KZ Sonata VS KZ Decet

Youtube Video Summary

KZ's new Sonata is an all balanced armature set that comes with full-colour packaging, the familiar blue case, a high-strand SPC QDC cable and a generous tip card with both foam and Starline tips. The shell uses KZ's large-format chassis to house the 14 BA drivers, which can create pressure build-up for smaller ears and makes tip choice and insertion depth very important. For the price point around $100, Sonata pushes KZ's BA line a little higher, but also brings a more refined and ambitious tuning than the earlier AS24 series.

Sonata shifts away from KZ's typical V-shaped approach into a distinctly mid-centric, flat-leaning signature. The bass uses a full BA bass driver with a low, neutral shelf that sits just under the mids, giving linear extension, decent impact and very little warmth or bleed. The mids are brought forward for clear, resolving vocals over complex backgrounds, while the treble follows a Butterfly 61T-style gentle roll-off that aims to reduce BA timbre and fatigue, yet still offers enough extension and air to keep things open. The result is a presentation with strong technical performance, natural separation and a coherent balance where bass and treble support the mids instead of overwhelming them.

This tuning makes Sonata one of KZ's more specialized and coherent sets to date, but also one that will not fit every preference. Fans of bigger, v-shaped sets like AS24 or Hydro may find the neutral bass and restrained treble a little too polite, and the large shells plus fit sensitivity can be tricky, especially around the 2.5 kHz peak if tips and depth are not dialled in. For listeners specifically seeking a mid-centric, all-BA monitor with clean mids, clear vocals and reduced BA artifacts at this price, however, Sonata offers a distinctive and rewarding take on KZ's all-BA formula.