Kinera Baldr 2 Review

Sound Quality

The Kinera Baldr 2 has a neutral presentation overall with a very very slight v-shape vibe. It’s also very clear and crystal-like in its presentation with excellent resolution. It mostly impresses with its nicely controlled bass response with great definition and impact, and very impressive treble from the EST drivers, just like the Nanna model. However, I think it sounds more balanced and refined than the Nanna.

When you get used to the great treble response, you start to focus on the other frequencies. And the Baldr 2 performs very well in there as well. I used the JH-FY009-R type tips for my sound impressions. Let’s dig deeper.

Bass

The bass has good texture and impact and the tuning of the 7 mm driver is very nice and controlled. Lows have good resolution and rumble, with nice mid-bass and sub-bass balance. The fatter bass of the Nanna was a deal-breaker for genres like Jazz for instance, but the Baldr 2 has an excellently refined and controlled bass response.

So instead of the lift in the sub-bass area (Nanna), you get a more balanced and linear bass response with the Baldr 2. I’m hearing more and more dynamic drivers that are nicely refined and controlled lately (Softears Cerberus), so it’s a very good sign. The driver almost feels like BA one, with great dynamics and speed. So this is not a typical dynamic driver, it’s tuned smoothly and nicely here.

Kinera Baldr 2

Lows are very tight, impactful but sharp with excellent decay. All these qualities are excellent when it comes to dynamism, PRaT, and decay. However, for the sake of warmth and fullness, I would’ve preferred a bit more mid-bass. That’s my personal preference though. With the presentation of the Baldr 2, the sound is very spacious and roomy.

Mid

The upper mid-range is a bit forward with the Baldr 2 and that makes it similar to the Nanna. Yet, the similarities mostly end there. The tonality of the Baldr 2 is very nice and better than the old flagship. It presents the instruments realistically and naturally. Instruments sound life-like, and the presentation in this area is very airy.

The Baldr 2 has a realistic timbre with a good definition of the instruments. The mids sound from the center of the stage and they don’t go left or right much. That creates a nice perception of staging combined with its great treble response, which I’ll mention below.

The mids are well defined, smooth, and very controlled in the upper section, despite being a bit elevated in that area. I liked the tonality overall, but it could’ve been fuller with more blood in this area. Sometimes I feel the instruments sound a bit thin without much weight in them. Pairing with different sources and cables can be a factor here of course. I will get to that in a minute.

Kinera Baldr 2

Treble

The detail, the timbre, the extension, and the transparency in the treble are all fantastic. I’m not a treble-head myself, but even I wanted to open some treble-focused tracks to listen to this beauty. The sparkle is very satisfying and the treble is under control at all times, so there’s no sibilance.

So this area is the highlight of this model and I think it’s one of the best treble performances in the market right now for this price level. If you like your cymbals with good air and definition, this is your piece. With the Nanna, the treble has similar qualities but the Baldr 2 simply is more refined and more transparent. Treble also has a better micro detail performance. I suppose two additional EST drivers do the trick here.

And despite this open, airy, spacious, and definitive treble response, everything is under control at all times so you don’t need to worry about any ear piercing treble. There’s none. That applies unless you have a bad recording playing of course. So as a whole, there’s not even a single point that I can criticize in this IEMs treble performance. It’s phenomenal.

PAGE 1: Intro, Design, Build, Fit, and Packaging

PAGE 3: Technical Performance, Comparisons, and Conclusion