Table of Contents
Introduction
Kinera has never really been the most popular or well-regarded brand in the IEM scene, even as chifi continues its near-stranglehold over most of the price brackets.
I remember the BD005, an IEM that was… quite frankly, horrible. Then came the IDUN which had some decent success in the scene (I think?), followed by the SEED which was comparatively less popular, and who could forget the Odin which was Kinera’s first “high-end” IEM? Though frankly that was also a bit of a wash too.
I could go on and on about “The History of Kinera” but let’s focus on our belle of the ball here: the Nanna. The original Nanna was released around mid-late 2019, going for around $670 on the global market. Now I felt like the Nanna was an interesting one; certainly leagues better than the rest of the Kinera lineup and it did one thing that many other IEMs companies failed to do: get actual treble out of those pesky Sonion EST drivers. Still, it was a hard sell at $670 and so I didn’t really give it the time of day.
Regardless of what I felt about the Nanna, it gained popularity over time and established its own cult following. And with just like with every other company that had stumbled upon its lightning in a bottle, Kinera has now released an update to the Nanna: the Nanna 2.0. Also coming with a rather significant price hike, bringing it dangerously close to kilobuck territory at an MSRP of $900.
With hype renewed around the new Nanna, I guess now it’s time to see if it can survive the IEF gauntlet. Here we answer the burning question: how good is the Nanna 2.0 actually?
Product page: https://hifigo.com/products/kinera-nanna-electrostatics-iems-hybird-ba-electrostatic-drivers-earphones
MSRP: $900
Driver configuration: 2EST + 1BA + 1DD hybrid
This Nanna 2.0 was kindly provided by HiFiGo.
Non-audio opinions
My unboxing posts are pretty much the only times I’ll ever talk about build quality, accessories and the like. I’m not really the person to ask about these things as I don’t really care about them that much.
Accessories:
- Tips
- Cleaning tool
- 3.5mm to 1/4″ adapter
- Magnetic (p)leather case
Cable: single-wire cable. Good amount of softness, no complaints.
Connection: flush 2-pin. Very slightly recessed, but it might as well be flush. Potential weak point as expected.
Build: standard resin build, no outward durability issues at first glance.
Fit: pseudo-custom; fits well for my ears but YMMV.
Isolation: excellent. Good nozzle length for a secure insertion depth.
Initial impressions
- I prefer the old Nanna.
- Nanna 2.0 is significantly warmer, bassier, and darker than the original Nanna. It’s an interesting tuning choice but also loses out of what made the original Nanna special, and now instead just sounds almost generic.
- Good treble extension, certainly far more than the average EST IEM.
- Not very resolving. This is probably its biggest bottleneck.
- Not great, not bad, just “good”. $900 is hard to justify.
Measurements
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12 thoughts on “Kinera Nanna 2.0: Unboxing”
Zeos called this the perfect IEM today. Was curious to hear your thoughts. Always a sobering analysis
Well, serves people right when the spend $900 based on a YouTube rambler…
I highly doubt they as good as Z Reviews call them since Kinara’s sister company, Queen Of Audio Mojito, never really made a decent flagship even though both brands claim to use high end BA and DD. Zeos loves everything unlike Max Setting who happens dislike everything (kidding).
a reviewer that hates on everything reasonably is much helpful for consumers than a reviewer that shills on everything
I totally agree with this statement
We refused reviewing it. I could not find any of my co-bloggers to take on this task. Companies like Kinera should go through elementary school before the enter university.
Correction: “refuse” may be a bit harsh…we thankfully declined. We did not want to get $900 to waste.
So… I ordered the 2.0 because the graph is very close to my preference. The 5Khz peak of the original is a huge no-no for me. Must have that drop at 5-6Khz (on the 2.0) for my ears.
HOWEVER… later I found that Kinera stated that there are no sound differences between the 2.0 and the original!? I am now terribly confused!
Wondering if Kinera mention anything about retune/no retune when they sent the unit to you Crin?
Nevermind, Kinera confirmed that there was indeed a retune.
Did you receive your Nanna 2.0 in the end? If so, any thoughts?
I can say it’s my favorite IEM in my collection of about 10 IEMs in and around the same price- my buddy who has the Perfect 8 The Force Speakers and VAC amps and a Walker Turntable – the guy is very very picky and has excellent hearing not just a bank account to buy willy nilly- said he thinks the Nannas are one of the best IEMs he ever heard as well – and as for me – So you know, I have 3 systems at my home- my speakers are Vandersteen 3a Signatures, Magnepan 3.6r and my desk top system which uses SEAS drivers in custom D’Appolito configuration.
I edit videos and film on location for professionals- I mix sound for a living occasionally after I film them in person- sometimes I am handed tracks that are terrible masters but am asked to make videos from them without re-mastering the sound. My IMDB page is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/
I am not a flake or hard of hearing at all-I get sound tested by my doctor each year or two. I grew up with sound engineers in the studio who were mixing albums at The Mix Palace and Platinum Sound Recording and The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios Studios in NY to name a few. When I like something I will review it such as the Kennerton headphones I reviewed on head-fi before. If I take the time to review something it has to be meaningful- it must have moved me and compelled me to do so- I do not get paid for any reviews. I do this because I care to set the record straight on what I hear and how I felt about a particular piece of equipment.
So their is a time for clinical and a time for Crincle and then their is a time for pure musical enjoyment and bliss- and the Nanna and Apache amp combo do that for me….
That’s some extremely overblown “appeal to authority” hyperbole right there. Did you feel compelled to add your penis size as well?
It’s still just your opinion, of something that you bought, and worth about the same as anyone else’s.
Which isn’t much.