Kinera Celest PhoenixCall Multi-Driver Tribrid IEMs

First of all, I'd like to thank Kinera for sending me this beautiful IEM earphone, in exchange for my honest thoughts and review, with the emphasis that everything I say here should be of my own volition, and to take my time in reviewing this.
My perception of Kinera as an audio company is; that they belong in the mid-range to high-end class company based in China, their products always have artful and beautiful designs with lore behind them, Celest is a daughter brand of Kinera.

The Celest PhoenixCall cost 129.99 dollars but can be bought with discounts at my local shops in Lazada and Shopee, The packaging quality of the PhoenixCall is excellent, and the included cable is very good, and better than the included cables from my Moodrop Blessing 3 which cost 320 dollars and the Hidizs MP145 which cost around 150 dollars. The included ear tips are good too and doesn't feel cheap like the included tips from the Blessing 3. The build quality of the IEM itself looks and feels the same as the Blessing 3, which is very good as they both have 3d printed resin as shells, ensuring better production accuracy and consistency.

The PhoenixCall is a tribrid IEM, meaning it uses three types of drivers, a 7mm dynamic driver, a pair of micro planar drivers, and a pair of balanced armature drivers. it uses sound tubes to direct the sound to the ear canal.



The pre-installed white ear tips are good sounding, but I like the stock black ear tips much better, I love the sound of the PhoenixCall with it, It has better bass texture and note weight, better soundstage and even more natural overall sound, the PhoenixCall seems to be tuned with those tips in mind, but even so, I still tried the other tips in my collection and found the KZ Starline tips and the Moondrop Spring tips tend to make the bass sound thicker and the high frequency reduced, the Acoustune and Kbear 07 tips tend to increase the mid-range and upper mid-range, I also like the TRN T-tips and the Acoustune AET08. I highly recommend experimenting with other tips to get the best out of it, and again, I love the sound with the stock black tips.


I mostly used the Topping G5, Moondrop Moonriver 2 and the Fiio KA11 for this review, while the PhoenixCall can be driven easily with small and less powerful dongles, it needs your best quality dac/amps for the best result, as it can easily reveal the deficiency of lesser quality dac/amps. No equalization or any sound processing was used.


The sound:

Tonality and sound signature;

This is undeniably V-shape sounding to me, But some call it W-shape, because the mid-range and vocals may sound a little recessed, but they also sound very clear. The overall sound is very natural, clear and nonfatiguing, the sound presentation is like the sound of a high-end speaker system.

Technicalities;

Simply above average, it has clear and defined images, that are presented in 3d, layered and separated manner in a big soundstage.

Bass;

There is a little warmth in the bass, but the overall presentation is natural. The bass sounds fast, fairly detailed and never lean sounding, the dynamics are also very good and sound energetic. The sub-bass is rolled off but not devoid of it, I can still hear some sub-bass.

Midrange;

A little recessed but with very good clarity, this is not like most V-shaped IEMs where the mids are recessed and muddy, this is very clear and natural, I've listened to this for many hours and went through my music library to find faults, I haven't found any, There is no honkiness, shoutiness, glare and other coloration, all I hear is natural sound.

Treble;

Detailed, airy, clean, clear, noncongested and elevated, yet still sounds natural. I find no fatiguing sharpness, unnatural sibilance and muddy distortion.

Sensitivity, Power handling and Dynamics;

Now, this is the bonus part about the PhonixCall, I never expected this and only became aware as I listened more intently, the sensitivity is just average and it is easy to drive, but the power handing is excellent, it can take more power and go louder than the Blessing 3 and MP145, without distortion, mechanical noises and obvious dynamic compression. I have only tested this for a short time though, otherwise, my hearing would have been damaged by now.


vs the Hidizs MP145 (150usd)
The MP145 sounds warmer and darker on some songs, the bass on the MP145 sounds bigger and the vocals are more forward and fuller. The PhoenixCall on the other hand has more apparent details, treble air and overall clarity, both are very musical, natural and engaging sounding they sound different enough that I cannot recommend one or the other, I recommend them both.

vs Moondrop Blessing 3 (320usd)
The technicalities of the Blessing 3 are simply a class or two above PhoenixCall's, It is more holographic in image presentation, has more separation, layering and resolution, and has a bigger soundstage, but the downside is its lean-sounding note weight, on some songs it is okay, but on some, it sounds a little cold and clinical. On the other hand, the PhoenixCall sounds warmer, more engaging, more forgiving and more pleasant to listen to, on a long listening session. In terms of technicalities, the Blessing 3 wins, But in terms of listenability, the PhonixCall wins easily. Again, I can't recommend one over the other because they sound different enough to be used on different occasions and moods.

vs Simgot EA500 (80usd)
If you like the EA500 with the black nozzle, You'll gonna love the PhoenixCall, I consider the PhoenixCall a legit upgrade to the EA500, It has similar tonality but the PhoenixCall is warmer, less shouty, smoother, has more resolution, airier, clearer and so on, there is nothing in the EA500 I could find to be better than the PhoenixCall, I highly recommend the PhonixCall as an upgrade to the EA500, or at least, that's what I feel about it.

vs Mondrop Starfield 2 (110usd)
The Moondrop Starfield 2 is within the price range of the PhoenixCall, If you are asking which one to buy, Just buy the PhoenixCall, It simply has better overall sound, The Starfield 2 sounds fatiguing at times and not as airy in the highs.

vs CCA Rhapsody (40usd)
The Rhapsody is very good for the price, but cannot compete with the PhoenixCall in every way except the price. If you are looking for an upgrade to the Rhapsody, I highly recommend the PhoenixCall.

vs Moondrop May (60usd)
The sound signature of the May sits between the MP145 and the Rhapsody, and I find it to sound a little better than the Rhapsody overall, The May sounds warm and a little dark at times, I can't say the PhoenixCall is an upgrade to the May, The MP145 is the more likely candidate for that. But in terms of overall sound quality, the PhoenixCall is simply better and more natural.


No IEM is perfect, and that includes the PhoenixCall, I spent many hours finding faults with it, I only wish it had just a little more sub-bass and this is a nitpick, I really love the sound of this IEM with the stock black tips, but in any case, the PhoenixCall sounds so good that it made me curious about other Kinera IEMs in the higher price range, including those from the sister brand of Celest, QOA, or Queen of Audio, I'm seriously thinking of getting.

Thank you for reading and Happy Chinese New Year to all. Cheers!

2-10-2024

NOTES:

Celeste is yet another sub-brand of Kinera. I have had experience with a number of the Celeste offerings including the Gumiho and Pandamon, both of which were quite good. Still, I try not to let my past experiences influence my present iem reality.

I can’t say that there is discernible house sound that defines or separates Kinera from it’s sub-brands Celeste & QoA. I do know that there have been more than a few great iems released regardless of the branding.

The Phoenixcall is a very distinctive looking iem with a sound that features a v-shaped tuning with added emphasis to the upper-midrange and lower treble. Driver compliment includes a single dynamic driver in concert with two balanced armatures and two FPD (microplanar drivers). That’s a lot of tech beautifully displayed through the semi-translucent shells. Sound tubes are used in great measure here as well. It is obvious that much attention to development was spent with respect to the Phoenixcall.

The Phoenixcall is moderately difficult to drive. Your typical cellphone I don’t believe will provide the optimal experience. In fact, I can say that this iem does like power. Good clean power is a must here but nothing over the top, just more than usual for an iem. The Phoenixcall also synergized best with a warmer source given its upper range energy.

Tip selection also is important here and was heard to perceptibly change the sound. The Phoenixcall also sounded best with a deep and secure ear insertion.

Read on to find out more.

SPECS:

Acoustic Drivers：1DD+2BA+2 Micro Planar drivers（FPD）
Interface: 0.78 2pin
Sensitivity: 103db
Wearing Type: In-Ear
Frequency Response Range: 20Hz-40kHz
Impedance: 32Ω
Weight (earbuds+cable): 9.8g+30g ( ± 0.2g )
Plug: 3.5mm / 4.4mm
Cable length: 1.2m

BUILD, FIT & QUALITY:

The Celeste Phoenixcall has looks that will be polarizing. I personally found them to be stunning. The two earpieces, left if blue/purple and right is red, are each made of a beautifully finished semi-translucent resin through which much of the inner workings can be admired. Each shell has an imbedded graphic that I also find very attractive. For better or worse, this iem is a conversation piece, at least with respect to looks.

The nozzles are formed as an extension to the shell as opposed to an addon part. They protrude enough that getting a good insertion was easy to achieve with the proper tip selection.

Retail presentation is also above board, typical of Kinera and its sub-brands. The unboxing experience is well thought out and interesting. Whoever is in charge of retail packaging at Kinera needs to be recognized for their great work.

The included accessories are all of great quality with the look and haptics of the stock cable being a standout. This cable is one most would gladly purchase third party and the fact that is comes in the box is a nice plus.

The Phoenixcall is on the large side of medium in size but its shape afforded a very comfortable fit without any fatigue, even on long listening sessions. Very nicely done.





SOUND:

BASS:

The Celeste Phoenixcall has a bass that goes deep with mid-bass more emphasized than sub-bass. Bass is punchy with good control and speed. It is a very agile low end that just misses slightly when it comes to the metric of detail. Mid-bass does not stray into the lower midrange adding only a small lift of warmth.

“Angel” by Massive Attack has a driving bassline anchoring the track. The power and drive were all there, missing was some of the finer details. Likewise in the standout track “No Worries” by the Robert Glasper Trio. The double bass was right there in the mix as distinct as ever but missing some finer detailing.

On bass heavy tracks the sub-bass prowess of the Phoenixcall did shine with great control and adequate power. At times though I felt that the upper midrange and lower treble emphasis did overstep the bass. This was heard clearly on busier tracks with lots of upper midrange energy. The bass here then took a backseat losing even more detail as the more prominent upper frequencies stood out front and center.

Still the bass is commendable when it is allowed to shine.

MIDRANGE:

The midrange of the Celeste Phoenixcall has good resolution with macro over micro details present. The lower mids are more recessed than the upper-mids which are more forward as the Phoenixcall has a substantial pinna gain that extends into the lower treble. Even with this raise in the upper midrange, I did not find the Phoenixcall shouty. In fact, it is not harsh nor grainy. The Phoenixcall has good detail retrieval but I wouldn’t call it an overly technical set. I would put forward that the Phoenixcall is more fun then technical.

Female vocals were emphasized and more forward than male, consequent to that upper midrange rise where the lower mids were more recessed than that of the upper. Clarity and detail were all on point here with all the vocal attributes easily heard.

Surprisingly, male vocals still fared well. Listening to “Tenderhearted Lover” by John Stoddart revealed a full sounding and articulate playback that was pleasing and did relay to a great extent the emotional delivery of his vocals.

Layering and separation while good, were not class leading. Still the Celeste Phoenixcall does not sound closed in at all, on the contrary it sounds reasonably open. On the track “In Passing” by the Robert Glasper Trio, all the instruments could be clearly discerned, yet not with the with that level of air around each that for example the Hisenior T4 excels at reproducing. Still the track did sound good.

Timbre was ok but sometimes did sound somewhat off. This could be due to how the upper portion of the frequency band is tuned. Dynamics were handled very well, just remember to drive it with ample power. Transients were managed well, if for a little extra lingering energy up top.

The Celeste Phoenixcall has a midrange that excels in clarity. It’s energy at times did overshadow the bass. While it was not always my cup of tea, I prefer a more balanced approach to midrange sonics, I see how may will like this vibrant and energetic approach to tuning.


TREBLE:

The treble of the Celeste Phoenixcall is fairly well extended with lots of sparkle but to a lesser degree air. It is well detailed with good clarity.

The treble here compliments the midrange though the upper-treble does fall off. Treble is actually well done without harshness.



IMAGING & SOUNDSTAGE:

The Celeste Phoenixcall throws up a moderate sized soundstage. Instrument placement is solid with it not feeling congested. This can suffer on busy tracks with lots of upper midrange energy where some finer details of air and space can get lost. That being said, this is infrequent and happens only at higher volume levels.

Width is well portrayed with height and depth relayed to a lesser degree.

VERSUS:

-Hisenior T4-

The T4 is a 4x BA per side iem with no dynamic driver in sight.

Bass power and slam are more prominent with the Phoenixcall, T4 in balanced mode, but comparative with the T4 in “Bass+” mode. The T4 is better at conveying bass details and textures.

In the midrange the T4 takes a decidedly balanced approach while the Phoenixcall offers a more energetic upper midrange. With respect to technicalities the T4 also gets the nod here as well as offering superior micro detail retrieval and timbral accuracy. Note wight is a touch better on the Phoenixcall but just.

Treble is more of the same where the T4 is more balanced with arguably better detail retrieval and air.

Overall, the Hisenior T4 is just a more musical and organic set. The Phoenixcall fails to dethrone it here.

-Hisenior T2-

Almost verbatim with respect to the T4 vs Phoenixcall. The T2 is even more relaxed in tuning vs the T4. Bass does not go a low as with the Celeste offering. Midrange is balanced on the T2 vs energetic on the Phoenixcall. Technicalities are slightly better on the T2. Treble rolls off slightly earlier on the T2 and are again more balanced.

These two do NOT sound alike at all and the decision will really be up to the buyer and their personal preferences. Forward and energetic vs balanced and controlled.



CONCLUSION:

With the Phoenixcall, Celeste have given us a beautifully built and energetic sounding iem that many will like. It is a mid forward tuning that excels in sounding detailed yet without undue harshness.

I will admit that I did not warm up to its tuning but I am just an individual with my own preferences and can see how many will like its sonics. Still at its asking price of $130usd it is definitely worthy of consideration if this type of robust and forward tuning is your preference. Hats off as well the Celeste for providing a fantastic retail package as well and quality accessories.

This Kinera Celest PhoenixCall IEM was originally written and posted on my website.​

About the Kinera Celest PhoenixCall​

Company Overview​

Kinera is a Chinese brand based in Dongguan that has been around since 2016 when they released their first IEM, the BD005. They are one of the older brands in this space. Over the years they have released a handful of IEMs, but I never got the chance to try out their offerings, even though I have always admired their IEM designs.

Specifications​

• Acoustic Drivers: 1DD+2BA+2 Micro Planar drivers（FPD）
• Interface: 0.78 2pin
• Sensitivity: 103db
• Wearing Type: In-Ear
• Frequency Response Range: 20Hz-40kHz
• Impedance: 32Ω
• Weight (earbuds+cable): 9.8g+30g ( ± 0.2g )
• Plug: 3.5mm / 4.4mm
• Cable length: 1.2m

What’s Inside the Box​

• Celest PhoenixCall IEMs
• Celest 221 Vocal Eartips S/M/L
• Celest C-07 Eartips S/M/L
• 3.5mm 5N Copper Silver Plated Cable
• Storage Box
• Metal Bookmark
• User Manual

Review​

I have always admired the design of Kinera’s in-ear monitors including their sister brand Queen of Audio (QoA). This IEM comes in 2 color variants – transparent, which is what I have, and a two tone purple-blue.


In this review, I used my Cayin N6ii and Venture Electronics Abigail Pro amplifier with Spotify and Tidal as music sources.

Frequency Graph​

Frequency response of Celest Phoenixcall courtesy of Practiphile.

Experience​

For its looks, this is probably the most beautiful IEM I have had the pleasure of trying. From its box to its cable and IEM faceplate, it’s perfect and well-designed without being over the top, though this is what Kinera is known for – their faceplate designs are works of art.


The form factor makes the fit immaculate, and the included tips are the cherry on top. I can wear them all day working with no complaints – it’s almost like wearing custom IEMs. Comfort depends on your ear shape as the shells are on the chunky side.

One thing I want to point out is it’s pretty sensitive to improperly grounded electric circuits. You will hear buzzing or humming unless you put your feet on non-conductive materials like rubber.

Music​

After listening to the Celest PhoenixCall, I do not have many complaints. I may even consider it a budget Dunu Falcon Ultra due to its similar tuning. However, it lacks the technical capabilities of the Falcon Ultra. It somehow lacks control of the frequencies, especially on busy tracks and in chaotic games, which I will tackle more shortly.

It also lacks the 3D effect in tracks – it sounds like plain old stereo, just left and right. The PhoenixCall also lacks micro detail, which might be due to its well-controlled treble that lacks the sparkly frequencies to make micro details shine.


Enough of that comparison, let’s dive into how this IEM sounds. The Celest PhoenixCall doesn’t have any quirks or unevenness in its frequency range, at least based on my experience with headphones and IEMs.


The sub-bass and mid-bass quality is very good – full and impactful without bleeding into the mids/vocal region. This makes listening to rock or pop music make you want to tap your feet. Vocals, especially female voices, sound organic and are well-placed – not too forward but not behind the mix either. The treble is well-controlled, without piercing highs or sounding rolled off. It won’t sound lacking unless you love that sparkly Beyerdynamic-style treble.

Overall, I don’t have complaints about its tuning. It fits my preference well, which is why I loved the Falcon Ultra. It’s very versatile for any music genre, maybe a bit less on Classical which has strings.

Gaming​

When it comes to gaming, this is an area where the Celest Phoenixcall falls a bit short, at least on games with a lot going on like Overwatch. It sounded full but the imaging is below average. You would have a slightly hard time pinpointing the direction of enemies due to the frequencies being somewhat cramped – you will be overwhelmed by everything sounding all at once. However, I must say it performed exceptionally on less chaotic games like Counter Strike 2 or Valorant. You can hear footsteps very well and the directional sound is accurate and extends far.

Conclusion​

In conclusion, if you’re looking for an under $150 all-rounder IEM, I’d recommend the PhoenixCall, weighing its technical capabilities, especially for gaming use. For $129.99, it’s a great package considering the build quality, appearance, and sound.

Review Of The Celest Phoenixcall​

​

Introduction​

The infamous Kinera brand, which is known for its releases like Skuld, Baldr, Nanna, etc., has a sister company called Celest that specializes in making electroacoustic products like IEMs and cables. The Celest also manufactures IEMs that lean more toward the low-cost audiophile market. I have only seen the Celest use flat panel planar drivers out of all the Kinera subbrands. The gumiho and pandamon, their first IEM, were reviewed by me as well. But before I review the Phoenix Call, their recently released flagship IEM, I'd like to clear up a few misunderstandings.

Disclaimer​

*Since this unit tour was organised by the beautiful people at HiFiGo, I am grateful to them. And as I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as "Call."
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Call based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

Five drivers total—one dynamic, two balanced armature, and two flat micro planar—are housed in the tribid setup of the Call. The 7mm dynamic driver handles low frequencies, the 10012 and 10021 balanced armature drivers handle mid-high frequencies, and the 6mm micro planar drivers handle ultra-high frequencies. All of its drivers are made in-house. The resin-made shells have a stunning appearance and fit my ears perfectly. The faceplate has a lovely sparkly background with silver bold bird patterns, and the left shell is blue in color while the right tone is pinkish-red. And after prolonged use, I didn't feel tired or exhausted. It comes with a 5N 8 core silver-plated copper cable that feels lightweight and matches the color of the IEMs. A straight 3.5mm termination plug completes the 2 pin 0.78mm cable. The IEMs also come with two types of eartips in three different sizes, a carrying case, and a gorgeous metal bookmark, among other extras. In terms of technical details, the sensitivity is 103dB and the impedance is 32 OHms. 20Hz to 40kHz is the range of the frequency response.

After carefully inspecting the IEM, I discovered that one of the drivers is exposed on the right side (Red) of the IEMs but encased on the left (Blue). Despite this, there were no audible changes between the two when I tested them using mono output. I'm not sure if those drivers are even operational or not; an exposed metal component from the driver could possibly be its cap. But because the sound is consistent and the presentation sounds as intended, I wouldn't care.

Sound​

A pure V-shaped sound is produced by the Call, forcing the upper frequencies and the bass region to emerge in the mix where the sparkly and clear response is evoked with strong bass impacts in them. I haven't heard this style of tuning in a while. IEMs in this price range typically have a neutral or more equilibrated sound signature.The Call, however, sounds the best in this price range when it comes to V-shape tuning. There are nuances, of course, that I do not particularly enjoy, but the tuning is so fascinating and captivating that I find it impossible to look away. The bass slams and punches hard, and the sound adds sharp, clear notes with a lean quality to them. Let's get more specific.

Treble​

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Starting with the treble, it appears to be nicely extended and adds good details and clarity to the mix. However, the tuning feels more energizing and in your face, making it difficult to achieve spacious and expansive with smooth response. The notes that stretch far without becoming distorted or disintegrated in the upper treble are detailed and clear, allowing the vocals and instruments to express themselves fully. The entire response will be affected by the vocals' flashy appearance. Both the vocals and the instruments have a lean quality to them. For example, cymbal crashes may sound sparkly and crisp, but they also have a tendency to go too far and introduce offensive sounds that may be sibilant or peaky. The sound is produced with the same details and clarity, but the lower treble feels more energizing and vivid. The vocals create more room around them; for instance, the female vocals sound distinct, blissful, and approachable with air. This makes it possible for the instruments to sound distinct and separate. Overall, the treble region is presented in a clear, detailed, and fuller manner.

Mid Range​

I feel conflicted about the mid range because it feels surprisingly beautiful and has subtleties that draw attention to every detail, but I also think they lack the warmth and organic response that comes from the notes, whether they are from instruments or vocals. Listening to vocals, especially female vocals, that shine bright and elevated that brings out every detail and doesn't let the drivers stop at producing clearer response out of them makes me feel at peace because the upper mid range sounds so full, airy, and open. The drivers used, I must say, are of very high caliber. In most cases, I find that higher octave vocal notes merge into a single note, but with the Call, the presentation is captivating. Additionally, the instruments support the vocals by holding their exposure with as much detail as is possible. The notes can occasionally sound a little piercing when it comes to bright sounding tracks, but that doesn't take away from my overall impression. The lower mid range gives off an impression that makes me question my love for these; however, with this range, a different narrative emerges. I felt the need to look at the FR graph because the lower mid range feels almost nonexistent in the mix; the warmth or dense notes aren't audible. I discovered that the lower mid range are subdued. The vocals and other instruments are almost audible, but they sound hazy and lose their focus, particularly the bass guitar. The bass notes seem too clean and artificial sounding when listened to while listening to rock and classical tracks. As a result, the mid range's overall response is engrossing, detailed, and yet artificial sounding.

Bass​

Oh yes, the bass hits you hard and with a good amount, which I find to be very impressive—not because the quantity makes me jump for joy, but rather because the boom is well-controlled. The bass performs all actions with force, slamming, punching, thumps, and rumbling. The sub bass seems to have more bass emphasis than the mid bass, but since the entire bass range is fully elevated, it doesn't really matter. The big drums kick sounds deep and lows punches hard but when it comes to resonating slams from the bass guitar or double bass the sound is more alive though I do find the response to be too clean. The sub bass extends deep which allows the subtle rumble sensation to flow into the ear canals. When it comes to impacts of punches they are nicely controlled and retract quickly where the slams feels more loose which is how it should be. The bass sounds more embracing and clear as the response is increased and the notes have more presence in the mix. However, when it comes to mid-bass thick notes, I think they are lean and far too clean rather than thick. I would have liked to hear more boom. The texture and details of the bass are also good. As a result, the bass region's overall presentation is powerful, slamming, but too clean.

Technical Performance​

The Call's technical performance is actually quite good due to the wide stage, good separation, and sharp imaging, which allows for an exciting response. The ability to retrieve details is superior to that of the majority of IEMs, and notes are resolvable and fast. The Call produces more sharper imaging and better clarity but at the expense of tonality. Most IEMs in this price range improve soundstage and separation with resolution.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

The listener can localize the source of the sound because the soundstage is large enough to sound expansive and the note separations are distinct and far apart. The imaging is sharp and clear, possibly the best you can find for the money.

Speed & Resolution​

The resolution overall is good but not the best available, and both the micro and macro details produced are very expressive. Additionally, the notes' attack and decay have a rapid pace.

Sound Impressions ​

Sources​

Tempotec V6 - The treble appeared more share- and lean-like while the midrange felt a little more relaxed and composed, but the lower notes still sounded lacking when listening with the V6. The bass appeared more controlled and precise. There were no discernible differences in the technical response. I consider this pairing to be passable but unappealing in this case.

iFi Hipdac -The treble felt more rounded and relaxed while listening on the Hipdac, but the details mostly felt retained. Lower notes were audible, and the mid range appeared more vibrant and forward. Additionally, the bass sounded more organic thanks to thicker notes. I didn't notice any other technical changes, despite the fact that the imaging felt a little flat and the stage was smaller. I'll be honest and say that I like and accept the pairing with the Hipdac.

Tracks​

Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Guns 'N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeRs
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measures
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex,Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

To sum up this review, I'd like to say that I wholeheartedly recommend this IEM to anyone who enjoys a thrilling and captivating response and who prefers fun sound with a kink for female vocals. A person like me who prefers a more neutral sound also fell in love with these, especially for their looks, though I would still advise giving this a listen.

Introduction:
Kinera Celest is a brand that has been around for quite a while and their IEMs have have always maintained an aura of intrigue. And despite the brand not being as widely known as other brands like Moondrop, fans of their Kinera and Kinera Celest IEMs have seemed to like them quite a bit. The Phoenixcall is the first of their IEMs that I have been able to listen to and going into this, I had very little to go off of as far as what to expect other than pictures and description of the driver config which had me interested.

Disclaimer: Thanks go out to Hifigo for arranging this sample for me to review! These thoughts are my own and I was not incentivized for a positive/negative review.

Build and Accessories:
The Phoenixcall comes in a nice, solid box that includes the following:
• Gold colored metal bookmark - I surprisingly do like how this looks and wouldn't mind using it
• A very nice and well behaved cable with no microphonics
• A small leather, puck-shaped carrying case,
• An assortment of eartips
• The IEMs themselves
It's clear that a lot of thought was put into the packaging and the overall unboxing experience was surprisingly nice.

The IEMs themselves are smaller in size and made of what seems to be high quality resin. Depending on the color you choose the wiring and drivers will be on full display, which is a nice touch, given the unique driver configuration. Build quality is as solid as any nicer resin IEM I've handled and due to the smaller size, I don't think many people will have issues with fit.

Sound:
Overall: The overall sound signature is quite lush and engaging. It's not a very clinical sounding IEM and would be well suited for anyone who thinks the flavor-of-the-month, Harman-inspired, or neutral with bass-boost IEMs are boring and thin sounding. It's a very unique sound that surprisingly works a lot better than expected. The tuning, as far as I know, is unique, and would be a great addition to a growing collection of IEMs.

Bass: Bass is full and well-extended with a lot of physicality and oomph. The Phoenix dishes up a very healthy dose of midbass compared to most if not all of the popular IEMs today and does so in a very refreshing way. I think a lot of manufacturers are afraid of tuning midbass into their IEMs in fear of causing bloat or mud. For this reason, I actually find a lot of popular IEMs to be thin sounding and too clinical. This is not so with the Phoenixcall - bass is authoritative and physical here. But somehow, this doesn't have as huge an effect on mids and clarity as I would have expected from looking at the frequency response.

Mids: Mids aren't necessarily the highlight here but they're not as recessed sounding as one would expect. There is a valley in the frequency response but from what I could tell, most instruments and voices aren't affected by it too much. Both male and female vocals sound fairly natural and full bodied to me, both forward in the mix. And yes, I did mention above that the bass tuning doesn't have as huge an effect on mids and clarity as expected, but there is still a bit of that - but not offensively so.

Upper Mids and Lower Treble: This is where things can get a bit dicey and part of the reason this is a more intense IEM - there is quite a bit of elevation in the upper mids and lower treble and this makes it slightly shouty. Those sensitive to this region may wish to look elsewhere. Another IEM I love, the Elysian x Effect Gaea does something similar here and as much as I love that IEM, I will admit, it's definitely a polarizing tuning. As with the Gaea, I am fine with this tuning but it's not one I can listen to for very long periods of time.

Treble: Treble is decently smooth and tapers off after about 10k. This makes prevents the Phoenixcall from ever being sibilant or sharp. It's definitely on the slightly darker side of things, and this is especially noticeable in contrast to the "upper mid lower treble shelf."

Technicalities: Stage is above average. Imaging is okay. Details and resolution are pretty good for the price. Timbre is surprisingly okay - nothing too wonky to my ears.

Summary:
This new addition to the pantheon of $100-$200 IEMs is well worth a look - it eschews all notions of what is correct (cough* Harman) and does its own thing. Usually when people stray too far off the beaten path, it's in for a rough time - not this time. No, this is not a market defining or breaking IEM. And no it's not going to replace all the Wan'er/Hola/Hexa/Aria/Kato/you name it IEMs many of you already own. But it's not trying to do that. The Phoenixcall set out to do something different and to provide a different flavor to complement tuning/driver configs that have all but flooded the market. While I can't recommend this IEM as a one and only IEM or for someone's first IEM, the Phoenixcall still gets a solid recommendation from me, especially as an addition to a collection to provide either a different tuning or driver configuration.

Celest as we all know is a sub-brand of Kinera. Kinera introduced Celest last year as a subsidiary focusing primarily on the budget segment of in-ear monitors. From the very first day, Celest made a mark as their debutant product(Gumiho) featured a new kind of planar driver(SPD). Which was later upgraded in the second release itself as well(Pandamon). Fast forward to today in 2023, Celest is all-ready with their new release the Phoenixcall. Different from the previous two launches, the new Phoenixcall is an IEM that breaks the 100$ price barrier for Celest with an official retail price of 129.99$. Another thing that’s different with the Phoenixcall is the multi-driver hybrid setup. It is a beast in terms of driver configuration featuring 1DD+2BA+2FPD(Flat Planar Driver) on each side. According to the brand-provided information, this FPD is also called the micro flat planar driver. Enough with the technical jargon, I have the pair for about a week courtesy of a review tour here in India organised by HiFiGo. Let’s dive deep into my impressions of the same.

A Short Disclaimer Before I Begin:-

As mentioned above, I received the Phoenixcall as a part of a review tour in India, I will be forwarding the unit ahead after my review is done. Would like to thank HiFIGo for this review tour here. The impressions, liking or disliking in this review might be biased based on my personal taste in music listening(which is a balanced, U-shaped profile). You can purchase the product from HiFiGo from the links below(non-affiliated links).

Kinera Celest 1DD+2BA+2 Micro Planar Drivers IEMs — HiFiGo

Unboxing, Package, Contents, & More:-

Kinera & its sub-brands know how to make an impact with the packaging itself. YOu get a fairly exquisite package with the Phoenixcall. It’s a purple-coloured package with a faceplate-like bird design on the front along with the name. Inside we have the story of Phoenixcall along with a metallic showpiece kinda thing on the left side. On the right, we have the user guide, the pair itself with the cable. There are a total of 6 pairs of eartips included in the package, three white silicone and three grey silicone with a wide bore. We also have a small round zipper case with the pack. Overall, a really beautiful and eye-catchy packaging, just like the pair itself which I will try to describe in the next section.

Design, Build Quality, Fit, & Isolation:-

I love talking about the design for Kinera and its sub-brand IEMs. Celest Phoenixcall is a beautiful, very beautiful pair with an eye-catching designer hand-painted face cover and an overall compact footprint. The face covers depict the legendary tale of Phoenixcall with an image of birds flying over a glittery sky. The one that I have is a Pink and Blue colour variant, and it looks absolutely beautiful. Its compact footprint makes it easier to wear and provides a comfortable fit. Celest has made a transparent inner cavity design, showcasing the neat driver arrangement underneath the beautiful shells. We can see different acoustic tubes going from the drivers to the nozzle mouth. Each and every single driver is clearly visible through the cavity. Overall, The design of the pair is so very unique and beautiful. My Wife is already eyeing the set for herself, little does she know that this is going on to the review tour ahead. Might have to buy her a pair lol.

The pair has 2-pin 0.78mm connectors placed on the top. Celest bundles the pair with a colourful cable, maybe because my unit is also coloured, basically the cable matches the pink-blue theme with the same coloured outer sleeve. It’s a 3.5mm cable that I got, but it got launched today and now I see it is also available with a 4.4mm variant as well. Cable is soft, and colourful, nothing else fancy about it to mention. Other accessories such as the ear tips are also of decent quality, I personally use the pair with Azla Sednaearfit Light as they fit me better.

Talking about the fit, like I said the pair has a compact footprint. It has an oval-shaped cavity design, that sits comfortably into my ears and provides me with a good level of comfort and isolation. no complaints at all.

Driving the Phoenixcall:-

Phoenixcall can be used easily off any given source, but it loves extra power thrown her way. It works well off my Sony WM1A(with the standard 3.5mm cable) but I need to push the volume to as high as 70/120 on high-gain mode. Using a balanced cable is suggested from my side as I tried one KBEAR cable that I had. The pair runs well off a balanced output, it sounds more open and more dynamic. I noticed similar changes with 3.5mm output as well when I plugged it into my PA10 class A amplifier. To keep things short, you will be able to enjoy the Phoenixcall through a standard USB DAC/AMP(UA3 in my case) or a decent-level music player(WM1A/WM1A MK2 in my case), but to unlock full potential i suggest using the pair with your most powerful source and with a balanced cable.

Sound Quality:-

I have had the pleasure to audition the Celest Gumiho as well as Celest Pandamon in the past. But they both were kind of budget offerings at like a 50$ price point. With the Phoenixcall I have higher expectations because of two main reasons, this is the first time Celest has made something over 100$, and secondly, the highly-equipped driver setup gives me some good vibes. Having loved the Gumiho and Pandamon both, I was kinda excited for the Phoenixcall. And the pair doesn’t disappoint at all. It has a neutral to slightly bright sound signature. The best part is that the Pair produces even the minutest details with utmost ease. It doesn’t feel like struggling or anything, rather we have a set that sounds highly resolving, has a quick, snappy bass response, and a crystal clear midrange. Imaging and instrument positioning is simply lovely. I was testing some rock music last night and the way Phoenixcall retrieved every minute detail, I was simply stumped. The pair actually caught me off-guard with its technical prowess. It’s a technical beast, with excellent, superb, outstanding imaging capabilities for the price point.

Bass/Lower-End:-

Celest has tuned the Phoenixcall with a neutral and smooth lower-end response. It is dynamic and very refined as well. But I can’t call it punchy or slamming, the sub-bass has good rumble, and actually adds a layer of refinement to the lower end. Mid-bass is more on the neutral side with a fast and precise presentation, it hits whenever called upon but doesn’t present a thumping or slamming response all the time. The bass on the Phoenixcall is more about accuracy, refinement, and quickness. Bass notes are rounded and clear.

Midrange/Vocals, Instruments, & More:-

Midrange on the Phoenixcall is slightly recessed especially in the lower mids. Upper mids especially vocals are brought forward in a smooth manner. We have crystal clear, crisp clarity. in the midrange. Vocals and instruments feel detailed and crispy. Tonally, I would say that the pair has a slightly cold/dry tone to the vocals. But they definitely show amazing clarity and resolution. Both male and female vocals have good weight and texture. Instruments are slightly closer to each other, but they don’t feel congested or lack any separation. In fact, instrument separation and crisp definition for different instruments is going to be a huge pro from my side for the Phoenixcall.

Treble/High-Frequencies, Instruments, & More:-

Treble is a strong point on the Phoenixcall. The pair sounds absolutely lovely with a crispy treble definition. Instruments in the high-frequency region are very, very well-defined and showcase great clarity and resolution. Treble is well done, it doesn’t sound sharp or fatiguing, yet it retrieves details nicely. There is no harshness or sibilance present, the pair maintains the true form of the recording. It doesn’t smoothen the edgy notes and presents them in a straight-up raw manner. The airiness in the treble region gets more open with more power, that’s why I love listening to the pair with PA10 in the chain.

Technicalities:-

Celest Phoenixcall is an ultimate technical performer. It has outstanding imaging and layering capabilities. Every instrument is crisp and nicely detailed, and its position can be easily determined on the stage with simple eyes closed. Soundstage is quite big with a good 3D feel to it, hits the perfect balance with appropriate width and depth.

Some Quick Comparison:-

There are not a lot of tribrids that I have recently auditioned around the price of Phoenixcall. But I am also listening to another hybrid IEM set, the CVJ Freedom. Freedom houses a 1DD+4BA driver configuration and has 2 tuning switches as well. Freedom is slightly more attractive in pricing priced at 79.99$ which is apparently quite low in pricing. But since using both of these together, will share a short comparison between these.

>Freedom’s bass is more punchy and dynamic yet lacks the refinement and clarity of Phoenixcall.

>Tonally the midrange on the Phoenixcall has better body and weight, Freedom is a little thinner in comparison.

>Treble and detail level of both pairs is exceptional for their respective price points.

>Freedom’s treble is brighter in comparison.

>Soundstage-wise, Phoenixcall creates more immersion and a more 3D feel.

Final Words:-

100$ to 200$ is a very competitive price bracket, there are many new releases happening in this price bracket, but after spending a great week with the set, I can say that Phoenixcall has its own place and charm in this competitive market. The level of detail, and the level of resolution that the Celest Phoenixcall has is simply outstanding. I have mentioned this thing many times in this review and I won’t shy away from saying this again, the Celest Phoenixcall is a technical monster, delivering the minutest of the details with simple ease. Last but not least, yes the pair has a few things where it can be improved like some added punch and slam to the lower end, and adjusting the tone to be a bit more natural and organic, but apart from that, it’s super hard to find even nitpicks with the sound of the Phoenixcall. Well, that’s all about my review for the Celest Phoenixcall. Now it’s time to tear down the pair and see what’s inside this beautiful set.

Teardown Time:-

I was so excited with the look of the pair being transparent. I could see all the drivers inside. This kinda made me more excited and I contacted my friend to help me open up the pair. P.S. My friend is a professional, he repairs stuff as well, I took his help in unlocking the shells, removing the drivers, and having a good look at them before asking him to pack the set again. First of all, here are a few images of the inner cavity and drivers.







As you can see, there are multiple drivers placed inside. We have a 3D-printed internal structure with a tube going from each driver to the earphone nozzle. The Dual BA drivers are placed closest to the nozzle, then we have two round-shaped FPD Flat Planar Drivers, and then at the farthest corner, we have the DD unit. There’s another venting acoustic tube that is connected to the tube from the dynamic driver. Overall a very neat arrangement is done inside a compact cavity. Celest has done a great job in packing these 5 drivers using their skilful 3D acoustic tube cavity structure. I have tried my best to display different drivers in this teardown separately, but due to our limited expertise in this matter, we did not unlock every single driver to showcase the complete internals.

Hope you guys enjoyed reading this review blog of mine and also this teardown. The pair is packed again and is working fine, it is all ready to go ahead to the next reviewer now which I will ship shortly!! For any further questions related to the Celest Phoenixcall, you can ask me in the comments section below.