I just got a production review unit of the KBEAR Diamond yesterday. I was out so I could only test them with a lousy smartphone and Ziku HD X9 DAP. But even with these lower powered sources, I'm already quite impressed with the Diamond with the time I spent with it yesterday. I'm a sucker for DD timbre/tonality and the Diamond combines the best aspects of the musicality of the BLON BL-03 (better timbre than BLON BL-03) with the technicalities of more expensive DDs like TFZ No. 3. My very first thought when I heard the Diamond was: "Liquid Gold". Can't wait to see how it fares with a higher powered source.
I'm gonna test it out with more sources/tips over the next few days, but initial impressions is it is a well tuned set, definitely blows my most expensive single DD (Sennheiser IE80S) out of the water.
Initial impressions:
Pros:
- Better timbre than BLON BL-03. I was already impressed with the BL-03's timbre, but this is an improvement. Classical and acoustic instruments and vocals sound very real and lifelike. Classical, acoustic and jazz aficionados will have a fieldday. Great note weight and note texture.
- Technicalities (imaging, instrument separation, clarity, details) trump my other single DD (BLON BL-03, BLON Cardinal, Semkarch SKC CNT1, Sennheiser IE80S, Sony MH755, TFZ No. 3, Toneking Ninetails). It may even be quite close to some budget multi BA/hybrid CHIFI in technicalities, but of course due to single dynamic driver transducer limitations, it won't trump some midfi multi BAs in this department. I am probably gonna have to sell away a few single DD sets now, as the Diamond has made a few of them superfluous. Sigh, I just got my BLON Cardinal less than 2 months ago and my BLON BL-03 2 weeks before the Cardinal.
- Smooth tonality, no harsh peaks/troughs on listening.
- Non fatiguing.
- No sibilance - if there's sibilance in poorly recorded material, the Diamond will show it, but if it isn't there, no sibilance present at all.
- Great metal build, super sturdy like a tank. Shell is on heavier side, but very comfortable to wear nonetheless. Well fitting and ergonomic.
- Above average soundstage.
- Above average isolation - not the absolute best, but sufficient for travelling purposes. Give and take i would say about 15 dB isolation. As the Diamond is vented, outside noises do get in. I've tried it on the subway and some subbass frequencies are lost, but it is still usable for transit IMHO.
- Stock tips and cables good fitting, no need to mess around with aftermarket stuff (cough cough ... looking at you, BLON BL-03). The SPC stock cable is of very high quality, non microphonic and well braided. 3 types of tips are provided (foams, 2 types of silicone tips - one less firm and the other firmer; black and red).
- Nice PVC leather carrying pouch, looks like those in Tin HIFI packaging. More usable than a certain sackcloth carrying pouch from a certain brand haha.
- 2 pin connection - better lifespan than MMCX in my opinion.
Cons:
- Mild midbass bleed/bloatedness - I think this can be fixed with different sources/tips, will explore over the next few days and report back. I actually like some midbass bleed/bloat to add warmth to the lower mids, but I know folks who are particular about a tight and accurate bass might not.
Gotta agree with
@SuperLuigi that the Diamond has no major weaknesses, maybe except a very mild midbass bleed/midbass bloatedness as above. But I suspect this is partially dependent on source/tips, as just by changing the stock silicone tips from the red stock to black stock ones, I managed to tame most of the midbass bleed compared to the default red stock silicone tips. And I haven't tried amping the Diamond yet, but I suspect that the bass will tighten with amping, as per some of my experience with other DD sets. Will explore more regarding this.
The Diamond's bass is north of neutral, but a level shy of basshead territory. The midbass quantity is about the same amount or thereabouts as the BLON BL-03, so for folks that already disliked the BL-03's midbass quantity, you might wanna wait for the BL-03 MK2 with tuned down midbass. But the Diamond's bass is of better quality than the BL-03 in being more textured and having better speed and separation. I'm a fan of more meat in the midbass, and I actually like a bit of midbass bleed to give the lower mids more warmth, though purists who want a very very accurate/tight bass might need to find a BA bass due to the slight midbass bleed/bloatedness. And those wanting a neutral bass will also probably need to look elsewhere. Despite the graph looking like there's a subbass roll off, I found that the subbass extends very well in quantity and it's like listening to subwoofer surroundsound amps in the ears if I could say so. The basshead in me was actually quite pleased with the subbass quantity and extension.
Mids are very detailed despite the U shaped signature, not overly recessed for both male/female vocals despite the graphs. Female voices are slightly more forward than male voices but are not shouty. Guitars are very crunchy and well textured.
The graph on the KBEAR site looks like there's a sharp 3 - 5 kHz peak (which I was very apprehensive about at first as I'm sensitive to that area and it is a bugbear of mine in CHIFI tuning). To my surprise, on actual listening it is very very smooth and not harsh at the upper treble/lower mids. A slight 8 KHz peak gives triangles and cymbals a very pleasant resolution but without harshness or some splashy metallic cymbals that plague some CHIFI sets. There's some higher treble roll off, so maybe only trebleheads will complain, but for the general consumer, I think it is a very non offensive, non fatiguing tuning that will suit most consumers and suit most genres.
TLDR:
The Diamond has a U shaped sound signature, very non offensive and non fatiguing tuning. It combines the best aspects of musicality (timbre/tonality) of the BLON BL-03 with techicalities of higher priced single DD sets like the TFZ No. 3 with no harsh spikes/troughs. My first impression on hearing the Diamond (and up to now after using it for a day) would be "Liquid Gold", it amalgates smoothness with technicalities. I can say it beats the rest of my collection of single DDs I have amassed, and unfortunately some sets need to be sold off after hearing the Diamond.
Will do more listening and tip/source changes and give a more detailed review over the coming days. Enjoy the music!
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