Introduction:
For quite a while, the Tripowin x HBB Olina has been one of my favorite IEMs at the $100 price point. With its solid build, handsome looks, and great tuning, the Olina was a no brainer for me. The Olina was released at a time where $200-300 seemed to be the entry point to better sound and coming in at $100, it made waves. With the Kima and Kima Classic, Dunu is seeking to do the same. But how does it stack up?
Disclaimer: Many thanks to Hifigo for sending this over to me for me to try! These thoughts are my own!
PROS:
- Well done slight V-shaped tuning
- Relatively good technical chops for the ~$100 price tag
- Cable and build are top notch
- Good female vocals
- Good amount of air
CONS:
- Bass, while well extended, lacks a bit of rumble and impact
- Timbre slightly lacking for strings – violins can sound a bit dull and lifeless
WHO THIS IS FOR:
- Those looking for a a handsome, very well built IEM that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg
- Those who might have owned an Olina and thought it lacked a bit of bass or air
- Anyone looking for a solid $100 IEM
WHO THIS ISN’T FOR:
- Those who prefer forward mids
- Those who listen to a lot of classical music with violins
- Those looking for a darker listen – these are somewhat bright
Build, Fit, Accessories:
As with basically everything I’ve handled from Dunu, the build, fit and and accessories included with the Kima Classic are nothing short of excellent.
In the box, you will find a very nice carrying case (similar to the ones included with the SA6s) and assortment of eartips (including a full set of Dunu S&S tips). Also included are a cleaning cloth, cleaning tool, and a 6.5mm adapter.
The included cable is similar in build and feel to the cables included with the SA6 MK2 but a bit lighter. It does not, however, have modular terminations but that’s to be expected for the price. It’s a solid cable but does share the same problem with all SA6 cables – it suffers in malleability – it’s hard to keep it coiled, but on the flip side, it won’t tangle or get knotted up!
The Kima Classic has a solid metal shell with a smooth matte gunmetal finish. It’s machined very precisely and looks premium. Aesthetically, it’s one of the nicest looking IEMs I’ve seen or handled. As with most single DD IEMs, the shell is smaller and fits very nicely. No fit issues here but a caveat is that the nozzle does look to be on the shorter size so you might need to tip roll to get a good fit – I personally did not have any trouble with it despite having issues with the Kato.
Overall Sound:
The overall sound signature a slight v-shape with excellent bass extension and good air. It is a little bright leaning which gives a bit of emphasis to female vocals. And despite the v shaped tuning, it does work well with a wide library – a jack of all trades, master of none. Solid performer that does better with modern music than classical.
Bass:
Bass extends deep and quantity is good. It packs a good amount of midbass punch but not as much subbass slam. Bass quality is sufficient – texture is just okay. Decay is nice. Interestingly enough, the bass response follows that of the Oxygen much more closely than the Olina (despite Oxygen and Olina sharing the same driver).
Mids:
In typical v-shaped fashion, mids on the Kima Classic aren’t necessarily at the forefront. And while they aren’t recessed by any means, they do take a backseat to the bass and treble. Of note is that upper mids are a bit elevated, which does increase the clarity through the mids and brings higher-pitched vocals a bit forward. Female vocals, for example, are quite nice for those of you who like that. Those who prefer a darker sound should keep in mind the Kima Classic is on the brighter side.
Treble:
Treble is, for the most part, well done with a very good amount of air – cymbals actually have a nice shimmer without sounding too harsh, if not a tad bit too rounded. There is an audible dip in the mid-treble which helps in preventing the sound from being too shouty but it does detract from some instruments, making them sound a bit dull to my ears. Overall, treble is solid for the price point.
Technicalities:
Details and Resolution:
Details and resolution are average to above average for the price. Nothing to write home about but also, not bad.
Soundstage, Imaging, and Separation:
Stage is average for an IEM. It’s not very wide but it does have some depth. Imaging is actually surprisingly good! Separation is decent.
Transients and decay:
Transients are fairly crisp for the most part – the initial attack on notes is clear and defined but not incredibly incisive. Decay is pretty much what you’d expect from a single DD in this price range – neither too fast nor too slow.
Dynamics:
Again, pretty decent for the price. Nothing to write home about but it’s not bad.
Timbre:
For the most part timbre is pretty good – I’ve found that most single dynamic driver IEMs tend to have decent timbre. The only thing I’d call out here is that certain instruments like the violin do sound a bit unnatural and lifeless to me. But other than that, timbre is quite okay.
Conclusion:
I was actually pleasantly surprised with the Dunu Kima Classic. Before Hifigo sent them to me, I had heard very little about them and had zero expectations going into this review. The build, fit, and finish on the Kima Classic are best in class and the sound, for the most part, is pretty nice! If it were released a year or two ago, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up being a market definer like the Aria was (I’d certainly choose this over the Aria). Given the state of the current market, it might not stand out as much but for those of you who liked the Oxygen or the Olina, this is a solid choice worth considering! The Dunu Kima Classic does a lot of things fairly well and doesn’t do much wrong and sometimes that’s all that is needed!
