Preamble: [/B]

The lovely Anna at Keep Hifi has kindly sent out the brand new KB Ear Tourbillon-Pro iems for review with no expectations of a positive review – and that’s exactly what she’s getting.
These iems are priced at $99 USD (can vary depending on what version you choose) and utilise a PU+PEEK+DLC with Blue Diamond Coating Composite Diaphragm and a 10mm Dual-Magnetic Circuit & Dual-Chamber Dynamic Driver.
What does that mean??? Sheesh, don’t ask me, check the website out. Sounds fancy though!!
They have an impedance of 19 ohms and a sensitivity of 101dBmw@IkHz.

I like to add on all my reviews –

I’m listening with my ears, not yours.
I’m listening with my gear, not yours.
I’m listening with my love of audio, and not yours. YMMV…..

Gear:



For the review, my portable gear consists of my trusty Fiio M23 DAP, my Questyle Sigma Dac/amps linked to my Samsung Z Fold 7.

Unboxing and first impressions:[/SIZE]



The box itself is very cool. A Tourbillon is a complex additional mechanism added to old watches to increase accuracy. This is reflected on the box and it looks rather sci-fi and chaotic.
Remove the sleeve and it opens like a book (I love this style) and you are presented with a lovely card. Then, the iems themselves, a black faux leather case with numerous tips, an iem brush and a cloth, all enveloped in black felt casing. A 3.5mm cable sits at the bottom. It’s a nice enough cable but it’s single-ended and I will swap it out for my KB Ear Aureus balanced cable, provided by Keep Hifi also.
A premium experience to be honest.
The iems???? They look amazing!
They look super premium and I love the clear faceplate, revealing the little pink diamonesque dots on what seem to be cogs. KB Ear is inscribed on the side and the machined metal looks indeed upmarket.
And they are heavy. In a good way (see, no jokes about cousin Gunta’s left……nevermind). They are smooth and weighty and the neck is long so they fit beautifully in my ears.



Playlist:

Rob Moratti – Can’t Let You Go
Magic Dance – Don’t Give Up
On Stage - Erik S. Björngard's Time Tripper
Dancing With the Devil - Lynch Mob
Make Us Stronger – Ghost Rider
I’m Good (Blue) – David Guetta, Bebe Rexha

The Important Stuff:



To begin with, these things have some serious bass!!! They are powerful, huge and thick, but not all just syrupy.
They’re as big as Aunty Rennie’s neck goiter (look it up if unsure what a “goiter” is………..).
They are warm and viscous. Sub bass goes deep and there’s a ton of mid-bass. Mids are smooth. Rob’s voice is natural and not in any way forward. It’s present and full without being in your face.
Treble is somewhat “polite”. There’s detail but treble isn’t the focus here, bass and mids are.

On Magic Dance, again, the song is just full and heavy, there’s no other way I can articulate this.
Bass (bass guitar and kick drums) is huge and guitars are present. Vocals are just right. But treble definitely remains refined and civil, not all up in your grille……….
I’m a treble-hugger but I don’t mind this “unique” tuning. It’s relaxed (apart from the massive bass haha!) but exciting with the low end and midrange lusciousness.
Staging is adequate but not huge, as is separation and placement. It’s certainly not crowded or claustrophobic but sounds aren’t all around and separated widely. They’re in my head but not out of it.

On On Stage, the synths are deep, as is the bass, and drums. Vocals are just right and smooth, and the upper frequency synths are there, but for treble, these definitely lean warm.
It’s a very different tuning as so many iems these days just have too much treble, and many have anaemic bass or just overly bloated bass.
I’m not getting bloated sub-bass, it’s deep and powerful. Mid-bass seems cleanly separated, as do the mids. Guitar solos are clear but not bright or crisp. Resolution is probably lacking a bit. This will be tested later when I compare them.

Dancing With the Devil is next and it’s a similar presentation. Bass guitar is deep and drums are powerful and forward. Vocals are present and in no way recessed or pushed forward. Lead guitar is verdant but not snappy or punchy. Staging is again inside my head and sounds are separated adequately. It’s warm, lush and again – viscous.

I had to include Make Us Stronger for bass and staging. And bass is HUGE! It’s deep, it’s commanding. It’s visceral on this track. A genuine bass-canon!!!!! Vocals are well positioned and everything sounds natural (an oxymoron as it’s a digital song).
Staging is good but nothing like I’ve experienced prior. Separation is better here.
This is a very treble-focused song and can sound terrible and sibilant on many iems.
It sounds REALLY good on the TB-Pros.

One more EDM to test – I’m Good (Blue). Again, this is huge on the TB-Pros and treble is dialled back, so there’s no sibilance or crispness up top.

The Tourbillon Pro are made for EDM, I’m convinced. They eat up bass like my aunt Ruby’s appetite at her favourite pie-eating contest. And with the tamed treble, they are in no way fatiguing or aurally arduous.
I need treble so they are a bit recessed for my preferences but young people or those with treble issues, should lap these up like an outback Aussie to a coupla cold frothies!!!!!
And it’s not as though I don’t like them, I’m actually quite enamoured with them. They’re different. They’re unique (in my experience with iems anyway). They’re huge, they’re exciting, they’re fun BUT relaxing at the same time (that does NOT make sense Andy!!!).

A quick comparison (or 2):

I have pulled out the Fosi IM4s for this as I reviewed them recently - https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/fosi-audio-im4-in-ear-monitor.28585/reviews#review-40177, as I distinctly remember the IM4s as having great bass too and they are very similar pricing. I loved the IM4s.

Starting with the Fosis, they have a very nice, entertaining and musical tuning. Quality deep bass, mids are beautifully presented (vocals sound great) and there’s plenty of treble, so clarity and resolution are well-executed.
Next the Tourbillon Pros. Aesthetics and build go to the TB-Pros. And they are just bigger overall. Bass is deeper and weightier and the mids are quite similar on both.
The TB-Pros lack some detail and clarity up top and don’t stage or separate as well as the IM4s, but damn, they’re also a fun listen.
Both iems are different in their presentation but I love them both. Equally. I’m sitting on the fence here, as it will be a preferential thing for people.

Conclusion:



I didn’t think I’d say this, and when I started listening, I wasn’t convinced I’d like these much with their warmer tuning, but damn – after a long session with them, I can really appreciate them!
They are bass canons. They have a lovely full, rich and natural timbre. They look and feel stunning!

Are they detail monsters? Absolutely not.
Do they stage wide and round? No.
Do they separate and place well? Nope.
Are they lush, warm, deep, viscous cherubs? Bloody oath they are!!!!

I would have given 3.5 at the start of the review (maybe a 4 because of looks, build and price), but these are getting 4 ½ stars and they absolutely deserve it!!!!

They won’t be my daily driver, but I’ll pull them out to listen to EDM and music that takes me down under (oh that’s right, I’m here already!!).
They will also be great reference iems to compare to other wannabe bass canons.

Thanks heaps KeepHifi for this opportunity, this was an educational and eye-opening experience for me. I don’t need treble-heavy gear all the time!!!

And thanks again readers for sticking with me, it means a great deal!!!

Product links: https://keephifi.com/collections/ne...osite-diaphragm-hifi-in-ear-monitor-headphone

Headfi.org: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/【kbear-tourbillon-pro-tb-pro】in-ear-earphones-10mm-pu-peek-dlc-composite-diaphragm-dd-hifi-in-ear-monitor-headphone-hifi-grade-tuning-for-audiophiles.28684/reviews