KINERA URD
This is more of a personal discovery. URD was launched almost two years ago, but I hadn't had the opportunity to try it until now. I'm grateful to the generous folks at Kinera for this unexpected surprise.
From the initial moment, the URD clicked with me. Its aesthetics are striking, and its sound profile is impressively decent. Frankly, the presentation and unboxing experience are better than those of the Verdandi. The packaging is larger, and the case is notably superior to what accompanies the Verdandi. In terms of looks, we can all agree that Kinera produces some of the best-looking iems in the industry.
It has a warm signature and a very natural timbre. The bass is quite impactful. The 2DD configuration for the lows really intrigued me and I am satisfied with the bass on this iem. Very surprisingly, I find a lot of people mentioning the bass is lean. I do not find the bass to be lean from any standard. Sure, the bass is not the most refined or very precise one, but it has decent impact and body. It is more of a thick bass filling up your head but not overdone. There is a good sub-bass presence, and the midbass is more emphasized with good control. I love this kind of bass. It does not intrude into the upper-frequency region.
The mids are lovely. It has a natural feel to it. The midrange maintains its sweetness and is quite clean in terms of resolution. Yeah, sure, there is good warmth in the midrange but nothing is muffled. The lower midrange gains a decent weight from the bass region. Vocals shine really well, with both male and female voices exhibiting rich texture and consistent note presence. The upper mids have good energy and do not get shouty or harsh.
The treble is well-controlled. There is good detailing and extension. Those ESTs have been very well implemented to bring out a very nice and detailed treble. There could be a bit more airiness but that's not really a complaint. It's not as airy as something like Monarchs, but that's totally fine by my standards.
In terms of technical capability, URD is very decent again. It is not the best-resolving iem but it is good at bringing out the details. The headstage is very decent, with a feel of good spacious sound around the head. Imaging is good enough, but not the best again. Overall, the URD leans towards a musical presentation, striking a good balance between solid technical performance and an enjoyable listening experience, offering the best of both worlds to its users.
In terms of synergy with
sources, URD can take a decent amount of juice. It pairs up quite well with the Lotoo Paw Gold Touch and the Earmen Angel. Angel, with its powerful nature and a near-bright profile, helps the URD a lot. It sounds airier on Angel than LPGT, while the LPGT brings out a lot of refinement and subtle nuances.
I believe URD remains highly relevant in today's context. Considering its great aesthetics and sound quality, the price still seems justified to me. I am in love with this iem and find it flawlessly satisfying in every aspect.