Video Review
Special thanks to Vivian from KEEP HI-FI for arranging to have the KBEAR KS1 sent over for a full review. You may purchase the KBEAR KS1 with the non-affiliate links below.
Price and specifications
Price: USD19.99
KEEP HI-FI Official Store
KBEAR Official Store
Specifications
Interface: 2-pin 0.78mm (TFZ)
Frequency response: 20-20kHz
Sensitivity: 109dB
Impedance: 16ohm
Plug type: 3.5mm L-type gold-plated plug
Driver Unit: Dual Magnetic Circuit Single Dynamic Driver
Accessories
Black 4 core 4N pure copper cable
(S), (M), (L) silicone ear tips
Comments on accessories
No complaints on the ear tips which are pretty standard. But I find that the pre-formed ear hook on the stock cable could curve a little more aggressively as they tend to barely sit on the edge of my ear, ready to fall off with the slightest disturbance.
Build, comfort and isolation
The simple plastic housing gets the job done and are comfortable for extended use. Isolation is average as with any other UIEM.
Tonal Breakdown
Bass
KS1 is a warm, V-shaped IEM with a large amount of mid-bass, almost to the point of being boomy. The relative lack of control in this region also makes bass thumps tend to sound one-note.【1】Let's be honest, I don't think anybody would expect a sub $20 IEM to come close to even the mid-fi tier in terms of tuning - these budget beaters have to appeal in a different way and the KS1 has done so in its low-end.
It isn't heavily sub-bass focused for a dramatic (theatrical) thunderous rumble but the vast amount of warmth here is a guilty pleasure to me. Let's put aside these technical terms on being one-note or being boomy aside. I have a soft spot for these ear buds not only because of the price, but also because the KS1's bass tuning is absolutely perfect for listening to lofi livestreams on youtube. The KS1's sound signature remains easy on the ears with bass that is pure ear massage.
Mids
Mids are not as recessed as other V-shaped IEMs, with presence at 4kHz and 5kHz giving the warm-tinged vocals a slight edge to cut through the warmth.【2】Although the upper mids and lower treble are raised for balance, the overall signature treads on the warm side of things with a clockwise tilt on the frequency response. Upper-mid dominant J-rock tracks are not overly sharp【3】and lower-mid forward Western-rock tracks maintain a sense of clarity.【4】
Treble
The KS1 tops this off with a controlled mid-treble boost to round off the tuning. The energy at 8kHz does not tonally skew vocals more than it needs to. The control serves to maintain the warmth of the KS1 and deliver a tight treble response with cymbal crashes (my preference).【8】
Technical summary
Detail retrieval is good which puts it at a score of 2.5 and all remaining components are average with a score of 2.
Comparisons
KBEAR Lark "4k"Unfortunately I don't have the retuned Lark for comparison. Both are V-shaped IEMs with a mid-bass bump but the KS1 has larger quantities of this mid-bass which appealed to me with casual lo-fi listening. But more on the audiophile side of things, the KS1 delivers a more natural and balanced vocal presentation than the Lark. The Lark borders on shoutiness and sibilance from its excess energy at 4kHz and 8kHz; this has ramifications on vocals, causing them to sound brittle and hollow. Technicalities are generally slightly better in the Lark but it should be noted that I prefer how the KS1 can sound just as detailed without the overzealous treble boost of the Lark.
BLON BL-01
Both are V-shaped IEMs. The KS1 has slightly more mid-bass than the BL01, with the KS1 being able to hit bass notes harder than the BL01 - the BL01's bass response is less defined. The key difference lies in the vocals which are more recessed in the BL01 due to decreased presence in the upper-mids and lower treble which is compensated for by the mid-treble boost. This would be a matter of personal preference but I find the KS1 to sound more well-rounded for better playback of more genres than the BL01 since it doesn’t forgo the mids as much. The KS1 is marginally better than the BL01 in terms of detail retrieval. For this reason and the fact that I prefer the KS1's tuning, I'd pick the KS1 over the BL01.
Conclusion
While the KS1 falls under the umbrella of "generic V-shape" tuning, KBEAR pretty much nailed the tonal balance in the KS1 - big bass for a warm listen and highs that don't pierce the ears. The KS1 is amazing for its price, I'm happy to take my audiophile cap off just for the KS1 for easy listening and I love that it also makes a great gift for non-audiophile friends because its tuning is very consumer friendly. The only warning I can give to those who are ready to buy this is that it might have too much bass for some listeners. But if you don't mind and just want something warm and easy-going, the KS1 is definitely worth the blind buy.
Thanks for reading! You may find more reviews on my Head-fi thread.
These are some of the notable tracks used to come to my conclusions for those who're interested (not exhaustive).
Sample tracks for reference: Artiste 1 – Song 1, Song 2. Artiste 2 – Song 1…
1. The Glitch Mob - Carry The Sun, Come Closer. NF - CLOUDS, LOST.
2. Gryffin - Nobody Compares To You. Hydelic - Connected (Yours Forever).
3. MAN WITH A MISSION - Evergreen. HYDE - WHO'S GONNA SAVE US.
4. Falling In Reverse - Losing My Mind. Architects - Animals.
5. RADWIMPS - IKIJIBIKI. ONE OK ROCK - Nobody's Home.