KB EAR KS2

Disclaimer:
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Burn-in time: 5-10 hours per day, 4 days.

Source/s used:

• Hidizs AP80
• Not-By-VE Avani Realtek Dongle
• BaseUs USB DAC
• Zishan U1 USB DAC (AKM Variant)
• Cyberdrive Feather DAC
• Non-HiFi smartphone (realme 5i, Samsung Galaxy On7)
• Local Files via Foobar and Roon, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

IEM and configuration: Stock medium eartips, stock cable, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 40-60% volume, both high and low gain.
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Sound signature:

• Warm v-shaped sound signature. Big, rumbly bass, musical warm mids, non-fatiguing treble. Decent technicalities for its price.

Lows:

• Lows are elevated and are the main difference from the KS1. It is big, rumbly, and will dig deep whenever the track requires it to sound so. Unlike the KS1 where it only exhibits a bit of sub-bass elevation compared to the midbass, the KS2’s sub-bass is noticeably elevated by a big margin than the KS1. As a result, the bass is a bit softer than its budget sibling. Despite being soft, it never sounded bloated or mushy at all. Its decay leans to the average with a hint of being slow to some tracks but will sound good on EDM, pop, metal, and bass-heavy tracks. I wholeheartedly recommend this IEM for those people who really want a decent, quality bass on a budget.

Mids:

• The mids are slightly recessed but never sounded too distant in my tests. There is a presence of midbass bleed that makes the lower mids sound warm and smooth. Ed Sheeran’s vocals are a bit thicker here than usual. Upper mids are slightly elevated, has a good amount of clarity and air, and never exhibited any sibilance or harshness throughout the test. Instruments also sound really good, particularly on jazz or classical pieces but may lack bite for some due to its smooth sound presentation. As a result, the KS2 offers a fatigue-free sound, especially for long listening sessions.

Highs:

• The highs on the KS2 are well-extended and never sounded rolled off to my ears. However, treble heads might find the treble lacking because it isn’t as extended just like the usual v-shaped sound. Cymbals may sound “muted” if you’re looking for that extra crisp and bite to it. Detail retrieval is average for its price and can cater to nuances quite well.

Soundstage, Imaging, and separation:

• The soundstage is wide and has a decent expansion whenever the track requires it. There is noticeable congestion when things get haywire and busy but not up to the point that it is very noticeable to an average user or for someone who just listens to their music casually. Imaging is accurate for its price and can render vocal and instrument positions correctly.

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Pros:

• - Another IEM with an excellent sound quality under 20 USD.
• - Warm and lively sound signature.
• - Rumbly, big, and fairly controlled sub bass.
• - Smooth yet articulate mids.
• - Non-fatiguing upper frequencies.
• - Decent technical performance under 20USD.
• - Comfortable fit.
• - Very good isolation.
• - Actually has decent eartips, no need to eartip roll unless wanted.
• - Very easy to be driven to its full potential.

Cons:

• - Instances of slight midbass bleed are present on tracks.
• - Congestion is slightly present only on very busy tracks.
• - A cable winder would be a very good treat for everyone (my nitpick)

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This KB Ear KS2 shoots itself for those people who need that big juicy bass in their life. Despite not being a basshead, I enjoyed listening with this IEM to my casual listening sessions as this catered my random tracks very well without sounding off or lackluster at all. This IEM will not only please enthusiasts, but this will also appeal even those people who are not into the audio enthusiast/audiophile hobby as the KS2 is a very good upgrade from the stock earphones of your smartphone, or maybe your 3 years old or more IEM that needs to rest and be replaced. And it now comes with a cool, striking neon-ish colour!


Pairing recommendation/s:

• Source: A phone will do because it is very easy to be driven fully but a neutral or balanced source will greatly tighten and lessen a bass.
• Wider bore eartips will also lessen the bass, forward the mids by a little bit, and widen the soundstage.

Thank you for reading!

Additional Photos:

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.

I've tried various in-ear headphones over the last few years and I really care about staying up to date with new products. I bought these KB EAR out of curiosity and with the purpose of checking the production quality of this brand which is close to KZ stuff.

Let's go step by step..

CONSTRUCTION

build quality in general is good. They are made of plastic with metal output nozzle (it almost looks like brass but I'm not sure). Constructively they are assembled well, despite the plastic housing they seem tough and durable.

In the package there is the cable, soft and rubbery with pre-formed rings to fit around the ears, and a series of tips in three different sizes: they are quite standard, in my opinion a little better than those generally offered by KZ (the famous starlines).

AUDIO:

LOW FREQ: The bass are generally there, present but not invasive, they certainly do not stand out for a basshead listening, but they are still controlled and warm. In my opinion they lack a bit of "Punch", but they offer good warmth and a good presence on the deeper frequencies. They are not suitable for those who want to clinically listen to drums, but for the average listener the bass is ok. Among other things, the response to the equalizer is very good despite not being able to fix the lack of Punch I mentioned.

MEDIUM FREQ: Definitely the best part of this headset. Although set to a V EQ, the mids feel good, have excellent control and bring out the voices so much to let the best songs of Lana del Rey sneak deep in your chest. Excellent response to the equalizer in the mids which can also be raised to distortion level.

TREBLES: Although there are no particular hisses or excesses generated by the balanced armature in the output nozzle, the highs are a bit confused and poorly controlled, especially in the frequencies between 4k and 8k there is a lot of confusion. That’s one more reason why drummers will not love this headset: the charlestones are a bit of a slap and the bass drums do not explode as they should (don't try listening to Dream Theater, you will cry).

In general, however, the high frequencies are heard decently and, despite the confusion, they allow a pleasant and relaxing listening of most musical genres.

Soundstage is quite wide, however the slightly confused trebles makes the expression of the stage with some reverb and without a good instrumental separation. I still believe it’s pleasant to listen to.

Isolation is definitely not the best. Okay for a walk in the park but not for subway transfers!

CONCLUSION: Music is pleasant, good for electronic without too much punch, video and film given the well expressed mids. Definitely not suitable for sound engineers, but given the low price they are a great deal for those who want to listen to music in a decent way.

You can read this review as it appears on Headphonist.

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When I first saw the “KBEAR” branding, I pictured a bear wearing earphones. But it’s not an animal—KB Ear (as it’s actually styled) is a Chinese earphone maker who has launched a number of entry-level and mid-fi choices to the in-ear market in recent months.

The KS2 in particular is one of the most entry-level IEMs that KBEar offers at just $25, so being able to stack it up against other flavor-of-the-month IEMs (See BLON BL-03 and KZ ZS10 Pro) is going to be a treat.

Let’s have a listen.


First Impressions
Have you ever been in a candle store? You lift up the lid to a jar, give the waxy glob a big whiff and then move on to the next. Between smells, it gets hard to determine if you really like a smell, or if it is just a reflection of the last jar.

These IEMs are exactly like that, except there’s no ear-equivalent to coffee that you can sniff to “reset” your senses. Here’s why:

Chi-Fi IEMs are in a difficult spot right now. There are so many brands catering to so many different kinds of customers. Some tune to a flat frequency response, others try their best to match the Harman target, and many are flocking to V-Shaped sound to bring in new listeners. The KS2 certainly embodies the V-Shaped approach, stuffing in a pair of drivers (one dynamic and one balanced armature) to really up the ante.

Between the narrow sound stage, the extreme V-signature, and the muddy tonality, the KS2 feels like six earphones in one, and for some, that’s going to be quite an interesting combination.

Construction


Fit and Finish
The IEM is composed of a lightweight polycarbonate shell that weighs around 3.75 grams per IEM. For comparison, all-metal shelled earphones like the Fiio FH7 weigh more than twice this.

A glossy black finish gives a minimalistic approach to the final product, though the bright white KBEar logo is quite present on the outer shell. An aluminum-alloy nozzle with metal mesh filter supports the tips. Believe it or not, the simple finish was something I was looking forward to after spending a lot of time with various flashy KZ IEMs.

Normally, glossy finishes get scratched up quite easily, especially when they don’t come with any sort of carrying case or pouch to protect them. So to test if the KBEar KS2s would suffer the same fate, I threw the IEMs in my pocket with a set of keys and shuffled around for an afternoon. As expected, the shell did suffer some scratches, but nothing that would make me suspect to see long-term flaking of the finish.

You can also get the KS2 in a dark translucent green.

Cable
The KS2 gets a lot of gripe for its cable, and I can see why: it’s expectedly thin and cheap. The brown (almost copper) colored cable spans almost four feet, with one end terminated in a set of 2-pin connectors, and the other in a standard 90-degree 3.5mm TRS jack.

My largest issue with the cable is its disposition to tangle, which would happen quite often when unraveling it. If you’re the type of person to secure their cables with hook-and-loop connectors, then I would suspect this wouldn’t be an issue for you, but the wound-round-the-finger types may get quite disgruntled.

Packaging


No-frills packaging is the best way to describe the KS2’s delivery. Everything is included to get you started, so as long as your source has a 3.5mm connector. I found the pre-installed tips to be sized fine for my ears, but your results may vary.

What’s in the box:

• Pair of KBEar KS2 IEMs
• Four pairs of assorted sized tips (one pre-installed)
• Cable
• Documentation

Sound




I’ll admit—V-shaped headphones are probably my favorite. I enjoy elevated bass and detailed treble; those things make listening fun. There’s certainly a time and place for hearing things as the producer intended, but when you’re buying any headphone with a sound profile like the KS2, you know that you’re not going to be getting that.

Out of the box, I immediately noticed the KS2’s ability to produce fantastic bass. Sub-bass in particular is quite present and is given priority in any track which makes this a particularly great track for bass-heavy EDM and hip-hop genres. In fact, the KS2 even outperforms the low-end response delivered by the Blon BL-03, which I previously praised for its value.

Unfortunately, the elevated presence of the bass also muddies the track to an extreme amount—more on this later when we talk clarity. Long drawn-out bass is quite impactful, however, short kicks lack prompt response.

Mids are recessed with the largest dip occurring right around 900 Hz. I didn’t find this to be an issue with song like Tristam’s Questions (Genre: Dance) that separate elements of the track enough to avoid the KS2’s muddiness, but more technical songs like Inferno by Polyphia (Genre: Progressive metal) are difficult to enjoy as guitar riffs and drums are tightly intertwined.

Now we get back to somewhere that the KS2 exceeds at: highs. This is thanks to the tiny balanced armature driver that KBEar has stuffed into the stem of the earphone (hence the “hybrid” designation). Detail quite snappy, making tracks that blend vocals with high-frequency acoustics like Lindemann’s Ach So Gern (Genre: Industrial metal) shine, however, I wouldn’t exactly call it precise.

Folks, this is a $25 V-Shaped IEM. I was going into this expecting a lot less than I experienced, meaning I’m quite impressed with the sound signature that the KS2 had to offer. I’ve heard a lot worse from IEMs more than quadruple the KBEar’s price point.

Sound Stage, Clarity, and Detail
I’ve read some reviews which claim that the KS2 have enormous sound stage, and I admit that I went into listening expecting that. I was fairly disappointed given the hype, as I’d describe the KS2 as being much more intimate and in-your-face than seated in a room with sound playing around you. Depth is almost nonexistent.

I did touch on imaging a bit earlier, and the term “muddy” is still best to describe it. Instrumentation is difficult to place outside of left and right channel, and the clashing of frequencies with the bass overly exaggerate the V-Shaped frequency response.

The first time something like this jumped out at me was when I was listening to Crown The Empire’s 20/20 (Genre: Metalcore). Right at the minute mark the producer mixes some heavily processed backing vocals that are usually quite separated and spacey when listening on more expensive IEMs and over-ears. The KS2 simply doesn’t achieve this, which isn’t a deal-breaker given the price, but is noticeable.

That being said, none of this makes the KS2 a bad pick. Remember that these are entry-level IEMs and are priced accordingly, so it might be as simple as finding the right genre (or even a particular album) to pair with the earphones.

Hear What I Hear
As always, you can listen to the Spotify playlist we use to test all of our headphones here.

Portability, Comfort, and Use
Lightweight, narrow, and easy to throw in your pocket—the KBEar KS2 is good for pretty much any on-the-go use. And with fairly minimal sound leakage, there’s no place you can really go wrong with wearing them, from the office to to gym. Also, it’s worth noting that although they don’t have any noise cancellation functionality, the included tips and overall profile do a great job at isolating external sounds that you’d never notice.

These IEMs are incredibly easy to drive, so whether you’re using the 3.5mm jack on your phone or a Fiio BTR5, expect to have utmost portability.

I did find them a bit fatiguing to use for long periods of time and often found myself eyeing up my collection of over-ears and more relaxed in-ear IEMs. This is more personal though, and was correct after moving to foam tips and applying a bit of equalization.

Nerd Notes

• Drivers: Hybrid
  • 1x 10mm composite diaphragm
  • 1x Balanced armature driver
• Style: In-Ear, Wrap-Around
• Weight: 0.13oz (per side, without cables) (3.75g)
• Sensitivity: 106 dB
• Impedance: 16 ohms
• Plug: 2-pin (Detachable)
• Cable: 4-foot (1.2m), 4-wire braided, terminated with a right-angle 3.5mm connector

Final Thoughts
It’s important to remember the price: these are $25 IEMs. The downside to the entry-level price point is that there are so many options to compare the KS2 against. The upside? It will be someone’s cup of tea, and that someone might be you.

My biggest dig at the KS2 is that I feel like the earphones are having an identity crisis. The boosted bass feels like it should be marketed to those who love bass-heavy music, but the inability to separate instrumentation and similar frequencies completely destroys EDM and like genres. In my opinion, the best-served genre for the KS2 is, surprisingly, acoustic, or lo-fi electronic.

If you’re a collector who loves Chi-Fi, picking up the KBEar KS2 should be on your shortlist. Its sound is quite unique and may change the way you feel about bass-heavy music through narrow IEMs.

Where to Buy

You can buy the KBear KS2 on Amazon. At the time of writing, you can nab it for $24.99 before the 12% coupon and free one-day shipping.

KBear also its products direct for purchase on Aliexpress


Should you buy it?

This is a tough one. For $25, you really can’t go wrong with this earphone. For bass junkies and IEM collectors, it’s a no-brainer, but for everyone else who might be looking for a single IEM to handle all of their needs, there are other options out there which are more balanced.

KB Ear KS2 ($25): What does a bear sound like? Anything it wants

KB Ear Store



The KBear KS2 was sent to me for review purposes. It is also understood that the unit may be asked to be returned at any time or forwarded to another for review purposes. Selling for a profit is not only discouraged, but is highly frowned upon, unethical, and uncool. Don’t do it.

The KS2 has had many reviews already posted, to mostly positive acclaim. Mimicking the KS/ZST/CCA look and feel, KBear is pretty straightforward in whom they are shooting for with the KS2. The lower priced entry models for those who want to move away from the stock Smartphone buds. I don’t blame them as that is a quite profitable area, with many changes happening quite quickly. Having a good product with which to start certainly lays the groundwork for future iterations.

I thank KBear for the review sample, and as agreed upon will provide an honest assessment of the KS2. To not do so benefits no-one, and is also not cool.



Specs:

From the site:

About this item:

• 【Translucent Resin Cavity Stylish Design】The cabinet cavity of KBEAR KS2 is made of imported high-density PC material which can well suppress the diffuse reflection of sound waves inside the cavity. Through the optimization of the internal cavity acoustic structure, the overall sound is more warm and charming, and the soft and mellow audio performance is reproduced as the real picture. Translucent resin material, bright streamer, full of beauty and technology!
• 【1BA + 1DD 10mm Composite Diaphragm (PU+biological diaphragm) Unit】 ts powerful low frequency response and transparent and mellow midrange performance, wide sound field, shocking sound quality. The mid-to-high frequency uses customized moving iron units, which can effectively improve the vocal resolution, the mid-frequency density is balanced, the sound is more mellow, the high-frequency is transparent and smooth, showing richer instrument details and delicate music which performed.
• 【COMFORTABLE & EXCELLENT SOUND】 The mid-low frequency has rich infectant power and relaxed and natural characteristics. The mid-high frequency has nice resolution, transient and ductility. KBEAR KS2 is equipped with a combination of BA DD through electronic frequency division processing, so that each unit can give full play to its performance and achieve accurate and delicate performance. Reproduce the sound effects loyal to the original sound, bring charm and dynamic.
• 【Removable Cable & Ealuminum Alloy Nozzle】4 strands of 6N OFC high-quality wires not only effectively improve the transparency, separation, sound field, making the sound bottom crystal clear, vocals and musical instruments are more beautiful and beautiful, but also reduce signal transmission lost. Exchangeable 2PIN wire design improves the playability. and a limit slot is added to extend the life of the headset. KBEAR KS2 adopts aluminum alloy nozzle, which making the mid-bass clean and smooth.

1. 10mm Composite Diaphragm (PU+Biological Diaphragm) Dynamic Driver

Tailor-made mellow sound quality, built-in 10mm composite diaphragm dynamic driver , its powerful low frequency response and transparent and mellow midrange performance, wide sound field, shocking sound quality, comprehensively improve the sound quality.

2. Advanced Customized Balanced Armature Driver

The mid-to-high frequency uses advanced customized balanced armature driver, which can effectively improve the vocal resolution, the mid-frequency density is balanced, the sound is more mellow, the high-frequency is transparent and smooth, the lines are full, showing richer instrument details and more delicate music which performed.


In The Box:

IEM
Cable (2-pin 0.78mm)
3 sets silicon tips (s, m, l)
That’s it-minimalistic


Gear Used/Compared:

NiceHCK X49 ($17)
CVJ CSA ($27)
Shuoer Tape ($129)

Shanling M0
Shanling M6 Pro (it’s what I had on hand at the time...)
iPhone XS Max (w/DDHiFi TC35i dongle)
MacBook Pro (Tidal Premium)



Songs used:

Dave Mathews albums, Come Tomorrow, Away From The World
Los Lonely Boys- Heaven (en Espanol)
Los Lobos album, Disconnected In New York City
twenty one pilots-Trees
twenty one pilots-Car Radio
twenty one pilots-Heathens
twenty one pilots-Forest
Damian Marley-Everybody Wants To Be Somebody
Damian Marley-So A Child May Follow
Damian Marley-The Struggle Discontinues
Ziggy Marley-Lighthouse
Ziggy Marely-See Dem Fake Leaders
Mark Knopfler-Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes
Santana w/ Mana- Corazon Espinado
twenty one pilots album, Trench
Mark Knopfler album, Down The Road Wherever


Unboxing:

Pretty straight and simple. The KBear comes in a KZ-sized white carboard box, laden with the IEM on the front, specs on the back. Sometimes simplicity is good, other times not. This would be a case of the former. Good.

Eschewing the overpopulated black, I opted for the semi-transparent green, sans mic. Clean and clear, I like it. Along with the IEM, the 0.78mm 2-pin copper cable lies under the well-presented IEM. Exactly like you would find on a KZ/ZST/CCA, this cable does not have the super-tactility of the others. IE: stickiness. Another good in my book.


Build/Fit/Functionality:

The shell is made of a polycarbonate material, with no obvious flaws like some in this range (and above unfortunately), and I would call this appropriate for the price. Another nice touch is the aluminum alloy nozzle attached to the shell (making 3 parts total). An unexpected treat, the nozzle is on the longer and wider side, which KBear says makes the IEM last longer. I’m not sure how that would work, but.

Having on dynamic driver (10mm) and one balanced armature along with 16Ohm impedance and 106dB sensitivity makes the KS2 easier to drive than some of its rivals. I can confer with those findings as the KS2 does seem easy to drive. Since this is designed to be used as a Smartphone replacement headphone, that only makes sense. And it works out that way.

The shape of the IEM itself fits neatly inside my average-sized ear canals without fuss. Sitting deeper than many of late, that wide & long nozzle does not hinder my comfort or the sound. Settling on the large included silicon’s, I was able to attain a solid seal, commensurate with this price, and in fact better than most. So far, the KS2 comes across as unassuming, and unoffensive. Two positives.



Sound:

Patterned (according to their literature) as slightly warm and inviting, I again concur with their advertising. It is also v-shaped. Even I can sense that. While neither bass nor treble is over-emphasized, they definitely take the front. Vocals are not subdued or withdrawn that much though, and overall it is a pleasantly warm signature, which fits my bill. For the price, even better.

The bass is solid without being bossy or boomy. Nicely detailed and present at the right level, there is a contented amount and presence in the lower regions. It does not offend me, and only covers the lower mids a bit from my “expert” listening.

Moving to the opposite end, the treble sparks a bit of sparkle, but not in gratuitous amounts. No, there is not bitey sound here, just a bit of that gleaming up top, which leaves the listener with a satisfied, pleasantness to the music. Too often the low-end of ChiFi sparks immensity in the upper regions. So much so, that the sound has been deemed the “far east” sound signature. I will admit that is not for me, and I am grateful for this lack of in the KS2. This signature also enhances the feel of voluminous sound stage nicely. A good complimentary accompaniment as well.

So far there is not too much wrong with the KS2, and that continues with soundstage, as it is just about right. Decently tall and deep, width is there to give a good 3-dimensional sound. As a result, and paired with good transparency and resolution, the KS2 presents an honest separation of those sounds and placement comes across as intended. Because of that transparency, layering shows well as a result and instrumentation is quite good for this price. For a $25 IEM, the KS2 is showing off its mettle well. To me this shows just how far the low end of ChiFi have come. Maybe it is the “western” tuning, or that the quality of the products has jumped so much you do begin to truly appreciate that higher quality offered.


Comparisons:

KBEar KS2 ($25) v NiceHCK X49 ($17):

As a slender bullet-built bud, the X49 performs well. For the price you are hard bent to beat it. I would take it over most “stock IEM’s included in Smartphones, simply because it is easy to use, cheap of price, and provides a quality sound. You could call this an “engaging” sound, because the mids are more forward as well as being prominent.

Where the X49 projects, the KS2 invites. Where the X49 exudes prominent confidence, the KS2 emits quiet assurance. Where the X49 provides robust, but untamed bass, the KS2 gives quality and present bass. You get the point. If you want a more in your face/EDM type of bud, the X49 would be a good choice. If you want a more mellow (KBEar’s own words) sound, which provides good quality, then the KS2 is the choice.


KBEar KS2 ($25) v CVJ CSA ($27):

The entry level CVJ is not a bad product in itself, either. Providing a “more energetic” sound akin to ChiFi of old, the top end does get tiresome at higher volume to me, but there is a certain good quality about the mids and vocals, which can keep you engaged. For me though, that mellow full, warmer tonality of the KS2 wins out. That flavor is more in my taste anyway.


KBEar KS2 ($25) v Shuoer Tape ($129):

I add something that cost 5x more here to show what can be done at the $25 price point. Those who like “highly” energetic buzzy sounds will enjoy the Tape. Using that electrostat to send energetic vibes to your ears, it does work. But I cannot get past the overall lack of pretty much everything else. For my personal tastes, it is one of the lowest scoring I have had. And here is where the KS2 shines. For 1/5 the price, you get a bit of warmth (personal I know), a bit of richness, and a low end that is present without intruding. You also get a bit of sparkle up top, which stays that way as the volume rises. Not so with the other three compared here. They all to a “T” become bitey up top, to the point that I either turn the volume down, or switch IEM’s.


Conclusion:

Finishing the last paragraph, what the KS2 provides over the other three is a quality sound, that invites you to either listen while having that dram of single malt or raise the volume with some local lager. Either way, the KS2 provides a very good end listening platform with which to finish your day. Or start, sans the alcohol (please...). Either way, the KS2 does not bother me with fallacies that are enough to cause me to switch units. I happily listen for that short time frame or longer as needed, and after all; isn’t that the point? To listen?

I thank KBEar for the review sample, I am also grateful for their patience during this world time. The wait is worth it, as the KS2 is one of my top choices at the sub-$50 IEM price, and certainly at its current price of $22-25. Cheers now go enjoy.

Okay let's get this straight. I have a drawerful of KZ brand earbuds and there is not really a bad one in the bunch, but if I put them on a comparative scale with each other, the KB EAR KS2 will not rank with my favorites. There is nothing really wrong with them. They can easily replace and surpass most of the cheapo smartphone earbuds out there, true. But this is getting to be a very competitive field, and KZ itself is a key driver in this competition. Some of their pieces, like my favorite KB04 or KZ ZS10 Pro, are really ear-knocking for the price. They compare closely with more expensive entries. This pair, the KS2, just doesn't seem to drive the brand forward in any significant way.

Knowledge Zenith spits out so many models that it is hard to keep up with. They are not afraid to use surprising multiple driver configurations, and they often strike upon something that a segment of their wide consumer base finds titillating. This unit under review here uses a simple single dynamic driver and single balanced armature, which is an underrated combination that can often be tuned to be extremely engaging. With this unit we have a rather commonplace V-shaped sound that is listenable, but not particularly exciting. Given the fact that these things costs less than $25, that may not be a letdown for many.

The KS2 is very well made, with it's plastic shell joints fitting together perfectly and it is typical KZ in its attractive plastic design and gem-like appearance. Lightweight cable-behind-the-ear IEMs seem to be all the rage at this time, and I must say that as a comfort obsessed wearer, I find this one very nice over a long listening session. The cabling is standard KZ, and on a number of my units I tend to replace that cabling with upgraded pieces, some from Linsoul, KZ's parent company. On this I didn't bother. I also absolutely would not upgrade the source when using these. My Astell and Kern SR25 showed more fault than favor with the KS2, and when I switched back to a simple smartphone source I was much happier. The sound has pretty precise highs for a model in this price range, but they can scream a little bit and become sibilant if the music pushes them that way. Mids are solid and boosted in the way that most V-shaped units are. Deep bass was satisfying enough for me, but I am not a pounder. Overall soundstage was actually the best feature here, with a wide and smooth presentation.

So again, let us say this: For the price this is a nice piece of gear and you should not be afraid to put it in your arsenal. Just keep your expectations in check.

I would love to thank wendy li and tri official for the change to review the kbear ks2 budget bassy fun iem . I love to listen to alot of electronic music as well and other genre sometimes such as rap and rock and other cultures music. The ks2 is a budget friendly iem and a very natural one at that too.

Build: the build is high quality plastic housing that feels light and sturdy. The shape of the housing fit my ear perfectly and the size is also perfect for me ears as well. The cable a tight weaved 4 core cable which is light and excellent for the iem , negative is the earhook shape which is like a 270 degree curve.

Sound :

Bass:

Powerful and deep with a tight midbass , it doesn't interfere with the midrange and the texture is medium level in quantity. Speed is also medium level , not the fastest or the slowest I've heard and also it has cleaness to it.

Midrange:

The midrange is right inside the head and the note weight isn't thick or thin but right in the middle. The clarity is medium level not masked or veiled at all . The presentation is 3d with more depth then width.also height is great.

Treble:

The treble is clear with a slight thin note weight , it's not bothersome or too bright but it add some pazzaz to the sound. Detail of treble is medium level with some peaks.

Soundstage:

Soundstage is another great aspect of the ks2 , with depth bright deep and as well as height reaching a nice height. Width is good not the widest I've heard but the compressed either .imaging is great as well.

Conclusion'
Ks2 is a fun budget bassy iem that will satisfy people who are looking for gaming iem as well we'll and iem that has great soundstage for the cheap low price.

I recently received a few pairs of IEMs for review. The KB EAR KS2 was the first one of the group that I tried.

I used the KS2 for about 5 hours total to get my first impressions. I don't have a ton of previous experience writing reviews for IEMs, but hopefully some potential buyers will find this helpful.

Packaging and Presentation:
The packaging for these IEMs is pretty standard. As the buyer, you'll receive the IEMs themselves, a pretty basic stock cable, and a few spare silicone tips. I was not a huge fan of the quality of the stock cable, but you can't really ask for much more at this price point. The stock tips actually fit my ears pretty well, which was a pleasant surprise.

Construction and Build Quality:
The body of the KS2 is made out of plastic and feels pretty lightweight. While this is beneficial in terms of comfort, it does concern me a bit about the fragility/durability of these IEMs.

Bass:
I think this is where these IEMs shine. The KS2s have a pretty good bass response, especially in the sub-bass. The mid-bass is also pretty impactful but occasionally gets a little messy.

Treble:
In my opinion the KS2s are a little bright but not harsh or sibilant. It is a little messy though and I felt like the details of some tracks were lost.

Mids:
Vocals are decent but sometimes sound a little far away. Overall, the mids are maybe a little recessed and give way to boosted bass and trouble. For most of the music I listen to (pop, hip hop, rap), this was fine, but some listeners may not like this.

Soundstage:
The soundstage is not bad. At this price point, I can't really think of many (if any) other IEMs that have a soundstage that is significantly better. The width is definitely good but the depth leaves something to be desired. Occasionally, I did feel like it fell short and was maybe lacking a little in depth.

Overall Impression:
I feel like the KS2 is a decent entry point into IEMs and have a sound signature that have a friendly and familiar V-shaped sound signature for the average consumer. It helps that they're easy to drive (I only ever used my iPhone + Lightning-to-3.5mm Adapter and had no issues). They're also pretty budget-friendly, which makes it easier to accept some of their downsides, such as the below-average build quality and the quality of the stock tips/cable. These are definitely not going to be the right pick for everyone, but if you do enjoy genres like Hip Hop, Rap, and EDM and are looking to get into this hobby, these are probably a pretty good starting point.

KBEAR KS2

The KS2 is a hybrid IEM with a 10mm Composite Diaphragm dynamic driver producing the low to mid frequencies and a balanced armature for highs.

The shells are polycarbonate which the manufacturer apparently used because it helps quell internal shell resonances. It is light and very comfortable with a metal nozzle that features a prominent lip to retain the tips. No tips left stuck in your ear!

The cable is replacable and works fine though a bit tangle-prone. KBEAR has many beautiful replacement cables available.

Now, about the sound. I must admit upfront that I changed tips early on. There was just a bit more treble than I wanted so I used tips with a smaller bore and now they sound great. I also replaced the cable with a 2.5mm balanced one to use with my Hiby 3 PRO'S balanced out. It didn't make any difference tonally but it benefits from more power from the balanced output. I always replace the cable just for this reason.

The Bass:

The bass is quite powerful and punchy. There is plenty of low/sub bass with a reletively fast attack and a slightly slower decay. This gives you the punch of a kick drum but also caters well to electronic music with sub bass boom tracks. It has massive punch and will produce a physical sensation if turned up. You can feel the bass! It does a good job on most all genres of music, but loves synth bass!

The Mids:

The mids are mildly V-shaped with the bass and treble boosted. This makes it a fun sounding IEM! There is sufficient detail in the mids and there is a prominent lift of the high mids. These are surprisingly revealing when you don't boost the bass and treble on your player too much. Vocals are crisp and intimate.

The Treble:

Treble is most definitely elevated. It does not create sibilance in my experience but will definitely reproduce any sibilance present in the original mix. If its a bit too bright, try using tips with a smaller bore to even things out. I like the sound these make when the treble is tamed slightly. The mids start to really pop out.

The Soundstage:

The soundstage is of about average width and decent depth. The vocals sit right up close while instruments sit back slightly for a nice layering effect.

So, am I happy with the KS2? Yes. I especially like it on electronic music and hard rock.
It has a rounder bass tuning than I am used to, but I really love that on sub bass hits! It will serve me well for electronic music. At this price, it's great!

I would like to thank Jessie for providing the test sample in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for reading!

KBear KS2: The 26th mesmerizing review

SOUND: 6.5/10
CONSTRUCTION&DESIGN:6.5/10
PACKAGING&ACCESSORIES:6.5/10
VALUE:6.5/10

Click to expand...

KBEAR is an audio company from China that tend to diversify their earphones offering, making their hands on different tuning configuration, for the better or the worst.
Unlike company like TRN or KZ that mostly create hybrid or multi-BA IEM, Kbear take more risk and have lauch single Dynamic IEM as well as Hybrid, Single BA and even planar-magnetic Hybrid.

Lately, this company have evolve in temrof tuning expertise, the Kbear Diamond and KB04 being good exemple of well balanced and refined tuning.

But perhaps all of this was due to luck? Or the peculiar tuners they use?

Now an ultra affordable newcomer appear from no where, and no, it isn’t a follow up of the acclaimed ”house sound” incarnate by Diamond and KB04 crisp tonality. It’s call KS2 and score a 10mm ”biological” dynamic driver plus a ”custom” balanced armature.

Let’s see in this rather critical review if this new hybrid earphones stand out of the overcrowded sub-50$ Chi-Fi IEM.

You can buy the KS2 directly from official KBear store HERE.

DISCLAIMER: It seems lot of KBear planes drop KS2 review samples cargo from the sky around the globe, and one inadvertently falls in my mailbox. Did'nt ask for it. It was there. And it wasn't a second pair of KB04, which I would have been proud to give to an audiophile friend, unlike the KS2.


SPECS

Drivers type: 1 DD of 10mm (biological diaphragm + PU) + 1 BA custom.

• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz.
• Sensitivity: 106±3dB.
• Impedance: 16Ω
• Connector Jack: 3.5mm.
• Capsule Connection Type: 0.78mm 2Pin.

PACKAGING&ACCESSORIES

Little box with nothing other than a basic cable and 3 pair of ear tips. Cable is just decent and similar to the one included with TRN iem.

CONSTRUCTION

2 pieces of cheap thick plastic stick togheter with a metal nozzle. 2Pin connector is made of cheap looking plastic too. They are very light and quite comfortable. Construction seem very similar to KZ ZST.

SOUND
OBJECTIVIST IMPRESSIONS

The KS2 is a typical V shape signature, with warm bass and mids and bright treble. Tonality is decently balanced while the technicalities are on par or inferior to other sub-20$ IEM. Overall sound is thickly cohesive.


SOUNDSTAGE is wide with good tallness but very poor deepnest. You are near the scene with the KS2, which deliver an in-your-face spatiality.


IMAGING is bad, messy and not precise. It feel veiled in mid range and muddy in definition. It’s veryr hard to pin point exact instrument position because some of them become siamese by sticking too much togheter.


BASS is very boosted, to bass head level but the slam is warm and lack proper articulation, so sub-bass line are sloppy and lack proper space. As well, sub bass swallow the kick punch with notable bleed on lower mid range, this make very hard to heard the kick singularity in music that have autorithative bass line. Timbre isn’t very textured. Attack is rather slow and lack thighness. In bassy track, the low end take the front seat as if the sub woofer was 1 meter distance in front of 2 bookshelf speakers.


MIDS are recessed as expected with immature V shape IEM. Vocal are dry and grainy, but female vocal are clear enough to be hearable, male vocal tends to overly be veil by bass. Timbe is thin, presentation is shouty and have sibilance. Vocal tonality is not well balanced due to upper mids push and lack of lower mids to round their body. With busy tracks, the mid range became fastly congested and messy. Definition is vague and lack proper attack edge.


TREBLE is quite splashy and easily go berzerk with fast music. When you shake too much a can of coke the exploding sound it make remind me of KS2 treble. It’s not well define, lack control, and have sparkling upper highs to try to distract you from lower and mid treble mess. This is sure the brightest part of KS2 as well

SUBJECTIVIST APPRECIATON

When I receive those, I wasn’t excited due mostly to it’s cheap look, I mean, compared to the KB04 thick metal construction these look so KZ’ish, so ‘’Made in China’’ in the worst sens of the word. Another aspect that make me less excited is the fact these wasn’t tuned by same competent team used fo Kbear Diamond and KB04 models. So, I put these in my ears and go on my bike….and this whole 15min ride I have a sweaty ‘’yuck face’’that just won’t go until I put these out of my ears and plan to never touch it again. But, I’m a faithful guy and feel bad to not review them, strangely my proof of respect to Kbear isn’t necesseraly a positive thing here, because it’s quite evident I hate the KS2. The only way I can endure them is by making my ears dumb and getting lost into warm dense wide boomy musicality. This can work until I try to pick up an instrument, listen to it’s tone and I’m like damn the violin sound like a cello and cello like a bassoon! What do I listen at exactly? Even electronic sound saturated and hollow in definition, you do not have any air between instrument and this go worst with bassy music. Basshead IEM then? Well, a bad one to be honnest because the bass is super elevated but slow and sloppy, it’s like a big mac falling on another big mac. Their no flexibility and both extension are lacking control for proper articulation. The thing is that these aren’t an agression in the over bright or too sharp sens of the words, its not the treble that kill me here, it’s just the whole obese floppy tonality. That’s fast food for audio enthusiast that aren’t aware of technicalities or tonal rightness, and if you put to off your basic critical listening skill, I guess we can say the KS2 is decent boomy fun.

COMPARISONS

VS Kbear KB04 (around 25$)


In my opinion, the KB04 is among best sub-50$ IEM money can buy right now and it’s a shamet hey aren’t more actively praised. These are near opposite sounding than KS2.
SOUNDSTAGE is slightly less wide but notably deeper, IMAGING is sharper, more accurate and precise. BASS is less boosted, clearer with moremid bass punch and better separation and texture, it’s notably faster and thigher too. KS2 bass is warmer, muddier with poorer resolution and sloppier slam. MIDS are cleaner and more fowards with better transparency and fuller timbre, the attack is way faster and snappier too and the KB04 can dealwith complex track, when Iplay same jazz rocktrack with lot of instrument including synth and electrric guitar, the KS2 sound like a complete mess where the mids is crumppled between invasive muddy sub bass and splashy treble, the KB04 play this very same track in a more neutral way, with good articulation and accuracy and I can actually discernr every instrument including the kick drum which was erased by sub bass of KS2. TREBLE again is more refined, leaner and more extended with the KB04, it’s less grainy and bright as well as better controled and way less splashy. KS2 sound overly unbalanced and doesn’t deliver high clarity and air of KB04, as well, KB04 extract alot more micro-details in a realist way.


All in all, if the KS2 can hardly compete with sub-20$, the KB04 can easily compete with sub-100$ IEM due to it’s better technicalities, more refined and balanced tonality. It sincerly is from another league, I would not be shamefull to suggest it to a serious audiophile unlike the immature boomy KS2.


VS Kbear KB06 (30$)


This model form Kbear doesn’t get the attention it deserve, as they are quite competent for a super budget hybrid.


SOUNDSTAGE is more intimate, less wide and tall but way deeper, IMAGING is from another league, precise and clean with more amount of sound layers. BASS is way leaner and less boosted, more textured and controlled with more mid bass than sub bass emphasis. MIDS are more fowards but smoother, with more realist timbre and better attack grip, it’s way cleaner too and can deal with busy track with faster technicalities. TREBLE extend more, is more sparkly and snappy, more balanced, not splashy like the messy KS2, it’s more airy too.


The KB06 is a well balanced W shape tuning with bright tonality from low to highs while the KS2 is a V shape boombox that is way less versatile due to it’s poor technicalities.

CONCLUSION

While I admit this review is intensely critical about overal sound and technicalities of a 20$ cheapies earphones, this is due to my pumped up expectation from a company I learn to respect over the time because of a more mature and refined target tuning they find by experimenting more precise tonal balance.


The KS2 is a stepback in the ol’chi’fi days where everything were too V shape or too bright, in other words, too amateurish to offer a versatile tonal balance that can be respected by both serious (open minded) audiophile and distinguishing music lover that need high enough resolution. It’s warm, boomy, grainy and shouty with a laid back feel due to hollow resolution and I highly suggest you to skip these and buy either the KBear KB04 or older KB06 if you need a well articulated sound. There plenty of better IEM at this price, this is the crual fact.


Another fact is: KBear is capable of creating way better IEM and I still have high hope about them. Just take your time with tuning dear, it really worth it.

24 reviews before these very short impressions of mine already manage to give the potential buyer every bit of information available on the KS2. Still, here is my contribution.

Disclaimer: Wendy from KBear contacted me last spring and asked if I would like to review the KS2. They sent me a pair for free against my impressions. Thanks for that KBear. Much appreciated.

Soundwise, let's say that this IEM plays just a bit above of its price point, but it's not very much asking. Punchy bass that will satisfy those listening to modern music genres or liking a (very) V-shape sound signature. Mediums are way too recessed for my taste. Treble is ok, with a decent extension, it can become a bit aggressive at times, especially if the recording calls for it, but nothing really bad here.

The built quality is quite disappointing. The right shell started to break after 2 weeks of careful use. The IEM is still usable, but it won't pass the test of time. The stock cable unfortunately is not very good, but I had no expectation here. I replaced it with an ISN S8:



The confort is where the KS2 impressed me and that's the reason why I am giving 3 stars and not 2.5. The stock tips are more than correct and I managed to get a firm fit with good isolation. Well done!

So, buy it or not? Unless you have a very tight budget and you are a V-shape signature aficionado for your everyday listening sessions, it's difficult for me to recommend the KS2, especially because of the built quality. I would save a bit more money and get an IEM from the crowded USD 40 - 80.- segment, which matches your sound preference. You should notice the improvement. I think KBear has such offering available.

disclaimer: KBear volunteered the KS2 for review and graciously sent them. I have no financial interest in KBear or any of its resellers, nor have they had any input into the content of this review. If you have an interest in KBear, please see their facebook page or Aliexpress store.

Unboxing / Packaging:

Those familiar with the typical small white slip-cover style box will immediately recognize the packaging. Image and name on front, specs on rear of slip cover. Inside, the box, we have the earpieces nestled in foam at the top and a box containing accessories beneath. The kit contains the earpieces, cable, and four sets of silicone tips. Tips are 1 small, 2 medium, and 1 large pair. Remember this is a budget in-ear designed as an improved replacement for smartphone audio with a retail around 20 USD so an extended kit is not expected.




Build/Fit:

The Ks2 uses a very familiar formula with resin shells in 3 parts. The face plate and inner shell are a green co-polymer with a brass nozzle. Faceplates are darker and a bit more opaque than the body with allows the internals to be viewed. The shell is the quasi triangle shape with the nozzles exiting the lowest point and the bi-pin connector exiting the top front. While the shell shape is very common, the KS2 is thinner than many in this style and fit is quite comfortable as it sits more in than on the ear. Nozzles have both a forward and upward rake with a pronounced lip for tip retention. A single vent over the center of the dynamic driver is visible on the under side of the shell. Fit and polish are good with seams tightly sealed and no glue, gaps, or slop. Earpieces are marked KS2 and L/R on the upper surface.




Internals:

The heart of the KS2 is a 10mm dynamic driver with a composite diaphragm and a a single customized balanced armature. The dynamic drivers sits in the main shell while the BA rides in the nozzle. Nominal impedance is listed as 16Ω with a sensitivity of 106 dB/mW. KBear warns that the KS2 was designed for smartphone use and will not benefit from more potent sources. I found this to be true as more powerful sources led to more distortion in the low end as volumes increased. The good news is it does well with smartphones and tablets and you don’t seem to lose much qualitatively as you move down in power.



Cable:

This is a very familiar cable by this point. Those familiar with KB budget offerings will recognize the cable immediately and nothing has changed from previous generations. The south end has the 3.5mm 90º jack with almost no strain relief before the brown 4 strand copper double helix cable exits. The Y shaped plastic splitter is entirely too low on the cable especially with no chin slider provided. Above the splitter a pair of 2 strand twists head north to the preformed earhooks. Connectors are .78mm bi-pin in a squared off hood.




Sound:


Bass:

The Ks2 has a very elevated sub-bass before the mid-bass begins to fall back a bit. The sub-bass has good rumble but is a bit loose as the driver seems to have a slower than average decay. The mid-bass while not as elevated really shows off the lack of driver speed and contributes a good bit of mid-bass bleed into the lower mids as a result. Overall the Ks2 packs a lot of low-end into the mix and performs best with hip-hop and EDM but it won’t satisfy those looking for a lot of bass texture as typically found in string bass or orchestral pieces. Not surprising as the K2s target audience was more the former than the later groups.

Mids:

Lower mids are somewhat obstructed by mid-bass bleed and come across as increasingly recessed as you move up toward the true mids. Guitar tonality is fairly realistic although the slow decay is still evident. Vocals are not accentuated and sometimes fall behind the remaining instrumentation a bit but do have good tonality and texture. If volume is pushed a bit to compensate, it brings vocals up a bit but also increases stridency in the process. The boost in the upper-mids introduces sibilance if the source material has any leaning in that direction anyway. Strings have a bit too much energy as well and tonality comes across as a bit thin and hot on violin as a result. Ultimately the Ks2 is not a mid-centered in-ear and will do well with EDM or house that don’t focus on vocals heavily.

Treble:

Lower treble is emphasized before dropping back as you reach the true treble where it falls back to roughly the level of the mids. I think this saves the Ks2 from becoming really sibilant at times as it doesn’t have the energy to get really fatiguing in the 8-9kHz range. Treble clarity is good, but detail is only average. Snare rattle is good while cymbals can be a bit metallic. Extension is fairly good with a roll-off becoming evident only above about 12kHz. The treble has enough energy to feel open and does exhibit some air.

Soundstage/Imaging:

This is one place the KS2 really excels. Soundstage is larger than average with good depth and width. Height is limited but more than expected in the price class. Seating the orchestra is somewhat difficult as instrument separation is below average and several overlaps of instruments result. I think the driver speed is the biggest issue in the Ks2 as it contributes to the lack of separation, the bleed, and the compression heard as tracks get busier. Layering is average with some of the mentioned compression as tracks get more complex. Imaging is acceptable, but imprecise and while movement is easily discerned, exact placements are less so.


Thoughts/Conclusion:

While it would be easy to think I don’t much care for the KS2, we have to keep in mind this is a sub-25 USD offering designed to improve on what comes with cell phones and principally designed with popular genres in mind. Within the limits of that envelope, the KS2 can perform well and does indeed work best with popular genres where tracks are not overly complex and instrumentation is kept to a handful of voices. While it wont replace the KB04 was my recommendation in the sub-25 market, I can see many enjoying it as an entry level in ear.

This review originally appeared on my blog.

Yet another budget hybrid, you can never have enough of them after all.

KBEar has released the KS2 just a few months after releasing the KB04 (which I hope to review soon). Both of them are 1BA + 1DD hybrids. They are also priced fairly closely ($22 vs $25 respectively). This saturation of their own product range amuses me, but let’s just judge the KS2 in isolation.

Is it another budget hybrid that’s about to get lost in the sea? Or shall it endure the tidal waves?


Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. Wendy Li of KBEar was kind enough to send out a review unit. Disclaimer

Sources used: LG G7, iPhone SE
Price, while reviewed: $22. Can be bought from KBEar AliExpress store.




Build: The entire IEM shell is plastic with the ever-popular pseudo-custom shape. It does look and feel fragile, even though the finish in general is pretty good for the price (cutouts are precise, vents are well drilled, shell-joints are smooth). The nozzle is metal fortunately and has an angled lip to grip onto tips along with facilitating a secure fit.

There are two vents on the inner-side, placed on the same axis. Channel markings are on the side of the shell. The 2-pin connectors protrude from the shell unfortunately and should be handled with care.

So yeah, at this price, I can’t complain with the build, fit and finish but KBEar themselves have a metal shelled IEM for just a few bucks extra, so…
4/5

Accessories: You get the barebones i.e. tips and cable and the IEMs themselves. No fancy extras. The tips are decent and might not need replacing. Same goes for the cable, though I did use an aftermarket cable I had lying around.
3/5

Comfort/Isolation: Due to the pseudo-custom shape, lightweight plastic and moderate nozzle length the KS2 is very comfortable overall. Isolation is average with the stock tips but if you change to more isolation tips (e.g. Final E Type, Radius Deep Mount) isolation gets better. Also the stock tips are a bit uncomfortable for long sessions so if possible try something else (Starline tips are good on a budget).
4/5




Now, onto the sound.

KBEar opted for a hybrid setup once again, with a 10mm composite diaphragm DD handling the lows and a custom BA driver (sitting in the nozzle as usual, likely the same old 30095) handling the mids/treble. Pretty much a routine driver configuration nowadays.

The KBEar KS2 has a typical V-shaped sound with boosted upper-mids and lower-treble. As a result you get this exciting sound that can get fatiguing/grating based on the track being played or your own tolerance.

Bass: KS2 has a boosted low-end, esp from 70Hz and below. So you do get the thump and rumble until 20Hz (though rumble at 20Hz is not as prominent). The bass lacks texture and turns boomy on fast-paced tracks/tracks where the bass is already boosted in mastering. For regular Pop/Rock songs it’s fine though.

Those who prefer a boosted low-end and are mostly after the thump of the bass rather than fine texture will likely be alright with the KS2’s low end. Those who want more subtlety in the bass department will be disappointed.
4/5

Mids: The upper-mids are boosted as is very common nowadays, with the typical 2Khz and 4Khz boosts in place. This makes female vocals too upfront and higher-pitched vocals end up being shouty and fatiguing at times. There are also hints of sibilance, as can be found on Avril Lavigne’s I’m With You.

This upper-mid boost is usually felt the most in baritone vocals as the lower-mids are more recessed in comparison. As a result, baritone vocals sound husky rather than hefty, case in point: Colin Hay’s I Just Don’t Think I’ll Get Over You. String instruments also sound thin and lacks the usual reverb you’d hear in reality. In short: the usual weaknesses of such tuning manifests here again and I don’t quite get why manufacturers are adamant at continuing a clearly flawed tuning philosophy.
3/5

Treble: The lower-treble doesn’t slope naturally and there are some peaks around 7–8KHz (depending on insertion depth). This results in sibilance and also certain instruments like violins, cello sounds peaky and tiring. The resolved detail is also nothing of note. Cymbals sound a bit splashy (a typical weakness of this particular BA driver model), just listen to The Winery Dogs’ You Saved Me to get a feel for it. KS2 doesn’t sound as splashy as certain other KZ models though so I guess that’s something.

Nonetheless, the sibilance issue rears its ugly head and lack of resolved detail despite a peaky treble is unfortunate.
3/5

Soundstage: Soundstage height is larger than the typical budget IEM which is quite curious and definitely aids while watching movies and such. Soundstage width is moderate but stage depth is pretty poor.
3.5/5

Imaging: Imaging is not too bad given the budget (it’s better than Tin T4 so there’s that) but it won’t knock your socks off like, say, Final E500. Instruments are placed mostly in a flat plane. Left/right separation is good but corner-imaging is pretty poor. Central imaging however is slightly better which was curious. Nonetheless, it’s a mixed bag, and there are other stuff in the price bracket that does imaging better.
3.5/5

Bang-for-Buck: The biggest adversary of the KS2 is its own brethren: KB04. I find the KB04 to be better at every single aspect, perhaps only comfort is a bit better on the KS2. If we take into account the other options in the range KS2 doesn’t really seem like an exciting option. Alas.
2.5/5

Source and Amplification: The KS2 runs off of everything.


Select Comparisons

vs KBEar KB04 ($25): The KB04 costs just $5 more but is better on every aspect: build quality, bass, detail retrieval. It does suffer from the same upper-mid peak issue as the KS2 but it’s more palatable on the KB04. And the bass response is KB04’s calling card so if you’re after good bass in a budget KB04 should definitely be in your shortlist.

vs Kinera Tyr ($25): Kinera Tyr is a single micro-driver IEM and lacks the detachable cable of the KS2. Fit and finish is better on the Try along with the build of the housing, however. Tyr also comes with much better accessories. Bass is similarly boosted on the Tyr but lacks the sub-bass rumble of the KS2. It does have more textured bass with less bleeding in the lower mids. The midrange is less shouty on the Tyr and the treble is more controlled. Soundstage is similar but imaging is better on the Tyr.

Overall, the Tyr is a better choice as well if you don’t mind the non-detachable cable (you do get nice Final E-type tips).




Conclusion

KBEar did impress me with the Diamond, which despite its flaws was an interesting IEM that was built like a tank. Then the KB04 showed up with some of the best bass and detail retrieval in the budget range (though I don’t like the overall tonality myself). KS2 seems like a backward step. It doesn’t differentiate itself in any manner. The tuning is generic, the design is dime-a-dozen, and worst of all its own brethren consumes it. The sound isn’t bad per se but it’s fatiguing for me and not really something I find natural or ideal for long-listening.

From my perspective, it’s back to the drawing board for KBEar. They sure can employ more palatable tunings (as evident on the Diamond) so if they can forego the tendency of putting dual 2/4KHz peaks, make the lower treble a bit less prominent and make the bass less boomy in their next release, we might have something to talk about.

For now though, there isn’t much to talk about.

Overall rating: 3/5

Disclaimer : This unit was sent to me by KB EAR. However, this does not affect my review of the product in any way whatsoever.

INTRO
KB EAR does have a very unique name but make no mistake, they have been making earphones for quite a while now and even have a popular models such as the KB EAR Diamond i1 and the TRI i3. This would be my first time trying something from them so this is something interesting for me. Let's look deeper into this earphone!


QUICK SUMMARY
Sound : Bass boosted, laidback upper mids and highs

This graph depicts how the earphone sounds to me

Driver : 10mm Composite diaphragm dynamic driver + 1 Balanced armature driver
Socket : TFZ 0.78mm Pin (Look like regular 2 pins but are not)
Price : 24 USD (+1 USD for microphone cable)
Where to buy it : KB EAR Official Aliexpress Store (Not affiliate link)

Suitable Genres : Songs where bass and vocals are the focus such as Rap, Hip Hop, RnB

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WHAT'S IN THE BOX

1 Set of different sized eartips (S, M, L)
1 x Medium sized eartips (on the earphone itself)
1 x KB EAR KS2
1 x 4 Core OFC high-purity pure copper cable (3.5mm; L-shaped jack)

The KS2 comes in a simple packaging, just providing the earphones, cables and eartips. I found it nice that they actually included another pair of medium eartips on the earphone itself because most users tend to lose at least one pair of eartips.

I think if you have read my reviews enough times, you would know that I like it when the packaging comes with carrying cases. So I was slightly disappointed that they did not include one in the packaging. However, for a 24 USD earphone, I can't really fault them for not having one though I have seen other similarly priced earphones that comes with one too.

The stock cable provided feels supple and is lightweight which really helps with the comfort aspect. I also like the fact that these cables have an L-shaped jack. I personally feel that this reduces the likelihood of bending the joints of the cable as it doesn't protrude much, potentially increasing the lifespan of the cables.

Overall, though the packaging is simple and does not come with much accessories, it would have been nice if a carrying case is included with the earphones. I also like that the cables have an L-shaped termination which helps with improving the lifespan of the cables.

BUILD QUALITY

The earphone is made of a plastic shell throughout and feels very light. The faceplate of the earphone is a black in color with their logo embedded within the plastic itself and the whole earphone is slightly translucent, allowing you to peek at the driver within the earphone. The earphone also has a gloss finishing, which I am not a big fan of as it attracts fingerprints.

The sockets on the earphones are not recessed and juts out, but the cable has an extra rubber housing that covers it, preventing any liquid from seeping in.

The nozzle of the earphone is also made of some kind of metal with a metal grill to prevent earwax from getting into the drivers.

Overall, I am not a big fan of the housing of the earphones, I think it could have been swapped out for a matte finishing plastic that does not attract fingerprints. However to give them some credit, the shell does feel rather sturdy despite its lightweight so that's great.

COMFORT AND ISOLATION
Despite me not being a big fan of the build quality of the earphones, I find them really comfortable to wear even for long hours. Due to how lightweight it is, the earphones feel like they are never in your ears and that is really good. On top of that, the lightweight cable never feels like it is tugging on the earphones, adding on to the comfort of the earphones.

The KS2 also does a decent job in isolating sound. While listening to music through my digital audio player, I hardly hear any external noises. Even if so, it was only very faint. I could sometimes still hear the notifications from my messaging apps on my computer but this could also be due to the fact that I do not play my music on very loud volumes too. For the most part, I do not hear much external noises.

Overall, the earphones feel really comfortable due to its lightweight and isolation is decent but depending on the volume you playback your music.

SOUND
Before I give a general overview of the sound, the setup I use to test are as follows :
DAP - Cayin N6ii (T01)
Cable - Stock (3.5mm)
Eartips - Stock

The KS2 has a bass boosted sound with clear vocals, laidback upper mids and highs. Bass is fast and midbass hits hard so you always feel that slam of the kick drums or that rumble of the bass guitar. Treble and uppermids tend to be quite tucked behind so it doesn't stand out as much but it's still audible.

Highs
Highs tend to be thick and crisp but does not have much extension and presence. Hence this would be great for people who are sensitive to treble. The highs have the least presence compared to the mids and lows.

Testing this song out with SPiCYSOL's "Mellow Yellow", you still get the crisp highs of the high hats at every beat but it tends to be overshadowed by the vocals and the bass. As a result of being overshadowed and being laidback, highs sound slightly artificial and the crashes of cymbals lack excitement. It gets further drowned out in heavier genres such as Metal and Rock thus, its not suitable for such genres.

However I noticed that since the high hats is always audible and provides that groove, I decided to try this with other genres such as Rap and RnB. The KS2 performed better for such genres and provided just enough highs for you to keep to the beat of the song. Eminem's "Mockingbird" clearly shows this, where the highs has just enough presence to maintain that beat.

Personally, I would prefer if the highs had a better extension and a bit more presence, maybe making the sound more V-shaped. Though that would make it sound more exciting, it might also make the earphones too fatiguing to listen to as the bass already has a lot of presence.

To be fair, these earphones perform pretty well in the highs as compared to other earphones at its price range. Usually earphones within this price range has too much highs and sound sibilant, but this is never the case for KS2.

Overall, the highs are crisp enough, and does not have much extension. Though laidback on most songs, the KS2 still provides enough highs for you to groove to the beat of the music.

Mids
Upper mids tend to sound similar to the highs where its more laidback than the other frequencies but lower mids and vocals tend to shine more here. Vocals surprisingly sound natural though slightly restrained when the singer belts out higher notes.

First, the upper mids. Upper mids tends to sound laidback and when listening to my usual rock songs, the snare drums tend to sound rather muted when there are more instruments in the mix. This can be heard in Frederic's "Sukiraism" where the constant snare beats are barely audible. I had to pay more attention listening out for them. The guitar solo at 2:20 to 2:30 had a similar vibe too.

However, the KS2 tends to do pretty well in the lower mids. To generalise, whenever I listen to rock songs on these, the rhythm guitar, that usually sounds laidback on other earphones that I have, have more presence here and I can hear it clearly. It usually has a nice bite to it and I tend to enjoy listening to rhythm guitars on these. Throwing any song of Frederic songs on these proved this, where rhythm is much more audible than lead guitars at most times.

Moving on to vocals, they sound quite natural and is quite forward, lacking slightly only to bass. Whichever song I threw at it, if it had vocals, it is always forward sounding and natural, which is really enjoyable.

When I was listening to Eminem's "Mockingbird", I could hear each word very clearly and never muffled. It clearly takes the center stage in almost all songs with vocals and hence I would recommend using these earphones for rap too! Diana Krall was also enjoyable on these so do give her a listen too!

However, when the singer starts singing higher notes, the KS2 don't translate that energy as well, it sounds restrained.

Overall, vocals and lower mids is more audible than upper mids. Vocals sound natural and lower mids always have that bite too, which is good for listening out for rhythm guitars too.


Lows
Now we have come to the main highlight of the KS2, its bass. The bass is the main focus of the earphone and it has a very rumbly bass due to its strong midbass impact. Bass is particularly enjoyable on these unit though it doesn't have a very deep extension.

Listening to Earth Wind Fire's "September" on these is fun; the bass really shines through in this song and sounds particularly groovy due to that fast bass and forward bass presence. Every note from the bass guitar is clear and fast which adds to the groove.

I wanted to test how the midbass was and decided to use Joe's "I Wanna Know". That intro caught me off guard because that beat just had so much impact that I wasn't expecting it to have that much slam! This song also shows how well the vocals and the bass come together on this earphone and make it shine.

I threw almost every song from Boyz II Men's Platinum Collection on it and it reproduced it really well. Vocals were clear, coupled with the bass of the song, it provides quite a depth to the song which is surprising for an earphone of this price range. I really enjoyed listening to RnB on these pair of earphones!

Another good example is Yonezu Kenshi's "Flamingo", bass is fast and snappy with a good amount of impact or slam when needed, and coupled with natural vocals, it reproduces this song well.

In conclusion, bass is the main focus of this song. With a fast and impactful bass, it reproduces RnB and Rap genres really well.

OTHER NOTES
I shall move on to the other aspects of the earphone such as imaging, soundstage and separation

Imaging
I did not get any 3D imaging from these earphones, mostly just sounds from either the left or right earphones.

Soundstage
Soundstage is slightly out of head for the highs and mids but bass is definitely within your head and always in the middle.

Separation
On first impressions, the KS2 didn't have much of a detailed separation, most of the sound comes out as one cohesive sound with the bass sounding slightly separated due to it being boosted. However, when listening closer, you can actually hear that the separation level here is between the highs, mids level. Highs usually get drowned out on the genres that I listen to, but works better with Rap and RnB. In heavier genres or songs, the sound tend to sound rather mashed up and hence I don't recommend this for heavy genre songs such as Metal.

I'm glad to have found an earphone that plays RnB well for under 50 USD because I have not heard an earphone that does it well in that price range. The only one close was the BLON BL-03 but the BL-03 was more suited for only hearing out for bass because its bass is detailed and deep but the other aspects did not go well enough for RnB. The KS2 does vocals and bass decently and blends well for me to recommend this for those genres.


CONCLUSION
With its forward, fast and impactful bass coupled with natural sounding vocals, the KB EAR KS2 got me listening to Rap and RnB more while I was reviewing it than I did this entire year thus far. I really enjoyed these genres on the KS2. If you're looking for an earphone that plays well with RnB and Rap, or just want something for bass and vocals, try the KB EAR KS2, you won't be disappointed!

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Pros:

Pricing to performance ratio
Good huge soundstage
Design wise comfortable.
Above average details and imaging
Sub bass done right - good for bass centric genre

Cons:

Artificial tone/timbre for guitar and instruments
Vocal and mids reccessed
Treble wee bit energetic or shrill especially when when not much bass in music
Cable but for the price - it's acceptable


Today I will be reviewing latest budget offering by KBear KS2 (1BA + 1Dynamic) which is priced at USD21 bought from AK Audio Store from Aliexpress .








General Info :

1. Brand : KBear
2. Model : KS2
3. Earphone type : In Ear Monitor
4. Impedance : 16Ω
5. Plug Type : 3.5mm
6. Cable Length : 1.25m
7. Color Available : Black or Green
8. Detachble Cable : 0.78mm 2 pin Interface
9. Driver unit : 1BA+1DD hybrid driver unit

Accessories

1. 3x Pairs of Silicone Ear Tips
2. 1X Single Crystal Cooper Cable

BUILD & DESIGN

Let me just say right off the bat that by saying the packaging is basic and accessories are the bare minimum with IEM -Cable and 3 sizes of silicone tips with no IEM casse or pouch. Its a simple sliding paper box and as for me no complaint knowing that the selling price is less than USD22 where majority of the real cost goes to the making of the KBear KS2 IEM itself which kept the cost low for the purchase price.

As for the design of KS2 - its quite generic to current trend like KZ with good quality plastic resin finishing with decent cable slightly better than similar price KZ offerings. The size and fitting is good imho and also weight wise is light and comfort factor is good.

Evaluation of KS2 with the following :-

- Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 phone
- Shanling Mo DAp
- AK Jr DAP
- Cayin N3 DAP
- Fiio E12 Amp


Bass:

Bass has good punch and decay with sub bass taking center stage and to me tuned just right without being overtly boomy. I'm not a bass head but rather a treble head and loves clarity and details. The overall bass is surprisingly tastefully tuned and does not bleed into the midrange or vocal and also complement with the slightly energetic treble . The only suggestion that I would recommend is that to swap the eartips to foam type and it sound better whereby the bass sounds fuller and tame the shrillness in the high.

Mids:

Vocals is clear but a wee bit recessed which makes the singer sounds distant . The end result makes the vocal sound little bit airy or thin but clarity is good. Overall the presentation is acceptable with huge soundstage and imaging.

Treble:

Treble head like me loves me some good high and it does not disappoint me and has some good energy/sounds lively. It has good amount of details and clarity but on certain instrument like guitars and horn instruments are not what I'm used to . The timbre or tone of these especially in the lower treble comes with shrillness and the instrument sounds bit sharp or thin especially guitar.

Conclusion

Seeing its a entry budget level and for the price of USD22 - its a good offering for people wanting to try start out in the Chi Fi crowded market and used it as starting point to this amazing world of IEM . Its a good everyday beater to put into the backpack and coupled with its wide soundstage and V shaped sound signature - it would be a good IEM for EDM or bass centric music and imho it would be a good IEM for movies or surfing down the rabbit hole of YouTube

Disclaimer: I received this pair directly from KB Ear’s Ali store in exchange for posting a review. Thanks to @WendyLi at KB Ear for the offer. I consider this to be a mini review for my own sanity. I burned these in for ~150+ hours before listening for the purposes of this review.

Buy it here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001209302741.html?spm=2114.12010611.8148356.5.2e331640NMi8ft
Discount code: NEWKBEARKS2

Executive Summary: An excellent budget pair that gives a true taste of a highly developed Soundstage and good imaging. If you want a taste of what a good Soundstage sounds like but are very budget constrained or new to the hobby, I highly recommend picking up a set.

Overview: The KS2 is a Dynamic Driver plus one BA driver hybrid IEM. It is currently priced around $20-$25 US. At this price, it comes with basic accessories. I have bypassed the included 2 pin 3.5mm cable in lieu of needing a 4.4mm cable for accurate comparisons with my gear. It pairs nicely with pure copper cables. I’ve also bypassed the included tips in favor of my go to tips, Large KZ Starlines. Both the aftermarket cable and tips work perfectly. Overall build quality is very nice and fit is very good. They are average/small size and do not protrude out significantly from my ears. I believe this would make this pair particularly good for those who want to wear these while laying with their head on the side of a pillow.

Testing Equipment Used:
Primary: Hiby R6 Pro. Secondary: Cayin N3.
Music: My standard mix of mostly Indie, Electronic, Rock, Alternative, Shoegazer and Chillwave. I did not test with Rap or Country, as per usual. My files are a combination of mostly 320kbps MP3’s and FLAC files.

Overall Sound impressions:
Overall, the KS2 presents a punchy, V-shaped sound that is quite pleasant and not in need of any tweaking to sound good and doesn't require a lot of power. It is well tuned to maximize it's capabilities. Bass is tight and on the fast side (versus Rumbly/slower), extension is not the best and will require EQ/DSP too reach into the 20-40hz range and have rumble. Mids are pleasantly located right in the middle between recessed and forward. Some people state this as meaning that you sound like you’re a couple of rows back in the audience of a show (Sure, why not?)…. I don’t find these to be as V-shaped as others have stated, certainly not to the extent of something like the TRN V90 or KZ ZSX. The mids have nice presence but sound a bit too thin, but at the price this is the trade-off.... Treble is good in terms of extension, there is not a whole lot of sparkle, but there also is not harshness or sibilance that I detect when not using EQ/DSP. Detail is very good, and on par with the best in this price range. The bass doesn’t overwhelm as is often the case in this price range for single DD and Hybrid sets and is tuned punchy and fast but rolled off in response. The staging aspects are very, very good. They present good stereo separation and a large soundstage that sounds quite 3D and large. Imaging is good. This is the true specialty of this set and gives you a taste of what a Soundstage sounds like on much more expensive sets.

I highly recommend this pair to those starting out. It is a great pair to see where your preferences lie. For less than the price of most cables on the market you can get a taste of a great Soundstage.

Select Comparison:
Blon BL-03 (Single DD, because it’s become so ubiquitous)
The Blon has deeper, slower bass that has more rumble. The KS2 is tighter, punchier and has better definition. The blon has very recessed vocals versus the “Middle of the road” vocals/mids of the KS2. The blon appears to have a deep, but exaggerated soundstage due to this, while the KS2 sounds large but natural and has better attack/decay than the Blons so that it possesses an overall more pleasant, dynamic sound.
Gun to the head, pick 1 only Winner? Easy choice, the KS2.

The KS2 is a new IEM from KBEAR, a company putting out some good stuff lately from itself and its TRI brands

The KS2 is in the ultra / budget category at its testing price of just $22. The build quality is far better than was expected at this price and even twice as much. The shell being all polycarbonate with the exception of a brass nozzles with steel mesh filters. Its light weight yet doesn’t look of feel cheap. The nozzle is long and should be comfortable for everyone. On the subject of comfort the are a solid A for comfort even for sleeping no problems here because of the guitar pick shape and medium size.

Sound:

Bass: Is emphasized with good amount of detail and lower punch

Mids: are slightly recessed in the lower Mids but forward a little in the upper midrange and lower treble IMO, vocals are warm and have some emotion to them.

Treble: highs have some good extension without being harsh or causing fatigue, this is pleasant and lively and the KS2 is smooth in its presentation From low to high.

Soundstage: is wide perhaps the depth is a little less than the height.

Conclusion: The KBEAR KS2 is a solid performer with much to love considering its very low price. If you want powerful bass , decent mids with that sparkle in the highs that performs politely and smooth this might be for you.



KBEAR KS2



Specifications:
Model: KBEAR KS2
Headphone type: In-ear headphones
Headphone output source: HiFi
Sensitivity: 106dB ±3dB
Cell Impedance: 16Ω
Frequency response range: 20-20kHz

Good comfortable IEMs. They have plastic housing, but personally I prefer the plastic rather than metal since plastic is lighter. There are vents on the inner side (side closer to the ear), so no vacuum effect.

Just a note on the eartips, the box displays clear eartips, but the tips included are black.

Cable is average with earguides and an angled plug. Works well, but tangles easily. I'd suggest replacing the cable, but it's not necessary.

The sound is balanced, not too heavy or light. Sound is clear, not muffled like low quality earbuds. Left and Right polarities are responsive allowing for discernable and clear 3D sound.

Using the test from , bass lowest audible limit is approximately 24 Hz and treble highest audible limit is approximately 15000 Hz.

Overall these are nice for their price. Sound is clean and crisp, and the comfort level is outstanding. I prefer using these over my KZ ZSN and TRN V80.

Rating: 7.7
Sound: 7.7

Intro
KBEAR has grown and is now offering quite good budget IEMs. They have learned to interact with the community and to implement criticism.
The KS2 has an almost outrageous V-signature, but it's really fun and the mid-range is not neglected.
But the KBEAR KS2 is not just a pure fun headphone, it also convinces with its very solid resolution and distinctive stage size.

Handling
You can't expect too much for a good 20 €, and KBEAR lives up to the savings mode in their budget models. 3 silicone tip sizes excl. the already mounted, the notorious 4-core copper cable, which we already know too well from KZ, or TRN and which does its job, but is not one of the most exquisite.

The production of the packages and their contents for KBEAR, TRN, CCA and what they are all called, seems to be handled exclusively by one factory, as they hardly differ, but I shouldn't mind.

The KS2 doesn't feel particularly valuable, even the gold-plated sound openings don't help. Apart from these, the KS2 is completely made of plastic, but it has quite good ergonomics, even though there are more comfortable designs.
Knowlege Zenith, for example, shows with the ZSN Pro that you can get better haptic and aesthetic (I know this is a matter of taste) at this price.

Sound
I have to admit that I had a little trouble with KS2 in the beginning. I hadn't had such a pronounced V-signature in my ears for a long time and therefore it seemed a bit overloaded in the bass and treble range at first. Nevertheless, the fun factor was already there at the beginning and even if I sometimes have to overcome my inner person, I want to give every IEM a fair chance, especially if I want to review it. With the KS2 this was definitely worth it, even though I do experience signs of fatigue in daily use, be it the massive bass or the sometimes slightly sibilant trebles.

The bass is strongly boosted, which can be further increased with foamtips. Although it has the highest output in the signature, it does not completely overshadow the signature. It has quite good stability and is simply fun. The sub-bass has real fire and the mid-bass a dynamic punch. It extends a bit further when it wants to slam and is therefore not the fastest, but quite organic. I would like the upper bass to drop faster to provide more clarity in the midrange, but you can't have everything. In the long run it's too much for me, but for in between it's a great fun.

The mids don't have it easy to stand up to the bass and high frequencies, but they can hold their own surprisingly well. Okay, voices are a little bit set back and the bass clearly gives something to the mids with its booming nature and especially its impact. This can sometimes make them sound a bit dull, thin and hollow, but it depends on how much bass is already in the mix of the song. If it's a bit more relaxing, the mids show that they have a lot more to offer. Even if they sound a bit warmer than they should, I still find them quite pleasant and musical. Therefore they move on a narrow degree and sometimes you are afraid that they might break away completely, which fortunately never (never say never) is the case. Nevertheless, they could steal a good 3 dB of bass and thus flatten the V-signature a bit.

The highs are energetic and, in addition to the bass, bring momentum to the music. Sometimes they are a bit too engaged for me, but always stay under control. Silicone tips bring sibilants a bit more into the daylight, whereas foam tips make the bass a bit too authoritarian. Somewhere in the middle is the holy grail. Here you can certainly play something with different tips. All in all, the trebles are alive and create space, for a better separation. Here and there, however, the high frequencies are too artificial for me, but they are quite detailed and lively.

The stage is definitely big, but you have to ask yourself at what price. The fact that the mids are moving more in the background suggests a bigger stage, but at the expense of tonal correctness and unnatural elevations at both ends. Nevertheless, KS2 can be quite exciting with this, as a lot happens over a wide area in all directions.

Outro
If you like it a bit more physical in your ears, if you are a V-signature lover, and if you like to listen to contemporary music, be it pop, rock, hip-hop, reggae, or even acoustic sounds, the KS2 is the right choice for you if you want to keep an eye on your wallet. Apart from the CVJ CSA, which however follows a different tuning philosophy, the KS2 is a clear budget recommendation 2020 under 20 € with all-rounder qualities.


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A high ranked ultra entry level iem. Kudos to KBEAR as they managed to keep thing simple.