Kefine Quatio Review
Intro
This review and feature covers the latest from the audio brand Kefine Audio, named the Kefine Quatio ($129). Folks, Kefine is a brand that I tend to champion as they are a group of people who run their business in what I see as the correct way. At least from the outside perspective. From the good people with whom I deal with to their practices as a brand I couldn’t be more impressed with them. When I found out they were coming out with a four-driver hybrid iem I was absolutely pumped-up to check it out! This is a brand who have blown away my expectations from the get-go and crafted and created top-tier musically driven iems (per their respective price points) from their inception. At any rate, I’ll explain more on Kefine in a moment but for now let me Introduce you to the Quatio. Based on the name alone you can suspect that it does indeed have four drivers. That’s two dynamic drivers and two balanced armature drivers. I am very intrigued by this specific mix of drivers and can’t wait to hear Kefine’s implementations of them. I have to assume that the Quatio still hovers around the Kefine “house sound”. Only time will tell.
Kefine Audio
Folks, what can I say that I already haven’t said about this brand. From the beginning I spoke with Colin of Kefine and he explained that Kefine Audio came to being as a result of a group of friends who simply wanted to run an audio brand from the perspective of the consumer. They felt that they could make products better… for less out of our pocketbooks. Since the moment I saw and heard the Kefine Delci (Delci Review) I knew that this was a brand who #1: knew what they were doing, and #2: cared about what they were doing. Once I see that you’ll have a fan for life with me. I am all about the small guys, the hard workers, the dreamers, and those who do something out of love and passion. Anyways, Kefine has had plenty of enormous smash hits within the budget segment. For instance, the Delci came on the scene and provided a musicality that the hobby was missing. Next was the Delci AE (Delci AE Review), which was a collaboration with the brand Angel Ears and Kefine. The Delci AE was a slightly more expensive, but also much more refined Delci OG. I love them both, but I do like the AE a bit more. However, it wasn’t until the Kefine Klean (Klean Review) came along that the hobby was turned on its head. No doubt the Kefine Klean instantly shot up to #1 on my charts for best iem under $50. Folks, to my ears the Klean was actually the best Kefine iem I’ve heard up until that time, which is saying something because it costs much less. Now, each of those iems are single DD sets. So, imagine my surprise when I heard they were making a hybrid iem. Let alone a 2DD + 2BA quad-driver set. I believe it also has tuning nozzles as well. I’m intriguedto find out if it surpasses Kefine’s less expensive sets. Anyways, Kefine has only won against the odds. They are the little train that could. The little guy beating the giant. Let’s just hope the Quatio sounds the part. Psss… I’m sure it will be amazing. I suppose we shall see.
One week later…
Okay, well I just received the Quatio and I just posted to Facebook just how much I adore the sound thus far (yes, it’s going to be one of those reviews). The second I put them in my ears and hit play on my Shanling M6 Ultra I instantly knew that the Quatio is going to be a huge player in this game. Especially at $129. However, there’s that ugly word that rears its head in every review. That word is… “competition”. Not only did Kefine make a hybrid set for the 1st time, but they also chose to do so at one of the most difficult price points within the hobby. $100 to $150 is a killer bracket! My word folks, just take a second and process that price bracket. Let it sink in. Think of all the absolute BALLER iems that exist and coexist at this price range. As good as the Quatio has sounded to me at the start of my journey with it I know some of these iems very well and I gotta say, it’ll be tough for the Quatio. I haven’t done any comparisons yet and no critical listening yet, but I plan to do a huge deep dive with many-many notes and many-many hours of listening. I won’t prolong this anymore folks. So, to the burn-in station the Quatio goes, and I’ll see you all in about two weeks’ time. With that, let’s get it going. And without further ado, say hello to the Kefine Quatio everyone…
Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:
–Aliexpress (Ali has the Quatio for $116 right now)
Quatio Pros
-Build Quality is clearly awesome
-That simple design has stolen my heart (keep it simple)
-Comfortable and lightweight iem
-Nice accessories for $129 and a fantastic unboxing experience
-Beautiful, fat, awesome modular cable (WAY TO GO KEFINE!)
-Lush, warm, and rich sound with great musicality
-Textured, meaty bass with very nice note definition and proper density
-Deep, penetrative sublevel bass
-Extremely musical midrange with forward presence, great for vocalists
-Perfect treble emphasis, it’s fast, detailed, yet always non-offensive
-Nicely detailed for such a lush sound
-Enormous soundstage with wonderful depth
-Very well layered and well dimensioned 3D sound
-Very cohesive sound with a buttery and fluid cadence
-Folks the Quatio is an awesomely tuned iem. Price to performance killer!
Quatio Cons
-Bass may be too full-bodied and warm for some
-I feel the treble could use some added brilliance or lustery emphasis
-Could use a bit more air across the mix (I wouldn’t change a thing personally)
-Not always the most transient tight replay I’ve ever heard (bass & low-mids)
-Fit may not be perfect for everyone (I am stretching here as this is also a “Pro”)
-Not everyone enjoys such a minimalist design (okay I’m really stretching)
Gear used for testing
–IBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
Packaging / Accessories
Unboxing
One thing that Kefine has always mentioned is that they want to bring the best value that they can to the consumer. Meaning, they aren’t going to add in some crazy ornate unboxing experience and that they will put the money into the product themselves. Well, one thing I’ve learned is that Kefine always gives a simple, not very ornate, but also very good unboxing. Folks, they always add in nice accessories per whatever price point any respective product is in. That’s definitely the case for the Quatio and it has been the case with every set I’ve reviewed thus far from Kefine Audio. Yeah, they aren’t going to have the most amazing artwork. Seriously though, I’m good, I don’t need artwork, I’m a grown a$$ man, thank you Kefine. No waifu, no crazy and trippy art, no unique box style, just simple and pretty aesthetically measured unboxings.
What’s in the box
So, the Quatio arrived at my home in what I’d call a medium sized black cardboard box (5.5″ x 4.5″ x 2.5”). Not a space wasted. So, the black cardboard box comes with an outer sleeve which has a nice photo of the Quatio on the cover, nothing elaborate, simple with some specs on the back. Next, you’ll remove the sleeve which brings you to a completely black box with only “Kefine” neatly displayed on the front. Once you open the box, you’ll immediately see the Quatio sitting pretty in some foam covered in cardboard cut-outs. Next to the earphones is another box which carries the nice carrying case. I’ll just simplify the rest so as not to ruin the unboxing experience for any of you. However, you’ll also find the gorgeous modular cable and cable adapters, and you’ll find two small plastic cases loaded with multiple eartips over four different styles (12 pairs altogether… Wow) Oh, I almost forgot, you also will receive three sets of different tuning nozzles as well. Friends, I don’t know about you but for $129 I’d say the Qautio’s unboxing rivals any set in the price point rather easily. Pretty great for a brand who says they want to keep their unboxing simple. Way to go Kefine, great job!
Eartips
Kefine provides 13 pairs of eartips in total across four distinctly different styles of tips and each style will help quite a bit in dialing in the sound to your preferences. Also, they are all nice eartips. To begin you’ll get two small opaque/clear plastic cases which hold two styles of eartips each. The first case holds three pairs (S, M, L) of white narrow bore silicone tips with a flimsy flange most likely to help introduce an airier sound. I personally couldn’t get a seal with this set. The best set of three (S, M, L) are a white silicone eartips with a black stem and are also narrow bore. However, these have a much firmer flange and a very firm stem, and they are a deeper fitting eartip as well. I actually like these tips, but I do feel the Quatio needs a more open bore size. The next case has the same, two styles and three pairs per style of tip. The first set of four (S, M, L, L) you’ll see gray silicone eartips with a semi-wide bore, firm flange, firm stem, very close to the KBear 07 tips, just a different color. I love these tips, and these are what I used mostly. The last set of three (S, M, L) are a wide bore set of gray silicone tips with a firm flange, firm stem, and a shallow fit. I like this set quite a lot too, but the fit was slightly better with the semi-wide set. At any rate, the whole package of tips is very professional and nicely laid-out. All the tips are of good quality, and they all make sense to add into the packaging. I rarely, if ever say that about any set folks. Kefine knows what they’re doing, and they care about their product. Again, way to go Kefine.
Carrying Case
Another very nice addition to the packaging is the carrying case. The case is a black faux leather case with the alligator style feel to it and a nice working silver colored zipper. Very nice looking, classy, and it is a harder case. It’s not the largest in the world as it’ll fit the earphones themselves as well as the cable, maybe some tips, maybe a modular cable adapter too. Just large enough. The case itself is right around 4” x 3” x 1.5”. Not huge but big enough. Perfect for throwing in a bag and even good enough to put into your front pocket without looking ridiculous. I think it’s really a great size. I usually don’t use carrying cases as I review constantly and I’m always traveling with many sets and sources, and I usually use a much larger electronics case to hold my gear. However, I have used the Kefine case fairly often. Really, it’s just a nice addition. Oh, and the zipper actually works (how bout’ that?).
Cable
One of my “Pros” that I listed above is most certainly the cable. Friends, I complain about cables more than most anything. I ask these brands to just provide a nice-looking cable which matches the earphones. Thank you Kefine! You all (Kefine) must be fans of the hobby and understand how we, the consumer, feels about our cables. We want something nice looking, don’t we?! The answer is YES; WE DO. Anyways, that gorgeous cable is actually a wonderful modular cable with a thick and fat braid, very nicely done by the way. It’s a beautiful brownish-gray cable with all brownish-gray fittings. The cable is a hair more brown and the fittings are a hair grayer. Beautiful, fat, substantial, and the plug system is easy to use and also very simple while it also locks in very well. So, the plugs you get are a 3.5 single ended and 4.4 balanced plugs. The cable itself is made of high-purity silver plated oxygen-free copper. It has four strands, and each strand has 98 wires which works out to right around 392 wires in total. It’s exactly what I would reach for if I had to cable swap. I’d go with a silver-plated copper for sure. So really a nice addition to the package and I cannot stress how happy I am with Kefine for thinking about their fan base here. Everyone let’s give them a round of applause. Did I go too far with that? Nah. Nice job once again Kefine Audio.
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality & Design
The Kefine Quatio is made entirely out of aviation grade aluminum using the CNC process and then it is anodized and polished afterwards. Now, the Quatio is a larger set of earphones and so if you have smaller ears, it’d be a good thing to take notice. Kefine states that each monitor takes roughly 30 minutes to process. No doubt this set is built exceptionally well, but it’s also built exceptionally light too. One thing that Kefine seems to prize is that they build both durable and lightweight housings. Each Kefine set that I’ve reviewed, the weight of the product has been discussed in the promotional material. This is a very good thing. In fact, Kefine states that their Quatio shells are only 0.06 mm thick! Friends, I don’t know how light the Quatio is because I don’t see it listed, but the Delci was only 4 grams (if I remember correctly) and the Quatio doesn’t feel a whole lot heavier believe it or not. Having said all of that, there isn’t anything inherently different from the Quatio build to some other aluminum sets. Except the design. I really enjoy that Kefine kept the Quatio’s design simple, classy, and clean looking. It has a nice aesthetic to it. The Shells and faceplate are all black in a matte texture with that slick looking “Kefine” right in the middle of the faceplate area along with a thin white border around the faceplates. It’s really a simple but bold look. Of course, I’m sure not everyone will think as I do. Also, the nozzles aren’t too long, nor too short and they come in at right around 6mm in width. So, there aren’t any real issues as far as fitment.
Tuning Nozzles
Just like the Delci AE the Quatio also has tuning nozzles to help dial in the sound to one’s preferences. The nozzles are the type with the male threads on the end and simply screw onto the body of the iem. Be careful when taking on and off that you don’t drop them as they are easy to lose. At any rate, the Quatio comes with a silver colored “balanced” nozzle, a gold colored “transparent” nozzle and a black colored “warm” nozzle. All that differs with each nozzle is the density of the tuning mesh inside of each nozzle. So, the tuning mesh really affects the upper regions the most. The gold nozzle is the most different as it does provide a bit more treble emphasis thus sounding less warm and less bassy. However, the black and silver nozzles are very similar to my ears. I personally use the silver nozzle as it does sound the best to me, but the black filter will provide the perception of a hair more bass presence and less treble energy.
Nozzles all sound great…
Truth be told, I’ve used all three nozzles for casual listening, and I like each one of them. I really do. For different reasons of course. The gold nozzle has that last little bit of focused crispness to it which does sound a hair more vibrant and pointed in its attack. Bass is still punchy, still relatively deep in extension too. Perhaps a hair less note weight, but still a great nozzle. You may get a hair of shout with the gold nozzle but that is all a sensitivity thing. I certainly don’t feel it’s too shouty at all. The black nozzle does give me an even warmer bass presence with less intensity up top. Fuller bass and a smoother cadence across the mix. I’d say it’s a warmer musicality which seems to slow down transient behavior just a titch. Nothing veiled or muddy though. The bass with the black nozzle is a hair more softened on attack yet sounds very pleasing to the ear with nice density. Still, for all critical listening I went with my favorite nozzle, that is the silver nozzle. It does strike a happy middle ground even if it’s fairly close in tonal properties to the black nozzle. So, you won’t find a world of change in the nozzles, but at least if you wanted to further mod them it is easy to do. In truth, I honestly enjoy each of the nozzles and most certainly had a difficult time figuring out which nozzle I would use most for critical listening. Each nozzle gives you a slightly different shade of the same tuning target. It is one of the only times I’ve said this of any set featuring tuning nozzles. Usually, you’ll have at least one nozzle which you’d never-ever use (for whatever reason). I like em’ all.
Internals
Now we get to the heart of this set and all the reasons for my jubilee over the new configuration. I was so very happy to hear that Kefine was taking this approach to the Quatio. So once again, the Quatio is a two dynamic driver and two balanced armature driver earphone. To be exact Kefine decided upon one full range 10mm DLC (Diamond-like Carbon) dynamic driver. By full range I mean it covers from the bass to the midrange, to the treble. I adore this. A very smart move which does help cohesiveness in my opinion. The next DD is an 8mm PU+LCP (liquid-crystal polymer) driver which covers only the bass region. It’s supposed to add that fullness to the sound down low and I’d say it worked. Now, the balanced armature only covers the treble region past 5k. Folks, this is absolutely genius the way Kefine broke these drivers up. So, the BA’s only work in the top of the lower-treble and up through the upper treble. This adds that snap, that crispness, and that soundstage stretching extension up top. I absolutely love what Kefine did here. Now, Kefine also chose upon a 3-way electronic crossover as well as three sound tubes to break up the frequency. Friends, the sound is as cohesive as I’ve heard for a hybrid iem. I am so very impressed by this young company. My hats go off to all the sound engineers and professionals working to make this set happen.
Fit / Comfort
As I said, the Quatio is a slightly larger set of earphones and insertion depth is probably above the average too. Granted, I don’t think the nozzles reach too deep at all. So, for my ears the comfort level is very nice. I honestly have zero issues whatsoever with the fit. So long as I have the correct sized eartips then I’m personally good to go. Now, will the Quatio fit you? That I cannot obviously answer but if you do have smaller ears and have issues with other sets which are a pinch larger than average than I would maybe at least take pause before you purchase the Quatio.
Drivability / Pairings
Output Power
Kefine states in their promotional material that the Quatio is rated with an impedance of right around 32 ohms and a sensitivity of 107 db’s. What this means is that the Quatio does not take a whole lot to drive them. Without question I heard very nice fidelity, sound pressure, and dynamics even from my weakest sources. I’m talking about two old Android phones with 3.5 single ended ports, my older iPad, three or four weak 3.5 se dongle dacs and I even used the Quatio with my KZ AN01. Folks, if those devices can replay the Quatio just fine then I don’t think that any source you have will be an issue. This is good to see, but also expected. Having said all of that, I most certainly feel that a little bit more juice and better sources certainly help to refine the Quatio even further. Once again, this too is expected. Of course, I expect my better daps with more power and better circuitry, better dac chips and just more exceptional source devices to be better. I expect even my better dongle dacs to do a better job than an old Android phone. Though, I don’t feel you need a million watts to bring the Quatio to its best sound, but having at least a good dongle dac would suffice. In my opinion. This is a familiar story as most sets nowadays perform the same. A little more juice helps; better sources definitely help too. Again, expected, but also worth mentioning.
Source Pairing
As far as tonal Pairings with my different sources is concerned, I find anything from warm/neutral to neutral does the trick. In all reality, my favorite sources were the Fiio Q15, the Shanling M6 Ultra, the iBasso DX240, and believe it or not the Hiby R3 Pro II. I tend to enjoy a less warm source as you want to boost the presence and macro-dynamic energy which mostly happens with a more neutral source when pairing with the Quatio. However, my warm/neutral M6 Ultra sounds amazing with the Quatio attached. I really didn’t think I was going to say that until I was hours deep in a listening session with the M6 Ultra. Still, offsetting the warmth is what I’d assume most folks would want to do. I gotta say, the newer R3 Pro II from Hiby sounded absolutely awesome folks. The pairing is synergy at work. Another really awesome pairing was with the Shanling UA6. Those quad dacs really gave me a nice holographic sound with the Quatio as well as a darn near perfectly organic timbre. At any rate, the Quatio seems to do well with many sources. I’d probably say you’d want to steer clear of any straight-up warm sources. That’s about it.
Sound Impressions
*Note: Before I dive deep into the sound I should first mention that I most certainly did burn-in the Quatio for around four full days. Now, did this burn-in have any effect? Maybe? To be perfectly honest, I loved the out-of-the-box sound right away and my mind wasn’t geared to hearing any changes because there was nothing I needed changed. Which is rarely the case. Also, I listen using flac or better files which are stored on my devices. My Android music player of choice is usually UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) as well as the Hiby Music Player app. At times I use Poweramp as well. I went with stock eartips, and I went with the beautiful stock cable. I also used the silver nozzle for almost all of my critical listening.
It’s priced low
I have to be honest with you all, when I first put the Quatio in my ears I went into a massive listening session going through a very large number of songs on my playlists. Tracks that I always use for my reviews that I know extremely well. It was track after track listening in a very casual yet also very clinical manner. Trying to spot differences between past iems, issues, and simply trying to experience the Quatio. I suppose it wasn’t that there weren’t any issues either (every set has them). What made me almost spellbound was just how clean and refined the dynamics can come across with such a musically smooth and fluid sound. It’s such a nice mixture of smooth density and clean-lined precision. Just a very nice sounding musicality-first iem for this price point. Of course, this got me thinking a very honest thought to myself. “If this is what Kefine can do for $129, what can they do with $500?”. Folks, in my opinion the Quatio is priced low. I’m just going to put it out there. I’ve had way more than enough time for any honeymoon phase to wear off. These are honest thoughts which come from a person who has been a part of this hobby long enough to know when he hears something that’s… a little bit different in all the right ways. I’m not even saying the Quatio is going to be for everyone either. That’s another fact I’ve learned in my time; what one person thinks is amazing… there’s a good chance that the person to your left doesn’t agree at all. However, I have many iems between $100 to $150 and I can tell you right now that the Quatio sounds very close to “tops in class” to my ears, for many reasons. Still, nothing is for everyone, and I will try to explain myself enough for you to figure that out.
What’s it sound like?
So, to my ears the Kefine Quatio has this wonderful dimensional and round aspect to its sound which coincides with a warm, rich, and creamy sound. Add to that the Quatio’s demeanor is very tidy, kempt, and pristine, even in its warm character. The Quatio simply gushes-forth this very tuneful and sweet-toned mellifluence that has a very nice and natural homogenized cohesion between drivers and frequencies. Couple that with the fact that the Quatio has a very authentic sound with a natural-to-life style of warm/organic timbre. It has all these wonderfully implemented traits to its playback which when rolled into a ball makes one of the most captivating and engaging iems within the price point. Hands-down. Well, for me that is. In audio there are definitely words which seem to clash or contrast each other and are very difficult to marry together in this hobby. So, we’ve seen. For instance, the words “precise” & “smooth”. They usually do not go together. Yet the Quatio definitely has this creamy resolution within its smooth playback which sounds very well layered, massive stage, and each driver seems to have very nice agility with tight transients. Every note outline is clean, and while I wouldn’t call the Quatio a detail monster, I would call it very nicely detailed.
Condensed Sound Between the 20’s
The Quatio comes across as warm/neutral yet leans a hair more toward the warm side of the aisle. If I were to call the Quatio anything I’d say it’s a very slight “U-shaped” sound. Or even more realistic, the Quatio carries a warmer “W-shaped” sound signature. You have this hefty low-end which has a very healthy emphasis, very well defined, dense, and enough lift to sound full-bodied and authoritative without calling it basshead. Now, the midrange is definitely warm, it’s dynamic, it’s smooth, and has a velvet style rhythmicity along with a very clean presence. Very nice to the ear. However, the midrange is forward folks. This is not a recessed range. I hear a nice balance across the mix, but the midrange does have some nice prominence at times. Hence why I say W-shaped. Next the treble is certainly boosted, but I’d say just enough. The treble also has a nice presence, and it too is smooth, nice note weight, cohesively balanced, and sounds like it does a fabulous job of adding some levity to the spectrum. Separation of instruments and voices is above average, Imaging is spot on, and once again I hear awesome layering and a big stage. Folks there really isn’t much to complain about for the price.
Bass Region
Without a doubt the bass region is well emphasized, but it’s not over saturated. Definitely above moderate but not all consuming. The bass does add a frequency-wide warmth, but it doesn’t veil the mix at all. Yes, it adds some weight, but it doesn’t necessarily overly smoothen the mix or add any undue murkiness. Enough to add warmth and weight yet really only shows that robust solid slam up when called upon. Let’s put it this way; the bass doesn’t saturate the mix to a fault. In fact, the bass shelf is only around 10-12 db’s (depending on your tuning nozzles) which can be a lot for some folks. However, that 10-12 db’s perfectly balances out with the upper-mids and treble region. So, I’d never call the Quatio a basshead caliber iem. Truth is, Kefine has always added into their iems some beefy and fun bass, with every set that I’ve heard anyways. Coincidentally, they’ve gotten pretty good at this range folks. They’ve really dialed-in that meaty bass which keeps its composure. As far as the Quatio is concerned, I think the bass is excellent folks. I say that because I am having a very hard time not professing that the bass region is my favorite aspect of the Quatio. Of course, the midrange definitely has a thing or two to say about that.
Bass cont…
However, I find the bass region to be very much a full-bodied bass that has a deep and earthy rumble, it has a hard-edged slam and even some good punch too. I wouldn’t call the bass region perfectly defined though. It isn’t some super snappy and ultra tight bass with ultimate tactility, edgy surface texture, or clinically razor-sharp transients. No sir, this bass is all about fullness of presence, dark vibrance, and densely palpable slam mixed with great dexterity and good note control in respect to that fullness. Of course, I do think that note definition and texture aren’t bad by any stretch of the imagination. It’s just that the Quatio has that healthy, beefy, and more rugged low-end weight which makes it much harder to perfectly define every note within every bassline. This we should expect. It has so many awesome qualities though. Like, I enjoy how well fused the bass is to the rest of the mix and how well it incorporates itself into the midrange with a wonderfully feathered-in transition. It provides the rest of the mix with some solid note body. Also, this is not a slow bass folks. For a slightly more emphasized low-end the Quatio handles complex passages of bass very well.
As if “Fun” & “Mature” had a baby?
However, before I go too far off the reservation, I’d say that the Quatio has a sub-bass priority to its low-end, but that is not super easily recognizable to my ears. Both the sub and mid-bass carry a very nice presence, and both command their region very well. To my ears I don’t hear anything which is blatantly one-noted or too congested down low. Also, I feel the Quatio has the type of low-end which can handle multiple genres with relative ease as well. The Quatio can and will hit hard, it’ll hit fast, it’ll drone in the deep, and it’ll do so without overly clouding the sound field. As if “Fun” & “Mature” had a baby. Okay that didn’t come across as good as it sounded in my head. I’ll do better next time.
Sub-Bass
Like I said, I do feel that the sublevels of the bass probably carry the most emphasis when looking solely at the low-end of the Quatio. So many tracks testify to that statement. But again, it isn’t super conclusive and at times I second guess that. Plus, every track is different and may go against that. However, I can say with absolute assurance that the sub-bass runs deep folks. I hear very solid extension into the lowest of lows. Listening to “Heavy is the Ocean” by Bush is simply awesome. The rumble is so deep and very palpable with a very haptic bassline that I can feel. I never get a sense that the bass is losing its composure though. Or “Got Your Back” by Washed Out. The Quatio meanders around the bassline with this vibratory and authoritative precision, navigating every undulating note very well. The Quatio’s sub-bass is definitely the type which will provide that deep guttural and tangible feel to your music without sounding like a blur of bass. It has control. Obviously the 8mm DD paired with the 10mm DD work in tandem very well. No, it isn’t the most perfectly defined and crisp sublevel bass with all the micro details surfacing with ease. But it’s clean and in a macro sense the sub-bass maintains that control of each note in a very tidy manner. I think a lot has to do with the hard lined density in this region. Basically, it isn’t sloppy at all. Really a nice display with good low-end extension.
Mid-Bass
When I think of the mid-bass I think… “measured”. I say that because Kefine really did a nice job of promoting the mid-bass just enough. They gave this region just enough outward projection and just enough weight while still being considered a “full-bodied mid-bass”. Make no mistake though, this set can hit with some serious authority when a track compels it to do so. But it’s measured and weighed to perfectly provide that gratifying boom, and tight enough to dart through quicker and more complex bass tracks fairly easily. It’s measured in its forward vibrance and never seems to overstep, oversaturate, or underwhelm. It’s a fun mid-bass, very groovy, with a solid note density and compactness that moves throughout a track with some boldness. The mid-bass is enough to provide plenty of big-bodied muscle to any hip-hop bass drop. It has the robust note convexity to make bass guitars sound so very satisfying. No doubt the Quatio’s mid-bass also has enough clean weight to bring upon a full resonant boom on any kick drum without sounding pillowy, soft, or dry. Again, the Quatio’s mid-bass doesn’t have that snappy texture of a tight and punchy bass, but it does have this corporeal and substantial kinetic energy with a hard-edged attack, rounded body, and a relatively quick decay. It’s definitely very nice and fits the overall tuning like a glove.
Downsides to the Bass Region
The largest issues that some folks may come across is the full-bodied sound itself. I think we all can agree that there is a major sect of people in this hobby who truly don’t enjoy any bass region interruption within the other frequencies, at all. The Quatio definitely does have an element of its sound down low that will meander into the midrange. I happen to love this, but others may not. In fact, I know plenty of people who only want that crystal clear and clean midrange with zero bass influence at all. That’s the hobby though. This is a nothing fits everyone game and the Quatio certainly isn’t going to please everyone. I suppose those who really enjoy that tight and quick-punch style bass region will likely not entirely enjoy this set. Also, those bassheads will probably want even more emphasis. So, there’s definitely some issues that some may have. If anything, I could say that the bass region could be a hair more defined at times. Other than that, I absolutely adore the bass. Really, it’s pretty great.
Midrange
I feel that no set is truly complete without it having a passable midrange. Thankfully for Kefine I think they’ve crafted and created a set which not only has a passable midrange, but possibly one of the better midrange displays within its price point. That’s obviously very much debatable. However, a few aspects of the Quatio’s midrange which does seem to set it apart is the density within the richness of this range. Or the organic timbre paired with its very clean and slightly warm energy. Couple that richness and natural timbre with the Quatio’s fine ability to sound both well layered within the sound field and cohesive across the entirety of the spectrum. Furthermore, the Quatio has a very spacious and rounded stage with good dimensionality. That said, the most telling result from spending time with the Quatio and enjoying its midrange is how well the Quatio can draw out emotion from my music. It just has that earth-toned timbre and enjoyable musicality along with the right amount of crispness which seems to influence the raw musical sentiments within most tracks. No doubt many other sets have this ability, but the Quatio does so effortlessly.
Not recessed… got it!
As much as I’ve bragged about the mids, I’d also say that the midrange is one which isn’t trying to come across “mid-centric” or “vocal-centric” though. I honestly don’t hear some mid-centric, prominently pronounced, or anterior type of midrange sound field presentation. However, I say that, but the mids are at least “slightly” more forward in the sound field. Most definitely they are not recessed or pushed into the rear. This set is all about balance and each area of the mix has very well measured dynamics and presence. I honestly don’t feel that any one area takes precedence over another. The midrange falls right into line with that. Very nicely rendered, great macro-dynamic expression, plenty of dynamic vigor, just not drawn so close to the listener that you forget about the rest of the melody. Still, definitely not recessed to my ears.
Very talented midrange
Note weight is right around semi-rich, natural to the ear, with a certain vibrance and toned-down snap for instrumentation. The kicker is that I feel the Quatio does a remarkable job of remaining both smooth and well bodied whilst also coming across transient tight with very clean note outlines. You have this warmth which never clouds the mix along with just enough crispness and textured bite to help define instruments. I enjoy that the Quatio has a well-articulated sound within this range as well. In fact, I was somewhat surprised to hear the level of detail retrieval that I heard with this set. Not that it’s going to win any awards for its detail retrieval, but very nice for such a richness. Also, nothing feels cramped or congested, there’s room for notes to breathe with solid spacing to the sound, separation isn’t bad by any stretch either. I enjoy the very vivid and full presence of the subtly vibrant macro-dynamics which adds that underlying energy and seems to bring a roundness to each note. A certain convexity to each note. I hear nothing flat here folks. There’s a definite boldness to the sound as well. Most smoother sets will feel almost cramped to a degree, but not the Quatio. Again, there’s an airiness to its sound as well which helps instruments sound fairly well distinct and precise. Of course, you won’t hear the perfect precision of an analytically tuned and perfectly transparent iem. Remember, the Quatio is definitely a musicality-first iem. Also, the Quatio has a very liquid and rhythmic cadence within its slightly warm canopy of sound in a velvety, silky, and clean-lined manner. It’s simply a very talented set and the midrange is a huge reason for that.
Lower-Midrange
The low-mids won’t be the type which come across edgy, with too much bite, and it won’t have very much fine-lined precision and crispness either. Transients are very much natural but the overall sound of this part of the spectrum is slightly less dynamically charged. However, none of that makes the low-mids bad, at all. I happen to truly enjoy this range for a host of reasons. I love that the bass bleeds just enough into the midrange. Just enough to provide that perfect semi-rich note body, smoothness, and subtle warmth. Especially with the Silver and Black nozzles. Also, while the energy is a hint less vivacious (as one should expect), it’s also pronounced with a heartier feel to it and a forward intimate tilt. Instruments sound very close to authentic; voices have that hearty presence and I never hear anything coarse or abrasive. At any rate, the lower midrange is usually the place where male vocalists live. With the Quatio, male vocalists happen to come across with a slightly less exact note definition, but authoritative, full-bodied, just a touch of vibrance, yet they also sound nicely prominent. So often we hear low-mids which come across too dull, drab, and recessed for my liking, or too edgy, to thin, and too pronounced. The Quatio’s low-mids have some color to them but they do so in all the right ways. Males like David Draimen of Disturbed in the track “The Sound of Silence” is utterly impressive folks. His voice goes from svelte and smoothly rendered to guttural, gruff, and resounding all the while coming through crystal clear. Another example is the all-male acapella group Home Free singing “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and it’s absolutely spellbinding. The Quatio is simply great for any track from this group. The voices are so well separated, so vivid, every intonation is densely compact and clean. Just awesome.
Upper-Midrange
Moving to the other end of the midrange within the upper-mid region is where I feel the Quatio shines brightest. Well, as far as the mids are concerned, that too is very much debatable. The Quatio does seem to excel at presenting both instruments and female vocalists (in this range) with an upper mid tuning that provides the same bodied note weight and density, but also a touch more air, levity, and crispness. It’s the females which I was first drawn to with the Quatio as their vocals sound almost moistened, nothing dry, but I also hear very nice note weight with a full-bodied sound. Add to that, the Quatio really doesn’t have any moments of upper-mid glare. At least not to my dismay, though I’m sure there may be those who are ultra-sensitive which may feel the upper-mids are a hair too lifted. However, to me the upper-mids carry on a wonderful transition from the upper midrange into the lower treble and do so without any real agonizing peaks or harshness. Back to females. What I enjoy about female voices is that semi-rich presentation and the unsullied clarity with which the Quatio presents their voices. They sound almost embossed or obtrude towards the listener with an almost swelled-out and compacted fundamental note body. Same goes for instrumentation. Really satisfying in many tracks.
Upper-mids cont…
Take the soft replay of the enormously popular 90’s hit by Norah Jones called “Don’t Know Why”. If you know this track, then you know it isn’t full of vivacity. It’s a soft track, soft vocals, very feathery, very lilting with its eloquent meandering flow. What I like about the Quatio is that Noah’s vocals almost sound highlighted against the rest of the melody. Again, if you know this track then you know her voice is usually dead even with the melody surrounding her. Other than that, Norah’s vocals sound awesome on most any set and certainly on the Quatio. Another track is “I Can Change” sung by Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive. Her voice sounds so very pronounced, full, and spirited with an almost buttery inflection to her voice. Very clean at every note outline without any edginess adding grain around those vocals. Another example is Sia’s vocals on the track “I Forgive You”. So, Sia has one of the most powerful female voices out there. However, in some recordings her voice can almost sound too glaring, at times edgy and even abrasive in her more voluminous moments where she’s belting her heart out. Almost to the point that most earphones cannot relay that info in a natural way. If that makes sense. It’s something I’ve always noticed and Sia is far from the only person. Some males too. Anyways, folks, the Quatio handles her powerful voice very-very well. Her voice has that power, it has that nice timbre to it, there’s that tactile weight behind her voice. It doesn’t feel weak, or dry. Honestly, her voice sounds substantial. Just as she would a few rows back at a concert.
Tops in Class?
All things considered, the midrange was tuned very well for anyone who desires such a sound. I realize not everyone even hears the same way that I do and so maybe I’m on an island with this. However, the midrange is simply a very complete region. First off, it’s one of the more cohesive hybrids I’ve heard in the price point, and it does so because Kefine had the presence of mind to use a full range DD to cover the mids. The timbre is just great. It has all the great qualities of a rich and warm iem. It has the note body, the weight, the smoothened cadence and rhythmic qualities, the musicality, the emotionally charged sound. But also, the Quatio has a very strong technical side as well. I think a lot has to do with the cleanliness in this region, especially after the lower midrange. Very nice detail retrieval, better than average separation of notes, great layering of the sound field and also, the soundstage is right there at tops in class within its price point, in my opinion. At least against the iems that my ears have heard.
Downsides to the Midrange
I’d say there aren’t very many actual downsides to the Quatio’s midrange other than preferential tonality issues. Like, not everyone wants a set with a richer and slightly warmer tilt. I know so many folks who deeply desire their iems to be as clean as it can get. They want neutral and crystal clear with no bass infusion at all. Some folks only want a pristine, analytical, and transient tight playback in this region. You can’t make everyone happy. Honestly, beyond that I don’t see anyone else having much issue. Perhaps that dude who only wants the darkest of the dark midrange. Maybe that guy. Everyone else, I have a set with a very nice midrange playback, it’s called the Kefine Quatio, and its dope.
Treble Region
The treble region is one which fits the overall tuning to the tee. I am very pleased with the treble region and what Kefine used to make the treble come out the way that it has. First off, the treble region is not overly spiked. It isn’t a treble region which is going to come across harsh. Kefine knew exactly what they were doing and added the perfect amount of emphasis to counter the low-end. The highs uphold the midrange, providing some measured spunk, some glitter, some shimmer. Brilliant enough to bring some crisp edge to notes, some snap to instruments, and some levity frequency wide. For the record, there was no way that I would’ve suspected this. This is a treble which uplifts yet doesn’t drown the mix in treble sheen. It adds some luster without sounding sharp. So, what Kefine did was use two BA’s to cover this region on top of the 10mm full range dynamic driver which already covers the treble. Basically, the balanced armature drivers are there to spruce up the sound. I know I explained this in the “Internals” section, but I just think it’s a very solid way to tune a treble region. Well, to tune a set of earphones in general. It’s smart. Anyways, what I hear is a non-overtly boosted treble sound with some crisp highlights when a track calls for it. I hear some toned-down treble bite which defines on attack over top of a very smooth treble region. I hear some decently defined details as well, some very nice note contour in this region too. Of course, I wouldn’t call the Quatio a detail beast, as it isn’t that overly dry analytical style replay. It’s just very clean, very clear and the details emerge almost as a byproduct of the macro cleanliness. Basically, this isn’t some overly heightened treble created to illuminate every last detail. Thankfully.
Speedy treble?
This is also a fast treble folks. Able to keep up with any track I throw at it, all the while not coming across how a traditionally fast treble would sound. There’s this sense of speed, tightness, with a taut delivery and even a somewhat fast decay to my ears. You also have a denser note body within the treble region too. So, to me the treble does feel and sound as though I’m hearing compact notes, solid bite and note edge without the abrasiveness, as well as good timbre quality as I don’t hear any bright coloration or forced resolution. However, I love the toned-down vibrancy yet with that tightly delivered recovery and speed. Tracks like “Flim” by Aphex Twin shows off the Quatio’s ability to attack with some sharpness to each rapid treble note and decay promptly. Of course, this is mostly easily done due to the electronic treble. Those notes don’t necessarily have the lingering decay of actual instruments. How about “Ice Bridges” by Billy Strings. The Quatio literally replays every single ultra-fast note without breaking a sweat as his banjo comes roaring at the Quatio with breakneck speeds. Or “Evil Twin” by Lindsey Stirling. Another track which shows off the Quatio’s ability to distinctly render each note with not just speed, but with grace, with solid timbral qualities, and with some decent transparency. Also, it isn’t overly forced brightness which provides the Quatio with good resolution.
Job well done…
Now, I definitely feel that there are better iems strictly for treble purposes within the price range, but I am very surprised at how well the Quatio hangs with those sets. I’d even say that the Quatio has better note presence and density along with better timbre than most sets within the range. I could easily name some sets, and I think we could all agree that they probably have the more technically inclined treble. Still, I have yet to hear such a dynamic and quality treble with the tonality of the Quatio in this range. It isn’t just tonality and speed though, I also hear some decent to good extension into the upper treble. For instance, the secondary harmonics of a cymbal strike doesn’t sound washed-out in splash. Of course, I don’t hear them with perfect transparency, but they sound valid, true to tone. If that makes sense. Which in my world is more important than hearing every last lingering harmonic in crisp detail. I don’t need that, nor do I want that. Too distracting. Needless to say, that I am very taken by what this $129 set can do, and the treble is such a well-choreographed piece to that puzzle. Really a job well done in my eyes.
Downsides to the Treble Region
I have to give you all some downsides to a treble that has very few, if any, real downsides. I mean, as a whole, the treble simply fits so well folks. It’s not that there aren’t downsides, but I would hate to change anything and screw up what Kefine was able to do. Of course there’s “audiophile” subtle picky issues. Boohoo. Of course, there will be those who cannot stand that the Quatio doesn’t have that super brilliant treble with the ultra-spicy attack leading edge and perfect treble bite and punch. No doubt about it. On the other hand, there will also be those who desperately yearn for a treble which is that dark and rolled-off style, smooth as silk, all rounded edges and nothing knife edged. Nothing is for everyone I suppose.
Technicalities
Soundstage
The soundstage of the Kefine Quatio is truly one of its best qualities in my humble opinion. We reviewers speak of soundstage within these iems as if there’s some huge contrast between the size of an average stage and an exceptionally large stage. There really isn’t. I’ll take that even further; there are many sets with close, intimate, and slightly closed-in stages which sound better to me than the outward, wide, and chasmic stages. What makes a stage is how it is presented folks. Does it have depth, does it image well, is there layering happening? Does it have a sense of dimensionality? Here’s the thing, the Kefine Quatio’s stage is presented wonderfully. It does not have a closed-in stage as it is pretty darn wide and most certainly above average. Also, the Quatio has that nice tall height. However, what makes this stage as good as it is revolves around its ability to render a 3D sound field. That “holographic” type of stage. That three-dimensional psycho-acoustic trickery which creates something which sounds stereographically sculpted, rounded, and true to life. The Quatio gets you very close for such a low price in respect to every other set which litters the Audioverse. It’s a nice stage.
Separation / Imaging
Now, sound separation is about what I’d call average, but sometimes it’s much better than average. It all depends on the track. You see, the Quatio isn’t the airiest set out there and while transients are on the tighter side, they aren’t clinical in their speed. This is a set which prizes musicality above all else. Having said that, I think the Quatio does a very nice job of separating instruments and voices within the sound field. Obviously, with super heavy bass tracks you’ll get some masking which makes it harder to even hear those distinct separated note lines. Also, the Quatio has some very nice note weight which does draw those distinct lines closer together. Yet I still say that the Quatio performs very well in this regard. Imaging on the other hand is absolutely spot-on. I mean awesome! To add to that I hear awesome layering abilities with this set. You have that great front to back depth and overall, the sound is very clean. Every instrument is placed very well in its prescribed location. Even though the Quatio has that note weight, the richness, the musicality… it still has some very nice precision too.
Detail Retrieval
Looking at the detail retrieval of the Kefine Quatio I’d say that it is better than average for sure. This really does depend entirely on what track you are playing for whether the Quatio is going to draw every last micro-detail to the surface, or whether it is going to be closer to average. Let me jsut say this; I don’t need better detail retrieval from the Quatio. I should also say that to get better detail retrieval I do believe that Kefine would have to dismantle everything which makes the Quatio special. The fact that it recovers those details and performs well in its micro-dynamics is great enough in consideration to the tuning. So, to make a much longer winded explanation much shorter I’ll just say that the detail retrieval of the Quatio is definitely above average as a whole.
Comparisons
Simgot SuperMix 4 ($135)
Oh, the wonderful Simgot SuperMix 4 (SM4 Review), my friend, my companion. Friends, if there was one set that I’ve recommended more than most any other it’d be the Simgot SM4. Truly a wonderfully tuned iem which has given me countless hours of joy. The SM4 is actually a quadbrid iem consisting of one DD, one BA, one planar, and one piezo driver. The fact that Simgot was able to keep the price under $200 is somewhat of a mystery. A mystery I don’t care to figure out. The truth is that the SM4 is one of those sets which was either loved…or not. Not everyone enjoys this set with as much joy as I do. Granted, I feel the vast majority of people probably align and probably feel that the SM4 is one of the better multi-driver hybrids iems under $200. But I digress, the Simgot SuperMix 4 represents a very nice option for those who desire a very clean and technically savvy iem with plenty of tight bass punch and some wonderful highs, amongst many other quality attributes.
Differences
First off, the SM4 usually goes for around $149 but recently it dropped in some stores. However, the Quatio still costs less. I find the Quatio’s unboxing to be much better across the board. In my opinion the Quatio’s unboxing is one of the best under $200 period. Now, the build of the Quatio is obviously more robust being made entirely of aluminum. However, both sets are remarkably minimalist in design. Both sets are about as unadorned as it gets. That doesn’t mean they aren’t awesome looking. I like the simple of both designs actually but definitely think the Quatio is the more attractive set. As far as fit, I think both sets are comfortable, both very light, both great for long sessions. Now, the Quatio also comes with tuning nozzles which do help the consumer to dial in the sound further to their liking. Both sets do much better with power, with some juice added as both scale very well. I will say that the SM4 is definitely harder to drive though. For whatever reason it takes a bit more to power the SM4 sufficiently.
Sound Differences
As far as the sound comparison, I find the Quatio is a much more musical iem. Not that the SM4 lacks musicality either. It’s just that the Quatio is clearly the more emotionally charged and more traditionally melodic option. The SM4 veers more towards the analytical side, brighter, more precise, tighter transients, more technically gifted, slightly leaner in body but airier. Not that the Quatio lacks these qualities either. You see, these two sets represent two different styles of sound. Both are equally attractive per their tuning.
Between the 20’s
So, the Quatio definitely has a more dynamic and present bass region. It’s deeper, slightly less defined, but punchier, more authoritative and robust. The mids of the Quatio are much better as far as tunefulness is concerned. Better note weight, smoother, denser too. Again, more musical and it comes with a more organic timbre as well as less of a chance for fatigue due to upper mid glare. The SM4 is better detailed, more textured, more crisp, edgier, more exact in note contour and structure, better separation. The treble is where the SM4 seems to pull away though. If the Quatio takes the bass and the mids, the SM4 takes the treble. I really enjoy the snappiness of the SM4’s highs. It has that sharp and controlled treble bite and nice body, better detail retrieval, better treble resolution. Of course, I adore how Kefine tuned the treble but the SM4 does excel in this area. Technically I’ve already said the SM4 bests the Quatio in most categories except soundstage. I definitely feel the Quatio has a clear advantage with its holographic and deeper stage.
Final thoughts on this comparison
In the end both sets are truly great at what they are. I find that both sets contrast each other very well and are fantastic sets to have in a collection depending on your mood and taste on any given day. Both sets should be priced higher meaning both sets are very nice price to performance candidates for any consumer. However, for me, as much as it pains me to say it; I simply enjoy the Quatio more and feel that it is the better deal between the two.
Kiwi Ears KE4 ($179)
The Kiwi Ears KE4 (KE4 Review) is one of the better enjoyed hybrid iems under $200. I was certainly one who enjoyed many aspects of the KE4. The reason I chose the KE4 for this comparison was because of the similarities between the Quatio and the KE4. Namely, they both have 2DD’s and 2BA’s and they both have that warmer style musically driven tuning. So, unlike the SM4, the KE4 is much closer to the Quatio in its overall sound. Now, the Kiwi Ears KE4 has what many call a “Meta” tuning. I’m not going to get into exactly what that is right now, but this style hit the market last year and was off to the races. The KE4 was considered one of the least expensive Meta tuned iems at the time of its release. Which came with a ton of fanfare and also quite a bit of high praise too. If you read my review of the KE4 you’ll see why I consider this set to still be amongst the best musically based iems for the cost. However, does the KE4 make any sense when you have a stud like the Quatio at a lesser price? Maybe.
Differences
First off, the unboxing isn’t even close as the Quatio has a much better haul of accessories, much better cable, better case, many more eartips which actually make sense for the iem. It’s just much better. I’m not saying the KE4’s unboxing is bad either because it probably is about in par for what the price point suggests. Well, three pairs of eartips are kind of low, but you get the point. Really, the Quatio’s unboxing is just that good. I find the build of both sets to be quality through and through. The KE4 is all resin but built in a very durable manner, very comfortable too. Having said that, the Quatio is all aluminum and probably a bit better. The KE4 is a hair larger but both sets are good for long listening sessions. For me anyways. Both iems are easy enough to drive to proper dynamics and fidelity but both wound better, more refined, with more power on tap. Also, the Quatio has tuning nozzles that the KE4 doesn’t have. So already you can see the value of the Quatio.
Sound Differences
So, these two iems are pretty close in the sound department. Both are on the warmer side, the musical side, the rhythmically gifted side of the aisle. Though there are some distinct differences when you pay attention. Now, the graphs are at least somewhat similar, but I find the KE4 to be warmer, even richer, less technically inclined and smoother overall. The Quatio is a unicorn people. This is what I was talking about when I said that The Quatio is awesome being so warm, so rich, yet so well defined, well detailed, and more technically savvy. The KE4 is not as much. To my ears the KE4 sounds more closed-in, intimate, less holographic, and the KE4’s imaging and layering capabilities are not on par with the Quatio. The Quatio has more precise note contours, more exact in its transients, tighter, whilst also carrying that awesome musical approach. Again, it’s a unicorn for the price point.
Between the 20’s
So the bass region of the Quatio and the KE4 hits deep, they hit hard, they are punchy, and they are fun. However, the Quatio has a more defined bass region, less one-noted at times, snappier, and the Quatio can handle more complicated bass passages better. Not that the KE4 is necessarily bad either. I actually really like the KE4. It is more atmospheric in its bass as it’s low-end harmonics linger a hair longer. Again, the Quatio is simply more refined down low. The midrange of both sets offers a very musically rich experience. Both sets are extremely good at portraying the emotion of an artist. I really mean that folks. I love both iems quite a lot for this reason. Now, the KE4 definitely comes across even more intimate, closer to the listener, and lusher in body. The Quatio is closer to semi-rich, a touch leaner, yet more crystalline and transparent. The Quatio has more crispness, its slightly edgier, better note definition, more vibrant across this range too. Of the two, the Quatio is much more versatile as well due to its nozzles as well as its tuning in general being able to handle different genres better. It’s more of an all-rounder. Also of the two, I do like the Quatio better for vocalists by a small margin. The treble of The Quatio has a bit more brilliance though neither set is what I’d call fatiguing.
Technically Speaking
However, the Quatio simply has the more technically gifted playback within the treble. Tighter transients, cleaner, higher in resolution, more tangible note bite. The KE4 is definitely more relaxed whereas the Quatio does have a more energetic feel to its treble, and it probably has a more realistic timbre. Again, the Quatio has better technicalities across the board. Better detail retrieval, better layering of sounds, better note separation, it has slightly tighter transients, and it definitely has a more holographic soundstage. Better depth of field, wider, less close and intimate.
Final thoughts on this comparison
To sum up these two sets which use the same driver configuration yet are very much different in how those drivers are implemented. I definitely like the Quatio better on most days. There are some where that milky, rich, and syrupy playback of the KE4 is exactly what I want. However, the Quatio is simply a better all-rounder type set with a tuning which makes it a good option for multiple genres. Plus, it’s about $50 less expensive at the time of writing. Though I assume there are many people who would much rather have that lush type of musicality that the KE4 brings. Either set is great in their own right and I’m happy to have them both in my collection.
Is it worth the asking price?
This is a question that I ask myself in every review and in every review, I don’t enjoy answering it. That’s mainly because I cannot answer for you, I can only answer for me, from my perspective. That said, my word yes, the Quatio is worth the $129 that Kefine is asking. They could’ve said the Quatio was $329, and I wouldn’t have batted an eye at that. It sounds like it should cost a lot more money and it’s outfitted with accessories as though it should cost more. Without question. I honestly feel that the Quatio is one of the best deals in audio. Now, you obviously have to prefer the sound of the Quatio, but we’ve made it this far in the review and I’m assuming anyone still reading this feels that the sound aligns at least somewhat with their preferences. Just an assumption. However, with that caveat in mind (you have to enjoy a rich musical sound that is also highly technical) the Quatio is an absolute no-brainer. It moved directly to the top of my personal favorite hybrid under $150 and possibly under $200. Kefine nailed the sound of this set, they nailed the unboxing, they nailed the build, the comfort, and they absolutely nailed the price. Truly a job well done. Everyone who had any part of the creation of this set deserves a fist bump, a strong head nod of approval, and a hearty pat on the back. Job well done.
The Why…
Because the Kefine Quatio has an unboxing experience and accessory haul unlike most any set under $200. Truly one of the best I’ve seen. The case is nice, the modular cable is absolutely gorgeous, and they provide a slew of eartips, and by the way… all eartips actually make sense per the tuning of the Quatio! Thankfully a brand added in relevant eartips! Also, the Quatio has working tuning nozzles to switch up the sound and each tuning nozzle sounds great. So much so that I had a difficult time deciding what tuning nozzle I wanted to use for critical listening. That never happens. There’s always at least one nozzle which is not good at all. Kefine knows what they’re doing folks. Also, the build quality is definitely a “pro” in my opinion. Made entirely of aviation grade aluminum with a beautifully machined shell body. The fitment is great, everything is smoothened, very clean looking. Which brings me to the design. I like the design, but I also really like simple and classy minimalist styles very much. The Quatio is certainly that, just like all of Kefine’s iems. It’s built like a tank, yet it’s light as can be, and it looks dope. With all this said it’s always the sound which makes anything worth our time and money in this hobby.
That sound!
In my opinion the Kefine Quatio is a standout iem which has one of the most complete tunings that I’ve heard in a while under $150. The Quatio has a very addicting and hearty bass replay which has very nice and deep extension into the sublevels. The bass is dense, it’s dynamic, it has some vibrance to it and it’s very well defined for such an emphasis. The bass hits hard yet has a very nice timbre to it as well. Very fun, yet also very mature. The midrange may just be the best part of the Quatio but that’s up for debate. I’d also say that the midrange has a wonderful slightly warmed and organic timbre, very natural, great note weight, and plenty of well-balanced vibrance. Nothing shouty. I find the midrange to be very smooth across the board but also it has some crispness as well. Surprisingly, I also hear very solid detail retrieval, good note separation, and the layering abilities are top notch. Truly a wonderfully musical midrange. Next, the treble has just enough bite, treble punch, and it has very nice note contours. It’s a very clean treble with all the shimmer and sparkle you’d want without the treble coming across sharp, or harsh. I’d also say that the soundstage is one of the better stages that I’ve heard in its price point. I hear very nice depth which adds layering along with a great dimensional aspect to the sound. Rounded notes, yet crystal clear, smooth yet defined, warm yet crisp. It’s just a very nice sounding set. There’s no way I could walk away from this review and not rec this set. It’s the easiest rec in a while. Without question the Kefine Quatio is worth the asking price.
Ratings (0-10)
*Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the Kefine Quatio ratings below, that would be $100-$150 iems of any driver configuration. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $100-$150 is a very large sized scope of iems. So, it should be a nice surprise to see a rating above a “9.0”. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a rating that makes sense to me.
Aesthetic
–Build Quality: 9.0 Nice aluminum build.
–Look: 9.0 Dope minimalist design.
–Fit/Comfort: 9.0 Fit and comfort is flat-out great for my ears.
–Accessories: 9.9 Best unboxing per its class.
–Overall: 9.3🔥🔥
Sound Rating
–Timbre: 9.6 Awesome organic timbre
–Bass: 9.3 Heavy, deep, agile, foundational bass.
–Midrange: 9.7 Clean, bodied, smooth, great timbre.
–Treble: 9.1 Non-Offensive, smooth, detailed, accurate.
–Technicalities: 9.0 Good techs per the tuning.
–Musicality: 9.8 Musicality-first.
–Overall: 9.4🔥🔥
Ratings Summary:
To summarize the ratings above I’d first have to remind you all of the parameters of these ratings first. If you read the “Note” above the ratings, you’ll see that these ratings are against any $100 to $150 iems of any driver configuration. I don’t know if you are counting or not, but that’s a lot of very solid iems. Just take a second to go through the price point and you’ll see. One after the other there are absolutely fantastic iems. Whether they be single DD’s, all BA sets (not really that many actually), multi-driver sets, dual-driver sets, hybrid sets, tribrid sets, quadbrids, planars, and on and on. I’m telling you, there are a multitude of options. However, in my opinion the Quatio sits right at the top of that grouping. For me anyways. There were not many individual ratings that the Quatio was “best” at, but it was right there in the thick of the best in all of the ratings. I think that speaks heavily on the quality of the Quatio’s tuning. In all honesty, there really isn’t much that I feel I need to explain here. I mean, the Quatio is a very solid iem across the board and I feel that the ratings reflect that.
No need to explain myself on this one…
The way I do ratings is a bit different than anyone else. I don’t rate a set against the entirety of the audio world. I don’t do that. That isn’t helpful to you, at least I don’t think so. When deciding upon a price range I try to pick a price point that the consumer would likely be looking in around the cost of the item I’m reviewing. Now, I had roughly about 17 other sets within that price point (on hand) that I felt are right up there with the best in the price point. I feel an actual physical listening session works best. Much better than by memory. So, I was able to do a very thorough rating. As always, I use one track per each rating and go through every set in front of me. Believe me, it’s more fun than anything. I adore putting them all out in a long row and going one by one. Yes, I’m a dork. Of course, this ratings comparison yielded some results which confirmed my assumptions. That is, the Quatio definitely is a price to performance killer of a set, and the Quatio is easily one of the better musically driven sets within the price point. No doubt it has some of the higher ratings I’ve handed out within the price point. I’m not going through each rating but I’m sure there are places where some of you will disagree. I get it too. We aren’t all the same and so I’m sure my thoughts won’t align with some other folks. Still, I feel a “9.4” overall sound score is exactly where the Quatio should be.
Conclusion
To conclude my full review and feature of the Kefine Quatio, I really have to thank the good folks over at Kefine Audio for providing the Quatio. I have to say that I am very impressed by this group of people, and I do believe they deserve all the flowers that they get. For a slightly smaller brand to come out of the gate with as many success stories as they’ve had is quite remarkable folks. Kefine is also very easy to work with. They don’t do anything underhanded, and they are always classy and professional. So, thank you Kefine, and especially Collin, I greatly appreciate your kindness. I also need to thank you, the reader, for taking the time to actually click the link to this review and spend some time here. Thank you so very much. Every click, every view, every minute spent at our website mobileaudiophile.com helps. It really does mean the world to us.
Other Perspectives
So, you’ve just read my entire review. Now, go and read someone else’s. Not everyone is going to be of the same opinion as me folks. That’s just a fact of life and certainly a well-known understanding in the hobby. We are all so very different. We don’t all have the same music library, likes and dislikes, or audio gear. On top of that, we don’t all hear the same. Also, we haven’t all been down the same road in audio. These are very important differences from one person to another. This is why I say to you that you should take a moment and read the perspectives of other reviewers. It can only be a good thing. With all of that said, I think I’m done folks. So please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… GOD BLESS!!
