KBear Storm

KBEar Storm: The Budget Monitoring IEM



Disclaimer!

This unit was sent by KB EAR. However, they didn’t paid me for any written reviews. I will try my best to review this unit without any bias. Please bear with me that I’m not a professional sound engineer or musician, but I’m just a self-learnt guitarist & vocalist, who do composed my own original music and also self-learnt some mixing & mastering techniques. I am a neutral-head, analytical-head and also liking balanced sounding tunings. And also, I’m using an audio interface named Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen (a kind of DAC/Amp???) pairing for the whole listening impressions. Please take my reviews as grain of salts.



Pros:

- V-shape tuning
- Well-controlled/behaved bass without messing up mids
- Good decent technicalities
- Budget with good value
- Light shell
- Wide soundstage
- Metal nozzle
- Boosted highs for more detail retrieval

Cons:

- Large shell
- Bass slightly bleeding into mids
- The highs could be more refined, but it might due to limitation of DD drivers
- Treble sensitive audiophiles might find it harsh sounding
- Slightly shouty upper mids
- Highs might be too boosted for some

Sound Quality

I will describe KBEar Storm as V-shaped tuning signature. I am pairing KBEar Storm with the stock white S-size wide bore eartips as I find it did open up some top end airiness. Storm will be having a tight and boosted bass. It is warm sounding and fun sounding, bleeding into mids are kept minimal. Mids range are not recessed, slightly upfront or harsh for some users. Highs are boosted, airy, lively sounding.

Bass

Bass shelf here is boosted. However, it is well-controlled, tight and fun sounding at the same time. A good DD driver will be able to separate kickdrum and bass guitar well, just like the DD inside KBEar Storm. KBEar Storm will be having mid bass focus to my ears. Although it is indeed a decent DD driver for projecting good bass quality, the bass texture and layering especially the bass reverberation could be better (and this is just a nitpick, especially when considering the price). There is still some bass bleeding into mids, possible analytical head needing some cleaner bass for analytical listening? Drop-D electric guitar tuning will burst your head with those fat palm muting sounds.

Mids

Mids here might be slightly bright sounding. There is sense of shoutiness in the upper mids region. For vocals, it is neither thin nor full-bodied sounding, there is indeed some harshness in the upper mid regions, due to boosted upper mids. Some vocalist did sounded slightly nasally with their singing. For female vocalist, it is sweet sounding, and some female vocalist will be slightly shouty sounding. Luckily, sibilances are kept minimal thanks to the dip in 4kHz - 5kHz region. Instrumental mids, it is having more than enough biteness. Acoustic guitar here is sweet and energetic sounding. Electric guitar here is actually very pleasant to listen to. You will really get crashed by metal-core music when listening to KBear Storm.

Highs

Highs here is definitely boosted too, I will say it is actually quite nearing borderline boosted based on my personal preference. It is not smooth sounding, and quite aggressively boosted. This kind of highs tuning will surely satisfy treblehead. To me, the highs might be not that refine sounding, slightly grainy and splashy sounding. And with such boosted in high frequencies, micro details will be slightly easier to be heard (fake details???). Percussive highs will be quite pronounce, and very lively. Metal core crash cymbal will really burst your head, so do not turn up the volume too much! There are plenty of air reverb, which is quite pleasant to listen to.

Tonality

Storm is actually a V-shaped tuning signature. Electric guitar is pleasant sounding. Boosted in highs definitely bringing more biteness to mid-range instruments. It is not for relax listening, possible an budget analytical set with fun bass. It might be slightly fatiguing sounding and not suitable for long listening.

Technicalities

The soundsatge here is wide, possible due to large shell or maybe large cavities for the DD drivers to breath? Instrument separation, imaging and layering are average. Transient speed here is just decent.



Conclusion

I was told that KBEar Storm was tuned toward the purpose for stage monitoring, however, I had not yet try it out for stage monitoring, indeed, none of my bandmate having that kind of experience too. I do understand why too, as it is having wide soundstage, and instrument are able to space out greatly too, but really dont expect too good in instrument separation, as it is still a budget IEM. As an casual listening IEM, I think KBEar Storm will be quite pleasing sounding too. When I generating this review, I am listening and learning about metal cores, and I am head banging throughtout the whole review, which means, it is a good IEM for music enjoyment. KBEar Storm does having alot of sparkling highs, and also having big fat bass too, with the bass being more controlled than the highs. The highs might be slightly piercing for some, but for treblehead, it is a plus.


https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNPwnPk

Intro/Disclaimer:

Before starting this review I would like to say this unit was bought with my own money.
I personally really like Kbear brand and sound signature.
The following review is strictly personal since is based on each ones perception of the sound so remember it might vary from person to person.
Since I’m not an english native I’m not going to use a very specific professional language to describe it but I will do my best to explain my feelings about it.


IEM Configuration:
1DD 10MM PU+PEEK

First Impression:
The box is really simple as many entry level iem. But for this price range is good enough! This seems a 2023 KZ EDX but sounds a lot better.

Package and accessories:

• KBear Storm
• 2 set of decent ear tips (really rare in budget iems)
• Cable
• Warranty card /instruction

Design:

Maybe a little bit old design but Build quality of the product is quite good for the asking price! The transparent shell allows you to see through. The 10mm driver is pretty decent! This shape fits for everyone.


Initial sound impressions:
When I tried them for the first time they immediately seemed like a great set. They have a slightly nasal note but I think it's due to the plastic shell. Tuning is Kbear's usual with a slight boost to the treble. The result is something fun (not natural) but V shaped.
The big bored tips are the most comfortable to me and also help the soundstage a lot.

Final Sound Impression

Equipment used for testing

Device:
iMac
POCO M4 PRO (MIUI Based)

Software:
Foobar2000 24bit 192khz (iMac)
Amazon music UHD 24bit 96khz (Both)

DAC:
Fx-Audio X6
Fosi Audio K5 Pro
Jcally JM10
Creative SFXI
7Hz 71
GGMM A1
Hiby W3 Saber (LDAC)

I’m not listing the tracks because they're too much.

Bass:
Bass in Kbear IEms are usually really good, but in this case when you crank up the volume the situation becomes quite messy. Quantity is good but quality lacks a little bit. Sub-bass rumble slightly present. Plastic shell doesn’t help here.

Mids:
Mids regions are mostly recessed, vocals are just little bit recessed, tonality of voices are still precise but warmer than usual.

Treble:
Don’t worry you can handle the treble! This set is really far to be for trebleheads!The high frequencies are far from be shouty.
However they are very pleasant and not tiring. Good air and details!


Conclusion:
To conclude this review, the Storm have a fun V-shaped sound. This is a super cheap set with a good sound, 2 set of tips and a good build quality overall.

At this price you couldn't ask for more! However if instead of a plastic shell they had used some other material we would probably have had a much better sound. Also owning Kbear Rosefinch I strongly suggest you add a few dollars to your budget and get the latter. They have a completely different quality than the Storm and a minimal price difference.

𝑲𝑩 𝑬𝒂𝒓 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎: 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈’𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈


|| 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ||

KB EAR is no stranger to budget sets of IEMs especially under the $100 with a couple of notable releases such as the KB Ear Diamond and Aurora, which, if my memory serves me right, are sets that definitely caused a buzz in the hobby.
Packed with a single dynamic driver and a transparent shell, KB Ear is once again back with a new release aiming to take the reins of the ever so competitive sub $20 dollar IEM market.. Spoiler alert, KB Ear is brewed quite a storm of an IEM here(pun definitely intended).


|| 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ||

I don’t consider myself as an audiophile or an enthusiast, therefore the terminology and the overall review will be more mainstream.

We prefer to keep our reviews simple without too much confusing lingo and terminologies

This review set is a part of a review tour and was sent free of charge in exchange for an honest review. There is no material or financial incentive for us to do this review. I guarantee no exchange has been done by both parties to influence or sway our opinions on this product.

My thoughts and opinions are of my own. My experience will entirely differ from everybody else. The contents of this review should not be considered factual as this hobby heavily leans on subjectivity. YMMV.

** 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐢𝐫 𝐄𝐢𝐣𝐢 𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 Keephifi 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬. 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐫 𝐄𝐢𝐣𝐢’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐮𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬.𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭.𝐜𝐨𝐦 **


| 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 |

It comes in a compact box with an illustration of the IEM with all of its available colors. This kind of box is common in the sub $20 market especially with the likes of KZ and TRN doing similar packaging.




| 𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

After removing the initial cardboard, the IEM drivers immediately greet you whilst being covered by a clear plastic layer and are enclosed with foam. Underneath that is the included stock cable, a manual and a few sets of normal-bore silicone ear tips that can more than cover your needs.




It comes with a generic braided L-type QDC cable and a few stock tips that can more than cover your needs.
Similar to the packaging, nothing noteworthy here for the unboxing, it’s a straightforward experience, probably to cut costs which is evident for the asking price.

𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻:

Paperwork
IEM Drivers
2 Sets of ear tips in black and white(S,M,L)
Stock L-type QDC cable


| 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 & 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

The KB Ear Storm is made out of some sort of hard plastic. I was unable to disclose whether this is a 3D resin or not but quite light for a resin based shell. Speaking of it being light, the Storm is quite comfortable to the ear because of it not weighing that much but does suffer from “feeling cheap” due to its heft not alluding quality.

Overall the fit is universal and the contours are rounded and safe enough for those folks who don’t like protruding wings.
But this type of build is common for sub $20 blowers therefore not a huge knock for the Storm. The nozzle is made out of alloy with a ridge to help the stability of ear tips when worn. Right beside the nozzle is a vent, and another is located at the top of the IEM as well as each shell of the Storm has branding on its faceplate.



The Storm comes in three different colors namely a purple(Which what we have today), black and a mix of purple and blue that are all translucent. Version with a mic is also available for sale.

This uses a QDC connector which is honestly disappointing as most consider 2-pin as the standard. Whilst QDC being able to support 2-pin cables, the extra length introduced by the protruding female point can be a massive point of failure if pressure is introduced

Inside the Storm is a trusty single dynamic driver setup, which you can actually see inside because of the shell). This driver is really prominent in the budget space for their great cost to performance ratio.


| 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

These isolates less than what your average IEM can, with background noise more audible than other passive isolated IEMs. This is probably due to the thickness of the plastic used for the shells not being that thick to restrict outside noise from entering.


| 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 |

With the Storm having safe curves and no extreme protrusions, I find them comfortable for long periods of time before introducing ear fatigue. Occlusion effect here isn’t as sever as most IEMs which is definitely a plus.




** 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑻𝑹𝑵 𝑻-𝑻𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑽𝑬 𝑨𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒊 𝑫𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆**


|| 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 ||

These caught me off guard as I didn’t expect such treble extension without being fatigued on such a budget set. These had they’re issues but it was quite an experience using these during my testing.




| 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 |

These are a very efficient set that don't require much power to run on a satisfying volume. Do be wary of using high gain on these as IEMs in general are quite sensitive and may introduce audible noise floor.


| 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 |

The bass on these lean more on quantity over quality. mid-bass is much more prominent than sub-bass which only offer minimal rumble. Texture of both could use work and the speed of the attack can definitely be improved upon. Hollowness on the mid-bass is also audible in some tracks

Bleed is noticeable and looms over the mids making it seem so that the mids are quite veiled. Therefore I think this is probably the weakest part of the Storm, not for its lack of bass but more so the execution of such is its issue.


| 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀 |

Like I said earlier, mids are quite veiled over by the bleed from the bass. Because of this some instruments get drowned over the bleed but also have the weird side effect of making the male vocals feel more present than their female counterparts.

However, the upper midrange rise gives instruments like electric guitars a distinct presence in the playback which I find quite enjoyable.


| 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 |

The rise of the upper midrange continues in the highs where transients, air, and details executed well without being overbearing to the ears. The treble performance on this set is quite stellar as some people coin those terms.

Things like cymbal strikes resonate for quite some time before being inaudible. Just overall a great extension coming from a budget offering.


| 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

Because of the bleeding lows, layering and imaging suffer a little on track with looming bass notes, otherwise it is quite decent in being distinct with other sound sources(again, excluding low sounding source) whilst the staging is just average.


|| 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ||

Even though this set has issues, I found that using specially curated ear tips to tighten and clean up the bass will greatly benefit the overall performance of this set. That was one of its only major drawbacks and even EQ-ing can help if that suits your fancy. This set is decent and could be a gem for the price but I wish that bass presentation is cleaned up a little bit but that extension for the price is quite an experience.