DISCLAIMER: The STA-K was provided to me free of charge in exchange for a review from KeepHiFi. You can purchase them for $49.99
here.Few dual-DD IEMs have truly impressed me, for some reason. Will the STA-K succeed or is it merely an average IEM? When I first listened to them, I thought they were an average set with good bass, but the longer I burned them in, and continued listening and comparing, my appreciation for them certainly increased my rating above merely average.
The STA-K is equipped with a 10mm beryllium-coated, and 6mm PET Dynamic Driver. It’s relatively easy to drive; in fact, it’s the easier to drive of all my dual-DD IEMs.
Accessories: 2/5: Only the basic essentials.~The included 3.5mm cable IS decent, and does well to power the IEM, however, I almost always prefer 4.4mm Balanced connections, so for most of my listening sessions, I used a silver-plated 4.4mm cable.
~Only one set of VERY cheap ear tips are included, but surprisingly, they actually work half-way decently. Although currently I’m using Tangzu Sancai medium tips.
Shell Design, Fit and Comfort: 3/5: Blingy budget.~Faceplate is jarringly blingy. It’s hard to even take a photo of them because they’re so dazzling. Some may like this, some may hate it. I like the clear plastic housing, though; always love seeing the drivers!
~The shells are lightweight and about medium in size. They aren’t the most perfect fit for me, but with the right tips, they do fit well.
Sound Impressions: 4/5~Summary: The STA-K is not tuned like many other IEMs that I’ve tried. The overall tonality is colored by the mid-bass, but NOT in a muddy or thick way; more of a musical way. Treble is not really for treble-heads, but it’s certainly not dark either. It’s a sound that I wasn’t sure that I liked at first, but it’s slowly growing on me, especially when hooked to my powerful Fiio K7BT DAC/Amp.
Bass: 4/5: A Clean Punch.~The bass is prominently mid-bass forward, and it has this transparency to it that’s very interesting—and good!
~The mid-bass does color the overall sound, but in a very nice way that gives organic richness to the sound. No mud or bloat here. The bass impact is hard and clean, in a special way that gets addictive. Sometimes, however, the mid-bass is just a bit too warm to sound clean on exceptionally busy tracks, thus it escapes a 5/5 rating here.
~The sub-bass is less of a focus with the STA-K, but it’s not rolled-off to the extent that I feel it’s lackluster.
Mids and Vocals: 3/5: Not that spatial or magical; rather average.~You might think with all that mid-bass, the midrange would be thick and warm; it’s not. I’m allergic to mids mud, and I’m not finding it here. The mids seem fairly neutral with above-average detail and instrument separation on busy tracks. But certainly, the bass lends a good sense of note weight to the mids.
~Vocals are…acceptable. Sometimes I find them flat or 2D, but they are never harsh or fatiguing, so that fact saves the midrange from an even lower score. They could certainly use some more character or emotion though. Male vocals fare better here though. It’s the female vocals that can occasionally sound flat.
Treble: 4/5: Clear and non-fatiguing.~The lower treble, especially in the vocal range, is not sibilant, which is a huge deal. It’s still clear and detailed without being harsh at all.
~Treble air is not emphasized, but it’s certainly there, and doing its job at bringing the lightness required to compensate for all that mid-bass. Otherwise, this IEM would most certainly sound dark.
~Treble-heads [like me] might want more brilliancy out of the treble, but in most cases, I find the treble to be about just right for most songs.
Soundstage: 4/5: Depth with a pinch of holography.~Yes, the soundstage here is surprisingly good, with a depth that gives a sense of openness. It’s not really an orbital stage, but it definitely gives a sense of immersion and, well, actual stage, as the mid-bass is strong enough to lend a concert-like feel to the music.
~Note Incision and DUD. [Detail Under Duress.]: 4/5.I never found the STA-K to be truly mind-blowing in the technicalities segment, but it certainly is no slouch either, hence the 4/5 rating, which is “very good.” The mid-bass might be a bit too rich for hard Rock/Metal, but it still remains clear and separated enough to rate higher than a 3/5 [Average.]
Comparisons:
I compared all my dual DD sets to the STA-K: Tangzu XuanNv, Shanling Tino, KZ Pisces, and included the 3DD CCA Trio as well. Long story short, the Trio and STA-K were better than the other sets in my 6 song comparison. However, the CCA Trio tied the STA-K, and with further A-B testing, the Trio eventually came out on top.
Here’s some further observations:~VS XuanNv: That lovely Tangzu set has more treble air and clarity than the STA-K, but the bass is not nearly as full-bodied as the STA-K. The XuanNv is a more mature, clean tuning, and rated second place in my comparisons. STA-K has a lusher midrange with richer tonality. Both have very good stage. I like both about equally, with the edge given to the STA-K if I want a bassier playback.
~VS Tino: This elegant Shanling is fairly close to the XuanNv in tuning and overall sound. It’s also mature, refined, and leans a bit more musical than the more analytical XuanNv. The STA-K is more dynamic overall than the Tino, but also warmer, so on occasion, I might prefer the Tino even though the STA-K is an exciting listen.
~VS Pisces: Well, this rogue KZ is a treble-focused, analytical set, and sounds nothing like the rich, bassy STA-K. While I appreciate the incredible treble of the Pisces, the bass of the STS-K won me over more times than the Pisces. If you’re a treble-head, the Pisces would be a MUCH better purchase, and it’s much cheaper than the STA-K. And, despite being fairly treble-focused, the Pisces still has punchy bass; just not on the level of the STA-K.
~VS: Trio. Well, the Trio has an additional driver and it’s more competent, has tuning switches, and is way cheaper. So no, the STA-K does NOT beat the Trio. [and by default, the Vader Pro as well] With some switch settings, the Trio’s treble can have a bit of a glare to it, a slight sibilance that the STA-K has absolutely none of, so if you’re treble-sensitive, you’d like the STA-K better.
BONUS COMPARISON~VS: KB Ear KB02. I know this is a 1DD+1BC set, but it’s a similar price, and also is a rich, musical set. I feel the STA-K’s bass is cleaner and more impactful than the KB02, which has a softer tonality overall. However, I think I like the mids and vocals a little better on the KB02; they’re a bit more natural in tonality. “LUNCH” by Billie Eilish sounds so lush and inviting on the KB02, [likely due to the Bone conduction driver] and the bass is punchy enough to get me dancing in my chair. STA-K has a clearer sound with better note incision, but I think I like the KB02’s vocals better, and the sub-bass might be a bit more elevated than the STA-K.
Conclusion: The STA-K might be pressing against the upper pricing limit considering its sound quality compared to cheaper sets, not to mention the mediocre accessories, but to be fair, I also liked it more than two $80 dual DD sets [Tino and XuanNv.] It’s meant to be a fun set with decent technicalities, and I think it succeeded. So, while some ultra-budget sets might be on the same level, or edging the STA-K out slightly, I think it can still hold its value for sure.
~I like them, but they don't blow my mind. 4/5 Rating!
