KZ ZEX Earbuds VS Moondrop Marigold

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

Home Ranking Compare IEMs

KZ ZEX Earbuds and Moondrop Marigold are in-ear monitors. KZ ZEX Earbuds costs $40 while Moondrop Marigold costs $40. KZ ZEX Earbuds is $0 more expensive. Moondrop Marigold holds a decisive 4.4-point edge in reviewer scores (1.8 vs 6.2). Moondrop Marigold has significantly better mids with a 4.7-point edge, Moondrop Marigold has significantly better treble with a 5.1-point edge, Moondrop Marigold has significantly better dynamics with a 5.2-point edge and Moondrop Marigold has significantly better soundstage with a 2.8-point edge.

Insights

Metric KZ ZEX Earbuds Moondrop Marigold
Bass 1.8 6.3
Mids 2 6.7
Treble 1 6.1
Details 1.8 6
Soundstage 3 5.8
Imaging 1.8 6
Dynamics 1 6.2
Tonality 1.8 6.8
Technicalities 1 6
Take these comparisons with a grain of salt—we don't have enough KZ ZEX Earbuds and Moondrop Marigold reviews saved yet to provide an unbiased result.

KZ ZEX Earbuds Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Jaytiss

Average Reviewer Score:

1.8

Abysmal

Moondrop Marigold Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Super* Review
Web Search

Average Reviewer Score:

6.2

Mixed to Positive

Reviews Comparison

KZ ZEX Earbuds (more reviews)

KZ ZEX Earbuds reviewed by Jaytiss

Jaytiss 1.8 Reviewer Score
E Tuning
E- Tech
It looks nice.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: E+ Treble: E- Dynamics: E- Soundstage: D

Moondrop Marigold (more reviews)

Moondrop Marigold reviewed by Super* Review

Super* Review 5.8* * score rescaled + normalized
B+ Tuning
B Tech
YouTube video thumbnail
Warm-neutral tuning and powerful on-cable PEQ, but the loud pop when applying EQ and the awkward cable/fit undercut daily use. Very good stock tuning for the price with flexible built-in parametric EQ. Loud pop when saving EQ, asymmetric and unwieldy cable with no L/R swap and a shallow down-wear fit.
Youtube Video Summary

At $40, Marigold is a tiny bullet-style single-dynamic with a fixed USB-C DSP cable and built-in parametric EQ. The shells are light, but the asymmetrical cable has an unusually long right branch and the down-wear only fit can be shallow, which increases microphonics and makes channel orientation easy to mix up.

The Moondrop app exposes a powerful PEQ suite: six filters with frequency, Q and gain control and roughly +12 dB / −18 dB range, plus simple presets (Reference, 3A, FPS). However there is no channel-swap option, and writing EQ settings triggers a very loud pop each time, turning iterative tuning into a remove-earpieces-first chore.

Stock tuning is warm-neutral (a kind of Harman-light) with a modest bass boost, natural mids and definition that is crisp enough for the price. It can sound incisive and well defined, but usability drawbacks outweigh the strengths, so the package feels close to something great rather than fully realized.

Bass: B Mids: B+ Treble: B-

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel

Buy Moondrop Marigold on Linsoul

Ad
Using this affiliate link for ordering your Moondrop Marigold or any other IEM helps fund our free service at no extra cost to you.

Price: $39

Buy Moondrop Marigold on Linsoul

Moondrop Marigold reviewed by Web Search

uses AI-Search to turn user, reddit and head-fi reviews into clear, concise summaries.
Web Search 6.6 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B Tech

The Moondrop Marigold is a budget, USB-C IEM with a built-in DAC/DSP and an asymmetric neckband cable. It uses a single 10 mm dual-cavity dynamic driver and is sold around $39.99; specs list 32 Ω impedance, THD ≤ 0.5% (1 kHz/94 dB), and an in-line MEMS mic. The package includes eartips, a storage case and documentation, and the non-detachable cable terminates in USB-C.

By default, Marigold is tuned to Moondrop’s VDSF target (Harman-like), aiming for a neutral balance with a mild sub-bass lift and controlled treble; the DSP via MOONDROP Link allows on-device EQ and preset sharing. Early user impressions describe a smooth, balanced presentation with agreeable vocals for the price bracket, consistent with the stated tuning goals.

Technical performance is serviceable for the segment: detail retrieval and imaging are adequate, and the soundstage is average, while bass impact is respectable without obvious bloat. The integrated DAC/NPU brings conveniences like AI noise reduction for calls and platform-agnostic plug-and-play, but the fixed cable limits modularity compared with 2-pin/MMCX sets. Overall, Marigold is a practical, all-in-one daily driver whose tuning stability and app-based DSP elevate value, though its raw technicalities remain in line with expectations at this price.

Bass: B Mids: B+ Treble: B Dynamics: B Soundstage: B- Details: B Imaging: B

Buy Moondrop Marigold on HiFiGO

Ad
Using this affiliate link for ordering your Moondrop Marigold or any other IEM helps fund our free service at no extra cost to you.

Price: $39

Buy Moondrop Marigold on HiFiGO

KZ ZEX Earbuds User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Moondrop Marigold User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

KZ ZEX Earbuds Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

1.2

Gaming Grade

E-

Moondrop Marigold Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.2

Gaming Grade

B

KZ ZEX Earbuds Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

E
  • Tuning is chaotic and fatiguing, with clashing frequencies that make long sessions unbearable. Every song demands frequent volume adjustments.

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.
Mids E+
A hollow mid band strips body from instruments and voices. Instrumental harmonics fade too quickly.
Treble E-
Highs sound veiled and distant, draining life from the mix. Hi-hats fade before they start.
Dynamics E-
Dynamics barely flicker, leaving energetic sections strangely subdued. There's no punch to latch onto.
Soundstage D
A small, boxy image grants a hint of stereo movement yet refuses to extend outward or upward. Front/back layering is virtually flat.
Gaming E-
Compromised imaging significantly impacts gameplay awareness. Directional cues often lack accuracy or consistency.

Moondrop Marigold Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B+
  • It sounds pleasant overall, with some uneven spots that hint at room for refinement. Vocals remain pleasant despite the imperfections.

Average Technical Grade

B
  • Overall technicalities are acceptable, delivering enough clarity for casual sessions. Imaging is serviceable though not immersive.
Bass B
The bass brings healthy impact, complementing mixes without overpowering them. It keeps up with faster passages cleanly.
Mids B+
Expect a confident midrange that keeps details audible without harshness. Acoustic arrangements sound engaging.
Treble B
Expect crisp, well-balanced treble that keeps shimmer intact. You hear reverbs decay naturally.
Dynamics B
Dynamic expression is good, delivering solid impact and convincing contrast. Percussion lands with convincing weight.
Soundstage B-
Stage expands beyond the shoulders and finally hints at layers, though vertical cues stay muted. Depth cues begin to emerge.
Details B
You hear inner textures easily, even when the arrangement piles on layers. You can hear subtle studio effects.
Imaging B
Positions lock in with confidence, sketching a believable stage map. There's a tangible sense of stage geometry.
Gaming B
Decent spatial awareness for fundamental positioning. Creates satisfying atmosphere in story-driven games while handling basic directional cues.

KZ ZEX Earbuds User Reviews

Example User Posted on ...
0.0

"This is an example review"

Pros
  • Example pro 1
  • Example pro 2
Cons
  • Example con 1
  • Example con 2
No User-Reviews Yet

Share your experience and build your personal ranking list.

You need to be signed in to write your own review

Moondrop Marigold User Reviews

Example User Posted on ...
0.0

"This is an example review"

Pros
  • Example pro 1
  • Example pro 2
Cons
  • Example con 1
  • Example con 2
No User-Reviews Yet

Share your experience and build your personal ranking list.

You need to be signed in to write your own review

Buy Moondrop Marigold on Aliexpress

Ad
Using this affiliate link for ordering your Moondrop Marigold or any other IEM helps fund our free service at no extra cost to you.

Price: $39

Buy Moondrop Marigold on Aliexpress

Find your next IEM:

IEM Finder Quiz

new
Use this quiz and answer a few questions to get your individual IEM recommendation list
(1/3) How much are you willing to spend on the IEM?
(2/3) Which sound characteristics are particularly important to you?
(3/3) Which tuning do you prefer?
You can select multiple options.
Buy

Footer