WATCH FULL REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/hdQumOr4lpQ
Overall Score: 6.29 / 10
Enjoyment Score: 7 / 10
Price: $49
PROS:
- Superb tonal balance
- Versatile for many genres
- Premium feeling build
- Comfortable Fit
- Gold nozzles provide solid additional energy
- Warm but non-intrusive low end
- Rich and clean mids
CONS:
- Not the most technical set for the price
- Slight edginess in the mid treble
- Lackluster accessory inclusion
- Paint-chip prone shell
WHO THIS SET IS FOR:
- People who enjoy a versatile tuning
- People who like a warm and full bodied sound
- People who like a premium-feeling build
WHO THIS SET ISN’T FOR:
- People sensitive to mid treble
- People looking for a more technical sound
- People who don’t like paint chipping
GENRES:
- R&B
- Pop
- HipHop
- Funk
- Rock
SHORT REVIEW:
The Klean is one of the “kleanest” single DD if you’re looking for a warm, rich but well-balanced tuning. A great build quality and comfortable fit seals the deal that makes this set one of the easiest IEMs to recommend for most people, despite the slightly edgy mid treble and a paint-chip prone shell. RECOMMENDED!
FULL REVIEW
There are a few things that are inevitable in life. Death, taxes and single DD IEMs being called the “best” for a particular month. Sometimes, they’re justified, sometime’s they fall into obscurity. But one thing is for sure, any brand that can get their single DD IEM talked about is worthy enough of a mention.
Klean is one such IEM that has taken the market by storm and with good reason. However, these kinds of IEMs fall as fast as the rise, so how will the Klean compete in arguably the most competitive price range with the most common configuration?
KLEAN AS YOU GO!
Kefine has been featured in the channel a while back with Delci and proved that despite being an infant in the market, they know exactly what the market needs. This makes more sense when you consider that Mr. Collin Yang who has worked for Sivga spearheaded Kefine. A man of his stature and experience is sure to know exactly what the market needs, especially those looking for an affordable yet high-quality product.
Their latest release, the Klean, is the most affordable IEM they’ve released by far. But don’t let this $49 single DD IEM fool you. It hides a few tricks up its sleeves to make it a very compelling yet safe IEM to choose in 2024, which is rare considering that everyone seems to have been left in 2023 where everyone was trying to outbrighten everyone else.
UNBOXING AND ACCESSORIES:
The unboxing experience of the Klean is average at best. Nothing too spectacular about its packaging and inclusions, so I don’t think we need to talk more about it.
Here’s a full list of the inclusions:
- Kefine Klean IEMs
- 3.5mm
- Carrying Case
- 3 pairs of eartips
- Tuning Nozzles
- Paperwork
The eartips are pretty average, but gets the job done. I would still opt for a different pair of eartips with the Klean, though.
BUILD & FIT:
One of the distinctive features of the Klean that I was informed was one of the reasons why they got it down this cheap is the usage of metal injection through the use of molds. The Delci used aluminum CNC machining which is partially the reason why it’s more expensive than the Klean. But if I’m going to be honest with you, the metal injection shell of the Klean feels more premium than the Delci at the cost of weight and ergonomics. I know it’s all about making IEMs more efficient and fatigue free, but I cannot deny that the Klean just feels so much more premium than the Delci to the touch.
One exception is the use of paint to coat the IEM. Unlike the brushed metal finish of the Delci, the Klean uses paint which was confirmed by Mr. Coling Yang himself. Not really a fan of painted shells as longevity isn’t really good on them, but it looks good right now and I can respect that.
As for internals, the Klean uses a single 10mm DLC dynamic driver that has been the bread and butter for many IEMs in this price range and higher. This is a little different from what was used in the Delci which was a DLC + PU diaphragm. But I can tell you now that it is not a downgrade in terms of sound whatsoever.
The Klean also features replacement nozzles. The nozzles used are pretty short and stubby to compensate for the long base nozzle. I find that this style of interchangeable nozzle isn’t quite as “versatile” as the ones used by Simgot and the likes, especially since you can’t interchange them between sets. Regardless, the nozzles feel nice and makes it easy to replace the mesh filter.
As for the fit, it’s a decent fit that’s light on the ears with minimal discomfort. Stability can definitely be improved and eartip selection is super important to get the right fit, but it’s comfy despite the liquid injection. Seal isn’t the best but it’s more than enough to avoid any sound leaking.
As for the cable, it’s a basic clear-style cable that we’ve seen time and time with budget IEMs. I’ve grown to love this cable as it’s comfortable, functional and aesthetically pleasing (until it turns yellow down the line). The 3.5mm jack is acceptable for the price, but the interface is surprisingly high quality.
SOUND
Sound Signature:
The trend in the budget seems to follow this warmer, thicker and more lush sound with a lot of low end that slightly bleeds into the midrange, a thick midrange, low eargain and smooth treble. The Delci, the many HBB collabs and the like have a similar sound signature to the Klean. The difference is the level of refinement that the Klean brings to the market that many sets seem to struggle with. It’s still not perfect and artifacts and imperfections keep it from being reigned as the best warm IEM ever, but its asking price justifies its tonal performance.
Source Pairing
One of the benefits of an IEM like the Klean is how versatile it is with sources. Plugging this into your laptop jack or a smartphone is perfectly adequate and will sound good enough. Pairing this with a cleaner source will improve the overall sound, but it’s not necessary to enjoy the set.
Volume
Depending on your sensitivity to mid treble, the Klean might be the best volume scaling IEM ever or one that limits you to mid listening volume due to the mid treble peak. I personally found myself closer to the latter than the former.
Bass
When I tested the Delci a few months ago, I was surprised with how well-done the bass was despite its somewhat unrefined overall sound. The way the bass decayed was just at the right speed that isn’t too fast or too slow. The Klean continues this and is an absolute treat to listen to rock and metal tracks that enjoys a meatier low end, but still keeps it clean and well-controlled while having a slight but beneficial coloration in the mids. I don’t think that this kind of bass is perfect for all genres as it borders on sounding a little too powerful, but most people looking for an engaging listen will probably find the bass of the Klean satisfactory. The balance of subbass and midbass is just right and keeps the bass thick but tactile.
Mids
One of the few things I’m surprised with the Klean is, well, how clean the mids sound. It’s not open or lean in any way, but instead provides a lush, rich but nuanced presentation. The emphasis on the lower mids over the upper mids is something that a lot of IEMs nowadays seems to be following, but the Klean does it in a way that sounds very coherent and clean overall. However, that warmth is definitely something that some people will find bothersome, especially those who enjoy that leaner, cleaner presentation
Treble:
One of the gripes and limitations of a single DD in this price is that in order to have a good balance of clarity and resolution, the treble is pushed up a little bit further than what’s comfortable for the driver to handle. That was the case with the Delci and the same can be said about the Klean. However, the Klean lives up to its name and cleans up the treble quite a bit. The edginess is still present, but smoothened to not be as jarring over more revealing tracks
Technicalities:
For its price, the Klean has a respectable level of technicalities, but one that isn’t going to break any records. I’d argue that this is a slight nudge lower than its older peers like the Q5 and EW200, but not by a lot and definitely not as edgy as the two mentioned. Its strongest suit is the stage depth aided by the immersive bass presentation that, thanks to the tightness of the bass, also keeps details present and audible in the acoustic headspace and avoids making the music sound in your head. Resolution on the other hand is its weakest aspect and one that’ll be a turn off for those used to highly resolving sets in this price range.
vs Black Mesh Nozzle
If you ever found the Klean’s treble to contrast its upper mids, then the black mesh nozzle is for you. Well, at least I knew it was made for me because the treble was immediately put into place after switching to that nozzle. However, this also means that the tonal balance is fundamentally changed with a more v-shaped tuning being dominant over the stock nozzle’s warm u-shape. I’m probably one of the few that actually prefer the black mesh nozzle, but that’s just how I like my treble in contrast to my bass.
COMPARISONS:
vs Simgot EW300
One of the first few IEMs that I knew I had to compare with the Klean was the EW300. With a $20 price increase, you get what is essentially a slightly improved but also worse listening experience in some ways. This is weird, especially with Simgot’s tenure for being on top of the market in the last few years, but the EW300 seemed to have been made for those that complained about Simgot’s “edginess”. The EW300 has a level of refinement that the Klean doesn’t have, but the Klean’s grungier, more nuanced and bolder sound makes it a more exciting IEM to listen to over the EW300 on both nozzles.
vs TRI Draco
In some ways, the Draco and the Klean have a lot in common. Both sets being warmer than average with a slight edginess in the top end that adds detail but is also a limitation of its driver configuration and a sound that a lot of casual listeners would probably love. The difference being the way the Draco leaned into that warmth a little too much compared to the Klean. Don’t get me wrong, the Draco is probably one of the few IEMs that actually sounds warm and not some variation of V-Shaped with a lot of bass. But the warmth can be a bit much and makes it a one trick pony for giving warmth to the music you listen to, whether you like it or not. The Klean is leaner in comparison which makes it more tonally balanced but not as “organic” or “meaty” sounding as the Draco.
vs Dunu Titan S2
If it weren’t for the accessories, I would honestly argue that the Klean is the overall better value set in terms of tonal balance. But listening to both sets more, the Titan S2’s strength lies with its later eargain and leaner subbass emphasis that makes it a more “balanced” sounding set despite having nearly the same warmth as the Klean. One aspect of the Titan S2 that is an improvement from the Klean is the smoothness of the treble. It keeps a similar level of detail to the Klean, but in a much cleaner and smoother way. But that statement is also what makes me feel like the Klean is the better value set as for almost half the price, you’re getting a similar level of details with just slightly worse refinement.
vs Kefine Delci
Finally, let’s compare it to its bigger brother. The Delci is, interestingly, a very similar IEM to the Klean with the main differences being the ergonomics. It’s not a stretch to say that the Klean sounds a little too close to the Delci, but I can hear a couple of changes in the sound between the two. The Klean is, in fact, cleaner but less detailed or revealing compared to the Delci. Not by a long shot, but noticable in certain songs where that region is more emphasized. The bass is also somewhat more deep and tactile in the Delci, but again not by a lot. So should you even consider getting the Klean if you have the Delci and vise versa? I’d argue that it isn’t necessary unless you’re like a a liquid injection build and paint chipping down the line. But if you don’t have a Kefine set yet, I still think the Delci provides the Kefine experience better than the Klean as the latter sounds a tad bit safer and less engaging compared to the former.
CONCLUSION
While not a market breaker, the Klean is a respectably good IEM to recommend to anyone who enjoys a warm, lush but well-balanced sound that is a hallmark of good IEMs nowadays. It’s hard to find properly bad IEMs, but everything is beginning to sound all samey and boring. The Klean, truthfully, lands itself just right above that as its safe enough to be easily recommendable but not too safe that it gets mushed up in the sea of safe IEMs.
However, I can’t really imagine the Klean standing out in a few months. There’s probably going to be another set down the road with a similar sound that is an “upgrade” from the Klean and at an even cheaper price. That’s just how the market moves, but you can rest assure that if you do end up getting the Klean, you won’t be disappointed whatsoever.
Thank you for reading my full review on the Kefine Klean. If you would like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below:
