Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast

introduction​

Kinera has been steadily making its mark in the audio world, particularly with its unique, high-quality IEMs. Known for combining excellent sound performance with beautiful craftsmanship, Kinera is constantly pushing the boundaries in delivering accessible yet impressive audio experiences.

Since getting into audio as a hobby, I’ve tried plenty of IEMs under $50—some have been hits, while others didn’t quite make the cut. Today, I’m excited to introduce you to the Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast. I’ve been using this IEM daily for the past 10–15 days, and there are some standout qualities that really set it apart. In this review, I’ll share my honest experience with the IgniteX Beast, covering the good, the bad, and everything in between. Hopefully, this gives you a clear idea of what kind of sound quality and value you can expect from it in this price range.

Disclaimer:​

Thank you to Kinera for providing this IEM for review purposes. I received this product directly from Kinera, and as always, I strive to offer an honest review, highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses based on my personal experience. My goal is to share my insights with you to assist in your purchasing decisions.

If you wish to purchase this, you can visit their AliExpress store directly. Alternatively, if you’re in Bangladesh, you can find it available at Geek Mart.

Build Quality & Design​

The build quality of the Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast is pretty impressive. It’s full resin build that really feels premium. There’s good weight in the resin shell, which makes it feel very solid and strong and far from being cheap. I had it with me for daily usage, and I had thrown it here and there, but still did not catch up any visible scratches.

Now, that is where Kinera truly shines: the design. This beautiful mix of reds and purples on the faceplate, looking more like a piece of abstract art, gave it that very unique look that made it pop in the eyes. Kinera was known for its design work, and this was easily among the best-looking pieces they had done at this price point .

Fit & Comfort​

I’ve been using the Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast for extended periods, and honestly, I haven’t had any issues with the fit. Even after 5-6 hours straight, I don’t feel any discomfort or soreness in my ears, which is a big plus. It sits comfortably, and I think most people won’t face any fitting problems with it.

The weight distribution is also well-balanced, so it doesn’t feel heavy or bulky, even after wearing it for hours. It’s not a particularly heavy IEM, but it still feels solid and secure in the ear. The nozzle size is also just right—fits comfortably without any pressure, so it doesn’t feel intrusive. Overall, I’d say Kinera did a great job making this IEM comfortable for long listening sessions.

Dsp cable and Tips​

DSP Cable​

I have the DSP version of the Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast, and honestly, I haven’t felt the need to switch out the cable. The DSP cable already delivers such satisfying sound quality that I don’t feel any urge to experiment with other cables. It provides good loudness and brings out the full performance of the IEM, so it’s more than enough for my needs. Plus, I haven’t noticed any background noise with this DSP cable, which is a huge bonus.The cable also comes with a 3-button remote (volume +/-, play/pause) along with a mute/unmute switch and a decent microphone.

This setup has been quite handy for me, especially when I need to take calls or just use it as a daily driver.

Tips​

The IEM comes with two types of tips, but personally, I found the C-07 tips to provide the best fit and noise isolation. They offer a snug fit and decent isolation right out of the box. If you have other high-quality tips lying around, I’d recommend trying them too, as they can elevate the sound even further. For example, I’m currently using Penon Liqueur black tips with this IEM, and they’ve taken the sound quality to another level for me.

The sound performance​

Tonality​

In my opinion, the Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast has a neutral tonality with a subtle bass boost that adds a bit of warmth without overpowering the rest of the frequencies. It’s smooth and clear across the board, making it easy to listen to for extended sessions. The bass boost gives a bit of body to the sound, making it enjoyable for genres that need a bit of low-end presence, but it doesn’t muddy the mids or interfere with the treble. Overall, it’s a well-balanced tuning that feels natural and refined, which I think a lot of listeners will appreciate.

The Bass​

Sub-bass:​

Honestly, the sub-bass on these IEMs is impressive. It digs deep enough to give you that satisfying rumble without becoming overbearing. You really feel it when listening to tracks like Angel by Massive Attack—the sub-bass doesn’t just sit there; it actually resonates. There’s enough body in the low end that it feels impactful but never muddy. For anyone who enjoys that physical quality in the sub-bass without it intruding into the mids, the IgniteX Beast delivers excellent performance.

Mid-bass:​

The mid-bass has this great punchiness that makes drums sound lively and real. When I play Ticks & Leeches by TOOL, the mid-bass comes in strong, hitting just right without any bloat. It’s quick and has that “kick” you want from a track like this, keeping things energetic and exciting. I’m a fan of bass that knows when to be punchy without smearing into the vocals or instruments, and this IEM nails that balance.

General Bass Response:​

the bass on the IgniteX Beast feels well-rounded. There is a substantial feel to the bass, but by no means does it overshadow the mids or highs. I listen to everything from hip-hop to classics like Poem of Chinese Drum by Hok-man Yim, and the bass adapts beautifully. Those drums on the classic tracks have such depth that feels organic and genuinely satisfying, making the IEM much more versatile than I expected.

It’s refreshing to have bass that feels deep and well-contained while keeping everything clear and enjoyable. The Beast truly lives up to its name, and if you’re a bass lover who wants clarity in other frequencies too, I feel this could be a great fit.

Mid-Range​

Male Vocals:​

As a male vocali enthusiast, I was really impressed. His voice on Liquid Spirit by Gregory Porter comes across so smooth and rich, with a weight that gives it an almost physical quality. Do you know that feeling when you listen to a song and it seems like the singer is actually sitting in the room with you? This is exactly what I experienced with this recording. There’s a three-dimensional quality to the vocals, and they sit just right in the center without feeling too forward or too laid-back. It’s surprising how “real” and grounded his voice sounds through these IEMs—it makes you feel like you’re using something far more high-end.

Female vocal​

Female vocals are where this IEM really shines. I tried Adia by Sarah McLachlan, and her voice had the perfect balance of energy and smoothness. There’s no harshness or sibilance, which can often be a deal-breaker for those sensitive to the “S” and “sh” sounds. Here, everything’s smooth, musical, and easy on the ears. It feels like you can just sit back and enjoy her voice without any fatigue, which is honestly rare to find in this price range.

Middle-Range Instruments:​

In terms of instruments, the mid-range is where the Beast excels. The piano notes in Clair de Lune by Debussy sound incredibly clean; you get this resonance without any weird colorations. Now, shift to Hotel California by The Eagles, and the guitars just hit differently. They have that gritty texture, and the strums come through distinctly. It adds a layer of realism, making you feel like you’re right there listening to the guitars being played. It truly draws you into the song.

In short, mid-range on the IgniteX Beast has a clean, almost effortless quality. It’s slightly forward, which aids imaging, but never feels forced. If you’re into vocals and mids, this set does a fantastic job of keeping everything musical and engaging without going overboard. I’d definitely recommend giving it a shot if you’re looking for smooth, realistic midrange that feels sophisticated.

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The Treble​

The treble on the IgniteX Beast is honestly one of my favorite parts of this IEM. It’s got this excellent extension that doesn’t feel forced—there’s a smoothness to it, but it still comes through with great detail. I noticed it right away when listening to Clair de Lune by Debussy. The higher notes feel open and airy, giving the track that spacious feeling where each note has room to breathe. You can hear the delicacy in every piano keystroke without it sounding harsh or piercing, which is a big plus if you’re sensitive to treble.

What I really appreciate is how natural it sounds. Sometimes with balanced armature drivers, you get this metallic or unnatural “BA timbre” that can throw you off, but there’s none of that here. The treble just flows naturally, feeling both smooth and detailed at the same time. String instruments, for instance, sound lively but stay neutral, so there’s no overemphasis that would make them sound too bright or shrill. It’s honestly hard to find this kind of balance where you get detail without sacrificing smoothness.

Overall, I’d say the treble brings a nice bit of air and sparkle to the sound, making it feel more expansive and engaging. If you enjoy a treble that’s refined, airy, and realistic, this set delivers in a way that feels effortless and natural. It’s detailed without pushing too hard, which makes it super easy to listen to, especially for long sessions.

Technicalities​

One thing that stands out with the IgniteX Beast is its separation. For the price, the way it handles instruments and vocals is impressive. Everything feels distinctly placed without any clutter, which keeps the sound clean and easy to follow.

Soundstage & Imaging​

The soundstage on the Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast is notably wide, with good height that gives the music a spacious, open feel. While the depth doesn’t extend as much as the width, it still creates a satisfying, immersive soundscape that pulls you into the music.

Imaging​

Instrument placement is handled very well. You can clearly sense where each instrument is positioned, making it easy to follow different elements in the track. While it’s not pinpoint accurate, the overall imaging feels natural and solid, especially considering the price. It adds a sense of realism to the listening experience that makes it engaging and enjoyable.

Who Should Buy the Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast​

If you’re in search of a neutral and smooth-sounding IEM with impressive build quality, comfort, and secure fit, the Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast could be a perfect choice for you. It’s designed for daily use without hassle, making it a reliable companion. I personally use it in my regular life with its DSP cable, and whenever I don’t feel like handling heavier setups, this IEM provides me with a satisfying sound quality and a convenient plug-and-play experience.

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Quick Disclaimer: After reviewing 6 IEMs and more audio equipment, I still consider myself as a beginner/casual. I enjoy listening to music, podcasts and occasionally do gaming. Prior to making this review I was able to audition these IEMs a few months ago and I immediately fell in love with this set; regardless of that I will still give my honest thoughts and opinions about these.

The gear I am using for this review will be the following:

• iPhone XS with Apple Dongle
• ASUS Laptop with Spotify
• NEOHIPO DC10 Desktop DAC

Thank you so much to Kinera for sending these beautiful IEMs to our local community for a review tour. We look forward to collaborating with you in the near future!

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So let’s begin.

The Kinera IgniteX Beast is well… an absolute beast, while the name kind of sounds like a gaming IEM, there is definitely a reason why it is named the “Beast”. These IEMs go for $49.99 with the 3.5mm jack and there are two other options to choose from:

• With Microphone Type C
• With Detachable Microphone Type C

These IEMs also have two different color options, the one I have is the Zyra(Purple Red) while the other options are:

• Kuno(Golden Red)
• CP Color(You will get both the Zyra and Kuno)

The IgniteX Beast comes with a single Dynamic Driver and a Balanced Armature Hybrid Dual Driver. At first glance the shell is different from other IEMs as Kinera’s goal is to have a semi-universal fit, I’m not quite sure what the shell is made from, I am going to assume that it is made from Resin but it is confirmed that they used 3D printing to achieve this casting. While the configuration of the drivers seems pretty standard, some might say that this is a balanced/neutral IEM but they’d be shocked by the sound quality these bring to the table.

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UNBOXING EXPERIENCE

Surprisingly, the IEMs come with a small box. Despite the size, the box art is sleek yet beautiful. Shiny gold accents compliment the purple packaging with an outline art of the beast.

The sides of the packaging are standard with a sticker that tells you to scan the QR code to authenticate genuineness as well as Celest’s socials(Facebook, Instagram and X formerly Twitter). On the other side of the packaging, it shows the specifications of the IEMs such as the Drivers(as previously mentioned), Interface, Sensitivity, Wearing Type, Frequency Response Range and Impedance.

Removing the outer sleeve, you’re once again presented with a sheet of paper that has the outline art of the beast and some lore behind it, honestly this is pretty cool, although I do wish that it had more of the shiny gold accents to complete the feel but hey this is good enough.

Inside the box, you’ll have one zip lock bag that contains the following:

• IEMs with the cable attached
• 2 zip lock bags of ear tips(one bag for vocals and one bag for balanced)

Other than that is the instruction manual. Pretty simple box and nothing too fancy.


My only complaint is that these IEMs definitely deserve a carrying pouch/case, while the zip lock bag may pass as a pouch, for such a beautiful set of IEMs, they deserve a bit more love and care. Regardless of that, you can get by with just about any type of earphone carrying case you have.

I want to talk a little more about these IEMs, the design is beautiful. While I do wish that it was colorshifting, these already are visually stunning and are sure to be a conversation starter piece. The cable that it came with is good, it does not have that premium feel like the cable of the LETSHUOER DZ4 but it is very very flexible, also take note that the Type C cable version is different than the 3.5mm version.

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OVERALL IMPRESSIONS

Since I’ve already tried these IEMs before during our mini meet, I will get straight into it.

The tonality of these IEMs are both warm and dark, you should expect that these have a good bass response while the treble is a bit on the lower side. It won’t sound muddy for some as it is still clear but in terms of clarity it does fall a little behind against IEMs that are bright.

Thanks to the BA, you get better sound staging, imaging and depth. I would say that this is a holographic IEM but it is a bit narrow; compared to other IEMs that have more BA such as the JUZEAR Butterfly 61T there is a bit of a difference although if we are going to compare a 49.99$ versus a 199.99$ IEM I would definitely say to go for the IgniteX Beast instead.

Mid-range is also good, both male and female vocals are smooth and don’t sound shouty nor have a harsh sibilance, instruments are clear and defined even in high energy songs these IEMs can definitely keep up with pretty much any genre you throw at it.

And now for my favorite bass. One word, bliss. The IgniteX Beast truly lives up to its name as both the mid and sub-bass just have the right amount of punch and rumble which I could only describe as perfection. Here’s a short comparison on IEMs with bass.

• KZ Castor Bass: Good punchy mid-bass but lacks in decay; minimal sub-bass.
• BQEYZ Cloud: Very punchy mid-bass with good rumbling sub-bass.
• IgniteX Beast: Same mid-bass as the BQEYZ but with a smoother and slightly lasting sub-bass.

It’s really hard to believe that a $49.99 IEM could keep up with IEMs that are worth 3 times as much. Other than the technical side of things, these are gorgeous. Of all the IEMs I’ve reviewed this is by far the most visually stunning IEM, the second is the JUZEAR Butterfly 61T.

Overall, I would highly recommend picking up these IEMs either if you're a beginner or someone who wants to collect them all, the IgniteX Beast’s impressive performance on the high, mids and lows is just mind blowing for a $49.99 price point. The Beast truly lives up to its name and to quote Homelander from The Boys

And … Oh, I got to tell you, it was perfect. Perfect! Everything, down to the last, minute details.

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Blup blup 𓆟 and happy listening!

Disclaimer
Please note that I am not an audiophile, and this review does not delve into the technical aspects of the IEMs. My impressions are based on my personal preferences, and others may have different experiences with this product. I also have a very limited experience with audio products so please take this review with a grain of salt.

The Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast was lent to me as part of a review tour.

Price: 49 USD
Link: https://kineraaudio.com/products/ignitex-beast

Part 1: General Product Details

Package Inclusions:

• IEM shells & cable
• 6 pairs of eartips (3 pairs wide-bore tips, 3 pairs standard tips)

The IEM Shells

• There are two (2) variations of the shell design, one is the Kuno (Golden-Red) and the one I have with me is the Zyra (Purple-Red).
• These IEM shells have a bold design with faceplates that shift from deep magenta to rich purple, featuring a pattern that looks like flowing lines or waves. The iridescent effect adds depth, giving a layered look.
• The body is made of smoky black, see-through material, letting you see some of the internal parts. The brand name 'Celest' is printed on the side in cursive, adding a touch of elegance.
• Each earpiece weighs 4.8g so they are very light, you’ll hardly feel the weight on your ears.

The Cable

• A tightly wound basic black cable terminating to a 3.5mm jack. When buying the set, you have an option to get 3 types of cables: no mic, regular mic on the cable, and a boom mic.
• The cable is probably one of my favorites in the <$50 range, as it’s light and has little to no “memory”. They are well behaved are are easy to “pose” for photos.
• The cable weighs ~16g so it’s lightweight.

Part 2: Subjective review

Sources

• PC + ifi nano iDSD Le
• Xiaomi 13T + Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha

Song List

• Asticassia - Takahashi Ohmama
• The Witch From Mercury - Takahashi Ohmama
• Otonoke - Creepy Nuts
• Tomorrow and Tomorrow - Masayoshi Soken
• Answers - Masayoshi Soken
• Close in the Distance - Masayoshi Soken
• Wasted Nights - ONE OK ROCK
• Falling (Feat. Taka) - Jin, Taka
• Hatena - Penguin Research
• Something Comforting - Porter Robinson
• Shelter - Porter Robinson, Madeon

General Usage Impressions

• The shell body really stick out of your ear. At first I thought it would fall right off when I had them inserted but that didn’t turn out to be a problem at all
• It wasn’t noticeable at first, but after a few hours of wearing this set, some pressure build-up can be felt. I had to tip roll and find a pair of basic thin silicon eartips that worked for me

Sound Impressions

• The sound quality of this set stands out for its balance. Nothing about the sound was off, annoying, or exhausting. It's tuned in a warm-balanced manner, making it a versatile "generalist" IEM.
• The mids and highs are clear without being fatiguing, providing a pleasant listening experience.
• In gaming, I tested these with Overwatch 2 and Marvel Rivals, and the soundstage, imaging, and clarity were impressive.

Final Thoughts
The IgniteX Beast by Kinera Celest is a strikingly designed IEM that balances aesthetics and an inoffensive warm-balanced tuning that provides a well-rounded listening experience across various music genres and even gaming. This set is a great option for those looking for a versatile, budget-friendly IEM and it has definitely earned a spot on my “things I want to buy” list.

Hello, folks; thank you for taking the time to read my second review here on Head-Fi. Should you have any suggestions on improving my review, feel free to send me a message


Background about me

A friend introduced me to this hobby around two years ago. As a bedroom musician, I was able to pick up this interest easily, like a pair of comfortable gloves. This hobby has kept my sanity at my desk job since then. In addition, this hobby has reconnected my love of music, and it has been a wonderful journey so far.

I see myself as a music lover in all aspects (and genres, but I have personal biases, of course) rather than an analytical one. I have limited to no experience with very expensive gear, so take this review with a lot of salt

This review is geared towards the first experience, like a newcomer to this hobby. That also includes the gear used for testing.


Introduction and Specifications




Box Contents and Impressions


Inclusions:

1. IgniteX Beast IEMs
2. ear tips (2 sets)
3. Cable

The contents of the box are neatly packed, nothing fancy. This version is called “Kuno”. The color reminds me of a monarch butterfly at first glance.

Now, let’s get to hearing.


Testing Methodology

Music files: Spotify “very high” quality (320 kbps OGG), Apple Music Lossless (various formats, but ranging from 16 to 24-bit depth, 44.1 to 48kHz sampling rate ALAC)

Sources: Apple USB-C dongle, FiiO JadeAudio JA11, FiiO BTR13, ifi Uno Desktop DAC. Played from either a Samsung Galaxy Note 10 lite, a work laptop, or my desktop.

Music: Mostly guitar-driven tracks, but personal biases include pop-punk and emo (it's not just a phase), metalcore, post-hardcore, pop-rock and Top 100, local music (known as Original Pilipino Music), J-rock and J-pop, and K-pop. Preference for Warm-balanced tuning.

Unit: Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast “Kuno” 3.5mm, Spinfit CP 100, Stock cable

I bought this unit online with my own resources.


Measurements and Sound Impressions



All credits to OB Odio for the measurement on squig.

Those who previously owned a Wyvern Abyss from the same brand will remember this set as a “spicier” version. Adding a balanced armature unit for mid to high frequencies “fixed” its murkiness.

Bass

Bass has a decent attack and decay on the lean side. It does not linger for long. It's very good for dance tracks to be non-fatiguing. However, for some tracks, it lacks punch (it's just there). Because of the lack of emphasis on this area, bass guitars are difficult to hear, so this set is not ideal for those wanting to monitor such instruments.

Midrange

Mids are on the balanced side of things, typical of Harman-tuned sets. It's not thin, but it has enough life to make the mix lively. I enjoy pop tunes with this set because of this aspect. The vocals are good, albeit male vocals are slightly recessed but not lifeless. It also makes the vocals more ominous in the mix.

Treble

Hi-hat and cymbal strikes have good sound reproduction. Despite having a BA unit, it is well-controlled. Sibilance sometimes peaks, but it mostly depends on the song you’re listening to.

Soundstage and Imaging

It is intimate but not overly close. It's not ideal for gaming (for me) as it makes sounds closer than they are in-game. Imaging is decent for the price.

Comfort

Having a CIEM-inspired shape, this surprisingly has my comfort fit to listen for long hours on end. It snugs almost perfectly in my ear. The cable is also somewhat lightweight, so it doesn’t pull my ears down when using it in public transport or malling.


Comparisons

vs Wyvern Abyss

A treble-boosted version of the Abyss. A lot of improvement, but this is not to totally discredit the Abyss. IgniteX Beast has also improved layering thanks to the additional BA unit.


vs TangZu Yu Xuan Ji

YXJ has faster and livelier bass and is more female vocal-focused than this set.


Conclusions

Despite not being a fan of Harman-tuned sets, I can easily recommend this set to casual listeners and as gifts this holiday season. Add a portable DAC/amp like the FiiO BTR13 then this combo is golden for listening to all kinds of music. It’s just good, a safe bet. For those wanting a set for monitoring or more analytical work, this set may be lacking in certain areas.


Many thanks to you and the community for taking the time to read this review. All comments are welcome.

Happy listening

CELEST IGNITEX BEAST: - INSANELY MUSICAL

DISCLAIMER: The Kinera Celest team sent us the CELEST IGNITEXBEAST free of charge for review purposes. We would like to thank the kind folks at Celest Audio for their continuous support of Aural Cafe.

Introduction: -

Today at Aural Cafe we are reviewing Celest Audio’s latest dual-driver hybrid offering: The Celest IgniteX Beast featuring a single Dynamic Driver with a single Balanced Armature setup.

Celest IgniteX Beast is the latest dual-driver hybrid IEM offering from the Celest Audio stable featuring a single 10 mm LCP Diaphragm dynamic driver along with a single custom balanced armature. But before we delve more into the IgniteX Beast, we would like to first apprise our fellow audiophiles of the brand Celest Audio. Celest Audio is a subsidiary brand of Dongguan, China-based Yu Tai Electronic Acoustics. Yu Tai Electronic Acoustics is a Dongguan, China-based company that started its journey with the launch of the Kinera brand way back in 2011. In 2012 Yu Tai Electronic Acoustics had the honour to launch the world’s first high resistance 5mm micro dynamic speaker for military hearing aids. In 2013, Yu Tai Electronic Acoustics began mass manufacturing of quality BA drivers at competitive pricing due to which Yu Tai Electronic Acoustics became an internationally and locally renowned supplier of BA drivers. From 2014 to 2015, Yu Tai Electronic Acoustics developed several patents for various driver tech, but it was in 2016 which is a landmark in Yu Tai Electronic Acoustics' history as it is in 2016 when the “Kinera” brand came into existence with the launch of BD005, an entry-level hybrid driver IEM to cater the needs of the price sensitive audiophiles. In 2018, when we at Aural Cafe had just started our audiophile journey, Kinera released a series of items such as SEED, IDUN and ODIN but it was after Kinera Odin an 8-BA-based IEM after which we at Aural Cafe started the Kinera brand closely. Fast forward to 2024 in six years, Kinera has become a leading premium brand and Yu Tai Electronic Acoustics ended up launching two more sub-brands Queen of Audio (QOA) and Celest Audio.

Celest Audio was established in 2021, to explore innovative ways of creating monitoring earphones through which bands, singers, musicians and stage performers can come up with more real, authentic, and true-to-life sound performances. Celest Audio primarily aims to come up with unconventional innovative IEMs and audio accessories through independent research and development of planar magnetic, dynamic drivers, balanced armatures and other driver techs. Celest has a unique house sound tuning and design style that not only injects elements from Chinese mythological legends in the Legends of Mountains and Seas but also constantly aims at integrating new technologies to explore the beauty of every detail in music and to showcase the infinite possibilities of Chinese sound ‘Art’. Very recently Celest Audio has also tried its best to cater for the demands of the newbie young audiophiles who are not only music lovers but are gamers and into Bluetooth-based IEMs and gaming headphones with the launch of hi-fi cables and gaming headsets such as Celest RUYI and Ogryn respectively. Overall, we at Aural Cafe feel that Celest Audio is a young dynamic fluid brand that not only aims to cater for the evolving needs of mature musicians and singers but also young audiophiles who are very demanding and price-sensitive at the same time. Well, this isn’t the first pair of Celest IEMs that we have reviewed at Aural Cafe. We had previously reviewed and loved the Celest Relentless (attach review link here) and Celest Wyvern Abyss (attach review link here) at Aural Cafe, which was a very fun and learning experience, so we are quite excited to review the latest budget offering from the Celest Audio- The IgniteX Beast.

Celest IgniteX Beast is the latest budget offer from Celest Audio featuring a dual-driver hybrid setup. Celest IgniteX Beast is stocked with a single 10mm Liquid crystal polymer (LCP)diaphragm dynamic driver along with a single Celest’s in-house BA. While the 10mm LCP diaphragm is implemented to take care of the lows and mids the custom 10012 BA is used to take care of the highs. LCP diaphragm is made from liquid crystal polymer, which is known for its lightweight, reliability, and high-frequency response aided by low distortion. Due to this efficiency of the LCP diaphragm lots of budget and mid-budget IEMs, these days are coming with the LCP diaphragm-based dynamic driver. The team at Celest Audio has taken inspiration from Chinese mythology while tuning the “IgniteX Beast”. The IgniteX Beast is one of the five Divine Beasts from ancient Chinese mythological tales, such as The Classic of Mountains and Seas and The Biographies of Immortals. The beast is said to resemble a deer on fire, able to breathe fire and have a roar that echoes through the heavens. It is a symbol of strength and courage. The deer's head symbolizes vitality, while the flames represent light and hope, bringing luck and happiness. Well, if we at Aural Cafe need to take any hint from this mythological tale about the “IgniteX Beast” tuning we feel that the IgniteX Beast - the deer on fire should resonate a warm and musical sound. Celest IgniteX Beast comes in two colour variants — Zyro, with orange hues, and Kyna, with purple hues. It is available in three versions: the standard version with a 3.5mm cable, a version with a Type-C cable and a microphone, and a version with a Type-C cable and a detachable boom microphone, which can be of great help for audiophiles who not only love music but also gaming. Our review unit of IgniteX Beast arrived in Kyna colour along with the Type-C cable and a detachable boom microphone which officially retails for 69 US$. The Type-C cable along with a detachable boom microphone with which our review unit comes stocked is also sold on a standalone basis as Celest RUYI cable for 30 US$.

Celest IgniteX Beast’s base version retails at 49 US$ which comes with the usual two-pin cable with 3.5mm termination. We at Aural Cafe are reviewing the special version of Celest IgniteX Beast which comes with a detachable microphone and a type-C cable and retails for 69 US$.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: 1-Dynamic Driver + 1-Balanced Armature
• Impedance: 16Ω ± 5%
• Freq Response: 20Hz-20Khz
• Connector Type: 0.78mm 2-Pin
• Sensitivity: 106 dB/mW @1kHz
• Termination Plug: 3.5mm or Type-C

Packaging & Accessories: -

Celest IgniteX Beast arrived in a small and compact navy blue colour box. The front of the box depicts the mythological character - IgniteX Beast with the help of a beautiful artistic illustration, along with the name ‘IgniteX Beast’ which is engraved in gold in English and Chinese languages. The brand ‘Celest’- to perpetuate the myth of music is also engraved in gold shining brightly at the top of the front side of the box while the IEM specifications are printed in white colour at the back side of the box. Overall, we at Aural Cafe were quite impressed by the beautiful illustration of the IgniteX beast and the combination of bold navy blue with and shining gold colour. On opening the box, we are welcomed with a leaflet exhibiting the beautiful illustration of the IgniteX Beast along with a brief story of the IgniteX Beast. On removing the leaflet covering we are greeted with three small zipper packets and one big zipper packet. The first small zipper packet consisted of three pairs of wide-bore Celest Custom 221 Vocal grey colour silicone ear tips in S, M, and L Size which are supposed to help in enhancing high frequencies and making vocals sound pleasant while the second packet consisted of narrow bore Celest custom C-07 balanced silicone ear tips. The Celest custom C-07 balanced silicone ear tips were quite attractive as they came in bright red, sea green and yellow colours concerning S, M, and L sizes respectively. The C-07 balanced silicone ear tips help provide a more balanced sound with 3D imaging. The last small zipper packet consisted of foam which was meant for the boom mic. On opening the big zipper pack, we were welcomed with beautiful shells of IgniteX Beast along with the stock cable which is basically the RUYI cable in our case- The Type-C upgrade cable featuring 0.78mm two pins along with a detachable boom microphone.




Build & Design Concept: -

The IgniteX Beast IEM shells are ergonomically designed using medical grade resin with the help of 3d printing technology featuring a semitransparent finish due to which a geeky audiophile can also see the inside of the shells. When it comes to the faceplate the IgniteX Beast faceplate is one of the most beautiful faceplates we have come across irrespective of the price point. The faceplate of the IEMs features flame elements, with flame elements created through modelling. After 3D printing, the faceplate design is spray painted to give it a gradient effect of either Kyna- purple red or Zyra- golden red. While our unit of IgniteX Beast came with Kyna faceplates, this gradient effect basically aims at capturing the appearance of flames in mid-burn. When it comes to the stock cable the Ruyi upgrade type c cable adopts a hand-weaved design with a dual-strand configuration. Each core is 2.0mm in diameter combined with high-quality OFC wires. This build structure helps transmit high-fidelity audio signals while minimizing external electromagnetic interference. The stock cable also features full in-line media controls. It has volume controls, play/pause controls, and provides support for skipping tracks. The upgraded type-C DSP cable also has a mute-mic switch that will mute the microphone when not in use. The cable features sandblasted aluminium alloy metallic components on the Y-Splitter and termination plug. The cable, while being quite lightweight, has a black colour skin-friendly PVC outer covering which gives it a comfortable and flexible build. The upgrade cable also features a detachable boom microphone. It’s an M49-Mute microphone which is a high-fidelity audio pickup receptor with high sensitivity and wide frequency response. Voice transmission is clean and crisp. It can be of big use for audiophiles who are not only into music but also are into gaming. The detachable boom microphone worked flawlessly and helped us a lot while playing games. We at Aural Cafe just loved the addition of this option by the Celest Audio team. This cable makes your life easier while listening to music on the go and also helps a lot during professional gaming. When it comes to the IgniteX Beast shells the shells are lightweight, and the ergonomic design helped us achieve a decent level of passive isolation.

We at Aural Cafe are truly impressed by the overall unboxing experience, design, fit and build quality of the IgniteX Beast, the stock type C cable and the silicone ear-tips. Although it is just a 69 USD IEM, the Celest Audio team has focused on each aspect starting with minimalistic functional packaging, the 3D printed ergonomic shells, the beautiful artistic faceplates and finally the option to include the cables as per one use case. We also loved the stock type-C Ruyi cable version which came with our review unit as we are also into gaming and feel that type C cable not only makes life easier by just plugging in the cable with the type c port of the mobile phone while listening to the music on the go but the included boom microphone works flawlessly and helps a lot during our gaming session.




Sound Analysis: -

We would like to state here that the sound impressions are based on our usage of Celest IgniteX Beast after the burn-in time of more than 50 hours with a solid clean source along with stock ear tips. We have not used the stock type-C cable in coming up with a sound impression as we wanted to use pure hi-fi sources to understand the true potential of IgniteX Beast. Instead of the stock cable supplied, we have used the stock cable of its younger sibling, the Celest Wyvern Abyss which we have previously reviewed on Aural Cafe. The effect of the stock type-C cable and another dongle, portable and desktop sources, aftermarket ear tips and cables on sound impressions has been dealt with separately in the Source matching and Driveability section so we would request every audiophile to go through that section for sure.


Credits: @atechreviews

• Tonality: - After listening to different genres of soundtracks on Celest IgniteX Beast for some hours we at Aural Cafe can say that the Celest IgniteX Beast beautifully embraces a warm and musical tonality. The very capable 10mm Liquid crystal polymer (LCP)diaphragm dynamic driver along with a single Celest in-house BA has been beautifully implemented by the Celest Audio team to achieve a soulful musical tonality. The lows are a bit boosted with the mids and highs are tuned in a very balanced and precise manner. The timbre of the instruments is very genuine and life-like, whereas the vocals on IgniteX Beast flaunt immersive emotions and texture which we have rarely experienced from an IEM in this price bracket. Due to warmth and musical tonality, we at Aural Cafe feel that Celest IgniteX Beast can go with most genres except jazz. We at Aural Cafe especially loved listening to vocal-centric soundtracks such as ‘Out of Time’ by the Weekend.

• Lows: - The lows on IgniteX Beast are taken care of by a very capable 10 mm LCP Diaphragm dynamic driver. When it comes to the overall experience in lows the quantity of bass takes leads over quality, yet we would like to add here that the lows are still one of the cleanest which we have heard from a warm and musical budget IEMs in this price range. When it comes to the mid-bass vs sub-bass, the sub-bass wins in terms of quantity whereas the mid-bass wins in terms of quality. The mid-bass on IgniteX Beast is spacious, and tight along with sufficient speed and decent punch. When it comes to sub-bass the Celest Audio team didn’t like to play safe like most companies as the IgniteX Beast has lots of quality sub-bass rumble which we enjoyed to our core while listening to Weekend's 'Heartless' while the sub-bass layering and texture is surprisingly good considering price which we really enjoyed while listening to Jean du Voyage - 'Nakshatram'. We also loved listening to ‘Might Not’ by Belly feat the weekend but yes, we at Aural Cafe would love to hear a more hard-hitting mid-bass slam on IgniteX Beast.

• Mids: - The Mids on IgniteX Beast are again tuned with the help of a 10mm LCP Diaphragm dynamic driver and definitely is one of the strongest points of IgniteX Beast. The warm musical lows bleed a bit to the mids area adding a good amount of musicality to mids which comes out shining passionately with lots of emotions and texture which is rare to find from an IEM in this price bracket. We at Aural Cafe are deeply impressed by the Celest Audio team and how they have tuned the 10mm LCP Dynamic Driver Unit to come up with emotional and soulful mids without compromising a bit on clarity. The Mids on IgniteX Beast is precisely balanced in terms of positioning without being too forward or recessed. The vocals come out clean even in complex metal tracks. Both the male and female vocals exhibit great clarity, emotions and texture along with precise control irrespective of the genre of soundtracks one is listening to. We especially enjoyed listening to ‘Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby’ by Cigarettes After Sex. The low mids lack depth whereas the upper mids are top-notch and one of the best we have come across in recent times. The upper mids shine smoothly with great clarity and energy without any kind of shoutiness. The upper mids on IgniteX Beast are buttery smooth which made listening to the last part of the soundtrack from the Weekend 'In Your Eyes' feat Kenny G where the saxophone of Kenny G takes center stage an experience in itself. Due to the authoritative upper mids of IgniteX Beast, we were pleasantly enamoured by the flute timbre while listening to ‘Rabba’ (feat Tochi Raina & Jaggi) composed by Amit Trivedi for Coke studio on IgniteX Beast.

• Highs: - The Highs on IgniteX Beast are taken care of by Celest’s Audio custom 10012 balanced armature which is the same BA model that is used in Celest’s higher-end models such as Relentless, PhoenixCall which we had the honour of testing and reviewing at Aural Cafe. The highs on IgniteX Beast are smooth and decently airy without any harshness thereby making IgniteX Beast suitable for long listening hours. The micro details are not on the face but come in a much more organic way while listening to different genres of music. The overall high is quite resolved and merges beautifully with the overall warm and musical tonality of IgniteX Beast. The low treble has a beautiful texture and body while the upper treble has just a decent extension at best. While the guitar notes and while listening to 'Sidewalks' by Weekend feat Kendrick Lamar are exciting and engaging, we would love to have a better extension at the upper treble region. We enjoyed thoroughly listening to ‘Breathe’ by Pink Floyd due to the smooth and resolving highs of IgniteX Beast, but a more extended upper treble would have been a bonus for the ever-demanding audiophiles

• Soundstage & Imaging: - The soundstage on IgniteX Beast is decent both in terms of width and depth taking the immersive and engaging soul of the IgniteX Beast into consideration. The IgniteX Beast exhibits a better soundstage width in comparison to depth. We at Aural Cafe believe that Celest Audio has done a wonderful job in achieving an immersive soundstage. So overall the soundstage on IgniteX Beast is not holographic but immersive and intimate in presentation which we really enjoyed while listening to progressive rock soundtracks such as 'Stairway to Heaven' by Led Zeppelin. The separation between instruments is above average, which helps a lot while listening to complex tracks. We at Aural Cafe loved the way IgniteX Beast retrieved micro details in a very effortless manner. The Imaging on IgniteX Beast is the star of the show and surprisingly precise and solid which we have rarely experienced from an IEM in this price range. Precise imaging should especially help professional gamers while competing at different levels. We at Aural Cafe can comfortably understand the placement of instruments while listening to ‘Dream On’ by Aerosmith on IgniteX Beast. When it comes to layering, the layering is also above average and would help the gamers. We like to also add here that IgniteX Beast showcase a beautiful tonal balance which was so damn fun, especially listening to Blues, progressive Rock and Ghazals on IgniteX Beast.

• Synergy:- We at Aural Cafe would suggest at least 30 hours of burning in a period to get the best out of IgniteX Beast. After the burn-in period the dynamics. Transient response and depth in the lows have considerably improved. When it comes to driving ability, we are happy to communicate that Ignite X with 106db of sensitivity is easy to drive and can be driven easily from a smartphone but performs better when Ignite X is used along with a hi-fi dongle. We also tested the type-C DSP cable which our version of Ignite X came stocked and below is our impression of the same in comparison to the 3.5 mm cable.
  • LOWS: The lows improved a bit in terms of depth and texture. The overall bass, in terms of quantity, remains the same. The mid-bass has a tad better texture whereas the sub-bass has a tad better depth on IgniteX Beast with stock type-C DSP cable in comparison with the 3.5 mm cable.
  • MIDS: The mids overall also performed the same on our testing of IgniteX beast with stock type-C DSP cable in comparison with the normal 3.5 mm cable. Overall, we feel that the DSP cable adds a bit of clarity and space in the mids region.
  • HIGHS: The Highs just like lows and mids don’t show day and night changes on our testing of IgniteX beast with stock type-C DSP cable in comparison with the normal 3.5mm cable but we feel the upper treble extends a bit better with the DSP cable.

• Overall, the DSP cable helps a lot in using Ignite X beast with the type-C port of the smartphone like we used to do earlier and makes our life a lot easier while listening to music on the go. The stock boom mic performs as expected when used with the stock type c cable and helps a lot while playing games.

• When it comes to source matching, we at Aural Cafe believe that source plays a big role in extracting the best out of the IEMs. Due to the warm and musical tonality of the IgniteX Beast, we feel it would merge well with pure hi-fi neutral sources. After listening to music on Celest IgniteX Beast with several hi-fi dongles, and portable and desktop sources we felt that IgniteX Beast loves a pitch-black background and neutral hi-fi source. In our case, it really went well with neutral clean hi-fi sources such as Aune M1p, Dethonray DTR1+ LE and dongles such as iFi Audio GO LinK Max, the newly launched Celest CD20 portable DAC/Amp. We also like to add here that we tested Celest IgniteX Beast with a number of aftermarket ear tips. After using different types of ear tips, we at Aural Cafe feel that IgniteX Beast sounds best with Stock silicone ear tips and would not suggest using any other upgraded tips because of the value addition. We would definitely like to add here that the Spinfit CP145 makes the highs a bit more airy and spacious while the Spinfit W1 adds a body and depth in the lows region. When it comes to cables, we are happy with the stock type-C cable but since we had lots of other cables in our library, we loved Celest IgniteX Beast with a solid SPC cable which was linum DualBax zebra in our case.

Conclusion: -

We would like to start our conclusion by stating that we at Aural Cafe had the honour to review the younger sibling of IgniteX Beast ‘The Celest Wyvern Abyss’ We at Aural Cafe feel that we won’t do justice to the review if we inform our readers and fellow audiophiles about the improvements in IgniteX Beast in comparison to its younger sibling. The IgniteX Beast, with an added custom BA, is more spacious and airier in comparison with its younger sibling. Moreover, we at Aural Cafe feel that the IgniteX Beast is technically a lot more superior when it comes to imaging and layering in comparison to its younger sibling. We at Aural Cafe feel that our version of IgniteX Beast with type c DSP cable is a no-brainer at 69usd. The 3d printed shells of IgniteX Beast are very light in weight and provide top-notch passive isolation which makes listening to hi-fi music in noisy places a reality. The included boom mic, and the layering and imaging ability of IgniteX Beast will not only help the audiophiles but will surely help the gamers while competing at different professional levels. The normal version which retails at 49 USD is again a crazy deal if we take into consideration the built-up quality and the technical ability of the IgniteX Beast. We at Aural Cafe definitely yearned for a much punchier mid-bass and a much better upper treble extension but finally, we like to conclude this review by saying that if you are in a market in search of an IEM under 50 US$ then IgniteX Beast is a no brainer as it is difficult to find an alternative at such price point who merges musicality with the technicality in a such a solid manner.

Non-Affiliated Link: -

• https://kineraaudio.com/products/ignitex-beast
• https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007791093844.html

Introduction
I want to start off this review by thanking @DestinoAzell for making this review possible. The Celest IgniteX Beast is a budget IEM by Kinera mostly made out of resin shell, It is a hybrid IEM with 1 LCP diaphragm Dynamic Driver and a single BA for the highs. It comes with 2 color options the Kuno and the Zyra, It also comes in 3.5mm or the type c option with a mic. For the mic, you would have the option of choosing either a regular inline mic or a boom mic.

Sound signature
Neutral bright
The sound can be described as bright leaning lower treble coupled with a slight boost in the bass and upper mids.

Sound Impression

Bass
Quantity(5 means neutral): 6/10
Quality: 6/10 (7/10 accounted for it’s price)

The bass is nice for the offering price, it is a non-overpowering punchy bass that has a nice control for midbass bleed. The bass of the IgniteX Beast focuses on mid-bass punch rather than sub-bass rumble. It is punchy however I find it lacks a bit of body to the bass when it comes to tracks that feature a more bouncy-like bass (typically a mix of sub-bass and mid-bass).

For example, HoneyComeBear - 夏の魔法 This is a song that consists of both sub-bass and mid-bass i find it to be a bit lacking in the bouncy sensation as I mentioned above.
However when it comes to track that require a faster-sounding bassline for example カラメル - song by もさを this is the area where this iem bass shines presenting it’s punchy basslines.

Mids
Lower Mids
Quantity(5 means neutral): 5.5/10
Quality: 6.5/10 (7/10 accounted for it’s price)

Upper Mids
Quantity(5 means neutral): 6/10
Quality: 6.5/10 (7/10 accounted for it’s price)

The IgniteX Beast has a cleaner type midrange presentation that is just slightly emphasized to prevent it from sounding too “blend into the mix”. The main point of IgniteX Beast is to give users a sense of more clarity and separation. It also helps add fun by making the female vocals sound more crispy.
Despite the clean midrange presentation, I think the vocals can sometimes be colored by the lower treble at the area where the midrange and treble meet, creating slightly grainy vocals at the upper octave and smoothened vocals at the lower octave. This trait is what I call incoherency. It is audible but in my opinion still forgivable.

For example, in 愛唄 - by 高木さん the extra crispiness can be heard which gives a more sense of clarity and fun yet the timber still remains quite decent.

Treble
Lower Treble
Quantity: 6/10
Quality: 6/10

Upper Treble
Quantity: 5/10
Quality: 6.5/10 (7/10 accounted for it’s price)

The treble of the IgniteX Beast is bright-tilted, in my testing I find the lower treble to be peaky right around where the vocal grain lands (right around where the midrange and treble meet). It does give a sense of more clarity and more textured vocal but it feels unnatural to me. Aside from that I also feel like the arrival time of the treble seems to lag behind the rest of the spectrum ever so slightly which altered the soundstage. The upper treble is fine and is quite extended thanks to the ba, more extended than the Wyvern Qing. I would say the treble extension is good for the asking price.

When I am listening to the song Hoshi Ni Naru (feat. isui) - a song by Islet the treble feels peaky and overemphasizes not only her vocal grain but also the background instrument, giving off an unnatural presentation (1 point is deducted from lower treble).

Technicalities
Separation (how the vocalist and also various instrument has its own placement)
Rating: 7/10 (7.5/10 accounted for it’s price)

I would say that the separation is very good. The way the treble is tuned gives the instrument more distinct positioning in the mix, It also prevents the vocal from the drown-out effect. It is above average for it’s asking price.

Soundstage (how much width and depth is perceived by the listener)
Rating: 6/10 (6.5/10 accounted for it’s price)

Width: Above average, it sounds quite wide.
Depth: Average, decent but it’s frontal staging feels hollowed out.
Some might like this kind of presentation as it makes it soundstage wider some might think the stage is unatural.
*1 point is deducted for abnormalities in the stage.
Normal staging



Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast

Resolution (how much fine detail I can perceive in the music)
Rating: 6.7/10 (7.2/10 accounted for it’s price)

From listening to this IEM I feel, the IEM sounds highly resolving however, it feels slightly artificially enhanced. It is a good thing it does not have any dullness. The micro and macro detail is being plucked out of the mix majority at the treble region. However, the resolution begins to fall off when moving down to a frequency lower than it’s treble.

Average score: 6.4 (6.9 accounted for it’s price)

Conclusion
I think is a decent IEM that solely focuses on being fun-sounding. But for my preference, I don’t prefer this kind of tuning because of the interaction between the mids and the treble. If you are looking for an IEM that sounds like fun with crispy mids, and a slightly bright tilted treble I think this is still an ok buy.

Disclaimer:​

I’m more of a Tech head than audiophile and I use YouTube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.

Gear Used:​

Streaming Platform: YouTube Music Premium (Bitrate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle - Mobile use: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L
DAC - PC use: Letshouer D03

Box:​

Celest is back at it with their minimal but tasteful packaging wherein you know exactly what you’re getting and there’s absolutely no fluff. Some might call that a negative but I honestly couldn’t care for large imposing boxes with nothing but foam on the inside unless there’s something actually useful in there. It comes with 2 sets of ear tips for your preference but I did most of my listening on the ones that came on the pair since that fit me the best. Aside from those, the box art is also nice and quite tasteful with the refreshing lack of cute anime girls.

Build:​

For how intense the name and marketing is, the IgniteX feels like it’s really practical in most cases. The stock cable it comes with has this glossy sheen that makes it not stick to itself like most rubbery cables and also doesn’t easily tangle in on itself. It’s stiff enough that it lays down easily but not heavy and doesn’t fight you. It’s on the thinner side all the way through and it doesn’t interfere with my glasses in any way.
The design itself is subtle enough that it won’t catch any unwanted attention but definitely detailed enough that when you do catch a glance you’ll appreciate the ember like fire shimmering within the pair itself.

Sound:​

While it’s not exciting or extremely fun to listen to, the IgniteX’s sound is definitely extremely solid and offers an amazing value for the price. It’s got a nice open enough feel that places most instruments at the right distance and has an adequate thump in the low end without giving in to the easy way of just booming the hell out of it.

The hi-hats and cymbals in FLY HIGH!! - BURNOUT SYNDROMES are really crisp and precise without sounding too harsh. The subtle thumping in the background of Are You Bored Yet? (feat. Clairo) - Wallows especially in the quieter parts is really satisfying to listen to with its gentle rhythmic bumps.

It’s not all perfect of course, I found it struggling when there’s a climactic orchestral hit where all the strings are just going at it. Everything tends to blend and mix in at the higher end especially when there’s a lot of stringed instruments going on. If you like listening to OSTs and classical then these might not be very up your alley sound wise.

Nitpicks:​

The glossy cables and the IEMS themselves can feel very oily at times and makes it feel kind of weird. They tend to feel odd after a few days of use so you kind of want to give them a wipe down every few days just to make them feel less icky(yes, I'm a grown man who uses the word “icky”).

You lose a lot if you’re someone who likes to listen at a lower volume. Whenever I’m in the office and I'm keeping the volume relatively low to keep a level of awareness in my surroundings but I tend to not enjoy these as much when I do so, compared to other pairs I've tried at least. I’m not quite sure what causes that and might honestly be just a me issue but I thought I'd mention it nonetheless.

Final Thoughts:​

If you’re looking for a step up from your sub $10 IEMs then these might just hit the spot for you in value. They definitely hit that good value mark for me and could easily be a minor upgrade or even a first piece to get you started into your listening. Of course they’re not magic but I’d consider them a practical choice at a pretty reasonable price.

But remember the best audio gear is the one that makes you enjoy your music the most, regardless of what a stranger on the internet says.

Disclaimer:
This Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast unit is on loan from a friend, not a sample from a store or brand. So, I'll be giving an honest review based on my own personal listening experience, without any influence from anyone.

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— Gear Test: —
IEMs:

• Celest IgniteX Beast + Stock DSP cable type C + Stock Eartips C-07 size S
• Compared IEM: 7Hz Sonus + Celest DSP cable type C + Eartips EPZ M100

Source:

• Tempotec V3 (port usb c out) - Offline FLAC music
• Mac mini M1 (port usb c out) - Apple Music
• Infinix Note 11 Pro (port usb c out) - UAPP w/ offline FLAC music

— Unboxing —
The unboxing experience is quite pleasing with a compact box (similar in size to KZ boxes) that features a well-painted finish. The Chinese characters are gold-colored and the branding has a contoured, textured feel. The plastic packaging for the IEM, cable, and eartips doesn't rely on adhesive seals (the IEM and cable packaging uses a zipper-like closure made of thick plastic), making it quite durable and less prone to tearing compared to other brands. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with a soft pouch or hard case. The user manual is informative and even includes detailed specifications like the type of DD and BA drivers used. For anime fans, there are no waifu-related visuals in the packaging LOL.



The eartips come in two sets: Celest C-07 (balanced eartips) they have a similar feel and comfort to the stock Sonus eartips. The other set is Celest 221 (vocal eartips) which has a material similar to KZ Starline eartips. For the subsequent listening tests, I used the Celest C-07 size S as I found the fit more comfortable compared to the Celest 221 (subjective, of course).

— Build Quality & Design —
The IEM's driver design is exceptional. It features a stunning tiger-striped pattern in shades of brown, along with a red-gold gradient (Kuno Version) or red-purple gradient (Zyra Version). I'm reviewing the Kuno version in this case.

The build quality of the driver is incredibly impressive. For this price point, the resin shell quality is comparable to good CIEMs like Avara brand. The resin is thick, dense, yet lightweight, and the finish is exceptionally smooth and clean. Kinera claims to use 3D printing for the driver shell.

The backplate has a semi-transparent black look, allowing you to see the internals when exposed to sufficient light. It looks really cool.



The nozzles has a nice, tall lip that securely holds the eartips in place, preventing incidents like the eartips (CP 145) coming loose and getting lost, as happened with the Supermix4. The nozzle filter also has a good design and is made of a solid material, unlike the flimsy filters found on many KZ models.

The included cable is a DSP USB type C, made of glossy black OFC (oxygen-free copper) with a smooth, non-sticky texture (similar to the Truthear Gate cable). It's a 2-strand braided cable, 1.2m long, with a metal splitter and pins (heavy and cold to the touch). The pins are standard 0.78mm 2-pin.

This DSP cable has a built-in DAC chip, as I received a notification to enable USB exclusive mode in UAPP when plugging it into my Android phone. Surprisingly, the Celest DSP cable has the best synergy with the IgniteX. I've tried other cables with 3.5mm and 4.4mm jacks like Verus Magni 4, Oyaide hpc, and VJC SG, but the included DSP cable still provides the best synergy. I haven't tried the included 3.5mm cable as it wasn't included in my package.

By the way, using the stock 7Hz Sonus and Xinhs SCC cables also provided a better synergy compared to the 3rd party cables I mentioned earlier.

I've already explained the eartips in the unboxing section above.

— Fitting —
The earpieces have contours that mimic the shape of a Custom In-Ear Monitor, following the natural curves of the ear. This design ensures a comfortable, secure, and airtight fit when it matches the user's ear shape. Personally, I found the fit to be perfect as my ears are of a standard shape. However, my wife found that it pressed slightly on a part of her ear, making it less comfortable. Therefore, it's recommended to try the fit yourself to ensure it suits your individual ear shape.

— Tech Specs —

• Configuration: 1 DD + 1 BA
• Impendance: 16 Ω
• Sensitivity: 106dB/ mW

The IgniteX is super light, just like the Sonus. It's so comfy, you can easily drive it to your phone with either the Type-C or 3.5mm SE cable.

SOUND QUALITY

Before we delve into the sound quality, I'd like to disclose my tonal preferences. I generally lean towards the IEF/ Crinacle or Harman Target FR. My daily driver IEMs are the 7Hz Sonus and Etymotic ER2se. For this review, I'll be using the included DSP cable for testing Celest IgniteX Beast.

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— Tonality —
Honestly, I'm a bit confused about the overall tonal balance of the IgniteX, as other reviews have described it as U-shaped, W-shaped, or V-shaped. Perhaps I'm more inclined to agree with the U-shaped/Harman warm description (please disregard this part if it's confusing). As usual, Kinera tends to have a niche tuning that may not appeal to everyone. However, among the Kinera-Celest IEMs I've tried, this one aligns best with my personal tonal preferences.

Bass
The bass is fun and energetic. The sub-bass is more dominant than the mid-bass, although the mid-bass is still punchy and energetic. It doesn't lack mid-bass texture or quantity, which is a common complaint among Sonus users.

The sub-bass provides a deep impression, but its rumble and grandeur are slightly below Sonus. The bass decay is at a medium level (Official HiDan - I Love), neither too fast nor too slow. However, it's worth noting that it might not be ideal for fast double pedal kick tracks, although it's still serviceable. Bass bleed into the mids is minimal, but still noticeable to a certain extent.

The bass can be heard distinctly from the vocals and other instruments in the fundamental midrange, but it feels slightly unnatural in terms of spatial placement or imaging. Fortunately, this doesn't significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the music.

While not an IEM for hardcore bassheads, my basshead friend actually enjoyed the IgniteX. Perhaps he was looking for a deep sub-bass, good mid-bass texture, and a bass decay that's not as fast as planar headphones.

The bass presentation is slightly forward compared to the mids/vocals.

Mids
The midrange is impressive, offering a thick, warm, smooth, and musical. Despite this, the IgniteX is still capable of delivering intricate details without sounding fatiguing. The warm and thick presentation doesn't mask any details, and the midrange/vocals are slightly forward (which I find to be a sweet spot, not too in-your-face or too recessed). Although positioned slightly behind the bass, the vocals are crystal clear and not overshadowed by the mid-upper bass at all.

The lower midrange is well-balanced, providing a thick and musical midrange without being excessive, both for male and female vocals. This results in a lush and warm sound without sounding muddy or veiled. Additionally, it enhances the weight and impact of retro-sounding snare drums without muddying them (Fujii Kaze - Hana). However, due to its musical nature, the lower midrange might not be ideal for energetic/ busy tracks with a lot of piano notes, like Yoasobi's music. The fast-paced piano lines can sound slightly sluggish during busy sections.

The midrange is exceptionally enjoyable and musical, especially the mid-upper range. The BA driver likely contributes significantly to this. Female vocals sound particularly sweet and smooth. The IgniteX seems to refine the sweetness and forwardness of the vocals found in Sonus, which can sound somewhat recessed. This frequency region is also clean and transparent, with no noticeable graininess. While male vocals are good, sweet, and euphonic, I feel that there's a slight lack of energy, making them sound less masculine or too relaxed (the growl seems to be missing) - as tested with JAZ, Tulus, Michael Buble, Kenshi Yonezu, Fujii Kaze, Mrs. Green Apple, etc.

Instruments with fundamentals in the midrange, such as acoustic piano (played as a main instrument in an arrangement), sound vivid, melodious, and smooth. The BA driver's excellent characteristics are evident in this region. Whether played at fast or slow tempos, the piano sounds great. However, as mentioned in the lower midrange section, it might not perform as well in busy arrangements.

The upper midrange is present but lush at the same time. It's far from harsh or peaky. Sibilant consonants (Ch, Kh, Cz, Zh, etc.) that can be harsh in other IEMs are smooth and pleasant on the IgniteX. Even tracks with aggressive sibilance are handled well without sounding sibilant. However, in Japanese female vocals with a lot of shouting, there might be a slight tendency towards shoutiness due to the slightly forward vocal presentation (Hoshimachi Suisei - Stellar Stellar). Despite this, overall shoutiness is rare and doesn't detract from the special quality of the female vocals on the IgniteX. Of course, there's no unexpected shoutiness (tested with Norah Jones - Don't Know Why).

Instruments with fundamentals in the upper midrange, such as electric guitars, sound thick and rich, but with a lush or creamy quality. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as some people prefer a creamy guitar tone. This creaminess contributes to the sweetness of the female vocals. Brass instruments sound expressive, with a nice attack and dynamics. I was initially skeptical that the lush upper midrange would make brass instruments sound as relaxed as male vocals, but this isn't the case.

Treble
The treble is polite, lush, and free from graininess, with a slightly recessed presentation. Despite its polite nature, it's still quite present and vivid.

Upon closer examination, the treble frequency response shows a slight dip around 6kHz, followed by a significant peak at 8kHz, and another significant dip around 12-15kHz before rising again and rolling off above 18kHz. This contrast treble tuning results in some inconsistency in the treble presentation (possibly due to the tuning required to compensate for incoherence in hybrid driver IEMs). Tracks with strong energy in the 8kHz region will sound more sizzling and expressive, while tracks with more energy in the 5kHz or above 12kHz region will sound smoother. For example, in One Ok Rock's - Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer, the cymbals still sound expressive, but in Yoasobi's - The Blessings, where the cymbals have a more extended and energetic sound, the cymbals sound overly smoothed before the drop.

Airiness is still present, though subtle, which adds a breathy quality to the vocals. It's not an overly airy presentation like in many planar driver IEMs. The upper treble is well-executed despite the roll-off and smooth character.

— Technicality —
The soundstage is just good or mediocre class (likely due to the dense resin shell, which minimizes the acoustic space typically found in hollow IEM housings). Despite this, it offers better height and depth than width. Layering is also good, with clear separation between foreground and background elements, but the layering distance is somewhat close. It offers a 3D and holographic soundstage, although it's not superb considering its mediocre soundstage.

Instrument separation is good, but there's a slight sense of cohesiveness in the midrange due to the lush and creamy sound signature. Clarity is excellent, even with the warm tonality. Imaging and pinpointing are also good for its price range, although the bass imaging could be more natural.

Resolution is solid, with good note weight. Micro-details in the upper midrange to lower treble are well-presented, without sounding fatiguing (unlike many other IEMs with excellent micro-detail resolution, which can often be harsh). However, micro-details above the lower treble are smoothed out. Micro-dynamics are good, avoiding monotony, and macro-dynamics provide a swinging and musical experience. Transient speed is average and not overly emphasized, allowing for impactful hits when the music demands it, although it might not be ideal for very fast-paced tracks.

With a 1DD + 1BA driver configuration, the sound is quite natural and coherent, although there's a slight BA driver sound signature in the lower treble.

— Celest IgniteX Beast VS 7Hz Sonus —

Both compared as they're hybrid 1DD+1BA IEMs, both were tested using the IgniteX's included Celest DSP cable.

Click to expand...

Sonus offers a wider and more expansive sub-bass, but the IgniteX provides a denser, fuller, and punchier texture. The IgniteX's mid-bass is clearly superior, with a denser, fuller, punchier, and better-textured presentation. The IgniteX also has better bass transients, while the Sonus has a better bass decay and tighter bass. These differences in bass performance are quite noticeable.

Sonus's midrange is thinner and more recessed, with more energetic and analytical transients compared to the IgniteX's more musical presentation. The IgniteX offers a thicker, lush, swinging, and sweeter midrange, free from peakiness or sibilance. The IgniteX also has a denser note weight. The Sonus' upper midrange is more detailed and energetic, but the IgniteX's vocals are more relaxed and have a slightly higher potential for shoutiness.

Instruments with fundamentals in the upper midrange and above sound more aggressive, excited, and characterful on the Sonus, while the IgniteX offers a more lush and creamy presentation.

The Sonus' treble is more full and presents significantly more micro-details, while remaining comfortable and free from peaks or sibilance. The IgniteX's treble is smoother, safer, and less energetic, though not dark. The Sonus' treble extension is significantly longer, more coherent, and satisfying than the IgniteX's.

In terms of technicalities, Sonus offers a wider soundstage (like listening to music in a concert hall), while the IgniteX provides a more intimate studio-like soundstage.

Although Sonus has a better soundstage, the IgniteX offers slightly better imaging, especially in the transition between bass and midrange. Instrument separation is better on the Sonus due to its wider soundstage, but the IgniteX provides better front-to-back layering, although the rearmost instruments sound slightly blurred. With the same DSP cable, the Sonus presents a more 3D soundstage thanks to its wider soundstage. Pinpoint accuracy is also better on the Sonus, with a significant difference in sharpness.

Sonus offers crystal-clear clarity, while the IgniteX is slightly behind but not muddy. The Sonus has better resolution across the entire frequency spectrum, while the IgniteX's resolution is not as consistent. The IgniteX's micro and macro dynamics are more wider, swinging, and punchy compared to the Sonus. The Sonus has better transient speed response and decay.

In terms of non-sound-related aspects, Sonus comes with a more premium unboxing experience and a more complete accessory package. The IgniteX has a build quality comparable to expensive CIEMs and a beautiful design, although the box and accesories is minimum.

— Who is the IgniteX Beast suitable for? —

• Those looking for an alternative IEM of Sonus (which lack of fun bass, insufficient mid-bass, thin vocals, and lack of musicality).
• Those seeking an IEM with a CIEM-like housing shell design, offering excellent build quality, sleek aesthetics, lightweight comfort, and a secure fit.
• Those sensitive to peaky upper midrange and treble but still appreciate a present and lush treble presentation.

— Who is the IgniteX Beast not suitable for? —

• Not suitable for hardcore bassheads who require a more substantial quantity of bass.
• Not suitable for those who prefer extended, sparkling treble without smoothing or roll-off.
• Less suitable for those seeking an analytical IEM for demanding genres that require the utmost aggression and speed.

That's all for this review. It's natural for people to have different preferences and impressions. Let's be friends.

Thanks to Aftersound for supplying FR
FR Source

TL;DR: Harman warm sound - the next step up for the Wyvern series

Overview/History
Hi all.

Back again with another review - this time it's the new sibling of the Celest Wyvern series and the next step up.



Enter the Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast. The primary difference between the Wyvern series (beyond the price which climbs up a bit to $49) is that this is no longer just a single DD IEM. They've added a BA so the IgniteX Beast comes with a 1DD + 1BA driver configuration. Does it make a difference?



But let's get into it.

Specifications so you don't have to look it up yourself:

• 10mm LCP Liquid Crystal Polymer Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
• Custom Celest Balanced Armature for Enhanced Treble
• 3D Printed Semi-Universal Ear Shell for Comfort
• Oxygen-Free Copper Detachable Cable for Pure Signal Transmission
• Acoustic Structural Design for Consistent Sound Quality

Disclaimers: I would like to thank Kaitlyn from Linsoul for providing me this sample. While I did receive it in exchange for a timely review, I have received no instructions or directions on what to write and all opinions are my own.

Non-affiliate links below:
https://www.linsoul.com/products/celest-ignitex-beast

Build Quality, Comfort and Accessories
Photo dump time!









The IgniteX Beast comes in a similar box (to keep costs low I imagine) to the Celest Qing that I've previously reviewed/listened to.













I actually think they fit pretty well in my ears. Nozzle Lip size is 6.2mm and I do think they look nice. I do prefer the look of the Qing (or even the Abyss) more but I get the motif they're going for with the IgniteX Beast and I think they look nice overall.







Tip Rolling
Stock tips are... okay.



Stock Tips: They're okay. Kind of. Yeah, they're only OK. But, I don't think they'll adversely effect your sound signature too much.
Final Type E Clear/Reds: Adds some extra sub-bass feeling and helps a bit with taming the treble. Good synergy here.
DUNU S&S: Feels a bit more mid-bass punchy while opening the stage up just a little bit. Good combination.
Fiio HS20: Some of my new favorite tips - does a lot of good things and hypes up the sound while not altering the color.

Cable
Stock cable isn't bad.



It's definitely a step up from the Qing (which was a bit flimsy) and more in line with the TruthEar GATe as far as a stock cable goes. Not too memory prone, not too flimsy. It's solid.

Sound
So, how do they sound?

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.



If you're familiar with the Celest Wyvern Qing, the IgniteX Beast is the next step up. While they are more incremental in improvements, they still do have a slight subjective difference in sound to make it a bit different than the predecessors and reflects that Kinera/Celest is looking to try to keep the same 'house sound' while doing something different.

Gear Tested On: Primarily streamed music via either dedicated Streamer, Laptop or Phone
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Abigail Pro
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Muse Hifi M5 Ultra
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Laptop -> JDS Labs Element 3 MK2 (Boosted)
Streamed Music chain: WiiM Mini -> JDS Labs Atom DAC+ -> JDS Labs OL Switcher -> Geshelli Labs Archel 3 Pro

*My Audio Preference and Score Disclaimer*: To preface my breakdown, here's my sound preference. I tend to prefer warmer sound. I enjoy good sub-bass extension with enough mid-bass to feel the music. I prefer more fuller sounding mids to match my library. My preference is for smooth treble extension; while I'm not treble sensitive, I'd probably lean more towards 'safer' treble tuning for longer listening. I also tend to listen at either medium to louder listening volumes (reasonably loud).

In addition, all scores listed below are typically (unless otherwise stated) rated/scored as it relates to it's peers in the same price group.

Lows/Bass: The bass performance for the IgniteX Beast is satisfyingly deep and very sub-bass focused. The bass is more along the lines of quality vs quantity though it provides decent amounts of both.

Bass is adequately detailed (especially at this price point) and punchy with good cohesion with the rest of the overall sound frequency.

Mid-bass could use a bit more punch or elevation to compensate for the sub-bass quantity as provided but this would be primarily to give more energy to compensate for the mids/treble being tuned 'Harman' or boosted/elevated.

Bass Score: 8.25/10 - TL;DR: Sub-bass hits very deep - mid-bass could use a touch more but there is more heft in the note weight that is satisfying. It's definitely above average. Good overall details.

Mids: With consideration for the Harman type of tuning, mids are quite boosted/elevated to provide extra emphasis on details as well as the boost to female vocals.

I'm not entirely adverse to hearing this level of boosted mids but it does translate to being borderline shouty and you'd typically know whether you like Harman oriented/based mids or not. I can appreciate it while it's not entirely to my tuning love.

That being said, the lower mids do sound a bit better on the IgniteX Beast vs the Qing so there is definitely an audible (not like... expotentially different but it's there) so the improvement is there. The Beast would likely play back better on certain genres like K-Pop.



Mids Score: 7.75/10 - TL;DR: Good detail, great playback for female vocals. Emphasis is definitely more on female vocals/upper mids side while lower-mids sound solid.

Treble: With the inclusion of a BA driver in the IgniteX Beast, there is a definite boost to the treble energy. It's definitely more on that energetic side, though it's never sibilant or harsh.

The treble comes off pretty detailed and airy. It's very clear and puts the IgniteX a bit brighter side of the Harman tuning philosophy.

The brightness can be a bit much which lends itself to be volume limited but there isn't really anything that pops out that sounds too incorrect. There's a light amount of BA timbre and over detail/thinness but it's definitely not to a distracting point. It's controlled enough though people that are lower treble sensitive would likely want to be cognizant of this.

Treble Score: 7.75/10 - TL;DR: Treble is a bit more spicy - BA is handled well here and overall not offensively tuned but volume limiting.

Detail, Separation, Imaging, Overall Soundstage, Etc.: As one would expect from the addition of the BA driver, the Beast has very solid technical performance for its price point and with consideration of it's other siblings.

The BA used does a good job of separation and imaging that is above average. Things are placed correctly in a track and even some busy tracks won't overwhelm the IgniteX Beast.

Sound stage is decently wide and provides good depth. Nothing overall stands out as being extremely good but nothing is bad on the same token. It simply is good enough.



Technicalities Score: 8.25/10 - TL;DR: Good instrument separation, imaging is solid. Sound stage sounds a bit more closed in, a bit more intimate compared to what I feel like I would hear considering the addition of the BA.

Library Recommendations: Given the real tuning philosophy for the Celest IgniteX Beast, my recommendation for genres/music library would be more situated around:

1. Female Vocal heavy libraries
2. K-Pop type of music or EDM
3. Modern Pop music



I think there's enough excitement with bass to work for a lot of tracks but the upper mids/treble extension would lean more towards the female vocals or pop/EDM. The Celest IgniteX Beast will still work with a lot of other libraries but will tend to excel more in this space.

Comparisons: The primary comparison I wanted to make for the IgniteX Beast is the sibling that I've listened to in the past.

Kinera Celest Qing: IgniteX - is a bit better with bass but less safe on the treble. If you want a smoother listen, the Qing is better. If you want more treble or technical performance, the IgniteX will be better. I think, ultimately, the IgniteX Beast > Celest Wyvern Qing if you're looking for a first time purchase following that Harman curve. If you already have the Qing, you would be fine to probably not pick one up.

TangZu Yu Xuan Ji: Another $50 set that I've been listening to recently. To be fully honest, I do prefer the TangZu Yu Xuan Ji more. While the Yu Xuan Ji's treble may be a bit brighter, the overall sound is a bit more balanced and mids/technical performance on the TangZu stand out more to my ears. The technical performance is way higher on the Yu Xuan Ji and just a bit more different sounding while the IgniteX will sound still in line with others. I would have to go with the TangZu Yu Xuan Ji > Celest IgniteX Beast

Other Things to be aware of:
Nothing sticks out as far as the IgniteX beast goes. It's very straight forward with what you see is what you get.

Volume Listening: For listening levels, my recommendation would be very much in the moderate volume listening. While you could go moderate/high or higher, it's highly possible you'd run into some treble issues that could make it unpleasant unless you go with a warmer source.

Source Synergy: Warmer sources are king here. I did use the Muse Hifi M5 Ultra on the IgniteX Beast and it synergizes very well with providing a bit more sweetness and bass notes sensation with the music playback. But, the IgniteX Beast will do well with most general sources as it responds well to whatever you throw at it whether it's a portable source or desktop.

Special Sauce/Personal Bias Score: 8.0/10 - TL;DR: The IgniteX is definitely a step up to the next level for the Celest brand. It's a solid entry though the $50 price bracket does have a lot of really, really good IEM. Depending on your library, this could be better for you vs mine.

Conclusion:
As far as a follow up goes for the Celest line up, the IgniteX Beast does very well as an upgrade. It's not necessarily a... beastly upgrade.



But, ultimately, the IgniteX beast does perform better than the more budget friendly options and would be worth burning up some cash for (eyeroll) if you're in the market for a Harman style tuning IEM.







Final Weighted Score: 8.00/10 - Overall, very good option. This gets a guuuud rating.

Thanks for reading!

Introduction​

Celest is already well known for the Gumiho, the Phoenixcall, the various versions of the Wyvern (Pro, Qing, Abyss), the Pandamon and Pandameon 2.0, the Relentless and so on, and they have recently added a new product to their portfolio: the IgniteX Beast. Featuring a hybrid configuration consisting of a dynamic driver and a balanced armature, the IgniteX Beast are positioned in the crowded sub-50$ mark and will be the focus of this review.

Disclaimer: the Celest IgniteX Beast were sent to me by Celest so that I could write an honest review. This review represents my personal opinion on the set, it isn't promotional or paid content and I don’t get any revenue from the sales of this product.
At the time of the review, the Celest IgniteX Beast were on sale for about $49 at Celest’s official website and on Aliexpress' Kinera Official Store

Click to expand...

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One more thing: this will be my last review with the classic lows, mids and treble division, as my future reviews will feature a mixture of the various frequency ranges in order to describe sound in a better way. Sometimes, things become harder and harder to describe, hence splitting the various frequencies doesn't become informative and could create some difficulties when trying to understand what I am talking about.
Plus, a strictly personal opinion will be shared to make my reviews even more "subjective", so that those who read my other reviews can understand my perception and what I think is enjoyable (or not) to me.
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Technical Specifications​

• Driver Configuration → 1 x DD + 1 x BA
• Impedance → 16 Ω
• Spec-sheet Frequency Response → 20Hz-20kHz
• Nozzle Diameter (widest point) → 6mm
• Sensitivity → 106
• Cable → 1.25m detachable OFC cable with 0.78mm 2-PIN connectors
• Plug Type → 3.5mm

Packaging​

The packaging of the Celest IgniteX Beast is no different from the other packages from Celest, lot of care to details and well painted.



Here is what it contains:

• The Celest IgniteX Beast
• The detachable cable
• Two sets of different tips (among which one set of wide bore tips)
• Carry case
• User manual

There’s nothing missing basically.

Design, Build Quality, Comfort and Isolation​

The design of the IgniteX Beast is very unique thanks to the colored faceplate and the 3D printed shells. It’s not the first time we see this shell, considering that Celest has been using this shell for all the Wyvern versions, and since it was praised because of the comfort, the isolation and the overall design, they have probably thought about using the same shape for the new IEM as well.



The earpieces are very comfortable, the nozzle is long enough to grant a good insertion depth and with the right tip size the fit isolation is very good too.

Cable​

The stock cable is okay for the price range, nothing that screams revolution yet definitely in-line with the price range.

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
• Bluetooth Adapters: KBEAR S1, KZ AZ10
• Other sources: Presonus AudioBox iONE, Elgato Wave XLR

Do they need an amplifier?
No, an amplifier is not strictly needed. Pairing is essential though since the brightness of the IgniteX Beast won’t pair well with bright sources. It’s better to use warmer sources with this set.

Sound signature
The Celest IgniteX Beast are W-shaped and pretty bright overall. There’s a touch of BA timbre that doesn’t bother me but it’s something that’s worth pointing out since many people are kinda sensitive to BA timbre in hybrid sets.

Lows
The sub-bass has a pretty good extension and it’s present in the mix when called for. The bass is instead slightly less punchy than expected, so those who search for a super incisive, deep and punchy low-end should look elsewhere. It’s not the most textured bass around either but it’s fast enough to keep up with fast tracks so that’s a plus.

Mids
The lower midrange is recessed, making male vocals and acoustic instruments slightly thinner than they should be even though their timbre is spot-on in most cases.
The upper midrange is instead forward, providing for very energetic and clear female vocals that never become shouty on the IgniteX Beast (which is good news considering that we are used to Harman-like curves with pretty hot-sounding female vocals). Electric guitars and violins sound very energetic and forward too.

Highs
The treble has some added spice, especially in the mid-treble region, whereas the lower treble is spot-on in terms of quantity. The upper treble has a touch of added energy that gives some air and sparkle and this avoids congestion or any kind of claustrophobic feeling.
The detail retrieval is definitely good for the price of this set, and my only complaint is that due to the BA timbre the IgniteX Beast doesn’t feel as cohesive as other sets that don’t feature a hybrid configuration.

The soundstage is average for the price and I’d say pretty intimate at times, also due to the upper midrange focus. The imaging is very good instead, and so is the instrument separation.

Some comparisons:​

Celest IgniteX Beast vs Celest Wyvern Abyss

The IgniteX Beast are basically the successors of the Wyvern models, as Celest wanted to add a BA to improve the overall performance and the signature has also changed to a more analytical one. If I had to choose in terms of overall timbre, then I would pick the Wyvern Abyss as I prefer the warmer, more delicate and smoother tuning, whereas I’d pick the IgniteX Beast for the overall performance and vocal reproduction, as it's more resolving, vivid and technical set. Imaging is better on the IgniteX Beast, whereas the soundstage is slightly wider on the Wyvern Abyss.
Build quality, comfort and isolation are exactly the same, whereas the IgniteX Beast come with a nicer cable and with a few more tips.
I’d say the price jump is worth it if you search for a technical performance jump, but be aware that the sound signature is different so that has to play a role in your decision.

Click to expand...

Celest IgniteX Beast vs CCA Rhapsody (UDDU switches)

Comparison between two hybrid sets even though the Rhapsody is a 2DD+4BA set whereas the IgniteX Beast is a 1DD+1BA set.
Despite what’s written on paper, the IgniteX Beast are superior when it comes to resolution, detail retrieval, imaging, and instrument separation. The signature is quite different though since the Rhapsody have a much more solid and powerful bass, so it really depends on the listeners’ taste. The IgniteX are a bit spicier in the mid-treble whereas the Rhapsody have a touch more upper treble, even though the overall perception is that the IgniteX Beast sound a touch more open. Soundstage is slightly bigger on the Rhapsody.
Build quality, design, comfort and isolation are better on the IgniteX Beast, and the same applies for packaging and stock accessories.
Celest IgniteX Beast vs Celest Gumiho (BONUS)
I know that the Gumiho sport an SPD instead of a DD, but the first time I tried the IgniteX Beast I immediately thought about the Gumiho. The IgniteX Beast really felt like a more refined and mature Gumiho, with a more controlled upper midrange, a more even treble response, present yet much less noticeable BA timbre, superior imaging and an improved shell that provides for better comfort.
The Gumiho still takes the lead when it comes to the low-end, as the bass quality is truly great on that set and I really struggle to find comparable IEMs nowadays in this price range.
The Gumiho also came with a better stock cable, to be honest.

Click to expand...

Final Thoughts​

The overall performance of the IgniteX Beast is above average for the price and it’s a set that is easy to recommend to those who want an hybrid IEM with proper technical prowess around 50$. They are easy to drive with very few cons (a touch of BA timbre, slightly thinner-than-average lower mids), technically capable and able to keep up with complex tracks, and an overall complete package in terms of comfort, isolation, tips selection and a great design.

Another thumb up for Celest.

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Disclaimer:

• I don’t read FR graphs. I only use my ears, as earphones should be used.
• Linsoul sent this unit to me in an exchange for an honest, transparent review. Rest assured that this review will do its best to devoid from any bias/es as much as possible.
• The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
• No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
• Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

Burn-in time: 4-8 hours per day, 5 days.

Source/s used:

• - Non-HiFi smartphone (Infinix Note 12 G96), PC.
• - Tanchjim Space DAC
• - Fosi Audio SK02 USB DAC
• - Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini DAC
• - Aiwa XP-V710C CD Player (12 sec. EASS)
• - Sony Xperia X Compact
• - Local Files via Foobar, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

IEM/Earbud/Setup configuration: Stock small red eartips, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 40-60% volume.

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Sound signature:

• The Celest IgniteX Beast exhibits a clean, controlled, smooth yet warm balanced sound signature. On certain cases and paintings, it may come across as an L-shaped sounding IEM.

Lows:

• Let me start describing this region by saying this: This isn’t for bassheads, despite it being the most elevated among all the frequencies. It is thick, and subbass-dominant while keeping its attack and decay firm yet non-lacking. One thing I personally liked about the bass of the IgniteX Beast is it only shows up whenever the track needs it, as it can be observed in Lana Del Rey’s “Peppers” track as an example, which is also one of my test tracks.If I were to nitpick, I do find the bass a bit “monotonous” and lacks a bit of versatility and texture on most tracks. Despite it not being the basshead’s dream, I can confidently say that this by far has the “cleanest” yet non-compromising bass from an IEM I have heard under 50 USD.

Mids:

• As for the mids, it is neutral in presence the most part. This region is smooth, warm, and thick. It also exhibits a mild but “well-done” midbass bleed, to keep things lush in this region, without any sacrifice in texture and detail. Male vocals, and instruments in this region, will sound slightly thicker than usual. As for the upper mids, It isn’t too elevated, nor too recessed to my lacking, exhibiting a safe yet clear amount of presence. I am glad to report and recommend this to everyone, even those ears that are more sensitive to bright upper frequencies than usual.

Treble:

• Just like its mids, the treble of this IEM are on the “safe” category, to my standards. It isn’t dark nor rolled off, but it isn’t bright either, while exhibiting a good amount of detail retrieval. If I were to nitpick, I would’ve wanted more ear, but for most people, including the non-hobbyists, the treble that the IgniteX Beast has is more than enough for any scenario that this IEM comes across with.

Soundstage, Imaging and Separation:

• The technical performance of the Celest IgniteX Beast falls under and within the “better performing IEMs under 60 USD”, in my own opinion and experience.Its soundstage is taller than wide, which is quite uncommon, with a good amount of depth. Separation and layering is clean and well organized, even on the busiest tracks and passages, with minimal congestion. Imaging is precise and renders vocal and instrument accurately.

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Other IEM Comparisons!

Simgot EW200

• To keep things simple, the Simgot EW200 is a brighter, wider, leaner sounding IEM, with instances of mild peaks and sibilance on sibilant prone tracks, while the Celest IgniteX Beast aims for a warmer, thicker, safer approach.

Twistura D-Minor (on stock preinstalled filter)

• The Twistura D-Minor and the Celest IgniteX Beast seem to aim the same target which is a safer, thick, smooth sound. However, the IgniteX Beast is a bit more refined and less blunted when compared to the D-Minor. Technical performance is also better on the IgniteX beast as well.

EPZ Q1 Pro

• The EPZ Q1 Pro is a Harman-sounding IEM that leans to the bassier side of the spectrum, while the IgniteX Beast keeps things warm and balanced. Mids are definitely thicker on the IgniteX Beast, while the bass response is more versatile on the Q1 Pro. Technical performance on the two sets are identical, in terms of quality.

Celest Pandamon V1

• This in my opinion, eerily share almost the same sound character when compared to the Celest IgniteX Beast. This doesn’t mean that they are identical in sound, but what happened is more of a refinement. When compared to the Pandamon, the Celest IgniteX Beast is noticeably richer, thicker, more controlled, and has cleaner and extended upper frequencies. The soundstage is also slightly wider, but not by much. Separation and layering is slightly better on the Pandamon V1, but not by a lot as well. Imaging are more or less the same.

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Pros:

• One of the most “balanced” IEMs under 50 USD!
• Balanced, mildly warm sound signature.
• Chunky, well-controlled rumbly bass response.
• Smooth, thick mids.
• Non-fatiguing upper frequencies!
• Above average technical performance under 100 USD!
• Excellent fit, comfort, and isolation
• Very good quality of inclusions!
• Fairly easy to drive, and scales well with different sources/USB DACs.

Cons:

• Bass can sound monotonous at times.
• An included case or pouch would’ve been nice (nitpick).

========================================================================

It has been a while since I have auditioned and reviewed a Celest IEM, but I do remember their house sound well. The Celest IgniteX Beast replaces my personal favorite, the Pandamon V1 in terms of my overall experience. Its non fatiguing, all-rounder sound, not to mention is visually pleasing aesthetics, makes this IEM a safe recommendation for everyone that are looking for a “do it all” IEM under 50 USD. This hits hard, Celest!

========================================================================
Pairing recommendations:

• Source: The Celest IgniteX Beast is easy to drive, but it slightly scales with different sources paired with it. A neutral, 2VRMs dongle fits this well and is more than enough.
• Eartips: The eartips are more than enough and do not have any negative effects to the sound. You may still use your preferred IEM.
• Cable: The cable included is very minimal yet very durable as it is thicker than usual, which I personally prefer. You may still use your preferred cable.

Thank you for reading!

Non- affiliated link here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/celest-ignitex-beast?variant=45963426496729

Additional Photos Here:

Kinera celest ignite X beast 'DSP': Just take the DSP...

1. Intro

• Before starting this review, I would like to thank HIFIGO for the unit & giving me the trust to review this.
• Disclaimer this review is purely based on my personal opinion & for this review I also use the stock components from the kinera. Like the eartips I use which are similar to the AET07 eartips & also use the DSP cable that came with it.

2. User experience

• From the box & accessories, this iem has a fairly small & simple box, while the accessories can be said to be quite interesting. In addition to getting the iem, we will also get 6 pairs of eartips, 3 of which are similar to the AET07 eartips, In addition, for the unit I got, I got a DSP cable with a detachable external mic & the last one in this unit also got foam for the mic.

• For the build quality, it's quite good for the price. This iem is made of full resin material with quite good quality. The cable is also still okay, quite flexible & not easily tangled.
• For the fitting, in my ears it's honestly not that comfortable, especially when using the external mic. So sometimes I have to press the IEM part to find the right fitting in my ears. Sometimes I'm more comfortable using aftermarket eartips, because the default eartips don't really seal my ears.
• For the external mic itself, it can be said to be good, clean & clear sound produced by the mic. Well, a little illustration if the mic from the IEM usually gets a score of 7/10, if the external mic from the IgniteX beast is 9/10. Suitable for games, calls, or making videos. It just needs to be noted, if people with big cheeks will feel uncomfortable because the position of the mic is quite pressing.
• Last, for the power issue, for my use it is plugged directly into my cellphone, namely the Redmi Note 10 Pro. It's quite comfortable at a volume of 60%. So there shouldn't be any problems with this.

3. Sound quality

• Maybe as a comparison, for the sound I will directly compare the performance of the Celest Ignite X beast DSP version with the 3.5mm version by plugging it into the Celest CD-20 DAC that I have previously reviewed.

• In terms of sound direction, this DSP version does not change much from the regular version, but there are some slight differences that I think make this DSP version better than the regular version.
• First, from the bass, in terms of quantity, it can be said that it is still the same, from the subbass extension it is also similar. Only in terms of texture & impact in the midbass, this DSP version is slightly better than the regular version for me.
• For the mid, in terms of position or weight, it also does not change much, the vocal presentation is still similar. With a portion of vocals that tend to be dominant in female vocals with an energetic, clear, sweet & clear presentation. It's just that maybe I feel a little bit that in the regular version the sibilance symptom occasionally appears but in this DSP version it tends to be safe.
• For the treble, it can be said to be similar, typically energetic, open, detailed with a fairly good extension. It's just that there may be a slight impression of intensity that makes it feel tiring if listened to for a long time.
• For the technical side, it's also the same, not much has changed with the regular version plugged into the CD-20. The stage is medium, the detail is good, the separation & layering are also quite neat & the clarity and transient are good. Yes, overall for the price, the technical side is quite good & quite competitive although it's not yet on par with the PR2.

4. Comparison

• Kinera Celest Ignite X 'DSP' vs TRN Conch: The bass is almost similar in quantity, the subbass extension feels better in the conch. The midbass also feels better in the conch from the texture or impact. For the mid, the weight is also similar, only the position of the conch feels a little further back. For the vocal presentation, both have good clarity, it feels like both have clear vocals, only in the ignite X beast the sweet impression feels better & safer from sibilance. For the treble, both have energetic, detailed & open treble, only the extension & airy impression in the treble feels better on the conch. For the technicalities themselves, from the stage, detail, separation and layering, it feels better on the conch, especially if the conch uses a 4.4mm jack. The conch feels more technically superior than the DSP version of the ignite X beast.

5. Who is the Kinera celest ignite X beast suitable for?

• For those who want to practically plug it directly into a cellphone.
• For those who need an iem with an external mic for certain purposes such as playing games, etc.
• For those who like clear mids with a fairly forward position & energetic treble and good detail.

6. Conclusion
Kinera celest ignite X beast DSP version, this iem for me is an interesting option for the ignite X beast series. It offers a slight difference in sound that makes me rate this DSP version better than the regular version. Plus it also has a good quality external mic so it adds value to this DSP version.

Kinera Celest have never been my favorite series but this one hits a homerun

let me put into perspective first,
- celest wyvern qing and abyss treble rolled off too early despite having good and textures bass and vocal
- celest gumiho timbre is way off and strange
- celest phoenis does have good technical but the timbral incoherency is really noticable for me

then there’s this ignite beast…. which i consider to be the best of the celest series


ignite beast x is an answer to abyss’s critique, adding a high frequency BA driver to complete the frequency and feels way more open than abyss

i stil would consider this sound as a Vshaped harman-ish with deviation mostly in dip and peak in treble area

bass sounds rounded and texture, vocal sounds more forward on higher note yet avoid the usual harman shouty-ness (at least in my ear) i feel that this is due to lower treble early dip to smoothen that part

while the treble in my measurement looks peaky but not in actual listening, please note that this is resonance peak area so imagine cutting around 3-4 db from the measurement

it has solid technical performance too, only adding 1 ba but giving major improvement over abyss and qing

in my technical scale i’d put it slightly behind T10


good and proper resolution and separation but not the widest in stage and imaging

overall really solid product and gets a recommendation from me

---

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• 1DD + 1BA Driver Configuration;
• Impedance: 16Ω;
• Sensitivity: 106dB;
• Frequency response range: 20Hz-20kHz;
• Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin;
• Cable material: 4-Core OFC Cable with PVC Sheathing;
• Price:49$.

• IEM itself;
• 2 pin 0.78mm 4 core Oxygen-free Copper Cable,1.2m length;
• 2 sets, 6 pairs of eartips: 3 pair - Celest 221 gray vocal eartips (S / M / L), 3 pair - Celest C-07 balanced eartips (S / M / L);
• Carrying case.

---

---

---

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• Celest 221 Vocal Gray Tips provide clear upper frequencies with a slight dip in the bass region, creating a wide and spacious sound. These same tips were included with the Pandamon 1/2, Gumiho, and Wyvern.
• Celest C-07 Custom Balanced Color Tips offer a balanced and neutral sound across the entire frequency range.

---

---

Let’s start with the bass.







Separating, sound stage

Gaming impression.

---

Celest IgniteX Beast vs Celest Relentless:


vs Artti R3:

---

Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast review
.
This is a very well tuned, slightly W-shaped neutral sounding set that sounds way more expensive and refined than its $49- dollar price tag would suggest.
.
But first, Let us thank Kinera Celest for sending this good looking IEM for a review, Kinera Celest, thank you. But you can rest assured that everything said here will be of my own thoughts and opinion, and in no way influenced by anyone.
.
Introduction:
.
Celest is a daugther brand of Kinera, which have been producing audiophile class in-ear monitors IEM for many years now.
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The Celest IgniteX Beast is a totally new tuning style in my opinon, from all the Kinera Celest IEMs that I've heard and read about before, it's as if they have turned a new leaf.
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The Celest IgniteX Beast is available in two color variant, the Zyra and the Kuno, both are available with 3.5mm cable with and without mic, and also in USB-C with the boom mic. What I have is the Zyra variant with the 3.5mm jack and no mic.
.
Packaging, accessories, and unboxing:
.
It has a simplistic and efficient, purple-colored packaging, that is easy to open, and contains the manual, 2 sets of different kinds of eartips, a cable, and the IEMs.
.
Review set-up and methodology:
.
I used the white-colored eartips with a third party 4.4mm balanced cable, connected to a variety of dongle DACs, DAPs and desktop amplifiers.
.
Power handling, sensitivity, and drivability:
.
It can take a lot of power without distorting and can be driven easily even with small dongle DACs.
.

Sound signature:
.
There is a perceptable sub-bass boost, slight midrange forwardness, and a gentle upper treble elevation, therefore I call this a slight W-shape sound signature, it has just enough boost to make thing more exciting, but still quite neutral overall.
.
Technicalities:
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Excellent instrument and vocals separation for the price, and regardless of the price, very good.
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Very wide soundstage with good height, but the soundstage depth is not as long as the width, still a good everall sound scape experience.
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It projects very good and complete sound images from left to right without holes in between.
.
Bass:
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There is a slight but easily recognisable boost, it is energetic, fast and deep with good texturing and punchiness. Slightly sub-bass focused.
.
Midrange:
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It sounds like a midrange from much more expensive sets, clean and coloration-free. It has a slightly forward presentation, which helps with the imaging and clarity.
.
Treble:
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Excellent extension, very detailed, airy, and natural, with no obvious balance armature timbre and incoherency issues.
.
Comparisons:
.
I cannot find any competitor for this near it's price point, I heard some 40 to 80 dollar sets with the same driver complement as the IgniteX Beast that sound like trash or too boring and lifeless, The nearest competition for this in terms of sound is the Moondrop May with a 4.4mm cable, and the rest are more expensive.
.
Compared to Moondrop May:
.
The May has a significantly more sub-bass boost, with darker tonality and sweeter sounding upper treble, due to its micro planar treble driver, forming a U-shaped sound signature with more soundstage depth. The IgniteX Beast sounds more energetic, more neutral, and more detailed in the midrange and treble, with a slight W-shape sound signature, giving me a more vivid sound experience.
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Compared to the NF Acous NM20:
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The NM20 is V-shaped with substantially more bass impact, punch, and bass details. The mids are more recessed, and the treble is more elevated. The NM20 has superior spatial presentation where the musical performances seem to be coming from the front, like in a real space, out of the head musical experience, while the IgniteX Beast has more conventional sound stage presentation, albeit very good at it. I also like the imaging on the NM20, but the IgniteX Beast is not far behind. Ultimately, it all boils down to price and tonality when choosing between the two; the NM20 is priced at $119 USD and has a bright V-shaped tonality, while the IgniteX Beast is more neutral with extended highs and lows and almost as good technically.
.

Pros:
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Sounds very refined for its price
Very well tuned
Very natural upper treble extension
Good looking
Nicely shaped shells
Outstanding value for money
Very nice stock cable
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Cons:
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I actually have nothing to complain about, considering the price.
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Disclosure:
.
I'm hoping to grow my local audio enthusiast community, and to help it, I decided to give the Celest IgniteX Beast as a review tour unit and be raffled among the participating reviewers. Even though I am not obligated to do that, I announced it to the group even before I got a listen to it. I wasn't expecting too much, but when I first listened to it, I was blown away, so I will buy another IgniteX Beast for myself. LOL
.
Conclusion:
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The sound quality that I got for the price of $49 dollars is unprecedented, making the Celest IgniteX Beast an outstanding value for money. The things that got me hooked with the IgniteX Beast are the clean bass, uncolored midrange, and the naturally extended treble with excellent detail retrieval. Very highly recommended.
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Kinera & Celest Official Audio Club
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Celest
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Kinera
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Non affiliated purchase links:
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https://kineraaudio.com/products/lgnitex-beast...
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https://www.linsoul.com/products/celest-ignitex-beast...
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https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-celest-ignitex-beast...
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https://shenzhenaudio.com/.../kinera-celest-ignite-beast...
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https://shopee.ph/Kinera-Celest-IgniteX-Beast-1DD-1BA...

KINERA CELEST IGNITEX BEAST​

Budget Hybrid Optimized !

Pros:
- Tight and punchy bassline.
- Treble clarity. Clean and clear.
- Great technicalities for the price.
- Easy to drive.
- Performs better on higher volume.
- Great value.
- Sounds good out the box.

Cons: (Nit-picks)
- Lacks sub-bass pressure and sustain.
- Vocal rendition is on the smooth and safe side
- Potential mid-treble splash on percussions (higher volume).
- Not the most engaging set.

[MY PERSONAL HEAD-FI GRADING]
1 ★ - Appalling! please avoid this!
2 ★★ Subpar offering, there are better options out there!
3 ★★★ Decent with some caveats! Not a bad pick!
4 ★★★★ Not perfect but solid choice ! This should be in your shortlist. A nice addition to your collection.
5 ★★★★★ One the best in class! You should go right ahead & buy one! A must have!

KINERA CELEST IGNITEX BEAST 4½★★★★​

▓▒░ SOUND-SIGNATURE ░▒▓
The tuning profile of the IgniteX lies in the form of a mild-v shaped sound. It has greater emphasis on the upper-mids with an elevated mid-treble zing. The bass has a slight boost, but it is a sub-bass biased. It is not a bass-head set, it is by no means a treble set and it is not a vocal specialist set either which makes its one of the more all-rounders set in its class.

▓▒░ PRE-BURN IN EXPERIENCE ░▒▓
It sounds great out of the box. Perhaps after a week of usage, the bass gets tighter and the treble seems a smidge clearer.

▓▒░ BASS/LOW-ENDSOUND ░▒▓
With just a slight bass-boost, it keeps the low-end clean without overpowering the upper registry. Overall, the low-end is rather assertive but it is never domineering. It is well-controlled and smoothly textured.

The low-end extension is not much. The sub-bass attack is rather polite with a moderately fast decay rate. As a result, those rumbling, droning and booming sensation may not be the most satisfying to listen. It’s there but there is no pressure built up to it to keep it atmospheric. Thankfully, the sub-bass kicks are punchy giving a satisfactory level of tactile boom.

Ghetto bass elements have good bound and rebound rate while bass-drop is kept clean and clear. As for the bass distortion elements, they are well retrieved.

On paper, the mid-bass is seemingly less but for some reason they sound more impactful than the subs. They have good amplitude of attack and hit quite deep to leave an impression. Instrument like drum hits or percussions seems to hit, slam, punch and kick harder than expected.
The notes are nicely weighted and offers a more precise decay unlike the sub-bass which tend to linger a tad longer than it should on a fast bass tracks. Thankfully there is no spill over of mid-bass onto the lower mid-range which can be a good or bad thing depending on your library.

All being said, the bass performance is definitely one of its strength. The layering and detailing is very good for the price. It offers a good balance between quality and quantity but ultimately, it is by no means for bass-head.

▓▒░ MID-RANGE /VOCAL ░▒▓
Overall, the mid-range/vocal took a more neutral approach in its positioning, it is neither too forward nor recessed.

Both male and female seems to offer equal level of performance on stage. They sound smooth, clean and clear. There hasn't been any shouty, graininess or dryness situation as far as the assessment goes. And that’s about it.

Unfortunately, the vocal rendition could use some work. The vocal texturing is definitely on the smooth side. It is not very good at retrieving those micro-nuances on those voices. The elements of breath, hoarse or coarse don't really standout that much.

It would have been better if the vocals fundamental body were denser. There are times when there is a slight hollowness to the voice especially with male vocals.

The vocal can sound a tad too safe for some, lacking that crescendo on transient. It sounds as if the singers are holding back their emotions.

On top of that, the vocal reverb is not that prominent which is not ideal on an acoustic track.

The same can be said with its instrument replay. The attack definition are just lacking (piano, violin, strings, guitar, flute).

At the very least, despite the nit-picks, they still sound natural in its own way. It's just that from a vocal attribute standpoint, it is missing some of that finesse that can makes vocal and instrument sound great.

▓▒░ TREBLE/HIGHS ░▒▓
The treble extension is quite good. It doesn't sound too dark nor too bright. The response is fairly smooth.

There is no unwanted resonance that could irks your experience. There is a good amount of crispiness, brightness and clarity to them. They sounded clean and clear most of the time. None of that graininess or haziness that would normally associate with a BA driver.

The treble elements are mostly well laid-out without sounding forced or too aggressive in its demeanour.

However, it is not all perfect. On some occasions, that mid-treble emphasis can make highs region percussions like drum-hits can sound a tad peaky. Noticeably, on higher volumes.

And if I were to nitpicks, constant hi-hats and cymbals have a more rounded-edge to them and the shimmering effect is not quite there on the overrun. As for e-guitars, it could use with abit more bite for added grunt. Meanwhile when it comes to electronics or synthetic noise, it rings, zings, buzzes and rattles just fine .

Regardless, this level of treble performance may not be the most detailed but its level of refinement carries this set, giving the quality it needs.

✧ ════ •TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE• ════ ✧
- As for the STAGE, it is very wide, good depth but there is not much height to the dimension. The vocals are dead-centred surrounded by images of instruments.

- When it comes to its IMAGING PROWESS, is quite impressive. The SOUND LOCALIZATION from left to right is not the most razor sharp but it is very accurate. Thanks to provided depth, front to back layering is not bad either.

- SEPARATION level is one of its strong points. Although the gap between each element of sound isn’t generous. The borders of separated elements are highly maintained with great consistent thru-out the test.

- Having a clear and clean sound does help with its clarity. DETAIL-RETRIEVAL never seems to be lacking, providing your music with sufficient amount of macro and micro detail.

- TIMBRE wise, vocals and instrument are far from sounding unnatural. But it is not the most accurate I've heard. There are times when the vocals and instrument sounds abit weightless/lack body and the texturing could use with more bite or attack definition. The same can be said with instrument like piano, guitar plucks, violin or strings, they can sound abit light and smoothed over. Which is good for laid-back sessions but not so much if you're looking for realism. The other aspect that is affecting its timbre accuracy is probably the overtone or the reverberation level. I find the trailing of reverb is missing a touch on vocals and instrument. Having said that, being hybrid, these issues are quite common. At the very least, there is no annoying BA grains or sharpness is heard.

- For a safe tuning like this one, the DYNAMIC RANGE is not going to be that wide but elements of loud and soft can still be distinguish when your ears are focused.

- It does VOLUME SCALING quite well. In fact, you really need to dial up the volume to get the most out of it. Otherwise, it can sound too relax and get bored pretty quickly.

- As for the DRIVER QUALITY. Its more than capable to achieve its goal. There is no driver-flex issue, and it is not that hard to drive to listenable volume.

✧ ════ •POTENTIAL SYNERGY TWEAKS• ════ ✧
- EARTIPS: I’d recommend using the SPINFIT CP100 if you want to improve the bass tactile and mid-range body and intimacy.

- DAC/AMP: I’d suggest using something brighter, cleaner, less coloured and more technical source like the Tanchjim SPACE, it does help to improve its technical aspect. But it does works well with a neutral-warm signature like the CELEST CD-20 or XDUOO LINK2BAL. It helps the lower-mids to sound fuller and richer while taming down those mid-treble energy.

✧ ════ •BUILD/ PACKAGING/COMFORT• ════ ✧
- Like most Kineras/Celest, its built quality is top-notch. It is lightweight, not too big and beautifully finished.

- Its packaging is small and reasonable for the price. There is a mic option as well, but it would be great if can they provide it with a 4.4 BAL cable option. While the stock cable could be better as they are very memory prone and too thin.

- Comfort wise, it has this semi-custom-like resin shell which really helps in its ear-gonomics. There is not protruding cleave or bulge that can cause discomfort.

SHORT COMPARISON


vs CELEST WYVERN QING (Stock)

- IgniteX has tighter bass control. Punchier and hit deeper.
- Qing has greater sub-bass pressure and sustain. And boomier
- Qing slightly better at capturing reverb on vocals and instruments.
- Qing has fuller and richer mid-range vocals.
- Qing is vocals sounds slightly more emotional/euphonic.
- IgniteX has slightly better micro-contrast on vocals.
- IgniteX has airier treble response. More sparkling up top.
- Qing is darker but void of spiciness or hotness.
- IgniteX has better treble-detail.
- IgniteX has wider and deeper stage while Qing is slightly taller.
- IgniteX stereo-imaging is sharper and more accurate.
- IgniteX separation prowess is a notch better.
- IgniteX detail retrieval is smidge better.
- IgniteX clarity is a notch higher.
- Qing has greater advantage on capturing music ambience.
- Qing timbre sounds ever so slightly more natural. It has better note weight and decay.
- Both are equally easy to drive.
- Both are equally as comfortable to wear.
- IgniteX is prettier and better built.

" When it comes to technical performance, the IgniteX is clearly a notch above the Qing. However, the Qing still has the upper hand ever so slightly in terms of tone and timbre. It sounds a tad more natural and euphonic to my ears. In other words, the IgniteX is not the direct upgrade to the Qing. They sounded different enough to complement each other. If you already have the Qing, and you’re looking for something different I’d definitely recommend you try and get the IgniteX for a different set of flavor."

◤FINAL THOUGHTS◢
Celest has managed to cook something solid yet again. It is truly shocking to see how far a budget segment has grown today. If I were to get similar hybrid setup from 2-3 years ago, we would probably have to pay around 200-300$ for this level of sound quality and refinement. And most of the flaws are mostly nit-picks.
Yes, it is not perfect. But what you get for the price is nothing short of impressive. And bear in mind I've been gauging it by using sets that cost way higher than it does which says alot. I can definitely see myself recommending this set to my fellow audiophiles in the future that wants a laid-back sound that isn't too boring without breaking the wallet.

[IEM-SCORING-BOARD]
RATING
1: Trash (F)
2: Horrible (E)
3: Bad (D)
4: Subpar (C)
5: Decent/Average (B)
6: Good (A-)
7: Great (A)
8: Superb. (A+)
9: Masterclass/Top-Drawer (S)
10: Perfection (P)

CELEST IGNITEX BEAST (KUNO) [1-DD-1-BA]
(10MM LCP DIAPHRAGM DYNAMIC DRIVER)
(CELEST 10012 BALANCED ARMATURE)
MSRP : 49$ USD
Tuning : Mild V-shaped/Slight W-shaped.
= Quality =
Bass: 6.0/10 Mids: 5.0/10 Treble: 5.5/10
Male/Female: 5.0/5.0
= Technicalities =
Detail & Resolve: 6.0/6.0
Instrument Replay/Timbre : 5.5/10
Dynamic-Range/Transient : 5.0/10
Head-stage [W-H-D]: 7.0-4.5-7.0
Layering & Separation: 6.5/10
Stereo Imaging 6.0/10
Ambience : 5/10
Clarity : 6.5/10
Build/Comfort: 8/8
Value: 9/10 [AS TESTED]
Personal Enjoyment: 5.5/10
SETUP (As tested)
Stock 4Core OFC Cable 3.5 SE PLUG (No Mic)
Spinfit CP100 (M) (Non-Plus)
Tanchjim SPACE/Celest CD-20

CELEST WYVERN QING (GREEN) [1-DD]
(10MM LCP DIAPHRAGM DYNAMIC DRIVER)
MSRP : 29$ USD
Tuning : Mild V-shaped/ Bassy-Harman.
= Quality =
Bass: 5.5/10 Mids: 5.5/10 Treble: 5.0/10
Male/Female: 5.0/5.5
= Technicalities =
Detail & Resolve: 5.5/5.0
Instrument Replay/Timbre : 7.0/10
Dynamic-Range/Transient : 5.5/10
Head-stage [W-H-D]: 5.5-5.0-6.0
Layering & Separation: 5.0/10
Stereo Imaging 5.5/10
Ambience : 6/10
Clarity : 5.5/10
Build/Comfort: 7/8
Value: 9/10 [AS TESTED]
Personal Enjoyment: 6/10
SETUP (As tested)
Stock Silver-plated OFC Cable 3.5 SE PLUG (No Mic)
Spinfit CP100 (M) (Non-Plus)
Tanchjim SPACE

========================================================================
【SOURCE & GEARS】
● Native FLAC Files [44.1Khz 16bits-96Khz 24bits]
● Foobar2000 [ROG G18] [USB C Thunderbolt]
● Huawei P20 PRO [Phone][ App- Foobar2000]

========================================================================

【PLAYLIST／TEST-TRACKS】​

1977 Fleetwood Mac - Dreams ★
1982 Chicago – Hard to say I'm sorry. ★
2003 NARUTO Original Soundtrack I – Wakiagaru Toushi ★
2008 K.will (케이윌) – 소원 (Great King Sejong OST Part.1)
2009 Maksim – Exodus
2010 Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou (OST) – Kokoro no Oku De Ha
2014 Grabbitz – Here with you now. ★
2014 BoA – MASAYUME CHASING
2014 Hyolyn – 안녕 Good bye ★
2015 KOKIA – I Found You ★
2015 K MISSING KINGS (OST) - New Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - Return of Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - If you die.
2017 Berry Goodman – Zutto (ずっと) ★
2017 SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:mizuki – ViEW
2017 Namie Amuro – Hope
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - In Pursuit Of
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - Lost Small World
2019 Blade & Soul (OST) – Half-Moon Lake
2019 CAROLE & TUESDAY VOCAL COLLECTION Vol.1 – Light a Fire ★
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – BAE – BaNG!!! ★
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – cozmez – Where They At ★
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – GET NAKED (Kiyoshi Sugo Remix)
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – again (MATZ Remix)
2020 premiere fleurs – プリンシパル
2020 Love Live! Nijigasaki – 朝香果林 (Karin Asaka) – VIVID WORLD ★
2020 Fujii Kaze – へでもねーよ”／Hedemo Ne-YoSeishun Sick
2020 King Gnu – 三文小説 ／Sanmon Shosetsu ★
2021 OWV – Fifth Season ★
2021 加藤 ミリヤ (Miliyah) feat. Yoshida Brothers – この夢が醒めるまで ★
2021 Aoi Teshima – ただいま★
2021 Official髭男dism – Cry Baby
2021 Chanmin BIJIN 美人 – Morning Mood
2021 門脇更紗 (Sarasa Kadowaki) – きれいだ
2021 Mirei Touyama – 美忘録
2021 SELECTION PROJECT Vol.1 – Only one yell -天沢灯ソロver.- ★
2022 Belle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Million Miles Away (ENG vers.)
2022 rei (E-girls) – Dark Hero.
2022 rei (E-girls) – IDNY
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – Bleecker Chrome - You will shine ★
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – YOSHIKI EZAKI x Bleecker Chrome - UP ★
2022 BEAST TAMER (OST) – じんわり感じている幸せ
2022 Ado – 会いたくて
2022 Ado – 踊
2023 La prière – Sweet Dreams ★
2023 Bungou Stray Dogs 4th Season ED – Luck Life – しるし★
2023 UMAMUSUME PRETTY DERBY - Hat on your Head!
2023 Anna – 花のように (Hana no You ni)
2023 riria. – 貴方の側に (Anata no Soba ni)
2024 Dungeon Meshi OP – BUMP OF CHICKEN – Sleep Walking Orchestra
2024 Ernie Zakri, Ade Govinda - Masing Masing ★
2024 Paradox Live THE ANIMATION OST – 25 幻影武雷管 - Trauma ★
2024 Bartender Kami no Glass OP – Takaya Kawasaki – Stardust Memory ★
2024 Maou no Ore ga Dorei Elf ED – Sayaka Yamamoto – Blue Star
2024 Spice and Wolf Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf OP – Hana Hope – Tabi no Yukue/ Destination of the journey
2024 Tonari no Youkai-san ED – Aoi Kubo – Iro no Naka (風媒花)

★ Main-Test-Tracks/ A glimpse of what listen to 90% of the of time.


Do take my words for what it’s worth. Afterall, I am just one man. ╮(╯▽╰)╭

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! HAVE A GOOD DAY WHEREVER YOU ARE! TAKE CARE!

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