Introduction
Kotori Audio is a singaporean boutique brand that is mainly known for the Dauntless, a single DD IEM that targeted the trebleheads.
The newest product from Kotori Audio is the Vampire, a single BA set that instead targets a very different audience since it’s a very warm and smooth set with a severe treble roll-off.
Now, without further ado, let’s get deeper in the review.
Disclaimer: the Kotori Audio Vampire were sent to me by Ray Tan from Kotori Audio so that I could write an honest review. This review represents my personal opinion on the set, it isn't promotional or paid content and I don’t get any revenue from the sales of this product.
At the time of the review, the Kotori Audio Vampire were on sale for around 121,90 SGD at kotoriaudio.com (their official website), that corresponds to around $90.
Technical Specifications
- Driver Configuration → 1 Knowles Full-Range BA
- Impedance → 50Ω@1kHz
- Sensitivity → 112 dB/mW@1kHz
- Frequency Response Range → 20Hz-18kHz
- Total Harmonics Distortion → <0,7%@1kHz, 100dB
- Cable → Silver-Plated Copper (SPC) cable with 0.78mm 2-PIN connectors
- Plug Type → straight gold plated 3.5mm TRS
Packaging
Since I have received a sample when the packaging was not yet ready, I have only received the IEMs inside their metal carry case. Do note that by ordering a sample today you're receiving the standard packaging which looks very good and contains:
- The Kotori Audio Vampire
- The SPC detachable cable
- 1 x set of silicone tips (S, M, L)
- A metal carry case
Design, Build Quality, Comfort and Isolation
The Kotori Audio Vampire are 3D printed and the full resin shells are small with no sharp edges, leading to a very comfortable fit even for those with ears that are smaller than average. In addition, the isolation is superb because the shells are fully closed (no vents, as this is easier to do with a single BA than it is with a single DD).
The nozzle is pretty long and has a lip to provide for a secure fit of the tips, but it’s not uncomfortable and instead guarantees enough insertion depth for the earphones to behave correctly in terms of sound reproduction (single BA IEMs usually require deeper insertion and this is the case with the Vampire as well).
Cable
The cable is pretty flexible, it doesn’t tangle and it sports a chin slider. It’s not the best stock cable I’ve seen under $100, but there’s really nothing to complain about as it’s a very solid one.
Sound
GEAR USED FOR THE TEST
- DAC: Topping E30
- AMP: Topping L30, Fiio A3
- Mobile phones: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Xiaomi Mi A3, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Moondrop May’s DSP cable with PEQ=0
- Dongle: Apple Type-C dongle, Fosi DS2, Hidizs XO
- Portable DAPs: Benjie S8/AGPTEK M30B
- Bluetooth Adapters: KBEAR S1, KZ AZ10
- Other sources: Presonus AudioBox iONE, Elgato Wave XLR
Do they need an amplifier?
Since they are not very sensitive and the impedance isn’t the lowest around, a bit more power than the average weak smartphone jack is recommended.
Sound signature
The sound of the Vampire is warm-neutral with a soft mid-bass hump and a rolled-off upper treble. It’s a very relaxed and smooth signature that will definitely appeal to all the warm-heads and treble sensitive folks out there.
Lows
The sub-bass is for sure nothing to die for, but it’s somehow perceived as “existant”, even though without a true rumble (as expected since it’s a single BA IEM), so the comparison with single DD IEMs will still be a no-go.
The mid-bass is the true star in the low-end with the typical “BA bass” textures and nice body. It’s punchy and it’s definitely more impactful than any other sub-100$ single BA IEM I’ve tried (KBEAR Neon, NiceHCK X49, KBEAR F1 and so on). The textures are ok even though it’s more of a timbre-and-quantity-focused low end, and the fact that there’s some emphasis on the bass also means that these won’t be the fastest BA bass you’ll hear, even though it’s pretty snappy for most situations.
Overall, it’s a very interesting approach for a single BA set and it works pretty well, especially for old school rap, bass guitars, lo-fi, future garage and similar genres.
Mids
The lower mids follow the bass emphasis with some forwardness that helps male vocals, even though the bass sometimes bleed into the midrange (it’s not aggressive though and helps with added warmth). Male singers come out pretty warm and deeper than expected from a single BA set, and the same applies for lower notes of acoustic guitars and some piano notes. Female vocals, instead, are intimate and delicate, but the upper treble roll-off and the lower treble dip kind-of limit their energy and the perceived “space” in which they propagate: overall, it’s a very safe IEM that will not bother those who are usually annoyed by edgy upper midrange tunings, even though those who really like very open, airy and energetic vocals should probably look elsewhere.
Last, but not least, the various instruments are well separated as long as the track is not overly complicated; feeding the Vampire with extremely busy passages or orchestral tracks with tons of instruments will inevitably show the technical limits of this set, not only due to the single BA but also because of the combination between the bass emphasis and the rolled-off treble.
Highs
With their relaxed treble response, the Vampire target those who want the smoothest single BA set under 100$, and it’s truly impossible that someone will find them fatiguing even during prolonged listening sessions. The macro-detailing capabilities are nothing to write home about but there’s a good amount of information in most cases; the smallest nuances, instead, are not an easy task for the Vampire, but this is a trade-off that many will be more than willing to accept in favor of an enjoyable and comfortable listening experience.
The upper treble roll-off (which is quite “noticeable”) plays a huge role in this very smooth experience, leading to a more intimate and less airy sound that may or may not appeal to some customers based on their preferences.
The
soundstage is pretty small providing for an intimate and relaxed listening experience, and the
imaging is fairly good considering the driver setup and the overall signature.
Some comparisons:
Kotori Audio Vampire vs AFUL MagicOne
The comparison that everyone’s likely to search for if interested in a single BA set around $100.
Let’s spoil the main differences: the Vampire are bassier and darker while the MagicOne have better end-to-end extension and technicalities.
The Vampire has more mid-bass and slightly more bass texture quantity but the AFUL MagicOne have faster transients in general and dig deeper in the sub-bass region thanks to the Nautilus lengthened acoustic tube.
Due to the fact that the Vampire have a very noticeable treble roll-off, the midrange is more “linear”, while there’s a bit more brightness and sparkle on the MagicOne and the overall signature seems less mid-centric than on the Vampire.
The treble slightly brighter on the MagicOne and more small nuances are portrayed than on the Vampire with no added annoyance nor fatigue. The Vampire, on the other hand, has a darker and more intimate presentation and less micro-detailing capabilities, so there are both technical and timbrical differences.
Build quality is great in both cases and the same applies for comfort and isolation, especially considering that pressure is managed admirably (even though some pressure build-up still happens on both sets as it’s physiological for fully closed BA sets).
The provided stock cables are good too, even though some may prefer MagicOne’s thicker cable. The MagicOne come with more tips whereas the Vampire only include one set of tips (wish Kotori Audio included more tips even though the stock ones are pretty good).
I think one should go for the MagicOne for the best single BA technicalities around $100 and for the overall better clarity, whereas one should get the Vampire if on the market for a mellow, dark-ish and smooth bassy signature enclosed in very small and comfortable shells (and they’re priced below the MagicOne, so budget also plays a big part).
Kotori Audio Vampire vs KBEAR Neon
The Neon have been one of the most unique sets from KBEAR and I am proud to be the one who suggested the “Neon” name. Featuring long nozzles, they were designed to have a deep fit and wanted to be an ety-like experience for less than $50.
In general, the Kotori Audio Vampire are more comfortable since they don’t need to be pushed “that” deep in the ear canals, they have deeper and thicker bass and they have a more relaxed treble region. The Neon, instead, have a thinner lower midrange, more energetic and forward upper mids and better treble extension, providing for a more neutral-bright signature. The Neon can portray smaller nuances than the Vampire, also thanks to the better upper treble extension, but the low-end is thicker, punchier and more textured on the Vampire.
Soundstage and imaging are slightly better on the Neon due to them being brighter and more spacious, but the Vampire is surprisingly good at pinpointing considering the intimate soundstage.
In terms of overall build quality and design, the Vampire is much better, and the same applies when it comes to comfort. Isolation, instead, is comparable.
The Vampire come with a better stock cable, whereas the Neon come with a few more spare tips.
The Neon sometimes get discounted and can be grabbed for around $30, which is a very interesting price for such a unique product. But if there’s one thing in which they don’t do very well, it is the overall coherency and timbre, which instead is one of the Vampire’s strengths. In fact, the Vampire are darker and less “transparent” than the Neon (which is a big endorsement for the Neon), but they are somehow more mature and coherent along the spectrum, packing a better note weight and a smoother upper range presentation, both of which parts of a carefully fine-tuned signature that is targeted to a specific audience.
Kotori Audio Vampire vs Hisenior T2U
Not really fair since the T2U have two balanced armatures instead of one, but this could be interesting for someone.
The two are not very different from the low-end to the mid-range, and in fact the signature is kinda similar, but the Vampire have a dip in the lower-treble that the T2U don’t have instead. This makes the T2U a bit more detailed and makes female vocals more engaging, and when listening to both the Vampire feel darker and more intimate in general, even though with deeper and thicker male vocals and acoustic instruments.
The fact that Hisenior decided to use 2 BAs on the T2U makes them slightly more technical (of course, a crossover has been used to properly cover the whole spectrum with the double driver setup), and the upper-end extension benefits from that, even though Hisenior’s 2BA set doesn't have a very emphasized upper range.
Soundstage is a tiny bit better on the T2U, imaging is a tad better on the T2U.
When it comes to comfort, the Vampire win thanks to their smaller shells, whereas isolation is similar.
Both are built very well but the Vampire comes with slightly more flexible and softer cable, even though the T2U come with a much more generous sets of tips and accessories.
What should one buy? The T2U are a bit better in terms of technical performance and they’re a tad more balanced with no focus on lows or highs; the Vampire, instead, go all-in on thick note weight and on a darker signature that will suit warm-heads or dark-heads better, provided they could accept the slightly inferior technicalities.
Final Thoughts
It's the first time I get the chance to try a product from Kotori Audio and I really hope this won’t be the last.
The Kotori Audio Vampire may not seem “disruptive” because they don’t kill more expensive IEM nor IEMs in the same price bracket, but I think there’s another point to consider in this case: while other brands try to raise the bar and compete on the value for money ratio, Kotori is focusing on a specific target market, which is something we don’t see often nowadays.
The Vampire, in fact, are not going to compete with the likes of Simgot’s single DD kings, nor are they gonna try challenging the latest budget planar or hybrid set in their price range: expecting that would be just plain wrong. They are instead trying to satisfy the needs of those who want a pair of small IEMs that have a warm signature and a thick bass response with very smooth and kinda dark-ish highs, a combination of factors that make up for a nice pair to just sit and enjoy some pure relax.
For sure, those who want the best technical performance from a single BA IEM will be better off saving some more money and increase the budget to get a pair of AFUL MagicOne, but we are talking about a more expensive IEM that also have a slightly different signature (both are warm-neutral but the Vampire sound darker and has more midbass than sub-bass), and one also gotta remember that while AFUL can somehow set more aggressive prices, a boutique like Kotori Audio works on lower quantities so the products will be generally more expensive despite their similar technical level.
What else to add? I guess nothing.
The Vampire provided for a very interesting listening experience from the first usage, and I really hope that Kotori Audio will come out with even more interesting and capable products in the future, especially because I really like their “direction” and the fact that they truly care about specific end users without going for a trial-and-error strategy by using jack-of-all-trades IEMs.
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braiding is superb , SPC is great choice..
