Yeah, it has been a rocky road to get to this point and no one wants to buy 2 sets to get to the 3rd so I am sure they are watching closely. Also why it was so heavily discounted in the first week. We'll see how it goes, but thanks for the comment.
I love these iems. They sound great, nice Mid thumps, super clean sounding. Not enough bass or volume for my liking but since I can't get them too loud they are non fatiguing. Super crisp. One of my favorite parts is I Was looking at the planar through the clear shell and realized the design patter on the outside mimics the shapes of the planars.
Sometimes KZ gets the design right and sometimes they go back to their past for inspiration. PR1 Pro was the right one compared to what they used on PLA13.
I love these iems. They sound great, nice Mid thumps, super clean sounding. Not enough bass or volume for my liking but since I can't get them too loud they are non fatiguing. Super crisp.
I was so excited hearing about planar iems since I haven't been shopping for iem in years. Thanks to KZ for bringing this affordable planar to the market. Ordered it already and am waiting for it to arrive 😁
I heard the initial batch of orders was slow to ship. Holiday sales and lockdowns didn't help. But you got it right, buy in at an affordable level now and decide if you want to pursue more planars next year.
@@PaulWasabii i finally got it today, initial listening shows that PR1 PRO is the best KZ iem to date. It is amazing how KZ can bring this level of sound performance at such a cheap price. Although i must say, i prefer my modified KZ ZS06 (this one really punches well above 15x the price with the right -and cheap- modification). Maybe i'm not used to this planar thing 😂
@@Smecerul08 ok, so the problem with KZ ZS06 is sibilance. Other than that, it's great. So all we have to do is tame the sibilance. This is how i do it; i use Comply T100 which has a smaller hole than the tip of the earphone. I then remove the rubber lining of the comply so it can fit. I then fit the foam to the eartip and glue it. The smaller eartip will then act as a suppressor to the high frequency thus eliminating the sibilance. After a few days listening to KZ PR1 PRO, i feel that the sound is somehow thin (i love vocals and instruments to have more body) and listening to adele also reveals some slight sibilance. I'm now trying eartip mod to make the sound more full and less sibilance using Comply T200, i peeled off the foam (on the round side) and cut 1mm of the rubber lining inside the foam. Initial testing was positive, will continue to test more and possibly cut a little bit more rubber lining.
You make a great point about planars drivers being able to handle larger inputs of bass and treble frequencies. Other drivers, especially BA's, will start to get a little shrill in the treble region with a lot of treble input but planars just handle it with very little issues. Sure, planars can still sound bright but it's controlled very very well. I have the original S12's which are amazing to me but I wouldn't mind adding the Pros to my collection.
As I said, adding a Pro to your S12 is more of a different flavor of the same sound. S12 is crazy popular for a reason. Also another great example of how planars can handle bigger levels and why I don't pay that much attention to planar graphs after Timeless and S12. Thank you
Thank you. I have spent a lot more money for a less satisfying experience than Pro. If nothing else, you learn whether planars are for you or not without spending too much money.
3 months later, we are starting to see more planars appear with TRN first. As I said, that set is going to take you well into 2023 before you have to think about upgrades. So kick back for at least another 3 months
@@PaulWasabii As of now the CCA PLA13 is about 48% of the price of a KZ PR1 Pro. For that price would the PLA13 qualify to be a good beginner's experience in the Planar Magnetic realm?
I think this is a good step for KZ, using Timeless and S12 as reference for tuning choice. Now lets see them tune their hybrid to be less bassy and more Harman or Blessing 2-esque.
Most planars are prone to more hiss simply due to the fact they are going to generally be brighter. Really two different sets though. If a more natural sound is your priority, then Olina SE, Pro still sounds like a planar a slightly less natural
Hello Paul 🙏🏻, I like your videos and bought few of your recommendations but I want the taste of planar thats why I bought PR1 pro on sale 31 USD but when I listened to it I found the right piece volume is very low and everytime I put right piece in my ear it makes wierd plastic wrapping noise. I think there must be channel imbalance issue. What do you think please help me what to do?
Yes, contact your store and see about returning it. You have two different things happening but the volume is the actual problem. If you can notice a difference, there is something wrong. The plastic wrapping noise is driver flex and I hear it when inserting IEMs. Doesn't really bother me, it is mainly the pressure build up pushing the tip in your canal. Some people return sets due to that and that is why you see LetShuoer S15 with a pressure relief unit. Too many people returned S12 because of the noise.
@@PaulWasabii Thank you very much Paul ❤️👌🏻✌🏻. Feeling relieved now about that driver flex noise. I requested for the replacement by email few days ago and I am still waiting for a reply from the store. I was buying Rhapsody at first but saw the offer and bought these now I am thinking about Rhapsody. Please do your top 5 budget iems under 50 and 100 usd.❤️👌🏻✌🏻
Paul, please tell me (as the owner of the PR1hi-fi version) - if you drop the moment "other cable and foam tips" - is it worth buying another version of the Pro, is there a significant difference ???
The short answer is no and I would have give the same answer on PLA13, just use EQ. The driver is basically the same, but the treble and bass are adjusted. Just do the same in EQ. Foam tips on PR1 Hifi doesn't quite get you Pro's treble but it would help a bit too. On KZ's Discord, we have some examples of Wavelet configs. The other short answer is that if you had an opportunity to get it at the promo price of $40usd, then yeah, it is worth it in time savings of dealing with EQ. But at regular price, just enjoy PR1 for a few months, we should start seeing new planars after the Chinese New Year.
Thanks for the detailed answer, yes, that's the right advice - take your time. Moreover, planars from another company are already coming to me, I’ll compare ...
Thanks for the video paul, I was going to get these. But held back as I want a new iem which I can use for years to come. So was thinking of spending and breaking my ceiling of spending. I was considering the s12 pro, but the shallow fit worries me as I don't do good with shallow fit like the blon bl-03. I want a warm sounding set. Any rec paul?
Tough one as my first thought is these are not that shallow and the foam tips helps. P1max is probably warmer as well. These are closer to Timeless, barely warm. My second thought, the new Tangzu 1DD set, it looked close to Salnotes Zero/Chu, but perhaps a bit warmer. Not enough impressions out there yet. I have my eye on Truthear Hexa, but same issue, not sure that has much warmth. Kiwi Ears Cadenza may be closer but no impressions yet.
@@PaulWasabii true. I have been looking at the p1 max too. Maybe you should make a video about suggesting iems for different sound signatures at different price range. So that it can help people buying ieme during the sale.
Nice review Paul as usual....I got it for 41 lets see.....I still have S12 but looking for pairing with bluetooth adapter for other uses like youtube and movies since I believe pr1 pro is easy to drive unlike S12.
@@PaulWasabii I run Olina on my qcc 5125 adapter on aptx hd on LGg8x...surprisingly bluetooth rounds things on mid upper freq...zero harshness (due to dsp correction?) perfect synergy with Olina more bass less harshness....will see if pr1 pro synergize with bluetooth otherwise will continue Olina and run pr1 pro wired. thanks.
I’m new to planar. I use for my IEMs on stage with my band. I got a set of letshouer a couple months ago and the sound was a bit shrill and they didn’t seem to handle lower mid frequency well. To the point they’d start to distort/rattle. Also they seemed to be half the volume of my KZ ZS10pro which seem to handle the live band better. Do I need a pre amp to drive the planars ? Are they not really ideal for live band IEM set ups?
They do need more power. Actually between KZ PR1 and PR1 Pro, they increased the sensitivity around 6db for this reason. It is slightly easier to drive. Generally, they are a bit hard to drive and will sound better with an amp.
How does it compare to the dioko and the olina se? With the linsoul LEC this/olina se/dioko and the P1 max are around the same price. Which one should I go for among these?
Dioko is a less bass level planar and I'd only suggest it if that is your preference. Olina SE is more natural, but if you are more into treble, then PR1 Pro. As I said, if you just want to know why people have been talking about planars, get one like PR1 Pro if it is significantly cheaper than the others.
so uh, I want to buy new set of items since my zsn pro x's kinda died. Please help me with this. I want to try out the kz pr1 pro but although people say it's really good and clean I feel like I would like smooth iem's more than grainy ones. I don't know if I should get the kz pr 1 pro or the kz zs10 pro x as they have some big price differences. I has the samson sr 850 semi open over ears for detail and wide sounding, I want something fun sounding for the items on the go. the pr1 pro's just look so damn sexy
Yeah you picked up on the hard part about planars, the treble is not as smooth as different driver types. KZ EDA Balanced or even the new small set KZ Ling Long will move you closer to that smooth sound.
@@PaulWasabii Thank you for answering, love your videos keep it up! And I might settle with the zs10 pro x or maybe even the kz zar. This is a hard hobby to have 😂
Ok i got Sennheiser M.3tws and want more emerssive, home for music movie and gaming. Can i get PR1 pro with fiio btr7 to sound more like a over ears open cans? My son wont give back my ByerDynamic and i want IME s. ???
I don't know if I would start with PRI Pro unless you are very very tolerant of brighter treble. It may work well for movies and games though which are less likely to hammer the treble.
That is the planar thing. The treble level dances around people's preferences, most a bit too much. Heyday does and probably others that will follow may address that specific area.
PR1 Pro as I said is really that taste of planar hype that you have been reading about for a year and a tuning that is going to be more generally appealing than AST. AST has crazy BA bass so if basshead is your thing, then maybe, but PR1 Pro is generally going to cover more preferences.
@@PaulWasabii tysm for answering, I'm like warm sound since I'm treble sensitive, btw I'm already oder kz zs10 pro x? Does it make big differences between kz zst x cause now I'm using it. I'm little bit curious about 5 drivers/10
It is compatible but hard to recommend. Most reviewers, myself included, talk about planars needing more power and sounding better with a dac/amp. This is true, but we say that because we have the equipment and it will sound slightly better. AZ09 Pro is a nice bit of gear and it works fine. If you continue your audio journey and pick up a powered dongle or dac/amp, you will notice a difference with PR1 Pro down the road. For now, if you can get PR1 Pro at a reasonable price, enjoy it for a while as I said. There should be plenty of planar sets next year.
There are a few advantages of single driver sets. People love 1DD sets because they tend to sound more natural but harder to find affordable DD that to very extended treble well. Enter the planar, not as natural as a 1DD, but it can handle extension on both bass and treble without sweating. That is really why you see KZ boost the bass and extend the treble, that differentiates planars from their other hybrid flagships
Hey paul, i saw this pr1 pro review from a japanese reviewer which he noted, he feels like pr1 pro has a sense of holographical soundstage that he cant hear it in pla13 or pr1 hifi even when he turn down the bass using EQ on both of the previous model , can you confirms this? th-cam.com/video/0CE8nTYzAd8/w-d-xo.html
I said that in a different way. PR1 Pro is closer to centered on your head rather than having a deep stage in front of you. I call it more immersive as you tend to keep noticing instruments behind your ears. I'd also say he wasn't using a phone as a source as with a phone, it tends to be flatter. PR1 Pro scales better with better sources and I tend to notice depth more with better sources. I had the same issue with PR1, most EQ settings and even the ones I did would crush the stage on PR1 Hifi. I may have said it somewhere in the video that I was a bit surprised KZ didn't ruin the stage by changing the tuning.
The planars including PR1 Pro tend to be a bit brighter than a set like Olina SE. Planars are great at details but not as natural as Olina SE. Olina SE is a great every day carry set, the planars tend to be more of a specialist as each brand tries to narrow down a sound that appeals to a wide range of music. I am sure PR1 Pro is fine, just expect it to have a brighter, more fun sound and Olina is a bit more relaxed and natural.
Mostly they same, but they did make a change which they didn't talk about as much as I thought they would. The change in height and sensitivity are related to a change to the driver so 90-95% the same.
Hi Paul, I'm your new subs. I have a questions. If you have to pick one between Truthear HEXA and KZ PR1 PRO, which one you will pick? I'm looking for upgrade from Aria. Which one between PR1 PRO and Hexa, have a better soundquality and soundstage?
The Aria upgrade is either Tripowin Olina SE or Simgot EA500. After that, then Tangzu Wu or Heyday for planar depending on your preferred bass level. Aria is a nice set, you will pay some money and get an incremental upgrade. Sometimes it is better to upgrade your source device and try the sets you have first.
Most planars are going to have more detail and treble extension than hybrids at the same price point. Planar bass is also quite good on some sets. And I don't have Hexa, but it is hard to beat any planar on detail at the same price points.
Timeless treble has a painful hotspot. Better be damn good for $80 :) Hook-X is my current planar of choice/reference; a big music upgrade from Timeless(but a big downgrade for gaming/movies; no soundstage). Timeless bass is rather soft & fluffy compared to Hook-X bass, with BC driver. Waiting for 100% bone conduction multi-driver IEMs.
See, that is why I didn't want to talk too much about the graph on Hook-X. At least the Hook-X HBB set looks brighter than Timeless. I can't really explain it other than measurements need higher volume and maybe the measurement is different than real life listening levels.
Yeah, but planars need some power from a dongle or amp. If you are just plugging it into your phone, go with the cheaper option. At one point PR1 Pro was the cheaper option but not sure it is wherever you are located. I'd probably also look at KZ EDA Balanced as an alternative to ZS10 Pro X
The KZ ZS10 PRO X is as clinically tame as much as the PR1 Pro is sparkly. In plain words the ZS10 PRO X is boring & technically competent. If I was a mixing sound engineer, the ZS10 PRO X would be the go to IEMs for mastering mixes. Almost any half decent PMP or a phone with an okayish DAC can drive this pair of IEMs. The PR1 Pro is thoroughly engaging. & Requires a decent DAC/OP Amp to drive it. For example the ESS Sabre in the LG V30, 40, 50 can drive these Planars to their optimum sonic potential.
If I like a BA bass like AS16 Pro, do I would like a planar bass in this PR1 Pro? I'm now interested with this planar wars because I hate all planar's shell designs before and I like the PLA's and PR1's design.
If you can get the PR1 Pro at a discount, then yes, you need to hear planar bass. It is subtly different but on the full bass planars like PR1, they can hit quite hard. And ad I said, if you get PR1 and like the bass, don't chase the other current planars, they are all a bit close in how the bass sounds. At least close enough that you won't want to spend 3X.
They were for a short period. The problem is the discount was in place before anyone had received them so it was a risky purchase. To be fair, you saved $120 from buying Timeless and have a set that is close enough until later in the year when we start to see new planars.
The two are quite different, Khan being bass centric and PR1 Pro along with most planars is treble/detail centric. Khan is more of a fun set, PR1 Pro if you want to get more in the weeds with critical listening and have a decent dac/amp.
Hmm, in what way? Hifi had an inner resin shell, but the exterior is not all metal? I was thinking more about PR1 standard in that it has the same metal faceplate, but not the metal shell on the lower like Hifi. If that is the only part I got wrong, that is doing ok.
I suggest you to talk about how a particular set compares with other similarly priced sets irrespective of driver tech... Don't keep talking about, oh ... If you want a great budget planar, you'll love this set.. No... Very few people think like that, if any.. All we're concerned about is, if I'm spending a 100$, what are the best sets out there.. I don't care if it's DD/BA/Planar/Hybrids.. I don't care..no one should. So how does it compare to the Olina SE? How does it compare to the Arias? If one has 80$ , would this be a better option than those? Don't say " if you want a budget planar". Instead say, " if you want a budget great iem" .
The only issue is that there are reasons to buy a planar over single DD. There is no 1DD that can touch planar detail at the same price points, and probably treble extension as well. So is planar always the best? No, because most are too treble heavy until you get to Heyday. But realistically, 2022 had so many planar sets for a reason, if they weren't as good as Aria or Olina SE, they would never have caught on. Planars jump those sets and hit into mid-fi hybrid territory which is why they are super popular. Also why I spent time on PR1 Pro, it was a very affordable entry into planar world for people who want to spend more planar money.
@@PaulWasabii See , what i was saying is ... I have 80$ .. I want an iem that gives me all the technicalities i want at this price. I don't want a relaxing iem or a lush tonality.. I have others for that.. I want a good tuning with great technicalities.. I don't care if it's a DD or a planar as long as it's drivable from a dongle. The likes of Olina SE have been considered to be the most technical at this price point...Good tuning too . So are you saying that a planar like this one comfortably beats that? And i should skip olina SE and go directly for this?
Great for KZ. They needed good publicity. I hope their target audience will be happy. And this is a decent introduction to the planar sound.
Yeah, it has been a rocky road to get to this point and no one wants to buy 2 sets to get to the 3rd so I am sure they are watching closely. Also why it was so heavily discounted in the first week. We'll see how it goes, but thanks for the comment.
@@PaulWasabii is there really that many drivers producing sound ?
I love these iems. They sound great, nice Mid thumps, super clean sounding. Not enough bass or volume for my liking but since I can't get them too loud they are non fatiguing. Super crisp.
One of my favorite parts is I Was looking at the planar through the clear shell and realized the design patter on the outside mimics the shapes of the planars.
Sometimes KZ gets the design right and sometimes they go back to their past for inspiration. PR1 Pro was the right one compared to what they used on PLA13.
I love these iems. They sound great, nice Mid thumps, super clean sounding. Not enough bass or volume for my liking but since I can't get them too loud they are non fatiguing. Super crisp.
I was so excited hearing about planar iems since I haven't been shopping for iem in years. Thanks to KZ for bringing this affordable planar to the market. Ordered it already and am waiting for it to arrive 😁
I heard the initial batch of orders was slow to ship. Holiday sales and lockdowns didn't help. But you got it right, buy in at an affordable level now and decide if you want to pursue more planars next year.
@@PaulWasabii i finally got it today, initial listening shows that PR1 PRO is the best KZ iem to date. It is amazing how KZ can bring this level of sound performance at such a cheap price. Although i must say, i prefer my modified KZ ZS06 (this one really punches well above 15x the price with the right -and cheap- modification). Maybe i'm not used to this planar thing 😂
@@andreashalim6694 what modifications? What do you mean?
@@Smecerul08 ok, so the problem with KZ ZS06 is sibilance. Other than that, it's great. So all we have to do is tame the sibilance. This is how i do it; i use Comply T100 which has a smaller hole than the tip of the earphone. I then remove the rubber lining of the comply so it can fit. I then fit the foam to the eartip and glue it. The smaller eartip will then act as a suppressor to the high frequency thus eliminating the sibilance.
After a few days listening to KZ PR1 PRO, i feel that the sound is somehow thin (i love vocals and instruments to have more body) and listening to adele also reveals some slight sibilance. I'm now trying eartip mod to make the sound more full and less sibilance using Comply T200, i peeled off the foam (on the round side) and cut 1mm of the rubber lining inside the foam. Initial testing was positive, will continue to test more and possibly cut a little bit more rubber lining.
@@andreashalim6694 Were you able to manipulate the "thinness" of PR1 Pro?
You make a great point about planars drivers being able to handle larger inputs of bass and treble frequencies. Other drivers, especially BA's, will start to get a little shrill in the treble region with a lot of treble input but planars just handle it with very little issues. Sure, planars can still sound bright but it's controlled very very well.
I have the original S12's which are amazing to me but I wouldn't mind adding the Pros to my collection.
As I said, adding a Pro to your S12 is more of a different flavor of the same sound. S12 is crazy popular for a reason. Also another great example of how planars can handle bigger levels and why I don't pay that much attention to planar graphs after Timeless and S12. Thank you
Great review, Paul! Ordered for $40 USD. A good value.
Thank you. I have spent a lot more money for a less satisfying experience than Pro. If nothing else, you learn whether planars are for you or not without spending too much money.
Watching this video again after three months, I'm glad I chose the KZ PR1 PRO.
3 months later, we are starting to see more planars appear with TRN first. As I said, that set is going to take you well into 2023 before you have to think about upgrades. So kick back for at least another 3 months
Good step for KZ 🔥
The first KZ set I am going to be on the radar for. Black Friday sale of course.
As I said, if you have other planars, not much new here. If it is your first, then yeah, put it on the radar.
Thank you, it really helped me to decide between this model and the CCA PLA13.
Yeah, I wouldn't go back to PLA13. PR1 Pro really fixed most of the feedback on that set.
@@PaulWasabii As of now the CCA PLA13 is about 48% of the price of a KZ PR1 Pro.
For that price would the PLA13 qualify to be a good beginner's experience in the Planar Magnetic realm?
I think this is a good step for KZ, using Timeless and S12 as reference for tuning choice.
Now lets see them tune their hybrid to be less bassy and more Harman or Blessing 2-esque.
Yep, everyone keeps saying the same. It look 3 tries to get them to drop down to Timeless bass levels so we'll see how that goes with their hybrids
Yes, and the price is much better than that of any other company on the market. The voice doesn't sound tired. It's very peaceful and balanced.
Hello Paul, so the Kz PR1 pro and the olina SE are the same price, which one is better and which one is prone to hiss more? Thanks
Most planars are prone to more hiss simply due to the fact they are going to generally be brighter. Really two different sets though. If a more natural sound is your priority, then Olina SE, Pro still sounds like a planar a slightly less natural
what a great iem set at an unheard of price.
Hello Paul 🙏🏻, I like your videos and bought few of your recommendations but I want the taste of planar thats why I bought PR1 pro on sale 31 USD but when I listened to it I found the right piece volume is very low and everytime I put right piece in my ear it makes wierd plastic wrapping noise. I think there must be channel imbalance issue. What do you think please help me what to do?
Yes, contact your store and see about returning it. You have two different things happening but the volume is the actual problem. If you can notice a difference, there is something wrong. The plastic wrapping noise is driver flex and I hear it when inserting IEMs. Doesn't really bother me, it is mainly the pressure build up pushing the tip in your canal. Some people return sets due to that and that is why you see LetShuoer S15 with a pressure relief unit. Too many people returned S12 because of the noise.
@@PaulWasabii Thank you very much Paul ❤️👌🏻✌🏻. Feeling relieved now about that driver flex noise. I requested for the replacement by email few days ago and I am still waiting for a reply from the store. I was buying Rhapsody at first but saw the offer and bought these now I am thinking about Rhapsody. Please do your top 5 budget iems under 50 and 100 usd.❤️👌🏻✌🏻
Paul, please tell me (as the owner of the PR1hi-fi version) - if you drop the moment "other cable and foam tips" - is it worth buying another version of the Pro, is there a significant difference ???
The short answer is no and I would have give the same answer on PLA13, just use EQ. The driver is basically the same, but the treble and bass are adjusted. Just do the same in EQ. Foam tips on PR1 Hifi doesn't quite get you Pro's treble but it would help a bit too. On KZ's Discord, we have some examples of Wavelet configs. The other short answer is that if you had an opportunity to get it at the promo price of $40usd, then yeah, it is worth it in time savings of dealing with EQ. But at regular price, just enjoy PR1 for a few months, we should start seeing new planars after the Chinese New Year.
Thanks for the detailed answer, yes, that's the right advice - take your time. Moreover, planars from another company are already coming to me, I’ll compare ...
Whit a dap (shanling m5s) of 320mw at 32ohm is decent to drive these ? I have plans to buy that iem …
Yeah, that is a lot of power actually.
Thanks for the video paul, I was going to get these. But held back as I want a new iem which I can use for years to come. So was thinking of spending and breaking my ceiling of spending.
I was considering the s12 pro, but the shallow fit worries me as I don't do good with shallow fit like the blon bl-03.
I want a warm sounding set. Any rec paul?
Tough one as my first thought is these are not that shallow and the foam tips helps. P1max is probably warmer as well. These are closer to Timeless, barely warm. My second thought, the new Tangzu 1DD set, it looked close to Salnotes Zero/Chu, but perhaps a bit warmer. Not enough impressions out there yet. I have my eye on Truthear Hexa, but same issue, not sure that has much warmth. Kiwi Ears Cadenza may be closer but no impressions yet.
@@PaulWasabii true. I have been looking at the p1 max too. Maybe you should make a video about suggesting iems for different sound signatures at different price range. So that it can help people buying ieme during the sale.
Thank you Paul for your excellent reviews.
Will you be doing a review of the Tangzu Zetian Wu?
I am trying to get the upcoming version, the Tangzu x HBB one. Not officially out yet.
Nice review Paul as usual....I got it for 41 lets see.....I still have S12 but looking for pairing with bluetooth adapter for other uses like youtube and movies since I believe pr1 pro is easy to drive unlike S12.
Easier to drive, but will still sound better on a better source. They increased the sensitivity 3-4db so that should help.
@@PaulWasabii I run Olina on my qcc 5125 adapter on aptx hd on LGg8x...surprisingly bluetooth rounds things on mid upper freq...zero harshness (due to dsp correction?) perfect synergy with Olina more bass less harshness....will see if pr1 pro synergize with bluetooth otherwise will continue Olina and run pr1 pro wired. thanks.
I’m new to planar. I use for my IEMs on stage with my band.
I got a set of letshouer a couple months ago and the sound was a bit shrill and they didn’t seem to handle lower mid frequency well. To the point they’d start to distort/rattle. Also they seemed to be half the volume of my KZ ZS10pro which seem to handle the live band better.
Do I need a pre amp to drive the planars ? Are they not really ideal for live band IEM set ups?
They do need more power. Actually between KZ PR1 and PR1 Pro, they increased the sensitivity around 6db for this reason. It is slightly easier to drive. Generally, they are a bit hard to drive and will sound better with an amp.
How does it compare to the dioko and the olina se? With the linsoul LEC this/olina se/dioko and the P1 max are around the same price. Which one should I go for among these?
Dioko is a less bass level planar and I'd only suggest it if that is your preference. Olina SE is more natural, but if you are more into treble, then PR1 Pro. As I said, if you just want to know why people have been talking about planars, get one like PR1 Pro if it is significantly cheaper than the others.
so uh, I want to buy new set of items since my zsn pro x's kinda died. Please help me with this. I want to try out the kz pr1 pro but although people say it's really good and clean I feel like I would like smooth iem's more than grainy ones. I don't know if I should get the kz pr 1 pro or the kz zs10 pro x as they have some big price differences. I has the samson sr 850 semi open over ears for detail and wide sounding, I want something fun sounding for the items on the go. the pr1 pro's just look so damn sexy
Yeah you picked up on the hard part about planars, the treble is not as smooth as different driver types. KZ EDA Balanced or even the new small set KZ Ling Long will move you closer to that smooth sound.
@@PaulWasabii Thank you for answering, love your videos keep it up! And I might settle with the zs10 pro x or maybe even the kz zar. This is a hard hobby to have 😂
Ok i got Sennheiser M.3tws and want more emerssive, home for music movie and gaming. Can i get PR1 pro with fiio btr7 to sound more like a over ears open cans? My son wont give back my ByerDynamic and i want IME s. ???
I don't know if I would start with PRI Pro unless you are very very tolerant of brighter treble. It may work well for movies and games though which are less likely to hammer the treble.
@@PaulWasabii was a endyearsales at Shouer Z12 and Btr7 so i went for that, hope works great together.
I would like a new version with a little less low temble, oracle mk 1 style- mest mk 2 tuning
That is the planar thing. The treble level dances around people's preferences, most a bit too much. Heyday does and probably others that will follow may address that specific area.
What's better for you the PR1 pro or the AST?
I'm looking to upgrade from a EDX
PR1 Pro as I said is really that taste of planar hype that you have been reading about for a year and a tuning that is going to be more generally appealing than AST. AST has crazy BA bass so if basshead is your thing, then maybe, but PR1 Pro is generally going to cover more preferences.
At the moment I own the KZ ZSN PRO X. Do you think this is a good upgrade?
It is a tough upgrade as planars need a bit more power than a set like ZSN Pro X. If you are just using your phone, I would look into dongles first.
Thanks for the quik response! I'm using them for my phone. Is there a not to expensive dongle you reccomend?
Really improved sound than kz zs10 Pro x? Didn't tray planar I like warm sound
The planars are generally not warm enough for most people who like warm. Their value is in the sharp details, a bit more colder than warm sound.
@@PaulWasabii tysm for answering, I'm like warm sound since I'm treble sensitive, btw I'm already oder kz zs10 pro x? Does it make big differences between kz zst x cause now I'm using it. I'm little bit curious about 5 drivers/10
Would you get these or the HBB x Pr2 if you had to choose?
Comes down to treble and price. If you are ok with and enjoy a lot of treble, PR1 Pro. PR2 is for tighter budgets and less treble tolerant.
Is it compatible with az09 pro c pic? And do you recommend doing it? Thanks!
It is compatible but hard to recommend. Most reviewers, myself included, talk about planars needing more power and sounding better with a dac/amp. This is true, but we say that because we have the equipment and it will sound slightly better. AZ09 Pro is a nice bit of gear and it works fine. If you continue your audio journey and pick up a powered dongle or dac/amp, you will notice a difference with PR1 Pro down the road. For now, if you can get PR1 Pro at a reasonable price, enjoy it for a while as I said. There should be plenty of planar sets next year.
@@PaulWasabii thanks for your detailed reply! I will pair it with z kz zax and I will enjoy pr1 pro wired!
Would you say that this is the best Kz out there? Compered to the previous Kz flagships?
in my opinion, this and the ZS10 PRO X are the best ones yet from KZ
There are a few advantages of single driver sets. People love 1DD sets because they tend to sound more natural but harder to find affordable DD that to very extended treble well. Enter the planar, not as natural as a 1DD, but it can handle extension on both bass and treble without sweating. That is really why you see KZ boost the bass and extend the treble, that differentiates planars from their other hybrid flagships
Hey paul, i saw this pr1 pro review from a japanese reviewer which he noted, he feels like pr1 pro has a sense of holographical soundstage that he cant hear it in pla13 or pr1 hifi even when he turn down the bass using EQ on both of the previous model , can you confirms this?
th-cam.com/video/0CE8nTYzAd8/w-d-xo.html
I said that in a different way. PR1 Pro is closer to centered on your head rather than having a deep stage in front of you. I call it more immersive as you tend to keep noticing instruments behind your ears. I'd also say he wasn't using a phone as a source as with a phone, it tends to be flatter. PR1 Pro scales better with better sources and I tend to notice depth more with better sources. I had the same issue with PR1, most EQ settings and even the ones I did would crush the stage on PR1 Hifi. I may have said it somewhere in the video that I was a bit surprised KZ didn't ruin the stage by changing the tuning.
Interesting
Is this good for Jpop? How is this comapared to the olina se and the hexa?
The planars including PR1 Pro tend to be a bit brighter than a set like Olina SE. Planars are great at details but not as natural as Olina SE. Olina SE is a great every day carry set, the planars tend to be more of a specialist as each brand tries to narrow down a sound that appeals to a wide range of music. I am sure PR1 Pro is fine, just expect it to have a brighter, more fun sound and Olina is a bit more relaxed and natural.
If you don't use foam tips what would.u recommend using instead? Cause foam tips don't work for me since they break.
I think its the same driver as the old one
Mostly they same, but they did make a change which they didn't talk about as much as I thought they would. The change in height and sensitivity are related to a change to the driver so 90-95% the same.
@@PaulWasabii ok cool. I wonder if they build the planar drivers. Or all planar drivers comes from the same manufacturer with the patent in china.
After looking your review, I found that my wallet was $15 short...
It happens. No harm in waiting for the next round of planars too.
Hi Paul, I'm your new subs. I have a questions. If you have to pick one between Truthear HEXA and KZ PR1 PRO, which one you will pick? I'm looking for upgrade from Aria. Which one between PR1 PRO and Hexa, have a better soundquality and soundstage?
The Aria upgrade is either Tripowin Olina SE or Simgot EA500. After that, then Tangzu Wu or Heyday for planar depending on your preferred bass level. Aria is a nice set, you will pay some money and get an incremental upgrade. Sometimes it is better to upgrade your source device and try the sets you have first.
Same question. But it will be my first iem. So which to buy, hexa or pr1. I prefer crystal clear vocals and impacful bass.
@@princeajaz9167 nevertheless, I bought KZ PR2 HBB, It far more better than Hexa
How would these compare to the Hexa's ?
Most planars are going to have more detail and treble extension than hybrids at the same price point. Planar bass is also quite good on some sets. And I don't have Hexa, but it is hard to beat any planar on detail at the same price points.
man, i wanted to buy other IEMs but this very entry level planar is hard to pass...
If you can purchase through Aliexpress or just can wait, March 28 is the next big sale period. There should be some sales.
Timeless treble has a painful hotspot. Better be damn good for $80 :) Hook-X is my current planar of choice/reference; a big music upgrade from Timeless(but a big downgrade for gaming/movies; no soundstage). Timeless bass is rather soft & fluffy compared to Hook-X bass, with BC driver. Waiting for 100% bone conduction multi-driver IEMs.
See, that is why I didn't want to talk too much about the graph on Hook-X. At least the Hook-X HBB set looks brighter than Timeless. I can't really explain it other than measurements need higher volume and maybe the measurement is different than real life listening levels.
Hi Bro. Do you think that only about sound Pr1 Pro it's better than Kz Zs10 Pro X?
Yeah, but planars need some power from a dongle or amp. If you are just plugging it into your phone, go with the cheaper option. At one point PR1 Pro was the cheaper option but not sure it is wherever you are located. I'd probably also look at KZ EDA Balanced as an alternative to ZS10 Pro X
The KZ ZS10 PRO X is as clinically tame as much as the PR1 Pro is sparkly.
In plain words the ZS10 PRO X is boring & technically competent. If I was a mixing sound engineer, the ZS10 PRO X would be the go to IEMs for mastering mixes.
Almost any half decent PMP or a phone with an okayish DAC can drive this pair of IEMs.
The PR1 Pro is thoroughly engaging. & Requires a decent DAC/OP Amp to drive it. For example the ESS Sabre in the LG V30, 40, 50 can drive these Planars to their optimum sonic potential.
@@aaronmathias6739 I have the ifi one associated with my s23 ultra, ¿can I move them without any problem?
If I like a BA bass like AS16 Pro, do I would like a planar bass in this PR1 Pro? I'm now interested with this planar wars because I hate all planar's shell designs before and I like the PLA's and PR1's design.
If you can get the PR1 Pro at a discount, then yes, you need to hear planar bass. It is subtly different but on the full bass planars like PR1, they can hit quite hard. And ad I said, if you get PR1 and like the bass, don't chase the other current planars, they are all a bit close in how the bass sounds. At least close enough that you won't want to spend 3X.
@@PaulWasabii Nice, I certainly buying them when they're available at KZ official Indonesia.
Just bought these for $80 and learned they were half price at launch 😞 feel a bit foolish, now.
They were for a short period. The problem is the discount was in place before anyone had received them so it was a risky purchase. To be fair, you saved $120 from buying Timeless and have a set that is close enough until later in the year when we start to see new planars.
Is pr1 pro better than khan?
The two are quite different, Khan being bass centric and PR1 Pro along with most planars is treble/detail centric. Khan is more of a fun set, PR1 Pro if you want to get more in the weeds with critical listening and have a decent dac/amp.
A well done v shape sound is neutral
I hate foam tips though lol. Did the graph change much using regular silicone tips ?
Nope. Hi-FI version is not all metal. I think Hi-Fri already proved it in his video. but great one nonetheless for pro
Hmm, in what way? Hifi had an inner resin shell, but the exterior is not all metal? I was thinking more about PR1 standard in that it has the same metal faceplate, but not the metal shell on the lower like Hifi. If that is the only part I got wrong, that is doing ok.
The PR1 is electroplated plastic/resin I believe. I think the PLA13 was plastic and metal plate combo.
LOL KZ never had a groove to get back, so maybe they are getting a little better. hehehe
That's fair.
I mean they kinda did when they were the only real option in their price segment 7-9 years ago.
I suggest you to talk about how a particular set compares with other similarly priced sets irrespective of driver tech...
Don't keep talking about, oh ... If you want a great budget planar, you'll love this set..
No...
Very few people think like that, if any..
All we're concerned about is, if I'm spending a 100$, what are the best sets out there..
I don't care if it's DD/BA/Planar/Hybrids..
I don't care..no one should.
So how does it compare to the Olina SE? How does it compare to the Arias?
If one has 80$ , would this be a better option than those?
Don't say " if you want a budget planar".
Instead say, " if you want a budget great iem"
.
The only issue is that there are reasons to buy a planar over single DD. There is no 1DD that can touch planar detail at the same price points, and probably treble extension as well. So is planar always the best? No, because most are too treble heavy until you get to Heyday. But realistically, 2022 had so many planar sets for a reason, if they weren't as good as Aria or Olina SE, they would never have caught on. Planars jump those sets and hit into mid-fi hybrid territory which is why they are super popular. Also why I spent time on PR1 Pro, it was a very affordable entry into planar world for people who want to spend more planar money.
@@PaulWasabii See , what i was saying is ...
I have 80$ ..
I want an iem that gives me all the technicalities i want at this price.
I don't want a relaxing iem or a lush tonality..
I have others for that..
I want a good tuning with great technicalities..
I don't care if it's a DD or a planar as long as it's drivable from a dongle.
The likes of Olina SE have been considered to be the most technical at this price point...Good tuning too .
So are you saying that a planar like this one comfortably beats that?
And i should skip olina SE and go directly for this?
@@rajeebdas1724 What is "good tuning with great technicalities" according to you?
Hello, what would you recommend
Pr1pro or zax?
ZAX. The planars are interesting but can be bright and harder to drive with a phone.