KBear Storm

KBEar Storm: The Budget Monitoring IEM



Disclaimer!

This unit was sent by KB EAR. However, they didn’t paid me for any written reviews. I will try my best to review this unit without any bias. Please bear with me that I’m not a professional sound engineer or musician, but I’m just a self-learnt guitarist & vocalist, who do composed my own original music and also self-learnt some mixing & mastering techniques. I am a neutral-head, analytical-head and also liking balanced sounding tunings. And also, I’m using an audio interface named Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen (a kind of DAC/Amp???) pairing for the whole listening impressions. Please take my reviews as grain of salts.



Pros:

- V-shape tuning
- Well-controlled/behaved bass without messing up mids
- Good decent technicalities
- Budget with good value
- Light shell
- Wide soundstage
- Metal nozzle
- Boosted highs for more detail retrieval

Cons:

- Large shell
- Bass slightly bleeding into mids
- The highs could be more refined, but it might due to limitation of DD drivers
- Treble sensitive audiophiles might find it harsh sounding
- Slightly shouty upper mids
- Highs might be too boosted for some

Sound Quality

I will describe KBEar Storm as V-shaped tuning signature. I am pairing KBEar Storm with the stock white S-size wide bore eartips as I find it did open up some top end airiness. Storm will be having a tight and boosted bass. It is warm sounding and fun sounding, bleeding into mids are kept minimal. Mids range are not recessed, slightly upfront or harsh for some users. Highs are boosted, airy, lively sounding.

Bass

Bass shelf here is boosted. However, it is well-controlled, tight and fun sounding at the same time. A good DD driver will be able to separate kickdrum and bass guitar well, just like the DD inside KBEar Storm. KBEar Storm will be having mid bass focus to my ears. Although it is indeed a decent DD driver for projecting good bass quality, the bass texture and layering especially the bass reverberation could be better (and this is just a nitpick, especially when considering the price). There is still some bass bleeding into mids, possible analytical head needing some cleaner bass for analytical listening? Drop-D electric guitar tuning will burst your head with those fat palm muting sounds.

Mids

Mids here might be slightly bright sounding. There is sense of shoutiness in the upper mids region. For vocals, it is neither thin nor full-bodied sounding, there is indeed some harshness in the upper mid regions, due to boosted upper mids. Some vocalist did sounded slightly nasally with their singing. For female vocalist, it is sweet sounding, and some female vocalist will be slightly shouty sounding. Luckily, sibilances are kept minimal thanks to the dip in 4kHz - 5kHz region. Instrumental mids, it is having more than enough biteness. Acoustic guitar here is sweet and energetic sounding. Electric guitar here is actually very pleasant to listen to. You will really get crashed by metal-core music when listening to KBear Storm.

Highs

Highs here is definitely boosted too, I will say it is actually quite nearing borderline boosted based on my personal preference. It is not smooth sounding, and quite aggressively boosted. This kind of highs tuning will surely satisfy treblehead. To me, the highs might be not that refine sounding, slightly grainy and splashy sounding. And with such boosted in high frequencies, micro details will be slightly easier to be heard (fake details???). Percussive highs will be quite pronounce, and very lively. Metal core crash cymbal will really burst your head, so do not turn up the volume too much! There are plenty of air reverb, which is quite pleasant to listen to.

Tonality

Storm is actually a V-shaped tuning signature. Electric guitar is pleasant sounding. Boosted in highs definitely bringing more biteness to mid-range instruments. It is not for relax listening, possible an budget analytical set with fun bass. It might be slightly fatiguing sounding and not suitable for long listening.

Technicalities

The soundsatge here is wide, possible due to large shell or maybe large cavities for the DD drivers to breath? Instrument separation, imaging and layering are average. Transient speed here is just decent.



Conclusion

I was told that KBEar Storm was tuned toward the purpose for stage monitoring, however, I had not yet try it out for stage monitoring, indeed, none of my bandmate having that kind of experience too. I do understand why too, as it is having wide soundstage, and instrument are able to space out greatly too, but really dont expect too good in instrument separation, as it is still a budget IEM. As an casual listening IEM, I think KBEar Storm will be quite pleasing sounding too. When I generating this review, I am listening and learning about metal cores, and I am head banging throughtout the whole review, which means, it is a good IEM for music enjoyment. KBEar Storm does having alot of sparkling highs, and also having big fat bass too, with the bass being more controlled than the highs. The highs might be slightly piercing for some, but for treblehead, it is a plus.


https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNPwnPk

Intro/Disclaimer:

Before starting this review I would like to say this unit was bought with my own money.
I personally really like Kbear brand and sound signature.
The following review is strictly personal since is based on each ones perception of the sound so remember it might vary from person to person.
Since I’m not an english native I’m not going to use a very specific professional language to describe it but I will do my best to explain my feelings about it.


IEM Configuration:
1DD 10MM PU+PEEK

First Impression:
The box is really simple as many entry level iem. But for this price range is good enough! This seems a 2023 KZ EDX but sounds a lot better.

Package and accessories:

• KBear Storm
• 2 set of decent ear tips (really rare in budget iems)
• Cable
• Warranty card /instruction

Design:

Maybe a little bit old design but Build quality of the product is quite good for the asking price! The transparent shell allows you to see through. The 10mm driver is pretty decent! This shape fits for everyone.


Initial sound impressions:
When I tried them for the first time they immediately seemed like a great set. They have a slightly nasal note but I think it's due to the plastic shell. Tuning is Kbear's usual with a slight boost to the treble. The result is something fun (not natural) but V shaped.
The big bored tips are the most comfortable to me and also help the soundstage a lot.

Final Sound Impression

Equipment used for testing

Device:
iMac
POCO M4 PRO (MIUI Based)

Software:
Foobar2000 24bit 192khz (iMac)
Amazon music UHD 24bit 96khz (Both)

DAC:
Fx-Audio X6
Fosi Audio K5 Pro
Jcally JM10
Creative SFXI
7Hz 71
GGMM A1
Hiby W3 Saber (LDAC)

I’m not listing the tracks because they're too much.

Bass:
Bass in Kbear IEms are usually really good, but in this case when you crank up the volume the situation becomes quite messy. Quantity is good but quality lacks a little bit. Sub-bass rumble slightly present. Plastic shell doesn’t help here.

Mids:
Mids regions are mostly recessed, vocals are just little bit recessed, tonality of voices are still precise but warmer than usual.

Treble:
Don’t worry you can handle the treble! This set is really far to be for trebleheads!The high frequencies are far from be shouty.
However they are very pleasant and not tiring. Good air and details!


Conclusion:
To conclude this review, the Storm have a fun V-shaped sound. This is a super cheap set with a good sound, 2 set of tips and a good build quality overall.

At this price you couldn't ask for more! However if instead of a plastic shell they had used some other material we would probably have had a much better sound. Also owning Kbear Rosefinch I strongly suggest you add a few dollars to your budget and get the latter. They have a completely different quality than the Storm and a minimal price difference.

𝑲𝑩 𝑬𝒂𝒓 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎: 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈’𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈


|| 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ||

KB EAR is no stranger to budget sets of IEMs especially under the $100 with a couple of notable releases such as the KB Ear Diamond and Aurora, which, if my memory serves me right, are sets that definitely caused a buzz in the hobby.
Packed with a single dynamic driver and a transparent shell, KB Ear is once again back with a new release aiming to take the reins of the ever so competitive sub $20 dollar IEM market.. Spoiler alert, KB Ear is brewed quite a storm of an IEM here(pun definitely intended).


|| 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ||

I don’t consider myself as an audiophile or an enthusiast, therefore the terminology and the overall review will be more mainstream.

We prefer to keep our reviews simple without too much confusing lingo and terminologies

This review set is a part of a review tour and was sent free of charge in exchange for an honest review. There is no material or financial incentive for us to do this review. I guarantee no exchange has been done by both parties to influence or sway our opinions on this product.

My thoughts and opinions are of my own. My experience will entirely differ from everybody else. The contents of this review should not be considered factual as this hobby heavily leans on subjectivity. YMMV.

** 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐢𝐫 𝐄𝐢𝐣𝐢 𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 Keephifi 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬. 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐫 𝐄𝐢𝐣𝐢’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐮𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬.𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭.𝐜𝐨𝐦 **


| 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 |

It comes in a compact box with an illustration of the IEM with all of its available colors. This kind of box is common in the sub $20 market especially with the likes of KZ and TRN doing similar packaging.




| 𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

After removing the initial cardboard, the IEM drivers immediately greet you whilst being covered by a clear plastic layer and are enclosed with foam. Underneath that is the included stock cable, a manual and a few sets of normal-bore silicone ear tips that can more than cover your needs.




It comes with a generic braided L-type QDC cable and a few stock tips that can more than cover your needs.
Similar to the packaging, nothing noteworthy here for the unboxing, it’s a straightforward experience, probably to cut costs which is evident for the asking price.

𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻:

Paperwork
IEM Drivers
2 Sets of ear tips in black and white(S,M,L)
Stock L-type QDC cable


| 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 & 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

The KB Ear Storm is made out of some sort of hard plastic. I was unable to disclose whether this is a 3D resin or not but quite light for a resin based shell. Speaking of it being light, the Storm is quite comfortable to the ear because of it not weighing that much but does suffer from “feeling cheap” due to its heft not alluding quality.

Overall the fit is universal and the contours are rounded and safe enough for those folks who don’t like protruding wings.
But this type of build is common for sub $20 blowers therefore not a huge knock for the Storm. The nozzle is made out of alloy with a ridge to help the stability of ear tips when worn. Right beside the nozzle is a vent, and another is located at the top of the IEM as well as each shell of the Storm has branding on its faceplate.



The Storm comes in three different colors namely a purple(Which what we have today), black and a mix of purple and blue that are all translucent. Version with a mic is also available for sale.

This uses a QDC connector which is honestly disappointing as most consider 2-pin as the standard. Whilst QDC being able to support 2-pin cables, the extra length introduced by the protruding female point can be a massive point of failure if pressure is introduced

Inside the Storm is a trusty single dynamic driver setup, which you can actually see inside because of the shell). This driver is really prominent in the budget space for their great cost to performance ratio.


| 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

These isolates less than what your average IEM can, with background noise more audible than other passive isolated IEMs. This is probably due to the thickness of the plastic used for the shells not being that thick to restrict outside noise from entering.


| 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 |

With the Storm having safe curves and no extreme protrusions, I find them comfortable for long periods of time before introducing ear fatigue. Occlusion effect here isn’t as sever as most IEMs which is definitely a plus.




** 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑻𝑹𝑵 𝑻-𝑻𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑽𝑬 𝑨𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒊 𝑫𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆**


|| 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 ||

These caught me off guard as I didn’t expect such treble extension without being fatigued on such a budget set. These had they’re issues but it was quite an experience using these during my testing.




| 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 |

These are a very efficient set that don't require much power to run on a satisfying volume. Do be wary of using high gain on these as IEMs in general are quite sensitive and may introduce audible noise floor.


| 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 |

The bass on these lean more on quantity over quality. mid-bass is much more prominent than sub-bass which only offer minimal rumble. Texture of both could use work and the speed of the attack can definitely be improved upon. Hollowness on the mid-bass is also audible in some tracks

Bleed is noticeable and looms over the mids making it seem so that the mids are quite veiled. Therefore I think this is probably the weakest part of the Storm, not for its lack of bass but more so the execution of such is its issue.


| 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀 |

Like I said earlier, mids are quite veiled over by the bleed from the bass. Because of this some instruments get drowned over the bleed but also have the weird side effect of making the male vocals feel more present than their female counterparts.

However, the upper midrange rise gives instruments like electric guitars a distinct presence in the playback which I find quite enjoyable.


| 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 |

The rise of the upper midrange continues in the highs where transients, air, and details executed well without being overbearing to the ears. The treble performance on this set is quite stellar as some people coin those terms.

Things like cymbal strikes resonate for quite some time before being inaudible. Just overall a great extension coming from a budget offering.


| 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

Because of the bleeding lows, layering and imaging suffer a little on track with looming bass notes, otherwise it is quite decent in being distinct with other sound sources(again, excluding low sounding source) whilst the staging is just average.


|| 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ||

Even though this set has issues, I found that using specially curated ear tips to tighten and clean up the bass will greatly benefit the overall performance of this set. That was one of its only major drawbacks and even EQ-ing can help if that suits your fancy. This set is decent and could be a gem for the price but I wish that bass presentation is cleaned up a little bit but that extension for the price is quite an experience.

KBear Storm ($16) ​

Intro​

Today I am reviewing KBear’s latest ultra-budget segment iem, the “KBear Storm”, courtesy of Keephifi. I’ve actually reviewed quite a few ultra-budget sets of late and was pleased to be asked to check out the Storm. I want to sincerely thank Keephifi for providing the Storm in return for a fair and honest review. Obviously, this doesn’t change any outcome of how I rate the Storm and I wasn’t provoked or coerced in any way to change my speach regarding the Storm. So, thank you. Okay, the KBear Storm…

KBear​

KBear is a constant in the “chifi” space. Earphone after earphone and advertisement after advertisement get displayed upon many Facebook group walls every week it seems. I have reviewed a few KBear iems of late, namely the Qinglong, Rosefinch, Dumpling, and the Ink among others and each has their own particular tuning. No two are very much the same. KBear does a great job of appealing to different tuning styles and they always seem to add their own stylish flare to their iems. The Storm for instance has a sleek design which would seem to attract a younger audience and I do feel they have done a good job seeking out fresh designs. With that said, let me put my reviewer hat on and try my best at explaining the KBear Storm…

Purchase the KBear Storm HERE from Keephifi.

Gear used​

–Ifi Go Blu

–Moondrop Dawn 4.4

–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2

–Shanling M6 Ultra

Full Review can be found HERE

Packaging​

The box as well as the Contents of that box are a very simple and budget affair. For $16 you can rest assured that you will most likely be getting the bare minimum as far as accessories are concerned. Sure, enough this is the case here. The box is a very small one with an outer sleeve which has three different Storm iems in each of the different Storm colorways and each are imposed in line with each other. Take off the sleeve and you are met with the earphones themselves. Under the earphones are two baggies; one baggy is for the eartips and one for the cable. You also get some amazing reading material. That’s about it, pretty basic.

Eartips​

For $16 I think KBear went above and beyond what most companies provide with their ultra-budget sets. You are provided six pairs in total, both sets run in Large, Medium, and Small. The first set is a dark gray and fairly common in the industry. These tips have a narrower bore that I don’t think really helps the Storm as far as sonics are concerned. The next pair is a white shallow fit wide-bore set that I think does the Storm better justice. At times during this review, I did switch out for KBear’s own “KBear 07” tips but spent the majority of my time using the included wide bore tips. Both included tip sets have nice rigidity to the flanges and both seals pretty well.

Cable​

KBear added a 2-pin Litz braided, 3.5 single ended, 4 core silver cable which terminates with a 90-degree jack. Not a bad cable by any means. Surely it is better than what we used to get at these prices. There aren’t any microphonics that I can hear, and the cable is malleable and easy to deal with. I should add that for any balanced sources I did switch out the included cable with an Fdbro 16 core SPC cable. I found no great difference sonically from cable swapping, except the fact that more power through a balanced source does help.

​

Build / Design / Internals / Fit ​

Build Quality ​

The Storm is a feather-light pair of universal iems made with a hard plastic material and are of a well-constructed budget quality. Plastic covers almost the entirety of the units from the 2 pin connectors all the way up to the nozzles. The nozzles themselves are actually made of brass which is a nice touch. They have a deeper fit with a taper at the base of the nozzle and comes off at an ergonomic angle for a deep fit. I actually had to go an eartip size under what I normally use. I see no misalignments, and everything is free of glue or discrepancies. Truthfully this set is about average in build per the price point. The 2-pin connector is a QDC style connection so if you are going to upgrade this is good info to have.

Size / Fit / Isolation ​

The Storm is very lightweight and feels like absolutely nothing in the ear. I also wouldn’t call them uncomfortable either as they aren’t too overly large in size. In fact, it’s actually the contrary in my opinion. I feel the Storm is very comfortable and offers no ear fatigue at all. To that, I received an excellent fit and seal with the Storm. I would say that they have an average ability to block out external noises and there is minimal sound leakage as well.

Design​

I quite like the look of the set that I was given. Mine is a smokey black colored set. KBear also sells the Storm in a few other colorways, deep purple, transparent purple and transparent smokey black. The Storm does have a sleek look that is completely transparent and so putting them under the light will reveal the Internals, like the driver and wiring. I suppose the Storm are not too flashy and are simpler aesthetically, but I think they are pretty cool looking.

Internals​

KBear chose to go with a single Dynamic Driver with a strong magnet using a PU+PEEK Composite Diaphragm. This driver promises a high-resolution listening experience with high level timbre. I don’t really know what a high level of timbre is, but I’m guessing that KBear believes that the Storm will provide a very natural and organic sound. I suppose we shall see.

Drivability​

The Storm is very easy to drive to a good fidelity and auditory joy. I’m quite positive that you will have zero issue driving this set from a simple cell phone. Rated at an impedance of 32-ohms and a sensitivity of 108 decibels, the Storm worked great from a decent Dongle Dac. Using either the IFi Go Blu or the Moondrop Dawn 4.4 on balanced actually did begin to open the Storm up. Separation increased, bass tightened up as well and the perceived stage size increased. The Storm seems to do well with more power, to a point. Using the IBasso DX240 or the Shanling M6 Ultra yielded the best results but anything past medium gain started to cause some issues. So, a decent Dongle Dac will suffice and even better if you have a balanced Dongle dac or dap to drive the Storm.

​

Quick Sound Impressions ​

The KBear Storm has a warm tonality with a large emphasis in the mid-bass as well as the upper-mids/lower-treble with a roll-off occurring just past 8k with some sub-par info in the upper-treble. Most certainly we are looking at a fun V-shaped sound signature which is slightly darker sounding and laid back while it hits pretty hard down low.

The Storm has around a 10 dB bass shelf which peaks out in the mid-bass area and slowly rolls-off through the sub-bass. The lower-mids are forward and warm with decent energy but for the most part it does come across a bit veiled with a more laid-back upper midrange for female vocals. The treble is also more reserved, less energy and smooth with some peaks in the lower treble at times. The Storm is a mostly non-offensive set and great for genres like hip-hop, EDM, R&B, among others. Truthfully it does well on many genres.

​

Bass Region​

The KBear Storm most certainly has an elevated low-end which center around the mid-bass and extends pretty far into the lower midrange. There is a slight roll-off of the sub-bass as well. From most graphs we are looking at around a 10 dB bass shelf which hits with deliberate impact. Close to basshead territory.

Sub Bass​

The sub-bass has a pretty deep growl and does give a good vibration though not at the level of the mid-bass. I hear a sonorous rumble that does well to bolster the low-end with certain genres which cater to a deeper sub-bass. All in all, it’s not bad. Not the quickest as there is a subtly lingering decay which creates a nice atmosphere. “Paradigm” by The Head and the Heart growls at me nicely.

Mid Bass​

The mid-bass is the focal point of the bass region. There is a healthy dose of slam as the Storm hits hard with satisfying bass drops. Kick drums boom with a nicely resounding thud. Honestly, I can’t find anything too troubling with the mid-bass other than it will likely be too much for some. This is a fun tuning and isn’t meant to appeal to audiophile appetites. “Cane Suga” by the Glass Animals begins with this light jingle but soon comes a heavy bass drop… and this is where the Storm shines. The sound is full, quick enough to not sound sloppy and there is enough authority in the sound to get my head bobbing. Leading edges to notes aren’t as concrete as I’d like but for the price I can deal with a layer of fuzz.

Midrange​

Lower-midrange ​

The midrange is mostly recessed. I also don’t hear much refinement in this area. Sure, male vocals have a warm nature to them from the spill over of the mid-bass, but they don’t have that resolute forward sound that draws me in. “I Walk Alone” by Chase Rice off his newest album, his voice does come across rather clean, but his voice is also pushed back in the field of music as there is a missing energy and fullness that I like to hear. Note weight is on the average side as well.

This is a V-shaped sound and so stuff like male vocals do take the backseat to the bass region. Does this make it bad? Absolutely not. Males simply aren’t very forward and pronounced and don’t carry an authoritative and resolute sound. I found that most tenors will react quite differently as some can come across sharp and more knife edged depending on the singer or track. So, there is a hint of more forward energy as you move up in pitch and tone. Instruments also share in this slightly tweaked sound with a hair more of a warm glaze over the sound.

Upper-midrange ​

Females come across more shimmery than males yet not shimmery in general. Females are also recessed but have a more defined note definition and more luster than males. “Everything I Didn’t Say” by Ella Henderson begins with her vocals out front and center and her voice should slightly resonate more forward in the sound field. Her voice should be rather melodic but also thick and textured with a hint of shine to it. She has a great voice. However, with the Storm her vocals simply sound further back than usual. Not an issue at all. She doesn’t sound bad on the Storm but simply a hint more attenuated. She comes across clean and with nice resolution but warmer and more laid back than many iems of late.

“Sensitive” by Meghan Trainor on the other hand shows how that pinna gain in the upper midrange might cause a bit of glare as well. Her voice has this knife edged and processed digital sound at the leading edge of her vocals, especially during the chorus. So you get either warm and laid back or mildly peaky and accentuated depending on the track and who’s doing the singing.

Preferences… ​

This is not a rebuke of the Storm at all, it is a nice sounding earphone, but it may not be everyone’s preference and I don’t think it fits all genres perfectly. This is a fun sounding, B-Boy style tuning with a penchant for big bass riffs, warm and heavy bass drops and an altogether hip-hop style. I think they did a nice job for what KBear was going for. Is it my favorite tuning? Um no. Does the world cater to me and what I like? Again… No.

Also, I don’t want to call the midrange veiled but there is a laid back and warm nature to the midrange which comes across as a veil or a haze over the region. Still, it isn’t bad at all. I love a more vocal centric iem with a nice rise in the bass region but clean and clear vocals. The Storm is not that. Again, is it a badly tuned midrange? For me it isn’t tuned very well. Perhaps not the most detailed and transient quick either and separation can lag a bit on some tracks.

​

Treble region​

The treble region certainly is emphasized in the upper-mid and lower-treble area which can be a hint peaky on some tracks. Yet at the same time there is a slight early roll-off up top. All things considered there is enough of a rise to promote some macro details. The treble is thinner, yet it’s also warm and not as resounding and vibrant as I think it needs to be and gives the entirety of the Storm’s replay a warmer hue. Of course, this gets exaggerated on a warmer and smoother source. Using something like the Moondrop Dawn 4.4 did help offset the warm tuning to a degree.

Secondary harmonics of cymbals and hi-hats have a decent trail-off which proves the Storm does have decent extension past 8k. I simply hear a warmer sheen to such instruments. The treble does come across a bit dry, and thinner, while providing “acceptable” detail retrieval for “such a tuning”. I would like to think that anyone purchasing the KBear Storm wouldn’t exactly be seeking out details in their music. The Storm has a specific type tuning which does well for what it is and at the low cost of $16 you simply cannot go wrong. However, if you like a neutral climate with a more uplifted and lustery treble or a more analytical style than I have some other sets which fit that bill. The treble is certainly laid-back, at times a bit peaky (in the right situation) in the upper-mids & lower-treble, but for the most part is a non-offensive treble.

Technicalities ​

Soundstage​

The stage size of the Storm doesn’t exactly bring upon stadium sized visions but more like a small room. It’s warm, intimate and it’s about what I was expecting. We have seen some pretty impressive ultra-budget iems which do stretch the stage a bit but the Storm is not one of them. A titch below average width, average height as well and not a very deep stage. I don’t say this as a horrible thing either. Nothing about the Storm’s staging is out of whack or not appropriate to the music I am listening to. It simply isn’t as wide or deep as some others as it’s a little more intimate than average per the price point but not horrible.

Separation / Imaging ​

During the course of my listening with the Storm I noticed that its ability to separate elements in a stage is pretty good, to an extent. When listening to a more congested track the Storm did blend the sound quite a bit. This is not a surprise as most budget sets take on the same results. However, less intensive music will replay very nicely with a well partitioned off sound image.

Imaging kind of follows the same trajectory. Not bad but also not really great either. The depth of layering is not the vastest and the stage is a hair more confined and so naturally imaging and layering take a hit. Still, at the end of the day this is average. As it should be. You’d have to be paying attention to hear the difference and most likely anyone who picks this set up probably isn’t too worried about spatial cues.

Details​

The Storm has some issues when presenting details, namely the tuning. Like I said earlier, if you are purchasing the KBear Storm for its ability to present the subtleties within a track, well, I’d say you didn’t read any reviews. This is not that type of tuning. With that said, resolution is pretty nice, driver speed isn’t horrible either which does present a decently resolute replay within a warmer canvas. This translates to decent macro details. However, the really fine stuff, the finer details, the micro-details, the stuff that gets looked for in critical listening has a bit harder time being illuminated to the surface. This should not be a surprise. The Storm is tuned in a fun, bass emphasized and non-offensive way.

Is the Storm worth the asking price? ​

This is an easy yes. Of course, it is. This set costs $16 and is a good change of pace ultra-budget iem that can be used when you just want that BASS! For some people this set will be a no brainer and for others it will never find a place within their collection.

The Storm is truly a preference driven buy if you ask me. It is not balanced across the mix but what it gives a person is a colored head-bobbing listen that is great for the right situations and for some very popular genres nowadays. I realize that most of this review seems to contradict my resounding “yes” to the worth. That is because I have to put on my reviewer hat and judge this set on its auditory abilities across the board. However, I think that KBear was actually very successful in producing an earphone that does what it was supposed to do. If I was judging this set for its ability to make my toes tap… It would get some high marks for $16!!

Ratings per price point- ($10-$25)​

*All ratings are judged by the price point listed above and all are very much subjective to my taste. Please keep in mind that a “5.0” is exactly average per the price point.

Aesthetic​

• Build: 7.5
• Design/Style: 8.5
• Overall: 8.0

Sonics​

• Timbre: 7.3
• Bass: 8.5
• Midrange: 6.5
• Treble: 6.0
• Technicalities: 6.0
• P2P: 8.5 (Price to Performance)
• Overall: 7.1

​

Conclusion​

Well, there you have it, I just reviewed a budget friendly iem that has its place amongst the loaded sea of budget iems. A 7.1 rating in the “Sonics” category isn’t horrible at all. Let me remind you that these are all my subjectively objective thoughts which may not align with your own. The whole point of these reviews is to help the buyer make a decision and to give me the opportunity to write about what I love.

One more thing, please read, listen to, or watch other reviews so you can make a better educated decision. Within the vastness of the audio’verse $16 is considered ultra-budget however, $16 may not be a lot to some people but to a whole lot of people that is a ton of money to spend on a hobby. Most people who are on hard times don’t have the luxury of “hobby” money. So, let’s try to get it right. Not everyone has the same likes and dislikes, audio gear for listening, hearing and not all of us have been down the same audio journey, which makes a huge difference in how we review a product.

I want to again thank Keephifi for providing this set to me, I am truly grateful. I also want to thank anyone who decided to read any word that I write about the Storm. Each and every review takes quite a bit of time and I do hope that it helps at least someone in making a purchasing decision. Thanks for reading, take care everyone and stay safe.

"The dignity of human nature requires that we must face the storms of life.”


–Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi, Indian Nationalist

Click to expand...

KB Ear Storm is the latest ultra-budget single dynamic driver set from KB Ear. I did a review on their ultra-budget level before and I find it decent enough if you are a casual type of listener who just wants a fun and engaging sound.





This set has 10mm dynamic drivers with a combination type of thermoplastic (polyetheretherketone) and a composite polymer (polyurethane) diaphragm which give a more rigid yet flexible and a good resistance and tolerance to chemical effects and high heat temperature. These transducers are housed in an acrylic shell which offers a good texture in our skin. Like almost all current ultra-budget IEMs, KB Ear Storm uses a QDC-type connector.





The shells are in small sizes so that it fits well in my lug holes without any issues like soreness and discomfort that is usually associated with listening fatigue in some IEMs with larger shells. I can safely assume that KB Ear Storm are quite versatile to all ear sizes.





Like all ultra-budget sets, KB Ear Storm has rather simple packaging with basic included accessories. It has a small white-coloured box with product photo at the front with model name and logo print, then a company address at the left side of the box and information about its specification and some address of distributors in EU at the back.




Here are the contents inside the box:

● Pair of KB Ear Storm IEMs.
● OFC black coloured stock cable in a straight 3.5mm termination plug.
● 3 pairs of black coloured, narrow-bored ear tips of different standard sizes.
● 3 pairs of white coloured, wide-bored ear tips of different standard sizes.
● Velcro cable organiser.
● Instruction manual.






Amplification-wise, KB Ear Storm is a very easy to drive device. It only needs a decent power output to deliver a very dynamic and good amplitude level.


As for its tonality, this is quite a throwback regarding its sound profile that reminds of its older predecessor, the KS1 on which they share the same sound signature, a typical warmish V-shaped. As usual, more emphasis on bass and treble subsequently a recessed and dipped midrange.



LOWS/BASS:

The bass is the most prominent on this one, vivacious, hard hitting and boomy that really smears across the midrange. There's a presence on its sub-bass as I discerningly feel those deep rumble from instruments like low tuned bass guitar and synthesisers.

Mid bass is more focused on the bass region as it gives an excess amount of body on some instruments and male vocals (bloat). Bass guitars are incredibly heavy and broad sounding. Next is the bass drum kick which has thunderous and full sound that really reverberates our ears, then a guttural, eerie and dense quality of bass baritones. Due to its inherent boomy sound, it really gives me that impression that these instruments and vocals that pivots toward on the lows are a bit exaggerated on its ledge.



MIDRANGE:

Midrange is definitely recessed and laid back on presentation especially on a certain female vocal type but it is warm, gauzy and engaging. Male vocals seem to benefit from that warmness on how it gives a coloured and texture on it. Baritones sound smoother and warmer but there are some hints of harshness on dramatic ones, countertenors have dazzling and lighter characteristics like Geedy Lee of Rush and Robert Plant on his tessitura. Tenors seem to have this strong and yet lack of heft especially on lyrical types while in dramatic types, it has rich and ringy sound like Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli. Meanwhile, on female vocals especially on contralto like Andrea Corr, Tracy Chapman and Annie Lennox has this rich, warmer and heavy on their voice quality, Mezzo-sopranos are rather a bit transparent that it has a lack of consistency and too smooth in my liking as I want a more musky and darker one. As for soprano vocals, they are bright and gleaming in them though they are a bit unnatural and sometimes too tinny sounding especially on coloratura ones.

Instruments like percussion and brass are rather interesting on this. Toms, snares and timpanis have booming, sonorous and dry sounds on them. Pianos sound a bit more warmer and round sounding in most cases that I have tested some tracks with piano pieces. Brass instruments like trombones have this intense and eruptive sound while trumpets sound "stately" and more metallic sounding. Woodwinds like saxophones and flutes sound a bit mellow and sombre rather than reedy, airy and silvery. On string instruments, guitars sounds warmer and buttery then violins sounds a bit solemn that I find it dull and muffled sometimes

As a mid-centric listener like myself who loves a more focus, detailed and unfurl midrange, KB Ear Storm is rather austere and conservative in my preference



HIGHS/TREBLE:

Definitely hat it has a protruding upper mids and some parts of presence treble that gives a gleaming and crisp on it to exhibit more sufficient details and clarity but unfortunately due to that too much boosted on that part, it really give me some annoyances as they are bit jarring and distortion in most cases. It does have instances of being sibilant especially on sibilance-prone vocal tracks.

Cymbals seem to have a sufficient shimmer but sometimes soughing. Hi-hats seems to fare better on this one as it depicts its natural sound to have the shortened, abrupt harsh sizzle. It is also noted that it has a modest sparkle but definitely has an inadequate air on them that I feel has a more subdued harmonics.



SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING & OTHER TECHNICALITIES:


Overall technicalities of KB Ear Storm are definitely average which is quite norm on the ultra-budget segment. It has an average

Sound/speaker stage width, average height ceiling and immersive depth from front to back that it gives me a rather meagre head room.

On imaging, it portrays a more 2-channel stereo presentation as I was able to locate the positioning of vocals and instruments on both left and right. On separation and layering, it gives an enough gaps on each element but the distinction on frequency layeing with its dynamic characters are rather blurry and inconsistent within its sonic canvas that will affect the envelopment of sound on more complex, multi-instrumental tracks.

Coherency of its drivers are actually impressive given that they are single DDs which surely excel on this part on how they deliver a faster phasing response.

On resolution capabilities, it has a solid macro-dynamics but it has an average mark on micro-detail retrieval on how it capture the subtleties of low-level information inside of atrack as they have less clarity and rather blunted in texture.



PEER COMPARISONS:


KB Ear KS1

◆ Compare to Storm, KS1 has a smoother contour, UIEM-style glossy shell albeit it looks more cheaper and too basic looking. It uses another type of polyester on the diaphragm of its 10mm dual magnetic dynamic driver which is PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate). It uses a hooded TFZ-type 2-pin connector which I prefer it over a QDC-type connector.

◆ On tonality, they are eerily similar as they share the same V-shaped sound profile from a more mid bass focus to a peaky upper mids-presence treble.

◆ In technical capabilities, they are also almost alike. The slight contrast between the two sets are an improvement of coherency and the sound field width of KS1 is a bit narrower compared to Storm.



TangZu Wan'er SG

◆ Wa'ner SG has a newer 10mm PET diaphragm on which is a newer generation. It's shells have more eye-pleasing as it has intricate designs on its face plate. On inclusions and product packing presentation, Wan'er fares a bit better on this one.

◆ Wa'ner takes a more U-shaped sound signature and compared to Storm, it sounds more balanced and unequivocally, a more mature-sounding set. It has a rather punchy bass, a more pronounced and smoother mids and a safer, less peaky treble.

◆ Wan'er has a wider sound/speaker stage compared to Storm. Furthermore, the rest of technical capabilities are very similar between both sets. Tonal colour is more natural on Wan'er.


As I end my review on this set. It seems that KB Ear Storm is somewhat more of a rehash and just a slight improvement from its 2021 predecessor model, The KS1 when it comes to the overall tonality to technical performance. This kind of tuning is rather polarising among the audio enthusiasts in the current state of the portable audio market on which most of the IEMs are now titling forward to a more Harmanish, U-shaped tuning.

Assuredly that KB Ear tries to do a different approach on their KB Ear Storm to be a contrasting set compared to its competitors. With its sound signature that delivers a fun, engaging and pleasurable listening experience which will probably cater more to casual listeners. This type of tuning will certainly suit their preferences even better by just simply enjoying the hard hitting bass beats and feeling the pleasure of the cacophonic essence of the club music like house, dance, disco and techno genres. KB Ear Storm is obviously not my preferred tuning but for people who just started in the portable audio hobby, it's a good choice to try it out at least.


KB EAR STORM is currently available in KEEPHIFI, you can check it HERE. Rest assured that this is not an affiliate link.


Also check out my previous reviews on other KB Ear products.


■ KB Ear KS1

■ KB Ear Lark

■ KB Ear Robin

■ KB Ear Ormosia

■ KB Ear Ink



SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: KB EAR STORM
IMPEDANCE: 32Ω
SENSITIVITY: 108dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: QDC-TYPE 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78MM)
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER


Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*



P.S.

I am not affiliated to KB EAR nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to KEEPHIFI for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.

Priced at 17USD, the KBEAR Storm is a single DD IEM that shall be contending itself among the hundreds of IEMs under 20USD. So, let's talk about it.




Foreword

1. The following reviews of IEMs will always be based on its own prowess relative to its price. When I say something about an IEM is good or bad, it will always be relative to how much is the retail of it.
2. I will be using DACs relative to the price of the IEM to review them. For this pair, the JA21 shall be used.
3. This pair of IEM was sent to me by Keephifi, thank you for that. However, they are in NO WAY influencing this review, hence all the opinions are of my own.

If you are interested in purchasing this pair of IEM, you can do so with this non-affiliated link :
Keephifi : https://keephifi.com/products/kbear-storm?_pos=1&_sid=10daa67f3&_ss=r


UNBOXING & ACCESSORIES
Unboxing is fairly standard with the sleeved box. Sliding ti out reveals the beautiful headshells and inside it we are given quite a decent (and this is a genuine complement) cable with 2 sets of eartips - the ash grey being the universal type and the white one being a short nozzle wide-bored eartips. I appreciate KBEAR giving us 2 types of different eartips to help with the fitment.

And also, a cover for the jack? KBEAR is being too generous here when most of the company does even do that. I really appreciate this attention and care they put into this.








BUILD & FIT
The build of the IEM is made of a plastic shell, but has been accented in this beautiful combination of a purple faceplate and blue transparent shell combo, giving it aesthetics that definitely sets it apart from the rest. The nozzle is of metal material which is a plus. The shell overall is also light which poses no problem for prolonged hours of listening.



The fit of this IEM is fairly good with the provided tips, with me preferring short-nozzle wide bore tips. There is no instances of discomfort anywhere when wearing this pair of IEMs.




In terms of how the tips affect sound, to me its not to a very significant degree but the normal tips certainly gave slightly more in terms of bass (sub rumble and impact), but again, its not that significant till the point where it affects the general tuning of it.


SOUND
Source : Foobar 2k -> J-cally JA21 CX21988 (Conexant) -> Stock KBEAR Storm




In general, the KBEAR Storm is a V shaped IEM with a slightly warm characteristic to it and slightly more emphasis on the mids and treble region.

BASS
For the price, its good.

• Subbass on the Storm has fairly polite rumble, but feels like its being held back
• Subbass has very quick roll off
• Kick drums are punchy with adequate impact
• Bass notes are resolving, pleasing to hear with no bloatiness
• Note definition on this pair is definitely on the rumblier/grittier style, but does not show any clarity loss as every note is heard clearly
• No instances of bass bleed

MIDS
Things that live around the mids to upper mids are definitely having more life to it, sounding more airy yet retains natural timbre of things.

Vocals :
After listening to quite an amount of budget IEMs recently, this one certain caught my attention having above average performance in the vocals (generally in the timbre section, sounding natural and more transparent)

• Male vocals - overall sounding more forward and intimate with a natural but with slightly nasal characteristics in certain tracks. Certain tracks definitely make male vocals sound more bright but not colored
• Female vocals - generally sounding more strong compared to male vocals and sounds slightly further back. Instances of vocal sibilance is none from my testing. Sharp? sure, but never sibilant. In certain tracks female vocals might sound slightly dry.

Instruments :

• Guitars would sound rounded, smooth but maybe lacking details ever so little for some reason
• Strings such as violins sound light and floaty inside tracks
• Piano key has body and presents the timbre well - being light when needed but never shy to be strong
• Macrodetails and microdetails in the mids to upper-mid region stands its own ground but does not fight with the main instruments and tracks.
• Choir/vocal ensembles definitely have slightly more presence than certain IEMS - sounds natural, transparent, and has extension to it, does well in itself as supporting tracks to the song.
• Foleys and accompanying microdetails such as guitar plucks, slides against the strings, synth decays are all well controlled - not being too dry to make the track sound hard, yet not putting too much emphasis till it feels too much

HIGHS
I think for this pair, drums for some reason just sounds heavenly. Complementing this with the well executed imaging and seperation, nothing sounds busy and blurry.

• Hi hats in general will definitely sound slightly darker but not noticable unless compared to other IEMs.
• in certain tracks with trap type hats or hip-hop/rap will have slightly peaky hats, but at the same time complements the energy for the songs.
• Cymbal and ride crashes has a sort of dark roll off
• Details in the treble region is presented aggresively, sounding soft in terms of timbre and volume, yet emphasizes its presence
• Instrument details that lie at the treble region will have a very light yet luscious feel to it

TECHNICALITIES
Suprisingly, the first I've noticed from this pair in term of its technicality is its detail retrieval. Very nuanced details from tracks are bring brought out and being seperated well. Macrodetails and microdetails feels very well complemented and supporting the main parts well.
With that said, the dynamics of this pair is fairly strong as well, with the ability to present multiple tracks without having 1 overshadowing the other. Personally I always jump back to Mac Miller - Swimming for testing dynamics and all I can say is I'm hearing things that should've laid back in the track suddenly comes forward, adding more to the track. Other than that, anything from Tony Anderson's Nuit album is a trip in itself

Which brings us to imaging and seperation, in which this pair has quite good of. Every single element of songs can be heard with clear distinction without any blending together.

In terms of soundstage, it is decent for the price, albeit sounds slightly echo-ey in certain tracks. It definitely is okay for the width but lacks depth, hence elements will sound more closer to you than having a distance



*note : the sticker is not related to the IEMs in anyway it is just an aesthetic change to my SMSL amp*


FINAL THOUGHTS
As it is, I am honestly amazed by the prowess of this pair. It's definitely not everyday I can still say a random pair of IEMs that comes to me can perform with no flaws, because I seriously can't think of any for this. The first impression of the slightly elevated mids and highs definitely made me have a skew of expecting maybe elements from those regions will be harsh, but there isn't. There just isn't any.

For the price, I think it already surpasses quite a lot of IEMs in this range, just for the technicality alone. Would I recommend this to anyone wanting a pair of decent but cheap earphones? Definitely.

Again, if you are interested in purchasing this pair of IEM, you can do so with this non-affiliated link :
Keephifi : https://keephifi.com/products/kbear-storm?_pos=1&_sid=10daa67f3&_ss=r

I found the colors to be very pretty and reminded me of my first KZ, fit was good, and they are very lightweight and comfortable for me. Isolation was just ok, maybe because of the light shells. accessories include tips and a cable. neither of them are bad just average.


Sound:
Bass was impactful with a thick and textured Bass that had average control and rolled off quickly. The Mids had a neutral tone with a little recession, but vocals were forward and transparent. They sound a little dark to me. The female vocals had a little more presence than the male ones, but details were good overall. Treble was aggressive in some places and lacking in others but still pushed out some details and sparkle in some songs. It went along well with the Bass response so I can't fault it there.

Conclusion. The KBEAR STORM is a unique V-shaped tuning that has familiar properties. Not on my favorites list for sure, I hope the next iteration is better.