KBEAR KS1 Review – UnBEARably Safe
Pros
Well fitting, light, comfortable.
Above average isolation.
Good organic and analoguish timbre.
Laid back tuning, smooth and non offensive.
No sibilance, safe treble.
Easy to drive.
Cons
Bass bleeds, not the most textured bass.
Intended V shaped tuning, not for mid or vocal lovers.
Technicalities below average.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The KBEAR KS1 is a well done bassy V shaped set, featuring good timbre and tonality. It features a warm and analoguish non fatiguing tuning. It is bottlenecked at the technicalities aspect, but would otherwise make a fine addition for those who are new to this hobby or those who want a laid back tuning that is different from the usual budget CHIFI fare.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver configuration: Dual Magnectic Circuit Single Dynamic Driver
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20000Hz
- Impedance: 16 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 109 dB/mW
- Cable: 2 pin 0.78 mm
- Tested at $18 USD
- Purchase link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002184896879.html
ACCESSORIES
Other than the IEM, the KBEAR KS1 packaging comes with:
- 4 core 4N pure copper cable – A bit too thin for my preference, but very usable sonically.
- Silicone ear tips (3 sizes)
Accessories wise, nothing much to complain for the price, this is par for the course for a sub $20 USD set. I do think the accessories here are rather usable OOTB, but of course experienced CHIFI users will straight away throw the stock stuff into a drawer (or dustbin) and whip out their own tips and cables. TBH, I’ve actually seen some CHIFI retailing for much more that provide exactly the same accessories (cough cough a CHIFI company that has 3 alphabets starting with T).
For the purposes of this review, the stock cable and tips were used, so as not to change the sound signature with aftermarket gear.
BUILD/COMFORT
The KBEAR KS1 shell is made of plastic. I got the white version, which really looks like some Stormtrooper armour. It is very light and comfortable and well fitting. No complaints from me on this aspect.
I didn’t find any driver flex for myself (but YMMV once more as this is somewhat dependent on ear anatomy and types of ear tips used).
I liked that the KBEAR KS1 uses 2 pin connectors, as I’m not a fan of MMCX connectors in general, as they tend to have shorter longevity especially if cables are swapped too much.
ISOLATION
The KBEAR KS1 has above average isolation. Not too bad considering it is dual vented, though some pure BA type IEMs without vents will probably beat it in the isolation department.
DRIVABILITY
I tested the KBEAR KS1 with a Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp, Sony NW A-55 DAP (DMP-A50 FEv2 Classic Mr Walkman Mod), smartphone, Shanling Q1 DAP, Tempotec Sonata HD Pro, ESS ES9280C PRO DAC/AMP, and a Khadas Tone Board -> Fiio A3 Amp. The KBEAR KS1 is quite easy to drive, and amping is not really required. Though like other single DD types, amping can increase dynamics, soundstage and perhaps microdetails a tinge.
The KBEAR KS1 is a bassy and warm set, so in general, I found it paired better with perhaps neutral or brighter sources. Warmer sources may make the sound too thick, veiled and bassy, but YMMV.
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES
In a nutshell, the KBEAR KS1 is a well done bassy V shaped set, featuring good timbre and tonality. It doesn’t suffer from the usual sibilant hyperboosted treble/upper mids that plague a lot of budget CHIFI sets. In fact, the KBEAR KS1 is warm and analoguish and the tuning is pretty non offensive and non fatiguing. Some might even find the KBEAR KS1 too safe in tuning actually. As this is an intended V shaped tuning, mid and vocal lovers best look elsewhere, as vocals and the mids are in the background, and at times may be a bit hollow.
Bass on the KBEAR KS1 is midbass focused with some subbass roll off. In terms of quantity, I would classify it at a level shy of true basshead levels. Quality wise, unfortunately, the midbass bleeds into the mids and isn’t too textured. Bass is also at times boomy and one noted.
Mids are recessed as per the V shaped tuning. The lower mids are obscured not only due to the V shaped tuning but because of the midbass bleed from the copious bass. Some may like the added warmth, but some may not, so kind of a YMMV situation. Upper mids are mildly boosted but are very smooth and not shouty. As discussed, mid and vocal lovers best consider alternative IEMs as this is a deliberately tuned V shaped set. Female vocals are more forward than male vocals, but the vocals (especially male ones) do take a backseat in this tuning, but consequently, this is a very safe upper mids tuned set, with not an ounce of fatigue with longer listening sessions. This set is a far cry from the usual hyper boosted upper mids section we frequently encounter at the budget CHIFI segment.
Treble in the KBEAR KS1 is a safe and very non fatiguing treble, so this is not a very airy set. Sibilance is not present. Notes are rounded and smooth, and may at times lack bite. This can be a pro or con depending on whether you want more edge definition/bite in the notes.
Soundstage width and height are about average, but soundstage depth is below average. The tuning is rather analoguish, technicalities like clarity, imaging details, instrument separation are below average at this price bracket, music can occasionally be congested especially with faster/complex instrumentation or competing riffs. So this is not a technical set for critical listening or analytical listening, but more for sitting back to chill and enjoy the music.
In terms of timbral accuracy, the KBEAR KS1 is very natural and organic for acoustic instruments, as per its single DD roots. It may be a bit too bassy and V shaped for classical and jazz genres per se, but if your music incorporates acoustic instruments, no worries about any instrument sounding artificial or fake as per some budget hybrids/multi BA sets.
COMPARISONS
As hybrids/multi BA have their own strengths and weaknesses, I have left out the KBEAR KS2 (hybrid) from comparisons here below, but have incorporated some other “hyped” $20ish budget single DD sets below.
BLON BL-03
The KBEAR KS1 and BLON BL-03 are both V shaped, but the KBEAR KS1 is overall brighter.
The KBEAR KS1 has a slightly more accurate timbral accuracy for acoustic instruments than the BLON BL-03, which also has excellent timbre, though I find the BLON BL-03’s timbre is quite coloured and a bit tubish. I would say both are analoguish sounding, the BLON BL-03 more so.
In terms of technicalities, both are below average compared to other similarly priced CHIFI. These 2 sets are very close in technicalities, I think the KBEAR KS1 is just a bit better in the instrument separation and details departments. Soundstage and imaging is a bit better on the BLON BL-03.
The Kbear KS1 is easier to drive and has a much better fit. As CHIFI collectors know, the BLON BL-03’s fit is very famous (or rather infamous) due to the too short nozzle, requiring most folks to use aftermarket longer nozzles or spacer mods. The BLON BL-03’s stock cable also had a very stiff cablehook which tends to yank the IEM out of the ears, so most users have to resort to buying aftermarket tips/cables and this adds to the cost, so the BLON BL-03 is not $20 – 30 USD but rather closer to the $40 – 50 USD mark.
So essentially, both sets feature a warm bassy tonality with an analoguish feel, but the KBEAR KS1 is much easier to fit OOTB without the need to spend on aftermarket mods.
BLON BL-01
The tonality of the KBEAR KS1 is quite similar to the BLON BL-01, perhaps the KBEAR KS1 is a tinge more V shaped (slightly more midbass and slightly more treble).
Like the BLON BL-03, in terms of technicalities, both of these sets are below average in this department. I think the BLON BL-01 just nudges ahead a tinge in the imaging, instrument separation, details and soundstage departments. Timbre is slightly better on the KBEAR KS1.
The KBEAR KS1 is much easier to drive and has a much better fit. The BLON BL-01 also has quite a bad fit, though probably not as bad as the aforementioned BL-03. However, the BLON BL-01 sounds very meh from a low powered source, and really needs amping to shine. No offence though, I’ve seen some audiophiles on audio forums recommending $200 USD amps just to get the BLON BL-01 to sound good, which IMHO, is a bit of an overkill for a $20 USD IEM. It is kind of putting the cart before the horse to get a source costing 10 times more than a budget IEM, especially since the clientele purchasing at the budget segment are probably not that interested in delving into expensive sources and amps when they are first dipping their toes into CHIFI waters. If we were talking about more hardcore CHIFI connoisseurs who purchase midfi to TOTL gear, then yes, they have different priorities and perhaps an amp will unlock the sound for audio nirvana and future proof this hobby, but I honestly won’t recommend beginners to invest so much into sources when they are getting a budget CHIFI set.
Between the 2 sets, the BLON BL-01 is probably a tinge better in sound (if amped), but the fitting issues and the need for a higher powered source would mean I would give my recommendation to the KBEAR KS1, unless you have a good amp on hand.
CONCLUSIONS
The KBEAR KS1 is a well done bassy V shaped set, featuring good timbre and tonality. It features a warm and analoguish non fatiguing tuning. It is bottlenecked at the technicalities aspect and in the bass quality area, but I feel it would otherwise make a fine addition for those who are new to this hobby or those who want a laid back tuning that is different from the usual budget CHIFI fare. It is a set well suited to sitting back and chilling and enjoying the music for what it is, not the gear.
Indeed, the KBEAR KS1 will also make a good alternative to the hypetrain BLON BL-03 and BLON BL-01, especially since there is no need to worry about fixing the fit with aftermarket tips/cables and there is also no need to source for a powerful source (no pun intended), just to get the IEM to sing. Perhaps hardcore CHIFI addicts who have amassed a drawer full of CHIFI trinklets would have owned and heard something better, but for the price of sub $20 USD, it is far from bad and I would easily skip the price of a restaurant meal just to get my paws on this one.
Once again, enjoy the music!
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DISCLAIMER
I would like to thank KBEAR for providing this review unit. It can be gotten here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002184896879.html
Our generic standard disclaimer.
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