Foreword:

I'm grateful to Pulkit (@gadgetgod) for providing me with this unit as part of the audition tour. This is Kefine's first release of its planar implementation, the Klanar. It has a 14.5mm Planar driver. Let's dig deeper on its build and my sound impressions.

Please Note: I lack the comprehension of audiophile jargon so I will try to explain my review like a 9 year old to avoid ambiguity in my review.

Build:

The Build is light and comfortable making it sit on the ears for longer sessions. The shell finishing feels premium. The braided cable, case and tips are decent for the asking price. Nothing to complain about here. My review unit had the 4.4mm cable. Read my sound impressions to know why..


Gear used:
-Samsung M51 paired with Cayin Ru6
- iFi Go Blu on Bluetooth

Streaming Apps: Spotify & Apple Music


Driveability 3.5/5

Klanar being a planar driver needs a good source to sing well. With a good source it scales pretty well.

Sound:

To describe the sound I would say that the Klanar has an overall bright V shaped presentation but that's not it. Keep reading to find out more..

Bass : 5/5

Depth and Rumble
Testing sub-bass depth and rumble in an IEM requires tracks that feature deep bass frequencies and powerful sub-bass elements.

• In the track Massive Attack - "Teardrop" the rumble was good, distinct and sits perfectly below the vocals and other instruments. It shows that Klanar has a good bass extension.
• In another track "The Plan" from the movie TENET, the sub bass has a good rumble that was very well evident throughout the track.

Control and tightness
To test bass control and tightness in an IEM, you’ll want tracks that feature well-defined basslines and controlled low-frequency elements.

• In the track Daft Punk - "One More Time" the bass tightness was somewhat average, I'd say it was sufficient enough not to sound sluggish.
• I used another track, Stevie Wonder - "Superstition" where I felt the bass was just tight enough.

Mid-Bass Punch and Slam
Testing mid-bass punch and slam in an IEM requires tracks that emphasise the lower frequencies with impact and depth.

• In the track Queen - "Another One Bites the Dust '' the bass-line is adequately punchy.
• In with another track Muse - "Hysteria the slam was slightly lacking to me in the distorted bass guitar.

Mids: 3.5/5

Lower mids - Body and Warmth
To evaluate lower mids body and warmth in an IEM, you'll want tracks that feature rich vocals, acoustic instruments, and low-register instruments like guitars and cellos.

• The track Norah Jones - "Come Away With Me" felt bright with female vocals on top. However, the bassy instruments felt slightly recessed. Piano keystrokes at times felt sharp, Strings and cymbals were easier to notice.
• In another track Coldplay - "Yellow", here the male vocals had a thin note weight and the instruments felt bright.

Upper Mids - Clarity and Detail
To test upper mids clarity and detail in an IEM, you'll want tracks that feature prominent vocals, guitars, and other mid-range instruments with intricate textures and nuances.

• In Radiohead - "Pyramid Song '' as the track advances, Klanar has decent vocal clarity. The piano doesn't get muffled with the vocals, instrument separation is great here.
• In another track Diana Krall - "S'Wonderful" the vocals are forward and the instruments come clean and well presented. Klanar performed well on this track.

Midrange Balance and Timbre
Testing midrange balance and timbre in an IEM requires tracks that showcase a variety of instruments and vocal performances across the midrange spectrum.

• The track Pink Floyd - "Wish You Were Here" features a variety of instruments like guitars, piano, and vocals all occupy the midrange. The note weight on Klanar felt lean although all instruments were well presented.
• The track Antonio Vivaldi - "The Four Seasons - Spring" relies heavily on violins and cellos, both prominent in the mids. Klanar is able to showcase the natural timbres of the cellos. However, the violin sounded sharp and slightly thin.

Overall Midrange Performance:

• The track Adele - "Someone Like You" features vocals which spans a wide range of the midrange. Klanar has slight peaks and is close to harsh but not sibilant.
• The track Steely Dan - "Aja" features a meticulously crafted mix with instruments and vocals seamlessly integrated across the midrange. Klanar feels balanced in resolving and it reveals the intricate details and textures within the song.
• Upper mids are at times harsh i noticed it on some tracks. Female vocals have peaks and instruments like trumpets and electric guitar felt slightly thin and energetic and invited fatigue when I used ru6 which is a warm DAC.

Treble 3/5

Treble Extension - Air and Brightness:
Testing treble extension and brightness in an IEM requires tracks that feature prominent high-frequency elements such as cymbals, hi-hats, and vocal sibilance.

• In the track Led Zeppelin - "When the Levee Breaks" the cymbal strikes are not clear and the entire track had too much energy for me. It also lacked the natural timbre and felt too metallic.
• In the track Steely Dan - "Do it Again" the high hats cymbals crispness is decent, the percussions sounded great and the track had good layering. Vocals were right there. Neither forward nor recessed.
  

Treble Detail and Resolution:
To test treble detail and resolution in an IEM, you’ll want tracks that contain intricate high-frequency elements and subtle nuances.

• In the track Antonio Vivaldi - "The Four Seasons - Summer '', as the track progresses, Klanar is able to resolve intricate details in the treble The fast violin passages in this summer movement. The separation of notes is quite clear and doesn’t sound smeared together.
• In the bollywood track Surili Akhiyon Wale - Veer Klanar picks up nuances and the bar chimes are very clean which plays at the back of the guitar picks layered with accordion.

Smoothness and Sibilance Control:
To test treble smoothness and sibilance control in an IEM, you’ll want tracks that contain vocals with sibilant sounds (like “s” and “sh” sounds) and high-frequency elements without being harsh or piercing.

• Nora Jones - "Don't Know Why": the vocals had peaks but were not sibilant. Klanar had the harsh peaks and was borderline sibilant.

Overall Treble Quality and Balance

• The Pink Floyd - "Comfortably Numb" features a layered soundscape with guitars, synths, and vocals all sharing the treble space. Klanar presented a clear and detailed treble without any particular element being overpowering.
• The track by Mozart - "Piano Concerto No. 21 - III" has a bright melody played on the piano. I chose this track to test the balance and smoothness in Klanar. The overall presentation was bright and energetic with slight peaks.
  

Technicalities

• In most tracks I was able to hear the instruments crisp and clear. The Soundstage width is good but average depth. It doesn't have a holographic stage. One reference would be the track Miles Davis - "So What" where the instruments have enough space to breathe.
• Imaging is quite average this is why it doesn't stand out in the under $100 category. In tracks involving 1-3 instruments, I was able to tell where the sound was coming from and how far but it was mostly left to right. Using the same track as above I was able to feel the distance of all instruments.
• Resolution is great, it picks up nuances and expresses it so well. The cymbal reverbs sound beautiful. Layering is also something I feel it does very well. in the track Snarky Puppy - Lingus (We Like It Here), I was able to hear a lot of details. Also as the track progresses it adds on layers of each instrument.

Final Verdict:

With all that’s said, The Klanar is still a good attempt in making an unusual planar driver IEM and it's commendable that Kenfine came up with an affordable IEM. However, it fails to stand out in this price bracket because of the cut throat competition from brands like Simgot and Truthear.

Foreward:

I'm grateful to Pulkit (@gadgetgod) for providing me with this unit as part of the audition tour. After the release of its affordable and unique sounding iem the Klanar, Kefine is back with another IEM. Its a
single dynamic driver with 10mm DLC+PU diaphragm. Let's dig deeper on its build and my sound impressions.

Please Note: I lack the comprehension of audiophile jargon so I will try to explain my review like a 9 year old to avoid ambiguity in my review.

Build:

The Build is light and comfortable making it sit on the ears for longer sessions. The shell is light which weighs around 5.3 grams, and the finishing feels premium. The case and tips are decent for the asking price but the braided cable quality is above par. My review unit had the 3.5mm cable but I never felt the need for a balanced 4.4 cable. Read my sound impressions to know why..

Gear used:

• -Samsung M51 paired with Cayin Ru6
• -iPhone 15 paired with iBasso DC03Pro
• - iFi Go Blu on Bluetooth

Streaming Apps: Spotify & Apple Music


Driveability 5/5

Delci can be easily driven from any source, and even from my Samsung M51's 3.5 headphone jack. However, with a good source it scales pretty well which shows the driver's versatile nature.

Sound:

To describe the sound I would say that the Delci has an overall warm presentation with a fun and engaging high end. That's not it. Keep reading to find out more.

Bass : 5/5

Sub Bass Depth and Rumble
Testing sub-bass depth and rumble in an IEM requires tracks that feature deep bass frequencies and powerful sub-bass elements.

• In the track Massive Attack - "Teardrop" I felt the rumble was good enough. I was clearly able to hear the low sounds distinctively. It shows that Delci has a good bass extension.
• In another track by The Weeknd - "Starboy" it almost gave me a subwoofer effect.

Control and Tightness
To test bass control and tightness in an IEM, you’ll want tracks that feature well-defined basslines and controlled low-frequency elements.

• In the track Daft Punk - "One More Time" the bass wasn't very tight but it was not loose either, I'd say it was sufficient enough not to sound sluggish.
• I used another track, Stevie Wonder - "Superstition" where i felt the bass was just tight enough.

Mid Bass Punch and Slam
Testing mid-bass punch and slam in an IEM requires tracks that emphasize the lower frequencies with impact and depth.

• In the track Beastie Boys - "Sabotage" the bassline the punch is adequate.
• I also verified with another track from Muse - "Hysteria" and I felt the mid bass in the distorted bass guitar.

Mids: 3/5

Lower mids: Body and Warmth
To evaluate lower mids body and warmth in an IEM, you'll want tracks that feature rich vocals, acoustic instruments, and low-register instruments like guitars and cellos.

• The track Norah Jones - "Come Away With Me" felt smooth and warm with rich female vocals. However, the bassy instruments felt slightly recessed. Piano, Strings and cymbals were easier to notice.
• In another track Coldplay - "Yellow", here the male vocals felt fuller and warm as well.

Upper Mids - Clarity and Detail
To test upper mids clarity and detail in an IEM, you'll want tracks that feature prominent vocals, guitars, and other mid-range instruments with intricate textures and nuances.

• In Radiohead - "Pyramid Song" as the track advances, Delci starts losing clarity and it feels like a few instruments get muffled with the vocals, the separation is not quite evident.
• In another track Diana Krall - "S'Wonderful" the vocals are forward but the instruments come out cleaner. Delci performs well with Jazz tracks.

Midrange Balance and Timbre
Testing midrange balance and timbre in an IEM requires tracks that showcase a variety of instruments and vocal performances across the midrange spectrum.

• The track Pink Floyd - "Wish You Were Here" features a variety of instruments like guitars, piano, and vocals all occupy the midrange. Delci is quite Balanced and presents a cohesive soundscape where each instrument has its own distinct and natural timbre.
• The track Antonio Vivaldi - "The Four Seasons - Spring" relies heavily on violins and cellos, both prominent in the mids. Delci is able to showcase the natural timbres of these instruments.

Overall Midrange Performance:

• The track Adele - "Someone Like You" features vocals which spans a wide range of the midrange. Delci is able to present her voice with warmth without being harsh.
• The track Steely Dan - "Aja" features a meticulously crafted mix with instruments and vocals seamlessly integrated across the midrange. Delci is quite Balanced and resolving and it reveals the intricate details and textures within the song.
• Upper mids are at times harsh. I noticed it on some tracks. Instruments like trumpets and electric guitar felt slightly harsh when I used a DC04pro but on ru6 it was fine.

Treble: 4/5

Treble Extension - Air and Brightness
Testing treble extension and brightness in an IEM requires tracks that feature prominent high-frequency elements such as cymbals, hi-hats, and vocal sibilance.

• In the track Led Zeppelin - "When the Levee Breaks" the cymbal strikes are not so well isolated but they are by no means harsh or sibilant. I would say the treble extension is just average.
• In another track Steely Dan - "Do it Again" the high hats cymbals crispness is decent and is not harsh

Treble Detail and Resolution:
To test treble detail and resolution in an IEM, you’ll want tracks that contain intricate high-frequency elements and subtle nuances.

• In the track Antonio Vivaldi - "The Four Seasons - Summer " , Delci is able to resolve intricate details in the treble. The fast violin passages in this summer movement. The separation of notes isn't very clear and slightly sounds smeared together.
• In a bollywood track Surili Akhiyon Wale - Veer Delci picks up nuances and the bar chimes are very clean which plays at the back of the guitar picks layered with accordion.

Smoothness and Sibilance Control:
To test treble smoothness and sibilance control in an IEM, you’ll want tracks that contain vocals with sibilant sounds (like “s” and “sh” sounds) and high-frequency elements without being harsh or piercing.

• The track Nora Jones - "Don't Know Why", had peaks in the vocals but was not sibilant at all. Delci tamed the sibilance while maintaining clarity in the voice.

Overall Treble Quality and Balance:

The track Pink Floyd - "Comfortably Numb" features a layered soundscape with guitars, synths, and vocals all sharing the treble space. Delci somehow managed to present a clear and detailed treble without any particular element being overpowering but it didnt excel which is understandable at the price point.

The track Mozart - "Piano Concerto No. 21 - III. Rondo (Alla Turca)" has a bright melody played on the piano. I chose this track to test the balance and smoothness in Delci. The overall presentation was smooth and enjoyable without excessive brightness or harshness.


Technicalities: 4/5

• In most tracks I was able to hear the instruments crisp and clear. The Soundstage is spacious at average and has good width. The forward vocals also help with the stage height and I also got a hint of depth in some jazz tracks. One reference would be the track Miles Davis - "So What" where the instruments are spaced decently enough but not wide.
• Imaging is quite decent enough for the asking price. In tracks involving 1-3 instruments, I was able to tell where the sound is coming from and how far but it was mostly left, right, behind my ears and behind my head. Using the same track as above I was able to feel the distance of all instruments.
• Resolution is great, it picks up nuances and expressed it so well. The cymbal reverbs sound beautiful. Layering is also something I feel it does very well. in the track Snarky Puppy - Lingus (We Like It Here), I was able to hear a lot of details. Also as the track progresses it adds on layers of each instrument.

Final Verdict:

Well, with all that said, It's a green flag for me. Delci has proven that good IEMs can be affordable. By no means it's a perfect IEM but with its offering at the given price point I really think this should be your go to iem for longer listening sessions. Bassheads would really enjoy this iem.

Forward:

I'm grateful to Pulkit @gadgetgod for providing me with this unit. As the name suggests, it's yet another Timmy's (aka Gizaudio) collab, which has really impressed me on the first listen. Below are my initial impressions of Binary x Gizaudio Chopin.

Build:

The IEM build looks great. I was suspicious regarding the fit given the design and the fact that I have small ears, but these fit my ears so well.I never had to adjust in between my sessions. The cable is quite soft, and since it does not have ear hooks, it adjusts pretty well to the ears. The case felt premium and robust, whereas the eartips looked generic. They work well enough. nothing fancy.


Sound:

This opinion is based on my brief session while listening to Spotify on an iPhone 15 paired with the Luxury and Precision W4 dongle DAC. No EQ or presets were applied. On my very first listen, it sounded clean and natural to me. I would say it felt neutral, with a touch of warmth. By looking at the squigs, it feels like they were quite inspired by the moondrop variations.



Bass:

The bass is tight, has subtle warmth, and does not lack rumble; it's quite clean and textured without bleeding into the mids. I never came across such great bass on a hybrid IEM.

Mids:

The mids are well implemented in chopin. The instrument sounded well separated, but I only slightly felt the BA timbre when I paid close attention to a few tracks. The overall timbre is much better than other hybrid IEMs.

Treble:

The treble in Chopin goes smooth with no harshness; it also has decent sparkle, and one can hear nuances despite being less airy. Overall, the treble felt smooth and safely tuned.

Technicalities:

The soundstage is wide and has a good depth to it; the imaging is quite accurate; the detail retreival is great; however, the tonality felt just fine to me; the musical notes were accurate but felt less emotional.

Final Verdict:

I feel the Binary Acoustics x Gizaudio Chopin is a very capable IEM, and it definitely gives tough competition to other IEMs at this price point. It remains mostly clinical, with a subtle level of fun to it.