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KBEar KB03
Upgraded Bone Conduction + Upgraded Single Beryllium DD + 1 Knowles FK BA
$69 USD

Hi everyone, welcome back! In today’s review, we’ll be talking about the upgraded version of a very gorgeous looking IEM from KBEar, the KB03

Before we get started, a big thanks to KEEPHIFI for sending over the KBEar KB03 for review. But as always, this review will be 100% my honest opinion.

Let's start with the box itself. The box is quite… Random? It's either I’m not getting where the reference of the sword from or something.
Instead of showing the picture of the IEM now it shows a sword.
On the back of the box, there’s the specs of the IEM.

Check Here [NON AFFILIATED] : https://keephifi.com/products/kbear-alkaid-kb03-in-ear-monitors-1-dd-1-ba-1-bone-conduction-hybrid-hifi-iem-earphones-upgraded-vibration-bone-conduction-driver

Unboxing

Here’s what you get inside the box:

• IEM
• 2 pin cable terminated in 3.5mm
• Manual
• 3 types of Eartips total of 9 pairs

Build Quality and Comfort

The build quality and comfort of the KB03 is literally the same as KB02, so I will just repeat what I said previously.
The body is made out of resin and it looks absolutely stunning.

The KB03 NOW is only available in 2 color options, Crystal Violet, this one, and Deep Green

It does not look like a budget IEM at all.
Though one thing I always noticed with KBEar and TRI branded IEM, sadly the previous cons that I said the IEM’s body kinda resonant? The KB03? Yeah, it's still the same.


As for the cable, the exact same as the one that comes with KB02, it just kinda sad looking to be quite honest. Also the chin slider is really unusable, if you try to tighten up the chin slider, most likely your cable is gonna be torn first before the chin slider goes near to your chin.

As for the comfort, IT IS quite comfortable, but again, I do have some issues with the resonance of this IEM.
You really need to have a perfect seal to eliminate those resonances, probably that’s why KBEar provides us 3 different types of eartips in the first place.
For me, the best eartips to eliminate the resonance is to use the DUNU S&S Eartips just like the KB02.

If you don’t have a perfect seal, you can kinda clearly hear the thunk thunk noise when you use this IEM.


Specs

The KBear KB03 is now a tribrid using upgraded Bone Conduction, upgraded Single Beryllium Dynamic Driver and now for the high frequencies? It is handled by single Knowles FK type BA.

I’m not exactly sure what's being upgraded but at least sound wise it does sound better than the KB02.

Also a quick note, the KB03 has a very low impedance rating of only 9.4 ohm.

So to get flat frequency response, make sure you use a low output impedance headphone amp.

The body of the IEM, as I said, is made from resin and apparently it is hand polished.
As for the cable, the page only said it is made with high purity OFC cable and that's it.


Sound

Setup Used:

• KBEar KB03, Stock Cable, DUNU S&S Eartips, Hidizs Eartips
• FIIO BTR11, Poco M6 Pro, Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro, Tanchjim Stargate II, Audio Interface, And a lot more <200USD
• Music from Apple Music (covering J-POP, Rock, EDM, Metal, Jazz, and Rap)

My first impression of the KBEar KB03 is that it is still in a way sounds like the Moondrop Single DD VDSF Target curve, it is very close to CHU2, Aria 2, KATO, Kadenz, which is more or less just like a harman modified with extra mid bass.

The tonal difference of the KB02 and KB03 graph wise, it's almost the same.
BUT, with the KB03, I found the bass to be more snappier, well the marketing material does indeed say that the Bone Conduction driver is now more faster and dynamic.
And the treble actually sounds pretty nice, it is more sparkly but less pokey, maybe it is an indication that KB03 uses genuine Knowles BA. Usually with Knowles BA copies, the timbre is always off, not with the KB03.

But for the overall review, I’m more or less just going to repeat what I said on the KB02 review.

The tonality applies only IF you get a good seal and you manage to minimize those thunk thunk resonant body effects.

Bass: Full sounding, thick, tight but feels a bit dry and unique probably due to the fact it uses bone conduction for the bass.
Bass speed is improved, better than KB02, which is very good, it can keep up with your double pedal metal songs without any issues (if you have the perfect seal)


Midrange: A bit thick and on the musical side, the timbre of vocals and instruments are actually very good. There’s absolutely no metallic timbre for the midrange.

Treble: Smoother than KB02, sounds more natural and still has a very extended treble presentation. Very good detail retrieval for its price, and now it does sound a bit mellow.

Technicalities
For a $69 USD IEM, I would say the KB03 technicalities are very good.

• Stage: Wider than lets say Moondrop Aria 2. The Aria 2 is actually a bit pricier than the KB03.
  Also the stage layering is noticeably better as it feels like the KB03 has more layers and makes it feels more realistic with rendering sound placement.
• Imaging: As always, I would say the imaging is like 2.5D sounding, and what I mean by that ? It definitely doesn’t provide holographic imaging like your flagship IEM, but it does not sound 2D sounding like it just gave whatever random sounds without any depth.
• Separation & Positioning: Very good. Noticeably better than the KB02, I assume the Bone Conduction is only handling the sub-bass until around 200hz, and now since the KB03 has more driver, the highs now handled by the Knowles BA, overall sound now even more separated but still sounds cohesive.
  Definitely better than Aria 2.
• Detail Retrieval: Very Good. It picks up a great amount of micro-details for a $69USD IEM.
  Again, definitely better than Aria 2 from Moondrop.

Comparison

Moondrop Aria 2
Now costing around $100USD.

Build wise, the Aria 2 for long term I guess it could handle more abuse than the KB03 since the Aria 2 is made out of metal. Look wise, the Aria 2 red version looks nice not gonna lie.

Sound wise, the KB03 sounds more thicker from the Aria 2 and has more organic timbre IF you manage to get the perfect seal.

Ironically Aria 2 which only uses one DD sounds more metallic than the KB03.
Usually single DD drivers always won in terms of timbre, but the fact KB03, tribrid IEM sound more organic than a single DD, yep pretty nice.

Accessories wise, Aria 2 has more premium and nicer accessories.

Though one thing I must remind you again, the KB03 just like the KB02 and every other KBEar and TRI IEM, has these issues with their build quality of being very resonant, so you do really need to have a very good seal to eliminate those resonance. Now the KB03 adds to the resonant body IEM list of mine, which is KB02, TRI I3 MK3 and now included the KB03

Conclusion

If you're looking for very good technicalities, mellow sounding more or less similar to Moondrop VDSF Target sound, I can kinda recommend the KB03.

Why did I say I can kinda recommend the KB03? Obviously because of the resonant body.
I cannot guarantee that this IEM is going to work just fine on your ears or not since every person’s ear shape and ear canals are different.

But from a pure sound perspective, hearing the KB03 sounds just like literal KB02 with better technicalities, and now has an even more organic timbre? IF you could have the perfect seal, at least sound wise, it’s worth it.

But if you’re not sure if you're gonna get that perfect seal or you can’t get over the fact that KB02 has this very resonant body, or you just want a very simple wear and forget without needing to tweak anything to get those perfect seal, well your best bet for sub $100 USD probably the Aria 2 or the newest TruthEar Pure is the more safer choice, at least those two IEMs are thunk thunk sahur free.