Disclaimer:
Finally, I have the opportunity to review the Kiwi Ears KE4, my first IEM from this brand. It took me a while to get noticed by this brand that seemed unreachable. But luckily they noticed some of my reviews and I’m happy to be able to try this new brand.
It gives much more satisfaction to be sought for reviews, and I must admit that I was very pleased to be contacted by them.
The Kiwi Ears KE4 is a hybrid IEM with two DD and 2 BA, of which one is branded Knowles. Price range around 200 USD.
However, the review will still be 100% honest and in no way biased.
I’m not an audiophile; I’m just a guy that 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:
- Driver Types: 2 Balanced Armatures, 2 Dynamic Drivers, 1 Knowles RAD-33518, 1 Customized RAB-32257
- Driver Details: 1 Ultra-High Frequency Driver, 1 Mid-High Frequency Driver, 2 Low Frequency Drivers
- Crossover: 3-Way Crossover
- Sensitivity: 102dB (±1dB)
- Impedance: 28 ohm
Packaging:
The Kiwi Ears KE4 got very sober packaging, simple, concise but effective. The brand shows seriousness in the presentation of the product and this is also reflected in the final product. The package is fairly complete:
- Cable with standard 3.5mm terminal
- Branded Hard case
- 3 pairs of special tips included
- Nozzle filters
- Manual and QC
If I had to point something out, it would be the presence of only the 3.5mm jack terminal and the inability to select a balanced 4.4mm. The tips, as we will see later, are excellent but perhaps not for this IEM.
Design/Build quality:
The build quality of the Kiwiears KE4 is definitely excellent; the quality is in line with other brands in the same price range; good shells; simple and serious aesthetics that never hurt. The shells are a bit massive but standard shape, and the material is very dark resin coupled with silver faceplates. Very classic and serious design.
The most particular things that we can notice are the filter and mesh of the nozzle. I think I have never seen such a massive mesh; it seems to limit the output a lot; it could be to tame the BA but it is really particular. The 2-pin connector is integrated into the shell and is a very pleasant detail. As for the ventilation holes, I noticed the one on the back of the IEM, which is a pretty big grid.
The faceplates are very sober, nothing particularly colorful, a silver color but still beautiful and in line with the serious brand it is.
Overall, the cable is of good quality, being thin, light, and soft. Instead, the tips incorporate an additional grid into the nozzle, which, in my opinion, reduces the overall sound quality. It is probably a very subjective opinion and there are those who will appreciate their use.
Tips Rolling:
I did a very quick first listening test and I immediately came to the conclusion that the included tips were limiting its sonic and technical possibilities. I opted for some cheap SS20 (wide bore tips) and immediately the situation became much more inviting. The sound opens up considerably; the trebles are more sparkling, but also the other frequencies are much more “alive.” The notes gain weight and air. My advice is to opt for at least wide bore tips or tips different from the stock ones, especially if the trebles don’t worry you.
Comfort/Fit:
The Kiwi Ears KE4 is an IEM with a fairly classic shape that fits normally. It is slightly more massive than usual but by developing in depth at the maximum, it protrudes slightly more from the ear. The original cable is very light and flexible so comfort is maximum. You should not have any problems with stability or discomfort from prolonged use.
Initial sound impression:
I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this brand because I’ve never had the chance to try one of their IEMs; I just read the reviews of other reviewers. I knew I should have expected a very good quality product and so it was.
The sound is immediately extremely rich in details, with the right emphasis on the notes that makes the experience very pleasant. For my tastes, it is a very smooth, safe tuning with a nice feeling of open soundstage. It has that atmospheric feeling given by the bass and rich mids, with the right weight of the voices but also the string instruments make you feel the air moved by the pinching of the strings (you need the right tracks obviously). The tuning is quite natural tending to warm but somehow the level of energy and treble remain sparkling and energetic. Perhaps in terms of bass, the texture is not always in line with the rest.
Equipment used for testing:
Device:
- OSX
- Poco M4 Pro
Software:
- Amazon Music UHD 24bit 96kHz
DAC:
- Moondrop Dawn Pro
- Fosi SK02 (most used)
- Muse Hifi M4
- Fiio KA11
- Fiio KA17
- Fosi DS2
- Simgot DEW4X
- EPZ TP20 Pro
- Hidizs S9 Pro Plus
- EPZ TP50
- Creative SoundBlaster X5
Final sound impression:
The Kiwi Ears KE4 proves to be a very organic and musical-sounding IEM. The new Meta target tuning is definitely a plus; we see nothing but Harman curve IEMs on the market now. I won’t go into detail about this tuning but you can find more information online. Let’s say that reviewing IEMs is becoming a bit monotonous if everyone aims to follow the same curve. I don’t think you can really get tired of listening to an IEM like this. All the frequencies stand out mostly clean and allow you to listen to your favorite tracks without losing any detail at all. The tuning is not extreme but more plain oriented but it shows the maturity of the brand; it is not the most natural IEM on the market, and the presence of BA always gives a feeling that is somehow not too natural to my ears. In any case, it does not do badly compared to all the frequencies; the mids are those that slightly stand out the most, giving a good depth to the voices and notes. The whole thing is very fluid and well mixed, making the listening never banal or unexciting.
Cable rolling:
Because I suspected the Kiwi Ears KE4 needed more juice, I decided to experiment with a balanced cable. For the occasion, I used the newly arrived Effect Audio Ares S II cable. Connected to the Fosi SK02 brings out a few more points on the low and high frequencies. In terms of sound, there is a change. I can not say it is because of the cable’s excellent quality, but rather because the drivers’ proper power supply allows them to reach their full potential. My advice is to use a balanced cable. I wonder why they didn’t decide to sell the balanced variant on the site too.
Bass
With the cable swap and the switch to a balanced power supply, the result, in my opinion, improves slightly. However, the texture could also be better; sometimes it seems barely enough on some tracks and perfect on others. It is not the kind of IEM I would listen to D&B with but more quiet and refined genres are absolutely suitable. The bass helps to add weight and thickness in the midregion. In fact, if you have the chance to listen, you will notice how they blend together perfectly. On particularly pushed tracks, you may notice some bass bleeding into the mids.
Mids
The mid frequencies are the real protagonists of this set. Their advanced positioning compared to the others makes the mids particularly attractive, full, and rich in details. The voices are quite natural with a slightly warm touch. The musical instruments are quite coherent but what is most surprising is the emphasis that the voices and notes have. The guitar strings are clearly heard thanks to the organic nature that makes you perceive the air moved by them.
Treble
The trebles were kept safe in an excellent way. Honestly, the presence of the BAs always worries me because they can become extremely hard to tolerate if not properly filtered or tuned. In this case, they are slightly recessed but still very well detailed, with a good presence of macro-micro details. Using the included tips, they can be further reduced using the stock tips but personally, I helped them to emerge better with wide bore tips. Since their extension is limited, the air is also limited. I would have preferred perhaps a slightly larger quantity.
Soundstage and Imaging:
The soundstage of the Kiwi ears KE4 is well developed; in my opinion, the original tips limit the stage width slightly, but this is easily remedied. In terms of size, there are planar drivers that perform better in this price range, but the atmospheric effect enhances the soundstage significantly. Let us say it gets by, but it is only average, and in some cases, below average. In terms of imaging, we are faced with an excellent image if the sound tracks do not reach hard-core levels. The more complex tracks tend to lose some detail here and there. I find the layering good; everything is well separated and reaches the eardrum cleanly. Maybe there is a little bass bleeding into the mids but it is not easy to notice.
Fast Comparison:
If you consider that we are in the same price range, you can immediately appreciate the qualities of the planar driver. Honestly, planar drivers are completely losing the artificial timbre and even the bass is becoming more and more similar to that of the DD. The result you get from a single planar driver is often superior to using multiple drivers. The Letshuoer S12 2024 ED is extremely versatile and suitable for different musical genres.
The Supermix are an exotic hybrid set well-rendered by Simgot. It costs a little less but still delivers an even more neutral, fast, and sparkling sound. Being a more Harman tuning, we find exactly what we expect to find. The configuration is extremely particular but Simgot always manages to achieve an excellent result. They are so different from each other that it is impossible to prefer one to the other. Being a bit of a lover of low frequencies, I lean a little towards the SuperMix 4. But the reality is that it depends on the mood of the day.
Conclusion:
I’m honestly surprised by Kiwi Ears KE4. It was a brand I wanted to try for a long time but it was difficult for me to reach them. The KE4 are something slightly different from the norm with this new META target curve. I’m surprised how they managed to emphasize the mid frequencies that sound quite natural with a touch of warmth; great job also on the treble that they avoided making it sharp even if it limits a bit the presence of air and therefore the perception of the soundstage. As for the bass, the texture is not in its best shape. You only notice it on very complex basshead tracks. However, even if it is not a particularly heavy set of bass, the reproduction of the same in the mix is more than good for my tastes. The only criticism I can make is on the choice of standard equipment; in my opinion, the balanced cable brings real advantages to the dynamics of the drivers and the included tips should be at least two types for a 199 USD set.
In conclusion, it is a set that is positioned in a price range very rich in competitors. The choice is so difficult that not even I would be sure on what to choose, but if you want a hybrid set that is smooth, balanced, and musical, this is certainly a very good choice. Keep in mind, however, to change the tips and perhaps also the cable.
8.6/10
Pros:
- Nice build quality
- Good packaging
- Nice & soft 3.5mm cable
- META Target curve
- Timbre is quite natural with a touch of warmth
- Smooth & Musical sound
- Nice and pleasant mids (great vocals)
- Note weight is well done
- Safe trebles (no sibilance)
- Quite easy to drive
Cons:
- Cable options (4.4mm should be added instead)
- Tips rolling is a must with this set
- Driver flex when inserting in ears
- Bass texture could be better
- Treble lacks a little bit of air
- Not suitable for bass heavy & complex musical genres
