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Disclaimer: First and foremost, thanks to Emily and KeepHiFi for providing this set for review. While receiving a product for free might influence how I talk about it, I am first and foremost a music lover and a consumer, just like you. I strive to be honest and sincere regarding my impressions and conclusions. My biases are my musical and tuning preferences.
Signature: Neutral, Organic, Balanced (soft V/U-shaped)
Tone: Warm – Neutral
Timbre: Organic
KBEar is a well-known brand oriented toward the budget and not-so-budget market. The KB08 Mirage, this time, carries a 1 beryllium-coated DD + 1 BA + 2 Microplanar tribrid configuration per side, aimed at those who, like me, prefer a neutral, organic, balanced tuning. Let's see how it goes in the tests.
TL;DR: The KB08 Mirage is one of the big players made by KBEAR, packing a 1 DD + 1 BA + 2 microplanar configuration inside; it is an IEM that follows a mostly neutral, organic, and balanced tuning. No matter its price, sitting in the "budget" mid-fi, its warm midrange, nice lower and upper frequency extension, and overall technicalities put it in the relaxing, casual, and balanced/fun category.
The bass is handled by the 10 mm beryllium-coated diaphragm dynamic driver, delivering enough quantity but high-quality sound; the custom BA reproduces a warm yet neutral tonality that never overpowers the other frequencies. The 2× Microplanar drivers handle the high and upper high ranges; rather than chasing a characteristic planar timbre, they offer smooth (yet never dark) highs along with remarkable high-frequency extension, free from any artificiality that might detract from the pure enjoyment of the music.
The KB08 Mirage offers high-quality bass, with a good quantity of subbass extension and midbass impact; it is transparent, decently fast, with a natural decay; it is pretty resolving, and fortunately it is not overpowering other frequencies.
The quantity is not huge, but thanks to the Beryllium-coated dynamic driver, it has an incredible impact and weight; as a mild V-shaped tuned set, the midbass is slightly bleeding into the lower midrange.
The KB08 Mirage lower mids are presented with a bit of midbass intrusion; male vocals are just a bit recessed, yet don't feel thin or veiled. The V-shaped tuning in this set gives a pretty noticeably great midrange, with a nice noteweight; it is warm yet neutral/organic, and has more than average resolution and presence.
The frequency curve comes to 700 Hz and later advances into a warm and smooth pinna gain, good clarity and presence with a peak at 2.5 kHz, later merging with the lower treble; female vocals are forward, and at high volumes don't get shouty or fatiguing, so it's fine to use the KB08 Mirage at mid-to-high volumes.
In this segment of frequencies, the KB08 Mirage is so clean, crisp, and decently sharp, handling the sibilance with a 10 kHz dip, and it's pretty energetic with a noticeable 8 kHz peak; it's pretty smooth yet resolving, and of course not fatiguing in long sessions at mid-to-high volumes; at high volumes, certain tracks have an unnatural tonality for the way the lower treble elevates into the mid-treble peak mentioned, but that's so unusual it doesn't bother me.
In the KB08 Mirage, the upper treble extends nicely and rolls off smoothly, presenting an airy and open sound; the soundstage, thanks to the Microplanar, is expansive, with good width and depth.
The stereo separation is punching above its weight, also with a fantastic layering of instruments. The KB08 Mirage shows a great technical competence; yet it presents average macro and micro detail retrieval, yet it's more musical than technical with that sparkly and sharp yet balanced character, and fortunately you can't notice the planar sheen, so the sound is so neutral/organic, at the verge of being "boring" for the most audiophiles or folks who love a set with more tuning colorations.
With full, detailed music the KB08 Mirage has zero bloating or congestion; the macro and micro details are presented by them so well, and you can pinpoint the instruments across the mix.
The cable is pretty good, well-built and flexible, and matches the shells nicely; it has 2-pin, 0.78 mm connectors and a 3.5 mm single-ended jack. It's zero-prone to tangles or memory, and does not produce transmitted vibrations.
The shells are made of resin; their color is completely transparent, with a gorgeous and flashy faceplate with an "ice cream" design and the KBEar logo in shiny silver. It's well constructed; the housing is lightweight, mid-size (with good ergonomics to fit and use in long sessions), and doesn't seem prone to micro-scratches and fingerprints.
It has one vent close to the 2-pin connector, so you aren't experiencing driver flex; it has a nozzle that fits well in my ears (6.4 mm diameter), but it's more suited to the mid-to-large-sized ear person, so have that in mind.
What comes in the package?
• 2 × KB08 Mirage Earphones
• 1 × QC card
• 5 × sets of eartips (SML): narrow-bore white silicone, balanced-bore black silicone (×2), red-core narrow-bore gray silicone, TRI Clarion
• 1 × cleaning cloth
• 1 × Rectangular carrying case
• 1 × 0.78 mm, 2-pin, 4-core 5N silver-plated, OFC, twisted cable with a 3.5 mm single-ended connector
The KB08 Mirage is a set that implements the concept of a balanced tuning excellently, and delivers a refined and mature yet fun and engaging sound, offering nice value, all of this all at an affordable price, offering also decent packaging and accessories, with incredible results.
I would like KBEar to include a choice for a cable with a 4.4 mm balanced jack, because my experience with the stock cable is satisfactory, but some other folks can be bothered by this and want to use that connection. Also, its nozzles are in the mid-to-big size, not the best suited for people with small ears, sadly.
The bass is greatly implemented, but I find it a bit lacking in midbass impact; maybe that can differ from the KB08 Mirage's great balanced character, but yeah, I also recognize that's me nitpicking for my personal taste. Also, I prefer a tuning with a 6 kHz dip and that 8 kHz peak to add energy and spark to the mid-treble, but a more natural presentation for certain mixes that sound a bit unnatural on the Mirage.
And here is where we talk about how easy it is to drive it. The KB08 Mirage, with its 102 dB sensitivity and 11 ohms of impedance, is easy to drive, even with low-powered sources, but my advice is to use it with a quality warm/neutral or straight neutral and powerful sources (it is more open and impactful, and you can get a bit better technicalities).
In the under 180 USD segment, the KB08 Mirage has the sound quality you can expect for its segment; but some folks can find it lacking some technicalities, punching above its price. Well, the KB08 Mirage doesn't need that; it is not its focus, and that is perfectly fine. I find it excellent as it is.
Can I recommend it?
Yes, if you are looking for this kind of tuning and a coherent, cohesive, and greatly balanced sound, with good and impactful bass, well-tuned warm and organic midrange, a sparkly and smooth but not relaxed treble, a more musical than analytical character, yet having a technical capacity that competes in its price segment, the KB08 Mirage is more than an illusion but a dream for neutralheads like me, representing a competitive option of good value and performance for its price.
• 3D resin-built shells; ergonomic and lightweight, with a gorgeous faceplate design
• Great selection of eartips included, to use it as is
• Excellent sub-bass extension; it's not basshead level by any means, yet it sounds natural, impactful, and never overpowering other frequencies
• Warm, but pretty neutral/organic midrange with great presence, clarity, and above-average resolution, with a nice focus on vocals and instrumentals
• Clean, well-resolved and smooth highrange, crisp and never dark but neither sibilant, with good sibilance control (10 kHz dip), with a great treble extension, so an open sensation, and an expansive soundstage with zero planar sheen
• Average but on-spot technical capacities: stereo separation, layering of instruments, macro/microdetail retrieval, and resolution are still excellent
• It's pretty easy to drive (102 dB sensitivity / 11 Ω impedance), yet pairs better with better sources
• The stock cable included does not have a 4.4 mm balanced jack option available
• The nozzles are in the mid-to-larger diameter, not suitable for folks with small ears
• Bass is more than decent, but lacks a bit more mid-bass impact and weight (but that's my personal tuning preference; your mileage may vary)
• Mid-treble has a dip at 10 kHz to tame sibilance, but not the desired 6 kHz dip for that, which can make female vocals and certain portions of music sound a bit unnatural, resting a bit on the otherwise perfect balance
• No matter that the 8 kHz peak gives energy to the treble, sometimes it is so smooth that it can sound attenuated in the mix (with certain mixes, it's not usual)
• Having two microplanar drivers, you are expecting technicalities punching above their weight, so most audiophiles can see it as boring
• Driver Types:
1 × 10 mm Beryllium-coated Dynamic driver (Bass)
1 × Custom Balanced Armature driver (Midrange)
2 × Custom Microplanar drivers (Treble and upper treble)
• Casing Material: High-quality medical-grade resin
• Sensitivity: 102 dB (@ 1 kHz)
• Impedance: 11 Ω
• Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Cable: 5N High-purity OFC silver-plated, 4-core twisted
• Jack connector: SE 3.5 mm
• Connection Type: 2-pin, 0.78 mm
• Cable length: 1.2m ± 0.2 m
Price: MSRP of 169 USD (you can get it cheaper on sale or in the next 11.11 promotions). Available in 3 color options: Blue, Purple, and Cyan.
Neutral, organic, balanced sound with a soft V/U-shaped tilt. High-quality beryllium bass with great sub-bass extension, a warm yet neutral midrange with forward female vocals, and a clean, smooth treble with zero planar sheen. Expansive soundstage and above-average technicalities for the price.
Great stock accessories including TRI Clarion tips and a quality cable—but no 4.4 mm balanced option, and the nozzles may be too large for small ears. At $169, the KB08 Mirage is more than an illusion—it's a dream for neutralheads.
This article is adapted from and compiled based on Facebook:
Click to watch the original article:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19XHteGDso/
Once again, thanks to KeepHiFi for providing me with this IEM to test, enjoy it, and finally give me the reasons to recommend it as a product that earned my appreciation and liking. And thank you, dear reader, for checking out my review. Please have a happy listen!
Get your KBEAR KB08 Mirage here:
https://keephifi.com/.../kbear-mirage-kb08-in-ear...
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