Kbear KB02 VS ooopusX Op.24

Youtube Video Summary

KBEAR KB02 is a $40 bass-centric hybrid that pairs a beryllium-plated 10 mm dynamic driver with an elastic "bone conduction" element. The shell vibrates when tapped, and in ear that translates to fuller, more separated vocals than expected at this price. Unit variance seems possible (a noticeable dip near ~200 Hz showed on this sample), but the balance feels lower-tilted and cohesive, with a deliberate sub-bass shelf of roughly 11–12 dB underpinning the presentation.

The mids come across warm and weighty, with vocals popping ahead of the bass bed, while upper mids do not sound as elevated as graphs suggest (around 2–3 dB lower than Harman in ear). Treble rolls off early, trading air and sparkle for a more natural, non-fatiguing tone; treble chasers will look elsewhere. The result is a tuning closer to the original BL-03 character than the brighter BL-03 2.

Stage is surprisingly convincing for the money: bass sits lower, vocals float a touch higher, and the overall space feels organized rather than congested. It is a pleasant, richer, lower-centric listen that matches modern pop well (think Taylor Swift "Midnights"), with the bone-conduction element seemingly adding density to voices. Not huge or ultra wide, but the choices here make musical sense and deliver more than the spec sheet implies.

Youtube Video Summary

Op.24 goes in with a quirky two-tuning “turntable,” but both positions behave almost the same where it matters. A big 3–4 kHz elevation shoves door kicks, gunfire, and certain effects to the front, creating a shouty and fatiguing presentation that masks crucial cues. Imaging itself isn’t terrible—depth perception can even edge out Simgot’s EG280—but the weak points are separation and layering: simultaneous cues merge into a “mashed potato” blur, so tracking multiple targets behind cover becomes unreliable. The stock recessed 2-pin cable also disappoints, though it was tested here with a consistent aftermarket cable.

In Apex Legends, the overcooked presence region turns gunfire and abilities into a flashbang effect that drowns out slides, taps, and flanks, resulting in a C+. In Valorant, deathmatch feels okay at first thanks to decent imaging, but team scenarios expose the same weaknesses: abilities (e.g., orbs, flashes, concussives) spike uncomfortably and layering collapses when two sets of footsteps stack behind a wall—settling at a B-. With scores this middling, CS2 and CoD weren’t pursued; overall, Op.24’s switchable tuning doesn’t fix the core balance issues that hold it back for competitive gaming.