KB EAR STORM: Roaring Thunder
"The dignity of human nature requires that we must face the storms of life.”
–Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi, Indian Nationalist
KB Ear Storm is the latest ultra-budget single dynamic driver set from KB Ear. I did a review on their ultra-budget level before and I find it decent enough if you are a casual type of listener who just wants a fun and engaging sound.
This set has 10mm dynamic drivers with a combination type of thermoplastic (polyetheretherketone) and a composite polymer (polyurethane) diaphragm which give a more rigid yet flexible and a good resistance and tolerance to chemical effects and high heat temperature. These transducers are housed in an acrylic shell which offers a good texture in our skin. Like almost all current ultra-budget IEMs, KB Ear Storm uses a QDC-type connector.
The shells are in small sizes so that it fits well in my lug holes without any issues like soreness and discomfort that is usually associated with listening fatigue in some IEMs with larger shells. I can safely assume that KB Ear Storm are quite versatile to all ear sizes.
Like all ultra-budget sets, KB Ear Storm has rather simple packaging with basic included accessories. It has a small white-coloured box with product photo at the front with model name and logo print, then a company address at the left side of the box and information about its specification and some address of distributors in EU at the back.
Here are the contents inside the box:
● Pair of KB Ear Storm IEMs.
● OFC black coloured stock cable in a straight 3.5mm termination plug.
● 3 pairs of black coloured, narrow-bored ear tips of different standard sizes.
● 3 pairs of white coloured, wide-bored ear tips of different standard sizes.
● Velcro cable organiser.
● Instruction manual.
Amplification-wise, KB Ear Storm is a very easy to drive device. It only needs a decent power output to deliver a very dynamic and good amplitude level.
As for its tonality, this is quite a throwback regarding its sound profile that reminds of its older predecessor, the KS1 on which they share the same sound signature, a typical warmish V-shaped. As usual, more emphasis on bass and treble subsequently a recessed and dipped midrange.
LOWS/BASS:
The bass is the most prominent on this one, vivacious, hard hitting and boomy that really smears across the midrange. There's a presence on its sub-bass as I discerningly feel those deep rumble from instruments like low tuned bass guitar and synthesisers.
Mid bass is more focused on the bass region as it gives an excess amount of body on some instruments and male vocals (bloat). Bass guitars are incredibly heavy and broad sounding. Next is the bass drum kick which has thunderous and full sound that really reverberates our ears, then a guttural, eerie and dense quality of bass baritones. Due to its inherent boomy sound, it really gives me that impression that these instruments and vocals that pivots toward on the lows are a bit exaggerated on its ledge.
MIDRANGE:
Midrange is definitely recessed and laid back on presentation especially on a certain female vocal type but it is warm, gauzy and engaging. Male vocals seem to benefit from that warmness on how it gives a coloured and texture on it. Baritones sound smoother and warmer but there are some hints of harshness on dramatic ones, countertenors have dazzling and lighter characteristics like Geedy Lee of Rush and Robert Plant on his tessitura. Tenors seem to have this strong and yet lack of heft especially on lyrical types while in dramatic types, it has rich and ringy sound like Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli. Meanwhile, on female vocals especially on contralto like Andrea Corr, Tracy Chapman and Annie Lennox has this rich, warmer and heavy on their voice quality, Mezzo-sopranos are rather a bit transparent that it has a lack of consistency and too smooth in my liking as I want a more musky and darker one. As for soprano vocals, they are bright and gleaming in them though they are a bit unnatural and sometimes too tinny sounding especially on coloratura ones.
Instruments like percussion and brass are rather interesting on this. Toms, snares and timpanis have booming, sonorous and dry sounds on them. Pianos sound a bit more warmer and round sounding in most cases that I have tested some tracks with piano pieces. Brass instruments like trombones have this intense and eruptive sound while trumpets sound "stately" and more metallic sounding. Woodwinds like saxophones and flutes sound a bit mellow and sombre rather than reedy, airy and silvery. On string instruments, guitars sounds warmer and buttery then violins sounds a bit solemn that I find it dull and muffled sometimes
As a mid-centric listener like myself who loves a more focus, detailed and unfurl midrange, KB Ear Storm is rather austere and conservative in my preference
HIGHS/TREBLE:
Definitely hat it has a protruding upper mids and some parts of presence treble that gives a gleaming and crisp on it to exhibit more sufficient details and clarity but unfortunately due to that too much boosted on that part, it really give me some annoyances as they are bit jarring and distortion in most cases. It does have instances of being sibilant especially on sibilance-prone vocal tracks.
Cymbals seem to have a sufficient shimmer but sometimes soughing. Hi-hats seems to fare better on this one as it depicts its natural sound to have the shortened, abrupt harsh sizzle. It is also noted that it has a modest sparkle but definitely has an inadequate air on them that I feel has a more subdued harmonics.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING & OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
Overall technicalities of KB Ear Storm are definitely average which is quite norm on the ultra-budget segment. It has an average
Sound/speaker stage width, average height ceiling and immersive depth from front to back that it gives me a rather meagre head room.
On imaging, it portrays a more 2-channel stereo presentation as I was able to locate the positioning of vocals and instruments on both left and right. On separation and layering, it gives an enough gaps on each element but the distinction on frequency layeing with its dynamic characters are rather blurry and inconsistent within its sonic canvas that will affect the envelopment of sound on more complex, multi-instrumental tracks.
Coherency of its drivers are actually impressive given that they are single DDs which surely excel on this part on how they deliver a faster phasing response.
On resolution capabilities, it has a solid macro-dynamics but it has an average mark on micro-detail retrieval on how it capture the subtleties of low-level information inside of atrack as they have less clarity and rather blunted in texture.
PEER COMPARISONS:
KB Ear KS1
◆ Compare to Storm, KS1 has a smoother contour, UIEM-style glossy shell albeit it looks more cheaper and too basic looking. It uses another type of polyester on the diaphragm of its 10mm dual magnetic dynamic driver which is PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate). It uses a hooded TFZ-type 2-pin connector which I prefer it over a QDC-type connector.
◆ On tonality, they are eerily similar as they share the same V-shaped sound profile from a more mid bass focus to a peaky upper mids-presence treble.
◆ In technical capabilities, they are also almost alike. The slight contrast between the two sets are an improvement of coherency and the sound field width of KS1 is a bit narrower compared to Storm.
TangZu Wan'er SG
◆ Wa'ner SG has a newer 10mm PET diaphragm on which is a newer generation. It's shells have more eye-pleasing as it has intricate designs on its face plate. On inclusions and product packing presentation, Wan'er fares a bit better on this one.
◆ Wa'ner takes a more U-shaped sound signature and compared to Storm, it sounds more balanced and unequivocally, a more mature-sounding set. It has a rather punchy bass, a more pronounced and smoother mids and a safer, less peaky treble.
◆ Wan'er has a wider sound/speaker stage compared to Storm. Furthermore, the rest of technical capabilities are very similar between both sets. Tonal colour is more natural on Wan'er.
As I end my review on this set. It seems that KB Ear Storm is somewhat more of a rehash and just a slight improvement from its 2021 predecessor model, The KS1 when it comes to the overall tonality to technical performance. This kind of tuning is rather polarising among the audio enthusiasts in the current state of the portable audio market on which most of the IEMs are now titling forward to a more Harmanish, U-shaped tuning.
Assuredly that KB Ear tries to do a different approach on their KB Ear Storm to be a contrasting set compared to its competitors. With its sound signature that delivers a fun, engaging and pleasurable listening experience which will probably cater more to casual listeners. This type of tuning will certainly suit their preferences even better by just simply enjoying the hard hitting bass beats and feeling the pleasure of the cacophonic essence of the club music like house, dance, disco and techno genres. KB Ear Storm is obviously not my preferred tuning but for people who just started in the portable audio hobby, it's a good choice to try it out at least.
KB EAR STORM is currently available in KEEPHIFI, you can check it HERE. Rest assured that this is not an affiliate link.
Also check out my previous reviews on other KB Ear products.
SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: KB EAR STORM
IMPEDANCE: 32Ω
SENSITIVITY: 108dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: QDC-TYPE 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78MM)
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER
PROS:
△ Lightweight, transparent shell.
△ Comfortable to wear for long listening session.
△ Decent stock cable.
△ Solid, vigorous and deep bass response (another Bass for Bass God set)
△ Inclusion of wide bore ear tips
△ Sufficiently shimmering highs
△ Seems like it fares well on male vocals.
CONS:
▽ Bass bleeds due to inherent mid bass bloat
▽ Recessed midrange.
▽ Upper mids needs further refinement.
▽ Inadequate extension of treble air.
▽ Mediocre technical capabilities.
Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)
Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
P.S.
I am not affiliated to KB EAR nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.
Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to KEEPHIFI for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.
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