HiFi Mai Tai

Kinera may have a prosaic and functional history but under the sub-brand of Celest they have forged a reputation for the eye catching and the glamours. And perhaps the Phoenix Call rises above all of its stylish family. Released in 2023 this IEM has done things differently. It looks unique. It has a strange specifications. It has a sometimes unusual sound. Don’t worry. This isn’t my whole review. I have so much more to say. So lets get started. Lets take flight and answer the phoenix’s call in the Bartender’s Kinera Celest Phoenix Call Review.

Kinera Celest Phoenix Call Review – The Cocktail:

I paid £87 for the Phoenix Call from HifiGo through AliExpress. That does seem like a lot for an IEM that three years old but I just couldn’t resist.

The end resulting specifications of this cocktail are fairly typical. Frequency range, impedence, sensitivity all nothing too unusual. The impedence is fairly high but nothing unusual for hybrids/tribrids particularly those using planar technology. However, the driver configuration is a little more out there.

A 7 mm dynamic driver is responsible for the bass. I don’t remember ever encountering a 7 mm dynamic driver. 10 mm and 8mm are everywhere. Even 6 mm drivers are not unheard of. But 7 mm? That’s new to me at least. Does it matter? Well not inherently. Particularly when concerned with the bass common thinking is that bigger is better. The force of the bass is linked to how much air it can move and therefore bigger drivers are better. However, this consideration is secondary. The quality of the driver is far more important than the size.

A pair of balanced armatures handle the mids. I believe its one for the upper mids and one for the lower mids. This is the most normal aspect of this configuration.

And finally a pair of micro planar drivers are responsible for the treble. On paper this seems like a lot to me. Micro planars tend to very comfortably handle treble and so having two of them seems like over kill. But hey I guess they had space and already had the drivers so why wouldn’t you use two.

Drivers: 7 mm Dynamic Driver, 2 Custom Balanced Armatures, 2 Micro Planar Drivers (FPD)
Frequency: 20 to 40,000 Hz
Impedence: 32 Ω
Sensitivity: 103 dB

Kinera Celest Phoenix Call Review – The Taste Test Setup:

Over the years the Kinera Celest Phoenix Call as nurtured a reputation for being highly customizable. I didn’t really try to many sources but I did give eartips quite some consideration.

Given its multi-driver setup, with drivers responsible for different frequency ranges, and that the drivers feature separate sound tubes which terminate at the nozzle without a mesh and that the nozzle is a little longer than normal it is not surprising that these are highly sensitive to eartips (definitely was a better way of saying that). In short think about eartips even more than usual.

The Phoenix Call comes with a set of eartips to enhance the vocals and another that aims to balance the sound a bit. Some thought has gone into providing these. They haven’t just thrown in any old tips. Kinera Celest have shown that they understand the sound of the Phoenix Call and have provided sensible options for the user to tailor the sound. I however, got swept up by the eartip wave and tried Sancai wide bore, HE Sonic and Spinfit W1 eartips. There were clear differences with all these tips and the two sets of stock tips but I felt that I liked the tightened but not boosted bass of the Spinfit W1 eartips. Plus they are really comfortable. I do seem to keep picking these tips. Its probably time for me to admit I have a favorite. Hello, my name is the Bartender and I like Spinfit W1 eartips…

DAC/AMP: Moondrop Dawn Pro 2
Cable: Tripowin C-01 4.4mm (Balanced)
Eartips: Spinfit W1 (Silicon)

Kinera Celest Phoenix Call Review – The Non-Audio:

This cocktail package has presentation. Everything about it has style. The box with its off centreed ‘doors’ and artwork that replicates the pattern on the IEMs. The metal book mark depicting the phoenixes. The matching clear cable. The IEMs themselves. All so cool. Well actually not everything. The case is small and compared to everything else bland. Its this case that holds it back. I did consider rating it higher on account of the book mark. But I don’t think that would be right. A bookmark is no substitute for a good case. A final complaint might be that the cable isn’t modular.

The Phoenix Call feels pretty solid. The plastic does feel a little light weight but it doesn’t feel fragile. I would expect this to survive ordinary everyday life just fine. The clear shells show everything and unfortunately show some small glue ‘bubbling’. I don’t expect this will significant but it annoying knowing its there.

The IEMs themselves are very stylish and also very ‘nerdy’ stylish. There is something very cool about seeing how something works and the clear construction of this IEM bares everything. Nothing is hidden. Nothing is left to the imagination. Its all there and it is something to behold. I love it. It makes me want to quit being bartender and take up engineering but on reflection I already think of myself as an engineer anyway. I engineer cocktails that’s no different from building bridges, making excel spreadsheets, telling architects that it can’t be done and being told by accountants that it can’t be done (Que angry engineers, architects and accountants).

On the other side the face plate of the Phoenix Call is also something special. This is the feature that is stylish rather than ‘nerdy’ stylish. The artwork depicting birds in flight changes color as it catches the light transitioning from a dark blue/purple to a much lighter blue. It sparkles and it shimmers. Its fantastic. I am confident that most people will like it. Its the perfect balance of bold fun and restrained professionalism. Actually, reminds me of a tie I own. But I am a bartender at a beach bar. I don’t wear ties.

The Phoenix Call are rather curvy. The nozzle doesn’t stick out it seems to morph into the body. That said it is slightly longer and perhaps a little wider than is typical. When I first started wearing them I found it a little weird. A little unnerving. I could feel that they weren’t exactly where IEMs typically sit and that feeling occupied so much of my brain power. I did not have any great thoughts for a while. But after a while I got used to them and in the end they are possibly one of the most comfortable IEMs I have tried. The nozzle helps get a good seal and balance the relatively little weight of the shells. And being so rounded there were no sharp edges or protrusions. These IEMs were so deep in my ears they seamlessly became part of my head.

Accessories: Top Notch Nibbles (The Treasure of an Emperor)
Style: Top Shelf Liquor (The Jewel of a Nation)
Build: Dish Washer Proof (It Will Rise Again)
Comfort: Lounging on the Sofas (Soft as a Feather)

Kinera Celest Phoenix Call Review – The Audio:

I think it has taken longer to get here than usual but we are here now. Finally. Before flying into the sound I think it would be valuable to reiterate that this review has been conducted using the Spinfit W1 eartips and that results will differ significantly with different eartips.

Okay, as ever, lets kick things off with the Bass. Firstly, there is plenty of it. The focus is more on the slam than a rumble but there is certainly some sub-bass. Nothing feels thin or flat. It doesn’t has as much bass noise as something like the KZ DQS or the KZ Decet but it has much better shape. It never sounds dull. Its very engaging. On some tracks I feel very drawn to the bass. Its combination of power and quality is at times irresistible. If the KZ DQS is a bar room brawler and the KZ Decet a professional wrestler then the Phoenix call is the heavy weight boxer. Its got so much more skill than the brawler and isn’t focused on making a spectacle like the wrestler. When I reviewed the the KZ Decet I said that few IEMs would want to enter the ring with it (I was talking about its size rather than bass but still) but maybe the Phoenix Call fancies its chances.

The mids are undoubtedly the weakest aspect of the Phoenix Calls sound. That is not to say they are bad. They are generally sharp and clear. They can be a little recessed but never really significantly. So they are good but (and its quite a big but) there can be something very unnatural in the mids. A strange mythical tonality that matches the legend of the Phoenix Call but perhaps has no place in my music. Generally, this wasn’t too off putting and when casually listening I didn’t notice it much but once it caught my attention in a track it was hard to ignore.

Previously, I mentioned my concern that two micro planars on each side might be too much. However, as all to often seems to be the case in life, I was wrong. There is a brightness to this cocktail and the planars are certainly at least partially responsible. But its not too bright. I didn’t need sunglasses and the hefty bass provides some a balance. I didn’t experience any fatigue or piercing sharpness. In fact I often found myself turning up the volume. I am not treble sensitive so I am down for lots of treble. If you are treble sensitive I would suggest getting another opinion before investing. There may not be any other beach bars with cocktails like mine but there are plenty of other opinions flying around.

The vocals were also fairly recessed. A quick look at the opinions of others online suggests that this opinion is not unique to me. However, to me they sound only a little distant where as opinions on the internet have the vocals positioned anywhere from the back of the stage to on the moon. I suspect eartips are to blame for the lack of consensus on this point. Though a little distant I enjoyed the vocals. They didn’t sound boosted or enhanced. There was no huskiness or unnatural sharpness. They sound unaltered which is a little surprising given that I felt the mids sometimes had an unnatural tonality. Yup not got a good explanation for that. I shall give it some more thought.

Details are a strength of the Kinera Celest Phoenix Call. They are as detailed at the KZ ZA12 which are to date the most detailed cocktail I have tasted and reviewed. Though the two cocktails are similarly detailed there is something more effortless in the detail of the Phoenix Call. The KZ ZA12 seems to force its details a little more. Its working harder and perhaps artificially ‘adding’ detail.

The sound stage of the Phoenix Call is a good size. A very enjoyable size. But perhaps more importantly the imaging is good. Instruments feel appropriately distant each with enough room to breath and each standing out from any instruments positioned behind/in front.

The Base Spirit (Bass): 85.11% (A Perfectly Formed Thunder Storm)
The Modifier (Mids): 77.13% (Battling Natrues Wrath)
The Sweetener (Treble): 85.89 % (Rising Higher and Higher)
The Vocals: 76.13 % (Swept Up by the Raging Winds)
The Garnish (Details): 89.93% (A Lightning Strike of Detail)
The Presentation (Technicals): 84.77% (Standing in a Beautiful Storm)

Kinera Celest Phoenix Call Review – The AI Opinion:

This a new feature that I am trying out. How well will it work? I don’t know but here goes anyway.

In this section I have asked Google’s AI mode to predict a score for the to be reviewed IEM prior to publishing my review. To get this prediction I have asked that it predict a score based upon the scoring system employed by me here at the HiFi Mai Tai beach bar. That’s it. It is as simple as that. I could be doing myself out of the job here. But got to embrace the modern world etc. And if AI is gonna take my job I am going to go down fighting. Hopefully it proves itself rubbish and there is nothing to worry about.

So the Kinera Celest Phoenix Call. What does AI think?

The Base Spirit (Bass): 84.00%
The Modifier (Mids): 76.00%
The Sweetener (Treble): 83.00%
The Vocals: 85.00%
The Garnish (Details): 83.00%
The Presentation (Technicals): 85.00%

This really is intended to be only a bit of fun. I certainly stand by all of my ratings and not those of the AI. Though depressingly they aren’t that different. Who would have thought IEM reviewers were going to be the first jobs stolen by AI.

The most significant difference is the rating assigned to the vocals. AI is of the opinion that these should be scoring highly for their vocals. I on the other hand have reviewed them as good but not excellent. I do not know what eartips AI was using. Maybe its all in the eartips.

Kinera Celest Phoenix Call Review – Summary & Comparisons

I have already touched briefly on a few comparisons but it time to this with all seriousness. Time for some comparisons. Of the IEMs I have reviewed there isn’t a great comparison. None of the other cocktails can match the price or configuration but I will do my best.

So starting with a reasonable price comparison. The KZ ZA12 is next closes in price (at least for what I paid). Compared to the KZ ZA12 the bass of the Phoenix Call is very boosted and enjoys much greater presence as a result. In the minds and treble they are fairly similar but the the Phoenix Call is less piercing and sharp giving it a more effortless sound whilst the ZA12 doesn’t suffer from some strange mid tonality. The vocals of the Phoenix Call are more recessed but sound more rounded (less flat) than those of the ZA12 (I guess you win some and lose some). Overall the Phoenix Call has a far more V-shaped tuning where as perhaps the ZA12 is bets described as bright with a small bass boost (perhaps even neutral with a bass boost).

In many ways the most appropriate cocktails for comparison would be the KZ EDX Pro, the CVJ Vivian and KZ DQS. I would consider all of these as V-Shaped and therefore the Phoenix Call could be described as an ‘upgrade’ to any of these. The CVJ Vivian in particular feels like it might evolve into the phoenix call as its bass and treble are similar style just lacking the quality of the more expensive Phoenix Call.

So to summarize. I am pretty hypnotized by the Kinera Celest Phoenix Call. I have heard the song of the phoenix and feel it pulling on my soul. It is not perfect. It has its flaws. But in a weird way I find them characterful. and that I think is this IEMs greatest trick. It blinds you. Binds you. When the phoenix summons you it is very hard to say no. I certainly won’t be saying no. I have grown quite attached to these and won’t be forgetting them any time soon.