I’d like to thank Bogdan and Jess from FIR Audio for sending us a Project K sample for this review. Your continued support is much appreciated.
FIR Audio’s stellar Frontier Series, especially the co-flagships Xe6 and Rn6, don’t need too much of an introduction. These two IEMs have been trailblazing their way to the top of the IEM popularity charts among audiophiles and performing artists alike for the last three years.
So, when FIR ‘quietly’ announced a mysterious new ‘Project K’ IEM late last year, claiming it as its “pinnacle achievement in audio technology, combining cutting-edge audible and visual designs,” my interest was more than piqued.
That interest intensified when I learned that FIR founder Bogdan Belonozhko also considered it (and I paraphrase) ‘the best IEM he’s made’, all-the-while pricing it significantly lower than the Frontier flagships. It was clear that, with an all-new polished titanium shell and sapphire glass faceplate, FIR was going all-out on the design too:
“At the heart of Project K lies a selection of premium components, meticulously chosen to deliver unparalleled sound quality. It boasts titanium shells and premium silver internal wiring to ensure pristine signal transmission. Crowning this masterpiece is a sapphire glass top, a testament to our commitment to both form and function.”
Could this $2,799 IEM, initially available in a universal shell but soon to be released as a custom IEM too, actually be gunning for the crown so confidently held by its ‘bigger’ Frontier-series brothers for so long? Let’s find out.
Design and fit
Excuse me if I skip right past the unboxing and accessories section because, much like the Frontiers, FIR unboxings are practical rather than performative. Simple black cardboard boxes with thin silkscreened sleeves, a leather or metal puck case, basic (albeit decent) cable, some tips, and a pick tool. Standard fare for any premium IEM, so nothing to see here.
The one immediate difference with Project K is the visuals. This is a gorgeous IEM. The polished titanium gives the ergonomic, relatively small shells an uber-premium appearance, capped with a stunning sapphire glass top that’s basically jewelry.
Ergonomically, Project K follows the same template as the Frontier universals, slightly heavier than Rn6 but significantly lighter than the stainless steel Xe6. It’s an easy fit too, as long as your find the right tips.
One notable ‘upgrade’ over the Frontiers is the stock cable – a 4-core silver plated copper cable with silver plated shielding. It definitely looks the part, almost colour-matching the titanium with nickel-plated hardware. Nice touch.
Tech and specs
To say that Project K is the prettiest FIR IEM to date is a given, subjective as that may be. It really does look and feel very, very well made, something I’ve come to expect from a company that counts SZA and Sabrina Carpenter as customers.
But what’s inside these premium IEMs is arguably even more impressive than what’s on the outside.
At its core, Project K is a 5-driver hybrid, with one 9mm Kinetic Bass dynamic driver for lows, two OpenDriver balanced armature drivers for mids, one OpenDriver balanced armature Driver for high-mids, and one OpenDriver balanced armature driver for highs (with an additional sound reflector).
If you’ve spotted some familiar technologies to the Frontiers in those specs, well done. If you’ve also noticed some consolidation (or less diplomatically, cost cutting), you’re not wrong either.
Yes, Project K features FIR’s fantastic Kinetic Bass ‘bone conduction’ bass system, but the size is reduced from the Rn6/Xe6 10mm driver. While driver size doesn’t always translate to sonics, in this case, the drop in DD size is definitely audible.
Another common technology is Atom venting, FIR’s ear pressure equalisation system that makes long listening sessions a pleasure. Project K uses the same Atom Xs system from the universal Frontiers, but only ships with the gold module as standard. The other red, black and silver modules are available to purchase separately for an additional $200, which goes some way to explaining the lower initial price point.
Thirdly, while FIR doesn’t explicitly mention its Open Acoustics System in the marketing material, Project K does use OpenDriver tech and a sound reflector, so at least part of the system is in play here too. Sonic similarities to Rn6 and Xe6 is further evidence of this.
Lastly, Rigid is also not part of the pamphlet, but the same removable mesh filters and spring-loaded 2-pin connectors are present, so that’s another tick in the Frontier tech checkbox.
What’s definitely missing is the sixth Frontier flagship driver, the ultra-high electrostat, yet Project K is tuned with just as much air and sparkle up top. It’s also slightly less ethereal, which for some listeners is a good thing, so I don’t consider this an omission but rather a design choice, and another mitigating factor for the lower price point.
Tech specs
- Driver configuration: 5-driver hybrid – 1x DD 4x OpenDriver BA
- Impedance: 15 ohms (no sensitivity figures provided)
- Tech: Kinetic Bass, OpenDriver, Atom Xs (gold module included)
- Materials: polished titanium shell, sapphire glass faceplate
- Cable: 4-core SPC + shielding, coaxial structure, nickel-plated hardware
- Price: $2,799
- Website: FIR Audio Project K
Continue to sound impressions…
