By Nick Smith, 30th July 2025
What’s tougher – exceeding expectations, or succeeding unexpected success with a worthy followup?
Earlier this year I reviewed the KBear KB02 from a brand not previously on my radar, and as my first BCD-equipped IEMs under $100 they really made me sit up & take notice.
However I’m often skeptical & wary of one-hit-wonders, so when when KBear sent me a pair of their new Cepheus in exchange for my thoughts I wondered if they’d impress as much as the KB02s did.
At USD $245 they’re a slightly tougher sell, but boast a far more complex driver structure than the KB02s.
Making the jump from success in the entry-level to the mid-range can be tricky for many brands, so let’s get this underway and see if KBear has another hit on their hands.
Packaging
The USD $248 KBear Cepheus arrive in a purple cardboard box, inside is a fairly small faux-leather case, a 2pin 4 core silver-plated copper stock cable, instruction manual, three sets of silicone eartips in 3 sizes & the earphones themselves.
The case is fairly snug but fits the earphones with stock cable comfortably, but if you swap to a beefy 8-wire aftermarket cable it may be quite a squeeze. Quality is acceptable without being terribly impressive.
The big downside here is the stock cable which not only feels a little flimsy, but is only available in a 3.5mm termination. Given the prevalence of portable sources with 4.4mm balanced jacks these days it’s disappointing to see a 4.4mm plug option isn’t offered for an IEM at this pricepoint. There is a 3.5mm cable with inline microphone option, but that’s hardly a viable substitute.
Ergonomics
The Cepheus’ vented resin shells are very smooth to the touch and feel terrific in my ears, we’ve certainly come a long way in the hobby as once upon a time you needed to spend close to $1000 to obtain shells that feel so well finished & durable.
Similarly fit has come a long way since the old days, and the Cepheus despite being decently large (about what you’d expect for a hybrid with twin DDs & multiple BAs) are sculpted beautifully to fit the ear geometry of most folk quite well I’d imagine.
They do stick out decently far, isolation is slightly above average, but most importantly I can use them for hours without the slightest discomfort. The stock cable feels flimsy though and I recommend replacing it with a 4.4mm balanced alternative, which can be done cheaply enough through a vendor like NiceHCK.
Page 1 – Introduction, Packaging & Ergonomics
Page 2 – Sound Impressions & Technical Performance
Page 3 – IEM Comparisons
Page 4 – Conclusion
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