Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0
- Added by baskingshark
- Create date
Now, I want to preface this entire thing by saying this;
#1. I hate being negative, but at the same time, I have to keep it real here.
#2. While I don’t enjoy these IEMs, I can certainly see which crowd would like them.
With all that being said, I’d like to thank HiFiGo for sending the Celest Pandamon 2.0 out for review and a little photo sesh, it’s much appreciated! If you’d like to give the Pandamon 2.0 a try, please follow these unaffiliated links and get the wallets out! I guess I have to change my disclaimer now lol
HiFiGo：
HiFiGo
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ98TQ1Z/celest+pandamon+2.0/
Amazon JP:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CZ91BFX5/celest+pandamon+2.0/
Aliexpress：
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006811792383.html
You can also find all of the technical specs on the set using the links above as I usually don’t like to bog down my impressions with those numbers. It just makes the articles way longer than they need to be in my humble opinion.
Disclaimer
Test tracks
Well, I guess I’m a reviewer! But just because that’s changed, doesn’t mean I’ve lost my integrity. All of these thoughts and opinions are my own and always will be. This is strictly fun for me and I’ll never compromise for any company or retailer. Rest assured, these thoughts are as legitimate as they come.
TLDR; I’d like to say that I’ve only ever tried one other IEM from Kinera and that was the Imperial Loki which I did not enjoy, HOWEVER, I understood the assignment on that IEM. I got it. The crowd was there for that earphone, I just wasn’t part of the group and that’s totally fine. The Pandamon 2.0 is similar with a boosted upper mid-range providing impressive detail retrieval that could probably rival lots of sets triple its price. However, the problem with the set lies in the same area, unfortunately. IEMs are all about compromise, right, and the way Celest has achieved that impressive technical punch is by boosting the upper mid-range to the point where vocals, guitars, and cymbals all sound unnaturally thing, splashy and scratchy in terms of their timbre and tonality. I have no doubt in my mind that someone, somewhere, would happily give up timbre for that extra bit of detail in their music, but I’m just not that guy. The Pandamon 2.0 is a beautifully built and presented IEM, which by itself, earns the $60 price tag in my opinion, but it makes too many sacrifices to achieve the sound it’s going for. If you’re looking for a budget IEM under $100 that uses an SPD driver, or if you just want to try out an SPD driver to see what they’re all about, the Pandamon 2.0 Is probably you’re best bet. But, if you’re looking for an under $100 IEM with fantastic technical ability that doesn’t have to sacrifice in the timbre and tonality department at all, I’d suggest the stuff from Simgot, most notably the 500LM.
We’ll start off with the packaging/presentation of the Pandamon 2.0 which is fantastic for a budget iEM. The Pandamon 2.0 will come in two options for your cable terminations, 3.5 and 4.4 which is pretty damn sweet for a sub $100 IEM to offer that in the first place, plus, the stock cable is actually quite nice and I would have no issues using it my self on this set and others so bravo, Celest.
You also get a small, circular case which isn’t anything special but again, if we’re comparing it to other sub $100 IEMs, even some right at $100, lots of those other popular releases don’t offer even a small pouch. The stock tips aren’t anything special or notable, I’m sure they’ll get the job done for most folks, but I landed on the SS20 tips from Whizzer to offer the best comfort and sonic properties. Those tips are so fantastic… Anyways, in conclusion, the Pandamon 2.0 knocks it out of the park when it comes to the packaging and presentation.
Speaking of presentation, just look at those faceplates…
wowzers. Very pretty. These are built very well, not just for a budget set, but just in general and I have to commend Celest yet again because they always hit when it comes to the design of their IEMs. Their sound sigs may not mesh with me well, but their IEM designs sure do. My wife also quite likes them as well and she has a background in resin design so she knows what she’s talking about. The orange tray in the marque image at the top is her creation actually!
Bass
Unfortunately, the bass on the Pandamon 2.0 just doesn’t do it for me. The weird thing is, I don’t mind planar bass at all, I actually quite enjoy the snappy nature of it. Funny enough, the IEM that really got me back into the hobby after a few year-long hiatus was the Timeless and my brain really adjusted to that sound over the 6 months I wore them every single day as my EDC, not to mention, that was the only IEM I had at the time. I have no issues with planar timbre or bass most of the time…. But the Pandamon 2.0 falls flat here in my opinion. There just isn’t enough of it here to balance out the rest of the frequency range. The focus is obviously more so in the mids here, so the bass really does take a back seat here on songs like FRUITING BODY, WAVY MAZE, THEY ARE GROWING, and the first few daft punk songs of my playlists. To be fair, the mid-bass thump on THEY ARE GROWING and Give Life Back to Music isn’t terrible, let me make sure that’s completely clear. I don’t think this IEM has bad bass, I just think there simply isn’t enough of it to satisfy even this non-bass head. I actually think that if the upper-mid and treble were tuned relative to the bass in this case, you’d have some actually nice melodies shooting into your noggin here. The Mid-bass kick is fast and snappy, and pulls and releases on bass guitar are still very groovy and do a decent job at driving the music forward. The sub-bass, however, just can’t be redeemed. I can barely hear it on my tracks here and to be quite honest, I’d need at least another 6-8 dB at LEAST.
Mids
The most contentious part of this IEM lives here, in the mids. Specifically in the upper mids, going passed 3k into 5, and 6k territory. I am not sensitive to the typical peaks like 5k and 8k, but more so around 3.2k to be exact. If this is too boosted, forget it, my brain latches on to it and just simply can’t let go. So, here we are, the area where I can’t get past. I won’t go on and start referencing songs from my playlist because quite frankly, none of them sound good here if we’re strictly focusing on the mids. The timbre is off, it’s hollow, thin, and just plain off tonally. The notes lack weight to my ears, especially the vocals of the song, but they’re also forward and jarring at times. In the effort of not sounding completely negative, I will say that the details and resolution are impressive here, punching above it’s weight in vocal clarity and texture, however, the staging is very closed in to my ears which gives this very claustrophobic effect that I am just not fond of and it does cause some muddying of busier tracks like, Decode, which isn’t even that busy.
Treble
I have to be honest, I don’t have much to say about the treble. I feel as though It’s on the darker side and not very well extended at all causing the dynamics of songs to be off-putting sometimes. Cymbals have this huge initial crash and SPLASH to them but then disappear in an instant. Vocals do stay at the front and center of the performance, but the backing instruments just get lost in the shuffle and become something like an afterthought. All in all, this IEM just doesn’t sound balanced tonally due to the shift in the treble coming from the mids.
My last review was of the Symphonium Crimson so the next IEM that was due for an impression had some HUGE shoes to fill when It came to the treble department, but still, I tempered my expectations due to the pricing category and this still disappointed me. I think the Pandamon 2.0 is lacking air, causing a closed-in effect in the music as well, forcing you to focus on the mids and upper mids. Whether you think that is a good thing or a bad thing, is completely up to you of course.
Technicalities
I will say, this is where the Pandamon 2.0 regains some respect from me. As I’ve already said the detail retrieval and overall resolution are both pretty killer for the price category. However, the timbre, tonality, stage, and layering are all very lackluster. I’ll continue to say this until I’m blue in the face, the SPD timbre is not for me, it is a crunchy, thin, and somewhat off-putting. The stage is very closed in on my HRTF so that makes the presentation pretty intimate, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it also causes issues with the layering of the music being played. Various instruments, guitars, bass, piano, vocals, etc. are all on top of each other with the vocals being right up in your face. If you are looking for a very very vocal and detail forward IEM, this would probably suit you but if you’re anything like myself, the sacrifices this IEM makes to present those vocals and details so forwardly are very apparent and quite frankly, unnecessary.
Source differences
The Pandamon 2.0 did react to different sources in my experience but not to the point where these magically became fantastic IEMs. On my desktop setup, the set came off as the most balanced, and that is where a majority of my impressions came from. For whatever reason, listening to them on the BTR7 was a disaster and quite frankly, unlistenable for me personally. Vocals became shrill, and even thinner somehow. The Dunu DTU 500 faired better than the BTR7 since it’s a warmer source, and it did help thicken up the lower mids a little bit and make the upper-mid range tolerable, however, the layering became even worse and there was a nasty peak somewhere I couldn’t quite put my finger on in the lower treble. I’d stick with a more neutral source with these if possible.
In summary, what do I think of the Pandamon 2.0? Well, unfortunately, my thoughts are mostly negative and it really comes down to the timbre and tonal balance of the set. The treble being on the darker side means this IEM isn’t for treble heads, and the mid-range being unnatural in its timbre means it isn’t for mid-heads, so who is it for? I simply don’t know, quite frankly - Maybe folks that want to experience a higher degree of detail but don’t have the money to spend over $200 for the big planar and hybrid boys? Yes. I would say that’s the crowd this IEM is aiming for. But, with the likes of the Simgots, Kiwi Ears, & Truthears being of this world, the Celest Pandamon 2.0 is a very pretty face with a dream of competing with the big boys, but ultimately, comes up short.
Thanks so much for reading! Cheers!
PS. I had a lot more images to upload, but I can't figure out how to insert them. Sorry!
#1. I hate being negative, but at the same time, I have to keep it real here.
#2. While I don’t enjoy these IEMs, I can certainly see which crowd would like them.
With all that being said, I’d like to thank HiFiGo for sending the Celest Pandamon 2.0 out for review and a little photo sesh, it’s much appreciated! If you’d like to give the Pandamon 2.0 a try, please follow these unaffiliated links and get the wallets out! I guess I have to change my disclaimer now lol
HiFiGo：
Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0 10mm Square Planar Driver In-Ear Monitors
Buy Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0 10mm Square Planar Driver In-Ear Monitors on HiFiGo, and you can enjoy a year warranty and the best after-sales service.Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ98TQ1Z/celest+pandamon+2.0/
Amazon JP:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CZ91BFX5/celest+pandamon+2.0/
Aliexpress：
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006811792383.html
You can also find all of the technical specs on the set using the links above as I usually don’t like to bog down my impressions with those numbers. It just makes the articles way longer than they need to be in my humble opinion.
Disclaimer
Test tracks
- Give Life Back to Music - daft punk - Overall clarity
- Infinity Repeating - daft punk - Lower mids control
- Voyager - daft punk - Bass line clarity/busy track layering
- Overnight - Parcels - mid bass punch
- Tieduprightnow - Parcels - bass line/sibilance test
- Everyroad -Parcels - Imaging/Sub bass @ 7 minute mark
- Daytime - Lunar Vacation - Staging/female vocals w/ heavy bass
- Days - No Vacation - Vibe test/treble energy
- Fruiting Body - Goon - Sub bass
- Wavy Maze - Goon - Mid bass
- Together - Maggie Rodgers - Female Vocals
- Slide Tackle - Japanese Breakfast - Sibilance test/consonants harshness
- Decode - Paramore - Vibe test/stage depth
- Vinta - Crumb - Stage depth/layering
- Kim’s Caravan - Courtney Barnett - Female Vocals/resolution test
- Small Poppies - Courtney Barnett - Distorted Guitar
- Lifelong Song - Men I Trust - Sub/mid bass texture
- One and Only - Adele - Female Vocals/consonants harshness test
- Waves - Wild Painting - Overall Enjoyment and stage depth/width/Bass guitar speed
- Not the One - Highnoon - Female Vocals
- Cowboy Killer - Varsity - Layering
- Alone in My Principles - Varsity - Distorted female vocals
- Summer Madness - Kool & The Gang - Treble Harshness
- They Are Growing - Renata Zeiguer - Mid bass impact
- Apple Music Streaming Hi-Res Lossless when available
- Topping D10s + Topping L30
- Moondrop Dawn 4.4
- Dunu DTC 500
- FiiO BTR7 BT
Well, I guess I’m a reviewer! But just because that’s changed, doesn’t mean I’ve lost my integrity. All of these thoughts and opinions are my own and always will be. This is strictly fun for me and I’ll never compromise for any company or retailer. Rest assured, these thoughts are as legitimate as they come.
TLDR; I’d like to say that I’ve only ever tried one other IEM from Kinera and that was the Imperial Loki which I did not enjoy, HOWEVER, I understood the assignment on that IEM. I got it. The crowd was there for that earphone, I just wasn’t part of the group and that’s totally fine. The Pandamon 2.0 is similar with a boosted upper mid-range providing impressive detail retrieval that could probably rival lots of sets triple its price. However, the problem with the set lies in the same area, unfortunately. IEMs are all about compromise, right, and the way Celest has achieved that impressive technical punch is by boosting the upper mid-range to the point where vocals, guitars, and cymbals all sound unnaturally thing, splashy and scratchy in terms of their timbre and tonality. I have no doubt in my mind that someone, somewhere, would happily give up timbre for that extra bit of detail in their music, but I’m just not that guy. The Pandamon 2.0 is a beautifully built and presented IEM, which by itself, earns the $60 price tag in my opinion, but it makes too many sacrifices to achieve the sound it’s going for. If you’re looking for a budget IEM under $100 that uses an SPD driver, or if you just want to try out an SPD driver to see what they’re all about, the Pandamon 2.0 Is probably you’re best bet. But, if you’re looking for an under $100 IEM with fantastic technical ability that doesn’t have to sacrifice in the timbre and tonality department at all, I’d suggest the stuff from Simgot, most notably the 500LM.
We’ll start off with the packaging/presentation of the Pandamon 2.0 which is fantastic for a budget iEM. The Pandamon 2.0 will come in two options for your cable terminations, 3.5 and 4.4 which is pretty damn sweet for a sub $100 IEM to offer that in the first place, plus, the stock cable is actually quite nice and I would have no issues using it my self on this set and others so bravo, Celest.
You also get a small, circular case which isn’t anything special but again, if we’re comparing it to other sub $100 IEMs, even some right at $100, lots of those other popular releases don’t offer even a small pouch. The stock tips aren’t anything special or notable, I’m sure they’ll get the job done for most folks, but I landed on the SS20 tips from Whizzer to offer the best comfort and sonic properties. Those tips are so fantastic… Anyways, in conclusion, the Pandamon 2.0 knocks it out of the park when it comes to the packaging and presentation.
Speaking of presentation, just look at those faceplates…
wowzers. Very pretty. These are built very well, not just for a budget set, but just in general and I have to commend Celest yet again because they always hit when it comes to the design of their IEMs. Their sound sigs may not mesh with me well, but their IEM designs sure do. My wife also quite likes them as well and she has a background in resin design so she knows what she’s talking about. The orange tray in the marque image at the top is her creation actually!
Bass
Unfortunately, the bass on the Pandamon 2.0 just doesn’t do it for me. The weird thing is, I don’t mind planar bass at all, I actually quite enjoy the snappy nature of it. Funny enough, the IEM that really got me back into the hobby after a few year-long hiatus was the Timeless and my brain really adjusted to that sound over the 6 months I wore them every single day as my EDC, not to mention, that was the only IEM I had at the time. I have no issues with planar timbre or bass most of the time…. But the Pandamon 2.0 falls flat here in my opinion. There just isn’t enough of it here to balance out the rest of the frequency range. The focus is obviously more so in the mids here, so the bass really does take a back seat here on songs like FRUITING BODY, WAVY MAZE, THEY ARE GROWING, and the first few daft punk songs of my playlists. To be fair, the mid-bass thump on THEY ARE GROWING and Give Life Back to Music isn’t terrible, let me make sure that’s completely clear. I don’t think this IEM has bad bass, I just think there simply isn’t enough of it to satisfy even this non-bass head. I actually think that if the upper-mid and treble were tuned relative to the bass in this case, you’d have some actually nice melodies shooting into your noggin here. The Mid-bass kick is fast and snappy, and pulls and releases on bass guitar are still very groovy and do a decent job at driving the music forward. The sub-bass, however, just can’t be redeemed. I can barely hear it on my tracks here and to be quite honest, I’d need at least another 6-8 dB at LEAST.
Mids
The most contentious part of this IEM lives here, in the mids. Specifically in the upper mids, going passed 3k into 5, and 6k territory. I am not sensitive to the typical peaks like 5k and 8k, but more so around 3.2k to be exact. If this is too boosted, forget it, my brain latches on to it and just simply can’t let go. So, here we are, the area where I can’t get past. I won’t go on and start referencing songs from my playlist because quite frankly, none of them sound good here if we’re strictly focusing on the mids. The timbre is off, it’s hollow, thin, and just plain off tonally. The notes lack weight to my ears, especially the vocals of the song, but they’re also forward and jarring at times. In the effort of not sounding completely negative, I will say that the details and resolution are impressive here, punching above it’s weight in vocal clarity and texture, however, the staging is very closed in to my ears which gives this very claustrophobic effect that I am just not fond of and it does cause some muddying of busier tracks like, Decode, which isn’t even that busy.
Treble
I have to be honest, I don’t have much to say about the treble. I feel as though It’s on the darker side and not very well extended at all causing the dynamics of songs to be off-putting sometimes. Cymbals have this huge initial crash and SPLASH to them but then disappear in an instant. Vocals do stay at the front and center of the performance, but the backing instruments just get lost in the shuffle and become something like an afterthought. All in all, this IEM just doesn’t sound balanced tonally due to the shift in the treble coming from the mids.
My last review was of the Symphonium Crimson so the next IEM that was due for an impression had some HUGE shoes to fill when It came to the treble department, but still, I tempered my expectations due to the pricing category and this still disappointed me. I think the Pandamon 2.0 is lacking air, causing a closed-in effect in the music as well, forcing you to focus on the mids and upper mids. Whether you think that is a good thing or a bad thing, is completely up to you of course.
Technicalities
I will say, this is where the Pandamon 2.0 regains some respect from me. As I’ve already said the detail retrieval and overall resolution are both pretty killer for the price category. However, the timbre, tonality, stage, and layering are all very lackluster. I’ll continue to say this until I’m blue in the face, the SPD timbre is not for me, it is a crunchy, thin, and somewhat off-putting. The stage is very closed in on my HRTF so that makes the presentation pretty intimate, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it also causes issues with the layering of the music being played. Various instruments, guitars, bass, piano, vocals, etc. are all on top of each other with the vocals being right up in your face. If you are looking for a very very vocal and detail forward IEM, this would probably suit you but if you’re anything like myself, the sacrifices this IEM makes to present those vocals and details so forwardly are very apparent and quite frankly, unnecessary.
Source differences
The Pandamon 2.0 did react to different sources in my experience but not to the point where these magically became fantastic IEMs. On my desktop setup, the set came off as the most balanced, and that is where a majority of my impressions came from. For whatever reason, listening to them on the BTR7 was a disaster and quite frankly, unlistenable for me personally. Vocals became shrill, and even thinner somehow. The Dunu DTU 500 faired better than the BTR7 since it’s a warmer source, and it did help thicken up the lower mids a little bit and make the upper-mid range tolerable, however, the layering became even worse and there was a nasty peak somewhere I couldn’t quite put my finger on in the lower treble. I’d stick with a more neutral source with these if possible.
In summary, what do I think of the Pandamon 2.0? Well, unfortunately, my thoughts are mostly negative and it really comes down to the timbre and tonal balance of the set. The treble being on the darker side means this IEM isn’t for treble heads, and the mid-range being unnatural in its timbre means it isn’t for mid-heads, so who is it for? I simply don’t know, quite frankly - Maybe folks that want to experience a higher degree of detail but don’t have the money to spend over $200 for the big planar and hybrid boys? Yes. I would say that’s the crowd this IEM is aiming for. But, with the likes of the Simgots, Kiwi Ears, & Truthears being of this world, the Celest Pandamon 2.0 is a very pretty face with a dream of competing with the big boys, but ultimately, comes up short.
Thanks so much for reading! Cheers!
PS. I had a lot more images to upload, but I can't figure out how to insert them. Sorry!
Disclaimer
Price(MSRP)
Source(s)
Ear tips
Unboxing and Quick Summary
Packaging
Build Quality
Tonality
Bass
Midrange
Treble
Technicalities
Resolution
Imaging
Conclusion
Non Affiliated Link
Thanks for reading!
- Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing a unit of the Pandamon 2.0 for me to review. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.
- Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.
Price(MSRP)
- $59
Source(s)
- It is easy to drive. Even on my JM6 Pro, I only need 30-40% of the volume most of the time, which is lesser than most IEMs I have used.
- Topping DX1
- Truthear Shio
- JCally JM6 Pro
Ear tips
- Dunu S&S
Unboxing and Quick Summary
Packaging
- Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0
- Round, semi-hard carrying case
- Decent selection of ear tips.
- 3 pairs of Celest 608 balanced silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
- Has a narrower bore, more closed in
- 3 pairs of Celest 221 vocal silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
- Has a wider bore, sounds more open
- 3 pairs of Celest 608 balanced silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
- 5N Copper Silver Plated Cable
- Feels a bit cheap but not bad at all.
- Tangles a little bit sometimes but is comfortable to use.
Build Quality
- Build quality is decent, feels plasticky.
- Shell is made out of resin, is extremely lightweight and it looks stunning.
- Nozzle is on the narrower side, with an average length, but is angled, in a way that didn't really work out too well for me personally.
- Fit is decent but not great, I couldn't fit it as deep as I would like due to the angled nozzle, but is very lightweight and comfortable.
Tonality
- Mild V-shaped
Bass
- Bass is a little more mid bass focused instead of sub bass.
- Fast, snappy, and has a decent punch and texture to it.
- However, it lacks a bit of impact, weight, tightness to it.
- Quantity is on the lighter side, which is absolutely not for bassheads.
- Overall, bass is not super satisfying, as it is lacking the weight and impact of a DD, but is somewhat fast and punchy.
Midrange
- Lower midrange has some warmth to it.
- Gives a good amount of weight and lushness to male vocals and some instruments without being muddy bloated.
- Upper midrange is very forward compared to other frequencies
- Can be a little bit shouty at times.
- Smooth, but the transition from the end of upper midrange to lower treble is lacking, so vocals don't really have the extension or "breathy" feeling at the end.
- Note weight has a nice weight and density to it but not overly heavy.
- Most instruments do sound great without any oddities, timbre is quite natural as well.
Treble
- Treble is on the relaxing side, but can easily get overly dull at times.
- Rolls off pretty early from the end of upper midrange, notes and cymbals lack incisiveness and sounds a little blunted in general.
- Extension is also not good, lacking a sense of airiness to it.
- Details are not very revealing due to the overly inoffensive and rolled off treble response.
Technicalities
Resolution
- Resolution and detail retrieval is average due to lack of sparkle and extension in the treble.
- Soundstage also has average width and height, but not really spacious or expansive.
- At least it is not overly closed in but it is on the more intimate side due to the lack of air.
Imaging
- Imaging and accuracy is average.
- Not really pinpoint accuracy due to it being blunted but still fine.
- Separation and layering is average as well.
- Instruments and vocals are not clearly separated but it is not overly congested on busier tracks due to the speedy driver.
Conclusion
- Overall, I find the Pandamon 2 to be a little niche.
- It has a pleasing, relaxing signature yet it still retains good vocal forwardness.
- However, the bass and treble performance is not really up to par to be competitive with the rest of the market.
Non Affiliated Link
- If you are interested after reading the article, feel free to check out the non affiliated link below.
Thanks for reading!
Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0
Introduction:
Kinera - "Live only for honor" made an honorable continuation of the first Pandamon - Pandamon 2.0, which inherited the same aggressive presentation with a new upgraded driver SPD (Square Planar Driver) 2.0.
Kinera presents its IEMs in two color options: blue and black, featuring a circular shell form. The lightweight, about 3.5 grams, and compact shell size will provide you with a comfortable fit in the ear, while correctly chosen eartips will provide a good sound isolation and prevent bass loss.
Shells feels solid, monolithic with a great build quality. Nozzle size is 6mm, so this might be an issue for people with narrow ear canals.
Specification:
- Kinera 10x10mm SPD 2.0 ™ (Square Planar Driver);
- Impedance: 9 Ω;
- Sensitivity: 108 dB;
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz;
- 5N Copper Silver Plated;
- Plug 3.5mm / 4.4mm Balanced;
- Price: 59$.
What's in the box:
- 2 sets of eartips (S / M / L):
Celest 221 Vocal Eartips ( Black ) : Enhance treble, pleasing vocal;
Celest 608 Balanced Eartips ( Red and Black ) : Sound balanced and stereo; - 2 pin 0.78mm 5N Copper Silver Plated Cable, 1.25m lenght;
- IEM itself;
- Leather storage bag;
- Instruction.
(*I pair this set with the DAC - Qudelix 5k for a better impressions and use the included balanced ear tips, which I find best for it.)
First, let's talk about the new Square Planar Driver 2.0. It doesn't feel like a regular planar driver to me. Driver deliver sound well and do his best to provide precise and crisp sound, but i felt a lack in full-range sound compared to a planar driver.
However, let's consider Pandamon 2.0 as planar eardphones and start with the bass:
BASS:
The bass in these earphones is expressive, deep, but it decays quite quickly. It's punchy and tight.
However, I wouldn't consider it as a basshead model, and i won't recommend them for heavy bass purposes.
But for those who appreciate harmonious bass, i recommend this IEM.
MIDRANGE:
The midrange is quite informative and rich, with vocals standing out prominently while sounding full-bodied and accurate, maintaining the overall visualization of the music. The midrange is smooth with a slight emphasis on the upper midrange, as i mentioned. Both female and male vocals sound as they should.
TREBLE:
The treble don't stand out in Pandamon 2.0 against the overall sound, they feel subdued, lacking sparkle and airiness.
Honestly, there are much better models with upper frequencies for this price.
The soundstage is wide and moves the air, with an accent on percussion instruments.
But there's a slight lack of depth in the soundstage. Everything seems close to the ear.
The separation and imaging in Pandamon 2.0 are quite commendable. You can hear each instrument separately, the piano, guitar or drum strike as distinct layers.
Some Comparison:
I want to compare Pandamon 2.0 with Simgot EW200 Maze (39$):
Well, the Simgot is definitely brighter, with expressive high frequencies, superb tuning, slightly heavier, and has a metallic shell.
EW200 fit better in the ears due to their smaller size and narrower nozzle size.
However, the Pandamon 2.0 is more balanced with better-defined bass and slightly richer midrange.
Both are well-built with excellent cables.
vs Tangzu Wan'er (19$):
Wan'er is decent for its price IEM, with a nice sound presentation, warm and balanced, but in the Pandamon, it seems to be at the next level in terms of sound delivery.
The soundstage is wider, air breathing, and Pandamon 2.0 has better separation.
vs Artti R3 (21$):
So, in the Artti, as well as the Wan'er, there is a lack of the overall picture of the song. However, in the R3 and Pandamon 2.0, there is a commonality in the bass; both sound detailed, punchy and tight.
Pandamon 2.0 doesn't have as smeared midrange as Artti; the highs in Artti sound better, shinier.
Pandamon 2.0 look a more beautiful and are better assembled.
Conclusion:
Overall, the Pandamon 2.0 is a good entry-level planar IEM, offering a fairly interesting and vibrant sound. It has a warm balanced sound signature and provides a pleasant listening experience. The tonal balance of these earphones is an advantage compared to some other planar drivers, in my opinion.
So Kinera has managed to create a good update to the legendary Pandamon version.
Thank you for reading my review!
Feel free to ask questions in the comments, i will definitely respond
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Disclaimer: I would like to thank Kinera Celest for providing this unit for review.
The earphones review is my personal opinion about product. It's not a paid review, and i'm not receiving any money for it.
You can purchase the Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0 from:
The official Aliexpress store - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005485611549.html (non-affiliated link);
Official Kinera store - https://www.kineraaudio.com/product/celest-pandamon-2-0 (non-affiliated link).
Official Kinera store - https://www.kineraaudio.com/product/celest-pandamon-2-0 (non-affiliated link).
Attachments
Introduction
Celest is already well known in the market: they started from the Gumiho and now they are back with the Pandamon 2.0 and the Ogryn, immediately after the great success of the Plutus Beast and Phoenixcall. The Pandamon 2.0 come also thanks to the positive feedback on the first Pandamon, a pair of nice sounding IEMs that was overlooked by many because of the “childish” appearance.
Technical Specifications
- Driver Configuration → 1 x 10mm SPD™ (Square Planar Driver)
- Impedance → 9 Ω
- Sensitivity → 108 dB
- Frequency Response Range → 20Hz-20kHz
- Cable → 1,2m silver plated 5N copper cable with 0.72mm 2-PIN connectors
- Plug Type → Straight gold plated 4.4 mm jack connector (there is also a 3.5mm version)
Packaging
The packaging of the Pandamon 2.0 is pretty simple, as shown in the photos, and it contains:- The Pandamon 2.0
- A detachable cable (4.4mm cable in my case, but as said in the specs one can also buy the 3.5mm jack version)
- One set of Celest 221 tips and one set of Celest 608 tips (S, M, L)
- A storage bag
- User manual
Design, Build Quality, Comfort and Isolation
The Pandamon 2.0 come in a rounded 3D printed resin shell that look rather elegant. The first version of the Pandamon featured a robotic Panda, which was a bit childish, but the newer version is a lot less fancy and could definitely appeal to more people.The shells are very lightweight, they look sturdy and the correct nozzle length along with the smooth shell design lead to a very comfortable fit. The isolation is decent too, even though these aren’t the IEMs I would use for super crowded environments.
Cable
The cable is decent, and even though there are IEMs with better stock cables in this price range, it’s hard to complain: it’s sturdy, it has a chin slider and it looks durable.
Sound
GEAR USED FOR THE TEST- DAC: Topping E30
- AMP: Topping L30, Fiio A3
- Mobile phones: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Xiaomi Mi A3, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Moondrop May’s DSP cable with PEQ=0
- Dongle: Apple Type-C dongle, Fosi DS2, Hidizs XO
- Portable DAPs: Benjie S8/AGPTEK M30B
- Other sources: Presonus AudioBox iONE, Elgato Wave XLR, KZ AZ10
Do they need an amplifier?
They reach satisfying volumes without an amplifier but I found out they scale with some power, so I suggest a cheap dongle at least.
Sound signature
The Celest Pandamon 2.0 have a smooth and relaxed U-shaped tuning. The SPD™ is not a traditional planar driver so I was not expecting any kind of planar timbre, and in fact there isn’t any kind of inconsistency in this regard.
Lows
The lows are present but not exaggerated or particularly emphasized, with the sub-bass being very controlled yet not digging as deep as I expected. The bass is punchy and tight, even though, being honest, I was expecting slightly better bass textures considering the slower-than-average bass.
If you’re a basshead or if you are used to listen on low volume levels and still want some proper bass body, just skip this one, but if you are someone searching for a balanced low-end then these might be your cup of tea.
Mids
The midrange is softly recessed with forward vocals and lush instrument timbre. Male vocals sound pretty good (even though a touch more warmth would have made them even better) and female vocals sound natural and energetic, hitting the sweet spot between forwardness and intimacy although high volumes can lead to some hotness here and there in some tracks.
Songs from Dire Straits and Police (just to mention a few) and other rock groups sound delicious on these even though very complicated tracks or busy moments show some weaknesses here and there in terms of layering and speed. Songs that mainly involve instruments like piano and classic guitars (let’s say Coldplay, James Blunt and so on), instead, would benefit from a bit more sub-bass but this is me nitpicking.
Highs
The highs are well tuned with no excessive peaks or extreme brightness. Detail retrieval is pretty good even though not class leading and the lower treble boost don’t lead to a fatiguing listening experience. Those who usually like a pinch of added energy on top without going for the “bright” route will definitely like the treble on the Pandamon 2.0, whereas trebleheads will be better off skipping this one since the upper treble extension is not the best out there.
The soundstage is relatively small and the imaging is decent, even though the dark-ish upper-treble limits the soundstage expansion and leaves a bit less space for the instruments to move on the stage (and, of course, to be properly pinpointed). Some competitors in this price range, however, do better in terms of technical performance.
Some comparisons:
Celest Pandamon 2.0 vs Celest PandamonThe overall sound “direction” hasn’t changed a lot, but the two sound slightly different. The first Pandamon sound slightly warmer, speedier, with better treble extension (also thanks to the open back design) and a tad more technical overall. The Pandamon 2.0, instead, have more natural vocals, a fuller low-end and play in a more intimate soundstage. The newer version needs more power to shine.
Build quality, stock cable, comfort and isolation are instead better on the newer Pandamon 2.0.
Celest Pandamon 2.0 vs EPZ Q5
The EPZ Q5 are more resolving, more detailed, they have better imaging and they play in a bigger soundstage. The Pandamon 2.0 have a slightly more natural midrange reproduction but thinner instruments and vocals’ timbre. In addition, the Pandamon 2.0 are harder to drive.
Let’s say that the Pandamon 2.0 are more focused on being an all-rounder, the EPZ Q5 instead go for a technical and fun V-shaped sound which doesn’t fit every genre.
Both are comfortable but the EPZ Q5 are smaller and isolate in a better way from external noises, and may appeal to more people.
Build quality is good on both sets even though the EPZ Q5 seem like a more premium set, while stock cable is of comparable quality.
Celest Pandamon 2.0 vs EW200
The EW200 are brighter, more detailed and have better imaging, while the Pandamon 2.0 has slightly more enjoyable vocals, a lusher midrange and a much less fatiguing treble (yet less detailed). The EW200 are easier to drive.
Comfort-wise, the Pandamon 2.0 are better whereas the EW200 are tinge better in terms of isolation. Build quality is good on both, maybe a bit better on the EW200, and stock cable is of comparable quality.
Celest Pandamon 2.0 vs QoA Gimlet
Two different sets, even though they’re both warm-tuned.
The Gimlet have more low-end presence and body, better bass textures, warmer male vocals and more energetic female vocals, a more open and detailed treble, a slightly bigger soundstage and a marginally superior imaging. The Pandamon 2.0 are generally more natural, they have slightly better bass tightness, a smoother and less recessed midrange with lusher vocals and a darker upper treble that is pretty safe for everyone. As a sidenote, the Pandamon 2.0 are slightly harder to drive.
The build quality is good on both sets (Gimlet are more premium though), comfort is better on the Pandamon 2.0 and isolation is better with the Gimlet in the ears. The stock cable is comparable.
Final Thoughts
Celest keeps demonstrating that they are able to “be different” from other brands with slightly different tunings when compared to the majority of products on the market.The Pandamon 2.0 are a nice set, but everyone expected them to be an improvement over the first Pandamon, which isn’t 100% true unfortunately. The comfort, the isolation, the build quality and design saw a big improvement and this is undeniable, but the sound is slightly less technical even though a tad more mature.
Don’t get me wrong, the Pandamon 2.0 sound nice, but I was expecting a much bigger jump from their previous version, especially given the price and the actual competitors (i.e. Kefine Delci, with almost the same price and much better technical performance).
Attachments
Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0 :: $59 :: 1 SPDSquare Planar Driver
After launching a sub-brand named Celest, Kinera introduced the Gumiho and Pandamon to the market with its in-house developed square planar driver, the 'SPD'.
The Pandamon has been praised for its excellent value for money, but its 'unique' panda faceplate design has been criticised as "It does sound good, but it looks a bit odd".
The Pandamon '2.0' has a completely revamped design that makes it hard to find any trace of the 'panda'. It's not just the way it looks, but also the way it sounds, as it has an enclosed structure with typical duct holes, as opposed to its predecessor, which had a wide mesh that was almost open.
-
Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing a sample unit for this review.
However, this review fully reflects the my honest opinion without anyone else's interference.
Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.
-
As expected from a Kinera product, it's full of nice accessories.
- The Celeste Pandamon 2.0 unit itself
- 3 pairs of 'Celeste 221' vocal enhancement eartips (grey)
- 3 pairs of 'Celeste 608' eartips (red)
- 0.78 2-pin to 3.5mm cable
- Manual
- Leather case
The Pandamon 2.0 is available in 'Black' and 'Blue' colours, the latter being the one I'll be showing you today.
There's a circular, leather carrying case, which is pretty good in quality.
There's not a lot of space inside, but there's a mesh pocket for eartips or silicagel.
It's a hard case that holds its shape, so your earphones will stay safe in there.
The bundled cable is made of 48 strands of high-purity 5N silver-plated copper wire.
As you'd expect from a company that's been making custom cables for a long time, the components are of high quality, and the wire is quite flexible for a good fit.
I also like the fact that you can choose between 3.5mm or 4.4mm terminals to suit your personal preference when buying the earphones.
Since the SPD drivers are quite sensitive, so if for no other reason, I'd recommend sticking with the 3.5mm.
There are two types of eartips available for Pandamon 2.0.
The 'Celest 608' eartips with red core have a moderate height and moderate bore size for a well-balanced sound.
The 'Celest 221' eartips, on the other hand, have a wider bore, which favours a relatively shallow fit, which can have the effect of bringing the treble peak a little bit forward and emphasising the vocals.
The most significant change with the Pandamon 2.0 update is the design.
With a background of shimmering particles that resemble crashing waves, a golden Celest logo is placed at the top of the faceplate.
Compared to other products in its price range, I think it's rare to see a faceplate design that's as good as the Pandamon 2.0.
Unlike its predecessor - which was more of an open design with a huge mesh - Pandamon 2.0 has a more conventional enclosed design.
There's a huge space at the back of the driver, with a single small duct hole pointing outwards to control airflow.
Inner chamber of this IEM is separated and isolated by SPD driver, and if you look closely at the unit, you will see that there is a small channel between these two chambers.
This design, which was made possible by the use of a precise 3D resin printer, allows airflow in front of and behind the driver, which helps to reduce the uncomfortable eardrum pressure that can occur when wearing earphones and contributes to a comfortable fit.
Inside the unit, you'll notice a 10mm SPDSquare Planar Driver with a square shape.
It's a fairly unique driver with a square shape. That's different from the typical planar driver, and Celest uses SPD drivers in a variety of products, including the 'Gumiho' and the 'Plutus Beast'.
Like their appearance, SPD drivers have a slightly different internal structure than a typical planar driver.
While the features of a flat plate driver can be observed in the fact that powerful magnets are placed in front and behind the diaphragm in the form of a flat surface,
You can still see some of the features of a planar driver - it has a flat, sheet-like diaphragm, between powerful magnets placed in front of and behind it.
However, the features of a dynamic driver can also be found, by the fact that the voice coil is not evenly etched on to the diaphragm, rather, rolled into a rectangular shape.
Compared to a planar driver, where the key is to spread the coils evenly over as wide as possible, the voice coil is concentrated in a specific area, which is slightly disadvantageous in terms of vibrating the diaphragm evenly.
But, it has the advantage that the sensitivity can be reduced to a very low level, making it easier to drive with low power output devices like smartphones.
Overall, SPD drivers can be thought of as a combination between a dynamic driver, and a planar driver. something in between.
-
Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) while maintaining 94dB@500hz.
The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.
Following Measurements are available at dchpgall.squig.link
When you first try Pandamon 2.0, you'll notice that you don't get much of characteristics of planar driver.
I suspect this is likely due to the unique design of the SPD driver, which is a combination between a planar and a dynamic driver.
Some may appreciate the lack of the distinctive bass texture and excessive treble of a planar driver.
The bass, which runs almost straight through from the mid-bass range, has a slightly relaxed feel to it, but still has a decent amount of punch to it. It's a far cry from the deep, resonant bass of a Harman-ish sound, but the Pandamon 2.0's smooth bass is quite appealing.
Vocals, which tend to be neutral in Pandamon 2.0, are accompanied by highs that seem to roll off a bit early, making the overall sound feel relaxed without sibilance.
Products with planar drivers often have a somewhat shouty sound to show off their treble extension, but the Pandamon 2.0 takes a different route. They don't have a great sense of openness and resolution due to this, but that doesn't mean they sound too dark or muffled.
Pandamon 2.0 comes with a red 'Celest 608' balance tip and a grey 'Celest 221' vocal tip.
If you compare the measurements taken using the two ear tips, you'll notice a slight change in the treble characteristics.
The grey vocal tips have a wider shape that encourages the earphones to be worn shallow, which can have the effect of bringing the treble peak slightly forward. When I switched to the grey 'vocal tips', I personally noticed a slight widening of the soundstage and a slightly brighter sound.
For those who find the sound of the Pandamon 2.0 a little muddy, I recommend trying the grey tips and wearing it a bit shallow.
So far, we've taken look at the Pandamon 2.0 from Celest, a sub-brand of Kinera.
With SPD - a unique driver, balanced somewhere in between planar and dynamic, the Pandamon 2.0 inherits its predecessor's strengths of affordable price and ultra-compact design, while also shedding the 'unique' panda design for a more aesthetically pleasing look for broader audience.
It's a bit of a hard sell if you're looking for the genuine planar experience, but if you take the keyword 'planar' out of your mind, it's a well-built single-driver IEM.
So, if you're new to the audio hobby, I can easily recommend it.
Even if you're not, you might want to consider buying this if you're looking for a IEM that doesn't irritate you from sound to comfort.
What's more, despite being an entry-level device with a list price of $59, it has a beautiful design and packed with full of nice accessories, making it a great choice for a gift.
As the Pandamon has evolved into an even more appealing product with the 2.0 upgrade, I think the Gumiho, with its sound for treblehead made by using balanced armature with the SPD, might have a successor in the near future, and I can't wait to see what it will look like.
Thank you for reading!
-
Non-Affiliated Link (if you're interested)
Introduction!
Hello friends!
Today in our review we will look at planar headphones from the Celest company.
They come in a small, stylishly designed box, there are hieroglyphs and the name of this model Pandamon 2.0, and yes, you guessed it, this is an update of those same legendary headphones that have been talked about a lot even recently.
Well, at the back, as always, the technical specifications are indicated; a 10 mm square planar 2.0 driver is responsible for the sound here, and the sensitivity is 108 dB and they have a 9 ohm impedance.
Let's take a look at what's included!
The headphones here are completely made of very smooth and transparent resin and in my case have a blue color, and the front panel here has a golden company logo and in general the design is very reminiscent of the previous new product Plutus Beast and I think you remember it well.
And the only compensation hole is located very close to the 2-pin connector, which is flush with the body, which is good for me.
But the sound guide here is of medium diameter, but it definitely should have been made longer for a much better and deeper fit, since these headphones did not sit well in my ear with all the ear pads, and this happens very rarely, and here, due to the incorrect selection of ear pads,the sound insulation is very poor and there is a large bass leak, and in the end, using the selection method, I settled on the Tangzu Sancai tips, with them they are very different from myself, I recommend them for these headphones.
Accessories!
And all the accessories are in this leather case with the company logo and here we get
1 - Quite a good cable that does not get tangled and is made without any audiophile frills with 2 pin connectors and a 3.5 jack plug.
2 - Nice leather case and big manual.
3 - Two sets of standard silicone ear pads, some balanced, others with an emphasis on vocals.
How do these headphones sound?
And now we come to the most important part of the review - the analysis of the sound of the updated Pandamon 2.0.
And I would like to start with the fact that the first thing I pay attention to when connecting these headphones is the rather energetic and driving, pronounced presentation of mid frequencies, and as such, I personally don’t see any similarity with other models from what I’ve been listening to lately , the Celest company is again going its own way and while it is not changing any basic concept that they adhere to to this day, and, in my opinion, they are only slightly and carefully trying to improve it by correcting some of the main points.
Low Frequencies:
And let's start with the low frequencies, which here have become more thorough, the overall massiveness and depth have grown, the bass is textured with good textural elaboration, but personally I would like to get more transparency for better perception and audibility of saturation, but I think that the driver here is already trying to the limit and he has no goal of setting any super records in this regard.
But the mid bass here has finally become more pronounced punchy with a better highlighted attack and smooth decay, but of course it still doesn’t go into bassheadness, so bassheads again, no offense, just accept it, and the kick here quite clearly complements this range with its best Compared to the original, there is a distinct outline and a punchy component, that is, now the low frequencies do not play as softly as they did in the original, and they have been improved quantitatively here, which is good for me.
Mid Frequencies:
But at mid frequencies there is immediately noticeable additional emphasis on the vocal part and on the drum part and a noticeable weight on the lower middle, the snare drum and vocals are noticeably pushed forward and this is immediately felt and to some extent it is perceived even slightly intimately and with a feeling as if the vocalist is in your head exactly in the center and, based on my experience, this is precisely due to the greater amplification of the upper mid area, and I would still reduce it to my taste, moving this model a little to a more neutral warm side although I like the articulation and intelligibility of the vocals here, it doesn’t sound muffled or dark and in general it is perceived at a quite good level and this model does not go towards the brightly colored side, which is a plus for me, but personally I wouldn’t mind getting more here better clarity of transients and attacks especially on drums and increased transparency that we can still find in other real planar headphones.
High Frequencies:
Now let’s talk about the high frequencies, which here have a warm but darkish tone, there is no additional gain or excessive super piercing brightness, and the percussion cymbals don’t take much attention here, since we had to squeeze them a little and move them aside so that they would just do their job slightly in the background with a slight presence and the signature bold, highlighted timbre of this spd driver, but its resolution and detail here are of course not record-breaking; it’s trivial that everything rests on this emitter and as for me, he simply cannot jump above his capabilities, since everything has its limit, here we also do not see that familiar super obvious planar clarity and legibility with a lot of air, and in general, as for me, this model does not go too far into obvious killer technicality, but still like the original, it has more of a purely musical bias, and of course I’m sure that there will definitely be fans of such a presentation, and in general we saw something similar in the original Pandamon, but I personally would like to see more global changes in this area, although I understand that then we would definitely have to raise the final price of the product and use another driver and it is quite possible that a really good reinforcement emitter would not hurt here.
Stage and stereo panorama:
But the sound stage here is quite standard, it’s definitely not record-breaking wide and, in my opinion, it’s rather simply more optimal without any stretching or excessive expansion of stereo images, and of course it doesn’t feel super deep, but the plans themselves are quite legible here, although without any wow effect, especially after expensive headphones.
My conclusion on this headphones:
Celest Pandamon 2.0 are not expensive headphones with a very familiar tuning and presentation of an obvious calm neutrality, this model definitely does not go away, but I wouldn’t exactly call them super bright and straight light, rather here we have something in the middle, as if you can see what then there is a balance, and the whole signature celest concept that is loved by many is still fully respected.
Aliexpress Angeldac Audio Store:https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005006655763085.html
(Promo code for discount 8733JBGTUYEN)
Aliexpress Kinera Official Store:https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005005485611549.html
Hello friends!
Today in our review we will look at planar headphones from the Celest company.
They come in a small, stylishly designed box, there are hieroglyphs and the name of this model Pandamon 2.0, and yes, you guessed it, this is an update of those same legendary headphones that have been talked about a lot even recently.
Well, at the back, as always, the technical specifications are indicated; a 10 mm square planar 2.0 driver is responsible for the sound here, and the sensitivity is 108 dB and they have a 9 ohm impedance.
Let's take a look at what's included!
The headphones here are completely made of very smooth and transparent resin and in my case have a blue color, and the front panel here has a golden company logo and in general the design is very reminiscent of the previous new product Plutus Beast and I think you remember it well.
And the only compensation hole is located very close to the 2-pin connector, which is flush with the body, which is good for me.
But the sound guide here is of medium diameter, but it definitely should have been made longer for a much better and deeper fit, since these headphones did not sit well in my ear with all the ear pads, and this happens very rarely, and here, due to the incorrect selection of ear pads,the sound insulation is very poor and there is a large bass leak, and in the end, using the selection method, I settled on the Tangzu Sancai tips, with them they are very different from myself, I recommend them for these headphones.
Accessories!
And all the accessories are in this leather case with the company logo and here we get
1 - Quite a good cable that does not get tangled and is made without any audiophile frills with 2 pin connectors and a 3.5 jack plug.
2 - Nice leather case and big manual.
3 - Two sets of standard silicone ear pads, some balanced, others with an emphasis on vocals.
How do these headphones sound?
And now we come to the most important part of the review - the analysis of the sound of the updated Pandamon 2.0.
And I would like to start with the fact that the first thing I pay attention to when connecting these headphones is the rather energetic and driving, pronounced presentation of mid frequencies, and as such, I personally don’t see any similarity with other models from what I’ve been listening to lately , the Celest company is again going its own way and while it is not changing any basic concept that they adhere to to this day, and, in my opinion, they are only slightly and carefully trying to improve it by correcting some of the main points.
Low Frequencies:
And let's start with the low frequencies, which here have become more thorough, the overall massiveness and depth have grown, the bass is textured with good textural elaboration, but personally I would like to get more transparency for better perception and audibility of saturation, but I think that the driver here is already trying to the limit and he has no goal of setting any super records in this regard.
But the mid bass here has finally become more pronounced punchy with a better highlighted attack and smooth decay, but of course it still doesn’t go into bassheadness, so bassheads again, no offense, just accept it, and the kick here quite clearly complements this range with its best Compared to the original, there is a distinct outline and a punchy component, that is, now the low frequencies do not play as softly as they did in the original, and they have been improved quantitatively here, which is good for me.
Mid Frequencies:
But at mid frequencies there is immediately noticeable additional emphasis on the vocal part and on the drum part and a noticeable weight on the lower middle, the snare drum and vocals are noticeably pushed forward and this is immediately felt and to some extent it is perceived even slightly intimately and with a feeling as if the vocalist is in your head exactly in the center and, based on my experience, this is precisely due to the greater amplification of the upper mid area, and I would still reduce it to my taste, moving this model a little to a more neutral warm side although I like the articulation and intelligibility of the vocals here, it doesn’t sound muffled or dark and in general it is perceived at a quite good level and this model does not go towards the brightly colored side, which is a plus for me, but personally I wouldn’t mind getting more here better clarity of transients and attacks especially on drums and increased transparency that we can still find in other real planar headphones.
High Frequencies:
Now let’s talk about the high frequencies, which here have a warm but darkish tone, there is no additional gain or excessive super piercing brightness, and the percussion cymbals don’t take much attention here, since we had to squeeze them a little and move them aside so that they would just do their job slightly in the background with a slight presence and the signature bold, highlighted timbre of this spd driver, but its resolution and detail here are of course not record-breaking; it’s trivial that everything rests on this emitter and as for me, he simply cannot jump above his capabilities, since everything has its limit, here we also do not see that familiar super obvious planar clarity and legibility with a lot of air, and in general, as for me, this model does not go too far into obvious killer technicality, but still like the original, it has more of a purely musical bias, and of course I’m sure that there will definitely be fans of such a presentation, and in general we saw something similar in the original Pandamon, but I personally would like to see more global changes in this area, although I understand that then we would definitely have to raise the final price of the product and use another driver and it is quite possible that a really good reinforcement emitter would not hurt here.
Stage and stereo panorama:
But the sound stage here is quite standard, it’s definitely not record-breaking wide and, in my opinion, it’s rather simply more optimal without any stretching or excessive expansion of stereo images, and of course it doesn’t feel super deep, but the plans themselves are quite legible here, although without any wow effect, especially after expensive headphones.
My conclusion on this headphones:
Celest Pandamon 2.0 are not expensive headphones with a very familiar tuning and presentation of an obvious calm neutrality, this model definitely does not go away, but I wouldn’t exactly call them super bright and straight light, rather here we have something in the middle, as if you can see what then there is a balance, and the whole signature celest concept that is loved by many is still fully respected.
Aliexpress Angeldac Audio Store:https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005006655763085.html
(Promo code for discount 8733JBGTUYEN)
Aliexpress Kinera Official Store:https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005005485611549.html
sofastreamer
thank you for the review! i found the originals already too strong in the subbass bleeding over even the mids and reaching at least down to 30hz. at least with the tips with the red inner core they came with. i might pass on these if they even have more bass. soundstagewise the originals have exceptional depth for planar iems to my eras compared to even much pricier ba or hybrid sets. some dd drivers might reach as deep dimensionally tho.
ICYGENIUS
@sofastreamer Yes, the originals were also good, although I still like the new appearance of 2.0 better, but as for the sound, I personally expected more global improvements such as a more transparent and technical sound with better detail at high frequencies, perhaps we will still see this in Pandamon 3.0?
This would be good, but in this case I think they would have to move to a different price range.
This would be good, but in this case I think they would have to move to a different price range.
This was a sample sent to my by Hifigo. You may purchase one here.
Non afflilated link here: https://hifigo.com/collections/new-arrival/products/kinera-celest-pandamon-2
HiFiGo：https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-celest-pandamon-2…Amazon US:https://amazon.com/dp/B0CZ98TQ1Z/celest+pandamon+2.0/…Amazon JP:https://amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CZ91BFX5/celest+pandamon+2.0/…Aliexpress：https://aliexpress.com/item/1005006811792383.html
The original Padamonium is a set that I never got to experience but I always thought about it. It was always on my radar. It has a unique faceplate. Fortunately Kinera has updated this faceplate with a new one here that is beautiful. I like the design of this iem, and frankly am impressed they can do this iem justice at any price.
The overall packaging of this iem is nice. The cable is nice and shimmers and looks great to look at. It feels sturdy and it is one of the nicer cables that I've used at this price point. Kinera always does cables right, they look and feel premium like an iem much more expensive.
The tip selection is very fair with 2 sets of silicons. One red and one grey. Many items at this price only have one full set, so this is a nice addition to the standard of well packaged iems that Kinera has started.
There is a standard way most Kinera iems are packaged and this iem comes in very nice packaging and case. This is a much-refined iem and very enjoyable.
The overall packaging is a fantastic experience. Kinera doesn't disappoint in their ability to package an iem well. I recently unpackaged the Cinno and Singolo. Both were reasonable sonically but had almost nothing in the way of packaging. So this is a huge welcome as this iem is at $60 dollars right now. I love that while this iem is on the inexpensive side it is packaged extremely well, just as well as their 140 dollar sets. These sets are really a joy to unpackaged. I love this iem but to be honest, I think the sound profile could be better with a DD in the bass. It looks like one of the Kinera sister brands is dong something soon QOA Adonis 2.0 is coming out soon and looks more to my taste as it is supposed to be more warn and bassy.
Pictured here:
For 60 dollars this is a nice little set. To me it has problems. If I was to recommend an iem at 60 I'd probably go with the Truthear Hexa, but that iem also has many of the same issues. This iem isn't sonically what I'd go for, but I could see it working for people who want a unique fun experience that is fresh with a nice overall sound.
New Pink 1 DD + 2BA iem is coming called QOA Adonis 2.0 looks more my style. It’s relaxed and clear. Inoffensive and great with classical music, Opera, and chill music. It’s nice and enjoyable. Timbre is lacking. I’d recommend adding a DD to the bass to bring up the shelf.
Like this but to try to get the bass to flatten out a little earlier at say 200.
The instrumentals sound lovely on it. But the vocals are a bit off without the bass shelf for my ears as well as Guitar strings arre a bit off. But if you are sensitive to bass, or like a lower bass shelf, this could be good for you.
Cymbal hits are a bit fatiguing, and guitar strings don’t come across as very natural. Yet, for some types of music I list to I just ask myself, how does this sound so awesome?
Summary
This iem has a lot of great qualities, and I think if I were looking for an iem to give to a friend this might be my first pick. I feel many people who aren't super bassheads would appreciate this as the soundstage is nice, and the detail is nice for the price. Personally, I wanted a bit more bass and found a huge improvement when that bass shelf was added. I wouldn't call this iem for me, but I could see it for other people. I definitely like the design language of the new Pandamon 2.0, and I think this a fine entry point for those who want a product with this design language for a much cheaper price.
I also made a video of this iem. Please feel free to post any questions blow or on Youtube. Thanks for reading!
DISCLAIMER
I would like to thank the Angeldac Audio store for providing this review unit.
The Pandamon 2 can be gotten here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006655763085.html (no affiliate links).
SPECIFICATIONS
ACCESSORIES
Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of Celest 221 "Vocal" silicone eartips (S/M/L/)
- 3 pairs of Celest 608 "Balanced" silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- Cable
- Carrying case
While no foam tips are provided, the accessories are nevertheless quite decent for a budget set.
2 variants of silicone tips are included - we have the Celest 221 "Vocal" black tips, which are wide-bore. These boost treble and air, and widen soundstage. Conversely, we have the red Celest 608 "Balanced" tips, which are narrow-bore; these increase bass with some compression in staging.
We have a 2-pin 4-core silver-plated oxygen free copper cable, which is well-braided and tangle-free. Microphonics are negligible, with a chin cinch. It is certainly a very serviceable stock cable.
Lastly, we have a semi-rigid clam-shell zipper case, which should withstand compressive forces. Internally, it has webbing and a soft lining to cushion the contents.
The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock Celest 221 "Vocal" wide-bore silicone tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.
BUILD/COMFORT
The housings are fashioned from HeyGears 3D-printed resin. They are painted individually via a hand-drawn brush technique, culminating in a black or blue-hued alluring motif, depending on which colour is ordered. The shells are indeed very beautiful and I daresay this IEM would actually make a suitable gift.
Ergonomics are excellent, with superb fit and comfort. The shells are light, with no awkward protrusions along the inner aspects to poke the ears. The Panadamon 2.0 can thus be used for long listening sessions, no worries.
Isolation is bang average. I did not find any driver flex on my pair, which is a sign of good acoustic design.
INTERNALS
The Pandamon 2.0 utilizes a full-range 10 mm square planar driver, which is a pretty unconventional driver setup.
DRIVABILITY
I tested the Pandamon 2.0 with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio KA11 dongle
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone
This IEM is easily driven, and amplification is not truly required.
However, due to its mind-bogglingly low 9 Ω impedance, the Pandamon 2.0 is fussy with source pairing due to the rule of eights. Source with > 1.125 Ω output impedance may skew the frequency response and make it very bassy, so ideally, the Pandamon 2.0 is best paired with something < 1 Ω in output impedance.
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES
Graph of the Celest Pandamon 2.0 via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler peak.
Tonally, the Pandamon 2.0 sports a warm U-shaped profile, if juiced from a low output impedance source. This is a pleasant and safe tuning choice, which should suit most consumers, other than diehard trebleheads and bassheads.
This set has a predilection for sub-bass focus, though lower-end extension isn't the deepest, so I wouldn't consider it as basshead in quantity. In terms of bass quality, texturing is average, and the Pandamon 2.0 may struggle to keep up with complex bass riffs, in terms of speed. There is some mid-bass bleed, but this adds warmth to the overall soundscape.
The lower mids are thick and lush due to the aforementioned bass bleed, furnishing tons of euphony to the sonics. The upper mids are safe with a 6 dB ear gain, so vocals are not shouty at all, which should please the anti pinna gain gang.
This IEM borders on dark, and the treble rolls-off early. We hear not an ounce of sibilance as such, and treble-sensitive peeps will be very at home. Resolution does take a hit though, so there are pros and cons, and trebleheads may need to look elsewhere for their kicks.
The Pandamon 2.0 has a slight metallic tinge to the timbre. Acoustic instruments sound a bit hollow, but it is not the worst offender in this department.
This IEM is not a tour de force in technicalities, favouring a "musical" signature over something outright analytical. Soundstage is above average but not class-leading. Imaging and instrument separation is fuzzy, though layering is okay. As alluded to, the darkish treble does veil micro-details and clarity.
COMPARISONS
The Pandamon 2.0 is quite unique in having a single SPD configuration, and there aren't many similar budget sets in this price range that are powered by the same setup. This technology is somewhere in between a single DD and pure planar, so FWIW, I've added some budget single DD types to compare.
EPZ Q5
The Q5 has a bright V-shaped profile, with way more treble extension. However, it can be more fatiguing in the treble region, with sibilance noted.
The Q5 has a thinner note weight - sounding more sterile and metallic - but it has improved soundstage, micro-details, imaging and clarity.
Simgot EA500
The EA500 has 2 tuning nozzles, but both still confer a brightish Harman tone. The EA500 is leaner in note weight - not sounding as exuberant - though it has a more pronounced upper midrange and treble. There is a bit of shoutiness noted in vocals as such, and this may be more fatiguing than the laid back Pandamon 2.0.
The EA500 has superior technicalities, and is a league ahead in imaging, micro-detailing and instrument separation. Soundstage is slightly wider on the EA500 too.
CONCLUSIONS
The Pandamon 2.0 beings a chill and pleasant soundscape to the budget CHIFI buffet table. It is a very musical set - with a hefty and euphonic note weight - and it eschews outright technical prowess for something affable and fatigue-free. There is not an ounce of sibilance or shoutiness in the upper frequencies, so it should be a match made in heaven for the treble-sensitive.
In terms of non-sonic aspects, the aesthetics are alluring, coupled with easy drivability, decent accessories and top-notch ergonomics. It would even make a good gift due to the elegant shells!
Admittedly, the Pandamon 2.0 is not the sharpest tool in the shed in terms of technical chops, and the bass could be flabby at times - but this does add colouration and mass to the tonal weight, and is part of the Pandamon 2.0's sedate appeal. Trebleheads will also need to consider alternatives due to the darkish treble, and this IEM's low impedance may make source pairing with high output impedance gear a tricky proposition.
If one throws a stone nowadays, it is very easy to hit a budget IEM that pursues technicalities and analytical tunings, sometimes to the detriment of fatigue or tonal balance. Once in a while, we yearn for laid-back gear like the Pandamon 2.0, to allow us to appreciate music for what it is, and to take us back to our roots of soaking in a warm enveloping sea of tonal bliss.
I would like to thank the Angeldac Audio store for providing this review unit.
The Pandamon 2 can be gotten here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006655763085.html (no affiliate links).
SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver configuration: Full-range 10 mm square planar driver
- Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance: 9 Ω
- Sensitivity: 108 dB
- Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm; 4-core silver-plated oxygen free copper cable
- Tested at: $59 USD
ACCESSORIES
Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of Celest 221 "Vocal" silicone eartips (S/M/L/)
- 3 pairs of Celest 608 "Balanced" silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- Cable
- Carrying case
While no foam tips are provided, the accessories are nevertheless quite decent for a budget set.
2 variants of silicone tips are included - we have the Celest 221 "Vocal" black tips, which are wide-bore. These boost treble and air, and widen soundstage. Conversely, we have the red Celest 608 "Balanced" tips, which are narrow-bore; these increase bass with some compression in staging.
We have a 2-pin 4-core silver-plated oxygen free copper cable, which is well-braided and tangle-free. Microphonics are negligible, with a chin cinch. It is certainly a very serviceable stock cable.
Lastly, we have a semi-rigid clam-shell zipper case, which should withstand compressive forces. Internally, it has webbing and a soft lining to cushion the contents.
The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock Celest 221 "Vocal" wide-bore silicone tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.
BUILD/COMFORT
The housings are fashioned from HeyGears 3D-printed resin. They are painted individually via a hand-drawn brush technique, culminating in a black or blue-hued alluring motif, depending on which colour is ordered. The shells are indeed very beautiful and I daresay this IEM would actually make a suitable gift.
Ergonomics are excellent, with superb fit and comfort. The shells are light, with no awkward protrusions along the inner aspects to poke the ears. The Panadamon 2.0 can thus be used for long listening sessions, no worries.
Isolation is bang average. I did not find any driver flex on my pair, which is a sign of good acoustic design.
INTERNALS
The Pandamon 2.0 utilizes a full-range 10 mm square planar driver, which is a pretty unconventional driver setup.
DRIVABILITY
I tested the Pandamon 2.0 with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio KA11 dongle
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone
This IEM is easily driven, and amplification is not truly required.
However, due to its mind-bogglingly low 9 Ω impedance, the Pandamon 2.0 is fussy with source pairing due to the rule of eights. Source with > 1.125 Ω output impedance may skew the frequency response and make it very bassy, so ideally, the Pandamon 2.0 is best paired with something < 1 Ω in output impedance.
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES
Graph of the Celest Pandamon 2.0 via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler peak.
Tonally, the Pandamon 2.0 sports a warm U-shaped profile, if juiced from a low output impedance source. This is a pleasant and safe tuning choice, which should suit most consumers, other than diehard trebleheads and bassheads.
This set has a predilection for sub-bass focus, though lower-end extension isn't the deepest, so I wouldn't consider it as basshead in quantity. In terms of bass quality, texturing is average, and the Pandamon 2.0 may struggle to keep up with complex bass riffs, in terms of speed. There is some mid-bass bleed, but this adds warmth to the overall soundscape.
The lower mids are thick and lush due to the aforementioned bass bleed, furnishing tons of euphony to the sonics. The upper mids are safe with a 6 dB ear gain, so vocals are not shouty at all, which should please the anti pinna gain gang.
This IEM borders on dark, and the treble rolls-off early. We hear not an ounce of sibilance as such, and treble-sensitive peeps will be very at home. Resolution does take a hit though, so there are pros and cons, and trebleheads may need to look elsewhere for their kicks.
The Pandamon 2.0 has a slight metallic tinge to the timbre. Acoustic instruments sound a bit hollow, but it is not the worst offender in this department.
This IEM is not a tour de force in technicalities, favouring a "musical" signature over something outright analytical. Soundstage is above average but not class-leading. Imaging and instrument separation is fuzzy, though layering is okay. As alluded to, the darkish treble does veil micro-details and clarity.
COMPARISONS
The Pandamon 2.0 is quite unique in having a single SPD configuration, and there aren't many similar budget sets in this price range that are powered by the same setup. This technology is somewhere in between a single DD and pure planar, so FWIW, I've added some budget single DD types to compare.
EPZ Q5
The Q5 has a bright V-shaped profile, with way more treble extension. However, it can be more fatiguing in the treble region, with sibilance noted.
The Q5 has a thinner note weight - sounding more sterile and metallic - but it has improved soundstage, micro-details, imaging and clarity.
Simgot EA500
The EA500 has 2 tuning nozzles, but both still confer a brightish Harman tone. The EA500 is leaner in note weight - not sounding as exuberant - though it has a more pronounced upper midrange and treble. There is a bit of shoutiness noted in vocals as such, and this may be more fatiguing than the laid back Pandamon 2.0.
The EA500 has superior technicalities, and is a league ahead in imaging, micro-detailing and instrument separation. Soundstage is slightly wider on the EA500 too.
CONCLUSIONS
The Pandamon 2.0 beings a chill and pleasant soundscape to the budget CHIFI buffet table. It is a very musical set - with a hefty and euphonic note weight - and it eschews outright technical prowess for something affable and fatigue-free. There is not an ounce of sibilance or shoutiness in the upper frequencies, so it should be a match made in heaven for the treble-sensitive.
In terms of non-sonic aspects, the aesthetics are alluring, coupled with easy drivability, decent accessories and top-notch ergonomics. It would even make a good gift due to the elegant shells!
Admittedly, the Pandamon 2.0 is not the sharpest tool in the shed in terms of technical chops, and the bass could be flabby at times - but this does add colouration and mass to the tonal weight, and is part of the Pandamon 2.0's sedate appeal. Trebleheads will also need to consider alternatives due to the darkish treble, and this IEM's low impedance may make source pairing with high output impedance gear a tricky proposition.
If one throws a stone nowadays, it is very easy to hit a budget IEM that pursues technicalities and analytical tunings, sometimes to the detriment of fatigue or tonal balance. Once in a while, we yearn for laid-back gear like the Pandamon 2.0, to allow us to appreciate music for what it is, and to take us back to our roots of soaking in a warm enveloping sea of tonal bliss.
baskingshark
Wow @carrots99 how is the ARTII T10? Seen many good reports from users about it, but never had the privilege to try it.
sofastreamer
thank you for the measurement, does someone have the measurement of the first version at hand?
