GK KUNTEN REVIEW

>>I am brazilian and I speak portuguese, so forgive my english, I’ll use translation tools to help<<

INTRO:

If you noticed any similarity to KZ earphones, then you’re right! GK is nothing more than a subsidiary of KZ. The product confirms this information… the packaging is the same, the cable is the same, the eartips is the same, and the earphones themselves are the same as the KZ ones.

These earphone have gained some hype in the community, let’s see if they really live up to it. For the price, it’s almost certainly a good recommendation.

Price: $13.59 USD
Color: Black
Cable: 3.5mm with Mic, no Mic, Type-C with Mic, Type-C no Mic.

LINKS:

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4tzpVVd (PC)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c43mPsBN (APP)

SPECIFICATIONS:

Single DD:

• (1) 10mm Dynamic Driver per side

– Frequency: 20Hz – 40kHz
– Effective frequency: 20Hz – 20kHz
– Impedance: 43Ω
– Sensitivity: 109dB
– Connectors: 2pin 0.78mm QDC (detachable)
– Cable Plug: 3.5mm SE (L design)
– Cable size: 1.20m±0.5m
– Cable material: Copper silver plated
– Shell: resin
– Faceplate: metal
– IEM weight: 5.6g (one side)(without eartips)
– Cable weight: 14.7g
– Total weight (packaging, iems, etc): 59.7g
– Packaging size: 9.5cm [H] x 7.2cm [W] x 3.3cm [D]

UNBOXING:

PHYSICAL ASPECTS:

Construction:

• Shell made of resin.
• Metal faceplate.
• Open back design.
• Standard KZ aesthetic, but I found it nice (subjective).
• Good build quality. For the price, it’s great.
• It has 2 vents.
• It doesn’t come with a carrying case (for the price, there’s nothing to complain about).
• Blasé unboxing. KZ feelings.

Eartips:

• Only one type of eartips.
• KZ Starline (comes with all KZ earphones).
• 3 pairs in sizes S/M/L.
• These are very simple eartips.
• I don’t like these eartips, I find them too stiff (subjective).
• There could be more variety of eartips.
• Standard size, if you wear M, then it’s M.
• It’s possible to find the ideal sound with the stock eartips (subjective).
• I recommend acquiring other eartips (subjective).
• I did the review with the stock ones (size M).

Cable:

• Low-quality cable (negative point).
• Certainly not the worst I’ve ever tested, at least it’s functional.
• Unbraided cables are generally more rigid.
• Low malleability.
• Doesn’t tangle.
• Retains a bit of “memory” (creases).
• The earhooks are smooth. Perfect.
• No microphonics.
• Doesn’t have a chin slider because it has a mic.
• 2-pin 0.78mm QDC connectors.
• The positive side is that it’s lightweight and thin.
• Subjective to replacement with another cable.

Fit and comfort:

• Vertical fit. Great stability.
• Very comfortable. Good ergonomics.
• It’s the same as other KZ earphones I’ve tested.
• Good shape for all ears.
• Medium insertion.
• Good isolation.
• 5.6g is a good weight for an IEM.

Earphone kit (accessories):

• GK Kunten earphones.
• 3 pairs of eartips (sizes S/M/L).
• 3.5mm cable.
• Warranty card.

SOUND ASPECTS:

Sound:

• Balanced, fun, energetic sound.
• Mild V-Shape tuning.
• Can be considered an all-rounder earphone.
• The definition is very good.
• The detail is also good.
• Certainly one of the best IEMs under $30 USD (that I’ve heard).
• In my opinion, the open back didn’t change anything.

Bass:

– Quantitative:

• Moderate bass.
• Not for bassheads.
• Sub-bass and mid-bass with good presence.
• I feel a slight emphasis of the mid-bass over the sub-bass.
• The difference is small, but the sub-bass is a little low.

– Qualitative:

• These are smart, full, versatile, and warm bass frequencies.
• They have great texture and physicality.
• The extension is good, I didn’t notice any roll-off.
• Bass frequencies that bring a dose of fun and versatility.
• The definition is very good.
• The impact is very audible and “tight”.
• They don’t invade the mids.
• Bass frequencies that combine well with various musical genres.
• They are not boomy, not bloated, not muddy.
• The kick of a bass drum is strong and well-defined.

Mids:

– Quantitative and qualitative:

• The mids are linear. Neither recessed nor “forward”.
• Comfortable pinna gain, without harshness or aggressiveness.
• The definition is very good.
• Great clarity and transparency.
• Good airiness and detail.
• Midrange tonally balanced between warm and cold.
• I didn’t feel any fatigue in the upper-mids.
• Snare drums have good attack, without sounding harsh.
• Saxophone, clarinet, and trumpet have great energy, they are palpable.

Voices:

• Good for both types of voices (low or high).
• High/female voices performed slightly better.
• Energetic IEMs deliver more clarity and vitality to high-pitched timbres.
• Low voices sounded good, although not excellent in terms of texture.

Treble:

– Quantitative:

• Moderate or moderate to high treble.
• They are slightly above neutral, but still coherent.
• I didn’t experience fatigue due to the treble.
• Not for trebleheads.
• Suitable even for those with sensitivity in that region.

– Qualitative:

• Versatile, with good energy, vitality, and good extension.
• Slightly accentuated sparkle.
• Great detail and airiness.
• Good level of definition.
• They are not shrill, not sharp, not harsh.
• I didn’t notice sibilance, coloration, or peaks.
• Hi-hats have great resolution, without harshness.
• Guitar solos have good energy and detail.

Soundstage:

• I found the soundstage to be good.
• Good spatiality for the price.
• Good/average depth, width, and height.
• Mild V-shape IEMs generally have a good soundstage.

Imaging:

• I found the instrumental separation is great.
• The stereo image is also very good.
• For the price, it competes with and surpasses IEMs up to $30 USD.
• The great resolution of the IEM helps with the imaging.

Driver flex test:

• The GK Kunten didn’t have Driver Flex characteristics.

Amplification:

• Easy to push.
• Doesn’t need a powerful amplifier.
• A DAC/AMP dongle is sufficient.
• I review the Kunten with the FiiO KA11.
• KA11 in Vol. 20 (of the 100 available in W10).

COMPARATIVE: GK KUNTEN vs KZ EDC PRO

The Kunten offers more resolution to the overall presentation, which also improves the sense of imaging, you get a better stereo image, better detail, and more precise instrument definition. The Kunten’s bass is a bit firmer, while the EDC PRO’s is a bit looser (the difference is very small). The EDC PRO has a warmer presentation in the bass region. Both IEMs are well-balanced, delivering a sound with energy and fun.

In terms of tuning, in my opinion, the IEMs are very similar, only the EDC PRO has a slight emphasis on the treble more than the Kunten, but you can only perceive this difference if the recording has an instrument playing in that region. The difference is small, but the EDC PRO has this subtle extra coloration in the treble compared to the Kunten. Honestly, you’ll only notice this difference if you have a trained ear and are comparing the two IEMs side-by-side.

In the mids, I found both very similar, I didn’t perceive significant differences, although the Kunten’s resolution in this region sounded faster and more defined to me. The soundstage in both IEMs was quite similar to mine, although the Kunten, due to its overall resolution, manages to provide more benefits in terms of spatial awareness.

The EDC PRO has the advantage of being a 2-pin 0.78mm connector, while the Kunten uses a QDC connector, which makes it a bit harder to find a replacement cables. While it’s easier to find cables with QDC connectors now, it’s still far from being as easy to find 2-pin 0.78mm cables.

In my opinion, the EDC PRO is only better than the Kunten when it’s on very aggressive sale on AliExpress. For example, I bought my EDC PRO for R$0.14 (Brazilian Real, something like less than $0.05 USD). Of course, that’s not the normal price, but it’s still possible to find it for very low prices. In the end, if you have a little more money, the Kunten is the better option. The Kunten is a more well-rounded earphone.

PROS AND CONS:

GRAPHS BY AFTERSOUND:

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