The KZ AS16 Pro and the KZ AS16 Pro X share the essentials: 8 balanced armature drivers per side, 16 in total, with no dynamic driver. The Pro X is the latest revision and changes how those drivers are split, the shell and the cable. This comparison goes through the differences using official KZ specs so you can choose with confidence.
In short
- Choose the AS16 Pro if you want 16 balanced armatures at the lowest price and like having a choice of color (cyan or black).
- Choose the AS16 Pro X if you want the latest version, with one more driver dedicated to the mids, a 3D-printed resin shell and slightly higher sensitivity.
- Both use a 2-pin Pin C connector and are compatible with the same Bluetooth adapters.
Comparison table
| KZ AS16 Pro | KZ AS16 Pro X | |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers per side | 8 balanced armatures | 8 balanced armatures |
| Driver layout | 4 × 31736 (treble) 2 × 29689 (mids) 2 × 22955 (bass) | 4 × 31736 1 × 30019 2 × 29689 1 × 22955 |
| Crossover | 3-way | 3-way |
| Frequency response | 20–40000 Hz | 20–40000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 114 ± 3 dB | 116 ± 3 dB |
| Impedance | 18 Ω | 19 Ω |
| Shell | Metal and plastic | 3D-printed resin with a metal frame |
| Cable | Braided silver-plated with OFC core, detachable | Flat silver-plated, 120 ± 5 cm, detachable |
| Connector | 0.75 mm 2-pin (Pin C) | 0.75 mm 2-pin (Pin C) |
| Colors in our store | Cyan and black | Black |
| Microphone | Optional | Optional |
Data from the official KZ product pages (kz-audio.com).
What changes in the drivers
Both models are “all balanced armature”: they have no dynamic driver, and each group of drivers handles part of the sound through a 3-way crossover.
In the AS16 Pro the split is 4 drivers for treble, 2 for mids and 2 for bass. The AS16 Pro X keeps the 4 treble and 2 mid drivers but replaces one of the two bass drivers (22955) with a different model, the 30019. In other words, the same number of drivers, but four types instead of three.
KZ presents the Pro X as an evolution of the Pro, although it publishes no measurements comparing one with the other. That is why we do not claim here that one “sounds better”: what can be verified is that the driver layout is different.
Shell and cable
The AS16 Pro combines metal and plastic. The AS16 Pro X moves to a 3D-printed resin structure with a metal frame, the system KZ uses in its latest models to position the drivers more precisely.
The cable changes too: braided silver-plated with an oxygen-free copper core on the Pro, and flat silver-plated on the Pro X. On both it is detachable, with a 2-pin connector, so it can be replaced or swapped for a Bluetooth adapter.
Do they need an amplifier?
No. At 18 Ω and 114 dB for the Pro, and 19 Ω and 116 dB for the Pro X, both are easy to drive: they work from the 3.5 mm output of a phone, a laptop or a USB-C dongle. The Pro X is slightly more sensitive, so it will play a little louder at the same volume.
Price
The KZ AS16 Pro is the cheaper of the two and the KZ AS16 Pro X costs a little more. On both, the version with a mic carries a small extra charge. Current prices are on each product page:
Hi-Fi & pro audio IEMs, KZ, Multi-BA, Musicians & stage
87,95 €Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page-
Hi-Fi & pro audio IEMs, KZ, Multi-BA, Musicians & stage
95,95 €Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Which to choose
KZ AS16 Pro
- You want 16 balanced armatures at the lowest price.
- You like choosing between cyan and black.
- You prefer a braided cable to a flat one.
KZ AS16 Pro X
- You want the latest version of the model.
- The 3D-printed resin shell interests you.
- You want a touch more sensitivity.
Compatibility with Bluetooth adapters
Both use a Pin C connector, so the same adapters fit: KZ AN01, KZ AE01 and KZ AZ09 in its Pin C version. With any of them the earphone becomes wireless without losing the option of going back to the cable.
Frequently asked questions
Does the AS16 Pro X have more drivers than the AS16 Pro?
No. Both have 8 balanced armatures per side. What changes is the type: the Pro X uses four different driver models and the Pro, three.
Do they have bass?
Yes, but a different kind from an earphone with a dynamic driver. Balanced armatures give fast, defined bass with less punch. If you want hard-hitting bass, look at the hybrids.
Does the cable from one fit the other?
Yes. Both use the same 0.75 mm 2-pin connector, Pin C type.
Can they be used for live monitoring?
It is one of their common uses: they sit over the ear and KZ states passive isolation of more than 26 dB for the AS16 Pro.
Keep reading
- KZ ZAR vs KZ Zenith: 16-driver hybrid or flagship dynamic
- Dynamic, balanced armature, planar and hybrid drivers: what each one means
- Best KZ IEMs for musicians and live use (in-ear monitors)
- KZ AS16 Pro X vs KZ ZAR: all balanced armature or hybrid
- KZ AS16 Pro, AS16 Pro X, AM16 and AS24 Pro: a guide to KZ's all-BA models
Every KZ Componentes order comes with a 3-year warranty, 30-day returns and support from our team in Spain. Torn between models? Write to us and we will help you choose.
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