Disclaimer:

Good morning, readers!

Today we have a new Kiwi Ears product: the Kiwi Ears Ardor Headphones, a new model (they’ve been producing a lot of new models lately). This one in particular has several very interesting features for the price, which was recently revised down to around $50. They have dual drivers on each side for better frequency separation, a design reminiscent of popular models, versatility, and generous battery life. I forgot to mention that the build quality is also excellent. A lot of quality for a very reasonable price. It might sound a little warm for some, but it’s a lot of fun.

However, the review will still be 100% honest and in no way biased.

I’m not an audiophile; I’m just a guy who likes to test out different IEMs and DACs and spends a lot of time listening to music.

So I’m not going to use super technical words to review it, but I will do my best to describe it.

Tech Specs:

• Bluetooth – 5.4
• Drivers – Dynamic 40mm + 10mm (Coaxial)
• Audio Codecs – SBC, AAC
• Noise Cancellation – Hybrid ANC, Noise reduction depth -32dB±3dB
• Battery Capacity – 1100mAh
• Playback Time – 72 hours (ANC on), 140 hours (ANC off)
• Fast Charging – 10 mins = 8 hours of playback
• Impedance – 32Ω±10% @1K Hz
• Sensitivity – 100±3dB @1KHz 1mW

Packaging:

Kiwi Ears’ packaging is always very impressive, with very sturdy and colorful boxes. They spend a lot of money on this, too.

We have a sliding box, and inside is a nice hard case for transporting and caring for them.

So inside we have:

• Branded hard case
• Type-C cable for wired listening via DAC
• 3.5mm cable for wired listening
• Instruction manual

For the price listed on the official website, the features and quality of the product are absurd. I was just seeing that they started at a list price of $100, then went down to $50, and now the price is rising again. I think there’s some kind of promotion going on, but a guy I know even managed to get them for $20 on AliExpress thanks to various discounts.

Design/Build Quality:

The Kiwi Ears Ardor resembles some Bose models. The design and shape are certainly slightly inspired, but honestly, some of the finishing touches seem better, especially the faceplates. The overall quality is very good, and above all, the materials all seem sturdy. They opted for a foldable design, which is great for everyday use and for those who stow them in a backpack without a hard case.

Aside from the similar design, they’ve added a faux leather insert to each faceplate, as well as the very soft earcups and headband. Each earcup has at least three ventilation holes, two chrome-plated and one plain (I don’t know if they all work, but I don’t think they’re fake). 

On the left earcup, we have:

• On/off button – Play/Pause
• Volume rocker + Music forward or back
• We also find a status LED and the AUX input

On the left earcup, we have:

• ANC button
• Type-C input

The choice to make the headphones super versatile to use them both wired and wireless is an added value.

Fit & Comfort:

Given that this is a tested headphone design, the comfort is excellent, but I do have a few important observations. The earcups aren’t huge, so those with very large ears might find them small. The choice of faux leather doesn’t guarantee maximum comfort in hot weather. More breathable materials exist, and since I sweat a lot, I would have preferred something more breathable. Otherwise, they’re very comfortable.

Initial Sound Impressions:

At first glance, they reminded me of some Bose models. Aesthetically, they’re very similar, but at times, they seem higher quality. In terms of audio, I’m immediately pleasantly surprised by the balance and the tuning, which is very relaxing. Pairing with my phone was instantaneous, the voice prompts are slightly different than usual, and even the Chinese girl’s voice seems relaxed. Track after track, I’m enjoying them more and more. They have a sound that’s hardly annoying, as it’s free of any gaps or peaks. Even at maximum volume, everything is very tolerable, making listening effortless. They’re also surprising for the solidity of the Bluetooth transmission, which is very stable for several meters. An excellent product from the first listen.

Equipment used for the testing:

Device:

• Mac Mini 2012
• Poco M4 Pro
• Hotwav TAB 8

Software:

• Amazon Music UHD 24bit 96kHz 

Dac:

• Internal MAX 24Bit 96khz

The internal DAC, fortunately, has a correct bitrate and is not undersized.

Final sound impressions:

As I was wrapping up the review, a friend of mine chimed in. We were both pleased to note that the dual-driver solution gives the Kiwi Ears Ardor an edge in frequency separation, with excellent spatial perception and soundstage. The chosen tuning is perhaps a little reminiscent of JBL Soundhouse. The sound isn’t overly aggressive, but linear, for relaxing listening at any volume. The bass is beautifully defined and extended, never lacking, as is the treble, which is accurately defined but without peaks that could interrupt a relaxing session. Kiwi Ears is definitely doing a good job, producing quality products.

I confirm my first impressions by also adding that the 1100 mAh battery is very generous, and the battery life is truly very good.

Want to use them wired? Well, no problem! The Kiwi Ears Ardor can be used wired either with the 3.5mm jack or with a Type-C cable. The internal DAC can output up to 24-bit 96kHz, which I think is more than excellent, making these headphones extremely versatile and usable with any device and in any situation. ANC mode also works in Type-C mode.

Treble

As mentioned, the Kiwi Ears Ardor has excellent treble balance. I find the dual driver design to be excellent; the 10mm driver responsible for treble delivers plenty of detail, easily discernible without overdoing it. Macro and micro details are easily discernible, with an appropriate but not overwhelming range.

There is also a fair amount of air, which could certainly be improved by raising the treble level, but decreasing the listening comfort.

Mids

The mids have just the right amount of presence in the mix, very clear and crisp, as Kiwi Ears has always done. Both male and female vocals have the right amount of energy and depth. The bass nicely enriches the deeper notes and instruments that push deeper into the bass. The instruments also have excellent positioning in the soundstage, possessing that truly pleasing spatial effect.

Bass

In my opinion, the bass, having two drivers, reaches a significantly more detailed level. The texture is much more extended than other headphones with a single driver, even if the impact is perhaps softer. I personally find them very pleasant and balanced. With headphones with larger earcups, you could probably fit larger drivers for more impact. The sub-bass is also good.

Soundstage & Imaging:

The soundstage and imaging of this level are made possible precisely by the presence of the dual driver. The bass gives a remarkable sense of depth, while the frequency separation and the dual driver create a sort of spatial effect that contributes to significantly opening up the soundstage. The directionality of all sounds is also very accurate. All the vents on the earcups are certainly also responsible for such a wide soundstage.

Conclusion:

One of the best comparisons I could make is undoubtedly with the Bose QuietComfort, but I don’t currently own them. They’re the closest I can think of and probably the most suitable for comparison.

I haven’t tested any Bluetooth headphones in this price range lately, so I can’t make any easy comparisons, but I can say they sound better than some wired headphones I own.

What I can say is that I don’t miss the wired ones, except for the power.

Unfortunately, like all Bluetooth devices, the volume is limited and doesn’t reach alarming levels. You absolutely shouldn’t expect the same volume as with wired headphones.

Another thing I really liked is the triple usage option, which makes these headphones extremely versatile. The ANC and Transparency features work well as long as the volume isn’t too high; otherwise, you won’t be able to hear external noises, regardless, as they already offer excellent isolation.

The price fluctuates; we started at $100, but it’s now dropped to half price in some stores and on the official website. A real bargain.

8.8/10

Pros: 

• Build quality and materials are excellent 
• Design reminds me of some Bose
• Foldable design
• Closed back with many vents 
• Warmish, thick, and extra detailed sound with nice frequency separation
• Kiwi Ears Sound target
• ANC works nicely
• Good soundstage /spatial effect
• Can be used wired or wireless
• Huge battery 
• Super nice travel bag

Cons: 

• No app to tune the EQ or change some configuration
• Treble quantity (for some) 
• Not ideal in summer heat (personal opinion)
• Internal amp could also be louder/more powerful (completely fine for a BT device)

More information and where to buy?