Kinera Celest Phoenixcall 1DD+2BA+2 Micro Planar Drivers IEMs

I must thank Celest/ Kinera for the unconditional trust and respect, for the opportunity to try out this exotic gem. I am always excited for this family brands' IEMs, as they strive for unique products that have their own soul, focusing on quality over quantity.

The PhoenixCall is not an easy unit to like upfront. It needs some abstraction and unbiased approach, and for that one must go through all the emotional stages: misunderstanding - hate - respect - love. Only then can one comment.
This errand took me close to 6 months of intermittent daily use, having these as my primary set, along very few IEM rotation, and even loosing IEM sound references as I dived into an audiophily hiatus.

I would describe them as a combination of fun and technical - a "V-Shaped Technical Set". It is not the most visited combination for me, thus confusing me a lot in the "first date".

Onward to what brought you here - how does it actually sound?

Sub Bass​

Clean rumble, not lean but sometimes feels like so as it recovers somewhat too quickly, with average texture. It is extended but in a song context it doesn't make a difference as it it easily overcome by the midbass.

In electronic sub genres it lacks some of the immersion factor, as synthesizers basses are not 100% represented and loose a bit of information.

In metal and rock genres, the bass instrument could use a bit more sub bass depth so that it feels more visceral. Double Basses could use a bit more reverberance/resonance.

I feel this is partially due to the thick nozzle that won't easily allow for a deeper insertion, as there seems to be a better subbass performance if I use tips that allow for a deeper insertion, however it won't keep its seal for long as the nozzle is too big for my canal. Also narrower tips tend to slip off from the nozzle, and already lead to me losing some spinfit tips.
I must note that the Sub Bass does feel natural and doesn't render songs in any way different than what I had anticipated.

MidBass​

More intense than the perceived subbass, it has average slam, the attack is fast (not super fast), it has rolled off decay and moderate depth. It behaves naturally as for a DD's job and results in an slightly boosted analogue bass response, not too colored.

I find it quite versatile between all genres, delivering impressive details and texture.
It does however sound like other DDs I have listened before.

Mids​

Oddly, the Lower and Upper Mids sound of a different resolution compared to the rest of the frequency ranges.
This is where my immersion can sometimes be broken, as instruments that come in and out of this region tend to behave inconsistently, less defined as they reach for the upper mids region. The beginning of the lower mids isn't as affected.

Lower Mids​

Slightly dipped, but as usual Celest's voodoo manages to balance it out and brings instruments out of the shadows. Even if the piano's note weight is lighter here, they don't get pushed back into the mix.

Again, similar to previous Celest iterations, percussion has a 2nd plane positioning, resembling a live gig. Congas and toms are a delight, super dynamic, textured, snappy. Drums are vivid and very holographic in presentation.

This region is spacious along with the upper mids, contributing to the sense of layering, in which there is minimal instrument convolution. This is specially important in this frequency range as a lot of instruments tend to cross this range. This is part of the reason it feels like a technical set.

Regarding Male vocals, they aren't shined upon, they're just there, not stealing the show, but don't get me wrong - they are fully rendered, there is no loss of information nor texture.

Upper Mids​

Comfortable, no shoutiness, however not lush - guitars and plucked instruments are texturally underwhelming, as if they lack resolution. I wonder if this has to do with this range's driver specs.

Female vocals not always cut through the mix, instead standing at the same tallness as other neighboring instruments.
Some of the drum set cymbals and hats feel low-res, compressed, as they are very lightly sparkly. In less convoluted songs you can notice the hi-hats are less informative than they should, and on busier songs they mush. Snares and claps sometimes feel boxy.

Piano note weight is also leaner in this region (about 20%).
This area's signature is different from what most of us have been listening to, so this can be an opportunity for savoring new waters, however I personally find it a weakness.

Treble​

Energetic, mostly non offensive and acceptably informative. Coming from the Upper Mids experience, it blends well and doesn't feel very disconnected from it, nevertheless the treble still has an higher resolution comparably.

It is interestingly sharp and crisp, however sometimes attacks can be spiky and might stimulate you into tip rolling a bit to achieve a bit more roundness. I am treble sensitive and don't feel offended nor tired by the PhoenixCall.

This treble is quite new to me, and took some time to conclude upon it. It is not a typical planar nor BA behavior, and it behaves like a mix of both.

Timbre​

On the bass domain, up to the lower mids, the timbre sounds accurate.
Not natural over the Mids, especially the upper mids into Treble region, and there is no overall timbre cohesion along the drivers/frequency range.

The Treble's timbre is interestingly unconventional - it does feel correct but not organically natural.

Soundstage​

Rather taller than wider, it is average in this sense, not bearing any surprise factor, but being up to par with the competition for this price range. As both bass and treble regions are quite intense, this leads to a good sense of soundstage. The extra information at the treble leads to a bigger sense of air.

Technicalities​

Strong in this department, however less perceivable in the sub-bass and upper mids intervals. The lower resolution on the upper mids is especially noticeable on older repertoire and consequently affects the perception of details as it feels as if this area has been compressed.

The layering and separation is the king of the show, and a Celest signature in my opinion. There is space for each instrument to breathe, except over the lower mids, where male voices and some drum elements tend to drown a bit into the mix (nitpicking). On top of that there are quite a lot of details to be appreciated.

Dynamics are inconsistent between frequency ranges and this is the main reason I say it can feel disconnected. The bass, lower end of the mids and treble are way more dynamic than the upper mids. It is not musically coherent.

Comfort​

The bigger diameter nozzle can be uncomfortable during longer sessions specially if wearing thicker silicon tips.
However, for the sub 2 hour use, it was ok for me and I have extensively used them during workouts. The longer nozzle can sometimes lead to loss of seal if not wearing tips with good traction.

Accessories​

The included cable is sturdy, 8 stranded with 2 colors, blue and magenta (in my case). It is slightly microphonic. The included jewelry chain is merely inspirational about the IEM's "tale".

Aesthetics​

I must congratulate Celest for the unique taste in making these IEMs truly feel like utopic gems from imaginary worlds. It was a bold design move, which has won my heart over and ultimately finishes full circle with the IEMs backstory and intent - somewhat of a rare and mystical event associated with a creature from folk literature - which you can feel as you open its box as if it was a book, being presented with lore and a golden chain with two phoenixes dancing in the air.

The unboxing experience is a memorable one and a lesson on how to develop a product as a whole, not only as a performing device. It tells a story, a designer's goal, which makes buyers feel closer and more in sync with the brand.

Final Words​

A keeper for sure, a must listen if you want to expand horizons and sip from the fountain of exotic IEMs. It is prone to vivid debate as it will either please or annoy you, sometimes even simultaneously. It is a joy to revisit this IEM and I do it frequently, always being surprised by new observations.

Congratulations Kinera & Celest, for your uniqueness.

Miguel Esteves

Introduction

Kinera has supplied the Celest Phoenixcall to the Australian Audio Reviews Downunder tour group for honest assessment. We would like to thank Kinera for trusting us with their creation!

Kinera has designed the Celest Phoenixcall with a 7mm Dynamic driver for the low frequencies, a customized BA driver for the mid frequencies, another customized BA driver for the mid-high frequencies, and two Micro planar drivers (Flat panel drivers) for the ultra-high frequencies. Supplied with Celest vocal ear tips in three sizes and Celest C07 tips also in three sizes. The cable is a 3.5mm 5N silver plated item with a good feel and neck slider.

Audio equipment used.

I played back music in FLAC form from my Hiby R3 Saber 2022 DAP via the balanced output on high gain. I also used a Hidizs DAC, the S9 Pro Martha with the 4.4mm balanced output which has a warmer less neutral presentation. Tips I used areTRN T which give me a deep secure insertion with good bass and also vocal and soundstage enhancement.

The sound

Firstly, can I say that I enjoy the Phoenixcall’s sound. It has clarity, energy, good bass and a spacious sound. Having said that it’s not a traditional tuning, whether V shaped or W shaped.

Kinera have produced a musical and engaging sounding IEM that does an awful lot right. When you break down the sound you might think it’s deficient and subpar, but the sum of its parts is greater than you might expect.

The Bass

I’d describe the bass as big and bold and on the warm side. Its punchy and more mid bass focussed. It does not go deep in the sub bass area, but it provided a solid bassy floor to the music. Snares hit nice and hard, bass guitar lines are deep and solid. If I had to critique the bass sound, its that it is a little unfocused. Bass does not bleed into the midrange and there is space and room for the vocals and instruments.

The Midrange

Midrange I would describe as clean and open with good transparency but not as rich or full as I have heard on other sets. Vocals cut through the mix with plenty of space and air. Detail retrieval is up there with the best.



Treble

Phoenixcall does treble just about right to my ears. Treble details cut thru nicely without any harshness. The treble does not sound boosted but rather correct, with good tone and sparkle. It compliments the rest of the frequency range nicely and never is sibilant. “Only time makes it Human” by King Princess is a great example of the Phoenixcall’s ability to present a full soundstage with richness, punch, details and a great vocal. Backing vocals and guitar at the beginning of the track are heard clearly When the track kicks in the percussion and hand claps are sharp and clear and the mix of vocals and bass guitar and toms is full and rich, with great thump and pace.



Soundstage and Imaging

I find the soundstage above average with plenty of height and depth. Kinera have tuned this mix of drivers to create a coherent and natural soundscape. Imagining is excellent as it is easy to pinpoint instruments within the stage.



Conclusion

Kinera themselves have described the tuning concept of the Phoenixcall as thus. ““Phoenixcall” has an overall bright sound with deep and elastic bass that is more gentle and relaxed. The midrange has a solid and natural sound, while the high frequencies are clear, bright, and clean. The soundstage is spacious and natural, with round and smooth vocals and strong resolution, providing you with a comfortable music experience.”

Sometimes you don’t want to analyse the sound of an IEM, especially when it sounds as good as the Phoenixcall. Obviously, it has not got the chops of some of the heavy hitters but what it does have is a great mix of different drivers tuned to work together well and presenting a very musical and enjoyable sound. I think Kinera have come close to their tuning target and now its times to settle back in a comfy chair with your best music on and enjoy.

TONALITY: 7.5/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.8/10
TIMBRE: 6.5/10
SOUNDSTAGE: 7/10
IMAGING: 8.5/10
CONSTRUCTION: 8.5/10
ACCESSORIES: 9/10
SOUND VALUE: 8.2/10

Intro

Celest is the sister company of Kinera, its aim is to offer IEM using new technology and pushing sound value boundaries.

At first it was supposed to stay in the sub-100$ price range, but it seems Hifigo influenced them to pass this price limit since they do exclusive collaboration with Kinera for IEM like the Plutus or Phoenixcall I will finally test today.

Priced 130$, the Pheonixcall is a tribrid IEM using 1 x 7mm dynamic driver+2x custom balanced armature+2 x square ‘’planar’’ driver (SPD).

It promises a bright and bassy musicality with ‘’natural’’ mids and spacious spatiality.

Let see in this review if it fulfills this promise and offers a sound value that is competitive at its price.

CONSTRUCTION&ACCESSORIES



The Pheonix are gorgeous looking, the back plate design is eye-catching with an artistic sparkly painting of flying birds. This is unexpected to get such elegant decoration at this price. The shell is made of thick resin plastic that is soft and seems durable enough.The shape is bulbous with a long thick nozzle, this might be a concern for people with small ears but I don't encounter discomfort.
On the top we have 2 pin female connector, it’s not semi recessed and this means all 2pin cable apart QDC will be compatible but that you are at risk of bending the pin if you're not careful enough too.Their 2 color choices, my pair is transparent and we can see all drivers inside, which is another captivating aspect of this IEM design.



The included cable is quite good too, another positive surprise.It’s a thick 5N silver plated cable with 8 braided cores and a total of 48 strands. You can choose it 3.5mm single ended or 4.4mm balanced.



Then when it comes to packaging, this is another overwhelming luxurious experience for a sub-200$ IEM, there is a lot to enjoy with the eyes and it feels like a treasure box.
Apart from the nice cable we have 6 pairs of silicone eartips. A nice carrying case and beautiful metal bookmark.

All in all, excellent box presentation, accessories and construction.



SOUND IMPRESSIONS



The Phoenix offers a bright balanced V shape with warm thumpy bass, open crisp mids and vivid but non sparkly treble that is the center of the show.

It’s a set that sounds both fun and technical, if not to say clinical.

Sense of transparency and its above average imaging and holographic sound layering capacity are the main highlight of the Phoenix.

The bass offers a good round slam that takes its impact energy in between sub and mid bass intersection, which densify the kick with warmth but affect definition of attack lead. The bass line are easy to find but cut short in rumble sustain, so the sub bass is slightly rolled off.
These aren’t basshead IEM and the punch isn’t very hard nor rumbly, it’s weighty and benefits more electric bass line than acoustic instruments like double bass or cello which sound more hollow and distant.
Attack control is average since we have some euphonic warmth and resonance, this means separation with mids isn’t the cleanest too. It’s a fast but exciting bass response that doesn't offer anything really special and has slight resonance and extra headroom that dirty the otherwise black background. Fast bass line can go muddy due to this resonance.

The mids are slightly lean and recessed with an emphasis on upper mids and instrument presence which are boosted in transparency. High pitch instruments and vocals are louder than other center stage and mid range instruments.
This means female vocal, saxophone and electric guitar are upfront. Brass instruments and female vocals are at risk of being shouty or fatiguing for sensitive listeners, sibilance is rare but can happen if already present in recording the Phoenix will not butter it.
These aren’t lush nor very natural sounding mids, the timbre is on the bright-dry side, it’s not sweet and the texture is a bit euphonic, not very high fidelity in fine details.
When it comes to piano or tapping instruments, the note weight is light and natural resonance cut short, as well it’s very lean in dynamic apart highest note which suddenly pop up in soundscape with more authority and attack bite.
The mids are open and airy with a near monitor like imaging but ‘’surround system’’ way in the sense the soundscape is vast in sound layers.
With vocals and most instruments, balanced armature plasticky timbre can be perceived, especially in breathy vocals or woodwinds where it gets extra noise vibration.
All in all, technical but not very musical mid range which isn’t the best for acoustic instruments and has a strange mix of boxyness and shoutyness for vocals that need more lower harmonic presence.

The treble is the main focus of the Phoenix but it’s made in a rather agressive bright way, it’s not the sharpest nor most refined highs since it lacks brilliance release and sparkle as well as proper attack edge and snap apart for very metallic sounds that will pop up more intensely in space.
While not crispest cutting in sharp attack lead, it’s still a fast and well controlled treble, sitting in between planar and BA which both lack proper brilliant snap and sparkly sustain decay.
We have micro harmonic distortion that adds euphony to micro details and percussions.
Those percussions are a mixed bag, they are well separated but roughly drawn in terms of attack sustain-release, cymbals that should sound sharp and short goes ‘’hit-hat’’ if we can say. This means ultra fast drummers will get a noisy attack timing lacking proper clean space between each hit.
Nonetheless, highs aren’t feeling compressed or muddy in macro dynamics, they have their own space and they are softened in attack release to avoid splashing.
To my ears, it’s near analytical in terms of details retrieval, but not all sound info is treated the same way, it’s more like an ‘’analytical draft’’ than fully restitute clarity. The mind knows all those sound info are there but can’t precisely represent it, it’s rough treble restitution, the SPD can’t achieve high fidelity crispness. Nor the BA used. In that regard, timbre and tone match well together.
As well, even if not the most sparkly or well defined highs, it still has air on top and adds a sense of openness to overall spatiality.

The soundstage is not bad but average, it has more talness than wideness and the depth will depend on the number of bass impact releases that slip into center stage, which can be quite deep with bass less instrumental music.

Imaging is main highlight of these IEM, it's very sharp in separation and definition and have proper transparency for multi layering. Positioning is mostly accurate and you don't struggle to pin point instrument position even in busy track.


SIDE NOTES

At 32ohm of impedance and 103db of sensitivity, the Pheonixcall benefit from some minimal amping, with lower than 100mW@32ohm source they might sound boxy and lean, to wake up dynamic and open up the spatiality it’s better to use dongle with balanced output.

The eartips is very important too, since we have a big nozzle with 4(!) hole that is tubed to each driver, it’s important to don’t block or compress the sound transmission, so the included short wide bore ear tips is best choice (or other similar wide bore).

Cable wise, no miracle will happen even if you use a Effect Audio overpriced TOTL cable with those. Stock cable is OK.


COMPARISONS



VS PENON FAN2 (280$ or more likely 140$ with ChiFI Love coupon code)

The Fan2 are warmer and more neutral, they are smoother and more cohesive in balance as well as more mid centric and natural in timbre. Technical performance is superior too, but not as boosted in clarity and bass punch.

The bass is less resonant, offers thicker kick drum punch but more mellow impact, the bass line is even warmer. Cello sounds less wonky while the rumble is more blurry but more vibrant and natural still. Both performance and tonality is superior, the Pheonix bass feels more detached and artificial.

Mids put so much to shame the Phoenix it doesn't worth lengthy analysis, simply put timbre is lusher, more natural and less unbalanced in texture, vocals are fuller and wider in presence, they fulfill the center stage without going shouty or desperate about showing off it’s presence. All instruments sound more natural and have greater note weight, BA timbre is inexistent compared to the obvious one of Phoenix too.

Treble head might prefer the Phoenix here since Fan2 is darker, still, Fan2 is cleaner and more snappy in highs attack, percussion are less boxy and dry, balance is more organic and effortless, it’s notably more refined but more delicate too, we don’t have as much extra air too.

Soundstage is wider but that's about it, the Phoenix has deeper and taller spatiality.

Imaging is less in your face and mids being denser, sense of transparency is inferior with Fan2, so for plain instrument separation and positioning the Phoenix is more capable even if layering of Fan2 is quite good.

All in all, tonality-musicality of Penon Fan2 is from another league in term of balance and timbre naturalness, i can say the same for technical performance since the 2 balanced armature used in tandem with 2 dynamic drivers are better implemented as well as superior in performance BA wise, while for bass, the DD can had too much warmth for some. At 140$.....the choice is very easy here. I don’t feel like throwing away the Fan2 after 5 min of listening, quite the opposite of Phoenix in that regard!

VS ISN NEO3 (2DD+1 micro planar)

Celest is brighter and more W shaped, dynamic is more energetic and analytical.
The bass is more rolled off in sub bass and notably more hard hitting and thumpy in mid bass, it feels faster and tighter too, less warm and mellow, it sounds more detached artificially from lower mids too. We have more resonance with Celeste and sub bass articulation is very messy compared to more tactile and chunky rumble and bass line of Neo3.
Mids are more aggressive and forwards in upper mids, lower mids is more scooped so piano and most mid range instrument sound more recessed apart high pitch saxo or female vocal which are more shouty, thinner in timbre and way less smooth, lush and dense than more mid centric Neo3.
Treble is more vivid, open and detailed, snappier and faster and more analytical with Celest, percussions are more prompt to dominate the mix and timbre is harsher. Neo3 is smoother in balance and less generous in micro details.
Soundstage is wider and taller with Neo3 but deeper and crisper with Celest.
Imaging while not very realist is still cleaner and sharper with Celest.
All in all, Neo3 is way more coherent and natural in it’s warm tonality, offers better fuller male and female vocal, has deeper and chunkier bass and has on par technicalities that feel more refined though not as boosted in energy. For treble head, the choice would be Celest Pheonixcall, even if it sounds more wonky and artificial it creates more in your face wow effect in terms of resolution and micro details.



CONCLUSION



While not the most natural sounding or pleasant in term of cohesive tonal balance, mid range body and density and timbre lushness, I was expecting way worst from the technical beast Pheonixcall.

These are energetic and technical bright sounding IEM that offer great clarity, fast thumpy bass, open transparent mids and sharp and snappy treble that sure will wake you up.

This mean the Pheonix aren’t made for treble sensitive people nor those who prefer warm and smooth musicality too.

Subjectively, i prefer smoother balance, lusher mids with less aggressive brightness and less boomy and resonant bass, but the vivid musicality is captivating still, more in a cerebral than emotional way to my ears.

Recommended for treble head, brigh V shape lover and those seeking high technical performance at affordable price.


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PS: I want to thanks Kinera for sending me this review sample. This wasn’t suppose to happen due to Hifigo banning me but ‘’protector angels’’ still exist in this cynical world! You know who you are: BIG thanks for your true audio community passion Kinera matey!