Kinera BD005 Review
INTRODUCTION AND DISCLAIMER:
The Kinera BD005 Pro is an in-ear monitor (IEM) advertised as using a “custom-tuned 30095 series high-frequency balanced armature (BA)” and a “9.2mm beryllium diaphragm dynamic driver (DD).” The BD005 Pro is available at HiFiGo for $49. I received the BD005 Pro from HiFiGo in exchange for a fair and objective review.
Kinera’s claim that the BD005 Pro uses a beryllium diaphragm dynamic driver is worth parsing given that the BD005 Pro retails for $49, and the typical price of an IEM with a pure beryllium diaphragm DDs is perhaps 20 times that. The KB EAR Believe, which claimed to use a pure beryllium DD at a sub-$100 price, was discontinued due to to the inherent production costs of using the medium. Even then, the Believe came in at roughly double the price of the BD005 Pro. It is much more likely that the BD005 Pro uses a beryllium-coated diaphragm. Based on the driver’s performance and listed dimensions, I suspect that it might be related to the one used in the Shozy Form 1.1, which I reviewed some time ago.
SOURCES:
I have used the Kinera BD005 Pro with the following sources:
- Hidizs S9
- Qudelix 5K
I have tested these headphones with local FLAC and Spotify Premium. Visit my last.fm page to get an idea of what I listen to.
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:
The Kinera BD005 Pro comes in a black hexagonal cardboard box. The box art depicts the BD005 Pro in each of its color variations, and also provides an accurate if overly smoothed frequency response graph for the IEM. Kinera’s contact information and technical specifications for the BD005 Pro are also provided on the back of the box.
In addition to the IEMs themselves and the included detachable 2-pin cable, the BD005 Pro comes with the same stubby black silicone eartips included with the Shozy Form 1.1 (S, M, L), a round semi-rigid zippered case, a user manual written in English and Chinese, and a contact card. The carry case has a synthetic leather exterior embossed with Kinera branding and has a small interior mesh pocket for spare eartips or other accessories.
BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN:
The Kinera BD005 Pro has 3D printed resin shells with a pseudo-custom fit. The faceplates have a gold leaf pattern that stands out against the otherwise flat colorway of the IEMs. Kinera’s logo is also printed in gold on both faceplates. The IEMs are otherwise unmarked. There is a visible seam between the shell body and faceplate. The metal nozzles and recessed circular vents on the top face of the shells mirror those on the Shozy Form 1.1.
The 4-strand detachable 2-pin cable includes a single button mic on the right side above the Y-split. The 2-pin connectors have large “L” and “R” indicators printed in white offset slightly from the connecting face. There is strain relief above the L-shaped 3.5mm jack but none at the Y-split. The cable has pre-formed clear plastic earguides without memory wire. There is no chin adjustment slider, and the cable is extremely prone to becoming tangled.
COMFORT, FIT, AND ISOLATION:
The Kinera BD005 Pro is intended to be worn cable-up. They have a moderate insertion depth. The BD005 is one of the most comfortable IEMs I have ever worn. I did not experience driver flex with the BD005 Pro with the included tips. Isolation is above average.
MEASUREMENTS:
Measurements of the Kinera BD005 Pro can be found on my expanding squig.link database:
SOUND:
The Kinera BD005 Pro has a mild V-shaped tuning.
The Kinera BD005 Pro’s bass presentation is somewhat congested. Its frequency response is elevated in the sub-bass region and recedes linearly through the lower midrange. There is a fair amount of rumble but limited slam. Analog snare drum hits are less satisfying than I would like in terms of tangible impact. I would have preferred a more sculpted and distinct sub-bass shelf to the middle ground between a sub-bass shelf and a mid-bass hump that many companies seem to be trying to find for their bass tunings. The bass is quick on the attack side but the aforementioned congestion makes decay difficult to discern. It is easy to tell where notes start but harder to tell when they disappear. Bass resolution is average given the price point, but bass texture is quite good.
The Kinera BD005 Pro’s midrange is on the thinner side and possesses less warmth than my ideal. The lower midrange is just too recessed to deliver much in the way of body. The upper midrange is more present but is uneven. There is a healthy amount of ear gain, which gives good intelligibility for male and female vocals without sounding shouty. However, there is too much presence, especially for electronic music. The elevated presence region does give distorted electric guitars a great deal of bite, crunch, and energy. Midrange clarity is excellent overall, but female vocals are more engaging than male vocals. Midrange timbre is a little plasticky, particularly when it comes to analog percussion.
The Kinera BD005 Pro’s treble presentation emphasizes the lower treble and rolls off hard and fast. There is some sparkle but almost no air. While transient delivery seems realistic and not overly splashy, cymbals are a little too far forward and can create harshness. Imaging, instrument separation, and soundstage are all middle of the road.
COMPARISONS:
Kinera BD005 Pro ($49) vs Shozy Form 1.1 ($74.99)
Shozy Form 1.1 Review. Sparkling | by Alec | Bedrock Reviews | Medium
SHOZY FORM 1.1 Beryllium Dynamic Hybrid （1DD+1BA）In-ear Earphone — HiFiGo
Given the physical similarities between the Kinera BD005 Pro and the Shozy Form 1.1, I decided to compare the sound between the two. The differences between the two IEMs are largely tonal. The Form 1.1 is a more balanced and pleasant listen. It comes across as warmer even though it has less bass than the BD005 Pro, likely because its upper midrange is less forward than the BD005 Pro’s. There is less of a gap between the lower midrange and the ear gain region on the Form 1.1, which gives male vocals more substance. The Form 1.1 also has a more even, if not less elevated, presence region. The Form 1.1. is a bit easier to drive. The Form 1.1 has a bit more air up top than the BD005 Pro and has a noticeably wider soundstage. It also has slightly better instrument separation. Internal resolution and detail retrieval are comparable between the two. The Form 1.1 has a wider selection of included eartips.
ELEMENTS AND SOURCE PAIRING:
The Kinera BD005 Pro can be readily driven with modest sources. I did not notice hiss with either of my sources.
CLOSING WORDS:
Whether the Kinera BD005 Pro and the Shozy Form 1.1 share a common lineage or not, they seem to aim for the same target. However, the Form 1.1’s tuning is better executed and would be worth the additional $25 to me. I do not recommend the Kinera BD005 Pro.
The Kinera BD005 Pro can be purchased below:
