Synergy
Efficiency
The Klanar’s impedance rating of 16Ω makes this a fairly efficient IEM to drive on paper. This is an IEM that should not pose any demanding load issues with a wide variety of portable sources.
However, it is rated for 105dB @1Khz 1Vrms meaning it will require more headroom to get the full extent of its performance. But this doesn’t mean you’d need an exceptional source; increasing the volume from your device will do fine enough.
From my testing, my phone, DAP, or dongle will give it enough juice for what you need. It will handle electrical swings so there’s nothing to worry about this part.
There isn’t any worry with static sounds as well. You can get the 4.4mm version if you’re worried about this part.
Pairings
I’ve used the KEFINE with Radsone ES100, Colorfly CDA-M1P, and a CX31993 dongle. I’ve only tested it with its stock 3.5mm cable, so the 4.4mm cable wasn’t used in testing it.
Without going into the source differences, all of these give the Klanar more than enough power for my use. Even small dongles, like the CX31993 dongle, were able to give the Klanar the necessary power it needed.
For sound differences, the CX31993 doesn’t add any flavor to the IEMs. It doesn’t color the output of the Klanar at all. With the Radsone ES100, the Klanar’s mids sounded a little bit more elevated. The bass and treble remain the same.
With the Colorfly CDA-M1P, weirdly enough it added some sibilance. The treble and its sparkles sound stronger, but female vocals do sound better with it.
Select Comparisons
Truthear Nova
Technical
The Truthear Nova comes with a 1DD 4BA driver setup. It has an impedance of 14.8 ohms and a sensitivity of 123dB @1kHz/Vrms.
The 14.8Ω impedance rating of the Truthear Nova will make it an easy plug-and-play IEM for any device or source. The Truthear Nova will be easy to drive to just about any audio source.
The 123 dB @1kHz/Vrms rating makes the Truthear Nova efficient in a lot of cases. You wouldn’t need to turn up the volume a lot to get the full capabilities of it.
Design
The Truthear Nova has a beautiful design. That blue seashell-like pattern on its faceplate is a sight to see or show off to others.
Aside from the wonderful faceplate, its shell has a uniform black color design. Other things to note are the 2 vents near the pin connectors and the Truthear name above it with a right or left marking next to it.
For the shape, the Truthear Nova is a large shell, which might cause issues for some users. The nozzle is long and will go deep in your ears.
Lastly, it has a blue and black cable that is braided well and looks great. The issue with it is that it tangles easily.
Performance
Starting with the bass, the KEFINE Klanar and the Truthear Nova perform very similarly. Despite the Klanar being a planar IEM, its bass sounds like it came from a dynamic driver.
The Truthear Nova does have more bass potency. I can feel the bass stronger with the Truthear Nova compared to the Klanar.
Despite the Truthear Nova giving me a better sense of rumble and slam, both of them perform the same overall. A difference to note is that the Klanar can’t do the slam or push-pull as well as the Truthear Nova.
With the mids, the Truthear Nova does it better. It has thicker and more forward vocals that feel sufficient and better than the Klanar.
In regards to timbre, it’s surprisingly better on the Klanar. Planar IEMs are known for wonky timbre, but the KEFINE Klanar has a rich and natural midrange for either vocals or instruments that the Truthear Nova doesn’t have.
The Truthear Nova’s mids also has a weird veil on both the instruments and vocals. It sounds fake, unlike the Klanar’s mids.
For the treble, the Klanar outright does it better. I can hear more details from my music and feel the sparkle of the instruments. Sibilance is a non-issue for both of these. Anyone with sibilance issues can be free of worry with either the Klanar or the Truthear Nova.
Now, for soundstage and imaging, the Klanar takes the crown in total victory. The Truthear Nova gives a very narrow soundstage and imaging.
The Truthear Nova compared to the Klanar is going from level 3 to level 7. The KEFINE Klanar elevates the soundstage experience a lot and is the winner in that part.
LETSHUOER S12
Technical
The LETSHUOER S12 is a planar IEM that comes with a custom 14.8mm planar driver that comes with a silver-plated copper cable. The LETSHUOER S12 can be bought with a 3.5mm or 4.4mm termination.
Not much information is known about the LETSHUOER S12’s planar driver aside from that it’s a 14.8mm custom-made planar magnetic driver.
It has a 16Ω impedance and 102 dB @1kHz/Vrms rating. In other words, any device can run but you might need to turn up the volume for it.
Design
The design of the LETSHUOER S12 is refined, classy, and polished. It looks like a fine art piece due to its metal unibody shell.
The LETSHUOER S12 has a full aluminum chassis. Due to that, it’s also rated as IPX3 or it’s protected against water sprays at any angle up to 60 degrees from vertical. It can be bought with 3.5mm and 4.4mm termination. Either of those two, the LETSHUOER S12’s plug will be 0.78mm.
Performance
Comparing their bass, the Klanar just has more bass quantity and better bass quality. The LETSHUOER S12 doesn’t come close and feels dry due to it.
The slam, rumble, and potency of the bass on the Klanar are completely elevated. The LETSHUOER S12’s bass can get difficult to feel due to its treble too.
These two have similar mids, but due to the LETSHUOER S12’s bass, its mids sound more forward. The mids of the Klanar gets overshadowed because of its strong bass.
For their timbre, the Klanar isn’t plagued with bad planar timbre. Meanwhile, the LETSHUOER S12 has that bad planar timbre; its vocals sound unnatural.
In the treble, the LETSHUOER S12 just has an explosive treble that the laidback Klanar can’t compare. Despite that, they have similar detail retrieval so you can’t go wrong with choosing either.
But due to the LETSHUOER S12’s explosive treble, its sibilance is also explosive. Its high frequencies are hurtful to my ear, which makes the Klanar’s zero sibilance sound like a miracle.
Staging and imaging is a level 6 on the LETSHUOER S12 but a level 7 on the Klanar. The difference is that the Klanar’s soundstage is wider than the LETSHUOER S12.
Our Verdict
As the introductory IEM of KEFINE, they definitely are up and running with the Klanar. Its tuning, despite being V-shaped, is done well.
Being a comfortable IEM that has great sound, there isn’t much to fault aside from a slightly below-average level of isolation and its recessed vocal performance.
Not having a weird planar timbre, however, makes it different from its competitors. Add that to having great bass, impressive detail retrieval, and a wider-than-average soundstage, the KEFINE Klanar makes a promising debut product for the company.
KEFINE Klanar Technical Specifications
- Driver Type: One (1x) 14.5mm Planar Driver
- Plug: 3.5mm single-ended standard 0.78mm-2pin
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 40kHz
- Impedance: 16Ω@1kHz
- Sensitivity: 158db/Vrms
- Weight: 12.6 grams
- Plug Size: 3.5mm SE or 4.4mm BA
