This hobby is an escapist's dream. Escape from daily routine and distress that's causing you via something as sincere and everlasting as listening to music. I believe that the power of music is still not fully understood since it works in mysterious ways. Allow it to do its magic on you and let your worries dissolve in melody.

Having had the possibility to try so many different sets in a relatively short time I felt obliged to go ahead and express my gratitude by trying to help some lost souls out there, just as I was when I first stumbled upon this weird hobby about wired earphones – so yesteryear! … I thought. Possibilities are seemingly endless and only by getting to meet the right people did I manage to jump onboard the train heading the 'right' direction without getting off-track thousands of times along the way. Make sure to understand the helping person's preferences and you too can find your footing and hit the ground running in no time.

This will be a fully stripped down version of my reviews that I will use for times like this where I either simply and frankly do not see the point of spending half a day to get this all typed up and edited and adorned with photos, or do not have sufficient time to deep dive into all the minutiae and compare various parameters endlessly. I am cutting everything and skipping directly to the graphics while offering an explanation as to why the set landed where it did. Only now and then will I add quick comparisons too. Finally, a quick summary and boom, I let you go on with your day.

I am all about transparency, so to kick it off, this IEM was sent to me courtesy of KEEPHiFi (@KEEPHIFI, store link HERE) in exchange for my review. They have no influence on what I write. And as always, I am grateful for the opportunity. All impressions were written using the stock cable and provided M-sized Tri Clarion tips.


A decent set of accessories in my mind. Of course, as always, more could be done still.


THE THOROUGH GRAPHICS

By now, most of you have come across these playful graphics of mine. I have received so much positive feedback on these that I dare not leave them out!


A pretty balanced IEM that stays close to neutral mark, while technicalities are acceptable but not game-changing.


Only ever so slight tilt to the right on first two scales, while the last scale is far across towards musicality, which I am not complaining about.


Comfort is great due to a tiny shell size with beautifully sculpted and contoured design. They do have a touch of heft to them, but not so much to ever cause an issue once you find your perfect-fitting eartips. Isolation is around the midmark with a closed shell and okay fit against the concha, but not nearly custom-like.

Bass offers a great deal of good! But to start right from the bottom, this is the sort of subbass that plays a supporting role and at no point really screams for attention. Those that listen mostly to genres with lots of sub-60hz information might find it somewhat non-amusing. So when I do crave a dose of electronica or hip hop, I tend to reach for other sets instead. As an all-arounder, this midbass-first approach is the way to go, as long as the midbass is well done and knows when to back off without bleeding into mids or turning into a boomy mess (here I found that TB Pro is source-dependent, which I must add! The Chord Mojo 2 makes the TB Pro a much more blunted sounding IEM with constant low end hum and reduced top end). Thankfully, the Tourbillon Pro really nails the balance of sufficient midbass energy and dynamic swing to do well across many genres, while carefully threading the needle of overreaching into low midrange. This is a very well tuned bass overall and it provides the sort of texture and nuanced information that not many (or any, from my memory and experience) sets at this sort of price are able to provide. This way all drums and bass guitars come across beautifully in a playful fashion and decently detailed.

Midrange, while nice, is where the Tourbillon Pro struggles hiding the fact it is still an affordable little single DD IEM that's simply trying its best. The overall tonality and midrange placement is wonderfully judged to complement the whole character. Expecting great cohesion from single DDs has become the norm (be it in midrange specifically, or through the full spectrum), no matter the price, so this comes as no surprise. Both male and female vocals stand proudly up top in any mix without feeling as if they are competing for attention with the rest of the instrumentation, even in those most crowded, heavily produced songs. There is a great sense of naturalness and timbre is right around perfect without nasty surprises even with those most critical instruments that are so easy to mess up. The midrange impression starts to head south when we start discussing the technical aspect, which leaves lots of stones unturned. Layering is not all that clear and some blurriness can arise, while still somehow leaving the midrange pretty open sounding. All the notes have a slight aftertaste to them or said differently, their existence overstays the welcome. This means the whole sound gains a touch of that flowing sensation, never quite settling. Imaging too, is merely average and still a step behind modern similarly priced all BA sets. Soundstage is completely fine, but the sound never seems to just magically appear from thin air like some great, admittedly much pricier, sets manage.

Treble is so finely crafted and that makes it a highlight of the Tourbillon Pro. Very high-end-like in its delivery that manages the difficult task of coming across as energetic without being tiring – the magic midpoint we look for in all things in life. It offers a good deal of detail retrieval too and almost makes up for the lack of micronuance in the midrange. Hihats, violins, electric guitars, etc. all sound so honed in and textured with great level of musicality to top it off. Sibilance is not an issue and that whole low-to-mid treble area is crafted well which limits fatigue to a minimum. This is a set I could listen to all day, at my lower listening volume that is. Those that enjoy a louder listen may find the balance just a touch too energetic even if I think this is relatively average in spiciness, well displayed by where it lands on my quarter circle graphic down below.

Cohesion is spotless throughout, while I could see an argument made against the connection right down to the bottom into subbass lacking some balance, thus feeling a touch foreign.


It doesn't get much closer to the midpoint. But don't let that fool you, the Tourbillon Pro is full of varied qualities, which end up placing it there in overall terms, but are individually much more pronounced.


THE COMPARISONS

Let's go with three sets that will help me position the Tourbillon Pro. Keep in mind, Tourbillon Pro's price is currently ~85€, but was down to half that this past sale. A similarly priced single DD and a pricier single DD, as well as a very affordable all BA set. This should be nice! Sivga Que UTG, DITA Prelude, KZ AM16 Balanced.



1. VS Sivga Que UTG, 1DD, ~70€

Both are relatively small, but Sivga's shell and nozzle shape makes it a bit of a hassle to get it to fit right and comfortably. Que UTG was always considered a fragile sounding set, but I liked it precisely for that uniqueness. The TB Pro is a bassy monster compared to it. It also betters UTG's texture and just overall playfulness down low. It also digs deeper despite the subbass rolloff. Doing all that as skillfully is not a given at this sort of price. They both manage a very clean midrange, while going about it in different forms. TB Pro manages a big bass that almost blurs the low mids but not quite, whereas UTG is a featherweight in comparison with bass guitars and anything in this range really struggling for attention. The overall midrange is more open on the TB Pro, but UTG's lightness makes a stronger impression and allows for greater detail retrieval. So essentially the UTG sacrifices everything below 500hz and a ton of note weight, but in return you're getting a more sculpted midrange and greater connection into treble. Speaking of, they are both very decent in treble for an affordable single DD. TB Pro is the more accurate, better shimmering, and full sounding up top from the two. Those lusting for musicality and unafraid of slight bass dominance will find the TB Pro to be the better choice.


2. VS DITA Prelude, 1DD, ~130€



Prelude fits gorgeously as well as looks and feels as the more premium product of the two. The Prelude also comes across as a better all arounder thanks to a much more convincing midrange and a bigger sound overall in both soundstage and note weight. I particularly enjoy female vocals more on the Prelude as they are better separated from the mix and carry the message more truthfully. The tonality leans warmer and less enthused with a touch of dullness occasionally seeping through, unlike the Tourbillon Pro that manages to spruce up the sound more, especially thanks to the treble which I honestly feel is better done on the Tourbillon Pro where it provides more detail and dynamics while remaining cleaner in that sibilance range. In the bass department they both do midbass very well with attack being a touch crisper on Tourbillon Pro, whereas the subbass is better incorporated and more lively on Prelude. In short, I struggle choosing a winner which says a lot about the cheaper of the two.


3. VS KZ AM16 Balanced, 8BA, ~30€

Ah, the KZ AM16, why do you have to be so large when it's visible through the shell that half of the space inside is empty. Is it a case of 'larger IEMs sell better, 'cause they feel more upmarket'? It is also noticeably harder to drive. Anyway, to the sound test. Immediately, it's noticeable that KZ is the better balanced set of the two with good connection throughout. A real breakthrough for KZ, as far as I'm concerned. Bass is ahead of the TB Pro in subbass aspect, while the attack or slam of TB Pro's DD is more enjoyable with great response and smoother texture right across the lows. The KZ takes it in all technical aspects, barring the soundstage where I'm getting a more expanded soundscape from the TB Pro. Midrange is a true strength of the 30€(!) KZ, where it leaves the TB Pro behind in layering, imaging, texture, even naturalness. In sibilance area, though, I am quite quickly fatigued by KZ, unlike TB Pro which is smooth as baby's bottom all across that risky area. Thus, the AM16 is soon annoying for anything with plentiful energy, such as Yonder by Klone. The whole treble area can get a touch hot on KZ and it takes away from the splendid midrange. Overall, I cannot choose either as the one to do it all, but advantage goes to Tourbillon Pro solely due to its better handled treble which makes it an easy all-day listen, even if it does not have the midrange finesse of the AM16 Balanced.




THE CONCISE SUMMARY

The Tourbillon Pro is a special little IEM that looks nice, feels quality, and should fit most ears, at an affordable price - that is why it is my new go-to recommendation for those just joining the hobby, as well as others who enjoy this sort of tuning and want an IEM they wouldn't be too upset for losing or damaging while active. Those seeking for a rumbly subbass-driven IEM or those that really enjoy resolution above all else do have some other options that might cater to their preferences more. Either way, truly well done by KBEAR and thank you to KEEPHiFi for the opportunity to give this one a go.

Thanks for reading and stay wonderful.