Previously we have reviewed the Kiwi Ears Quartet, and we were quite impressed by how well-tuned it is for the price point. Today we are looking at a more budget-oriented offering by the company – the Kiwi Ears Cadenza, a US$34.99 (~RM163) IEM boasting large beryllium drivers.
Table of Contents
Kiwi Ears Cadenza – Specifications
| Driver | 10mm Beryllium diaphragm driver |
| Connector | 0.78 pin |
| Sensitivity | 110dB SPL/mW |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Frequency Response Range | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Material | Medical-grade resin |
What’s in the Box?
- Kiwi Ears Cadenza
- Spare ear tips
- 3.5mm cable
- User guide
Design
Unlike its more expensive sibling, you can get the Kiwi Ears Cadenza in four colour offerings – red, blue, green and purple. The shell is made of medical grade resin, with a marbled gloss finish that glitters under direct light. The earbud shape is quite conventional, but it still looks more expensive than it is.
However, that cannot be said about the included cables, it feels quite thin and is quite prone to tangling. On the bright side, at least the IEMs use 0.78 pin connectors, so you are spoilt for choice for aftermarket cables.
In terms of accessories, it is a tad puzzling. On one hand, you are given 3 different packs of ear tips, each coming in 3 sizes for a total of 9 pairs. On the other hand, the Cadenza does not come with a case, which is quite common among CHiFi products even in the same price segment.
Fitting the ear tips on does require quite a bit of finesse, as the nozzle is a bit too wide for the ear tips. That being said, you won’t have to worry about the ear tips falling off in the future thanks to the snug fit.
Audio Quality
Tonality
The Kiwi Ears Cadenza is tuned to offer a balanced sound signature. The bass presents a slightly elevated behaviour without being overbearing at all. The mids sound smooth, warm, and has a decent presence. The upper frequencies are well-tuned, while a tad bright it does not sound fatiguing.
Overall, it achieves the Harman neutral target and has a natural timbre, though it is a bit on the warm side. This however makes the Cadenza a versatile pair of IEMs suitable for a wide genre of music.
Technical Performance
While the tuning is excellent, it does lack somewhat in its technical performance. The soundstage is quite intimate, and layering is not the best in this price segment. Instrument separation is nothing to write home about, and could sound muddy when playing complex tracks.
Comfort
Due to its lightweight construction, it is super comfy to wear and does not weigh down my ears at all. Sound isolation performance is quite decent as it manages to drown out most of the background noise.
Final Verdict
3.75 / 5The Kiwi Ears Cadenza sounds pleasant and is a great budget option for Harman neutral leaning listeners.
For those who are after the Harman curve, the Kiwi Ears Cadenza is one of the best performers in the budget IEM space. While the technical performance is nothing to shout about, it exhibits a natural and neutral sound signature that is hard to beat even by more expensive rivals. But still, having an included protective case would have been nice.
If you fancy getting one for yourself, you can buy it on Linsoul.com. To learn more, please visit the official product page.
