Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro

Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro
Kaitlyn Wu from Linsoul Audio invited me to review the new Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro DAC/AMP. The Allegro Pro is the upgrade to the original Allegro mini and retails for £60.
Product link:
www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-allegro-pro

The Packaging
The Allegro Pro is presented in a neat square box with a teal-coloured background. The front bears an image of the product along with branding and a list of the salient features. Specifications and other product details are printed on the other faces of the box. Inside, the dongle nestles in a foam cut-out.

Build and Design
The Allegro Pro has an all-metal construction and is very well made. The top features a 3D Kiwi Ears logo with what appear to be functional buttons but they are purely decorative. There are two outputs, 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced. There is a small button on the underside which toggles between the various digital filters (see below).
The unit can also be used in standard mode with the function switched off.

The unit connects via a male USB-C plug and derives power from the host device.

Internally there are two ES9603 op-amps, and a "high quality digital to analogue converter" (type not specified). The unit is compatible with DSD up to DSD 128 and PCM up to 32bit/384kHz and features Nintendo Switch compatibility.

In Use
The unit was auditioned with a Hidizs AP80 Pro X DAP and various IEMs, principally the Kiwi Ears Airoso, via the 4.4mm balanced output with a pure copper cable. The power drain was very low compared to my other dongles and resulted in a much more extended play time. The Kinera Celest CD20 and Penon OS133 both depleted the AP80 Pro X's battery much more quickly. The Allegro Pro proved to be very efficient with even the most demanding IEMs such as planars being powered adequately at moderate settings of the volume dial. The sound Impressions below were auditioned with the sound modes switched off.

Sound Impressions
Right from the first few bars of music the Allegro Pro displayed an extraordinary level of detail and information. There was a notable sense of immediacy and speed in the reproduction which surprised me and transformed the sound of the IEMs used with it. Based on a powerful transient attack, the bass was deep, tight and impactful, midrange was open, informative and natural and the treble was highly transparent and extended with copious levels of detail. There was a touch of "spice" in the upper range which was rather addictive and the vocal performance was outstanding with both male and female voices clearly projected above their accompaniment and displaying impressive clarity. This also applied to solo instruments which were full of detail with a natural timbre.

The soundstage and imaging were first class and there was a good balance between the technical and musical. The overall sound profile was neutral/bright and airy with a wonderful "freshness" in the presentation.

Sound Modes
In addition to the standard mode, the Allegro Pro features three switchable sound modes which are indicated by different coloured LEDs. These are as follows:

Game Mode: Blue LED
Movie Mode: Green LED
Music Mode: Red LED

The differences between the various modes were subtle but audible. This is what I found, compared to no selection.

Game Mode:
The most noticeable change was in the soundstage which became wider but more shallow, emphasising left to right movement but reducing depth. There was a slight brightening of tonality which sometimes became thin in nature.

Movie Mode:
There was an increase in atmosphere with a more immediate impression. The tonality was warmer and more natural with a larger soundstage. I preferred this setting to the others.

Music Mode:
Transient response was a little softer, and there seemed to be a reduction in treble energy leading to a loss of detail, although the overall effect was more relaxing to listen to, with the final result similar to a "meta" style tuning.

Partnering IEMs
The Allegro Pro was revealing and neutral in character and was able to display the individual sound of different IEMs in an authentic fashion. Due to its inherent tonality, IEMs with a warmer sound were the best match whereas cooler-tuned models lost a little in musicality with the technical aspect magnified by the Allegro Pro's own character.

Kiwi Ears Airoso
The Airoso was the principal model used in testing, although the similarities between the IEM and source were sometimes "too much of a good thing", with a laser-like transient performance, high levels of detail and a bias towards the upper part of the spectrum and I found myself wishing for a little more depth and weight. However the excitement factor and engagement were addictive and I frequently returned to the Airoso after auditioning other models.

KZ PRX
Planar models are notorious for their thirst for power and the PRX was no exception. However the Allegro Pro proved more than capable of driving it to high volume levels where its abilities became more evident. The profile was more balanced than the Airoso above with a deeper and warmer bass region. Mids were a little recessed but still displayed good projection and the treble was nicely judged with plenty of detail and no trace of aggression or harshness. The staging was expansive with high levels of separation and precise imaging.

KZ Zenith
The "New Meta" style tuning of the Zenith blended very well with the assertive and detailed nature of the Allegro Pro. This resulted in a natural easy going and relaxed sound yet not lacking in detail and enjoyment. There was a little more bass presence which added some welcome weight and the rest of the frequency range was well balanced with a gently rolled off treble. There wad a little less detail here but the pleasing balance encouraged extended listening.

Fiio FD3
This powerful single DD proved to be an excellent match for the Allegro Pro. Its warm, mild V shaping received some extra life and verve which lifted its performance to a higher tier. The inherent authentic timbre of the FD3 lost none of its authenticity but gained in speed and impact with improved levels of detail. The overall profile was more well balanced with the recessed mids becoming more forward and producing a very satisfying result.

Tin Hifi T3
This model is now approaching six years old but the Allegro Pro breathed new life into it with the end result very similar to the Kiwi Ears Airoso. Bright, immediate, speedy and detailed were the keywords here with an extra bit of depth and power not present in the Kiwi Ears model. Staging and other technicalities also improved and there was a high level of enjoyment. This served to remind one of the importance of a quality source, which the Allegro Pro most certainly is.

Comparisons
As not all the models compared below have a balanced facility, these comparisons were made using a single-ended 3.5mm termination. The Hidizs AP80 Pro X DAP was used as a transport.

Penon OS133
This dongle employs the CX31993 DAC chip and is a simple USB-C plug and play design. It has a high quality cable and is well made. Its power drain is fairly modest giving a decent length of play time. In contrast to the Allegro Pro, the OS133 has a warm, musical presentation with a very spacious stage. Although not overtly or obviously detailed, close listening reveals that nothing is really missing in comparison with the Allegro Pro, it is just presented in a less assertive fashion and the music has a more flowing character with less emphasis on the technical aspects.

Kinera Celest CD20
This DAC/AMP uses the latest ESS chip, the 9039Q2M, and is more fully featured than the Allegro Pro, having a gain control and volume buttons. It has a 4.4mm balanced output in addition to a standard 3.5mm single-ended socket. The CD20 is very powerful and has a broadly similar sound to the Allegro Pro, being clean, bright and technically adept with a speedy transient response. Where it differs from the Allegro Pro is in the bass where there is a weightier presentation and a fine texture. The staging is deeper with a fine representation of studio ambience, the Allegro Pro having a shorter decay. In mids and treble, they are equal in quality with a very similar tonality. The CD20 draws a lot more power than the Allegro Pro and as a result, the play time is shorter.

Fiio KA11
This simple USB-C dongle is equipped with the CS43131 DAC unit and, like the Penon model above, is a plug and play device. It has a robust output and is capable of driving IEMs of low sensitivity very well. It does draw more power than some other dongles and gets quite warm in use. The sound profile is very different from that of the Allegro Pro, having a noticeable mid-bass emphasis, a forward midrange and a bright treble which is not as refined as the Kiwi Ears design. The staging is not as expansive as the other models here and extended listening sometimes results in fatigue. It is more suited to rock and modern music than classical or ambient material.

Conclusion
Well made and competitively priced, the Allegro Pro acquits itself very well across a range of genres. Its lively, impactful, highly detailed and resolving delivery both enchants and entertains in equal measure. It is very economical in drawing power from the host device, resulting in extended play time. If a gain facility and volume controls had been featured, the Allegro Pro would have been almost unbeatable in its price bracket. However, it is still a high-performing DAC/AMP with a neat and convenient form factor and is highly recommended.

Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro Review​

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Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro Review​

Intro​

Well hello ladies and gents, this review and feature covers the latest from the audio brand Kiwi Ears named, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro ($59). The Allegro Pro is actually the follow-up from the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini. I gotta tell you all, I have been up and down seeking out a device which does away with the dangling cable of a dongle dac. There are a few brands which have come up with similar designs. For example, the Ddhifi TC44Pro or the Hidizs SD2 (SD2 Review). I’ve tried a few, and while those devices were great for what they are, I’ve yet to be truly happy with the end result. At any rate, I cannot begin to express how happy I was to see Kiwi Ears reach out requesting that I feature the Allegro Pro at Mobileaudiophile.com. I will receive the Allegro Pro in a couple days along with a couple of their latest earphones. Again, there are a few non-cable dongle dacs out there within the Audioverse, but none of those feature the power I’d like to fully express the sound of my earphones. Or, they don’t have a 4.4 balanced connection, they don’t fit super well with phone cases, or they just had plain “meh” reviews. In comes the Allegro Pro. Of course, there’s also some competitive devices in this form factor as well. So, the Allegro Pro does have some competition.

On to something ​

Folks I truly feel that Kiwi Ears is on to something spending their resources, time, R&D and sound engineering on creating a solid “non-cable” dongle dac which can provide the same output as a cable wielding dongle dac. Yet without being too much of a bother stuck to the bottom of your phone, or dap, or whatever you choose to connect it to. It’s definitely a niche kind of device. I suppose anyways. But I also feel that it could be much more than a “niche” style, and the demand for such a form factor may just grow some legs. I personally think it’s great. Now, I will learn a lot more about the Allegro Pro in a couple days and can’t wait to report back my thoughts.

Kiwi Ears​

I have always enjoyed Kiwi Ears. They are a truly respected brand within the community as their products are always top notch in their respective price points. So, it seems. I just finished my reviews for both the Kiwi Ears Airoso as well as the Kiwi Ears Aether and I gotta tell you folks… Kiwi Ears came to play! Both sets are truly wonderful at their prices. I try to speak on brands which bring a price to performance element to their releases within my reviews and thus far I have only spoken glowingly of the brand Kiwi Ears. I mean, if you only put solid products to market at reasonable prices then the cream will eventually rise to the top and the market will respond. Let’s just say… they’ve responded. I’ve said amazing things about so many brands that I respect, the Aful’s, the Simgot’s, the Letshuoer’s of the world. Brands which pursue every tech advantage they can find, and they don’t let a product come to market without that product being absolutely finished, complete, and without some distinguishing feature that helps that product to stand out. There’re many more brands which take this approach. They don’t just ‘throw spaghetti at a wall to see what sticks’. No doubt about it Kiwi Ears is right up there with the best of those brands which actually care about their products and what they put their name to. I wish I could give a long and drawn-out round of applause for them all. But today, Kiwi Ears gets a warm and friendly pat on the back along with that applause. I say that because I have truly enjoyed every Kiwi Ears product that I’ve reviewed and owned. As always, nice work Kiwi Ears.

This’ll be a good one​

I’ve reviewed and featured more than a handful of Kiwi Ears products and I have yet to turn down a review. Remember, I only review that which I truly enjoy, or that which I feel a large chunk of the audio world would enjoy (whether I like it or not). I can speak about the quality of a thing in a subjectively-objective manner even if I don’t perfectly enjoy something. This hobby isn’t centered around me after all. That said, I have yet to not enjoy any Kiwi Ears product that my hands and my ears have tested. I actually just received the Allegro Pro and folks; it is exactly as I thought it was going to be. Without question this one will get a review and without question I will take it everywhere with me getting to know it. I have to feel a sense of joy in what I write about or else it’s just time wasted for me. The Allegro Pro is certainly a device which brings some joy to my listening. It fills a gap, a need, and does so with quality sonics. With that all said, I am definitely ready to cut this intro short and get into my feature of the Allegro Pro. This’ll be a good one. So, without further ado, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro everyone…

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:​

–Kiwi Ears

–Concept Kart

–Aliexpress

–Amazon

–Linsoul

Packaging / Accessories​

Unboxing​

There is never much to explain with a source review when it comes to the unboxing. This is always a few sentences long because sources rarely come with any accessories. Especially with a dongle such as the Allegro Pro. Let me explain. So, the Allegro Pro showed up at my home in a very small turquoise blue box. Maybe 3″x3”. On the cover is a simple picture of the Allegro Pro along with some specs. On the back is some aimless info, some specs as well. Open the box lid and you’ll see the Allegro Pro sitting in foam cut-outs and under that is the manual…and that’s about it. No cable (obviously), no adapters, no nothing. Of course, does the Allegro Pro even need one. In fact, the Allegro Pro doesn’t need anything at all. I suppose that’s what makes this dongle dac special. It’s more like an addition to your phone. At any rate, there isn’t much to say here. I guess I could say the box design is nice. That’s something.

Specifications​

–Brand: Kiwi Ears

–Model Name: Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro

–Dac/Amp Chips: Dual ESS9603 Sabre chips

–THD+N: 0.0006% (@32 ohms)

–Output Power 3.5 single ended: 68mW @32 ohms (THD+N<1%)

–Output Power 4.4 balanced: 170mW @32 ohms (THD+N<1%)

–Signal to Noise (SNR): 113db (@32 ohms, A-weighted)

–Frequency Response Range: 20hz – 40khz

–Supported Formats: PCM (up to 32bit/384khz) DSD (DSD128, DSD64)

–Indicator Lights: Blue (Game Mode) Red (Music Mode) Green (Movie Mode)

–Input Interface: USB Type-C

–Output Interfaces: 3.5 single ended & 4.4 balanced

Build / Design / Internals​

Build Quality​

No doubt about it, the build quality of the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro is certainly a key feature of this dongle dac, let alone one of its strengths. So, the Allegro Pro is made entirely out of what appears to be aluminum. Without question the Allegro Pro is extremely lightweight. This is a huge thing for fans of portable audio as the weight will not degrade or put any undue pressure on the type-c port on your phone, dap, or computer. Especially mobile phones. So often we see usb-c ports failing over extended dongle dac usage and you simply don’t have that problem to the same degree with the Allegro Pro. At least not that I’ve seen thus far. The Allegro Pro is also very small. Similar to its predecessor, the Allegro Mini. You’ll also notice a design on the front of the Allegro Pro, they look like buttons, but I can assure you they aren’t. The only button resides on the bottom of the Allegro Pro. There is a small multi-function button right next to the indicator light. On the left side of the body, you’ll notice the 3.5 single ended port and on the right side you’ll find the 4.4 balanced port. On the top is the type-c connector with which you plug straight into your phone with. All things considered the Allegro Pro is a very well-built source device. Truly a nicely made dongle dac.

Design​

I suppose I could’ve wrapped this section up in the build section and killed a couple birds with one stone. Oh well, it deserves a dedicated “design” section. I say that because the Allegro Pro is a gorgeous piece of portable equipment. I adore the sleek look. The all-metal design language helps it to not just for its durability, but also for its aesthetic. You’ll notice on the side there is a nice little Kiwi Ears logo protruding out of the body along with the two volume button protrusions. It’s not a bad look, I guess. It also isn’t anything to write home about, but I think the appearance of the Allegro Pro is neat. Especially attached to a smartphone. Nice job Kiwi Ears.

Internals​

Now let’s go over some of the internal components. Actually, I really don’t have a lot to say because Kiwi Ears doesn’t divulge a lot of info into what the Internals are. The only thing that I can tell you is that the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro uses dual ESS Sabre ES90603 dac/amp chips. Kiwi Ears didn’t go with a separate amplifier as the ES9063 actually has an inbuilt amp section. As with most dac chips. That’s about it folks.

Controls/Button​

Just as I’ve mentioned the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro does have one small multi-function button located at the bottom of the chassis. You’ll also notice a very small indicator light right next to it as well. These two work hand in hand. Basically, the lone button gives the user the ability to switch between modes on the Allegro Pro. You can cycle through each mode (which I’ll explain later) with every click. The indicator light will react accordingly and indicate exactly what mode you are on. Those being “Blue: Game Mode”, “Red: Music Mode”, and “Green: Movie Mode”. That’s about all the button does though it’s a nice option to have.

Features​

Modes​

One of the key features of the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro happens to be the filter modes present on the device. As I just spoke on just a moment ago, the small button and indicator light at the bottom of the chassis can be used to cycle through the filter modes that the Allegro Pro comes equipped with. Again, the Allegro Pro has a “Game Mode”, a “Music Mode”, and a “Movie Mode”. I’ll be very quick with this explanation but to my ears, there isn’t some huge difference between these filters. Now, I do find the music mode is easily the best for actual music listening. I noticed that I accidentally changed the mode on the Allegro Pro and all of a sudden, my music sounded even thinner in body and a hair more edgy. Next, I wondered what the issue was until I figured it out. Also, I don’t remember which filter I was on at the time. However, the difference between the filters is negligible at best. I haven’t spent enough time gaming or watching movies to hear a real huge difference or hear the efficacy of each filter. I’d just keep it in music mode while listening to music and use your own discretion when gaming or watching videos or movies.

Output Power​

Another worthy thing to speak on is the output power of the Allegro Pro. Now, as far as dongle dacs go, the power is on the lower side. However, as far as dongle dacs go with this form factor the Allegro Pro is certainly one of the most powerful. The Allegro Pro is rated for about 170 mW @32 ohms which is way more than enough for almost any iem not named Final Audio E5000. I had no trouble whatsoever with any set in my collection. Even harder to properly drive planar sets. I used the Kiwi Ears Aether (Aether Review) for quite a lot of listening with the Allegro Pro and it sounded great. Same can be said of the Hidizs MP145 (MP145 Review), Letshuoer S12 2024 Edition (S12 2024 Edition Review), Letshuoer S15 (S15 Review) as well. So planars generally had enough juice provided from the Allegro Pro to sound dynamic. Actually, whatever iem I used worked very well as far as actual output is concerned. Now, I don’t have any full-sized cans to test and so for that I am sorry. I’m assuming that the Allegro Pro will have some trouble driving many of them. Still, at the end of the day the Allegro Pro is going to be able to bring quality dynamics to your iems.

Battery Draw​

One issue that usually rears its ugly head when dealing with dongle dacs is the draw in your phone’s battery. I have quite a few dongle dacs on hand and quite a few of them draw on the battery quite a bit. Especially those dongle dacs which you can bring to high gain, using the balanced output. I don’t think it’s a huge issue, but it’s an issue, nonetheless. However, one of the many bright spots of the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro is that it really does a tremendous job at not being a battery drainer. Of course, it does borrow energy from your phone’s battery, but it is to a degree that you hardly notice. I have no stats to back that up whatsoever, I simply have the hours upon hours of usage in comparison with other dongle dacs. I would liken the battery draw to something like the Simgot Dew4x, or the EPZ TP35. Both are dongle dacs known for not draining a huge amount of power. Certainly, the Allegro Pro is in that camp.

No Cable​

Now we get to the number one and a half reason that anyone is going to be attracted to the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro. That is… form-factor. Unlike many dongle dacs…there’s no cable. Yes, for me this is a huge thing. While I deal with the cable of a normal dongle dac just fine, and I’ve never really seen it as a huge drawback. However, once you begin using a quality dongle dac that doesn’t have a cable, it really does become a nice quality to have. I actually reviewed the Hidizs SD2 and while it has no cable and sounds great, it also doesn’t have a ton of power and no 4.4 balanced port. Also, the Ddhifi TC44 Pro is another solid non-cable dongle dac that I enjoyed, but it had some issues that I’m not going to get into. Basically, there’s always a reason why I don’t review something. I should also mention that I haven’t tried all dongle dacs with this form factor. Just full disclosure.

Convenience​

At any rate, the Allegro Pro brings both the convenience as well as the performance to the table. I really do feel it’s a huge selling point that the Allegro Pro has no cable and simply sits right at the bottom of your device. It’s almost freeing in some ways. There’s something to not having to worry about the usb-c port breaking or worrying about the dangling dongle dac. I don’t need a special case, or some sort of a clip to take the weight and make it so the dongle dac isn’t a bother. It’s just cool. I hope that Kiwi Ears goes further with this design language. I hope they further enhance its sonic capabilities, add buttons, add gain modes etc. Because they could really change the game. However, the Allegro Pro is great in its own right.

Sound Impressions​

Sound Characteristics​

Once again, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro has a neutral/bright tonal color with a slightly energetic demeanor. There’s that last little tinge of vivacious influence from the Allegro Pro. It’s tight in its transient behavior, it’s swift with an agile ability to render more complicated tracks well and with a fair amount of expressive dynamism as well. Without question the Allegro Pro is a highly resolving dongle dac for the cost. Very much in line with the EPZ TP35 in that regard. Don’t expect high levels of musicality, or warm, rich, and lush timbre. The Allegro Pro instead leans analytical and clean across the board yet does so without coming across as cold or sterile sounding. It’s pretty much uncolored and won’t add or incite any warmth of the low-end or coldness of an overly boosted treble. The Allegro Pro basically leaves all the tonal coloration to your earphones and does a good job at providing a fairly faithful representation of the attached earphones. Perhaps a hair more rambunctious than natural, or organic, but the tonality is nice.

Edited: I need to add that I did hear a very slight hissing with my most sensitive iems after my initial review. It is not a bother to me, but I did notice it. Just something to consider.

Sonic Pairings​

I suppose one of the more important tidbits of knowledge to have prior to purchasing the Allegro Pro is “What source tonalities work best with the Allegro Pro”? To answer that question, we first have to know what tonality the Allegro Pro has. What’s its flavor? In my opinion the Allegro Pro comes across as pretty much dead neutral yet with a touch of bright timbre. The Allegro Pro clearly has some elated and lustery energy. So, with that thought in mind I’d most certainly say that the Allegro Pro works best with warmer to neutral earphones. Now, I said the Allegro Pro has a touch of bright energy and so brighter sounding earphones can come across a hair too vibrant at times. However, I really don’t feel that it’s so lopsided to the bright side that the Allegro Pro influences earphones in a way that makes them harsh. Again, it’s closer to neutral than anything else. However, warmer and richer earphones will certainly shine with the Allegro Pro’s slightly brighter and dryer timbre.

Pairings cont…​

I used many iems with the Allegro Pro. Too many to list here. However, there are some notable sets which may help to explain the sound to a degree. Sets like the Aful Explorer which are warm, rich, bass heavy, and musically gifted. I found this pairing very nice. You see, the Allegro Pro is not going to “change” the Explorer. It remains warm and rich. However, I notice the sound gets a hair snappier, more vibrant at the edges (to a very slight degree), a hair crisper. The Allegro Pro provides a very nice contrast tonally to sets such as that. Another set is the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. To my ears the Orchestra Lite gained some slight edge to it. I found the Allegro Pro provided a more detailed approach to this wonderfully smooth iem. Again, it’s not going to drastically change the overarching sound. Like most source devices, the Allegro Pro just nudges the sound in a certain direction. Almost like a mildly aggressive suggestion. The Allegro Pro seems to cut the fat, so to speak. Now, with sets which are already more analytical in nature. You could say a hair brighter. Sets like the Letshuoer Mystic 8 for example. The resolve is quite great. There is a very clean transparency to the sound. Perhaps at times the sound can get a hair sharp, but a lot of that has to do with the Mystic 8 in that regard. The Aful Explorer 8 is another brighter sounding set which never seemed to force more actual glare, which is at least marginally surprising. Still, for my ears I feel the Allegro Pro really does perform admirably with anything warm, warm/neutral, and neutral

In a nutshell​

The fact that we can get a device such as the Allegro Pro at $59 says so much about the industry as a whole. Basically, the hobby has come a long way. In all honesty, I put the Allegro Pro right up against the best in the price point when it comes to analytical style dongle dacs. By-and-large the Allegro Pro has a very clean-lined sound, great timbre, with a very succinct replay of my music. I do hear a slightly dry timbre, but it comes packaged in a dynamic presentation. Now, the low-end is certainly snappy with a less robust presence, but a very precise punch. Not that it doesn’t have any low-end oomph either, it’s just that the Allegro Pro isn’t going to add any undue weight. In the same breath, the Allegro Pro isn’t going to necessarily dial back the bass of any set either. Really, it simply displays exactly what it’s given. The midrange seems to have the most accentuations, but that is somewhat debatable. In my opinion, the midrange generally has great clarity, it’s neutral, and every micro dynamic shift is met with a certain promptness. It’s a very forward, lively, and energetic midrange which does so without adding copious amounts of upper-mid sharpness or glare. Just a touch of thinly layered shimmer. The treble is the same story; it’s snappy, precise, tight, and not overly exaggerated. The treble has some added bite, some crispness, some slight sparkle. I enjoy that the Allegro Pro doesn’t push the limits on treble brightness. Unless of course you have a bright sounding set of earphones. Obviously, then you may get a bit too much treble sheen for comfort.

Technically speaking​

One area where the Allegro Pro seems to shine (at least a little bit) is in its ability to harbor a slightly more “technically astute” atmosphere. I find that the Allegro Pro helps my listening sessions come across a bit better resolved from some other dongle dacs within its price point which are tuned differently. Of course, we are talking about small incremental differences here. That said, the Allegro Pro is only going to help most any iem (to ‘at least’ a slight degree) come across a hair cleaner sounding. Stuff like detail retrieval, instrument separation, transient response, and just general clarity will likely be improved, especially with a warmer and more rich sounding iem. Now, I don’t feel that the soundstage makes any monumental difference. Really, it will come down to your earphones. I mean, like I said, it’s got so much more to do with the iems in your ears to influence what sound makes it to your ears. However, the Allegro Pro does have a clean and resolute sound and does promote a more detailed listen. Overall, it’s a very nice sounding product with solid technical abilities.

Is it worth the asking price?​

As always, I suppose I can just answer this for myself and say that without question $59 for the Allegro Pro is very well worth the cost. I have many dongle dacs under $75 and each one has its pluses, its minuses, pros & cons, but not every dongle that I have I’ve chosen to review. In fact, the industry has boomed of late and the under $75 price point is a key price demographic. It doesn’t take much to entice the buyer with an under $75 source device. Full disclosure, I don’t feel that there is a very large difference with dongle dacs today and dongle dacs… let’s say… from three years ago. There just isn’t. I’ve spent good quality time with many of them and rarely are under $100 dongle dacs “set apart” in the sound quality department. There are a few which stand out and provide something marginally different than the rest of the pack. However, most of the time a dongle dac around this range is a cash grab. That’s not to say these brands are producing bad dongle dacs either. A lot of them are solid devices. However, there just isn’t much which sets them apart. Personally, I look for form factor in conjunction with sound quality 1st. Then I’d say features are a not-so-distant 2nd. When I look at sound quality, I simply want something which will provide my listening ears with a different flavor. Why did I just say any of that? Well, because the Allegro Pro nails two out of three.

The Why…​

Because the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro costs only $59 for one. That is a very reasonable price for a dongle dac such as this. However, for me the form factor is just awesome. I cannot express to you how much I enjoy plugging the Allegro Pro into my Fiio JM21 and just chilling, going to the market, doing house chores etc. It has so many upsides and I truly hope Kiwi Ears expounds upon this build even further. I suppose a hair more power would be welcome, but also, 170 mw on balanced is way more than enough for portable usage with iems. It would make zero difference in my listening sessions if the Allegro Pro had double that. Not even a little bit. So, I’m happy with the power output for my purposes. I could also use some volume switches, and I really would like to see a gain switch too. Lord knows I use them when I have them. With all of that said, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro most persuades this answer because of the actual sound quality. I love the fact that the Allegro Pro brings something a little different which also gives me more options to use for my personal experience. The sound is very peppy, it’s detailed, it’s very well resolved, and clean across the board without adding undue glare or sharpness. I hear very nice control over the spectrum, and I have been very pleased with this little device. Folks, I have zero reservations in saying the Allegro Pro is worth every penny, in my opinion.

Final thoughts on the Allegro Pro before I conclude​

Just a quick little blurb before I am done. I want to stress to any potential buyers that there are most certainly some caveats that you should have before purchasing. For one, the Allegro Pro has no volume switches. I wish it did, but it doesn’t, so you’ll have to use your device for that. Also, there are no gain switches, no partner APP, and it doesn’t have any indicator light showing sample rates etc. That said, I feel that for this cost some of this should be expected. I could also say that devices like the EPZ TP20 Pro “does” have all of those things. Another caveat is the form factor itself. You have to want this type of device, no cable, and not a lot of room for the type-c plug to fit a fatter phone case. Some things to think about. Lastly, I’d consider the sound. This is not a super fun, bass enhanced, treble lifted jam fest. This is a more mature sounding device. However, if those minor “caveats” are “caveats” that you can deal with, well then, I’d say the Allegro Pro should at the least be a consideration at the under $75 price point. Truth is, I really enjoy the Allegro Pro and over the course of the time I’ve been listening to it that enjoyment has only grown. This section is really only part of this review so that I can day this; For $59 the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro is an easy recommendation.

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Conclusion​

To conclude my full written review of the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro, I 1st have to Thank the gracious people of Kiwi Ears for providing the Allegro Pro. You’ve made a solid product Kiwi Ears. Nice work! Also, I’d like to thank you for clicking the link which brought you here and thank you for sticking around and reading this review for a while. Clicks and views are our currency at Mobileaudiophile.com. For us, it’s about keeping the doors open so that we can do what we enjoy. We don’t get money or anything else. It’s harder for smaller websites to thrive in the Google Algorithm. At any rate, thank you. We hope this review and every other review at Mobileaudiophile.com helps you out with any purchasing decision.

Other Perspectives ​

Okay, so you’ve read my review of the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro, now do some due-diligence and read, or watch a few more opinions about the Allegro Pro. All I can do is give you my exact thoughts. However, I may not have the same thoughts as the next guy. Where I live in the US there’s no place anywhere to test any of these products. They just don’t exist here. I have to rely on other people’s opinions. I know many of you do as well. So, before you hit the “Buy Now” button, maybe… make sure the Allegro Pro is right for you. We all have different ideas about what “good” is, and what “good” isn’t. To me, the Allegro Pro is great and a solid buy, but to the next person that may not be the case. Okay, with all of that said I think I’m finished in this one. Another great job by Kiwi Ears. So, please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:​

–Kiwi Ears

–Concept Kart

–Aliexpress

–Amazon

–Linsoul

Introduction​

Kiwi Ears is no slouch when it comes to IEMs, as we have seen with the KE4, the Arioso, the Aether and so on, but this is the first time I’m able to try a type-C dongle DAC from them and I’m quite excited.
In this review, I will be speaking about the Allegro Pro, and I will share my own thoughts on it providing brief, yet hopefully useful, comparisons with similarly priced products.

Disclaimer: the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro was sent to me by Kiwi Ears free of charge in order to write an honest review. This review represents my personal opinion and it is by no means a promotional or paid content.
At the time of the review, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro was available for purchase for about 59$ at Kiwi Ears.

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Technical Specifications​

• DAC Chipset → ES9603 * 2
• Frequency Response → 20Hz - 40kHz
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) → ≥ 113Db (@32 Ohms, A-Weighted)
• THD+N → < 0,006% (@32ohms)
• Power Output:
  • Single-Ended: 68mW @ 32Ω
  • Balanced: 170mW @ 32Ω
• Decoding Capability:
  • PCM: 32Bit / 384kHz
  • DSD: DSD128, DSD64
• Indicator Lights:
  • Blue: Game Mode
  • Red: Music Mode
  • Green: Theater Mode
• Input Interface: USB Type-C
• Output Interfaces:
  • 3.5mm Single-Ended
  • 4.4mm Balanced

Packaging​

The box is very simple and compact, containing:

• The Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro
• User manual and warranty card

Design, Build Quality and Buttons​

The Allegro Pro sports a rather unique design, which is a definite plus. Its aluminum frame and form factor pair nicely with devices like the Nintendo Switch (which I don't own, but it's marketed for that), with the 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports on opposite sides. The build quality is solid, with no real complaints.
The circular elements on the top are just for aesthetics; the only button is on the side, used to switch audio modes, with a small LED indicating the active mode.

Performance​

GEAR USED FOR THE TEST

• Mobile phones: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Xiaomi Mi A3
• Windows PC and Lenovo Ideapad Duet Chromebook
• Earphones: SGOR Luna, KZ PRX, Tanchjim Origin, Tanchjim Zero Ultima, Sony MH755, Kiwi Ears Aether, Simgot EA1000, Celest Pandamon, KBEAR KS2, Final E3000
• Over ear headphones: Koss KPH30i (with and without Grado Pads mod), Koss KSC75, Hifiman HE400SE, Cooler Master MH751, Sennheiser HD25-1 II, Meze 99 Neo, Snowsky Wind, Roseselsa Distant Mountain

Power, temperatures and battery drain
To get straight to it, while it's not the most powerful dongle out there, especially for its price, it should satisfy most users. 170mW @ 32Ω is plenty for the majority of headphones and IEMs. I had no trouble driving various headphones, though I don't own any extremely demanding models.
Temperature management is good; it only gets slightly warm during prolonged use, which is normal.

Sound
The Allegro Pro delivers an almost uncolored sound, and if I had to trust my ears and my brain only, I’d say that there’s just a very tiny touch of added sparkle, even if very subtle. It could be a placebo, that’s for sure. When using the KBEAR BK2, which is very sensitive, I could hear a subtle yet noticeable background hiss when nothing was being reproduced. This disappears when reproducing music and luckily there aren’t any issues when it comes to plugging/unplugging earphones.
Honestly, I really struggle to spot differences between the game, theater or music mode, and there also isn’t any indication about the sound differences on the official product page; count that this may be me or my setup so your mileage may vary.

Some comparisons:​

Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro vs Fosi DS2

The sound quality is quite similar, but the Fosi DS2 offers significantly more power. To illustrate, the Allegro Pro at maximum balanced output is roughly equivalent to the Fosi DS2's unbalanced output. The Fosi DS2 uses more power from your phone, but it offers more power for your headphones so it really depends on your needs. I haven’t done any proper testing with calibrated instruments, but I can confidently say that the DS2 is capable of pushing the same amount of power with less battery consumption, at least from my non-scientific day-to-day tests.

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Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro vs Tanchjim Stargate 2

Both offer good sound quality, with perhaps a slightly brighter tone on the Allegro Pro (could be placebo, so don’t trust me in this regard). The Allegro Pro has considerably more power. If IEMs are your primary use and you desire DSP features, the Stargate 2 remains a viable option, albeit with less power. Also the Stargate 2 consumes less battery.

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Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro vs Dunu DTC480

Neither is a groundbreaking dongle DAC. The Allegro Pro might have a slightly airier sound (which I repeat, can be a placebo since I’m stating it because of my own experience with the device, so your mileage may vary), and the DTC480 seems to have a touch better dynamics, but overall there aren’t very significant differences if not in terms of raw power, since the Allegro Pro is more the more powerful between the two.

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Final Thoughts​

The Allegro Pro is a solid product with good sound quality and adequate power for most devices. Its form factor is well-suited for devices like the Nintendo Switch, and the dual outputs add versatility.
However, it faces tough competition, particularly from the Fosi DS2, which offers superior performance at a similar price thanks to its 2*CS43131, which is able to peak at a whopping current of 510mA@32Ohms.

While the Allegro Pro's design and DAC configuration are quite unusual nowadays, since the market is basically filled by standard-looking CS43131 and CS43198 dongle DACs, the overall value proposition is comparable to that of the Dunu DTC480: both are very solid products that would seriously benefit from a price cut or discount. Ultimately, in a price-conscious and mature market, where consumers have a plethora of options, they are likely to gravitate towards the most powerful device within their budget.