KBear KB02

KBear KB02 : THE BUDGET BONE CONDUCTOR MADNESS!!

KBear KB02 is KBear’s latest offering from their budget segment, coming at just under 40$ And offers a quite unique driver configuration which is a single Dynamic driver and a Bone conductor, Yes! A bone conductor at just 39.99$ ! And this bone conductor is no joke , delivering quite the punch , this has genuinely surprised me with its performance , more on that later on.

NOTE

Keephifi has sent this iem to me for review purposes only. I’m not being paid or influenced in any way to say anything good or bad about this product.

If you want to purchase this product you can order directly from keephifi themselves.

Click to expand...

TESTED WITH

• Cayin N3 Ultra
• Cayin RU7
• ddHiFi TC44Pro E2
• Onix Alpha XI1
• iFi Hip Dac 2
• Fiio Btr7

SPECIFICATION

• Driver Config: 10mm beryllium-plated DD + 10mm elastic-piece type BC
• Product Specification
• Sensitivity: 108dB
• Impedance: 40 Ω
• Frequency Range: 20Hz-20KHz
• Cable Standard: 0.78mm 2-pin
• Cable Termination: 3.5mm

WHAT'S IN THE BOX:

• Iem driver’s itself
• 6N OFC Cable
• 3 Sets of Ear tips ( 3 pairs each )
• Some paperwork

BUILD & DESIGN

The build of the Kb02 is pretty good considering the price and we don't see much resin builds under 40$ . Furthermore, KBear says these have been hand polished which is something very new. Coming on the design aspect of this iem, I’d say KBear totally nailed it with the abstract faceplate, specially with the blue & purple colored variants it is nothing less than a total looker!

FIT & COMFORT

Have to give props to KBear for using a generic shell shape , fit on these are absolutely no issue , even if you have small ears. You'll easily be able to fit them in without much tinkering. Comfort wise its average at best , it's totally not like that eventually with time you'll forget that it's there , but more of a subtle reminder will always be there.

SOUND

Coming on to its main aspect , the sound. If we take a look at the graph we can see that it has a slight v or a u shaped sound signature. To be honest the graph’s isn't something to write home about but after putting them on i was in literal shock due to how the Bone conductor handled the lows, really mind boggling!

BASS

This is where the KB02 really shines and flexes with all its glory. The BC handles the sub-bass section very well , the rumbles are prominent and very deep. Not only that it still managed to control itself with the amount of rumble it pushes. Though there are very rare instances where the rumble might feel overboard and a bit loose.

Mid-bass is also quite good here , a decent slam and punch with a pretty good body to it. Also the speed is something that really impressed me. I personally think a bit more of the mid-bass would've been perfect, still it's really hard to complain because of what you're already getting for the price.

MIDRANGE

Male vocals have decent warmth and lushness to them , they sound smooth and pretty good for most of the part , until it gets to the really deep voices then the BC tends to make them sound a bit unrealistic. That's pretty much the only flaw I could find about it , other than that they have a pretty good note weight to them as well. Moreover, they have a neutral presentation in the mix.

Boy! These have some of the smoothest female vocals I’ve found in this price range , not only that they have a decent amount of energy to them as well. Though they might sometimes seem like they have taken a step back in the mix which might be just perfect for many and might not be for other’s.

Instruments sound okay for the price , nothing too extraordinary. They are well separated and if i have to describe how they sound, it's as if a layer of smoothness has been applied to them. Other than that it's clear with no hints of any metallic tone and what not, KBear managed to hit it right in terms of note weight!

TREBLE

Treble is free of any shorts of sharpness or peaks which is a big deal in such price points. Moreover, it has decent sparkle, air and extension too, making it quite enjoyable to listen to without being fatigued to sharp and extensive treble. I think this is perfect for people who are coming from a really dark sounding iem and want a safe sounding treble section.

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

The soundstage on these are average , nothing special to be honest. It feels like it just slight out of head but that's mostly it. If you're coming from an iem which has exceptionally wide soundstage you will feel a bit congested here but other than that its fine.

Coming on to its imaging section, it's pretty good and accurate for the price. Pinpointing instruments was not issue but then again i wouldn't recommend these for something like gaming , for casual music listening its performance is plenty.

CONCLUSON

I feel like the the KB02 is a great contender at the price of 40$ , specially if someone wants to get the taste of that bone conductor. Other than that it's smooth overall presentation is something to admit , a great pick for people who prefers a fun sound but still having that safe signature to it.

Intro and disclaimer

KeepHiFi reached out to me to see if I wanted to do a review of the KB02. I didn’t know much about either, but I was intrigued by the configuration of the IEM. The KB02 is a 10mm beryllium-plated dynamic drive with a 10mm bond conductor.

The KB02 was provided to me at no cost in exchange for an honest review. At no time did KeepHiFi or KBEAR influence my opinion. My impressions are my own.

The KB02 can be purchased from KeepHifi here (unaffiliated link).

Gear Used

KBEAR KB02 (Stock clear/red silicone tips)

Chord Mojo 2 (no eq)

Sennheiser IE200 (Stock silicone tips)

Kiwi Ears Cadenza

BLON BL03






Packaging/Unboxing

The packaging is basic but nice quality especially for the price. The tips and cable are in a little cardboard box below a foam cutout for the IEMs. Nice presentation.


Accessories

The KB02 comes with a very nice selection of tips especially at this price point.



Build

The build is outstanding for this price. The shell has a premium feel. The faceplate has nice color and depth to it. The 2pin socket is secure. The nozzle looks like machined metal. The build could easily compete with IEMs costing 10x more. I like the cable. Little memory, metal connectors. Very good for an IEM at this price point.

Comfort

After a bit of tip rolling, I was able to get a comfortable fit. There are no pressure points or sharp edges.


Overall sound signature

I tried all my usual tips with the KB02. JVC Spiral Dot, Symbio W, and Azla Xelastec. I found they were making them sound thin or made the lower treble a bit harsh. I tried the stock clear/red tips and found them to be perfect.

I was blown away at how good the KB02 sounds. It’s even more impressive when you consider the price.

Overall, the sound is clear and detailed with a sub bass tilt over mid bass. Assuming you have the right tips, the treble is very balanced and rarely harsh. There were times were a bit of sibilance came across but it was not significant.

These IEMs are good with most genres but really shined with classic rock especially well recorded live versions.

Sound Anayis

I’ll briefly go into my thoughts about bass, mids, and treble. I find it a bit easier to describe a headphone’s characteristics when I compare them to other headphones.

Bass
Again, there isn’t a lot of mid bass but the sub bass is powerful and reaches low. With the right track, these really rumble. It’s well controlled.

Mids
The KB02 is even across the mids. I didn’t notice vocals or instruments to be forward or recessed. Vocals sounded natural.

Treble
The treble has just enough bit to give that nice sense of detail. Guitar plucks have a nice bite to them.


Stage/Imaging
Nice width and depth to the staging. It’s not overly wide where it sounds disconnect and it’s not too in your head. The sound is very immersive, and imaging is also good.




Comparisons

For this comparison, I used the Mojo 2 with no EQ. The dual 3.5mm outputs make it easy to A/B.

Afterglow – Emancipator (Sub bass)
KB02: The bass reaches deep and has a physical rumble to it because of the BC driver. Treble is just right. Zero harshness with this track. Staging is nice.

IE200: There’s still a nice rumble in the sub bass but nothing like the KB02. Staging has similar width but much taller and deeper with the KB02

Cadenza: There is a lot less bass on the Kiwi Ears. It goes low but has significantly less physicality versus the KB02 or IE200. They sound thin in comparison. I moved the foam tips and that helped a bit but not much. They don’t sound bad by any stretch, but bass heads should look elsewhere.

Blon BL03: Lots of low end but leans a bit more to mid bass. It doesn’t reach as deep as the KB02 or IE200.


Lindsey Stirling - Elements (Orchestral Version) (staging)
KB02: Stage is wide to the left and right. It’s a bit too wide and losing a bit of cohesion at least with this track. It’s like listening to a speaker on your left side and another 180 degrees on the right side. You lose the sense there is one violine.

IE200: Staging is a bit narrower but more in front of you versus to the side. I like the staging on the IE200 a bit better for this track. It’s like the speakers are in front of you. Hard to explain.

Cadenza: Slightly better than the KB02 but not as good as the IE200.

Blon BL03: Still a bit wide for this track but better than the KB02 and Cadenza but not as good as the IE200.


Grateful Dead - Touch of Gray
KB02: Nice impact on the kick drum. The Kbear is so good with classic rock. I like this pairing.

IE200: Does not have the same impact as the KB02 and sounds a bit veiled when compared to the KB02

Cadenza: Less bass and the sound is a bit flatter when compared to the KB02.

Blon BL03: Nice impact on the bass but sound muffled when compared to the KB02.


Angus and Julia Stone - Yellow Brick Road
KB02: I thought the bass would be too bloated on this track but it wasn’t. Vocals a clear and natural, nice detail. This IEM pairs very well with this track.

IE200: Sound is a thinner and less layer but has more speed. It’s almost like going to a planar from a DD. Not bad, just different. The stage is bit deeper with the KB02.

Cadenza: Even with foam tips, there is less warmth to the sound. Other aspects of the sound are similar to the KB02. However, I’m noticing some sounds more on the KB02. There is an instrument on the left that I could barely notice with the Cadenza but it is with the KB. Imagining is better on the KB02.

Blon BL03: The Blon is good with this track. The KB02 edges it about on clarity and layering but not by a lot.

Alison Krause - It Doesn’t Matter (sibilance)
KB02: Nice staging. Track has a nice live feel to it with great low-end rumble. Slight sibilance in the vocals. Another strong pairing

IE200: Staging isn’t as good. It’s deeper on the KBear. Bass has less presence but a bit more control. No sibilance.

Cadenza: Again, the first thing that I notice is less energy in the low-end. Staging is still good and no sibilance in the vocals.

Blon BL03: Not as much bass but nice control and staging. Great pairing with this track but does get being sibilant but it’s less than the KB02.


Conclusion

The KB02 is a great IEM especially when you consider its sound, accessories and price tag. This IEM will see regular use in my rotation. I listen to it at the office all the time. If you’re looking for a budget IEM with a well-rounded signature, this Kbear is certainly worth it. Highly recommended.

KBEAR KB02



For the watchers...

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Introduction & Disclaimer

At around 48 Euros, the KB02 is reaching the upper limit of what I would consider a budget IEM and brings some interesting features not commonly found at this price point.
This review sample was provided free of charge by KeepHIFI in exchange for my opinions.

Non-affiliate link for more product details - https://keephifi.com/products/kbear-kb02?_pos=1&_psq=kb02&_ss=e&_v=1.0

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Build, Design & Ergonomics

There is very little to complain about the KB02’s design especially with regard to the 3D printed resin shells that are finished with individually designed and hand-polished face plates which are exceptionally well finished.
How they manage to add the extra human labour hours at this price is a mystery to me.

Inside the resin shells lies the party piece.
Two drivers, including a beryllium coated 10mm dynamic driver and a 10mm ‘bone conduction driver with elastic piece’

Lightly tapping on the housings causes the bone conduction driver to vibrate, although they do not vibrate for as long when the shells are damped by your ear lobes. Thankfully nothing short of actually tapping them with your finger nail will cause this vibration to occur and it’s not a particularly shrill or annoying sound if it does happen, so I don’t see this as a big negative point, just something I thought was interesting.

Ergonomically, I had the feeling that they almost do not fit my ears, with a slight tendency to want to escape my ear canals with their larger than average metal nozzles with a diameter of 6.5mm, but switching from the usual large tips to medium managed to mostly fix this problem which was a little unexpected.

The cable is almost a highlight comprised of a tight 4-core twisted coil, it also resists tangling very well even after the y-split.
It is almost identical to the cable provided with the Kiwi Ears Airoso.



In the hand, I get the impression of an IEM costing up to twice as much, but with accessories being limited to 3 different generic sets of silicone tips, no carry case and very simple paper and card packaging, I can possibly understand how they’re keeping costs down and presumably passing on those savings to the consumer.

I’ll let you be the judge of that.

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The Sound

In the first 10 minutes of testing the KB02, I wasn’t blown away.

I was of course hyper focusing on the tuning which has a touch of pinna-gain around 4.5KHz, which gives vocals in particular an extra push out in front of the mix. This is something I am quite sensitive and averse to, so I knew I would have to be a bit more patient with this IEM.


(Comparison with Kiwi Ears KE4 (Grey) as it is a known 'meta' tuned IEM)

Without making any adjustments for tone correction, the tuning reminds me quite a lot of the Simgot SuperMix4 (Grey).
A very brief comparison confirmed my suspicion although the KB02 has a slightly darker treble presentation and a touch less sub-bass.



After making the usual small EQ adjustments on my smartphone; reducing the 4KHz region and boosting sub-bass by about 2-3dB, I got a tonal response I was happy and familiar with.
This allowed me to focus less on the tone and more on the other aspects of sound.

Starting with the negative, the bone conduction driver does some ‘interesting’ things in the sub-bass region.

Very deep notes and rumbles sound very artificially textured, which I suspect is the bone conduction driver excessively vibrating which could be it’s resonant frequency, it could be adding harmonics, or is simply crapping out and reaching it’s physical limit. I’m not sure exactly which one it is, but thankfully I have only found it on two very bass heavy tracks so far, so it’s not a common occurrence.

It is very clearly audible on opening bass notes in Thunder by The Prodigy, and in Why so Serious? By Hans Zimmer in the bassy part, you might have to turn the volume up quite a bit to hear it, but the bass texture is all wrong after cranking it up a bit.



On the whole while it has it’s limitations, that isn’t to say that it isn’t without it’s merits.

Not just the bass, but even much of the midrange has an added veiled layer of tactility and weight to every note that sounds just a touch more lifelike and scaled-up than any other budget IEM I’ve heard. It’s not an obvious effect, it is in fact very often extremely subtle, but every now and then with the right recording, small percussive sounds feel bigger and more real.

Going further into the less tangible aspects of the sound, imaging is excellent with no obvious diffusion that clearly translates well to a 3D gaming experience.
The soundstage is also incrementally above average for the price, and is complemented well by the good imaging.

And finally, after just a little EQ’ing, they do almost nothing obviously wrong, with just about as much detail and separation as any regular mortal could ever need.

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Comparisons

BLON BL-03II
Without any tone correction, the BL-03II sounds more correct to my ears, but doesn’t quite have the same scale and agility of the KB02.
Both possess similar detail and timbre, but the KB02 is so much easier to wear because the BLON is let down by it’s unusual form and strong cable coils.

CCZ Harmony BC01 PRO
The BC01 sounds bombastic by comparison with an overblown but very fun sub and mid-bass response, and a darker treble response.
The KB02 sounds more accurate, natural, spacious and detailed.
Both possess very good imaging, so I’m happy to hear the KB02 isn’t slouching here.

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Conclusions

I think most people would not be disappointed with this purchase.
The build quality and design is superb, the cable is excellent at this price point and the audio quality, aside from the very deepest sub-bass is well above average.

Personally I wouldn’t hesitate to take this over the Truthear x Crinacle ZERO:RED due to it’s poor imaging, or over the Moondrop Chu II because of it’s hot treble and weird shape, but I think there are some who might be persuaded to go for the safer sound of something like the BLON BL-03 II.

The KB02 is priced extremely fairly and anyone who is used to making small EQ adjustments will most likely find these more than acceptable, especially regarding the unique resin faceplates and inclusion of bone conduction at this price.

I will definitely give these a soft recommendation, especially for anyone who wants to try out new driver technology for less, or if you really just want these for their looks as they do very little wrong at the price.

And for the sceptics, this is at the very least a good indication for things to come as bone conduction driver technology and implementation will also improve in the future.

KB ear KB02 Documented experience

I got KB Ear KB02 directly from the manufacturer in exchange for a review. I am free to write what I want however these are only one man's opinion.

Allow me not to do photos: my photo skill are average at best.

I am 56.6 years old dude with no musical study or talent but no detected hearing loss either. My hearing "ends" at about 12.5 kHz.

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Box is not big but right: IEMs are safe in hard sponge; cable and 3 different kind of tips are in plastic bags in a box. Outer box has a sleeve with detailed info printed on the backside. Not a KZ cheap one, mmmkay ?

Shells are mid size with a bit of CIEM-like shape on the inside; faceplates are blue-purple pearl-like with silver KB EAR logo. Except the metal nozzle ( mid length, 5.2mm wide with 6.3mm wide lips ) whole shell is plastic (resin or acryl: I do not know). Sockets are flat 0.78mm kind; there is a small hole next to them. Shells resonate if got a hit or knock.

IEM has 1 DD + 1 BC driver.

Cable is a disgrace to the metal and plastic it is made of; yeah it is working, but I have lot thicker shoelaces; flat 0.78mm / 3.5mm connectors. I tried and switched to the original cable of the TSMR X; all tests are made with it.

I did not try the tips but they look identical in 3 different colors. Tips feel thin but usable.

Sensitivity: 108 db/mW
Impedance: 40Ω

Moderately hard to drive; needs more juice than the Celest Wyvern.

I did not feel driver flex but I rarely feel it.

FR says subbass is stronger than midbass, but feeling is opposite; I miss the rumble. I am a lover volume listener; after I gave juice subbass just came out of the cave but rumble is still not strong.

Mids are recessed and does not feel clear; maybe "muddy" is a bit strong word here.

Treble is quite right: it is present, not shouty, but not silky or airy either. Sure it is not comparable to 200+ USD sets but no complain in this area.

Soundstage is good but not overly big.

Details are bearable but not a strong point of the IEM.

For 40 USD, this set is optimal to try Bone Conduction.

My rating ? For 40 USD: this is a solid 4 star. Not checking the price but comparing to the whole range ? 3 stars.
3.5 stars in average.

When unpacking, there was a very positive surprise, the design. They look very nice and they look much more expensive than they are. Not sure how they manage to make them for that price, but its very nice.

The first disappointment, 2-pin... but common, what do you expect for that price? Taking that into consideration, it would be naive to expect MMCX or T2.

Other than being 2-pin the cable is actually very nice and comfortable. I am very satisfied with the cable. I know a lot way more expensive earphone that have way worse cables. Its not springy, it doesn't tangle. Other makers should take a note.

They come with a wide selection of earpieces, non of them really fit my ears well or are really comfortable, which is no issue because i do all reviews with the exact same earpieces, so they are comparable.

In this specific case, i used the COMPLY TRZ-500 for the whole review (which is kindy funny as a set of these cost almost as much as the earphone, but it would be unfair to use different ones just because they are cheaper)

The comfort is good, i could wear them for the whole review without any comfort issues whatsoever. Very nice.

The isolation is rather average but... they are not advertised for being noise isolating, so that doesn't matter. Its not bad though its just not isolating.

The only strange thing about the earphone is that they sound like they have a spring inside. When i talk or bite or walk or something like that, i can hear an rather loud "spring" like resonance that is very annoying. I have to remove them while talking or walking, so they are not suitable for meetings or very outgoing people and stuff like that.

Not sure what exactly is inside them, but whatever is there, when i am clacking my teeth, the resonance is louder than the music on medium volume. It sounds exactly like this typical "springy" sound of a small spring like in ball pens. Maybe its the bone conducting technology? Not sure, but i hear it. I noticed that right away when i unpacked them. Even gentle tapping against the housing will cause them to "ring".

I have to admit, that i am rather sensitive for any disturbing sounds, i usually use isolating IEM for a reason so maybe you will not notice it. I did.

Other than that, there is absolutely nothing wrong with 40$, its much better than i expected.

The sound is also better than expected. No distortion issues or horrible tuning or whatever. They are pretty safe.

For that low price, if you like the design, just get them. There is nothing wrong with these and for that price, they are much better than i expected. Its a 5* product putting the price into consideration unless you want to use them outside the house. The slightly low isolation and especially the springy sound while walking would be 4*. I will give them 4.5*, depending on how you want to use them its 4~5.

You like the design and have 40$ to spend? Just get them, its a no brainer.

I will now go into more detail, and if you do that, of course you find issues. I will report them here but keep in mind, this is a 40$ set and also keep in mind that some things i will mention here, are even present in >1000$ sets.

For those who care and want to know how a 40$ set will compare against Flat/Accurate Studio Reference Monitors, here is the result:

The Bass is... weird. The Sub-Bass is strong but after that, there is a gap. For example if you listen to a bass guitar, the bass will not be linear. Very deep bass sounds will be much louder than the rest of the bass guitar. Until the Bass Guitar gets into the higher region where there will be a jump again.

Sometimes the bass guitar simply gets too low in volume and almost disappears in the mix. But that sound is intentional, this Earphone tries to sound fun and does. Its a fun bass, but not accurate and also rather ""cold"".

If you have middy instruments, it will sound cold. If you have a very warm instrument like a bass guitar or an double bass, they will also sound cold. Things will not sound how they are supposed to sound. So especially for music where this is important like everything that uses a lot of acosutic instruments, things will start to sound off/wrong.

The upper mids and lower treble are _very_ pushed. If you have any percussion instruments in your music, they will be in your face, always. No matter if they are supposed to be there or not, they will be.

Clapping of an audience in an live recording, they will clap right beside your ear. With a lot of music, that will throw of the balance. Things in the upper-mids/lower treble region will overshadow everything else. If you turn up the volume to hear "the whole thing" they will get uncomfortable loud.

Even with music that does not use a lot of acoustic instruments, this overall tuning does have issues.

Example: Party Maker from Perfume. An rather warm, bassy song that will sound rather "cold" with these and the sound effects used in that song will be way to loud. If you turn the volume up to an level where it starts to actually get fun, several sounds will start to get uncomfortable or even hurt.

The Bass on that song will be surprisingly low as the bass is in the upper bass region where this earphone has a gap. Party Maker is supposed to sound like the title of the song. Its a fat, fun, party like sounding song. With this earphone, even though it has a very fun tuning, this "fat, big, party" sound is gone. Its an rather sterile sound. If you want them too sound fun, you have to listen to something that has a lot of sub-bass and then, it will actually do. So your choice of music is important.

An Drum Kit will not sound balanced but rather bum tsss bum tsss if you understand what i mean. The Bass Drum and the high hat/cymbals will be louder than everything else. You have a dry snare drum? That will almost disappear. You have a springy snare? It will slam right into your eardrum. The Tom Drums will almost disappear too. If the drummer goes Kick --> (large) Tom --> (Medium) Tom --> (High) Tom --> High Hat it will sound something like

BUM Bum bum buM TSSS

The Mid-Section of an Piano will sound fine, but as soon it gets into the higher octets, the piano will suddenly jump up in volume and start to clirr/sound shrill.

Its an rather Harmany tuning. If you like that type of "fun" tuning, this earphone will be perfect for you and you will find nothing wrong with it.

But again, and please keep that in mind, this is an 40$ set. Even with all these ""defects"", they are absolutely worth their price. Buy them with the right expectations and you will be very happy with them. If you want more, you have to pay more, there is no way around it. And they are good enough, that you have to do quite a jump to get a better sound.

KBEAR KB02

Let's get started. Firstly, I'd like to thank @KEEPHIFI for sending me this set for review. I am so very appreciative for the opportunity, and it was an IEM I had on my radar due to the affordable taste of bone conduction driver (BCD) tech. This would be the third review for Keep, and I will admit, this one is my favorite of the rest. The KB02 is a fabulous surprise. Ok, I really don't wanna give too much away right off the top, but I can't help myself here. Kbear is known for producing quite a few budget sets, and some very highly rated mid-fi IEMs (the legendary Kbear Believe), but this IEM simply provides that "what the heck?!" kind of reaction that's kinda rare in the budget sector, and especially sub $50.00. So buckle your seatbelts and prepare for a 100% unbiased impression with heartfelt observations and thoughts. Now on to the fun stuff.

This unboxing was very minimalistic, which is expected from something selling for under $40.00. Box is small and mostly unassuming. The cover sleeve announces the KB02's elastic BCD + dynamic driver tech. The front loaded (positioned next to the nozzle) dynamic is a Beryllium diaphragm, which is one of my favorite bass driver, and the KB02 does not disappoint on the low end. A picture of the beautiful IEM shells also appear. The inner box is high quality, very hard, and sports the Kbear branding embossed in reflective silver. There you find your IEMs in foam holder, warranty papers, and inside the container box, you find three sets of silicone tips, and a very thin, cheap black cable, that seems to be similar or the same thin IEM found in the Lowmaster, YuXuan Ji, and Airoso. It's throwaway. I used two different aftermarket cables on mine (Tripowin Moonshadow and Tripowin Zonie Purple) and AZLA Crystal tips. Shells are extremely comfortable, as they are considerably smaller than my other BCD driver IEMs, as these are 1+1, and so even though they do exhibit that springy echo emitting from the shell like other BCD, so this might bother some listeners, it does not bother me in the least. Just tells me the BCD inside is no gimmick, which was my worry, due to the price of this IEM, but the springy echo just confirms that the tech is there for a reason, and it works. The polished resin shell feels great in hand, in ear, and looks great too. I got the violet one, which was nice, since I have several purple cables due to owning the Tangzu Wu Zetian and Legend, and Tri i3 MK III. Nozzles aren't very intrusive, and overall, fitment is high level and comfort is as well.



THE SPECS :

KBEAR KB02

TECHNICAL INFORMATION :





Frequency Response graph provided courtesy of KBear & KeepHiFi

PRICE : $40.00

Available for purchase at this location.

The Gear :

What did I use for my listening sessions for my review??

I used far fewer sources with this review, as I think the source choices were strong enough to assist in highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the KB02 without having to dig too deep into the arsenal. So we're looking at the Cayin N3 Ultra (Modern Tube mode, Slow roll off filter, M gain, untethered), FiiO JM21 (M gain, slow roll off filter, 3.5mm jack), Sony NW-A25 (untethered), and Hiby R3 II + iBasso DC Elite + iBasso Nunchaku (Tube mode/Solid State mode, slow roll off filter, H gain).



Music used for the review and all my reviews in general?

Ezra Collective - Dance, No One's Watching
Robert Glasper - Canvas
Alfa Mist - Antiphon
Mareike Wiening - Reveal
Avishai Cohen - Brightlight
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Survival
Rob Van Bavel & Joris Teppe - Dutch Connection
Kaisa's Machine - Taking Shape
Esperanza Spalding - Self Titled
Junior Kelly, Bounty Killer, and Capleton - The Good, The Bad, and the Blazin'
Abysmal Dawn - Phylogenesis
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Drive By Jehu - Self Titled
Juan Ibarra - La Casa
Crownshift - Crownshift
In Aphelion - Reaperdawn
Cradle of Filth - Nymphetamine
Shuffled Classic Rock, Reggae, and 80's Pop Music playlist

SOUND IMPRESSIONS :

Dynamics : 4
Resolution : 3
Details : 3.5
Instrument separation : 4
Imaging : 3.5
Low End Impact : 4
Sibilance : 1 (No discernible sibilance)
Soundstage : 4

Overall score : 4/5

BASS/MIDRANGE/TREBLE :

The KBear KB02 as mentioned above came as a total surprise in it's entertainment value and price to performance. I did not have high hopes, as I've tried and owned previous Kbear IEMs, and usually their budget fare was a bit underwhelming, but boy was I wrong about the KB02. Almost right out the box, I was taken aback by the fullness and grandness of it's spatial cues. The BCD in this $40.00 IEM was doing it's magic with greater impact than the Penon Fan 3, and very close (but not quite) to the Pula Anvil 114. Now let's get this straight, both the $300 Fan 3 and the $200 Pula Anvil 114 are both technically superior to the KB02, with more incisiveness, richness, and detail retrieval, but the Kbear is about 80% there, but at a couple hundred dollars plus less than either of those BCD wonders. The Beryllium bass responds as you would expect a high quality Bery driver to respond, which is it has snappiness, note resolution, speed, and punch. Now like all Bery bass that I've encountered, the trade off is it doesn't have the most sub bass shake and quake. Sub bass isn't rolled off, but it's not the most pronounced, and certainly plays second fiddle enough, that this is not a basshead IEM. What this does have is a punchy, snappy, resolving bass that punches much higher than the price target, that provides a very fun listen with most genres, including reggae, pop, hip hop, and acid jazz. While I found the bass quality to lag behind just a bit with metal, especially black metal or blackened death, where some bass smear was perceivable on fast tracks, it still remained snappy and resolute enough that it wasn't really distracting. For most metal and hard rock, the bass was present and competent enough. For reggae and pop, it could downright get you to groove.

Midrange was another surprise. It's got warmth, but also the BCD creates a sense of space and grand spatial cues, so that instruments have a nice distance, with good amounts of transparency (though not really top end), warm solid note weight, natural timbre, and beautifully rendered resonances and reverb. Now admittedly, the resolution in the midrange is only good, but not great. It's not at mid-fi tier level, and though the tonality is quite natural and engaging, note depth and incisiveness is a bit more in it's price bracket than say the bass region, but that might be because the dynamic driver is playing full range here, with the BCD providing an assist, so don't expect miracles from a budget single dynamic across the entire frequency range. Still, I found it more than adequate, due to that strong note weight and naturalness, so male vocals were rendered with proper weight, meatiness, and emotiveness, while female vocals were evocative, delicate, and ephemeral in decay. Listening to Esmerelda Spalding or Yasmin Lacey's vocal deliveries was creamy and dreamy, with a blanket of warmth, and no sibilance found anywhere.

The treble isn't the strongest trait, though it's good enough to not let the rest down. There's a lack of airiness and shimmer, but there's enough natural note weight and crispness that the treble is well behaved, never strident or spicy, and can deliver some crispness without getting crispy, but as mentioned with the midrange, the resolution is only average, so the incisiveness takes a back seat. Again,, this is probably due to the dynamic driver handling lows, mids, and highs, and being stretched thin for the quality of driver, but trust me, the Beryllium driver does a commendable job in providing a cohesive, warm, fun, and technical performance that does punch well above it's weight, with the help from the elastic BCD. Treble extension is safe, solid, and staid. It delivers for what you ask of it, and for someone sensitive in this area, this is a great choice, as it will not ring your ears, or deliver stridency, shrill, or crispiness. On the contrary, it will deliver satisfaction in cohesion with the rest of the band.

COMPARISON :



KZ Libra X ($12.00) : So this is a natural comparo due to the Libra X being my current favorite sub $50.00 IEM. It's a massive under the radar IEM, due to the weekly Pokemon releases by KZ, and gross negligence when it came to promotion and review units making the rounds. The Libra X features a front loaded (just like the KB02) single dynamic driver, and this IEM has a huge soundstage thanks to all that space in the shell left untouched due to the front loaded system. Bass is punchy, with plenty of rumble (more so than the KB02), but is considerably less note incisive and clean. Midrange isn't as natural sounding, and actually, can exhibit some of that metallic tone that you find in most KZ dynamic drivers. There's more clarity, and less warmth, so vocals aren't as weighty and emotive thru the Libra X, though details present themselves more readily. Also imaging is a bit more naturally positioned than the KB02, but that's where the wins end with the midrange, as the KB02 just has a fuller, grander spatial cues, and instrument separation than the Libra X, while the BCD adds a bit more dimensionality to the stage. Treble is where the Libra X is a clear winner, delivering wonderful shimmer, air for days, and incisiveness and crispness, while again avoiding stridency, though sibilance is more present in the Libra X, so there's that. In the end, just the added note weight, spatial cues, and snappy bass, with more naturalness makes me choose the KB02 in this comparison, but surprisingly, it's still close. Advantage : Kbear KB02.

Pula Anvil 114 ($189) : The big brother of the KB02 is logically the Pula Anvil 114. It also contains an elastic BCD that exhibits the same traits as the KB02, but it's a much larger shell, with BA's included, as well as BCD and DD's. Whereas the KB02 shell is smallish and comfy, the Anvil 114 shell is exceedingly large and can be a bit unwieldy to get into the ears and get proper fitment and comfort. Now it can be done (at least in my ears), but quite a few have failed to find this proper fitment. Now overall refinement, detail retrieval, soundstage depth, as well as bass impact and treble and midrange incisiveness fall under the Anvil 114, and this is instantly noticed in an a/b comparison, and it's not subtle, but the amazing trait of the KB02 is that in reality, for $40.00 measly dollars, it gets you around 80% there! So you're not missing out on too much overall, especially in terms of experiencing BCD magic, and not having to spend a couple hundos more. You lose out on that last 20% in terms of overall details, technicalities, incisiveness, and mid bass impact, but the gulf isn't that wide, and if you never got your hands on either the Fan 3 or the Anvil 114, you'd be none the wiser if you were sporting the KB02 and living in blissful ignorance, but still listening with a high degree of technical and musical excellence in the budget sector. Also, the fact the comfort level is so much better with the KB02, that you can shave off another 10% realistically (as everyone knows fit and comfort are just as important as tuning), so you can say you are maybe 10% all the way there?! So want that extra technical juice? Buy the Anvil 114. You won't be disappointed. Want to get almost there and save yourself some coin? Then the KBear KB02 is the way to go. Advantage : Pula Anvil 114 (sorta).

CONCLUSION :

Dynamic, musical, warm, vocally and spatially immersive, and punchy fun!! That would be a great description of the KB02. It's might not WOW you, but it is going to make you PAY ATTENTION. It will grab your attention from the first notes, and it will make you think "how did they make this sound this good at this price?!" Also, this IEM responds like a champ to tubes. Tube resonance and harmonics somehow blend with the BCD, along with the DD, and synergy sisters are made. It takes up the warmth and performance up a notch. This was very noticeable with contemporary jazz albums like Robert Glasper - Canvas, or Juan Ibarra - La Casa. The harmonics and note weight were felt. They immersed you! Vocal music drew you in, and you were greeted with a level of dynamics, note incisiveness, crispness, and emotiveness that belies it's price point, and takes you into higher dollar territories. It's not close to perfect, and when you compared it to it's big brother, the Anvil 114, it was apparent the KB02 had weaknesses that also placed it right where it was sold at, so let's not get too romantic over this IEM performance. Yet, there are elements within it's delivery that deserve, more so, REQUIRE your attention, as they do punch well past price to performance. The ability of this IEM to be an all-arounder is impressive. It handled most of my library mentioned above with aplomb, with an ability to draw you in. That's a rare quality for an IEM at any price point. This is why this IEM comes highly recommended by me, and why it's currently the best budget IEM under $50 in my rotation. It's ability to be a sonic chameleon, and handle all genres with competency, and some with excellence. So if you'd been on the fence with picking the KB02 up, then I assure you, you will at the very least feel your $40 was a validated spend, and most likely, it will ascend near the top or at the top of your budget rotation? Either way, it's worth the blind buy. If you read this entire review, then you're not blind anymore, so do yourself the favor and just buy.

RECOMMENDATION LEVEL : BUDGET ALL-AROUNDER MUSICAL BOSS - HIGH 8/10.

Thank you so much for reading and remember to be water with your audio luv! When you do...AUDITORY ZEN UNLOCKED!

KB Ear reached out to me requesting that I check out their product, the KB02. So I willingly accepted, with the caveat that I get to share my honest thoughts, positive and/or negative.

It’s always fascinating when technologies from top of the line products start to trickle down and manifest in more affordable options. I was curious how the KB02 would handle the bone conduction aspect. BCDs seem to be a more recent craze, but I have to admit, I typically like BCD drivers in the IEMs I try. Forté Ears Macbeth, Canpur CP622B, Empire Ears Raven, Astell&Kern x Empire Ears Novus, Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor, Cayin Amber Pearl, each have increase in performance with the usage of the BCDs, at least to my ears. Each of those are multi-kilobuck IEMs, though. Now, when a $39 USD IEM touts having BCD in it, I was both eager and skeptical. I will talk more about its implementation in a little bit.

Let me start by saying, any comparisons that I possibly could compare the KB02 against are not equal or possibly fair comparisons. I may include thoughts and references to some mentioned above because it’s what I have on hand or what I have experience with, but by and large I will avoid doing much comparison and base thoughts and impressions off its own merits.



Build and Aesthetics

Starting with the driver make up, I already talked about the bone conduction driver, which is actually an elastic-type, and a beryllium dynamic driver. This is housed in a lightweight resin shell. The nozzles themselves are metal. The faceplates come in three different options, a blue-style, an orange-style, and a purple-style design faceplate. KB Ears sent me the purple and I quite like the overall look of the faceplate. Simple, yet elegant.

The build of the IEM itself isn’t anything to write home about. When you hold it in your hand or tap it, it feels a bit hollow. That said, it feels sturdy enough to not feel fragile. It is well shaped, too. It’s a medium-sized shell that fits very well in my ear and doesn’t create hotspots or put pressure on my ears at all. It’s also important to note that in order for the bone conduction to work, the more shell to skin/ear contact you get, the better. So wearing these deeper certainly helps maximize the bone conduction.



What’s Included

The cable provided inside the package is a standard affair cable, terminated in 2-pin for the IEMs and 3.5mm to the amp/dac/source. It’s relatively thin and provides relatively minimal microphonics. This is actually important to me because I daily use my IEMs on my morning walks before I start my work. If there are microphonics, or rather excessive microphonics, it is a big mark against the IEM and cable. A recent example of that is the FatFreq x HBB Deuce’s blood cable… horrible microphonics. I can barely use it walking, I can barely use it for my zoom meetings because I can hear the cable rubbing on my shirt, rubbing on my desk, swinging freely… I hear it all.

Additionally in the package, KB Ears provides not one, not two, but THREE sets of different ear tips to use. Really nice. Options are nice, especially at the entry level. I tried a few of them and I think they are fine overall, however for the majority of the review I ended up just using my favorite and go-to eartips, the HifiGo Divinus Velvet eartips. They provide me the best fit and seal.



Also for reference, I listened to the KB02 on a number of different sources just to throughly put it through its paces. Here’s the different configurations:

• iBasso DX340
• HiBy x Evangelion R4
• Questyle M15 tethered to my iPhone
• Macbook Air
• Apple Dongle tethered to iPhone/iPad
• Cayin Soul 170HA with the Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC
• Mola Mola Tambaqui headphone out directly

It’s interesting trying such an affordable IEM off of gear that really doesn’t make sense to pair with, but it was fun to see the maximum capabilities were for the IEM. So, while I tried it on all of those configurations, the obvious question comes to mind, “do the KB02 scale with higher quality sources or chains?” My quick answer… yes, to a degree, though it’s not infinitely scaling. Now onto how these sound.



Sound

I didn’t know what to expect and I also let this set burn-in for a week before I started really evaluating it. I did give it a try a little bit when I first opened it just out of sheer curiosity. I’d say it’s relatively neutrally warm tuned, with a bit of bass lift. It’s touted as a bassy set, but I’ll curb that expectation a bit simply because I’ve listened to some bass-heavy or bass-monster sets and this isn’t quite there. However, neutral with a bass emphasis does better describe it. Timbrally though, I think there’s a bit of metallic sheen to the sound and that’s more noticeable in the treble. I’ll elaborate a bit more on this in the treble section next. It’s not quite natural sounding, unfortunately, which could be partially due to the tuning, but also partially due to the beryllium driver implementation. The bone conduction does also actually factor in the overall timbre, as well, but I’m getting a tiny bit ahead myself.

Treble

Speaking a bit more on the treble, by and large it’s pretty well balanced. It rolls off the higher treble frequencies, so you won’t get a ton of airiness. However, there is a larger peak that presents itself in the treble before the air frequencies. It’s not super spicy, but it sticks out. Where it falls is more noticeable somewhere in the upper frequencies or harmonics of sounds, like cymbal crashes. It’s not overly sharp though, thankfully, it is just more noticeable and does make it sound a little less natural. It does give the treble and overall sound a bit of that sparkle, but I think with the roll off of the air frequencies, it feels just a touch disjointed. I think that this peak/spike does lead to that metallic sheen that I hear from the treble. According to the FR graph that KB Ear shows on their webpage, it occurs around the 11-12kHz region.

Midrange

KB02’s midrange is a bit forward to my ears. It’s overly forward, but there’s a midrange emphasis that does give this set more energy than I’d prefer. The plosive sibilant areas of the vocal region that play between the upper midrange and the lower treble is kept pretty well in check, but the frequencies leading up to the 3K region are pretty emphasized making voices come off a little shouty at times. Tonality in the midrange is pretty good, voices and instruments do not sound thin or overly thick either. Vocals especially feel like they have a nice amount of body, without feeling throaty. There’s a little bit of resonant decay in the lower register of the vocals that I experience and I suspect that is due to the bone conduction. I think overall though, if the midrange was brought down just a little bit, maybe 3dB, it would actually help, one with the touch of shoutiness, but two, with the balance to the bass.



Bass

As mentioned prior, this set is touted to be a bassy set, but I think it’s not quite that. When I think of bassy sets, Nightjar Duality, FatFreq x HBB Deuce, FatFreq Scarlet Mini, FatFreq Grand Maestro all come to mind. This doesn’t compete with those bassy sets, though realistically, it shouldn’t, especially given the price. The bass is not thick and strong, but it’s just slightly more bass-emphasized. Each of those has a distinct emphasis on subbass, which I don’t quite get from this set. It’s just a little bit light on the pressurizing effect you get from the 25Hz-35Hz range that those sets above achieve. However, bass is pretty well defined and not boomy and the bass rise is quite tastefully done, in fact. Mid bass is punchy, but it is just a little bit more pillowy and lacks just a little bit of swiftness. Overall it just lacks a little bit of snap and attack, but the overall tonality of the bass is good. Upper bass is natural sounding. I think the assistance of the bone conduction helps in the bass department, though.

Bone Conduction

So, here’s where I’d like to spend a little bit more time because I think the implementation is multifaceted. The elastic bone conduction implementation is fascinating, cool, effective, if not a bit gimmicky at times. Let me elaborate a little bit on this though.

As I mentioned in the bass section, the BC assists the bass get more tactility, however, the bone conduction doesn’t seem to be isolated to the bass region as I do feel resonating effects from the BC in the midrange, especially in the lower midrange. I had said that there was a bit of resonance decay that I experienced in the lower midrange. What I hear and feel is the elastic BC still vibrating. This is easily noticeable if you pause a song, you’ll hear a very brief sound that sounds like a rubber band instantly being made taut. Kind of sounds like, “thook.” You can also feel the vibrations of the midrange sometimes in the shells themselves, too.

When I spoke about the shell feeling a bit hollow if you tap on it, you can also feel the elasticity of the BC when you do that, too. It makes sense, but you certainly can feel the shells vibrate when you have music going. This is where I think it feels a little bit gimmicky. Yes, it’s effective in the sense that the BC is supposed to vibrate your cartilage, but the amount of vibration is not subtle. If you’ve ever dealt with tactile transducers in theaters or home theaters, the same concept applies. There are implementations that are done tastefully that truly heighten the experience, effectively disappear, and there are transducers that are novel, but ultimately gimmicky and ever-present. Some seemingly just shake and one intensity. The BC in relation to that, isn’t the latter example, thankfully. The elastic BC teeters somewhere in the middle of the transducer range, though. It’s cool and a cost effective way to experience BC to a large degree, but it’s pretty noticeable it’s there and working.

So, is it ultimately a bad thing? No. After spending a few weeks going back and forth between this and other sets, I will say that it’s BC, while noticeably there pretty often, didn’t detract from my listening experience. Your mileage may vary on that, but the elastic bone conduction does its job.



Soundstage

The KB02 soundstage has got more lateral width than forward depth. Bone conduction can also heighten the experience of soundstage and here’s where I find it a bit of a double edged sword. Yes, it does actually help the expansiveness of the soundstage sometimes, but then other times it doesn’t and the overall sound is a bit closed in. That’s probably partially due to the tuning, more specifically in the midrange. However, there isn’t a large amount of depth and holography, though it’s sufficient and likely better than you might expect.

Detail and Resolution

This set is not going to wow anyone with its ability to resolve. The usage of beryllium for the driver I think helps take it a long way, but it’s still a bit smoothed over, partially due to the single dynamic driver and possibly additionally by the elastic bone conductor. There are times you can almost feel/hear the BC after the articulated notes should have dissipated.



Conclusion

I refrained making a whole lot of comparisons to other IEMs, but as I conclude my review I want to make this direct comparative statement — tonally/timbrally, I prefer the KB02 to the FFxHBB Deuce. Subbass and bass overall is still done better qualitatively and quantitatively by the Deuce, but midrange and treble, I feel the KB02 better suits my taste. Now, it’s not perfect as I’ve outlined above with the treble and the midrange, but by and large, it is pretty easy to listen to this IEM.

What does it do right? Makes bone conduction accessible and in a very affordable package. Vocals for the most part sound good. The amount of tips included is quite impressive. The price itself is highly appealing. Now, at the time of writing this review, you can even find these on Amazon for $35 with an $8 coupon. That makes these IEMs $27 dollars! Is it worth it? YES. That’s just silly.

What can be improved? Timbre could be better. Honestly, one might say, what more can you ask for in a $40 (or presently $27) IEM? I find myself thinking that, but then I also look at the landscape of IEMs. Competition is overwhelming, even in this price bracket. So maybe it’s not too much to ask for a little less metallic timbre. It’s an area of improvement, though It’s not a make or break situation here because it’s an affordable option. A slight complaint, though understandable sacrifice, is the lack of 4.4mm terminated cable. The only one is a 3.5mm single-ended cable, which is fine, but something worth noting.

So why did I give it 3.5 stars. All in all, though, I think this is a praiseworthy set. It’s fascinating and despite some of the things I pointed out, doesn’t do anything egregiously wrong, rather I think it does a lot of things right, including the price. What sets the set apart is the ability to experience bone conduction in a different way. Truth be told, I’ve already encouraged a few of my friends to give this set a try.

KBear is a rising name in the world of budget and mid-range audio gear, known for delivering impressive sound quality at an affordable price. With a focus on in-ear monitors (IEMs) and audio accessories, KBear combines solid engineering, stylish designs, and competitive pricing to attract both casual listeners and audiophiles on a budget. While not as established as some high-end brands, KBear has built a reputation for offering great value, often punching above its weight in sound performance.

In this review, I’ll take a closer look at KB02, exploring its sound, build quality, and whether it lives up to the KBear name. They were provided by KEEPHIFI.



The KB02 is equipped with a dual-driver configuration, featuring a 10mm beryllium-plated dynamic driver alongside a 10mm bone conduction driver. The implementation delivers a well-balanced sound signature.

I have been familiar with the KBear brand for quite some time, primarily for their IEM cables. They have built a strong reputation for offering high-quality cables at remarkably affordable prices. While some other brands charge exorbitant amounts for similar materials. I own a few pair of those cables as well.

What is in the box:
- A sleek, nice thin ofc cable (I am a fan of those lighter thin cables)
- A generous selection of silicone eartips (which did not work for me, more on that later)
- Two elegantly polished in-ear monitors that exceed their price point in appearance and sound.



I must mention that the included eartips doesn’t do the KB02 justice. Achieving a proper, tight seal proved to be quite challenging for me with the included one’s, which significantly impacted the bass response.

I opted to replace them for this review with foam eartips and better silicone one’s to give a fair honest review, the difference after changing these was remarkable. The improved fit and isolation enhanced the overall sound quality substantially. I would highly recommend upgrading the eartips for the best possible experience. Why I mention this, because with not having a tight fit, there is a change you misjudge the KB02. So it might well be with different shape ears, the included one's are adequate

Since I primarily use gear from the much higher-end segment, I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, this turned out to be a very positive and enjoyable experience, an eye-opener, even. $40 in the hifi is not expensive, so let's see how it performs.

My test equipment:
- Mojo2 +Poly
- TT2 + MScaler + Lumin U2
- Astell and Kern se180 + SEM3/SEM4
- MacBook Pro 2024

Tested Tracks:
Sami Yusuf Live in Amsterdam – The meeting
Compay Segunda – Te Doy La Vida (from the Buena Vista Family)
Willie Nelson – The Nearness of you
Diana Krall – L-o-v-e
Herbert von Karajan – Ludwig van Beethoven 9 symphonies
Cristina Santori – Alleria
HAEVN – One Day
Melody Gardot – There where he Lives
Stacey Kent – Thinking about the rain
Eva Cassidy - Wade in the water Acoustic
Oscar Peterson – There Will Never be Another You (Album City Lights)
Nat King Cole – Mona Lisa
Myriam Alter - Come with me


Treble:
The graph shown a steep drop-off in the higher frequences (so it seems) which in this case enhances tonal balance but still adds a sense of air and openness, Vocals benefit from this airiness and linearity, while instruments sound detailed and energetic. The upper treble is never sibilant or shows harshness, resulting in a laid-back and relaxed presentation. Vocals and instruments has a forward yet non-fatiguing presence. The result is a enjoyable listening experience.

Mid:
I always love a smooth midrange, here the KB02 does not dissapoint. The vocals are exceptionally well-articulated. Notes carry weight and warmth, resulting in a rich, engaging sound. The upper midrange blends seamlessly with the lower treble, delivering an open and airy presentation without sacrificing body or detail. The smoothness is just right, without being excessive.

The lower midrange, while slightly recessed, maintains excellent structure, allowing female, male vocals and instruments to surface effortlessly.

Male vocals sound deep and nuanced and have a noticeable depth , while female vocals feel fresh and lively. While female vocals retain a soft yet vibrant quality. I could hear some moments where I heared better IEM's, but nothing disturbing. Melody's voice came through with amazing tone...

Instruments had weight to them.

Overall, the midrange is lively, airy, and forward, striking a great balance between presence and musicality.
I would say the focus is realism with a hint of warmth without taking it to far.


Bass:
Here the bone conductor comes into place:
Bone conduction drivers transmit vibrations directly through the skull rather than relying solely on air conduction. This results in a more tactile, physical bass experience, making low frequencies feel more immersive without overwhelming the mix. It adds depth and impact to sub-bass without requiring excessive air movement, which can sometimes cause bloating in traditional dynamic drivers.

The KB02 delivers a impressive texture and detail, creating a tactile sensation that mimics the feel of bass rather than just the sound. The impact and physicality are remarkably well-controlled. The sub-bass reaches deep, producing subtle rumbles and well-controlled punches, while the mid-bass provides weight and impact without bleeding into the mids.

The track Compay Segunda – Te Doy La Vida, let you clearly feel that deeper bass, as well as Melody's There where he lives.

Myriam Alter's bass, has a deep bass drum part, around 5:10 min in the track, here the bone conductor showed it could cope, it lacked a little micro details, but impressive nonetheless in this price range.

The Iem's tuning brings certain bass notes to the forefront, making them more prominent in the mix. However, the bass dynamics and texture are exceptional in this price range.



Overal conclusion

I think the KB02, is a very nice sounding IEM, you can enjoy. What you get for around $40 is a very nice and smooth sounding IEM with very good note separation, the soundstage is impressively holographic and airy, allowing for effortless distinction between instruments and pinpointing their positions with accuracy.

I would call the KB02 a very balanced IEM. These are not for the ultra bass happy fans, although for some very enjoyable, it is far from realistic, the KB02 is more focussed on realism, with a hint of warmth.

Is everything perfect, in this price range you can't expect that, with the KB02 you won’t get the smallest macro details in treble or the best layers in lower bass regions. Is that a bad thing or a flaw, ofcourse not!

The KB02 performs well and way beyond their price point, eventhough I am used to very expensive IEM's , I enjoyed listening to the KB02, it had a very nice detailed and smooth sound.

I share all and more of my reviews als at my website as well: JJAZZIFI REVIEWS