V-moda ZN In Ear Earphones Review

Introduction:

Audiophiles for sure have heard of V- Moda, which now ranks high on our list as one of the best manufacturers of headphones both in terms of performance and of course, design.

V-Moda already excels in making the best headphones on the market catering for high-end audio, but with the V-Moda Zn, they’ve managed to deliver all the best traits of their headphones and place them inside a smaller build. And yes, the Zn in the name refers to the Zinc material used in the earphone.

Manufacturer’s Specification:

• Type: Bi-aural in-ear type monitor headphones with remote and mic
• Speaker Driver: 8mm dynamic-type
• Frequency Response: 2 – 25,000 Hz
• Sensitivity: 105dB @ 1kHz 1mW
• Microphone Sensitivity: -42dB @ 1kHz
• Impedance: 16 Ω
• Cables: DiamondBack Kevlar-reinforced, 33-inch plug to y-connector, 13-inch even-length earphone cables
• Plug: 45 degree, 24k gold plated, 3.5mm (1/8″) stereo
• Weight: 20.8 grams

Design and Specifications:

There are lots of things you would notice just by looking at the V-Moda Zn. It somehow relays that meticulous planning was given on the earphone’s design and that’s evident when you first open the box.

The V-Moda Zn’s design is mostly made of plastic – though it actually holds the driver’s acoustic chamber, which is made from Zinc. This metal can be very hard to come by and hence the V-Moda Zn only comes in limited quantities. Just looking at the design of these earphones will definitely get audiophiles smiling with glee.

Even the cable, dubbed DiamondBack, is made with a strong type of fabric weave that the company says is twenty times stronger than the industry average. That also means that it’s tangle-free, which is a win for all earphone users. There is also an included optional earhooks that you can attach when using the earphones while exercising. This ensures that the earphones are stable enough when plugged in especially when you move a lot.

The V-Moda Zn also comes in four different sizes of ear fittings that the company calls BLISS – or Bass Level Isolating Soft Silicone. This ensures that there is a perfect seal when you wear the earphones for the perfect listening experience.

The V-Moda Zn’s cable comes with its own inline remote and microphone that is also MFi certified. This means that the remote can be used on Apple’s iOS devices, including playback controls. It will also work with non-Apple products, though the functionality of the inline remote will be limited to just the play button (which you can also use to make calls).

Video Review

The V-Moda Zn utilizes an 8 mm dynamic driver that offers better accuracy along with a wide frequency band plus support for low distortion.

Setup:

For testing I hooked up the V-Moda Zn to my iPhone and listened to tracks I’ve downloaded directly from iTunes. Additionally, I hooked up the earphones to the LG V10 to see if there is any variable difference from different smartphone hardware.

Performance:

Performance on the V-Moda Zn is top notch – especially the depth of the bass. It doesn’t thump down like other bass-heavy earphones, but it gives you enough ‘oomph’ to deliver the best low frequency effect.

Effective performance may be attributed to the Zinc material used in the earphone’s construction, which effectively delivers a wide and expansive sound field. This includes the trebles in which it delivered clean, crisp detail on the sound without being over the top. The mids are more hum, but are still clear and accurate.

I’ve listened to Hotel California and when the separation between all the instruments is very distinguishable – you will literally feel that you are in a concert hall with the band playing in front of you.

Supplied Accessories:

• V-Moda ZN
• Designed in Italy black leather carrying pouch
• 8 pairs of BLISS 3.0 fittings in XS, S, preinstalled M and L sizes
• 1 pair of ActiveFlex sport earhooks

Pros & Cons:

Pros

Excellent bass

• Clear mids and highs

Cons

• Doesn’t offer full control support on Android smartphones

Conclusion:

Probably a good indication of how good a pair of earphones is when you wouldn’t take them off after you’ve worn them. This is exactly what happened with the V-Moda Zn – just like the perfect song, it hits all the right notes that it definitely gets our highest recommendation.