Kinera Hodur is the latest offering from the Kinera brand which is known for mid to higher tier iems and this one donning DD + BA + EST together for $300 is no different. However considering that Kinera Bd005pro and Idun Golden were both under 150 and quite good, I can safely say that they are successful in all price tags. This iem is provided by Pickupaudio. Our neutrality remain.

Pros__

Balance

Neutralness

Clarity and Vividness

Cons__

Tip Dependant

Dull for some

Record Picking

Boxing and Cable

We have a Kinera style large hexagonal box here we are used to. Nothing fancy on the outer box besides the huge illustration on the box. There are usual contents (tips – plugs – storage box) within the box and a Hodur inspired carrying case.

Cable looks strong and supple with 3 main brands and the interchangable first connector. Kinera Hodur is good on it too.

Sound

After plugging in the 3.5mm plug and M sized eartips and H gain at dx300, here we go

The first to be noticed is those tips ripping the sound apart from bass in smooth jazz. It might be contrary to expect bass in smooth jazz but this is a genre with bass guitar and a drum 😉 so I found a solution with pressing those deeper inside my ears. This is showing its tip dependancy.

Certainly not mid centric like the name suggests. And timbre is neutral to dark. But more like balanced unlike its name hints. Mids are elevated near the upper mid band of the graph, leaving piano key strikes slightly veiled.

Extensions are pretty good BTW, cymbals and hats etc provide a soulful experience. Despite this statement, the bass of jazz drum seems lacking in resolution.

Neutralness

However you can see its neutrality when it comes to dubstep. Big bad basses hit you after the bassdrop moment. Brilliant for Haggard as well. Or in songs like Radioaktivat you can hear its head wobbling punchy basses that are finely cut. Effects are just like those too. 

In the perfect resolutions of perfect recordings, you can hear the strings tension and deep web of other guitars notes. And the transparency value is high. It is still the same in trash metal too. Nothing gets mashed up within others. (Funny but even trash metal has a level of head banging value with it however basses are prone to be bumpy at fast times)

Pop music is full of texturing and layering. However this layering is unlike the Ety line. But level of detail at Eric Clapton (Sweet Home Chicago) is charming.

Metal of Amorphis is very satisfying. And without any harmful distortions. But basses’ proneness repeat themselves.

We got a natural sounding and slightly veiled (probably due to its cable) and highly modular and pretty good looking iem very good for small ears too. Pretty record picking BTW.

Kinera Hodur 4.4

After plugging the 4.4 adapter to its cable and using dx300 in balanced mode..it literally rose from it’s ashes.

Gained a marvelous vivid tonality and 3d imaging with fast extensions. Soundstage widened up and instrument keys became evident. However background resolution is slightly missing and, if you nitpick, bass has a non smooth jazz bumpy.

I said if you nitpick. But you can listen smooth jazz for hours with this Hodur in your ears.

You have a very different sensation when it comes to Polyphia Playing God. The music is all around you and you can feel every guitar as if you can touch! This is totally new for me, an advanced 3d imaging here. After it’s vinyl-esque moments in the beginning, the dream-like moments begin.. And leave the room for Jason Mraz.

Now he is singing his unique vocal not to my face but it’s like there is no distance between us. But things got different when The Electro Suite began. Now you know your position, you are like covering the whole floor and they are performing just for you. Elegant and balanced at everything. After the meteor falling and sinking deep near 04:00, it is displaying extension capabilities and organic bass thump (which is not bumpy now due to the distance between you and the stage)

Kinera Hodur Review Conclusions

We have usual Kinera style boxed premium iem which checks all the boxes needed for premium tuning but wonderful SQ with 4.4 balanced eartips. I had never seen better since the start of my Kinera career. Thus I am hopeful for the future.