LEAR Kaleido - you will like what you see and hear
LEAR is a brand established in 2008 in China. It belongs to the Hong Kong Forever Source Digital company (initially company dealt with management and marketing, but in 2009 completely took over LEAR after their successful debut with the LE-01 model). LEAR currently is one of the most important manufacturers of earphones in Hong Kong, as evidenced by the receipt of "Hong Kong's Most Valuable Companies" award (in 2005 and 2007)
LEAR specializes mainly in hand-made IEMs - models that are available in universal and CIEM (Custom In-Ear Monitors) versions. In company offers also a good selection of high-quality cables, Moreover, LEAR has it's own reshelling service.
Large part of the company's offer consists of CIEMs with BA drivers, but most famous model is prodobly BD4.2, equipped with two dynamic drivers, four balanced armatures and special knob to modified sound signature.
Currently, LEAR is preparing BAMDAS5 model, which - as the first in the world - is equipped with as many as five dynamic drivers. More about these products can be found on the
company's website or the
LEAR channel on Facebook.
I will write about LUF-Kaleido, which is one of newest addition to LEAR's offert. They drew my attention mainly with their appearance, but I was also curious about the producer's announcement. Tatco Ma from LEAR explained to that this hybrid solution is the result of company's work on more affordable hand-made models, that could be good option to use with smartphones and entyr-level DAPs.
Kaleido are available in both the universal fit version (LUF-Kaleido) and CIEM (LCM-Kaleido). This review is for universal option, which is priced at 1699 HKD (less that 220 USD). You could buy it by
LEAR's website.
Technical specification:
- Drivers: dynamic (7 mm, PET), 2 x BA (custom tuned).
- Frequency Response : 10Hz-20kHz
- Impedance: 10ohm @1000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 109dB @1mW
Packaging
Earphones are packed in a cardboard box, which looks quite ascetic - on the black surface there are only the company's logos and information about a particular model (on the side). The set - not counting headphones and cable - is composed of:
- protective case with company logo;
- 1 pair of LEAR foams (LF3 variant);
- 1 pair of silicone double density tips (M);
- 3 pairs of silicone tips with a large hole (S, M and L);
- headphones cleaning cloths.
Silicone tips are quite standard. It is a pity that the company has not added double density eartips in S and L sizes. They compensate this with good quality foams that resemble those prepared by Campfire Audio rather than Comply solutions (they are less porous and have a smoother surface).
There is also nice protective case made of ABS. It has a black, matt coating that provides a secure grip. It's interior is lined with green silicone. The case has quite a large capacity, so earphones fit without any problem.
Build quality
Kaleido's shell are made of acrylic with a smooth, shiny surface that does not irritate the skin. The front panel is ideally suited to the chamber and draws attention with its appearance. By default, the gold LEAR logo and the pattern of shiny multi-colored petals are visible on it.
I must admit that I liked the appearance of the shells and I wouldn't change it. Users who care about personalization, however, have this option. LEAR - for a small extra charge - allows you to modify the CIEM version as well as the universal one. Available colors and patterns can be checked on company's page.
Housings are semitranslucent so that the elements placed inside them are visible. There is standard MMCX connector that has been securely embedded in shells (they do not rotate very easily). A single vent hole is placed next to connector.
The housings are very well contoured. "Neck" has been slightly tilted. There is a bump, thanks to which the shells rests more firmly in most users ears, but at the same time could disturb few others. Kaleido are not particularly small, but rested comfortable in my channels, so I can listen to it for a long time.
Isolation is quite good. Kaleido are good comapions to walk around city with them, but those earphones will not cut you off completely from the sounds of the surroundings.
Cable is made with high purity OFC copper. Kaleido were sold initially with quite stiff cabel, that cause "microphone effect". That solution was replaced with C2 MKIII cable with braided wires and soft protection, but I can't tell more about it.
Sound quality
Test platform includes: iBasso DX150 AM6/AM7, FiiO X3 and X5 series, Shanling M0 and M2s, xDuoo X3 II, Samsung Galaxy S8, ZTE Axon 7, Sony Xperia X, Astell & Kern AK XB10. All evaluation are made after 150 hrs of playing time using mostly private FLAC files library and Tidal Hi-Fi.
Kaleido characteristics by smooth, "V-shaped" sound signature. The main focus has been put on lows, that clearly warms the sound. Accents in the upper midrange and lower highs have to balance signature, but earphones still feature a slightly darkened sound.
Subbass reach quite low and - apart from its lowest parts - is clearly strengthened. There is tight, but not hard character. Subbass area is well controlled, quite precise and mostly does not mark its presence needlessly.
The middle bass is also elevated and attacks with nice authority, but have got smooth and easy to listen texture. Lows may not be the fastest, but aren't too slow. Kaleido dont have problems with getting the right form of bass for a given genre - it could be massive or pulsate quickly. Lows are the strong point of Kaleido's sound signature.
Mids are clearly weighted, smoothed and warmed in lower parts. Kaleido present quite nice amount of details, but you need to listen carefully to catch them. Separation is good, but not great (I can't describe mids as overlly concentrated). The vocals are clear and have a nice textures. Male singers never sound dry and there is nice amount of body. The accentuated upper midrange makes female voices sound a little more intimate. They do convey emotions quite well, but arent too forward and dont sound very airy.
Highs aren't the most stretched and extended. It is mainly highlighted in the lower part, but aren't aggressive or overly bright. Highs are smoothed and sounds quite natural. They may lacks a little in terms of details and crisp, but occasionally there is delicate harshness. Sopran is present, but mostly as a "background of presentation". Kaleido doesnt sound airy, but the amount of air is just fine to dont make sound too thickened.
Soundstage is very good. The width isn't huge, but still above averange. There is good depth that match width. Kaleido also nicely differentiate the height at which the instruments appears. Sound is pleasantly suspended in space and soundstage is "filled with sound not black spaces". As the name suggests, is like watching a painting in a kaleidoscope.
Kaleido aren't proposition for those seeking neutral sound signature. Those are very musical with clearly warm and slightly darkened presentation. LEAR IEM wont be first choice for classics, but it performs well in popular music genres, especially EDM. For my taste it lack a little in terms of highs for metal music, but lighter rock generes sound pretty good.
Tips and sources
Tonal balance depends on the depth of application (anatomy) and the selected tips. In my case the SpinFit CP-145 provided best comfort, insolation. Here's how other silicone tips modified sound for me:
- silicones with a large opening - less amount of midbass, more clearity in midrange and treble, vocals are less forward and there was a little harshness in few songs;
- silicone with a double density (from the set) - more emphasized middle bass, fuller and compacted mids and clearly smoothed top (too warm for me);
- RHA double density tips - the sound between the aboves, with a slightly harder bass impact and more pronounced vocals;
- SymarinEs Symbio W - slightly less mid bass, tigher lows and a brighter highs with a little wider soundstage.
Although I do not like foam eartips, I must admit that the LEAR LF3 was good. These provide a harder but still well-marked bass and a more lucid middle and a little more recessed top. They work much better than Comply, which darkened sound and smoothed out details.
Kaleido is characterized by low impedance and good efficiency, thanks to which even weaker DAPs and smartphones have no problems with driving them, properly. Although they may require a bit more volume than many similar hybrids. Good DAPs will provide better control of higher mids.
LEAR earphones dont require secific synergy. Bad idea will be only overly warm sources and analitical ones with very bright highs. Good for me was DX150 with both AM6 and AM7, but I also like how it sounds from Shanling M0 and Galaxy S8.
Comparison:
1More Quad Driver - Kaleido have more extended lows with more subbass quantity, but lows are more detailed on 1MQD. Kaleido has more body in mids and more forward vocals. Mids in Quad Driver in comparision are more linear and more laid back. 1More'y have a more extended and smooth, but also more peaky highs. Quad Driver present bigger soundstage with more air and better separation, but Kaleido is a little better in layering and positioning.
LZ A4 (black/blue filters) - Lows in LZs are faster, hits harder and shows more detalis. Kaleido has more smooth lows. LEAR's IEM have fuller and warmer mids with more natural vocal presentation. A4s sounds thinner and more laidback. LZs have more extended and airy highs - there is better separation and more details. Soundstage is wider on A4. LZs dont have big adventages in terms of layering.
DUNU Falcon-C (SpinFit) - Falcon-C extended deeper and has quicker and better textured bass. Kaleido has a bit more subbass and higher bass, lows are also smoother. The lower midrange in Kaleido is fuller, smoother and less detailed. Vocals are more forward on LEARs. Falcon-C's mids are more linear and neutral. Highs in Falcon-C are noticably more extended, brighter and reveals many more details, but are more aggressive. The stage in the DUNU model is slightly wider and has better positioning, but Kaleido's sound is more layered with better depth.
Periodic Audio Be - Beryllium have more subbass, faster lows with more impactful attack. Mids on LEARs have more body and are smoother. Kaleido shows fuller and less airy vocals. Be have more extended highs, stronger separation and shows more details . Kaleido's soundstage have better depth and provide a more spatial and layered sound. Beryllium have a slightly wider and more aerated soundstage.
Oriveti New Primacy - Kaleido has a fuller and more massive bass with a smoother texture. Lows in ONP are faster and more detailed, There is also more tigher attack and lower reach. Kaleido's mids are fuller, smoother. New Primacy shows more details, have more pronounced vocals. LEAR has a stronger accentuated lower highs. ONP show more extended and detailed highs. Both got nice layered stage, Positioning is better on ONP, but it sound more distanced.
LEAR Kaleido sounds fuller with thicker mids and less extended highs in comparison to models mentioned above. They are less fatiguing - easier to listen for long time.
Summary
Kaleido turned my attention because of unusual (and really attractive) look, but soon turned out thats design isn't only advantage of these headphones. The LEAR product is carefully made and very comfortable, and in the set you can find a good quality case.
The bottom line is that Kaleido just sounds very good. Sound is musical with good quality bass and present, but non-aggressive highs. The LEAR headphones are easy to listen and attract attention with a rich spatial presentation.
People looking for earphones that are distinguished by their sound and appearance, should check product of a company from Hong Kong. Especially, that the price is quite affordable for a hand-made construction of this type.
Disclaimer
Thanks to Tatco Ma from LEAR for providing review sample of the Kaleido. All opinion are my own. Original, polish version of review was published at gadzetomania.pl