First Impression: KBEAR Diamond vs. Moondrop Kanas Pro Edition (KPE)

December 1, 2019March 17, 2020 KopiOkaya (Singapore)

Full review of the KBEAR Diamond by Loomis Johnson Here!

First thing you will notice is Diamond’s lush and meaty mids. KPE does mids texture better but on certain tracks it can sound anemic and dry. Clarity, detail and resolution-wise, both earphones are identical with no harshness or spikes in the upper-mids and treble. Diamond’s bass has more authority and body (as if you have added a subwoofer). You will gain low-end rumble but it never overpowers the rest of the frequency spectrum.

KBEAR Diamond Review — Diamonds Are Forever!

Diamond does have some mid-bass bleed but it doesn’t cloud the music. In fact, this makes bass guitar sound fuller and more engaging. Diamond throws a bigger, wider, taller, more intimate soundstage, with KPE’s stage is a bit more laid-back. More intimate here doesn’t mean “breathing-into-your-face”. To put this into simpler context, it is as if you have upgraded your concert sitting from a $80 to $100 ticket. The stage is still in front, just more up-close with your favorite band or singer. KPE does something very well, and that is to put the listener at ease.

Because everything sounds so distinct and clean. Diamond on the other hand, brings the listener into the music, together with the artists. This earphone wants you to be part of the performance, not sitting among the audiences. So, which earphone do I prefer? BOTH… If I want to unwind and be taken away by the music, I will listen to KPE. But if I am in a groovy mood and want some fun in my music enjoyment, I will grab the Diamond.

More on the Diamonds, including three full reviews, on this site soon.

Also of interest:

Second Impression: KBEAR Diamond vs. BLON BL-03

Moondrop Kanas Pro Review I – Quick Thoughts

Moondrop Kanas Pro Review II — Testing the Hype

Moondrop Kanas Pro Review III – Profiles In Chromium

Author

KopiOkaya (Singapore)
Head-Fier since 2018. “Who is KopiOkaya?” that is the first question many audiophiles and earphone enthusiasts ask when stumbled upon his coffee cup avatar… “I am just a nobody…” – that is his usual answer. This “nobody” has his audio roots stretch until the mid-1970s when his father hauled back a set of Sansui-Luxman-Coral combo from “a friend’s place” (so that mom believed it was a given set). He fell in love with the sound instantly, and the rest is history. Previously taught in a public school, now a full-time tutor and an “ad-hoc” multimedia producer, Kopi wants to divert his attention from his teaching job and focus on something he truly loves – hifi audio. Throughout the years, Kopi owned many “nice” equipment and accessories… until the year 2009 when he discovered Chi-Fi or Chinese Hifi. An euraka moment, it was the sound he had been looking for all these years despite spending thousands and thousands of dollars on branded, highly-reviewed equipment. He sold everything (except a few good cables) and downgraded to pretty much bare minimal.Back to the very first question… What is “KopiOkaya” then… In Singapore, where Kopi is based in, kopi O simply refers to thick black coffee and kaya is a type of toast spread made of brown sugar, coconut milk, eggs and pandan leaves, commonly served as breakfast in Southeast Asia regions.
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