I love your reviews. That note paper means respect to what you are doing and to your viewers. Always informative, easily understandable and no bs terminology. Thanks again.
Great review Paul, I’m not much of a low volume listener, if I do choose to turn it down I want a set that will scale well when I decide to turn it up. Keep the great reviews coming my friend. We need more reviewers like you in the community.!!
Mr. Wasabii, I would like to sincerely thank you for taking the time to review these new Kinera Celest earphones. I've owned one or two Kinera Celest products but found them unsuitable to my BASSHEAD tastes. Reverend Dr. Thomas, The Vegan Vicar.
Kinera arguably makes the best IEM shells I've seen, but people often say the tuning on Kinera IEMs is not great. I had a pair of Kinera Idun Golden and didn't like them, gave my pair away due to having too many IEMs in my bedroom. These looked to be tuned better than your average Kinera but not quite with what I'd call good.
Outside of Wyvern, they try unique tuning styles. Some work better than others. Like PhoenixCall was not my favorite, but the re-tuned DarkPhoenix basically re-tuned it into a very nice set.
Haven't seen them graph like yours so far in the upper treble, i came across your graph yesterday while playing around Squiglink and was like "wtf". Treble well xtended graph has weird dip in the treble which is also odd. Kinera really have to work on QC as the graphs seems to be all over the place. I got mine finally and frankly - i love em. Mine scales nicely - DT03, high gain, volume at 50 and Tidal on 50, plenty loud. I love the versatility and how musical they are. Prior that i got the infamous S12 Pro and really am not a fan - metallic sound, piercing treble and i tried listening to Lindsey Stirling, bass took over everything, it was unlistenable and just "meh" in general. Big fan of the Relentless personally, can listen to pretty much everything i usually do and to me it never feels as if something is lacking and it is the first V-Shape i genuinely like. Different strokes for different folks, i guess. Frankly, i'd highly recommend them for the 65-99$ they run for right now to any "normie newbie" like me - very exciting and sparkly and i love the clarity.
@@Divionist You're the guy from Audio Amigo's video. Honestly, if you care about bass just go for the Aoshida E20. Mine finally arrived and i am not even a basshead but after JaysAudio EQ, i really fw them, its just "FUN" and really makes the DD's shine. Without EQ, it is kind of a "vocal forward" presentation and for that i'd still take the Relentless because BA's sound more natural to me. After EQ you really can hear the DD's shine. And even without EQ, i think these are a breath of fresh air in the
Eh, Hifigo's listing has their graph, it rises to 2k and never really drops. As I said, that works up to some volume and sounds good up to that volume. As I said, there aren't that many sets that sound extended and airy at low volume. But at the same time, for everyone else, it sounds off at higher volumes. Above their graph there are some words that explain what I said in a different order on how that tuning was adjusted to sound extended.
@@PaulWasabii That's fair. I guess it is quite unique in that case but i don't really look at it that way (low volume/high volume) i just blast music or watch TH-cam so didn't really pay attention other than that : they sound exciting or as you said extended/airy. Hence why i said most non-audiophiles will likely really like them. As for scaling, i can push them more than S12 Pro's before they pierce my ears and both go to volumes i wont consider "normal listening volume" anyways.
Thanks Paul. 🙏 The honesty with which you approach reviews is much appreciated. Found the Relentless for $60 a few days ago and it's on the way. I often listen to music around 60-65 dbs so hopefully it'll work out for me. Now I will have realistic expectations. Was hoping you would offer a fix for high volume listening. 🤷 Will try Wavelet's AutoEQ and the new Equal Loudness feature.
I would look on Hifigo's page for Relentless and scroll down alot. There is a Kinera graph and that will be more accurate on the upper treble range to decrease. At $170, it was kinda nuts, at $100, still needs work, but at $60, you can EQ it into a decent hybrid.
if something has to be low volume to sound good, it has too much treble. if it has to be high volume to sound good, it has too little treble. simple as. its just tuned poorly, its not a "low volume set".
I would agree but I also know there are low volume tuners, that is just their style. Those are different than a typical set with just a bit extra treble.
For me, this product was awful. Too much bass, chirping, and not much detail revealed. I recommend not buying. There are many products with better sound for half the price.
I had a similar issue, but I believe it's something going on in the IEM. (This is a repost from Audio Amigo's Relentless unboxing comment section): I figured out the issue with the Relentless. It's the way the IEM responds to a headphone jack on a source. Source headphone jack where IEM treble was present (forward and bright vocals and cymbals): HP Chromebook Nokia 5.3 Moto G power(2021) Moto G 7 power Source headphone jack where IEM treble was absent (recessed and warm vocals and cymbals): Samsung A23 5G Samsung A14 5G Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ HP Victus laptop Tried switching cables, problem didn't move. Then I remembered that I had a dongle I bought a while back, just in case... BAM! All sources now have treble. 🤘🥳👍 It also appears that output from the USB-C has about 3 dB more output than the headphone jack. To my knowledge, it is not a DAC ($9) As far as I can tell, this is what they should sound like. I tell you what though, the KZ ZS12 Pro X puts up a damn good fight. I haven't sat down and A/B'd them yet, but as much time as I've spent with them, it's close. The Relentless does seem to be a little more refined though. In bass, mids and treble. Textures are more detailed. But sometimes I want to go to 11...🤪 That super crisp sound. Also the stage is wider and the more air on the ZS12, particularly with that "intractable" silver cable. 😁
I love your reviews. That note paper means respect to what you are doing and to your viewers. Always informative, easily understandable and no bs terminology. Thanks again.
Can't promise no bs terms, sometimes they appear without my consent.
Great review Paul, I’m not much of a low volume listener, if I do choose to turn it down I want a set that will scale well when I decide to turn it up. Keep the great reviews coming my friend. We need more reviewers like you in the community.!!
Mr. Wasabii, I would like to sincerely thank you for taking the time to review these new Kinera Celest earphones.
I've owned one or two Kinera Celest products but found them unsuitable to my BASSHEAD tastes.
Reverend Dr. Thomas,
The Vegan Vicar.
Nice for us low volume listeners to have some representation every once in awhile. The price isn't bad either.
Yeah, seems to be on sale somewhere, $60ish.
I enjoyed your review. It appears that this IEM is specifically tuned to sound really nice at low volume levels.
You can certainly try to raise the volume and turn it into a big V, but fatiguing.
My current favorite IEM is the explorer, this tuning looks different but a good option for low volume listening. Thanks for the review.
Yeah, that is probably a good pairing, I have read Explorer isn't as airy.
@PaulWasabii haha yeah, not airy at all.
Kinera arguably makes the best IEM shells I've seen, but people often say the tuning on Kinera IEMs is not great.
I had a pair of Kinera Idun Golden and didn't like them, gave my pair away due to having too many IEMs in my bedroom.
These looked to be tuned better than your average Kinera but not quite with what I'd call good.
Outside of Wyvern, they try unique tuning styles. Some work better than others. Like PhoenixCall was not my favorite, but the re-tuned DarkPhoenix basically re-tuned it into a very nice set.
Haven't seen them graph like yours so far in the upper treble, i came across your graph yesterday while playing around Squiglink and was like "wtf". Treble well xtended graph has weird dip in the treble which is also odd. Kinera really have to work on QC as the graphs seems to be all over the place.
I got mine finally and frankly - i love em. Mine scales nicely - DT03, high gain, volume at 50 and Tidal on 50, plenty loud. I love the versatility and how musical they are. Prior that i got the infamous S12 Pro and really am not a fan - metallic sound, piercing treble and i tried listening to Lindsey Stirling, bass took over everything, it was unlistenable and just "meh" in general. Big fan of the Relentless personally, can listen to pretty much everything i usually do and to me it never feels as if something is lacking and it is the first V-Shape i genuinely like. Different strokes for different folks, i guess. Frankly, i'd highly recommend them for the 65-99$ they run for right now to any "normie newbie" like me - very exciting and sparkly and i love the clarity.
How is the sub bass rumble on em? I like a big and decently long rumble that's not toooo pillowy.
@@Divionist You're the guy from Audio Amigo's video. Honestly, if you care about bass just go for the Aoshida E20. Mine finally arrived and i am not even a basshead but after JaysAudio EQ, i really fw them, its just "FUN" and really makes the DD's shine. Without EQ, it is kind of a "vocal forward" presentation and for that i'd still take the Relentless because BA's sound more natural to me. After EQ you really can hear the DD's shine.
And even without EQ, i think these are a breath of fresh air in the
Eh, Hifigo's listing has their graph, it rises to 2k and never really drops. As I said, that works up to some volume and sounds good up to that volume. As I said, there aren't that many sets that sound extended and airy at low volume. But at the same time, for everyone else, it sounds off at higher volumes. Above their graph there are some words that explain what I said in a different order on how that tuning was adjusted to sound extended.
@@PaulWasabii That's fair. I guess it is quite unique in that case but i don't really look at it that way (low volume/high volume) i just blast music or watch TH-cam so didn't really pay attention other than that : they sound exciting or as you said extended/airy. Hence why i said most non-audiophiles will likely really like them.
As for scaling, i can push them more than S12 Pro's before they pierce my ears and both go to volumes i wont consider "normal listening volume" anyways.
Thanks Paul. 🙏 The honesty with which you approach reviews is much appreciated.
Found the Relentless for $60 a few days ago and it's on the way. I often listen to music around 60-65 dbs so hopefully it'll work out for me.
Now I will have realistic expectations. Was hoping you would offer a fix for high volume listening. 🤷
Will try Wavelet's AutoEQ and the new Equal Loudness feature.
I would look on Hifigo's page for Relentless and scroll down alot. There is a Kinera graph and that will be more accurate on the upper treble range to decrease. At $170, it was kinda nuts, at $100, still needs work, but at $60, you can EQ it into a decent hybrid.
Thanks 👍
Wait... so it has little to no sub bass rumble?
I have one coming in, but that's a deal breaker for me.
Well, you need to turn it up and I wouldn't do that, but you can try. If your music is primarily bass and not much treble, it might work out.
Looks like the sennheiser series without the sub bass
Could be
Nice looking set, but not my sound style. If i had to narrow down my style, Saga bass pretty much nails it for me.
Saga bass is in the ballpark of the opposite of Relentless
if something has to be low volume to sound good, it has too much treble. if it has to be high volume to sound good, it has too little treble. simple as. its just tuned poorly, its not a "low volume set".
I would agree but I also know there are low volume tuners, that is just their style. Those are different than a typical set with just a bit extra treble.
For me, this product was awful. Too much bass, chirping, and not much detail revealed. I recommend not buying. There are many products with better sound for half the price.
The most bassy set ive listened to is Castor bass. Insane. 1,2, down, 3,4 up & it's still a bit much. To me, Saga bass is perfect.
That doesn't sound pleasant, maybe some BA were not working.
I had a similar issue, but I believe it's something going on in the IEM.
(This is a repost from Audio Amigo's Relentless unboxing comment section):
I figured out the issue with the Relentless. It's the way the IEM responds to a headphone jack on a source.
Source headphone jack where IEM treble was present (forward and bright vocals and cymbals):
HP Chromebook
Nokia 5.3
Moto G power(2021)
Moto G 7 power
Source headphone jack where IEM treble was absent (recessed and warm vocals and cymbals):
Samsung A23 5G
Samsung A14 5G
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
HP Victus laptop
Tried switching cables, problem didn't move.
Then I remembered that I had a dongle I bought a while back, just in case...
BAM! All sources now have treble. 🤘🥳👍 It also appears that output from the USB-C has about 3 dB more output than the headphone jack. To my knowledge, it is not a DAC ($9)
As far as I can tell, this is what they should sound like.
I tell you what though, the KZ ZS12 Pro X puts up a damn good fight. I haven't sat down and A/B'd them yet, but as much time as I've spent with them, it's close.
The Relentless does seem to be a little more refined though. In bass, mids and treble. Textures are more detailed.
But sometimes I want to go to 11...🤪 That super crisp sound. Also the stage is wider and the more air on the ZS12, particularly with that "intractable" silver cable. 😁