Courtesy of HiFi Go, we were tipped to the announcement of an exciting pair of IEMs from Kinera with the Freya. Available in two different colors, these headphones pack four separate drivers into each earbud to create an impressive eight driver array. Available for $249, the Freya appears to be one of the best value high driver count IEMs around, especially if you value a unique look.
The driver array consists of three balanced armatures and one dynamic driver per ear. Dynamic drivers are known for their bass response, which is how it’s being applied here. Balanced armatures, on the other hand, are better known for the middle and high frequency response. They’re often used in detail oriented headphones and even hearing aids. By combining these two types of transducers, Kinera is able to split the frequency response, so each driver unit is only responsible for a limited band. In other IEMs we’ve tested, this has resulted in lower distortion and greater clarity even at high volumes.
As gamers, this approach is especially exciting. Paired with virtual surround sound solutions like Windows Sonic, detail oriented headphones can offer improved gameplay experiences with exceptional positionality for competitive games, and immersive details in RPGs and story-based titles. Paired with their small form factor and beautiful look, it’s easy to imagine these being a good “all around” headphone for each of your devices.
Of course, we’ll need to hear it for ourselves to say for sure. The headphones are set to launch on June 18th, and we hope to bring you a review this month. In the meantime, find out more over at HiFi Go.
