Sourse: iwatobi
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• Warm, immersive sound with rich vocals and deep, satisfying bass.
• Punchy mid-bass with great impact and texture.
• Excellent imaging & separation—accurate placement of instruments and vocals.
• Wide & deep soundstage for an engaging experience.
• Comfortable fit with lightweight resin shells for long listening sessions.
• Bone conduction driver adds texture & airiness to the sound.
• Fantastic value for the $40 price point.
:
• Bone conduction driver loses control in lower bass regions, affecting extension.
• Stock cable feels cheap & microphonic—a cable upgrade is recommended.
• Treble lacks a bit of shimmer & refinement compared to higher-end IEMs.
• Female vocals can sound slightly thin in certain tracks, depending on source/tips.
• Stock ear tips are average—tip rolling is necessary for optimal sound.
• A pouch would've been nice, but that's just a nitpicking.
Introduction
The KBEAR KB02 is the first IEM to come with a bone conductor driver for just $40. It features a 10mm Beryllium-plated Diaphragm Dynamic Driver and a Bone Conduction Vibrator unit hybrid setup, which is unheard of in this price. It released with 3 colour choices — blue, purple and orange. The bone conduction driver created quite the hype around this IEM. Let’s see what the hype is truly for.
Disclaimer
I would like to thank KBEAR for sending this review unit, and to my friends at Sonic Mantra for giving me the opportunity to test it out. This review reflects my honest opinions. I didn’t get influenced or paid by anyone for this review.
Package Contents
Specifications
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Driver: 1x 10mm Dynamic, 1x Bone Conduction
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Impedance: 40 ohms
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Shells: 3D-printed Resin
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Cable Standard: 0.78mm 2-pin
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Cable Termination: 3.5mm
Driver Configuration
Build & Design
KBear KB02 features a really nice looking sand on ocean like faceplate, which looks absolutely stunning to the eyes. It doesn’t feel cheap to the touch either as its build using premium lightweight resin, which is an awesome move by KBear for the price. Now, the KB logo on the faceplate also looks stunning and the shine just shows the beauty of the faceplate.
Cable
The stock cable was well a disappointment to me. It was really flimsy and felt cheap. Moreover, it had a bit of microphonics and it was annoying to use. I ended up using a different KBear cable. I wish the cable wasn’t like this as it ruins the elegance of the IEM, but considering the price it makes sense to cheap out on some areas to secure a beautiful looking IEM and good sound.
Fit & Comfort
The KBear KB02 has a nice ergonomic and comfortable design. It fits me perfectly, and I didn’t have any problem with the fit. It sat in my ears snuggly without feeling fatiguing or painful. I was able to use it for hours end. It was super comfortable. The lightweight build just make it disappear in your ears.
Another thing is that the bone conduction driver sends a light vibration feel to your ears, which is evident in bass heavy tracks.
Testing Tracks
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Sultans Of Swing – Dire Straits
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Musical Genocide – Gregory Porter
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真夜中のドア / Stay With Me – Miki Matsubara
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Angel (feat. Horace Andy) – Massive Attack
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『broKen NIGHT』– Aimer
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Time – Pink Floyd
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No Surprises – Radiohead
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Toxicity – System Of A Down
Tip-Rolling
The stock tips are alright, nothing too out of the ordinary. I tested few tips such as: Dunu Candy, Dunu S&S, EPro PR01 and the Dunu Balanced tips. I found the following:
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Dunu Candy: The candy tip felt okay, it didn’t bring any drastic difference, but it did make everything feel a bit more open and added body to the mid-range and mid-bass felt enhanced than the stock tips. Also, this tip presented me with a balanced sound and didn’t make anything dominative.
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Dunu S&S: The S&S tips mostly focused on the vocals section and soundstage. It presented a clean, balanced with good soundstage and made the vocals a bit more forward, but made sure to keep out any harshness or sibilance. Also, it had an emphasis on the mid-bass as well, it felt more tactile.
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Dunu Balanced Tip: To me this proprietary tip of DUNU felt like better fit for the KB02. The Balanced Tip as the name serves provided me the right “balance” between the two eartips mentioned above. Good soundstage, opens up the vocals, clean emphasis on the mid-bass and sub-bass.
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EPro PR01: The Propeller tips opened up the soundstage a bit more and gave me the optimal wide and deep soundstage. Of course, it couldn’t simulate an out of head effect, but it was enough for a feeling of openness. Now, it also made the mid-bass a bit more pronounced as in tactility, but not overbearing. It had a superb vocal presence and precise imaging. However, it took out depth from sub-bass.
In my opinion, the Balanced tip and Pr01 felt like the perfect fit for the KB02 and Candy would be the next contender.
Sound
The KBear KB02 has a warmer and enveloping sound presentation. It has a nice bodied, vibrant and intimate sound. In no way does it feel neutral or dull.
Bass
Sub-Bass extends extremely deeply and feels robust. It is well-controlled and doesn’t feel muddy or boomy. Its rumble is controlled and extends incredibly deep. It doesn’t feel domineering or overwhelming. Its depth is incredibly satisfying and has a good authority. However, in the lower region, the bone conduction driver loses its grip and renders a bass with less extension and control.
Mid-Bass is incredibly good on the KB02! It is punchy, tight and has a pleasant texture to it. It doesn’t feel sharp, nor does it feel like it’s overwhelming the mix. Furthermore, it has a fuller and warmer tone. Moreover, it feels extremely impactful and has a satisfying kick to it. Mid-bass’s kick, impact and punching power made me a fan of the IEM. Sure, it sometimes lacks articulation in super complex bass-heavy tracks, but I absolutely loved the mid-bass presentation. I couldn’t ask for anything for in this price range.
Mid-Range
Male Vocals sound exceptionally well-textured, rich, natural and detailed. It feels up close and personal, as if the singer is singing right in front of you. Vocals feel bodied, thick and has good note-weight to it. It also has this nice airiness and warmth, which adds to the engagement. Moreover, I believe the Airiness in the singer’s vocals are enhanced due to the micro vibrations felt directly from the bone conduction drivers. Also, this micro vibration brings out the details of a track in a delightful manner. The vocals just carry this sense of intimacy that I did not think I can experience in such a price point. Furthermore, there is no hissing, sharpness or harshness to the male vocals, which is a huge plus point. The vocals do not feel bloated or muddied either, it is clear without any of the downsides.
Female vocals are quite engaging on the KB02. They are warm, clear, natural, and render with good clarity. Even with the immense clarity, it is free of any sharpness or hissing on the “sh” notes. Moreover, the vocals are rich and sound intimate. The female vocals also have an excellent amount of airiness, and is rendered in a detailed manner without missing any nuances left by the singer. The vocals shine even in busy tracks and doesn’t feel overblown or dominating. The warmth also adds to the engagement of the listening experience. However, the vocals aren’t lush sounding and, in some tracks, it might feel a bit thin.
Instruments in the lower-midrange feels full-bodied and has splendid clarity. It does not feel muddied or overbearing in tracks. It even has this hint of airiness. The same goes for the upper-midrange instruments, they are detailed, clear, and are elegantly rendered. The instruments do not have a hint of sharpness or harshness in them. They are all played in a smooth and loving manner.
Note: The breathy vocals are a bit plastique, too at times. Moreover, the mids are intimate, but lacks the lushy feel. These are expected in this price point and even with these draw-backs the KB02 is an incredible performer for just $40.
Treble
The treble is rendered articulately and has a sparkle in it. It has good presence and does not feel sharp or harsh. Treble is airy and a bit forward, which makes its presence known to the listener without being fatiguing or sharp. The lower treble is well-controlled and has a good level of details and resolution. It is enjoyable and pleasant to listen to. Moreover, the upper treble extension is smooth and feels spacious alongside the airiness. Although it lacks a bit of shimmer, it is well-textured and feels expansive.
Technicalities
KB02 has good layering and separation between the vocals and the instruments. It even keeps up in complex tracks and never fails. Moreover, its ability to pickup detail is impressive in this price point.
Soundstage & Imaging
The soundstage of the KB02 is good, but nothing outstanding. You won’t really feel super out of head, but it is immersive and engaging nonetheless. Also, there is a holographic feel from the Bone Conductor driver.
The imaging part is incredible. You can accurately pinpoint the instruments placement and everything feels in place. There is not a single moment where the instruments or vocals felt out of place and the listener can accurate understand the position everything is playing from.
Conclusion
For $40, the KBear KB02 offers a warm, immersive sound with rich vocals, deep sub-bass, and punchy mid-bass. Its wide soundstage and precise imaging create an engaging listening experience, while the bone conduction driver enhances airiness and texture. However, it loses some control in the lower bass regions, and the treble lacks a bit of shimmer and refinement. The stock cable and ear tips could also be improved. Despite these minor drawbacks, the KB02 delivers excellent value, making it a great choice for those who enjoy an intimate and dynamic sound signature.
