Today’s review is about the KEFINE Arnar, a hybrid in-ear monitor featuring one planar and one balanced armature driver per side. Priced at $189, it is the brand’s most expensive earphone to date and, under this prism, can be considered its flagship model.
The review sample was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don’t use affiliate links.
The price of the Arnar is $189 and you can buy it from KEFINE’s online shop.
About KEFINE
KEFINE was founded in 2022 by a group of experienced audio engineers who had previously been core members of various well-known earphone manufacturing brands. It all started out of a passion for the hobby, but it didn’t take long for them to establish in the market by offering earphones with outstanding value for money.
They are very productive, having released eight earphones so far, including the Arnar and the recently launched Loric, which will be reviewed very soon.
Ichos Reviews has had the privilege of following KEFINE from day one and reviewing almost all of its earphones. Click here to read our previous reviews and discover their product line-up.
KEFINE Arnar
The Arnar is a hybrid in-ear monitor featuring one 14.5mm planar magnetic driver and one Knowles BA driver per side.
What makes this configuration unique is that the planar driver covers the entire frequency range rather than being limited to the low frequencies, while the BA driver comes into play from 800Hz upwards, increasing sensitivity and enhancing the perception of soundstage. This arrangement also contributes to a more coherent and uniform sound presentation.
Another feature of the KEFINE Arnar is its interchangeable nozzle system. Three pairs of nozzles are included, each offering a slightly different tuning, as we will see later on. They feature a threaded design that makes them easy to replace and, besides fine-tuning the sound, also protect the tubes from debris and earwax.
Design and Wearing Experience
KEFINE’s earphones have a unique identity, adopting a minimalist industrial design that is not only visually appealing but also discreet and ergonomic. I quite like all of them, but the Arnar has become my favorite of the bunch.
The faceplates feature a geometric pattern of rounded square shapes arranged in a honeycomb style, with a fine mesh texture inside and a contrasting black and silver finish. The design is inspired by a traditional Chinese “wish” window, which symbolizes luck.
The CNC-machined housings are very well made from aviation-grade aluminium, with walls that are only 0.06mm thick, helping to minimize the earphones’ size and weight which is 7g per piece.
The low-profile, anatomically shaped inner contours contribute significantly to the fit, which is so comfortable that you forget you are wearing the earphones, even after hours of use. The shells stay securely in place during head movement, and noise isolation is good, but not great. I find the Arnar as the most comfortable of KEFINE’s product lineup.
The Stock Cable
The 2-pin detachable cable is made of high-purity, silver-plated OFC wires in a 4-strand braided structure. It is well made, with aluminum hardware components and an outer sheathing that looks durable and doesn’t produce much friction noise. It is soft enough and bends easily without getting tangled that much.
The cable features a modular plug system and comes equipped with both 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs, while KEFINE’s USB Type-C audio adaptor is available as an optional purchase for $14.99.
The adaptor is equipped with a Conexant CX31993 DAC chip combined with a MAX97220 independent amplifier, which can drive the Arnar to normal listening levels. It supports audio decoding up to 384kHz/32-bit PCM and is a handy solution for casual listening on the go, without the bulk and weight of external DAC dongles.
Accessories
Apart from the modular cable, KEFINE has equipped the Arnar with a hard carrying case, and 12 pairs of ear tips in four different types. The tips come stored in two plastic trays. An excellent accessory bundle for an earphone that retails for $189.
Sensitivity and Impedance
Thanks to its high sensitivity of 107dB and low impedance of 13Ω, the KEFINE Arnar is easy to drive and performs very well with USB DAC dongles and other portable sources. It even sounds good with the USB Type-C audio adaptor. However, it also scales quite well with higher-quality sources, as I found out when using the FiiO M21 and iBasso Nunchaku.
Listening Impressions
The Arnar is the least V-shaped tuned earphone in KEFINE’s lineup. The sub-bass extends very well, and the bass is still mildly emphasized, but not as much as in the Delci or the Quatio. The low end is prominent enough to sound pleasing and impressive with modern electronic tunes, but it also retains acceptable tonal precision for classical music or jazz without overpowering the midrange.
Out of my earphone collection, the Arnar would not be my first choice for classical music. However, I did enjoy it without finding much to complain about. It may not be ideal for critical listening, but it is a great all-rounder for diverse playlists, where the listener can jump from Queen’s Innuendo to Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody and still have a grin on their face.
With so many ear tips, you can also fine-tune the bass, the thin sided ones result in more anemic and thin bass, while the thicker variants produce the most visceral and weighty low-end.
Planar Quality Bass
From a technical point of view, the bass is excellent, with the typical planar quality to it. Fast but not too lean or dry, it is tight and controlled, with class-leading definition and layering for the category. It doesn’t have the physical impact of a similarly sized dynamic driver, but it is surprisingly dynamic and doesn’t sound too thin or lacking in muscle. The Arnar doesn’t sound compressed and handles busy passagework with ease, never losing control.
The Mids
The mid-range is mostly balanced, starting to rise gently past the 1kHz mark and peaking at around 2kHz to 3kHz, following the nowadays typical tuning that emphasizes the upper mid-range. This approach works well by adding clarity and vocal presence, but it can also easily get out of hand and end up sounding shrill and piercing.
This is where the Arnar’s tuning filters come into play, adjusting the amplitude in the 2-3kHz region. They are very effective in this regard, fine-tuning only this portion of the audible spectrum while leaving everything else practically untouched.
The Tuning Nozzles
The stock silver-colored nozzles, which are the most balanced option, already make the upper mid-range sound mildly prominent, but not too piercing or fatiguing. There is plenty of clarity, and high-pitched female voices become quite forward, as some people like them, but other instruments sound just a little more metallic and sharp than ideal.
Switch to the gold nozzles, and things instantly get out of control. They add a few more dB, making this region considerably more piercing and fatiguing. The timbre becomes too metallic and artificial, while certain overtones receive uneven emphasis and sound completely out of tune.
I don’t really know who is going to like the gold nozzles. Maybe they can work well with fast electronic music, where the listener seeks the best possible clarity and definition without caring about timbre.
Thankfully, there is also a third, black-colored filter that comes to the rescue and restores tonal balance. It attenuates the 2–3kHz region even more than the silver nozzles, making everything sound natural and realistic without sacrificing clarity and definition. This is the best-sounding filter, producing the most lifelike and convincing timbre, leaving technicalities and clarity untouched.
The Treble
The treble is very well tuned, neither dark nor veiled, but sufficiently sparkling and energetic while remaining controlled and mostly smooth. The Arnar is resolving without sounding analytical, fast without lacking natural decay, and refined enough to avoid any notable metallic artificiality in the higher frequencies.
KEFINE’s approach, with the planar driver taking care of the whole frequency range and the BA driver kicking in to reinforce the upper frequencies, results in a very cohesive and holistic sonic performance that is not usually found in typical hybrid in-ear monitors at this price point.
And the Soundstage
The soundstage is wide, open and spacious, with planar imaging precision. It has a solid center image that extends proportionally to the left and right, keeping the size of the ensemble realistic and convincing.
There isn’t much depth or holography, but there is very good separation along the horizontal axis and plenty of ambience to communicate. The listener is positioned closer to the stage rather than sitting midway, but the presentation never feels closed-in or congested.
In the End
KEFINE has so far managed to offer well-tuned earphones that deliver sonic performance above their asking price, and the Arnar is no exception.
Actually, I think the Arnar is KEFINE’s best-tuned and best-implemented earphone to date, offering excellent tonal balance that makes it pleasing and convincing with all types of music, while also remaining technically proficient and competitive.
Its sonic performance makes it one of the best and most interesting options in its price category, not to mention the generous accessory bundle that adds even greater value to the overall package.
The Arnar ticks all the boxes and stands as one of the most accomplished earphones in its category, showing how far KEFINE has come and pointing to an even more promising future.
Pros
Balanced tuning suitable for all kinds of music
Fantastic planar-quality bass
Mostly balanced mids, especially with the black nozzles
Smooth yet extended and resolving treble
Spacious and wide soundstage
Very cohesive sound signature
Effective fine-tuning through interchangeable nozzles
Compact, lightweight, and comfortable ear shells
Excellent build quality and great looks
Modular cable and plenty of ear tips
Great value
Cons
The low-end is not exactly tonally correct
Not ideal for critical listening
Soundstage has limited depth
Gold nozzles sound too sharp
Copyright – 2026.
Authored by Petros Laskis for Ichos Reviews. All content is 100% human original and copyrighted. Republishing full reviews or portions without written permission is prohibited. Excerpts up to 100 words are allowed with a direct link.
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