Description
KZ AS16 Pro Cyan
An all-balanced-armature in-ear monitor with 8 BA units per side - 16 total - split across dedicated bass, mid, and high-frequency groups through a 3-channel acoustic duct, for a clean, analytical sound.
Quick Snapshot
Why You'll Love It
An all-balanced-armature in-ear monitor with 8 BA units per side - 16 total - split across dedicated bass, mid, and high-frequency groups through a 3-channel acoustic duct, for a clean, analytical sound.
Sixteen Drivers, Three Dedicated Bands
A Duct Structure That Keeps Things Separated
Isolation Before You Even Turn It On
The KZ Standard
KZ (Knowledge Zenith) is a Chinese in-ear monitor specialist founded in 2008 in Dongguan by Keith Yue, a former Audio-Technica engineer, and Zen Li, a Western-trained classical musician. What began as a Taobao storefront in 2010 became a formally promoted brand in 2013, and KZ's breakthrough moment came in 2016, when its ZST model sold 10,000 units in 15 days. The company has since shipped to 128 countries and become one of the most recognized names in budget-to-midrange in-ear monitors, known for putting genuinely ambitious multi-driver configurations - like this 16-unit all-BA design - into earphones well below what that driver count usually costs.
Engineered With Purpose
Sixteen Drivers, Three Dedicated Bands
Four 31736 units handle highs, two 29689 units handle mids, and two 22955 units handle bass per earpiece - visible as individually labeled components in KZ's own internal diagrams, not just a marketing claim.
A Bass Unit Built For Energy, Not Just Detail
The two 22955 units per side handle low-frequency output specifically, giving the AS16 Pro's bass more weight than a typical all-BA design that treats bass as an afterthought.
Specifications
| Driver Configuration | 16x Balanced Armature (8 Per Side, All-BA) |
| High-Frequency BA | 4x 31736 (Per Side) |
| Mid-Frequency BA | 2x 29689 (Per Side) |
| Bass-Frequency BA | 2x 22955 (Per Side) |
| Acoustic Structure | 3-Channel Duct, PCB Crossover |
| Passive Noise Isolation | 26dB+ |
| Impedance | 18 Ohms |
| Sensitivity | 114dB (+/-3dB) |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz-40kHz |
| Connector | 0.75mm 2-Pin |
| Cable | High-Purity Braided Silver-Plated, 120cm (+/-5cm) |
| Plug | 3.5mm, Right-Angle |
| Color | Cyan |
Compare Models
| Spec | ZEX Pro | This Kit AS16 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Driver Configuration | Electrostatic + 1DD + 1BA (Tribrid) | 16x Balanced Armature (All-BA) |
| Dynamic Driver | Yes, 10mm Dual-Magnetic | None |
| Impedance | 25 Ohms | 18 Ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104dB | 114dB (+/-3dB) |
| Connector | 0.75mm 2-Pin | 0.75mm 2-Pin |
| Sound Approach | Bright Of Neutral, Elevated Sub-Bass | Clean, Analytical, Band-Separated |
ZEX Pro and AS16 Pro represent two different philosophies at the top of KZ's range: ZEX Pro mixes three driver technologies (including a dynamic driver) for a more textured, V-leaning sound, while AS16 Pro goes all-balanced-armature for a cleaner, more controlled and analytical presentation with no dynamic driver at all.