Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0 Review
Celest Pandamon 2.0 and Kinera’s specially developed 10mm SPD 2.0 Square Planar Driver have all-new looks. As an upgrade to the highly acclaimed Pandamon, the Pandamon 2.0 promises an outstanding sonic experience with excellent looks. The pair features a translucent Resin body with hand-painted faceplates that cheer you up with its rich looks.
Kinera developed excellent SPD technology where they designed a square-shaped planar magnetic driver. The latest Pandamon 2.0 houses a 10mm SPD 2.0 driver on each side, compared to the other planar magnetic drivers, the SPD 2.0 has a compact design, higher sensitivity, smooth three-frequency response, and high-resolution clarity.
Kinera Celest has reworked the tuning of the Pandamon series for the 2nd generation iteration. From the Raw and Fierce tuning of the Pandamon 1.0, we now have a mid-high frequency tilt, delivering a smoother yet faster sound with the Pandamon 2.0. It showcases amazing extensions in the high-frequency region and delivers excellent details throughout the frequency band.
Kinera Celest Pandamon 2.0 features all-new looks. The round-shaped cavities are now completely resin in nature and feature an astonishingly beautiful faceplate design. The faceplates are professionally painted by artists giving the pair an eye-catching look. It now has bold and dynamic looks!!
Celest includes a high-quality 5N copper silver-plated cable with the Pandamon 2.0. The cable has a 4-core cross circular braided design with 49 strands of 0.06mm wire core. It has 0.78mm two-pin connectors and interchangeable plugs. Buyer can choose between a 3.5mm single-ended or 4.4mm balanced termination plug for the cable.
Features
- Kinera Customized 10mm SPD 2.0 (Square Planar Driver).
- Complete Resin Ear Shells.
- Hand-Painted Facecovers.
- Optimized Acoustic Structure.
- 4-Core Silver-Plated Oxygen-Free Copper.
- 0.78mm 2-pin Cable with Interchangeable Plugs.
Specs
- Impedance: 9Ω.
- Sensitivity: 108dB.
- Frequency Response Range: 20Hz-20kHz.
- Connector Type: 0.78mm 2-Pin.
- Termination plugs: 3.5mm/4.4mm.
- Price: $59
I would like to thank HiFiGo for providing me with the review sample of Celest Pandamon 2.0.
Sound
Lows
The Pandamon 2.0 boasts a vibrant energy and swift attack speed, resulting in a lively sound that delivers clear and defined low-end frequencies for genres like hip-hop and EDM. These tracks’ percussion and bass elements are reproduced with impressive speed, allowing for a dynamic listening experience. Additionally, the decay speed is notably fast, ensuring that the mix captures a sense of spaciousness and openness.
When powered adequately, the sub-bass presence is prominent, providing a satisfying depth to the overall sound. In the 100Hz range, there is a subtle boost that adds texture and weight to kicks, as well as enhancing the resonance of guitars, enabling them to cut through the mix effectively. This region contributes to a balanced sound, maintaining both clarity and articulation while avoiding any excessive boominess.
The 200-300Hz range exhibits a pleasant presence, contributing to the richness of lower register notes. This adds body to the sound, striking a good balance between clarity and depth. The bass drum hits with precision and power, delivering a full-bodied impact. Similarly, the bass guitars and their overtones are reproduced with a moderately fast attack, ensuring that their nuances are well-defined and audible.
Mids
The Pandamon 2.0 slightly emphasizes the midrange, which enhances the richness of vocals and acoustic instruments. By boosting the presence region, the vocals become more prominent. Although the lower midrange may not be suitable for classical music or complex compositions, it still delivers expressive and layered sound with pops. The midrange of the Pandamon is not dark or dull, but rather smooth and vibrant.
It has a pleasant energy that brings out finer details in the vocal range, especially for lighter voices. The tuning of the headphones reduces sibilance, resulting in a warmer and sweeter sound signature. Additionally, a touch of sparkle is added to add texture to the overtones and enhance resolution, resulting in a smooth and enjoyable listening experience, particularly with pop music.
Highs
The mid-range frequencies are strong, but some high frequencies in the treble are increased to create a balanced and more dynamic sound with a touch of aggressiveness. The overall sound is open and well-distributed.
The sibilant sounds are handled well, and additional energy is added to enhance the airiness and clarity. Cymbals are distinct in the mix, and the highest frequencies are not excessively boosted, maintaining a musical quality. In synthesized music, instruments like clarinets, horns, and strings have a light and spacious feel, with the Pandamon 2.0 enhancing the richness and texture of resonant tones like bells.
Staging
With the mid-range frequencies brought to the forefront, the vocal experience becomes more personal and the soundstage expands, allowing for clear instrument placement. The bass is noticeably extended and the upper mid-range frequencies are emphasized, giving the music a realistic feel. This does, however, limit the perceived size of the stage, but enhances the overall authenticity of the sound.
In terms of vocal imaging, the lead singer’s voice is positioned a few rows ahead, creating a pleasant sense of space while maintaining richness and depth. Pop and jazz genres benefit from this, as they sound more vibrant and melodic without becoming overly heavy or poorly defined.
However, when additional instruments are introduced, the Pandamon 2.0 may sound slightly congested compared to other in-ear monitors that prioritize a smoother and clearer mid-range.
Sum-Up
Pandoman 2.0 has a rich & textured sound with a relaxed tonality. This kind of tuning makes it one of the best all-rounder budget IEMs for the asking price.