KB Ear KS1: Kilo Sierra Uno

Hello mates and welcome to my another IEM review , I'll do another comprehensive review product from other audio company which has also garnered a number of good following from audio enthusiasts community in the audio scene, KB Ear and their new release entry-level model, The KB Ear KS1.

KB Ear is an audio company from city of Shenzhen. They are one of the new companies emerge from the exciting and dynamic Chi-fi market to cater budget conscious audiophiles yet delivers a good product. KB Ear is also one of the new rising stars in 2020 due to the popularity of their KB Ear Lark and KS2 which are both hybrid driver IEMs.

  Their new product, The KB Ear KS1, is a dual magnetic diaphragm, Single dynamic driver IEM, It has a smooth polycarbonate shell and a 2-pin connector. Its price is around US$ 17 to US $ 19 in online stores and it is quite competitive on that price range.

The contents inside the box of KS1 are a pair of IEMs itself, a black 4-core stock cable with L-shape plug for better ergonomic insertion, 2 pairs extra eartips on other sizes and some paper works such as warrant card and instruction manuals. They are basically identical to their entry-level competitors when it comes to packaging as we can define them as bare-bones.

  As I said, the shells of this IEM is made of polycarbonate with a printed logo of KBEAR, It has a brass nozzle to ensure sturdy and fitting stability on ear tips. It has 2-pin connector that is reminds me of a TFZ style connector which good enough to have a solid connection between the IEMs and cable. The stock cable is black with a L-shaped jack which is a 4-core OFC that is similar to TRNs and CVJ stock  cables which is substantially enough for these budget range IEMs.

I will explain the sound quality and tonality of this IEM as I point out the characteristics that I will hear from it. KS1 has a V-shape sound signature which means an elevation  on bass and a peak on treble region with recessed and linear mids which is good to almost popular music genres out there.

LOWS/BASS

  The quality of the bass has a good balanced texture, very punchy with a good extension of rumble on sub-bass and substantial density on mid bass that has very minimal bleed on the mids.It has an average to sloppy speed on decays too as I noted on fast double bass drum pedals in most metal and rock tracks. Bassheads will find them as pleasing on their ears as they hear that impactful drum kick and that sustaining and weighty sound of a bass guitar.

MIDS:

  The mids are recessed here as I find that some midcentrics tracks are somehow lack of density on male vocals but I find the female vocals more textured and better handled as pleasing and comfortable as I dont hear any form of shoutiness nor nasally sounding. The percussives and rhythm instruments are natural sounding and presented its timbre as organic as you will feel its intensity on each note on different instruments. Midcentrics might probably have an average to lukewarm reception on this one as it was presented forwardly yet some will describe it as it has a lack on note density and some will sense the hollowness on it.

TREBLE:

  I can tell it that it has a safe tuning on treble region. It is neither bright nor dark sounding, just to show up enough details on the tracks, It has an average extension that is lacking of airiness and sparkle as the crashing of cymbals is somehow less delineate and shows some distorted swishing sound and too splashy on my preference.I like a good treble but I want a well-extended and a shimmering one with revealing on microdetails.

SOUNDSTAGE AND IMAGING:

The KS1 has an above average soundstage with good dimension of width and more on depth with it. The layering is somehow just of a mediocre level as I barely to sense the spacing on each row of instruments.Imaging is adequate enough to hear the directional panning of placements of instruments but It is not most accurate set where I can pinpoint it accordingly.

  As I concluded that despite of some imperfections on its tonality and technicalities granted that this an entry- level IEM. This is a still a capable IEM that offers better comfort and it will promise to its user a long, relaxing casual listening experience due to its safe and laid back tuning that doesn't produce any sibilance and harshness. I can recommend this one as a good alternative on hybrid IEMs for less ear fatigue. Honestly, I prefer the tuning of this one compare to Blon-03 as the latter has a boomy bass, bass bleeds on mids, average soundstage and that atrocious fitting.

Pros:

- Affordable IEM for starters.

- Easy to drive on any sources such as smartphone, laptops, tablet, DAPs etc.

- Commendable bassy set.

- Good, clean dynamic tonality.

- No hint of sibilance.

- Light and good fitting seal for isolation.

- Good curve on ear hooks on stock cable as it offer snugly fit behind my ears.

- Recommended for long listening session due to its laid back sound.

Cons:

- Somewhat feels cheap due to its glossy polycarbonate shell.

- Lack of spacing on separation on instruments.

- Not for complex multi-instruments tracks as it will sounds congested.

- Lack of airiness on treble due to its limited extension.

- Average revealing on microdetails.

- Typical contents inside that you will find in a budget IEM segment.

I would like to thank Mei Liu and KB EAR for providing me this product for a review purposes. And once again all my reviews are my subjective analysis and honest opinion and I don't earn any financial compensation and commissions from any company. This is purely passion due to my love of this hobby.

Tracks Tested:

Björk - Army of Me (16 bit FLAC)

Breakfast Club - Rico Mambo (16 bit FLAC)

Pearl Jam - Ten (whole track) (24 bit/96KHz FLAC)

Pearl Jam - Vs. (whole track) (24 bit/96KHz FLAC)

Led Zepellin -III: Coda (whole track) (MQA 24bit/96KHz FLAC)

Mary Hopkin - Those Were The Days (16 bit FLAC)

Nargaroth - Blasphemic Black Death Metal (16 bit FLAC)

Rebelution - Safe and Sound (16 bit FLAC)

X-mal Deutschland - Polarlich (16 bit FLAC)

The La's - There She Goes (16 bit FLAC)

Warren G - Regulate ( Jammin' Remix) (16 bit FLAC)

112 - Cupid ( 16 bit FLAC).