Our take on the budget champ Kbear Lark. KBear is the companys real name. A Chinese earphone company. The KBEAR Lark Hybrid 1DD+1BA Earphones features a 5-micron silicone crystal biological diaphragm and 10mm dynamic drivers.
Box, Kbear Lark, Cable
Box is usual Kbear box with fine details. Not much to speak of in the budget range. Box contents are standart for its price range too. Kbear Lark has the KZ inspired semi opaque body with an aluminium plate at its back. Nozzle and cable are interchangable.
Sound
The sound is bodied. Timbre is bright ish neutral. The sound is natural unless you reach the highest levels with your dap. So so punchiness yet it keeps the gentle attitude.
Sub bass is light. Not crazy deep. This is enough for its price tag.
Bass is punchy as we said. Rthyms lowend doesnt bleed into other frequencies without tiring you and this is a good point. But lack of texture is not that good. No horrific minus considering its price tag, besides this being the non retuned version, at mid and treble area. Frankly, they are a notch elevated (unfortunately 4k and other frequencies can reach piercing peaks)
Mids are overally fine and smooth. Especially vocals are so. And layering is satisfactory for its price. But the weakness at texture* is limiting its preffered genres.
Treble is ok. Both in quantity and quality. They’d have been great if they were properly tuned at the first place. You can tell this if you hear tubular bell of the same named song of the Oldfield. Not expecting in the level of BGVP DM8, right? But beware, they might tire you in orchestral records.
There is an open and airy sensation. But do not expect another VS7. Stage width is large. 8K levels bring you sibilance if you raise the volume to high levels. On the other hand, relative ease of driving makes you forgive. But the metallicness after you raise the volume on rock / metal is disturbing. Whole treble region gets tiring. And the instrument seperation gets a dent on busy tracks. Attack is not WOWing. See http://www.deezer.com/track/108577052 Extensions are better than its price. And resonance after the hit is fading away in the air with its natural speed.
Kbear Lark Review Conclusions
This un-retuned iem is good enough when you consider its comfortable fit, instrument seperation, better than average clarity and budget price. We can imagine the retuned versions greatness. And the sibilance factor might direct you to average volumes and quality recordings. But even though the level of this iem, gaming with Lark is spectacular. Recommended
* texture: this is not the most realistic qanun instrument. http://www.deezer.com/track/457517972xx
We thank Kbear for the sample. You can buy the latest and much better version here.
