Introduction
The Kinera Celest Pandamon are a new release by the Chinese audio company Kinera, under their Celest sub-brand known for affordable planar magnetic headphones. Featuring an all-new 10mm square planar driver called the SPD 2.0, the Pandamon promise to bring planar performance at an extremely accessible price point of just $59.
In this review, I will provide a thorough and comprehensive evaluation of the Celest Pandamon to help readers determine if these budget planars are worth the investment.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. I have not received any form of compensation or incentive to endorse or promote any specific product mentioned in this review.
Specifications
- Driver: 10 x 10mm SPDTM
- Interface: 0.78 2pin
- Sensitivity: 108db
- Frequency: 20Hz-20kHz
- Impedance: 9Ω
- Cable’s Specification
- Material: Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC)
- Diameter: 1.3mm/core
- Braid Way: 4 core
- Strands: 24 strands of 0.05mm
Bottom Line
The Kinera Celest Pandamon punch far above their meager weight class in terms of sound. Listeners craving realistic timbre and acoustic tonality will find great value in these budget planars.
In the sub-$100 planar magnetic headphone space, the Celest Pandamon stand out with their natural, reference tonality and comfortable fit. While not built like a tank, they punch far above their weight class, sonically. If you can look past the youthful exterior to the audiophile-worthy sound within, the Pandamon offers outstanding musicality on a shoestring budget.
The Kinera Celest Pandamon are a recommended buy for value-hunting audiophiles wanting an affordable gateway into the planar magnetic headphone world. For just $59, they deliver impressive performance that belies their inexpensive cost.
Overall Rating
Pros
- natural, coherent tonality
- realistic timbre across frequencies
- Clear, intimate midrange
- non-fatiguing treble
- Good detail retrieval despite smoothness
- Expansive soundstage for a budget IEM
- Good instrument separation
- Fast, controlled bass
- Extremely comfortable fit and lightweight
- A unique design stands out.
Cons
- plasticky build quality
- Sub-bass lacks rumble and extension.
- not suitable for noisy environments.
- may not appeal to those wanting ultra-detail
- Faceplate design is polarizing.
Suitable Music Genres
- The Kinera Celest Pandamon's neutral-warm tonality suits a wide variety of music genres excellently. Their smooth, non-fatiguing sound is great for long listening sessions.
- Rock: Guitars and drums have a natural warmth and bite. The driving rhythm comes through engagingly. The soundstage conveys the energy of a live performance.
- Jazz: Trumpets and saxophones retain their brassiness and texture. The tonal accuracy brings out the emotion in vocals and instruments beautifully.
- Classical: Orchestral strings and woodwinds sound rich and intimate. The dynamic variety is conveyed impressively. The imaging recreates the scale.
- Vocals: The midrange clarity keeps voices present and vivid without excessive sharpness or sibilance. Both male and female vocals have a proper body and intimacy.
- EDM: The lack of sub-bass extension means EDM lacks fullness and slam. But vocals and mids retain their clarity amidst the electronic effects.
- Hip Hop: The bass has just enough warmth and impact for hip-hop without obscuring lyrics and vocals. The smooth nature prevents fatigue despite hip-hop's bright recordings.
- Acoustic: The natural timbre and coherent signature make acoustic instruments and vocals sound extremely lifelike and realistic. Their tonality shines.
Equalization Tips
- Boosting 60–100 Hz by 2–3 dB can help sub-bass impact and rumble for EDM without muddiness.
- A 3 dB boost around 8 kHz can provide slightly more upper treble air and sparkle for those wanting more brightness.
- A small 2 dB dip around 1 kHz helps reduce nasal female vocals if they sound honky for some.
- Cutting 250–500 Hz by 2 dB reduces warmth and thickness for a cooler, drier sound.
1. Packaging
- Kinera Celest Pandamon
- 1x Detachable Cable
- 1x Cleaning brush
- 1x Earphone Pouch
- 6x Pair Eartips
- 1x Pcs Metal Bookmark
2. Design And Build Quality
The Kinera Celest Pandamon feature a unique design aesthetic with circular stainless steel faceplates engraved with an angry, metallic panda motif. This bold stylistic choice is definitely targeted at a younger demographic. While the faceplates help the headphones stand out, the build quality itself is decent but not luxurious.
The circular resin shells are lightweight and hollow, weighing around 4g each. There are cutouts on the faceplates that give the headphones an open, semi-enclosed design. The nozzles are short and slightly angled.
The included cable is a basic 4-core copper cable with ear guides. While functional, it looks rather plain and plasticky. The straight 3.5mm jack, Y-split, and MMCX connectors are metal, though.
Overall, the Pandamon seem designed primarily to get attention through their exterior design rather than exceptional build quality. However, the lightweight resin shells and open form factor make them comfortable for long listening sessions.
3. Comfort
Thanks to the ultra-lightweight resin shells, the Kinera Celest Pandamon are extremely comfortable headphones. The circular shape nestles easily into the contours of the ear, and long listening sessions don't cause fatigue.
Noise isolation is mediocre due to the open, vented design. This makes the Pandamon suitable mostly for quiet indoor use rather than noisy environments like commutes or travel. However, the open design likely contributes to their spacious soundstage.
Finding the right eartips is crucial for getting a proper fit and seal. The stock narrow-bore tips were unsuitable for my ears. With wider bore tips like the Spinfit CP100, I got a comfortable and secure fit. Those with smaller ear canals may find the longer stock tips more suitable.
4. Sound Quality Of The Kinera Celest Pandamon
I. Tonality
The Kinera Celest Pandamon have a mildly warm, natural tonality with present but non-dominating bass, clear mids, and a smooth treble. While not strictly neutral, they don't have a colored V-shaped or mid-centric tuning.
The warmth and fullness help bring out the tone of acoustic instruments realistically. Tonality fans looking for a natural timbre at an affordable price will appreciate the Pandamon.
II. Frequency Response Graph Of The Kinera Celest Pandamon
III. Bass Response
The bass reproduces realistically on the Celest Pandamon, with a moderate mid-bass bump and rolling sub-bass. Bass guitars and drums have a natural warmth and fullness to them without obscuring details or sounding boomy. The texture is smooth rather than hard-hitting.
Sub-bass extension is limited, so electronic genres like EDM lack deep rumble and slam. But for rock, pop, jazz, and vocals, the bass provides an enjoyable warmth without muddiness or bloat. The speed and control benefit the rhythm and pace of basslines.
Bassheads may be disappointed with the quantity, but for those who want natural bass timbre, the Pandamon delivers. The bass complements the mids nicely rather than overpowering them.
IV. Midrange Performance
The midrange is a highlight on the Celest Pandamon, with good clarity, presence, and realism. Vocals sound rich and intimate, but not overly forward. Both male and female voices have a proper body and texture.
Acoustic instruments like guitars and pianos also have a natural tone and decay. There is no harshness, grain, or sibilance to the vocals. The note thickness is just right, rather than overly dense or thin. Emotional engagement with vocals and instruments is excellent.
The midrange avoids sounding recessed while preventing any sense of congestion. The lower mids have enough warmth, while the upper mids have sufficient air and sparkle. Overall, the midrange hits a sweet spot between neutrality and musicality.
V. Treble Response
Treble on the Celest Pandamon is non-fatiguing while still having decent extension and sparkle. It rolls off smoothly rather than ending abruptly. Cymbals have a realistic shimmer and decay rather than excessive brightness or sibilance.
Small details are present but not highlighted or pushed forward. The smooth nature of the treble makes the Pandamon suitable for treble-sensitive listeners too. However, those wanting more upper-treble air and sparkle may be left wanting more.
5. Technicalities Of The Kinera Celest Pandamon
I. Soundstage And Imaging
The Celest Pandamon delivers an impressively spacious and immersive soundstage, especially for a budget IEM. The depth and width allow instruments to spread out nicely rather than sounding congested.
Imaging is also quite accurate, with the ability to pinpoint the direction and distance of individual instruments. The open design likely contributes to the expansive stage. It adds an enveloping, headphone-like quality to the presentation.
II. Instrument Separation And Detail Retrieval
The 10mm planar driver allows each instrument to be clearly separated in the mix. The speed of the driver helps in defining the start and end of notes crisply. However, the smooth nature of the tuning avoids artificially highlighting details or edges.
The resolution is good, but not the best in class. The lack of harsh etchiness or thinness simply means that detail retrieval has a natural smoothness to it rather than being forced. The planar driver's capabilities can be heard in the clarity, despite the affordable price.
III. Dynamics And Speed
The planar driver gives the Celest Pandamon an advantage in terms of dynamic contrast and speed compared to typical budget dynamic drivers. The fast decay prevents any sense of bloat or muddiness.
The speed aids in the articulation and texture of instruments like pianos, guitars, and drums. The dynamic range is able to replicate the softer and louder passages well. While not as effortless as more expensive planars, the agility is very good for the price.
IV. Resolution
The Celest Pandamon deliver a natural smoothness to the presentation that favors tonal accuracy over hyper-detail. The resolution allows most details and textures to be discerned but doesn't highlight them unnaturally.
The planar driver has enough capability to retrieve micro-details and avoid sounding mushy. However, due to the tuning, the resolution takes a backseat compared to a more analytical, thin sound. This makes the Pandamon less fatiguing over long listening periods.
6. Gaming Performance
The Kinera Celest Pandamon's capable imaging and large soundstage allow for accurate positional cues in games. Directional audio from gunshots and footsteps is easily discerned, giving it a competitive edge.
The smooth, non-fatiguing sound also makes long gaming sessions comfortable. Explosions and other loud effects don't become overly sharp or sibilant. For immersive single-player adventures, the engaging tonality increases the atmosphere and environment.
7. Comparisons
Kinera Celest Pandamon vs. Moondrop Aria
The Aria has more sub-bass rumble but sounds thinner in the midrange. Its treble is more extended, leading to slightly better detail retrieval. The Pandamon has the more natural, coherent tonality of the two and a more realistic timbre.
Kinera Celest Pandamon vs. Tin HiFi T3 Plus
The T3 Plus is more V-shaped, with extra sub-bass emphasis and bright treble. It has more upper treble extension, leading to an airier sound. The Pandamon has more accurate timbre, especially in the midrange, which is more recessed on the T3 Plus.
Kinera Celest Pandamon vs. Dunu Titan S
The Titan S has greater bass impact and rumble and more lower-treble emphasis, making it more V-shaped. It retrieves more micro-details at the cost of a less natural tonality. The Pandamon sounds more organic and smoother throughout the range.
8. FAQs
Q. Who Should Buy The Kinera Celest Pandamon?
- The Pandamon's non-fatiguing treble is suitable for treble-sensitive listeners. Those sensitive to excessive brightness, fatigue, or sibilance will appreciate the Pandamon's smooth, gently rolled-off treble.
- It avoids peaks or sharpness in the upper registers while retaining sufficient lower treble to avoid sounding overly dark. The realistic treble timbre also lacks an artificial metallic quality.
Q. Who Shouldn't Buy The Kinera Celest Pandamon?
- Those wanting huge sub-bass slams and rumbles
- listeners craving bright, airy, extended treble
- Build quality sticklers desiring metal or glass construction
- People need high noise isolation when outdoors.
- Those preferring mid-centric or colored tunings
- Folks wanting ultra-analytical, thin, detail-heavy sound
Q. Is Kinera Celest Pandamon suitable for treble sensitive listeners?
- Beginners wanting to experience planar sonic strengths at a low cost
- Those craving natural timbre and tonality over ultra-detail
- Anyone needing a smooth, non-fatiguing sound for long listening
- Listeners wanting affordable references neutral-warm sound
- Gamers want a large soundstage and imaging for positional audio
- Treble-sensitive folks wanting to avoid harsh, bright sounds
Q. Are the Pandamon good for phone calls?
The open design allows ambient noise in easily, so phone call clarity may suffer outdoors. For indoor calls, their vocal clarity picks up the voice nicely. Use an inline mic cable for the best call quality.
Q. How is the Pandamon cable?
The included 4-core copper cable looks rather basic but is functional and low on microphonics. An upgraded cable can bring nicer aesthetics and materials. Ensure any replacement cable uses 0.78-mm 2-pin connectors.
Q. What source gear should I use?
The low 9 ohm impedance and high 108 dB sensitivity allow the Pandamon to be easily driven from any smartphone headphone jack. For best performance, use them with an entry-level audiophile DAP or USB DAC/amp.
Q. What tips provide the best sound?
Narrow bore tips like the stock ones bring out the midrange while taming the treble. Wide-bore silicone tips will boost treble energy and reduce bass warmth slightly. Comply foam tips are also excellent choices for comfort and sound tuning.
9. Conclusion
The Kinera Celest Pandamon delivers a finely tuned planar magnetic listening experience at an ultra-accessible $59 price point. Their smoothly detailed, natural sound belies their cheap cost.
While the build quality cuts corners, the lightweight resin shells are supremely comfortable. The unique panda faceplate aesthetic stands out from the crowd. For those wanting an affordable introduction to the sonic strengths of planar drivers, the Celest Pandamon hits the sweet spot.
Read More Reviews On Kinera Celest Pandamon: mobileaudiophile