Kiwi Ears Cadenza

Thaslaya's star rating system:
☆☆☆☆☆ - Best in class/buy it now
☆☆☆☆ - Highly recommended
☆☆☆ - Sound for thee, not for me
☆☆ - Can't see the appeal
☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer:
This product was purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

Gear used:
●LG v30+
●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra
●Samsung dongle

Source:
●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD. Iems were burned in for 30 hours prior to review.

Introduction:
● The Kiwi Ears Cadenza has earned a good reputation in the budget/ultra budget tier. They are available for $34.99 at the time of this review. The Cadenza contain a single dynamic driver but there are a lot of single DD iems to compete with at this price point. Let's see how they sound and how they stack up to some of the competitors.

Build, fit, ergonomics:
● The resin shells are nicely built. The multiple color choices are a nice touch for customization. The included cable is serviceable but nothing to write home about. It's a bit too thin for me personally. There are plenty of included tips to work with so finding one that fits shouldn't be difficult. The small ergonomic shape and smooth shell make for an easy fit and can easily be worn for long sessions.

Sound impressions:
● Safe. Boring. Lackluster. I think a big reason i hear them this way is because the note weight is thin. The tuning is just "meh" for me. It sounds slightly V-shaped but leans bright. The bass needs more authority and slam to feel present. The upper mids/lower treble are recessed and make the whole tuning feel lifeless. The treble lacks extension and air and rolls off too hard too soon. Cymbal crashes and "S's" sometimes have a tinny, metalic timbre and sibilance. Soundstage sounds flat and lacks depth. Technicalities could be better even in this price range. They struggle with complicated tracks and things get congested.

Comparisons:
● Kiwi Ears Dolce ($24.99) - The Dolce have a more balanced tuning. Most importantly, the note weight is fuller and just sounds more alive. There is a bit more treble air and extension. Both struggle with layering on complicated tracks and have timbre issues with a bit of sibilance and spicy treble. Soundstage is deeper but maybe not as wide. I would take the Dolce over Cadenza and it's cheaper.

● 7Hz Zero 2 ($24.99) - The Zero 2 shares a similar tuning with the Cadenza but just does everything else better. Sub bass is more authoritative and present. Mids sound more natural. Treble has no sibilance, more air, and doesn't roll off as early. Most importantly again is the note weight - fuller sounding with a more natural timbre. Soundstage might be a touch less in the width but has more depth. Technicalities are better as well. It's hard to recommend anything other than the Zero 2 at this price point and it's also cheaper than the Cadenza.

● Simgot EW200 ($39.99) - The EW200 are better in every way and it's not close. They lean a bit on the bright side but the treble quality is much better. The bass is more impactful and sub bass has more rumble. Mids are more forward and give a lot of life to the tuning. Soundstage is more expansive. Technicalities are better and there's improved instrument separation and layering. The note weight is a bit leaner than I prefer but still not as bad as the Cadenza. For $5 more, the Simgot wipes the floor with the Cadenza.

Summary:
The Kiwi Ears Cadenza exist in a very crowded budget tier. Back when these debuted in late 2022 I might recommend them but here in 2024 there are just better options. The safe, boring, and lifeless tuning won't offend but they also won't excite those looking for something better. To anyone considering the Cadenza I would recommend checking out the 7Hz Zero 2 and Simgot EW200.

Kiwi Ears Cadenza
1DD Beryllium
$35USD

Before I even start this review, first let me thank Linsoul for providing this IEM sample for me.
Rest assured, as always my review is independent and 100% my own personal opinion.

Unboxing
What you get inside the box :

• IEM
• Cable
• 3 Sets of Eartips
• Warranty Printing (?)

Build Quality

The IEM shell is made from resin, though I believe it is a hollow resin because it feels really light on your ears.
The IEM is also dual vented and is free from any driver flex

While the cable is just functional, nothing special, it terminates with standard 3.5mm SE.

Comfort
Is very good, it sits nicely without any hot spots on my ears, even tested for long gaming session, I never feel any discomfort with the Cadenza.

Sound

Tested using : FIIO KA17, Stock Cable, Stock Eartips
Music is mostly from Apple Music (J-POP, J-Rock, EDM, RAP, Jazz, Metal)

Sound in General :
Harman Neutral

Bass is focused on the sub-bass region, pretty much sounding like a harman target bass.
The bass control is very good, it is deep and tight, the speed is also speedy enough to use for double pedal and metal songs.

Midrange is very well tuned, no sibilance, not shouty, and has very good note weight, both male and female vocal sounds “correct” to my ears.
As for instruments, it sounds OK, not too forward and has correct placement.
Though one thing I must mention is that if you're individual that want intense midrange sounds, this IEM might be unsatisfactory for you because the mids is not forward and renders in a bit more laidback presentation.

Treble is smooth without any peaks, not the most extended treble either.
It has a very safe tuning for long listening session.
Though if you're treble heads it might be a little bit too safe for you.

Technicality
is Above Average / Good for its asking price.

Stage is not the widest but not intimate either, it has exact wall placement and is symmetrical in shape.

Imaging is a bit depending on the source that you use, lets say if I use FIIO KA17, the sound is no joke almost or even I'd dare say holographical, but with inferior source, it sounds what I like to call as a 2.5D sounding, not exactly 2D but not holographic either.

Detail Retrieval is average, it has decent amount of details but not much micro detail, expected for the price.

Separation and Positioning is good, it has decent separation and good positioning, tested on competitive game such as Valorant, I can easily pinpoint which sound is coming from.
For music tested on lots of nZk songs, the sound is decently separated.

As for comparation, just ask in the comment section, If i have tested the IEM, and I got the notification, I will reply ASAP.

Conclusion
The Kiwi Ears Cadenza is a very well tuned IEM for around $35USD, If you're in search for a daily beater or EDC item, OR if you never tried a Harman Neutral tuned IEM, I can easily recommend this IEM for its asking price.
The Cadenza is enjoyable to listen for long listening session, it offers fatigue free sound and is very comfortable to wear thanks to its lightweight and somewhat ergonomic shell.

Thanks for reaching this far !


-littlenezt.

*I purchased the product myself a few months ago and am writing this review after 80+ hours of listening to it.

*This IEM can be found in the market in the 30-35 dollar range.


Specificaions

• Drivers: 10mm Beryllium Dynamic Driver
• Sensitivity: 110dBSPL/mW
• Frequency Range: 20Hz-20KHz
• Impedance: 32Ω

Build
With a simple structure, the small shells fit well in the ear. The cable is pretty ordinary. On the other hand, all this simplicity does not hinder durability. 2pin is very stable and holds tight.
The subtle patterns on the black resin shells look nice.


Package
The small box includes the cable, user manual, 9 pairs of 3 size tips and the product itself. Actually, it packs a lot of edge for this price. I love this!


Sound
In my personal opinion, sound should be evaluated in two cases for this headset.
In the first case, let's assume that you are powering it with a standard telephone output. In this case you won't get much more than a $30 sound. I don't want to dwell too much on this scenario.

Let's see what happens when you pair it with at least a dongle or a powerful source. I paired it with sources such as dx160, dc05, ua2 and e1da9038d6k. The result? This iem is amazing my friend! When powered well, it has incredible performance in its price range. It's like I'm listening to a $100 iem.

If I were to talk about tone, it would be the exact opposite of bright. The sound sounds warm, comfortable and crisp. Moreover, despite this intonation, you can hear plenty of instruments, there is enough instrument separation.

The lower frequencies are strong, punchy and a bit growly. The sub is clearly in front of the midbass.

Mids are as natural as possible, not pinna light but close. Female vocals do not get in your way and do not disturb you. String and wind instruments are a bit scattered, but they can be heard easily.

Trebles... I think this is going to be a bit controversial. The trebles are clearly not analytical. They are a little behind the rest of the sound, both in terms of resolution and literally.
On the other hand, I liked this soft sound approach. But still, I was pleased when I increased the 10khz part a little with the EQ.

So when I look at the total, I have to say that Kiwi Ears Cadeza is a great in ear monitor for its price. If you like bright sound, you can turn to other earphones. In all other situation I can recommend it.