Kefine Klanar Review

Kefine is a distant cousin of the quickly emerging Sivga Audio brand, and is gradually making its own mark amongst audiophiles who thirst for high-performance sound that’s affordable. The Klanar is one of a growing number of planar magnetic IEMs that have become accessible to the budget-conscious audiophile. Selling for only 120 bucks, can the Klanar still deliver the classic planar driver attributes? And what kind of sound signature can you expect?

What’s in the Box?

• Kefine Klanar IEM
• Hard carrying case
• UV ear tips (S/M/L) optimized for transparency
• Silicone ear tips (S/M/L) optimized for bass response

Look and Feel

Though the aesthetics may be unassuming, there is a substantial feel to these IEMs. The shells have a little weight to them, and the build quality is solid for the price, especially when compared to the plethora of cheap-looking IEMs on the market today. The fit was completely comfortable; I never felt the stem pushing against my ear, and I basically forgot I was wearing them, which is what you want from an IEM fit. The shallower stem may mean less effective sound isolation, but I was never bothered by any ambient noise when testing out these buds.

Design

The Klanar sports a 14.5mm planar magnetic driver, a design which has become increasingly popular in the IEM world. Compared to other planar IEMs, I found the Klanar pretty easy to drive, and your iPhone or Android should give you plenty of headroom. For this review, I paired the Klanar (3.5mm termination) with my Astell & Kern SR35. But it seems that the Klanar is also available with a 4.4mm balanced cable, which, if you have the right equipment, is a worthwhile upgrade.

Sound Impressions

Soundstage

Partly in thanks to the Klanar’s planar magnetic design, this is one of the best soundstages you can get for around 100 bucks. Super open and multidimensional, there’s definitely a holographic feel to this space. That said, there’s not too much height to the stage, and most of the distancing can be felt in terms of depth and width. Still, along those axis, instruments had plenty of room to breathe and sat far enough from the center to feel las if you could reach out and grab the sound. So, although the stage may not be endlessly expansive, it does give you that immersive and colorful bubble of sound.

Lows

From the sub-bass to the lower-bass region, you’ll get a rich, warm and impactful bass response. But things start to get a leaner and moderate in spots as we creep up the bass clef. So, you will get  a dark bassy punch, but when you get to higher frequencies, the impact can become more reserved at times. Noteworthy, is the nimbleness and agility of the bass, which moves through note progressions with ease and almost has a bounciness when called upon. Finally, thanks to that planar clarity, acoustic instruments really shine in their naturalness, showing off tons of texture and timbral details. 

Mids

Attention is skewed to the upper-mids. So, when listening to tracks with heavy instrumentation in particular, you’ll notice more emphasis in the treble region of this range. In contrast, the low mids are recessed, and the balance depends more on the bass for any warmth. As a result, you get a very vocal forward, yet sometimes hollow mix. So, if you like a more aggressive or “active” sound, with snappy percussion and intimate vocals, the Klanar will work great. But if you prefer a more all-encompassing and full bodied profile, you might be left wanting more meat in your track. In classic planar fashion, resolution is top notch and the layering is super clean. Transparency meets a richness in tone to create a highly detailed and refined performance. 

Highs

I love vocals in this range. The transparency is most impressive, bringing out the crackle and rawness of vocals from singers with natural deliveries, like Rihanna and Miley Cyrus. Certainly, there’s a crunchiness to the high frequencies that’s almost reminiscent of a Grado headphone at times. (On of the reasons that rock music sounds fantastic on these buds) You won’t hear too much color or weight in this range. The Klanar keeps the highs light, lean and life-like. Also, despite its charisma, the high-end avoids becoming too fatiguing or sharp, and I was able to listen for a couple of hours without any discomfort. 

Summary

IEMs are getting exponentially better for the price, and the Klanar is a perfect example of what $120 can buy you these days. With immaculately clean and transparent sound, an open soundstage, and vibrant tuning with an electrifying treble, the Klanar leaves little to dislike. That said, if you prefer a very meaty and comprehensive midrange, these IEMs might not be for you. But if you appreciate an over-performing IEM with a lively sound signature, there are only a small handful of other planar IEMs that can compete with the Klanar at this price point.

You can buy the Kefine Klanar at Audio 46.