Reviews by another audiophile again
Today we are taking a look at the Yuan Li from T Force. The Yuan Li is T Force Audio debut model and is part 1 of their trilogy. It is a Single Dynamic Driver IEM made with a DLC Diaphragm and is 10mm in diameter.
This unit of the Yuan Li was provided by Oardio for a review tour in Singapore. You can purchase the Yuan Li from Oardio if you are interested. It currently retails for $160SGD and $120USD. It can also be purchased online at HiFiGO. I will do this review unbiasedly and state my honest opinion.
As my camera is damaged, I won't be able to take pictures, but since there are many images of the Yuan Li online by now, I hope it will be okay to do without the Images. I will include some from HifiGO.
The Yuan Li has a very nice packaging and abundant accessories. The shells are made of metal and has a mirror finishing. It is durable, and definiely can't take a few knocks. However, due to its shiny surface, I am concerned it might be a fingerprint magnet and scratch magnet.
Accessories:
In the box you will get 6 Pairs of Ear-Tips with 2 different types. You also get a very nice cable which doesn't tangle easily and a case which looks awesome.
Sound:
My first impressions of the Yuan Li is that it is a balanced set. It is very fun and it's well tuned. One of the best IEMs in it's price range and a very competitive set. Good control in the bass, lush mids, well extended treble.
Bass:
The bass response on the Yuan Li is fantastic. It is punch, deep and well extended. There is no midbass bleed, and it is very well controlled so it doesn't make the midrange muddy. Subbass rumble is also very good. It also has got good texture and layering. The decay in the bass also sounds very natural and nothing out of the ordinary. The bass however might come across as too smoothed over for those who like something more analytical but it has still got fantastic resolution and detailing.
Mids:
I think the mids of the Yuan Li is its strongest trait. The Yuan Li performs really well in the midrange. It is very smooth and just draws you it. Once you start listening, you won't want to stop. It is never harsh or sibilant but very good resolution and is very musical sounding. Details and separation are also very good. On the Yuan Li, male vocals sound fantastic but as it goes up the spectrum, I must say the female vocals do come across as slightly harsh on certain occasions but it should not be an issue if paired with a warm source and copper cable.
Treble:
Lower treble has got quite a bit of energy so cymbals, high hats etc. sound very good. Upper treble though is slightly rolled off so those who like the airy sound, this may not be for you. But realistically, the Yuan Li treble is realistic sounding and not unnatural in my opinion. I would say that treble extension is well above average.
Technical ability:
The Yuan Li's note are a little rounded so it is trading off resolution for musicality which I think is good for those who are just using the Yuan Li as a daily driver and casual listening. That doesn't mean that the Yuan Li has poor resolution. It has quite a good amount of resolution and detailing. It is also quite forgiving on poorly recorded tracks so whatever music you play, you should be fine. Yuan Li has good soundstage width and height, but I think there is more height. Separation is also good. Imaging is pretty accurate on the Yuan Li.
Comparisons:
I think most people would want me to compare the Yuan Li with the the Moondrop line up. Since they are direct competitors. Since the Moondrop Dynamic driver series has almost identical tuning, I will just compare the Yuan Li with the most competent one. The KXXS. I personally found the KXXS to be a bit fatiguing to me due to the upper midrange presence. There is arguably more of it in the KXXS. The KXXS also has a little bit of a shrill metallic timbre due to having more upper treble. It sounds kind of unnatural compared to the Yuan Li. The Yuan Li however has none of that and keeps everything as natural as possible. Technical ability wise I would say they are on par with the KXXS ahead by a bit. Price wise, hands down, the Yuan Li is a better buy. The KXXS use the same driver material as the Yuan Li, and Yuan Li costs $60 less. Tuning aside, they both perform respectably well in their own right and are on par. The Yuan Li accessories are also nicer and more cool in my opinion compared to the KXXS.
Conclusion:
The Yuan Li is a very good IEM especially for a debut model. Not many brands are able to achieve such a incredible tuning on first try. The Yuan Li also is cheap and affordable so it won't cost an arm and leg. But for those who were planning to get an iPhone 13, why not get the 12 instead? Then maybe you can get the Yuan Li. I think I will probably purchase a set for myself because it is so good. Once again, Thanks to those who made this Singapore review tour possible.
This unit of the Yuan Li was provided by Oardio for a review tour in Singapore. You can purchase the Yuan Li from Oardio if you are interested. It currently retails for $160SGD and $120USD. It can also be purchased online at HiFiGO. I will do this review unbiasedly and state my honest opinion.
As my camera is damaged, I won't be able to take pictures, but since there are many images of the Yuan Li online by now, I hope it will be okay to do without the Images. I will include some from HifiGO.
The Yuan Li has a very nice packaging and abundant accessories. The shells are made of metal and has a mirror finishing. It is durable, and definiely can't take a few knocks. However, due to its shiny surface, I am concerned it might be a fingerprint magnet and scratch magnet.
Accessories:
In the box you will get 6 Pairs of Ear-Tips with 2 different types. You also get a very nice cable which doesn't tangle easily and a case which looks awesome.
Sound:
My first impressions of the Yuan Li is that it is a balanced set. It is very fun and it's well tuned. One of the best IEMs in it's price range and a very competitive set. Good control in the bass, lush mids, well extended treble.
Bass:
The bass response on the Yuan Li is fantastic. It is punch, deep and well extended. There is no midbass bleed, and it is very well controlled so it doesn't make the midrange muddy. Subbass rumble is also very good. It also has got good texture and layering. The decay in the bass also sounds very natural and nothing out of the ordinary. The bass however might come across as too smoothed over for those who like something more analytical but it has still got fantastic resolution and detailing.
Mids:
I think the mids of the Yuan Li is its strongest trait. The Yuan Li performs really well in the midrange. It is very smooth and just draws you it. Once you start listening, you won't want to stop. It is never harsh or sibilant but very good resolution and is very musical sounding. Details and separation are also very good. On the Yuan Li, male vocals sound fantastic but as it goes up the spectrum, I must say the female vocals do come across as slightly harsh on certain occasions but it should not be an issue if paired with a warm source and copper cable.
Treble:
Lower treble has got quite a bit of energy so cymbals, high hats etc. sound very good. Upper treble though is slightly rolled off so those who like the airy sound, this may not be for you. But realistically, the Yuan Li treble is realistic sounding and not unnatural in my opinion. I would say that treble extension is well above average.
Technical ability:
The Yuan Li's note are a little rounded so it is trading off resolution for musicality which I think is good for those who are just using the Yuan Li as a daily driver and casual listening. That doesn't mean that the Yuan Li has poor resolution. It has quite a good amount of resolution and detailing. It is also quite forgiving on poorly recorded tracks so whatever music you play, you should be fine. Yuan Li has good soundstage width and height, but I think there is more height. Separation is also good. Imaging is pretty accurate on the Yuan Li.
Comparisons:
I think most people would want me to compare the Yuan Li with the the Moondrop line up. Since they are direct competitors. Since the Moondrop Dynamic driver series has almost identical tuning, I will just compare the Yuan Li with the most competent one. The KXXS. I personally found the KXXS to be a bit fatiguing to me due to the upper midrange presence. There is arguably more of it in the KXXS. The KXXS also has a little bit of a shrill metallic timbre due to having more upper treble. It sounds kind of unnatural compared to the Yuan Li. The Yuan Li however has none of that and keeps everything as natural as possible. Technical ability wise I would say they are on par with the KXXS ahead by a bit. Price wise, hands down, the Yuan Li is a better buy. The KXXS use the same driver material as the Yuan Li, and Yuan Li costs $60 less. Tuning aside, they both perform respectably well in their own right and are on par. The Yuan Li accessories are also nicer and more cool in my opinion compared to the KXXS.
Conclusion:
The Yuan Li is a very good IEM especially for a debut model. Not many brands are able to achieve such a incredible tuning on first try. The Yuan Li also is cheap and affordable so it won't cost an arm and leg. But for those who were planning to get an iPhone 13, why not get the 12 instead? Then maybe you can get the Yuan Li. I think I will probably purchase a set for myself because it is so good. Once again, Thanks to those who made this Singapore review tour possible.
KBEAR KS2
KBEAR KS2
Pros: Fantastic Bass, Packs a good punch
Cons: Stock cable tangles easily, Poor build quality
Today, I will be reviewing the KBEAR KS2. The KBEAR KS2 is one of the most recent released IEM from KBEAR. The KBEAR KS2 is a really fun IEM and is very good for its price range. Now lets go into deeper detail of it. I firstly would like to thank KEEPHIFI and KBEAR for sending me this sample and giving me an opportunity to review the KBEAR KS2. If you are looking to buy the KBEAR KS2, visit the link below and it will lead you to the KEEPHIFI where you can purchase the KBEAR KS2 https://keephifi.com/products/2020-...running-game-headphone-kbear-kb06-kb04-tri-i3
Packaging and unboxing: The unboxing of the KBEAR KS2 reminded me of the KZ packaging. What was different is that the KS2 came in a foam cut out and the stock cable and ear tips in tiny box such that both the foam cut out and the tiny box would be able to fit in the KBEAR KS2 packaging.
Accessories: The KBEAR KS2 comes with 4 pairs of ear tips and a stock cable. To be honest, I am actually quite disappointed with the stock cable that came with the KS2. It gets tangled really easily and the Y split is right in the middle of the cable. I think the chin slider however was able to somewhat justify the Y split being in the middle of the the cable.
Build quality: The KS2 gives me two very contradicting feelings about the build quality. In your hands, it will give you a very solid feel. But if you take a closer look, the shell of the KS2 is really thin and looks like it would crack if you drop it. Maybe the should make a drop test for IEM's during manufacturing. Just kidding.
Sound quality: First Impressions: The bass of this IEM really hits the spot. If you are a bass head or love a good bass, this IEM will definitely do the trick. Although there are many IEM that obviously have better bass, I don't think any of it at the KS2 price range can beat it.
Bass: The bass has good impact, depth and rumble. At times, I feel that it tends to over power the mid and high frequencies occasionally. If you are a bass head lover on a tight budget, you can must definitely try this out.
Mids: The mids of the KS2 definitely fall behind the bass but i think its still decent and is not bad. There is not much to say but it can definitely be improved.
Highs: The treble is not not bad. I wouldn't say its fantastic but it is quite decent for an IEM at this price range. It provides an acceptable amount of detail and is able to escape from the darker territory. There is some sibilance and peaks here and there but its not too fatiguing. For the mids and highs, they can be easily tweaked to get a more detailed presentation by change the stock cable and using an upgrade cable. It will be able to achieve ground breaking amount of detail after this upgrade.
Conclusion: This IEM was not a bad attempt by KBEAR but I also wouldn't say its the best. Still, the KS2 is a great IEM in its price range. If you have spare cash lying around on the floor, you should try to get you hands on it.
Written By: Jack Lim
@earphonatics_audio_reviews
*DISCLAIMER*
I am the Publisher of Earphonatics Audio Reviews on Head-Fi. These reviews aren't mine unless stated otherwise.
