Ks K300 Samsara

EDIT 2023-08-25: If you are not aware, I am selling my own Earbuds, called RikuBuds: https://rikubuds.com/

(yes, the packaging came like that….)

• Non-sound
• Sound
• Comparisons
• Conclusion

Disclaimer: I bought this from the huo niu Store on AliExpress at full price.

Price: 129 usd (Version F: “Hand-knitted wire advanced 300 Euro ohms version”)

Specifications:

Frequency response range: 5-45000Hz

Resistance: 300 ohms


Accessories:

Donut foam

Full foam





Cable: Looks good and is pretty lightweight for a 4-core cable. Metal connector (brushed metal) and divider. But has microphonics and is not replaceable.



Build: Standard MX500 shell, nothing special and I do wish that the build had more premium materials rather than the standard plastic shell that even Vido buds (1-3 usd buds) got. But it does have a very strong magnet, so the shells are repelling each other when they are in close contact. Which is very unique and only the Dunu Zen (iem) have a characteristic like that.

Fit: MX500 shells fits me so it’s good for me.

Comfort: Good like every other MX500 bud for me.

Isolation: None, it is an earbud after all.

Setup: Schiit Asgard 3 + Topping E30 (low-gain, volume around 22%), full foam, stock cable 4.4mm

Lows: Definitely basshead quantity and extends extremely low for buds. While quality is still pretty good despite massive bass quantity (sub-bass over mid-bass focused). It is looser and slower compared to average bud bass but it is fine with the amount of quantity it has.

Mid-bass: Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), fun because of the elevated bass quantity, but could be tighter while speed and texture are good. The (02:55-03:01) section with the chopper is hearable, could be a lot cleaner.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), very fun due to the elevated bass and also well textured. Not the tightest nor fastest bass but is not a problem here.

Sub-bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends extremely low for a bud and has a lot of rumble. Punch quantity is also pretty high with good texture but could be faster and tighter.

Will Sparks – Sick like that (03:08-03:22), a lot of quantity and got good texture but could be tighter and faster so it would be cleaner as well.

Mids: Not a vocal focused bud for sure due to the recessed vocals and for the female vocals, in most cases too warm tonality. Although male vocals work very well with it due to the warmth it got, but for male vocals that are higher pitched than average, they might still need some more brightness.

Female-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Very good instrument tonality as it got a lot of warmth that is missing on other buds. Vocal tonality does need to be brighter and also more forward as it is recessed here though. Detail and clarity are ok, but nothing impressive because of the overall warmth. Timbre is as expected from buds but overall naturality is bottlenecked by the too warm tonality (for the vocals).

Yuki Hayashi – MightU (01:58-02:55), both instruments and especially vocal tonality needs to be a lot brighter.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), zero fatigue and zero shoutyness. Very relaxing bud.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Crescent (02:07-02:26), not shouty at all.

Male-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (00:57-01:17), very good instrument tonality but vocals need a bit more brightness.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), exceptional tonality with both vocals and instruments. But the vocals are a bit recessed.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars aren’t sharp at all, but is a bit too smooth at the same time.

Deuce – America (03:03-03:16), not shouty at all but can get a bit chaotic due to the bass quantity bottlenecking the imaging and separation.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), cello tonality, texture and timbre are exceptionally good, but could have better detail and clarity. Violin tonality, texture, detail and treble extension could be better but timbre is good.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), good tonality but could be cleaner and more detailed.

Soundstage: Huge soundstage as expected from buds but also holographic due to it having both width and depth.

Tonality: V-shaped and very warm, not the most versatile bud out there because of the warmth but works great for the ones it does well, a specialist bud for bassy and warm genres. Timbre is as expected with buds, very good for both vocals and instruments, overall naturality is only bottlenecked by the massive bass quantity.

Details: Not the most detailed bud out there and is most likely bottlenecked by the massive bass quantity.

Instrument Separation: Not the best separation nor imaging in a bud out there and is most likely bottlenecked by the massive bass quantity.

Songs that highlight the Earbud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8dvFzyS_JE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IH8tNQAzSs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKDdT_nyP54



Good genres: OSTS (instrumental), hip-hop, R&B, rock, metal, Linkin Park, Yasuharu Takanashi

Bad genres: OSTS (female-vocal focused), vocal focused music



Comparisons:

Earbud: Yincrow X6, full foams, stock cable 3.5mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends a lot lower and rumbles more on the Samsara. Punch quantity and texture are similar though but a bit tighter and faster on the X6 so it is cleaner on it.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a bit more mid-bass quantity and texture on the Samsara. But speed and tightness are a bit better on the X6.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), similar tightness and speed but more textured and individual strikes are more distinct on the Samsara, while it is muddier on the X6.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), instrument tonality and timbre are better on the Samsara but vocal tonality is better on the X6 (and isn’t recessed) while vocal timbre are similar. Resolution is better on the Samsara, but still in the same league. X6 sounds cleaner due to the brighter tonality though.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), more relaxing and zero fatigue on the X6.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), a bit better instrument/vocal tonality on the Samsara. But cleaner on the X6.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), similar tonality but electric guitars are even less fatiguing on the Samsara.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre, texture and detail are better on the Samsara. Violin tonality, texture and timbre are very similar, but better detail and treble-extension on the Samsara.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality and cleaner on the X6.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), Soundstage is a bit wider but also a lot deeper on the Samsara and is therefore holographic. Detail, imaging and instrument separation are better on the Samsara, but nowhere close to what the price difference would imply. Timbre is similar.

Overall: The Samsara is an even warmer bud and more fun (bassier and with recessed mids) than the already warm and bassy X6 and is also more colored because of that. The Samsara is a bit more “analogue”/ “tube”-like sounding as well so it isn’t as clean as the X6 but it does have better technicalities (not a big gap though).



Earbud: Yincrow RW-9, full foams, stock cable 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), rumbles more on the RW-9 but extends lower on the Samsara. Punch quantity is a bit higher on the RW-9 but more textured, tighter and faster on the Samsara.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), the RW-9 has more bass quantity than the Samsara but is a lot more bloated as well since it’s slower and looser and is less textured.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the Samsara due to faster, tighter and less bass quantity.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), instrument and vocal tonality and timbre are better on the Samsara. Even more recessed mids on the RW-9. Detail, clarity and resolution are better on the Samsara.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a lot less fatiguing and relaxing on the Samsara.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), better tonality and timbre on the Samsara as well as less recessed mids.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), more fatiguing and sharper electric guitars on the RW-9.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre, texture and detail are better on the Samsara. Violin tonality is better on the RW-9 but timbre, texture and treble-extension are better on the Samsara.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), a bit better tonality on the Samsara.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), wider and deeper soundstage on the Samsara and more holographic. Detail, instrument separation, timbre and imaging are better on the Samsara.

Overall: The RW-9 is even more of V-shaped bud than the Samsara because of it having more bass, even more recessed mids and also boosted treble. If you want something more relaxing and still very sub-bassy, then the Samsara is better. But if you prefer a more energetic and still fun tuning, then the RW-9 is more suited for you.



Earbud: Yincrow RW-2000, full foams, stock cable 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), a LOT lower extension and A LOT more rumble on the Samsara. Punch quantity is also a lot higher and more textured on the Samsara but tighter and faster on the RW-2000.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), more mid-bass quantity and more textured on the Samsara. But tighter and faster so its cleaner on the RW-2000.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the RW-2000 due to the faster and tighter bass but more textured and a lot more quantity on the Samsara.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), instrument tonality and timbre are better on the Samsara but better vocal tonality and timbre on the RW-2000 as well as more forward and not recessed. Clarity and resolution are better on the RW-2000.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a lot more fatiguing on the RW-2000 while the Samsara has zero fatigue.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), better tonality and timbre on the Samsara but a lot cleaner on the RW-2000.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are sharper and more fatiguing on the RW-2000 but more tonally correct.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre and texture are better on the Samsara but more detailed on the RW-2000. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, detail and treble extension are better on the RW-2000.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), a bit better tonality on the RW-2000 and cleaner.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), wider soundstage (and airier) on the RW-2000 but deeper on the Samsara and more holographic. Detail, instrument separation, imaging and timbre are better on the RW-2000.

Overall: The RW-2000 is less colored and more technical (helped by its tuning, less bass and brighter treble) than the Samsara. But if you want a more fun and relaxing bud, the Samsara is better.



Earbud: Toneking Dendroaspis Viridis, full foams, stock cable 3.5mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), none-existent rumble and extension on the Viridis. Punch quantity is a LOT higher on the Samsara while also having a lot more texture. Speed and tightness are better on the Viridis though.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a lot more bass quantity and texture on the Samsara as well as more tonally correct. But tighter, faster and cleaner on the Viridis.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a lot cleaner on the Viridis thanks to its extremely low bass quantity in comparison to the Samsara. The Samsara is more tonally correct despite being more bloated in comparison.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), instrument tonality and timbre are better on the Samsara. But vocal timbre and tonality are better on the Viridis along with more forward vocals and more detailed as well.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a lot more relaxing and fatigue free on the Samsara while it is cleaner on the Viridis.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), instrument/vocal tonality and timbre are better on the Samsara. But cleaner and more detailed on the Viridis.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are a lot sharper and more fatiguing on the Viridis.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre and texture are better on the Samsara but cleaner and more detailed on the Viridis. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, detail, clarity and treble-extension are all better on the Viridis.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality and timbre on the Samsara but a lot cleaner and detailed on the Viridis.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), soundstage is wider and also airier on the Viridis but a lot deeper and holographic on the Samsara. Detail, imaging and instrument separation are better on the Viridis while timbre is better on the Samsara.

Overall: They are polar opposites, the Samsara is the warmer, musical, fun and bassy bud while the Viridis is the brighter, analytical and more female vocal focused bud. If you prioritize vocals (female vocals) and technicalities, the Viridis is better but otherwise the Samsara is a more fun and the better bud for my library.



Earbud: NiceHCK EBX21, full foams, stock cable 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), none-existent rumble and extension on the EBX21. Punch quantity is a LOT higher on the Samsara while also having a lot more texture. Speed and tightness are better on the EBX21 though.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a lot more bass quantity and texture on the Samsara as well as more tonally correct. But tighter, faster and cleaner on the EBX21.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a lot cleaner on the Viridis thanks to its extremely low bass quantity in comparison to the Samsara. The Samsara is more tonally correct despite being more bloated in comparison.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), instrument tonality and timbre are better on the Samsara. But vocal timbre and tonality are better on the EBX21 along with more forward vocals and more detailed as well.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a lot more relaxing and fatigue free on the Samsara while it is cleaner on the EBX21.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), instrument/vocal tonality and timbre are better on the Samsara. But cleaner and more detailed on the EBX21.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are a lot sharper and more fatiguing on the EBX21.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre and texture are better on the Samsara but cleaner and more detailed on the EBX21. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, detail, clarity and treble-extension are all better on the EBX21.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality and timbre on the Samsara but a lot cleaner and detailed on the EBX21.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), soundstage is slightly wider on the EBX21 but a lot deeper and holographic on the Samsara. Details, instrument separation and imaging are a lot better on the EBX21 while timbre is slightly better on the Samsara.

Overall: The EBX21 is the reference tuned and more “bud-like” bud. While the samsara is the more fun and a lot more similar to iems (bass wise) which I prefer a lot more.



Earbud: Moondrop Chaconne, full foams, stock cable 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), almost none-existent rumble on the Chaconne but extension is not far off (still better on the Samsara though). Punch quantity is a LOT higher on the Samsara while texture is a bit better. Speed and tightness are a lot better on the Chaconne though.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a lot higher bass quantity on the Samsara and a bit better texture. But a lot cleaner due to the faster and tighter bass on the Chaconne.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a lot cleaner on the Chaconne due to the faster and tighter bass. But more tonally correct on the Samsara due to the bass quantity and warmth.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocal timbre and tonality on the Chaconne is outclassing the Samsara and vocals are a lot more forward on the Chaconne as well. Instrument tonality is better on the Samsara but better timbre on the Chaconne. While resolution and clarity are in another league on the Chaconne.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a lot more relaxing and fatigue free on the Samsara but cleaner and more detailed on the Chaconne.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Instrument and vocal timbre are better on the Chaconne and also more forward vocals, but more tonally accurate on the Samsara. Details and clarity are a lot better on the Chaconne though.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are more fatiguing on the Chaconne but also more tonally correct.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and texture are better on the Samsara but timbre and details are a lot better on the Chaconne. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, treble-extension and clarity are a lot better on the Chaconne.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality is slightly more correct on the Samsara but a lot cleaner on the Chaconne.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), Soundstage is wider and a lot airier on the Chaconne but is deeper and more holographic on the Samsara. Details, instrument separation, imaging and timbre are in another league on the Chaconne.

Overall: The Samsara is the more fun and better for bassy genres. But for vocals and treble the Chaconne is outclassing the Samsara.



Conclusion: If you want a V-shaped bud that is warm and relaxing with a sub-bass focus over mid-bass, this is a great recommendation. But if you want a more vocal focused bud or/and prioritize technicalities over tonality, then there are other buds that are better. But do keep in mind that the impedance is 300 ohms, which means that I do NOT recommend this to you if you do not have enough power to drive it (a definite NO if you are using a smartphone or PC´s motherboard). Thanks for reading.

Reference/test songs: