There’s only one way to go when you’ve tested multiple products from the same brand, it could either go the familiarity breeds contempt way or love is sweeter the 2nd time around. Kinera as an audiophile brand has had its highs and lows, literally, on their IEM offerings. While my latest experience with Kinera, the Sif, took a more positive turn, there is still not much anticipation to their recent releases and there’s a reason for that. This IEM realview hopefully starts something new for Kinera.
What we have to realview now is the Kinera TYR, their new entry level concoction for the audiophile crowd. I have purchased this unit from AK Audio at a discount and no other monetary factors were involved. You can check out their official AliExpress storefront for more of their audiophile product lineup.
The Kinera TYR features a single 6mm Dynamic driver and is spec’d out with a 20 to 20kHz Frequency Response, 16 Ohm Impedance with a 105 dB Sensitivity. Priced at $27, the TYR offers a traditional IEM design and at a price point that won’t be hurting wallets, will that be enough to fend off the icky vibes that has been lurking around Kinera product releases? Perhaps a realview might show us something.
Packaging and Build Quality
If there’s a specific aspect within the Kinera brand that makes them commendable, which I hope goes the same for other audiophiles, is their packaging and presentation is unique and identifiable. The Kinera hexagonal box that most of the Kinera products come by nowadays is once again used on the TYR with an accessory set that doesn’t speak $27.
Accessory set
- 1 round black synthetic leather case
- 1 set black silicone ear tips (S, M and L)
- 1 set black Final Audio Type E ear tips (S, M and L)
- The Kinera TYR only comes in only one colorway (Black)
The Kinera TYR features a bullet type design which has a similar design language with its collaborator, Final Audio. I’m personally biased with this design given its unmatched ease of use, UIEM silhouettes are great in their own right but a bullet type design will be easier to use and pull off in a cramped and bustling environment where we want some form of musical escape. Its overall metal build on the IEM itself gives more credit to its price point and the two-tone black/metallic silver look screams premium. The red barrel cable housing on the IEM shell acts as the L-R indicator, minor details that gives off a well-thought design process. Kinera had some pitfalls before by failing to add a lip nozzle and they made sure to address it in the TYR, it works great and keeps other 3rd party silicone ear tips from SpinFits to Spiral Dots and the included Final Audio Type E ear tips. The nozzle mesh is also built within the IEM itself, which is metal, avoids potential mesh issues in the future.
We have been pampered with detachable cables here and there and it often has been synonymous with an audiophile earphone, while I agree on this, the decision to have an attached cable design on the TYR has never crossed my mind to be a downside as it is well-built and I would find no reason that this would break apart some time soon except of course the accidental cable stuck ups that we are all quite familiar with. Its barrel type Y-split is discrete and is complimented by the barrel type straight angle gold-plated 3.5mm plug with adequate strain relief. The uber covert layout of the TYR’s cable made me forget that this comes with a one-button (Pause/Play/Forward-2x press/Previous-3x press, Drop/Answer call) mic system which worked as it should during call sessions. The microphonic noise is present as is most evident on most stock cables that features a mic system but the TYR’s is kept at a minimum, not a total bummer in my experience.
Tonality and Isolation
The Kinera TYR’s tonality leans on the balanced sound with a minor tilt favoring the low-end frequency. Kinera’s choice of cooperating with Final Audio for the inclusion of the Type E ear tips gives the TYR one of its strongest buyer drawing power, it worked great and is a perfect fit for the bullet type design. Isolation on the TYR is completely depended on the choice of ear tips which made the Final Audio cooperation another positive outcome as its able to create great passive noise cancelling effect. I used the M sized one along with the Zishan DSD Pro outputting FLAC files which would be mentioned along the realview.
Lows
The Kinera TYR starts off its musical journey with a load of low-end presence giving it a fat sense of warmth. Anberlin’s Losing It All in 16/44 FLAC came out striding and the TYR renders a thick and rumbling sub bass delivery creating a somewhat lingering feel towards the mid-bass making it sound weighty but not impactful and punchy enough at best. Its overall bass performance gives a full-bodied experience without being heart thumping and imposing, just the sufficient dose of low-end goodness to start things off.
Midrange
The midrange frequency execution and delivery of the TYR is its most defining sound characteristic. Elton John’s Can You Feel The Love Tonight in 16/44 FLAC came out sounding natural and true to life, emotion is being conveyed in a organic aura. Its lower midrange has greatly benefitted off the slight tilt on the low-end making it sound full and smooth despite being clearly not articulate and detailed for some. Instrumental tones are rendered liquid with an upper midrange that is breathy and well-controlled, extension is not in its repertoire. There is no overdoing and surprisingly, not lacking as well in the midrange of the TYR.
Highs
The Kinera TYR tops its sound signature performance with a clean and snappy treble delivery which was tested using Angela Bofill’s Angel Of The Night in 16/44 FLAC. There’s a noticeable lack of bite and extension as well which further bolsters the balanced sound that the TYR was tuned for. This approach on the higher frequency also gives the TYR a non-fatiguing experience as it doesn’t reach the sharp and harsh region. I personally prefer a bright sounding IEM which is why I won’t advocate this much for the TYR for us trebleheads, not that it takes away from the TYR.
Soundstage and Imaging
The TYR is far from being a soundstage star from the get-go. It has an intimate staging character that renders instrument placing to appear compact but easy to spot. Left to right and right to left panning is observable as well despite the intimate soundstage. Its layering aspect is also not the best but is still able to allow as much frequency range coverage for specific instrumental tones. Imaging benefits from these overall attributes which allows for a distinct instrument and vocal placing that shows signs of good detail retrieval and decent clarity.
Conclusion
The Kinera TYR is easily hands down the best Kinera product that I’ve tried which ranges from the H3, Bd005, Seed and Sif. Its exceptional build quality is a far cry from the Seed stock cable and H3 nozzle lip issues and its design language is one that can easily be identified as an “audiophile-grade” silhouette, minor details that are not usually present in mainstream earphones which the TYR is marketed for. The included Final Audio Type E ear tips gives the additional “bang for buck” handle which the ear tips are known for. Its balanced sound which doesn’t overdo any certain frequency is easy to love and get used to as well. If you’re bullet type and bang for buck afficionado, the Kinera TYR is worthy of being added into your rotation.
