2023-07-06 22:16:00
KZ has once again deceived thousands of consumers. The story again involves the launch of a model created in collaboration with headphone reviewers/content creators and this time the jeopardized was “HawaiiBadboy” from the channel “Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews”, popularly known as “HBB”. Launched on April 27, 2023, the KZ x HBB PR2 has been showing inconsistencies in the sound, where a first batch sounded one way and now has a different frequency response (measurement of activity in the bass, mids and highs).
KZ changes the KZ x HBB PR2 without the consent of “HBB”, project contributor
KZ is again exposed when changing the loudness of the KZ x HBB PR2 headphones. Source: Marcelo Dosec
The KZ x HBB PR2 is an in-ear headphone with a planar magnetic driver (speaker) developed in partnership with “HawaiiBadboy” from the channel “Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews”, popularly known as “HBB”. for US$ 45 (about R$ 225), the IEM (in-ear monitor) presented a different sound after the first batch of 6000 units. This change was reported by users and by “HBB” itself through measurements, where the curve of frequency response showed considerably higher activity in the highs in the new batch compared to the 1st.
Publication of “HBB” (“HawaiiBadboy”) in your facebook group. Source: Reddit Frequency response graph showing the original and modified version of the KZ x HBB PR2. Source: Reddit
As you can see above, there is a difference in the frequency response graph between the first few units of the KZ x HBB PR2 and the current batch. The image was captured by Reddit user “Hit-maker” and posted on the “headphones” subreddit. he comments that KZ removed the dampers (“dampers”), previously implemented in the first batch, to change the sound of the headphone.
Physical differences between the original version and the modified version of the KZ x HBB PR2. Source: Marcelo Dosec
According to reports from KZ x HBB PR2 users, the highs of the new batches were similar to the KZ PR1 tuning. By the way, the activity at high frequencies was changed by “HBB” precisely because the reviewer didn’t like this feature.
Comment from a user in the publication of “HBB” (“HawaiiBadboy”). Font: Reddit
According to KZ, “there was no change in tuning due to this design change”, contradicting what reviewers and users noted.
KZ statement regarding the KZ x HBB PR2 sound change.
A reader of Oficina da Net, José Luis, reported his case saying:
I received the phone at my house. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t really feel like what HBB created in collaboration with KZ. He himself complained on Facebook that the agreement made between him and KZ was not being respected. Measurements of the frequency curve made by users show the differences. I think the headphones are good for songs that don’t have highs; therefore, it was not and is not what I intended to buy.
José Luiz also reports that KZ tried to assuage complaints from those who bought the KZ x HBB PR2 by sending foam ear tips, which supposedly would reduce activity in the highs a bit. However, it seems that it was an ineffective move on the part of the company.
Marcelo Dosec’s “AvaliaSom” YouTube channel also reported the same sound problem in a “Shorts” about the KZ PR2.
Conclusion
Once again the KZ hurts the trust of its customers, in addition to tarnishing the image of the reviewers “HBB” (“HawaiiBadboy”), since it changed the sound of the KZ x HBB PR2 considerably. At the same time, it is sad to see that the company refuses to admit its error, as it happened previously, as Oficina da Net reported.
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