For two weeks, the USB-C KEFINE Loric has taken the place of a dongle DAC in my commute bag. Deep bass and smooth treble define the sound. The stage stays close rather than spreading widely around me. It’s an easy pair to settle into for a long session, especially if comfort matters more than dissecting every detail.
Unboxing and Accessories
Inside the box, you get the earpieces, cable, carrying pouch, and 6 pairs of ear tips across S, M, and L sizes. I received the USB-C cable version equipped with an inline microphone. It uses a detachable 0.78mm 2-pin connector, making cable swaps completely hassle-free. Including a carrying pouch at this price point is definitely a welcome touch.
Design and Fit: Modern Simplicity
The restrained design was the first thing I liked. A black metal faceplate sits over a smoky, translucent shell, with gentle wave lines and a small logo. Among more elaborate earphones, it feels clean and modern. Seeing a little of the internals adds interest without making it busy. The fit stayed comfortable throughout two weeks, including full round-trip commutes without soreness.
Sound Impressions
For this testing period, I plugged the USB-C cable straight into my PC and smartphone without an external DAC. With official specs rated at 20Ω impedance and 107dB sensitivity, driving them is completely effortless. For two full weeks, I listened exclusively via this direct connection.
The treble never pierced my ears. When female vocals reached high notes in Woo Ye-rin’s “Red Rose,” they extended smoothly without sharp edges or sibilance. Even at peak volume, there was no stinging harshness. Thanks to that, I could loop the same track over and over without ear fatigue. It is not tuned for sparkling brilliance, so anyone hoping for airy, energetic treble might find it a bit laid-back. Still, it never sounds congested or suffocated by the bass.
The midrange takes on the warmth and energy rising from the bass. That influence reaches beneath the singer, giving the overall tone a fuller, thicker character. Guitars and pianos have a substantial body rather than a dry outline. When the arrangement becomes crowded, the same fullness can make the boundaries between parts less transparent. It is a qualification worth knowing if clean separation through the middle is the main aim. To my ears, that gentle swell is part of the earphones’ individual character. The sound offers richness and ease rather than insisting that every instrument be cut away from its neighbor.
The bass was where I was most surprised. I had no idea the low, rumbling drone in “Why So Serious?” could reach this deep down. Powered by a single 10mm dynamic driver, it reaches right down into sub-bass vibrations you can feel under your feet. When the tension peaks and drops, your body reacts before your ears even register it. What impressed me most was how it established authority through sheer depth rather than overwhelming volume. Getting this level of depth straight out of a smartphone was a massive plus.
The soundstage feels intimate rather than expansive. Instead of stretching far outside your head, the music gathers right in front of your ears. While it delivers strong immersion, those expecting an expansive, concert-hall scale might feel underwhelmed. Left-right imaging is distinct, making it easy to track instrument placement. That said, in tracks packed with heavy low-end passages, some subtle micro-details tend to take a back seat.
Everyday Real-World Experience
Leaving the DAC Dongle at Home for Commutes
The biggest change during the review period was in the commute bag. Plugging the cable straight into the smartphone meant leaving the separate DAC at home. Removing that one device also meant fewer connections and fewer opportunities for the leads to tangle. The inline remote let me adjust the volume without repeatedly taking the phone from my pocket. Once everything was in the supplied pouch, it was easy to carry in the bag. None of those details creates a dramatic story in isolation, but together they made listening on the commute simpler. The uncomplicated connection is a real part of why I kept using this version.
Zoning Out at a Weekend Cafe
This past weekend, I spent a good while just relaxing at a cafe, lost in thought. Plugging the Loric directly into my phone and letting music wash over me made time fly. Even after wearing them for hours, my ears felt completely fine. Back home, I simply plugged them straight into my PC. The only slight drawback is that since this version is dedicated USB-C, you will need a separate cable if you want to use it with 3.5mm headphone jacks.
Who Should Buy and Who Should Pass
Recommended For:
- Those who prefer minimalist, understated aesthetics over flashy patterns
- Commuters who want a simple, lightweight setup without carrying a DAC dongle
- Listeners seeking deep bass and fatigue-free treble for long sessions
Not Recommended For:
- Audiophiles who prioritize a wide, expansive soundstage
- Anyone looking for crisp, transparent separation between bass and mids
Built for Listening Habits, Not Just Specific Genres
The combination of smooth treble and deep bass suits music left playing for a long, relaxed session. Quiet songs and tracks with a stronger low end are both within its reach, rather than requiring a narrow set of genres. The limitation becomes more obvious when a recording depends on a large sense of space. In that situation, the close stage can feel restrictive. Otherwise, I see this as an all-rounder chosen for a way of listening: comfortable, unhurried, and easy to connect. That daily habit says more about its role than assigning it to one particular musical style.
