Disclaimer:
This IEM was given to me thanks to KeepHiFi, all thanks to them, they are not paying me for this review, and all the opinions and impressions about the set are on my own.
35% off purchasing link: https://keephifi.com/discount/sr-8%2520blog?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fkbear-voyages-sr-8-1dd-3ba-hybrid-hifi-in-ear-earphones-iem-headphones
My bias/tuning preferences:
My tuning preferences goes towards the IEF 2025 preference target approach to mid and highs frequencies, but with a subbass and midbass boost, so is something like a neutral (JM-1 or meta) tuning with a bass boost. I like more predominancy of subbass than midbass on the bass shelf.
It is nice to have an expansive soundstage live recordings and a holographic capability in it; it is nice to get a good resolution and layering of instruments to locate all of those macro and microdetails in the mix, so yeah, I dig a natural timbre with some coloring in the bass but enjoy well-done technical capabilities.
My usual music genres to go is Rock (Indie, Alt, Hard, Classic, Progressive, and other sub genres), Metal (Alt, Prog, Extreme, Death, Melodic, Core, Deathcore, etc.), Hip Hop, sometimes Pop, Salsa, and dig some other genres as well.
I don’t believe in audiophile myths like burn-in (because is just the brain getting accustomed to the earphone), or differences in cables material and so on. I’m using the IEMs OOTB (Out of the box) and enjoying them as it is; finally, I believe and can confirm eartips and sources can change the overall experience you can have with an IEM, so a nice synergy between your transducer, your tastes in music and your sources is a must to fully enjoy a set IMHO.
Introduction:
The KBEar SR-8 Voyages is the new hybrid set by the house of KBEar, with a 8 mm Liquid silicone diaphragm dynamic driver + 2 31785 custom BA + 1 30095 custom BA configuration, this time making an excellent balance between all the frequencies to satisfy the most seasoned audiophile tastes.
The KBEar SR-8 Voyages pairs a well-done bass shelf with magnificently tuned mids and treble, standing out in its price range. It offers a balanced, natural yet musical and analytical presentation, with bass that is both impactful and distinguished, mids that are clear, and treble that is crisp and accurate. The low and high frequencies extension is extraordinarily, delivering a technical performance who past expectations at a very competitive price.
The KBEar SR-8 Voyages is a set of IEM, complemented with a decent packaging to giving a well complete experience, successful tuned close to the Harman 2019 target, but this time with a non-fatiguing character that’s unusual and so well-received, with seasoned audiophiles and the most exigent newcomers in mind, delivering a performance far beyond its price segment, this set challenges its competitors head-on while maintaining an accessible price.
The SR-8 Voyages is priced at a MSRP of 98 - 99 USD (with or without mic), and you can get it directly from the KeepHiFi official store: https://keephifi.com/es/products/kb...a-hybrid-hifi-in-ear-earphones-iem-headphones, the official KeepHiFi AliExpress store, and other online stores. With two color options available: Blue-black*, Black-white.
35% OFF Code(Valid 1 Month): SR8-HEADFI (valid on KEEPHIFI Official Store)
*My unit.
Sources used:
Kefine dongle, Tanchjim Stargate II, Tanchjim Luna AT, Dunu DTC800, TRN TE dongle, Shanling UA mini, Hidizs S9 Pro plus, Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro, a cheap vacuum tubes preamplifier connected to my old Panasonic turntable, Fosi K7 Desktop DAC/Amp, and a Snowsky DISC.
Services used:
My local files (FLAC, ALAC, M4A, MP3 320 kbps, and other formats), Tidal, YouTube music. My Panasonic Turntable with a vacuum tube preamplifier.
A breakdown of its technical specifications:
- Model: SR-8 Voyages
- Shell materials: Resin
- Dynamic Driver unit: 8 mm Silicone diaphragm
- Balanced Armature units:
- 1 x dual 31785 Mid-range drivers
- 1 x 30095 High-Frequency driver
- Impedance: 20 Ω 10% @ 1 kHz
- Sensitivity: 107 dB ± 1 mW @ 1 kHz
- Frequency response range: 20–20 kHz
- Wire specifications: 3.5 mm plug, with or without mic
- Wire material and structure: 5N Oxygen free copper silver-plated wire
- Connector Type: 0.78 mm 2-Pin Connectors.
What’s in the package of the KBEar SR-8 Voyages:
- A manual.
- A warranty card.
- 8 pairs of eartips:
o 1 set of balanced (black) bores SML sizes
o 1 set of narrow bores (white, green core) SML sizes
o 2 pairs of M size of KBEar 07 eartips.
- A cleaning cloth.
- A case, with enough space for the IEMs with its accessories and such.
- The cable which is 5N twisted single-crystal copper, silver plated, with 0.78 mm 2pin connection, and its 3.5 mm single ended plug, it is beautiful, well-build, doesn’t produce translated vibrations neither prone to tangling.
- The IEMs themselves, made of resin, blue-black (my unit) or black-white color, kind of light, with a nice faceplate with a sapphire-like finish. With a metallic nozzle which is approximately 6 mm of diameter, so if you have small ears beware of its size because maybe it won’t fit you. The ergonomic design of the shells is very comfortable to use it in long sessions.
- A warranty card.
- 8 pairs of eartips:
o 1 set of balanced (black) bores SML sizes
o 1 set of narrow bores (white, green core) SML sizes
o 2 pairs of M size of KBEar 07 eartips.
- A cleaning cloth.
- A case, with enough space for the IEMs with its accessories and such.
- The cable which is 5N twisted single-crystal copper, silver plated, with 0.78 mm 2pin connection, and its 3.5 mm single ended plug, it is beautiful, well-build, doesn’t produce translated vibrations neither prone to tangling.
- The IEMs themselves, made of resin, blue-black (my unit) or black-white color, kind of light, with a nice faceplate with a sapphire-like finish. With a metallic nozzle which is approximately 6 mm of diameter, so if you have small ears beware of its size because maybe it won’t fit you. The ergonomic design of the shells is very comfortable to use it in long sessions.
Eartips and cable used for test:
I used the included KBEar 07 eartips (M size). I used the stock cable and with my different sources to test the best synergy this IEM needed.
How the KBEar SR-8 Voyages sounds:
The KBEar SR-8 Voyages got a nice and well-done mixture of a neutral tuning with a quality and enough quantity bass boost, offering a very clean, smooth and neutral yet technical sound, with a mild V-shaped tuning who pleases the more sophisticated of audiophiles, it is perfect for musical versatility.
Its precision-tuned driver config (1 DD + 3 BAs), ergonomic shell design, and rigorous attention to sonic detail result in a performance that significantly punches above expectations for its class. A solid entry from KBEar, and offering a premium quality of sound for the masses.
No equalization was used in the testing of the IEM. Thanks to the ToneDeafMonk for his measurements of the set.
- Bass:
The KBEar SR-8 Voyages got a very decent quantity and quality subbass thumping with plenty of midbass kick, it is clean, very fast, impactful and well extended into the lower frequencies, offering a well-putted presence, with a pretty natural decay, it introduces some bleeding into the lower mids, yet enhances the natural richness of male vocals and instruments.
In songs like “N.I.K.E” by Moodring you can hear with magnificence via the Voyages those bass drops and bass guitar in the mix. In "H! VLTG3" by Linkin Park in their Re-Animation album, the Voyages exhibits its remarkable bass extension, the bass drops and bass guitar is delivered with outstanding clarity and zero bloat, so you can immerse in the musical journey through the deep ocean.
- Mids:
In this area, the KBEar SR-8 Voyages excels in quality. In the lower mids, the midbass bleeds into the lower mids, but the male vocals are well putted and not so recessed.
The mids go into that classic V-shaped dip until 600 Hz, elevating into a warm pinna gain with a first peak at 2.5 kHz, in a very transparent way, with good note weight, offering a good amount of presence and resolution, it has another peak at the 4.5 kHz region, a smooth elevation for female vocals who are forwarded.
In songs like “Changes [In The House of Flies] (Acoustic)” by Deftones from their album “B-sides & Rarities”, you can feel how the Voyages delivers the conjunction between the slow yet groovy rhythm of the track and that Chino Moreno voice. In “We Shall All Bleed” by Deadlock, you can dig the male and female vocals in a natural, so pleasant, and enjoyable way.
- Treble:
The KBEar SR-8 Voyages delivers a nicely transparent, natural, crisp and sharp treble with sparkly and a non-offensive character. It is very resolving, and with plenty of technical perks, with a nice dip at the 6.5 kHz and 10 kHz regions to tame sibilance at mid to high volumes.
In songs like "Reject Yourself " by Killswitch Engage, the Voyages handles nicely all the hi-hats and cymbals in the track, with no bloat or sibilance at all. In “Are You In?” by Incubus, the pretty dynamic drum work in the song is presented by the Voyages with excellence, all those nuances are present and noticeable in the critical listening of the catchy song.
- Technical capacity:
This wonderful KBEar SR-8 Voyages, justifies its excellent value proposition with an airy delivery and a wide and deep soundstage, delivering a holographic and immersive experience that enhances musical enjoyment and critical listening. The Voyages offers a more than average instrumental separation and resolution, with a well-done layering of macro and microdetails.
In very full of nuances tracks like “Sultans of Swing (Live At The BBC)” by Dire Straits, you can continuously observe the intricate microdetails of the song and the precise positioning of the instruments, the Voyages delivers a fully immersing experience definitely. In “Always Somewhere (Live)” by Scorpions from their Acoustica album there’s the sensation of being in the concert, so close to the band that you can hear that soft yet so emotional song from the band so gracefully in the Voyages.
The KBEar SR-8 Voyages got a very decent quantity and quality subbass thumping with plenty of midbass kick, it is clean, very fast, impactful and well extended into the lower frequencies, offering a well-putted presence, with a pretty natural decay, it introduces some bleeding into the lower mids, yet enhances the natural richness of male vocals and instruments.
In songs like “N.I.K.E” by Moodring you can hear with magnificence via the Voyages those bass drops and bass guitar in the mix. In "H! VLTG3" by Linkin Park in their Re-Animation album, the Voyages exhibits its remarkable bass extension, the bass drops and bass guitar is delivered with outstanding clarity and zero bloat, so you can immerse in the musical journey through the deep ocean.
- Mids:
In this area, the KBEar SR-8 Voyages excels in quality. In the lower mids, the midbass bleeds into the lower mids, but the male vocals are well putted and not so recessed.
The mids go into that classic V-shaped dip until 600 Hz, elevating into a warm pinna gain with a first peak at 2.5 kHz, in a very transparent way, with good note weight, offering a good amount of presence and resolution, it has another peak at the 4.5 kHz region, a smooth elevation for female vocals who are forwarded.
In songs like “Changes [In The House of Flies] (Acoustic)” by Deftones from their album “B-sides & Rarities”, you can feel how the Voyages delivers the conjunction between the slow yet groovy rhythm of the track and that Chino Moreno voice. In “We Shall All Bleed” by Deadlock, you can dig the male and female vocals in a natural, so pleasant, and enjoyable way.
- Treble:
The KBEar SR-8 Voyages delivers a nicely transparent, natural, crisp and sharp treble with sparkly and a non-offensive character. It is very resolving, and with plenty of technical perks, with a nice dip at the 6.5 kHz and 10 kHz regions to tame sibilance at mid to high volumes.
In songs like "Reject Yourself " by Killswitch Engage, the Voyages handles nicely all the hi-hats and cymbals in the track, with no bloat or sibilance at all. In “Are You In?” by Incubus, the pretty dynamic drum work in the song is presented by the Voyages with excellence, all those nuances are present and noticeable in the critical listening of the catchy song.
- Technical capacity:
This wonderful KBEar SR-8 Voyages, justifies its excellent value proposition with an airy delivery and a wide and deep soundstage, delivering a holographic and immersive experience that enhances musical enjoyment and critical listening. The Voyages offers a more than average instrumental separation and resolution, with a well-done layering of macro and microdetails.
In very full of nuances tracks like “Sultans of Swing (Live At The BBC)” by Dire Straits, you can continuously observe the intricate microdetails of the song and the precise positioning of the instruments, the Voyages delivers a fully immersing experience definitely. In “Always Somewhere (Live)” by Scorpions from their Acoustica album there’s the sensation of being in the concert, so close to the band that you can hear that soft yet so emotional song from the band so gracefully in the Voyages.
Comparisons (similarly priced sets):
KBEar SR-8 Voyages vs. Truthear Hexa:
The Truthear Hexa is a legendary set, maintaining after more than 3 years in the market its status of the Neutral IEM for excellence. This time the Hexa has less technical proficiency (less resolving and a more intimate soundstage), and it is less bassy than the SR-8 Voyages, maintaining its neutral yet musical character, this time my preferences go to the Voyages, it is more balanced and better tuned than the Hexa. Fortunately, the Hexa conserves its legendary character as the neutral sounding reference.
KBEar SR-8 Voyages vs. BASN MMCX:
With a kind of similar tuning, the BASN MMCX is another “old” set, with an exceptional package as well as the Voyages and a very charming tuning. In comparison the Voyages is as the previous comparison, a more balanced, bassy and technically capable set, with both sets being hybrid IEMs. In this occasion, the Voyages outpaces the MMCX with a better treble and lower and high frequencies extension and bass impact, I love both sets, but in this case, I prefer the Voyages.
The Truthear Hexa is a legendary set, maintaining after more than 3 years in the market its status of the Neutral IEM for excellence. This time the Hexa has less technical proficiency (less resolving and a more intimate soundstage), and it is less bassy than the SR-8 Voyages, maintaining its neutral yet musical character, this time my preferences go to the Voyages, it is more balanced and better tuned than the Hexa. Fortunately, the Hexa conserves its legendary character as the neutral sounding reference.
KBEar SR-8 Voyages vs. BASN MMCX:
With a kind of similar tuning, the BASN MMCX is another “old” set, with an exceptional package as well as the Voyages and a very charming tuning. In comparison the Voyages is as the previous comparison, a more balanced, bassy and technically capable set, with both sets being hybrid IEMs. In this occasion, the Voyages outpaces the MMCX with a better treble and lower and high frequencies extension and bass impact, I love both sets, but in this case, I prefer the Voyages.
KBEAr SR-8 Voyages vs. Tanchjim Nora:
The Tanchjim Nora uses a 10 mm DMT 5 Tech Dynamic Driver, but what’s different between it and the Voyages? Well, the Nora got less bass and it is less impactful, so, here’s when the two IEMs sets apart, the Voyages is warmer, less neutral than the Nora, with a bit more of technical capabilities and treble extension, and, tuned for a wider public than the Nora, so, it’s a matter of taste, with both sets you can’t go wrong.
- Source Synergy:
The KBEar SR-8 Voyages with its 20 ohms of impedance and its 107 dB of sensitivity is easy to drive, even with low powered sources for enjoyable volume levels. It doesn’t need more power to shine. I personally prefer to use it with my Shanling UA Mini, Tanchjim Luna AT dongle DAC, as with my Fosi K7 Desktop DAC/Amp.
- Final Thoughts and Conclusion:
The KBEar SR-8 Voyages is splendid, fascinating, cohesive and coherently tuned. It's so enjoyable, it delivers a outstanding musicality, neutrality and technical proficiency, and features a more than good package at a fair price, exceeding competitors in its range. KBEar has crafted yet another magnificent IEM, satisfying both devoted fans and seasoned audiophiles who crave the most neutral/natural sound with good colorations. I’m putting my seal of quality and recommendation for it.
Thanks so much to KeepHiFi for this opportunity, I'm so glad to experience this stunning, well-balanced, so naturally tuned and technically superior IEM, an excellent set that effortlessly earns its place among my top-tier IEMs.
