WATCH FULL REVIEW HERE: 

PRICE: $75

PROS: 

• Superb warm u-shaped tuning
• Deep, rich and tactile bass
• Balanced, clean but well-bodied midrange
• Snappy and well-detailed treble
• Natural vocal timbre 
• Great stage depth
• Comfortable, small fit
• Aesthetically pleasing cable

CONS:

• Occasional sibilance on higher volumes
• Not the most technical or resolving sounding set
• Not the most refined sounding set

WHO THIS SET IS FOR

• Warm heads
• People who want a deep, engaging but tight bass presentation
• People who want a fun but natural sound
• People who want a well-balanced lower and upper midrange presentation

WHO THIS SET ISN’T FOR:

• People who want a smooth and warm set
• People who want a more technical sound
• People who want a wider sound
• People who want the most refined-sounding set

RECOMMENDED GENRES:

• R&B
• Soul
• HipHop
• Rock

SHORT REVIEW: 

The Kefine Delci is a masterclass of how a fun but clean warm U-shaped IEM should sound like. The superb bass tuning is both rich and tight with the well-balanced midrange that makes both the lower and upper midrange sound exceptional and a sufficiently bright and detailed treble to top it all off. The potential issues come at the treble with the odd peak that gets emphasized on some tracks. But besides that along with the average technical detailing, the Kefine Delci stands as a top contender for a rich listening experience in the budget realm. RECOMMENDED WITH CAVEATS

FULL REVIEW:

When you think of audio trends, you might think of driver configurations or quirky tuning filters that blow up for a couple of months and either become the norm or get completely benched. But a trend people often miss is the tuning that many of the big brands follow that is the effect of one brand blowing up with that kind of tuning. 

V-shaped sets were all the craze in the years before 2020, then the Aria came in and every single brand started releasing their own renditions. Then it tilts to the brighter side with the Simgot domination until 2024 when the likes of the Tangzu Xuan NV, Dunu DaVinci, and the likes made warmth the ideal tuning. 

Today, we’ll be taking an in depth look at one such warmer-leaning IEM from a VERY new company that subtly entered the market and has begun to make the waves in the community. Is this set worth being talked about, or is it just another flavor of the month?

DISCLAIMER: 

The Delci was sent in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not paid or compensated in any way to say anything about the product. 

DELICIOUSLY WARM!

Kefine is one of the newest brands on the block with only 2 products in their catalogue so far. The Klanar turned heads early in 2024 with what seemed to be the Letshuoer S12 but warmer and considerably cheaper. This value notion got people talking about Klanar as a brand with a lot of potential. The Delci marks as their second product to date and boasts a rather familiar DLC + PU setup for $75. With a setup that isn’t necessarily a stand-out, how can the Delci stand out in a market filled with giants with years to develop their reputation? 

UNBOXING

The unboxing experience of the Kefine Delci is quite basic but very cleanly done. It’s a minimalist box with the Delci’s photo up front and the specs and contact at the box. 

Opening the box, you’re met with the following inclusions:

• Kefine Delci IEMs
• 3.5mm 2-pin cable
• 6 pairs of eartips
• Leather carrying case
• Paperwork

The accessories included with the Delci may not be the best that you can find for the price, but the quality is more than acceptable in my opinion. The case, while smaller than the usual carrying pouch, feels well built and is large enough for the Delci, some eartips and a cleaning tool. 

The eartips on the other hand are your basic ear tips that may or may not work for you but come included with 3 sets of semi-wide bore and 3 sets of narrow bored eartips for your choosing

BUILD & FIT

The Delci features a single DLC+PU diaphragm dynamic driver housed in a CNC-machined aluminum alloy with a 0.78mm 2-pin connector. 

The design of the Delci is minimal but tasteful with its very round and smooth curves that showcase the excellent machining of the IEM. It’s rather small, so small ears gang would have a field day with the Delci. 

The build quality of the Delci is quite nice and balances feeling premium and being lightweight. I had no issues with fatigue or discomfort with this IEM whatsoever. 

While I do find Delci’s design to not really stand out (especially compared to the shinier, more colorful, or weirder IEMs that I’ve been reviewing recently), the fit is where Delci really stands out. I think Delci’s fit is one of the best amongst the smaller in-ears like the EW200, Chu and the like. 

The cable is nice but a little tangled and memory-prone. It’s an aesthetically pleasing pairing with the brown and black cable and grey shell, but I’m not fond of this kind of cable when actually using it and not just displaying it. The interface feels quite premium which is a plus for me. 

SOUND

Sound Signature:

The Kefine Delci has a warm U-shaped sound signature with an emphasis on the low end, a slightly pulled-back midrange, and a generous amount of top-end energy. The Decli’s overall coherency is fantastic with a very slight hiccup in the mid treble region on certain tracks. 

Source Pairing:

One of the best things about the Delci is how well it responds to sources. Even in cheaper or lower-powered sources, I found the Delci to still retain all the positive qualities that make it a solid set. The experience is improved with better sources with better bass texture, cleaner mids and treble. 

Volume:

The Delci is primarily a mid to high-level listening set due to the warmth balancing the frequency really well and the treble being quite safe in general. Low-volume listening sounds adequate but is hampered by the rather soft transient response. However, pushing the volume higher might cause issues for some people which I’ll talk more about in its own section. 

Bass

Arguably the highlight of the Delci, the bass walks the fine line of sounding very thick and impactful but tight and nuanced. It has a solid sub bass and midbass balance that makes both really deep subfrequencies audible but also makes the midbass sound very punchy and adequately tactile. This makes it perfect for heavier tracks that emphasize bass like electronic music but without totally coloring or making the midrange muddy or lacking. I honestly have very little issues with the bass of the Delci besides being a little bit too thick and bassy on some bassier and losing tactility, but that’s a very small nitpick that even I can’t justify as that’s just the kind of sound Delci wants to present. 

Once again, we have the usual culprits that fit this kind of sound really well. Daniel Caeasar’s thick and punchy bass lines, D’Angelo’s deep licks and riffs, and Remi’s expertly crafted low-end tunes. But I want to highlight one particular artist that does surprisingly well with the Delci and that is Chappell Roan. She has been a recent obsession of mine and the way she does low-end synths on the track Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl is absolutely wonderful on the Delci. It just sounds so raw and impactful while going VERY deep to provide such an engaging low-end. 

Mids 

As a result of the rather thick low end, the mids of the Delci sound smooth and rich but surprisingly clean. The emphasis on the bass was just enough to keep the music from sounding lean and thin while keeping the midrange thick and weighty. The lower mids in particular were quite the treat as they were nuanced to bring out small tactile details while having solid note definition on top of having solid note weight. The upper mids on the other hand was quite generous in terms of emphasis as it brought out vocals and instruments nicely but free from sounding shouty or overly forward. It’s perfect for shout-sensitive people, but it doesn’t skimp out on the upper midrange as it balances and contrasts the lower mids pretty well. 

One of my favorite things about the Delci is how well it does both male and female vocals. Obviously the warmth leads male vocals to sound better, but female vocals still sound clean and crisp. The perfect example of this is on the track In Too Deep by Jacob Collier and Tori Kelly. It has the perfect balance of low, thick, and lush vocals and brighter, more energetic, and airier vocals. I will note that female vocals have a very slight issue when it comes to S and T sounds which I’ll talk more about soon, but it sounds generally well-balanced throughout the entire midrange and provides a very soothing and natural vocal presentation. Instruments follow a very similar trend with brassier instruments like bass guitars, cellos, and some synths sounding complementary with the violins, pianos, flutes, and higher frequency instruments. 

Treble

This is arguably the weakest part of the Delci and might cause issues for some people. To start, the treble follows the upper mids with a rather generous, fatigue-free but nicely detailed presentation. The lower treble in particular sounds clean with the attack of higher frequency instruments and vocals sounding energetic without any harshness or sibilance. However, a rather odd peak in the mid-treble followed by a dip in the upper treble energy makes S and T sounds a little sharp. It’s even more emphasized on poorly mixed tracks that bring out these artifacts that makes the treble presentation a little rough and unrefined sounding. The air region would’ve sounded a lot better if it wasn’t for that peak as the sudden peak and drop had the effect of making some tracks sound a little low-res. This affects treble timbre quite considerably on poorly mixed tracks and reveals the less appealing factors more than it should. However, this is thankfully on isolated tracks and when listening to at the highest volumes and sounds quite snappy on mid to lower listening volumes. This can also give the impression that sounds more detailed on lower volumes, but harsher and less natural on higher volumes. 

This is especially evident during my listening session with Chappell Roan as, despite having a very clean low end, the sharpness of the treble was also emphasized in many of her tracks in “The Fall of the Midwest Princess”. Bringing this into a brighter track like Earth, Wind & Fire also brings out the harshness that songs like Fantasy hide, especially when pumping the volume high up. This is a very odd peak that completely contrasts the smooth and warm low end. This could be to compensate for the warmer sound and to emphasize top-end details more, but it ended up making the treble sound a little rough and edgy on some tracks rather than bringing a consistent level of detail. However, I will say that it does add much-needed energy from the low-frequencies as Fantasy does not sound as anemic and dry as it usually is on most neutral or brighter sets in this price range.

Technicalities

As for technicalities, the Delci is just about average. This is by design as the Delci has a clear focus on musicality over technicality and it’s further emphasized in this price point where you’re forced to go down the musical route if you want the most success. However, bass depth was quite impressive on the Delci as the subbass goes VERY deep and provides a very expansive listening experience in the low end. Separation and layering are quite adequate, along with headstage and imaging. Dynamics are quite impressive in the low end, but the transients are a little bit sharp, especially in the aforementioned mid-treble peak that gets a little harsh. 

REAL WORLD USAGE

Casual Use

One of the things I really appreciate the Delci is the combination of a small and comfortable fit with a warmer but clean sound. This makes consuming not only content but just going about in life a rather musical and soothing experience. Oddly, that peak isn’t as emphasized when just listening casually to videos and podcasts. It starts to rear its ugly head with movies, particularly large setpieces, but so does the amazing stage depth that the Delci provides. Essentially, it’s a back and forth of the sharpness and the deepness of the sound that makes it a rather exciting, albeit a little scary experience. 

Gaming Use

On one end, the warmth definitely brings out the low-end nuances like footsteps and other environmental sounds that usually get forced out by the upper mids. But you’ll be surprised as the upper midrange presentation of this can still bring out the important details in the upper frequencies. Once again, that treble peak may make certain sounds a little harsh and unbearable (especially when gaming at high volumes), but is very well balanced in general. If it wasn’t for that peak, I would say this is the best gaming IEM you can get today. 

COMPARISONS

vs Letshuoer D13

In short, the D13 is the Delci with better bass but a worse timbre and peak in the mid-treble. Both exhibit a warmer and richer sound that is occasionally barred with the odd peak and dip in the treble. The main difference is that the Delci maintains superb timbre by pushing the vocals a little further and not having as drastic of a peak and dip as the D13. The D13 is still better in terms of tactility and bass tightness, but it’s hard to justify the D13’s one-trick pony status over the Delci’s well-rounded sound. 

vs Simgot EA500LM

Both sets feature a similar U-Shaped presentation with the main difference being where their emphasis on the sound is. The Delci focuses on the bass and warmth while the EA500LM focuses on clarity and the treble. It’s honestly a perfect contrast between the two and you can comfortably get either depending on your preferences or get both to have a solid hot and cold kind of set. Technicalities are definitely better on the EA500LM, but the Delci is a more natural, soothing, and richer sounding set. I will say that the EA500LM is the more consistent set between the two due to the peak of the Delci

vs Truthear Zero: RED

Compared to the neutral reference set under $100, the Red has a less engaging overall sound with more focus on the upper mids and keeping everything neutral. The Delci is more musical, deeper (compared to stock Red), and richer sounding overall. However, the peak of the Delci makes the Red the more consistent set if you’re pitting each of them on timbre. In short, Delci is the more fun and engaging set between the two while the Red is more consistent and has better timbre

vs Simgot EW200

Going down in price a little bit, the EW200 is the more technical, energetic, and detailed set while the Delci provides better bass tactility, richness, bass depth, and tactility. The main selling point of either sets are, just like the EA500LM, on both ends and picking either one will depend on what you’re looking for. You have to give it to the EW200 to still be able to compete with the Delci for being almost twice the price. 

vs Tangzu Xuan NV

Two seemingly similar sets on paper but sounds quite different. While both sets focus on warmth and lushness, the Xuan NV is considerably smoother overall with focus on sounding very relaxed without sounding dark. The Delci on the other hand has more energy on both sides and sounds more U-Shaped with a deeper, more engaging, and more impactful bass and a brighter, snappier but also harsher treble. So your choice ends up coming down to whether you want something more neutral or something more fun. Both sets have superb timbre, but like the EA500LM, the Xuan NV is more consistent due to the peak of the Delci. 

CONCLUSIONS

Warmer-leaning IEMs are honestly underrated and the Delci is a step in the right direction when it comes to warm IEMs in the budget realm. It may not be the most technical nor the most refined, but I have had fun listening to this set more than other sets today. 

The combination of a thick, deep, and impactful low end with the clean, well-balanced midrange with superb timbre makes this an instant buy for warm and timbre heads. The small but comfortable form factor and admittedly solid cable make it a rather aesthetic and comfort pick for me as well. 

However, that peak might be an issue for some people especially those sensitive to mid treble peaks. It also had the added effect of emphasizing the imperfections of a poorly mixed track which has to do more with how uneven the treble of the Delci is. It’s also not your technical beast for $75 as more technical sets exist at almost half the price of the Delci

But all of that honestly doesn’t matter personally as the personal enjoyment I had with this set is unlike anything I’ve heard in a while. This is such an addicting set to listen to with my current library and this has been my go-to set since I got these and will most likely stay in my rotations for a long time. 

Thank you for reading my review on the Kefine Delci. If you would like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/HiFiGo-Delci-Monitors-Diaphgram-Earphones/dp/B0CXXY4Q3W

Linsoul: 

Aliexpress: 

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/1005006684461433.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa