How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-27 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Linsoul KZ ZS10 — biggest strength: a 4BA+1DD hybrid driver setup (two 30095 drivers for highs, two 50060 drivers for mids, plus a 10 mm second-generation Tesla double-magnetic dynamic unit) with a frequency range of 7–40,000 Hz and 111 dB sensitivity.
• Linsoul KZ ZS10 — biggest trade-off: it is fully wired with a 3.5 mm jack, so there is no Bluetooth and nothing to use underwater.
• SANOTO Swimming Headphones — biggest strength: IPX8 waterproofing rated for submersion up to 10 m for over 2 hours, plus a built-in 8 GB MP3 player, because Bluetooth cannot transmit underwater.
• SANOTO Swimming Headphones — biggest trade-off: bone conduction driver, no wired jack, and you must switch to MP3 mode before swimming.
• Who each pick is for: the KZ ZS10 is for listeners, musicians and gamers who want wired fidelity at a desk or on stage; the SANOTO is for swimmers, surfers and runners who want audio in and around the water.
The KZ ZS10 is a hybrid in-ear monitor, and the spec sheet reads like one. Five drivers per side — two balanced armatures for highs, two for mids, and a 10 mm dynamic unit for lows — are managed by a PCB dividing board so each driver gets the right part of the signal. The result the design points to is a bright, dynamic, detailed presentation with a frequency range stretching from 7 Hz up to 40,000 Hz. Sensitivity of 111 dB and 24-ohm impedance also suggest it is easy to drive from a phone or a laptop without extra amplification.
Build-wise this is a durable little unit. The faceplate is 304 stainless steel over an imported resin cavity, which is a combination chosen for both looks and longevity. The cable is detachable and gold-plated with a 0.75 mm connector and a limit-slot protection design meant to stop the pins from breaking and extend the life of the interface. Linsoul describes it as upgradeable, and the brand itself suggests trying a Tripowin cable for a sound improvement — a nice hint that this is a tinkerer's earphone. The cavity is molded from cochlea data to sit like a custom in-ear, and Linsoul claims it isolates noise up to 26 dB, which is meaningful on a bus, a plane or a noisy open-plan office.
SANOTO Swimming Headphones: Who It's For
The SANOTO S710 is a completely different animal: a wireless, waterproof in-ear model with ear hooks. Its headline feature is IPX8 waterproofing, engineered to be submerged up to 10 meters for more than two hours. That covers swimming, surfing, diving, sweat, rain and splashes — genuinely unusual for in-ear headphones, most of which die at the first splash.
The clever part is how it handles sound underwater. Bluetooth uses the 2.4 GHz band, and water absorbs that signal, so the SANOTO pairs a 360° closed sound cavity with vibration technology and anti-leak acoustics, and it carries a built-in 8 GB MP3 player holding roughly 1,500 lossless tracks in MP3, FLAC, WMA, WAV and APE formats. Double-click the function key to switch between Bluetooth and MP3 modes. The brand is explicit: switch to MP3 mode and turn off your phone's Bluetooth before swimming.
Comfort and stability are handled by skin-friendly silicone ear hooks that flex to different head shapes and work alongside swim caps, goggles and earplugs. SANOTO says they stay put during intense swimming and sweating, and the in-ear fit helps keep water out of your ears. On battery, you get up to 12 hours in MP3 mode and up to 8 hours over Bluetooth, with a 2-hour charge time. Controls are physical push buttons rather than touch, which is the right call when your fingers are wet. In the box you get the headphones, two magnetic charging cables, ten replacement ear tips, an adjustable elastic strap and a manual.
Who should buy it: swimmers, surfers, divers, runners and gym-goers who want music that survives water and sweat. Who should skip it: critical listeners who want maximum detail and no mode-switching — the bone conduction driver and lack of a wired jack put it in a different league for pure fidelity. Check the current price on Amazon.
• Best for pure sound quality → Linsoul KZ ZS10. Five hybrid drivers, a PCB dividing board and a 40 kHz ceiling versus a single bone conduction driver.
• Best for swimming and water sports → SANOTO Swimming Headphones. IPX8, 10 m submersion for 2+ hours, and no rival feature in the KZ ZS10.
• Best for wired, zero-latency gaming → Linsoul KZ ZS10. A 3.5 mm jack and 24-ohm impedance mean no pairing, no delay, no charging.
• Best for battery life → SANOTO Swimming Headphones. Up to 12 hours in MP3 mode and 8 hours in Bluetooth mode, with a 2-hour charge.
• Best for noise isolation → Linsoul KZ ZS10. The molded cavity is designed to cut up to 26 dB of outside noise; the SANOTO lists no noise control.
• Best for music without a phone → SANOTO Swimming Headphones. The 8 GB MP3 player holds roughly 1,500 lossless tracks, so you can leave the phone in your bag.
• Best for long listening comfort at a desk → Linsoul KZ ZS10. The cochlea-based molding and steel-and-resin shell are built for extended wear.
• Best for durability against the elements → SANOTO Swimming Headphones. IPX8 waterproofing and flexible silicone hooks versus a wired IEM that should be kept dry.
In my opinion, most people searching these two names should buy the Linsoul KZ ZS10. It gives you five drivers, a detachable upgradeable cable, real noise isolation and wired reliability for music, gaming and monitoring — and it does the one thing it was designed for exceptionally well. I would only steer you to the SANOTO Swimming Headphones if water is the whole point: if you swim, surf or dive and want music with you, the IPX8 rating, MP3 player and 12-hour battery are features the KZ ZS10 simply cannot match. Buy the KZ ZS10 for sound; buy the SANOTO for the pool.
how to clean in ear headphones
For the Linsoul KZ ZS10, wipe the stainless steel faceplate and resin cavity with a dry or barely damp cloth, and clear earwax from the nozzle gently — the detachable cable makes it easier to handle. For the SANOTO, rinse and dry the silicone ear tips after pool use, since chlorine and salt build up over time. Never soak the KZ ZS10, which is not waterproof; the SANOTO is IPX8-rated for submersion.
how to fit in ear headphones
The KZ ZS10 cavity is molded from cochlea data to sit like a custom in-ear, so it should seat with a light twist and seal for its up-to-26 dB isolation. The SANOTO uses skin-friendly silicone ear hooks that flex to your head shape and are designed to work with swim caps, goggles and earplugs. With the SANOTO, swap among the ten included ear tips until the seal is snug.
how to open in ear headphones
Neither model is meant to be opened up. The KZ ZS10 has a detachable gold-plated 0.75 mm cable with a limit-slot protection design so you can swap cables without opening the shell, and the housing should stay sealed. The SANOTO charges through an included magnetic charging cable, so there is no need to open it either. If a unit seems faulty, use the one-year warranty rather than prying it apart.
how to ear headphones
If you mean how to wear them: the KZ ZS10 goes in-ear with the cable routed over the ear and the molded shell twisted gently into place for a sealed fit. The SANOTO also sits in-ear, but its silicone ear hooks loop over the top of your ear for stability during swimming, running and cycling. Both are adult-sized in-ear designs, so getting the tip and angle right matters more than force.
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