【Chi-fi earphones review】Kinera Freya: Cool looks and a clear singing sound. This is unlikely to be less than $300.

Kinera Freya Quad-hybrid IEM 1DD + 3BA Drivers In-Ear Earphone

Basic specifications
Unboxing
Fit
Sound Quality
- Frequency response
Recording signature
- JAZZ
- OST
- Classical
- Rock
Final verdict
Recommended articles

This article is a translation of the following Japanese article.

This time we will focus on Kinera Freya. Kinera may not be famous in Japan, but it is a highly regarded brand in the Chinese earphone industry, with a wide range of products from the entry-level model at less than $50 to the high-end model at $1500. The brand is not only well versed in sound tuning and related technologies, but also in manufacturing techniques and taste when it comes to aesthetics, such as housing and cable quality, making earphones that not only sound great, but are also attractive as jewelry.

The Kinera Freya is just the kind of product Kinera is known for - not only does it offer a good sound quality package, but it's also incredibly elaborate and beautiful for its price.

hifigo.com

Basic specifications

Frequency responce: 20hz-20kHz
Impedance: 22Ω
Sensitivity: 110dB
Cable connector: 0.78mm 2pin

Kinera Freya Quad-hybrid IEM 1DD + 3BA Drivers In-Ear Earphone HiFiGo

Unboxing

The packaging is gorgeous for this price point. It comes in a hexagonal box, a common feature of Kinera products these days, and if you just look at the outside of the package, it looks like a high-end candy. When you open the lid, there are several cardboards in it, and it's fun to flip through them one by one. There's also an adapter for connecting your smartphone to the box, which can only be described as gorgeous.

The build quality of the body is already of high-end quality. The design is glittering and elegant, like mother-of-pearl inlay, and looks like a piece of jewelry. The slim cable is moderately stretchy and easy to handle, and the coating is smooth and tangle-free.

Kinera Freya

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Fit

The main body of the universal IEM type is a little thick, but they fit in your ears well and are made of resin and are lightweight. It's frankly an enthralling piece of work, and it's one of the coolest designs I've ever seen for less than $300.

Kinera Freya

Sound Quality

Measuring equipment

SAMURA HATS Type3500RHR System: HEAD & TORSO, left and right S-Type ear model (Type4565 / 4566: IEC60268-7 compliant)
AWA type 6162 711 ear simulator
Microphone preamplifier: Type4053
Type5050 microphone amplifier power supply
Audio interface: ROLAND Rubix 24
Analyzer software: TypeDSSF3-L

*Due to the response of the ear simulator, the reliability below 20hz and above 16khz is not high.

www.phileweb.com

Frequency response

In order,

[AET07 S attached] Separate left and right
[AET07 S attached] Average left and right
[AET07 S attached] Separate left and right (free sound field corrected)
[AET07 S attached] Left-right average (free sound field corrected)
[Standard silicon ( final E ) S attached] Separate left and right
[Standard silicon ( final E ) S attached] Average left and right
[Standard silicon ( final E ) S attached] Separate left and right (free sound field corrected)
[Standard silicon ( final E ) S attached] Left-right average (free sound field corrected)
[Standard silicon ( white axis ) S attached] Separate left and right
[Standard silicon ( white axis ) S attached] Average left and right
[Standard silicon ( white axis ) S attached] Separate left and right (free sound field corrected)
[Standard silicon ( white axis ) S attached] Left-right average (free sound field corrected)
Comparison (free sound field corrected)
Comparison (free sound field corrected/2khz-24khz)

* "AET 07 S size" is the reference eartip for measurement of this blog. All other eartips are standard with this earphone package unless otherwise noted.

Kinera Freya

Overall, it has a near-flat sound signature, which could be described as slightly U-shaped. However, the mids are full enough, the vocals come forward and the sound is transparent. Some people may find the sound concentrated in the midrange, but the low end is relatively separate from the midrange, the high end is airy, the range is good and the sound doesn't seem to be so concentrated in the midrange. It's a well-balanced sound that may sound quite flat to some people.

hifigo.com

The bass range is well layered and slightly warm, but the bass drum kick is rather a bit tight. The contours are rather solid, but there's a good amount of weight and a bit of fullness, and the sound is thick and well-bodied. The geothermal heat isn't very strong, so you could say it's monitor-like. The electric bass has a bit of warmth and is reasonably deep, but not too deep and not too buzzing.

The midrange is reasonably well separated from the low frequencies by the lower midrange troughs and is tight, but the vocals are sufficiently forward and there is a reasonable amount of clarity in space. Still, there is a bit of low frequency heat bled in the lower midrange, but it contributes to the sweetness of the midrange. The power balance between the instrumental sounds and the vocals is about 50:50, and on songs where the drums are thicker, the low frequencies may sound a bit on the vocals, but basically it sounds good in focus. The vocals tend to be a little more pronounced on the S notes and the endings sound a little stretched out, but there is no sibilance.

The high frequencies feel spacious and airy. There is a slight emphasis on the glare, but it maintains a moderate sense of depth that is hard to take on vocals. The acoustic guitars and hi-hats are a bit finer and more subtle in their grain, but the sound is basically clean without being too flashy and doesn't seem to disrupt the vocal focus.

The overall composition is warm and relatively neutral in the low range, clean and transparent in the midrange, and airy and delicate in the high range, with finely tuned highs that complement the midrange. The soundstage has a slightly larger margin around the midrange vocals, giving an excellent sense of perspective in the midrange. I was particularly impressed with the spontaneity of the vocals, the high breath and sweet nuances of the vocals, and the chorus of Yoshitaka Suzuki's "Battle at the Big Bridge - Ver.1 - FFRK Ver. arrangement" was very lively. The electric guitar also has a certain appeal.

Kinera Freya Quad-hybrid IEM 1DD + 3BA Drivers In-Ear Earphone HiFiGo white- Freya Crowned

Recording signature

Please refer to the following for the basic principles of recording signatures and how to enjoy them.

www.ear-phone-review.com

The recording signature is posted for advisory. Free sound field adjustment is added. The source is FiiO M15 and the gain setting is high. The eartips used are the "Standard silicon ( white axis ) S size".

blog.ear-phone-review.com

The music used in the recording signature is from the game maker Nippon Falcom, which I love.

www.falcom.co.jp

JAZZ

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Sophisticated Fight / Sora No Kiseki First Chapter & Second Chapter Super Arrange Version / Copyright © Nihon Falcom Corporation
町「ペンタウァ」 / Falcom Best Sound Collection - All in All - / Copyright © Nihon Falcom Corporation
Desire / The Songs of Zemeth ~Ys VI Vocal Version / Copyright © Nihon Falcom Corporation
花と風のうた / Zwei!! Super Arrange Version / Copyright © Nihon Falcom Corporation

OST

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Sophisticated Fight / The Legend of Heroes: Sora No Kiseki FC Evolution Original Sound Track / Copyright © Nihon Falcom Corporation

Classical

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Rock

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The Decisive Collision / The Legend of Heroes: Sen No Kiseki Super Arrange Version / Copyright © Nihon Falcom Corporation

Final verdict

Comprehensive evaluation:	★★★★★

When someone asks, "Do you have a recommended earbud for a budget of $300 or less?", there is no doubt that the Kinera Freya is one of the first earbuds I think of when someone asks me, "What's the difference between a pair of headphones that have better resolution than most sub-$200 earbuds, better balance, and a beautiful, crystal-clear sound quality for vocals, but also better build quality than the Kinera Freya. You can't complain about them - they rival high-end models and the packaging is gorgeous. These attractive earphones make you want to carry them with you.

Kinera Freya Quad-hybrid IEM 1DD + 3BA Drivers In-Ear Earphone