Closer Examination

The Antlion Kimura microphone cable is effectively a boom mic IEM cable and thus looks different from typical IEM-only cables in having the memory wire-style longer section headed to the microphone itself. It begins with two 3.5 mm TRS plugs that are color-coded and marked to indicate which one drives the IEMs and which the microphone itself. As mentioned before, you can use the cables separately or with the provided Y-adapter, depending on what audio connectors are available on your client device. The plugs lead to plastic housings and silicone rubber sleeving, all in black, which doesn't make for the fanciest looking or feeling cable. Given the fewer individual strands used here, the provided shirt clip is almost a must-have to reduce microphonics for either the IEMs or the microphone itself! The y-splitter on the IEM side is simple in design and we do not get a cable cinch. At this point you get a second split on the right channel with one wire leading to the Kimura microphone capsule—no pop filter or in-line controls while also being much smaller in size compared to the ModMic seen alongside. Antlion says user interest and feedback will decide whether there will be another version with more features down the line. At this point I might as well mention that there is no mention of the conductor used in the cable but it is believed to be simply copper. There are memory wire sections on the microphone and the pre-curved ear hooks which are a necessity here to get everything oriented well at the expensive of a cleaner look. The IEM section terminates in MMCX plugs with L/R markings on the angled housings to help indicate the left and right channels, respectively.


The Antlion Kimura Solo and Duo are stunning and attention-grabbing without being gaudy. Both use polished resin shells that are translucent and clear to provide a decent look at the hardware inside. The difference then comes in the form of the decorative face plates wherein the Kimura Solo goes with a deep red-colored version and the Kimura Duo gets a dark blue one. The shells are also ergonomically designed to better fit in the concha and I appreciate the use of what appears to be brass—certainly metal either way—nozzles to help minimize damage via accidental drops/scratches as well as for further functionality.


Branding comes in the form of a simplified Antlion Audio logo in gold on the face plates wherein you see the Portland, Oregon mountains represented well. Admittedly my attention was drawn more to the dynamic drivers used here and here too it was interesting to see a gold-colored finish to the driver in the Kimura Solo as opposed to the more typical silver-finish on the Kimura Duo—the balanced armature driver here is placed closer to the nozzle itself. A look from the side also shows the MMCX connectors that are inset with the shells in addition to a single vent for airflow to the dynamic driver. There is also a ridge at the top which can help with the fitment of the IEMs should it not clash with your antitragus, but could pose issues if not. Then we get to the nozzle that is one of the longer such implementations I've seen on IEMs and even has two positions, if you will, for ear tips to be installed. In practice the ear tips just get pushed into the further inward slot anyway and I suspect this was just an OEM part chosen without much other thought put into it. Either way, the longer nozzle can help with a good seal and it's also ~5.4 mm wide to not make it uncomfortable for most. There's a metal mesh on the end to help prevent contaminants from easily entering the acoustic chamber.


Fitting the different ear tips will require you to slightly stretch the inner bore to fit over the nozzle before pushing them in and going around to ensure they are not at an angle. Go ahead and push them in to the second of the retaining notches as they will ultimately get there once you push the tips into the ear canals. Seen above are each of the included size M silicone and foam ear tips installed on the Kimura Duo (and Solo)—try out the various tips and sizes, and keep in mind that both ear canals don't need to have the best seal with the same size or set, either. Regardless of which tips you pick, the next step is to re-connect the cable of your choice by carefully identifying the matching channels and orienting the ear hooks around your ear when connecting the IEMs. Doing so is simple, as you just push the MMCX connectors together until they click in place.