Kinera NanNa 2.0 VS. Tri Starlight Review

Author: Timmy Vangtan is an audio gear and music enthusiast from Las Vegas. He has a broad taste, enjoying most genres, with a special love for atmospheric strings and pop music.
Although, usually a headphone fanatic, a recent discovery into high-end IEMs has sparked a newfound obsession.
Fast forward about a year, having now explored many more IEMs, Timmy now eagerly wants to share his best findings with the world. 

 If you, like myself, have watched Zeos from Z-Reviews praised the Kinera Nan Na 2.0, then three weeks later, raving about how the Tri Starlights are the Nan Na 2.0 but with ALL THE FUN. You might be stuck wondering which pair to get. They are both fairly pricey, so you don't want to buy both, but you love and trust Z-Reviews so much that you need at least one of the pairs. This article is for you! 

We'll start with aspects from each IEMs, then move on to comparisons and which one I recommend for various music tastes.

Kinera Nan Na 2.0

Kinera Nan Na 2.0 has a unique and easy feeling to the overall sound. The bass is punchy and far extending, treble is perfectly bright, and the mids, although recessed, are easy to listen to and well pronounced. The sound's unique aspect comes from the overall buttery smooth and ambient vibe throughout the sound signature. I would describe the signature as dreamlike and significant. 

Vocals have almost a slight reverb effect that enhances the feeling of vastness. The artist comes across as fulfilling, at times mesmerizing, warm, and gratifying. 

Bass and Sub Bass reach far and come across very rumbly smooth. It's just impactful enough to be fun while the overall smoothness feels almost ethereal and satisfying. 

Treble is pleasant and vivid. I'm slightly bright sensitive. These are just enough top-end to satisfy my taste and never feel intrusive or fatiguing.

Details, this is where it might be a deal-breaker for a few people. For the price, these are not the most detailed IEMs. I don't see this as a bad trait due to how enjoyable the dreamlike aspects are. However, for anyone looking for a more technical experience, these may fall short of expectations for the price. 

The soundstage is average, not impressively wide, but not disappointing by any means. It reaches out about half an inch from my ears. If wide soundstage is what you're looking for, these might be just enough to be content with but not going to be impressive.

Pros

• Sounds pleasing with 95% of tracks. Some tracks with heavy bass emphasis or require a more impactful delivery might feel lacking. Other than those, I was satisfied, at times impressed, with nearly every song I tested these on.
• Safe to grab for any music taste. If you're looking for a mesmerizing smooth v-shape experience, I highly recommend the Nan Na 2.0.
• Bright sensitive safe. Treble never reaches fatiguing levels.
• Easy to drive, can be powered with a cheap hundred dollars Fiio BTR5.

Cons

• Lacks details, instruments can feel slightly blended on certain songs and is more noticeable the busier the songs are.
• Bass can leave some to be desired if you love extra hard-punching bass.

Personal Notes

These, to me, can be considered a near-perfect pair of high-end IEMs. I haven't found a time while testing these that I felt dissatisfied. I never once felt like switching to other IEMs for any given song. It was the smoothest test experience. At times, I even found myself lost in the music and forgot about the testing altogether! Some music can benefit from having more details and bass impact. However, overall, the downside was never big enough to make any songs unenjoyable or too lacking in any given area.

Tri Starlight

Overall Sound

These can be considered super v-shaped. Bass is hard-hitting and forward, mids are far recessed, and treble is sparkly, sometimes piercing. 

Overall, very fun with some wow factors, but also some caveats. 

Bass is the star aspect of these IEMs. It punches hard with excellent details to boost. Nearly a Bass-head's dream came true. Separations are also excellent. Busier songs with busy low ends are handled perfectly by these IEMs.

Vocals and mids, especially the lower end of mids, are very recessed. The recessed lower mids cause some vocalists to feel thin and congested. In contrast, more powerful vocalists sound more magical and sparkly due to the very pronounced top-end. 

Before we continue with vocals, I have to mention the piercing high trebles. I've found the treble to be too much on a good portion of songs. Some tracks can feel uncomfortably piercing. Top-end vocals and high electronic sounds are significantly affected. For example, most Ariana Grande and Owl City songs are treble-murder for the ears. On some vocalists, I also experienced harsh sibilance. Both these aspects make some songs completely unlistenable. I found myself lowering the volumes while testing to listen to specific artists. However, that reduces the overall experience of the IEMs since it also lowers the volume on every other frequency. If you are sensitive to bright treble, this is easily a deal-breaker, in my opinion. 

Back to the positives, details are delicious across the board. I can easily pick out and listen to each song element without any feeling of muddiness. These have revealed some aspects inside certain songs that I've never heard of before. It's always fun to discover more details in my favorite songs, and these have occasionally delivered that experience. 

Soundstaging is average, similar to Kinera Nan Na 2.0, not lacking but not impressive.

Pros

• Very fun slamming bass with great details. Dance music can be crazy fun on these IEMs.
• The details are revealing with solid separation. It handles busy songs with zero issues.
• Easy to drive, can be powered with a cheap hundred dollars Fiio BTR5.

Cons

• Piercing highs with harsh sibilance. If you are bright sensitive, these will likely be too much.
• Lacks versatility, songs that benefit from more bass or have a powerful vocalist are ideal for these. Any pieces that focus on the vocal experience can come across congested, lacking fullness and emotions. Piercing highs may exclude a sizable group of songs as well. 

Personal Notes

Being slightly sensitive to bright treble, these are 100% unbearable on many songs in my library. However, on tracks that I can listen to, these are almost magically fun. I could not control my head bobbing or body movements on some songs; these IEMs are extremely fun. Unfortunately, the high-end is too much for my taste. I enjoy having long listening sessions after work, and these are too picky with songs to have that experience. 

Comparison

Bass

Kinera Nan Na 2.0 is smoother, further reaching, and more ambient. 

Tri Starlight is significantly more impactful and forward.

Edge: Tri Starlight; Nan Na 2.0 butteriness can't beat the overall fun factor of the Tri Starlight.

Treble

Kinera Nan Na 2.0 is perfectly bright and pronounced without any sign of harshness.

Tri Starlight can be piercing and unbearable at times. 

Edge: Kinera Nan Na 2.0 

Mids & Vocals

Kinera Nan Na 2.0 vocals feel fuller, broader, and more emotional. Mids are warming and enjoyable.

Tri Starlight depends on the vocals; it can either sound congested, thin, or satisfyingly sparkly. Mids feel smaller and less intimate. 

Edge: Kinera Nan Na 2.0. Although both sports recessed mids, the Nan Na 2.0 is simply more enjoyable and fulfilling across the board.

Detail

Kinera Nan Na 2.0 is not very detailed for the price. It has more of an ambient and dreamlike approach to the sound signature. Although very pleasing, technical listeners will find it lacking.

Tri Starlight has great revealing details across the range. Satisfactory for the price.

Edge: Tri Starlight

Conclusion

After testing these side by side extensively, I can comfortably recommend the Kinera Nan Na 2.0 for most listeners. You'll find that most songs are dreamy and delightful to listen to. While it arguably has less "jumping off the wall" wow factor, it compensates that with some of the most relaxing and comfortable listening experiences I've ever experienced. It's competent across the board, besides details, and I've ended up spending considerably more hours on these than the Tri Starlight.  

Couple of reasons I would recommend the Tri Starlight over the Nan Na.

1) You listen to music that is busy or bass-heavy that requires the punch and details that the Starlight delivers. Those songs sound more lively on the Starlight than the Nan Na 2.0. 

2) You're looking for a more fun sound signature, and vocals are not your primary focus.

Both reasons rest on how sensitive you are to treble. Again, if you are sensitive in any way, these are not a safe blind buy.

If price is a concern and the Nan Na 2.0 is just a little bit out of reach for your budget, Hi-Fi Go does have a coupon currently for a $100 discount on the Nan Na 2.0. The discount brings the price down to be very competitive with the Tri Starlight. I don't know how long the coupon will stay active, but please give it a try anyway. 

Tri Starlight has a coupon as well for a $50 discount.

After applying the coupons, the price differences are only $50 more for the Nan Na. 2.0. ($799 for Nan Na 2.0 & $749 for Tri Starlight)

For those prices, the Nan Na 2.0 is worth the extra $50.

Kinera Nan Na 2.0 Coupon: HIFIGONANNA100

Tri Starlight Coupon: TRISTARLIGHT50

Author: Timmy Vangtan