Welcome to KBear KS1 review. This iem is the next in line after KS2 and hints of an amp preferance like its ancestors spec sheet says. Nevertheless I am sticking to G7 for daily listening results. A seperate amp section will be included too.
Box, KBear KS1, Cable
A tiny white box with its digital drawing at front and specs at the back. Company logo and barcode – certifications at both sides. Within the box, lies box contents which are not plenty. Drivers buried to the plastic casing, cable and eartips in S M L sizes are tucked in half transparent plastic pouches. And an instructions manual is not forgetten. But saw no QC document in the box. This can be forgiven considering its price and segment.
KBear KS1 is a plastic build iem with lines resembling KZ Edx. Retractable cable with a slightly elevation for the cable. Only 1 venting hole and metallic nozzle (somewhat long) with a paperlike mesh at its end. Overall volume of the iem is a little bit large. This is a plus and minus at the same time. Plus; it helps with the soundstage, minus as people with shallow conchas can experience pain
Cable is a standart issue chifi cable. Thin, black, machine braided, metal and plastic first connector and plastic Y Split. There is no chin guard piece.
- Brand: KBEAR.
- Model:KS1.
- Interface: 0.78mm(TFZ)
- Frequency response: 20-20kHz.
- Sensitivity: 109dB.
- Impedance: 16ohm.
- Color: black/white.
- Cable material:4 core 4N pure copper cable.
Sound
Not like your everyday budget iem with glaering treble or forward presentation. Dark, between forward and laid back with natural timbre but undeniable low end presence when the track demands.
First of all technicalities. Stage is both wide and volumious regarding the closed back nature and price. Seperation is slightly above moderate. Not uber revealing. Or “clear as a glass of moonshine” Positioning is well when the track is good recorded. Texturewise KS1 is slightly better than okay. While 3d imaging is lacking, age and race of a vocalist can be understood thanks to its ability to texture. Violins meld into each other with ease. Transitions are well. Layering is satisfactory (not great) too. Keyboard under the main line reach you subdued. Instruments and vocals can get pickable if you know what you are seeking. Extensions are showing its BAish nature. Short, somehow sharp. There is no sibilance.
Bass is dominant when the drummer hits the cross of its kit and its partly okay. While gentle at smooth jazz, headwobbing at hiphop or drum’n bass etc. But violins lowest notes or contrabass can blur the others. And its DD bass afterall. Extending and thumpy. But the issue is its leakage. Sadly can’t %100 control all the time. But in the end, doesn’t cover up the whole scene especially in enthusiastic-despite his-age artists like Alice Cooper.
Mid with its laid back and dark nature, instruments are imaged properly unless they are in the lowest deeps of the frequency spectrum.
Treble, their weight is lighter than bass. Dark nature means somewhat lessened treble. They don’t tire. Or bleed your ears. Adding a nice touch to its dynamics.
AMP SECTION
I wanted to make sure that I am feeding with more power than it probably see and thus I used Dethonray ha-2, volume at 10 o’ clock.
First result is about its stage, layering and clarity. Got the stage more distant and hightened the clarity. But reduced its cryspiness.
The result made me question my own words. KBear KS1 is better without an amp.
KBear KS1 Review Conclusions
Is a pretty good and safe choice considering its price. But that ultra budget price is with its downsides. Not over revealing or textured and 3d imaging is lacking. But this ears heard forward and doped up (drank litres of energy drink) sounding KS2. And KS1 is better by two or three notches.
