In this review, we take a look at the Kinera BD005 Pro, a 1BA+1DD IEM selling for $49 USD.
Disclaimer: the Kinera BD005 Pro was sent to us free of charge by the brand in exchange for an honest opinion. You can get one directly from Kinera’s website, Hifigo orour your local retailer.
About Kinera
If Kinera’s name was pretty new to me, the company behind – YuTai Electronic Acoustics – has been in the business for more than 10 years now. Based in Dongguan, China, they’ve been designing and supplying drivers for various brands as OEM/ODM.
In 2016, YuTai launched its first IEM under Kinera’s brand, the BD005. A hybrid model, with 1BA + 1DD configuration, soon to be followed by the H3, an enhanced version of this entry-level IEM. Since then, the brand released a full series of IEM (Odin, Seed, Idun), and Berkhan even had the chance to review the Freya, Idun, and Nanna last year.
But today, we are reviewing the Kinera BD005 Pro advertised as: “an improved version of its highly successful BD005 IEM”. So let’s check it out.
Design & Build Quality
Casing
Let me say it beforehand, you’d not expect to get an IEM this good-looking; for just $49.
Like most IEM today, the Kinera BD005 Pro shells are 3D-printed to ensure the utmost comfort for users, while maintaining low production cost. But, that kind of IEM usually stands in the $150-$300 price range, not in the sub $150 territory. Even less in the sub $50 world.
Obviously, as an entry-level IEM, the BD005 Pro doesn’t get “skin-friendly medical-grade resin from Germany”, but “standard” resin. Yet, unless you hold them in hand for a long time, the differences are becoming increasingly tenuous. The shells are fairly small, and that’s a good omen for users intimidated by big chunks. On this aspect, the BD005 Pro seems very close to the Audiosense DT200 and Shanling AE3. Even if, the DT200 remains the smallest model I ever had the chance to own.
Overall, it’s a very nice IEM and if you take account of the price, that’s simply mind-blowing.
Build Quality
Likewise, build quality is top-notch and the Kinera BD005 Pro doesn’t suffer from comparison with its competitors.
The 2-pin, recessed, port fits perfectly, even if I’d have preferred an MMCX one, for durability. Under the resin, you can spot Kinera’s logo, emblazoned onto the inner side of the faceplate. Once again, I’m amazed by how far 3D-Printing has advanced: no steps, no shard, no bubbles just one smooth surface all-over the shell.
All across the faceplate, Kinera’s designer also put various silver flakes. And, if this could have turned for the worse, giving the IEM some cheesy look, the end result is surprisingly eye-catchy. Love it in fact.
The cable is equally good and if you can find better ones on the market, there are far worse options than this one. Bonus point for the microphone, I’m pretty sure some of you will have good use of this one, with a smartphone.
So far, so good.
Bundle and Comfort
Inside the box
The Kinera BD005 comes in a small-sized, hexagonal, black box.
Inside you get :
- the Kinera BD005 Pro
- a 2-pin Quad-Core silver-plated copper cable with 3.5mm termination plug (and microphone)
- three pairs of tips
- a round carry case
A very dire bundle, but for less than fifty bucks, beggers can’t be choosers!
Additional accessories
There are only two upgrades you should make with your BD005 Pro:
- go for a balanced cable, if your source offers 4.4mm or 2.5mm outputs
- get SpinFit tips or Comply if you prefer foam tips
That said, the best gift you could offer to this model remains a DAP or a DAC. It could be something as simple as the NuPrime Hi-mDAC or an EarMen Eagle, but please don’t use your computer headphone out (even if the new MacBook one is pretty impressive).
Comfort
3D Print + Resin + semi-custom shape = excellent fit.
Thanks to their small size, the Kinera BD005 Pro should fit every ear. All you have to do is find the right tips, and you’ll be ready to enjoy countless hours of listening (at moderate volume).
Isolation
Like all resin-made IEM, the Kinera BD005 Pro are excellent noise-blockers, even if a small vent can be found, next to the plug socket. Silicon tips gave good results but some might complains about the lack of foam tips.
I use a mechanical keyboard at the office, and I couldn’t hear the click with silicon tips even at low volume. Good job Kinera!
So, time to check the specs!
Specifications
For the nit-picker and nerdy one here, I’m giving the specs and technical sheets. For all the others, you can just go to the next page to see how the Kinera BD005 Pro performs.
Hybrid driver configuration
Like Shanling’s AE3, the Kinera BD005 Pro uses a mix of balanced and dynamics drivers.
For the lows, the brand chose a 9.2mm beryllium diaphragm driver, while mids/highs rely on a custom-tuned 30095 Balanced Armature driver from Knowles. On paper, Kinera advertises a “fun signature, fast punchy bass, detailed instruments, rich vocals” and “punchy bass”.
A bold statement, but Kinera seems to have some experience in the domain. In fact, Berkhan even put the Kinera Nanna in its recommendation list last time, praising their “exceptional treble performance and soundstage”.
Sensitivity / Hiss
Impedance is low, sensitivity is high, so you should have no issue driving the BD005 Pro on a daily basis.
On my FiiO M3 Pro, the IEM behaves exceptionally well. Same with my EarMen Eagle, or the ddHiFi TC35i, all were able to drive the IEM with ease, even in noisy environments.
The article continues on Page Two, after the click here
Full specs
- Type: IEM
- Style: Hybrid
- Drivers: 1x 9.2 Beryllium Diaphragm Dynamic Driver + 1x Knowles 30095 (mids/highs)
- Socket: 2-Pin
- Cable: Quad-core Silver Plated Oxygen Free Copper – 3.5mm TRRS plug
- Shell: 3D Printed Resin
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20 KHz
- Impedance: 26 ohms
- Sensitivity: 108dB
- Sound Isolation (up to): 28 dB
- Cable length: 130 cm
- Price: $49
The article continues on Page Two, after the click here
