Disclaimer:
Good morning, readers. Today we are going to analyze together the new Celest Relentless. Celest’s IEMs all feature particularly appealing designs and, in many cases, very interesting configurations. I really like this brand because it always manages to stand out from the crowd, sometimes going against the grain.
I still have all the other Celest hybrids, so making comparisons won’t be a problem.
Thank you, Hifigo Store, for sending me this unit to review. As always, I remain the slowest of all reviewers, but I hope that interest has not waned.
However, the review will still be 100% honest and, in no way, biased.
I’m not an audiophile; I’m just a guy that likes to test out different IEMs and DACs and spends a lot of time listening to music.
So I’m not going to use super-technical words to review it, but I will do my best to describe it.
Tech Specs:
- 1DD+6BA Hybrid Driver Configuration
- 8mm Dynamic Driver Unit.
- Celest Customized BA Driver Units.
- Highly-balanced sound tonality.
- Exclusive Looks with Hand-Painted Ear Shells.
- 3D Printed Ear Cavities.
- Skillfully 3D printed by HeyGears.
- 5N Copper Silver-Plated Cable.
- 3.5mm and 4.4mm interchangeable plugs.
- Impedance: 27Ω.
- Sensitivity: 105dB.
- Connector Type: 0.78mm 2-pin.
- Frequency response range: 20 Hz–20 kHz.
Packaging:
Kinera Celest’s packaging is always extremely well-finished, like their IEMs, a mix between fantasy anime and art. The Celest Relentless packaging is really beautiful, with very thick cardboard. This time, the standard equipment is really rich. I would dare say it is one of the most complete pieces of equipment ever.
You can feel the care in the product, even just externally. To tell the truth, such elaborate boxes are included in the price of the IEM. If the packages were even more compact and less elaborate, I would not be disappointed.
Opening the package, we find the Celest Relentless embedded in the foam, and immediately below them is the hard case with the accessories.
Inside, we find various accessories, such as:
Such a set of accessories is worthy of praise; the tips are extremely varied, even if I honestly don’t consider some of them the most suitable for the Celest Relentless. The cable is good, and finally, I see that we are starting to find more cables with interchangeable terminals. There is a brush for cleaning the nozzle, and as always, the gadget is found in all the slightly more expensive Celest products. The rigid case is also excellent. In the following photo gallery I think you can get an idea of the quality of the accessories.
Design/Build quality:
In terms of design, Celest knows their stuff; it may not be your style, but they are undoubtedly masters of aesthetics. Their level of construction of hybrid IEMs from the Celest Phoenixcall to today is always top-notch. Seeing the internal tubing is always fascinating. The faceplates of the Celest Relentless are really beautiful; they look like ripples in the sea this time. The resin is thin but still allows you to glimpse the inside; the tuning stands out, along with some balanced armature signed Celest and the DD on the back. I only saw one ventilation hole near the pins. The nozzle is normal size; they introduced a more pronounced step/edge for better stability of the tips. In terms of build quality and weight, they remind me of the Celest Plutus Beast. Just slightly heavier.
I think the photos speak for themselves, aesthetically speaking they are very beautiful and well built. I would have also liked them with totally transparent resin so as to be able to clearly see the components and internal structure.
Comfort/Fit:
The Celest Relentless housing all these drivers is thicker or taller. It does not have a strange shape but will simply protrude from the ear. If you want to sleep on them, it is not for you! In terms of comfort, with the right tips, the shape is perfect; there are no pressure points. In my case, I mounted the EPZ M100, which is definitive for most of the IEMs I am trying. This time I didn’t take any pictures of me wearing them because the outside temperatures have been prohibitive lately. If anyone needs such photos, just ask me.
Initial sound impression:
The Celest Relentless is one of the few IEMs that surprises you right away, I knew Celest was special, but it has produced something that stands out from the crowd. It is not the purest experience, but certainly one of the most fun. The sound is full of energy, the soundstage is immersive, and the bass is very punchy, but the highs maintain an excellent extension. The upper midrange is soft and controlled compared to the average. Putting them in my ears left a smile on my face, and it happens very rarely.
It is not for purists, but if you want something unique, you have come to the right place. This IEM will provide you with several hours of easy listening while also being quite complex or technical. It is certainly not the best with classical genres, but with modern music, it goes extremely well.
Tips Rolling?
Rolling tips are practically recommended already by Celest, which provides you with a lot of eartips. I personally have seen the Widebore, and they are the ones that allow superior sealing among those included (obviously on my ears). But having just received the EPZ M100, which are extremely soft and sticky liquid silicone tips, I decided to immediately switch to the latter. The way you put them on is like putting on earplugs. Top sealing, top stability.
I don’t think there’s any point in searching further; in my case, I wanted to preserve every frequency, but if you want to somehow tone down the bass, you should try the Dunu S&S, Tri Clarion, and maybe the Divinus Velvet, which breathes a little more.
Equipment was used for the testing above:
Device:
- OSX
- Redmi Note 7 Snapdragon
- Poco M4 Pro
Software:
- Amazon music UHD 24bit 96kHz
DAC:
- Moondrop Dawn Pro
- Fosi SK02 (most used)
- Fiio KA11
- Fiio KA17
- Fosi DS2
- Simgot Dew4x
- EPZ TP20 Pro
- Hidizs S9 Pro Plus
- EPZ TP50
- Creative SoundBlaster X5
Lately, I’ve been limiting myself to using only the Fosi SK02, which I honestly find more than sufficient for my needs. I also think it’s right to use only one DAC or dongle as a reference for reviews. Being a V-shaped IEM, the choice of dongle depends on your tastes. If you tolerate slightly spicy highs, you can safely orient yourself towards bright sources.
Final sound impression:
A bit of burn-in was done as always, but the initial result does not differ from the final result.
Finally, a hybrid IEM that moves the listener’s soul clearly reflects what is reported by the manufacturer: “The overall response with the pair is highly balanced, producing a fast, deep-hitting bass response with clear and crisp vocals in the midrange and exceptional instrument details in the treble region.” Nothing more correct could they have written. The sound is balanced in a wise way so that all the frequencies are correctly mixed together. The result is like an excellent cocktail with a completely new flavor. The mastery lies in being able to both make the shells with all the driver tubes and to have capable tuners able to reach similar results.
The sound is very pleasant, even if unusual. As I was saying, the difference with other IEMs is immediately noticeable. The bass is super thick, but both the mids and highs are still rich in energy and air. The whole thing becomes immediate and atmospheric around you.
Treble
They took advantage of the balanced armors to maintain a good level of extension, which was not easy given the massive presence of the DD. They could be considered high and perhaps not suitable for everyone, but as far as I’m concerned, they bring the right level of detail and a lot of air. The typical BA timbre is well hidden, but in some slightly pushed musical genres, you might notice it.
Mids
The mids are recessed, but not excessively so. Although they are not the most natural for my tastes, they are still pleasant, even if the thickness of the voices is a bit shy. It focuses a lot on musicality and energy, but the voices are slightly in the background. This does not mean I consider them poor, but they are still excellent. All the instruments and voices have their own directionality and precise separation, giving the scene a defined image. In the R&B genre, where the rhythms are calmer, both instruments and voices sound quite pleasant and not too far from a sound that I would consider coherent. On more lively music, perhaps the voices lose a bit of weight and thickness.
Bass
In the low range, they pushed a lot, but the sub-bass is extremely composed with very little rumble. It’s a bass that could be considered bassheads, but it lacks sub-bass. The average listener or one who doesn’t look for a marked sub-bass will still find them very pleasant. The bass gives the sensation of depth and also has an atmospheric touch. Good speed, excellent definition.
Soundstage/Separation/Imaging:
The soundstage, thanks to the bass and the presence of a lot of air, gives emotions an immersive nature. It develops a bit in all directions with ease; the image and the separation are very precise and contribute to creating a positive experience, even if it is not the purest and most natural there is. In a market that continues to churn out IEMs that are all similar in target and sound, Celest always manages to do something different.
Comparison:
A decidedly more natural but still engaging experience, the Supermix has a more exotic driver configuration and a purer, more natural tone. They are also decidedly superior on a technical level, but in terms of enjoyment, the Celest Relentless are definitely the winner. It all depends on what you are looking for in your next IEM.
vs Simgot EM6L
An IEM that is still very musical and still gives emotions. In a certain sense, the configuration is similar, but the result is very different. The EM6L has a more natural timbre, especially in the representation of voices, and an excellent image that also makes them suitable for gaming, but technically, the Relentless are superior in everything else. There is also a price difference.
vs Plutus Beast & Phoenixcall
After the Relentless, the old generation of Celest hybrids has been overshadowed. However, it is from these IEMs that I have used the potential of Celest to offer interesting and particular hybrids. Although they are both excellent hybrids, they cannot keep up with the latter. I leave you the links to take a look at the reviews, but a direct comparison makes no sense.
Conclusion:
Kinera Celest has managed to produce a special product again. I’m sure it’s not for everyone, but if anyone is looking for something special that they would be able to spot even with their eyes closed among a bunch of IEMs, then this is the Celest Relentless. Personally, for the price, you get a hybrid IEM with a well-finished and beautiful shell, a standard feature that is the envy of many IEMs. On top of all that, it also sounds good. The immersion you get track after track glues you to hours of listening with even a few smiles when you get to tracks that you remembered as different. As I’ve already repeated several times, we can’t consider them purists, but the fun factor is certainly high. Celest has proven once again that they have no problem getting great tuning out of hybrid IEMs; just be aware that they might be a little too bright for some.
If we consider it a fun hybrid, it is at the top of those I own, so I should probably give it a high rating. If compared to other hybrids with a more mature and balanced sound, I think it loses a few points, but it is still among the best I have had the opportunity to try.
8.4/10
Pros:
- Great Design
- Quality shell, resin 3D and tubing
- Nice comfort and fit
- Removable & modular cable
- Many quality tips
- Depth Soundstage, clear image and separation
- Price/Quality Ratio in Hybrid IEMS
- Easy to drive (you don’t need anything expensive)
Cons:
- Not the most natural experience
- Better on balanced output
- Treble could be bright and mids are recessed
- The shell is thick but size is average (no problem in my opinion)
