
KZ ZS4 vs Sennheiser IE 800 S: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sennheiser IE 800 S comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 78. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Specifications
| Spec | KZ ZS4 | Sennheiser IE 800 S |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Wired IEMs | Wired IEMs |
| Price (USD) | $19 | $38 |
| HearWiki score | 66 / 100 · Good | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2026 | 2017 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 1 balanced armature + 1 dynamic driver | Extra Wide Band (XWB) drivers |
| Driver size | 8 mm | 7 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-40kHz | 5Hz-46.5kHz |
| Impedance | 18 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Multipoint pairing | - | No |
| Battery | ||
| Wireless charging | No | - |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | No |
| ANC type | none | - |
| Transparency mode | No | - |
| Companion app | No | - |
| Custom EQ | No | - |
| Wear detection | No | - |
| Controls | buttons | - |
| Voice assistant | with microphone | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 23 g | 8 g |
| Detachable cable | - | Yes |
| USB-C | No | No |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 1 | - |
What reviewers said
KZ ZS4
The KZ ZS4 is a budget-friendly hybrid earphone combining a balanced armature with an 8mm dynamic driver for an energetic, bass-forward sound. It offers strong detail retrieval and a comfortable fit for the price, but its V-shaped tuning prioritizes excitement over neutrality. This makes it a fun choice for bass and treble enthusiasts, though purists may find its signature too assertive.
- Pro:Very affordable price-to-performance ratio
- Pro:Energetic, bass-forward sound with clear highs
- Pro:Comfortable and lightweight fit
- Con:V-shaped tuning can cause midrange bleed
- Con:Bass can be overly assertive for some tastes
- Con:Bright treble may come across as harsh
Sennheiser IE 800 S
The Sennheiser IE 800 S is a compact, high-end wired in-ear that impresses with its detailed, spacious sound and refined tuning, thanks to its single 7mm XWB driver. While it offers strong build quality and comfort, its premium price tag, noticeable cable noise, and some design quirks may give potential buyers pause.
- Pro:Excellent detail retrieval and expansive soundstage
- Pro:Natural, cohesive tuning with strong sub-bass
- Pro:Very small and lightweight for comfortable extended wear
- Con:High price that may not fully match performance
- Con:Noticeable cable microphonics
- Con:Not a neutral or linear frequency response
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.
