Kinera Imperial Nanna (2.0 Pro) Hybrid Electrostatic IEM - Review

Kinera’s Imperial Nanna, also known as the Nanna 2.0 Pro, is the newest iteration of their flagship Nanna IEM. The Nanna was originally upgraded to the Nanna Mount, which was a repainted version of the Nanna, though some felt convinced the sound was different despite Kinera’s claims the upgrade was purely exterior. The Imperial Nanna, on the other hand, is in fact retuned, and is deserving of a thorough analysis. The Imperial version runs for $949, as apposed to the $899 of the original.

What’s in the Box

• Imperial Nanna
• 7 sets of ear tips: 5 rubber and 2 foam
• 3.5 mm adapter
• 2.5mm adapter
• Carrying case

Look and Feel

Kinera never disappoints on the looks front. The Imperial Nanna has a red, blue, and turquoise backing covered in a glittery shine. Similar to other Kinera IEMs, they remind me of polished gemstones. Their fit is fairly standard and plenty firm, and should work for most ear shapes. 

Design

The Imperial Nanna is a hybrid IEM, containing one 7mm Dynamic Driver, one Balanced Armature Driver, and two Electrostatic Drivers. They come with a 6N OCC silver plated wire with a 4.4mm termination, as apposed to the more common 3.5mm. They have a frequency response of 5Hz-50kHZ and an impedance of 60 ohms.

Soundstage

The Imperial Nanna seems to have a somewhat blended layering to it, which felt intentional and not crowded. They're still very holographic, but take a slightly different approach compared to many of the intensely separated IEMs on the market right now. It felt like even though their sound was spread out, each layer was secured to one another. Certain elements are given more distinct separation, for example, listening to Jamie Drake’s “Redwood Trees,” the choral vocal stacks felt lush and lofty as they were each compartmentalized across the soundstage. I enjoyed the more coherent character the Imperial Nanna offered, and paired with their very warm sound signature, they hold a refreshing, subtly unique imaging. 

Lows

These have a strong, impactful low end response that’s very cleaned up and more on the contained side than the wild-running sub response some IEMs take advantage of. While the Imperial Nanna does have a noticeable sub response, it’s clearly very purified and devoid of any rumble. For many, this stable low end sound will be pleasant, but some may want more looseness. Listening to Audrey Nuna’s “Damn Right,” the booming kick drum hit with substantial impact, but its attack was more showcased than its guttural release. It was a straightforward presentation of the song’s low end, fine tuned with no extra frills. 

Mids

The midrange response on the Imperial Nanna may be what sold me the most on it. It's got a boosted high mid range, but is so tailored and warm in this area it does not feel harsh in the slightest. Even on the most resonant productions, this IEM was able to tame the sharpest sore sonic patches. Listening to Skott’s vocal-centric track “Wolf,” the Imperial Nanna gave extreme presence to the lead singer’s performance while adding some slight saturation to smooth out the edges. The increased crispness and definition added to the rest of the mix shared this slight saturation and added warmth. The Imperial Nanna overall has the winning combination of substantial midrange presence without an overly-pointed sound. 

Highs

These have a rich, extremely smooth high end. You wont get a shining sound from them, but will without a doubt notice their brightness. Listening to Remi Wolf’s “Liz,” the vocal’s breathiness feels more velvety than it does silky. It’s not an obvious, in you face brightness, instead opting for a much more understated but still very present quality. There’s an added snap to percussion and overall very polished, detailed sound, just without a strong sheen. The Imperial Nanna’s brightness is similar to its midrange in its ability to be strong yet never feel harsh, as theres a very tight warmth to them

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Overall

The Imperial Nanna feels like a noticeable refinement of the original Nanna, respecting the already much-loved sound and building off of it. These are some of the easiest on the ears IEMs I’ve tried in a while, and have an extremely versatile sound that will get even the pickiest listeners excited.

You can order a pair here.