Closer Examination

The charging/storage case is a critical component of the user experience when it comes to true wireless earphones and often makes a strong first product impression. This is the case here as well since you take the case out before anything else, and the different color options for the PaMu Z1 differentiate it from the many similar-looking TWS earphones available today. I have the aqua blue version, and there are three other colors to choose from. Noticed the blue plastic cover that wraps around the case? It can be pulled off and replaced, and Padmate sells replacement covers as "belts" for $8 in a set of the three other colors than your own. It is otherwise a relatively small plastic case with soft corners to further reduce the footprint. The hinge on the back is flush with the case, which adds to the cleaner aesthetics, and opening the box reveals the earphones inside.

The expected Type-C port for charging is on the bottom, meaning the case will recline on the side when plugged in. There are no obvious indicator LEDs on the exterior, but then you spot the piece of acrylic jutting out the side with PaMu etched in. It lights up white to act as the de-facto indicator LED of the case charging and discharging, though it isn't very useful given each state is a random 30%. Removing the earphones, we see fairly deep channels with a rather different form factor to fit the PaMu Z1; it goes in lengthwise first, with the L/R channels marked accordingly. Markings on the underside of the lid confirm the case has an average battery capacity of 500 mAh (1.85 Wh) and is rated to provide just ~3 charge cycles based on the battery life estimates, which is certainly below average. Charging time for the case is 1.5-2 hours over a wired connection limited to 500 mA over 5 VDC, and the differentiating feature between the PaMu Z1 and Z1 Lite is that the case supports wireless charging, too. I was able to confirm as much with a generic Qi charger, wherein charging took closer to 3.5 hours, but it does make for a use case where you just drop the case onto the pad at night and pick it up in the morning on your way out.


Peel off the plastic covers preventing the case from charging the PaMu Z1 earphones, and place them inside to give them a full charge prior to use. Obvious even so is that these earphones are not shaped like your typical TWS set and might as well be a set of IEMs with an extension on the front for more microphones for voice communication and active noise cancellation. I quite like the aqua blue color too, with the case matching inside and out. As with the case, these wireless IEMs are primarily made out of plastic, which keeps them lightweight. The design language is wide and rounded too, with a generous mix of white and blue. The face plate, if you will, has "PaMu" etched into it with a small cutout through which indicator LEDs shine to confirm the operating status and battery level of the earphones themselves. Another on the other side facing downward is closest to your mouth and houses a microphone used for communication.

A look from the side reveals the bulbous nature of the acoustic chamber housing the dynamic driver setup inside, with the elongated oval section up front mostly catering to microphones. There are more vents on the inside and the inner surface area of the IEM shells, where we also see L/R markings for the left/right channels for those who need it. The charging pins are on the side by the microphone vent, which has these go into the case lengthwise first as mentioned before. Fitting the ear tips is not too hard; the nozzle diameter is just over the bore of the tips, and the retaining notch keeps them in place. You may well have to stretch the ear tips slightly to get them to fit over the nozzle, which too is oval as postulated on the previous page. A metal mesh helps prevent contamination of the acoustic chamber, and do try out the different sizes to get the best-possible fit for your specific ears. Give some third-party memory foam tips a go too if those are more to your liking.