CVJ KE-S: Familiar Tuning, Conventional Appeal
“Simplicity is an acquired taste. Mankind, left free, instinctively complicates life.”
--Katharine Fullerton Gerould, American writer and essayist.
Oi! Welcome to my another IEM review item and what I have here right now is another ultra-budget IEM from CVJ. No need to do another introduction about this company as I already did a fair amount of their products. You can check out my other dossier of CVJ products at link below:
This is CVJ KS-E, it's a very cheap IEM set with single dynamic driver as its only transducer on which CVJ claims that its a newer type of dynamic driver technology. The driver size of it is a standard 10mmm and it was housed in a blue-coloured polycarbonate shell and takes a UIEM-type shape form factor, there are two other colour options to choose from aside from blue, gold and black. It uses a QDC-type 2-pin connector as its interlocking mechanism with detachable cable.
The fitting and comfort of this set is fine as I didn't encounter any issue at all for my long listening session. It has a decent noise isolation as it was able to block some noises from the outside surroundings.
As for product packaging, like the majority of ultra-budget sets, CVJ KE-S has meagre and spartan inclusions.
Here are the following contents inside of its packaging box:
■ a pair of CVJ KE-S IEM
■ a 2-core parallel insulated SPC stock cable in an L-shaped 3.5mm SE termination plug.
■ extra 2 ear tips in different standard sizes.(small and large)
■ some paperwork like instruction manual, warranty card and quality control card.
CVJ KE-S is quite easy to drive as it will scale well to all types of sources whether from smartphones, PC, tablet or other multimedia devices. Even at low volume level. I was able to hear and pick up some dynamic sonic infos to its fullest frequency range.
Regarding its sound signature, CVJ KE-S has a warm, V-shaped sound which is quite a bog-standard in the ultra-budget segment. It has more emphasis and elevation on bass and treble frequency over the midrange.
LOWS/BASS:
It is elevated but not an uber-bassheads preferred bass quantity, it has rather punchy and cogent enough just to give an ample deep and slam in all audio tracks that require it. It has balanced emphasis on both sub bass and midbass.
There's a good presence of rumble as I was able to pick out it from sub-bass focus instruments like synthesisers and low tone bass guitar. Mid bass has a sufficient note texture as it was able to give a body on instruments and deep male vocals. Bass guitars have a broad and sombre sound while bass drum kicks have a thudding and yet a bit soft sound, and then a less dense and gravelly sound on bass-baritone vocals. It is also noted that it has some occurrences of bass bleeds across the lower midrange.
MIDRANGE:
It has a recessed presentation in the overall frequency range spectrum but it has an ample warmth to add some note weight on vocals and instruments. It gives some density and texture on baritones and contralto vocal types as they will have a plush, rich and warm sound. Mezzo-sopranos and countertenors sound comforting to my lugholes as they have this smooth and velvety timbre from them. On sopranos, its has a creamy sound which will fare better on dramatic and spinto types rather than on coloratura ones. Tenors somehow sounds brassy enough though its spiciness and ringing range are sort of lacking.
On instruments, it will give more emphasis and lively sound on percussives and brasses particularly on drums and trumpets. Toms have full and sonorous sound, snares have a shuffling albeit a bit dull and trumpets have a warmer and rounded sound. Strings like guitar have a warmer and buttery sound while violins seem to sound solemn. And then woodwinds like flutes have a relatively soft and wafting sound. Then on pianos, they have a tad warmer and lusher tone.
HIGHS/TREBLE:
The treble quality of CVJ KE-S is pretty balanced as it has some raise on the upper-mids just to give an ample sheen for clarity and decent detail. And then there's some slope downward between upper-mids to the presence part of the treble to minimise some instances of sibilance and harshness.
Unfortunately, it has a meagre treble air as due to the limitation of its driver. Cymbals have a bit soughing with just sufficient shimmer on this one. Hi-hats do sounds more accurate as it managed to deliver that shortened, buzzing sound that we are accustomed with.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
Its overall technical capabilities are fairly average. It has an average sound/speaker stage from sideways and height reach but it has depth that I can fathom from front and back.
Imaging-wise of this set is more of a typical 2-dimensional, bi-stereo channel presentation where you will be able to panned the position of instruments and vocals. Separation was decent as it was able to distinct the tones on instruments and vocals but the layering is somewhat unsatisfactory as it doesn't stack and tonal layering are jumbled that it will struggles on a complex, multi-instrumental tracks like jazz or orchestral ensemble.
Coherency of its drivers are fairly above average as it has a moderate transient speed with no hint of distortion. On resolution capability, it focuses more on macro-dynamics than micro-detail as its detail definition is blunted and blurry. Timbre colour are quite natural and with some tad warmth on it.
PEER COMPARISONS:
KB EAR STORM:
■ Both of them have similar construction material and using the same type of transducer. They are both easy to drive too as you don't need addtional set-up, a smartphone is enough for them if it still has a headphone jack.
■ They even have similar sound profile which are V-shaped. Storm has more warmer tone, more authoritative and boomy bass response, an even more recessed midrange and more boosted upper-mids that produces some sibilance and harshness. Technical performance of both sets are pretty similar from projecting sound field dimensions to resolution capabilities.
TRUTHEAR Hola:
■ Compare to KE-S, Hola shell chassis are made of polycarbonate plastic that undergoes from 3D printing process, it has a better dynamic driver which has a LCP diaphragm. It has more inclusions too and even have the basst stock cable in under £16/US$20.
■ Tonality-wise, Hola has a mild U-shape sound signature with a tad leaner texture compare to KE-S. It has sub-bass focus which has a tighter and cleaner bass response, a cleaner and better emphasis on midrange presentation particularly on strings and female voices and it alo has similar treble response with a safe, balanced and smooth quality on both devices. On technical performance, they are quite close with the exception that Hola has more refinement on separation and micro-detail retrieval.
As I end my conclusion here, it seems that CVJ released a set with more familiar tuning that will please the ears of most listeners especially the casual ones who wants a more sonic improvement from their usual cheap earphones. CVJ KE-S is a best option for starters in audio hobby or just for a leisurely casual listening session due to its compelling affordable price.
CVJ KE-S will definitely give an enjoyable, engaging and fun listening experience despite its shortcoming on its technical performance.
CVJ KE-S is now available in almost online vendors. Check out the unaffiliated links below if you are interested to purchase:
SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: CVJ KE-S
IMPEDANCE: 22Ω
SENSITIVITY: 122dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.25M
PIN TYPE: QDC-TYPE 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: 3.5MM,
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER
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*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
PROS:
△ Cheap price.
△ Decently solid shell chassis.
△ Three colour options to choose from for preferences.
△ A familiar casual type of tuning which is warm, V-shaped sound signature that will give more engaging and fun listening session.
△ Punchy bass.
△ Good vocal projection especially on contralto and baritone voice types.
△ Smooth and inoffensive treble response.
CONS:
▽ Recessed midrange.
▽ Lack of treble air.
▽ Average sound/speaker size.
▽ Layering capability is not its forte.
P.S.
I am not affiliated to CVJ 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 CVJ-HIFI Team, especially to Anna Su and CVJ Love for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.
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