Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0

Celest Pandamon 2.0 Review​

Full review can be found HERE

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Celest Pandamon 2.0​

Intro​

Well, hello everyone, today I am reviewing one of the latest iems from the brand Celest Audio named the Celest Pandamon 2.0. Of course, the “2.0” references the fact that this model is indeed the successor to the OG Pandamon, naturally called “Celest Pandamon”. I actually reviewed the OG Pandamon (Pandamon Review) and was truly impressed. In fact, I still believe that the OG is a fantastic option at around $26 (last seen on Aliexpress). Which is an enormous sale price from its initial MSRP of $79. For that price it’s probably one of the better iems you can buy. At any rate. I thoroughly enjoy the 1st Pandamon which helped make famous the “Square Planar Driver” or “SPD”. At that time there were only a few sets floating around using the driver tech. Celest also has the Gumiho which is the set which revolutionized the tech. At least that I know of anyways. Well, now we have the latest addition to Celest’s lineup with the Pandamon 2.0, it looks as though we have a new and improved version of that same driver. It also appears that the newer version comes in with an MSRP that’s about $20 cheaper at $59 US.

Upgraded​

It’s also very apparent that there have been some aesthetic upgrades since the first Pandamon. It isn’t out of the question to say that the OG’s appearance was pretty polarizing. One might even say it was sort-of cartoonish. I certainly had to overlook the angry bear on the faceplates to enjoy the wonderful sound. Of course, that set was probably geared towards the younger generation. Well, this go-round Celest changed all of that with a gorgeous and appealing successor in the 2.0 that really is a special looking iem. More on that later. Also, like I said, there is an upgrade to the driver itself. Once again, we have a Kinera customized SPD driver, but now it’s supposedly better. I don’t know how it’s better, but that’s what the promotional material states. We shall see. Next, Celest also switched up the tuning. Now, when I read that I was a bit hesitant. Why change such a good thing? So, I guess we will find out about that too.

Celest​

I should add that Celest is a sub-brand of one of the more beloved audio brands… Kinera. Just by saying that you should at least perk up a little bit. Celest was created to be the budget arm of the Kinera umbrella. Of course, Kinera also has a sub-brand which is equally awesome in Queen of Audio (QOA). So, the lineage is there, and the doors are open for Celest to ride the Kinera wave, so to speak. However, I honestly feel that… from what I’ve heard from Celest… they’re creating waves all by themselves. I’ve reviewed a couple Celest iems in the recent past. Those sets are the Celest Pandamon (Pandamon Review), Celest Phoenixcall (Phoenixcall Review), and the ultra-budget Celest Wyvern Pro (Wyvern Pro Review). They do a fantastic job on a regular basis. From a build, design, & unboxing standpoint, as well as the actual sound of their products. Everything is usually covered. So, it’s always good to see a Celest/Kinera/QOA set to review.

Iron-eating beast​

They call it the Iron-Eating Beast. This is the actual face behind the name “Pandamon”. A ferocious warrior Panda! Well, to be perfectly correct, the image which was depicted was a bear which had black and white patterns. Hence the panda. This beast feasted on iron and copper (as one does) and has an extraordinary combat history. On a side note, this beast also had a penchant for sneaking into nearby homes and eating their copper and steel dishware, not joking. Enemies armor and devices for combat stood no chance against the iron crushing Jaws of Pandamon. We learn about this character in an ancient Chinese text… “The Classic of Mountain & Seas”. This story is where Celest draws its inspiration for the Pandamon series of iems. This tale is also known as “Shan Hai Jing”. Thought to be dated as early as the 4th century BCE, but the actual version we have today didn’t come around until the Han Dynasty. That we know of. This book is really a large collection of Chinese mythology and a very well regarded one if I’m not mistaken.

What’s in a name? ​

I say all of that to once again congratulate Celest/Kinera for another solid naming scheme. There is a lot to take away from how these audio brands name their devices. To a small extent anyways. You’ve probably read in some of my reviews where I do poke some fun at brands whose best effort to name their products is with “number names”. Not with Kinera, Celest & QOA. This is a brand who takes the careful thought and time to give their products a certain personality, if you will. Always there is a theme, or a story by which they use to name their iems. I am a huge fan of this. It shows that they care about their craft enough to give their products a certain identity. I like brands that show care for their artistry & put the effort in to create a theme. Also, it’s nice to follow along. At any rate, the Pandamon is a good character to use. I simply like the “not-so” cartoonish version.

Let’s dive in…​

I certainly want to see how well the 2.0 stacks up to the OG Pandamon. I have to admit that the 2.0 has some big shoes to fill as the OG has a very nice tuning. Also, I want to see how well the Pandamon stacks up to the sets within its price point. So with that, I think I’m ready to dive in folks. The Celest Pandamon…

Non Affiliated Purchasing Links:​

–Kinera Audio
–Amazon
–Hifigo

Gear used for testing​

–Ifi Go Blu

–Simgot Dew4x

–EPZ TP20 Pro

–EPZ TP50

–Fiio Q15

–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2

–Shanling M6 Ultra

Packaging / Accessories​

Unboxing​

This is a very quick rundown of the unboxing. Why do I do these? Anyways, the Pandamon 2.0 comes in a good-sized rectangular box with a nice moody purple mountain scene on the outer sleeve. Take the sleeve off to reveal the actual black box underneath. Open the box to get your first look at the very nice looking Pandamon 2.0 sitting pretty in some foam cut-outs. Next to the earphones is the black case. Inside the case you’ll find the eartips and cable as well. The whole package is up to par with $50 to $75 iems, in my opinion anyways. Kinera/Celest will always put together a well displayed first unboxing.

Eartips​

The eartips provided in the packaging are six pairs in total. There’re two different styles of tips. The first set (S, M, L) is a gray flanged and orange stem pair of what Celest calls their “608 balanced tips”. To be 100% honest, these tips look identical in almost all ways to the old school Fiio Bass tips. Or just a different colored KBear 07 tip. Same semi-wide bore, firm flange, and rigid stem. They are great tips. The second set (S, M, L) is a gray on dark gray pair of tips. Celest refers to these as their “221 vocal tips”. These tips are a shallower fit then the 1st pair and they also have a wider bore. Good tips as well. In fact, both sets are nice tips and should be great to have in a collection. I actually went with the 1st set which perfectly resemble the Fiio Bass tips and carry the exact sonic principles of the KBear 07 tips. They give the upper mids a slight vibrance and give the low-end some impact, some snap too, while being less fatiguing up top then the wide bore tips for me.

Tip-roll? ​

You may not enjoy the more neutral style of this set and may want just a touch more low-end oomph to your listen. For that I would point you towards a narrow bore tip. Any of them that I used would help give the Pandamon 2.0 that last little bit of low-end grunt while slightly attenuating the upper regions. I certainly don’t like the Pandamon 2.0 in that way, but I could see some folks wanting to change things up a bit. Some would say that foam tips would do the same thing, however I found that foam tips actually decrease the bass presence in the process on this set. Who knows, maybe it’s just my ear anatomy but I can assure you that this is what I have to report and what I heard. At any rate, it’s nice that you actually get nice tips for a change in a budget set. I would have thought nothing less of Kinera/Celest.

Carrying case​

I never use these things. Okay I can’t say never. I do occasionally take a carrying case with me when I’m out in the market or taking a walk. However, most of the time I don’t use them. Still, I know many folks who do. So, it is nice to see a decent case with the Pandamon 2.0. This is a smaller round case. Black in color. It has a faux leather type material covering it and it does have a working zipper (for a change). The included case is large enough to fit your earphones and a cable, maybe some extra tips too. However, it is also small enough to fit in your pocket and not look absolutely ridiculous. It’s a nice accessory and it’s a good case.

Cable​

Celest chose to offset the blue or black hues (whatever you choose at checkout) of the Pandamon 2.0 with a nice-looking pearl white cable. No, it isn’t the best wire that my eyes have ever seen, but also… the Pandamon 2.0 costs $59. It’s very nice for the price and nobody should complain because I’m telling you that you won’t find many outright better cables at that price. There are some outliers like the amazing cable that came with the Rose Technics QuietSea (thiccy-thicc gray fabric cable). Yet most of the time you are getting throw away cables that you will likely swap out anyways. I don’t feel that this is necessary at all. You can choose between the 3.5 single ended and 4.4 balanced jack options. I chose the 4.4 because I simply listen much more to 4.4 balanced on my sources. To each their own though. This cable is a 2-pin, straight plug, 5N silver plated copper cable with 49 strands and 4 cores in a circular braided design. It’s not super fat but it is lite enough to not tug on the ultra-lite Pandamon 2.0’s. I feel this cable is probably a good choice. It’s nice.

Build / Design / Internals / Fit ​

Build Quality​

I find the build quality of the Pandamon 2.0 to be pretty nice. I feel it is built to serve more of a function than anything. Made completely of a resin material which is very light in weight. I would argue that the Pandamon 2.0 may be one of the lightest iems that I have. The Kefine Delci is a close second. However, the Pandamon 2.0 only weighs about 3.5 grams, which is next to nothing. Hence the need for a slightly lighter cable. Now, one huge benefit of a build such as this, is that the Pandamon 2.0 will not induce fatigue on the listener due to its weight. I find it quite awesome that Celest was able to craft a set which is so lite without it feeling cheap. I don’t get that impression. This is a unique and structurally sound earphone and it’s made in typical Kinera fashion. Very nice.

Anyways, the Pandamon 2.0 are circular in build and much smaller than many other planar iems. Mainly due to the size of the SPD driver Celest was able to craft a set which would be great for those with smaller ears. The nozzle is medium in length. Not too long and also not too short. The nozzle opening at the tip is roughly around 6mm and so most any tips can be used with it. Celest also put a small vent hole near the two pin connectors as well. Again, at the end of the day, I do believe that the build was more functional than anything. This is a set that will not cause the listener to get fatigued over time and won’t come out of place due to the sheer weight of the housings. It’s a nice build, as always.

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Design​

One of the coolest aspects of the Pandamon 2.0 is the beautiful look and design language used with this set. Again, the Pandamon 2.0 comes in two colorways, both blue and black. Both have transparent housings which showcase the neat looking square planar drivers. Additionally, the faceplates are actually hand painted! It is stated in the promotional material that the faceplates went through many different processes to present a more modest Pandamon “this time”. The difference from the cartoonist original Pandamon is quite a huge leap and much more respectable in my opinion. While I didn’t hate the OG design, it certainly wasn’t something I was willing to take out and be seen with. It was more for teenagers and those who could identify with the story behind the Pandamon. I actually love the design on the 2.0. The blue set is absolutely gorgeous with its deep indigo blue transparency. I love the cursive “Celest” so eloquently displayed on each faceplate area. The logo sits in the middle of a black canvas with tiny blue, white, & black speckles which are hand painted in such a way to mimic the look of what appears to be mountains or water splashing. I couldn’t think of a better sophomore try at this theme. It is much more mature and easier to get behind for more hobbyists.

Full review can be found HERE

Shell Design

Pandamon 2.0 adopts a translucent resin body shell with a hand-painted faceplate by artist, which has gone through several processes to present a modest and naive Pandamon, making Pandamon become gentle and dynamic.
Celest Promotional​

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Internals​

This should be relatively quick. Celest chose to use their latest SPD 2.0 square planar driver. This driver does cover the full range of the spectrum quite nicely. I find that these square planar drivers are almost a good mix of DD energy and planar energy. Heck, there are times it sounds almost like a BA but with better low-end energy. It’s hard to put my finger on actually. That said, I really do enjoy these square planar drivers. They seem to be a comfortable median between planars and dynamic drivers. I can say one thing with 100% conviction though, the Pandamon 2.0’s “2.0” driver is a slight upgrade.

Kinera 10mm SPD 2.0 ™ (Square Planar Driver)

SPD™ 2.0 is an excellent full-range Square Planar Driver, based on reasonable structure and solid materials, compared with other driver have a small size, high sensitivity, smooth three-frequency articulation, balanced energy distribution characteristics. Ultra-low impedance makes it possible to drive a planar earphone from a mobile phone as well.
Celest Promotional​

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Fit​

This will be an area that will depend wholly on your own ear anatomy. For me, the Pandamon 2.0 fits like a dream! This is an awesome set for fit and comfort. In fact, if the fit is good for you then the Pandamon 2.0 will be one of the most comfortable iems under $100. Obviously, you’ll have to find tips that seal well for you. Still, this is an extremely light iem folks. As honest as I can be, I don’t think I’ve had anything more comfortable in my ears for quite some time. Couple that with the big sound and there is just something special about that combo. The fit is great… If it fits you. I always wonder why I out this section in any review and always go back and forth about taking the time to add it in. Welp, the Pandamon 2.0 is my reason. Also, weirdly enough, the Pandamon 2.0 also does an admirable job with good passive noise isolation. I wouldn’t have thought that being the Pandamon 2.0 is a resin set, light as a feather and with a vent but… It does a good job here.

Drivability / Synergy ​

The Celest Pandamon is a really easy set to drive. This smacks in the face what we used to think that planar magnetic earphones were supposed to be. They are supposed to be hard to drive, hard to get the best out of them. Most planars will reward you with greater power and will sound more lifeless with less output. Not the Pandamon. With an impedance of only 9 ohms and a sensitivity of roughly about 108 db’s, the Pandamon 2.0 thrives with even low powered sources. Now, just like most iems, the Pandamon 2.0 will slightly scale with more juice. However, that is not a requirement at all. Even my iPad was able to bring this set to good volume. The Fiio UTWS5 made easy work of driving this set. So, you don’t need some massive uptick of power and should be perfectly fine driving the Pandamon 2.0, even with a phone not named “LG”.

Mobile Listening ​

When I’m out and about I love to have a few sources with me. I swap and switch out pretty regularly. I realize in the “Gear used for testing” section above that I list out a number of devices used. However, I use way more than that. Those are simply my most used devices. I did use quite a few more than what’s listed. One thing I found to be great was how the Pandamon 2.0 seems to pair with slightly warmer sources…sometimes. This wasn’t always the case but more often than not slightly warmer sources seemed to do well. However, I feel that far too often we consider “good synergy” to simply be the result of tonal coloration pairing. I don’t agree with that completely. I hear good results from both warmer and closer to neutral sources. Synergy is a tough thing to explain folks.

Nice pairings​

One great pairing is with the IFi Go Blu. It has a ton of power and a slightly warm skew to its sound, but it also has a very musical sound. Together they worked wonderfully over LDAC. Also, using the Simgot Dew4x was a real treat as well. I hear such a nice resolving sound and the Dew4x seems to provide a hint more depth than a lot of the other mobile sources. Also, the EPZ TP20 Pro. It has a nicely warm/neutral sound with warmer dynamics that simply fits the Pandamon 2.0 in a way which provides almost a milky sound with a boost to the low-end. So, there are a few different examples of good pairings on the go. I should add that more neutral sources don’t sound bad at all either. Something like the EPZ TP50 put on a technical clinic with the Pandamon 2.0 with great timbre. So, it really is dependent on the source and how it individually pairs with this $59 iem.

More juice​

Here is where I spend the greatest majority of my listening and without question my favorite source to use was the Shanling M6 Ultra. That velvet chip (AK4493SEQ Flagship dac) and its highly resolving sound was synergy at its finest for me. To me the Pandamon 2.0 scales very well with more advanced sources and will reward you for these types of pairings. I also feel that more power does tighten the transient attack through decay a bit as well. Maybe a bit more bass impact too but that is highly debatable.

What do you need?​

Pretty much what I’ve said, in my opinion anyways. I’d say just, have a source device that you enjoy with moderate power at the very least. Perhaps that is a dongle dac like I’ve mentioned above. However, if all you have is the money to purchase the Pandamon 2.0 and nothing else then I’d say you’d probably be okay with a simple phone through a 3.5 single ended jack.

Tuning Concept

Pandamon 1.0 sound fierce and in the tuner’s impression Pandamon has a very different character from the book. Therefore, in the Pandamon 2.0 tuning, the power of the sound to the mid-high frequency tilt, making the Pandamon 2.0 sound more rapid and relaxed, high-frequency extension is more excellent, so that the details of the song is detailed, easy to handle, such as ACG and a variety of other complex music.
Celest Promotional​

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Sound Impressions​

Note: I just want to preface this section with a couple things. First off, I did burn in the Pandamon 2.0 for roughly about 50-60 hours. There wasn’t some huge change that occurred for me either, so I don’t know how imperative it is to do so. I listen using flac or better files which are stored on my devices. I also use the UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) app. Occasionally, I use the Hiby Music app as well as Poweramp.

Condensed Sound Between the 20’s​

Ialways add in this initial section into my reviews so that people can get a quick synopsis of my thoughts. I realize not everyone wants to read my longer reviews all the time. Of course, I elaborate in the following sections quite a bit more.

Listening to the Pandamon 2.0, I’d say that it comes across with a U-shaped sound. One thing is for sure, the midrange isn’t withdrawn or pulled back, certainly not attenuated. Instruments are more forward and so are vocals. Hence the “U-shaped” sound. The Pandamon 2.0 has a more relaxed energy yet doesn’t come across laid back, if that makes sense. Smooth over crisp, natural transients. Just smooth and musical, warm/neutral and clean. It’s one of those sets that can come across energetic and lively just as easily as it can inundate your temporal lobe with harmonious melodiousness. Just a free flowing and glass lined smoothness that rubs down those rough edges like water over a riverbed. Okay that was a bit romantic, but you get the point. For $59 it’s a nice sound. Is it for everyone? Absolutely not.

They can tune a set of earphones…​

There are good dynamics across the mix as the upper midrange/lower treble regions are elevated, adding vibrance and a sense of resolve to the sound as well. I feel that every area of the frequency is represented pretty well, with slightly less extension on each end of the spectrum. The Pandamon 2.0 does have some good macro-dynamics with a warm vibrant presence in my opinion. The dynamic expression is good and fun enough, definitely not boring, but there is a relaxed quality which is very nice to my ears. Beyond that, the Pandamon 2.0 doesn’t skimp on the technical stuff, not completely anyways. However, in the end I hear some nice musicality and an emotional skew to the sound which is great for just chillin’ and listening to your jams. Celest knows how to tune a set of earphones and while it may not be for everyone, it’s still a fine set.

Each 3rd of the mixed “condensed”​

I find that the sub-bass extension isn’t too deep or penetrative and doesn’t have a large amount of textured bite and haptic recognition that I enjoy. However, the Pandamon 2.0 still has enough grunt for most genres. It’s just moderate. There is good impact with a flattened attack, slightly softened but very well controlled. Decay is more like a tight DD, not quite like a planar.

The midrange has good note weight, especially nearing the low-mids. While the upper-mids have that shimmery quality to them. Again, this set presents vocals and some instruments slightly more forward and with good cleanliness. I find the mids to be kind of intimate, but also, they have good & quality timbre too. Nothing metallic or shouty.

The treble doesn’t have the best extension, but it is a lively enough treble. The lower treble especially. Certainly, enough lift to bring a clean and uplifted levity to the tonal color of this earphone. I hear no ear gouging peaks or unsightly sibilance. The treble is nice. Just enough energy to add some spice to the sound without oversaturating the mix in treble sheen.

Condensed technical stuff​

The stage isn’t what I’d call compressed, but it isn’t wide and spacious either. The extension both ways does hamper this a bit and lack of upper treble energy results in a less airy sound. However, the stage is decent. Separation is about average and wholly depends on the track being played. Imaging leaves a little bit to be desired, but again, alot depends on the track. Detail retrieval is actually pretty good so long as you aren’t playing a complicated song. Honestly, this is a good set, and I could see many folks really loving its sound. So, there you have the ultra-condensed version. In the next few sections, I’ll break down each 3rd of the mix…

Bass region​

I like the bass here. It isn’t the most pinpoint or exact in its textures. Then again it also isn’t a lazy or disheveled bass either. It’s nice. You don’t have that crystalline note structure all the time, and the bass does come across slightly softened at the crest of “some” notes…at times. That said, the bass has good control, it isn’t even close to sloppy and has enough impact to give kick drums that tacky edge and hollow boom. Of course, that “boom” may not be enough “boom” for some hobbyists, but there’s some boom. Again, not overdone. This is not an overly boosted low end, as the quantity really does fit the overall tuning very well. A few db’s here or there may throw the whole thing off and miss Celest’s target they were going for. Additionally, there’s a nice contrast against the lower-treble region creating a decent balance. Almost. The pendulum does tilt slightly to the right, but it’s within reason. Now, you do see the bass leach over into the midrange as there’s a little bit of carry over, but I don’t feel this is to a detriment. Instead, I personally feel it adds needed weight and warmth to male vocals. I don’t always need that granite hard density in my bass, and I don’t always need that low-droning rumble either. It just has to fit the overall sound character of the iem I’m listening to. In the case of Pandamon 2.0, I think it fits just fine.

Sub-bass​

The lowest of lows are not going to vibrate your ears or rattle your brain stem. This is a tastefully done rendition of sub-bass from the people at Celest. Now after saying that, I should also state that the Pandamon 2.0 is a bit reserved in this area. Not rolled-off per se, but slightly rolled-off. Sorry for the contradicting descriptions by the way. The Pandamon 2.0 doesn’t exactly have that earthy and grounded chasmic solidity that a dynamic driver can produce. It just isn’t that. Yet it isn’t devoid of some rumble either. It’s what we refer to as “moderate”. Another audiophile unquantifiable word that we use…a lot. Despite this moderate sub-bass quantity, I feel that the Pandamon 2.0 will rise to the occasion in many tracks which have a deep and bullish sub-bass. Especially in tracks that feature that heavy low reverb and drone. For instance, listening to “Mancey” by Andrew Bird, I do get that guttural sound to the extent that the Pandamon 2.0 can provide it. I don’t feel it lacks. It can be sonorous and reach some low pitches too. However, those descriptors aren’t maintained at all times. I would simply say that extension is not to the level of some other sets in its price point. Nevertheless, the sub-bass also won’t drown out other areas of the mix either. It’s a give and take hobby folks. The sub-bass has good control and even some good definition as well. Bassheads won’t be in love with this set, but I feel that most hobbyists will enjoy what Celest was able to accomplish here.

Mid-bass​

In my opinion, the mid-bass does have a slight bit more weight afforded to it than the sub-bass. In truth, the mid-bass does have some nice impact and actually has a good clean punch to it as well. This isn’t some “laid back” mid-bass as there is some liveliness and snappy spunk to it. Again, this is also an area which will rise to the occasion and provide some thump when needed. What’s more, it isn’t over cooked either. You don’t have the veil from a dominant bass region covering any other frequencies. In addition, the mid-bass has a nicely edged punch when needed, it has that textured impact when a track calls for it. However, in general it has a softer feel to it. It isn’t razor sharp in its attack unless a track specifically requires it. Moreover, this isn’t a traditionally big bass. Without question bass heads will want to look elsewhere. The Pandamon 2.0 has a tighter mid-bass with good agility but not quite as full as a dynamic driver, not as tight as the usual planar, or as defined as a balanced armature. It’s somewhere in between each of those. Bass guitar doesn’t always have that profuse reverb or fullness that I always want, but in all honesty the Pandamon 2.0 doesn’t miss by much. “2040” by Lil Durk is one of those tracks which doesn’t miss by much, though some folks may be wishing for a bit more thunder within its quantity. Still voluminous enough, still bulbous enough, but with a slightly smaller footprint than something like the Kefine Delci or CCA Rhapsody for instance.

Downsides to the Bass Region ​

If I were to spell out some flaws within the bass region I would first state that I don’t really see or hear any “flaws”. Just subjective downsides that some folks may not appreciate. One of those downsides obviously pertains to the amount of amplitude given to this general area. The quantity. Some folks will not enjoy that the bass isn’t as boosted, or fun then they may usually enjoy. I could also say that the low-end isn’t exactly that perfectly defined and perfectly sculpted low-end with great depth and layering. It isn’t that. I suppose it’ll always come down to your own preferences, as it should. Some will want a tighter, more analytical style bass. Then some will want the type of bass that warms the whole of the mix and shadows the spectrum in heaviness and lushness. The Pandamon 2.0 presents sort of a “middle ground” in both its technical approach and for the amount of bass and low-end grumble that it displays. From my perspective the Pandamon 2.0 sounds great, I think it’s punchy, tight and defined well enough while at the same time there’s still some atmospheric type of decay and some haptic tactility to the sound. Some folks may want a bit more guttural depth and resonant beef in the lowest of lows but for the most part the Pandamon 2.0 really isn’t missing much here. Yes, there is a slight roll-off in the sub-bass and not the mid-bass doesn’t give you that all-encompassing boom all the time. But the bass fits the overall tuning and counters the upper-mids and lower treble pretty well.

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Midrange​

To my ears, the Celest Pandamon 2.0 is a more midrange forward iem which excels in the area of vocals. Timbre is actually very good with a natural and more organic hue to everything. Much like the OG Pandamon. I feel the midrange has good presence. It’s slightly highlighted. Not quite put on a pedestal, but highlighted and clear. I’ve heard some vocal centric iems that actually do favor vocals over anything and everything else and they are a bit more pronounced in this area. The Pandamon 2.0 isn’t quite there. However, the midrange does seem to be the Star of the show. There is the slightest recession in the lower parts of the mids and a slightly more forward & vibrant upper part. One thing which is maintained throughout the midrange is the clean presentation and the very nice timbre. Very natural sounding as I don’t hear any planar timbre. Much like the previous Pandamon, the 2.0 follows in its footsteps with an organic take on my musical library. That organic sound is helped by the fact that note weight is generally lusher than it isn’t. I would say it’s closer to lean-lush, softer in its dynamics but also, I hear a very nice smooth-dynamic projection of midrange notes.

Moving parts…​

Depending on how complicated the track is that you’re listening to will determine how complicated the music sounds when it hits your ears. Not that the Pandamon 2.0 cannot take on music with more moving parts, but I did notice a slight decline in its resolve of those types of tracks. As one should expect. This is nothing new. This is not a multi driver iem folks, but instead it has a single full range SPD taking on all of those little subtleties. So, I don’t say that to put this set down at all. In fact, I feel the Pandamon 2.0 does a nice job of illuminating details. I hear a very cohesive midrange with a gradual enough pinna rise that isn’t too steep or overtly boosted to the point of glare or shout.

Lower-midrange​

Like I stated already, the lower midrange has an ever-so-slight recession. Maybe. Better yet, it’s not that the lower mids are recessed, pushed back or attenuated, it’s more that they aren’t as energetic and dynamic as other areas of the midrange. They simply don’t stick out with the same verve & exuberance (not that the upper-mids are ultra exuberant), and I don’t want my lower mids to come across too energetic. Who wants vibrant male voices? Who wants forward and boxy sounding low-mid instruments? No sir, I want males to sound like males. I’ll take the slight “recession”. Give me weight, authority, warmth, density and give me that word which cannot be fully explained… “Presence”. I find that the Pandamon 2.0 does carry a couple of those rubrics quite well. Males like Marcus King in his track “Mood Swings” is a good example of how the Pandamon 2.0 shows off his breathy, blues-infused southern drawl so very well, with good note weight and presence. Or the track “Once Upon a Poolside” by The National is a track which features a gruffer voice, slightly lower in pitch, gravellier and the Pandamon 2.0 actually does provide some authority to the inflections in his voice. Instruments in the lower-mids present themselves the same way on the Pandamon 2.0. Good weight, a hint warmer, not as exuberant.

Upper-Midrange​

Females which hang around the upper-mids are certainly a hair more forward and more elated sounding than males. They come with just a splash of shimmer and vivaciousness. Obviously, instruments do the same. Piano, cymbals, strings, they all carry that slightly more vibrant tinge to their sound. Slightly more forward, closer to the listener. That said, timbre is great, nothing overly artificial to my ears which is saying something for the driver type. I could see some folks not enjoying the vibrance here, but I feel it really does add some sprightliness to the whole of the mix. To a degree anyways. Listening to Caitlyn Smith in the track “High” you get a velvety soft vocal to start the track in the main verse, which leads to a boisterous and resounding chorus. The Pandamon 2.0 takes to this song very well. I don’t hear the knife edged timbre when Caitlyn’s voice gets louder and more ballad-like. Nothing metallic either. Now there are some subtle separation issues during the chorus section but for the most part the Pandamon 2.0 does a great job of keeping control throughout.

Upper-mids cont…​

From my estimation, the Pandamon 2.0 excels at female vocals. They may be a hair thinner in this region, but I don’t hear anything frail and weak at all. Even with the leaner note body, the sound still has a very clean approach which seems to add some vibrant density. Instruments follow suit. Details come through pretty well also as the transient response is on the tighter side. Add to that, there’s a nice balance on this set which won’t really see a ton of masking happening in the upper-mids. Maybe a track which displays a lot of lower treble will sound slightly more congested with some masking happening.

Downsides to the Midrange​

I suppose there are a few possible subjective downsides that folks may have. Of course, I think the midrange is actually very well done for the price. However, I am not everyone else and I could see how others may take issue with a few things. I would say that the upper midrange may be a bit too shouty for some folks. My ears don’t hear that, but I could see it being an issue for those sensitive to it. I feel the upper-mids take me underneath that “shout-point”, but again, I’m not you. Next, those hobbyists who are warm or dark lovers will probably not appreciate how the Pandamon 2.0’s midrange comes across. Maybe not thick enough in note weight. On the other end of the spectrum, I could see some analytical lovers also not enjoying this set.

Honestly, for me the midrange has a lot going for it. I actually don’t think I outlined that well enough in the previous sections. This is a good midrange with good note weight, better than average details and pretty decent imaging too. I feel the midrange is more musical than anything yet also the mids come across well detailed too. Micro-dynamic low volume shifts come across pretty well for a $59 iem and the bigger and more robust macro-dynamics have good energy which is nice to hear. Transient behavior is relatively quick, yet it does so with smoother and softer fundamental notes. Attack isn’t always crisp and exact, but decay doesn’t lag at all either. Not bad for the price.

Treble Region​

This brings us to the treble region. I’d venture to say that the treble is probably the weak link of the tuning for some folks, or a huge benefit for others. It all has to do with emphasis, or lack thereof. Great for those who don’t enjoy a super energetic treble region. But treble heads or even moderate treble enjoyers will probably not be too thrilled. The treble has a nice rise in the lower treble which makes the transition from upper-mids a smooth one. Yet after that there’s a pretty large gulf of info that’s mildly attenuated within the presence region. I’ve heard some other friends of mine in the hobby complain that it isn’t zesty enough past the lower treble, and I get that. Some would like a bit more boisterous energy. Fair enough. In context to some of the other great sets in its price point… I do tend to agree. It’s a tad bit dull & not quite as engaging as I’d like. Having said that, this is not a bad treble. It still has adequate punch and transients move along quick enough too. I find detail retrieval to be pretty good and as far as the actual ability of the treble, I’d say it has good control for the price, but this is a smoother take on this area of the mix. In the same breath, the treble can still make its way through just about any undulating, complicated, or fast treble passage fairly easily. It does still have the planar lineage. However, I wouldn’t expect some ultra peppy treble.

Break it down​

To honestly break down the emphasis in this region, I’d simply say that it’s as brilliant as a treble region can be, without causing offense, or fatigue. Extension could be better as well. Personally, I’d like a touch more, but it isn’t a must. In a perfect world I’d like to hear more of a pointed attack as well. The Pandamon 2.0 is just missing that last little bit of info up top and that last little bit of crisp crunch. However, just like the bass region, the treble region does fit the overall tuning well, and in a way that doesn’t steal presence or mask over any other region. It isn’t artificially boosted either, seeking forced resolution. It isn’t going to kill your ears in shrillness or peaks. Again, the treble has good control for what it is. The Pandamon 2.0’s treble emphasis also won’t add unnatural brightness or change the tonal color either. However… it does add at least some levity. At least enough that it doesn’t come across as dark. Maybe not to the point that the Pandamon 2.0 sounds ultra-airy or open. But there’s enough of a rise in the lower treble and at 10k to give the treble some life, or some capped brilliance, if you will.

Downsides to the Treble Region ​

I feel this treble section has highlighted some of the subjective gripes that folks may have within the treble region of the Pandamon 2.0. Lacks some good and articulate extension. Isn’t as brilliant and bright as some would like. Could use some crispness and a bit more bite to treble notes. Not energetic enough. That’s about it.

At the end of the day, the treble will be perceived “by some” to be the weakest part of the spectrum. While this may be true, I certainly don’t see the treble as a “weakness” per se. It isn’t a weakness if many people will actually enjoy it. And I’m just saying it now, many people will enjoy it. So, I’d probably conclude that the treble simply won’t fit everyone’s idea of what a “strength” is concerning the tuning of the 2.0. To be perfectly truthful, I think the treble is perfectly fine. It fits the tuning, nothing sounds out of whack, nothing is under emphasized or dark. It’s decent. Is it my preference? Not really. Can I listen to and enjoy the Pandamon 2.0 for hours? You betcha.

Technicalities​

Soundstage​

The soundstage comes across full, but also pretty intimate. I hear good width, good height and a slight bit of depth. How I hear it is a closer sound field, not pushed very far back. Not a half circle in front of me but more a flat plane of sound. However, within that closer field of sound it is also pretty big in all directions. I don’t hear some stadium sized stage, or even a concert hall, as the Pandamon 2.0 really isn’t tuned in that way. Truthfully, I actually dig a closer presentation. There is a slight lack of layering and depth to the sound but that is to be expected from a $59 planar, or SPD. Typically stage depth is one of the attributes that can suffer on planar magnetic earphones. However, there is some depth, not all is lost. You still have ample width and height. I can tell you this, the stage is not small or congested.

Separation / Imaging​

I feel the Celest Pandamon 2.0 does an average job of separating elements within the stage. Certainly, in more congested tracks you won’t hear as good distinct separation. Besides those moments I think the Pandamon 2.0 does just fine in this regard. Imaging is another area where I could probably slap the “average” tag on it. Again, in congested tracks the imaging seems to blur a bit. However, I feel that the Pandamon 2.0 does a decent job of positioning each instrument within the sound field. The only real lack is in the layering from front to back where the Pandamon 2.0 isn’t the best in that regard as the depth of field is only average at best. Still, for the most part this set will sound pretty darn good for most folks.

Detail Retrieval​

Detail Retrieval is better than I would have thought. Looking at the sound in general we have a smoother note structure, the stage is nicely wide but it isn’t very deep and so you don’t have that good depth for layering of those instruments. That all said, the Pandamon 2.0 is certainly above the average set of earphones when it comes to detail retrieval. I find it pretty easy to pick out the subtleties within my music.

Comparison​

Note: just a sidenote, when conducting these comparisons, I will speak in broad strokes and in generalities. The point is that you all have a good idea of what the Pandamon 2.0 sounds like and using comparisons is a good tool to do so. I won’t go into great depth picking apart differences and this is not a duel to the death. Just a tool.

Celest Pandamon ($45 on sale: $26)​

The Celest Pandamon (Pandamon Review) is one of those sets that sort-of flew under the radar to an extent. Certainly, it performed better than many people would have thought. Me included. I have to admit that when I received the OG Pandamon I was somewhat put-off by the cartoonish angry panda. I figured I’d just give them to my kid. Then I actually heard them. Folks, I was taken aback because the Pandamon sounded (and still sounds) really great. I mean… really great. I reluctantly gave them to my son and thankfully they are still in perfect condition to use as a test comparison. Of course, the OG is the obvious set to use (for comparison) but there are a few others out there that makes sense too. Please DM me if you’d like another comparison conducted with another set. Anyways, there isn’t a whole lot internally which separates these two Celest brothers. We have an upgraded SPD within the Pandamon 2.0, and the OG Pandamon is a semi open-back set. Two very good iems with some subtle differences, let’s take a look.

Differences​

As far as aesthetic, these two couldn’t be more different. The OG has the cartoon teeth panda snarling at anyone who looks at him while the new 2.0 is crafted in more of a traditional Kinera style. Without question the new 2.0 is a huge upgrade. It’s not even close to which design I subjectively like more. The 2.0 has such a classy style and beautiful indigo transparent shells with the dope design on the faceplates. Yep, the 2.0. As far as build. This is tough. I’d actually say the OG is built a bit hardier. The resin on the 2.0 seems a bit less dense. It’s great for wearing without fatigue which is a benefit. However, the OG wasn’t exactly heavy. At any rate the OG probably has a slightly more robust build, but it all comes down to what you prefer. The shape of both sets is about the same. The shell is a round, almost disc shape while the nozzles are about medium in length. The cable on the new set is much better on the new set. Yet the new set doesn’t come with the angry panda charm or keyring like the OG. Both have identical tip selections.

Sound Differences​

Now, these two should be pretty similar in tuning but I honestly don’t hear that. They are actually quite a bit different. First off, the newer 2.0 has better timbre to my ears. More natural, organic and more musical. I hear a more emotionally charged sound on the new set even though the old OG is a slight bit warmer in comparison. The OG Pandamon is also a bit snappier in its transient attack through decay, leaner in note weight and a bit more technically sound as a whole. Pandamon 2.0 has more of a bass impact, punch and overall depth. The midrange on the OG is a hair more forward in the low-mids but is also a hint thinner in that area. Now, the 2.0 has the more forward and vibrant upper-mids with better timbre in my opinion for female vocals. Both sets have nice details in the midrange, but the OG wins out in that regard as the 2.0 definitely comes across smoother to the ear. The treble of the OG is more pronounced, sprightly, and crisper while the 2.0 has a less fatiguing treble with better note body. Extension into the upper treble reaches a hint further out on the OG. Both sets do Technicalities quite well, but the OG has the airier feel to it. Having said that, the 2.0 has a wider and slightly deeper stage. Both are very good sets.

Final thoughts on this comparison​

Honestly, these are two fantastic iems. Truly. For the cost they are both pretty special. Despite that, the OG only costs a mere $29 right now on sale and so I do think it is the better buy. However, the better set in my opinion is the Pandamon 2.0. It simply has that nice and natural timbre with a bit more weight afforded to vocals and a bit more emotion to the sound. I like them both a lot. Another thing to consider is the appearance of these iems. I know many people were not too keen on the OG’s look. Not everyone wants an angry panda. However, if you love that look, I’d definitely recommend checking out a great SPD iem in the OG. Still, the newer set is better looking, better accessories, and I feel it sounds a hair better. I wouldn’t call the new set a direct upgrade, but it is marginally better. My opinion.

Note: I couldn’t find a graph comparison of these two sets. The best I could do is add the OG Pandamon’s graph.

Is it worth the asking price? ​

This is a tough question friends. I want to say that yes of course the Pandamon 2.0 is worth every penny that Celest is asking. However, there really are a slew of iems within its price point of $50 to $75 that are absolute BANGERS! This will be the issue for any iem trying to break into this price point. Having said that, those sets aren’t square planar driver iems. I actually like the timbre and tonality quite well with these drivers. They have the lineage of a planar and they have dynamic driver tendencies as well. I could even say that there is almost a balanced armature feel to these iems at times too. They really are a cool driver tech that I’d love to see expounded upon. But when answering if the Celest Pandamon 2.0 is worth the asking price it will all come down to what the consumer is looking for and what their budget is. For me the Pandamon 2.0 is a no-brainer iem at $59 and I feel it’s easily worth the money, but I’m not the next guy. There is a lot it does well folks…

The Why…​

Because the Celest Pandamon 2.0 is a beautiful iem that is built in such a way that offers no fatigue on the listener. This is an iem that you could keep nestled in your ears for hours without even thinking about them. 3.5 grams is next to nothing friends. I don’t think you really have a gauge for how light that is until you put the Simgot EA500 in one hand and the Pandamon 2.0 in the other. It’s pretty impressive. Still, the build isn’t cheap somehow! It feels durable and built well. The Pandamon 2.0 does not have that chinsy feel at all. Also, the accessories are all good. Nothing is bad with this set. You don’t have to tip roll (unless they don’t fit you), you don’t have to swap cables and you get a carrying case. That all said, nobody buys an earphone for those reasons in particular. We buy earphones for the sound. Luckily, Celest/Kinera was the group of people tuning this set. I feel that the Pandamon 2.0 will fit many peoples preferred signature. The bass is punchy, tight, and has impact. Midrange is forward and melodic with nice musicality while not skimping on the technical stuff. The treble will not kill your ears as it is non-offensive and just brilliant enough to add levity to the mix. The sound is very clean and clear, with great transparency and expressive macro-dynamics. It’s a good set folks. The question is, will the Pandamon 2.0 hold up (in your eyes) against the competition?

Ratings (0-10)​

Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the Celest Pandamon 2.0 ratings below, that would be $50 to $75 earphones of any driver configuration. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $50 to $75 US is a huge scope of iems that is extremely competitive. Basically, it should mean something special to see a “9.0” for example. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.

Aesthetic ​

–Build Quality: 8.4 Built well, very Lite and comfy.

–Look: 9.4 Clean, fresh, simple, elegant.

–Fit/Comfort: 9.8 One of the lightest & most comfortable.

–Accessories: 9.2 Very well accessorized.

–Overall: 9.2

Sound Rating ​

–Timbre: 9.3 Timbre is natural, organic.

–Bass: 8.8 Impactful, punchy, tight.

–Midrange: 9.5 Clean, resolute, forward.

–Treble: 7.0 Non-Offensive, brilliant enough.

–Technicalities: 8.1 Technically it’s a decent set.

–Musicality: 8.7 Musical over technical.

–Overall: 8.6

Ratings Summary:​

These ratings are always questionable folks. I’ll just be honest with you (as always). Ratings can change from person to person and there really are a thousand variables that go into conducting a Rating of certain aspects of an earphone. Also, none of them should be taken as Bible and all ratings should be taken with a grain of salt. That said, I think the ratings above check out. The Pandamon 2.0 was rated against any and every iem between the price of $50 and $75 US. It made more sense to me to pit the Pandamon 2.0 against the entire field rather than simply against other planars. If this was a planar war, then those ratings would be a lot higher. Many of those iems I have on hand, and I do sit down and try my best to get each rating right. Of course, these are very blanket ratings, and I don’t dig too deep so, it is what it is.

Explain Yourself! ​

I feel like there isn’t much to explain with this set. I really don’t. To me, an “8.8” makes sense for the 2.0’s bass. I wouldn’t go any lower because it’s a nice feature of this set. If anything, I’d go higher in rating. Also, an “8.8” is a large number for the sheer amount of iems in that price range. One rating that may get some weird looks is the “midrange” rating. A “9.5” is very very high. At this price point! That’s high. It had better be good. Well, I really think the Pandamon 2.0 is very nice for vocals, instruments sound clean, clear, voices sound realistic, and timbre is top notch (especially for an SPD). I feel it’s justified, but I could see folks thinking I’m nuts. I feel I went low on “Technicalities”. An “8.1” is a solid rating, no doubt. However, I feel the Pandamon 2.0 can swing an 8.4 or 8.5. The problem is that I had some real technical beasts in front of me when listening and comparing and I think it may have swayed my decision a bit. So, “8.1” may be a bit low against the $50 to $75 competition. Now, the last rating that WILL garner some grumblings from the peanut gallery is the treble. I personally feel it’s the weak spot on this set. Is it bad? Absolutely not. It just doesn’t hang with the best in the price point. A slight lack of energy, slight lack of extension too. Despite that, I know there are friends of mine who will tell me that they love this treble. It’s non-offensive, smooth, clean and honestly… the extension really isn’t that bad. Most people (85%) will not even notice. Anyways, that’s about it.

Conclusion​

To conclude my full written review of the Celest Pandamon 2.0, i want to thank each and every one of you for reading this review and clicking the link. I know this sounds like BS, but I truly appreciate it. Clicking the link and spending time reading is the best medicine for our website. We see the clicks and we smile at each one of them. So, thank you very much!

Other perspectives​

Please, check out other reviews of the Pandamon 2.0. Make sure to do so before you hit the “buy-now” button. Folks, I don’t know why this is so hard for some to understand, that we are actually all very much different. I cannot tell you how agonizing it is that hobbyists can’t understand this truth. We are different. One will love what the next one hates and vice versa. It’s a fact of life. Also, this hobby is thee most subjective hobby on planet earth. Name one more personal to the hobbyist. This is it folks. We are different. So, reading, listening, or watching other perspectives about this set will certainly help you to get a better understanding about how an iem or audio device will suit you. That’s all I want friends. I want you guys to be happy with your purchase and listening to your music with joy. Beyond all of that, I’m done. Please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!

Now, I want to preface this entire thing by saying this;

#1. I hate being negative, but at the same time, I have to keep it real here.

#2. While I don’t enjoy these IEMs, I can certainly see which crowd would like them.

With all that being said, I’d like to thank HiFiGo for sending the Celest Pandamon 2.0 out for review and a little photo sesh, it’s much appreciated! If you’d like to give the Pandamon 2.0 a try, please follow these unaffiliated links and get the wallets out! I guess I have to change my disclaimer now lol

HiFiGo：

HiFiGo

Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0 10mm Square Planar Driver In-Ear Monitors​

Buy Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0 10mm Square Planar Driver In-Ear Monitors on HiFiGo, and you can enjoy a year warranty and the best after-sales service.


Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ98TQ1Z/celest+pandamon+2.0/

Amazon JP:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CZ91BFX5/celest+pandamon+2.0/

Aliexpress：
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006811792383.html

You can also find all of the technical specs on the set using the links above as I usually don’t like to bog down my impressions with those numbers. It just makes the articles way longer than they need to be in my humble opinion.

Disclaimer
Test tracks

• Give Life Back to Music - daft punk - Overall clarity
• Infinity Repeating - daft punk - Lower mids control
• Voyager - daft punk - Bass line clarity/busy track layering
• Overnight - Parcels - mid bass punch
• Tieduprightnow - Parcels - bass line/sibilance test
• Everyroad -Parcels - Imaging/Sub bass @ 7 minute mark
• Daytime - Lunar Vacation - Staging/female vocals w/ heavy bass
• Days - No Vacation - Vibe test/treble energy
• Fruiting Body - Goon - Sub bass
• Wavy Maze - Goon - Mid bass
• Together - Maggie Rodgers - Female Vocals
• Slide Tackle - Japanese Breakfast - Sibilance test/consonants harshness
• Decode - Paramore - Vibe test/stage depth
• Vinta - Crumb - Stage depth/layering
• Kim’s Caravan - Courtney Barnett - Female Vocals/resolution test
• Small Poppies - Courtney Barnett - Distorted Guitar
• Lifelong Song - Men I Trust - Sub/mid bass texture
• One and Only - Adele - Female Vocals/consonants harshness test
• Waves - Wild Painting - Overall Enjoyment and stage depth/width/Bass guitar speed
• Not the One - Highnoon - Female Vocals
• Cowboy Killer - Varsity - Layering
• Alone in My Principles - Varsity - Distorted female vocals
• Summer Madness - Kool & The Gang - Treble Harshness
• They Are Growing - Renata Zeiguer - Mid bass impact

Sources

• Apple Music Streaming Hi-Res Lossless when available
• Topping D10s + Topping L30
• Moondrop Dawn 4.4
• Dunu DTC 500
• FiiO BTR7 BT

Disclaimer

Well, I guess I’m a reviewer! But just because that’s changed, doesn’t mean I’ve lost my integrity. All of these thoughts and opinions are my own and always will be. This is strictly fun for me and I’ll never compromise for any company or retailer. Rest assured, these thoughts are as legitimate as they come.

TLDR; I’d like to say that I’ve only ever tried one other IEM from Kinera and that was the Imperial Loki which I did not enjoy, HOWEVER, I understood the assignment on that IEM. I got it. The crowd was there for that earphone, I just wasn’t part of the group and that’s totally fine. The Pandamon 2.0 is similar with a boosted upper mid-range providing impressive detail retrieval that could probably rival lots of sets triple its price. However, the problem with the set lies in the same area, unfortunately. IEMs are all about compromise, right, and the way Celest has achieved that impressive technical punch is by boosting the upper mid-range to the point where vocals, guitars, and cymbals all sound unnaturally thing, splashy and scratchy in terms of their timbre and tonality. I have no doubt in my mind that someone, somewhere, would happily give up timbre for that extra bit of detail in their music, but I’m just not that guy. The Pandamon 2.0 is a beautifully built and presented IEM, which by itself, earns the $60 price tag in my opinion, but it makes too many sacrifices to achieve the sound it’s going for. If you’re looking for a budget IEM under $100 that uses an SPD driver, or if you just want to try out an SPD driver to see what they’re all about, the Pandamon 2.0 Is probably you’re best bet. But, if you’re looking for an under $100 IEM with fantastic technical ability that doesn’t have to sacrifice in the timbre and tonality department at all, I’d suggest the stuff from Simgot, most notably the 500LM.

We’ll start off with the packaging/presentation of the Pandamon 2.0 which is fantastic for a budget iEM. The Pandamon 2.0 will come in two options for your cable terminations, 3.5 and 4.4 which is pretty damn sweet for a sub $100 IEM to offer that in the first place, plus, the stock cable is actually quite nice and I would have no issues using it my self on this set and others so bravo, Celest.







You also get a small, circular case which isn’t anything special but again, if we’re comparing it to other sub $100 IEMs, even some right at $100, lots of those other popular releases don’t offer even a small pouch. The stock tips aren’t anything special or notable, I’m sure they’ll get the job done for most folks, but I landed on the SS20 tips from Whizzer to offer the best comfort and sonic properties. Those tips are so fantastic… Anyways, in conclusion, the Pandamon 2.0 knocks it out of the park when it comes to the packaging and presentation.







Speaking of presentation, just look at those faceplates…



wowzers. Very pretty. These are built very well, not just for a budget set, but just in general and I have to commend Celest yet again because they always hit when it comes to the design of their IEMs. Their sound sigs may not mesh with me well, but their IEM designs sure do. My wife also quite likes them as well and she has a background in resin design so she knows what she’s talking about. The orange tray in the marque image at the top is her creation actually!



Bass

Unfortunately, the bass on the Pandamon 2.0 just doesn’t do it for me. The weird thing is, I don’t mind planar bass at all, I actually quite enjoy the snappy nature of it. Funny enough, the IEM that really got me back into the hobby after a few year-long hiatus was the Timeless and my brain really adjusted to that sound over the 6 months I wore them every single day as my EDC, not to mention, that was the only IEM I had at the time. I have no issues with planar timbre or bass most of the time…. But the Pandamon 2.0 falls flat here in my opinion. There just isn’t enough of it here to balance out the rest of the frequency range. The focus is obviously more so in the mids here, so the bass really does take a back seat here on songs like FRUITING BODY, WAVY MAZE, THEY ARE GROWING, and the first few daft punk songs of my playlists. To be fair, the mid-bass thump on THEY ARE GROWING and Give Life Back to Music isn’t terrible, let me make sure that’s completely clear. I don’t think this IEM has bad bass, I just think there simply isn’t enough of it to satisfy even this non-bass head. I actually think that if the upper-mid and treble were tuned relative to the bass in this case, you’d have some actually nice melodies shooting into your noggin here. The Mid-bass kick is fast and snappy, and pulls and releases on bass guitar are still very groovy and do a decent job at driving the music forward. The sub-bass, however, just can’t be redeemed. I can barely hear it on my tracks here and to be quite honest, I’d need at least another 6-8 dB at LEAST.

Mids

The most contentious part of this IEM lives here, in the mids. Specifically in the upper mids, going passed 3k into 5, and 6k territory. I am not sensitive to the typical peaks like 5k and 8k, but more so around 3.2k to be exact. If this is too boosted, forget it, my brain latches on to it and just simply can’t let go. So, here we are, the area where I can’t get past. I won’t go on and start referencing songs from my playlist because quite frankly, none of them sound good here if we’re strictly focusing on the mids. The timbre is off, it’s hollow, thin, and just plain off tonally. The notes lack weight to my ears, especially the vocals of the song, but they’re also forward and jarring at times. In the effort of not sounding completely negative, I will say that the details and resolution are impressive here, punching above it’s weight in vocal clarity and texture, however, the staging is very closed in to my ears which gives this very claustrophobic effect that I am just not fond of and it does cause some muddying of busier tracks like, Decode, which isn’t even that busy.

Treble

I have to be honest, I don’t have much to say about the treble. I feel as though It’s on the darker side and not very well extended at all causing the dynamics of songs to be off-putting sometimes. Cymbals have this huge initial crash and SPLASH to them but then disappear in an instant. Vocals do stay at the front and center of the performance, but the backing instruments just get lost in the shuffle and become something like an afterthought. All in all, this IEM just doesn’t sound balanced tonally due to the shift in the treble coming from the mids.
My last review was of the Symphonium Crimson so the next IEM that was due for an impression had some HUGE shoes to fill when It came to the treble department, but still, I tempered my expectations due to the pricing category and this still disappointed me. I think the Pandamon 2.0 is lacking air, causing a closed-in effect in the music as well, forcing you to focus on the mids and upper mids. Whether you think that is a good thing or a bad thing, is completely up to you of course.

Technicalities

I will say, this is where the Pandamon 2.0 regains some respect from me. As I’ve already said the detail retrieval and overall resolution are both pretty killer for the price category. However, the timbre, tonality, stage, and layering are all very lackluster. I’ll continue to say this until I’m blue in the face, the SPD timbre is not for me, it is a crunchy, thin, and somewhat off-putting. The stage is very closed in on my HRTF so that makes the presentation pretty intimate, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it also causes issues with the layering of the music being played. Various instruments, guitars, bass, piano, vocals, etc. are all on top of each other with the vocals being right up in your face. If you are looking for a very very vocal and detail forward IEM, this would probably suit you but if you’re anything like myself, the sacrifices this IEM makes to present those vocals and details so forwardly are very apparent and quite frankly, unnecessary.

Source differences

The Pandamon 2.0 did react to different sources in my experience but not to the point where these magically became fantastic IEMs. On my desktop setup, the set came off as the most balanced, and that is where a majority of my impressions came from. For whatever reason, listening to them on the BTR7 was a disaster and quite frankly, unlistenable for me personally. Vocals became shrill, and even thinner somehow. The Dunu DTU 500 faired better than the BTR7 since it’s a warmer source, and it did help thicken up the lower mids a little bit and make the upper-mid range tolerable, however, the layering became even worse and there was a nasty peak somewhere I couldn’t quite put my finger on in the lower treble. I’d stick with a more neutral source with these if possible.

In summary, what do I think of the Pandamon 2.0? Well, unfortunately, my thoughts are mostly negative and it really comes down to the timbre and tonal balance of the set. The treble being on the darker side means this IEM isn’t for treble heads, and the mid-range being unnatural in its timbre means it isn’t for mid-heads, so who is it for? I simply don’t know, quite frankly - Maybe folks that want to experience a higher degree of detail but don’t have the money to spend over $200 for the big planar and hybrid boys? Yes. I would say that’s the crowd this IEM is aiming for. But, with the likes of the Simgots, Kiwi Ears, & Truthears being of this world, the Celest Pandamon 2.0 is a very pretty face with a dream of competing with the big boys, but ultimately, comes up short.



Thanks so much for reading! Cheers!

PS. I had a lot more images to upload, but I can't figure out how to insert them. Sorry!

Disclaimer

• Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing a unit of the Pandamon 2.0 for me to review. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way.
• Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

Price(MSRP)

• $59

Source(s)

• It is easy to drive. Even on my JM6 Pro, I only need 30-40% of the volume most of the time, which is lesser than most IEMs I have used.
  • Topping DX1
  • Truthear Shio
  • JCally JM6 Pro

Ear tips

• Dunu S&S

Unboxing and Quick Summary







Packaging

• Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0
• Round, semi-hard carrying case
• Decent selection of ear tips.
  • 3 pairs of Celest 608 balanced silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
    • Has a narrower bore, more closed in
  • 3 pairs of Celest 221 vocal silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
    • Has a wider bore, sounds more open
• 5N Copper Silver Plated Cable
  • Feels a bit cheap but not bad at all.
  • Tangles a little bit sometimes but is comfortable to use.

Build Quality

• Build quality is decent, feels plasticky.
• Shell is made out of resin, is extremely lightweight and it looks stunning.

Fit

• Nozzle is on the narrower side, with an average length, but is angled, in a way that didn't really work out too well for me personally.
• Fit is decent but not great, I couldn't fit it as deep as I would like due to the angled nozzle, but is very lightweight and comfortable.

Tonality

• Mild V-shaped

Bass

• Bass is a little more mid bass focused instead of sub bass.
• Fast, snappy, and has a decent punch and texture to it.
• However, it lacks a bit of impact, weight, tightness to it.
• Quantity is on the lighter side, which is absolutely not for bassheads.
• Overall, bass is not super satisfying, as it is lacking the weight and impact of a DD, but is somewhat fast and punchy.

Midrange

• Lower midrange has some warmth to it.
  • Gives a good amount of weight and lushness to male vocals and some instruments without being muddy bloated.
• Upper midrange is very forward compared to other frequencies
  • Can be a little bit shouty at times.
  • Smooth, but the transition from the end of upper midrange to lower treble is lacking, so vocals don't really have the extension or "breathy" feeling at the end.
• Note weight has a nice weight and density to it but not overly heavy.
• Most instruments do sound great without any oddities, timbre is quite natural as well.

Treble

• Treble is on the relaxing side, but can easily get overly dull at times.
• Rolls off pretty early from the end of upper midrange, notes and cymbals lack incisiveness and sounds a little blunted in general.
• Extension is also not good, lacking a sense of airiness to it.
• Details are not very revealing due to the overly inoffensive and rolled off treble response.

Technicalities

Resolution

• Resolution and detail retrieval is average due to lack of sparkle and extension in the treble.

Soundstage

• Soundstage also has average width and height, but not really spacious or expansive.
• At least it is not overly closed in but it is on the more intimate side due to the lack of air.

Imaging

• Imaging and accuracy is average.
• Not really pinpoint accuracy due to it being blunted but still fine.

Separation

• Separation and layering is average as well.
• Instruments and vocals are not clearly separated but it is not overly congested on busier tracks due to the speedy driver.

Conclusion

• Overall, I find the Pandamon 2 to be a little niche.
  • It has a pleasing, relaxing signature yet it still retains good vocal forwardness.
  • However, the bass and treble performance is not really up to par to be competitive with the rest of the market.

Non Affiliated Link

• If you are interested after reading the article, feel free to check out the non affiliated link below.
  • HiFiGo Web:
    • https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-celest-pandamon-2
  • Aliexpress:
    • https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006811792383.html
  • Amazon US:
    • https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ98TQ1Z/celest+pandamon+2.0/
  • Amazon JP:
    • https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CZ91BFX5/celest+pandamon+2.0/

Thanks for reading!

Introduction:

Kinera - "Live only for honor" made an honorable continuation of the first Pandamon - Pandamon 2.0, which inherited the same aggressive presentation with a new upgraded driver SPD (Square Planar Driver) 2.0.

Kinera presents its IEMs in two color options: blue and black, featuring a circular shell form. The lightweight, about 3.5 grams, and compact shell size will provide you with a comfortable fit in the ear, while correctly chosen eartips will provide a good sound isolation and prevent bass loss.
Shells feels solid, monolithic with a great build quality. Nozzle size is 6mm, so this might be an issue for people with narrow ear canals.

Specification:

• Kinera 10x10mm SPD 2.0 ™ (Square Planar Driver);
• Impedance: 9 Ω;
• Sensitivity: 108 dB;
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz;
• 5N Copper Silver Plated;
• Plug 3.5mm / 4.4mm Balanced;
• Price: 59$.

What's in the box:

• 2 sets of eartips (S / M / L):
  Celest 221 Vocal Eartips ( Black ) : Enhance treble, pleasing vocal;
  Celest 608 Balanced Eartips ( Red and Black ) : Sound balanced and stereo;
• 2 pin 0.78mm 5N Copper Silver Plated Cable, 1.25m lenght;
• IEM itself;
• Leather storage bag;
• Instruction.

Sound impression:

(*I pair this set with the DAC - Qudelix 5k for a better impressions and use the included balanced ear tips, which I find best for it.)

First, let's talk about the new Square Planar Driver 2.0. It doesn't feel like a regular planar driver to me. Driver deliver sound well and do his best to provide precise and crisp sound, but i felt a lack in full-range sound compared to a planar driver.
However, let's consider Pandamon 2.0 as planar eardphones and start with the bass:

BASS:
The bass in these earphones is expressive, deep, but it decays quite quickly. It's punchy and tight.
However, I wouldn't consider it as a basshead model, and i won't recommend them for heavy bass purposes.
But for those who appreciate harmonious bass, i recommend this IEM.

MIDRANGE:
The midrange is quite informative and rich, with vocals standing out prominently while sounding full-bodied and accurate, maintaining the overall visualization of the music. The midrange is smooth with a slight emphasis on the upper midrange, as i mentioned. Both female and male vocals sound as they should.

TREBLE:
The treble don't stand out in Pandamon 2.0 against the overall sound, they feel subdued, lacking sparkle and airiness.
Honestly, there are much better models with upper frequencies for this price.

The soundstage is wide and moves the air, with an accent on percussion instruments.
But there's a slight lack of depth in the soundstage. Everything seems close to the ear.

The separation and imaging in Pandamon 2.0 are quite commendable. You can hear each instrument separately, the piano, guitar or drum strike as distinct layers.


Some Comparison:


I want to compare Pandamon 2.0 with Simgot EW200 Maze (39$):
Well, the Simgot is definitely brighter, with expressive high frequencies, superb tuning, slightly heavier, and has a metallic shell.
EW200 fit better in the ears due to their smaller size and narrower nozzle size.
However, the Pandamon 2.0 is more balanced with better-defined bass and slightly richer midrange.
Both are well-built with excellent cables.

vs Tangzu Wan'er (19$):
Wan'er is decent for its price IEM, with a nice sound presentation, warm and balanced, but in the Pandamon, it seems to be at the next level in terms of sound delivery.
The soundstage is wider, air breathing, and Pandamon 2.0 has better separation.

vs Artti R3 (21$):
So, in the Artti, as well as the Wan'er, there is a lack of the overall picture of the song. However, in the R3 and Pandamon 2.0, there is a commonality in the bass; both sound detailed, punchy and tight.
Pandamon 2.0 doesn't have as smeared midrange as Artti; the highs in Artti sound better, shinier.
Pandamon 2.0 look a more beautiful and are better assembled.


Conclusion:


Overall, the Pandamon 2.0 is a good entry-level planar IEM, offering a fairly interesting and vibrant sound. It has a warm balanced sound signature and provides a pleasant listening experience. The tonal balance of these earphones is an advantage compared to some other planar drivers, in my opinion.

So Kinera has managed to create a good update to the legendary Pandamon version.




___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Disclaimer: I would like to thank Kinera Celest for providing this unit for review.
The earphones review is my personal opinion about product. It's not a paid review, and i'm not receiving any money for it.

You can purchase the Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0 from:

Introduction​

Celest is already well known in the market: they started from the Gumiho and now they are back with the Pandamon 2.0 and the Ogryn, immediately after the great success of the Plutus Beast and Phoenixcall. The Pandamon 2.0 come also thanks to the positive feedback on the first Pandamon, a pair of nice sounding IEMs that was overlooked by many because of the “childish” appearance.

Disclaimer: the Celest Pandamon 2.0 were sent to me by HiFiGO so that I could write an honest review. This review represents my personal opinion on the set, it isn’t a promotional or paid content and I don’t get any revenue from the sales of this product.
At the time of the review, the Celest Pandamon 2.0 were on sale for around 59$ at HiFiGO.

Click to expand...

Technical Specifications​

• Driver Configuration → 1 x 10mm SPD™ (Square Planar Driver)
• Impedance → 9 Ω
• Sensitivity → 108 dB
• Frequency Response Range → 20Hz-20kHz
• Cable → 1,2m silver plated 5N copper cable with 0.72mm 2-PIN connectors
• Plug Type → Straight gold plated 4.4 mm jack connector (there is also a 3.5mm version)

Packaging​

The packaging of the Pandamon 2.0 is pretty simple, as shown in the photos, and it contains:

• The Pandamon 2.0
• A detachable cable (4.4mm cable in my case, but as said in the specs one can also buy the 3.5mm jack version)
• One set of Celest 221 tips and one set of Celest 608 tips (S, M, L)
• A storage bag
• User manual

Design, Build Quality, Comfort and Isolation​

The Pandamon 2.0 come in a rounded 3D printed resin shell that look rather elegant. The first version of the Pandamon featured a robotic Panda, which was a bit childish, but the newer version is a lot less fancy and could definitely appeal to more people.
The shells are very lightweight, they look sturdy and the correct nozzle length along with the smooth shell design lead to a very comfortable fit. The isolation is decent too, even though these aren’t the IEMs I would use for super crowded environments.

Cable​

The cable is decent, and even though there are IEMs with better stock cables in this price range, it’s hard to complain: it’s sturdy, it has a chin slider and it looks durable.

Sound​

GEAR USED FOR THE TEST

• DAC: Topping E30
• AMP: Topping L30, Fiio A3
• Mobile phones: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Xiaomi Mi A3, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
• Moondrop May’s DSP cable with PEQ=0
• Dongle: Apple Type-C dongle, Fosi DS2, Hidizs XO
• Portable DAPs: Benjie S8/AGPTEK M30B
• Other sources: Presonus AudioBox iONE, Elgato Wave XLR, KZ AZ10

Do they need an amplifier?
They reach satisfying volumes without an amplifier but I found out they scale with some power, so I suggest a cheap dongle at least.

Sound signature
The Celest Pandamon 2.0 have a smooth and relaxed U-shaped tuning. The SPD™ is not a traditional planar driver so I was not expecting any kind of planar timbre, and in fact there isn’t any kind of inconsistency in this regard.

Lows
The lows are present but not exaggerated or particularly emphasized, with the sub-bass being very controlled yet not digging as deep as I expected. The bass is punchy and tight, even though, being honest, I was expecting slightly better bass textures considering the slower-than-average bass.
If you’re a basshead or if you are used to listen on low volume levels and still want some proper bass body, just skip this one, but if you are someone searching for a balanced low-end then these might be your cup of tea.

Mids
The midrange is softly recessed with forward vocals and lush instrument timbre. Male vocals sound pretty good (even though a touch more warmth would have made them even better) and female vocals sound natural and energetic, hitting the sweet spot between forwardness and intimacy although high volumes can lead to some hotness here and there in some tracks.
Songs from Dire Straits and Police (just to mention a few) and other rock groups sound delicious on these even though very complicated tracks or busy moments show some weaknesses here and there in terms of layering and speed. Songs that mainly involve instruments like piano and classic guitars (let’s say Coldplay, James Blunt and so on), instead, would benefit from a bit more sub-bass but this is me nitpicking.

Highs
The highs are well tuned with no excessive peaks or extreme brightness. Detail retrieval is pretty good even though not class leading and the lower treble boost don’t lead to a fatiguing listening experience. Those who usually like a pinch of added energy on top without going for the “bright” route will definitely like the treble on the Pandamon 2.0, whereas trebleheads will be better off skipping this one since the upper treble extension is not the best out there.

The soundstage is relatively small and the imaging is decent, even though the dark-ish upper-treble limits the soundstage expansion and leaves a bit less space for the instruments to move on the stage (and, of course, to be properly pinpointed). Some competitors in this price range, however, do better in terms of technical performance.

Some comparisons:​

Celest Pandamon 2.0 vs Celest Pandamon
The overall sound “direction” hasn’t changed a lot, but the two sound slightly different. The first Pandamon sound slightly warmer, speedier, with better treble extension (also thanks to the open back design) and a tad more technical overall. The Pandamon 2.0, instead, have more natural vocals, a fuller low-end and play in a more intimate soundstage. The newer version needs more power to shine.
Build quality, stock cable, comfort and isolation are instead better on the newer Pandamon 2.0.

Celest Pandamon 2.0 vs EPZ Q5
The EPZ Q5 are more resolving, more detailed, they have better imaging and they play in a bigger soundstage. The Pandamon 2.0 have a slightly more natural midrange reproduction but thinner instruments and vocals’ timbre. In addition, the Pandamon 2.0 are harder to drive.
Let’s say that the Pandamon 2.0 are more focused on being an all-rounder, the EPZ Q5 instead go for a technical and fun V-shaped sound which doesn’t fit every genre.
Both are comfortable but the EPZ Q5 are smaller and isolate in a better way from external noises, and may appeal to more people.
Build quality is good on both sets even though the EPZ Q5 seem like a more premium set, while stock cable is of comparable quality.

Celest Pandamon 2.0 vs EW200
The EW200 are brighter, more detailed and have better imaging, while the Pandamon 2.0 has slightly more enjoyable vocals, a lusher midrange and a much less fatiguing treble (yet less detailed). The EW200 are easier to drive.
Comfort-wise, the Pandamon 2.0 are better whereas the EW200 are tinge better in terms of isolation. Build quality is good on both, maybe a bit better on the EW200, and stock cable is of comparable quality.

Celest Pandamon 2.0 vs QoA Gimlet
Two different sets, even though they’re both warm-tuned.
The Gimlet have more low-end presence and body, better bass textures, warmer male vocals and more energetic female vocals, a more open and detailed treble, a slightly bigger soundstage and a marginally superior imaging. The Pandamon 2.0 are generally more natural, they have slightly better bass tightness, a smoother and less recessed midrange with lusher vocals and a darker upper treble that is pretty safe for everyone. As a sidenote, the Pandamon 2.0 are slightly harder to drive.
The build quality is good on both sets (Gimlet are more premium though), comfort is better on the Pandamon 2.0 and isolation is better with the Gimlet in the ears. The stock cable is comparable.

Final Thoughts​

Celest keeps demonstrating that they are able to “be different” from other brands with slightly different tunings when compared to the majority of products on the market.
The Pandamon 2.0 are a nice set, but everyone expected them to be an improvement over the first Pandamon, which isn’t 100% true unfortunately. The comfort, the isolation, the build quality and design saw a big improvement and this is undeniable, but the sound is slightly less technical even though a tad more mature.

Don’t get me wrong, the Pandamon 2.0 sound nice, but I was expecting a much bigger jump from their previous version, especially given the price and the actual competitors (i.e. Kefine Delci, with almost the same price and much better technical performance).

Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0 :: $59 :: 1 SPDSquare Planar Driver
After launching a sub-brand named Celest, Kinera introduced the Gumiho and Pandamon to the market with its in-house developed square planar driver, the 'SPD'.



The Pandamon has been praised for its excellent value for money, but its 'unique' panda faceplate design has been criticised as "It does sound good, but it looks a bit odd".

The Pandamon '2.0' has a completely revamped design that makes it hard to find any trace of the 'panda'. It's not just the way it looks, but also the way it sounds, as it has an enclosed structure with typical duct holes, as opposed to its predecessor, which had a wide mesh that was almost open.

-



Huge thanks to HiFiGo for providing a sample unit for this review.
However, this review fully reflects the my honest opinion without anyone else's interference.

Btw, are you more familiar with Korean?
So am I, and If that's the case, I think you'd be better off reading my review written in Korean here.

-




As expected from a Kinera product, it's full of nice accessories.

• The Celeste Pandamon 2.0 unit itself
• 3 pairs of 'Celeste 221' vocal enhancement eartips (grey)
• 3 pairs of 'Celeste 608' eartips (red)
• 0.78 2-pin to 3.5mm cable
• Manual
• Leather case

For such an inexpensive product, it's impressive that it comes with a decent quality cable and leather case.

The Pandamon 2.0 is available in 'Black' and 'Blue' colours, the latter being the one I'll be showing you today.



There's a circular, leather carrying case, which is pretty good in quality.

There's not a lot of space inside, but there's a mesh pocket for eartips or silicagel.
It's a hard case that holds its shape, so your earphones will stay safe in there.



The bundled cable is made of 48 strands of high-purity 5N silver-plated copper wire.

As you'd expect from a company that's been making custom cables for a long time, the components are of high quality, and the wire is quite flexible for a good fit.

I also like the fact that you can choose between 3.5mm or 4.4mm terminals to suit your personal preference when buying the earphones.

Since the SPD drivers are quite sensitive, so if for no other reason, I'd recommend sticking with the 3.5mm.



There are two types of eartips available for Pandamon 2.0.

The 'Celest 608' eartips with red core have a moderate height and moderate bore size for a well-balanced sound.

The 'Celest 221' eartips, on the other hand, have a wider bore, which favours a relatively shallow fit, which can have the effect of bringing the treble peak a little bit forward and emphasising the vocals.



The most significant change with the Pandamon 2.0 update is the design.
With a background of shimmering particles that resemble crashing waves, a golden Celest logo is placed at the top of the faceplate.

Compared to other products in its price range, I think it's rare to see a faceplate design that's as good as the Pandamon 2.0.



Unlike its predecessor - which was more of an open design with a huge mesh - Pandamon 2.0 has a more conventional enclosed design.

There's a huge space at the back of the driver, with a single small duct hole pointing outwards to control airflow.



Inner chamber of this IEM is separated and isolated by SPD driver, and if you look closely at the unit, you will see that there is a small channel between these two chambers.

This design, which was made possible by the use of a precise 3D resin printer, allows airflow in front of and behind the driver, which helps to reduce the uncomfortable eardrum pressure that can occur when wearing earphones and contributes to a comfortable fit.



Inside the unit, you'll notice a 10mm SPDSquare Planar Driver with a square shape.

It's a fairly unique driver with a square shape. That's different from the typical planar driver, and Celest uses SPD drivers in a variety of products, including the 'Gumiho' and the 'Plutus Beast'.



Like their appearance, SPD drivers have a slightly different internal structure than a typical planar driver.

While the features of a flat plate driver can be observed in the fact that powerful magnets are placed in front and behind the diaphragm in the form of a flat surface,

You can still see some of the features of a planar driver - it has a flat, sheet-like diaphragm, between powerful magnets placed in front of and behind it.

However, the features of a dynamic driver can also be found, by the fact that the voice coil is not evenly etched on to the diaphragm, rather, rolled into a rectangular shape.

Compared to a planar driver, where the key is to spread the coils evenly over as wide as possible, the voice coil is concentrated in a specific area, which is slightly disadvantageous in terms of vibrating the diaphragm evenly.

But, it has the advantage that the sensitivity can be reduced to a very low level, making it easier to drive with low power output devices like smartphones.

Overall, SPD drivers can be thought of as a combination between a dynamic driver, and a planar driver. something in between.

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Measured with IEC 60318-4 (711) while maintaining 94dB@500hz.
The sample used for the measurement does not represent the characteristics of the entire product.

Following Measurements are available at dchpgall.squig.link




When you first try Pandamon 2.0, you'll notice that you don't get much of characteristics of planar driver.

I suspect this is likely due to the unique design of the SPD driver, which is a combination between a planar and a dynamic driver.
Some may appreciate the lack of the distinctive bass texture and excessive treble of a planar driver.

The bass, which runs almost straight through from the mid-bass range, has a slightly relaxed feel to it, but still has a decent amount of punch to it. It's a far cry from the deep, resonant bass of a Harman-ish sound, but the Pandamon 2.0's smooth bass is quite appealing.

Vocals, which tend to be neutral in Pandamon 2.0, are accompanied by highs that seem to roll off a bit early, making the overall sound feel relaxed without sibilance.

Products with planar drivers often have a somewhat shouty sound to show off their treble extension, but the Pandamon 2.0 takes a different route. They don't have a great sense of openness and resolution due to this, but that doesn't mean they sound too dark or muffled.



Pandamon 2.0 comes with a red 'Celest 608' balance tip and a grey 'Celest 221' vocal tip.
If you compare the measurements taken using the two ear tips, you'll notice a slight change in the treble characteristics.

The grey vocal tips have a wider shape that encourages the earphones to be worn shallow, which can have the effect of bringing the treble peak slightly forward. When I switched to the grey 'vocal tips', I personally noticed a slight widening of the soundstage and a slightly brighter sound.

For those who find the sound of the Pandamon 2.0 a little muddy, I recommend trying the grey tips and wearing it a bit shallow.



So far, we've taken look at the Pandamon 2.0 from Celest, a sub-brand of Kinera.

With SPD - a unique driver, balanced somewhere in between planar and dynamic, the Pandamon 2.0 inherits its predecessor's strengths of affordable price and ultra-compact design, while also shedding the 'unique' panda design for a more aesthetically pleasing look for broader audience.

It's a bit of a hard sell if you're looking for the genuine planar experience, but if you take the keyword 'planar' out of your mind, it's a well-built single-driver IEM.

So, if you're new to the audio hobby, I can easily recommend it.
Even if you're not, you might want to consider buying this if you're looking for a IEM that doesn't irritate you from sound to comfort.

What's more, despite being an entry-level device with a list price of $59, it has a beautiful design and packed with full of nice accessories, making it a great choice for a gift.

As the Pandamon has evolved into an even more appealing product with the 2.0 upgrade, I think the Gumiho, with its sound for treblehead made by using balanced armature with the SPD, might have a successor in the near future, and I can't wait to see what it will look like.

Thank you for reading!

-

Non-Affiliated Link (if you're interested)

HiFiGo：
https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-celest-pandamon-2

Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ98TQ1Z/celest+pandamon+2.0/

Amazon JP:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CZ91BFX5/celest+pandamon+2.0/

Aliexpress：
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006811792383.html

Click to expand...

Introduction!
Hello friends!
Today in our review we will look at planar headphones from the Celest company.
They come in a small, stylishly designed box, there are hieroglyphs and the name of this model Pandamon 2.0, and yes, you guessed it, this is an update of those same legendary headphones that have been talked about a lot even recently.
Well, at the back, as always, the technical specifications are indicated; a 10 mm square planar 2.0 driver is responsible for the sound here, and the sensitivity is 108 dB and they have a 9 ohm impedance.

Let's take a look at what's included!

The headphones here are completely made of very smooth and transparent resin and in my case have a blue color, and the front panel here has a golden company logo and in general the design is very reminiscent of the previous new product Plutus Beast and I think you remember it well.
And the only compensation hole is located very close to the 2-pin connector, which is flush with the body, which is good for me.
But the sound guide here is of medium diameter, but it definitely should have been made longer for a much better and deeper fit, since these headphones did not sit well in my ear with all the ear pads, and this happens very rarely, and here, due to the incorrect selection of ear pads,the sound insulation is very poor and there is a large bass leak, and in the end, using the selection method, I settled on the Tangzu Sancai tips, with them they are very different from myself, I recommend them for these headphones.

Accessories!
And all the accessories are in this leather case with the company logo and here we get
1 - Quite a good cable that does not get tangled and is made without any audiophile frills with 2 pin connectors and a 3.5 jack plug.

2 - Nice leather case and big manual.

3 - Two sets of standard silicone ear pads, some balanced, others with an emphasis on vocals.

How do these headphones sound?
And now we come to the most important part of the review - the analysis of the sound of the updated Pandamon 2.0.
And I would like to start with the fact that the first thing I pay attention to when connecting these headphones is the rather energetic and driving, pronounced presentation of mid frequencies, and as such, I personally don’t see any similarity with other models from what I’ve been listening to lately , the Celest company is again going its own way and while it is not changing any basic concept that they adhere to to this day, and, in my opinion, they are only slightly and carefully trying to improve it by correcting some of the main points.
Low Frequencies:
And let's start with the low frequencies, which here have become more thorough, the overall massiveness and depth have grown, the bass is textured with good textural elaboration, but personally I would like to get more transparency for better perception and audibility of saturation, but I think that the driver here is already trying to the limit and he has no goal of setting any super records in this regard.
But the mid bass here has finally become more pronounced punchy with a better highlighted attack and smooth decay, but of course it still doesn’t go into bassheadness, so bassheads again, no offense, just accept it, and the kick here quite clearly complements this range with its best Compared to the original, there is a distinct outline and a punchy component, that is, now the low frequencies do not play as softly as they did in the original, and they have been improved quantitatively here, which is good for me.
Mid Frequencies:
But at mid frequencies there is immediately noticeable additional emphasis on the vocal part and on the drum part and a noticeable weight on the lower middle, the snare drum and vocals are noticeably pushed forward and this is immediately felt and to some extent it is perceived even slightly intimately and with a feeling as if the vocalist is in your head exactly in the center and, based on my experience, this is precisely due to the greater amplification of the upper mid area, and I would still reduce it to my taste, moving this model a little to a more neutral warm side although I like the articulation and intelligibility of the vocals here, it doesn’t sound muffled or dark and in general it is perceived at a quite good level and this model does not go towards the brightly colored side, which is a plus for me, but personally I wouldn’t mind getting more here better clarity of transients and attacks especially on drums and increased transparency that we can still find in other real planar headphones.
High Frequencies:
Now let’s talk about the high frequencies, which here have a warm but darkish tone, there is no additional gain or excessive super piercing brightness, and the percussion cymbals don’t take much attention here, since we had to squeeze them a little and move them aside so that they would just do their job slightly in the background with a slight presence and the signature bold, highlighted timbre of this spd driver, but its resolution and detail here are of course not record-breaking; it’s trivial that everything rests on this emitter and as for me, he simply cannot jump above his capabilities, since everything has its limit, here we also do not see that familiar super obvious planar clarity and legibility with a lot of air, and in general, as for me, this model does not go too far into obvious killer technicality, but still like the original, it has more of a purely musical bias, and of course I’m sure that there will definitely be fans of such a presentation, and in general we saw something similar in the original Pandamon, but I personally would like to see more global changes in this area, although I understand that then we would definitely have to raise the final price of the product and use another driver and it is quite possible that a really good reinforcement emitter would not hurt here.
Stage and stereo panorama:
But the sound stage here is quite standard, it’s definitely not record-breaking wide and, in my opinion, it’s rather simply more optimal without any stretching or excessive expansion of stereo images, and of course it doesn’t feel super deep, but the plans themselves are quite legible here, although without any wow effect, especially after expensive headphones.
My conclusion on this headphones:
Celest Pandamon 2.0 are not expensive headphones with a very familiar tuning and presentation of an obvious calm neutrality, this model definitely does not go away, but I wouldn’t exactly call them super bright and straight light, rather here we have something in the middle, as if you can see what then there is a balance, and the whole signature celest concept that is loved by many is still fully respected.
Aliexpress Angeldac Audio Store:https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005006655763085.html
(Promo code for discount 8733JBGTUYEN)
Aliexpress Kinera Official Store:https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005005485611549.html

This was a sample sent to my by Hifigo. You may purchase one here.
Non afflilated link here: https://hifigo.com/collections/new-arrival/products/kinera-celest-pandamon-2

HiFiGo：https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-celest-pandamon-2…Amazon US:https://amazon.com/dp/B0CZ98TQ1Z/celest+pandamon+2.0/…Amazon JP:https://amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CZ91BFX5/celest+pandamon+2.0/…Aliexpress：https://aliexpress.com/item/1005006811792383.html

The original Padamonium is a set that I never got to experience but I always thought about it. It was always on my radar. It has a unique faceplate. Fortunately Kinera has updated this faceplate with a new one here that is beautiful. I like the design of this iem, and frankly am impressed they can do this iem justice at any price.

The overall packaging of this iem is nice. The cable is nice and shimmers and looks great to look at. It feels sturdy and it is one of the nicer cables that I've used at this price point. Kinera always does cables right, they look and feel premium like an iem much more expensive.

The tip selection is very fair with 2 sets of silicons. One red and one grey. Many items at this price only have one full set, so this is a nice addition to the standard of well packaged iems that Kinera has started.

There is a standard way most Kinera iems are packaged and this iem comes in very nice packaging and case. This is a much-refined iem and very enjoyable.

The overall packaging is a fantastic experience. Kinera doesn't disappoint in their ability to package an iem well. I recently unpackaged the Cinno and Singolo. Both were reasonable sonically but had almost nothing in the way of packaging. So this is a huge welcome as this iem is at $60 dollars right now. I love that while this iem is on the inexpensive side it is packaged extremely well, just as well as their 140 dollar sets. These sets are really a joy to unpackaged. I love this iem but to be honest, I think the sound profile could be better with a DD in the bass. It looks like one of the Kinera sister brands is dong something soon QOA Adonis 2.0 is coming out soon and looks more to my taste as it is supposed to be more warn and bassy.
Pictured here:



For 60 dollars this is a nice little set. To me it has problems. If I was to recommend an iem at 60 I'd probably go with the Truthear Hexa, but that iem also has many of the same issues. This iem isn't sonically what I'd go for, but I could see it working for people who want a unique fun experience that is fresh with a nice overall sound.


New Pink 1 DD + 2BA iem is coming called QOA Adonis 2.0 looks more my style. It’s relaxed and clear. Inoffensive and great with classical music, Opera, and chill music. It’s nice and enjoyable. Timbre is lacking. I’d recommend adding a DD to the bass to bring up the shelf.
Like this but to try to get the bass to flatten out a little earlier at say 200.

The instrumentals sound lovely on it. But the vocals are a bit off without the bass shelf for my ears as well as Guitar strings arre a bit off. But if you are sensitive to bass, or like a lower bass shelf, this could be good for you.

Cymbal hits are a bit fatiguing, and guitar strings don’t come across as very natural. Yet, for some types of music I list to I just ask myself, how does this sound so awesome?


Summary
This iem has a lot of great qualities, and I think if I were looking for an iem to give to a friend this might be my first pick. I feel many people who aren't super bassheads would appreciate this as the soundstage is nice, and the detail is nice for the price. Personally, I wanted a bit more bass and found a huge improvement when that bass shelf was added. I wouldn't call this iem for me, but I could see it for other people. I definitely like the design language of the new Pandamon 2.0, and I think this a fine entry point for those who want a product with this design language for a much cheaper price.

I also made a video of this iem. Please feel free to post any questions blow or on Youtube. Thanks for reading!

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank the Angeldac Audio store for providing this review unit.

The Pandamon 2 can be gotten here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006655763085.html (no affiliate links).




SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: Full-range 10 mm square planar driver
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Impedance: 9 Ω
• Sensitivity: 108 dB
• Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm; 4-core silver-plated oxygen free copper cable
• Tested at: $59 USD

ACCESSORIES



Other than the IEM, these are included:

- 3 pairs of Celest 221 "Vocal" silicone eartips (S/M/L/)
- 3 pairs of Celest 608 "Balanced" silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- Cable
- Carrying case

While no foam tips are provided, the accessories are nevertheless quite decent for a budget set.




2 variants of silicone tips are included - we have the Celest 221 "Vocal" black tips, which are wide-bore. These boost treble and air, and widen soundstage. Conversely, we have the red Celest 608 "Balanced" tips, which are narrow-bore; these increase bass with some compression in staging.




We have a 2-pin 4-core silver-plated oxygen free copper cable, which is well-braided and tangle-free. Microphonics are negligible, with a chin cinch. It is certainly a very serviceable stock cable.




Lastly, we have a semi-rigid clam-shell zipper case, which should withstand compressive forces. Internally, it has webbing and a soft lining to cushion the contents.

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock Celest 221 "Vocal" wide-bore silicone tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT



The housings are fashioned from HeyGears 3D-printed resin. They are painted individually via a hand-drawn brush technique, culminating in a black or blue-hued alluring motif, depending on which colour is ordered. The shells are indeed very beautiful and I daresay this IEM would actually make a suitable gift.

Ergonomics are excellent, with superb fit and comfort. The shells are light, with no awkward protrusions along the inner aspects to poke the ears. The Panadamon 2.0 can thus be used for long listening sessions, no worries.



Isolation is bang average. I did not find any driver flex on my pair, which is a sign of good acoustic design.


INTERNALS

The Pandamon 2.0 utilizes a full-range 10 mm square planar driver, which is a pretty unconventional driver setup.



DRIVABILITY

I tested the Pandamon 2.0 with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio KA11 dongle
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

This IEM is easily driven, and amplification is not truly required.

However, due to its mind-bogglingly low 9 Ω impedance, the Pandamon 2.0 is fussy with source pairing due to the rule of eights. Source with > 1.125 Ω output impedance may skew the frequency response and make it very bassy, so ideally, the Pandamon 2.0 is best paired with something < 1 Ω in output impedance.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES


Graph of the Celest Pandamon 2.0 via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler peak.

Tonally, the Pandamon 2.0 sports a warm U-shaped profile, if juiced from a low output impedance source. This is a pleasant and safe tuning choice, which should suit most consumers, other than diehard trebleheads and bassheads.

This set has a predilection for sub-bass focus, though lower-end extension isn't the deepest, so I wouldn't consider it as basshead in quantity. In terms of bass quality, texturing is average, and the Pandamon 2.0 may struggle to keep up with complex bass riffs, in terms of speed. There is some mid-bass bleed, but this adds warmth to the overall soundscape.

The lower mids are thick and lush due to the aforementioned bass bleed, furnishing tons of euphony to the sonics. The upper mids are safe with a 6 dB ear gain, so vocals are not shouty at all, which should please the anti pinna gain gang.

This IEM borders on dark, and the treble rolls-off early. We hear not an ounce of sibilance as such, and treble-sensitive peeps will be very at home. Resolution does take a hit though, so there are pros and cons, and trebleheads may need to look elsewhere for their kicks.

The Pandamon 2.0 has a slight metallic tinge to the timbre. Acoustic instruments sound a bit hollow, but it is not the worst offender in this department.

This IEM is not a tour de force in technicalities, favouring a "musical" signature over something outright analytical. Soundstage is above average but not class-leading. Imaging and instrument separation is fuzzy, though layering is okay. As alluded to, the darkish treble does veil micro-details and clarity.


COMPARISONS

The Pandamon 2.0 is quite unique in having a single SPD configuration, and there aren't many similar budget sets in this price range that are powered by the same setup. This technology is somewhere in between a single DD and pure planar, so FWIW, I've added some budget single DD types to compare.


EPZ Q5

The Q5 has a bright V-shaped profile, with way more treble extension. However, it can be more fatiguing in the treble region, with sibilance noted.

The Q5 has a thinner note weight - sounding more sterile and metallic - but it has improved soundstage, micro-details, imaging and clarity.


Simgot EA500

The EA500 has 2 tuning nozzles, but both still confer a brightish Harman tone. The EA500 is leaner in note weight - not sounding as exuberant - though it has a more pronounced upper midrange and treble. There is a bit of shoutiness noted in vocals as such, and this may be more fatiguing than the laid back Pandamon 2.0.

The EA500 has superior technicalities, and is a league ahead in imaging, micro-detailing and instrument separation. Soundstage is slightly wider on the EA500 too.


CONCLUSIONS



The Pandamon 2.0 beings a chill and pleasant soundscape to the budget CHIFI buffet table. It is a very musical set - with a hefty and euphonic note weight - and it eschews outright technical prowess for something affable and fatigue-free. There is not an ounce of sibilance or shoutiness in the upper frequencies, so it should be a match made in heaven for the treble-sensitive.

In terms of non-sonic aspects, the aesthetics are alluring, coupled with easy drivability, decent accessories and top-notch ergonomics. It would even make a good gift due to the elegant shells!

Admittedly, the Pandamon 2.0 is not the sharpest tool in the shed in terms of technical chops, and the bass could be flabby at times - but this does add colouration and mass to the tonal weight, and is part of the Pandamon 2.0's sedate appeal. Trebleheads will also need to consider alternatives due to the darkish treble, and this IEM's low impedance may make source pairing with high output impedance gear a tricky proposition.

If one throws a stone nowadays, it is very easy to hit a budget IEM that pursues technicalities and analytical tunings, sometimes to the detriment of fatigue or tonal balance. Once in a while, we yearn for laid-back gear like the Pandamon 2.0, to allow us to appreciate music for what it is, and to take us back to our roots of soaking in a warm enveloping sea of tonal bliss.