Pros: ~Beautiful and comfortable shells
~Comes with TRI Clarion tips, which are a perfect pairing
~Polished, refined, and sweet treble
~Lush vocals
~Ample bass that adds density and organic tonality
Cons: ~Treble-lovers might want more incisive note edges
~Lovers of the crisp microplanar driver will find the Mirage is tuned to be richly organic
~Detail and separation during intense tracks is not the best
~Sub-bass could be more authoritative
~Not really an all-rounder tuning
The Mirage boasts an eclectic selection of drivers: a 10mm Beryllium-plated dynamic driver for bass, and “warm, engaging vocals;” one midrange BA driver, and two custom treble micro-planar drivers. As such, I was expecting a treble-focused set, but the reality ended up being quite different!
Sound Impressions: 4/5: Smooth and organic with moderate treble sparkle.
~The Mirage, contrary to my expectations, is not a treble master, but is rather boasts a rich and dynamic sound with ample mid-bass, polished and warm midrange and vocals, and safe, non-fatiguing treble that has just enough shimmer to prevent me from dismissing this set entirely for being too warm. The full sound is premium but might not excel at fine details and instrument separation.
Let’s start with the treble instead of bass, since it’s the aspect that I feel will be hit or miss, depending on your preference.
Treble: 3.5/5: A gentle shimmer.
~I have not seen a graph yet besides the brand’s graph, but it sounds to me like a section of the mid-treble is reduced, which likely accounts for the Mirage being so anti-sibilant. That graph shows the treble peaking at 2Khz, then sloping down till 8Khz, then one last spike around 9Khz before another gradual roll-off. This tuning results in a smooth treble sound that has just enough sparkle to bring out details, but I feel it could have been slightly brighter and been even better for it.
~But treble-sensitives will be much better off with the Mirage than the Voyages.
~During my testing, however, I felt the treble should have been more dimensional and detailed. But for most cases, there was enough sparkle for my tastes.
Midrange and vocals: 4/5: Rich and melodic!
~The midrange is a key focus of the Mirage. It’s lightly warm, like a balmy spring day, and focused on ambiance and organic tonality, especially for vocals.
~Those looking for ultra-detailed midrange with a high degree of instrument separation should look elsewhere. Even the Voyages does better in this regard in intense musical passages. Now the Mirage doesn’t sound plodding or muddy, it’s just a little more focused on bringing out the warmth and feeling from the music than analyzing it with a microscope.
~Pianos sound so full and realistic on the Mirage and have excellent decay.
~Vocals, as I mentioned already, are forward, rich, and polished; much better than on the Voyages!
Bass: 4/5: A smooth, immersive foundation.
~Bass response is definitely mid-bass forward, delivering the smooth warmth to the midrange, but is almost entirely free of muddiness. The bass is quite clean and detailed while providing pleasing eardrum pressure!
~The sub-bass, however, is not left behind. It extends cleanly down deep and is not lost in the mix. That being said, sometimes it sounds rolled-off and I could definitely use more sub-authority!
~Bass textures and details are quite good as well. Maybe not the most detailed I’ve ever heard, but I think KB Ear was trying to balance detail with organic tonality.
Soundstage: 4/5: dive into the MUSIC!
~The soundstage of the Mirage is more about immersion and enveloping waves of music rather than ultra-detailed and expansive staging.
~The lush, powerful sound of the Mirage is simply engaging and surrounds you with high-quality sound.
CONCLUSION
I’ve never heard a set quite like the Mirage, and it definitely is shaking up my collection with its suave sound that tricks your into accepting a smoother tonality vs a more detailed, vibrant sound. It has an amazing, premium shell, and is super comfortable with the included tips.
I do not think the Mirage replaces the KB16 as KB Ear’s flagship set, but it rather is a complimentary set. The Mirage’s microplanar treble is incredibly sweet as a bell, but I don’t feel the bass is tight enough to give this $160 set a top-tier rating. And I think that’s okay, because the Mirage is clearly more of a specialist tuning that focusses on organic tonality over vivid detail. I definitely recommend the set but just know that it isn’t going to sound like many other popular sets, especially that price range.
