Tripowin X HBB Kailua - Two Currents: Groove and Flow

[@taipan75]

This is a really excellent review!!!!! Touches a lot of great points and is a must for new people to the hobby as Paul explains things so well...... Fatiguing Wow sets versus Long Listening sets is so true and some reviewers miss this key point... Top marks Paul ****

[@fiddlix]

Excellent review, I have this set coming tomorrow courtesy of the Amazon truck. This set looks right in my wheelhouse. 👍 thank you.

[@c3ll093]

looks like freezer from dragonball

[@testname2635]

😂😂😂

[@DipJyotiDeka]

Freeza

[@calebz5890]

Very thorough and well done review. Much appreciated 🙏

[@PaulWasabii]

Glad it was helpful!

[@simplyalif]

I love how no one says that it's plain ugly 🙄

[@r00s.]

Well, That's just, like, your opinion, maaaan!

[@cameleon303]

I find it pretty ugly too but ordered one anyway

[@MrJabinho]

I agree.

[@xeruskun]

Looks like a toy ngl. Much worser than SalZero.

[@araakin]

Because it isn't. Cool minimalistic non gamery bling design

[@JohnClarkW]

I think you are correct about the cable and fit combo. I think the low angle nozzle contributes to shallow fit. With the stock cable, I actually had to go up a size on the ear tips to get a good fit. The treble is great for long sessions, and seems like it staked out a spot as the toned down Olina tuning, for both bass and treble. That pushes the mids forward, and the smooth and clean bass is great. I have a ton of overlap in music library with HBB, so his tunings tend to work well for me. I am really enjoying the Kailua, and have been thinking about modding one for some more sub-bass.

[@PaulWasabii]

I know there is something to the fit, asked a couple others, and I just tell people to keep trying. The long session treble is interesting, I think people are saying its harsh or slightly bright are having fit issues. It is HBB and how he likes his library, at some point it should resemble all the things he talks about in his reviews. If not, change the tips or cable or both until it sticks in your ear.

[@MaLaLiberty]

The cable looks like a tripowin karen with silver coating. I really like the karen

[@PaulWasabii]

Yes, it is not far from other thin cables at all. As I said, I think that was an intentional pairing to help with fit but could be wrong. I will also say that I used a thicker NiceHCK RedAg and those earhooks helped keep the shells in place and tight.

[@RichardButt]

waifu fans might like them because they look like frieza

[@1fareast14]

Two other reviews have that thumbnail

[@PaulWasabii]

Now I feel left out, not enough of a waifu fan. Maybe HBB is more of a waifu fan than I thought.

[@Rsalmond83]

Frieza is an anime character in the Dragonball series and is not a waifu. He’s a male.

[@HKS-le3hi]

Not so sure about this being the fusion of mele and olina....

[@PaulWasabii]

If you find a mid-bass banger like Mele and the rest like Olina, let me know. Probably would take a 2DD also finding that pairing.

[@Ghasi83]

Hey great content. Subbed instantly. I was wondering what would be a upgrade to truthear zero? Looking to buy an IEM for my wife. I bought them a month back and she loved it. I EQd it to little neutral with bass and loved it. My budget is 50-80$. Please help me out.

[@PaulWasabii]

Something like Olina SE. The problem with Zero is that configuration is not easy to do, HBB did it twice, Kailua and QKZ x HBB Khan. There isn't really a direct upgrade path in that two driver configuration. If you are into EQ, Simgot EA500 has an amazing driver but may need some EQ tweaks to increase bass and lower treble. Between Olina SE and EA500, those are the price range kings. Lower in that range, Tangzu Wan'er or Kiwi Ears Cadenza. Lots of sets coming out as the year ends so not a horrible idea to pick up a cheaper set now and watch what happens.

[@NewDarkKnight]

I have this problem with ea500. Sounds great but gets fatiguing. So what would be a good relaxing set around this price range pop, edm?

[@PaulWasabii]

EA500 and EDM probably needs their mod kit. Put a damper on the nozzle, maybe one on the vent.

[@siddhesh2888]

How are these Kailua compared to QKZ X HBB KHAN? Both have 2DD config and tuned by same the guy however, Kailua are almost double the price of KHAN. Which one do you recommend?

[@PaulWasabii]

I don't know if I would own both especially if you like Khan. I like Khan too. I think Khan, Kai, QKZxHBB, and Kailua are targeted to the same listener type but Kailua really tries to fix the disjointed midbass of Khan so a smoother transition from sub to mid. It is a very specific thing that some people will notice with Khan, most will not but I think HBB prefers the Kailua smooth transition and started talking about that preference almost right after Khan.

[@siddhesh2888]

@@PaulWasabii Thanks for your valuable response. I will save more and buy Kailua instead of KHAN.

[@matusjurcik6974]

would it be a good buy for 47 bucks?

[@PaulWasabii]

Its a good buy, but the signature and what you are looking for is more important. One of those sets where you are better off if you have a few sets of tips to try also. Lean the sound in different directions.

[@matusjurcik6974]

@@PaulWasabii I didnt buy them (didnt notice your response), but now are only 29bucks. So will buy them now. Thanks :)

[@r00s.]

Trying to decide between this and the Legato currently. Any advice?

[@PaulWasabii]

Legato has more bass but a bit harder to find a source pair to open it up. That lower treble level needs a bit more volume and its just not the easiest one to drive. The reward is more bass. Go back and read/watch the reviews on Legato, lots of source pairing mentions. If max bass isn't your #1, then consider your playlist being similar to HBB's tracks he mentions often. He did tune for that style so if your playlist isn't far from his and don't want to mess with sources, Kailua is worth a try. Both have warm, bassy vibes and smoother rather than banging bass styles.

[@amanieux]

is it a olina upgrade ?

[@PaulWasabii]

Maybe Khan? Closer to Khan/Legato

[@amanieux]

Barbie themed iem ? Nice to see 10 years old girls coming into the hobby :) this HBB really is a visionnaire;)

[@genaishivatov1737]

Well, these headphones are purely for girls. A man, if there is at least something masculine in him, he won’t wear this ))