Disclaimer:
The Kinera Wyvern Abyss was sent to me as a review sample from HiFIGO, for which I thank them!
This time, the product can be classified as entry-level. I have never tried a cheap product from Celest, but the presence of a 10mm LCP driver doesn’t make it too economical.
My review is late as usual, but I also received the IEM after all the other reviewers, and between one thing and another, perhaps the hype has already passed.
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:
- 10mm LCP Diaphragm Dynamic Driver.
- Impedance: 32Ω.
- Sensitivity: 105dB.
- Frequency Response Range: 20 Hz–20 kHz.
- Connector Type: 0.78mm 2-pin.
- Termination Plug: 3.5mm.
Packaging:
The packaging is one of the most basic, but it is still nice and sufficient. A card tells us the story behind the choice of the name. Below, we find some small bags:
- The Celeset Wyvern Abyss
- The cable
- The tips (identical to SS20)
- Manual
We can’t say that the unboxing is exciting, but on a similar product, what matters is the sound. The cable is a little too soft for my taste but particularly nice, and the tips are good but not totally suitable for use with the IEM in question. Personally, I have no problem with the nozzle even when using wide bore tips similar to the originals, but many of you may need a few extra millimeters, which can be recovered with classic tips.
Design/Build quality:
The Celest Wyvern Abyss has shapes already seen in the Wyvern series, a classic shape that is almost always good. Qualitatively speaking, they are vaguely reminiscent of the Plutus Beast, but the resin is lighter, and the drivers are also less heavy. We only have one ventilation hole in the rear part of the shell. Honestly, they are very light, but I wouldn’t say fragile (at least, I hope). The faceplates are really very beautiful, especially in sunlight; they actually resemble the skin of a dragon. The nozzle is slightly short, which is why the included tips are not necessarily ideal.
In the entire shell, I only noticed one ventilation hole. Unfortunately, peeking inside is impossible due to the very dark resin. I would have liked to glimpse the driver or the internal structure.
Comfort/Fit:
In terms of comfort, the shell shape is quite standard and universal. The only thing slightly different is the length of the nozzle, which is shorter than usual. The problem is easily circumvented with tips other than those included. In my case, I didn’t have any problems even using widebore tips, so the fit depends extremely on the shape of your ear. As far as comfort is concerned, it is an ultra-light IEM that does not create any pressure points on the ear.
Initial sound impression:
First impressions, I would say, are positive, especially taking into account the price at which they are offered. The tuning is certainly very attractive without having extreme peaks on the highs. Let’s say that it is nothing new but that the recipe works, especially if the price at which it is offered is interesting. The iem has a balanced and warm sound; the trebles perhaps need something more. At first glance, the separation seems excellent.
Tips Rolling?
I absolutely advise you to try alternative tips. If you don’t want to spend more money, any tips coming from other IEMs are definitely worth a try. I did not do much tip-rolling this time because I immediately stopped on the Tangzu Sancai Widebore. Remaining in the economical range, I recommend the 07 model tips (you can find them under different brands), the Divinus Velvet, or the Tri Clarion.
Equipment was used for the testing above:
Device:
- OSX
- Redmi Note 7 Snapdragon
- Poco M4 Pro
Software:
- Spotify
- Amazon music UHD 24bit 96kHz (Both)
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
Final sound impression:
I left the Celest Wyvern Abyss to do a minimum burn-in, and in the meantime, I reset my ears from the previous review of the Tiandirehne TD08 Pro. My initial impressions were largely confirmed; the 10mm driver with LCP diaphragm handles it well. If you consider that they cost the same as a KZ IEM, I think there are no doubts about which ones to buy. The build quality is excellent, and the cable is actually very flexible (very soft), but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Like I said, just be careful of the nozzle. The compressive shape vaguely reminds me of the Hifiman Svanar Wireless, but fortunately the nozzle allows you to play with any tips.
Treble
The trebles for the price range are exceptional; they are never harsh or sibilant. The details emerge easily, a discreet presence of sparkles; perhaps I would have added a little more air and sparkles. An IEM with very quiet tuning to be able to please a wide audience (which is why it is nothing new).
Mids
At high volumes, it can actually become a bit shouty in some tracks. It’s not always totally quiet, as it seemed to me at first, but it still has mids with a very pleasant tonality. Occasionally, on very complex tracks, there is bleeding—not excessively, but it is there. However, a clear midrange representation is rich in detail, with a tonality of both male and female voices.
Bass
They are present, full, and well defined, but not overly emphasized. Making the headphones suitable for different musical genres. Although the quantity is not exaggerated, they are appreciated for the quality. The sub-bass is very good, which further emphasizes the perception of the bass, which has that tangibility. You don’t often hear such quality in this price range.
Soundstage/Separation/Imaging:
The Celest Wyvern Abyss does very well in imaging, but as regards the soundstage, it is not impressive; it is average, and the sound comes out a little beyond your ears except for a few details. On separation, it does well, but on complex tracks, you can hear their limits. Improvements can be felt using tips similar to BGVP 07 or Divinus Velvet.
Comparison:
I don’t currently have many budget models to compare it to. Or rather, I have several but not recent ones, so if you want other comparisons, try asking me.
vs EPZ Q1 Pro
The IEM that comes closest to the Celest Wyvern Abyss is certainly the EPZ Q1 Pro. Honestly, the quality of the EPZ shell seems superior to mine; they weigh more and seem more resistant. The nozzle is made of metal and has a classic length; the cable is slightly better to the touch. In terms of sound and technical aspects, the EPZ is brighter, more detailed, and more technical. It’s up to personal taste, but the tuning of the Celest is probably more smooth and warmer and is more appreciated.
A comparison could be made with the Tiandirenhe TD08 Pro that I listened to before these. At first glance, the bass is clearly superior, and bassheads are certainly happy. Very V-shaped signature compared to the Celest; in the mids, they struggle a little, but at the same time, I manage to keep the trebles particularly energetic and lively. It’s not a dark, energyless sound. For my personal taste, I prefer them, but actually, the trebles might be too much for some, but there are also foam tips included in the package. Not bad, right?
A lot of stock accessories are included in the package. I personally appreciate them a lot, even if they are not the most resolute, and in terms of technicality, the Celest are probably superior.
Conclusion:
Sets like the Celest Wyvern Abyss are always welcome. Those who are new to this hobby or simply looking for something to use without worries every day can take home similar IEMs with extremely low prices without sacrificing sound performance at all. Obviously, we are not faced with anything particularly revolutionary in terms of sound signature, but in this price range, you struggle to find cons.
The cable is not the best, but it does its job, and if it breaks, you can always upgrade. The eartips, on the other hand, are not exactly right for the model. Looking around on Hifigo, I noticed that they sell them combined with the Divinus Velvet, but obviously you have to pay more. It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it.
I apologize for the lower quality of the photos, but artificial lighting does not perform as well as natural lighting, and the heat is unbearable during this time.
7/10
Pros:
- Similar shell resin to the Plutus Beast (slightly cheaper)
- Nice shell shape
- Removable cable
- Fine tips for the price (but needs upgrade)
- Harman 2019 (all-rounder tuning and sound signature)
- Pretty good mids, nice energy and bass performance
- Average details and no harshness
- Price/quality ratio
- Easy to drive (you don’t need anything expensive)
Cons:
- The cable seems a little bit too soft
- Nozzle could be short for someone
- New tips are needed
- Upper-midrange could be spicy at high volumes
