Compared to Nostalgia Audio Durandal (Review link)
When it comes to comparing ThorKing, Nostalgia Durandal is a very ‘colorful’ IEM – not that the timbre is colored, but in characteristics overall. To first cover the sound signature differences, both IEMs are quite similar in sound signature, but Durandal’s bass is thicker in color and a bit more plentiful in quantity. Durandal also has the nature of creating a silky yet smooth sound as ThorKing does, though Durandal creates a very unique soundfield that makes the sound more spatial and holographic than ThorKing (for further details about Durandal’s unique headroom, I recommend reading our Durandal review). The bass is a lot more elastic, and mid-highs are crispier and faster in strike/retrieval.
Despite the clarification I’ve made regarding Durandal’s timbre, it’s nevertheless still more colorful than ThorKing. This is a matter of taste, and I think most wouldn’t mind Durandal’s such a sound presentation as it’s tuned to sound very enjoyable and tasteful while not crossing the accuracy and neutrality. Those who are conservative in keeping that DD-friendly, organic, and neutral sound, ThorKing would suit you better.
Compared to Canpur CP74E (Review link)
Doing a side-by-side comparison with ThorKing, the major difference that hits my ears is the stiffer textures and kicks. The bass slams with higher density and penetration, which offer snappier lows and more resolving mids. However, this also means the sound is relatively faster to fatigue your ears. Alongside, the CP74E has a more BA-ish texture for lows and mids, overall falling a bit short when it comes to creating an organic, neutral timbre. Low reverbs are more reserved, and the sound overall focuses more on separation and tonal clarity.
Canpur CP74E also has a brighter timbre than ThorKing, but still within the neutral-bright range. In contrast, ThorKing has an overall calmer ambiance and flatter sound signature, with a DD-based sound that draws out more warmth and smoothness. The CP74E highlights more crispness and transparency, which makes it better for picking up the trebles with stronger clarity, though the overall phasing sounds more natural on ThorKing, which sounds very natural, phasing as if being played by a single driver. For this, I consider it to be a matter of taste as those who are used to typical hybrid sounds wouldn’t mind or instead prefer them over the ‘natural’ phasing.
Power Within Peace, Force Within Tranquility.
In case you’ve been used to listening to provocative or bombastic IEMs, the very initial contact with ThorKing may not leave an impression that is as striking as those sounds, well, because I was. However, once your ears soon get familiar with ThorKing’s smooth and calm-sounding nature, that’s when you’ll start feeling its true authority – a long-lasting, tasteful sound that doesn’t easily bore you out while it brings out the elastic dynamics and silky textures.
ThorKing’s sonic characteristics reminded me of Forte Ears Macbeth, but with a flatter sound signature and smoother vocals. It’s smooth, organic, and flat, yet the sound is tight, in-depth, and crisp. The drivers are tuned to achieve an exceptionally seamless connection, making this, in my opinion, the most cohesive multi-driver IEM Kinera has produced so far. If you’re seeking reference-style tuning that delivers highly technical performance while maintaining neutrality and a well-extended low-mid range, make sure to give ThorKing a listen – it will demonstrate how musical power can coexist with tranquility…
