Kiwi ears Canta Universal Vocal IEM

Packaging and Accessories
Let's start with packing and accessories. Here the Cadenza does better than you'd expect at the price: sturdy box, soft foam to keep the IEM and three (!) different sets of tips that vary in terms of shape and outlet diameter. Yes, it lacks a pair or pairs of foam tips, but with the provided tips, most people should find a pair that fits their needs. Overall at its price, I would say the packaging and accessories are very good and besides the not-great environmental footprint of the foam + coated cardboard I have no complaints.

IEM Build​

Utilizing a two (or three, because I’m not sure if the nozzle is just glued int or a one part resin design) part design, the Canta is build well. The seams around the face-plate and the resin are pretty minor and only really noticeable with the fingernail. Oh and of course, it does seem to be glued on well and with its almost industrial look, I think you can wear it basically anywhere.

Also the metal filter in the front is glued in well without any visible glue or any “weirdness”.

In terms of pressure holes, the Canta has two, one near the nozzle and one near the two-pin connector. Both aren’t that big, but also not that small so I would like to see Kiwi Ears put a mesh inside them for protection. And last but not least, the 2-pin connector while not colour matched, seems to be integrated very well (flush) without any seam.


Overall, the Canta is built well and the only thing I’d like to see improved is the protection mesh in the pressure holes.

Cable​

Unfortunately, the cable of the Canta isn’t great. It reminds me of cheaper IEMs I have tried, because it isn’t that thick and also its black aesthetic reminds me e.g. of the Mele or Cadenza… Both IEMs that are significantly cheaper. However, the cable is rather smooth, straightens easily and doesn’t tangle, so in terms of usability, I do like what is on offer here.

Coming to the details. The 3.5mm plug unfortunately is rather short, small and slippery. Hence, I’d really like to see some texture or a bigger plug here, that would be way easier to grab. At the end of the plug is a short but working strain-release. A bit more would be nice, but at least it is working. Above that then the main cable that consists of four well twisted strands. Above that the splitter that also is black and rather small, with a chin slider that has too little friction to be usable. And last but not least, the ear-hooks are medium thick rubberized in a bending radius that is below average and therefore could lead to discomfort for people with bigger ears. The two pin connector is again black, made of aluminium and has a small red accent on the right side, which I do like.


Overall the cable is well usable and everything you need, but I wish it would be a bit more sturdy, with a better 3.5mm plug and a working chin-slider.

Comfort & Fit​

As in my last reviews, I did list the dimensions and specs of the Canta my table of IEM measurements (which included the dimensions, some specs as well as the frequency response measurement): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/140ptVfmNcFF2ItPFMi_QEqm_J1iilu3EgUZ9YyNdX50/edit?usp=sharing

In short, I think the Canta is a comfortable but not amazingly comfortable IEM. Its nozzle isn’t long (4mm) and with the few additional millimeters of the shell, it does insert medium deep, which makes shorter tips the best choice for me. I really liked the TRN T with this IEM, as it gives me the perfect insertion depth for the about 6.5mm wide nozzle. Note though, these 6.5mm in real life more come off as 6mm because only the lip is 6.5mm wide and the part behind it 5.4mm.

This together with the medium sized shell and well chosen (80° seen from the front and 60° seen from the top) insertion angle leads to an IEM I think will fit most people well without much issue.

Isolation​

Isolation wise, the Canta is pretty decent: when you insert it well, it does isolates above average, but not “great”. If you use foam tips, I’d even say you can use this in basically all situations, including public transport or on busy roads. Without foam though, I think this isn’t quite good enough for loud situations. Compared to the PA02, the Canta definitively is isolating worse, but not by a lot.

Drivability​

With only 14Ω at 104dB SPL/mw (@1kHz), the Canta is very efficient on paper and I also think it is in real life. Basically every souce will drive this just fine. The Apple dongle for instance I would say gives you like 85-90% of what this is capable off. Upping the power a bit to e.g. the UP5/BTR5 gets you slightly better imaging and staging but that’s about it. Going to even more power didn’t change anything to my ear.

Sound​

General sound characteristic​

The Canta can best be described as V-shaped.

My measurements can be found here:
https://donspektor.squig.link/iems/?share=Canta

Treble​

First things first, let’s tackle the upper treble and as you can see, the Canta has a HUGE peak at 13k. Having said that, to my ear the peak isn’t as strongly pronounced as the graph indicates, but there certainly is a peak past 10k and that means it does sound a bit artificial and “gritty”. However, that also means trailing ends or leading edges are usually pretty detailed and most string instruments come off as “detailed” even on closer inspection. Blue Lagoon from Takanaka here a good example where the Canta comes off as very detailed in the upper treble.

Mid-treble continues the story with a big peak at 9.5k which is slightly below the 13k peak. That also means you do get strongly pronounced cymbals that come off as more than what you’d probably want. But then again, in combination with the 13k peak, they sound pretty detailed.

A bit below that, there's a big dip at 6.3k that isn’t as strongly pronounced to my ear as the graph indicates, but it does exist and it can lead to a slightly skewed tonality in the mid-to-lower-treble region, especially in combination with the relatively strong pronounced 3.5k peak.

Going even lower, the 3.5k peak certainly is what I’d describe as “bright”, completing the overall bright shifted treble here. To be clear, I am a treble head and I do kinda like the overall treble tonality here, especially because the female vocals of the Canta really aren’t bad and by ear, I’d not estimate the peak to be at 3.5k but more at like 2.8k or so. That means e.g. in the Cyberpunk 2077 soundtrack, the female vocalist is pretty clean and crisp without losing too much body. Also, the Nier Automata soundtrack worked great in that aspect.

Mids​

Bringing me to the mids and these are ok, not more not less. If you get a less busy track, I’d even call them good, but as soon as you have a bit more going on, the mids are a bit too stuffy and not that well separated so they get lost in the mix a bit.

Bass​

Just going by graph will disappoint you. Canta while not being bass-shy, is not a great bass contender. It lacks some punch and weight that you sometimes get at way cheaper IEMs. Thankfully, it is fast enough and doesn’t intervene with the mids too strongly. Calling it “good” though would be a bit of a scratch especially because the sub-bass quality is below average with only 2.13min at the sub-bass drop in Mountains from Intersteller, where average IEMs do 2.14min, good ones 2.15min and very good ones 2.16min.

Soundstage, Layering & Imaging​

For an IEM of this signature, I feel like the soundstage it has is actually pretty decent. You get some width, height and depth, without it coming off as too cramped. Adding to this is a good imaging with which you can easily game basically anything you’d like. And layering wise, most of the time I feel like I got three layers, with occasional but not super rare five layers.

Separation, Dynamics & Coherence (including timbre)​

Positive things first, to my ear the Canta does separate rather well and you get most instruments as “separate” in the room and in their respective spectrum. Only when the mids come into action, I feel like there would be more to be had.

Dynamics wise, the Canta does not strike me as “dynamic” like single DD sets do. But also not as “plugged” as some planars Positive things first here, I do think the Anvil is a solid performer in terms of separation, giving most instruments room for themselves… But this is more due to the strength in the sounstage/imaging than anything else to my ear. But still, you will be able to enjoy busy instrument tacks with the Anvil without any issues.

And last but least coherence and timbre are totally OK for the price. The planar tweeters are matched well enough that you do not get a bad overall timbre, but also not as coherent as a single DD set or pure well executed BA only sets can be.

Verdict​

The Canta is a good IEM for the most part. It sounds competent, fits well, is well built and has a decent even though bit cheap for the price cable. Unfortunately, I think with it being bright v-shaped with a VERY HIGH amount of energy at 13k in my graph, this isn’t a strong allrounder. Meaning that there definitely exists a noticeable peak in the 12-15k region that might help with details sure, but it combined with the general brighter treble makes for a bright not really natural tonality. This is absolutely in my playbook and most of the time I do enjoy the Canta… But also at times I find it simply being too much and I’d rather use something like the PA02 for longer listening. Adding to this is the not really great but absolutely acceptable bass- and mid-quality.

Overall, I do not recommend the Canta, but if you are fine with a brighter, high energy 13k peak IEM with ok techs outside the treble, this is a decent option.

If you're interested in graph comparison, here's link
Disclamer:

+ I'm a normal asian dude with some music producing background
+ I like clean balanced sound signature with focus on sub bass and lower treble
+ Can consider myself as treblehead
+ 60-68db listening session
+ Avarage 4/10 (Quarks/ 7hz Zero), Good 6/10 (Tanchjim Kara), Endgame 8/10, Bias Endgame 10/10
: Good, but with a catch
: Worth the money
: Specialist at something else
: A Very close to perfection
: Perfect for me

Click to expand...

How to read my review: (Which bold font is x2 in score)

. TONE
- Timbre: How sounds projected, usually free score for most iem. Only GK10 would get a 2 from this
- BASS: (20hz - 500hz)

Depth	How low can i hear (physically, not graph)
" /; \; =" + "number hz"	/: rolloff, \: upward, =:flat after Hz of the highest spot i heard
Decay	Decay + Sustain, usually the mid bass and flexability of driver
Resonance (or Release)	Driver + tune. The bass after kick drum
Air	Flexibility of bass. effect by tune and driver
Tone	Based on how balanced it is
Tech	Detail (Texture, Fastness). Effect mostly by air

- MID: (500hz - 5khz)

Acoustic	Piano, Violin, Strings basically, flute, ...
Electric	Synth, Lead, Pluck, Electric guitar and Bass guitar, ...
Tone	Based on how balanced it is
Tech	Detail (Texture, Separation). Effect by tone

- TREBLE: (5khz - 16khz)

Extension	The upper end of high, quite easy to hear if you don't have hearing loss
Air	Spacing between instrument, cymbal
" /; \; =" + "number hz"	/: rolloff, \: upward, =:flat after Hz of the highest spot i heard
Sparkle	Attack and Decay of cymbal. Is tonality element
Shimmering	Sustain and Release of cymbal. Is tonality element
Tech	Detail (Texture, Separation, Transients). Effect by tone and air

- OTHERS:

Vocals	uhm. Vocals?
Drum	uhm. Drum?
Percussion	most of the clack clack click click lol. Effect by texture in mid
Resonance	The one that will let you know if transducer good with rock or not
Dynamism	Ability to make emotion
Sibilance	10 meant no sibilance.

. TECH
- Detail: Bass + Mid + Treble
- Soundstage: Rough description wall of sounds
- Imaging: {Width, Depth, Height}, {blurry, solid (better than blurry); Phantom (Good microspacing)}

Click to expand...

Eh, sorry i genuinely don't remember how it's sounds like hahhaha

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Linsoul for providing this review unit.

The Kiwi Ears Canta can be gotten here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-canta (no affiliate links).




SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 1 x dynamic driver + 2 x planar drivers
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20000 Hz
• Impedance: 14 Ω
• Sensitivity: 104 dB/mW
• Cable: 2-pin 0.78 mm; no information on cable materials; 3.5 mm termination
• Tested at: $89 USD

ACCESSORIES

Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of wide-bore silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- 3 pairs of narrow-bore silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- 3 pairs of balanced silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- Cable
- Carrying case

For a sub-$100 set, the accessory line-up is relatively generous in terms of selection.




Although there are no foam tips provided, there are 3 types of silicone tips, which differ slightly in bore diameter, height and firmness. Do explore to see what suits your needs, but generally the wider bore ones boost treble and staging, while the narrow-bore types compress soundstage but tame the treble regions. The balanced eartips are kind of a midpoint between the above 2.




We have no information on the stock cable materials, but this is one of the worst I've encountered in my IEM journey, in terms of haptics. This cable is thin and tangly, and cannot keep its shape. There's also microphonics present, though there is a chin cinch for added grip.




Lastly, we have a small semi-rigid case to house the IEM and accessories. It lies on the smaller side but has internal webbing for storage.

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock narrow-bore silicone eartips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT



The Canta is fashioned from medical-grade resin, with a teardrop shaped profile. It is light and ergonomic, and I did not face any comfort issues during longer listening sessions.

Some other plus points are that it has above average isolation, and I did not find any driver flex during my field tests.




INTERNALS

The Canta's engine is a unique 1 x dynamic driver + 2 x planar drivers configuration. We have no information on the brand or size of the drivers unfortunately.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the Cantor with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio KA15 dongle
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

This IEM is easily driven, with amplification not a hard requirement.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

Graph of the Kiwi Ears Canta via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak, though there is an actual peak heard here on listening.

Tonally, the Canta sports a bright V-shaped signature.

The Canta is a sub-bass focused IEM, with good descent of the bass frequencies to 20 Hz. Rumble is present when the track calls for it, though this is not a basshead IEM in terms of quantity. With regards to bass quality, it is quite unremarkable in texturing, though the bass is relatively speedy with minimal mid-bass bleed.

In keeping with the V-shaped profile, there is a lower midrange scoop-out. In essence, this translates to a thinner note weight, and those that yearn for a thicker or lusher sound will need to look elsewhere. Upper mids hit 9 dB in ear gain, which can lead to some shoutiness, especially at louder volumes (Fletcher Munson curve).

The treble is extended and airy, albeit there is an element of sibilance. High-hats and cymbals hits are quite spicy and potentially fatiguing. As such, the Canta is best reserved for trebleheads, though it might alienate the treble sensitive amongst us. Clarity and resolution are quite good, as a function of the boosted treble.

Unfortunately, the Canta displays an obvious planar timbre in the upper frequencies. Due to the faster transients inherent (in general) to planar drivers, notes have a faster truncation and slower tail, so this leads to some hollowness for notes, especially when acoustic instruments are heard in the music. This is quite unnatural sounding, and if you are sensitive to timbre, the Canta is definitely not for you.

In technicalities, the Canta redeems itself. We hear an above average soundstage in height and depth, with width projecting just beyond the ears. The soundscape is hence quite spacious and not claustrophobic, and the Canta easily copes with complex riffs in terms of instrument separation and layering. Imaging is acceptable with a good sprinkling of micro-details as the planars bestow fast transients.


COMPARISONS

There are not many competitor IEMs in this price bracket that utilize the same 1 DD + 2 planar setup, but we will try to compare it against other sub-$100 pairs that have a DD and planar within its shell. Single planars, traditional hybrids, pure BAs and single DDs are left out of the comparisons as the different transducer types have their own pros and cons.




Simgot EW300 (standard version)

The EW300 uses a DD + annular magnetic planar + piezoelectric configuration.

It has 2 tuning nozzles, so versatility is better than that of the Canta. Both nozzles confer less upper midrange bite and treble glare than the Canta, so the EW300 is less sibilant and harsh. The EW300 also has a thicker note weight and is more natural in timbre. Conversely, the Canta has more treble extension but sounds quite splashy when high hats and cymbals come out to play.

In technicalities, the EW300 has a smaller soundstage and weaker micro-detailing and imaging.

The EW300 has some driver flex present, which is not an issue with the Canta.


Kinera Celest Phoenix Call

The Phoenix Call engine consists of a DD + 2 BA + 2 flat planar driver (FPD) Frankenstein setup.

This IEM is also V-shaped, though with more mid-bass focus than the sub-bass predominant Canta. The Phoenix Call hence has more rumble on bassy tracks. However, the Phoenix Call isn't as jarring in the treble and upper mids.

The Phoenix Call has a thicker note weight, but is a step behind in technical areas such as soundstage, instrument separation and micro-detailing.


CONCLUSIONS



The quirkily arrayed Kiwi Ears Canta - with a 1 DD and 2 planar driver setup - is a flawed beast. On one hand, it has some good stuff going for it, such as quality technical chops amongst the sub-$100 fare, in addition to resolution and treble extension that trebleheads will love. Other than a sub-par stock cable, the other non-sonic aspects are more than decent, in the areas of accessory choices, drivability, ergonomics and isolation.

However, the Canta's tuning may be polarizing. Firstly, the V-shaped profile results in a recessed lower midrange. Coupled with a boosted upper mids, this culminates in a thin note weight with borderline shoutiness for vocals (more apparent at louder volume as per the Fletcher Munson curve).

The treble region will also not be the cup of tea for treble sensitive folk, what with the splashy high hats and cymbals. Of concern too is the artificial planar timbre in the upper frequencies, which leads to acoustic instrumentation sounding warped.

All things considered, the Canta does some areas very well, but falls short at others: technicalities at the expense of musicality, in a nutshell. I applaud Kiwi Ears for attempting to incorporate a mishmash of drivers - 2 planars and 1 DD - but the Canta does feel like some sort of unfinished IEM. Perhaps the brand will use this as a stepping stone to reach a better and more refined IEM, with a similarly exotic setup in the future and we look forward to that day!

Introduction

It's been more than a year since I reviewed my first Kiwi Ears and the brand still seems quite new to me. However, thanks to its good work, it is making a niche in most headphone stores and also in the drawers of portable audio enthusiasts. On this occasion, the model I am going to review is the Kiwi Ears Canta. As the brand comments, “Translated from Italian, the name Canta is inspired by its excellence in vocal performances.” These are 1DD+2Planar hybrid IEMS in which Kiwi Ears have sought a vocal-centric tonality, highlighting male and female voices in any musical genre. They have a smooth transition into the upper treble, a sub-bass with a powerful impact, with a warm continuation into the mid-bass and mid-range. The capsules are meticulously handcrafted from medical grade resin. It uses a 2Pin 0.78mm connection interface and the cable has 4 strands of OFC copper with 3.5mm SED connector. Let's take an in-depth look at everything that “sings” about this new model.



Specifications

• Type of Drivers: 1 dynamic driver + 2 planar drivers.
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz.
• Sensitivity: 104dB SPL/mW (1kHz).
• Impedance: 14Ω (1kHz).
• Jack Connector: SE 3.5mm gold-plated.
• Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm.
• Cable Length: 1.25mm.
• Introductory price: $89.

Packaging

Kiwi Ears continues to use fairly restrained packaging, with a black background and a somewhat strange pattern. The brand name is in the upper left corner and the slogan to its right. Floating among the background is a realistic photo of both capsules, while the model name is at the bottom, in large letters. Underneath, just a description of the drivers used. All text is white. On the back side there is not much more information, logos of the specifications it meets and the brand and distributors' contact details. After removing the cardboard, the black box with the brand logo in silver is visible again. Once the lid is lifted, the capsules are on top, embedded in a dense black foam mold lined with black cardboard. Underneath is a box of the same material with the same brand logo. And inside are the accessories:

• The two Kiwi Ears Canta capsules.
• A user's manual.
• A black leatherette zippered case.
• One 4-strand cable with 3.5mm SE connector and 2Pin 0.78mm interface.
• Three pairs of black silicone tips sizes S*M*L.
• Three pairs of white silicone tips sizes S*M*L.
• Three pairs of gray silicone and red core tips sizes S*M*L.

With respect to the Kiwi Ears Singolo and for $10, the brand has incorporated a nice zippered case and one more set of silicone tips. The cable is nothing special, but it is flexible and with four strands it fulfills its main purpose. I guess the price difference between the Singolo model and the current Canta is not only because of the accessories. But either way, I can't fault Kiwi Ears for anything in terms of accessories this time around. A better cable with a balanced connection? We'd better wait for the sound section.



Construction and Design

Kiwi Ears has not been very complicated in the external design of the Canta, but it is clearly functional and appropriate. The outer face is composed of a metal plate with three diagonal grooves, one in the center and the others near the edge. Near one vertex is the brand logo in white. The external shape is typical of an equilateral triangle with very rounded corners. The internal shape is also the classic semi-custom shape, with a minimal bulge at the rim and projected nozzles at its midpoint. They are integrated throughout the resin body, have a smaller diameter of 5.3mm and an outer crown of 6.5mm. The nozzle grid is metallic and perforated. There is a hole at the bottom of the nozzle and another hole next to the cable connection interface. This interface is fully embedded in the body and consists of the conventional translucent, rectangular plastic block with gold-plated tubes.
The cable is simple, consisting of four black plastic-coated strands, fully wound together. The gold-plated 3.5mm plug sleeve is metallic, black and cylindrical, with a groove near the cable exit. This exit is protected by a black rubber cylinder. The splitting piece is a medium-sized black metal cylinder and the pin is a plastic ring, also black, with a double hole through it in the shape of a figure eight. It has translucent over-ear guides and a separate black Velcro strap. The 2Pin 0.78mm connector sleeves are typical metal cylinders, slightly tapered at the cable exit, with two grooves near that point. The two connectors are mounted on rectangular plastic blocks, translucent for the left channel, red for the right.
That said, fully functional design, good construction in elegant black, with a stronger outer plate and a simple, effective, yet manageable, smooth and low stiffness cable. For what else.



Adjustment and Ergonomics

The semi-custom shape and hybrid construction of metal plate and smooth medical grade resin inside produces excellent ergonomics. The capsules are somewhat stubby, but their size fits perfectly in my pinna. The weight is very low and not noticeable. The over-ear guides do not get in the way. With my large foam-filled silicone tips I get a very good isolation, fit and comfort. Sometimes, the simple and conventional, proven and effective, can be the most appropriate.



Sound

Profile

According to the brand itself, the Kiwi Ears Canta have a vocal-centric tonality. In my opinion they possess a W profile with excited sub-bass, upper-mids and the mid-treble phase. On the other hand, if it were totally vocal-centric, the lower mids would have a bit more presence. It is true that there is a clear dip at the treble input, something that seeks to isolate the midrange, as well as that pronounced rise in the sub-bass. But something more than 10dB between the lower mids and the upper mids make me doubt that profile described by the brand. On the other hand, this disagreement is only in that definition, because this tuning is not bad at all.



Bass

It is worth remembering that the Kiwi Ears Canta are hybrids composed of a dynamic driver and two planar micro drivers. It is understood that the dynamic driver is in charge of the bass and the planar drivers of the rest. But the reality is that all drivers may be capable of reproducing the entire spectrum and the brand does not detail this aspect. Be that as it may, what the brand has sought are deep and clean bass, focused on the sub-bass. And that is how they sound, full of realism, with a good level of darkness and weight, average in amount of volume and elasticity. The texture is relatively smooth, not too much roughness is perceived and that increases the feeling of cleanliness and precision of the lower range. Despite the sub-bass boost it has, it is not a bass head level, but it is not a neutral bass either. The weight is felt in the mix and not quite cornered, despite the good physical and sensory character it possesses. This aspect comes through clearly in the very low frequency pure note test. At the audible end the Canta conjures up a realistic, dark, physical sensation with hardly any ripple coloration. The sense of depth and emerging strength merges with the naturalness of the sound, offering a great result, both sonically and in its behavior. Extrapolated to music, the bass of the Canta is relatively fast, slightly rubbery, but also dry, allowing a good level of precision. It does not generate too much ambience as it does not occupy much volume, just a little more than enough to be noticed in the aspect of punch and weight. On the other hand, its decay is not prolonged, leaving little aftertaste and disappearing adequately from the sound. It is clear that the drivers do not interfere with each other and, in the absence of a crossover, the bass sound is quite harmonious and balanced, as it does not feel affected by a bad behavior of any of the drivers.
In the dirty, complex and unfiltered bass test, the work of the Canta is very good. On the assumption that his role does not seek to be protagonist, the female voices are, he knows how to be relegated to a close second, without losing his composure and always responding effectively, naturally and realistically. He is able to handle complex situations with a precise and reliable behavior, being able to clearly discern bases and different bass lines, as well as differentiate layers regardless of their complexity. With a very good level of precision, resolution and detail, coupled with the smoothness of its texture, these complex situations never feel overwhelming, cluttered or chaotic. It knows how to put all this bass in its place, while maintaining a savoir-faire in front of the voices.



Mids

As I mentioned in the profile section, the Canta's seek a vocal-centric tonality. They emphasize the sub-bass, the upper mids and sink the first treble. But they forget a bit about the lower mids, a region that is the base of male voices. The bass transition is clean enough, there is hardly any transfer. There is a bit of warmth, but the male voices are a bit thin, being overshadowed by other instruments, such as string instruments, which are higher pitched. Again, I miss again some more weight, thickness, strength, physicality and base in the lower mids. The difference between them and the upper mids is 10db, something that is supposedly to blame for such a recession. It is true that the bass descent in the curve is not the fastest and some energy is maintained at the beginning of the mids, something that gives naturalness to the timbre and prevents it from being too thin. But, for an IEMS that sells itself as vocal-centric, it is not enough. But it is, if this forced adjective is not taken into account. It is true that the sinking of the first treble helps to isolate the voices, preventing the details from taking over the limelight. The flashes are cut in the first instance and also the stridencies, leaving somewhat more naked voices, but also rounder, fleshy and analogical, free of sibilance. The rest of the instrumentation is no stranger to this behavior. But, far from sounding dry, I think that the clarity achieved with the drivers, provides a remarkable brightness and transparency, within a profile that does not feel vivid or splashy, but more restrained and smooth. The result is an organic, pleasant and musical midrange, where the female voices stand out with greater splendor and juice, expanding their body and base in a more differentiated way, but without feeling thick or heavy. In that sense, the good work of the drivers generates a capacity for precision that combines with a good level of resolution, clarity and sufficient unforced transparency, to recreate a more ideal environment for these female voices.



Treble

If you look at the graph, there is a clear containment in the first highs, a descent that limits the flare at its initial point. However, there is a sudden rise and a good extension into the incipient air zone. The result can be a bit unnatural at times. But, it is better than I could have hoped for. I understand that there is a game on the part of the brand, based on isolating the central range to look for more protagonist voices at the cost of reducing that initial brightness. As I said, it seems that something is achieved, but you also pay a small price for it, mitigating a range of treble in its initial phase and highlighting the second half. The result is a treble without too much initial shimmer, softened, but with power and energy in the later area to regain brightness and color. But, somehow, it may seem to end up losing some balance and homogeneity throughout the range. In the end, that initial softness limits the sibilance, favoring the reproduction of the voices and the second seeks to restore the lost harmonics.



Soundstage, Separation

The Kiwi Ears Canta draws a wide scene, with good depth and layering capability. It is accurate, airy, clean and resolving. It is very informative at the macro detail level, but incipient in micro detail, most of the time it can be intuited, but remains somewhat rounded or elusive. At first glance, its neatness and technical skill stand out. In the background, it lacks a little more depth, height and enveloping ability to generate a wider scene. For the price point, though, it's remarkable. There is that planar precision and that clean, transparent, evident and clear reproduction. But it struggles to resolve the fine details. At times, it's easy to think that that sinking in the treble can prevent that sparkle. At other times, it just feels diluted. But, hey, the competition isn't much better either.
Imaging is concise, the skill of the drivers allows for obvious and appropriate positioning. Provenance is clean and well defined, though perhaps a bit too up front.



Comparisons

TinHiFi T5s

Despite that drop in the early treble, I can't deny that I like this profile, with a few tweaks. And, as I say, I can't deny it because I have given good marks to other IEMS with similar frequency response. The first and oldest, the NS Audio NS3, with a very similar drop between mids and treble, but with less extension in the upper range. It remains sparser, drier and less juicy, and technically more limited. In second place are the recent TinHiFi T5s, some IEMS that I enjoyed very much during their review. And these are the ones chosen for this comparison.
On the physical side, the T5s are built like a tank in lightweight aluminum with a pronounced semi-custom shape. If their design fits in the ears, their ergonomics will be very good. The Canta's are simpler, lighter, smaller and do not have such a pronounced shape on the inside. This means more freedom in the fit and fewer parts that physically touch our ears. This, together with the lower weight, gives it a superior point in comfort, although the fit is not so strict and unique. The shape of the T5s only allows for one position inside the ears and if it fits it's perfect. But perhaps not so universal.
The price of the T5s is higher at $129, it has a better cable, a slightly more premium case, two sets of silicone tips, a pair of foams and some other miscellaneous accessories. The Canta has a good, classic brand case, three sets of tips and a thinner cable. They are only $89.
It can be seen that the curves are similar. The T5s have a bit more sub-bass and a steeper bass roll-off. However, it is smoother in the upper mids, with a more subdued decay in the early treble, albeit with less air. The Canta's have slightly more weight between the bass and lower mids, more excitement in the upper mids, and more treble extension. The Canta's are easier to move than the T5s.
The bass of the T5s has some roughness and more texture than the Canta. The Kiwi's are smoother, somewhat rounder, perhaps darker, but less physical. The roughness of the T5s gives it a more enjoyable air of realism and elasticity. The Canta's seem more technical, restrained and tight. Great behavior of both in the very low frequency fixed tone test, with a little more power in the T5s. Also very good behavior in the dirty and unfiltered bass test. Very good performance in both, with that difference in the bass surface, a little more overall presence and color in the T5s.
You have to recognize the value of the Canta's in the vocal aspect versus the competition. On many occasions I have commented that I find the lower mids somewhat hollow. Neither model escapes this sensation, but in the Canta this effect is less pronounced. It is also conjugated with somewhat sparklier upper mids and better driver resolution in them. The T5s are somewhat softer, a bit more diffuse and subtly darker.
The treble of the T5s is more diffuse, softer and cleaner. There is a bit more energy in the Canta's, they are thinner and less rounded, generating a different, oddly enough, more excited timbre. It is clear that the skill of the drivers plays its role in the Canta, offering superior technical performance, greater cleanliness, cleanliness, transparency and separation. The background is more diffuse in the T5s, losing some resolution and sharpness in the background. The image is clearer and more obvious in the Canta.



Conclusion

Kiwi Ears has used a great set of drivers for the Canta. And they have taken a risk with a tuning they call vocal-centric. Starting from a great lower range, the transition to the mids is smooth and a bit thin. While most of the weight is put on the upper mids, but in a controlled way. The first treble is recessed, although the second half recovers with strength and extension. This profile seeks to give prominence to the voices. With female voices it clearly achieves this, while with male voices it surpasses its opponents, but it is not distinctly “vocal-centric”.
The drivers work very well and all of them are very accurate, resolute, informative, efficient, crisp, transparent and clean. But they feel victimized by their tuning. One may think that, with another tuning, the result of the Canta's would be superior. Virtues are not lacking.
Finally, excellent ergonomics, light weight, a good set of accessories and a decent cable are worth mentioning.



Sources Used During the Analysis

• EPZ TP50.
• Tempotec V3.
• Burson Audio Playmate 2.
• Aune X8 XVIII Magic DAC + EarMen ST-Amp.
• Aune M1p.

Purchase Link



You can read the full review in Spanish here

Kiwi Ears Canta Review: Blisteringly Affordable Planar Performance​

Kiwi Ears is a young brand that has exploded onto the HiFi scene with a wide lineup of value-focused IEMs and accessories. They quickly went from a brand that nobody knew about to a well-regarded contender in the audiophile arena. So good is Kiwi Ears’ reputation that they’ve even begun collaborating with high-profile reviewers to create and release unique IEMs. Today we are taking a look at the Kiwi Ears Canta — an unbelievably-affordable three driver hybrid IEM featuring not one, but TWO planar drivers.

Big shout-out to Linsoul for providing me with my Canta review unit, no strings attached. You can find the Canta for sale on their web store for $89.

About My Preferences: Heads up, I’m a person! As such, these words are my opinion, and they are tinged by my personal preferences. While I try to mitigate this as much as possible during my review process, I’d be lying if I said my biases are completely erased. So for you, my readers, keep this in mind:

• My ideal sound signature would be one with competent sub-bass, a textured mid-bass, a slightly warm midrange, and an extended treble.
• I have mild treble sensitivity.

Source: The Canta was tested in the following configurations:

• LG V40 -> earphones
• Asus Zenphone 10 -> Rose Technics RS9039 -> Earphones
• Hidizs AP100 3.5mm out -> FiiO A5 3.5mm out -> earphones
• HiFiMAN SuperMini -> earphones

All music was served as MP3 @320Kbps or as FLAC.

Tech Specs​

• Sensitivity: 104dB SPL/mW (@1kHz)
• Frequency Range: 20Hz-20KHz
• Impedance: (14ohm)
• Driver Configuration: 1 Dynamic Driver + 2 Planar Magnetic Drivers
• IEM Connector: 2-pin 0.78mm
• Cable Length: 1.25m
• Cable Termination: 3.5mm

Sound Signature​

Sonic Overview:​

The Canta has a rather novel driver configuration, but its overall sound signature is decidedly V-shaped. It boasts a broad and organic mid-bass and sub-bass with a bright, elevated treble. The Canta’s midrange is recessed, save for a spike around 2–3KHz. For its price, the Canta has a wide soundstage that images well.

Sonic Breakdown:​

Treble: Songs used: In One Ear, Midnight City, Outlands, Satisfy, Little One, Show Me How To Live (Live at the Quart Festival), Bittersweet Symphony

The Canta’s treble is lightning fast, agile, and sparkly. It does a great job creating an airy sensation across a multitude of genres and pairs extremely well with softer-mastered, pre-“loudness war” tracks, such as those off of Americana by The Offspring. Similarly, the Canta’s incisive treble tuning works wonders for instrumental tracks — its planar-magnetic drivers are capable of capturing a fantastic range of upper-register texturing. I had a great time listening to Daft Punk’s Tron: Legacy soundtrack; the Catna almost seems purpose-built for electronic genres.

The Canta’s planar drivers do an outstanding job at seeking out and revealing subtle treble-bound details. It routinely and effortless resolves the fading of cymbal crashes and high-hat slams in In One Ear. Subtle background speculars such as those in Little One are presented to the listener with a nearly tangible floatiness. They integrate smoothly with the rest of the song and maintain a respectable degree of separation.

While there’s a lot of good to cover with the Canta’s treble, I would be remiss to not mention some of its flaws. The Canta’s treble, by virtue of its novel micro-planar tweeters, is too hot on many modern tracks with “loud” mastering. I have a sensitivity to treble, so for those tracks I often found myself reducing the volume on the Canta to maintain comfort. These songs often exhibited vocal sibilance, particularly with “F” and “T” sounds (but oddly not “S”).

Midrange: Songs used: Flagpole Sitta, Jacked Up, I Am The Highway, Dreams, Too Close, Little Black Submarines

The Canta’s midrange is certainly recessed, but I didn’t perceive it as veiled. This might be a result of listening to so many V-shaped IEMs recently, but I actually quite enjoy the way that the Canta presents its midrange. Its full-range dynamic driver does a good job of lending its lower-midrange a more organic and believable roll into the mid-bass.

Midrange tone is another controversial part of the Canta’s tuning — it is not exactly thin, but it is light. It isn’t warm or “silky”, instead sitting squarely in the realm of “analytical”. Listeners who prefer weight and warmth won’t be happy with this tuning, but I enjoy how transparent it feels.

The Canta does a good job of resolving a wide variety of textures, though it seems to be more resolving with acoustic instrumentation and upper-midrange electronics than lower-midrange ones.

Bass: Songs used: Moth, Gold Dust, In For The Kill (Skream Remix), War Pigs (Celldweller Remix)

I’d expect nothing less than an organic, weighty bass from an IEM with a dynamic driver, and the Canta delivers. It has an elevated mid-bass with a well-extended sub-bass. Songs with messy bass lines like Gold Dust are a treat to listen to, with the Canta diving head-first into the lower register and slapping you with punchy midbass and rumbly sub-bass.

For as good as the Canta’s bass is, I often found myself torn between wanting to crank the volume for more rumble and punch, but being held back by the treble’s sibilance. I did manage to fix this an EQ adjustment, but it was still a little tedious.

Packaging / Unboxing​

The Canta features understated, austere even, packaging. It, much like the IEMs within, is precise and focused. The packaging’s interior is well-designed and presents the IEM to customer elegantly. The IEMs are safely nestled within precisely-cut foam layers, so there’s little chance of them being damaged while in transit.

Build​

Construction Quality​

The Canta’s construction matches its packaging — understated and elegant. It features medical-grade acrylic shells with a semi-matte-finished face-plate.



Kiwi Ears went with 0.78mm 2-pin connectors for the Canta’s cable connector, which is much appreciated. The Canta’s 2-pin sockets are encased in a clear plastic block that is flush with the rest of the shell. The stock cable, as well as several aftermarket cables, all fit into the sockets easily and remain secure with zero wobble even after consistent use for over a week.



The Canta’s nozzles are standard length and width, offering a medium-depth fit. They have an integrated metal debris filter that sits just below the bevel of the lip.



The Canta’s cable is, in no uncertain terms, basic. It features sturdy, but standard, 2-pin connectors encased in a simple black plastic shell. Tidily attached to the back of the 2-pin’s shell are clear plastic earguides.



The cable’s Y-splitter shares the same case material as the 2-pin connectors: a smooth black plastic. Even though the Canta’s cable is utilitarian in design, it is cleanly assembled and free from blemishes or construction flaws.



The only termination available for the Canta’s stock cable is 3.5mm — not a problem for listeners who primarily use phones as their source devices. The 3.5mm jack is also housed in a smooth black plastic. The inside face of the housing features a black rubber stress relief piece.

Comfort​

The Canta features three drivers, two of which utilize a novel type of driver, the other of which is a hefty dynamic driver. It was my assumption that the Canta would be bulbous and bloated. And, while it does feature shells that I consider to be above-average in volume, Kiwi Ears did a great job and sculpting the shell’s ergonomics. I can wear the Canta for extended periods of time with no issues. I didn’t need to tip roll or select a different cable to achieve a comfortable fit with good isolation. I was able to block out almost all external noise with silicon eartips in a busy coffee shop (that plays its own loud music) while only listening at lower volumes. And excellent change of pace from some other worse-sealing IEMs I’ve tested recently.

Accessories​

Inside the box you’ll find:

• 1x 2-pin 3.5mm cable
• 1x semi-hard carrying case
• 9x pairs of silicon eartips

The Canta’s accessory package certainly isn’t “grand”, but it is sufficient to get a comfortable, pleasant experience out of the box. No, it doesn’t have a fancy silver cable. No, it doesn’t have 13 pairs of earips. And no, it doesn’t even come with foam eartips. But, ultimately, this is a sub-$90 IEM. I don’t expect a product like this to have flagship-level of accessories.

For what is included in the box, I am satisfied with the quality. Each of the 3 types of eatips has a different feel and slightly different tone. The variety is welcome, and I ended up settling on the SpinFit medium eartips. I ordered a pair of Comply eartips separately, and those fit excellently as well. Kiwi Ears, if you can, please try and include some Comply eartips with your next planar IEM — they go a long way at taming some of the hot treble response for treble wimps like me.

The carrying case Kiwi Ears included is lightweight and compact. It is large enough to comfortably store the IEMs, cable, and spare eartips without any crushing or shoving. The case’s zipper feels secure and reliable, so I felt confident throwing it into any bag regardless of contents.

Summary​

Should you buy the Canta? Well, that’s going to depend on your preferences. There’s a lot to love — a good accessory package, extremely aggressive pricing, and, of course, excellent bass. But do you love treble?Are you are willing to work with the Canta and select eartips, sources, and tracks that suite its style to get the most out of its drivers? Are you using a device with easy access to an EQ and love V-shaped sound signatures? If any of that describes you, buy it.

Listeners seeking warmth, smoothness, or a tame out-of-the-box treble will probably want to wait for Kiwi Ears next iteration of their planar hybrid IEMs. With how quickly Kiwi Ears is improving their lineup these days, you probably won’t have to wait long. Great job Kiwi Ears — you took a risk using a new driver technology and created a good, if somewhat polarizing, first-generation IEM.

As always, happy listening!

Introduction:

Kiwi Ears is a reputable brand, known for delivering many good sounding products at a reasonable price. Their most famous iem being the Cadenza – a very good budget 1DD that still getting talked about today in Vietnam’s audio groups – and the Orchestra Lite – a very nice 8BA iem with a really nice sound performance for its price that’s also still being talked about on Chi-fi’s groups. That goes to show that Kiwi Ears is a brand that knows what they’re doing.

And now, they have released a new iem called the Canta. It’s a 3-driver hybrid iem, featuring 1DD for the bass and 2 planar drivers for the midrange and treble.


You can purchase the Canta here on Linsoul: https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-canta

Disclaimer: I would like to give a special thanks to Linsoul for providing a reviewing unit, in exchange for my honest sound impression.

Packaging

The Canta comes in a relatively small box

The content of the box include:

- The iem themselves

- A 2pin, 3.5mm cable

- A faux leather case

- 9 pairs of 3 types of eartips


Design/Build quality/Comfort

The Canta’s shell are made out of fully black resin while the faceplate is made from CNC + anodized aluminum. The shell feels very light on the hands and does not feel flimsy.


The faceplate design are relatively simple and minimal with some CNC lines. On the faceplate is Kiwi Ears’s logo that has been lazer etched onto.



The nozzles are also made out of resin and are continuous with the shells. The filters are just some simple stainless steel mesh.

The Canta is very comfortable to wear. Its isolation is around average.


The stock cable is very thin and flimsy. It’s light but also very easy to tangle. It’s one of the worst cables I've ever seen. It reminds me of the stock cable of the famous Blon BL-03. At least it doesn’t have too much memory to it.

Sound impression:

Test gear:

Source: Poco F3, Dell laptop

DAC/amp: Chord Mojo, EPZ TP50, Ibasso DC07 Pro

Eartips: Stock tips, Divinus Velvet

Cable: Stock

Tonality: V-shaped

Bass

The Canta has a healthy amount of bass boost, with more focus on the subbass. Since there’s also a lot of energy in the upper end, the bass doesn’t feel too overwhelming. Subbass extension is quite nice and deep, with a good amount of air as well. The subbass drop at 3:27 of “Why So Serious” and the whole “Chameleon” – Trentemoller has that classic lingering decay and rumble of a DD. The elasticity and resonance of the bass is quite normal, nothing stands out from the norm. That being said, they can sometimes feel a bit loose and blurry. It reminds me of some DD with a PET or LCP membrane, rather than Beryllium or CNT.

Midbass slam and punches are slightly above average. Kick drums are present with good body and emphasis, but they don’t have the best grunt, definition and texture to them, evident in the drums and kicks of the track “Mighty Long Fall” – One OK Rock and “URSURPER” – NXCRE. When listening to fast paced metal tracks like “Distress Rehearsal”, the driver starts to show its limitation and cannot keep up with the drumming session that well.

Mids

The midrange feels a bit recessed compared to the bass and treble – the classic characteristic of a V-shaped iem. There’s not a lot of bleed or muddiness from the midbass, but the lower midrange still has a bit of warmth to them. The upper midrange is not too hot/overly boosted either.

As per marketing material, the Canta said to have a “Vocal-Centric tonality”. With this sort of tuning from the Canta and to my ears, female vocals do take a more frontal position, more emphasized than male vocals. They’re not shouty by any means, they’re just very energetic, high in clarity, with a bit of edginess and sharpness to their voices. The 5-6k dip in the upper midrange does eliminate a bit of sibilant feeling. Male vocals, especially for deep baritones, namely Michael Buble or Frank Sinatra, don’t have a lot of weight or gravity to their voices. Celine Dion’s “All By Myself” and Adele’s “Set Fire to The Rain” sounds very lively, light and pristine. I don’t feel like either of their voice is screaming in front of or inside of my head.

Instruments timbre is decent only, not that natural of a timbre, as there’s a bit too much energy in the overtones and upper harmonics, which affect some instruments like violin and some woodwind instruments. There’s also some planar timbre from the upper midrange and above.

Treble

The treble is decently extended and airy, with good sparkles and shimmering. That being said, the treble is also quite unforgiving as well. Cymbal crashes, hi-hats now sounds very much forward in the mix, in your face type of thing. Despite being highly energetic, those dips and peaks do mask some details. Sure they may give some sort of contrast to the treble, making them sound more exciting, but I'd actually prefer a smoother treble response.Those peaks make this iem more of a low to mid volume iem, else it’d have been very fatiguing. The more roll-off treble, or at least lower energy relative to the mids, would have given me a more natural playback. There is some very apparent planar timbre that the planar drivers give. It really stands out from the DD that’s used for the bass region.

Technical performance

The stage of the Canta is good, with more width than height and depth. Layering and separation is quite good for the price as well.

Comparison

1/ Simgot EW300 HBB

Both iems are in a very similar price bracket, with the EW300 being a bit cheaper. The EW300 is heavier than the Canta, with better build quality and better cable as well. The EW300 HBB sells for 80$, so a bit cheaper than the Canta.



Sound wise, the EW300 sounds quite similar to the Canta apart from the upper midrange and treble.

The bass sounds more emphasized on the EW300, midbass having a bit more grunt and texture to them, a bit chunkier, more rugged to the punches and slams.

The midrange feels less recessed, the lower midrange now has a bit more warmth to them. Instruments have better timbre as well. Vocals overall sound thinner, more energetic and forward on the Canta, especially for female vocals. Male vocals on the other hand sounds a bit more lush on the EW300.

Treble wise, the EW300 sounds a bit smoother, less peaky and harsh overall. It’s less fatiguing in the long run with the EW300, especially with the gold nozzle. Both iem have a bit of off-timbre in the treble region due to the planar and PZT drivers, but it’s way more present on the Canta.

Technicalities wise, the EW300 has a smaller stage and a bit worse separation, but the imaging feels better than the Canta.

2/ Kefine Delci OG

The Delci is a 1DD iem, selling for 75$ on Linsoul website (which usually goes on sales for 60$). The Delci also has better quality shells and cable than the Canta.



Sound wise, the Delci has a warmer overall tonality than the Canta.

The bass is similarly boosted on the graph, but it’s better well perceived on the Delci. The bass texture is slightly better – tighter, more compacted – on the Delci. Midbass punches feels a bit more rounded

Midrange is slightly warmer, less recessed and more natural sounding on the Delci. Like the timbre is just way better now that the planar timbre is out of the way. Male vocals have more heft to them, lusher. Female vocals take a step back, though not detrimental to their quality. Soprano still has a lot of energy and liveliness going on for them.

Treble is where these 2 iem have the most differences. The Delci doesn’t have as much air and upper treble energy as the Canta, but it’s definitely hotter at around 6-7khz. The overall treble range is smoother on the Delci. The Canta has way more emphasis and energy here. Cymbals has more shimmering and air to them overall than the Delci.

Technicalities wise, the Canta has superior soundstage, detail retrieval and layering capability. However, the soundstage of the Delci is no slouch in hindsight. The slightly more intimate staging as well as a more natural does have its own charm for the Delci

Conclusion

The Canta is an interesting product from Kiwi Ears to say the least. I think Kiwi Ears is aiming to get the best of both worlds from both types of drivers: The natural bass response with the DD and the effortlessly detailed nature of a planar driver. However, I think the implementation is not there yet, the tonality still needs a lot of touch up and the highly subjective “musicality” factor is not that high with the Canta. However, for what it currently provides, I think the Canta is still an iem worth it to try should you have the chance.

That’s it for my review and thank you for reading.

Kiwi ears canta

Hi everyone, today I have Kiwi ears’ 1dd 2 Micro Planar hybrid set on review table.
I was offered to review this set from Kiwi ears by them.
Honestly I’m flattered. I’ve just posted a couple of reviews and they still offered me the opportunity.
So thank you guys.
Anyway on to the review.

Canta was silently released by Kiwi ears, I really haven’t seen much fanfare from the community.
It’s priced at 89 dollars. Not too expensive but I think it’s also exciting because it’s the cheapest hybrid that uses Micro Planar tweeters. Normally they are used on more expensive sets. The other cheap option is simgot supermix4, a dark harman set.



As you can see the accessories are kinda basic. I love the cable, it’s light and supple but honestly I’m sick of seeing these cheap eartips.
They easily break seal and gives me itchy feeling on my ear canal.
I think every manufacturer should use a standard set of good quality eartips on their products. I’m not expecting sedna clears or uc clear eartips. Just use something that is made of medical grade silicon. Something like BGVP type e or w1 tips.
Oh and the case is good; it’s kinda bulky but I like it: it can easily hold Canta or Quintet and Kiwi Ears Allegro.



As you can see the IEM’S have a barebone design that doesn’t really scream. It’s both good and bad. I’ll come to it in a minute.
Let’s talk about the sound.
Canta has a weird tuning. I can say that. Right now I don’t have a detailed 5128 measurements for it. All I have is the measurements from the 711 clone couplers. And I can see a similar measurement from official Kiwi Ears marketing material as well.



As you can see it has a rather V shaped tuning.
Bass is boosted but clean. It’s too much for my taste but I’d recommend this over the old chifi style every day.
Mids are.. weird. It’s kinda recessed between 400-2000 hz. This makes the IEM’S sound thin and makes the Bass even more prominent.
And the treble, well. It’s a roller coaster. İts overly extended at 8khz and 12.5 khz.

Now I’m going to be honest; I wouldn’t buy this IEM as it is. Because Truthear hexa and Zero Red exists .
But I still wouldn’t call this IEM bad. It’s just not designed properly. It’s faults can be fixed easily via eq. When it’s fixed its transients and details are better than hexa. İt sounds sharper, cleaner and a little bit more detailed. But I would expect this tuning out of the box. Not after an EQ session.
But the capabilities of the drivers are there. They are just held back by the shell design.



To understand what I mean I want to show you the frequency response graph of Canta once more.


I want to tell this first; 711 clones are not exactly reliable but even with the low reliability we can still see the individual driver’ frequency crossover points.
Dynamic driver is handling everything up until 6k. It’s good. There’s some driver flex but it’s not bad.
1st MicroPlanar is handling the frequency range between 6 to 10 pr 11k. And the second one is trying to handling everything above 10k. I’m saying “trying “because last driver can’t really seem to cover everything in it’s range. Now again I want to point you that drivers are doing fine. But I can tell that this IEM shell design is not really designed for specifically this setup. I remember seeing the same design on Kiwi ears melody. So this is probably a generic design.

I think this is the crux of the issue here. All the drivers are doing great but shell is not exactly designed for these drivers. I still see myself as a newbie so take my words with a pinch of salt. But I think the inner air volume of the IEM’S is a little too much. This causes a slight dip at 400-2k region. And massive inconsistencies afyer 5k. Again I need to see a 5128 measurement to be sure.
Kiwi ears design team has the same limitations as I have. So I’m not exactly disappointed in them on this matter; a 5128 is just too expensive.
But I wish they were had at least tried using a 3d printed shell for this IEM, its so close to perfection it hurts.
By separating the dd and MicroPlanar driver’s chambers they could have avoided having an inconsistent treble response and dips. And maybe separating the micro planars would change what exact frequency they would peak at. I’ve seen hybrid IEM’S that using older, more inconsistent drivers having a better response than Canta. Canta’s drivers are capable, it’s crossover is good. It just needs a better designed shell to perform at its full potential.

I will be giving a little bit more detailed feedback to Kiwi Ears team. I really love some of their products, Cadenza was really nice and Quintet is my top favorite under 250$ range. I really want them to succeed. And I hope they can offer a product that basically fixes Canta’s issue.
As of now I can only give 3 out of 5 to Canta. It’s capable but you have to fix it.



Still a better offer than the absolute best KZ can dream of.

General/Packaging/Comfort/Build
Kiwi Ears is no stranger within the community, names like Orchestra Lite, Cadenza, Melody and Forteza should be very familiar to most within the community.Today i have their latest hybrid with me, the configuration is kind of new? 1DD+2Planar.
The packaging comes in the usual Kiwi Ears styled package. Within the box it consists of eartips and cable as well as the IEM itself.
Build quality is rather solid with matte like faceplate, the shell itself is neither too big nor small, isolation is average and comfort is good based on my experience throughout the listening session for approximately 2-3 hours. Nozzle is either too long or short, do tip roll if you are having fit issues.

Equipment and Software used

• Fiio K9 AKM
• Kiwi Ears Canta
• Hiby FC6
• Macbook Air M2
• Apple Music/Tidal/foobar2k

Foreword
My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone’s ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far



Sound Impression
Upon first listening, Canta is slightly bright and to me everything sounds very vivid and dynamic, hence I put it through burn in session and my music looping through for 20 hours +-, the highs are smoother and much more enjoyable to my ears. V shaped but it's good, although this is V shaped, but the vocals are very nicely done in my opinion. There’s a slight hint of planar timbre and it is noticeable for certain tracks but not so much for some tracks. Noteweight is neither too thin nor thick

Bass

• Good speed and doesn’t sound bloated or muddy when listening to busy tracks such as Slipknot’s People’s = crap!
• Sub bass has an okay-ish extension considering the price. not bass head kind of rumble but sufficient and has good control, it rumbles when the track calls for it, with a good seal, it is actually very fun
• Mid bass lacks a little punch but overall it is alright
• Doesn’t bleed into the mids

Mids

• The mids are slightly recessed but still lush sounding to my ears
• Vocals are neither too forward nor recessed, and they’re not shouty
• Male and female vocal has good texture to it and doesn’t sound thin, the female vocal especially has very good energy and sweet to listen to
• The bass doesn’t bleed into this range which is good
• Pinna gain is rather safe and never shouty even when the volume is being cranked up (but again, this is subjective and depending on your tolerance/sensitivity)

Treble

• Treble is energetic and it is very “vivid” as i mentioned, but never harsh nor sibilant
• Detail retrieval is good
• Very airy sounding and doesn’t sound congested, very good technicalities overall for the price

Soundstage/Imaging

• Soundstage is slightly out of your head with good width, depth and height perception is good
• Imaging is good as the instruments can be pinpointed easily even during busy track, certain complex orchestral track might not perform that well
• In terms of technicalities overall, Canta has good technicalities for the asking price

Driveability

• Canta is not hard to drive but it does scale very more power, in terms of dynamics and bass control
• Most of the entry level/mid range dongles will do just fine but desktop setup will push the Canta to its max capability
• The new Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini does have good synergy with the Canta

Comparison (NF Audio RA15)

• RA15 is a single DD IEM, understand that RA15 is single DD, but it does have swappable nozzle
• Not as airy sounding as the Canta, slightly smoother in terms of the treble, but a more pronounced upper mids might not be for everyone especially those who are sensitive to that region
• Bass is tight and punchy, quantity wise slightly lesser compared to Canta
• In terms of noteweight, the RA15 on the gold nozzle has slightly thicker note weight compared to Canta
• Soundstage and imaging i think the Canta fares better

Final Thoughts
All in all, the Canta is something different from the usual Kiwi Ears’s offering. A unique driver combination with a nicely done V shaped tuning. Many people tend to stay away from V shaped or coloured sound signatures, for myself, I personally think that music is meant to be enjoyed rather than trying to analyse it. Canta is definitely a solid performer for the asking price and definitely gets a recommendation from me. The only thing that i am gonna nitpick is the bundled cable, although it works, but aesthetically it is just not eye pleasing, not a big deal though, as mentioned just nitpicking.

*A big thanks to Linsoul for sending this over for the purpose of this review. Thanks for the support and opportunity as always

Head over to their store if you are interested in getting a pair:

Kiwi Ears Canta- Non affiliated

Review Of The Kiwi Ears Canta​

Introduction​

The firm Kiwi Ears, which is well-known for its IEMs like Orchestra, Cadenza, Quintet, etc., which have been adored by many and have garnered Kiwi Ears a lot of fan following and admirers, is back with new line up of IEMs and portable DAC/AMP. With the exception of their first IEM Orchestra, I have personally tried every IEM that Kiwi Ears has produced thus far, and I have always liked and cherished them all. I have the good fortune to review Kiwi Ears Canta, one of their three recently released products (along with Allegro Mini and KE4), but before I go any further, let me make a few clarifications.

Disclaimer​

*Since this unit tour was organised by the kindly people at Linsoul, I am grateful to them. As I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as “Canta.”
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Canta based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

The Canta is equipped with a hybrid arrangement that makes use of two micro planar IEMs and one dynamic driver, which surprised me. The way the driver is implemented differs from other typical 2+1 hybrid drivers. In my opinion, the shell is nicely formed to accommodate any average-sized ear. While the faceplate is constructed of metal, the shell is made of skin-friendly resin, making it lightweight both in the palm and on the ears. I had no problem wearing these IEMs for extended periods of time, however for an isolated seal, I had to tip roll. The cable which comes with Canta is the same cable that comes with every other of their IEM releases except their expensive ones, it has two pin, straight 3.5mm plug termination and it feels nice in hands as it is flexible and soft to touch. The other accesorries which are included are a variety of eartips in different sizes and types and a leather carrying case. Coming to the technical specifications, the impedance is 14 Ohms and the similiarity is 104dB. The frequency response is from 20Hz to 20kHz.

Sound​

The Canta obliges with its V-shaped sound but does sound similiar to Cadenza with better extended treble but with a more warmer sound. However, based on the graph, I was reasonably confident that the V-shape would be brighter and the presentation would be more concise than on the AS10 Pro. It appears that I overlooked the driver configurations and the way of sound implementation. The majority of the sibilance, hotness, and shouty noises in the response are created in this area of elevation; nevertheless, how the micro planars are implemented has a significant impact on both the response's musically attractive presentation and performance on the FR graph. This is one of those times when I am simply shocked. Using two planar and one DD makes it appear to be an IEM with two balanced armatures and one DD. Initially, I anticipated that the planars were going to substitute the BAs, but now I see a substantial sonical difference. Despite the fact that the details aren't as good as those on Knowles or Sonion BAs, I still detect the same forwardness and expressiveness in the raised zone, free of metallic timbre or shrill, sibilant sound. Overall, the execution delivers a distinct experience. As a result, I believe that, despite their apparent exaggeration, the treble and upper midrange lack offensive qualities, yet the bass has a substantial effect and is well-exposed throughout the presentation. Let's delve further into the sound and learn more about it.

Treble​

Despite the large amount of energy resonated from the high mid range, the treble has a good exposure in the overall presentation, and the response does not appear to have any offensive qualities such as sibilance or metallic timbre. The high treble has good air and expansion, and the vocals and instruments have a reasonable level of presence and excellent details and clarity, however the note presentation isn't as tacky and crisp as one might expect. The lower treble, on the other hand, has decent vitality that resonates with the upper mid range and produces a richer and more complete sound as the vocals and instruments have a forward and vivid expression, while the soft side of the notes adds tactile and composed clarity. The Canta does not lack clarity, but when compared to a BA implemented set, the notes produced by it seem sharper and crisper. One thing I like about the timbre is that it sounds natural and smooth, with plenty of exposure to the vocals and instruments. Tracks like Mizukagami no Sekai by Marina Horiuchi are a delight to my ears, as is Canta's response. I expected piercing and sibilant vocals, but to my surprise, the way the vocals are expressed sounds wonderful, and I can hear the fullness and richness in her vocals without worrying about peakiness or sibilance. This track sounds either too drab or too bright on many of the IEMs I've heard thus far, but I believe Canta is a safe choice here. As a result, the overall presentation of the treble area sounds expressive, clear, and fluid.

Mid Range​

In the midrange, I never expected such a safe sound from the planar approach. However, I believe that such forwardness provides a richer and more complete sound, particularly in the vocal region, which sounds more natural. Again, in this region, I don't have any issues with shouty or peaky presence, however I do believe that the lean quality becomes more obvious when vocals scale. The upper midrange has a forward and prominent presentation, with the vocals and instruments sounding lively and airier, particularly the female vocals, which sound open and fuller, which sounds enchanting. The male vocals also have girth and volume, but they don't sound as authentic, which is typical for IEMs in this price range. Though the instrument has a delicate response, the notes retain warmth and richness, providing a natural-sounding experience. The lower midrange has good thickness and volume, allowing for a mumbling presentation of the vocals and instruments, resulting in a clean and rich response that helps the upper midrange seem rich and genuine. However, when the IEMs are exposed to complex songs such as PLAN A by DISH//, I believe the response lacks tonal balance in certain parts. However, tracks such as Kanshouaika by Kohana Lam seem expressive and peaceful to listen to, as her voice have the ability to put you in a trance, and the response of the instruments is organic and clean, with a slight warmth that makes it tonally rich and natural-sounding. As a result, the overall presentation of the midrange region is lighter, richer, and more forward-sounding.

Bass​

When it comes to the bass, this is the second time I've encountered such a response, following the Cadenza.Such a bass response provides a rich and dynamic presentation, allowing for a richer and more fulfilling response. The bass here is nearly identical to the Candeza, which was a budget hit, but I believe the bass has more presence, particularly in the mid bass region of the Canta. Even though bass appears to be present in the mix, it does not sound particularly influential or heavy, but it may be a bass monster when listening to bass heavy music. The emphasis is on the subbass region, which produces strong thumps and deep rumble as the extension goes deep. The mid bass has a lot of presence, which adds thud and slam to the mix. I believe the bass is appropriately managed to generate a rich and organic bass; nevertheless, I find the bass to be lacking in texture and detail, yet the impact and resonation are hard hitting and resolve smoothly without disrupting the mix. Tracks like Deathpact's NEMESIS have massive bass drops that give eargasms when matched with the appropriate pair, and I feel Canta is that match; the bass notes have a significant impact with a strong and pleasing presence. Overall, the bass region's presentation is impressive, rich, and forceful.

Technical Performance​

When it comes to technicalities, it appears that the Canta keeps up with its peers in the front, but I do find it lacking in some areas where other IEMs with different implementations produce a better response, despite the fact that they differ in sound presentation, so I believe any IEM with a proper V-shape sound cannot outperform the Canta in this price range. Let's be more specific.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

The soundstage has strong width and depth, resulting in spacious sound with good imaging capability since the notes are clean and sufficiently precise to provide a clean presentation but not sharply defined. The separation is also excellent, since the notes are clearly distinguished and it is easy to pinpoint where the sound is originating from.

Speed & Resolution​

While the resolution is excellent, I believe it falls short in the micro detail sector. The macro elements are expressive, but the micro details are difficult to discern in the mix. The attack and decay of the notes resolve quickly enough to avoid overemphasis or overwheling presence of any region in the mix and bring a saturated presentation forward.

Sound Impressions ​

Sources​

Sony WM1A - Listening to the Canta with WM1A resulted in a smoother, more calming, and balanced reaction. The response had an articulated midrange and treble response, allowing the midrange to sound more open and wide while delivering a more airy and expansive treble performance. This enabled for much improved resolution and clarity over the region, yet details were not sharpened; rather, the notes sounded more natural, although I believe the peak of the raised region sounded too thin. The bass had a quiet impact and presence, but it was still rich and warm.



FiiO M15S - When listening to the Canta with M15S, the response is clear and transparent, making it more expressive in the elevated region. The upper frequencies have a more detailed response, but they still lack sharpness and bite. The bass, on the other hand, sounds more authoritative and in better control than before.

Tracks​

Millet - Anytime Anywhere
DISH// - Plan A
Anri - I can’t stop the loneliness
Kohana Lam - A Few Sentimental
Kohana Lam - Loving Me, Loving You
Uru - Kimino Shiawasewo
Uru - Kamihitoe
Kujira Yumemi - Kenka
Majiko - Kokoronashi
Anly - Sukinishinayo
Kohama Lam - A Few Sentimental
Kohana Lam - Loving Me, Loving You
Kohona Lam - Kanshouaika
Miliyah - Kono Yumega Samerumade
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
Rokudenashi - The Flame Of Love
Yu-Peng Chen - A New Day with Hope
Yu-Peng Chen - Another Hopeful Tomorrow
Yu-Peng Chen - For Riddles, for Wonders
Valentino Khan - Satellite
Deathpact - NEMESIS
Kai Wachi - Happier By Now
Jawns - Erotica
ISOxo - how2fly
Kai Wachi - Happier By Now
Weeknd - Popular
YUNGBLUD - When We Die(Can We Still Get High)
Bring to Horizon - Kool-Aid
Middle Kids - Bend
FLETCHER - Leads Me On
Loathe - Aggressive Evolution
The Weeknd - Save Your Tears
Sigrid - Burning Bridges
AURORA - Black Water Lilies
AURORA - Runaway
X Ambassadors - Renegades
Lupe Fiasco - Words I Never Said
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Can’t Hold Us
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
Jay-Z - Run This Town
Lady Gaga - Poker Face
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Ladytron - Ghost
Travis - Love Will Come Through
LINKIN PARK - Somewhere I Belong
DJ Shadow - Six Days (Remix)
Hoobastank - The Reason
Ricky Martin - I Don’t Care
Tool - 7empest
Tool - Vicarious
A Flock Of Seagulls - Space Age Love Song
Zack Hemsey - Vengeance
Elton John - I’m Still Standing
The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin
Micheal Sembello - Maniac
Guns N’ Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine
A.R. Rahman - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

Finally, by releasing Canta, Kiwi Ears has embarked on a one-of-a-kind journey to change the way drivers are implemented. I believe they have accomplished what BA's implemented IEMs have been attempting to achieve, either by being patiently tuned or implementing various technologies that ultimately cost a lot of money to produce a great sounding IEM. As a result, even though I believe the tuning is still a little off from what I believe it will sound like with more research on the implementation of micro planars, I consider Canta to be a fantastic achiever and a great sounding pair of IEM. I believe that folks who loathe BA timbre or that sharp metallic timbre would absolutely adore these, so I wholeheartedly recommend them.

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Disclaimer:

• I don’t read FR graphs. I only use my ears, as earphones should be used.
• Linsoul sent this unit to me in an exchange for an honest, transparent review. Rest assured that this review will do its best to devoid from any bias/es as much as possible.
• The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
• No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
• Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

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Burn-in time: 4-8 hours per day, 5 days.

Source/s used:

• - Non-HiFi smartphone (Infinix Note 12 G96), PC.
• - Tanchjim Space DAC
• - Hidizs S9 Pro DAC
• - Aiwa XP-V710C CD Player (12 sec. EASS)
• - Sony Xperia X Compact
• - Local Files via Foobar, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

IEM/Earbud/Setup configuration: Stock Small Tri Clarion eartips, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 40-60% volume.

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Sound signature:

• The Kiwi Ears Canta reminded me of the previous generations of planar IEMs wherein they are tuned within the V-shaped sound signature that leans to the bassier side of the spectrum. The Kiwi Ears Canta falls into the same category, but is noticeably more refined in my humble opinion because the quantities of both ends are equal.

Lows:

• The Canta’s bass is elevated, but not too much despite resembling a similar sound profile when compared to the previous generation of planar IEMs. It is midbass-dominant most of the time, and is quick in attack and decay. The difference when compared to those earlier generations with planar drivers however, is that they sound dry and clinical in this region. The Kiwi Ears Canta is quite different in that regard, as its bass is “dynamic” to my ears, probably because of that dynamic driver. Bassheads at heart will probably want how the bass on this set sounds, but will be lacking to those who want their bass chunky and sloppy.

Mids:

• As for its mids, it is quite a mixed bag to my ears, in my opinion. While this doesn’t have any serious flaws, the mids is not a “present” as what I prefer, and does not reflect their marketing and its name. The name Canta means “vocal excellence” in italian, and it was said by them that this is “tuned to accentuate male and female vocals”, but the lower mids is a bit recessed to my taste. Don’t get me wrong, there are sets that are not forward in this region, but the mids on those sets are more present and vivid when compared to this set. The lower mids do have good thickness to it, making lower vocals a slightly thicker than usual. Upper mids are elevated, with a good amount of clarity, air, and sparkle. This region is also where the planar timbre starts to show, which means that those ears that are very sensitive to extra upper frequencies may want to take extra caution on their listening volumes, or may want to look for something else. This is one of those IEMs that are not tuned to be harsh or peaky, but exhibits the said quirks due to its driver configuration.

Treble:

• When it comes to its treble, the Canta has a decent amount of elevation and presence, nearly as equal to its bass elevation and presence. It is well extended and air, and still exhibits the said planar timbre. Detail retrieval is above average, but is quite average for a planar driver. Nuances and details are rendered well.

Soundstage, Imaging and Separation:

• As for its technical department, it is quite typical for a planar driver, in my humble opinion. The soundstage is not as wide as what I would prefer, but is far from being compressed or narrow. Separation is above average and does not suffer any congestion even when passages get busy, while the layering is average at best. Imaging is precise and is definitely more than enough for FPS gaming.

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Other IEM Comparisons!

Letshuoer S08

• The Letshuoer S08 is warmer, smoother, and thicker in sound when compared to the Kiwi Ears Canta. The S08’s mids are also noticeably better and well-presented as well when compared to the Canta.The S08 also exhibits less planar timbre when compared. Technical performance is more or less the same, except for the S08 being better in soundstage and layering. As for the bass however, the Canta is a bit more “fun” and “versatile” in this region.

Hidizs MP143

• Both sets nearly share the same fun, V-shaped sound profile, but the MP143 handles its mids well, in terms of detail and presence. Bass is definitely more versatile and “dynamic” on the Canta. The highs are more or less the same and exhibit the same amount of planar timbre. Soundstage is miles better on the MP143, even when not compared side-by-side. This also affects the layering. As for the separation and imaging, both sets exhibit excellent precision.

Letshouer S12, 7Hz Timeless

• On surface, one may say that it is unfair to compare the Kiwi Ears Canta to those IEMs since they are years apart, but I find them very similar in terms of the overall sound and quirks, as they both share the same V-shaped sound profile and technical performance. Their only difference is their bass response as the Kiwi Ears Canta is a more versatile , non-lacking bass response, and does not exhibit “dryness” that the S12 and Timeless had, to my liking, at least.

TangZu Zetian Wu

• The Zetian Wu in a nutshell is a thicker, warmer, smoother, less technically capable set when compared to the Kiwi Ears Canta.

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Pros:

• A “well-done”, fun sounding IEM!
• All-rounder, V-shaped sound profile.
• Elevated yet clean and well-controlled lows.
• Smooth mids.
• Non-fatiguing upper frequencies.
• Very good technical performance, particularly its separation and imaging.
• Very good fit, comfort, and isolation.
• Sleek, minimal build quality.
• Easy to drive! (quite surprising for a planar)

Cons:

• Mids are a bit recessed to my liking.
• Planar timbre is apparent.
• Soundstage is a bit intimate to my liking.
• Included cable could’ve been better for its asking price.
• The sound isn’t “new” or “unique” in today’s planar competition (highly subjective)

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The Kiwi Ears Canta sure is a very interesting IEM due to its unusual 1DD and 2 Planar IEM. This type of configuration isn’t something you see everyday. It gets more interesting that this IEM is very easy to drive for an IEM with a planar - it shares the same amount of volume with the IEMs I have/had, in 3.5SE termination. In a nutshell however, it is “decent for a planar” to my ears, at least. It doesn’t have any critical flaws which makes it a safe recommendation for a planar enthusiast, but it doesn’t have any strong characteristics and feats for it to be recommended by me as the first planar IEM, or an IEM in general, to look out for. As for the Kiwi Ears itself, I do see a pattern in their tuning and product decisions, based on their IEMs I have owned and reviewed. Most of their IEMs are “safe” recommendations in general and will perform well in most scenarios, but they’re definitely not the “go-to”, if that makes sense. Nevertheless, this is a good way to show what Kiwi Ears is capable of, in terms of their driver configuration decisions. This is quite fun, Kiwi Ears!

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Pairing recommendations:

• Source: The Kiwi Ears Canta is easy to drive, and performs well with warmer sources.
• Eartips: The eartips are more than enough for the most part, but you may still use your preferred eartips.
• Cable: The cable gets the job done, but may come across as “plain” and “thin” for its asking price. You may use your preferred cable.

Thank you for reading!

Non-affiliated link here:

https://www.linsoul.com/products/ki...GGaxYpMvbhjO_ELT3lurzzOv-zXPK7uMN-lJpv8hRtWLn

Additional Photos Here:

Kiwi Ears Canta
1 DD + 2 PLANAR HYBRID IEM

• Exceptional Hybrid Driver Configuration
• Vocal-Centric Tonality
• Professional-Grade Audio Reproduction
• Handcrafted Quality
• Custom Detachable Cable

$89.00 USD

https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-canta

Hi folks, welcome to another Redcarmoose Labs review. Today we are going to be discovering a new and exciting Vocal IEM from Kiwi ears. Here we find both a forward vocal clarity, yet along for the ride comes a huge stage placement. In fact this little $89.00 dollar didy goes surprisingly far to entertain. Here today we will battle the Kiwi ears Canta against the $109.00 priced Paiaudio PDM4.



Boxing:
In standard boxing matches people want to see a bloodbath, everyone except (of course) that 10 year old niece you have that wants no one to get hurt ever. So let the games begin…….ah…wait………..in a short while, I got you going though, yes?

Here is the deal. I chose these two opponents because really in my collection nothing is similar to them. That may be surprising since I have upwards of 200 IEMs on hand. But such is life, there are strange and different audio flowers to partake of, and the Canta is special. Though here is the thing…….contrary to my first impressions, I slapped the regular included cable and ear-tips onto the Kiwi ears Canta and powered it of my little HiBy R3 II Micro-DAP and found after 6 full-days of burn-in we had quite the addition of secret sauce here. So before this boxing match starts let's be polite and introduce the Canta for what she is. Yes, she is a girl, and this will be a boxing match between two females.



The Canta:
Why do I call her the female of the species? Probably due to the Pinna Gain (outer ear) area. In fact, different from Dads out there, the sound of your Mother’s voice is what the Pinna structure of the outside of the ear is best designed to amplify the tone of.

Regular over ear headphones use your personal outer ear to magnify the sound, so this boost is only pertinent to IEMs.

What that means is by design the Pinna Area of the ear focuses on amplifying the specific Pinna region out of all the other frequencies. So you could hear your Mother’s voice as a child…………….to get away from that cliff, or the sound of her voice piercing through the woods to find you and tell you lunch is ready? Whatever the reason, the Pinna area is also the most sensitive to energy variations of any small frequency band in our hearing. This is why the graph masturbaters focus so intensely on the Pinna Region of frequency replay. Even changes as much as a 1/2 a dB seem to be noticed and reported on. But more than that the Pinna presence has other effects on the total character of the IEM. Meaning the Pinna statement goes to somehow to lay the groundwork for how the bass and treble ultimately get understood. While sure if the bass is less than the Pinna area gets pushed-out and focused, and same with treble. More treble presence, less Pinna Gain will be noted, but more Pinna Gain and less treble will be noted.




Introducing the Canta:
But what about the Canta?
It's probably best to take an example of music to substantiate my ideas here.


Suldusk
Antheisis
Sphaera
96kHz - 24 bit

https://suldusk.bandcamp.com/track/sphaera

Now it may not surprise you that I chose a female vocal song to introduce my theories on Canta sound design. Yet this is not female singer songwriter stuff. Still holding partially true to 1970s singer songwriter sensibilities, you could be forgiven for first getting that idea. But upon closer inspection there is more.

With the evaporation of brick and mortar recording studios in 2024, and the fact that these vocals could be recorded at home in a well set-up bathroom..........means there is more opportunity to multitrack on a budget.

Recording music is now so cheap, musicians can spend unlimited amounts of time adding layers to their songs while at home in their underwear.

Meaning this is a chorus of singer Emily Highfields singing. But more than that there occurs a boatload of other small elements that quite frankly the Canta makes the very most of……..especially for her small asking price!

Sure, call me in love, but the Canta is truly unique in the world of IEMs. Why? Will maybe the two Planar drivers? I mean if you were to take note of 2024 driver introductions, probably the change-out of the BA driver to the Planar treble noise makers would be one of the single greatest “new things” for 2024? And the manufacturers are not stopping with this trend. Even the last review I did of the SIMGOT AUDIO EW300 uses a PZT and a Planar only for treble duties. That’s right the EW300 has a 10mm for bass and vocals, and a PZT and Planar for treble only.

So at this point you may be curious as to the size of the 2X Planar drivers, or are they given the same set of frequencies? Where is the crossover frequency point here? And I’m sorry I am not able to gift you such trinkets of information. But what I will do is go ahead and talk about this song and the beautiful expanse of vocals out in-front of me.


The Canta:
So the best way to describe this is that while yes, this sound is different from BAs in tone, it is arguable if this is really the better way to go? I say that because the Canta offers a truly huge image creation. Like these flat Planar Drivers are taking more energy to your ears, but that energy (while detailed) is smoother and softer yet sizable and exciting with the Canta. There is a point in reviews when you identify with what the manufactures were doing when they started their IEM mission. That identity comes from going “OH” that is where they were going, what they were trying to create, what they were trying to say here.

And that statement consists of a huge stage, and fast Planar transients that used to be only located in the Planar bass, quickness. But now technology has moved the frequency up into the mids and treble areas. Just the fact that these are vocal IEMs, and they do male and female vocals like nothing ever made at this price point.

This discovery makes me want to throw in one more IEM to kind-on understand what the Canta is doing.


In comes the qdc Anole V3:
See I can talk about this Planar tone, and we can shoot the Schiit about BAs v Planar, but the only way to truly know is to do backs to backs. And let me tell you, I love this comparison to truly showcase what Planar top-end is about. This V3 came out in 2018-2019 and you may be wondering why I’m using such an old IEM. Well for two reasons, one it was originally priced at $549.00 and two…it’s a 3 BA IEM.

The qdc Anole V3 Universal IEM:
This turns out to be the perfect way to describe to you how this technology has changed. Now the first thing to understand is the qdc brand has never made or will ever follow the Chinese way of marketing and making products like you find in the Discovery Thread. They just don’t, but what they do make is careful complete tunes that attract people to the industry. Take the Anole VX, there is a classic IEM that could be said is a timeless classic of BA sound. But how does this new Planar technology differ in tone and broadcast character from the BAs. Lets just say that BAs offer pin points of detail, and Planar drivers offer sheets of detail. That is how I hear these two differing. Where the Canta has softer and smoother, flat kind of tonal response, the other thing is even with just three BA drivers the Anole V3 moves forward to create small cymbal highlights out on their own into the stage, where the Planar keeps much of these details closer to home, the Planar still reaches a full and big sound with all the frequencies. It could be said this flat wall of Planar frequencies go and even come across as more filled in and cohesive.

OK, now that that’s over, back to the Canta
So now that you understand how this upper half is different from BAs, remember it doesn’t make BA drivers obsolete. Remember the Kiwi ears company is coming out this week with a $199.00 2X DD + 2BA KE4 IEM. But at least hopefully you understand where I’m coming from and can prepare for the PDM4 battle coming-up next. The Paiaudio PDM4 is a single DD plus 3 BA Hybrid. But to talk about the best part about the Canta is that there is a big bass.

Look at that bass graphically!
What that does is add to the foundation, so that this is really V shape with lots of vocal additives. As such we are never far from a decently sculpted but firm bass response, adding to kind of counteract the vocal energy at times. Fully separated bass takes place, but it is the upper midrange and the itemization they gather into the midrange stage, that this IEM is mostly about.

The peculiar part is that I keep trying to find music that will trip the Canta up, and I’m instead getting great results? Maybe the name means I CAN and not I CANT…A? In fact I became so inspired by the way the Canta did game soundtracks (the least of what you would guess) that I decided to throw a few more music reviews in showcasing simply the ability at hand.

So studying the graph we see too that the vocals even overpower the treble. That 8kHz is probably a coupler resonance artifact.

But to sum-up the Canta it is vocal centric, yet say that you wanted to listen to Death Metal or something…..lol. While you will always have a stout low end, the Planar upper notes are going to slightly hold Planar timbre with some music more than others. Meaning as an example with Death Metal the guitar will take on a slight sheen of this Planar tone…….to the point of nasal but not quite going there. Still drifting back to Suldusk there is none of that off timbre. In fact for music like the Spharea song really is some of the best overall vocal tone you can do for the money. Simply a big stage, offering really perfect guitar and vocals, the drums find themselves sounding natural and really exquisite out to the sides. Small musical artifacts they have put in like guitar string sliding sounds are fast and separated, clear and correctly placed. The orchestra here finds just that perfect separation into the placement of stage positioning. I tried a number of DAPs and even a few cables and the end results are really fairly consistent. What that means with a Vocal IEM is you are never really going into that heat zone, where the music becomes unlistenable or simply too much. Now sure I could bury the vocals by using a specialty cable which would work on the Pinna Gain area to lower it, but there would be no reason to use such a cable with the Canta. With 98% of cables and all DAPs I reached a wonderful balance to where vocals and instruments were projected out and always in the best of form.

Well roundedness:
In fact, super important is the fact that these abilities in Pinna Energy have an element of smoothness in allowing for lots of different music and equipment set-ups. Now this doesn't mean the Canta is perfect. When your tuning decides to walk to such forward areas of town where all the vocal ability lives, there is always a slight risk of getting into trouble with certain files, but as a whole we are fine and probably better than you expect to find.



The battle:
Kiwi ears Canta v Paiaudio PDM4:
The testing method here is my regular Sony WM1A with MrWalkman’s firmware, the SIMGOT AUDIO LC7 cable with 4.4mm Modular connection, and my regular Silicone wide-bore ear-tips.

The song used as an example of testing progress here and new found abilities.

Kaveh Cohen, Michael Nielsen
Forza Motorsport OST
Brotherhood
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
So the PDM4 shows a bigger stage as is expected. Yet in many ways the two are close to the same. Though where they differ is with bass force and mid bass authority, to where the Canta is hands down more bass, no questions asked. You may be wondering why I’m not choosing vocal music for side-by-sides? Well I really wanted to make sure that both IEMs in question did instrumentals well. And that’s the thing, this is an example of both having truly involving wide and wonderful filled-out midrange. Yet both examples of the IEM art here could be looked at as outsiders being that I’m not so sure every bear in the woods comes to the table asking for this extreme of a sound. The reason I say extreme is the vibrance and the contrasts here, the midrange size and expansion that only comes with great drivers making a midrange size thickness, but also both moving forward to let FR due to talking as far as the midrange energy that is required to move this style of information way out to the edges. Sure the PDM4 is holding more BA sparkles of finite creation, except the Planar IEM drivers here are also tuned very much the same way allowing more sheet-like information to be heard in exactly the same place. Really these two showcase how you can do close to the same tune, minus the bass increase in the Canta, and really are both winners, completely. To describe what is going on here with both IEMs is a forward positioning (an emphasis) on the piano of the song. And really that is what many of us are here for, to be inside the recording and closer-up than simply what speakers do. And the main thing about many 2024 IEM is really they have still covered all bases. Meaning even though the PDM4 shows less bass, due to the PDM4 10mm we are still gifted with a warm and rhythmic session, still holding the beat, and still moving forward with lower midrange information, just less a cleaner and tighter idea than what the Canta does.



Kiwi ears Canta v Paiaudio PDM4:
Round Two:
Now I have started to have my upper midrange suspicions, and sure enough when all is said and done the PDM4 is about 3dB more vibrant at 2.5kHz. This can be noted when looking at comparison graphs between these two. And even though there is more of a thicker (range of) peak to the Canta…….those extra smaller peak energies makes the PDM4 slightly brighter. Let’s see if that extra 3dB is noticeable in vocals……….


Suldusk
Antheisis
Sphaera
96kHz - 24 bit

https://suldusk.bandcamp.com/track/sphaera

Canta:
Once again the same music as used in the beginning of this test, as when something works, stay with it. Starting with the Canta once more we are truly in the center of this tune getting to the true nature of the artist’s intent. And what that transfers is emotion, but also simply a relaxing confirmation that all is well and all is sounding like it should. Where Death Metal guitars or even the forward guitars in female fronted Symphonic Metal will take on an air of off planar timbre. Yet here with this style of music we are about 97% perfect in timbre. While sure there may be a tinge of it here and there, but (we are) fine for the most part.

Yet the vocals are way out front and getting the job done, wait not just getting the job done, but working overtime to make the ultimate Vocal statement for the money.

At 04:18 (digital file time) the song has a major break. This break came as a challenge for the previously reviewed SIMGOT AUDIO EW300, so let's describe what’s going on here. This boost of intensity in the song comes-off as showcasing slightly more Planar energy, to where this whole phenomenon of Planar timbre is more like a dial. Where at times it is only 2 or 3 on the off Planar timbre dial, then it can travel upwards. Here I would say it is a 5, to where this whole album has mostly songs (and passages) that complement the Canta, though here it is the Planar drivers showing their presence. This is not a deal breaker, it may even be something that you skip over if not paying close attention, yet there nonetheless.

PDM4:
Here the PDM4 shows slightly louder at the same volume. Nozzles are a tad longer too, but both fit really great. Though here while the bass and lower midrange are fully adequate for the song, there is an additional focus of vocals as less sonic competition for your thoughts. And sure as mentioned earlier the BAs do their thing which is fast and critical (in a good way) transients attacks. Though while being thinner in overall density the Hybrid of the PDM4 gets us still those Hybrid contrasts and images. Maybe it is the dip you see it the graph where the Pinna Gain is, but even though brighter today the vocals seem to be setting back in comparison to the Canta. To where this almost contradicts my previous take on the two, I guess what I’m really perceiving has to do with the thickness of the Pinna Gain, that the Canta has slightly less detailed, but overall thicker vocal idea of this song. And of course the BAs do their extra push of treble items out to the limits of the stage width here. At 04:18 (digital file time) the song has a major break, happens again. Yet now we do hear a 1/14th taste of BA timbre, except I like it more, as it has none obviously of that actual Planar timbre going on. Yet with the PDM4 as well as the Canta, you really have to stick with more subtle styles of rock or jazz, easy listening maybe, as any songs with totally forward and bright distorted guitars can sound both unnatural and off-timbre I find. Yet contrary to what you would guess, an ad of intense EDM/Industrial Metal will sound great?





The conclusion of our ladies boxing match battle:
This was super fun to do, as what better way to spend the afternoon than listening to music and describing the effects of the outcome. Here with Angst we are met with great contrast from both IEMs. Now probably the first question is aren’t both IEMs not the IEMs for this job? Well sure with the PDM4 that bass is pushed back, yet with a 10mm driver it is definitely still there and rocking. What the draw is to this kind of music with these two IEMs is the spacial ability of the electronics and the fast imaging, and of course you get to hear all of what Till Lindemann’s voice is like front and center, no worry of (that) being ever buried in the mix. The Canta showcasing the same forward frequencies, yet also more bass, as would be guessed here. I mean here is the real conclusion, if your song has a dramatic extra bass going even lower in frequency and holding presence in the mix, those bass beats will start to climb forward and stand up and make the Canta way different than the PDM4 in bass regards.

Though to be fair the judge Redcarmoose Labs has proclaimed a tie for both fighters, the match is subsequently declared a draw.

Reason being it just depends if you want more Canta bass action or bigger PDM4 stage action, to where probably the best part of this match is they are both 2024 winners.


Build:
The Kiwi ears Canta seems familiar, like a faceplate shape we have seen golfing before, yet the shell is strangely detailed and understated both at the same time. Weighing only 5 grams we find a medium small creation with a full 5 axis CNC faceplate design with just enough surface lines to gain tactile response from. The rest is carved by 3D printing out of medical grade resin. We have flush 2Pins and air-vents both under the faceplate side and situated under the nozzle. Speaking of the nozzle, it shows a perfect length, for me anyway. Holding ear-tips on with a carved lip, and protecting the screen by having the screens slight set-back, as seen in the photos.



Package:
The package is basic Kiwi ears fashion. You get 9 pairs of quality ear-tips, a case and owners manual..........besides the IEM and cable.


The cable:
The cable is fine for everyday use. This style of cable has been given with Kiwi ears products for a long time. Now while. yes I do get benefits (from an aftermarket cable) from the Canta with a 4.4mm balanced connection, really if all you had was this simple cable and you hooked it to your phone you would be fine to learn about 80% of what the Canta offers. Get something like a HiBy R3 II for $179.00 and learn what that extra 95% is. So really I suggest to get a micro-DAP if truly portable was your end game. Of course an additional audiophile cable you can get later on, and the HiBy R3 II supports 4.4mm outputs too.


Conclusion:
I am going to talk about my starting point with the Canta. I’m going to go over what was first surprising after burn-in. You see, much of Head-Fi is elitist and very critical of small things…….and sure of course I have been very critical of small things pertaining to sound performance here in the review. But what about the other guy? What about the woman or man that truly doesn’t care about Head-Fi. The basic human that only scours Head-Fi on occasion. Sure maybe the use pattern here is to have a mini-DAP like the HiBy R3 II. And that person doesn’t have an aftermarket cable, simply doesn’t want to invest in any more than they have to. Joining the Canta to the HiBy R3 II (or almost 3.5mm from a regular phone ) with the included cable and ear-tips was a revelation of sorts for me. Why? Vocals silly!




Darkher
The Buried Storm
Immortals
44.1kHz - 16Bit
You see there comes a time in the reviewing process where you are listening and you stop for a second and say “OH”. It is these moments that stand out and finally make it into a review. Only difference here is that through tuning and what technicalities are provided this “OH” took place on the $179.00 entry level HiBy R3 II micro-DAP and the included 3.5mm cable. I mean isn’t that what all this Head-Fi research is about?

But “OK” to get critical (in a good way) of the Canta……it is her vocal presence that starts to take you away. That and any other additives in the frequency range in this song. The passages before the song gets going…….the background vocals, the simple strum of the acoustic guitar. The entrance of Jayn Maiven’s vocals sound both out front and clear yet not too much, even the small additives of singing that producers would use a vocal Pop Screen to decrease. Such vocals are near, in-front and gloriously sculpted, way more sculpted than the asking price would have you believe. Really don’t pass this one up, especially if you're into vocals.

$89.00
https://kiwiears.com/products/kiwi-ears-canta
https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-canta

Disclaimer:
The Kiwi ears Canta has had full 6 days of continuous burn-in.

Disclaimer:
I would like to thank Evelyn Zhou from Kiwi Ears for the Canta review sample.
I would like to thank Kaitlyn Wu of Linsoul for the shipment.

Disclaimer:
These are one person's ideas and concepts, your results may vary.

Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com/
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A267P2DT104U3C

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single ended
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single ended
Samsung Phone 3.5mm
HiBy R3 II DAP 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single ended
Apple MacBook Air 3.5mm output