From the developed lands of Singapore comes my 2nd Sing-Fi IEM from Kotori named the Zephyr. This is their most expensive set and also their set with the most drivers with a single DD and BA. Let’s see how their 3rd set performs!
Unboxing is one thing that I respect Kotori Audio for. The way they present IEMs makes it seem like they’ve been doing products like these for decades, but they’ve only been around since 2019. Sure, it may not be the most bountiful accessory with 6 pairs of eartips, a metal case and the IEMs with the cable, but the way they present it is phenomenal.
As for the build, this thing feels almost like a CIEM with how contoured the inner shell and I absolutely love it. It digs into my ear just the right amount and stays there for hours on end. However, it does get a little fatiguing and I can only assume that most people will find this a little too aggressive for their ears. I didn’t dig its faceplate aesthetics at first cus it looked like they just cut off the thing that held the faceplate as it was being molded, but looking at it closely shows that this was intentional. The cable is the same one that came with the Vampire, which is pretty good for a stock cable although not the most premium looking or feeling (except for that bulky center console)
As for the sound, this is one of the most unique tuned IEMs I’ve heard under $200 as it has such a distinct tone that reminded me a lot of Etymotic IEMs, particularly the ER3SE. The bass is linear and just amazingly presented that perfectly transitions into the midrange which sounds immaculate until the upper mids where the Zephyr takes a slightly brighter tone with a peak at around 4-5k. This adds detail and clarity at the cost of timbre which the Zephyr sacrifices. It’s such a distinct metallic upper midrange to treble that affects the overall tone of the IEM, but in a way that makes it distinct from everything in this price range. Technically impressive too, but lacks dynamics and transients are a little rough. Definitely worth checking out!
Thank you for reading my impressions of the Kotori Zephyr. If you would like to order one, please consider following Kotori Audio for the latest updates on the release of the IEM
