Disclaimer:
Hello MBA readers, we have Kiwi Ears again today! The Kiwi Ears Altruva are attractively priced and feature a plasticky, yet well-made, build quality. These are open-back, over-ear headphones with a 50mm driver. They’re nothing special compared to the myriad of hybrid and unique products they make, but the Kiwi Ears Altruva can also be very interesting. Sometimes, simplicity is all you need.
Table Of Content
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:
- Driver Unit 50mm Dynamic Driver
- Impedance 32 Ohm
- Sensitivity 98dB ± 3dB
- Frequency Response 20Hz – 40kHz
- Plug 3.5mm + 6.35mm adapter
- Cable Length 3m
Packaging:
The packaging is pared down to the essentials, reflecting the essence of the headphones. The packaging is minimal, even internally, with the headphones wrapped in a plastic bag and little else. For a price of around $60-$70, that’s about right.
So inside we have:
- 3.5mm cable with 6.35mm Adapter
- Extra Earpads
- Instruction manual
Considering the price, you can’t ask for more, perhaps a bag to store the headphones.
The inclusion of replacement earpads is already a highlight! Especially considering that even more expensive headphones don’t include this type of accessory. They’re made of a different material; instead of leather, they’re made of velvet fabric.
Design/Build Quality:
The Kiwi Ears Altruva has a simple aesthetic and less premium materials than we’re used to with Kiwi Ears, but in my opinion, the product is well-built and sturdy. The headband is fixed, made of metal with an internal elastic band that makes it universal. What surprised me most is how light it is! A featherweight that makes listening sessions completely relaxing.
The earcups have an open-back look with the logo behind a grille; the pads are extremely soft and comfortable. The structure isn’t foldable, but that makes perfect sense, since these are open-back headphones, so wearing them outside isn’t a good idea.
The system that tensions the band for adjustment is a little noisy when you put them on but otherwise it is perfectly functional.
Fit & Comfort:
As mentioned in the previous section, the materials aren’t super premium, but they do have one extraordinary feature! They’re so light that you don’t feel any weight on your head or ears. You forget you’re wearing them. The included cable is very long, but I don’t need it, so I switched to a balanced one to squeeze them properly.
Initial Sound Impressions:
I think Kiwi Ears has found the perfect recipe for IEMs and headphones of all kinds. I can’t remember a single product of theirs that sounded bad.
The Kiwi Ears Altruva is a budget product, true, but can I tell you that its build quality is even superior to some headphones costing over $200? That aside, the sound is anything but budget. Although the main problem I’ve encountered with open-back headphones is usually creating a rich enough bass, in this case, the deep notes are well-rendered, the sub-bass is good without being excessive, and the bass is well-crafted and very natural in tone with a slight emphasis. The mids are clear and distinct from the rest, with a nice airiness all around. The treble is well-crafted, bright, but well within the limits. They could have been pushed further if desired, but the airiness typical of open-back headphones greatly helps this aspect. These are extremely versatile headphones for almost any musical genre.
Equipment used for the testing:
Device:
- Mac Mini 2012
- Poco M4 Pro
Software:
- Amazon Music UHD 24-bit 96 kHz
DAC:
- Fosi Audio K7
Final sound impressions:
I’ll be blunt: after reading the sensitivity and impedance, I decided to switch directly to a balanced cable I had lying around. The original cable is beautiful, much better than the one normally included with the Hifiman and much more similar to the one with the Philips Fidelio X2HR. Upgrading to the cable isn’t absolutely necessary, but it’s just to squeeze every possible nuance from the drivers and get the most out of my DACs.
I hooked it directly to the Fosi Audio K7, which is amazing for driving them and has EQ. I can already tell you that Kiwi Ears Altruva handles even strong EQs brilliantly.
I’ll confirm my first impressions by adding that it’s an extremely balanced set, capable of transparency and clarity of sound uncommon in this price range. Although the tuning is slightly warm, it doesn’t miss any detail.
Treble
Some may find the Kiwi Ears Altruva trebles unfairly balanced. I couldn’t detect any sibilance. They’re always clear and detailed, with excellent extension, sparkle, and ample airflow. They’re a satisfying listen, with a good ability to accurately reproduce macro and micro details. Their refinement is especially noticeable when listening to cymbal tracks.
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
The bass is pleasant, especially because of the very assertive midbass, which makes it very satisfying to listen to, enriching the entire soundstage with a warm note and adding weight to notes where needed. Sometimes it’s difficult to achieve a similar result with open-back speakers due to the dome structure, which disperses a lot.
However, even if the subbass rolls off early, the punchy midbass lifts the perception of the bass, making it satisfying. It’s not the kind of bass that will satisfy the most demanding listeners, but it certainly won’t leave you disappointed when the track calls.
Soundstage & Imaging:
In terms of soundstage, its open-back design lends that characteristic air of these structures and naturally enhances the soundstage. Excellent directionality, but also imaging is particularly precise for its price range, making the Kiwi Ears Altruva a headphone that far exceeds its cost.
Comparison:
Given their affordable price range, I’d happily compare them to the Hifiman HE400SE and the Philips Fidelio X2HR. There are certainly many other alternatives, but I prefer to talk about products I own or have owned.
vs. Hifiman He400Se
They are undoubtedly the entry-level planar headphones par excellence. I haven’t always been satisfied with their sound; in fact, I’ve always found them too light in terms of low frequencies. They are certainly the most detailed and resolute, but they aren’t as balanced and versatile as the Kiwi Ears Altruva. If I had to choose, I’d opt for the Altruva, which are easier to drive and better suited to even modern music genres.
vs. Philips Fidelio X2HR
In my opinion, the Fidelio is extremely neutral and is also a headphone that is best suited to classical music genres because of how it enhances musical instruments and vocals. They are rivals in a certain sense, but they compete with two different target audiences. In my opinion, each headphone is created to cover certain musical genres better than others.
Conclusion:
The Kiwi Ears Altruva are the kind of low-profile headphones that hide excellent sound. They may not be the company’s flagship model, but they still offer remarkable quality for the relatively low price of just $60. Obviously, you won’t find high-quality materials, but neither will you find shoddy or poorly assembled ones. In terms of comfort, perhaps the various angles could be improved, or at least the earpads could be rounded/angled, but for this price, replacements are already included.
For me, these perfectly meet my needs; I often listen to R&B, Jazz, Soul, but also a lot of EDM. Their tuning manages to cope more than well with all of these, even providing some satisfaction with classical music.
8.5/10
Pros:
- Build quality and materials are good
- Entry-level price with high-quality sound
- Open-back
- Extra Earpads included
- Kiwi Ears Sound target
- Good and airy soundstage
- Can be used for a gaming session
Cons:
- No travel bag
- Isolation
- No Balanced cable
- Bass quantity (good for an open-back, but maybe not enough for everyone)
- Not ideal in summer heat (personal opinion)
- Needs a good AMP to shine
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