-airy with a set made for a younger demographic. Let’s just be honest. So, I will say that the treble is pretty nice and does uplift the whole of the mix pretty well. It adds a nice and uplifting feeling which does permeate through the midrange quite a bit. Enough to help create a sensation of space between instruments from the midrange on-out.
Not bad at all
One take away from about three weeks of constant listening to the KZ Xtra is that the treble fits the overall theme perfectly. The second that you make the treble the focal point of any set is the same second that you lose about 2/3rds of the Audioverse. However, the treble fits and does so with some nice bite to treble notes. I’d say just enough actually. Now this is a smoother treble and texture is somewhat limited, but it is lifted enough to illuminate some of the subtleties within my music. Details can be heard rather easily as this isn’t a sloppy treble. It isn’t full of treble tizz. By the way, treble tizz is the same thing as bass muddiness; overly colored to a fault. The Xtra isn’t that. The treble is tastefully done and brilliant enough to add some extra energy while at the same time not killing my ears in sharpness or shrillness. I kinda like it actually.
Technicalities
Soundstage
The soundstage of true wireless earphones is usually nothing to be amazed at. For whatever reason the compression to the sound seems to render my music a hair less extracted and deep, less refined and holographic. That’s just the limitations of the tech. However, the Xtra is good. It has a good and wide stage, some actual depth to the sound. It isn’t simply a wall of sound to my ears. Granted it also isn’t some grand coliseum either. I’d say about average width and height and probably above average depth. KZ did well here.
Separation / Imaging
I’ve said it a few times that the Separation within the midrange through the treble region is actually nicely done by KZ. There is air and some openness to the sound. On top of that, note definition is not some clouded and fuzzy mess. No, no, no, KZ kept this set clean folks. The midrange is not at all veiled. Add to that, the background is surprisingly silent in comparison with other brands. Next you couple in the fact that transients actually are fairly quick, tight even. All of these attributes help in some ways for the Xtra to be perceived with good separation of instruments. Now the separation isn’t next level, and also, there’s true wireless sets out there which are analytically tuned and more technically inclined. Better separated. Lypertek does very well in this area or take any Nuarl set around the $100 price point, and you’ll hear a set that is tuned for the clean technical, neutral, and transient peppy sound. That all said, the Xtra does an excellent job of being well separated but also slightly richer in note weight. It’s a solid place to be. Imaging isn’t quite as good, but average. I find a set that is a hint more expressive in the treble region usually does a hair better with imaging but, that’s not always true. Still, the Xtra is probably average, which by the way is pretty good.
Detail Retrieval
I’ve covered this a little bit in the review so far, but I feel the Xtra is about average in detail retrieval. Also, no I have zero idea how I got average or even what average is. To me it’s the the fact that there are better sets for detail retrieval out of the box. Despite that, there are also a bunch that are worse in that aspect of listening. I do feel that the Xtra does the macro-details a bit more clearly while the micro-details do get a hair lost in the musicality of the Xtra. Bass heavy tracks will not illuminate the minutiae quite as well as tracks which don’t feature blaring bass. In fact, the average song will probably surprise you (to a degree) with just how clean the Xtra can come across. Some tracks the Xtra may draw out more of the finer details than most other sets. It all really depends. Still, in the end, for lack of a better word… I’d have to simply say “average”. Not bad, not amazing, but average.
Comparisons
Note: I need to preface this comparison section with a few things’ friends. First, these comparisons are going to be ridiculously generalized. Meaning, I’m not going too far in depth with my thoughts on how each set differs. These reviews are always too long and making them longer breaking down a comparison doesn’t seem smart, or that much more helpful to you. So, keep that in mind. Next, I have given away darn near every tws I have to where I only kept my absolute favorites. I probably only have about 10 to 12 sets to choose from for use with comparisons. I chose two which I could envision someone either trying to save a buck with one set or someone wanting to splurge a bit more with the other set, but both are somewhat relevant. Maybe. Finally, these are not duels to the death. I chose these sets because they are quality and I’d think twice before picking which I like the best. Each set will give the Xtra a run for its money. That’s it…
Soundpeats Engine4 ($60)
The Soundpeats Engine4 (Engine4 Review) are one of those tws iems that truly bring it as far as sonics are concerned. In fact, the Engine4’s (E4, for review purposes) main selling point is the fact that it is tuned very well. Of course it has awesome battery life as well among other things. But basically, the E4 is a very well-tuned set and received quite a bit of accolades for that wonderful tuning. Now, the E4 is actually a dual dynamic driver earphone with one being a 10mm Titanium-plated driver which covers the bass and mids and the other being a 6mm DD covering the treble. I know there is quite a difference in price, but I only have so many sets on hand to compare anymore as I give them all away. If I keep it, it means something. The E4 is a very nice tws iem.
Differences
The price is the first difference ($60 to $100). However, at this moment you can get the Xtra for $68 so that difference is smaller for a hot minute. I actually like the E4’s case a lot more. It’s smaller, more compact which is nice. The build seems a bit more condensed and compact on the E4 with a very sturdy cylindrical design, very nice. You all know that the Xtra is more of a traditional iem style build. Both are very nice, both fit like a glove. I’d probably say the design of the E4 is more mature and classier as the Xtra is made (I think) for a younger crowd. At any rate, the E4 does have an extra driver while the Xtra is a single DD.
A few Diffierences
Both sets have a gaming mode, both have multi-point Connection. Everything else belongs to the Xtra as it comes with a good ANC, pass through mode and a much better Qualcomm chipset than the E4. A few other things to think about, the E4 can get you roughly 12 hrs. battery life compared to the Xtra’s 8 hrs. and the E4 actually carries the LDAC audio codec. So, for any codec snobs, there ya go. I personally don’t see any improvement with it but, it’s nice I suppose. Oh, and one more huge thing the Soundpeats set has that the Xtra does not… an app. Yes, the Soundpeats app is wonderful, you can do firmware upgrades, use the EQ to save on the device, presets, etc. Of course, every Soundpeats set has access to the app which also is a very nice feature to have. The E4 does have a waterproof rating (IPX4) whereas I cannot find one on the Xtra. I find the Xtra to have a better connection and better range too. However, everything usually comes down to sound…
Sound Differences
First off, the call quality on the Xtra sounds a bit more natural to me. I don’t know how important this is to any of you, but the Xtra really is a bit better. I suppose it’s the 3 mics, who knows.
Sound Between the 20’s
Anyways, the bass on the Xtra is deeper, more authoritative by quite a bit. The E4 has less depth in its bass, tighter, less intrusive and only moderate in quantity. The Xtra has more vibrance and dynamism in this area and really shows how it levels up in the low-end. The midrange of the E4 is thinner, more detailed and has a hint more upper mid shimmer to me. But the Xtra are more organic, lusher, richer, more present against the rest of the mix. The Xtra seems to have better depth of field and layering happening. The E4 is just a bit blander in comparison. Looking at the treble region, both sets take a safer approach, but I do find the E4 slightly airier in presentation. However, the Xtra has better actual bite and roundness to notes. You could say it’s the more talented treble region out of the box. Not that there’s anything wrong with the E4, it sounds great, but it’s simply less haptic in its treble. The Xtra seems to have another gear, if that makes sense. As far as detail retrieval, both sets do pretty well though the E4 does seem to keep the bass dialed down enough to increase resolution a bit more. I go back and forth with detail retrieval, and it really comes down to the tracks you are listening to. Separation is about the same, both are very nice. Imaging goes to the E4 by a very small margin. Soundstage goes to the Xtra, wider, deeper and simply more evolved it seems.
Final thoughts on this comparison
I realize this wasn’t the best comparison as the E4 is a good $40 cheaper. I suppose it give the reader a slightly cheaper option. However, to me these two really don’t compare that well as far as actual sound quality. I broke them down in sections (bass, mids, treble), and in doing they seem not too far apart. However, when you out all of that info in your hand and roll it into a ball the Xtra simply comes across better. The macro-dynamic energy, the perceived dynamic range, the depth of field, it just sounds better. I use both sets often but I think the Xtra really is the better set. Furthermore, it also has ANC, Pass through too. Both are very nice for their respective prices, but the Xtra simply sounds better to me.
Fiio FW5 ($149)
Oh, the Fiio FW5 (FW5 Review). This is one talented and awesome set folks. I honestly don’t think you’ll find a better straight-up sound quality tws anywhere near its price point. The FW5 is equipped with 3 drivers, those being a 10mm DLC DD and two Knowles BA’s. Very nice drivers. Fiio also uses an actual AK4332 dac chip! Which is amazing to see in a tws. An actual audiophile dac chip! Very cool. They also used a Qualcomm QCC5141 chipset which is great to see too. Basically, Fiio decked this set to the nines and added every reason in the world for this set to sound fantastic. If it didn’t, something would be very wrong. There’s so much I love about the FW5 but there are some things which are annoying too, so let’s compare the FW5 and the KZ Xtra.
Differences
To begin, the FW5 has a slightly cheaper feeling case. Also, that case constantly drains battery. This is the annoying thing. It’s smaller but also feels cheaper to me. Still, the build of the FW5 is amazing for a tws. It looks identical to their FD5, JD7, FD7, FD3 and so on. It carries the same principal design language, whereas the Xtra has that iem style look. The FW5 is simply a bit more mature looking and sleeker and slicker. Again, the Xtra seems geared towards a slightly younger crowd. Above the faceplates on the side, the FW5 have actual buttons, two on each side which is a good thing to have (I like physical buttons better) while the Xtra has a very sensitive touch surface. Using those buttons the FW5 has independent volume controls which is worth its weight in gold if you ask me.
A few differences
Now, there are some differences in the features of these two sets which are pretty stark. The Xtra has ANC and pass through which the FW5 doesn’t have. Yet the FW5 does carry both LHDC as well as LDAC audio codecs that the Xtra doesn’t carry. The Xtra and the FW5 have gaming modes too and both have multi-point connection. The FW5 does have that awesome Fiio app, and it does have a better dac chip on board. The Xtra has much better battery life too which I’m sure is due in part to the fact that it has a beefy dac chip and uses LDAC codec. Volume levels are a bit higher on the FW5, but both are very good in that regard. I don’t think I’ve missed anything and sorry for the jumbled approach to showing off the differences, but I just wrote as they came to mind. My apologies. At any rate, both devices seem to trade blows in many ways.
Sound Differences
I find the Xtra most definitely has better call quality, something that became obvious pretty quickly. Not that the FW5 is bad or anything, it’s just that the Xtra was that much better. Voices definitely sound more natural to me, cleaner too. I found the FW5 has a very subtle hiss which is easily heard.
Sound Between the 20’s
The bass of both sets is deep, round, defined, and tight for their sizes but the FW5 simply comes across less one-noted than the Xtra (by a slight margin). I found the Xtra does have a bit better extension down low and seems to cut off sooner keeping the mids a hair cleaner. Listening to those mids, the Xtra is slightly less robust, but more detailed, cleaner background to a degree. Yet the FW5 is more musical, more sparkles in the upper-mids, juicier, smoother. Again, these are very subtle differences as they both sound closer to each other than one may think. So, the Xtra has better extension into the upper treble adding just a hint more air to my ears, while the FW5 has the more refined treble, still decently detailed and has better treble punch with better note contour and definition. Which should be expected using Knowles BA’s. Altogether the FW5 has a more engaging and 3D like listening experience which I suppose I could attribute to the AK dac chip. Also, the FW5 does have more headroom volume and simply comes across a hint more dynamic. Of course that’s up for debate. Technically, the Xtra actually holds its own quite well. Yes, it loses in the staging as the FW5 does outperform the Xtra in that regard with seeming the same depth between the two, but the FW5 has a wider, taller stage. Just more immersive and 3D like experience with better imaging (to a degree) yet the Xtra does have slightly better instrument separation.
Further thoughts on this comparison
Look folks, I wasn’t expecting the Xtra to come in here and dethrone the FW5. It is a fantastic set sonically. However, the Xtra almost gets me there. I mean there is very minor differences. Both musical in nature, both with great stage presence, both highly dynamic. The Xtra also has features that the FW5 doesn’t have and vice versa. These are close in many ways folks. However, there’s a $50 difference between them. Now I truly don’t think the FW5 is $50 better in the Audio department. I really don’t. So, without question I’d say that the Xtra offers better price to performance and is probably the better buy. Yes, the FW5 outduels the Xtra, but at what cost are incremental and tiny differences worth the cost to own the FW5 over the Xtra. That’s up to you to answer. Still, in the end the FW5 is the better set, but it’s very close.
Is it worth the asking price?
This is a tough one friends. I answer this question in every review and usually it’s fairly simple. However, true wireless is a different beast. So many people have so many different needs when it comes to this technology. For me, I’m simple, just give me good sonics, good audio, and good connection and I’m happy. I don’t need ANC, and I don’t need bells and whistles. You may be completely opposite of that and need all the features that you can get. I’m simple, give me solid playback. Hence why I adore sets like the Edifier TWS1 is such a fantastic set to me… It’s $35. It’s awesome for the price sonically, 12.5 hrs. battery, that’s all I really need. So, this is a bit tougher to answer for me. One guy may simply need the best call quality he can get, another may require the best ANC that his dollar can buy and some just want it all. I will have to answer this question just for myself, I guess.
The Why…
Because the KZ Xtra is a set that does it all. Maybe it lacks an app, but it has every feature one would need. Oh, and guess what… they all actually work very well. I don’t say that often. The ANC is very nice for the price, the call quality is better than I would’ve thought, and the battery life is better than average. The Xtra has a class leading Qualcomm SOC Chipset and a very stable connection. I just realized that this section would last way too long if I were to explain every last feature, so I’m going to skip right to the sound. This is what it is supposed to be about anyways and also, I’m answering for me, so this is the most important. The bass is thick, full, deep, defined well enough with an impactful slam, and a nice punch. The midrange is musical, nice note weight and has a very nice timbre for a tws. The technical stuff is also better than I would’ve guessed. For instance, the sound is very clean with a blacker background, better than decent micro-details, good separation of instruments and a very nice stage. The Xtra does a lot very well and it does so at a pretty small price if you think about the Qualcomm chipset, features, and the very nice drivers being used. Usually sets like this would cost a bit more. So, with those thoughts in mind, I have to say that yes, the KZ Xtra is worth every last penny of the $100 it takes to own it. Remember, it is on sale for only $68 right now. No doubt KZ did a very nice job on the Xtra and honestly, this question was much easier than I thought it’d be.
Ratings (0-10)
Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the KZ Xtra ratings below, that would be $75 to $125 True Wireless iems. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $75 to $125 true wireless iems is a decent sized scope of tws, and it’s also pretty competitive, though I definitely don’t think it’s out of the question to see a rating above a “9.0”. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.
Aesthetic/ Features
–Build Quality: 9.0 Built well, all resin, very nice.
–Look: 7.5 Not bad but geared to a younger crowd.
–Fit/Comfort: 9.8 Fit and comfort is great for me.
–Features: 9.6 Many features which all work well.
–Overall: 9.0🔥🔥
Sound Rating
–Timbre: 9.5 Organic, natural, robust.
–Bass: 9.2 Big, deep, authoritative, clean, defined.
–Midrange: 9.3 Musical and engaging.
–Treble: 8.6 Talented treble region, non-offensive.
–Technicalities: 7.9 Technically great, better than expected.
–Musicality: 9.6 Very musical sound.
–Overall: 9.0🔥🔥🔥
Ratings Summary:
Nothing to summarize here. Not for a tws anyways. Too many variables to consider. That said, I really wouldn’t put any stock into any rating above. I only have so many tws to compare within that range and they are getting somewhat older. Ratings make little sense in general, but it’s even more difficult when dealing with a true wireless set… My opinion of course. These sets have about a 2–3-year shelf life before the battery begins to die off. That is unless you’ve really taken care of the battery and not overused them every day. So, unless a reviewer has a stockpile of new tws sets right in front of them while going through ratings, I’d say those ratings probably don’t hold any water. I can tell you that 100% my ratings above are not thorough enough to put any stock in. Just being real with you all. $75 to $125 is a huge pool of tws sets and I’ve owned many of them that you can get in the States. I’m talking the Edifier Neobuds series, the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro, A40, the Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch & 1+, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Sennheiser CX, Sony Linkbuds S, Status Audio Between Pro, Tinhifi has some great tws, Tanchjim does too, Moondrop offerings, many different Soundpeats models and the list truly goes on and on. Way too many variables, too many features and way too much turnover to take any stock in a ratings chart within a saturated market.
Conclusion
To conclude my full review of the KZ Xtra, I first want to say thank you to the good people from KZ and Tyvan of course. Always these people have been upfront with me and always it has been a good situation for mobileaudiophile.com. For one, they never ask me to speak in any certain way, never ask me to skew my words to make any of their sets look better. Also, no matter the type of review I put out of their products they never hold that against me. Of course, they are probably 95% positive. At any rate, I thank KZ for putting themselves out there and leaving the review of their products in the hands of subjective reviewers. What that tells me is that they believe in their products and don’t get their feelings hurt. They’ve been in this game so long that they are pretty much bullet proof from anyone’s opinions anymore. Also, they make good price to performance products. Plain and simple. So, thank you KZ! Also, I want to thank you, the reader, for taking the time to actually read any words that I write. I hope they helped you. Please take in other thoughts from other reviewers as well. Don’t just read my review and stop there. Check out other perspectives. We are all so very different in how we perceive music through these devices. It’ll only benefit you to read, watch, or listen to other thoughts. Beyond that, I think I’m done folks. Take good care, stay as safe as possible, and always… God Bless!
