Kinera Hodur

Full Device Card​

Test setup​

Sources: Questyle QP1R / Sony NW-A55 mrWalkman / Questyle M15 / Questyle CMA-400i – Final E tips – Stock cable – lossless 16-24/44.1-192 FLAC and DSD64/128 tracks.

Signature analysis​

Tonality

Hodur’s presentation is an evident W-shape, reaching good result in terms of tonal balancing however lacking in terms of timbre coherence and overall organicity. Bass is rather flowery, treble is by converse dry and technical, and such two souls don’t merge one into another as smoothly as they should (and I would prefer).

The general timbre is somewhat lean accross the board, with a partial exception represented by the sub bass – which also contributes to the mentioned incoherency feeling. Mid bass helps warming the presentation up, without adding too much butter to the notes however.


Sub-Bass

Sub bass is well extended and present. The rumble often gets an excessive bit out of control up to sounding bloaty, and interfering with the midbass’ job.


Mid Bass

Hodur’s midbass is… uncommon. I can describe it as strong, warming also insofar as not particularly fast, although not sloppy at all, either. Which would all be good if it were not for a moderate artificial timbre making it lack realism.

In more vulgar terms Hodur’s bass overall (sub+mid) is quite deep, energetic and colored, and as such I find it more pleasant when listening to some genres (electronic, rock…) and less ideal on others (acoustic music in general, jazz, classical…)


Mids

Mids are where Hodur’s overall lean timbre deepens its roots. Their tuning is quite brave in a sense, especially for the higher half of the mids segment which is forward, energetic and somewhat bright while succeeding in staying south of shouty – although sometimes by a tiny margin. Note weight is lacking everywhere, which is a pity as this results in missing organicity especially on acoustic music.


Male Vocals

Male voices like the rest of the lower part of the mid segment are more recessed than the rest. Add some note thinness and you easily look elsewhere if you’re fond of tenor vocals.


Female Vocals

Female vocals are much better than male on Hodur, insofar as much more forward, brighter, cleaner and more energetic. The downside is they come very close to shoutyness some times, and sadly they do pass the sibilance threshold in a few occasions too many, and they lack the body it takes to make them convincingly natural/organic.


Highs

Treble is no doubt “the” strong point on Hodur, with particular regards to its EST driver performance, which kicks in just above highmids, by ear I’d say around 3.5/4K onwards. Highmids’ already fast, BA-style transients become supersnappy thanks to the well tuned EST, never scanting into artificial metallic or “electrical” timbre. Good job here!

Without prejudice to what noted before about horizontal tonal incoherence, here’s where the re-balancing role played by the bass reveals itself as so precious in the overall Hodur presentation, which would certainly come across as “overly trebly” otherwise. Indeed, within its noted limitations the ensemble taken as a whole is indeed pleasant, I reckon especially for “treble heads” longing for “not-just-bright” IEMs.

Technicalities​

Soundstage

Hodur draw a modestly wide and high stage, however depth is above average – provided of course a good DAC is upstream, needles to say (or is it?).


Imaging

Hodur’s imaging is no better than average, and that’s already a compensated evaluation resulting from a bit better performance on less crowded passages, and definitely fuzzy rendering on more crowded ones.


Details

Hodur’s EST driver is very good at detail retrieval within of course its applicative scope (treble frequencies). Not the same happens on mid frequencies, where details are at best average due to lean note body, and especially on the bass, where texture is quite basic and an over-flowerly (so to call it) rumble tends to often fog the segment off.


Instrument separation

Even more than imaging, Hodur lack big time on instrument separation. Everything is made difficult by the lack of microdynamics coming off the BA and the EST drivers, negatively paired with sub bass’s “rumble dust” covering the lower registers too often.


Driveability

While not particularly hard to drive in terms of sound volume Hodur are very tricky to bias as their DD is very sensible to dampening, and their 8 ohm impedance calls for quite specific sources – or the midbass gets immediately bumped up which, coupled with the already “egocentric” subbass, makes up for a sort of “indistinct blob” down there, which is certainly not pleasant to hear.

In addition to impedance, beware warm sources mainly as they negatively resonate with Hodur’s difficulties on instrument separation.

Physicals​

Build

It’s of course totally subjective but I find Hodur’s “kidney” shape very nice both in terms of ergonomics and aesthetics. I could instead easily do without the thin line of sparkling little stones added as a decoration on the backplate. The aluminum structure comes across as convincingly solid.


Fit

Nozzles are not particularly long so the fit stays on a somewhat shallow level. In my particular case a 1-size-larger than normal eartip on the left channel helps getting the right fit.


Comfort

Very comfy once properly fit thanks to the modest sized, oval shaped and smoothed housings. Surely amongst the most comfortable IEMs I ever used.


Isolation

Passive isolation is quite average, and depends on how you sit the housings into the concha so each one’s experience will be a bit different.


Cable

Hodur are supplied with a nice hybrid material (silver plate copper + pure copper) stock cable bearing modular termination plugs. Oddly enough, only 3.5 and 4.4mm terminations are included in the bundle, no 2.5 plug – a pity.

The modular system does not come with a click-lock mechanism to secure the plug in place, which makes me suspect that terminal plugs may tend to become a bit lose over time. This is however a speculation, as I used the Hodur for a few weeks and those have definitely not produced any form of deterioration on the system.

Specifications (declared)​

Miscellaneous notes​

Hodur are one of those few IEMs I encountered for which even a short “burn-in” did make for a very obvious improvement. Out of the box the bass was totally unaudible (fully bloated) and the entire presentation was obscure, compressed. Just a couple of short auditions later, it all settled to what I tried to describe here above.

Hodur are supplied with a very, very good bundle of eartips: a full 5-sizes set of Final Type-E (black), a 3-sizes set of Kinera K07 tips (very, very similar – read identical – to Kbear A07), and a 4-sizes set of Kinera K-205-02. In particular, I found it difficult to decide which between Type-E and K07 pair better on the Hodur. In the end I probably prefer K07 as they tend to “tame” the sub-bass bloat a bit.

The carton box… Well this is an odd one. Of course it has nothing to do with sound. It however caught me (in positive) for how creative, well-designed, and well realised it appeared when I unpacked it.

I mean it: it’s a box which is clearly trying to communicate with me, being European, both in terms of historical evocation, colour and shape selections, internal setup, storytelling… everything. Very well conceived. Immediately afterwards, however, I was stunned when I noticed with which incredible lack of accuracy the copywrite has been developed for the box and the literature inside it.

Grammaical errors, typos, wrong translations, symplistic lexical forms. Even 2 out of 3 syllabic splittings are ridiculously wrong (this stuff is taught at primary school). Horrible. Seems as if Kinera paid a good level, international-cultured professional marketeer for the general brand design and graphic concept, but didnt put any attention in hiring someone knowing English at a decent level.

A glowing example of how even a single amateur-level contributor can waste the otherwise very good work carried out by other good professionals. Ah, well…

Comparisons​

Geek World GK10 ($48)​

GK10 feature 2 DD, 1 BA, 2 Piezo drivers, and a price which is 1/6 then Hodur’s

GK10 have more limited sub bass extension so they generate less rumble then Hodur. Mid bass on GK10 is also lower in accentuation compared to Hodur, and at times it appears like a bit “dampened” (for lack of a more appropriate word).

That said however, sub and mid bass are more organic on GK10 and they don’t interfere with the rest of the segments. Mids are more recessed on GK10 but also less lean compared to Hodur, so globally more pleasant.

No female voice sibilance on GK10 unlike Hodur. Trebles are somewhat similar, with Hodur having it this time as the “Piezo-timbre” comes out more prominent and more often on GK10 vs how nicely “discrete” the EST nature of the driver is on Hodur. Detail retrieval is better on Hodur’s trebles, equivalently modest on mids on both models, and much better on GK10’s bass.

Both GK10 and Hodur suffer from timbre incoherence issues, Hodur being the worst of the two due to more invasive bass. Unlike Hodur, GK10 offer very precise imaging and nothing short of surprising layering (especially considering its ridiculous price). Stage drawing is different: taller for GK10, deeper for Hodur, both limited horizontally.

Both are tricky to bias due to identical ultralow impedance (8 ohm). Hodur is more comfortable to wear.

BQEYZ Summer ($129)​

Summer feature 1 DD, 1 BA, 1 Piezo ceramic driver at less then half Hodur’s price.

Summer have less important mid-bass, and a sub-bass which is similar in quantity to Hodur’s, but is not bloaty so won’t steal the scene. Mids and vocals are quite similar on the two models, in both cases too lean to sound organic, nontheless decent overall. Highmids are better on Hodur, except for the sibilance.

Trebles are very similar, with Hodur having the edge in terms of quality and timbre, Summer’s piezo nature coming out more evident in comparison. Detail retrieval is better on Hodur’s trebles, similar on either’s mids, and better on Summer’s bass.

Summer images much better than Hodur, although with a sharp preference for horizontal distribution / stereo effect. Layering is obviously better on Summer. Stage is wider on Summer, way deeper on Hodur. S

ummer is much easier to properly bias thanks to its 32 ohm impedance and good sensitivity. Summer is more capricious in terms of eartips selection, and a bit less comfortable than Hodur to wear.

Shuoer Tape ($116)​

Tape feature 1 DD, 1 Electret Tweeter for little more than one third of Hodur’s price.

Tape’s sub and mid bass are monumentally better than Hodur in terms of elevation, cleanness, power, texture… everything. Different from Hodur’s W-shape, Tape feature an obvious V-shape presentation resulting in mids being recessed in addition to lean (in that, quite similar to Hodur’s).

Female vocals scant into sibilance on Tape as well. Trebles are extremely good on Tape, and it’s a really tight call on deciding which is better compared to Hodur – I’d probably settle for a tie, considering that Tape offer a tad more body which I like better, but they feature a 16KHz peak which may be nasty for some, and calls for some EQ correction in most cases.

Detail retrieval is similar high quality on either model’s trebles, and is hands down better on Tape for the bass segment.

Imaging and layering are much better on Tape, easy enough for how lacking they are on Hodur. Stage is almost holographic on Tape, which are also much easier to drive then Hodur. Tape are extremely – or I should probably say infuriatingly – capricious as for tips selection, and depending on ear shape they may be not comfortable at all to wear.

Intime Miyabi ($145 + import costs)​

Miyabi feature 1 DD, 1 Piezo ceramic tweeter for little more than half Hodur’s price.

Sub bass is less prominent on Miyabi then on Hodur, and never bloaty let alone invasive. Mid bass has similar elevation on Miyabi and Hodur, however quality wise it is very obviously better on Miyabi in terms of precision, slam, texture, detail and organicity.

Mids are more recessed on Miyabi however they are much more organic compared to Hodur. Vocals are much better on Miyabi, tenors are absolutely organic, realistic, and contraltos and sopranos are bodied and even flutey at times.

Trebles is where both models express some of their magic and it’s a tight call to say which is better but I would give the palm to Miyabi in this case: superthin detail comes out a bit better on Hodur but this in my books superseded by Miyabi piezo’s “typical timbre” virtually disappearing, diluted in a well bodied, natural, realistic, transparent treble tone coming off that driver. Miyabi retrieve way more and better defined details from bass and mids.

Imaging and especially layering / separation is where Miyabi excel and are worth a few times their prices so the comparison with the very modest (in this area) Hodur is just… embarassing. Stage is better on Miyabi horizontally and vertically, while the two models are similar in terms of depth.

Both models are very easy to fit and comfortable to wear. Miyabi require some more amping power than Hodur, but are much less tricky to dampen thanks to a much more “urban” impedance (22 ohm).

Conclusions​

These Hodur deliver a definitely pleasant overall presentation, featuring energetic, engaging musicality with a particular accent on treble definition and detail, and a solid deep bass counterbalancing the tonality on the opposite end.

They are also amongst the most comfortable UIEMs I ever worn – this is also worth noting. On the down side I hear a non-organic timbre making them hardly fit for acoustic music, timbre incoherence and fuzzy instrument separation.

The sample has been provided free of charge courtesy of Kinera staff, which we thank once again for the testing opportunity.

This article originally appeared on www.audioreviews.org, here.

Kinera Hodur ($299)​

Intro​

I received the Kinera Hodur as part of a review tour through the USA. I sincerely thank Kinera for including me in this tour, allowing me to give my honest impressions about the Kinera Hodur. Of course, my impressions are my own, no sugar-coating, no false praise and never for monetary gain. Kinera is an honest company and never have they requested or required anything short of the truth and an honest review. Of course, they believe in their product, so they are very willing to put it all out there, so to speak.

Kinera is a very well-known brand within the community, known for releasing quality audio gear at reasonable prices. The Hodur is my first actual review of a Kinera iem but I certainly have spent time in the past with a few of their sets. Truth be told, I am quite impressed by this company for many reasons and quality is certainly one of them. Also, Kinera has a penchant for creating stylish and relevant designs as they keep their ears directed at the audio community at large and the proof is in their products. With that, the Kinera Hodur…

Norse God Hodur ​

Based on Norse mythology, the legend of the God “Hodur” states that he represents darkness and winter, he has incredible strength and oddly enough, he’s blind. Hodur is the son of Odin and twin brother to Baldr. From what I have gathered, Hodur represents the darkness while Baldr represents the light. Apparently, Hodur is the first character of the “Dark Series” chosen by Kinera.

The story goes that the blind Hodur always felt alienated and alone and unloved & never praised while the world naturally adored Baldr and the light. Full of contempt, jealousy and malignity, Hodur and the darkness over time formed into raw kinetic energy. In this state Hodur was easily tricked by Loki to murder his twin brother Baldr. The blind Hodur killed Baldr using a mistletoe branch shaped into an arrow while Loki guided Hodur’s hand. This act signified darkness devouring the light. Prior to this event, Hodur’s mother Frigg was aware of Loki’s conspiracy and made all of creation swear an oath to not harm Baldr in any way. However, Frigg failed to speak with the mistletoe bush and was too late as Loki was aware of Frigg’s misstep. Hence, Baldr dies at his brother’s hand with Loki’s guidance and darkness begins to take over…everything and everywhere.


Pictured: Loki guiding the hand of the blind Hodur

​

Retribution ​

Enraged with vengeance, Odin felt he needed to avenge the death of Baldr. Even if it was against his own son. Odin would then have the God Vali take out Hodur and vanquish him to the outer reaches of the darkness where light could not reach. One last tidbit, the legend also says that after Ragnarök (events leading to the end of the world) had come to pass that Bladr and Hodur were reunited and returned from the underworld to a new and better heaven. Hodur and his brother reconciled, and Hodur was finally able to tell what really happened. The truth came to light if you will. It was then that Hodur was also able to garner the courage to face his own darkness of jealousy, resentment and covetousness.

Inspiration​

I realize that there are probably some major holes in my retelling of this myth, but I had to relay at least the gist of it. It is in this association where we can get an idea of the foundational tuning and design of the Kinera Hodur. Think of desolate winter, darkness, contemptuous retribution. Think of raw kinetic energy bottled up and breaking forth with maligned rage as the darkness overtakes the light of the world. Try to envision this all-consuming, rolling mass of dark and cold under-currents covering everything. Imagine the light sparking and flickering… trying & fighting to exist. In the case of the Kinera Hodur, we must correlate these images to the design and tuning as they were the inspiration to the sound and the appearance of the Hodur.

I love that Kinera uses such inspirations to create and form their sets. This gives a face and a theme to the Hodur and is very creative on the part of Kinera. Surely Kinera puts much time and effort, expertise and knowledge into their craft and I am very impressed with them. With all that said I suppose we should get into the actual review of the Hodur. Also, please see Mahir’s review of the Hodur here.




Full Review of the Kinera Hodur HERE
Gear Used
–Fiio KA3
–IFi Go Blu
–Ibasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
–Shanling M6 Ultra

Later comparisons: Fiio FD5 / Mangird Tea

Packaging​

One thing you can be certain of… Kinera will never shortchange the unboxing experience. We love a good unboxing, at least I do. How sweet it is that the good people of Kinera understand this. A good unboxing shows care and pride on the part of the company and also shows a keen understanding that… so many of us audio hobbyists enjoy this part of the process. Unfortunately, this is not the norm and much of the time accessories and design are left out in the name of keeping prices low.

Theme​

The Hodur comes in a Hexagonal Box with a SOLID and flat out TOUGH-LOOKING picture of the Norse God “Hodur”. He appears to be wrapped up in thorny vines as he is in the glory and splendor of his time to reign, almost basking in the pre-eminence of his new reality. Or he is bound and cast out and enraged over being vanquished to the darkness. I am assuming it is the former, but I am not sure. Either way the picture is very artistic and mood inducing. I am romantic to the core so seeing this stuff just gets my mind racing for some sort of a greater meaning behind the decision to capture Hodur in such a way.

Contents​

As you open the box you will be met with an almost sheer wax type paper, almost like a slight veil covering the bounty underneath. Removing this paper is a very neatly designed look at the contents within the packaging. Here you will see the ultra-masculine and sveltely crafted Hodur earphones placed tightly in foam cut-outs. Above the earphones you will notice some Final Audio eartips, five pairs to be exact. Under the earphones is the beautiful dark gray leather case. Also, to each side of the Hodur earphones are 3.5 & 4.4 modular cable connectors. Looking within the box you will find the nice cable and two other sets of eartips. The last accessory is a nozzle cleaning tool.

Carrying Case​

Such a well put together and well-built accessory. The carrying case has obvious build quality. It is an open top design, all tightly wrapped in gray leather. On the top of the case, you will see a thorny vine on the top and bottom of the word Hodur. This wasn’t a case of simply adding some random Chi-fi case. No sir… Kinera designed this case with creativity and intent, and it shows. Now, I really don’t ever use the cases provided with earphones, but this is one which I will find a use for. Inside of the case is a felt type foam material to keep your precious Hodur earphones safe and protected. Well done, Kinera.

Eartips


I’ve always enjoyed Final E-tips and with the Hodur you receive five pairs to be exact (LL, L, M, S, SS). There are many good uses for Final E-tips with different earphones. I mostly use them with more neutral sounding sets prone to treble harshness as the E-tips do well to tame the peaks up top. E-tips also do well to improve bass regions on various earphones with the narrower bore. Also, they insulate very well with the firm & tacky, but also very pliable flange and flexible core. They are very handy for many situations and anyone who’s played around in the hobby will understand this.

K-07 / K-285-02 Tips​

Also provided are two other sets of silicone eartips. One of the tips is very similar to KBear 07 tips in every regard, Kinera calls them “K-07” tips (L, M, S). Like the KBear 07’s, the K-07 comes with a medium-wide bore, a very firm and rigid stem and a firm flange. The last pair of tips are the “K-285-02 Vocal Tips”. Kinera provides four pairs of this set. These tips have a shallower fit with a wide-bore and almost beveled outward at the ends. One thing which is great about this set is the very firm flange as it helps to seal. I love the addition of all three types of tips as they all will be useful for different reasons for me.

For the purposes of this review, I did use the yellow large fit K-07 tips. There is a certain control that can be had using these tips. That hard and firm inner stem and medium-wide bore seems to really open up any set that I use them on. Couple that with the firm flange which seals so very well inside my ear creating great isolation. All three are great additions and each will add a different take on the tuning of the Hodur.

Cable​

The cable provided is the cable that I used for this review. This is almost never the case. However, the cable that Kinera provides is very nice. It is a .078 2-pin blue and gray colored 4-core Silver Plated OCC Cable with a modular connector at the jack. I used the 4.4 connector for the great majority of this review. One thing I found minimally surprising is that Kinera left out the 2.5 balanced connector. I would assume because there are a dwindling number of devices which use this connector. All in all, the Kinera cable is very nice and is very aesthetically pleasing to the eyes as it fits the colorway of the Hodur well. Honestly, I love the look and feel of the included cable very much and for once do not feel as though I need a cable swap. The cable has a nice and pliable feel to it with no microphonics either, very nice addition.

You will notice the subtle touches that Kinera added to the cable which invokes a sense of quality and class. The 2-pin connector housings are all metal and take on the gun metal colorway. The same can be said for the Y-split as well as the chin slider. The modular connector housing is also made of the gun metal color as well as each connector. Both the 3.5 and 4.4 jacks have Kinera spelled out in elegant and ornate cursive writing to further add to the refined and stylish aesthetic. The modular connectors themselves can be easily pushed onto the cable and hold tight without any loose or flimsy feel to it.


3.5 se & 4.4 balanced Included Modular jacks

Build & Design / Internals / Fit​

Build & Design​

There is a very obvious quality of build here. The design is in direct correlation to the story of Hodur. The Hodur comes in two colors, matte dark blue and gun-metal matte gray. Kinera chose a CNC 5-axis carved aviation grade aluminum for the Shells as the Hodur feels extremely light yet also very secure and solid with a premium appearance. The nozzles are tilted to a slight angle from the low-profile body which helps to reach deeper into my ear canal for a more ergonomic fit. Kinera used 120 mesh on the nozzle tips to ensure sound integrity over time and I’m sure having a small part to play in the overall tuning.

Look​

The Shells take on a curvy design language like waves or ripples to instill a surging & rolling darkness type imagery. Inside of these ripples you will see the name “Kinera” etched in a very stylish and elegant way. Along the outside of the wavy ripples, you will notice what appears to be broken diamonds encased in the grooves. These diamonds represent the dying flickering light trying to survive as darkness overtakes it. I’ll be perfectly honest; I am really impressed. The build is obviously very durable and constructed seamlessly with no rough edges anywhere. Premium all the way from the 2 pin connectors to the nozzles and light as can be.

What’s inside?​

Within the streamlined CNC machined shells Kinera chose a tribrid driver set-up to best tune the Hodur to the concept of the design. They added one 10 mm Dynamic Driver with a coaxial dual-magnetic tesla composite diaphragm, one low-power & high sensitivity electrostatic driver which was self-produced by Kinera and one Kinera customized K10012 Balanced Armature Driver. What is pretty impressive and maybe gets lost in the hearts and minds of us audio-fans are the fact that these drivers are self-produced and customized by Kinera themselves. Pretty impressive.

Fit​

As far as fit is concerned, this is always a very subjective thing but for me the Hodur couldn’t fit any better. The nozzle is angled, and the Shells are very ergonomic as they sit perfectly inside my ears. The Hodur hugs my ears so well it’s almost like they grew there. I assume that the Hodur will fit the greater majority of people very well, but I cannot be certain of that. Nothing is for everyone other than oxygen and H20 so, your mileage may vary I suppose.

Isolation​

The Hodur isolates very well for me, and this will likely be the case for anyone who gets a solid fit and seal. I am almost confident enough to say that the Hodur isolates well enough for even stage use. Obviously, there is no set which attenuates all outside noise but there is a nice reduction of the outside world for me. To add to that, I also don’t get very much sound leakage and so those around you will have no idea you’re jamming out to Britney Spears. Hey what you like is what you like, no judgement here!

Drivability​

I will be pretty quick with the drivability of the Hodur. They are rated with an impedance of 8 ohms and a sensitivity of 106 dB, so these are sensitive for most sources. Using the Fiio KA3 was more than enough on either single ended or 4.4 balanced. That said, I did not like the synergy as much using the KA3, not bad but not the best for the Hodur. As far as mobile solutions go, the IFi Go Blu is absolutely wonderful with the Hodur. The Go Blu has plenty of power for this set and its warm yet resolving tonality seemed to perfectly align with the Hodur. The sound is so rich and clean when using 4.4 balanced. Also, the Qudelix 5k worked very well for me.

Moving on I decided upon the Shanling M6 Ultra. Going through the gain settings I ended up using either medium or high gain at all times. I noticed that there are minor upgrades in fidelity and openness with greater power but better upgrades with better sources. The Hodur is pretty transparent to the device I am listening with. Listening with the M6 Ultra I stayed at high gain for most of my listening with no distortions or odd peaks by using more power. With many earphones you will notice that more power will embellish the peaks and distortions and even glare can occur but the Hodur handles power very well. The Hodur certainly scales to the quality of source as well as more output power, but a decently powered dongle dac will suffice.

Quick Sound Impressions​

I love the theme of the Hodur and how well the tuning mimics that theme. The Hodur has a warmer yet spritely U to W-shaped tonality with an energetic yet tame or controlled dynamic expression. Harmonic overtones are kept in check and natural while the ADSR envelope has a quick and impactful nature to it. Leading edges across the spectrum are solid and crisp in attack. The bass tends to hit hard yet decay more naturally while the rest of the mix is a bit snappier. If I were to generalize the sound as a whole, there is a dynamic density which comes across as syrupy or rich, and a cleanliness that draws the listener in. I hear a sound which can be colored yet relatively transparent, smooth yet coarse, all depending on the track being played and the source they are played on.

Just like the myth, the sound resembles raw kinetic bubbling energy, like a geyser which releases under pressure or the water which breaks the damn. Too much? Alright, I’ll dial it back a bit…the Hodur has nice energy. The Hodur has a slightly warmer tonality yet is as sharp, crisp & can be transparent with a lot of treble energy to add levity and coolness to the mix as well. This overall sound is fun and detailed, mostly non-offensive and very vibrant and lively from the sub-bass to the highs. Nothing boring on the Kinera Hodur.

The Mix​

The bass can dig and has a nice impact-oriented mid-bass punch with a pretty deep sub-bass rumble. The midrange is smooth, pretty rich and forward in sound. Males have nice warmth and sufficient note weight while females sound shimmery with texture that is evident. In fact, the whole of the midrange has nice texture and good detail. The treble is highly detailed, transparent and very airy and open without any unkind peaks or sibilance. Energetic amplitude within the treble region is zippy and vibrant while remaining poised and controlled. The Hodur is a technical beast yet is dynamic to the core. Each 3rd of the frequency is full of this constrained vivacious energy which comes across as polished, decisive and resolving.

Bass Region​

When I listen to the bass region of the Hodur, I can’t help but enjoy the impactful and punchy nature to it. The Bass is full in body but also very composed. This was very much evident. The bass is weighty and compacted with a nice rigidity and focus. Yes, there is some color there and no, it isn’t authentically correct to every recording. This bass region adds a nice presence for authoritative kick drums and deep bass drops. Attack presents a tight and forceful leading edge with a decay that is neither speedy nor slow, but always agile. The Hodur sounds boosted and reasonably extended yet with a more natural and atmospheric decay & sustain as the notes trail off. If anything, control may not match the rest of the mix but for a tri-brid in this price segment I think Kinera did a fine job.

Sub-bass​

The sub-bass growls with guttural density when a track calls for it. Never sloppy or over-powering, never timid or tame. The sub-bass has a vivid quality with good depth and haptic vibration which is nimble enough for its quantity. “Groove” by Ray Wylie Hubbard is a track which Hodur does very well. You easily hear the bass guitar’s depth and palpable thrumming drone. Of course, any set should display a deep drone to this song. Yet along with that power and depth I can also easily distinguish the finger slides on the strings, and the further decaying harmonics from the bass guitar just sounds natural to my listening ear. The Hodur does very well to offer a separated and layered sound against the rest of the track as well. The sub-bass isn’t the deepest but there is a controlled, solid, and almost corporal sensory feel to it.

Mid-bass​

The mid-bass is similar to the sub-bass in description. Impactful, focused, clean and not overly boosted. Attack is immediate while decay/sustain is more natural and atmospheric as well. “Deep Reverence” by Big Sean, featuring Nipsey Hussle, begins with a deep and rolling bassline. In tandem with the rolling bassline are consistent bass hits which demand a controlled and clean bass region to replay the double bassline coherently. This track can turn to mud easily, in a mishmash of sound. The Hodur, however, replays this track effortlessly and without any detrimental encroachment or muddiness. Nipsey’s lyrical mastery is crystal clear against the authoritative bassline.

Good Energy​

What the bass region does well is add warmth and balance to the overall mix. With rises in the upper-mid and treble regions the bass needed a healthy boost to offset. The energy in the bass region is very nice to hear as I find myself constantly going back to certain tracks to hear the way the Hodur replays them. All in all, I think the bass is great. However, I do think it will be too boosted for many folks in the community as some may find it fatiguing. On the contrary, bass heads may actually want a bit more in this area. Nothing pleases everyone in this game. Also, some may consider the Hodur as loosely controlled on some tracks, but I feel more output, burn-in and tip changes helped that quite a bit.

Midrange​

The midrange is warm but energized with an open feeling to my ears. Clear, concise, warm and musical are a few words which come to mind. There are pleasing overtones which permeate through the whole of the midrange. Maybe I’m caught up in enjoyment of the Hodur, but I am liking what I’m hearing. I hear nothing grainy or metallic or sibilant and from the low-mids to the upper-mids. I don’t hear anything which would be considered veiled or congested either. If anything, I do hear some fuzz at note ends but it isn’t anything I’d ever label as a con, but rather it’s an artifact of the balanced armature driver which is rarely a problem.

Lower Midrange​

The low-mids have a nice note energy for all types of male singers. From deep baritones like “Avi Kaplan” to higher pitched tenors like “The Avett Brothers“. The Hodur has an enthusiasm and vigor with decent clarity listening to male voices. Now the midrange as a whole comes across smoother than other regions but that doesn’t mean it isn’t clearly defined and detailed. Males have average note weight with a robust energy that also isn’t too recessed or distant. When I say average note weight, I don’t mean to say thin. Thin to me is dry and less musical but the Hodur are still dense enough with good definition and pretty good resolution.

Upper midrange​

Female vocals have an emotionally soft, warm and pleasing sound. They are more forward than males in my opinion. There is some pep and stints of shimmer as well but what stands out to me is how well different emotions are portrayed on the Hodur. Whether it be a soft sentiment or a vehement fervency in a female’s voice, the Hodur seem to capture it well. The Hodur keeps things pretty natural without anything too metallic or sibilant or shouty. There is a liveliness when a track calls for it, all the while remaining pretty resolute. Females are not at all aggressive or in your face and are tuned pretty true to life in my opinion. There is a certain sweet energy and depth to females that is equally smooth and easy as well as transparent and detailed.

Instruments​

Instruments follow suit for the most part with good placement on the stage and nice separation for a clean delivery. Piano sounds nicely contrasted and lively. Acoustic guitar sounds very detailed and pretty natural. In fact, any stringed instrument has an organic initial pitch to notes followed by atmospheric harmonics and overtones.

Treble​

The treble region is another area that replays well with the other frequencies. The energy here is very lively in note attack and decay which can hit instantly with treble punch and flare and then leave just as fast. My ears were trying to keep up with the insights that this electrostatic driver is able to unfold with unhinged and breakneck rendering ability. I use all these words which define something fast, energetic and detailed but there is also a coherence and smoothness in its veracity.

Held in check​

Mostly the treble is held in check as far as over-brilliance or fatigue is concerned. However, there are still some luminescent harmonics happening here which do well to lift up the whole of the mix. There is an airiness which converges with the rest of the mix very well which sounds like a nicely feathered-in transition. The treble sounds like ‘a part of a whole’ and doesn’t sound so aggressive that it shines above everything else or feel fragmented. To some the treble may shine a bit too bright but I do think that group will be the minority. Like I said, the brilliance is held in check and capped out while still uplifting and adding detail to the whole spectrum.

Authentic​

The treble is uplifted and extended in an authentic way with a treble slope which declines naturally to the ear. Harmonics from cymbals sound mostly true-to-life and won’t be a distraction. I don’t hear anything splashy or sheened out or tinselly. Altogether Kinera tuned the Hodur’s treble region to be airy, clean, fast, detailed and non-offensive for me at least.

Technicalities​

Soundstage​

The Hodur sounds as though it has an above average soundstage. Width is around average, just past my ears and easily audible. Height is above average as well. The depth is very good giving front to back information an easily recognizable room to operate. I would definitely describe what I’m hearing as three-dimensional or holographic. Very well done. Of course, we are talking about a set of iems so, there is a cap to this expanse of sound.

Imagine & Separation​

Imaging is also pinpoint and true to the recording with delineated and partitioned off elements of a stage with nice placement which also means that separation is stellar. The speed, clarity and control create the illusion that each instrument or voice has its own space to breathe. Congestion is actually hard to come by on the Hodur as even complex tracks are handled very well. Listen to “Secrets” by Billy Strings with Hodur and trust me… We agree. Billy is lightning fast on the strings with rapid fire Info and each piece of his band sounds distinct and clean.

Details​

This will be short; I’ve already laid this all out, but details are extremely nice on the Hodur. I feel the Hodur is boosted up top just enough to really illuminate the minutiae and subtleties of a track with relative ease. As far as the midrange, I do consider it a detailed midrange, but it is more musical than anything. I would say the details of the mids doesn’t really have the same effect as the treble region. As a whole I would certainly refer to the Hodur as a nicely detailed listen.

Comparisons​

Fiio FD5 ($299)​

One of my absolute favorites is the Fiio FD5. A V-shaped dynamo that is fun and thunderous and brilliant and a million other descriptive words to describe something awesome. To me anyways. The FD5 comes with a behemoth 12 mm single DD that is Beryllium Plated over a DLC Diaphragm. Built like an absolute MAN and gorgeously crafted and designed. I added the FD5 only because it can be purchased at the same price point. I will make these comparisons quick, as I’ve already gone over my self-implemented and imposed word-count. Eh…who am I kidding?

Low-end​

I love the boosted low-end of both these two. Both hit hard and do so with a nice cleanly boosted punch. The mid-bass slam of the Hodur is elevated a bit more than the FD5, but both are very tight for their quantity. Sub-bass rumbles deeper to a very slight degree on the FD5 whereas the Hodur rolls off a hair earlier to my ears. Both sets are mid-bass focused down low and both sound awesome.

Midrange Differences​

The midrange has a more open feeling on the Hodur but both sets are tuned very similarly. I would say note weight in the whole of the midrange is thicker on the FD5 and even a hair smoother but less detailed. Not by much, we are talking about miniscule deviations from each other. Still the Hodur came across cleaner in note delivery and tone. Males sound more forward on the FD5 with a lusher expression. However, females sound more forward on the Hodur with more of a shimmer to their sound. Both sets do well to replay the midrange.

Treble Region​

The treble is a bit more boosted on the FD5 to my ears. Sometimes it can get a bit shouty. The Hodur really steals the show in this area as the Hodur is much more detailed and speedier, all the while remaining easier on the ears over long sessions. This is not to take anything away from the FD5 either. For a single DD, Fiio did an excellent job tuning a V-shaped set. I just don’t think it can keep up with the tri-brid which renders each frequency with its own driver against a full spectrum single DD. However, one could argue that coherency on the FD5 is a bit better.

Both are great sets, but the Hodur is the more balanced sounding earphone and the FD5 is more fun for me.

Mangird Tea ($329)​

Another of my absolute favorite iems at any price. I adore the sound of this set. The Tea comes loaded with 7 drivers altogether. 1 DD and 6 BA’s. The Tea is built wonderfully and looks just as wonderful with its all-resin body and gold flaked Faceplate. A gorgeous set in my opinion. I added the Tea to hopefully show a contrasted tuning and a tuning which is also done very nicely, just different.

Bass Region

Starting with the bass, the Tea has much less emphasis, is much tighter and snappier yet are a bit less solid. Both sets offer nice punch. The Hodur simply has that meaty and full bass response due to the greater emphasis. However, the Tea still has a nice slam, I wouldn’t enjoy them if they didn’t have at least a decent rumble. The Hodur simply is a monster in terms of low-end quantity next to the Tea. It is much more emphasized. I do think that the Tea has a much more controlled sound down low that is much snappier and layered. The Hodur is more fun and more of a guilty pleasure while still remaining very controlled per its level of bass. Both have good texture.

Midrange​

The midrange has more density and weight on the Hodur which borrows some warmth from the bass region. The Tea is simply much more balanced across the spectrum and so you almost have to think of the midrange in that vein. Because of the slight bass tuck in the Tea’s mid-bass, they have a cleaner, better separated sound with better clarity. However, the Tea is less forward with both male and female vocals. The sound of the Hodur is lusher and more energetic I would say, but midrange details emerge much easier on the Tea. Both sets are fantastic, and both have good control. Obviously the more balanced sound of the Tea opens up a more detailed midrange performance without the heavier bass taking up the spectrum.

Treble Region​

As for the treble region, the Hodur is much more boosted. I hear a crispier note outline and a more detailed playback in the Hodur’s treble region. That said, the Tea is no slouch at all in the technicality department. The Hodur has a faster treble with a more airy and open sound. The Mangird Tea is smoother, with better note body and slightly less dry with an easier sound to take over long periods. The EST Driver within the Hodur is so very capable and really does deliver a performance which is able to reproduce details with relative ease.

Preference Battle​

Truthfully this is a preference battle. The Tea is more balanced and smoother in sound yet still is very dynamic. The Hodur takes that dynamism and pushes the envelope in every regard within each 3rd of the spectrum. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better, just different. The Tea is just as capable and refined in its tuning. It comes down to what you prefer. Both are built very well, and both are very nice to look at and both sets replay music very well in their own ways. The Tea is much easier to drive to its full capabilities and isolates just as well as the Hodur. I guess the question is do you want balanced, dynamic and smooth or energetic, dynamic and detailed. Obviously, that is way too over-simplified, but I think you understand.

Conclusion​

It’s hard not to be impressed with the Kinera Hodur. From the intelligent and sleek design theme, ergonomic and durable build, to the exciting and clean sound. The Hodur is most certainly worth every penny that Kinera is asking from my perspective. This type of speed within Kinera’s EST Driver is very reminiscent of a good planar but doesn’t come with some of the other issues of a planar. Considering there are three different driver technologies converging into one spectrum it is obvious that Kinera has some very talented people tuning their earphones. I don’t hear anything fragmented or disjointed or not harmonious between the 20’s either.

Controlled Aggression​

The Hodur has a certain controlled aggressiveness, or lightning in a bottle with a perfect storm of …looks, build and sound. I say dynamic a lot because I cannot think of another word which so accurately describes the Hodur. Or to put it another way, the Hodur is a detail monster, a bass banger with electric treble and an innately fun and musical sound which uplifts and really just… makes me move my feet.

Thanks​

Thank you to anyone who decided to check out my review of the Kinera Hodur. Again, I also want to thank Kinera for their over-the-top kindness and willingness to put their product out there to be critically reviewed. I also urge any of you to please check out other reviews of the Hodur from other perspectives. I obviously love the sound of this set but there may be others who have a not so positive spin. It would only make sense for you to read, listen to, or watch those other thoughts to get a good gauge on what you are buying. The Hodur is a more expensive iem and at this price it makes a ton of sense to do your homework. I am only one man with only my perspective. We all have different likes and dislikes, we have different gear, different hearing abilities and ultimately, we all have slightly different audio journeys, which greatly impact how we review. Thank you again and please take good care and stay safe and thank you for reading.

​

Admission:
Magic is a relative concept, for one it is everyday life, and for another a significant deviation from the norm. The concept of magic will appear in society from the flooding of history. Why I started today's entry with a rather unusual introduction you will find out in a moment. I remember how it would be yesterday the day when I first went to the audio salon and bought my first "professional headphones,,. For an astronomical sum of about 50USD. Then it was a great day for me, today having a whole wardrobe of equipment I still approach these memories with sentiment. It was a time for me, full of "witchcraft" and fascination, when everything was epic. Today, after a dozen or so years of development, my enthusiasm has not only not weakened, but has also strengthened by an increasing appetite for novelties. I'm very impressed with how these little fleas can play. The IEM market is one of the fastest growing in the entire audio industry. Anyone who thinks that IEMs give way to large over-ear models is cardinally mistaken. Having several successful IEM models in the collection, I decided to supplement it with the latest work of kinera, i.e. an inexpensive hybrid with the code name hodur. Hodury are created primarily for entertainment, so they will compete with equally entertaining models, such as:

1. BGVP DM8 vood craft- 349usd

2. Orivetti new primancy- 299USD

3. Sftears Volume- 289USD.

4. BQEYZ Outumn- 200USD.

5. KINERA GOLDEN IDUN 2.0 – 169USD.
The test platform will be carried out on:

DAP:

1.iBasso dx170- 449 USD.

2. Shanling m2s- 199USD.

3. xDuoo XIII- 120USD

DAC/AMP:

xDuoo xd05plus-289USD

xDuoo poke II- 390USD

Reciver:

Qudelix 5k-99 USD

Oriolus 1795S- 120 USD

Dongles:

1.Lotoo paw s1- 169USD

2.xDuoo link2 bal- 149USD

3. iBasso dc06- 120USD

4. DUNU DTC500- 89UD.

I will be judging based on files from TIDAL HI-FI platforms with playlisy "mataudiophiles,,. I added my own files and a collection of DSD pop and jazz.
Well, since I have presented you with the rules of the game, it's time to start the fight itself.

Prelude:

Kinera is a company that creates many timeless and original projects. I have in my collection such models as: IDUN, IDUN 2.0, celest gumiho and the latest work or hodur. It is distinguished by an unusual design with high quality of workmanship and original design of transducers. We have three very sensible transducers here. One dynamic 10mm with a composite diaphragm works with a 10mm EST/magnetostatic driver in coaxial, which allowed for excellent energy management, for high tones high-quality balanced custom fittings are included. This was complemented by high-end crosover and acoustic chambers.

Unboxing:

Since we already have information about the interior of the hodur model, let's take a look at what we get in the set. The packaging itself is of high class, as befits a god of war! In an angular box we will find the following equipment.A set of final audio tips from the E series, in every possible size, vocal kinera tips, balanced kinera tips, beautiful custom hardcover case, cleaning bar and a great quality cable with interchangeable plugs, consisting of 4 spc wires. In addition, we have a 3.5 and 4.4 ball tip.

Appearance of the headphones themselves:

Hodury are relatively small and ultra comfortable headphones, the body was made of aluminum, and their design itself was broken with thorns from crystals, personally I do not like such accents, but I admit that the kinera did it extremely tastefully.

Match:

Hodury lie great in my ears and even after many hours of sessions I do not feel discomfort. People with small ears should have no problem fitting hodur to their auricles. The design is similar to tin p1 or magaosi k3hd, even perfectly ergonomic oriveti are not inferior to them, and I consider them ultra comfortable. Only iBasso it01x for the sake of a much smaller size were slightly more comfortable, but at the expense of insulation.


Insulation:

Speaking of which, I must admit that the kinera in the hodur model provides a good level of insulation, maybe it is not idun 2.0 or BGVP DM8, but the hodura make up for it with comfort and do not stand out much from the rest.

Control:

Despite the low impedance and high sensitivity, hodurs like better sources with low output impedance. The DX170 0d iBasso performed perfectly, just like the DTC500 from DUNU. With xDuoo link 2 was minimally heard noise, but the whole thing harmonized perfectly.

sound/Replaced by:

Hodury are quite unusual, in their own way unique headphones, whose tuning and color refer to the description and name. It is a dark and dark presentation of music with a resounding and dark glow.

Signature:
Here we have a well-known from IDUN 2.0 models signature in the shape of the letter W- W shape. The whole retained a rather dark character with a visible "glow", breaking the concept in key areas by a strong impact. The tuning itself is strongly roaring.
Bass: has a strong, almost soboofer punch in the subbass, thus obtaining the effect in which the drums can resound astonishingly and almost epic. Compared to the BGVP DM8, we have an emphasis on more air and a much smaller hump on the midbas. The DM8 emphasizes the bass in a more pointed way.On the other hand, comparing the hodury with softears volume, we have here much more impact in the lower range, in the volume bass is less exposed, more neutral and deep, while both presentations are interesting in my opinion and will appeal to another recipient.
BQEYZ otumn has definitely less information at the bottom, lower resolution, but the bass in otumn is very musical which allows them to defend themselves, given the significant difference in price, 299vs 199 USD. In general, the bass in kinera hodur is well textured and really captivating with its strength and quality, compared to idun 2.0 it has a higher resolution and is more strongly emphasized, which with almost twice the difference in price is completely understandable and justified.
Midrange: The midrange tones in the hodur model are extremely natural and mesmerizing. They have a clear glow and brightening unlike the BGVP DM8 midrange are less warm and a bit more natural, the resolution is better in hodurach, but DM8 have a huge amount of information, which can be overwhelming, but it can also be pleasant. On the other hand, the juxtaposition of the mid-range in hodurach and softears volume, which are famous for their excellent vocals, is even more interesting. Hodury are less direct, but a bit more natural, while volumes are closer and more spectacular.The amount of information in the hoduras can really surprise, the volume is more glamorous, a bit more candy. Don't get me wrong, I love volume for their great tuning, however, they are completely differently tuned from slightly more aggressive hodur. Orivetii new primancy is an older design, but it is also a W-shape with a slightly less resolving midrange and definitely less neutral tuning.Outumn mają mniejszą separację i mniej powietrza, lecz są też bardziej gładkie.
Treble: The treble, thanks to the use of an electrostatic transducer in the hoduras, has excellent resolution and great extension, this is a very clear and present part of the presentation. DM8s have much less treble and lower resolution. Hodurs are neutral and full of air, strings and stringed instruments sound excellent, with a huge amount of detail and information, easily beating the possibilities of the competition.
Hodurs have solid, smooth and shiny high tones. We also do not have an excessively sharp presentation. The brilliance of the treble surpasses the fast roll-of the DM8.

Stage:
In the hodur model, the focus was primarily on consistency and depth. The width is average, but the imaging and the amount of information definitely make up for it. We have a spherical stage here, everything naturally surrounds our head, each instrument is separated and perfectly placed. In DM8 we have a similar scene, but much less air. Volume play wider, but not so spatially.

Summarized:
Kinera Hodur is an extremely interesting model, extremely comfortable and small, playing with great panache and spectacular, musical character. I recommend this model to anyone who is looking for versatile, versatile and pleasantly tuned headphones. If you do not like w-shape and conquered bass, you are definitely closer to golden idun 2.0, which although they are also w-shape, but to a lesser extent. For 299USD I consider hodury to be great and recommendable headphones. Great job!

TONALITY: 7.5/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.8/10
CONSTRUCTION: 7.5/10
SOUND VALUE: 8.2/10

INTRO

Kinera is now a well known chinese earphones company with lot of IEM in its catalogue. They are know for launching a wide range of soundsignature and drivers implementation from classic 1DD+2BA IEM like their best seller the Kinera Golden 2.0 or more exotic tribrid like the 2DD+1BA+2EST URD.
I do love both these IEM and when I discover that Kinera launch a tribrid that is priced more than 2 times cheaper than the URD, my curiosity was intensely trigerred.
Priced 300$, the Hodur is a tribrid with a 10mm coaxial dual magnetic tesla dynamic driver, a customized Kinera balanced armature and high sensitivity-lower power electrostatic driver (magnetostatic to be more precise).
These earphones promise ''high resolution performance'', but how does it translate into musicality?
Let see in this review if this tribrid worth its title of ''God of War''.

INFO-SPECS

• Kinera High Sensitivity & Low Power Electrostatic Driver + Kinera Customized K10012 BA Driver + 10mm Coaxial Dual-magnetic Tesla Composite Diaphragm Dynamic Driver.
• Impedance: 8 ohm.
• Sensitivity: 106+/- 1 dB.
• Frequency Response: 5Hz-40kHz.
• Modular 4 Cores OCC with Silver Plated Cable.
• Plug with 3.5mm , 4.4mm.

CONSTRUCTION




The Hodur construction isn't bad in term of material, its all metal and feel very sturdy. Its quite compact too. Yet i was expecting more pristine craftmanship from Kinera, since they made incredibly good looking IEM and here i'm just not sure. 2pin connector see a bit cheap, the use of...euh, stars dust? Anyway, little sparkly piece of glass in engraved curve is a bit questionable since it collect not just dusts from stars. But my biggest qualms might be Subjective too, since it's about the fit. Their few IEM that i struggle with fit, and the long angled nozzle with a plate non very organic shapre make it very unsecure for me, it tend to pop out or dont get appropriate seal for proper sound pressure...to some extend, sotck cable ear hook worsen this issue so with looser earhook of URD cable, I can have good enough fit.


There another example of similar angled nozzle that dont work for me, so if Tinhifi P1(plus) was bad fit for you, Hodur will be too.




You gotta love the Kinera packaging, its always a feast for the eyes and fully packed with generous accessories. I was surpise how scary was Hodur god of norse mythology too, in fact,it scare my 5y old son so be cautious!
Just look at all the stuffs you get. You got 5 pairs of Final Audio eartips, which is excellent and quite costy. As well as 7 pairs of nice quality Kinera silicone eartips. You got a unique leather carrying case, exclusive to Hodur. You got clean brush too and an excellent modular cable.


The cables is a 4 cores OCC cuper silver plated modular cable and come with 3.5mm se and 4.4mm bal plugs. Apart the ear hook that i find too tight for my big ears, it's a wonderfull cable.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS

(this review use SMSL SU9+SMSL SH9 low impedance DAC-AMP mostly, but Tri TK2, Tempotec V6, Xduoo Link2 Bal too)


Ok, for those expecting something similar to the URD, be ready for a surprise....that wake up! This is a vivid W shape crisp tonality that we get here, energic and near analytical with pround ''EST'' bravado.
Balanced sharpness with gently bright timbre and magnify sens of air and sparkle, open presentation that beg for wow effect, which work and fascinate for more than 5 min for sure.
Treble head will love these, but it's a bassy W shape too, and mids aren't recessed or blurry....so this might please wider range of listeners.

I'll say with the Hodur, we are into analytical guilty pleasure since it's an agressive W shape signature with tremendously vivid and revealing highs, thunderous bass and bright mid range. Overall balance is spiky but coherent and do not suffer from wonky or artificial tone, yet, it's not for timbre nor smooth tonality lover.


Bass hit hard with good resonance, Hodur is a bassy IEM with a sens of muscular urgency yet the bass is hint warmed on edge, not the tightest or fastest. It deliver good warm boom but flexibility is average. Extension doesn't dig deep in a linear way and is more about impact than well define presence. Depending of music style it's hit or miss, for electronic result can be spectacular due to excellent treble sharpness and overall dynamic energy, yet for complex instruments harmonic it can sound off tone wise, acoustic bass and cello for ex are a bit artificial since mid bass is less boosted than sub bass which make the result disembodied and dry in definition and timbre. This is a bass that love to slam, but it's excited and boomy (ok I admit it). About cello, it sound vibrantly bright, overly boosted in texture and not bodied and thick enough. Hodur will select the instrument he wanna keep timbral and tone balance right, you don't choose and sometime this imprevisibility can be annoying, in the sens youll up or down the volume. Bass too is imprevisible due to tamed mid bass edge compared to sub resonance, it feel a bit detached and out of place in term of timbre even if warmed surely to keep us unaware of this. Let say it will be hard to differentiate the proper note of a sub bass line, for ex, Moonlight track from IAMDDB have dark blunty sub bass line that seem all on same pitch, which they aren't.


Mid range is more about bright presence than full bodied presentation. Crisp and energic in details, it favor upper range texture and lack note weight in low and mid mids. Piano don't sound right here and male vocal are more recessed than female vocal. Transparency and resolution is good, but definition edge suffer from balanced armature shoutyness. Timbre is thin but bright. Upper mids are just borderline sibilant. While treble deliver real clarity, mids seem to offer fake clarity, in the sens instrument are not fully restitute and their tone is often off. Its very centered and excited presentation, some isntruments will sound strangely dry and distant while other super lively and resolved. Violin have a hint of metallic timbre to it. Let say the Hodur are not for warm lush and natural mid range lover, but those that like kit crisp and bright.


Any treble heads in this place? Please lift your hands! Yes, you! Your the lucky winner of a very rewarding listening sessions that will take you in next level analytical territory. The Hodur isn't call God of War for nothing, he know how to fight with its sharp axe, he tear apart darkness and reveal micro details and high range percussions with brutal athletism. These aren't for faith of hearth, yet it's not berserk primitive chaos either. It's not a Obravo Cupid nor a Tripowin TP10, the spike keep an overall passable balance within it's energic and assumed W shape balance.
But it's there, Everywhere. It stole the show of everything in the sens treble dominate whole macro resolution and is responsible for micro definition details too, so we are into boosted resolution without mercy here.
Lower treble have lot of balanced armature crunch while the star of the show is the magnetostatic drivers (''EST'') which really wow me intensely for days and days until it begin to annoy me due to listening fatigue it can iduce at high volume, but if i listen at low volume, bass and mids become leaner while the treble still is very energic and upfront.
Nonetheless, i like it due to how much details it can extract, ive rarely listen to an IEM with has much sound info and it's deliver in a super snappy way, with hint of appealing brilliance when needed. I would have expect a more sparkly presentation with longer resonance like with the URD (understated way), but its more bright, full and textured than sonion EST, it's a mix of planar-BA timbre we can say, boosted in texture. It can be too revealing for bad recording too and extract background noise. Clavichord sound quite decent as well as acoustic guitar, the attack is so fast it permit a very well articulated presentation that will not skip any note. Pierre Hantai ''Scarlatti' piece are so crisp with the Hodur....near overwhelming number of note I can hear with a sharp attack timing.
Yep, both impressive and overwhelming!

TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE

This is always a bit complex to write about technical performance of hybrid or tribrid since not all drivers act the same. For example, here the bass is slower and less controlled than both balanced and ''est'' drivers, so i consider bass performance quite bad and overly excited in loudness boost.
The balanced armature is not as fast and controlled either, it seem to have higher harmonic distortion and fuzyness and inflict in busy complex track negatively as conclude with Skink track from Elephant9 where it go muddy and distort.
But the ''est'' is excellent, the speed is crazy fast, snap is crunchy and have bit yet doesnt lack control and add air on the top.

SOUNDSTAGE is average wide and tall with hall like deepness, stock in a tunnel we can say, its a strange spatiality, not very realist.

IMAGING is quite decent unless in very busy and noisy track. High pitch instrument are easier to pinpoint, while bass lack proper definition and separation, mids separation lack space compared to treble separation too. So, a bit unrealistic again i would say. To be noted, eartips choice will greatly inflict on how open is the sound, Kbear KB07 are the ear tips i prefer, it feel less compressed in dynamic and spatiality.


COMPARISONS

VS TRI I3pro (1DD+1planar+1BA-190$)

Warmer, more laid back and U shape, yet with as good overall resolution but less agressive and analytical treble boost. Bass have less mid bass punch and boost but cleaner beefier slam with mroe controlled resonance. Mids are a bit more recessed as expected with U shape tuning but timbre is smoother and resolution is on par just not as loud as Hodur, yet it seem their more upper mids sibilance with the I3pro which is a shame cause everything else is smoother and more oragnic in timbre as well as more transparent in layering. These are planar mid range, very competent but not very dynamic. Treble is notably more sharp and boosted with the Hodur, more prompt to slight splashyness too, its more textured too and crunchy, more of everything we can say, very excited compared to i3pro that suddenly feel dark when they arent in fact, its more delicate and airy, better balanced as a whole apart lower treble region spike.
Soundstage is notably wider, taller and deeper with the I3pro, this is one of it's highlight and it feel more open and 3D, way more out of your head.
This inflict on imaging, which have more space for proper separation yet darken mids and treble part make it less crisp in definition of instrument placement.

All in all, while balance feel more organic and drivers timbre more cohesive, the i3pro is less lively in dynamic and precise in attack, its more laid back U shape, very different tonal balance here while for technical performance the Hodur extract more details and sound info but feel a bit berserk and agressive too, so less controlled in sustain-decay than the i3pro.



VS AUNE JASPER (1DD-300$)

For those who think single DD cant compete against tribrid, think again, the Jasper is incredible in both performance and tonal balance. Here, it's evident its more cohesive in timbral balance and tonality is more neutral than more vivid and bassy W shape of the Hodur. Its smoother, more transparent and mature yet site in between harman target and crisp W shape. Bass quantity is less while quality is notably better, Hodur have more mid bass boom and resonant hit, while Jasper is better separated, have higher resolution and definition, more nuanced texture and more extended response, sub bass is notably better controled and have longer rumble yet not as fuzzy-vibrant. Some will find Jasper bass to lack mid bass impact and dynamic compared to more thumpy Hodur. Mids while leaner in upper mids are again better resolve, cleaner and more transparent, timbre is more realist and no instrument sound out of pitch like Hodur. Presence is more textured and well define, female vocal sound wider. Treble Attack is more edgy and prompt to harshness-splashyness with Hodur. Depending of speed and complexity of music, Hodur will be more snappy and push foward micro details more but can get more messy in busy track like Skink from Elephant9, here, impressively, technical performance of the Jasper is superior with less harmonic and phase distortion, cleaner presentation and more articulate layering. YES, ive said it: technical performance of a single DD surpass a very capable tribrid. Cymbals spals doesnt mix in distorted way like with Hodur for ex. Bass line are easier to follow too, and synth line are better layered less compressed.
Soundstage wise, i would say they are near on par, Jasper is just a bit wider, taller and deeper.
Imaging is more accurate with jasper, layering is more transparent, Hodur tend to favorize high pitch instrument position making harder bass and mids instrument to pin point precisely unlike Japser.

All in all Hodur is more vivid in dynamic heft and offer a more entertaining wow effect performance that struggle to keep an as organic and cohesive balance as Jasper. Jasper is more refined and balanced, cleaner in presentation, more natural in timbre with superior bass performance and faster attack speed and control as a whole.



VS KINERA URD (2DD+1BA+2EST-650$)


The URD tonality is very different, its darker, smoother and more U shape in bass presentation. Timbre is more liquid and natural, with less bright grain to it. Hodur is intensely more W shape and brighter. Bass hit less hard and is better rounded, tough a bit warm it's more chunky in slam and have notably more rumble extension, as well, it doesn't have mid bass impact resonance and more sub bass boost. Mids are less agressively fowards, lusher and thicker in timbre, which offer more natural female vocal with less upper mids bite and sibilance, texture is darker, more polised and less prompt to timbral imbalance like lipsy vocal or fuzzy violin etc. Treble is notably darker and less analytical, smoother and innoffensive with more delicate highs from EST, it have more brilliance and less crunch and bite, snap is faster and less fuzzy in sustain, yet, since it's not in your face like the Hodur the URD technical performance are understated while with Hodur they are overstated. Splash of cymbals are very soft with URD compared to Hodur.
Soundstage is notably wider and taller with the URD, while a bit deeper and more tunnel like with the Hodur.
Imaging is more realist with the URD but less crisp in positioning, it's more the layering that feel superior yet since it's not very edgy in delimitation it's darken in proper separation. Let say Hodur is more precise but perhaps less accurate, yet high pitch instrument and percussions are notably easier to pin point.

All in all, these 2 are polar opposite, but in term of smooth natural balance, the URD is more cohesive since we dont feel it's scream: i'm a Tribrid! Vocal are fuller, bass is more pleasant even if not very well define and the treble is more refined, delicate and clean, yet more recessed too that way more energic, bright and analytical Hodur.



CONCLUSION



There not doubt the Hodur is a pumped up technical beast and will create big WOW effect among alot of audio enthusiast. This isn't a boring nor laid back ride here but a W shaped roller coaster that will make your hearth rate go higher.
So, not for the faith of hearth I would say, since the agressively sharp tonality might not trigger beautiful sens of musicality for some, especially those aware of tone correctness and timbre naturalness.
Yet, this explosive performance hit hard with bass, doesn't suffer from too recessed mids due to upper mids presence and deliver a treble speed and performance that would make jealous alot of balanced armature companies. The magneto in there is shy to show it's bravado and extract a whole lot of micro details that will make you rediscover your music.
In fact, the Hodur magnify sens of intensity and immediacy of all your music tracks and vivify it's sens of dynamic attack too.
It's not an IEM aimed for smooth organic balance lovers, nor for warm or mid centric listeners.
Think about a more W shape Kinera Golden 2.0 and your not far from what you will get.
While fatiguing for long time listening, i do enjoy alot the Hodur for what it offer in plentyness: boosted resolution, attack, bite and micro details of treble.
This is extremely entertaining sounding IEM with spectacular performance, a bit like an HD movie with lotta FX which is over packet with action, explosion, battles. Like transformers movie, it will not please everyone but sure impress alot of people.
Perfect IEM for treble and analytical head, vivid W soundsignature lovers and bright bass IEM lovers.



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PS: I want to thanks Kinera for sending me this review sample even if they know i'm very critical. It's a proof that its not about marketing but pure audiophile community passion. I'm not affiliated to this company and as always, these are my 100% independant audio impressions.

You can order the Hodur for 299$ directly from Kinera official store. Which is the best choice for proper consumers service when it come to warranty: https://www.kineraaudio.com/product/kinera-hodur

For more diversify audio review, give a look to my No Borders Audiophile website HERE.

Kinera Hodur: The All-rounder



Summary:

Launched in July'2022, Hodur is the latest launch from Kinera. They are tri-brids with 1 EST + 1 BA + 1 DD, and come with a promise of good sound performances. It is certainly the very best IEM from Kinera at below $300 price range.



Introduction:


Let's quickly dive into the details without making the introduction very lengthy. The Hodur is a tribrid IEM with Kinera High Sensitivity & Low Power Electrostatic Driver + Kinera Customized K10012 BA Driver + 10mm Coaxial Dual-magnetic Tesla Composite Diaphragm Dynamic Driver and interchangeable plugs ( 3.5mm and 4.4mm).

The Kinera Hodur is priced at $299.




Design & Build:

The shells look very ergonomic & premium and are fitted with small crystals. Kinera used aviation aluminum alloy as Hodur shell, which is light-weight and corrosion-resistant. The shell is small in size and very lightweight which makes it very comfortable and ideal for everyday use.

It is described as the following on the website: We understand wearing comfort is one of the biggest concerns for most in-ear earphones, thus we have paid great attention to this to present you with a comfortable, secure fit and noise isolation earphones while it also possesses astonishing industrial design and beauty. Kinera Hodur could be the earphone on-the-go or something for a professional scenario.

Kinera Hodur features a tribrid driver configuration. The pair houses 3 drivers on each side consisting of one highly-resolving Electrostatic driver, one BA driver, and one dynamic driver unit. They provide an exceptionally good high-frequency response with ultimate detailing and clarity. Three different types of drivers are fully integrated and supplemented by precise tuning that instantly blooms the sound of nature.





Specifications:


The Kinera Hodur comes at $299 price tag and the specifications are as below:

https://www.kineraaudio.com/product/kinera-hodur

and

https://www.linsoul.com/products/kinera-hodur?variant=43091285246169

• Kinera High Sensitivity & Low Power Electrostatic Driver + Kinera Customized K10012 BA Driver + 10mm Coaxial Dual-magnetic Tesla Composite Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
• Impedance: 8 ohm
• Sensitivity: 106+/- 1 dB
• Frequency Response: 5Hz-40kHz
• Modular 4 Cores OCC with Silver Plated Cable
• Plug with 3.5mm , 4.4mm

The Box & Accessories:




The Accessories:

The Hodur package now includes…

• One pair of Kinera Hodur In-ear monitors.
• One Modular 4 Cores OCC with Silver Plated Cable.
• Modular Adapter 4.4mm & 3.5mm.
• Five pairs of Final Type E tips.
• Seven pairs ( K-07 & K-285-02 ) of Kinera Custom ear tips.
• Storage Case.
• Clean Brush.
• User Manual.

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOUND....

Items Used for this Review:

DAC/AMP & Dongles: @Questyle M15 Dongle DAC/AMP, @iFi audio Go Bar, @MOONDROP DAWN
Portable Players / Sources : @Questyle QP2R, Cayin N8ii, Cayin N6ii with R2R motherboard, Lotoo Paw Gold Touch, A&K SP1000M
Streaming Source: QOBUZ




Ear Tips:




I've tried tip-rolling with a variety of tips such as: @Final Audio E series red & black ones, JVC Spiral dots, Spiral Dots+, @SpinFit Eartip CP500, CP155. Out of all of these I have found the Azla Sednafit to be the best fit for my ears in terms of overall fit, isolation & comfort.


Tracks Used:
The tracks I have used can be found from the below playlist that I have used and generally use for most reviews...





Pairing Performance with different sources:

Dongle DAC/AMPs:

Kinera Hodur had the best pairing with @Questyle M15 and Cayin RU6 dongles.
But, it had paired well with @MOONDROP DAWN and the @iFi audio Go Bar also.



Portable Players:

Obviously the Hodur had the best pairing with the LPGT & specially Cayin N8ii since that comes with Class-A amplification and a new DAC which is super resolving and not to forget the Nutubes! But those are $3500+ range also and out of reach for most people!
But it performs well with each and every player including @Shanling M3X and M7.



Kinera Hodur Sound Impressions in Short:

The BASS:

The Hodur has a good overall bass performance. The little nuances and details of the sub-bass region is clearly audible and the mid-bass comes with rumble. The overall bass experience is very enjoyable and you don't miss the details or the slam. tracks like: "Hotel California (Live on MTV 1994) – Eagles" and "Fluid - Yosi Horikawa" you will likely get immersed into the bass performance.

The MIDS:

The midrange of the Hodur is quite detailed & textured. There's no bass bleed and the midrange is definitely not thin, neither feels recessed. Vocals are very immersive and both male and female vocals come with good texture and feel very real. Instruments felt very natural and real with high accuracy and the separation between them is also great. In tracks like: "Anchor - Trace Bundy", "A dog named Freedom – Kinky Friedman" and "Ruby Tuesday – Franco Battiato" it’s really easy to get lost into the music as it comes with ample detailed transients, texture, excellent vocals and details.

The TREBLE:

The Treble is quite energetic & airy coming from the custom EST of the Hodur but doesn't at any point feel peaky or uncomfortable. It has the right amount of details and texture also and the overall treble performance is therefore very enjoyable.

Treble in tracks like: "Paradise Circus – Massive Attack", "Mambo for Roy – Roy Hargrove” and "Saints and Angels – Sharon Shannon" feel very immersive and enjoyable from the treble perspective.


The SOUNDSTAGE:

The Staging capabilities of the Hodur is just great and likely amongst the best in the range. It comes with the right amount of width, height, depth and is well defined and just as much as the track requires. Tracks like: “The Secret Drawer – Bela Fleck and the Flecktones” or “She Don’t know – Melody Gardot” or “Bohemian Rhapsody (live aid) – Queen” sound amazing & enjoyable. This is amongst the strongest trait of this IEM.

Imaging & Timbre:

The Imaging & instrument separation performance on the Hodur is great and sense of location is spot on. The Timbre also feels very life-like and real. Tracks like: “Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) - The Beautiful South “or “Hello Again - Howard Carpendale & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” just shine through.




Comparisons:

I didn't have any IEM in similar range at my disposal while doing this review hence I had to consider 7hz Eternal which was closest to the price at $249.



HODUR vs ETERNAL:

Please note that the only thing these 2 IEMs have in common is the price range being close. The Hodur is a Tri-brid whereas the Eternal is a single DD based IEM.
Hence, there are some inherent differences owing to different architecture.




Bass: Owing to the much more detailed bass performance of the Hodur, it gets the preference as the as the Eternal bass is also great but just not as refined.

Mids: The midrange of the Eternal is quite recessed and the Hodur is much more detailed and textured. the Vocals are noticeably more prominent.

Treble: This is where the Hodur really excels and the overall experience is very enjoyable. The Eternal here is quite laid back.

Soundstage, Imaging and Separation: The staging on the Eternal is quite wide and much above average. The staging on the Hodur just feel more balanced and the separation and imaging is much better on Hodur.



Conclusion:

The Hodur is quite a performer and I was delighted by the level of details and overall sound performance this has been able to pull off. This is amongst the very best of Kinera performance I have come across so far.

Given the great performance for the price, the Hodur becomes an easy recommendation.