Every journey starts with a single step and while that may not be the case for Kinboofi which has been around the entry level game for some time now, their recent branding of using KB is a fresh slate which starts off with one of their recent budget IEM offerings. What we have to realview now is the KB Ear F1 which was sent by Kinboofi in exchange for an honest take on it, there are no monetary factors involved. The KB Ear F1 is currently priced at $35.99 and you can check it out on their official KB Ear AliExpress store front. But if after reading this realview and you wanna cop the F1, you can get it for $26 by following these steps.
Add it in the cart, click “Buy Now”, switch to “Other Payment” and then click the “Place Order” button (don’t pay yet, just cancel the payment when asked you’re asked to pay), key in the code “KB Ear” as a message and wait for KB Ear to adjust the price so you can proceed.
The KB Ear F1 is spec’d out with a single balanced armature driver, 20Hz to 20 kHz Frequency Response, ≤2dB Left and Right Channel Balance Sensitivity, 22 Ohm Impedance and a 105±3dB Sensitivity. Will the KB Ear F1 breathe new life to Kinboofi and KB Ears’ journey? Let’s check the F1 the find out.
Packaging and Build Quality
The KB Ear F1 came in a standard KB Ear cardboard box which features the F1 snapshot upfront and its product specifications on the backside. Removing the sleeve reveals the F1 which rested on a black foam cut out to protect it as well. A set (S, M and L) of translucent black with red bore silicone ear tips are also on the foam cut outs with the medium size pre-installed on the F1. A smaller black box is present on the lower portion which contained the stock cable, product manual/warranty card and another set (S, M and L) of black starline silicone ear tips. There are no pouch or anything of the sort which is okay for its price point.
Featuring a bullet type design with a translucent hard resin body makes the F1 a personally biased IEM already since it is one of the design language that I prefer due to its ease of use which is essential in my lifestyle. What most audiophiles usually take for granted is how the design language fits their lifestyle, there are IEMs which its sound and build quality I adore but the design language relegates it to intimate and stationary listening sessions. The F1 comes in multiple colors specifically Clear, Blue, Black and Brown. I was lucky enough to be allowed to pick my choice of color and while it was a toss-up between the Clear and the Brown colorway, the resemblance of the Brown option to a beer liquor made the choice easier. A metal film KB Ear logo is embedded on the hard resin which doubles as the L and R marker, the logo facing out front determines the orientation. The internal wirings of the F1 is visible on all color options except black which shows that the BA driver sits right next to the metal nozzle with a metal shower-head vent design. The KB Ear F1 utilizes the MMCX connection which is gold-plated.
The stock cable that came with the KB Ear F1 has no official specification details but would most likely be an SPC cable in a TPU sheath on a regular round braid which in turn doesn’t retain folds easily making for a storage-friendly cable experience. The male MMCX connection on the F1 is also gold-plated and is housed in clear plastic to compliment the overall see-through design language of the F1. The Y-split used on the stock cable is made of hard plastic and has enough strain relief but the absence of a chin slider/cable cinch was a bummer as it would have made a much better and secure fit. The 3.5mm gold-plated plug is in the regular straight orientation. There is minimal microphonic noise to be observed as well. Not the best cable there is but it works well and compliments the F1’s price point.
Tonality and Isolation
I’ve had no expectations for the KB Ear F1 when it came knocking down my door as for how long Kinboofi has been in the earphone business, this is my 1st encounter with their brand. The KB Ear F1 surprised me when it showcased an aggressive mid-centric sound which leans on the warmer spectrum overall. I enjoyed using it when watching movies and e-sports livestreams as the F1 emphasizes the midrange as its focal point for its sound signature. The F1’s packaged stock eartips worked well however I opted to use the Final Audio Type E mediums for the duration of the realview as it gave me the best seal and fit. I also used the Sony A46HN as well as the Sony CAS-1 via the MSI GF62-8RE laptop with Foobar2000 v1.4 churning out 16/44 Flac files which would be mentioned along the realview.
Lows
The KB Ear F1 comes to the party strutting easy with no intention of overdoing on the low-end. I decided to roll with DNCE’s Body Moves in 16/44 FLAC for the low frequency test of the F1. It brings about a nimble yet a tad thin sounding sub bass, it tackles its paces fast which in effect showcasing a slight struggle on busy tracks. The mid bass is rendered tight without sounding bloated overall, it compliments well with the nimble sub bass. The F1 keeps up on the BA dilemma regarding the bass department where when bass drops are often and constant, you’d start to feel lacking on an overall low-end performance. Keep the bass down a little and the F1 will keep you on your seat as well.
Midrange
Initially startled then surprised and eventually amused. The KB Ear F1 gave me quite a journey with its midrange performance. While I’m personally inclined to adore and prefer treble-loving IEMs, the F1 pleased my ears with how it handled the midrange. I decided to stay with DNCE for the midrange test and this with their Almost track in 16/44 FLAC. The lower midrange sounded compact giving a good transition to the midrange being articulate, detailed and full-sounding. The upper midrange is slightly-boosted but still well-controlled. It made the F1 an easy pick for a highly recommended mid-centric IEM if you’re all about that mid, vocals and dialogues. Netflix and chill can be a soloist endeavor with the F1.
Highs
The KB Ear F1’s highs is what holds its overall sound signature together. It comes off as a safety net for the lack of low-end prowess and the somewhat aggressive midrange that the F1 showcases. Foster the People’s Doing It for the Money track in 16/44 FLAC which doesn’t come short of providing loads of high frequency in both sudden and constant bursts. The F1 sounds sweet and precise on its treble especially on the 3:13 mark where the bursts are prominent. There is no piercing and distortion to be observed unless you crank the volume to undesirable levels. As a treble head myself, the F1 gets a nod and a tap on the back from me.
Soundstage and Imaging
The F1 comes out a tad airy making for a congestion-free soundstage, it has a slight preference towards width and extension rather than a providing depth and stellar layering. Imaging is focused enough to easily distinguish instrumental tones with an overall soft ambience. There is adequate left to right and right to left panning to be observed as well.
Conclusion
The KB Ear F1 offers not only a good start for KB Ear in terms of recreating itself from the Kinboofi branding but also a good start for individuals that want to taste what an emphasized midrange sound actually sounds for $36. The design path that the F1 follows is one that I personally adore and while some may find it somewhat lacking on the fit and isolation which can be addressed by picking a suitable ear tip. Just remember that it lacks a nozzle lip and your ear tips might either stay on your ears upon removing the F1, that minor setback is a small price to pay for how the F1 offers a good complimentary IEM to your movie binging and long acoustic listening sessions.
