KEFINE DELCI

Kefine is a new audio brand out of China that have launched a couple products to market. This review will take a look at their dynamic driver IEM, the Delci. The product was provided directly from Kefine for reviewing.

The Delci features a 10mm Polyurethane + Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) driver within aluminum gunmetal gray shells. The product is $59 and available on various online retailers.

The product also comes with a very nice cable that is a 4-wire braid mixing 2 wires of light copper with 2 wires of dark brown color that gives the cable a bit of a unique and luxurious look. The connectors are all aluminum and match the IEM shells, while terminating in 3.5mm stereo jack and 2-pin connectors.

Sound Impressions​

Kefine went with a very warm and balanced tuning choice with the Delci and its tuned quite well, with a fairly smooth and lifted bass range through the mids. The upper mid-range and treble are very easy to listen to, but there is a small peak in the mid-treble that only sometimes peeks out to be sharp on some cymbal attacks. Overall, the tuning is very nicely done and can be considered a gentle V-shaped tuning.




The low end is quite punchy with good impact. The dynamics are quite lively on Daft Punk's Fragments of Time, and surprisingly handles this track very well. Cymbals don't sound too bright and the busy passages are well controlled as is the bass section. The Delci's texturing may not be the best here, but it's really great for a budget IEM.

On a rock track like Vatican by Laterns on the Lake, the haunting lead vocals come across very clear and the echoes of Hazel Wilde's voice as it disappears in the background whisper away on the Delci. Again, I am very impressed with how smooth and engaging this IEM sounds with this track. Like on Daft Punk, the drumming from Radiohead's Phil Selway is punchy, and provides a good kick when needed.

I also tried a bit of piano jazz with the Delci, listening to the live recording of Bill Laurance Trio at Ronnie Scott's. On "The Good Things", the IEM was able to handle all the most intense parts with Laurance's piano melodies in full swing, and the electric bass guitar strumming heavily and drums on high octane. Kick drums are heavy on this track and the Delci had great impact when they struck. The soundstage felt more intimate overall, like I was sitting in the front of the show, but surprisingly did not feel like it was overwhelmed with poor separation here.

Final Thoughts​

The Delci is a great single DD IEM from Kefine. It's tuned very well to my preferences, and works well with all the genres I threw at it. I am pretty impressed with the sound for the low price of just $59, and this easily becomes one of my recommendations at this price point. If I were to change anything with it, I'd consider lowering the treble slightly after 7KHz to reduce it for those who are more sensitive to brightness, but overall this tuning works well.

"What a relaxed sound," said the nearly deaf emperor.

I approach reviews with a philosophy rooted in appreciation; I choose to evaluate products that resonate with me; because, as an artist, I recognize the immense challenge inherent in creation. My focus is on constructive critique and celebrating innovation and excellence. I will only review products that I enjoy.

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To say that the Kefine Delci earphones were a surprise would be an understatement. Periodically, a new IEM bursts onto the scene, garnished with praise that often borders on hyperbolic. My past experiences, marred by disappointments, humiliations and cope, had led me to regard such acclaim with a healthy dose of skepticism.

In the past, this skepticism has isolated me, making me feel like an edgy contrarian, as I struggled to reconcile the universal adulation of certain models with my distinctly negative experiences. Was I the only one able to discern that the so-called "ultimate giant killer with perfect tuning" was, to my ears, mediocre at best? Or my ignorance was so big that I literally cannot hear competently?

Therefore, when I first encountered the enthusiastic reviews of the Kefine Delci—a modestly priced single dynamic earphone—I braced myself for another letdown, expecting to see my resentment grow. However, the reality was starkly different.

Perfect:

Upon first use, my skepticism was not just mitigated; it was obliterated. This revelation also offered a window into why my auditory preferences often diverge from the mainstream. Contrary to expectations set by previous reviews, the Kefine Delci does not indulge in a warm, relaxed sound. Rather, it is a paragon of reference tuning—crisp, meticulous, and astonishingly balanced.

The prevailing earphone tuning that seems to cater to the Harman curve of 2019, which often strikes me as overly shouty and fatiguing. The trend towards 'resolving' and 'bright' sound signatures frequently results in sibilance and discomfort. My hypothesis? The age demographic of typical reviewers, skewing towards older individuals possibly experiencing high-frequency hearing loss, might explain their preference for brighter profiles—which they erroneously perceive as 'warm and relaxed'.

I would argue that USound is the way to go for people with undamaged hearing. That is, at least, what my experience and my personal testing with friends have revealed in the past.

Far for being laid-back and unresolving, I find that the Kefine Delci excels in its class with an impressive soundstage width, engaging bass, and vocals that are both restrained and lucid. The detail retrieval and separation capabilities are exceptional, rivaling those of earphones that boast multiple drivers and command much higher prices. As a professional who has spent countless hours in various recording studios, I would probably rely on these earphones for an honest, and quick, assessment of audio mixes. They exhibit a sonic fidelity that is both uncolored and impeccably natural.

The name 'Kefine', purportedly derived from 'refine', aptly reflects the mature and professional sound profile these earphones offer—a flawless execution that stands beyond reproach.

Almost:

However, no product is without its flaws. The machining of the Kefine Delci earphones, while allegedly unique, shows signs of inconsistency. For instance, in my set, the cable connects seamlessly with the left monitor but poses a significant challenge on the right due to imprecise machining. This forced me to choose between potentially damaging the unit or returning it—a dilemma no enthusiast wants to face. Luckily, I didn’t break anything. But very easily could I have destroyed the connector.

Additionally, the included ear tips are subpar in quality; even the largest sizes are too small and too weird to secure a fit. Fortunately, as an "audiophile" with an extensive collection of tips, this was a manageable shortcoming for me, but it could be a significant deterrent for others.

Conclusion:

Despite these very minor grievances, the Kefine Delci earphones are a revelation in the realm of audio precision. They may not deliver the 'fun' factor some seek through emphasized bass or treble, but for pure, unadulterated sound, they are unparalleled at this price. With their refined tuning and spatial accuracy, they deserve nothing less than a full five-star rating. I cannot bring myself to give them any other score. The Kefine Delci set a benchmark for what an affordable single-driver earphones can achieve, redefining expectations for audiophiles and professionals alike.

Introduction​

Kefine is a pretty new brand in the Chi-Fi industry, but it’s directly related to SIVGA that instead is not new on the market.
After the success of their Klanar (which I haven’t had the chance to try), they are back with a single DD set named “Delci”, and in this review I’ll dive deeper to understand their value and how they compare with other products.

Disclaimer: the Kefine Delci were sent to me by Kefine so that I could write an honest review. This review represents my personal opinion on the set, it isn’t a promotional or paid content and I don’t get any revenue from the sales of this product.
At the time of the review, the Kefine Delci were on sale for around 59$ at HiFiGO.

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Technical Specifications​

• Driver Configuration → 1 x 10mm DD
• Impedance → 28 Ω
• Sensitivity → 95 dB
• Frequency Response Range → 20Hz-40kHz
• Cable → 1,2m copper cable with 0.72mm 2-PIN connectors
• Plug Type → Straight gold plated 3.5mm jack connector

Packaging​

The packaging of the Delci is quite simple and contains:

• The Kefine Delci
• A detachable cable
• One set of wide bore tips and one set of narrow bore tips (S, M, L) along with the ones that are already mounted on the nozzles
• A hard carry case
• User manual

Design, Build Quality, Comfort and Isolation​

The Kefine Delci look very elegant and come in a dark grey color that I really dig, even though those who already own the Klanar will find them looking too similar (maybe Kefine should have found a way to differentiate them a bit more).
The build quality is excellent and there’s nothing to complain about.
Comfort is great as long as one uses the correct tips as these need a particularly deep insertion. At the same time, it’s better if the used tips have a stiffer inner tube since the nozzle is on the bigger side.
Isolation is decent in general.

Cable​

The cable is pretty good, even though I’ve already seen better cables in this price range: it has a chin slider, it’s well built and it feels durable. Let’s say that nowadays having braided cable in this price range would be even better, but I don’t wanna push so much on this since it’s a minor complaint.

Sound​

GEAR USED FOR THE TEST

• DAC: Topping E30
• AMP: Topping L30, Fiio A3
• Mobile phones: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Xiaomi Mi A3, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
• Moondrop May’s DSP cable with PEQ=0
• Dongle: Apple Type-C dongle, Fosi DS2, Hidizs XO
• Portable DAPs: Benjie S8/AGPTEK M30B
• Other sources: Presonus AudioBox iONE, Elgato Wave XLR, KZ AZ10

Do they need an amplifier?
No, they don’t strictly need an amplifier.

Sound signature
The Kefine Delci follow a very warm U-shaped signature.

Lows
The sub-bass is deep and builds very solid foundations for every track or genre one can think of. It’s not exaggerated though, which is very good news.
The bass is punchy and full bodied (for a 10mm driver, nice job Kefine!), even though the texturing ability is just ok. Let’s say it’s not a set for those who usually prefer extreme basshead L-shaped sets, but you’ll definitely feel at home when using the Delci if you love bass in general.

Mids
The midrange sounds slightly recessed, with a lot of warmth in the lower midrange and a very refined upper midrange. Male vocals sound very deep and warm, even though sometimes this warmth can be a bit too much for some, while female vocals are deliciously intimate yet energetic at the right point. Acoustic instruments are weighty and portrayed with a very nice and pleasant warm tinge, a thing that also impacts some other instruments like violins or electric guitars that should sound a tad drier in some situations.
The layering is very nice too, which is good news.

Highs
The highs are non fatiguing overall but there’s some spice. I have noticed that the shallower the fit, the spicier the treble gets, so a deep insertion will actually improve the overall sound experience.
The treble carries a good amount of details and the extension is not bad. For sure the Delci are not extremely analytical nor do they aim to reproduce the smallest nuances of the tracks, but this also goes along with the tuner's intention, clearly focused on music enjoyment.

The soundstage is well rounded with good width and average depth and height. Imaging is very good both considering the signature and the price.

Some comparisons:​

Kefine Delci vs Truthear Hola
Very briefly, the Delci are the direct upgrade from the Hola. Except for the technical ability, the cable and the build quality, that are superior on the Delci, the Hola sound a bit more natural when it comes to male vocals and acoustic instruments whereas the Delci sound even warmer than the already warm Hola. The Hola are a bit spicier in the treble but also have a slightly more extended upper end.
Comfort and isolation are very similar.

Kefine Delci vs QoA Gimlet
The Delci are superior in terms of imaging and sub-bass extension, and they also have a tighter and faster low-end, whereas the Gimlet have more details and energy in the upper midrange and treble and play in a slightly wider soundstage. I find female vocals smoother and less borderline-hot on the Delci, whereas I find male vocals a bit more “correct” on the Gimlet. Overall it’s very hard for me to choose, and I gotta admit that the Gimlet still competes very well with newer stuff when it comes to music enjoyment.
Build quality is good on both sets, whereas cable, comfort and isolation are better on the more lightweight Delci.

Kefine Delci vs EW200
Two very different animals: bassy and warm vs bright Harman-neutral. The Delci have better low-end with more punch and better body, they reproduce deeper male vocals and more intimate female vocals and they play in a wider stage. The EW200, instead, have faster bass, a more linear and natural sounding midrange, more energetic (yet also more fatiguing) female vocals and better detail retrieval. Let’s say that it’s the usual warm vs bright battle but both are very competent. Imaging is on par more or less which is very nice for the Delci considering their warmer approach.

Kefine Delci vs TRI x HBB KAI
Those who love very warm stuff have probably heard about the TRI x HBB KAI, and you know what? Those who were interested but didn’t pull the trigger should instead replace the KAI with the Delci in the wishlist.
The Delci sounds smoother, more accurate, more detailed than the KAI. The KAI have a bit more emphasis on female vocals but somehow the same vocals sound better on the Delci, probably because of the better treble and midrange tuning. Soundstage is also bigger on the Delci.
Build quality and cable are better on the Delci, whereas comfort and isolation are slightly better with the KAI in the ears.

Final Thoughts​

The Delci are a great set overall and they are probably the best DD IEMs around the 50$ mark. Their biggest strength is the effortless and smooth reproduction of every track, the technical performance is very good for budget single DD IEM (especially considering it’s a 10mm driver) and the tuning is properly executed.
Maybe it will be too warm for some, but those who love bass and like to just sit and enjoy the music will definitely consider the Delci as a great day-to-day set.