KZ Z10 Pro 2 EQ settings
Parametric EQ correction for the KZ Z10 Pro 2, derived from measurements by Jaytiss. It moves the measured frequency response toward a neutral target.
How the Z10 Pro 2 sounds before EQ
Measured against a neutral target, the Z10 Pro 2 comes out near-neutral. It already tracks the target closely, so the correction is polish rather than surgery.
The air region, openness at the very top, sits about 6.8 dB forward of neutral, so the very top sounds airy and open (measurements this high up vary between test rigs, so treat the exact number loosely). The treble region, cymbals, sibilance and sparkle, sits about 2.2 dB forward of neutral, so cymbals and s-sounds can sting.
The deviations are moderate, topping out around 2.2 dB, which is clearly audible in a direct comparison. EQ makes a worthwhile difference.
These figures are read from the correction itself: whatever the EQ lifts, the headphone lacked, and whatever it cuts, the headphone had too much of. The target is the community's neutral reference, and how far above 10 kHz you can trust any measurement varies by rig. More near-neutral models.
The correction curve
The solid line is the full measured correction (all 10 filters). The dashed line is what Atrium applies: the same shape at 65 percent strength, capped at 6 dB per band, so the headphone keeps its own character instead of being forced flat.
What the EQ fixes
The biggest moves in this correction, and what they do:
- The filter at 1 kHz cuts the air band by 7.4 dB with a shelf.
- The filter at 4.3 kHz lifts the sibilance range by 3.4 dB with a narrow band (Q 2.83).
- The filter at 6.16 kHz lifts the sibilance range by 2.7 dB with a narrow band (Q 4.95).
The preamp of -3.1 dB offsets the boosts so nothing clips at full volume.
Parametric EQ settings
Preamp: -3.1 dB (prevents clipping from the boosts below)
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low shelf | 105 Hz | -1.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Peaking | 675 Hz | +1.8 dB | 1.17 |
| 3 | Peaking | 178 Hz | -1.5 dB | 1.26 |
| 4 | Peaking | 4.3 kHz | +3.4 dB | 2.83 |
| 5 | Peaking | 3.03 kHz | -1.6 dB | 2.94 |
| 6 | High shelf | 1 kHz | -7.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Peaking | 6.16 kHz | +2.7 dB | 4.95 |
| 8 | Peaking | 65 Hz | +0.6 dB | 1.83 |
| 9 | Peaking | 31 Hz | -0.5 dB | 1.70 |
| 10 | Peaking | 7.33 kHz | -0.8 dB | 6.00 |
This is the full measured correction in AutoEq format. It pastes straight into Equalizer APO or Peace on Windows, and into most parametric EQ apps.
How to use these settings
Manually: enter the preamp and each filter into any parametric EQ. On Windows that is usually Equalizer APO with the Peace interface. On a Mac, eqMac or SoundSource. Set the type, frequency, gain and Q exactly as listed.
With Atrium: pick your Z10 Pro 2 in the app and it applies a tuned version of this correction: 65 percent strength with a 6 dB per-band cap, which fixes the rough spots without erasing what the headphone does well. Atrium also measures how you hear with a short listening test and layers your personal hearing profile on top. Two people with the same headphones do not hear the same sound. Headphone corrections are part of Signature Edition; the app itself is free.
Z10 Pro 2 vs other KZ models
Bass and treble are each model's average distance from the neutral target in that range. Positive means more than neutral, negative means less.
| Model | Signature | Bass vs neutral | Treble vs neutral |
|---|---|---|---|
| Z10 Pro 2 (this page) | near-neutral | +1.1 dB | +0.5 dB |
| PRX | warm | +1.5 dB | +0.4 dB |
| ZS10 Pro 2 (on-on-on-on) | near-neutral | +1.5 dB | +1.0 dB |
| ZS12 PRO X | near-neutral | +1.0 dB | +1.1 dB |
| x HBB PR2 | near-neutral | +1.6 dB | +1.0 dB |
Headphones that sound similar
Closest matches across all 4,332 measured models, by distance between their deviation curves. Useful if you like how the Z10 Pro 2 is tuned and want alternatives.