KBear KB02

Does tech trickling down result in a watered-down experience, or the same thing for less money?

This was a question I pondered when KBear recently offered to send me a pair of their new KB02 earphones in exchange for my thoughts.

I had no previous history with the brand, but upon discovering they contained a Bone Conduction Driver with a price of just $50 I was floored!

It wasn't so long ago only high-end IEMs with pricetags in the thousands featured BCDs, and many of us had assumed we were still years away from seeing them in anything under a few hundred dollars.

Why are BCDs a big deal? Bone conduction is a unique means of conveying sound, which correspondingly generates unique sonic attributes - particularly when it comes to soundstages.

The instant I tried the KB02s that unmistakable BCD zing hit me, but sit back & I'll give you the full story..

Packaging​

The USD $50 KBear KB02s arrive in a small cardboard box, inside are the earpieces, brief instruction manual, stock cable and 3 sets of silicone eartips in three sizes.

It's a fairly minimalist package that's completely acceptable for this price bracket.

My only qualm is the 2pin stock cable is rather flimsy and only available with a 3.5mm plug. A balanced 4.4mm upgrade for a small cost increase would've been nice option, as the KB02's definitely perform strongly enough to benefit from the improved output power of most DAP balanced jacks.

Ergonomics​

The KB02 resin shells feel very smooth & comfortable against one's skin, belying their modest price.

They're definitely on the larger side given their modest driver count, but I find them very comfortable for long listening sessions and isolation is also slightly above average.

The BCD driver is interesting because it makes achieving optimum fit more important for sonic reasons, as they'll lose their sense of fullness if they aren't making proper contact. In practise this results in needing to tweak fit slightly when I put them in, but once seated properly it's not an issue.

Lastly, due to their 3D-printed cavity there's a slight ringing sound perceptible when tapping the shells which is somewhat reminiscent of vacuum tube microphonics. I don't notice this at all during normal use, but might hesitate to use them during a bumpy bus ride where jolting may arise.

Sound Impressions​

I used a Luxury & Precision W4 dongle set to 40 volume with a Penon Totem USB-C cable to evaluate the KB02s, as I generally listen at lower volumes. Here is the Tidal Playlist used to evaluate IEMs.

The KB02s boast a 10mm beryllium-plated DD + a Bone Conduction Driver (BCD) which is the first time I've encountered one at this price. They're extremely spacious with a slightly forward upper midrange.



The KB02 bass driver can feel a little sluggish, yet that lack of speed doesn’t really seem to add anything to bass decay & slam as slower DDs often can. This results in bass that can occasionally feel flabby & lacking in texture, which I would label a shortcoming of the KB02s.

Bass tends to be biased towards sub bass slightly, quantity is fairly neutral and I'd personally appreciate a little more volume and rumble, especially for bass-dominant genres.

The KB02 midrange isn't lacking in resolution or articulation particularly given their extremely modest cost, but can come across as occasionally thin and shaky, with vocals possessing a certain hollowness that's reminiscent of Harman tuning, and instruments can also feel rather small.

The midrange feels recessed in that midrange instruments are positioned further away from the listener. On one hand that contributes greatly to the sense of spaciousness, emphasised further by a bias towards the upper midrange. My own preference is for a meatier, more forward midrange but I can appreciate the effect KBear was going for here.

Treble is quite dark and restrained, generally taking a back seat to the rest of the presentation.

That may not be a bad thing since with only two drivers & no BAs present treble quality is fairly simplified (as is usually the case with budget IEMs) so perhaps it was a smart move not to draw too much attention to this area, but of course it does hurt technical performance.

Technical Performance​

Beginning with the great news, the KB02 soundstage is extremely large & dimensional for such an affordable IEM, in fact stage width & particularly depth is a huge selling point, being easily the most impressive of any IEM I've tested under $100.

The BCD driver is surely responsible for stage depth in particular being a revelation for the price, with instruments positioned in front of my face rather than wrapped around to the sides as is usually the case.

The downside is instruments feel small inside that large stage & imaging is fairly vague, likely a result of the low driver count. A shame because pinpoint imaging would render such a 3D stage truly spectacular.

Detail retrieval is what I'd expect for this price segment, it does come across as a quite grainy. Essential details are not obscured but there isn't that sense of effortless resolution or silky rendering of nuances which IEMs costing several hundred dollars boasting higher driver counts can deliver.

Dynamics are reasonable, but not enough of a standout to be labeled a strength. The KB02s can also be overwhelmed by busy tracks with many instruments playing simultaneously, which IEMs which large BA counts are going to separate more effectively.

IEM Comparisons​

I used a L&P W4 with a Penon Totem USB-C cable to compare the KB02s to other IEMs.



NiceHCK F1 Pro – 1xPlanar (USD $99)



The F1 Pros are far brighter with a strong bias towards the upper frequencies, almost taking the opposite tonal approach to the KB02s.

Soundstage is similarly wide but much flatter, but instruments separation is better & the overall presentation feels cleaner, whereas the KB02s are darker & more congested.

The F1 Pro's DD responds faster, resolution's higher across the board & dynamics are better, but tonality is definitely brighter than I prefer.



ISN Neo 3 - 2xDD 1xPlanar (USD $199)



The Neo3s are almost the polar opposite of the F1 Pros, rather than being brighter than the KB02s they double down on much greater warmth, note weight & bass emphasis.

Both sub & midbass hit quite a bit harder, surprisingly I find the drivers feel slower but this does seem to help add bass slam, but can also make the Neo3s feel congested at times.

The Neo3 midrange is much meatier & lower midrange focused with smoother, more refined vocals and instruments that sound larger, but the spacious 3D soundstage of the KB02's BCDs is absent. The Neo3s are also brighter but treble can jut out from the rest of the frequency spectrum at times.



Kiwi Ears KE4 - 2xDD 2xBA (USD $199) with NiceHCK BlackCat Ultra Cable (USD $35)



The KE4s boast bass and midbass in particular that's tighter & more defined with better texture.

Notes generally feel more bodied, vocals are warmer yet clearer and indeed resolution is higher across the board which is particularly noticeable in the treble, and dynamics are also improved.

What the KE4s lack is the front to back staging depth the KB02's BCDs provide, also missing the illusion of more space between individual notes though this may be a consequence of instruments feeling larger.

Conclusion​

It might be fair to label the KBear KB02 a one trick pony, but it's an impressive trick nonetheless!

Budget IEMs almost always struggle with soundstage dimensions, and staging depth is typically non-existent. Admittedly not every listener cares terribly much about staging, but if you're someone who does these are quite the bargain.

I've been in this hobby a long time and it's been fascinating to watch the sudden proliferation of Bone Conduction Drivers propagate so quickly. Just several years ago they were a rarity, and now thanks to the KB02s they're available to everyone... regardless of budget.

Of course the KB02s aren't without fault. Bass could be meatier, vocals aren't solid enough for my taste and they're quite dark. I get the feeling they've been tuned to maximise the staging advantages BCDs generate, which is smart provided you're happy to live with those shortcomings.

In short they're easy to recommend, particularly to anyone yet to experience the charms of BCD drivers for themselves who's keen for a taste - at $50 they won't cost you more than a few trips to McDonalds.

Disclaimer:
I was provided a review unit by KEEPHiFi when they asked me if i was interested to review. Thanks so much KEEPHiFi and Floria for reaching out and giving me the opportunity to achieve my dream of reviewing iem's! Having said that, my opinions are of my own and neither KEEPHiFi nor KBear had any input to my writing this review.

If my review reached and spoke to you in one way or another, I would like to redirect you to KEEPHiFi's website; https://keephifi.com/collections/kbear/products/kbear-kb02

A little bit out me:
I have been in the hobby for more than a decade. I am someone who has built quite an eccentric flock of iems of which are tailored to my equally eccentric tastes. I have owned multi kilobuck iems and likewise budget entry level iems. I have listed the iems I've owned and have had owned in my bio. My music preferences as of late has been nothing but K-pop.

Introduction:
The KBear KB02 is a 2 driver Hybrid consisting of 1x10mm Dynamic Driver (Beryllium-plated) + 1x10mm Bone Conduction Driver (Elastic-piece type). It also comes in 3 colors; Crystal Violet, Misty Blue and Maple Brown. All that for just $40! Let's see if this $40 iem deserves an 'ADD TO CART' and 'CHECK OUT' (I also noticed they have a promo code for it kb02limit lowering the already incredible deal to a mind bogglingly affordable $28! as of March 16, 2025).

Unboxing:
The KB02 comes in a small flat box, opening that the contents are as follows:
2x IEM's
1x 4-Core 6N Oxygen Free Copper Cable
3 Sets of Black Eartips
3 Sets of Translucent Eartips
3 Sets of Gray Translucent Eartips (With a Red Shaft)
Paper pamphlet with Safety warnings and warranty



Specifications:
Driver Configuration: 1x10mm Dynamic Driver (Beryllium-plated) + 1x10mm Bone Conduction Driver (Elastic-piece type)
Impedance: 40 Ohm @ 1KHz
Cable: 0.78 2-pin Oxygen Free Copper Cable terminated in 3.5mm standard TRS

Build:
The KB02 is predominantly made of 3D printed resin with a metal nozzle (I'm not too confident in saying if it is either aluminum, titanium or stainless steel). It is lightweight and does not flex nor creak squeezing the monitors (something my much much more expensive $1099 Lime Ears Model X exhibits). The faceplate looks very well made and high quality they are flat out stunning to look at! Sadly, my Iphone's camera cannot capture the intricacies the faceplate exudes...


Cable:
For having been in the iem space for more than a decade, I am ecstatic that iem's this affordable comes with a rather high-quality good feeling and memory free cable! It feels supple, lightweight and built up to snuff (enough for my inner cable snob to approve of!

Fit and Ergonomics:
The monitors have curves and contours to my ear very well of which is very important as bone conduction works best when it touches your skin (and bones ;D) and because of its light weight I, at times, forget I have them on. (ChiFi really has come a long way with their shell molds as earlier Chifi iems tend to have subpar fit and seal).

Sound:
Now we are finally at the most crucial part of every audio review. Before i start rambling on i would just like to preface that in this review i am primarily using;
Mojo 2 (stock settings) > connected to my Ipad pro/Laptop > Tidal.
Stock KBear KB02 with gray translucent eartips

General Tuning:
It is a v shaped signature but because it has barely any midbass, the presentation is one of a lean sound with oodles of resolution to spare.

Treble - Very well extended, treads at the line bordering sibilance exceptionally well, Airy, has TONS of resolution, very clean, but might be a bit too forward for some. While the treble is forward it's not the best at micro details as I've noticed there are some details i can pick out on my other iems (more on this later) that are almost unnoticeable in here. Generally, it is very good, definitely something a $40 iem should not be able to do. Treblehead approved!

Midrange - Has good levels of texture, just a bit on the thinner side of the spectrum due to the absence of midbass. Even while it exhibits that it became a non-issue to my listening as I predominantly listen to female vocals. But for those who listen to huskier male vocals, it can be an issue as it may portray the voice as thin and inaccurate. My main gripe with the midrange is the weird resonances the (what i assume is) bone conduction exhibits a weird ringing noise coming from inside the shell itself and the smallest of movement from my jaw to the tapping of the shell activates it. The longer I listen, it does on the contrary, add a certain charm to the whole presentation. Not accurate (as expected of a v shaped signature, accuracy is the least of its concerns) but very FUN!

Bass - Quantity depends on how much of the shell is touching your skin, but once you dial the fit, it is a very fun experience! It's the type of bass where you don't exactly hear but rather feel! While not on the level of a good subwoofer, it is neither inferior too! Listening to Jisoo's Earthquake feels like a literal earthquake in my ears lol. As if it's vibrating my inner ear! 2 weeks into listening, I still can't decide whether it's deep or shallow as it's not the typical bass you expect an iem to exhibit. Going to a true bass heavy iem makes this sound bass light but on its own it truly an experience! It's both subtle and grandiose all at once.

PRaT -Pace, timing and rhythm is one of the best ive heard with this type of tuning. Due to the bone conduction adding more towards the feel of the bass rather than in volume, it makes for a very clean and precise sound, there's barely any incoherence here. The decay is very interesting as everything except the sub has a fast decay while subbass has ample amounts! It's a configuration I'm very curious to hear in kilobuck territories.

Soundstage - Very spacious albeit flawed in my opinion. While the vocals are in a good position, upfront and center, everything else seems to be pushed way too much to the outermost parts. Everything else sounds jumbled up lacking definition in-between each other.

Imaging and Layering - Due to the lack of midbass, imaging is bottlenecked as it makes for a non-planted presentation, while i can hear the instruments in a song, they don't sound as convincingly in one location as if they are just floating in space with hazy accuracy. I'll attach an example of how it sounds to me vs other iems.

IVE - Kitch (with regards to breathing, recorder [instrument] and melodies)
> Aural Definition Kyrios ($2700) with KB02 Cable
- Sees through the reverb effect (the song has a subtle reverb effect and is very subtle)
- Beautifully layered

> UM 3dd-Ti ($1099) with KB02 Cable
- Favors certain layers (i.e. vocals, recorder, melody)
- Breathing becomes buried in the mix

> KBear KB02
- Teetering sibilant
- Due to treble forwardness, layering takes a back seat favoring which ever has the highest note in the mix
- The resonance coming from the BCD comes in clutch here, making the reverb in the song much more apparent compared to my kilobuck iem.


Eartip Rolling:
> Gray w/ red shaft - Favors subbass and treble the most. Gives the most treble presence along with a sizable bump around mid-hi frequencies. Also, my preferred sound
> Clear - Gives the most balanced presentation, both subbass and treble takes a seat back
> Black - Midrange forward, increases midbass and is the smoothest sounding of the three also rounds out the bass, soundstage diminishes with this along with imaging. Is my least favorite sounding.

I wanted to add some cable comparisons and some iem comparisons, but it might be a bit too much of an overkill to incloude those lol. But if you dear readers ask for it i shall deliver ).


Conclusion
As it's been years since i last opened my doors to iem's it may be my lack of understanding with newer/modern iem tunings that made me so very impressed with the kbear kb02. From the design, fit, cable, sound and even the plethora of eartips it far exceeds the asking price! Not once in my 10+ years in the hobby have i experienced this level of quality in a sub $40-dollar iem much more $28! It is truly an experience.

I'll admit it, I had low expectations for this set. Not necessarily because of the price, but the concept of combining bone conduction with a dynamic driver just seemed to me to be a potential train wreck. I'm happy to say I was definitely wrong on that score.

I'll add a disclaimer here that KBEAR contacted me out of the blue to ask if I'd be interested in reviewing the KB02. I've been contacted before by companies, and I usually politely decline, but I was curious how this combination would sound. So I agreed and they sent a pair to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I fully expected to give a negative review, but that won't be the case here. Don't get me wrong, these are no giant killers IMO, but the tuning is much more coherent that I thought.

I'm not one to go into unboxing, and I don't think there is much to go over in this case anyway. Generic box, IEM, 3 sets of eartips with 3 sizes in each set. Wholly adequate given the price tag (currently $39.99 USD) and well presented but nothing worthy of note.

Build quality is a bit better than I might have expected. They're very light, which might feel cheap but there are no seams I could find that might come apart, and the color scheme is attractive for my tastes. The logo I could do without, but it isn't too bothersome. They're calling the material a "delicate resin" which might contribute to the lightness.

There is the interesting vibration you can feel when you knock the shells which is obviously a result of the bone conduction technology these are constructed with.

Fit was decent for me, though this is going to be different for everyone. The KB02 has a rather large and short nozzle, which seems to fit my ears best. The included tips are fine, but tip rolling changed the fit and sound, and would be worth experimenting with. I had the best results from some conical shaped tips I have from Hidizs, but had no problem with the smallest sized Sony tips I had on hand as well. I settled on some very wide bore double flange short tips from Cardas for the majority of my listening.

Another contributing factor for my unfounded fear of the tuning is KBEAR's own marketing, which self proclaims "Ultra Strong Bass". Combined with the beryllium coated driver, which I usually associate with a steely piercing treble, I was a bit reluctant to try these.

As previously stated I instead found these to be coherently tuned and more even overall than I expected. At the risk of touching the live wire of an ongoing argument, I'll note that I found that these did need more burn in time than I'm used to (about 70 hours) especially for IEMs which I rarely find burn in to be useful for. Whether or not you believe in burn in or not, this was my experience,YMMV.

Once they did have that much time burning in, the treble smoothed out considerable, as I found it particularly harsh, unnatural and fatiguing straight out of the box. I don't think the KB02 is particularly well extended in the treble, but I didn't find myself wanting.

The upper mids can be a bit too forward on some tracks, but I found this to be mostly track dependent and had little problem for the majority of my listening. Those who are particularly sensitive in this area might want to look elsewhere. Otherwise the mids were pleasing and satisfying overall.

The bass was definitely better behaved than I thought it would be. I'll agree that the KB02 has "ultra strong bass" when called for, but on most recordings it is well behaved and unobtrusive. When called for there is a definite uptick in the sub bass and while it's not skull rattling, it is powerful and noticeable. I honestly wasn't sure how it would integrate with the rest of the sound, but I found it to be seamless and not distracting. There's a bit of a lift in the mid bass but it never smears into the mids, the emphasis is more centered on the sub bass. I think the highest praise I can give is that the bone conduction doesn't call undue attention to itself, but definitely adds some fun with bass heavy music.

Overall detail is very good but not earth shattering, which is forgivable at this price IMO. Again I don't find KBEAR to have dropped the ball, but I wouldn't confuse these with higher end earphones. The bass isn't over flabby, but not super tight either. There's a decent headstage but it's not enveloping; fairly wide but not too deep. There's actually plenty to like here, and I think it only falls short comparing to higher priced offerings.

In the end I find the KBEAR KB02 to be a compelling buy at around $40. I'll say it again, the tuning is much more mature than you might expect. While not a "reference tuning" by any stretch of the imagination, I found the bass boost to be even handed and fun to listen to, and the rest of the frequency response was solid to boot. The KB02 is well worth checking out.

​

Introduction​

The KBEAR KB02 is the first IEM to come with a bone conductor driver for just $40. It features a 10mm Beryllium-plated Diaphragm Dynamic Driver and a Bone Conduction Vibrator unit hybrid setup, which is unheard of in this price. It released with 3 colour choices — blue, purple and orange. The bone conduction driver created quite the hype around this IEM. Let’s see what the hype is truly for.

Package Contents​

• The earpieces​
• Cable​
• 3 sets of ear tips including 3 pairs in each set​
• Paperwork​

Specifications​

• Driver: 1x 10mm Dynamic, 1x Bone Conduction​
• Impedance: 40 ohms​
• Shells: 3D-printed Resin​
• Cable Standard: 0.78mm 2-pin​
• Cable Termination: 3.5mm​

Driver Configuration​

• 1x 10mm Beryllium-Plated DD​
• 1x Elastic-Plastic Type Bone Conduction Driver​

​

Build & Design​

KBear KB02 features a really nice looking sand on ocean like faceplate, which looks absolutely stunning to the eyes. It doesn’t feel cheap to the touch either as its build using premium lightweight resin, which is an awesome move by KBear for the price. Now, the KB logo on the faceplate also looks stunning and the shine just shows the beauty of the faceplate.

Cable​

The stock cable was well a disappointment to me. It was really flimsy and felt cheap. Moreover, it had a bit of microphonics and it was annoying to use. I ended up using a different KBear cable. I wish the cable wasn’t like this as it ruins the elegance of the IEM, but considering the price it makes sense to cheap out on some areas to secure a beautiful looking IEM and good sound.

Fit & Comfort​

The KBear KB02 has a nice ergonomic and comfortable design. It fits me perfectly, and I didn’t have any problem with the fit. It sat in my ears snuggly without feeling fatiguing or painful. I was able to use it for hours end. It was super comfortable. The lightweight build just make it disappear in your ears.

Another thing is that the bone conduction driver sends a light vibration feel to your ears, which is evident in bass heavy tracks.

Testing Tracks​

• Sultans Of Swing – Dire Straits​
• Musical Genocide – Gregory Porter​
• 真夜中のドア / Stay With Me – Miki Matsubara​
• Angel (feat. Horace Andy) – Massive Attack​
• 『broKen NIGHT』– Aimer​
• Time – Pink Floyd​
• No Surprises – Radiohead​
• Toxicity – System Of A Down​

Tip-Rolling​

The stock tips are alright, nothing too out of the ordinary. I tested few tips such as: Dunu Candy, Dunu S&S, EPro PR01 and the Dunu Balanced tips. I found the following:

• Dunu Candy: The candy tip felt okay, it didn’t bring any drastic difference, but it did make everything feel a bit more open and added body to the mid-range and mid-bass felt enhanced than the stock tips. Also, this tip presented me with a balanced sound and didn’t make anything dominative.​
• Dunu S&S: The S&S tips mostly focused on the vocals section and soundstage. It presented a clean, balanced with good soundstage and made the vocals a bit more forward, but made sure to keep out any harshness or sibilance. Also, it had an emphasis on the mid-bass as well, it felt more tactile.​
• Dunu Balanced Tip: To me, this proprietary tip of DUNU felt like a better fit for the KB02. The Balanced Tip as the name serves provided me the right “balance” between the two eartips mentioned above. Good soundstage, opens up the vocals, clean emphasis on the mid-bass and sub-bass.​
• EPro PR01: The Propeller tips opened up the soundstage a bit more and gave me the optimal wide and deep soundstage. Of course, it couldn’t simulate an out of head effect, but it was enough for a feeling of openness. Now, it also made the mid-bass a bit more pronounced as in tactility, but not overbearing. It had a superb vocal presence and precise imaging. However, it took out depth from sub-bass.​

In my opinion, the Balanced tip and Pr01 felt like the perfect fit for the KB02 and Candy would be the next contender.

Sound​

The KBear KB02 has a warmer and enveloping sound presentation. It has a nice bodied, vibrant and intimate sound. In no way does it feel neutral or dull.

Bass​

Sub-Bass extends extremely deeply and feels robust. It is well-controlled and doesn’t feel muddy or boomy. Its rumble is controlled and extends incredibly deep. It doesn’t feel domineering or overwhelming. Its depth is incredibly satisfying and has a good authority. However, in the lower region, the bone conduction driver loses its grip and renders a bass with less extension and control.

Mid-Bass is incredibly good on the KB02! It is punchy, tight and has a pleasant texture to it. It doesn’t feel sharp, nor does it feel like it’s overwhelming the mix. Furthermore, it has a fuller and warmer tone. Moreover, it feels extremely impactful and has a satisfying kick to it. Mid-bass’s kick, impact and punching power made me a fan of the IEM. Sure, it sometimes lacks articulation in super complex bass-heavy tracks, but I absolutely loved the mid-bass presentation. I couldn’t ask for anything for in this price range.

Mid-Range​

Male Vocals sound exceptionally well-textured, rich, natural and detailed. It feels up close and personal, as if the singer is singing right in front of you. Vocals feel bodied, thick and has good note-weight to it. It also has this nice airiness and warmth, which adds to the engagement. Moreover, I believe the Airiness in the singer’s vocals are enhanced due to the micro vibrations felt directly from the bone conduction drivers. Also, this micro vibration brings out the details of a track in a delightful manner. The vocals just carry this sense of intimacy that I did not think I can experience in such a price point. Furthermore, there is no hissing, sharpness or harshness to the male vocals, which is a huge plus point. The vocals do not feel bloated or muddied either, it is clear without any of the downsides.

Female vocals are quite engaging on the KB02. They are warm, clear, natural, and render with good clarity. Even with the immense clarity, it is free of any sharpness or hissing on the “sh” notes. Moreover, the vocals are rich and sound intimate. The female vocals also have an excellent amount of airiness, and is rendered in a detailed manner without missing any nuances left by the singer. The vocals shine even in busy tracks and doesn’t feel overblown or dominating. The warmth also adds to the engagement of the listening experience. However, the vocals aren’t lush sounding and, in some tracks, it might feel a bit thin.

Instruments in the lower-midrange feels full-bodied and has splendid clarity. It does not feel muddied or overbearing in tracks. It even has this hint of airiness. The same goes for the upper-midrange instruments, they are detailed, clear, and are elegantly rendered. The instruments do not have a hint of sharpness or harshness in them. They are all played in a smooth and loving manner.

Note: The breathy vocals are a bit plastique, at times. Moreover, the mids are intimate, but lacks the lushy feel. These are expected in this price point and even with these draw-backs the KB02 is an incredible performer for just $40.​

Click to expand...

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Treble​

The treble is rendered articulately and has a sparkle in it. It has good presence and does not feel sharp or harsh. Treble is airy and a bit forward, which makes its presence known to the listener without being fatiguing or sharp. The lower treble is well-controlled and has a good level of details and resolution. It is enjoyable and pleasant to listen to. Moreover, the upper treble extension is smooth and feels spacious alongside the airiness. Although it lacks a bit of shimmer, it is well-textured and feels expansive.

Technicalities​

KB02 has good layering and separation between the vocals and the instruments. It even keeps up in complex tracks and never fails. Moreover, its ability to pickup detail is impressive in this price point.

Soundstage & Imaging​

The soundstage of the KB02 is good, but nothing outstanding. You won’t really feel super out of head, but it is immersive and engaging nonetheless. Also, there is a holographic feel from the Bone Conductor driver.

The imaging part is incredible. You can accurately pinpoint the instrument's placement and everything feels in place. There is not a single moment where the instruments or vocals felt out of place, and the listener can accurate understand the position everything is playing from.

​

Conclusion​

For $40, the KBear KB02 offers a warm, immersive sound with rich vocals, deep sub-bass, and punchy mid-bass. Its wide soundstage and precise imaging create an engaging listening experience, while the bone conduction driver enhances airiness and texture. However, it loses some control in the lower bass regions, and the treble lacks a bit of shimmer and refinement. The stock cable and ear tips could also be improved. Despite these minor drawbacks, the KB02 delivers excellent value, making it a great choice for those who enjoy an intimate and dynamic sound signature.

TONALITY: 7.5/10
TECHNICALITIES: 7.5/10
TIMBRE: 6.5/10
MACRO DYNAMIC: 8.5/10
MICRO DYNAMIC: 6.5/10
IMAGING: 7/10
SOUNDSTAGE: 8.5/10
MUSICALITY (subjective): 8/10
CONSTRUCTION: 8.5/10
ACCESSORIES: 7.5/10
SOUND VALUE: 8.5/10

KBear is a IEM company from China that as been around for near 10 years, they tend to offer budget IEM with high sound value but tuning wise it was hit or miss, often spoiled with too much upper mids energy-something very typical of chifi world.
Then they release less IEMs and try to offer more exotic IEM like Tri i3 MK3 which is dd-BA-planar tribrid and lately, these KB02, which is a bone conduction and dynamic driver hybrid.

Unlike other hybrid with BC, the KB02 focus on bass boost, both in and out of your ears way, the dual DD-BC isn't there to boost the resolution, quite the opposite in fact. Which we will extrapolate in this review.




We talk about a 30$ IEM here, the cheapest hybrid with bone conduction ever made, other one being the Celest Plutus at more than 2x the price.

Construction is surprisingly good and surpass what we could expect in this price range, so if you wanna bluff your friends and lie about the price of this IEM, you'll be able to be the prince of the show at very affordable price. This is similar thick plastic with beautiful backplate than IEM like Penon Serial, Hisenior Okavango etc. The finish is smooth and back plate doesn't feel like it will detach, it feel like a one piece shell. The shell is on the chunky side, bigger than expected, yet still light and comfy. I suggest using short wide bore so the BC driver get in contact with your temporal cheek bone, since the nozzle is short, it will permit perfect fit but not a deep one.

In term of packaging, it's strict minimum. You don't even have a case. Cable is basic but OK, yet it's not balanced and only choice is single ended. We have generous amount of silicone eartips, 9 pairs in 3 models, which is very appreciate.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS





OK, since i’m on an happy road about source pairing with these 40ohm capricious IEMs, time to begin the review and note that most IEMs are 16ohm nowadays, or have high sensitivity to compensate it, as well, use of dual DD+ bone conduction vibrating driver benefit from a good current swing. It don’t need crazy desktop amp power house, the best pairing for me is with Aune Yuki and its about 180mW@32ohm if i remember correctly. I test more powerful source, cleaner too, for ex, the Fiio KA17 and it sound very bad, metallic and thin mids wise. Then I go Questyle M15, it was good but not holographic enough, nor articulate enough in macro dynamic, then i try Penon Tail and the KB02 waken up in dynamic big time, go more W shape in dynamic impact and notably warmer-lusher, but macro layering wasn’t that transparent nor well define.
This is why i use Yuki and all my sound impressions are based on this very delicious pairing.

So what do we got? We got something exotic, warmish V shape bassy way, with an atmospheric holographic spatiality that sure have to do with extra sens of layer and dynamism the bass bone conduction driver induce. Some might find the musicality a bit ethereal especially when it come to clean clarity wich is a bit hazy due to extra bass resonance we got, but this go backwards a bit, and complete a one-of-a-kind sound experience where bass punch release energy and vibrancy on the ears, yes, like if you have mini boxer hitting your jaw bone and skin.
But it isn’t in hardcore basshead way, this is why the guilty pleasure part isn’t plain ridiculous.

I will underline this too, which is an over statement: i’ve get a loan of the kilobucks basshead IEM FirAudio Xenon6 for a month…and get really addicted to their bass within holographic lush musicality with capable technicalities (but so nichely overpriced, we can get better tech performance for a fraction of this price)....and once i find right fit and eartips and source with KB02, it remind me the crazy haptic bass of X6, less bassy and lower-fi way.

Just the fact it give me once of X6 memory for 40$....is insanely impressive, but this is based on personal audiophile life. As versatile listener that can enjoy basshead and neutral IEM too.

So now, let’s get back to the BASS. We aren’t in clean speedy and controlled bass territory, nor in technically flawless one at all. But were into something certainly special and rare, which is already good in an IEM universe where risk taking is stop by harman ‘’maturity’’.
The bass is punchy, tactile and physical, with an extra sub bass rumble resonance and layer, which widen whole macro musical release and immerse listener in etherealy warm atmosphere, which isn’t plain macro muddy nor compressed in presence release, in fact, all presence release are on the loose side.
But it don’t mean the mid bass is perfectly define and hard thumping, the slam is intersection of mid and sub bass, an error from Kb in the sens the magic of Firaudio X6 belong in super round and heavy punching mid bass.
With the KB02, what you get is all physical, kick drum are warm in resolution but weighty in impact, sub bass can go vibrant out of your head rumbly too, which is very exotic experience, this happen often synth bass get extra layered. I produce music and do a heavy dense slamming beat with abrasive texture sub slam, with the KB02, it make my head rumble too, i feel i can bite in it, it was that other worldly meaty.
So, this is the ‘’oomph’’ effect that get boosted and more layered with KB02, in a….rather excited way even if not veiling whole mid range it can make it more recessed and hazy with bassy track. Definition of kick is dark, it’s more the note weight that is boosted with BC here.

The mids is really hit or miss depending of track lower range dynamic as noted, male and lower range female vocal sound fuller and wider in presence as well as more holographic than higher range and soprano female singer which are thinner, dryer, less warm and dense in presence. Even if warmed with resonance, those mids aren’t lush nor natural sounding at all, we havee slight metallic timbre sheen, attack is a bit loose and definition isn’t crisp nor clean, the sustain-release is sloppy and we have extra masking when big bass occur. Breathy vocal are a bit plasticky too. I don’t consider those mid licious, but vocalist like Madeleine Peyroux sound oddly pleasant while soprano like Arianna Savall sound dark and distant with a loudness intensity peak that can be shouty when she climb at highest note with more energetic attack.
overall mid range is messy and imprevisible, so i really consider the KB02 better with electronic music than acoustic one, instruments tone isn’t natural nor very well define in presence, from piano to violin to saxo, all those encounter timbral and tone issue.
It’s evident KB02 is tuned for beat driven music and simple R&B, Pop, rap, electronic music. Even those genre will get the atmospheric treatment too.

Treble is a mix of darkness and dry sharpness, it’s sparkle less and sens of air is boosted yet not clean due to hazy macro rendering.. It can put forwards imprevisible micro details, presentation is rather holographic too, percussions can be very stereo in rendering but not finely define and detailed, it’s a bit splashy in fact.
Attack lead is inconstant, in the sens some percussions range are snappier than other, it’s like sound info are randomly drafted and some get lost in the mix. I would call this fake micro detailing due to random treble dip that mask sound info.

Yet, i write all this and stil headbang and enjoy the KB02, how is it possible for a 41y old audiophile like me?
It’s all about the dynamic experience, and this is boosted with rhythmic dominant music….and this will be guilty pleasure done right for 40$.




COMPARISONS



VS CELEST PLUTUS (1 square planar+1BA+1BC-90$)

The Plutus is brighter, more W shape, less bassy and less coherent in drivers mix, so more wonky we can say. Yet, its more technical and resolved too.

Bass is less define and round, more rolled off in sub bass, notch more textured, we don’t have the extra physical punch either, as well if feel a bit detached and more distant than mids and treble.

Mids are notably sharper, thinner and shoutier, clearer too, timbre is more metallic, vocal and instrument is more compressed in presence.

Treble is snappier, more controlled and speedy, we have more micro details but it can feel forced on listener and out of place….KB02 treble is darker and smoother, way less generous in micro details, its more rolled off too.

SOundstage is wider and taller with KB02, smaller and notably deeper, like crisper and more compressed holographic experience with Plutus.

Imaging and layering is superior with Plutus no competition here.

Both are guilty pleasure, one treble centric and non musical way, the Plutus, other dark and not impressive in crisp definition or technical abilities, yet more enjoyable dynamism, dark tone and timbre wise, the KB02.

VS BQEYZ WIND (1DD+BC-220$)

This is unfair comparison but their no other IEM with DD+BC i can find, ok, the BQEYZ Winter is another one, in similar price range. I choose the newest (and better one) Wind.

WInd is more mid centric, less V shape and bassy, more resolved and technically capable.

Bass isnt as tactile and energetic in punch, nor add extra sub bass resonance layer, nor is as physical in impact. Bass line are more layered and dense and wide with KB02 too.

Mids are more forwards yet lusher and fuller sounding, its wider and more focus in presence, more open and detailed in definition, clearer in layering and imaging.

Then treble is smooth too, but better balanced, less thin, dark and slightly metallic in timbre than hazier KB02.

Wind is superior in every way, more refined in balance, more focus and even in mid range wich as notably more natural tone, superior in imaging and clarity, less fun and bassylicious than KB02.

CONCLUSION

The KBear KB02 offer a special musicality where bass dynamism lead the sound experience in both a physical and atmospherical manner.
This make the soundstage wider and more holographic, but resonance darken fine micro details and favor a warm macro dynamic.
In term of performance, this is on par with it’s price range, balance is often excited and lack proper attack control, imaging is foggy and irrealist, timbre is rough and dry in upper mids and treble, at high volume weird driver instability phenomenon can happen like metallic resonance noise that isn’t suppose to be in the music.
Ultimately, KB02 feel like a prototype IEM with tremendous potential. I would have make it half open back to get rid of this unwanted resonance, i would have boosted more the mid bass to get full bassy pleasure….
But at they end, it’s still an interesting product, especially for those seeking an in and out of your head weighty and resonantly rumbly bass performance that is like no other IEM i’ve heard…from 500 or so IEMs ive try, closest one is Firaudio X6 in term of bass experience the Kb02 offer in notably less technically capable way.

All in all, the KB02 musicality is very entertaining, dynamic and immersive and sure worth it's asking price. I hope Kbear will use this dual DD-BC tech in a tribrid version and improve the technical performance yet boost even more the overall bass impact, so this crualy overpriced Firaudio X6 as an alternative for normal human being that truely care about value of $.

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You can order the KB02 for 30$ and lower at most store on Ali Express here:
https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-kbear-kb02.html

Preface:

You can purchase KB02 at the following link (not an affiliate link):
https://keephifi.com/collections/kbear/products/kbear-kb02

I’m not the one to usually focus on specifications and numbers. I focus more on how happy I am with the equipment’s sound and that’s it.

Disclaimer: This is a review unit from KeepHiFi however I retain full editorial control and the opinions expressed here are solely my own. I have not been paid or compensated by KeepHiFi, KBEAR or any other entity for this review. My assessment is based solely on my personal experience with the product.

I do get to keep the unit after review but that had no influence over the opinions expressed below.

Sources used:

• Google Pixel (Gen 2) Type C to 3.5mm dongle
• iBasso DC Elite
• iBasso D16 Taipan
• iBasso DX260
• Dethonray Clarinet
• Chord Hugo 2 + 2go

Introduction:

KBEAR first caught my attention with their earlier releases like the Lark and the Diamond, which garnered praise for their balanced sound and comfortable fit. Now, they're back with the KB02, an IEM that pushes the boundaries with its bone conduction driver for sub-bass. I'm eager to see if KBEAR can continue their streak of delivering high-quality audio experiences at an affordable price point.

Box Contents:

• IEMs
• 0.78mm 2-pin Cable (3.5mm terminated)
• 09 pairs of silicone tips (3 X S/M/L)

Unboxing Experience

The KB02s arrive in a compact and understated package. There's a certain charm to its simplicity, as it avoids unnecessary extravagance and focuses on the essentials. Inside, you'll find the IEMs themselves nestled securely in a foam insert above a box which has a selection of ear tips and a 2-pin cable. The unboxing experience is straightforward and efficient, reflecting a no-frills approach that prioritizes practicality.







Design and Build

The KB02s sport a sleek and modern aesthetic. The faceplates are particularly striking, with a mesmerizing swirl of blue and purple hues that evoke the image of a galaxy swirling in your ears. It's a design that's both elegant and captivating, sure to draw attention.







The stock cable is supple and tangle-resistant, making it easy to manage on the go. The overall build quality is commendable, with a sturdy construction that inspires confidence. The IEMs feel solid and well-put-together, capable of withstanding the rigors of everyday use.



Wearing Comfort

The KB02s prioritize ergonomic design, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit. The lightweight resin shells disappear into your ears, making them suitable for extended listening sessions. The ear tips are soft and pliable, providing a good seal without excessive pressure.

Interestingly, the bone conduction driver adds another dimension to the wearing experience. You might perceive a subtle vibration against your ear as the bone conduction driver operates, particularly when listening to bass-heavy tracks. This sensation, while unusual at first, becomes quite intriguing over time, adding a unique tactile element to the listening experience.



Driveability

The KB02s are easy to drive, making them compatible with a wide range of devices without much gains in SQ with increase in power. Their relatively high sensitivity and low impedance allow them to reach satisfying listening volumes even with modest sources. This makes them a versatile option for folks on the go who don't want to be tethered to dedicated amplifiers or DAPs.



Sound Analysis:

Tonality

The KB02s don't follow the well-trodden path of strict neutrality. Instead, they embrace a warmer presentation that's like a comforting hug for your ears. The lower frequencies are subtly emphasized, creating a full-bodied and inviting soundscape. Yet, there's a vibrancy to the sound that prevents it from becoming dull or veiled. It's like adding a splash of vibrant color to a classic painting, giving it a modern twist. Intimate Jazz vocals are beautifully rendered with a sense of warmth and presence that draws you into the performance.

Sub Bass

Ah, the sub-bass, the realm of the bone conduction driver! This is where the KB02s start to show their quirky side. The sub-bass performance is surprisingly robust, reaching down into the depths with satisfying authority. The rumble is well-defined and controlled, with a decay that's tight enough to prevent it from overwhelming the rest of the mix. In Massive Attack's "Teardrop," the KB02 faithfully captures the deep, pulsating bassline that anchors the track's melancholic atmosphere.

Now, here's where things get interesting. In tracks with extremely low sub-bass frequencies, like James Blake's "Limit to Your Love," the bone conduction driver's limitations become apparent. The sub-bass can sound somewhat undefined, lacking the last bit of extension and control. It's like the driver is trying to reach a note just beyond its grasp, resulting in a slightly woolly quality. But hey, who needs those ultra-low frequencies anyway? I'm mostly kidding, of course, but it's a minor drawback in an otherwise impressive low-frequency performance.

Mid-Bass

Moving up the frequency spectrum, we arrive at the mid-bass, where the KB02 truly shines. It's as if the IEMs have a hidden turbocharger that kicks in when the music calls for it. The mid-bass has a satisfying punch and a pleasing texture that makes it a joy to listen to, especially for genres like EDM and hip-hop. The decay is slightly slower compared to the sub-bass, adding to the overall warmth and fullness of the sound. In Kendrick Lamar's "HUMBLE.," the KB02 delivers the impactful bassline with a satisfying thump that makes it impossible to resist nodding along.

Now, about that slower decay. While it contributes to the KB02's warm and inviting sound, it can sometimes lead to a slight lack of articulation in complex bass-heavy passages, like those found in Meshuggah's "Bleed." It's like the notes are slightly stepping on each other's toes, resulting in a less defined presentation. But let's be honest, if I'm listening to Meshuggah, I'm probably not too concerned about the last bit of mid-bass articulation.

Lower Midrange

The lower midrange is slightly elevated, contributing to the KB02's warm and inviting sound. Male vocals and instruments that occupy this region are presented with a full-bodied presence that doesn't sound bloated or overbearing. In Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," Cohen's deep baritone vocals are rendered with a rich and resonant quality that complements the song's somber mood.

However, this elevation in the lower midrange can occasionally result in a slight masking of micro-details in this region, especially in tracks with dense instrumentation, like those found in Opeth's "Blackwater Park." It's like some of the finer details are hiding in the shadows, making it slightly harder to pick them out. But fear not, the overall presentation is still enjoyable and engaging.

Upper Midrange

The upper midrange is where the KB02 walks a tightrope between warmth and clarity, and for the most part, it does so with impressive finesse. Female vocals and instruments in this region are presented with a natural and detailed quality that doesn't become harsh or sibilant. In Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You," Mitchell's delicate vocals are reproduced with stunning clarity and detail, allowing her voice to shine through the simple yet poignant accompaniment.

While the upper midrange is generally well-presented, it can occasionally sound slightly recessed compared to the lower midrange. This can sometimes affect the clarity and presence of certain instruments, like the violin in Hilary Hahn's performance of Bach's "Chaconne." It's like the violin is standing slightly further back on the stage, making it slightly less prominent in the mix.

Lower Treble

The lower treble is slightly forward, adding a touch of sparkle and presence to the overall sound. This doesn't translate to harshness or sibilance, though. The KB02 manages to keep the lower treble in check while still providing a satisfying level of detail and resolution. In Steely Dan's "Aja," the KB02 captures the intricate guitar work and layered synths with impressive clarity and definition.

In tracks with a lot of high-frequency energy, like those found in some metal subgenres, the lower treble can occasionally become slightly fatiguing over extended listening periods. It's like the cymbal crashes are a bit too intense, making you want to turn down the volume after a while. But for most genres, the lower treble presentation is enjoyable and engaging.

Upper Treble

The upper treble extends smoothly, adding a sense of air and spaciousness to the soundstage. While the KB02 doesn't emphasize the upper treble, it doesn't roll it off prematurely either. This ensures that high-frequency details are present without becoming harsh or fatiguing. In Explosions in the Sky's "Your Hand in Mine," the KB02 captures the shimmering textures and ethereal soundscapes with a delicate touch that adds to the song's expansive atmosphere.

While the upper treble performance is commendable, it can sometimes lack the last bit of sparkle and air, which can occasionally result in a slightly darker overall presentation. It's like the music is missing that final touch of brilliance, that airy shimmer that adds a sense of openness and space.

Soundstage

The KB02's soundstage is surprisingly wide and deep for an IEM at its price point. It's like the music is being performed in a concert hall rather than inside your head. The soundstage isn't artificially expansive, but it's well-proportioned and allows for accurate instrument placement. In Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," the KB02 creates a spacious soundstage that accurately positions the various instruments and vocals, creating an immersive listening experience.

While the soundstage is impressive, it can sometimes lack the last bit of height. This can occasionally result in a slightly less three-dimensional presentation. It's like the music is being performed on a slightly flatter stage, with less verticality and depth.

Layering and Separation

The KB02 excels at layering and separation, allowing listeners to easily distinguish individual instruments and vocals even in complex musical passages. It's like the IEM has a built-in sonic microscope that reveals the intricate details of the music. In Dream Theater's "The Count of Tuscany," the KB02 masterfully separates the various instrumental and vocal layers, allowing listeners to appreciate the song's complex arrangement.

In extremely busy passages with multiple instruments competing for attention, the KB02 can sometimes struggle to maintain complete separation, resulting in a slight loss of clarity. It's like the instruments are starting to blend together, making it slightly harder to pick out individual lines. But for most tracks, the layering and separation are impressive, allowing the music to breathe and unfold naturally.

Timbre

The KB02's timbre is generally natural and realistic, ensuring that instruments and vocals sound faithful to their real-world counterparts. The slight warmth in the lower frequencies adds a touch of richness and fullness to the timbre, making it particularly enjoyable for genres that benefit from a warmer presentation. In Yo-Yo Ma's performance of Bach's "Cello Suite No. 1," the KB02 accurately reproduces the timbre of the cello, capturing its rich and resonant tone.

The slight emphasis on the lower frequencies can sometimes result in a slightly thicker timbre for certain instruments, like the piano in Glenn Gould's performance of Bach's "Goldberg Variations." It's like the piano has a slightly richer and more resonant tone, which can be pleasing for some listeners but may not be to everyone's taste.

Coherence

The KB02 exhibits good coherence, with each part of the frequency spectrum integrating seamlessly with the others. It's like the IEM is a well-rehearsed orchestra, with all the sections playing in perfect harmony. This coherence contributes to the KB02's musical and engaging sound signature. In Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," the KB02 demonstrates good coherence by seamlessly blending the punchy bassline, Freddie Mercury's iconic vocals, and the soaring guitar solos.

The slight emphasis on the lower frequencies can sometimes result in a slightly less balanced presentation, especially in tracks with a lot of high-frequency energy. It's like the lower frequencies are slightly more prominent, which can sometimes overshadow the higher frequencies. But for most tracks, the coherence is excellent, creating a unified and harmonious sound.

Detail Retrieval

The KB02's detail retrieval is commendable for an IEM in its price range. It's like the IEM has a built-in magnifying glass that reveals the subtle nuances and micro-details in the music. In Dire Straits' "Sultans of Swing," the KB02 unveils the intricate guitar work, subtle backing vocals, and nuanced percussion that often get lost in less resolving IEMs.

While the detail retrieval is generally impressive, it can sometimes be slightly less precise in the upper midrange and treble regions, especially in tracks with complex high-frequency information. It's like the IEM is slightly less focused in these regions, resulting in a slightly less defined presentation. But for most tracks, the detail retrieval is excellent, allowing you to hear deep into the music and discover new nuances with each listen.

Conclusion:

The KBEAR KB02s are a fascinating entry in the budget IEM market. They offer a unique combination of features, including the bone conduction driver for sub-bass, a warm and engaging sound signature, and a comfortable fit. While they may not be the absolute best in any one area, their overall performance is impressive, especially considering their affordable price point.

In a market saturated with budget IEM options, the KB02s manage to stand out with their unique features and well-tuned sound. They are a testament to KBEAR's commitment to innovation and value, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a fun and engaging listening experience without breaking the bank.

A Dynamic IEM Enhanced by Bone Conduction​

The KBear KB02 is a budget-friendly IEM priced at just $40, yet offers something remarkable at this price. Combining a dynamic driver with a bone conductor for enhanced bass, the KB02 delivers a clean, bass-heavy sound signature while maintaining comfort and ease of use.

After using the KBear KB02 for several weeks, I can confidently say it punches well above its price point in terms of bass performance, maybe I should say it “kicks” well above its price point. I also love that the Bone conductor performs well both subjectively and objectively (in the measurements).
Read on for a detailed breakdown.

Unboxing Experience​

The KB02 arrives in nice packaging, befitting its $40 price tag:

On the back we get the usual specifications:

Removing the outer packaging reveals in the internal box:

Opening this up reveals the KB02:


Taking everything out of internal box you see you get a generous amount of IEM eartips:

The cable is not great but fine in this price range, here are all the contents:

So you’ll find:

• The IEMs themselves, featuring a lightweight and hollow-feeling shell.
• A set of three pairs of eartips (small, medium, and large).
• A detachable cable with a standard 2-pin connector.
• A basic user manual.

The included eartip selection is good, and the cable, while functional, could be improved in terms of quality and feel.

I mainly used the larger white eartips for my subjective listening:

Design, Build Quality, and Comfort​

The KBear KB02 features an extremely lightweight plastic shell with a comfortable ergonomic shape.


I did find it interesting that the shell both very light and sounds ‘hollow’ when you tap it which I believe is related to the bone conduction driver. As you will see in the measurements section later the conduction seems to vibrate at around 200Hz, so possible having a super light shell helps the nozzle vibrate in your ear giving that physical sense of sub-bass.

Here is a little video showing the shell from all angles:

Subjectively I found that the bone conduction driver adds a little bit of “oomph” to bass heavy tracks which I think is great as that is all you expect a small IEM to do, especially at this price.

The nozzle is large so might be concern to users with smaller ears:


Here are the measurements of the nozzle:


The vent is clearly visible near the 2-pin connection:

But overall the lightweight nature of the IEM ensures minimal fatigue during long listening sessions.

Cable​

The included cable is acceptable for the price but nothing exceptional. It’s functional, mostly tangle-free with standard 2-pin connectors, allowing for easy upgrades if desired.

Sound Impressions​

The KBear KB02 delivers a clean, enjoyable sound signature with excellent bass performance thanks to its unique combination of a dynamic driver and a bone conductor. The bone conductor adds subtle vibrations that enhance the bass response, making it stand out in this price range.

Bass​

The bass is the highlight of the KB02. It extends beautifully into the sub-bass regions, providing a deep and impactful low end without overwhelming the rest of the frequency spectrum. The addition of the bone conductor enhances the tactile sensation of the bass, adding a level of immersion typically not found at this price point.

Test Tracks:​

• “Billie Eilish – Bad Guy”: The sub-bass hits are clean and punchy with excellent depth.
• “Hans Zimmer – Mountains” (Interstellar Soundtrack): The rumble in the lower frequencies is immersive and well-controlled.

Midrange​

The midrange is superb, offering a clean and natural tonality. Vocals and instruments come through clearly if slightly forward in the mix, without being overshadowed by the bass. The lower mids are warm and full, while the upper mids remain smooth, avoiding harshness.

Test Tracks:​

• “Adele – Someone Like You”: Adele’s vocals are rich and emotional, with no signs of sibilance.
• “Fleetwood Mac – Dreams”: The layering of instruments and vocals is excellent, providing a balanced listening experience.

Treble​

The treble is good for an IEM in this price range but not exceptional. It provides adequate detail and sparkle without becoming overly bright or fatiguing. However, those who prefer a more extended treble might find it slightly lacking.

Test Tracks:​

• “Vivaldi – Four Seasons: Spring”: The violins are clear but lack a bit of airiness and sparkle.
• “Daft Punk – Contact”: The high-frequency details are present but not particularly sharp.

Soundstage and Imaging​

The KB02 offers a decently wide soundstage for an IEM in this price range, though it doesn’t compete with higher-end designs. Imaging is accurate, with clear instrument separation, making it suitable for genres like classical and acoustic music.

Specifications and Measurements​

Measurements:​

All Pragmatic Audio measurements are done with my KB501X soft ear pinna with a 711 clone coupler and are available here

Frequency Response​

The frequency response measurements show excellent bass extension into the sub-bass, with a slight increase in the upper mids and a smooth mostly treble roll-off:



It is also nice to see the measured frequency response closely matches the one published by KBear:

The bone conductor’s contribution is visible in the bass region, but here is a non-smoothed measurement which clear shows a dramatic effect of the bone conductor:

If you have ever used a ‘711’ coupler you will now that a little ’tap’ on an IEM shell during the measurement will cause a similar ‘bounce’ in the frequency response, so effectively you see what the Bone Conductor is doing, it is ’tapping’ or ‘vibrating’ in your ear when it get some 200Hz bass giving that ‘rumble’ effect you should expect from a Bone Conduction driver.

Distortion​

Distortion is well controlled even when playing at over 100dbSPL:

And even as a percentage there is nothing to be concerned about:

Again I think it is interesting to see the Bone Conductor causing a little bit of 3rd Order Harmonic distortion.

A few comparisons ​

So I really like the sound signature of the KB02 as a midrange forward IEM with good bass (as well as that little bone conduction ‘rumble’) though the treble might seem a little dark to some people.

Here are 3 other midrange forward IEMs but the KB02 has the best bass extension of these though it also has the darkest treble and a slightly more elevated 4K region:

Rating​

I have given the KBear KB02 a top pragmatic score of 5 stars mainly because at this price you are getting something unique with its bone conduction driver that both subjectively and objectively affect the bass quality. The IEM shell is also super lightweight and therefore very comfortable. The treble isn’t the best but at this price I don’t think anyone should complain.

Conclusion​

The KBear KB02 is an excellent IEM for $40, offering a unique combination at this price point of dynamic drivers and bone conduction technology that enhances the bass response. While the treble may not be the strongest point, the overall sound signature is clean and very enjoyable. With its lightweight and comfortable design, the KB02 is a great choice for those looking for a budget-friendly IEM that doesn’t skimp on sound quality.

If you’re new to the world of IEMs or simply want to add a bone conducting IEMs to your collection then the KBear KB02 is worth considering.

I would like to thank KBEAR for sending this review unit and to my friends at Sonic Mantra for giving me the opportunity to test it out. This review reflects my honest opinions. I didn’t get influenced or paid by anyone for this review.


The KBEAR KB02 is an interesting offering at its price segment. It comes at $40 with no mic. It doesn’t come with an attached mic version to my knowledge. The driver configuration is the stand out feature for the IEM. It features a Beryllium-plated Diaphragm Dynamic Driver and a Bone Conduction Vibrator unit hybrid setup which is the first at its price range. It comes with 3 color choices- blue, purple and orange. The bone conduction driver did create some hype around this IEM. Let’s see what the hype is truly for.

Package Contents:

1. The earpieces
2. Cable
3. 3 sets of ear tips including 3 pairs in each set
4. Paperwork

The unboxing experience was just like any other budget offering. The IEM shells were presented at top upon sliding open the cover. The cable and ear tips were inside of a box right below the shells which in my opinion is clever and easier to store or re-box them.


The KBEAR KB02 looks absolutely beautiful with the kinetic sand like faceplate design. The mixed patterns look beautiful and the KBEAR logo in the middle is of perfect size to show the beauty of the faceplate. The shells are made of resin and they do feel premium. The nicely angled nozzle is made of metal which holds the ear tips in place preventing them from slipping out. The stock cable on the other hand is disappointing. Its thin and flimsy and doesn’t do the IEM justice at all.


The shells are medium sized with good ergonomic design that fits in the ears comfortably. The Nozzle angle gives a deep and snug fit with most ear tips. The isolation is top notch here. With the right ear tip the passive noise isolation can rival some of the best ones in the market no matter the price range. The ergonomic curve fits in the ear nicely. The lightweight resin build makes for a comfortable fit for long listening sessions. The cable is soft and memory free. But it does get tangled sometimes.


The KBEAR KB02 boasts a Balanced mild V-shaped sound signature The bone conduction driver adds a unique touch to the sound experience. Let’s dive deep into it:

• Bass:
  The bass is Impactful and well controlled. The mid-bass is more focused compared to sub-bass. The sub-bass here is well extended with adequate amount of details. Sub-bass rumble is hard with ultra-low frequencies which is perfect for rap, pop type of genres. Just the presence falls behind in sub-bass section. The bone conduction driver sure does its charm to give a subtle but unique resonating atmospheric effect. It does complement the rest of the sound pretty well. Despite the not so prominent sub-bass presence, in bassy tracks with ultra-low frequencies, the sub-bass sounds very authoritative. The bone
  
  Mid-bass is more prominent here. With powerful hard hitting drums, Beautiful bass guitar playback, the mid-bass sounds complete here. It has great impactful and tactile slams. A moderately airy after-effect creates an immersive experience in some tracks where the drum acoustics are clearer like in “Amongst the Low & Empty – Signs of the Swarm”. While the bass performance isn’t overpowering, it can satisfy a couple of bass-heads out there with what it has to offer. The vibrating bone conduction driver adds an extra fun touch to the bass performance which is a stand out feature in its price range.

• Mid-range:
  The mid-range is quite engaging here. From vocals to instruments, the mid-range performance is notable. The male vocals are the best in this region. Especially low pitch male vocals sound exceptional. They sound well textured, detailed and very engaging. Male vocals have the right amount of body and note weight to them which sounds very rich. The bone conduction driver seems to add a touch of liveliness with its minimal vibrations which helps in delivering beautiful texture and adequate amount of details. Tonally they fall under neutral side of things. The airiness revolving the vocalists feels amplified due to the bone conduction driver. It gives a resonating piano like sound surrounding the atmosphere which is caused by the vibrations. In songs they sound quirky but in normal media consumption when people are having conversation, the effect sometimes annoyed me.
  
  Female vocals sound airy, smooth and lively. They don’t exhibit any sibilance even in tracks with poor mastering. Female vocals sound a step or two behind compared to male vocals. They maintain a natural and neutral tonality. In some tracks the female vocals do tend to sound a tad bit thin. While the female vocals are vibrant, smooth and articulate too in some tracks, they do not sound as engaging as male vocals in this set. The lows and highs sound more prominent with a hint of recession in female vocals. But they don’t get drowned. With the right ear tips, source and upgraded cable, the female vocals can also get the focus where they somewhat lack at. They do sound easygoing, smooth without any kind of shoutyness which will be better for users who are sensitive to forward and energetic female vocals.
  
  Instruments sound quite vibrant. From string instruments, to keyboards all sound very lively with proper amount of energy. The bone conduction driver does play a role here. Even though they are supposed to show more control over the lows, it also shows some resonating effects in mid-range, especially in lower mid-range. Pianos, cellos have that atmospheric resonating effect from the vibration of bone conduction driver. In songs, they sound delightful but in normal media consumption, podcasts, that resonating effect causes the vocals to have that piano like tint over them as mentioned before. The 'ting' sound of the bone conduction driver will bother you when you're watching anime while eating. The bites makes that 'ting' sound of the bone conductor.

• Treble:
  The Treble is well extended and detailed. Tonally they fall under neutral to sometimes bright signature. Lower treble is quite detailed and articulate in some areas. Upper treble has decent amount of sparkle and air. Treble instruments have beautiful natural tonality and right amount of energy. Upper mid-range sits at a pleasant spot where it doesn’t ruin anything in the treble area. In well mastered tracks, the details are more highlighted. The KB02 portrays the true nature of the track very well. Like in the track “Another Heaven – earthmind” the IEM showed the energetic and sibilant nature without ever crossing the line. It performs very good in instrumentals. I enjoyed the natural and lifelike tonality in “Polyphia” tracks very much. The articulate and detailed nature was shown here pretty well.

• Technical Performance:
  Technicalities isn’t ground breaking but it does perform pretty good for the price. The soundstage is fairly wide with good depth and height. It doesn’t lack anything here rather sounds just right. The imaging is impressive as well. The directional audio cue is pretty good. The instrument placements are shown better here with good precision. Separation is decent here. From instrument separation to regional separation like sub-bass, mid-bass is handled pretty good. It isn’t all that holographic but for the price that would be asking too much. While dynamic range handling isn’t its strong suit, it does perform average. Transient response is above average too. In terms of detail retrieval, it shines profoundly. From macro to micro details all are highlighted so well that it is effortlessly one of the best at it in its price range. Overall technical performance is more than decent and it can handle some casual gaming good as well.

For ear tips, the KB02 pairs pretty good with most ear tips. It pairs best with narrow to normal bore ear tips. With some wide bore ear tips the treble opens up a bit more and shows a slightly brighter signature. I found the Penon Liquor Black ear tips to sound the best for me. They offer more clarity and control in both the lows and the highs. The vocals get a bit more clarity and separation from the other sound regions.


In terms of source, a neutral to warmish neutral source is recommended. Moving from the stock cable to a good quality copper cable seemed essential in my case. The stock cable didn’t let the IEM exert its peak performance.


The KBEAR KB02 in paper surely is an interesting offering. The question is whether it can stand out in the crowded market with what it has to offer. In my opinion, it sure does have some quirks that makes it a strong choice at its price bracket. It offers a balanced all rounded sound performance with a fun touch of the bone conduction driver. The powerful bass, engaging vocal performance, beautiful instrument rendering, the sound quality is great. The shells look much more premium in hand than the price implies. And the passive isolation cannot be rivaled at this price range. Considering these strong suits if they fulfill your requirements, this is definitely recommended. But too much treble sensitive people may have to pass on this one.

KBear KB02 Review​

Full Review can be found HERE

​

KBear KB02 Review​

Intro​

Hello, today I am featuring the absolute latest from the audio brand KBear named the KBear KB02 ($39). The KB02 was actually sent to me from the good folks over at Keephifi and I am very thankful for that. Now, the KB02 is actually a hybrid iem consisting of one 10 mm beryllium plated dynamic driver as well as a 10 mm “elastic-piece” type bone conduction driver. Now, I’ve never heard of an “elastic-piece” bone conduction driver, but I will certainly get that opportunity when the KB02 arrives within the next week or so. I was actually able to review and feature the KB02’s predecessor, the KBear KB01 (KB01 Review) last year and for the cost it presented a solid option for the consumer. All-resin, gorgeous, nice tuning. So, hearing of KBear’s usage of a bone conduction driver at these prices really had my ears perked. I’m always looking for solid budget sets which compete offering the average consumer good sound at low costs. Really, I am always seeking out price to performance, no matter the price point. I can’t wait to hear the KB02, thanks again Keephifi.

KBear​

KBear has been around a very long time, mostly sticking to the budget sector. Of course, KBear also has their sister company “TRI” which predominantly offers some more pricey options. The truth is, KBear has always been a player in the game. At times they held on for dear life, and other times… they thrived. Like any brand there have been ups and downs, but they also have crafted and created some real legendary iems too. For length purposes, I won’t list all of those, but I have reviewed many KBear iems over the years. I suppose you could say those reviews weren’t all perfectly positive (most were), but no doubt KBear stuck to their guns and kept moving forward. I will say that there is another aspect of the KBear brand which has been a huge success. That is with their KBear cables. I cannot tell you how many KBear cables that I’ve purchased, but it’s a lot. In fact, one of my absolute favorite budget cables is the KBear Chord 4.4 Balanced. Truly, an under-appreciated cable that everyone should strive to own. KBear has also dabbled in dac/amps as well and so it’s easily apparent that they have some capable people with plenty of expertise and resources at their disposal. One thing is for sure, the hobby is much better when KBear is thriving. Let’s see if the KB02 is a solid step in the right direction.

Competition​

Okay, so I’ve just received the KB02 and I gotta say… not bad at all KBear! I have my thoughts thus far, but I need some long critical listening to ensue so that I can comfortably relay my thoughts to you. Friends, I know that $39 is a ton of money to so many people around the globe and we will really try to get this right for you. Ya know, the competition is fierce in the under $50 price point. I’m sure if you are iem hunting then you already know which sets are available and which ones you have your eyes on. I’m sure you are looking at the EPZ Q5 (Q5 Review), the KZ Zenith (Zenith Review), the Kiwi Ears Cadenza (Cadenza Review), Simgot EW200 (EW200 Review), the Kefine Klean (Klean Review), KZ PRX (PRX Review), Celeste Wyvern Abyss (Abyss Review), KZ ZS12 Pro X (ZS12 Pro X Review), EPZ Q1 Pro (Q1 Pro Review) amongst many, many others. It is a loaded bracket which does make it more difficult to make a purchase. Granted, it’s a good problem to have. Well, now that I’ve had time to delve into the sound a bit, I think that I’m ready to get this review underway. So, without further ado, the KBear KB02 everyone…

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:​

–Keephifi


–Amazon (Keephifi)

Disclaimer:​

I received the KBear KB02 from Keephifi as a review sample and in exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. This set is a review sample iem. Keephifi has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to Keephifi, and thanks for reading.

Gear used for testing​

–Ifi Go Blu

–EPZ TP50

–Simgot Dew4x

–Aful SnowyNight

–Shanling H0

–Fiio Q15

–Hiby R4

–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2

–Shanling M6 Ultra

Packaging / Accessories​

Unboxing​

The KBear KB02 arrived at my home in a medium sized box (what’s medium Chris?) with a sleeve adorned in a nice graphic of the KB02 on the front cover. There are some specs & highlights in the back as well. Take off the sleeve and you are met right away with the nice looking all-resin KB02 sitting pretty in foam cut-outs. Right next to the earphones is a small box which contains the rest of the accessories. Those would be the eartips, and the cable. Really, there isn’t a whole lot to the packaging, nor should there be. This set costs under $40 friends. We really shouldn’t expect lavish inclusions. Though, the unboxing is not bad at all, par for the course actually.

Eartips​

One thing which kind of surprised me was the haul of eartips that KBear provides with the KB02. Believe it or not, KBear actually hands out nine pairs of eartips within the packaging. I never would’ve expected that. Granted, I did top-roll to the KBear 07 eartips, but the provided tips are nice, nonetheless. To be exact, they give you three pairs of three styles of tips. In all actually, they are all pretty similar. All semi wide-bore silicone eartips, yet all are very flimsy in the flange. The first set of three pairs (S, M, L) of dark gray silicone tips with semi-wide bore eartips have flimsy flange rigid bore. The next set are three pairs (S, M, L) of white silicone eartips which are a touch firmer at the flange (still flimsy) and also have a semi-wide bore. The last set of eartips are very similar to KBear 07 tips yet once again very flimsy. Those are three pairs (S, M, L) of gray flanged tips with an orange stem. Once again, semi-wide bore. So, all the provided tips are basically the same exact eartips yet with different colors. Eh, there’s a hair difference in rigidity of the flanges, but they are all very flimsy. However, once again, I did use the KBear 07 tips with the KB02.

Cable​

As far as the cable goes, it’s simply a cheaper KBear cable. Nothing inherently special. It works; I can tell you that. The included cable is black, braided, high-purity OFC (oxygen-free copper) cable with 2-pin connectors and it terminates in a 3.5 single ended jack. The cable is rather thin and not the most aesthetically pleasing with such a gorgeous iem. For all intents and purposes the included cable is great, however. I had zero issues with it, it does its job, and it doesn’t take up a lot of room or weigh down your earphones. That said, I quickly swapped cables to the Nicehck IcyMoon 4.4 balanced cable. I’ve purchased many of the IcyMoon cables which I use for budget sets, and I absolutely love it. It’s a beautiful look paired with the KB02, and the sound is an obvious upgrade. I certainly recommend you pick one up. At any rate, I understand very well that these brands aren’t going to provide some $25 cable with a $39 set of earphones. That just won’t happen. Still, the cable provided is not bad at all and works as Intended.

Build / Design / Internals / Fit ​

Build Quality​

As far as the actual quality of the KB02’s build is concerned, I think that KBear really did a solid job of crafting a very clean all-resin set of earphones. Of course, it’s like any all-resin iem, but it’s nice. No rough seams, no jagged edges, no glue, all smooth, rounded corners, it’s nice. Now, the KB02 is rather large to be able to accommodate the 10 mm DD, and 10 mm BC. The nozzles are roughly average length, not too short and shallow fitting and not very deep and penetrative. KBear provided what appears to be a silver-colored aluminum nozzle which does make this set look a bit more premium. The nozzle itself is about 6 mm in width, so they too are about average as well. In the grand scheme of things, the KB02 is built pretty darn nicely against the rest of the under $50 market. It’s nice to see all-resin sets at these prices.

Design​

Now the design is where KBear really stepped up their game as the KB02 is a very nice looking iem. KBear made sure to add a few different colorways to suit your aesthetic preferences. The KB02 comes in Brown, Blue, and Purple. Obviously, the set that I have is the dope looking purple set. It may be hard to see in the pictures, but the faceplate area is a very nice tapestry of marbled glittery colors. Very nice to look at. To add to that, the faceplates were actually artistically painted by hand. How many budget iems are actually painted by the hand of the maker? I’ll answer that for you… not many. Friends, in my opinion KBear knocked the design out of the park! For the cost to own this set it is very cool to see KBear going all-out to provide a very nice looking iem. To be honest, the KB01 was also a very nice-looking all-resin budget iem as well. Truly a nice job.

Internals​

This should be relatively short but KBear decided to add in two drivers to create the sound that they were shooting for. They used a 10 mm beryllium plated dynamic driver as well as a 10 mm elastic-piece type bone conduction driver. Now, I don’t know if the BC is just a variation of a BC driver. I’ve never heard of an “elastic-piece” bone conduction driver. I’m assuming it’s made of some sort of rubber, silicone material. I can tell you this, I do hear the hollow and metallic rebound effect when I tap on the shells. Also, the questions will come. They already have in fact. I’ve had many personal messages asking me if this is a real BC Driver. Well, I would say that yes, it is. In that, I can feel a slight touch of haptic feedback on some bass drops, bass guitars, and other areas of the mix as well. It’s very slight. However, the BC driver is most certainly doing “something”. This I can assure you. It takes a strained ear to really pay attention to it, but it works. At any rate, I definitely feel the beryllium plated DD is a solid driver which doesn’t break down in distortion on higher volumes and stays in decent control. Not bad.

Fit / Comfort​

I would say that the KBear KB02 has a nice fitment for my ears. Nothing about this set is uncomfortable or non-ergonomic. It’s a very comfy set. Perhaps it may be a hair too large for very small ears, but that’s about the extent of issues which should arise. Obviously, you need to find appropriate eartips for your ears which create a good seal. Using the KBear 07 tips I am a happy man because the KB02 fit me like a glove. As I always say, I have zero idea how the KB02 is going to fit you. However, I’d venture to guess that the KB02 will be very comfortable and fit very well for most people.

Drivability / Pairings​

Output / Sensitivity​

The KBear KB02 is rated with an impedance of right around 40 ohms and has a sensitivity of about 108 db’s. No doubt the KB02 is a fairly sensitive iem which can sound very nice even off of lesser powerful source devices. It really doesn’t take much to drive this set, at all. In fact, I’ve used this set with too many sources to list here. To name a few, I used the KB02 a lot with my Fiio UTWS5 when out and about. Or, my iPad, my LG V60, and just for my review purposes I used many cheapo Amazon dongle dacs. Every device was able to reach a decent volume level. However, the KB02 does respond very well to power. I don’t know if it’s the beryllium plating or the bone conduction driver which responds better using more output, but I can tell you with conviction that the KB02 responds well. With my EPZ TP50 I used high gain which is a nice pairing. The Shanling H0 with high gain enabled is also a wonderful device to show off the KB02’s decent scaling. Yet without question the best sonics come from my much more expensive daps. Most certainly, if you have a source with a bit more output power on tap, plug in the KB02 with a 4.4 or 2.5 balanced cable and enjoy.

Source Pairing​

Personally, I enjoy many different tonalities from different sources with the KBear KB02. I don’t think that one source tonality (bright, cold, warm, neutral) in particular suits the KB02 better than others. I suppose that for me I simply want a clean source. The better the source, the better the sound. However, brighter source devices can embellish the brighter dynamics of the KB02. I don’t think it’s a clear issue though. In truth, most source devices pair sonically just fine. It really all comes down to you, and what you enjoy. Maybe this will help, out of my dongle dacs I most enjoy the EPZ TP50, the Simgot Dew4x, the Moondrop Dawn 4.4, and the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus. Eh, the Aful SnowyNight presents the KB02 nicely as well. Out of my daps or more expensive dac/amps, I’d say that the Fiio Q15 and the Shanling M6 Ultra were my favorites. So “for me” I feel that neutral to neutral with hints of warmth are what I enjoy the most. The KB02 has a nicely V-shaped sound to U-shaped sound with a low-end tilt, but also a slightly energetic upper half and so sources which lean heavy one way or the other may influence the sound of the KB02 in a less balanced way. Still, in my opinion I don’t think that the KB02 necessarily only “synergizes” with certain tonal pairings. Again, it comes down to you, and what you prefer.

What do you need? ​

Basically, try to find yourself a cheaper dongle dac, doesn’t have to be the most expensive. Something with some decent juice to it. At least 50-70 mw @32 ohms. Something which will push the drivers a bit, wake em’ up. Notwithstanding, almost all dongle dacs will provide much more than the 50-70 I just mentioned. If you can, try to find something neutral to warm/neutral in tonal color and you should be good to go.

Sound Impressions​

*Note: before I begin the sound portion of this review, I need to mention that I did let the KB02 burn-in for a few full days. I don’t know that exact amount. However, I do feel that the KB02 slightly benefitted from this. Less metallic upper-mids, less splash in the upper treble, tighter in the low-end. Of course, there were also days in between which could mean that I’m just dreaming it up. Also, I’m sure you can simply just “listen-in” just as easy. I use flac or better files which are stored on my devices for all critical listening. The eartips that I used for critical listening was KBear 07 eartips. I mainly used the UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) Android music app for most of my wired listening. For any Bluetooth listening I used Poweramp.

What’s it sound like? ​

The KBear KB02 comes across as very fun! I feel that I can say that and just end this sound portion. It’s simply a fun set. Certainly, a Harman tuned iem which resembles its predecessor, the KBear KB01 (KB01 Review) in many ways sonically. I reviewed the KB01 back in December of 2023 and at that time its only real fight was the Kiwi Ear Cadenza and a few others. At any rate, there are some differences in stage, note presence, and the KB02 is a hair more contrasted dynamically, but really the KB02 is a KB01 with a BC driver. The bonus is that I feel the KB01 is still a very solid budget set. Appropriately enough, the KB02 is a certain upgrade. Without question.

A nice budget option​

Big dynamics. Slightly warm of neutral with a definite focus in the low-end and upper-mids. The KB02 has very expressive macro-dynamics with very nice tonal contrast. The timbre is not bad at all, but the BC driver does emit some hollow rubbery reflex sounds from time to time. Nothing which bothers me, but I should at least speak on it. So, for the cost I am definitely okay with this set. The KB02 has a very euphonic presentation which I assume is mostly due to the DD resonances created in tandem with the BC driver. It had a very nice stage presence, good depth too. I certainly wouldn’t call the KBear KB02 anything close to a technicality-first iem, but it is fairly nice with the technical stuff despite that. The sound is relatively clean so long as the track isn’t full of bass energy. I found that note weight past the bass is “slightly rich” with minimal bass bleed as the bass does not encroach so much that notes feel and sound heavy or sluggish. If that makes sense. Furthermore, most notes do have pretty nice presence in the mix with a cleaner approach. Certainly not too warm or weighted, and definitely not a veiled sound. It’s an open sound, there’s some sparkle, some shimmer, and some levity to the sound past the low-end as well. Guys and gals, I just want to get this out of the way; the KBear KB02 is a nice option for the cost.

Technical? Musical? ​

Again, the KB02 is not a technical beast and won’t satisfy pure detail-heads as the KB02 is not tuned in an analytical fashion. While there is plenty of upper range air and brilliance, which is usually great at helping to illuminate the details in music, the low-end’s 12 dB bass shelf acts as the foundation on this budget set and can blur some of the fine lines. To a degree anyways. Obviously, some tracks will yield much better results than others. Having said all of that, the KB02 also isn’t deficient in the finer stuff either. It simply isn’t going to draw your focus towards details. That’s it. To be honest, I feel the KB02 actually has a decent balance of musicality and technical ability. Certainly, it leans musical and somewhat organic, but the word “musical” doesn’t perfectly define this set to my ears. In truth, you may be at least marginally surprised at the KB02’s relationship between emotionally charged harmoniousness and its ability to provide discernable details.

Condensed Sound Between the 20’s​

Now, the bass is fairly big, it booms, it goes deep, and it is not an overly fast bass. There is some sort of a haptic resonance which has some lingering effects, likely due to the BC driver. Very, very slight. However, it has a very physical bass and a full-bodied bass. Also, it’s not all encompassing either. It’s nice. The midrange actually has such a nice tuning for vocalists. They are very nicely weighted, moist, yet also energetic and decently centered in the sound field. I wouldn’t call them perfectly organic though. That goes for instruments too. Yet that also doesn’t mean they’re bad timberally either. I’d say the mids “lean” organic, with a holographic style harmonic echo which adds almost a trippy element to this region at times. Not all the time though, which is weird. The treble has some spunk to it, some real nice emphasis too without coming across offensive. Not to my ears anyways. It’s got some brilliance, it’s smooth, it isn’t overly artificial or splashy either. Really, it’s a fitting treble. Details are decent as well. Definitely not so much that your minds’ eye is paying too close attention to those details, but they are there. About average. Separation is about average as well. Imaging is also pretty solid for the cost while the stage is fairly large. Let’s check out each 3rd of the mix in greater depth shall we.

​

Bass Region​

Like I said in the condensed portion of my review, the bass has a very rich and full-bodied sound. Please do not expect some snappy bass with lightning quick reflexes because the KB02 will not be that. The BC driver seems to add some sense of depth as well which seems to unlock some “unattended-to” side of my brain. It’s the illusion of depth through haptic recognition. Any deep and heavy sub-bass will provide some haptic FEEL to your music. However, the KB02 provides that FEEL to a slight degree on even the upper bass, lower-mids, through to the upper-mids. Again, don’t get too excited because it isn’t going to change your life. That said, isn’t bad at all? It’s a very subtle feel though, and not every track is going to be as evident as others. Now, the bass is fairly well emphasized, it’s meaty, even bulbous in its robustness & breadth. Notes are wide, not acutely pointed in attack, somewhat softer at the crest of each note, though not entirely pillowy either. I hear nice density and solid extension into the lowest of lows. Fans of earthy, well textured, atmospheric and rumbly bass will likely enjoy the sub-level bass here. However, this is not a basshead set. Not enough weight down low and a hair too much upper end levity to offset the bass. Also, I would not refer to this bass as inherently “muddy” or “bloated”. Especially for the amount of emphasis. KBear did a nice job of gliding into the mids before that occurred.

Sub-Bass​

Now, the sub-bass has plenty of mass fused rigidity to it. It goes deep and can reach some chasmic levels of guttural rumbles when a track calls for it. Tracks like “Tell Me What’s on Your Mind” by The Decemberists is one such track. The KB02 will certainly reciprocate the intent of the artist on this one with a heavy handed and very low droning growl. It’ll go deep ladies and gentlemen! I’d say that the sub-bass undeniably carries the weight of the bass as a whole. It’s definitely a bass which offers solid vibratory goodness to those who feel that is a good thing. Others who don’t enjoy so much emphasis may have different thoughts. Yet again I don’t feel this is quite basshead levels. It’s penetrative, very physical, and even well textured, but it isn’t as eye rattling as some iems created for that purpose. The rumble extends its residual harmonics a bit, not super snappy but nice for the overall girth of the sub-bass. You can only get so tight and condensed with a budget set using budget drivers. Still, I can’t say that I’m not impressed listening to “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk and hearing those quick bony beats, one after the other while the KB02 keeps a clean edge in each one. Nothing coming across smeared or blended whilst also providing concrete style density. It’s just… Fun.

Mid-Bass​

Now, the mid-bass is patently less intense and less thick than the adjoining sub regions. That said, the mid-bass still adjoins. It isn’t rolled-off by any stretch and plainly provides more than enough exuberant slam for any track I threw at the KB02. Bass guitars always have enough plump and mean growl, generally full-bodied, never a disappointment there for me. Kick drums, double-bass, lower range cello and viola, kettle drums etc. all sound well matured and full enough in their timbral approach. Again, there’s almost a very small resonant haptic feel to the sound with this set. It isn’t distinctive to the point that it becomes annoying, but it certainly adds a hint of something extra to the sound. The mid-bass has plenty of punch and does carry some good impact too. Now, the mid-bass is a hint soft on attack and doesn’t have that hard-edged note surface all the time, but all-in-all I don’t find the mid-bass too soft or pillowy, which is nice. Another nice thing about the mid-bass is that it doesn’t encroach or overstep upon the midrange in a negative way. It doesn’t really mud the mix, so to speak. I’m sure some people may have a differing opinion than me on that but in the realm of bass heavy sets, the KB02 is far from a mud fest. That all said, the mid-bass does add a very nice amount of warmth to the mids, a slight bit of weight too while not stealing very much clarity. So, it’s a nicely tuned region. Not bad at all KBear.

Downsides to the Bass Region​

The obvious issue that some hobbyists will have is with the actual bass shelf itself, or the emphasis afforded to the bass. I think we all know plenty of folks who simply cannot handle too much low-end weight in their music. There are many days where I feel the same way too. Sometimes it’s just too much. Too warm, less clarity, less transparency, and too much bass will mask certain frequencies in music as well. No doubt about it that the KB02 can and will do some masking (depending on the track). Some finer details will get lost to the boom. The low-end on the KB02 is pretty good about it and the downhill slide into the midrange followed by a type of “bass-tuck” just past 150hz (which “at times” accompanies a bone conduction driver) finally flattening out just past 350hz. Really a long and steady downhill slope which helps in the overall quality of the bass. At the end of the day, you people know what you want. Do you like a heavier bass? If so, then I’m sure you have at least a slight idea about some of the downsides associated with a plumper low-end. No this isn’t the KZ Zenith’s tight, punchy, and snappy bass, or the EW200’s well-defined and clean bass. However, for what the KB02 offers, it’s actually very nice folks. I enjoy it quite a lot.

Midrange​

The mids on the KBear KB02 kind of caught me off guard. What I mean is that they are more prevalent in the frequency than I would’ve guessed. I thought for sure the KB02 was going to be a typical V-shaped recession which draws the midrange away from the listener making them duller in the process. Nothing could be further from the truth. Now, the low-mids are a hair pushed back but they aren’t distant or boring to me. I thought I’d hear really thin midrange notes. In spite of that assumption, note weight is nice. More natural in weight and with subtle richness. Yet not heavy or too convex in body. I’d characterize the midrange on the KB02 as being musical, nice warm clarity, open sounding, good vibrance. For all intents and purposes the midrange is actually more forward than it is recessed. Also, transients come across pretty naturally in my opinion. I wouldn’t call them “fast”, and I wouldn’t call them “slow”. I don’t hear cut-off or pruned harmonics, while in the same breath most notes run until their perceivable completion.

Mids cont…​

I hear very nice coherence, some clean lucidity, and a palpable sense of surface tactility sounding more textured than it isn’t. The midrange is smooth without losing out on some crispness in the process. Not to the point of crunch, or pointed snap, but still crisp enough to finish off the last little bit of harmonic edge on an acoustic guitar, or at the crest of notes in percussion. To add to that, the KB02 also exhibits a definite luminance or vibrance, a certain vivacious energy which usually doesn’t walk over the line into sharpness (I did say “usually”). There’s some control there. However, I’ll echo what I said earlier that the KB02 is not first class in its technical approach. Like I said, it definitely leans to the musical side of the aisle and can really help draw emotion out of most tracks which tend to exude such a thing. Detail retrieval in this region is clearly decent for how it is tuned, and separation of instruments is actually quite nice, but not class leading. About average. The midrange is quite open sounding with good amounts of air and note weight is not too rich and voluptuous which helps separation to sound pretty distinct.

Lower-Midrange​

The low-mids are probably the least awesome area of the mix while still coming across pretty nice in the process. Confused yet? They simply aren’t as energetic and etched-out as the upper-mids for example. There is a slight recession as well, yet at the same time the low-mids have good clarity even though they are slightly hooded in a subtle warmth. Male vocalists sound pretty nice actually. There’s enough weight to sound authoritative and enough of an edge to not sound overly smooth, or less defined. Dermot Kennedy sounds nice in his track “Rome”. His voice is well highlighted against the rest of the melody. I could say the same for almost all male singers. Like Chris Stapleton in “Tennessee Whiskey”. His voice is always edgy with his southern twang and the KB02 does a decent job of projecting the inflections in his voice. Surely there are iems within the price point which can reproduce better male vocalists, but I have nothing to complain about here.

Upper-Midrange​

Now, the upper-mids are positively more forward, more energetic, more vibrant and just as smooth. I find vocals in this region have decent presence, as though they’re almost embossed against the rest of the mix. There’s some depth of field there. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s 3D sounding, but the sound certainly has some perceived dimension. I have a sneaky suspicion that this is an after effect of the BC driver. Maybe? Again, there is definitely a euphonic type of sound as well too. Also, the upper-mids are thinner and less rich sounding than the low-mids without coming across as outright “thin”. Having said that, the upper-mids have an appropriate note weight paired with a lively approach. They have a nice sparkle to them and rarely come across as harsh, which does very well for instrumentation and vocalists (mostly female). That’s not to say the KB02 won’t have some glare from time to time, but for the better part of my listening I’d say the upper-mids have nice control. They’re sprightly, bright, and fairly well detailed. Timbre and tonality come across fairly naturally, though the thinner and more vivacious energy does skew that a bit. So not perfectly natural. You have a somewhat substantial emphasis in the upper mids, but the pinna rise is a nice and long ascent of around 11 db’s (give or take). KBear did a nice job of keeping this area under control, no screaming mids, smooth yet decently contoured notes, and some nice resolution for the tuning, and for the price.

Female vocals​

I like the amount of openness in this region. There’s a lot of air, nice note separation, there’s some buoyancy as I find the upper-midrange notes have a feathery and softer demeanor. Less rigid in note structure, yet very engaging and still handles emotional passages of music rather well. The track “High” by Caitlyn Smith is one which shows off this “feathery” sound as her “feathery” voice begins softer, somewhat silky even with the KB02. However, the chorus becomes very hectic, chaotic, and passionate. Believe it or not the KB02 really performs this section of the song well for a single DD with a BC. Her voice is very uplifted, even resounding, without sounding grating. Furthermore, the sound as a whole isn’t just a mishmash of instruments smeared into the background like so many budget sets. Or the track “Yellow Roses” from Ilsey is really great with the KB02 in my ears for the price. Again, soft, feathery, yet nice presence, not too dry. Really a nice sound for a $40 iem.

It all comes together​

Again, I thought for sure the midrange was going to be pushed-back, more drab, and simply less vivid. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The mids are actually quite tuneful, musical, and have very nice tonality. Add to that the vocals are very well positioned, dead center, and the stage as a whole has a certain immensity, and spatial dimensions are nice to the ear. Obviously the KB02 is not considered “mid-centric” and they don’t specialize in this area. However, the midrange comes across well-tuned for me. Perhaps, the timbre isn’t perfectly natural or organic sounding, but it definitely leans in that direction. Instruments mostly have the snap they need, the sheen of brilliance at the outer edges of notes, good note body, very clean for the tuning as well. It all comes together nicely.

Downsides to the Midrange​

I think that if I were to nail down some issues with the midrange, I would first say that analytical heads may not be too enthralled with the KB02. Like I said, the KB02 isn’t the most technically adept iem. It certainly isn’t “bad” either, but there are definitely iems in the price point which would fit the profile of someone who loves an analytical style sound better. I know there will be those who want an even more juicy and rich lower midrange too. I’d also say that even though the upper-mids are kept in nice control and may not be shouty to me, they will very likely have too much vivacity for some folks. Really though, I am digging here people. Seeking out petty downsides when really the midrange is quite nice.

Treble Region​

The treble is one which has just enough brilliance to lift up the tonal color of the entire spectrum. Not bright per say, but there is some effulgent illumination happening. It most definitely is not a dull treble, or a boring treble. The highs on this set promote a more open and airy sound which makes its mark throughout the treble and the midrange. I like that there’s just enough lift in the treble for the KB02 to gain in resolution without it sounding forced. There’s a natural cohesiveness between the regions and the treble seems to fit right in its pocket while it stays in its lane. I suppose I could add that the treble will probably be considered “safe” to some people. Especially treble heads. You don’t have that boundary pushing edge to the treble, and treble bite is not going to entertain even moderate treble heads. However, the fact that this $40 set has any bite or treble punch at all is saying something. Again, it’s simply a nice and fitting treble which doesn’t seek to offend, stays safe enough to not cause fatigue, yet brings some brilliance along the way. I can’t really say anything bad about it. Of course there’s downsides, but those are mostly subjective per the person listening. KBear did a nice job folks as the highs in the KB02 come with a nicely detailed response. It is somewhat dry, but also that slight dryness helps to provide some texture to the sound up top as well. Micro-details are arguably above average for a $40 set barring the track isn’t some bass heavy boom fest and there’s enough of an edge to notes to give some decent enough contour to those notes.

Treble cont… ​

Now, there is some slight bite to treble notes on the KB02, depending on the track. The treble isn’t subdued, dark, flat. Or on the other end, it isn’t too bright either. But I would much sooner characterize the treble as being smoothed over, less distinct tonal contrast, but great tonally and very nice timbre too. Micro-dynamics aren’t completely lost and there is some good note separation in this area as well for a $40 set. You do have some crispness, some crunch, but nothing even close to what a treble head would be looking for. Of course, any treble head thinking that the KBear KB02 would fulfill their desires for raucous & vivacious treble is highly unlikely and a bad idea on their part. That all said, this region does have very nice control. It simply (logically) doesn’t have the super fine-lined accuracy and acute precision of other driver types, and it doesn’t have that malleable finesse of other drivers. As one should expect. Come what may, the KB02 still has a very nice and uplifting sound which does very well to influence the rest of the mix in a very clean and positive way. Plus, the treble really does suit the overall sound very well and contrasts the bass region very well too.

Extension​

Extension into the highest of highs is not the best quality of the KB02’s treble repertoire, but in the same breath it also isn’t rolled-off in any drastic way either. The KB02 still has a nice emphasis past 10k though there is a quick drop-off after that. Nothing we haven’t seen a thousand times in the past. In fact, the extension is very similar to the Kiwi Ears Cadenza as well as a bunch of others. Furthermore, the upper-treble doesn’t give me that terrible splash on cymbals and certain harmonics past 8k are actually well presented. Basically, I don’t hear anything artificial sounding to my ears. No typical budget range forced resolution in hopes of drawing out some details either. I don’t hear any sibilance, nothings too sharp for me, and I don’t hear anything too splashy. Perhaps in some very complicated treble passages you’ll come across some smeared treble, but all-in all, nice work KBear.

Downsides to the Treble Region​

Of course, the largest gripe that some may have is with those treble-bois who cannot live without that wonderful haptic, physical, biting, and snappy treble with loads of brilliance. On the flipside, those who much more prefer a dark and rolled-off treble will also likely not be down with this set. Really, I can’t complain a whole lot folks. This is a very cheap set and for the cost it is nice. The treble won’t blow your mind, and it won’t make you hear things in your music that you’ve never heard before. However, tonally it is nice and stays out of its own way. A good supporting actor on a solid budget iem.

Technicalities​

Soundstage​

The soundstage is nice. It’s wider than average, tall, and it’s a reasonably deep stage. I definitely hear some trippy resonances from the BC driver which promotes some front to back depth. Especially in the low-end, midrange, and upper-mids. Like I said, it’s almost a trippy euphonic sound. I don’t “not” like it. Also, it isn’t something which is persistent either. At any rate, the soundstage is a plus for this set. Now, the sound field is a bit more intimate too. As in, the “forward” and “closer” to the listener. It isn’t pushed back and deep. The soundstage is wide, tall, and has decent depth, and is very full sounding taking up all the psycho-acoustic real estate. It’s a nice stage, certainly better than the KB02’s predecessor, the KBear KB01.

Separation / Imaging​

Instrument separation is not perfect, but it also isn’t a problem either. In fact, separation is probably average to above average within the price point in my opinion. Again, the KB02 is not some analytically tuned iem with a propensity for the technical side of listening. It’s a fun set, big sound, full sound, bigger bass, energetic too. These descriptors don’t usually indicate a set with strong abilities to separate elements within the sound field. In spite of that statement, the KB02 does much better than you’d think. I’d say the only real issue that it has is during heavy bass tracks. Obviously, with a heavier bass pounding away you will have some masking happening. Well, another aspect which holds back the KB02’s ability to separate elements of a stage is also during heavily complicated tracks. Imaging pretty much follows suit. Probably above average, not bad at all. Vocals always seem to be dead center and everything within the sound field is placed well and easily discerned. The same hang-ups which test its separation abilities also can be a problem for imaging. However, when it’s all said and done the KB02 does a fine job in these regards, for its tuning.

Detail Retrieval​

The KBear KB02 is pretty nice when it comes to detail retrieval. No, it isn’t tops in class, or even in the running for it. Yet it does a nice job. You aren’t missing very many details with his set. Once again, complicated and bass heavy tracks can congest and mask the spectrum making details harder to hear. However, transients aren’t slow, the sound isn’t veiled or muffled, and notes aren’t so heavy and thick that the finer details get smudged out. It really is quite nice folks. Detail retrieval is not the KB02’s fortay, but it may surprise you with its ability to illuminate the subtle details. Not bad at all.

Comparisons​

​

Simgot EW200 ($39)​

The Simgot EW200 (EW200 Review) is truly one of the most loved and lauded iems under $50 and a constant set which is included in the “Best Under $50” debate. I find it impossible not to include this set as the sound is fantastic, the build is fantastic, and the design is fantastic! The EW200 is a single dynamic driver earphone which consists of a 10mm SCP (Silicone Crystal) diaphragm. Just beautiful to look at and one of the most prolific tunings in the price point. I added this set as a comparison along with about three others, yet I only had time for one unfortunately. Deadlines! Anyways, if I were to choose one set under $50 to compare, I felt that the EW200 is known more than any other, which made sense to me. Let’s check out some differences.

Differences​

To begin, both sets are built very well for the cost of ownership. The KB02 is made using all-resin while the EW200 is made entirely of all-alloy. I think it’s obvious that the all metal set (EW200) is probably a bit more durable and probably built a hair better. That said, I love the all-resin makeup of the KB02. The KB02 is much larger as it houses two drivers while the EW200 is very small. It may be small but it’s substantially heavier than the KB02. In my opinion comfort goes to the KB02. Unless you have miniscule ears. As far as the design, I don’t think I can choose. They are both so well imagined from an artistic perspective. Do you like the classy, elegant, and wholly handsome look of the mirror polished EW200? Or do you like the gorgeous hand painted shells of the KB02 with beautifully rendered glitter covered paint in a marbled design pattern. I can’t choose. Neither set comes with a million accessories. Maybe the EW200 has the better cable, but that’s debatable (a very boring debate). The price is the same, and both sets are tuned a hair differently. Let’s check out the sound difference.

Sound Differences​

The 1st and most obvious difference come in the overall tonality of both iems. The EW200 is a brighter, airier, and more speedy sound altogether. The KB02 has a more organic presentation with a warmer hue which is cast upon the mix, whereas the EW200 is definitely natural leaning, yet the brightness does bring a hair too much levity to call it “perfectly natural”. Though I will say, both iems have great tonal characteristics. Just two different styles. Two different ways of hearing your music. Equally nice for their own reasons. The EW200 wins out for detail retrieval, instrument separation and spacing and has better imaging. Basically, the EW200 has a much more technical sound, faster transients, and everything is simply tighter. However, “tonally” the KB02 probably has the edge. As far as soundstage, the KB02 has a wider and deeper stage but I can’t take anything away from the EW200 in this regard. Now, the KB02 is much less fatiguing as the EW200 is known for having a more shouty side. The KB02 is also more musically gifted, more fun too while the EW200 is the more mature of the two. Again, there’s drawbacks to both, and also, both sets have some awesome features to their sound as well. Most certainly I would call this a preference battle. You will know very quickly which one aligns with you.

Between the 20’s ​

Most certainly the KB02 has the deeper and more guttural bass. Much better for hearing as well as feeling the bass pulsing in your music. The EW200’s bass is a bit tighter and better defined, but the KB02 has better note density and more impact. The KB02 also has a less bright midrange as it actually skews warmer. More mellifluous, musical, and simply more engaging in that way. Not that the EW200 isn’t engaging, it’s just in a different light. The mids of the EW200 are wonderful as well but they are simply closer to an analytically tuned sound. Crisper, more snap on percussion, better clarity, better transparency. The treble on the EW200 is a bit more elated, luminated, and more brilliant. The EW200 has some nice treble punch and bite for a $40 set. The KB02 is smoother up top with less of a chance at sharpness while the EW200 is again, better defined, better detailed, cleaner too. Again, both sets are very good at their price and both sets will have their fans which back them.

Final thoughts on this comparison ​

What can I say, this was a most definite “preference battle” between two very solid iems under $50. Again, you will know right away which set suits you just by hearing their differences. That said, if you are like me and like damn near every sound signature then it makes it much harder to choose. I like them both and would easily recommend both sets for different types of listeners. One is musical and still pretty darn nice technically while the other is very technically gifted while also having some decent musical talents as well. They measure the same in two opposing sides of the scale. Equal, yet very different. To be honest, they don’t graph worlds apart but they certainly sound very different to my ears. Both are fine sets folks.

Is it worth the asking price? ​

The KBear KB02 comes in with an MSRP of right around $40. My biggest question I had going into this was #1: Will I even want to review this set? Obviously, I like it, so I’m reviewing it. #2: Can the KB02 stand against the competition? Now, this is a broader question, with many layers. Still, the short answer is… Yes. Yes, the KB02 can stand against the competition. In some cases, and for some people the KB02 will do better than that even. Of course, you obviously have to enjoy this type of tuning. Well, it should go without saying, but not everyone is going to be a huge fan of this style of sound. However, for those hobbyists who are more inclined towards a sound like the KBear KB02… it’s a solid set. No doubt about it. I even find the KB02 “set-apart” from other sets in its price range with a similar tuning. There is a little something “extra” that the KB02 has. It has its own charm about it. Not to say there aren’t fifty other sets which also have their own great qualities. Let me try to explain why…

The Why…​

I always start out my reasoning with build quality. The build matters. I could argue it matters much less with budget iems, but it matters, nonetheless. KBear has been at this game for a very long-time folks and they’ve streamlined their process with quality materials. The all-resin shells are very nice folks. They don’t appear or feel as though they are just slapped together. This isn’t 2015. The KB02 has just as good of a build as sets which cost two or three times its price. 3D printed and all resin. Next, the design is even better. Look at this iem folks! Hand painted! For $40! What?! The floating ink style of marbling with the micro-glittering effect is gorgeous. The purple (or whatever color you choose) simply POPS against the black underbody and silver alloy nozzles. Basically, it looks DOPE anywhere you go. Who else has some electric purple BADDIE in their ears? Can I answer that? You do. In truth, for the cost there are only a handful of 3D printed all-resin sets which come with the quality of build that the KB02 has. Granted, we’ve seen a huge uptick in resin iems at cheaper prices. Still, the KB02 feels different.

That sound! ​

Of course, the real reason any of us purchase anything in this hobby is because we want something which sounds good. So that we can get lost in our passion…our music. There are so many different tunings and so many levels to those tunings. However, the KBear KB02 has a very fun sound with vibrant macro-dynamics and a very musically expressive tuning without losing sight of the more intricate, mature, and technical aspects of the sound either. It carries a big, full-bodied, robust and physical bass that actually doesn’t muddy up the mix as much as it should. It’s clean for its size and bulk. Really a nice bass response. The midrange has this warm and inviting sound with an energetic flare that is great for vocalists. Near natural timbre, vibrant without becoming offensive, forward, nice clarity, and very musically engaging. Throw in above-average detail retrieval, instrument separation, and decent enough imaging capabilities and you have yourself a nice midrange. The treble is easy-going while still coming across with some brilliance, some openness, some air, and a smoother approach. The stage is wide, has some depth, and is very much a full presentation. What I’m getting at is, the KBear KB02 is worth every penny. Yes, it is worth the money to own.

Ratings (0-10)​

Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the KBear KB02 ratings below, that would be $25-$50 iems of any driver configuration. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $25-$50 sets, of any driver configuration is a large sized scope of iems. So, it should be noteworthy to see a rating above a “9.0”. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.

Aesthetic ​

–Build Quality: 9.0 Well built, 3D printed, clean build

–Look: 9.8 Very unique and beautiful design.

–Fit/Comfort: 9.1 Fit and comfort is very good for me.

–Accessories: 7.3 Loads of eartips.

–Overall: 8.8

Sound Rating ​

–Timbre: 9.1 Organic leaning.

–Bass: 9.5 Deep, palpable, textured and impactful.

–Midrange: 9.2 Highly musical.

–Treble: 8.8 Non-Offensive, sparkly enough too.

–Technicalities: 8.6 Very nice for the tuning.

–Musicality: 9.4 Musicality first iem.

–Overall: 9.1

Ratings Summary:​

I gave the KB02 an overall sound score of a “9.1” against any and all iems between the prices of $25 to $50. That means any driver configuration. I decided to stop at $50 thinking of the person who looks at $50 as the absolute peak of their budget. I had a large number of those sets with me during this rating. Due to completing all of these reviews I’ve been fortunate enough to gain many of these budget priced sets. However, take note that I certainly don’t have all of the best sets. Despite that, I feel that I have enough to make a solid rating of the KB02.

Also, please don’t take these ratings for truth. This is only one person’s point of view. I say this all of the time in every review that ratings are almost useless. Logically, ratings really can’t last for any longer than 4-6 months without the entire audio landscape changing, thus changing rating scores. Also, they don’t shed light on all of the nuances that go into an earphone. Or any product for that matter. At any rate, the KB02 received a 9.1 averaged-out score over six different songs (relating to the rating category) and against roughly about 15 iems. No, I don’t listen to the whole song every time. But I do feel that actually having the sets from the price point that I’m rating the KB02 in helps tremendously to give my accurate thoughts. That said, the KB02 should have a higher overall sound score than a “9.1”. It’s one of those sets which won’t perform quite as good in individual categories and in my opinion should only be judged as a whole.

Explain Yourself!! ​

Man, this is one rating period where I feel that everything speaks for itself. Now, there’s a couple categories that I feel I judged the KB02 a little harshly. Like “Technicalities” and “Treble”. Technically speaking, the KB02 has nice detail retrieval, good note separation, Imaging is good, natural transients, and a larger stage. You’d think it would be much higher. However, being a musicality-first iem, it can’t quite hang in some of these areas over more analytically tuned iems. It’s a shame because the KB02 isn’t bad at all technically. The treble simply isn’t quite as refined as some other sets, and it showed in some high intensity treble tracks. Still, that doesn’t take away from the fact that the treble on the KB02 is well tuned. The rest of the ratings could have gone a hair one way or the other but in the end a “9.1” is a very good score against so many iems.

Final thoughts on the KB02 before I conclude​

In my opinion the KBear KB02 will likely not be a set that is universally praised. I’m just being honest folks. No doubt every set on planet earth carries the same warning tag, no matter the price. Be that as it may, the KB02 will be enjoyed by many. This much I can tell you. Honestly, the KB02 isn’t perfect, and it has its oddities to the tuning. Undoubtedly, there will be plenty of folks turned off for many different reasons. Bass is too much, too big, too bloated. Treble is too bright, or not bright enough etc. etc. However, the KB02 is really just a fun set! It’s a good time! It has nice macro-dynamics, the dense bass boom, the sprightly treble and nothing too offensive. It’s just a really nice iem to get your feet moving. The KB02 is a nice first iem. Great for those new to the hobby. It’s great for anyone who simply wants something a little different in their collection. Or it’s nice for anyone who simply wants something which can play multiple genres

well. While the KBear KB02 isn’t exactly “perfect”, it’s still a very nice set, with its gratifying & fun tuning. Definitely a rec from me with the caveat that anyone looking to purchase the KB02 should check out a few different reviews covering it. I don’t know what other reviewers are saying about the KB02, but I have a feeling that it’ll likely get some mixed results. So, a fine $40 iem, but make sure it’s for you.

Conclusion​

To conclude my full written review of the KBear KB02 I want to first thank the nice people of Keephifi for offering the KB02 in exchange for a feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I greatly appreciate it, thank you. I also want to thank you, the reader, for clicking the link and I truly hope this review or any review at Mobileaudiophile.com has helped you, at least a little bit.

Different Perspectives ​

Now that I’ve wrapped up this review, I hope that you would gain some other perspectives about the KB02. There’s a strong possibility that the next guy to me will not have the same opinion that I have. Please, check out other reviews covering the KBear KB02. Make sure to do so before you hit the “buy-now” button. Folks, I don’t know why this is so hard for some to understand, that we are actually all very much different. I cannot tell you how agonizing it is that hobbyists can’t understand this truth. We are different. One will love what the next one hates and vice versa. It’s a fact of life. Also, this hobby is thee most subjective hobby on planet earth! No doubt about it. Maybe wine tasting is a close second, but the audio game is highly personal. Name one more personal to the hobbyist. The point is… we’re different. So, read, listen to, or watch other perspectives covering the KB02. I want you guys to be happy with your purchase and get it right. Beyond all of that, I think I’m done. Please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!

KBEAR KB02 Review: Affordable Bone Conduction (Kind Of)​

KBEar is the new in-house brand for the popular audio retailer, Keep Hifi. For now, KBEar is focusing on value-oriented IEMs, aiming to provide the maximum amount of performance for the lowest cost to the consumer. To that end, the KB02, the subject of today’s review, crams a full-sized 10mm dynamic driver and a bone-conduction driver into a single $40 package. I have historically been skeptical of booku-buck “tribrid” and “quadbrid” IEMs featuring BC drivers, but the barrier of entry for this hybrid is low-enough to justify an assessment. Lets get into the details!

You can find the KB02 for sale here on Keep-Hifi, and here on their Amazon storefront. As of writing, the KB02 has a 30%-off coupon live on Amazon, bringing its total price to a mere $28.

About My Preferences: This review is a subjective assessment and is therefore tinged by my personal preferences. While I try to mitigate this as much as possible during my review process, I’d be lying if I said my biases are completely erased. So for you, my readers, keep this in mind:

• My ideal sound signature would be one with competent sub-bass, a textured mid-bass, a slightly warm midrange, and an extended treble.
• I have mild treble sensitivity.

Testing equipment and standards can be found here.

The Big Picture​

Pros:

• Excellent sound stage and directionality
• Clean, articulate sound signature
• Textured midrange
• Sub-bass extension
• Excellent price-to-performance ratio

Cons:

• No case included
• Bone-conduction driver resonates at higher volumes
• Spring-loaded echo sensation when handling IEM
• Lacking in bass speed
• Average sources are insufficient for proper powering

Tech Specs​

• Driver: 1x 10mm Dynamic, 1x Bone-Conduction
• Impedance: 40 ohms
• Shells: 3D-printed Resin
• Cable Standard: 0.78mm 2-pin
• Cable Termination: 3.5mm

Sound Signature​

Sonic Overview:​

The KB02 features a clean, detail-oriented sound signature that prioritizes transparency. Its midrange is slightly recessed, but neutrally-toned. Its treble is forward without being sharp, and its bass picks up steam at around 200hz and continues on well past 50Hz with a surprising amount of resilience. These properties form an overall V-shaped sonic profile aimed at broad appeal.

Sonic Breakdown:​

Treble: Songs used: In One Ear, Midnight City, Outlands, Satisfy, Little One, Show Me How To Live (Live at the Quart Festival), Bittersweet Symphony

It is remarkable how much treble performance KBEar crammed into a $40 IEM. I frequently write about how impressive budget earphones are these days, but the KB02 ups the ante. Its treble is slightly forward, but remarkably clear. Proper amping is key here, as insufficiently-powered sources will reduce the KB02’s treble clarity.

High-hats, cymbals, and other percussive instrumentation resolve cleanly and fade out organically. In One Ear’s highly-textured cymbals crash into existence with force and precision, then wilt away into the background with minimal clipping. The KB02 captures treble-bound textures very well, only dropping very subtle impulses from busy segments of songs.

Speaking of busy songs, the KB02 performed remarkably well during Bittersweet Symphony. Each of the major instrumental layers, most of which live in the upper register, resolved clearly. The KB02 staged the various instruments with a surprising degree of air and space, something I find many budget IEMs struggle with on this particular track.

Midrange: Songs used: Flagpole Sitta, Jacked Up, I Am The Highway, Dreams, Too Close, Little Black Submarines, Bohemian Rhapsody, Cash Machine, Chasm

The KB02’s midrange is clean, flexible, and all-around articulate. It features particularly intelligible vocals — a selling point you don’t always get on budget dynamic-driver-based IEMs. Male and female vocals sound great, with the KB02 showing a minor partiality to higher-pitch vocals. Deeper male vocals are neutrally-toned, but could stand for a hint of added warmth for additional weight.

I’ve used the word “clean” a number of times already, but that really is one of the best ways to describe the way that the KB02 sounds. Instrumentation is well-articulated across the entire midrange, with the KB02 doing a great job of layering multiple instruments against each-other (and the vocals). Further, the KB02 captures an above-average amount of texture in its midrange.

Bass: Songs used: Moth, Gold Dust, In For The Kill (Skream Remix), War Pigs (Celldweller Remix)

KBEar writes quite a bit about the KB02’s BC driver and its subwoofer-like nature. But based on my listening, the KB02 isn’t really a “basshead” or “bass-centric IEM”. Sure, its bass is forward, but not beyond anything you’d hear in a normal V-shaped IEM. That said, I do appreciate the tactile nature of the KB02’s bass. It feels much more “real” than its peers, likely owing to the BC driver’s unique psychoacoustic properties.

The KB02’s bass is generally articulate, with its dynamic driver doing most of the “shape” work and its bone conduction driver lending extra weight and rumble to the mix. And while I do generally enjoy the KB02’s take on bass, I wish it had a more cohesive cross-over from its midbass to sub-bass. It is impressive what KBEar achieved for $40 — but it’s clear to me that BC drivers are not end-all-be-all replacements for the multi-DD configurations often found in pricier IEMs (Cappucinno MK II, Trifecta).

Packaging / Unboxing​

The KB02’s packaging is minimalistic. The unboxing experience is better than I expected given it’s price, but overall fairly average.

Build​

Construction Quality​

KBEar really nailed the KB02’s shells. They are made from resin, but feature beautiful hand-polished faceplates that, not even 7 years ago, would only be found on far more expensive IEMs.


The top of the KB02’s shells house its 0.78mm 2-pin sockets. They are molded flush to the shell’s surface. Beside the sockets lies a driver vent — Its position isn’t problematic per-se, but it does expose the vent to buildup of hand-oils as it sits right where you grab the shell to insert or remove it from your ears. I’d avoid handling the KB02 with anything other than clean, dry hands for this reason.


The KB02’s nozzles are made from cleanly-cut metal. This is a must for longevity. The cost is well worth it, as plastic/resin nozzles are a major failure point and often cripple an IEMs ability to go the distance. KBEar gets major credit here, as a lot of ChiFi brands cheap out in this price-segment.



Moving on to the KB02’s cable, we can see that it is a sturdy, utilitarian cable. It has virtually zero body, meaning it can be coiled without introducing kinks or deformities. It is so pliable that I was able to easily fit it, plus a USB-C dongle, in my smallest carrying case — a major achievement for an IEM with such large shells.

The cable uses plastic bits for the 3.5mm shell, Y-splitter, and 2-pin shell. They each feature strain relief components, so I am confident in the cable’s longevity. It is, however somewhat thin. From an aesthetic perspective, you may want something a little chunkier. For those who do, the KB02 is widely compatible with aftermarket 2-pin cables such as the Tripowin Zonnie.

It is worth mentioning that the KB02’s use of a “Bone Conduction Driver”(BCD) is a bit of a misnomer. Yes, it utilizes a driver that makes use of the same underlying technology as proper bone conduction drivers, but the KB02 doesn’t actually use bone-conduction. It’s a lot closer to a two-driver IEM where one driver is a full-range speaker and the other is a dedicated subwoofer. In the KB02’s case, its “BCD” is the subwoofer. As those who’ve used BC IEMs may already know, these drivers have an internal resonance inherent to their physical design. This means that they impart a… unique spring-loaded/echo sensation to the IEM that you feel while handling the IEM. If you get a strong seal with them, even the act of swallowing can trigger resonance within the BC driver. I can tolerate this, but my wife absolutely hates it. You don’t usually hear it while listening to music, aside for when certain bass queues trigger its resonance point at higher volumes.

Comfort​

Disclaimer: comfort is a highly individual metric — no two people will have the same experience.

The KB02 is on the larger side, but it is more comfortable for me than many of its peers. I was able to get a strong, comfortable seal with the included eartips (though with different sizes on each ear). I can listen to the KB02 indefinitely, though I always recommend you rest your ears at least once every hour for the sake of your ear health.

Accessories​

Inside the box you’ll find:


Note: the left-most eartips are white and were colored by ambient lighting

• 3x sets of silicone eartips
• 1x 3.5mm cable

This is a sparse accessory package, but for $40 (or $28 with the sale), you can’t really ask for much more. Sure, a baggie or carrying case would be welcomed, but virtually every cheap ($5-$10) pocket-sized case on Amazon/AliExpress will easily fit the IEMs.

Comparisons​

1: 7hz Eula ($30)

The Eula is another budget ChiFi IEM that aims to bring subwoofer-like sound to its listeners. The Eula, however, uses a dual dynamic-driver setup. Both the Eula and KB02 have “enhanced” sub-bass, though these bonuses manifest in different ways. The Eula has less extension, but a more familiar sub-bass timbre. Its sub-bass attack and decay speeds feel a little faster than the KB02. The KB02, on the other hand, has deeper and vastly more tactile bass. Its bone-conduction driver generates a much more “real” physical sensation.

The Eula has sharper, more pronounced upper-midrange. This manifests itself as sounding less natural, though with slightly better micro details. The Eula is a good IEM, but considering both IEMs set out to achieve similar goals, I prefer the KB02’s approach. From sound to physical design, the small $10 price-bump makes a big difference in the KB02’s favor.

2: Tripowin Vivace ($30)

The Viviace is 25% cheaper than the KB02. It has a thicker, heavier cable with an all-around similar shell texture. The KB02’s shells, however, are larger and have a richer design. They also benefit tremendously from having metal nozzles, as compared to the Vivace’s plastic. I found that KB02 sealed better in my ears and provided a greater degree of noise insulation.

As for sound quality, the Viviace has a number of similarities to the KB02. Both IEMs have clear, intelligible midranges. Both have a forward and clean treble. The Vivace, however, has a less-recessed lower midrange and comes across as slightly warmer. Its mid-bass is less pronounced and quicker. The KB02 has a more emphasized mid-bass and sub-bass, with far greater lower-register extension.

Neither IEM come with a carrying case, though the Vivace gets more of a pass for that than the KB02 due to its reduced price. In terms of which IEM is “better”, you’ll have to defer to your personal preferences. Sure, the KB02 has (subjectively) prettier shells and metal nozzles, but if you’re looking for gently V-shaped / bright sound signatures, you’re going to enjoy listening to the Viviace a lot more. If you’re seeking out bassier, full-bodied sound, then the $10 premium for the KB02 probably won’t bother you one bit.

3: BQEYZ BQ-10 ($30)

The BQ-10 is also 25% cheaper than the KB02, and comes with a case. That said, I found myself consistently reaching for the KB02 over the BQ-10. It has a cleaner sound signature, better-extended sub-bass, and vastly superior ergonomics.

But, personal preferences and ergonomics aside, there are still scenarios where I can see someone opting for the BQ-10. It has a warmer, more boisterous lower-midrange and mid-bass, giving it broader impact in bass-heavy music. Its shallow-fit profile will likely fit better for people with typical Asian ear shapes (BQEYZ’s main audience). It is also much easier to drive, making it a more practical choice for those with limited options for sources.

Conclusion​

I adore the KB02. It is beautifully crafted, comfortable, and articulate. Its unique blend of clean instrumentation and subwoofer-like bass makes it a top-tier contender in the budget IEM space. For $40, it’s a steal. For $28, it is nearly peerless, at least for those who enjoy V-shaped IEMs. While it would be nice to have an included carrying case, I can give the KBEar a pass — the KB02 is a compelling package as it stands and requires no tweaking to give buyers great value for their hard-earned cash.

Who This is For​

• Bass lovers who want a well-tamed, articulate lower-register
• V-shaped IEM enthusiasts
• Listeners who don’t mind using a higher-powered source

Who This isn’t For​

• Bassheads who want a bass-centric sound signature
• Listeners who are sensitive to the “bone-conduction driver echo”

As always, happy listening!

So a budget IEM with bone conduction? Colour me curious! Mind you, first i listened to them, THEN i looked up the price. Why? Because i wanted to be honest about the sound impression with no preconcieved notion of their price range. By the way, the packaging forgoes any useless "pouches" and instead gives you about 18 eartips, of various types. I myself am sick and tired of money being sunk into "packaging", and i fully believe i rather have a cardboard box with just the IEM inside that focuses all the price on their actual quality, than those uselss stand-offish packaging. No i don't care if it's a sequoia you cut down to make the package, i need good sounding IEMs not a box for my stuff. If i want a wood box i go to my local carpenter and get it for 10 bucks.

Body Company - And One
Bass and well layered sounds, might not be a costly IEM but it does it job. Voice and instruments are well separated, with a good FR and extension.

Out Of Touch [Single Version] Hall & Oates
Highs are well rendered, the voice helped by the BC have a good weight, nothing feels recessed. A very pleasant experience!

Check Point Charlie - "Chesky Records 30th anniversary"
String instruments really shine, but the real MVP is that bass presence that helps giving the notes weight, and the KB02 have it in spades. Meaning you get a good FR with good technicalities and the right amount of bass.

Game Over! - Lazerpunk
Nothing like electric music to test a bit of highs extension and quality, and the KB02 delivers, never felt like it distorted or muddied them up.

Manifest Destiny - Jamiroquai
I keep confirming that the KB02 has been very solidly tuned, capable of separation and FR that shines way past its price point.



TL;DR:

When considered in a vacuum of price or competition, they already are a very solid IEM, easy to reccomend to anyone wanting to either gift them to a friend or to lure them in the audiophile world!
If you factor in the price, it becoems an immediate reccomendation. If back in my beginnings i had them, i think i would have skipped quite a lot of IEMs and would have had to shoot way higher before i could "feel" a difference. Definitely reccomended, and i am very happy of the introduction of high-tier technologies in lower price segments, it takes courage and spirit to try and make such advanced transductors in lower price ranges. It shows that there are companies that don't just price-gauge but instead care for the diffusion of high-quality components beyond something that, in this field, starts to feel like artificial "inflation" as seen in other countless companies, that think more cost=better sound.
Congratulations to KB Ear, I hope they will keep their desire for innovation and their etical pricing in their future. That to me means becoming a market-champion.


A sincere thanks to https://keephifi.com, that provided the review sample, and got me curious abuout this unit!

KeepHifi generously sent these to me for review asking nothing but an honest review.
Which is lucky because that’s the only type I give.

Everything below is based on my personal experience—using only my ears, my gear, and my preferences.




Background:

I’m relatively new to the IEM world—just six months ago, I didn’t like them at all because of the pressure they created in my ears. I still get that feeling occasionally, but I’m now thoroughly enjoying the differences between IEMs and my over-ear headphones (of which I have many).


I’ve owned and loved the Yanyin Canon 2s (before losing one), replaced them with KZ Sonatas (Tuning Version), and also had the CCA Polaris (which I passed on to a friend starting their IEM journey). Right now, I have the Xenns Mangird Tops on loan, but I won’t compare them to the KB02s—that wouldn’t be fair. However, I will compare them to the KZ Sonatas ($179 USD) to give some context.


I always take my IEMs and a pair of cheap-ish closed-back headphones when I travel. My portable listening source? Fiio M23—an amazing DAP!

Note: ​

I have had no experience with bone-conduction so I can’t compare it to anything. It mentions on the website “Best Bass In-ear Earphones Beryllium Dynamic Driver Hybrid HiFi Elastic-piece Type Bone Conduction Best IEM Headphones for singers” and “Due to bone conduction, coupled with the vibration of the shrapnel, the low-frequency effect is particularly prominent and strong. The tone is bright and smooth, and the whole is transparent without losing atmosphere”. Well, the bass is certainly excellent. And there is a shake inside the iem when flicked or banged lightly, like there’s a spring inside – is this the “vibration of the shrapnel”?​

Design, Fit & Accessories:

First impressions: they look and feel great. The cable? It’s fine for the price, but a bit short (1m). I prefer 1.5m for portable use and 2m+ for desktop sessions.

The fit is comfortable (I only tested the large grey-and-red tips). The package includes three types of ear tips—black, white, and grey with red. The packaging is simple, but that’s fine. I’d rather see every cent go into the product itself!





Sound Breakdown:

Bass:

Wow. Deep, controlled, and no roll-off. It slams when needed and stays polite when asked. If you love rich, satisfying bass, you’re in for a treat.


Mids:

Well-balanced. I get easily fatigued by mid-forward tunings, but that’s not an issue here. The KB02s don’t push vocals too far forward, making them easy to listen to for extended periods.



Treble:

Neutral—neither bright nor shrill. There’s enough detail and clarity to make me reach for them repeatedly. Are they endgame in clarity? No, but for $40, they’re fantastic.





Soundstage & Imaging:


The soundstage is very good for the price—more left-to-right than top-to-bottom or full 3D. Instruments are well-separated and placed nicely in the mix. Not intimate, but not huge either.


Timbre:


Natural. No fake or plasticky tonality. Some reviewers pick up on subtle timbre differences—I don’t hear anything "off" here.





My Motley Crew of listening pleasure:


Bobby Bass – Hoist the Colours, and O’ Death (haunted version). Bass is just amazing on both tracks. It literally rumbles but it it’s not overpowering. Vocals go deep and aren’t forward. Treble is very good also.

Sister Doll (a great Aussie glam rock/metal band) – Purgatory (instrumental) and Change. Spanish style accoustic guitar sounded crisp, clean, with depth of sound on Purgatory. Electric guitar was just on point. Wow. On Change, distortion from electric guitar was….well, electric!! Mids and treble here were lush and sweet. All balanced so well.

Jamie Berry – Lost in the Rhythm and Grandiose – punchy, energetic, dynamic, clear and bassy (as it should be). Engaging and fun. Bass really does go low.

Deadmau5 - I remember – bass bass bass. Clarity shines here. Fun, dynamic and no distortion as I go to dangerous levels (only for a couple of seconds).

Toto – Hold the Line – Clarity, excellent detail and separation, engaging. Everything has it’s place and is well balanced. Timbre is very natural to me.

Kansas – Carry on Wayward Son – this is quite a well staged (wide sound) song and it excels on the KB02s. Once again, everything is in balance with no complaints from me at all. When the piano kicks in, it’s just beautifully done. The timbre of the piano is natural and lively, then the bass guitar enters the scene. Wow. Lovely gobs of clean, well controlled bass. Great song to listen through the KB02s.

The Omnific – The Labryrinth Chronicles (instrumental). Bass is clean, deep and slappy (it’s a slappy bass-driven song). Really exciting, energetic and punchy.



Scalability – Big Surprise!

I hooked the KB02s up to my Burson Soloist 3X GT, Geshelli J2 DAC, and Eversolo DMP-A6 on low gain, 3.5mm output and...

Everything improved DRAMATICALLY!!

Soundstage expanded.

Clarity improved.

Everything became weightier and more solid. A real step up from the M23.

I could now here instruments expanding wider and placed more spaciously. Clarity improved (without showcasing more treble), and everything was, for want of a better term, weightier and more solid. These did not sound like $40 iems on my Fiio M23. On my desktop setup, they genuinely sounded like $200+ iems. The improvement was amazing!!!


Cable – way too short for desktop, but that’s a minor complaint.







Comparison:


KBEAR KB02 vs. KZ Sonatas ($179 USD)

The KZ Sonatas are better, as expected for 4x the price:

✔ More open and full-sounding across all frequencies.

✔ Better separation and staging—closer to a "hall" effect.

✖ Less prominent bass—more neutral tuning.


However, considering the KB02s cost just $40, they hold their own incredibly well.



Final Thoughts – Are They Worth It?

Absolutely.



✔Do you love great bass? Buy these.

✔ Want excellent value? Buy these.

✔ Not unfairly comparing them to much pricier IEMs? Buy these.



Would I take them when I travel? Happily.

Would I be okay with just these if I lost my Sonatas? Yes, yes, YES!





KBEAR, you’ve made one hell of a budget-friendly bone conduction IEM. Well done!

---

Build/comfort/aesthetics – 8/10

Sound quality – 8/10

Value for money – 9/10

Overall Score: A solid 8/10, especially considering their low price.



Would love to see a longer, thicker cable, but aside from that? A total steal at $40.

Review Of The KBEAR KB02​

Introduction​

While this is my first experience with a KBEAR product, I've previously explored and reviewed TRI products, which I understand to be a subsidiary of KBEAR. Learning that KBEAR is one of the pioneering and trustworthy names in the electro-acoustic industry, they've earned a reputation for providing great value in both cables and in-ear monitors (IEMs). Their cables, in particular, have been highly acclaimed for their quality and user satisfaction.

I've kept an eye on their developments, and they've been consistently launching budget-friendly IEMs. The latest, the KB02, is among them. As an upgrade from the KB01, it boasts several enhanced features, which I will detail shortly. But first, I want to address a few key points.

Disclaimer​

*Since this unit tour was organised by the kindly people at Keephifi, I am grateful to them. As I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as “KB02.”
*I am using different ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the KB02 based on its performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.
*Please understand that all opinions expressed in this review are my personal perspective and are not intended to offend anyone’s beliefs or experiences. Therefore, I kindly request a respectful and thoughtful approach to this review, even if it differs from your viewpoint.

Specification​

KB02 is a hybrid driver IEM that features two drivers on each side. The drivers include a 10mm deryllium-plated dynamic driver and a 10mm elastic-piece type bone conduction driver. I’m not sure if they use a crossover, but the implementation of this configuration is very cohesive, which I’ll explain more about later.

The shells are significantly larger than average resin-built IEM shells due to the bone conduction driver. I believe this positioning is intentional to achieve the desired sound presentation. Regardless, the comfort and fit are excellent. The body is ergonomically shaped and accommodates most ear shapes without any issues.

The shells have a beautiful glittering blue faceplate with the KBEAR logo in the center and a black body. The cable is a 6N OFC cable, which I believe is the same as the one included with Kiwi Ears IEMs. I think this is a great cable for the price because it’s thin, flexible, and behaves well. It doesn’t retain much shape and complements the shells’ shade and color. The cable has a two-pin connection on one side and a 3.5mm straight plug on the other.

The package also includes various eartips in different sizes and types.

Moving on to technical specifications, the impedance is 40 Ohms, the sensitivity is 108dB, and the frequency response range is from 20Hz to 20kHz.

Sound​

Now, to break the silence on the shouty response that I heard people anticipating after looking at the graph, the response is not shouty, sibilant, or peaky, especially when it comes to the vocals. Surprisingly, the response has one of the best vocals I have ever heard. Perhaps the credit goes to how the bone conduction driver is implemented. To be honest, the lively and vibrant quality of the bone conduction driver produces a unique sound that is not new but noticeably different, which I will explain in more detail.

It is not uncommon to see a tuck before 300Hz, an elevated midrange, and a 12k peak in the treble region, which creates that sense of air and space in the overall mix. Consequently, such a response sounds V-shaped, with a focus on clarity and liveliness across the spectrum. And with the bone conduction driver, it becomes a truly magical experience.

Treble​

As the graph suggests, the response has an unusual appearance. After 12kHz, it drastically drops but improves the tonal balance, even though it lacks realistic quality. Such a response creates a sense of air and openness in the mix, making the overall sound spacious and well-proportioned. The vocals reciprocate this airiness and linearity, while the instruments sound revealing and energetic. The upper treble has an unevenness that benefits the mix by preventing sibilance and metallic qualities from introducing harshness. Consequently, the upper treble is laidback and relaxed. On the other hand, the lower treble is full of energy and brings a vibrant sound where the vocals and instruments have a forward approach, engaging the listener without any offensive characteristics. For example, listening to “Mizukagami no Sekai” by Marina Horiuchi sounds well-controlled in terms of its spice and bite in the upper frequencies, which becomes noticeable with many IEMs. However, listening through the KB02, the response sounded blissful, especially for her vocals and the percussion that sounded a bit closed in. Therefore, the overall presentation of the treble region is uneven, energetic, and safe-sounding.

Mid Range​

Now, let’s talk about the midrange. Vocal enthusiasts will absolutely adore these IEMs. The treble region adds a spacious and airy quality to the mix, positioning the vocals in the center and the instruments around them, complementing them perfectly. The notes have more weight and better tonality, resulting in a rich and fuller sound that’s forward and engaging. The upper midrange is elevated, sharing the synergy of the lower treble and creating an open and light presentation without compromising the integrity of the notes.

On the other hand, the lower midrange is where I have a different perspective. Even though the response is subdued, the notes have structural perfection when it comes to reproducing vocals and certain instruments that surface effortlessly. The girth and low tone of the male vocals are noticeable, while the female vocals have a softness and vibrance in the notes. The guitars and toms have strong base notes that produce a fuller response without any heaviness or dullness.

I believe this is possible because of the bone conduction driver and how it’s implemented. Listening to tracks like “With Or Without You” by U2 and “Africa” by Toto, the instruments come alive with physicality, creating an enigmatic and vibrant sound, especially when compared to IEMs like MEXT and Grit. The male vocals sound breathy and more revealing, while the female vocals sound vivacious and fresh. The drums also have a notable impact and dynamics.

Overall, the midrange region of these IEMs presents a lively, airy, and forward-sounding sound.

Bass​

The bass region is particularly intriguing to me due to the seamless integration of the bone conduction driver. The response delivers good bass texture and details that evoke a similar sensation to listening to bass. While it may not be entirely realistic, the impact and physicality of the driver have remarkable control over the overall presentation. Although the emphasis is on the sub bass region, the presence of the mid bass is not underpowered. In fact, it adds vibrancy and embodies the natural tonality without elevating the boominess or bloat. The sub bass sounds deep and produces subtle rumbles with well-controlled punches. The mid bass, on the other hand, has good heft in its impact, creating weighty notes while maintaining control and preventing it from leaking into the mids.

Such a response does bring some bass notes to the forefront and become prominent in the mix. However, the bass dynamic and texture are fantastic for the price. For instance, listening to “What A Feeling” by Irene Clara sounds absolutely fantastic without overpowering her vocals, which sound high and mighty. The bass brings forward some notes that aren’t very prominent in the mix. The bass sounds authoritative when necessary and produces deep notes that become noticeable in the mix without hindering the overall response.

For example, listening to many EDM tracks with heavy bass, such as “Signal” by ISOxo, “Condition” by JEANIE, or “Rumble” by Skrillex, all emphasize the sub bass and are very well-surfaced, which tends to sound powerful but doesn’t affect the upper frequencies.

In conclusion, the overall presentation of the bass region is physical, impactful, and controlled.

Technical Performance​

Now, let’s talk about the technical agility of this IEM. It certainly holds its own against its peers in the same segment, especially when it comes to stage, imaging, and separation. However, the details and resolution are average for the price, neither impressive nor weak. But overall, the presentation works exceptionally well for such a response. Let me provide more detailed explanation.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

The stage is incredibly holographic and bears a resemblance to the TRI Starriver, another 40USD IEM. The image is clear and sharp, but it could have been enhanced if the stage were spread out more. However, the separation between notes is truly remarkable, and the distinction between them aids in pinpointing the source of the sound.

Speed & Resolution​

Now, let’s discuss the resolution. The macro details are excellent, but the micro details lag behind. The rapid attack and decay of the notes can sometimes sound unclear, particularly in tracks that prioritize the bass. Nevertheless, it doesn’t result in any bloatiness or a vague response.

Sound Impressions ​

Sources​

Sony WM1A - While listening to the WM1A, the response sounded less holographic but more widespread, with vocals still being the centerpiece of the presentation. Although the presentation as a whole sounds a bit less forward and more spacious, with vocals and instruments in the lower treble and upper midrange taking a backseat. The bass retains its authoritative characteristic but sounds more centered and less physical, yet more dynamic. The treble sounds better extended and smoother.



FiiO M15S - While listening to the M15S, the response sounded stagnant and prominent across the entire spectrum. However, the midrange and bass sounds were more prominent and engaging. The vocals sounded vibrant, while the instruments had a clear response. The low notes produced an authoritative approach and sounded much more impactful and textured.

Tracks​

Millet - Anytime Anywhere
Anri - I can’t stop the loneliness
Kohana Lam - A Few Sentimental
Kohana Lam - Loving Me, Loving You
Uru - Kimino Shiawasewo
Uru - Kamihitoe
Kujira Yumemi - Kenka
Majiko - Kokoronashi
Anly - Sukinishinayo
Kohama Lam - A Few Sentimental
Kohana Lam - Loving Me, Loving You
Miliyah - Kono Yumega Samerumade
Rokudenashi - The Flame Of Love
Yu-Peng Chen - A New Day with Hope
Yu-Peng Chen - Another Hopeful Tomorrow
Yu-Peng Chen - For Riddles, for Wonders
Valentino Khan - Satellite
Kai Wachi - Happier By Now
Jawns - Erotica
ISOxo - how2fly
Kai Wachi - Happier By Now
Weeknd - Popular
YUNGBLUD - When We Die(Can We Still Get High)
Bring to Horizon - Kool-Aid
Middle Kids - Bend
FLETCHER - Leads Me On
Loathe - Aggressive Evolution
The Weeknd - Save Your Tears
Sigrid - Burning Bridges
AURORA - Black Water Lilies
AURORA - Runaway
X Ambassadors - Renegades
Lupe Fiasco - Words I Never Said
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Can’t Hold Us
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
Jay-Z - Run This Town
Lady Gaga - Poker Face
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Ladytron - Ghost
Travis - Love Will Come Through
LINKIN PARK - Somewhere I Belong
DJ Shadow - Six Days (Remix)
Hoobastank - The Reason
Ricky Martin - I Don’t Care
Tool - 7empest
Tool - Vicarious
A Flock Of Seagulls - Space Age Love Song
Zack Hemsey - Vengeance
Elton John - I’m Still Standing
The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin
Micheal Sembello - Maniac
Guns N’ Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine
A.R. Rahman - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

To conclude this review, I want to commend KBEAR’s efforts in integrating bone conduction technology into an affordable in-ear monitor. The overall package appears appealing and engaging, offering listeners a taste of bone conduction drivers at an affordable price.

The implementation is seamless, and both drivers blend together harmoniously. The treble is airy and energetic, while the midrange is lively and vibrant. The bass delivers a physical and immersive experience, reminiscent of the Unique Melody MEXT.

Whether you’re listening to EDM, pop, orchestral, metal, or rock music, the KBEAR KB02 consistently delivers exceptional sound quality. It’s an easy recommendation, especially considering the value for money and the impressive sound performance it offers.