Truthear Nova VS KBEAR KB16 Cepheus

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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Truthear Nova and KBEAR KB16 Cepheus use 1DD+4BA and 2DD+6BA driver setups respectively. Truthear Nova costs $150 while KBEAR KB16 Cepheus costs $180. KBEAR KB16 Cepheus is $30 more expensive. Both score 6.8 from reviewers. Truthear Nova has significantly better mids with a 1.8-point edge, Truthear Nova has better treble with a 0.6-point edge, Truthear Nova has better dynamics with a 0.8-point edge and Truthear Nova has significantly better soundstage with a 1-point edge.

Insights

Metric Truthear Nova KBEAR KB16 Cepheus
Bass 7 6.8
Mids 6.8 5
Treble 6.6 6
Details 7.3 6.8
Soundstage 7 6
Imaging 7 6.8
Dynamics 6.8 6
Tonality 6.7 5.8
Technicalities 6.8 6
Take these comparisons with a grain of salt—we don't have enough KBEAR KB16 Cepheus reviews saved yet to provide an unbiased result.

Truthear Nova Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Fresh Reviews
Smirk Audio Shuwa-T Yifang Tim Tuned Gizaudio Axel Super* Review
Jaytiss Jays Audio Head-Fi.org

Average Reviewer Score:

6.8

Cautiously Favorable

KBEAR KB16 Cepheus Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Jaytiss

Average Reviewer Score:

6.8

Cautiously Favorable

Reviews Comparison

Truthear Nova reviewed by Jaytiss

Jaytiss 7.3 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
C+ Tech
Nice set, great bass. Too much upper mids.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: B Treble: C+ Dynamics: A- Soundstage: A-
YouTube video thumbnail

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KBEAR KB16 Cepheus reviewed by Jaytiss

2025-09-03
Jaytiss 6.8 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
B Tech
Enjoyable, but not really worth it.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: C+ Treble: B Dynamics: B Soundstage: B

Truthear Nova (more reviews)

Truthear Nova reviewed by Jays Audio

Jays Audio 7 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A Tech
NEED FOAM TIPS makes the treble smooth and clear. Very clean harman sound with smooth but well extended treble/one of the best treble under $200, no roll-off. The pinnacle of trying not to offend anyone, but light bass/low-end; another harman.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
YouTube video thumbnail

Truthear Nova reviewed by Smirk Audio

Smirk Audio 6.9 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
check links for more info:

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

Bass: A- Mids: A- Treble: A- Dynamics: B+ Details: A- Imaging: A-

Truthear Nova reviewed by Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 6.8 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A- Tech
Overall clean sounding, works well with quicker pop genres (Jpop/Kpop) Male vocals recessed, does not work well with the other half of Jpop/Kpop. Lower midrange suffers from thinner note weight (tuning)

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

Bass: A- Mids: B Treble: B+ Soundstage: A- Details: A Imaging: A-

Truthear Nova reviewed by Yifang

Yifang 6.5 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
B+ Tech
check links for more info:

Yifang original ranking

Yifang Youtube Channel

Truthear Nova reviewed by Tim Tuned

Tim Tuned 6.5 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A+ Tech
check links for more info:

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
Bass: A- Mids: A+ Treble: A+

Truthear Nova reviewed by Gizaudio Axel

Gizaudio Axel 6.5 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
A solid reference. Harman-style sound signature with solid sub-bass, clean forward vocals, smooth treble extension, and great detail. Could use more bass, vocals can feel lean and a bit intense at times.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel

Truthear Nova reviewed by Super* Review

Super* Review 6* * score rescaled + normalized
A little bit thin and shrill sounding. Hexa costs half as much and it's the better IEM.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
YouTube video thumbnail

Truthear Nova reviewed by Fresh Reviews

Fresh Reviews 5.5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score
Borders C+

Fresh Reviews original ranking

Fresh Reviews Youtube Channel
YouTube video thumbnail

Truthear Nova reviewed by Head-Fi.org

Head-Fi.org 7.5 * score rescaled + normalized
12 community members have rated the TruthEar Nova at an average of 4.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Very Positive.

URL to full Review

Head-Fi.org original ranking

Truthear Nova User Review Score

Average User Scores

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KBEAR KB16 Cepheus User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Truthear Nova Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.8

Gaming Grade

B+

KBEAR KB16 Cepheus Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

5.9

Gaming Grade

B-

Truthear Nova Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B+
  • It sounds pleasant overall, with some uneven spots that hint at room for refinement. Vocals remain pleasant despite the imperfections.

Average Technical Grade

B+
  • Technical ability is serviceable, keeping basic detail intact across simpler tracks. It keeps up with acoustic tracks without much fuss.
Bass A-
Expect a commanding bass response that reaches deep without clouding the mix. There's both slam and nuance in equal measure.
Mids B+
Expect a confident midrange that keeps details audible without harshness. Acoustic arrangements sound engaging.
Treble B+
The top end is engaging and airy, yet never overbearing. Brass and strings feel energetic.
Dynamics B+
Dynamic expression is good, delivering solid impact and convincing contrast. Percussion lands with convincing weight.
Soundstage A-
Immersion steps up dramatically as width, depth, and height integrate into a cohesive hologram. Everything sounds naturally spaced.
Details A-
Textural subtleties glow, giving each recording a beautifully illuminated character. It exposes mix decisions with precision.
Imaging A-
Depth mapping feels natural and accurate, supporting convincing immersion. Depth mapping feels precise and natural.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance.

KBEAR KB16 Cepheus Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B-
  • It sounds pleasant overall, with some uneven spots that hint at room for refinement. Vocals remain pleasant despite the imperfections.

Average Technical Grade

B
  • Technical ability is serviceable, keeping basic detail intact across simpler tracks. It keeps up with acoustic tracks without much fuss.
Mids C+
The region sounds agreeable overall, delivering clarity without flashiness. Slight warmth keeps things easy-going.
Treble B
Highs sound lively and extended while remaining controlled. Detail retrieval keeps shimmer intact.
Dynamics B
You get confident dynamics that track both macro swings and rhythmic drive. There's life in every crescendo.
Soundstage B
Good soundstage with proper width and depth, placing instruments in clearly defined positions. Instruments sit in their own lanes.
Gaming B-
Moderate spatial presentation conveys general directionality. Suitable for casual play where precision isn't critical.

Truthear Nova User Reviews

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KBEAR KB16 Cepheus User Reviews

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