This was my third set of Knowledge Zenith earphones. The first was the KZ ED Special Editions and the second was the KZ ED9. The Special Editions are very good and the ED9 are excellent.I tend to prefer a relatively neutral sound signature with a slight emphasis in both bass and treble, which is basically a mild "V" shaped sound signature. I find that an absolute neutral sound signature usually lacks enough energy for the genres I enjoy most, which are Classic Trance and Progressive (early Tiesto, Markus Schulz, Otello, DT8 Project), Chill Out, Breakbeat (Hybrid & Burufunk Remixes) and 80's & 90's (New Order, Secession, The Cure, Siouxie & The Banshees, Depeche Mode). Sure I listen to Shania Twain, Sade, Bach, Ella Fitzgerald and everything in between, but as of late the bulk of my listening pleasure is focused on the aforementioned genres.About IEMs (in-ear monitors):Take note when you read IEM reviews that when the reviewer gives his/her opinion regarding the sound that there are many factors that shape the final sound an IEM delivers to one's ear.Those factors include:1 - Shape and size of the reviewer's ear canals. (shallow/deep, wide/narrow)2 - Shape and size of the eartips. (round/cone, single/double/triple flange, proper fit)3 - Materials of the eartips (silicone/foam)4 - Shape of the IEM (and/or angle of the nozzle) can cause fitment issues for some.5 - Source (quality of smartphone, laptop, digital audio player) amplified/unamplified.6 - The IEM itself (driver flex possible due to trapping air in canal causing muffled sound.and finally7 - The Reviewers ability to hear all frequency ranges (age plays a factor).Most consumers are unaware of how much weight each of these factors hold in rendering a final verdict. This is why there is such a wide variance in not only ratings, but the description of an IEMs sound. An unaware consumer purchases a perfectly fine IEM but has difficulty keeping the IEM in the ear or does not satisfactorily seal the ear canal with the included silicone eartips (this has happened to me on numerous occasions) and summarily dismisses the IEM as sub par. Another consumer purchases the same IEM but experiences a perfect fit and seal and has nothing but praise for the same IEM. Sealing the ear canals when using IEMs is the determining factor to render a valid verdict. I can think of no audio equipment that is subjected to such praise or ridicule as the in-ear monitor. When it comes to IEMs, in particular an IEMs eartips, there is no one-size-fits-all.-Materials (silicone or foam) have different damping effects on the frequency ranges in the music.-The shape of the eartips (olive-shaped, cone-shaped and other-shaped) can have different damping effects on the music based on how much space is between the IEM nozzle and your eardrum and how well the eartip has sealed the ear canal.-The aperture of the eartip's opening (wide-bore/narrow-bore) will have damping effects on the frequency ranges of the music.The easiest way for you to experience the different effects I am discussing is to take your current on-ear earphones or over-ear earphones, pick a song full of energy, put the earphones on and let them sit naturally over/on your ears. Listen to them for two minutes. After two minutes, using your hands, slightly press the headphones closer to your eardrums. Notice the change in the sound. Is there more/less bass? Is there more/less treble? Did the vocals slightly slip forward/back?Consider that on-ear and over-ear headphones have a driver that sits approximately 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches from your eardrums and by pressing the headphones 1/4" closer to your eardrums the sound changed. Now consider that an IEM sits anywhere from 3/4" to 1/4" from your eardrums and the slightest changes (angle, depth, shape, material) can have up to three times the effect due to the proximity of the IEM to the eardrum.For this reason, I think it is wise to invest a nominal dollar amount on different eartips to get everything the earphone tuners intended. Personally, I think anything less is folly. Some IEM manufacturers supply multiple sizes (S,M & L) and materials (silicone & foam) of eartips to increase the odds that the consumer achieves a satisfactory seal, but even this is not foolproof. If this holds any interest for you some aftermarket brands to look into are "JVC Spiral Dots", "Comply Foam Eartips" or "Znari Foam Eartips", "Creative Aurvana" and others.The Knowledge Zenith ATE:When I first popped these in I was a bit underwhelmed. It wasn't because they sounded bad. It was because it is not my preferred sound signature. The vocals are clear but they have a warm and/or darkish tone to them. I usually like everything clean and clear across the frequency range with a slight v-shape to bring the bass out and showcase the details in the upper frequencies. I listen to a lot of classic EDM and while these performed well with that genre, I find that the ED9 perform better.Where these did shine was with vocal centered music. That sounds counterintuitive because of the darkish tone I mentioned. Counterintuitive or not, it works and works well. The mids are the star of the show with these in-ear monitors. It's almost like an inverted mild v-shape signature. There is more mid-bass than sub-bass and while there is treble it does not have that sparkle. This is what was so distracting about the sound signature at first. An inverted v-shape would seem veiled. It did compared to my preferred sound signature.I was testing these with EDM and I missed the energy the lower and higher frequencies deliver. The opening track, "Escape" by Airbase on Otello's "Masterworks Collection: Las Vegas" sounded great but lacked both the kick of the sub-bass and the snares up top.It took a few minutes for the light to come on. GREAT MIDS MEANS VOCALS. I immediately loaded Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall, Barbara Streisand, Shania Twain and Susan Ashton. I hit play and there it was. Silky smooth intimate liquid like vocals. Very, very entertaining. Ella Fitzgerald's "One for my baby and one for the road" was a joy to hear through the KZ ATE. Diana Krall's "Maybe You'll Be There" was like sitting at the piano with her. Streisand's humor-covered heartbrake in "Funnygirl" came across with uncanny realism and Susan Ashton's torch ballad "A Rose Is A Rose" was sublime. Shania's "Home Ain't Where His Heart Is Anymore" was a welcome change from the way I've listened to it numerous times in the past with the vocals slightly recessed because of my v-shape signature preference.The bottom line on the ATE is that they are "mid-centric" IEMs best paired with acoustic, jazz or even 60's, 70's or 80's recordings. The ATE sounds more "analogue" than just about any IEM I've heard and that's what makes them so endearing to so many.FYI: The proper way to insert in-ear monitors is to insert the iem (with bud) in your ear and slightly pull it back outward until you feel a slight suction pressure. If you don't feel the suction pressure you don't have a proper seal and your music will sound tinny or thin.So far, KZ haven't disappointed me yet. $12.99 for the KZ ATE is a steal and a bargain if ever there was one.I also own the KZ ATE-S and I prefer to use those if I am going to listen to EDM. There is more sub-bass. Don't get it twisted though, this KZ ATE has more than enouugh bass, but it has more mid-bass than sub-bass. The mid-bass and silky vocal mids is why these are great for vocal centered Jazz or Standards (Krall, Buble, Sinatra, Fitzgerald).Knowledge Zenith's is owned and operated by a former Audio-Technica engineer, Keith Yue, who knows how to tune earphones well. In fact you'll notice the KZ ATE looks very similar to the Audio Technica IM50 ($70). Read those reviews and see if you find any similarities in the sound signature.The ATEs sound so good I ordered another pair for back-up. $12.99? Yes, please, may I have another........The silicone eartips and earhooks in the photos are my own and do not come with the ATE.Hope this was helpful.