What's tougher - exceeding expectations, or succeeding unexpected success with a worthy followup?

Earlier this year I reviewed the KBear KB02 from a brand not previously on my radar, and as my first BCD-equipped IEMs under $100 they really made me sit up & take notice.

However I'm often skeptical & wary of one-hit-wonders, so when when KBear sent me a pair of their new Cepheus in exchange for my thoughts I wondered if they'd impress as much as the KB02s did.

At USD $245 they're a slightly tougher sell, but boast a far more complex driver structure than the KB02s.

Making the jump from success in the entry-level to the mid-range can be tricky for many brands, so let's get this underway and see if KBear has another hit on their hands.

Packaging

The USD $248 KBear Cepheus arrive in a purple cardboard box, inside is a fairly small faux-leather case, a 2pin 4 core silver-plated copper stock cable, instruction manual, three sets of silicone eartips in 3 sizes & the earphones themselves.

The case is fairly snug but fits the earphones with stock cable comfortably, but if you swap to a beefy 8-wire aftermarket cable it may be quite a squeeze. Quality is acceptable without being terribly impressive.

The big downside here is the stock cable which not only feels a little flimsy, but is only available in a 3.5mm termination. Given the prevalence of portable sources with 4.4mm balanced jacks these days it's disappointing to see a 4.4mm plug option isn't offered for an IEM at this pricepoint. There is a 3.5mm cable with inline microphone option, but that's hardly a viable substitute.

Ergonomics

The Cepheus' vented resin shells are very smooth to the touch and feel terrific in my ears, we've certainly come a long way in the hobby as once upon a time you needed to spend close to $1000 to obtain shells that feel so well finished & durable.

Similarly fit has come a long way since the old days, and the Cepheus despite being decently large (about what you'd expect for a hybrid with twin DDs & multiple BAs) are sculpted beautifully to fit the ear geometry of most folk quite well I'd imagine.

They do stick out decently far, isolation is slightly above average, but most importantly I can use them for hours without the slightest discomfort. The stock cable feels flimsy though and I recommend replacing it with a 4.4mm balanced alternative, which can be done cheaply enough through a vendor like NiceHCK.

Sound Impressions

I’ve used a Cayin N6III with C201 motherboard in hi-gain mode to test the Cepheus. Here is the Tidal playlist I use to evaluate audio gear.

The Cepheus contain one 6mm DD, one 10mm DD and 6BAs. They're quite smooth, polite & inoffensive with a strong emphasis on the midrange for impressive vocal reproduction.



Bass

KBear have tuned things well here, with bass that's slightly north of neutral, marginally favouring sub bass over midbass, but does not overshadow the midrange & allows the presentation to remain neutral.

Bass takes something of a backseat to the midrange, yet without sounding bass light. It's not all good news however, as bass decay is shorter than I'd like so texture on drum hits is lacking at times, and the DDs themselves will occasionally struggle to keep up with very fast music.





Midrange

This is where the Cepheus really shine, projecting a fairly forward midrange that's as refined as any I've heard in this price range.

Vocals are smooth and fairly full-bodied, articulation is heavily emphasised over note weight with a nice balance between the lower & upper midrange that delivers a solid impression of neutrality.

Though midrange instruments sometimes feel small and I'd like a bit more warmth, there's a wonderful balance here of articulation without harshness, and refinement without details being smoothed over.



Treble

Treble is perhaps the Cepheus' weakest area and this is where investing more money in an IEM with EST drivers might pay dividends.

Cepheus treble can be a touch glarey at times, with treble being marginally too forward and at times - jutting out from the rest of the frequency spectrum unwontedly.

Treble can also be a little grainy, and though I wouldn't call the Cepheus bright I'd prefer either slightly less upper frequency emphasis or a warmer midrange to balance things out more.

Technical Performance

Cepheus are capable technical performers without being outstanding. Imaging & separation are above average for this price range and I suspect Cepheus' somewhat forward treble offers assistance here.

Staging is fairly wide so instruments have a fair amount of space to play with, however both stage depth & height are lacking with relatively little evident. Not unusual for IEMs under $500.

Dynamics are merely average and this is one area where I feel like improvement could increase excitement levels, with mediocre dynamics contributing to a feeling of politeness. Note weight is also lacking (which more midbass might solve) and this also contributes to a slightly floaty instruments.

Resolution quite good throughout the midrange due to the Cepheus' vocal emphasis with subtle nuances easily perceived, but significantly poorer at either end of the frequency spectrum.

IEM Comparisons

I’ve compared the Cepheus to IEMs with similar prices to judge their competitiveness, using Spinfit W1 tips on all earphones for fairer comparisons.



Kiwi Ears KE4 - 2xDD 2xBA (USD $199) with NiceHCK BlackCat Ultra Cable (USD $35)



Tonally the KE4 are darker with greater lower midrange emphasis, but feel much flatter & less dynamic.

Bass decay feels flabbier and they sound more compressed with lower resolution across the board, poorer dynamics and a smaller stage in all directions. The two KE4 DDs can also struggle to keep pace with fast music at times.



Simgot EA1000 - 1xDD 1xPassive Radiator (USD $219) with LC7 Cable (USD $69)



The EA1000s skew much closer to Harman Target tuning with thinner vocals & poorer note weight.

Dynamics are better, background is blacker, there's slightly better coherence & instruments feel larger. However the EA1000 soundstage is narrower, and overall tonality is much brighter & thinner with strong upper midrange emphasis that suits genres like classical but can be harsher & less smooth with others.



Penon Fan2 - 2xDD 2xBA (USD $279)



There's an immediate spotlight on vocals with the Fan2 that's reminiscent of the Cepheus, but they aren't as detached from surrounding instruments as separation isn't quite as good, there's greater lower midrange emphasis with increased congestion and slightly lower resolution.

The Fan2s are much warmer & more musical with far more subdued treble, the stage is similarly wide but a little deeper with larger instruments but slightly mushier bass texture. By contrast the Cepheus feel more v-shaped whereas Fan2s are more midrange centric.



TSMR ARMOR - 2xDD 2xBA 1xEST Hybrid (USD $289)



The ARMORs feature far more midbass & lower midrange emphasis which creates a much warmer, thicker sound with greater note weight, whereas the Cepheus are significantly more neutral.

The ARMOR stage is narrower with slightly better instrument separation, treble is a bit more refined but the much thicker tuning can create the impression of congestion at times. Cepheus emphasises vocals more, which are less overshadowed my midbass.



ISN H60 - 2xDD 4xBA (USD $349)



The H60s are more L-shaped with a bit more bass impact, more upper midrange to push vocals forward but more recessed treble that's a bit grainier.

Tonality is more energetic & exciting but less smooth through the midrange which lacks the Cepheus' richness & cohesion. Technically however the H60's stage feels a bit wider with a blacker background, instrument separation is slightly clearer and dynamics are a little better too.

Conclusion

KBear Cepheus are polite, midrange-centric earphones vocal aficionados will love.

The one thing IEMs under $500 commonly lack is refinement, which Cepheus have in spades.

At least their midrange does. Bass is merely capable and treble can be grainy & occasionally strident.

If you'd prefer the usual breed of v-shaped offerings inhabiting this price range you'll find no shortage of shoutier, more aggressive alternatives. By contrast Cepheus attempt to mimmic the smoother, richer tonality of earphones occupying much higher rungs of the ladder.

Of course you won't receive all the benefits you would spending thousands of dollars, but Cepheus capture enough of the magic of legendary IEMs like Oriolus Traillii to be win my approval.

My only query is if they lack a killer feature like amazing bass, an enormous soundstage or remarkable resolution needed to capture attention in a crowded market... unless you regard possessing a sublime midrange a standout attribute, in which case they're doubtless worthy of your interest.