Pros:
- Forward vocals (subjective)
- Very nice openness on top
- Punchy and thumpy low ends
- Very good treble extension
- Enjoyable U-shaped tuning
- Mids have forward nature (subjective)
Cons:
- Build is made of cheap plastic
- Kramp sound stage
- Instruments especially drum snares, sometimes sounded non realistic/artificial
- Very basic inclusions
- Big ears might have trouble with fitting. Loose fit.
- Oddly angled nozzle
INTRODUCTION:
Zerest Audio is a company based in Singapore. This is the first time I have heard of them and I would like to thank Jeremy Lim for reaching out. This unit was sent for free, and in exchange, this honest impression from me. For more details,please visit their official website www.zerestaudio.com
DISCLAIMER:
My opinions here are completely my own. I am NOT in any way influenced by any form of incentive. This is purely my honest, subjective impressions and experience with the gear on hand. I cannot stress more that you should take this as a grain of salt for we have different perception to sound and what we hear. I always try my best to stick with the stock accessories that come with the gear by default. You are free to try other methods such as tip rolling or cable rolling. Below are worth noting before concluding on what I say here:
1. DAP (digital audio player, be it phone, laptop, mobile, or stationary setup)
2. DAC or dongle or any external amp
3. Ear Tips
4. Cables
5. Source of audio file be it offline FLACS or streaming services like Deezer, Apple music, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify and the likes..
6. Your playlist. It matters and is worth considering when reading from a reviewer's perspective. It is apparent that you get to know your favorite reviewer and what they are listening to leisurely and critically.
My reviews are more on how music sounds in my ears. The technical stuff like frequency graphs and the physics behind the tech and drivers used, I leave to other reviewers.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Configuration: 10mm dynamic driver (polyethylene terephthalate)
Impedance: 16ohms
Sensitivity: 98db
Freq response: 20hz - 20khz
PACKAGING:
Packaging is somewhat basic as well for inclusions. Package includes the following:
1. 3 silicon tips (S,M,L)
2. A pair of foam tips
3. A pair of Kagami+
4. Cable
5. Documentation
Now let us dive into how Kagami sounds..
LOWS:
Lows have good weight and density here. Definitely elevated but I doubt if it is for bass heads. A casual listener will find this gratifying. Drum kicks and bass guitars have a punchy and thumpy nature. And minimal bleeds to neighboring frequencies. Sub bass is more pronounced than mid bass. Has good control and average texture. No Limit by Marcus Miller was still presented very nicely as my test track for lows. Comparing it to my other IEMs around 100$, the Kagami is inferior by just a small margin.
Conclusively, I was suprised that lows here are clean and tight. I liked it and definitely for a casual listener. Not the quickest presentation of lows here, but not slow to muddy up your tracks.
MIDS:
I am mid centric, and Kagami suprised me here. Specially the vocals. Vocals are forward here which I personally prefer. 95% of the time, vocals does not sit behind the percussions. If that is your thing, you will love the mids here. This will also benefit singers who study and do cover songs. Elements and instruments have average tone and timbre. On my first hours of listening, the mids sounded very artificial but later on, this character faded away. Instruments is still presented in a natural and organic way. Comparing it to my Tinhifi T3plus, I prefer Kagami’s mids. It is my personal preference and I want my mids forward.
Conclusively, mids here are the star of the show. Especially in terms of vocals. It is safe to conclude, Kagami’s strength is mids and vocals.
TREBLES:
In terms of treble, Kagami has a nice openness and air. Did not sound veiled at all and many small nuances and details are audible. New new Orleans by Christian Scott my favorite test track for treble hotness, did not sound piercing or shouty. Treble has good control here and I have no recollection of any sibilance. Code Cool by Patricia Barber has some close to sibilance presentation but not enough to make me grin. Cymbal strikes and bells did not feel painful to listen to. Treble sensitive might like to consider this. This might be fatiguing to listen to after 2 hours of straight listening.
Conclusively, trebles here have good control and openness is the name of the game. Those who love their trebles will love this one. Treble sensitives need to audition before purchasing.
FIT & ISOLATION
Fit offers comfortability but is a bit tricky for me. Seal has a loose manner and oddly I used the L stock tips. The M size is just too small for me given that I always go for M sizes. Tip rolling is strongly suggested. Isolation is below average as I have my on-stage performances to test this. Wear does not exhibit any physical pain but I find myself always trying to find the right angle for good sound, fit and seal. Which is cumbersome on my part. This is a factor that should not be overlooked. How could I listen enjoyably if I have to constantly adjust. The overall weight is lacking and is too light in my opinion.
TECHNICALITIES:
Stage is somewhat kramp for my ears. Note that IEMs offer the minimal soundstage compared to earbuds and headphones, but with Kagami, I find the sound stage somewhat narrow. Imaging is average as I can still follow elements easily but not as accurately as my other IEMs. Separation is its weakness and this is quite a turn off for me. T3plus offers more capable technicalities. In terms of resolution, this is another weak point for the Kagami.
SOURCES AND GEARS:
LG V30 hifi dac (high impedance mode)
Hiby Music player
UAPP app (USB Audio Player Pro)
Tidal Masters subscription
offline FLACS
Hidizs AP80 pro
Deezer Hifi subscription
Here are some tracks I usually listen to when reviewing:
That’s the way of the World by EWF
Africa by TOTO
The Girl in the Other Room by Diana Kral
Balmorhea album All is wild, All is Silent
Sila by Sud
Smooth Escape by D’Sound
Never too Much by Luther Vandross
P.Y.T by Michael Jackson
Ain’t no Sunshine by Eva Cassidy
Shoot to Thrill by AC/DC
Another one bites the Dust by Queen
Good times bad times by Edie Brickell
Alice in Wonderland by Bill Evans
Ain’t it Fun by Paramore
Redefine by Incubus
Far Away by Nickelback
Lovesong by Adele
Lingus by Snarky Puppy
Harvest for the World by Vanessa Williams
Love Bites by Def Leppard
No Such Thing by John Mayer
As by Stevie Wonder
Whip Appeal by Babyface
Ain’t Nobody by Chaka Khan
Futures by Prep
Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
Every Summertime by NIKI
SADE tracks
AC/DC tracks
Queen tracks
And many more… I always listen to High resolution format, being the least quality 16bit/44khz FLACS be it offline or online.
VERDICT:
With all honesty, I find myself surprised by Kagami in terms of tonality. How could a build so cheaply made, sound this good. Yes you heard me. Cheaply made. The material used is the first disappointment for me. It feels really cheap on the hands. Like a cheap toy. I sometimes try to convince myself that it doesn’t sound good but it is pretty decent sounding. I might even pick these over the recently released KZ’s for sound. Secondly, the fit is an issue for me. Though it offers pain free experience, I find the fit loose and not adequate for live performances. If you are just sitting around with your music player, this can be but if you are on the move, it is somewhat a disaster in my experience. Technicalities are somewhat below average for me. The T3plus got me covered on this one. The main strength of Kagami for me is its vocal presentation. I like my vocals forward and Kagami even does a better job than T3plus on this aspect. Moreover the midrange frequencies.
I think Zerest audio could have done a better job on this one. Especially with the build. The technicalities I understand. We are talking sub $100 IEMs here but companies like Tanchjim are releasing technically capable products in this price range. If Zerest Audio wants to join the competition, I think they should up their game on their research and tech. Nonetheless, Kagami was fun to listen to but not yet there to join my daily rotation of IEMs. The fit is another issue but I leave it to you and your ears.
So that is a wrap! Hope you enjoyed reading and I hope to see more of Zerest Audio in the near future and may this review somehow give them the motivation to improve. Thanks and catch you on the next one!
Zerest Audio is a company based in Singapore. This is the first time I have heard of them and I would like to thank Jeremy Lim for reaching out. This unit was sent for free, and in exchange, this honest impression from me. For more details,please visit their official website www.zerestaudio.com
DISCLAIMER:
My opinions here are completely my own. I am NOT in any way influenced by any form of incentive. This is purely my honest, subjective impressions and experience with the gear on hand. I cannot stress more that you should take this as a grain of salt for we have different perception to sound and what we hear. I always try my best to stick with the stock accessories that come with the gear by default. You are free to try other methods such as tip rolling or cable rolling. Below are worth noting before concluding on what I say here:
1. DAP (digital audio player, be it phone, laptop, mobile, or stationary setup)
2. DAC or dongle or any external amp
3. Ear Tips
4. Cables
5. Source of audio file be it offline FLACS or streaming services like Deezer, Apple music, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify and the likes..
6. Your playlist. It matters and is worth considering when reading from a reviewer's perspective. It is apparent that you get to know your favorite reviewer and what they are listening to leisurely and critically.
My reviews are more on how music sounds in my ears. The technical stuff like frequency graphs and the physics behind the tech and drivers used, I leave to other reviewers.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Configuration: 10mm dynamic driver (polyethylene terephthalate)
Impedance: 16ohms
Sensitivity: 98db
Freq response: 20hz - 20khz
PACKAGING:
Packaging is somewhat basic as well for inclusions. Package includes the following:
1. 3 silicon tips (S,M,L)
2. A pair of foam tips
3. A pair of Kagami+
4. Cable
5. Documentation
Now let us dive into how Kagami sounds..
LOWS:
Lows have good weight and density here. Definitely elevated but I doubt if it is for bass heads. A casual listener will find this gratifying. Drum kicks and bass guitars have a punchy and thumpy nature. And minimal bleeds to neighboring frequencies. Sub bass is more pronounced than mid bass. Has good control and average texture. No Limit by Marcus Miller was still presented very nicely as my test track for lows. Comparing it to my other IEMs around 100$, the Kagami is inferior by just a small margin.
Conclusively, I was suprised that lows here are clean and tight. I liked it and definitely for a casual listener. Not the quickest presentation of lows here, but not slow to muddy up your tracks.
MIDS:
I am mid centric, and Kagami suprised me here. Specially the vocals. Vocals are forward here which I personally prefer. 95% of the time, vocals does not sit behind the percussions. If that is your thing, you will love the mids here. This will also benefit singers who study and do cover songs. Elements and instruments have average tone and timbre. On my first hours of listening, the mids sounded very artificial but later on, this character faded away. Instruments is still presented in a natural and organic way. Comparing it to my Tinhifi T3plus, I prefer Kagami’s mids. It is my personal preference and I want my mids forward.
Conclusively, mids here are the star of the show. Especially in terms of vocals. It is safe to conclude, Kagami’s strength is mids and vocals.
TREBLES:
In terms of treble, Kagami has a nice openness and air. Did not sound veiled at all and many small nuances and details are audible. New new Orleans by Christian Scott my favorite test track for treble hotness, did not sound piercing or shouty. Treble has good control here and I have no recollection of any sibilance. Code Cool by Patricia Barber has some close to sibilance presentation but not enough to make me grin. Cymbal strikes and bells did not feel painful to listen to. Treble sensitive might like to consider this. This might be fatiguing to listen to after 2 hours of straight listening.
Conclusively, trebles here have good control and openness is the name of the game. Those who love their trebles will love this one. Treble sensitives need to audition before purchasing.
FIT & ISOLATION
Fit offers comfortability but is a bit tricky for me. Seal has a loose manner and oddly I used the L stock tips. The M size is just too small for me given that I always go for M sizes. Tip rolling is strongly suggested. Isolation is below average as I have my on-stage performances to test this. Wear does not exhibit any physical pain but I find myself always trying to find the right angle for good sound, fit and seal. Which is cumbersome on my part. This is a factor that should not be overlooked. How could I listen enjoyably if I have to constantly adjust. The overall weight is lacking and is too light in my opinion.
TECHNICALITIES:
Stage is somewhat kramp for my ears. Note that IEMs offer the minimal soundstage compared to earbuds and headphones, but with Kagami, I find the sound stage somewhat narrow. Imaging is average as I can still follow elements easily but not as accurately as my other IEMs. Separation is its weakness and this is quite a turn off for me. T3plus offers more capable technicalities. In terms of resolution, this is another weak point for the Kagami.
SOURCES AND GEARS:
LG V30 hifi dac (high impedance mode)
Hiby Music player
UAPP app (USB Audio Player Pro)
Tidal Masters subscription
offline FLACS
Hidizs AP80 pro
Deezer Hifi subscription
Here are some tracks I usually listen to when reviewing:
That’s the way of the World by EWF
Africa by TOTO
The Girl in the Other Room by Diana Kral
Balmorhea album All is wild, All is Silent
Sila by Sud
Smooth Escape by D’Sound
Never too Much by Luther Vandross
P.Y.T by Michael Jackson
Ain’t no Sunshine by Eva Cassidy
Shoot to Thrill by AC/DC
Another one bites the Dust by Queen
Good times bad times by Edie Brickell
Alice in Wonderland by Bill Evans
Ain’t it Fun by Paramore
Redefine by Incubus
Far Away by Nickelback
Lovesong by Adele
Lingus by Snarky Puppy
Harvest for the World by Vanessa Williams
Love Bites by Def Leppard
No Such Thing by John Mayer
As by Stevie Wonder
Whip Appeal by Babyface
Ain’t Nobody by Chaka Khan
Futures by Prep
Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
Every Summertime by NIKI
SADE tracks
AC/DC tracks
Queen tracks
And many more… I always listen to High resolution format, being the least quality 16bit/44khz FLACS be it offline or online.
VERDICT:
With all honesty, I find myself surprised by Kagami in terms of tonality. How could a build so cheaply made, sound this good. Yes you heard me. Cheaply made. The material used is the first disappointment for me. It feels really cheap on the hands. Like a cheap toy. I sometimes try to convince myself that it doesn’t sound good but it is pretty decent sounding. I might even pick these over the recently released KZ’s for sound. Secondly, the fit is an issue for me. Though it offers pain free experience, I find the fit loose and not adequate for live performances. If you are just sitting around with your music player, this can be but if you are on the move, it is somewhat a disaster in my experience. Technicalities are somewhat below average for me. The T3plus got me covered on this one. The main strength of Kagami for me is its vocal presentation. I like my vocals forward and Kagami even does a better job than T3plus on this aspect. Moreover the midrange frequencies.
I think Zerest audio could have done a better job on this one. Especially with the build. The technicalities I understand. We are talking sub $100 IEMs here but companies like Tanchjim are releasing technically capable products in this price range. If Zerest Audio wants to join the competition, I think they should up their game on their research and tech. Nonetheless, Kagami was fun to listen to but not yet there to join my daily rotation of IEMs. The fit is another issue but I leave it to you and your ears.
So that is a wrap! Hope you enjoyed reading and I hope to see more of Zerest Audio in the near future and may this review somehow give them the motivation to improve. Thanks and catch you on the next one!
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