How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want serious wired sound quality for music, monitoring and gaming, choose KZ ZEX Earbuds 1; if you need real-time translation and a wireless all-rounder for travel, meetings and everyday listening — especially if you wear glasses and want an open-ear fit — choose QYGCKJ ERAZER XF23. That is the short version, and it comes down to one word: purpose. These two in ear headphones only look like competitors on a shelf. In reality they solve completely different problems, and for glasses wearers the fit question matters as much as the sound.
• KZ ZEX Earbuds 1 — biggest strength: a hybrid electrostatic + dynamic driver setup with a 20Hz–40kHz frequency range, 25-ohm impedance and 103dB sensitivity, plus a detachable 2-pin silver-plated flat cable built for wired HiFi listening.
• KZ ZEX Earbuds 1 — biggest trade-off: it is wired only, with a 3.5mm jack and no noise control, so it is tethered to a source device and not the tool for hands-free travel.
• QYGCKJ ERAZER XF23 — biggest strength: a 4-in-1 wireless design covering music, calls and real-time translation across 165 languages, with Bluetooth 5.4, 16mm dynamic speakers and a shared two-person listening mode.
• QYGCKJ ERAZER XF23 — biggest trade-off: its value is tied to translation and wireless convenience, so a buyer who only wants pure wired critical listening is paying for features they will not use.
• Who each pick is for: KZ ZEX Earbuds 1 for audio engineers, musicians, gamers and detail-focused listeners; QYGCKJ ERAZER XF23 for travelers, language learners, remote workers and glasses wearers who want a light, open-ear style fit.
The KZ ZEX Earbuds 1 is a wired in-ear monitor built around a two-driver hybrid: a 6.8mm low-voltage electrostatic unit paired with a 10mm dual magnetic dynamic unit. In plain terms, that combination is designed to split the workload — the dynamic driver handles the body and punch of the low end, while the electrostatic unit reaches into the upper frequencies where the 20kHz-to-40kHz range lives. KZ's own framing describes a wide, immersive sound field, and the 103dB sensitivity with 25-ohm impedance suggests it should be easy enough to drive from a phone, laptop or portable player without a dedicated amp.
Who should buy it? Anyone whose priority is sound detail over convenience: audio engineers, musicians, gamers, and listeners who want a wired connection with no latency and no battery to think about. The ergonomic cavity contour, shaped around ear-canal geometry, is aimed at comfortable long sessions.
Who should skip it? If you need wireless freedom, hands-free calls on the move, or any form of active noise cancellation, this is the wrong tool — there is no noise control here, and the connection is wired. The "Without Mic" version also means no built-in voice pickup, so it is not a headset for calls unless you pick the mic variant.
QYGCKJ ERAZER XF23: Who It's For
The QYGCKJ ERAZER XF23 is a very different animal: an open-ear wireless earbud that treats translation as a first-class feature rather than an afterthought. The headline claim is support for 165 languages with real-time translation, wrapped into what the brand calls a 4-in-1 design covering music playback, phone calls and live translation in one device. There is also a shared mode that lets two people wear the same set of buds and converse in different languages — a genuinely useful idea for travel and for language practice, and a clean alternative to passing a handheld translator back and forth. QYGCKJ states an accuracy rate of up to 98% and notes encryption and security protocols to protect the data being translated.
On the audio side, the XF23 uses 16mm dynamic speakers tuned for 360° Hi-Fi stereo, with the brand emphasizing balanced mids, a wide soundstage and clear highs. Connectivity runs on Bluetooth 5.4, which the spec sheet describes as faster and more stable with zero delay — and for video calls or streaming, a low-latency wireless link is exactly what you want. The open-ear format means the buds rest outside the ear canal rather than sealing it, which is the detail that makes this pair interesting for glasses wearers: there is no stem fighting with a glasses temple, and no pressure building inside the ear over a long day.
Who should buy it? Travelers, remote workers, students learning a language, and anyone who wants one set of earbuds to handle music, calls and conversation across a language barrier. It is also pitched as a gift for a wide range of ages, and the weight — 6.7 ounces for the package — plus the 7.6 x 5.63 x 2.13-inch box suggests a compact kit rather than a bulky accessory.
Who should skip it? If your only goal is critical wired listening and you already own a good source and cable, the translation and wireless features are cost you will not recover. And if you need a sealed, isolating fit for a loud commute, an open-ear design is the opposite of that.
• Best for wired sound detail and monitoring → KZ ZEX Earbuds 1. The hybrid electrostatic + dynamic driver setup and 20Hz–40kHz range are aimed squarely at resolution and soundstage.
• Best for travel and cross-language conversation → QYGCKJ ERAZER XF23. 165 languages, real-time translation and a shared two-person mode are features the KZ simply does not have.
• Best for glasses wearers → QYGCKJ ERAZER XF23. The open-ear shape avoids the temple-arm clash that makes sealed in-ears annoying under glasses; this is the closest thing here to a best earbuds for glasses wearers pick.
• Best for latency-free gaming and studio work → KZ ZEX Earbuds 1. A 3.5mm wired connection has no wireless delay to manage.
• Best for calls on the move → QYGCKJ ERAZER XF23. Bluetooth 5.4 and a built-in call mode beat a wired model with no microphone.
• Best for repairability → KZ ZEX Earbuds 1. The detachable 2-pin cable means a worn cable is a replacement, not a funeral.
• Best for all-day comfort with a light footprint → QYGCKJ ERAZER XF23. Open-ear ergonomics are designed to avoid in-canal strain over long sessions.
• Best for pure listening without extra features → KZ ZEX Earbuds 1. Nothing in the design is dedicated to translation or app-driven features.
In my opinion, the deciding question is whether you want an instrument or an interpreter. If your priority is sound quality, wired reliability, a detachable cable and a metal-and-resin build, I would buy the KZ ZEX Earbuds 1 — it is the more focused product for music, monitoring and gaming. If you travel, work across languages, take a lot of calls, or wear glasses and want a wireless pair that stays comfortable without sealing your ear canal, I would buy the QYGCKJ ERAZER XF23. For glasses wearers in particular, the open-ear fit is the practical winner. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that is the one variable I cannot speak to here.
how to fit in ear headphones
Start with the smallest tip that still seals, then try the next size up — the KZ ZEX ships with small and large tips, so there is room to experiment. Insert with a slight twist toward the ear canal and let the housing rest where it feels stable. If it loosens when you talk or chew, go up a size.
how to clean in ear headphones
Wipe the housing and tip with a dry, soft cloth after each use, and gently brush debris out of the nozzle rather than pushing it deeper. For the KZ ZEX, the detachable 2-pin cable means you can clean the earpieces without stressing the connector. Never run water through the housing or soak the drivers.
how to open in ear headphones
There is no opening procedure — the housings on both models are sealed units and should not be pried apart. "Opening" in practice means unboxing: the KZ ZEX includes two pairs of tips, a cable and a manual, while the XF23 comes as a complete wireless kit. If a tip comes off, simply push a replacement back onto the nozzle until it seats.
how to ear headphones
If you mean how to wear them: the KZ ZEX goes in the ear canal with the cable routed over the top of the ear for a secure fit, and the XF23 rests outside the canal in an open-ear position. If you mean how to hear them: the XF23 pairs over Bluetooth 5.4, while the KZ ZEX plugs into any 3.5mm jack. Neither needs an app to produce sound.
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