KBEAR Aurora (Review 2) – Elegant Color Remix
In this Article
INTRO
Lately there seems to be an overwhelming desire for budget brands to break into the mid-tier market. There was not a lot of room to wow and differentiate in the budget class and now it seems we are seeing the same happen in what I consider the mid-tier $100-200.
While there is a whole wide range of offerings way upwards of that price range, they are more dangerous to your wallet as it starts reaching bragging rights and earning style points. Those I consider niche products.
The KBEAR Aurora was released an eternity ago in terms of fast fashion IEM’s and the only reason this comes to me now is a color refresh. One of our past reviewers Baskingshark had his go at them. We have some pretty strong $200ish contenders with recent hits such as the 7Hz Timeless now being challenged by the less expensive LETSHUOER S12, and the brilliant Moondrop Kato at $190.
Before that, people were singing the praises of the Drop JVC HA-FDX1 which runs between $200-250. The great thing is that all 3 of those have completely different strengths and tunings. So with value out the window, the KBear Aurora has to stand on it’s own and hope it doesn’t get lost in the sea of choices. I realize these have been out for 6 months and have already been forgotten. Just another NFAudio NM2+ perhaps, but in a better way.
Disclaimer: These were sent gratis via Keephifi and I hadn’t realized they were already released 5-6 months ago. Warm fuzzies were not exchanged until right now while I thank them for sending a pair to check out. I did not pimp my soul to promote these.
GOOD TRAITS
- Good universal fit and solid construction
- Good accessories
- Full sounding bass
- Perfectly sized carrying case
- No sibilance which should be standard for anything trying to sell for over $70. A low bar to clear in my opinion.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
- Low value
- Treble lacking in resolution and extension
PACKAGE CONTENTS
As with most Earphones over the $100 mark, the KBEAR Aurora comes packed into an easy open larger package that failed to keep the ears in place during shipment. I don’t typically care, but these are metal earphones so bouncing around in packaging is not a good thing given they can easily leave marks on the housings given the sharp edges on the faceplate.
The matte antique bronze color is definitely classier looking than the gaudy 1980’s neon chrome fingerprint magnet trend of the blue/chrome color. I think they should have released it solely in the matte brown first.
The braided gray snake skin looking cable is highly flexible and microphonic free. I notice the 2 pin connectors fit semi loose into the plugs however. The chrome/blue version sported a blue colored cable of the same style.
Two different sets of eartips, S/M/L of a standard widebore with a normal thickness stem, and 5 sizes of the main set that includes a widebore thick stem the same length of the outer tip.
SOUND
Right away it is easy to pick up the eastern style midrange boost that presents as a very in your face forward vocal. Snares are snappy as they should be. This hot upper midrange is preceded by the medium blend boosted bass that barely tickles the seismic region while going full bore into midbass territory with snappy and articulated fullness. Feels perfectly damped and well balanced with rest of the frequency range if you prefer stew over soup.
The treble on the KBEAR Aurora is the least noticeable asset. Inoffensive, bland and just one of those jobs you have to do but don’t put much effort to complete. The problem with this style of tuning is the upper midrange is so over-powering the treble doesn’t really get a chance to showcase what it can do.
For me the treble gives me the sensation of having stayed too long at the discotheque and consumed too many adult beverages. It is not particularly well defined. This was the same problem I had with the recently reviewed Whizzer Kylin HE03D. I have been ruined by the precision and air of the 7Hz Timeless and the control of the luscious Moondrop Kato.
TECHNICALITIES
The KBEAR Aurora sounds expansive, but lacks in depth. Clarity is only average with some cloudiness in the treble mucking things up. No real issues with the timbre until you get past the lower treble, it’s a single driver tuned in a typical +10db pinna gain in the upper midrange. It is driven easily by a smart phone, and has medium isolation.
COMPARISONS
Earlier there were hints at maybe a NFAudio NM2+ ($159) clone because to my poor memory I thought they were tuned similarly. Upon a review, the NFAudio NM2+ is a really hot intense listen, the Kbear gives my ears a break in comparison. Bass is very similar with the KBEAR Aurora recognizing lower extension is important.
The treble is still a bit chewed up sounding on the Aurora, but the NFAudio has so much upper treble my ears just give up looking for the upper end extension. Point goes to Kbear. Width and spacing sound more balanced on the Kbear Aurora. Fitment and isolation are similar.
The BQEYZ Spring 2 ($169) is another good comparison given the price bracket. The BQEYZ suffers from the droning bass tendencies again showing the KBEAR bass is tuned to be midbass centric as well with subbass only having a minor supporting role. Switching back and forth the BQEYZ Spring 2 can actually sound tiring due to this. Vocals sound smoother and treble is cleaner on the BQEYZ Spring 2, but the KBEAR Aurora seems to present more width in the staging aspect although lacking some treble resolution and extension.
When this was previously released the Moondrop Kato ($189) was just on the horizon, but now it’s available for only $20 more than the KBEAR Aurora. The Moondrop kato is more delicate sounding with a much lighter presentation than the Aurora.
The lower midrange/midbass boost give the KBEAR Aurora a more intimate smaller room presentation, but the treble lacks the resolution and clarity of the Kato. The Moondrop Kato has better resolution, more depth and a lighter airy feeling in comparison as if listening in a concert hall. Width feels comparable.
FINAL REMARKS
The color refresh of the KBEAR Aurora is much more elegant than the original shiny launch color scheme, however other brands have encroached on the pricing territory. It is a capable sounding IEM, I just have trouble recommending it based on value and a cloudy treble region. On the plus it is not a screamer or ear-piercer with most of the focus on the low to middle region, with good build and an above average accessory package.
GRAPHS
- Left vs Right
- KBEAR Aurora vs NFAudio NM2+ vs BQEYZ Spring2
DISCLAIMER
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