I'm getting it immediately out of my chest - what an enlightening experience, I'm both overwhelmed as well as amazingly surprised by this set.
I must thank
Kinera and Akros for the trust of including me on this unit's World Tour at the last minute, I feel honored. I must say I had approximately 1 week to test them, and I did try my best to amount to some considerable hours of use within the time frame I had.
So far I have been focusing on sub 200$ IEMs, and on this tier I often observe that each set better matches a selection of music genres, mirroring the IEM's perks and downsides. As such, they either are designed towards the balanced approach, becoming more versatile but never excelling in anything in particular, or instead are tailored for a specific use, privileging specific genres, reproducing them at higher standards when compared to other genres where it doesn't perform well. Having never tried anything above the 300$ mark I didn't know what to expect to experience with the Loki, and I even anticipated some of those "diminishing returns" high-end audio people refer to. Little did I know what I was in for, and I later laughed at my own prejudice.
The first clue came in when, during the first hours on the first day, no matter what genre I threw at it, the Loki would not squint. It is versatile, behaving above expectations across all genres I have ventured (Jazz, IDM, Techno, Classical, Hip-Hop, Metal), which immediately stood as a perfect match for me. Not only that, it is fun sounding, describing a W-shape sound signature that supports intense dynamics, with concomitant extreme detail retrieval and layering capabilities. I think it matches my taste because I tend to pay more attention to the band and sound design, less on lead vocalists or other main protagonists. It is a head revolving experience that feels premium "from head to toe".
Onward to more minucius impressions.
Sub Bass
Just perfect, I can't nitpick anything.
Not ultra extended, just incredibly agile and texturized. It dropped my jaw to the floor.
Synthesizers go soul deep, behaving viscerally, on its own auditory plane, not overcoming the midbass, nor stealing the whole show. Sub swells can be felt from very afar, rumbling with detail even at very low volumes.
Techno beats that are accompanied by deep and slow decaying basslines are rendered very analogue in flavor, vividly and slurness free. Here you can clearly feel how tidy and responsive this small DD is.
I must state that here it was the first time I was able to experience different flavors of sub rumble coming at me, depending on how the music producer band-pass filtered. Up until now every sub rumble felt similar but here on the Loki I can sense different resulting textures of rumble.
Double-basses depth and reverberance are rich and feel natural. Strings strokes are very evident and other live recordings' ear candy get way more perceivable for them.
This sub always adds a layer of immersion, one I can surely get used to listening to everyday, but for purists or flatheads this is too much sub.
MidBass
Hefty punch, recovering super fast, tactile, very immersive. Not basshead material and I'm happy with its intensity. No midbass tucking! I can clearly distinguish between different kick drum timbres and nothing feels overly emphasized.
It is still a Colored bass, feels analogue and tight on faster tracks, whilst recovering as it should on muddier kick drums.
I really enjoy the sub to midbass ratio here, and I would describe it as a 60/40 respectively. This means there is some extra "oomph" that adds joy to upbeat music, but doesn't overly color music that isn't supposed to have it (e.g. Classical Music).
However when double basses are vigorously stroked, the attacks could use a bit more punch to match the sub bass depth.
Lower Mids
Nitpick alert, it has a very slight dip, as every IEM does, but it is never distracting as no instrument feels awkwardly distant or leaner in weight.
Pianos' have their own room and are not boosted, they are not lean but feel like so when compared to neighboring frequencies. On piano centered music, pianos are played just as they should, with fulfilling dynamics, but on bigger bands where the piano is not a trump, it can feel leaner or more distant.
Acoustic guitars are a joy and are clearly perceived even within very instrument rich recordings. Pluckings are a special treat here so if you are a virtuoso guitar player enjoyer this set will please you.
More to say about other types of guitar over the Upper Mids section.
Harp pluckings are velvety, you can easily focus on dynamics and finger technique.
Lower register brass instruments are lightly veiled in comparison. Saxes and trombones on busier tracks have texture but on ensembles they sit further away on the soundstage's depth.
Lower pitch snares are snappy but are not boosted and can very rarely get thrown more into the back of the mix.
Male voices are airy, well textured, they swell and revolve around your head. Whispering and ASMR-like sounds are shockingly real-like that they provoke chills on my neck, on the sides. However they are not forward in presentation unless it was produced like so.
Overall, the lower mids have great resolution, just like all the other frequency ranges, plus one can tell there was great care tuning towards balance, resulting in tightly glued sound signature that doesn't benefit any frequency instead of another.
Upper Mids
I'm mesmerized how the Loki can behave both technical and musically energetic at the same time...
Strings are vibrant and crunchy, beautifully rendering hand strokes and string impact noise. Same goes when they are plucked, texture is out of this world. If you are an acoustic guitar enjoyer you will love how a steel stringed guitar is ultra informative, and how you can easily notice the difference in the string attack when the player is using a pick, nails or the finger itself. Electric guitars are also a delight, the effect pedals modulations are ultra evident, up to a level I have never known existed outside the studio. Definitely immersive stuff.
Synth leads are lush but not too forwarded. They still feel quite roomy, spreading well across the soundstage's width and never piercing, even on the most intense leads.
Snares behave naturally, non offensively, and feel very bouncy. Most snare timbres are correct and I can even recognise remo snares with their bottom wires mod on, without needing much focus. Higher pitched snares like the ones we often have in R&B and Hip-Hop don't distort, and even the most aggressive ones feel softer and more tamed than I had anticipated. I might say there is some upper mids care with the pinna gain, of which I really cherish given my personal taste.
Claps on electronic music were a surprise for me. On my "budget IEMs" (up to 250 eur) they distort, also due to how bad some of the used samples are, which then are heavily transformed and processed... but not here! - god damn slaps, they feel as if they are hitting right in the middle of my eyes! Another new one for me.
Maracas feel sandy as they never have before. For me it felt as if they have been brought from the shadows (my previous budget experience) into something I can't live without now. I'm right there at the beach...
Slightly nasally vocals. I don't believe this set benefits vocals in any specific way, which to me is a perfect aspect. Mind me, I'm not a vocal enthusiast, ever since I was a kid I always paid more attention to what "the band was doing". Being so, vocals live within their own space and never crawl outside of that zone. They don't get thrown in your face over other instruments but you can still focus very well on them. If you do, you'll find them as velvety as you could ask for.
Cymbals are so impressively well rendered that you can feel them as if you were right in front of it. Ultra crisp attacks that then extend naturally over time never losing its texture along the way. Oh and the crash hat... oh it is visceral and tingles softly, definitely a new "feeling for me".
Saxes (Coltrane's Tenor, for instance) are from another galaxy, they just cut through and blast in your face with crystal clear information, as if it was being played aimed at your forehead. Texture, texture, texture, how many more times will I repeat myself in awe?
Treble
It is indeed pushed/boosted, but not to cater any specific genre so it feels airy, bright and when instruments demand, the Loki executes it all effortlessly with great extension.
Hi-hats are sparkly, never offensive and the utmost freakingly texturized in the best way possible. No matter how fast they are struck they never mush into noise, remaining as informative as the previous stroke. The driver's agility is again to be praised here, not even sacrificing any detail retrieval in order to accomplish this quickness.
Violins are fully rendered, managing to be audible at very low volumes, also when sharing the stage with many other instruments. This is great on Classical Music and I even found out some violin swells started sooner than I had anticipated (they were always there of course, I just wasn't able to hear them up until now).
Trumpets, Soprano and Alto Saxes live closeby to their lower register cousins (tenor, baritone) which goes by saying they are cosmic. Although they do not appear as forward, Miles' trumpet is still soul touching - its peaks still pierce your head however they don't cause discomfort as I'm used to, this is compared to the best of the budget IEM sets (EA500, Mp145, etc).
Timbre
Always correct and coherent between drivers. Given the hefty number of drivers it is a considerable achievement and a sign of tuning expertise.
This goes hand to hand with the texture and detail retrieval, as I have not found any distractingly or wrongly reproduced ones in any tune.
Soundstage
On the cosier side, still wider than taller.
It has a sense of being up close with a revolving sound, behaving holographically within it. In analogy, it is as if you were very well positioned in the middle of a music hall that is not very roomy in itself, without anyone or anything standing between you and the instruments and walls. A private concert just for yourself.
This cosier aspect doesn't come as a weakness, as every instrument or vocals are well represented on their own space, not overstepping themselves.
Technicalities
Details for days, without sacrificing musicality. At first I got overwhelmed by all the information I was getting, as if I had dived into a revolving auditory medium, like "audio water".
Instruments are soo well positioned that you can accurately pinpoint where they are coming from (stereo field) and isolate them from all the others. In a song you subconsciously memorize an instrument's details position, move on to a different instrument's detail, and when coming back to the first one you find yourself innately "reaching" for it, as if you remembered exactly where you left it off.
Fit and Comfort
Bulky shell with comfortable fitting that promotes the seal. It didn't cause any discomfort in my ear but I could definitely feel its weight.
I must say I didn't test it outside or during exercise, I mostly just laid in bed or sitting at the window, contemplating the Imperial Loki.
Cable and Accessories
I usually don't review cables as it can be a very sensitive topic for some people, and the sonic differences between different materials are sub perceptible for most people. Talking about its aesthetics, it is beautiful looking, filled with details and robust looking. There clearly is handwork done with higher quality materials and it shows in sturdiness and most probably durability.
Azla and Spinfits are included to best match your sonic and comfort preferences, which adds to the value. These are great quality pairing choices that I am already familiar with.
Design and Aesthetics
Once again a story telling item, this one properly feeling like a TOTL, even more than that, the Imperial Loki is Kinera's prodigy child, feeling ultimately polished, as if someone had a particular dream that was due to become reality.
The unboxing feels premium, as it should.
Final Words
Sadly I can't compare the Kinera Imperial Loki to any other IEM as I have never dwelled into this price bracket before. Coming from my own reality of budget IEMs, I can safely say there is something luxurious and unique to be experienced here, as I have discovered new details, new feelings and resulting emotions I hadn't thought possible before, listening to the same tunes I am very familiar with for many years. I found myself countless times trying to come up with new vocabulary to describe these new sonic experiences, and that is a very revealing experience, totally worth the cost if I were to buy.
I have been wanting to acquire new sound references so my future comparisons can be richer and closer to an universal reality, and the Imperial Loki just handed it over to me on a silver platter. The bar has consequently been raised quite high, and I just hope not to have spoiled myself too badly.
Congratulations to Kinera once again, this is a very polished gem I'm sure you are proud of.
Thank you for the opportunity and experience,
Miguel Esteves
