Best picks

KZ AS16 Pro In-Ear Monitors Review

A KZ in-ear monitor with 8 balanced armature (BA) drivers per side per the page, a detachable 2 pin cable and Black or Cyan colors, with or without a microphone. It is listed from $55 and suits someone who wants a multi-BA set in the $55 to $56 range.

4.0Editorial rating: 4.0 out of 5Editorial rating · research-basedUpdated November 11, 2026
From $55Price checked November 12, 2026Pre-order only at Linsoul at our last check (November 12, 2026)
Check price at Linsoul

Our verdict

A multi-BA IEM for someone who wants a detachable 2 pin cable and a choice of microphone at $55 to $56. Look elsewhere if you need a listed impedance or sensitivity, since the listing text gives none. The main caveat is that the page words the low-frequency driver count in two ways and its sound claims are the maker's own, so treat the specs as claims rather than measurements.

Best for
Someone who wants a detachable-cable set with several BA drivers per side and a choice of microphone.
Skip if
You need a listed impedance, sensitivity or cable length before buying.

The page calls the AS16 Pro a new generation of the AS16 and lists 8 balanced armature (BA) drivers on each side: four high-frequency units, two medium-frequency units and a low-frequency unit. It gives a frequency response of 20Hz-40000Hz and a high-purity braided silver-plated cable with a 2 pin interface. The price starts at $55 across 4 options, which are Black or Cyan, each with or without a microphone.

Options and pricing

There are 4 options: the Color is Black or Cyan and the MIC choice is With MIC or No MIC. The price changes only with the microphone, with No MIC at $55 and With MIC at $56, so the color does not move the price in the variants. The page describes the cable as a 2 pin design, and the listing text gives no plug size for it.

How it compares

The KZ AS16 PRO X carries a similar name and is listed from $56, against $55 here. The KZ AM16 is also from $56 and its listing text mentions 16 BA, while this page lists 8 BA per side. The Linsoul x KZ ZS10 PRO 2 starts at $54.99 and its listing text mentions 1DD and 4BA in a hybrid layout.

Shipping

  • Methods and costs. The store's shipping page offers Standard Shipping (4PX, Yanwen or Yun Express), free for most countries, and Express Shipping (DHL Express, FedEx or SF Express) at 15-50 USD depending on the country, free for orders over 270 USD in most countries (checked 2026-11-11).
  • Delivery times. It says an in-stock order ships within 3 working days, Standard takes about 2 weeks after shipping out (up to 1-3 months for some countries, and the store makes no refund for that transit time) and Express takes about 3-7 days. Festive seasons and other circumstances can change the timing.
  • Taxes and fees. The buyer pays any customs, import or processing fees. The page says Standard via YunExpress is tax-inclusive for some countries, that remote areas can carry extra Express charges, and that a parcel refused or left uncollected over taxes is deducted two-way freight and may be destroyed with no refund.
  • Where it ships. The page says the store can generally ship to most countries by Express and many by Standard, and to confirm Standard with the team for your country. It cannot ship to PO boxes or APO/FPO addresses and can only use Express to Hawaii. It does not name the US, Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand, so confirm before you pay.
  • Lost parcels. If a parcel has been in transit for at least 3 months, the page offers a one-time reshipment or a full refund for orders under $50 and a 50% refund for orders above $50.

Returns and warranty

  • Returns. The return page allows returning any non-customized product that is still factory sealed within 30 days of receiving it, with the buyer paying the shipping. Email [email protected] within that period; the store asks for the return to be shipped within 5 working days of the RMA instructions and in most cases processes a refund within 5 business days of inspecting it (checked 2026-11-11).
  • Opened items. A product opened within the first 7 days after delivery can be returned for the price minus a restocking fee of 35% of its retail value, including when it still works properly.
  • Refund or credit. The buyer can choose a refund to the original payment method (PayPal or card) or store credit; with no answer within 48 hours of confirmation the default is store credit, which can also be prioritized during promotions, final-sale events and for items 40% or more off retail.
  • Not returnable. Customized products, including faceplate designs, are non-refundable, and the page says the same applies to carry cases, cables, ear tips and other accessories, "due to hygiene purposes". If one item in a package is defective, incorrect or missing, the refund or replacement covers only that item.
  • Warranty. The page gives a 1-year warranty on products, excluding carry cases, ear tips and other accessories, and 3 months on cables and adapters, from the date of purchase. It covers factory defects that affect proper function, not damage from human error, negligence, accidents, dismantling, water, abuse or modification (checked 2026-11-11).
  • Not covered or limited. It does not apply to items bought elsewhere (AliExpress, Amazon, local dealers and the like), prize or giveaway items, normal wear or colour change, commercial use, or items that were stolen or went missing. Coverage is limited for products 40% or more off retail, for review units and for items repaired or modified by anyone Linsoul has not authorized.
  • Claims. Email [email protected] with the order number, the issue and photos and videos of the fault. The store may ask for the unit back for a replacement. It covers shipping for some defects reported within 7 days of delivery if the fault can be shown on video or photo; after 7 days the buyer ships it back. For wrong or missing items an unboxing video of the whole sealed parcel is required.

Before you buy

Linsoul says it was founded in 2016 by the Crazy HiFi team to bring Chinese HiFi makers closer to listeners worldwide, and that it now sells other makers' products alongside four brands of its own, THIEAUDIO, Kiwi Ears, ZiiGaat and Tripowin (checked 2026-11-11).

We have not read any independent review of this product or of the store. Ratings and owner reviews shown on the store's own pages are the store's and were not verified.

What we liked

  • The page states 8 balanced armature (BA) drivers per side and a 20Hz-40000Hz frequency response
  • The cable has a 2 pin changeable interface, so a different cable can be fitted
  • Prices are close across the 4 options: $55 without a microphone and $56 with one
  • Black and Cyan are offered, each with or without a microphone

Worth noting

  • The listing text gives no impedance, sensitivity or cable length
  • The page words the low-frequency unit two ways (two 22955 BA in one passage, one in another), so the 8 BA split is unclear
  • Every figure and description is the maker's own claim and none was checked here

Questions before you buy

How many drivers does the KZ AS16 Pro list?

The page lists 8 BA drivers on each side: 31736 BA for the high frequencies (four of them), 29689 BA for the medium frequencies (two) and 22955 BA for the low frequencies. The page also words the low-frequency unit as two 22955 BA in one passage and as one in another, so the split does not add up to 8 from the text alone.

Which cable and connector does it use?

The page describes a high-purity braided silver-plated cable with an OFC core and a 2 pin changeable interface. The listing text gives no plug type or cable length.

What options and prices are there?

There are 4 options. The Color is Black or Cyan, and the MIC choice is With MIC at $56 or No MIC at $55.

Can I return it if I change my mind?

The return page allows returning a non-customized product that is still factory sealed within 30 days of receiving it, with the buyer paying shipping. An opened product returned within 7 days carries a 35% restocking fee. Refunds go to the original payment method or to store credit, which is the default if you do not choose.

How long does shipping take?

The shipping page says in-stock orders ship within 3 working days. Standard Shipping takes about 2 weeks after shipping out, up to 1-3 months for some countries, and Express takes about 3-7 days. Standard is free for most countries; Express costs 15-50 USD and is free over 270 USD (over $499.99 for large items such as headphones and desktop DAC/AMPs).

Does Linsoul ship to the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand?

The page says Linsoul can generally ship to most countries by Express and many by Standard, and to ask the team about Standard for your country. It names no restriction for the US, Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand, but it does not list them either, and it can only use Express to Hawaii.

What warranty does it have?

The page gives a 1-year warranty on products from the purchase date for factory defects, not for human error, accidents or modification. Coverage is limited for items 40% or more off retail and for review units, and it does not apply to items bought from other sellers.

Sources & verification

What this review is based on and the day we last read it. Specs and claims from the maker are the maker’s own; the verdict and the rating are ours.

From the store

  • KZ AS16 Pro product page: specs, options and price (the buy buttons go there)Specs, options and the listed priceRead November 11, 2026
  • Linsoul shipping pageStandard and Express shipping, costs and times, import taxes, lost parcels, couriers, trackingRead November 11, 2026
  • Linsoul return policy and warranty page30-day returns of sealed items, 35% restocking fee on opened ones, 1-year and 3-month warranties, exclusions, how to claimRead November 11, 2026
  • Linsoul support FAQThe same shipping, return and warranty rules in question form, plus order changes and cancellationsRead November 11, 2026
  • About LinsoulFounded in 2016 by the Crazy HiFi team; names its own brands; the awards listed there are the store's own accountRead November 11, 2026

What we couldn’t verify

  • The page's frequency range, isolation figure (more than 26dB) and sound descriptions are the maker's claims and were not checked here.
  • Per the page the low-frequency unit is two 22955 BA in one passage and one in another, so the 8 BA per side does not add up from the text alone.
  • The listing text gives no impedance, sensitivity, cable length or weight, per the page's own text.
  • We have not read an independent review of this product or the store, and the store's own ratings were not verified. We read the store's catalog description only: a specification table or image shown just on the live page was not read.
  • The shipping page names no US, Canada, UK, Australia or New Zealand times or fees: its figures are general and we could not confirm them for these countries.

Spotted an error or something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it and update the date.

Share this review