Hello, today I am featuring the absolute latest from the audio brand KBear named the KBear KB02 ($39). The KB02 was actually sent to me from the good folks over at Keephifi and I am very thankful for that. Now, the KB02 is actually a hybrid iem consisting of one 10 mm beryllium plated dynamic driver as well as a 10 mm “elastic-piece” type bone conduction driver. Now, I’ve never heard of an “elastic-piece” bone conduction driver, but I will certainly get that opportunity when the KB02 arrives within the next week or so. I was actually able to review and feature the KB02’s predecessor, the KBear KB01 (KB01 Review) last year and for the cost it presented a solid option for the consumer. All-resin, gorgeous, nice tuning. So, hearing of KBear’s usage of a bone conduction driver at these prices really had my ears perked. I’m always looking for solid budget sets which compete offering the average consumer good sound at low costs. Really, I am always seeking out price to performance, no matter the price point. I can’t wait to hear the KB02, thanks again Keephifi.
KBear has been around a very long time, mostly sticking to the budget sector. Of course, KBear also has their sister company “TRI” which predominantly offers some more pricey options. The truth is, KBear has always been a player in the game. At times they held on for dear life, and other times… they thrived. Like any brand there have been ups and downs, but they also have crafted and created some real legendary iems too. For length purposes, I won’t list all of those, but I have reviewed many KBear iems over the years. I suppose you could say those reviews weren’t all perfectly positive (most were), but no doubt KBear stuck to their guns and kept moving forward. I will say that there is another aspect of the KBear brand which has been a huge success. That is with their KBear cables. I cannot tell you how many KBear cables that I’ve purchased, but it’s a lot. In fact, one of my absolute favorite budget cables is the KBear Chord 4.4 Balanced. Truly, an under-appreciated cable that everyone should strive to own. KBear has also dabbled in dac/amps as well and so it’s easily apparent that they have some capable people with plenty of expertise and resources at their disposal. One thing is for sure, the hobby is much better when KBear is thriving. Let’s see if the KB02 is a solid step in the right direction.
Okay, so I’ve just received the KB02 and I gotta say… not bad at all KBear! I have my thoughts thus far, but I need some long critical listening to ensue so that I can comfortably relay my thoughts to you. Friends, I know that $39 is a ton of money to so many people around the globe and we will really try to get this right for you. Ya know, the competition is fierce in the under $50 price point. I’m sure if you are iem hunting then you already know which sets are available and which ones you have your eyes on. I’m sure you are looking at the EPZ Q5 (Q5 Review), the KZ Zenith (Zenith Review), the Kiwi Ears Cadenza (Cadenza Review), Simgot EW200 (EW200 Review), the Kefine Klean (Klean Review), KZ PRX (PRX Review), Celeste Wyvern Abyss (Abyss Review), KZ ZS12 Pro X (ZS12 Pro X Review), EPZ Q1 Pro (Q1 Pro Review) amongst many, many others. It is a loaded bracket which does make it more difficult to make a purchase. Granted, it’s a good problem to have. Well, now that I’ve had time to delve into the sound a bit, I think that I’m ready to get this review underway. So, without further ado, the KBear KB02 everyone…
I received the KBear KB02 from Keephifi as a review sample and in exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. This set is a review sample iem. Keephifi has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to Keephifi, and thanks for reading.
-Build Quality is nice for the price (all-resin)
-Design is very well done (my opinion)
-Bone-conduction driver for under $50
-Decent accessories, many eartips
-Very nicely tuned for the cost, fun, well balanced dynamically
-Nothing too strident or too bright
-Nice vocals
-Overall non-offensive
-Spacious stage
-Timbre isn’t bad, it’s just….
-Not a detail monster
-Folks, for the cost it isn’t easy to find downright flaws and “cons”
–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
The KBear KB02 arrived at my home in a medium sized box (what’s medium Chris?) with a sleeve adorned in a nice graphic of the KB02 on the front cover. There are some specs & highlights in the back as well. Take off the sleeve and you are met right away with the nice looking all-resin KB02 sitting pretty in foam cut-outs. Right next to the earphones is a small box which contains the rest of the accessories. Those would be the eartips, and the cable. Really, there isn’t a whole lot to the packaging, nor should there be. This set costs under $40 friends. We really shouldn’t expect lavish inclusions. Though, the unboxing is not bad at all, par for the course actually.
One thing which kind of surprised me was the haul of eartips that KBear provides with the KB02. Believe it or not, KBear actually hands out nine pairs of eartips within the packaging. I never would’ve expected that. Granted, I did top-roll to the KBear 07 eartips, but the provided tips are nice, nonetheless. To be exact, they give you three pairs of three styles of tips. In all actually, they are all pretty similar. All semi wide-bore silicone eartips, yet all are very flimsy in the flange. The first set of three pairs (S, M, L) of dark gray silicone tips with semi-wide bore eartips have flimsy flange rigid bore. The next set are three pairs (S, M, L) of white silicone eartips which are a touch firmer at the flange (still flimsy) and also have a semi-wide bore. The last set of eartips are very similar to KBear 07 tips yet once again very flimsy. Those are three pairs (S, M, L) of gray flanged tips with an orange stem. Once again, semi-wide bore. So, all the provided tips are basically the same exact eartips yet with different colors. Eh, there’s a hair difference in rigidity of the flanges, but they are all very flimsy. However, once again, I did use the KBear 07 tips with the KB02.
As far as the cable goes, it’s simply a cheaper KBear cable. Nothing inherently special. It works, I can tell you that. The included cable is black, braided, high-purity OFC (oxygen-free copper) cable with 2-pin connectors and it terminates in a 3.5 single ended jack. The cable is rather thin and not the most aesthetically pleasing with such a gorgeous iem. For all intents and purposes the included cable is great, however. I had zero issues with it, it does its job, and it doesn’t take up a lot of room or weigh down your earphones. That said, I quickly swapped cables to the Nicehck IcyMoon 4.4 balanced cable. I’ve purchased many of the IcyMoon cables which I use for budget sets, and I absolutely love it. It’s a beautiful look paired with the KB02, and the sound is an obvious upgrade. I certainly recommend you pick one up. At any rate, I understand very well that these brands aren’t going to provide some $25 cable with a $39 set of earphones. That just won’t happen. Still, the cable provided is not bad at all and works as Intended.
As far as the actual quality of the KB02’s build is concerned, I think that KBear really did a solid job of crafting a very clean all-resin set of earphones. Of course, it’s like any all-resin iem, but it’s nice. No rough seams, no jagged edges, no glue, all smooth, rounded corners, it’s nice. Now, the KB02 is rather large to be able to accommodate the 10 mm DD, and 10 mm BC. The nozzles are roughly average length, not too short and shallow fitting and not very deep and penetrative. KBear provided what appears to be a silver-colored aluminum nozzle which does make this set look a bit more premium. The nozzle itself is about 6 mm in width, so they too are about average as well. In the grand scheme of things, the KB02 is built pretty darn nicely against the rest of the under $50 market. It’s nice to see all-resin sets at these prices.
Now the design is where KBear really stepped up their game as the KB02 is a very nice looking iem. KBear made sure to add a few different colorways to suit your aesthetic preferences. The KB02 comes in Brown, Blue, and Purple. Obviously, the set that I have is the dope looking purple set. It may be hard to see in the pictures, but the faceplate area is a very nice tapestry of marbled glittery colors. Very nice to look at. To add to that, the faceplates were actually artistically painted by hand. How many budget iems are actually painted by the hand of the maker? I’ll answer that for you… not many. Friends, in my opinion KBear knocked the design out of the park! For the cost to own this set it is very cool to see KBear going all-out to provide a very nice looking iem. To be honest, the KB01 was also a very nice-looking all-resin budget iem as well. Truly a nice job.
This should be relatively short but KBear decided to add in two drivers to create the sound that they were shooting for. They used a 10 mm beryllium plated dynamic driver as well as a 10 mm elastic-piece type bone conduction driver. Now, I don’t know if the BC is just a variation of a BC driver. I’ve never heard of an “elastic-piece” bone conduction driver. I’m assuming it’s made of some sort of rubber, silicone material. I can tell you this, I do hear the hollow and metallic rebound effect when I tap on the shells. Also, the questions will come. They already have in fact. I’ve had many personal messages asking me if this is a real BC Driver. Well, I would say that yes, it is. In that, I can feel a slight touch of haptic feedback on some bass drops, bass guitars, and other areas of the mix as well. It’s very slight. However, the BC driver is most certainly doing “something”. This I can assure you. It takes a strained ear to really pay attention to it, but it works. At any rate, I definitely feel the beryllium plated DD is a solid driver which doesn’t break down in distortion on higher volumes and stays in decent control. Not bad.
I would say that the KBear KB02 has a nice fitment for my ears. Nothing about this set is uncomfortable or non-ergonomic. It’s a very comfy set. Perhaps it may be a hair too large for very small ears, but that’s about the extent of issues which should arise. Obviously, you need to find appropriate eartips for your ears which create a good seal. Using the KBear 07 tips I am a happy man because the KB02 fit me like a glove. As I always say, I have zero idea how the KB02 is going to fit you. However, I’d venture to guess that the KB02 will be very comfortable and fit very well for most people.
The KBear KB02 is rated with an impedance of right around 40 ohms and has a sensitivity of about 108 db’s. No doubt the KB02 is a fairly sensitive iem which can sound very nice even off of lesser powerful source devices. It really doesn’t take much to drive this set, at all. In fact, I’ve used this set with too many sources to list here. To name a few, I used the KB02 a lot with my Fiio UTWS5 when out and about. Or, my iPad, my LG V60, and just for my review purposes I used many cheapo Amazon dongle dacs. Every device was able to reach a decent volume level. However, the KB02 does respond very well to power. I don’t know if it’s the beryllium plating or the bone conduction driver which responds better using more output, but I can tell you with conviction that the KB02 responds well. With my EPZ TP50 I used high gain which is a nice pairing. The Shanling H0 with high gain enabled is also a wonderful device to show off the KB02’s decent scaling. Yet without question the best sonics come from my much more expensive daps. Most certainly, if you have a source with a bit more output power on tap, plug in the KB02 with a 4.4 or 2.5 balanced cable and enjoy.
Personally, I enjoy many different tonalities from different sources with the KBear KB02. I don’t think that one source tonality (bright, cold, warm, neutral) in particular suits the KB02 better than others. I suppose that for me I simply want a clean source. The better the source, the better the sound. However, brighter source devices can embellish the brighter dynamics of the KB02. I don’t think it’s a clear issue though. In truth, most source devices pair sonically just fine. It really all comes down to you, and what you enjoy. Maybe this will help, out of my dongle dacs I most enjoy the EPZ TP50, the Simgot Dew4x, the Moondrop Dawn 4.4, and the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus. Eh, the Aful SnowyNight presents the KB02 nicely as well. Out of my daps or more expensive dac/amps, I’d say that the Fiio Q15 and the Shanling M6 Ultra were my favorites. So “for me” I feel that neutral to neutral with hints of warmth are what I enjoy the most. The KB02 has a nicely V-shaped sound to U-shaped sound with a low-end tilt, but also a slightly energetic upper half and so sources which lean heavy one way or the other may influence the sound of the KB02 in a less balanced way. Still, in my opinion I don’t think that the KB02 necessarily only “synergizes” with certain tonal pairings. Again, it comes down to you, and what you prefer.
Basically, try to find yourself a cheaper dongle dac, doesn’t have to be the most expensive. Something with some decent juice to it. At least 50-70 mw @32 ohms. Something which will push the drivers a bit, wake em’ up. Notwithstanding, almost all dongle dacs will provide much more than the 50-70 I just mentioned. If you can, try to find something neutral to warm/neutral in tonal color and you should be good to go.
*Note: before I begin the sound portion of this review, I need to mention that I did let the KB02 burn-in for a few full days. I don’t know that exact amount. However, I do feel that the KB02 slightly benefitted from this. Less metallic upper-mids, less splash in the upper treble, tighter in the low-end. Of course, there were also days in between which could mean that I’m just dreaming it up. Also, I’m sure you can simply just “listen-in” just as easy. I use flac or better files which are stored on my devices for all critical listening. The eartips that I used for critical listening was KBear 07 eartips. I mainly used the UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) Android music app for most of my wired listening. For any Bluetooth listening I used Poweramp.
The KBear KB02 comes across as very fun! I feel that I can say that and just end this sound portion. It’s simply a fun set. Certainly, a Harman tuned iem which resembles its predecessor, the KBear KB01 (KB01 Review) in many ways sonically. I reviewed the KB01 back in December of 2023 and at that time its only real fight was the Kiwi Ear Cadenza and a few others. At any rate, there are some differences in stage, note presence, and the KB02 is a hair more contrasted dynamically, but really the KB02 is a KB01 with a BC driver. The bonus is that I feel the KB01 is still a very solid budget set. Appropriately enough, the KB02 is a certain upgrade. Without question.
Big dynamics. Slightly warm of neutral with a definite focus in the low-end and upper-mids. The KB02 has very expressive macro-dynamics with very nice tonal contrast. The timbre is not bad at all, but the BC driver does emit some hollow rubbery reflex sounds from time to time. Nothing which bothers me, but I should at least speak on it. So, for the cost I am definitely okay with this set. The KB02 has a very euphonic presentation which I assume is mostly due to the DD resonances created in tandem with the BC driver. It had a very nice stage presence, good depth too. I certainly wouldn’t call the KBear KB02 anything close to a technicality-first iem, but it is fairly nice with the technical stuff despite that. The sound is relatively clean so long as the track isn’t full of bass energy. I found that note weight past the bass is “slightly rich” with minimal bass bleed as the bass does not encroach so much that notes feel and sound heavy or sluggish. If that makes sense. Furthermore, most notes do have pretty nice presence in the mix with a cleaner approach. Certainly not too warm or weighted, and definitely not a veiled sound. It’s an open sound, there’s some sparkle, some shimmer, and some levity to the sound past the low-end as well. Guys and gals, I just want to get this out of the way; the KBear KB02 is a nice option for the cost.
Again, the KB02 is not a technical beast and won’t satisfy pure detail-heads as the KB02 is not tuned in an analytical fashion. While there is plenty of upper range air and brilliance, which is usually great at helping to illuminate the details in music, the low-end’s 12 dB bass shelf acts as the foundation on this budget set and can blur some of the fine lines. To a degree anyways. Obviously, some tracks will yield much better results than others. Having said all of that, the KB02 also isn’t deficient in the finer stuff either. It simply isn’t going to draw your focus towards details. That’s it. To be honest, I feel the KB02 actually has a decent balance of musicality and technical ability. Certainly, it leans musical and somewhat organic, but the word “musical” doesn’t perfectly define this set to my ears. In truth, you may be at least marginally surprised at the KB02’s relationship between emotionally charged harmoniousness and its ability to provide discernable details.
Now, the bass is fairly big, it booms, it goes deep, and it is not an overly fast bass. There is some sort of a haptic resonance which has some lingering effects, likely due to the BC driver. Very, very slight. However, it has a very physical bass and a full-bodied bass. Also, it’s not all encompassing either. It’s nice. The midrange actually has such a nice tuning for vocalists. They are very nicely weighted, moist, yet also energetic and decently centered in the sound field. I wouldn’t call them perfectly organic though. That goes for instruments too. Yet that also doesn’t mean they’re bad timberally either. I’d say the mids “lean” organic, with a holographic style harmonic echo which adds almost a trippy element to this region at times. Not all the time though, which is weird. The treble has some spunk to it, some real nice emphasis too without coming across offensive. Not to my ears anyways. It’s got some brilliance, it’s smooth, it isn’t overly artificial or splashy either. Really, it’s a fitting treble. Details are decent as well. Definitely not so much that your minds’ eye is paying too close attention to those details, but they are there. About average. Separation is about average as well. Imaging is also pretty solid for the cost while the stage is fairly large. Let’s check out each 3rd of the mix in greater depth shall we.
Like I said in the condensed portion of my review, the bass has a very rich and full-bodied sound. Please do not expect some snappy bass with lightning quick reflexes because the KB02 will not be that. The BC driver seems to add some sense of depth as well which seems to unlock some “unattended-to” side of my brain. It’s the illusion of depth through haptic recognition. Any deep and heavy sub-bass will provide some haptic FEEL to your music. However, the KB02 provides that FEEL to a slight degree on even the upper bass, lower-mids, through to the upper-mids. Again, don’t get too excited because it isn’t going to change your life. That said, isn’t bad at all? It’s a very subtle feel though, and not every track is going to be as evident as others. Now, the bass is fairly well emphasized, it’s meaty, even bulbous in its robustness & breadth. Notes are wide, not acutely pointed in attack, somewhat softer at the crest of each note, though not entirely pillowy either. I hear nice density and solid extension into the lowest of lows. Fans of earthy, well textured, atmospheric and rumbly bass will likely enjoy the sub-level bass here. However, this is not a basshead set. Not enough weight down low and a hair too much upper end levity to offset the bass. Also, I would not refer to this bass as inherently “muddy” or “bloated”. Especially for the amount of emphasis. KBear did a nice job of gliding into the mids before that occurred.
Now, the sub-bass has plenty of mass fused rigidity to it. It goes deep and can reach some chasmic levels of guttural rumbles when a track calls for it. Tracks like “Tell Me What’s on Your Mind” by The Decemberists is one such track. The KB02 will certainly reciprocate the intent of the artist on this one with a heavy handed and very low droning growl. It’ll go deep ladies and gentlemen! I’d say that the sub-bass undeniably carries the weight of the bass as a whole. It’s definitely a bass which offers solid vibratory goodness to those who feel that is a good thing. Others who don’t enjoy so much emphasis may have different thoughts. Yet again I don’t feel this is quite basshead levels. It’s penetrative, very physical, and even well textured, but it isn’t as eye rattling as some iems created for that purpose. The rumble extends its residual harmonics a bit, not super snappy but nice for the overall girth of the sub-bass. You can only get so tight and condensed with a budget set using budget drivers. Still, I can’t say that I’m not impressed listening to “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk and hearing those quick bony beats, one after the other while the KB02 keeps a clean edge in each one. Nothing coming across smeared or blended whilst also providing concrete style density. It’s just… Fun.
Now, the mid-bass is patently less intense and less thick than the adjoining sub regions. That said, the mid-bass still adjoins. It isn’t rolled-off by any stretch and plainly provides more than enough exuberant slam for any track I threw at the KB02. Bass guitars always have enough plump and mean growl, generally full-bodied, never a disappointment there for me. Kick drums, double-bass, lower range cello and viola, kettle drums etc. all sound well matured and full enough in their timbral approach. Again, there’s almost a very small resonant haptic feel to the sound with this set. It isn’t distinctive to the point that it becomes annoying, but it certainly adds a hint of something extra to the sound. The mid-bass has plenty of punch and does carry some good impact too. Now, the mid-bass is a hint soft on attack and doesn’t have that hard-edged note surface all the time, but all-in-all I don’t find the mid-bass too soft or pillowy, which is nice. Another nice thing about the mid-bass is that it doesn’t encroach or overstep upon the midrange in a negative way. It doesn’t really mud the mix, so to speak. I’m sure some people may have a differing opinion than me on that but in the realm of bass heavy sets, the KB02 is far from a mud fest. That all said, the mid-bass does add a very nice amount of warmth to the mids, a slight bit of weight too while not stealing very much clarity. So, it’s a nicely tuned region. Not bad at all KBear.
The obvious issue that some hobbyists will have is with the actual bass shelf itself, or the emphasis afforded to the bass. I think we all know plenty of folks who simply cannot handle too much low-end weight in their music. There are many days where I feel the same way too. Sometimes it’s just too much. Too warm, less clarity, less transparency, and too much bass will mask certain frequencies in music as well. No doubt about it that the KB02 can and will do some masking (depending on the track). Some finer details will get lost to the boom. The low-end on the KB02 is pretty good about it and the downhill slide into the midrange followed by a type of “bass-tuck” just past 150hz (which “at times” accompanies a bone conduction driver) finally flattening out just past 350hz. Really a long and steady downhill slope which helps in the overall quality of the bass. At the end of the day, you people know what you want. Do you like a heavier bass? If so, then I’m sure you have at least a slight idea about some of the downsides associated with a plumper low-end. No this isn’t the KZ Zenith’s tight, punchy, and snappy bass, or the EW200’s well-defined and clean bass. However, for what the KB02 offers, it’s actually very nice folks. I enjoy it quite a lot.
The mids on the KBear KB02 kind of caught me off guard. What I mean is that they are more prevalent in the frequency than I would’ve guessed. I thought for sure the KB02 was going to be a typical V-shaped recession which draws the midrange away from the listener making them duller in the process. Nothing could be further from the truth. Now, the low-mids are a hair pushed back but they aren’t distant or boring to me. I thought I’d hear really thin midrange notes. In spite of that assumption, note weight is nice. More natural in weight and with subtle richness. Yet not heavy or too convex in body. I’d characterize the midrange on the KB02 as being musical, nice warm clarity, open sounding, good vibrance. For all intents and purposes the midrange is actually more forward than it is recessed. Also, transients come across pretty naturally in my opinion. I wouldn’t call them “fast”, and I wouldn’t call them “slow”. I don’t hear cut-off or pruned harmonics, while in the same breath most notes run until their perceivable completion.
I hear very nice coherence, some clean lucidity, and a palpable sense of surface tactility sounding more textured than it isn’t. The midrange is smooth without losing out on some crispness in the process. Not to the point of crunch, or pointed snap, but still crisp enough to finish off the last little bit of harmonic edge on an acoustic guitar, or at the crest of notes in percussion. To add to that, the KB02 also exhibits a definite luminance or vibrance, a certain vivacious energy which usually doesn’t walk over the line into sharpness (I did say “usually”). There’s some control there. However, I’ll echo what I said earlier that the KB02 is not first class in its technical approach. Like I said, it definitely leans to the musical side of the aisle and can really help draw emotion out of most tracks which tend to exude such a thing. Detail retrieval in this region is clearly decent for how it is tuned, and separation of instruments is actually quite nice, but not class leading. About average. The midrange is quite open sounding with good amounts of air and note weight is not too rich and voluptuous which helps separation to sound pretty distinct.
The low-mids are probably the least awesome area of the mix while still coming across pretty nice in the process. Confused yet? They simply aren’t as energetic and etched-out as the upper-mids for example. There is a slight recession as well, yet at the same time the low-mids have good clarity even though they are slightly hooded in a subtle warmth. Male vocalists sound pretty nice actually. There’s enough weight to sound authoritative and enough of an edge to not sound overly smooth, or less defined. Dermot Kennedy sounds nice in his track “Rome”. His voice is well highlighted against the rest of the melody. I could say the same for almost all male singers. Like Chris Stapleton in “Tennessee Whiskey”. His voice is always edgy with his southern twang and the KB02 does a decent job of projecting the inflections in his voice. Surely there are iems within the price point which can reproduce better male vocalists, but I have nothing to complain about here.
Now, the upper-mids are positively more forward, more energetic, more vibrant and just as smooth. I find vocals in this region have decent presence, as though they’re almost embossed against the rest of the mix. There’s some depth of field there. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s 3D sounding, but the sound certainly has some perceived dimension. I have a sneaky suspicion that this is an after effect of the BC driver. Maybe? Again, there is definitely a euphonic type of sound as well too. Also, the upper-mids are thinner and less rich sounding than the low-mids without coming across as outright “thin”. Having said that, the upper-mids have an appropriate note weight paired with a lively approach. They have a nice sparkle to them and rarely come across as harsh, which does very well for instrumentation and vocalists (mostly female). That’s not to say the KB02 won’t have some glare from time to time, but for the better part of my listening I’d say the upper-mids have nice control. They’re sprightly, bright, and fairly well detailed. Timbre and tonality come across fairly naturally, though the thinner and more vivacious energy does skew that a bit. So not perfectly natural. You have a somewhat substantial emphasis in the upper mids, but the pinna rise is a nice and long ascent of around 11 db’s (give or take). KBear did a nice job of keeping this area under control, no screaming mids, smooth yet decently contoured notes, and some nice resolution for the tuning, and for the price.
I like the amount of openness in this region. There’s a lot of air, nice note separation, there’s some buoyancy as I find the upper-midrange notes have a feathery and softer demeanor. Less rigid in note structure, yet very engaging and still handles emotional passages of music rather well. The track “High” by Caitlyn Smith is one which shows off this “feathery” sound as her “feathery” voice begins softer, somewhat silky even with the KB02. However, the chorus becomes very hectic, chaotic, and passionate. Believe it or not the KB02 really performs this section of the song well for a single DD with a BC. Her voice is very uplifted, even resounding, without sounding grating. Furthermore, the sound as a whole isn’t just a mishmash of instruments smeared into the background like so many budget sets. Or the track “Yellow Roses” from Ilsey is really great with the KB02 in my ears for the price. Again, soft, feathery, yet nice presence, not too dry. Really a nice sound for a $40 iem.
Again, I thought for sure the midrange was going to be pushed-back, more drab, and simply less vivid. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The mids are actually quite tuneful, musical, and have very nice tonality. Add to that the vocals are very well positioned, dead center, and the stage as a whole has a certain immensity, and spatial dimensions are nice to the ear. Obviously the KB02 is not considered “mid-centric” and they don’t specialize in this area. However, the midrange comes across well-tuned for me. Perhaps, the timbre isn’t perfectly natural or organic sounding, but it definitely leans in that direction. Instruments mostly have the snap they need, the sheen of brilliance at the outer edges of notes, good note body, very clean for the tuning as well. It all comes together nicely.
I think that if I were to nail down some issues with the midrange, I would first say that analytical heads may not be too enthralled with the KB02. Like I said, the KB02 isn’t the most technically adept iem. It certainly isn’t “bad” either, but there are definitely iems in the price point which would fit the profile of someone who loves an analytical style sound better. I know there will be those who want an even more juicy and rich lower midrange too. I’d also say that even though the upper-mids are kept in nice control and may not be shouty to me, they will very likely have too much vivacity for some folks. Really though, I am digging here people. Seeking out petty downsides when really the midrange is quite nice.
The treble is one which has just enough brilliance to lift up the tonal color of the entire spectrum. Not bright per say, but there is some effulgent illumination happening. It most definitely is not a dull treble, or a boring treble. The highs on this set promote a more open and airy sound which makes its mark throughout the treble and the midrange. I like that there’s just enough lift in the treble for the KB02 to gain in resolution without it sounding forced. There’s a natural cohesiveness between the regions and the treble seems to fit right in its pocket while it stays in its lane. I suppose I could add that the treble will probably be considered “safe” to some people. Especially treble heads. You don’t have that boundary pushing edge to the treble, and treble bite is not going to entertain even moderate treble heads. However, the fact that this $40 set has any bite or treble punch at all is saying something. Again, it’s simply a nice and fitting treble which doesn’t seek to offend, stays safe enough to not cause fatigue, yet brings some brilliance along the way. I can’t really say anything bad about it. Of course there’s downsides, but those are mostly subjective per the person listening. KBear did a nice job folks as the highs in the KB02 come with a nicely detailed response. It is somewhat dry, but also that slight dryness helps to provide some texture to the sound up top as well. Micro-details are arguably above average for a $40 set barring the track isn’t some bass heavy boom fest and there’s enough of an edge to notes to give some decent enough contour to those notes.
Now, there is some slight bite to treble notes on the KB02, depending on the track. The treble isn’t subdued, dark, flat. Or on the other end, it isn’t too bright either. But I would much sooner characterize the treble as being smoothed-over, less distinct tonal contrast, but great tonally and very nice timbre too. Micro-dynamics aren’t completely lost and there is some good note separation in this area as well for a $40 set. You do have some crispness, some crunch, but nothing even close to what a treble head would be looking for. Of course, any treble head thinking that the KBear KB02 would fulfill their desires for raucous & vivacious treble is highly unlikely and a bad idea on their part. That all said, this region does have very nice control. It simply (logically) doesn’t have the super fine-lined accuracy and acute precision of other driver types, and it doesn’t have that malleable finesse of other drivers. As one should expect. Come what may, the KB02 still has a very nice and uplifting sound which does very well to influence the rest of the mix in a very clean and positive way. Plus, the treble really does suit the overall sound very well and contrasts the bass region very well too.
Extension into the highest of highs is not the best quality of the KB02’s treble repertoire, but in the same breath it also isn’t rolled-off in any drastic way either. The KB02 still has a nice emphasis past 10k though there is a quick drop-off after that. Nothing we haven’t seen a thousand times in the past. In fact, the extension is very similar to the Kiwi Ears Cadenza as well as a bunch of others. Furthermore, the upper-treble doesn’t give me that terrible splash on cymbals and certain harmonics past 8k are actually well presented. Basically, I don’t hear anything artificial sounding to my ears. No typical budget range forced resolution in hopes of drawing out some details either. I don’t hear any sibilance, nothings too sharp for me, and I don’t hear anything too splashy. Perhaps in some very complicated treble passages you’ll come across some smeared treble, but all-in all, nice work KBear.
Of course, the largest gripe that some may have is with those treble-bois who cannot live without that wonderful haptic, physical, biting, and snappy treble with loads of brilliance. On the flipside, those who much more prefer a dark and rolled-off treble will also likely not be down with this set. Really, I can’t complain a whole lot folks. This is a very cheap set and for the cost it is nice. The treble won’t blow your mind, and it won’t make you hear things in your music that you’ve never heard before. However, tonally it is nice and stays out of its own way. A good supporting actor on a solid budget iem.
The soundstage is nice. It’s wider than average, tall, and it’s a reasonably deep stage. I definitely hear some trippy resonances from the BC driver which promotes some front to back depth. Especially in the low-end, midrange, and upper-mids. Like I said, it’s almost a trippy euphonic sound. I don’t “not” like it. Also, it isn’t something which is persistent either. At any rate, the soundstage is a plus for this set. Now, the sound field is a bit more intimate too. As in, the “forward” and “closer” to the listener. It isn’t pushed back and deep. The soundstage is wide, tall, and has decent depth, and is very full sounding taking up all the psycho-acoustic real estate. It’s a nice stage, certainly better than the KB02’s predecessor, the KBear KB01.
Instrument separation is not perfect, but it also isn’t a problem either. In fact, separation is probably average to above average within the price point in my opinion. Again, the KB02 is not some analytically tuned iem with a propensity for the technical side of listening. It’s a fun set, big sound, full sound, bigger bass, energetic too. These descriptors don’t usually indicate a set with strong abilities to separate elements within the sound field. In spite of that statement, the KB02 does much better than you’d think. I’d say the only real issue that it has is during heavy bass tracks. Obviously, with a heavier bass pounding away you will have some masking happening. Well, another aspect which holds back the KB02’s ability to separate elements of a stage is also during heavily complicated tracks. Imaging pretty much follows suit. Probably above average, not bad at all. Vocals always seem to be dead center and everything within the sound field is placed well and easily discerned. The same hang-ups which test its separation abilities also can be a problem for imaging. However, when it’s all said and done the KB02 does a fine job in these regards, for its tuning.
The KBear KB02 is pretty nice when it comes to detail retrieval. No, it isn’t tops in class, or even in the running for it. Yet it does a nice job. You aren’t missing very many details with his set. Once again, complicated and bass heavy tracks can congest and mask the spectrum making details harder to hear. However, transients aren’t slow, the sound isn’t veiled or muffled, and notes aren’t so heavy and thick that the finer details get smudged out. It really is quite nice folks. Detail retrieval is not the KB02’s fortay, but it may surprise you with its ability to illuminate the subtle details. Not bad at all.
The Simgot EW200 (EW200 Review) is truly one of the most loved and lauded iems under $50 and a constant set which is included in the “Best Under $50” debate. I find it impossible not to include this set as the sound is fantastic, the build is fantastic, and the design is fantastic! The EW200 is a single dynamic driver earphone which consists of a 10mm SCP (Silicone Crystal) diaphragm. Just beautiful to look at and one of the most prolific tunings in the price point. I added this set as a comparison along with about three others, yet I only had time for one unfortunately. Deadlines! Anyways, if I were to choose one set under $50 to compare, I felt that the EW200 is known more than any other, which made sense to me. Let’s check out some differences.
To begin, both sets are built very well for the cost of ownership. The KB02 is made using all-resin while the EW200 is made entirely of all-alloy. I think it’s obvious that the all metal set (EW200) is probably a bit more durable and probably built a hair better. That said, I love the all-resin makeup of the KB02. The KB02 is much larger as it houses two drivers while the EW200 is very small. It may be small but it’s substantially heavier than the KB02. In my opinion comfort goes to the KB02. Unless you have miniscule ears. As far as the design, I don’t think I can choose. They are both so well imagined from an artistic perspective. Do you like the classy, elegant, and wholly handsome look of the mirror polished EW200? Or do you like the gorgeous hand painted shells of the KB02 with beautifully rendered glitter covered paint in a marbled design pattern. I can’t choose. Neither set comes with a million accessories. Maybe the EW200 has the better cable, but that’s debatable (a very boring debate). The price is the same, and both sets are tuned a hair differently. Let’s check out the sound difference.
The 1st and most obvious difference come in the overall tonality of both iems. The EW200 is a brighter, airier, and more speedy sound altogether. The KB02 has a more organic presentation with a warmer hue which is cast upon the mix, whereas the EW200 is definitely natural leaning, yet the brightness does bring a hair too much levity to call it “perfectly natural”. Though I will say, both iems have great tonal characteristics. Just two different styles. Two different ways of hearing your music. Equally nice for their own reasons. The EW200 wins out for detail retrieval, instrument separation and spacing and has better imaging. Basically, the EW200 has a much more technical sound, faster transients, and everything is simply tighter. However, “tonally” the KB02 probably has the edge. As far as soundstage, the KB02 has a wider and deeper stage but I can’t take anything away from the EW200 in this regard. Now, the KB02 is much less fatiguing as the EW200 is known for having a more shouty side. The KB02 is also more musically gifted, more fun too while the EW200 is the more mature of the two. Again, there’s drawbacks to both, and also, both sets have some awesome features to their sound as well. Most certainly I would call this a preference battle. You will know very quickly which one aligns with you.
Most certainly the KB02 has the deeper and more guttural bass. Much better for hearing as well as feeling the bass pulsing in your music. The EW200’s bass is a bit tighter and better defined, but the KB02 has better note density and more impact. The KB02 also has a less bright midrange as it actually skews warmer. More mellifluous, musical, and simply more engaging in that way. Not that the EW200 isn’t engaging, it’s just in a different light. The mids of the EW200 are wonderful as well but they are simply closer to an analytically tuned sound. Crisper, more snap on percussion, better clarity, better transparency. The treble on the EW200 is a bit more elated, luminated, and more brilliant. The EW200 has some nice treble punch and bite for a $40 set. The KB02 is smoother up top with less of a chance at sharpness while the EW200 is again, better defined, better detailed, cleaner too. Again, both sets are very good at their price and both sets will have their fans which back them.
What can I say, this was a most definite “preference battle” between two very solid iems under $50. Again, you will know right away which set suits you just by hearing their differences. That said, if you are like me and like damn near every sound signature then it makes it much harder to choose. I like them both and would easily recommend both sets for different types of listeners. One is musical and still pretty darn nice technically while the other is very technically gifted while also having some decent musical talents as well. They measure the same in two opposing sides of the scale. Equal, yet very different. To be honest, they don’t graph worlds apart but they certainly sound very different to my ears. Both are fine sets folks.
The KBear KB02 comes in with an MSRP of right around $40. My biggest question I had going into this was #1: Will I even want to review this set? Obviously, I like it, so I’m reviewing it. #2: Can the KB02 stand against the competition? Now, this is a broader question, with many layers. Still, the short answer is… Yes. Yes, the KB02 can stand against the competition. In some cases, and for some people the KB02 will do better than that even. Of course, you obviously have to enjoy this type of tuning. Well, it should go without saying, but not everyone is going to be a huge fan of this style of sound. However, for those hobbyists who are more inclined towards a sound like the KBear KB02… it’s a solid set. No doubt about it. I even find the KB02 “set-apart” from other sets in its price range with a similar tuning. There is a little something “extra” that the KB02 has. It has its own charm about it. Not to say there aren’t fifty other sets which also have their own great qualities. Let me try to explain why…
I always start out my reasoning with build quality. The build matters. I could argue it matters much less with budget iems, but it matters, nonetheless. KBear has been at this game for a very long-time folks and they’ve streamlined their process with quality materials. The all-resin shells are very nice folks. They don’t appear or feel as though they are just slapped together. This isn’t 2015. The KB02 has just as good of a build as sets which cost two or three times its price. 3D printed and all resin. Next, the design is even better. Look at this iem folks! Hand painted! For $40! What?! The floating ink style of marbling with the micro-glittering effect is gorgeous. The purple (or whatever color you choose) simply POPS against the black underbody and silver alloy nozzles. Basically, it looks DOPE anywhere you go. Who else has some electric purple BADDIE in their ears? Can I answer that? You do. In truth, for the cost there are only a handful of 3D printed all-resin sets which come with the quality of build that the KB02 has. Granted, we’ve seen a huge uptick in resin iems at cheaper prices. Still, the KB02 feels different.
Of course, the real reason any of us purchase anything in this hobby is because we want something which sounds good. So that we can get lost in our passion…our music. There are so many different tunings and so many levels to those tunings. However, the KBear KB02 has a very fun sound with vibrant macro-dynamics and a very musically expressive tuning without losing sight of the more intricate, mature, and technical aspects of the sound either. It carries a big, full-bodied, robust and physical bass that actually doesn’t muddy up the mix as much as it should. It’s clean for its size and bulk. Really a nice bass response. The midrange has this warm and inviting sound with an energetic flare that is great for vocalists. Near natural timbre, vibrant without becoming offensive, forward, nice clarity, and very musically engaging. Throw in above-average detail retrieval, instrument separation, and decent enough imaging capabilities and you have yourself a nice midrange. The treble is easy-going while still coming across with some brilliance, some openness, some air, and a smoother approach. The stage is wide, has some depth, and is very much a full presentation. What I’m getting at is, the KBear KB02 is worth every penny. Yes, it is worth the money to own.
Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the KBear KB02 ratings below, that would be $25-$50 iems of any driver configuration. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $25-$50 sets, of any driver configuration is a large sized scope of iems. So, It should be noteworthy to see a rating above a “9.0”. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.
–Build Quality: 9.0 Well built, 3D printed, clean build
–Look: 9.8 Very unique and beautiful design.
–Fit/Comfort: 9.1 Fit and comfort is very good for me.
–Accessories: 7.3 Loads of eartips.
–Overall: 8.8
–Timbre: 9.1 Organic leaning.
–Bass: 9.5 Deep, palpable, textured and impactful.
–Midrange: 9.2 Highly musical.
–Treble: 8.8 Non-Offensive, sparkly enough too.
–Technicalities: 8.6 Very nice for the tuning.
–Musicality: 9.4 Musicality first iem.
–Overall: 9.1
I gave the KB02 an overall sound score of a “9.1” against any and all iems between the prices of $25 to $50. That means any driver configuration. I decided to stop at $50 thinking of the person who looks at $50 as the absolute peak of their budget. I had a large number of those sets with me during this rating. Due to completing all of these reviews I’ve been fortunate enough to gain many of these budget priced sets. However, take note that I certainly don’t have all of the best sets. Despite that, I feel that I have enough to make a solid rating of the KB02.
Also, please don’t take these ratings for truth. This is only one person’s point of view. I say this all of the time in every review that ratings are almost useless. Logically, ratings really can’t last for any longer than 4-6 months without the entire audio landscape changing, thus changing rating scores. Also, they don’t shed light on all of the nuances that go into an earphone. Or any product for that matter. At any rate, the KB02 received a 9.1 averaged-out score over six different songs (relating to the rating category) and against roughly about 15 iems. No, I don’t listen to the whole song everytime. But I do feel that actually having the sets from the price point that I’m rating the KB02 in helps tremendously to give my accurate thoughts. That said, the KB02 should have a higher overall sound score than a “9.1”. It’s one of those sets which won’t perform quite as good in individual categories and in my opinion should only be judged as a whole.
Man, this is one rating period where I feel that everything speaks for itself. Now, there’s a couple categories that I feel I judged the KB02 a little harshly. Like “Technicalities” and “Treble”. Technically speaking, the KB02 has nice detail retrieval, good note separation, Imaging is good, natural transients, and a larger stage. You’d think it would be much higher. However, being a musicality-first iem, it can’t quite hang in some of these areas over more analytically tuned iems. It’s a shame because the KB02 isn’t bad at all technically. The treble simply isn’t quite as refined as some other sets, and it showed in some high intensity treble tracks. Still, that doesn’t take away from the fact that the treble on the KB02 is well tuned. The rest of the ratings could have gone a hair one way or the other but in the end a “9.1” is a very good score against so many iems.
In my opinion the KBear KB02 will likely not be a set that is universally praised. I’m just being honest folks. No doubt every set on planet earth carries the same warning tag, no matter the price. Be that as it may, the KB02 will be enjoyed by many. This much I can tell you. Honestly, the KB02 isn’t perfect, and it has its oddities to the tuning. Undoubtedly, there will be plenty of folks turned off for many different reasons. Bass is too much, too big, too bloated. Treble is too bright, or not bright enough etc. etc. However, the KB02 is really just a fun set! It’s a good time! It has nice macro-dynamics, the dense bass boom, the sprightly treble and nothing too offensive. It’s just a really nice iem to get your feet moving. The KB02 is a nice first iem. Great for those new to the hobby. It’s great for anyone who simply wants something a little different in their collection. Or it’s nice for anyone who simply wants something which can play multiple genres
well. While the KBear KB02 isn’t exactly “perfect”, it’s still a very nice set, with its gratifying & fun tuning. Definitely a rec from me with the caveat that anyone looking to purchase the KB02 should check out a few different reviews covering it. I don’t know what other reviewers are saying about the KB02, but I have a feeling that it’ll likely get some mixed results. So, a fine $40 iem, but make sure it’s for you.
To conclude my full written review of the KBear KB02 I want to first thank the nice people of Keephifi for offering the KB02 in exchange for a feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I greatly appreciate it, thank you. I also want to thank you, the reader, for clicking the link and I truly hope this review or any review at Mobileaudiophile.com has helped you, at least a little bit.
Now that I’ve wrapped up this review, I hope that you would gain some other perspectives about the KB02. There’s a strong possibility that the next guy to me will not have the same opinion that I have. Please, check out other reviews covering the KBear KB02. Make sure to do so before you hit the “buy-now” button. Folks, I don’t know why this is so hard for some to understand, that we are actually all very much different. I cannot tell you how agonizing it is that hobbyists can’t understand this truth. We are different. One will love what the next one hates and vice versa. It’s a fact of life. Also, this hobby is thee most subjective hobby on planet earth! No doubt about it. Maybe wine tasting is a close second, but the audio game is highly personal. Name one more personal to the hobbyist. The point is… we’re different. So, read, listen to, or watch other perspectives covering the KB02. I want you guys to be happy with your purchase and get it right. Beyond all of that, I think I’m done. Please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!
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