Come with me as I share my impressions on the Tripowin x HBB Kailua, yet another HBB collaboration with Tripowin priced at $79 with 2 Dynamic Drivers which marks this as their 3rd collaboration together. Quite a journey, but does that mean that Tripowin is the Bad Boy’s Good Luck, or is 3rd time where they fall off? Let’s find out!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
- Extremely barebones unboxing experience with barely any accessories
- Very cheap and frail looking and feeling cable
- Full metal build with a pretty color scheme and solid build
- U-Shaped sound signature
- Thick, textured, and punchy bass presentation that lacks a little bit of control
- Slightly recessed, warm-colored midrange
- Elevated, slightly blunted but adequately clear treble
- Decently deep but not very tall or wide stage
- Not the cleanest separation, imaging, and layering for the price
The Tripowin x HBB Kailua is a 2DD IEM housed in a full CNC Metal Shell with a 0.78 2 pin interface and comes stock with a 3.5mm termination
Right off the bat, the Kailua’s sound signature breathes new life into the HBB tuning that we have admittedly been very spoiled with for the past year. So many HBB collabs, most of them being solid choices for those seeking a similar tuning to the Bad Boy himself. But I would argue to the Kailua is the best under $100 as the thickness of the bass is complemented by the fatigue-free treble giving justice to the genres that HBB listens to. What this means for warm-lovers is the Kailua one of, if not, the best choice you can get for under $100. The punchiness and texture of the 2 dynamic drivers provide a very tactile listening experience that is perfect for those looking for a deep and engaging low-end listening experience.
But obviously, this emphasis on the bass will leave you begging for more in certain areas. The Kailua mitigates that for the most part, but the stand-outs are definitely the midrange being considerably scooped which leaves certain instruments sounding a little bit distant and lacking a sense of place in the mix and the treble energy considerably lacking for a treble sucker like me. It’s most likely adequate for most people, especially those looking for the HBB sound. However, a certain bluntness in the attack of instruments that could potentially be attributed to the emphasis on the bass leaves you wanting more energy in the upper end of the spectrum. Its technical capabilities for 79 are also bang on average, if not slightly below. But it could be argued that you’re really not looking for the most technical set tuned like this for the price anyway. What I’m not okay with for the price is the absolutely horrendous accessory and cable inclusions that I almost instantly replaced when I got the opportunity.
All in all, this is undoubtedly one of my favorite sets to come out of the HBB-tuned family. Such a rich listening experience that those warm-heads or people who follow HBB closely will surely love. I’d even argue this is his best-tuned budget set, although I’m definitely in the minority for that due to my slight bias toward this style of bass tuning. It’s not perfect, however, all thanks to that awful cable and tips, but it’s close. Very close.
Stay tuned for the full review!
If you’d like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below: https://www.linsoul.com/products/tripowin-x-hbb-kailua?variant=43975791247577
If you have any questions or concerns, contact me on my Facebook page or at obodioreviews@gmail.com
