HiFiMAN Bolt VS KZ Dawn
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
HiFiMAN Bolt and KZ Dawn are 1DD in-ear monitors. HiFiMAN Bolt costs $10 while KZ Dawn costs $10. KZ Dawn holds a decisive 3.3-point edge in reviewer scores (2 vs 5.3). KZ Dawn has significantly better bass with a 4-point edge, KZ Dawn has significantly better mids with a 4.8-point edge, KZ Dawn has significantly better treble with a 4.9-point edge, KZ Dawn has significantly better dynamics with a 4-point edge, KZ Dawn has significantly better details with a 3.4-point edge and KZ Dawn has significantly better imaging with a 2.5-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | HiFiMAN Bolt | KZ Dawn |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 3 | 7 |
| Mids | 1 | 5.8 |
| Treble | 1 | 5.9 |
| Details | 2 | 5.4 |
| Soundstage | 2 | 5.6 |
| Imaging | 3 | 5.5 |
| Dynamics | 2 | 6 |
| Tonality | 1.7 | 6.2 |
| Technicalities | 2.3 | 5.5 |
HiFiMAN Bolt Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
2Very Negative
KZ Dawn Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
5.3Mixed to Negative
Reviews Comparison
HiFiMAN Bolt (more reviews)
HiFiMAN Bolt reviewed by Super* Review
2*
* score rescaled + normalized
HiFiMAN Bolt reviewed by Precogvision
2
Reviewer Score
Precogvision Youtube Channel
KZ Dawn (more reviews)
KZ Dawn reviewed by Paul Wasabii
5.5
* Score computed by IEMRanking.com
Youtube Video Summary
KZ Dawn is a $10 single dynamic built for bassheads. The clear shells and fixed cable keep costs down, and this Green version is the lighter bass tune while a Black OFC cable variant adds even more low end. Bass elevation is extreme, so expectations should center on impact and warmth, not neutrality.
Tonally it follows a V-shaped balance with raised upper mids that keep vocals from getting buried and make it scale well at high volume; compared with Saga Bass, Dawn sounds smoother in the upper mids and earns the volume king tag for bass music. Technicalities are modest: detail is secondary, stage is acceptable, and there is some driver flex on insert. As an ultra-cheap fun set it is an easy recommendation for first-time buyers who want a lot of bass, while EDC Pro or Saga Standard remain better picks for a more balanced everyday listen.
Paul Wasabii Youtube Channel
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KZ Dawn reviewed by Web Search
5
Reviewer Score
The KZ Dawn is a 1DD budget IEM built around a 10 mm “super-linear” dynamic driver in a transparent resin shell, offered with either a silver-plated or OFC flat cable. KZ’s own specs note 23 Ω impedance and 108 dB sensitivity, and the structure is an integrated non-detachable cable, which has convenience for on-the-go use but limits replaceability.
Subjectively, voicing trends toward a V-shaped balance with elevated bass and upper-treble, yielding lively presence but a brighter tonality that can accentuate sibilance on some tracks; staging and imaging are adequate for the price. Community impressions align with this take: users describe the Dawn as lively/bright and broadly “better” than KZ’s own EDX Pro aside from the fixed cable, which squares with the measured intent of a fun, energetic tuning.
Value is the headline: in some markets the Dawn sells for the equivalent of just a few dollars, making it a very low-cost entry point with agreeable bass texture and acceptable detail for the segment; however, resolution, imaging precision, and dynamics remain clearly budget-tier, and the non-removable cable is a long-term drawback. Street prices like ₹479–₹649 in India illustrate its aggressive positioning, but class leaders under $100 still outperform it in technicalities.
HiFiMAN Bolt Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD
Tuning Type: V-Shaped
Price (Msrp): $10
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KZ Dawn Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD
Tuning Type: V-Shaped
Brand: KZ Top KZ IEMs
Price (Msrp): $10
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HiFiMAN Bolt User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
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KZ Dawn User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
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HiFiMAN Bolt Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
2.1Gaming Grade
E+KZ Dawn Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
5.7Gaming Grade
B-HiFiMAN Bolt Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
E- It feels tonally jarring, swinging between piercing treble and bloated bass with no cohesion. It feels chaotic regardless of genre.
Average Technical Grade
E+- Everything sounds flat and suffocated, with even elementary passages losing definition and energy. Expect little in the way of micro-details.
KZ Dawn Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
B- The tuning leans easygoing, yet occasional unevenness nudges it away from greatness. A bit of EQ polish can smooth things nicely.
Average Technical Grade
B-- Overall technicalities are acceptable, delivering enough clarity for casual sessions. Imaging is serviceable though not immersive.
HiFiMAN Bolt User Reviews
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