KEFINE DELCI AE: The Redefining One

The KEFINE DELCI is probably one of the natural sounding IEM in this year as it has ample warmth with a well-balanced sound quality that has agreeable tuning that almost any type of listener will have a pleasure to have a long listening session with. I myself with strong adherence to neutral, midcentric and a bit of a treble head was impressed by its sheer tonal performance.

And now what I have here is a latest variant of the said model and its a collaborative effort with a well-known audio distributor in Aliexpress, ANGELEARS. This is KEFINE DELCI AE and it still follows the same design profile and driver configuration with the original DELCI but this set offers new features in which I will describe it later.

The KEFINE DELCI AE still utilises a 10mm dual-chambered dynamic driver with composite dynamic diaphragm consisting of DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) and PU (Polyurethane) in which these materials if combined will have a lightweight, durable and good elasticity for excellent handling and control on vibration for better high-fidelity sonics. With a high fidelity sound reproduction, it will give a deep bass, clean and clear vocals, natural sounding instruments and shimmering treble.

The driver was encapsulated in a compact CNC-milled aviation-grade aluminium alloy in the same design language of the regular DELCI. It has a matte-like finish on the surface as it underwent an anodising process to achieve that texture for fingerprint and scratch resistance. As I mentioned a while ago about its new feature, it has a detachable tuning nozzle system that makes this set even more tonally versatile as this one has another type of tuning which is quite different to the stock tuning filters in regards to sound profile.

KEFINE still implemented the 0.78mm bi-pin connector on this IEM as its interlocking which is more stable and easier to detach. Its stock cable has a braided two-core high purity OFC copper and silver-plated copper wires for better audio signal transmission with a straight gold-plated 3.5mm single ended termination plug. The quality of the stock cable seems to be flexible and supple to hold and there's not a hint of microphonics on it.

Due to the compact size of its shell chassis, DELCI AE offers an excellent fitting as it rests well into my lugholes without any discomfort and also, it seals well that I have a good passive noise isolation that filters out some external noises from the outside surroundings.

The product packaging of this one is pretty stock with quantity amount inclusions inside of its packaging box.

Here are the following contents that we can find inside of KEFINE DELCI AE's box:

• Pair of KEFINE DELCI AE IEM transducers.
• Pair of gold tuning filter tuning nozzles.
• Stock cable with 3.5mm termination plug.
• Zippered carrying case.
• 3 pairs of balanced bore KBEar/Acoustune-like ear tips in different standard sizes.
• 3 pairs of black coloured balanced bore ear tips in different standard sizes.
• Paperwork like instruction manual and warrant card.

The KEFINE DELCI AE has low sensitivity rating so that it can be amplified with low powered output with normal gain mode sources like smartphones, USB headphone dongles and tablets. But pairing it to devices with better quality Hi-Fi DAC/Amps will deliver a more dynamic and full-range sound that truly shows the full potential of this set.

Due to its detachable tuning filter nozzle feature, the DELCI AE offers two distinctive tonal profiles and here are some brief explanation on each tuning profile:

(FR graph was provided by [USER=516219]@baskingshark[/USER] , credits to him)

SILVER TUNING FILTER NOZZLES - it has a warm u-shaped sound with more emphasis on the low frequencies.

GOLD TUNING FILTER NOZZLES - it has brighter U-shaped with more prominent highs with attenuated low frequency.

LOWS/BASS:

SILVER TUNING FILTER

This setting will give a more punchy, slamming and impactful bass response with sufficient rumble. This one has more mid bass texture as it gives more density on its note weight on some elements in that section.

While there's a perceivable reverberating sub-bass presence on this setting, a well-textured will give more authority, heft and depth on some bass-clef instruments and deep male vocals.

INSTRUMENTS:

Bass guitars - warm and sonorous sound

Double bass - weighty and dark sound

Bass kick drums - full and resonant sound

Bass trumpets - fuller with dark timbre sound

VOCALS:

Basses - thick, gravelly and dusky sounding

Bass-baritones - deep, resonant and full sounding.

GOLD TUNING FILTERS:

It seems that mid bass texture is apparently decreased as it lessens a substantial note weight on some bass-clef instruments and vocals. The overall bass response appears to focus more on the sub-bass as it has a rumbling yet tighter bass response as I clearly felt those reverberations coming from synthesisers, drum machines and low tuned double bass and bass guitars.

Regarding its mid bass section, as it loses some of its texture, it also affects some tonal  characteristics on some bass-clef instruments and certain male vocals. Like some instruments will sound less heftier and male vocals have inadequate volume and depth.

INSTRUMENTS:

Bass guitars - resonant and rasping sound

Double bass -  hollow and a bit mellow sound

Bass kick drums - tighter, thudding and hollow sound

Bass trumpets - dull with less darker timbre sound

VOCALS:

Basses - insufficient amount of volume, a tad leaner and a bit hollowed voices.

Bass-baritones - less depth yet resonant sounding vocals.

MIDRANGE:

SILVER TUNING FILTERS

The midrange presentation of this one is a bit recessed but it is very well-textured as it gives more warmth and rich sound on vocals and instruments. Most male vocals, some female vocals and instruments like brasses and percussives will sound very natural and deliver that smooth and soothing tonal colour on those elements.

VOCALS:

Baritones - smooth, lush and warm sounding.

Tenors - brassy, firm and juicy sounding.

Countertenors - velvety, smooth and comforting sound.

Contraltos - luscious, rich and husky sounding.

Mezzo-sopranos - smooth,velvety and mesmerising vocals.

Sopranos - sweet, creamy and less shimmering vocals.

INSTRUMENTS:

Guitars - warm to buttery sounding.

Cellos - mellow, warm and full sounding.

Violins - sensuous and sweet sounding.

Trumpets - rounded, substantial and dark sounding.

Trombones - heroic, dark and taut sounding

Horns - warm, full and a tad muffled sounding.

Piccolos -  a bit dull and too warm sounding although it has a graceful sound

Concert flutes - mellow and rich sound.

Clarinets - round, warm and throaty sounding.

Saxophones - mellow, sombre and warm sounding.

Tom-toms - warm and resonant sounding

Snare drums - hard, a tad boomy and reverberating sound.

Field drums - booming and full sounding.

Kettledrums - booming, round and velvety sounding.

Pianos - mellow, rich and round sounding akin to the major tonal profile of most antique German pianos.

GOLD TUNING FILTERS

In this setting, the midrange is noticeably more recessed but it has a clear, transparent and energetic sound that some listeners might perceive as clean sounding. This tuning will favour more on strings and woodwinds instruments and also, on some certain types of vocals like countertenors, mezzo-sopranos and sopranos for clear, airy and bright sound quality. Take note that tuning might be too sensitive on some listeners who are prone to accentuated upper mid section.

VOCALS:

Baritones - less warm, hollow and lean sounding.

Tenors - Brassy, spicy and ringing sound.

Countertenors - tender, lyrical and modulated sounding.

Contralto - rich but less weighty and deep sounding.

Mezzo-sopranos - fiery, coppery and glowing sounding.

Sopranos - provocative, gleaming and silvery sounding.

INSTRUMENTS:

Guitars - Crisp, bright and lingering sound.

Cellos - lively, incisive and a tad shrill sound.

Violins - lively, metallic and brilliant sounding.

Trumpets - vivid with some metallic brilliance on its sound.

Trombones - eruptive and powerful sounding.

Horns - intense and bright sound with a quiet shrillness on it.

Piccolos - bright and a bit piercing sound.

Concert flutes - brilliant and soft sounding.

Clarinets - lively and incisive sounding.

Saxophones - forceful and reedy sounding.

Tom-toms - less warm and penetrating ringing sound.

Snare drums - bright, clear and precise sounding.

Field drums - menacing and resonant sounding.

Kettledrums - rumbling yet hollow and dry sounding.

Pianos - bright, clear and clean sounding but sometimes tinny.

HIGHS/ TREBLE:

SILVER TUNING FILTERS

The treble response of this one is quite smooth and well-balanced and I don't think it's a dark sounding (unless if you are treble head rooting for a brighter and crisp treble tuning). With this type of tuning profile, It is assured that there will be not a hint of sibilance nor harshness due to how it smoothen and even out those registered upper-mids and presence treble peaks.

And on the brilliance treble part, it appears that the treble air extension is rather modest with less intensity on its sparkle. It gives a “safer” and a tad warmer timbre.

INSTRUMENTS:

Cymbals - full and lustrous sounding.

Hi-hats - short buzzing sound.

Glockenspiels - lustrous and pleasant sounding but lacking in brilliance.

Celestas - mellow and velvety sounding.

GOLD TUNING FILTERS

This tuning profile is relatively contrasting to SILVER TUNING FILTERS mode on how it delivers its treble response as it has a crisp bright and airy sound that certainly gives more detail and resolution on the certain vocals and more precise note attacks of instruments. But there are occurrences that I encounter some shrillness, piercing and a tad sibilance during my listening session on my selected testing tracks that treble-sensitive folk should be aware of.

The treble air of this tuning setting is quite an improvement compared to the other tuning filter mode as it improves airy extension and a more intensity of its sparkle. It gives off a brighter timbre which will be more beneficial to treble-clef instruments.

INSTRUMENTS:

Cymbals - brilliant and bright sounding.

Hi-hats - a shortened crisp and buzzing sound.

Glockenspiels - bright and glistening sounding

Celestas - silvery and shimmering sounding.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

This set projects an above-average spatial sonic dimensions as it has moderately width size on its lateral span, a good height reach  and good depth as I can certainly perceive it as fairly roomy enough within my aural sphere.

The stereo imaging presents an almost 3D-like sonic canvas as I was able to panned out certain positioning of instruments and vocals in a passably layered soundscape with some good separation on them.

Driver coherency of this one is pretty excellent as it is able to deliver that quick transient response without any issues like sluggishness or distortion. On resolution capabilities, while this is not the most resolving single DD that I've encountered nor in my top 5's list but it has solid macro-dynamics and a rather satisfactory micro-detail capability enough to retrieve some nuances and subtleties from an audio track.

Furthermore, when switching it to SILVER TUNING FILTERS, it somehow improves the perceived the size of sound/speaker stage, more delineating layering and sharpens a bit the micro-detail retrieval definition capability.

PEER COMPARISONS:

SIMGOT EA500LM

• This is KEFINE DELCI AE's closest rival as they have similar build quality, features and presentation.
• It has a glossy buff-polished surface on its aluminium-alloy that makes it more fingerprint mark magnet.
• It also has detachable tuning nozzles, and it offers three tuning profiles.
• The tuning aligns with more Harman-esque tuning that we are accustomed although SIMGOT have some slight tweaking on them.
• If I compared the bright tuning setting of this one to the bright setting mode the DELCI AE, this one has a more tighter bass response, leaner midranger and even brighter treble quality.
• It has similar technical capabilities with the DELCI AE but this one has more defined layering and even more resolving.

TWISTURA D-MAJOR

• This one has similar physical profile with the DELCI AE in features, driver implementation and build quality.
• It has a mirror-finished surface similar to EA500LM that makes it susceptible to nicks, scratches and fingerprints.
• One of the few entry-level sets that includes a DAC/Amp dongle on its packaging.
• It offers three tuning profiles and all of them are in U-shaped sound profiles with slight variations.
• On the red ring nozzle settings, if I compared it to SILVER TUNING FILTER Mode of the DELCI AE, it has  more sub bass presence but a tad hollowed and less textured mid bass, a less warmer and less textured midrange and a bit brighter treble response but there are some slight hissing if I played a sibilant-laden track.
• It has similar sound/speaker stage size but it presents a concave-like stereo imaging, less remarkable layering on its soundscape and a bit more resolving with some added glare that makes it a tad sharper on micro-detail retrieval.

KEFINE DELCI REGULAR

• It has the same build quality, driver configuration and inclusions.
• Unlike its successor, it doesn't have detachable tuning nozzle features.
• It appears that it has different stock cable.
• It doesn’t have the KBEar/Acoustune-like ear tips among its inclusions of its ear tips package.
• If compared to the SILVER TUNING FILTER setting of the DELCI AE, they are quite similar from bass response, texture and depth on the midrange but it has a slightly improved treble as it has tad airier and slightly sparkly.
• In technical performance, there's a slight improvement on sound/speaker stage width and height but GOLD NOZZLE FILTER mode will trounces over this set in all aspects and its resolution capability is quite even more resolving.

In conclusion of this product review, in a span of few months since the released of the original DELCI, it truly shows the capability of KEFINE on how they continuously evolving themselves that they are very persistent on pursuing their craft to build a more refined product in a reasonable budget pricing. The DELCI AE is among the most versatile IEM sets right now that you will can choose either in casual listening or in critical listening to enjoy high-fidelity experience due to its detachable nozzles. While I don't consider it as a full upgrade over its original but rather as sidegrade as it only has a marginal improvements on its tuning aside from its detachable nozzle feature.

I can definitely recommend the DELCI AE if you don't have the original one yet and want to experience the in-house tuning of KEFINE which more focus on naturalness and smooth analogue sounding.

KEFINE DELCI AE is now available on ANGELEARS Store in Aliexpress and also in HIFIGO. All links that I have provided are guaranteed non-affliated ones.

ANGELEARS: https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/1005007426941077.html

HIFIGO: https://hifigo.com/products/kefine-delci-ae

For more KEFINE product reviews, check out my previous product reviews links below.

● KEFINE KLANAR

● KEFINE DELCI

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: KEFINE DELCI

IMPEDANCE: 28Ω

SENSITIVITY: 108dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.2m

PIN TYPE: 0.78 2-PIN CONNECTOR

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm

DRIVER UNIT(S):  (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER

PROS:

● Like its predecessor, it has a solid shell structure that underwent an anodising process to give that matte-finish surface.

● Compact size that makes it compatible with all ear type sizes.

● Good quality stock cable.

● Pretty well-accessorised.

● Detachable tuning filter nozzles for tonal versatility.

● A likeable all-rounder tuning. (Silver Nozzles)

● A tuning for adherent treble heads

 (Gold Nozzles)

● Punchy and tactual bass response. (Silver Nozzles)

● Warm, rich and lush midrange. (Gold Nozzles)

● Natural sounding vocals and instruments (Silver Nozzles)

● Silvery, sweet and shimmering sound on female vocals and string instruments (Gold Nozzles)

● Smooth and balanced treble response (Silver Nozzles)

● Bright, sparkling and airy treble response (Gold Nozzles)

● Competent enough technical performance.

CONS:

● Absolutely not neutral sounding.

● The improvement between the Silver Nozzle mode and the original DELCI aren't inconspicuously different in terms of tonality.

● Gold Nozzle setting should be taken in caution especially if you are a treble-sensitive one.

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 **

Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *

Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to KEFINE 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 Mr. Collin Yang for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate his generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.