How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a warm, fatigue-free listen that you can wear for hours and that doubles as a wearable piece of art, choose TipsyAuthen M1; if you need maximum driver count, an inline mic, and the widest frequency range for detail work and monitoring, choose KZ ZAS Pro 7BA+1DD.
• TipsyAuthen M1 — biggest strength: A single bamboo-fiber dynamic driver voiced for warm, lively bass and forward vocals, wrapped in a hand-finished resin shell with up to -36 dB of passive isolation. Simple, cohesive, comfortable.
• TipsyAuthen M1 — biggest trade-off: It tops out at 20 kHz and runs a fixed, no-mic 0.78 mm 2-pin cable, so there's no inline calling and no ultra-high extension. The "less is more" tuning won't suit people who want clinical detail.
• KZ ZAS Pro 7BA+1DD — biggest strength: A hybrid 1DD+7BA array with a PCB 3-way crossover, 20 Hz–40 kHz range, and 118 dB sensitivity — a lot of resolution and headroom, with a mic and an over-ear wireform cable.
• KZ ZAS Pro 7BA+1DD — biggest trade-off: Eight drivers at 41 ohm is a fussier, more analytical listen, and the polycarbonate shell is more utilitarian than the M1's resin art. More to go wrong, more to think about.
• Who the M1 is for: Beginners, commuters, and casual listeners who want warmth, comfort, and isolation without fiddling.
• Who the ZAS Pro is for: Musicians, audiophiles, and gamers who want detail, a mic, and full-range coverage.
The M1 is built around one idea: do one driver really well. Tipsy's own framing calls it a "less is more" philosophy, and the specs back that up — a single dynamic driver, 24 ohm impedance, 106 dB sensitivity, and a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range. That's an easy, forgiving load. Low impedance and moderate sensitivity mean it'll sing off a phone or a basic dongle without asking much of your source. What you get is a warm, controlled low end, full-bodied lower mids that push vocals forward, and smooth highs that don't wear you out. Pop, R&B, hip-hop, rock, and vocal-heavy tracks are exactly where that tuning lives.
The physical design is the other half of the pitch. Hand-polished resin shells, refined from an ear-profile database, with a faceplate inspired by Van Gogh's "The Starry Night" and "The Red Vineyard" that shifts with the light. I like that the M1 treats the earpiece as a small wearable object rather than a black plastic blob. The shell material also matters for fit: resin tends to sit skin-friendly and warm up fast, which is why the M1 can stay in for long sessions. Up to -36 dB of passive isolation covers commuting, practice rooms, and focused play. The detachable 0.78 mm 2-pin cable is a genuinely useful detail — if the cable dies, you replace the cable, not the earphones.
KZ ZAS Pro 7BA+1DD: Who It's For
The ZAS Pro is the opposite personality: it throws hardware at the problem. A 10 mm super-linear dynamic driver handles the low end, and seven balanced armature drivers pick up the rest, split by a PCB 3-way crossover that manages low, mid, high, and ultra-high bands separately. The result, on paper, is 20 Hz–40,000 Hz — double the M1's treble ceiling — with forward mids "precisely elevated" for articulation in voices and instruments. That's a monitoring-first tuning. If you've ever wanted to hear the room around a snare hit, this is the kind of design that aims for it.
It's also the more sensitive of the two at 118 dB, which means it gets loud easily. But it's 41 ohm, so it's not quite as source-agnostic as the M1's 24 ohm — a weak phone output will still drive it, just with less authority than a dedicated dongle or player. The included mic is the practical differentiator: you can take calls and talk without pulling your phone out, which the M1 simply can't do. KZ also ships an 8-core detachable cable with a wireform section that wraps over the ear.
That over-ear wireform isn't a style choice. It anchors the earphone so it stays put during long sessions and movement, and KZ's ergonomic shaping is aimed at relieving the pressure that causes ear fatigue. The 20 g weight and low-profile design keep it portable for music, podcasts, and audiobooks. Isolation is rated up to 37 dB — a hair more than the M1 — and KZ pitches it for gaming, stage, recording studios, and focus work in loud rooms. The shell is polycarbonate rather than resin, which is lighter and tougher but less tactile and much less decorative than the M1's art piece.
Who should buy it? Musicians tracking or performing, audiophiles who want full-range detail, gamers who need positional cues, and anyone who wants a mic on board. Who should skip it? If you want a relaxed, warm, vocal-forward listen you can forget about, the ZAS Pro's analytical bent and eight-driver complexity may feel like work. Sensitive listeners who hate bright highs should also think twice given the extended 40 kHz tuning. One more point in its favor: KZ emphasizes serviceability, saying every part can be replaced rather than thrown away.
• Best for warm, fatigue-free listening → TipsyAuthen M1. Smooth highs and full lower mids are the whole point of its tuning.
• Best for maximum detail and range → KZ ZAS Pro 7BA+1DD. Eight drivers, a 3-way crossover, and 40 kHz extension.
• Best for hands-free calls → KZ ZAS Pro 7BA+1DD. It has a mic; the M1 is a no-mic model.
• Best for easy driving from a phone → TipsyAuthen M1. 24 ohm and 106 dB is a friendlier load than 41 ohm.
• Best for isolation → KZ ZAS Pro 7BA+1DD, by a whisker. Up to 37 dB versus the M1's up to 36 dB.
• Best for looks and long-session comfort → TipsyAuthen M1. Hand-finished resin and that light-shifting Van Gogh faceplate.
• Best for stage and studio reliability → KZ ZAS Pro 7BA+1DD. Built for monitoring, with every part serviceable.
• Best for beginners → TipsyAuthen M1. Simpler to drive, simpler to enjoy, and explicitly aimed at entry-level listeners.
In my opinion, the M1 is the one I'd buy first, and it comes down to daily life rather than spec sheets. Most of my listening is music on the move, and a 24 ohm, warm, resin-shell IEM with up to -36 dB isolation is simply easier to live with. The single-driver, dual-chamber design also means fewer things to worry about. I'd pick the ZAS Pro only if I actually needed the mic, the 40 kHz range, or monitoring-grade detail. If you're a musician or a detail chaser, take the KZ. Everyone else, take the M1 — and check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
how to fit in ear headphones
Get a proper seal or everything else falls apart. The M1 is designed with shells refined from a large ear-profile database to seat securely, while the ZAS Pro uses an over-ear wireform cable to lock the earpiece in place. Try the included tip sizes, because isolation ratings like -36 dB and 37 dB only hold with a good seal.
how to clean in ear headphones
Keep the nozzles clear of wax and wipe the shells after use. The M1's resin body and the ZAS Pro's polycarbonate shell both wipe clean easily, and both ship with detachable cables, so you can separate cable from earpiece before cleaning. Never soak the earphones or push anything into the nozzle.
how to open in ear headphones
There's nothing to open on either model — you don't disassemble an IEM to use it. The "opening" you'll actually do is unboxing: the M1 includes a cable, eartips, and a protective case, while the ZAS Pro includes a cable, ear cushions, and a user manual. Swap tips rather than opening the housing.
how to ear headphones
If you mean how to wear them, orientation is the trick. The M1 is a standard in-ear resin shell; the ZAS Pro is a bud-shaped, low-profile design whose cable wraps over the ear for stability. Insert gently, twist slightly to seal, and let the cable drape over the back of your ear on the KZ.
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