Today’s review is about the KEFINE Klean SV, an entry-level, single dynamic driver in-ear monitor with interchangeable nozzles. The Klean SV is essentially a slightly re-tuned and more generously accessorized version of the KEFINE Klean 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 KEFINE Klean SV is $54 and is available to buy from Amazon.
About KEFINE
KEFINE is a relatively young company founded by a team of passionate audio enthusiasts with extensive experience in earphone design and manufacturing.
Guided by a clear vision of delivering high quality sound at an accessible price, the brand focuses on creating in-ear monitors that combine strong performance, solid build quality, and exceptional value for money.
Founded in 2022, KEFINE has been remarkably active, releasing no fewer than six different in-ear monitors in just a few years. The Klean, Klean SV, Delci, Delci AE, Klanar, Arnar and Quatio are their names.
Ichos Reviews has been following KEFINE since the very beginning, having already reviewed three of their earphones, excluding the Klean SV that is being reviewed today and the Arnar that will follow soon.
KEFINE Klean SV
The KEFINE Klean SV is a single dynamic driver in-ear monitor built around a 10mm driver with a DLC diaphragm made of the latest diamond-like carbon material.
DLC is one of the hardest materials in the world with high mechanical strength but it is also extremely lightweight, making it ideal for use in audio applications.
A dual-cavity driver structure is also used to ensure sound consistency and accuracy throughout the whole frequency range.
Interchangeable Nozzle System
The Klean SV features a screw-on interchangeable nozzle system that helps the user fine-tune the sound. The nozzles also protect the sound tubes from debris and wax, thus extending the working life of the earphones.
Unlike the Klean OG, which comes with two interchangeable nozzles, the SV version adds a third one for even greater tuning versatility. The silver nozzles provide the most balanced sound signature, the gold ones enhance transparency by boosting the upper midrange and treble, while the black nozzles sound warmer by slightly attenuating the higher frequencies.
Design and Wearing Comfort
The ear shells have the exact same design and faceplate pattern as the Klean OG, but instead of black, they now feature a polished silver finish. They are made using an alloy casting technique, with the same tool used for each earpiece to ensure a consistent sound chamber shape, resulting in excellent channel matching.
The faceplates and the main body are joined together with a screw rather than using an adhesive compound thus eliminating the risk of failure over time or after accidental misuse. The Klean SV is exceptionally well made and looks much more premium and durable than the price would suggest.
At 10g per earpiece, the ear shells are not as lightweight as they would be if they were made from a resin compound, but they are very compact and anatomically designed, making them exceptionally comfortable to wear. Just like the Klean, the Klean SV literally disappears into the ears and is suitable for extended listening sessions without causing any discomfort, while also offering better-than-average passive noise attenuation.
Cable and Accessories
The Klean SV is equipped with a 2-pin detachable cable made of silver-plated copper wires. It is a two-core design with three strands per core and high quality aluminum hardware parts.
The cable is durable, lightweight, it doesn’t get easily tangled and exhibits low microphonic noise. Actually, it is the exact same cable supplied with the Klean, but this time buyers are given the option to choose between a 3.5mm, a 4.4mm, or a USB Type-C plug. The USB Type-C version cable is equipped with a microphone and in-line controls.
Also included in the package are a high quality hard carrying case and two sets of ear tips, one more than the Klean.
Power Requirements
Rated at 32Ω impedance with 107dB of sensitivity, the Klean SV is very easy to drive and works well with most portable USB DACs, like the NICEHCK Octave and the Cayin RU3.
Listening Impressions
The original KEFINE Klean is still admired for its smooth and easy-listening sound signature, which follows the popular Harman target curve. It is an earphone that doesn’t break new ground, but it sounds genuinely enjoyable with most music genres while also maintaining competitive transparency and technical performance.
(The Klean OG is compared with its silver nozzles installed unless noted otherwise)
With the silver nozzles installed, the Klean SV picks up from where the Klean OG has left off, following a slightly different tuning direction, most notably in the lower frequencies, which are just a touch less emphasized.
The overall tuning philosophy still follows the Harman target, but this time the bass is a little less prominent, while the upper treble is smoother, more refined and less aggressive. The Klean SV sounds like an interesting variation on the same theme rather than something entirely new.
When listening to classical music, the Klean SV offers slightly better bass accuracy than the Klean, as low-pitched instruments are reproduced more faithfully and naturally. Still, the Klean SV is not an earphone designed for critical listening. It is better suited to other music genres, as its primary goal is to deliver a fun, youthful, and engaging sonic profile, tailored for everyday casual use.
It maintains good sub-bass extension without overpowering the higher frequencies, while also sounding cleaner and more technically capable than the Klean. The bass is a little tighter, faster, and better controlled without sacrificing much texture weight or physical punch.
In the midrange, the two earphones sound almost identical as KEFINE decided to stay true to the original tuning, which was already balanced enough, so there was little need for further refinement.
More Listening Impressions
The Klean SV sounds expressive and cohesive, with a mostly natural and realistic timbre throughout the mids, while also maintaining good transparency and articulation. It connects the listener with the music and is free from any sense of sterility or artificial coloration.
Some minor tuning adjustments have been applied to the treble, which is now less aggressive in the presence region, resulting in a smoother and more enjoyable listening experience. At the same time, the SV has become a little more energetic and prominent in the upper mid-range but without turning into a strident or unpleasant listening experience.
The textures are more refined, while the slight metallic artificiality present in the original model has been greatly reduced. The Klean SV is a mature earphone that sounds more natural and realistic than the Klean OG while maintaining the same sonic identity that made the original so enjoyable to listen to for hours.
Resolution and micro-dynamics are also slightly improved and the soundstage feels a little more expanded and spacious with more accurate imaging, especially when using the gold nozzles that are not available in the Klean OG.
Nozzle Talk
The gold nozzles, which are exclusive to the Klean SV, are designed to emphasize the upper mid-range, making it sound more present and energetic in a way that doesn’t become too fatiguing. The earphone becomes more lively and airy, although some people may find the gold nozzles a little too sharp sounding for their taste.
There is an important tuning distinction regarding the black nozzles and how they function in each model. They should not be confused, because on the Klean OG, the black nozzles are intended to add more air to the upper mid-range and gently emphasize the treble while on the Klean SV, they work in the opposite direction. They slightly enhance the bass (or at least create the audible impression of doing so) while they also attenuate parts of the upper mid-range and treble. As a result, the earphones sound warmer, slightly darker and smoother than with the silver nozzles.
In summary, by selecting the right nozzles, the Klean SV can be fine-tuned to sound either warmer or brighter, in a way that the Klean OG cannot achieve with its own nozzle options.
In the End
The Klean SV is yet another example of why KEFINE is becoming so popular among audio enthusiasts and how well they understand their craft. While it is not an entirely new model, it is an interesting variation of an already successful earphone.
Slightly differently tuned than the Klean OG, the SV is aimed at listeners looking for a more technical and reference-oriented presentation. For just $5 more, it also includes an extra set of ear tips and an additional pair of nozzles, making it an even better value than the original.
The KEFINE Klean SV is one of the best entry-level earphones currently available, and it comes highly recommended without any hesitation.
Copyright – 2026.
Authored by Petros Laskis for Ichos Reviews. All content is original and copyrighted. Republishing full reviews or portions without written permission is prohibited. Excerpts up to 100 words are allowed with a direct link.
+ Harman-inspired tuning
+ Improved refinement over the original
+ Tight, controlled bass with good extension
+ Natural and realistic timbre
+ Better resolution and soundstage than the original model
+ Three interchangeable nozzles
+ Premium construction with excellent build quality
+ Extremely comfortable fit with good passive isolation
+ Selectable cable terminations (3.5mm, 4.4mm, or USB-C)
+ Easy to drive from any portable source
+ Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Evolutionary rather than revolutionary
- Not intended for analytical or critical listening
- Slightly leaner textures than the original
- Gold nozzles may sound a little too sharp for treble sensitive listeners
- Midrange tuning is very similar to the original
- Metal shells are slightly heavier than resin designs
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