Pros: Robust Build Quality, Warm and Organic Tonality, Lush Mids with Soulful Male Vocals, Tight and Clear Bass, Good Value for Money
Cons: Average Soundstage, Lack of Spark in Treble Region, Some might find it Dark
Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite: A Harmonious Delight
Introduction: -
Before we write about the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite let's first write a bit about Kiwi Ears, the team behind the Orchestra Lite. Kiwi Ears is a Shenzhen, China-based company started by a team of dedicated engineers around 2020 with the launch of Kiwi Ears Orchestra. The Orchestra is still remembered for its high-quality build quality and musical signature at an affordable price. Fast forward to 2024, they have launched numerous IEMs in four years such as Kiwi ears Quintet, Quartet, Cadenza, Forteza, Dolce, and of course Orchestra Lite around March 2023 which we are reviewing in Aural café today. Surprisingly the team at Kiwi Ears has recently come up with their first Dongle DAC Kiwi Ears Allegro at just 59.99 US$ which we might review in future. After carefully going through the various Kiwi Ears IEMs, we feel that the team at Kiwi Ears aims to provide high-quality IEMs at various price points to cater to the different tastes of audiophiles around the world.
The original Kiwi Ears Orchestra made quite a mark when it was launched in 2021 at 499 US$.
Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite coming in at 249 US$ is based on the OG Orchestra. Orchestra Lite features once again the same 8 Balanced Armatures driver configuration concerning the OG Orchestra but at half the price of the OG Orchestra. With eight drivers on each side, the Orchestra is an all-BA-based IEM. The Orchestra Lite features 2 custom-tuned BAs for highs, 4 custom-tuned BAs for mids and 2 Knowles BA subwoofers for the lows.
We have purchased the unit. We are delighted with the opportunity to review it. The review reflects our honest opinions as always. However, our evaluation is based on a comparison of the price of the IEM.
Packaging & Accessories: -
Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite IEMs
9 pairs of Ear-Tips (3 Different Silicon Type)
OFC IEM Cable with 3.5mm Termination
Carry Case
Documentation
Check out the full unboxing video here,
IEM Build, Design & Fit: -
When it comes to the IEM build, the quality is there. The team at Kiwi Ears has given their full focus. The Kiwi Ears team has used high-quality medical-grade resin to cast the transparent shell of the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. The build quality of the shell as well as the faceplate is top-notch. While our unit came up in a beautiful green faceplate, the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite also comes in a blue, purple and orange faceplate. The shell is transparent and that’s why the internals are visible, and one can see high-quality handcrafted crossover inside the shell which is actually the brain of these multi-BA IEMs. When it comes to the fit the size and design are designed for average to big size ears. The fit may not be comfortable for small ears, but it provides decent isolation for outside use. The usage of the medical grade resin also helps in the overall comfort factor while using the IEMs for a longer duration. When it comes to the build quality of the IEMs, we can confidently say that we have seen one of the best build qualities at this price range of 200 to 500 US$. The accessories of the Orchestra Lite are simple and efficient to use. It comes with simple silicone ear tips and 4-core 7n Oxygen-free Copper cable which is sufficiently flexible and light in weight.
Tonality: - After being into this hobby for more than 8 years we at Aural café give supreme importance to the tonality of the IEMs. When it comes to the tonality of the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite it is quite balanced with a decent hint of warmness to keep the overall tonality organic across the frequency. The team at the Kiwi Ears has made use of carefully chosen BA drivers so that the tonality doesn’t have any hint of BA timbre. The timbre of the instruments is organic and musical.
Lows: - The Lows in Kiwi Ears Orchestra lite is handled by two high-quality Knowles subwoofers. The bass is linear in response with decent quantity and quality. The Kiwi Ears team has done a phenomenal job in achieving a high-quality dynamic bass in an all-BA Kiwi Orchestra lite. The midbass especially has a quality that becomes quite fun while listening to the popular EDM numbers, while the subbass does rumble in tracks such as HEARTLESS by the Weekend but lacks a bit of extension. The bass surprisingly has nice speed and right control while handling complex tracks. The transient response has solid control and is fun while listening to the blues genre of music. We at Aural café feel that the lows are carefully tuned by the Kiwi Ears engineers as the bass is tight and clear without overpowering the mids and highs.
Mids: - The Mids is where the heart of the Orchestra lite lies. This is also quite visible as the Kiwi Ears team makes use of four custom-tuned BA drivers for handling the mids in Orchestra Lite. The tonality of the custom-tuned BA is surprisingly quite like the Sonion BA which is well known for handling Mids great. The Orchestra Lite showcases lush and musical textured mids which becomes very fun while listening to vocal-based songs. The mids is neither forward nor recessed so the vocals mix with the instruments in a very smooth and inoffensive way. The lower mids have the right body while the upper mids are just balanced at best. We at Aural café would have loved it if the upper mids had a bit more extension a soul (with the stock cable). Both male and female vocals are balanced across the frequency with the right texture, but it is in male vocals where the Orchestra Lite shines which is quite evident while listening to “Yun hi re Yun hi re” from the movie “David” composed by Anirudh. When it comes to showcasing the lower mids the Kiwi Orchestra lite has done a decent job in comparison to the upper mids. The male vocals have a buttery smooth texture and soul.
Highs: - When it comes to highs in the Orchestra Lite it is again handled by two custom-tuned BA drivers. The highs are decently airy but lack a bit of sparkle and are just average at best. While some might find it dark and lacking, we at Aural café believe that the Kiwi Ears engineers tuned it according to their aim of showcasing a balanced IEM across the spectrum, saying so we would love a bit more sparkle, especially in the upper mids region. Detail retrieval capacity is above average and smooth rather than being too analytical.
Soundstage & Imaging: - With the help of 8 BA drivers the Orchestra lite showcases an above-average soundstage both in terms of width and depth. We love an intimate soundstage which is beautifully showcased in Kiwi Ears Orchestra lite, but Audiophiles who are more into wide soundstage would feel it a bit lacking. The Orchestra Lite does a decent job while listening to blues and numbers such as “Hotel California” but it loses while listening to complex tracks, especially in the rock and metal genre of music. The layering and imaging are above average, and we loved listening to “Hotel California” and “New Kid in Town” by the legendary Eagles band.
Synergy: - When it comes to drivability the Orchestra Lite is easy to drive but we at Aural café believe a lot in the source and suggest using high-quality DAPs and dongles to enjoy IEMs optimally, and yes Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite also scales a lot with the better sources, especially in soundstage and highs. After using it with numerous sources such as Dethonray DTR1, DTR1+, Pegasus SG1 Gold, Ak SP1000m, Aune M1p, Aune Yuki, Tanchjim Space, Space Lite we can assure you that it sounds best with neutral, transparent, and clean sources such as Aune M1p, Aune Yuki, Tanchjim Space Lite and Ak SP1000m. When it comes to cables the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite becomes a bit more neutral and airier when used with high-quality SPC or Pure Copper cables, such as PW Audio Saladin or PW Audio Monile 2-wire, whereas the Spinfit CP145 once again goes well with the balanced tonality of the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. Surprisingly it didn’t go well with the high-quality silver cable in our test.
Conclusion: -
After listening to Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite for weeks at Aural Café we feel that this is an IEM that will hold its place and is total value for money. We also strongly feel that the engineers have worked really hard in choosing the right BA drivers for the resin used for crafting the shell and last but not least the customized BAs and crossover are implemented well to showcase a musically balanced unit. Lots of IEMs will come and go in this price range but Kiwi Ears we believe will hold their place for a long time. If you are a value-conscious Audiophile and in the market for a hi-fi sound at a decent price, then Kiwi Ears Orchestra lite is an easy recommendation. We would however end by saying that we at Aural café would have loved it if the Kiwi Ears team had been a little less strict with the higher frequency and could have added a bit of sparkle in the upper mids region.
Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite Review – a new benchmark emerges
Pros: – Good bass response, not just for a balanced armature set – it packs a punch and has decent texture
– Relatively relaxed and non-fatiguing listen
– Decent stage that has more depth than width
– Imaging is quite impressive for the price
– Timbre is quite natural and organic
– Great note-weight – has a good amount of warmth and it is neither muddy nor thin
– Pretty good detail pick up and resolution
Cons: – Spartan accessories and packaging – but perhaps this is where some of the cost savings come from!
– Average separation – can sometimes sound a little congested with busy passages
– Transients and dynamics are a little lacking making it slightly less engaging.
Intro
In recent months, the budget segment of the IEM (in-ear monitor) market has become a hotbed of activity with new “Aria-killers” popping up almost every week. The cost of entry into this hobby has never been lower, and the sheer number of options available to consumers has never been greater. With this increased competition, IEM manufacturers are racing to produce better-tuned IEMs at lower prices, providing consumers with a seemingly endless selection to choose from.
However, for those looking for a step-up in quality without venturing into the mid-fi segment, in which IEMs can typically cost over $500, solid options have remained few and far between for the past 2-3 years. The Moondrop Blessing 2 and Blessing 2 Dusk have established themselves as the go-to recommendations in this realm and all IEMs in this segment are inevitably measured against the bar set by these two stalwarts. Thus far, no challenger has managed to surpass their benchmark throne.
Until now.
Enter the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. Coming in at $250, the Orchestra Lite undercuts the Blessing 2 duo as well as the upcoming Blessing 3. Kiwi Ears is a company founded by a veteran IEM designer who is responsible for some of the most popular IEMs to date and their previous releases, the Orchestra ($500) and the Cadenza ($40), were both lauded for being solid choices in their respective price brackets but never really took off.
The Orchestra Lite seeks to change that.
Build and Fit
The Orchestra Lite has a medium-sized, semi-custom-shaped, fully filled resin shell with a completely translucent body that puts the the inner wiring and drivers on full display. It’s very nice to look at and feels quite solid in hand. In terms of build quality, I’d venture to say it is a step up from the Blessing 2 and Variations which were plagued with issues related to the glue used to attach the metal faceplates and 2pin connectors. From memory, the Orchestra Lite is probably more comparable to the Moondrop S8 in build, although admittedly, the S8 is a step-up aesthetically for my personal tastes. Overall, this is the type of build quality that I’d expect to see from IEMs costing twice as much or more!
Fit, while subjective, is nice. It is not a small IEM, but the shape is ergonomic and seals very well in my ears. One thing to call out is that the Orchestra Lite is an unvented IEM which may preclude those who are sensitive to pressure build. On this note, I thought I was in this camp as well – my previous experiences with unvented IEMs had me avoiding unvented full-BA sets for the longest time. Pressure build up with the Moondrop S8 caused me discomfort and the vacuum seal of the Sony IER-M series made it troublesome to maintain proper fit and seal. I was worried the Orchestra Lite would do the same for me, but surprisingly, I have no issues with them at all!
Overall Sound
The Orchestra Lite is a well-tuned IEM with good timbre, a slightly warm sound signature, and decent resolution. Bass is punchy and decently textured, mids are full and rich, treble is decently airy but also subdued enough to never be fatiguing. It’s a good all-rounder and is well-suited for most if not all genres of music.
Bass
Balanced Armature drivers are often assumed to have less than stellar bass response and outliers that do bass well are praised as having “bass that is good for a BA.” I can say with certainly that this is also the case with the Orchestra Lite. While it is not a bass cannon, it still packs a decent punch and texture is pretty nice too. It’s refreshing to see more IEM makers incorporate a mid-bass over sub-bass tuning. To my ears, this adds a nice bit of body to the sound that many IEMs that favor sub-bass over mid-bass tend to lack. This adds a warm characteristic to the sound without making it muddy, which makes it sound a bit more natural to the ear.
Mids
Mids are lush and clean. Vocals, both male and female, are nicely presented. Most instruments sound nice and full with good noteweight. Despite the warmth, there is pretty good clarity through the mids. Pretty good texture and layering. Overall, mids are relatively smooth and relaxed yet nicely resolving.
Treble
The treble is well extended but is tuned more on the safe side. It never sounds sibilant or harsh, and the details are all there. But the safer tuning does have the effect of adding a bit more smoothness to the sound, which depending on what you’re looking for, may be a good or a bad thing.
Techs
Stage is slightly above average and is deeper than it is wide. While you might not get the sensation of sound coming from way off to the left and right, there is a sense of depth and layering to the stage that you don’t quite often hear in this price range.
Imaging is solidly above average. Instruments and voices are clearly positioned, and it is easy to identify where they are on the stage.
Owing to the more tame treble tuning, transients (the sound usually associated with the initial attack on notes – like plucks of a string, or consonants) can come off a bit more rounded or blunted rather than incisive and crisp. On scale of “too smoothed over and boring,” and “too harsh and sibilant,” I’d say it falls somewhere in between, perhaps leaning towards the smooth side, which, if anything, makes it safe.
But, this smoother transient response does seem to have a detrimental effect on separation. Separation is not the strongest trait of the Orchestra Lite, and it can sometimes struggle with articulation and separation during busier passages. This might be a nitpick, however, because from memory, it is a step up from the Blessing 2.
Also, the Orchestra Lite is not the most dynamic IEM. The replay is fairly smooth, and the dynamic range matches that smoothness.
Where the Orchestra Lite shines the brightest, in my opinion, is with timbre. The term “BA timbre” is often thrown around and my understanding of this term is that some IEM balanced armature implementations have an unnaturally thin tonality that sometimes adds a metallic or digital sheen to the sound – the Moondrop S8 sticks out as the perfect example of this for me. The Orchestra Lite doesn’t do this and overall I’d say it has very good tonality and timbre – instruments and voices sound very natural to my ear.
Closing Thoughts
Kiwi Ears really came out of left field with the Orchestra Lite. The pleasant, slightly warm tonality, smooth and relaxed character, solid technical performance, and its superb build quality make this IEM an incredible value proposition. The Blessing 2s finally have some serious competition, and Moondrop will have some stiff competition ahead of their upcoming release of the Blessing 3. At the time of writing, the Orchestra Lite is probably my favorite IEM in its price bracket and it gets a strong recommendation from me!
Cons: Might be a bit boring for some (not very bassy nor sparkly treble)
Sub-bass extension
Upper-treble air
Treble can be overly smooth (bottlenecking dynamic range)
Unvented -> pressure build up (uncomfortable)
Disclaimer: I was sent a review unit for free from Linsoul. Thank you very much.
Cable: Measures at around 0.47ohm, 7n OFC cable. Thicker than average 4-core cables. Has a working plastic chin-slider, divider and connectors are in metal. Looks very similar to cable A6 in my database (aka, Tri Through).
Build: Full resin build, also seems to be filled with resin internally as it does have some heft to it. Nozzle has 3 sound bores each with BA dampers inside. There is no real lip on the nozzle for the tips but there is a slight bump around the edge so they are secure enough for me at least.
Fit: Size wise considering it has 8 BAs, it is on the smaller side. But overall, it is bigger than average iems. Shape fits my ears very well though and with the non-vented shell, it is a very good fit.
Comfort: Since the shell is non-vented, that is a big con for the comfort as there is pressure build up and my ears really cannot handle using this for a long time at all as the pressure is painful.
Isolation: Top tier due to non-vented shell and shape/size.
Lows: The bass on the Lite is very impressive for a BA iem, extends quite low and has a lot of texture for a non-vented woofer. Speed and tightness are pretty average for a BA iem, as in, very fast and tight. Quantity will not satisfy bassheads though but the quality is very impressive.
Mid-bass: Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), Very fast attack and decay along with a very tight bass as expected from a non-vented BA, texture is better than average for a BA though but lacks quantity for me. The (02:55-03:01) section with the chopper is clean and hearable.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), texture is good and very clean due to the speed and tightness but lacking quantity due to the speed.
Sub-bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), good extension but lacking some rumble. Punch quantity is pretty good and has texture, very fast and tight so it is clean.
Will Sparks – Sick like that (03:08-03:22), Texture is pretty good but it is lacking quantity.
Mids: Both male and female vocals are fairly balanced sounding overall, but the male vocals do tend to be a bit recessed and lacking warmth, timbre is good but could be better, especially the male vocals. Female vocals are tuned very well and without shoutyness although the smoothness does sometimes come and bite it as the dynamic range could be better and it is a bit overly smooth sometimes.
Female-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocal timbre is pretty good, while they aren’t too forward, they are not recessed either well balanced and good tonality, clarity is good but could be better. Instruments lack some air though but is very smooth and clean.
Yuki Hayashi – MightU (01:58-02:55), female vocal Tonality could be a bit brighter and more dynamic as it is a bit too smooth but very clean and detailed.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), Not shouty at all nor peaky but also a bit too smooth (which also affects dynamic range).
Hiroyuki Sawano – Crescent (02:07-02:26), Very slightly peaky, separation is good and it does not sound chaotic.
Male-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (00:57-01:17), male vocal tonality is good but slightly recessed, clean though. Instrument tonality could be a bit warmer.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), male vocal tonality lacks a lot of warmth and is a bit recessed, clean and detailed though. Instrument could be a lot warmer as well.
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), Electric guitars are not sharp at all, but is a bit too smooth and dynamic range could be better. Timbre is pretty good.
Deuce – America (03:03-03:16), separation and imaging are good and it doesn’t sound chaotic.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), violin tonality could be brighter, airier and more textured as well as less smooth, timbre is decent. Cello tonality lacks some warmth and texture, decent timbre.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), Clarity could be better and airier. But otherwise, it is clean.
Soundstage: Average stage width but pretty decent depth.
Tonality: Balanced, tuned so that neither the bass, mids nor treble stands out too much from each other and with very good tonal balance and is tuned very well in my opinion but the smoothness can be a bit too much sometimes and making the dynamic range poorer. Timbre overall is very good for a BA iem.
Details: Macro-details are pretty good although micro-details are a bit bottlenecked by the somewhat lack of upper-treble/air.
Instrument Separation: Imaging and separation are pretty good.
Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends just a bit more and with slightly more rumble on the Bravery. Punch quantity is similar but tighter and faster as well as more textured on the Lite.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), mid-bass quantity is higher on the Bravery but more textured on the Lite as well as bit tighter and faster, better timbre on the Lite.
Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), speed is similar but tighter and quite a bit more textured on the Lite, quantity is comparable but less clean on the Bravery and each individual hit are more smeared out.
Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Similar vocal quantity but better a bit better tonality (brighter) and timbre on the Lite as well as cleaner sounding.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), both are similar non-shouty but the bravery has a bit better dynamic range as it is less smooth.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality (warmer) and timbre are better on the Bravery but cleaner and more detailed on the Lite.
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), Electric guitar timbre and tonality are slightly better on the Bravery as well as less overly smooth. It is more fatiguing though.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Violin and cello tonality, timbre and texture are a bit better on the Bravery, similar macro-detail but better micro-detail on the Bravery.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality is better on the Bravery as it is airier and a bit brighter and better timbre as well. Lite is overly smooth compared to it. Similar detail.
Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), stage is deeper on the Lite with similar width, more macro-details and better imaging on the Lite. Timbre is slightly better overall on the Bravery.
Overall: The Bravery having a vented BA woofer but still losing in bass quality (texture) was pretty surprising to me, and while the Bravery did extend a bit more and rumble more, I still take the bass on the Lite instead. Other than that, the Lite overall is just a better iem to me, as neither of them are what I consider as “fun” sounding iems, the Lite being the cleaner one and more technical overall is the reason I believe it is better.
Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends and rumbles a lot more on the DT600. Punch quantity is also higher on the DT600 but less tight, slower and less textured. Timbre is a bit better on the DT600.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), quantity is perceived as similar due to the faster and tighter bass on the Lite and with a bit more texture. Timbre is similar.
Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), Very similar speed and tightness but a bit more quantity and texture on the Lite while it is a cleaner and airier on the DT600.
Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal quantity is bit higher and cleaner on the DT600 but timbre is better on the Lite as well as tonality, since the DT600 lacks in note-weight and sounds too thin.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), shoutier vocals and much peakier treble on the DT600 as well as thinner note weight. Timbre is better on the Lite.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal quantity is similar but much more tonally accurate and better timbre on the Lite. Same with instruments. Airier and more clarity due the brightness on the DT600 though.
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are brighter on the DT600 but not particularly sharper, tonality is better on the DT600 but better timbre on the Lite.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and timbre are a lot better on the Lite, similar texture and detail. Violin tonality and treble extension are better on the DT600 but better timbre on the Lite.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality and timbre are better on the Lite, lacking a lot of note weight on the DT600 but is cleaner on it.
Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), stage is wider on the DT600 but deeper on the Lite. Separation and micro-details are a bit better on the DT600 but imaging and macro-details are better on the Lite. Timbre is a lot better on the Lite.
Overall: The DT600 has better sub-bass and an airier treble but other than that the Lite is better. If you prefer harman-like tunings or anything brighter with less mid-bass, then the DT600 will be better for you though, but otherwise the Lite is the better iem IMO.
IEM: Tanchjim Oxygen, Final Audio Type E tips LL, Cable A6 4.4mm
Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends a bit more on the O2 and rumbles a bit more. Punch quantity is a bit higher on the Lite and tighter/faster on it. Similar texture. Timbre is better on the O2.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), Similar texture, speed and tightness but slightly more quantity on the O2. Timbre is very similar.
Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), Cleaner and airier on the O2 due to the treble but otherwise very similar bass.
Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocal quantity is a lot higher on the O2 and with better tonality and timbre, a bit airier as well. Instrument tonality is better on the Lite due to the warmth and more detailed, but is airier and cleaner on the O2 with better timbre.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a LOT shoutier vocals on the O2 as well as peakier treble, timbre is better on the O2 and have more dynamic range.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Vocal tonality is better on the Lite but better timbre on the O2 as well as being cleaner. Instrument tonality is a bit better on the Lite due to the warmth but timbre and clarity are better on the O2.
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitar tonality and timbre are a lot better on the O2 but it is a lot sharper as well (and more fatiguing).
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and texture are bit better on the Lite but better timbre on the O2. Violin tonality, timbre, treble-extension and detail are better on the O2.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality and timbre are better on the O2, similar detail but cleaner on the O2.
Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), stage is a lot wider on the O2 but a bit deeper on the Lite. Similar separation and imaging. Macro-detail is better on the O2 but similar micro-details. Timbre is better on the O2.
Overall: It is extremely impressive to me that the Lite can actually rival the Oxygen in bass quality and quantity, even if the Oxygen is not a top tier DD in those regards. Other than that, the Lite is a more balanced and much safer tuned iem compared to the more dynamic and fatiguing Oxygen. If you prefer a more relaxed, balanced and more versatile tuning, then the Lite is better. If you want a specialist for OST, acoustic/vocal music then the Oxygen is better.
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