Kiwi Ears Ellipse

Review Of The Kiwi Ears Ellipse​

Introduction​

After reviewing the Division, a recent release by Kiwi Ears, I was compelled to explore their other headphones. Kiwi Ears has been expanding and venturing into new segments since last December, and I’ve been following each release since then. Given how well the Division performed compared to other debuts from other companies, I’m confident that people will be pleasantly surprised by what Kiwi Ears has to offer.

Their latest release is an open-back headphone called the Ellipse, priced at $60. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on it for review, but before we delve into the details, I’d like to clarify a few points.

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 Headphones as “Ellipse.”
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Ellipse based on its performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.
*Please understand that all opinions expressed in this review are my personal perspective and are not intended to offend anyone’s beliefs or experiences. Therefore, I kindly request a respectful and thoughtful approach to this review, even if it differs from your viewpoint.

Specification​

Ellipse headphones, like the Division, feature a single dynamic driver on each side. However, they differ in their diaphragm. Ellipse uses a 50mm PU and PEK composite diaphragm in an open-back design. The entire body is black, with Kiwi Ears engraved horizontally in the center of the cup. The structure is likely made of lightweight aluminum alloy.

In terms of cup size, Ellipse resemble AKG K52, K72, and similar models. These cups cover the ears and provide ample space over them. Like the Division, Ellipse earpads are generic in appearance and feel. They’re made of decent quality foam and vegan leather and offer sufficient padding.

The headband offers ample padding, ensuring comfortable listening sessions for extended periods. However, after 3-4 hours, the clamp force becomes slightly uncomfortable, noticeable over the ears. Despite this, the headband itself didn’t cause any issues. Each end of the headband is covered with a plastic encasing to keep the padding in place.

The earcup design gives Ellipse headphones a retro-like appearance, reminiscent of the 70s and 80s. They also feature a 3.5mm jack on both sides of the earcups at the bottom.

Regarding adjustments, the headphones don’t swivel but have a ten-step adjuster to level and extend the length of the headband.

The headphones come in a cardboard box with a cable and a quarter-inch male to 3.5mm female adapter. The cable is basic and braided but reasonable for the price, black in color, and features a single 3.5mm termination plug and two other 3.5mm connectors on the other end of the cable. It behaves well, it is lightweight and doesn’t tangle easily.

Technically, Ellipse headphones have an impedance of 32 ohms and a sensitivity of 98dB, with a frequency response range of 20Hz to 20kHz.

Sound​

Having listened to most of their headphones, it seems that the Ellipse headphones are differently tuned. They lean towards a warm and balanced sound with great tonality and decent technicalities. Considering that these are first and open-back headphones, I believe Kiwi Ears did a great job tuning them. The reason for this is the price and the favorable sound. The tuning sounds somewhat safe, with a smooth and rich response rather than sounding sharp and detailed. To be honest, it reminds me a lot about the HD650 or HD6XX, which I have owned. There are hints of pronounced details, which make it less of a pure balanced sound, especially when it comes to how the treble is tuned. However, at the same time, it is impressive because the treble doesn’t come across lean or spiky, even though there is an instant rise and peak from 5kHz. All in all, the response is very lenient towards capturing the listener’s attention while producing a satisfying sound. Let’s delve deeper into the sound to find more about it.

Treble​

To be more specific, the response definitely brims with energy, bringing attention to details and forwardness to the mix. While there’s a good sense of air and space, the extension and airiness don’t resonate as much as I’d like. To be honest, the response sounds closer to the listener than any other open-back headphones I’ve tried, which doesn’t help produce a clear response but keeps the listener engaged. The upper treble is well-expressed, helping the instruments sound shimmery and chimey, making them sound more natural and captivating. More nuances are present effortlessly. The vocals, on the other hand, sound lean but controlled and complete. The lower treble resonates a good amount of energy, bringing everything forward, allowing the instruments to sound lively. However, the vocals are well-set back to sound better positioned, bringing a sense of better resolution and separation.

Listening to tracks like “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” by Blue Öyster Cult, the guitars, drums, and cymbals sound full of life and zesty, making the response sound detailed and fuller-sounding. When it comes to the vocals, they’re well-positioned and sound in the center, scaling well without overlapping the presence of the instruments. However, when listening to “The Seed” by AURORA, the vocals seem to have lost the magic and sound a bit dull, even though they come across forward. The instruments and the supporting vocals are very well-expressed, making the response sound complete, but it leaves me hanging on her vocals. Overall, the treble region is lively, smooth, and expressive.

Mid Range​

Now, let’s talk about the midrange. It’s nicely balanced, bringing good warmth and richness to the mix, but it lacks the spark. Even though the response isn’t well-presented on the graph, the vocals and instruments are nicely presented, creating a sense of space around the vocals that tricks the listener into believing they sound whole and holographic. The instruments sound well-separated and rounded, bringing a nice tonality that sounds natural.

However, the upper midrange pushes the vocals and instruments forward, but it sounds a bit dull, especially with female vocals and guitars. Even though there’s a nice note weight, the richness in the mix makes it sound a bit boring rather than catchy.

The lower midrange has good presence, allowing the vocals and instruments to sustain the note’s integrity and presence. The response has a warm and heavy response that doesn’t affect the note’s revelation, but it’s characteristics that I believe make the vocals sound dull.

When listening to the track “woh i nee” by Hitomi Takahashi, the response seemed a bit laid-back and smooth, which is unusual for the vocals of this track, which usually drip with liveliness. The upfront and catchy response became less energetic, but the instruments brought better details and exposure.

Similarly, when listening to tracks like “Cigarette” by Arika, it sounds nicely balanced but duller. The vocals hold good transience and forwardness, and the instruments bring good clarity in the higher frequencies, but the warmth kind of leads the response into sounding lush and a bit boring.

Overall, the presentation of the midrange is soothing, rich, but boring.

Bass​

When it comes to the bass, the Ellipse headphones deliver a warm, rich, and smooth response that’s soothing and satisfying. Unlike some headphones that produce a bloated sound, the Ellipse’s response doesn’t boom or feel congested. While it lacks the sub bass emphasis of some headphones, it still delivers a good amount of presence and punch. The bump from 80Hz to 250Hz provides that heft, warmth, and thump.

Another aspect I appreciate is that the sub bass doesn’t roll off. It doesn’t have much emphasis, so it doesn’t sound rumbling enough to sound articulated. Instead, it sounds detailed and textured enough that I can’t complain about it at the price Ellipse are offered at.

The mid bass has a good amount of presence and is the emphasized region. Guitars, drums, and any beat sound slamming and thumpy, but it doesn’t come across boomy. It does reflect some on cleaner-sounding tracks. For example, listening to “Shadow is the Light” by The Sixth Lie, the drums sound dynamic and fun, making the whole track exciting, especially the instrumental part.

Even though the bass is upfront and rich, it does a good job of decaying, which helps the response sound clean. The vocals or even the higher frequencies aren’t affected much.

Listening to Skrillex’s new album, particularly tracks like “Recovery” and “MORJA KAIJU VIP,” sounds clean, meaty, and thumping. The lack of sub bass does leave me wanting more, but Skrillex’s mastery of his tracks keeps it engaging and fun to listen to.

Overall, the bass region of the Ellipse headphones is rich, thumping, and satisfying.

Technical Performance​

Now, when it comes to the technical aspects, I’m not entirely sure which standard I should use to compare it with. However, I can say that these sound quite decent in terms of technicality, such as the speed of the notes and the separation between them, which is really impressive. Let’s delve deeper into this.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

When it comes to the stage, the open-back headphones are surprisingly close to my expectations. The listener would barely notice it crossing the headspace, but it does spread across the surrounding area. The width and depth are sufficient to create a spacious environment that enhances the instruments and vocals. On the other hand, the imaging delivers a clean response, although it lacks precision and sharpness. Overall, Ellipse performs well in this regard. The separation is good, allowing me to pinpoint the source of each note, even though the response is closer than most open-back headphones.

Speed & Resolution​

To be honest, as mentioned earlier, almost every aspect of the technicalities is decent, and the same goes for the resolution since the macro nuances are well-presented. However, I don’t expect the micro nuances to fully reveal themselves, and that’s exactly what happens. The attack and decay of the notes are surprisingly fast-paced, which results in a clean and uncluttered response.

Sound Impressions ​

Sources​

Sony WM1A + Aune X7S - Even though WM1A handled the Ellipse well, I still felt compelled to connect it to the dedicated AMP. When listening to this pairing, the Ellipse sounded significantly better in terms of space and air. The response was well-forward in the midrange, giving both the vocals and instruments more prominence in the mix. While the sparkle in the treble is subdued, it doesn’t disrupt the overall response. However, the midbass response feels somewhat subdued, as the thumps and slams aren’t particularly impactful. Nevertheless, the dynamics in the subbass do seem to have improved.



FiiO M15S - When listening to the M15S with Ellipse, the midrange response sounded more open and forward. However, the bass felt less wholesome and satisfying but was more controlled. The vocals, particularly in the midrange, sounded fuller and more forward, which enhanced the track’s presence. Additionally, the instruments sounded more shimmery and chimey, evoking the liveliness of the presentation.



iPod 5.5gen (RockBox) + Aune X7S - When listening to Ellipse paired with the 5.5gen, the perception of the entire response and the stage became slightly distorted. The Wolfson on the 5.5gen sounds as if the stage is positioned in front of the listener, which can make the vocals, which are positioned in the center of the response, appear slightly off. Additionally, the instruments sound closer to each other and the vocals, which contributes to a congested response. However, one particular region stands out as particularly potent and punchy: the bass region.



Tanchjim Stargate II - When listening to the Ellipse with the Stargate II, it had enough power to drive these headphones, but the power made the bass and the upper midrange sound a bit too close together. The bass sounded too boomy, and the upper midrange and lower treble contributed to the vocals sounding leaner than before, which gave that edgy and sharp presentation. However, the upper treble, which was already tamed, didn’t sound as presentable as before. As a result, the tuning felt a bit off.

Tracks​

Millet - Anytime Anywhere
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
Miliyah - Kono Yumega Samerumade
Rokudenashi - The Flame Of Love
Hitomi Takahashi - woh i nee
Arika - Cigerette
Yu-Peng Chen - A New Day with Hope
Yu-Peng Chen - Another Hopeful Tomorrow
Yu-Peng Chen - For Riddles, for Wonders
Skrillex - Recovery
Skrillex - MORJA KAIJU
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
AURORA - The Seed
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
THe Blue Öyster Cult - (Don’t Fear) The Reaper
Guns N’ Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine
A.R. Rahman - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

By any standards, I believe this is a pretty good open-back headphone. Kiwi Ears truly outdid themselves in tuning these. Honestly, these headphones would be an excellent choice for beginners who want to explore the world of open-back headphones. Kiwi Ears certainly delivered in this regard.

Now, let’s talk about the comparison. I’ve heard some AKGs that are open-back and have a response that’s quite different from what the Ellipse offers. To be precise, they deliver better clarity at the expense of tonality. In contrast, I find the Ellipse to have a more balanced sound, with a warm and smooth tone that’s also quite technical.

So, for beginners or those who are new to this hobby, these headphones are definitely worth considering. I highly recommend them.

The new Kiwi ears Ellipse Full-size 50mm Headphone
Redcarmoose Labs April 14th, 2025

Review summary:
After side-by-sides I came to the conclusion that in many ways the Kiwi ears Ellipse is actually the Thieaudio GHOST II. Yep, a subtle improvement of the early 2023 Thieaudio 40mm Sapphire Composite Dynamic Driver budget headphone.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/thieaudio-ghost-thread.967117/

The GHOST:
So in many ways this is exciting as many members totally related with what the original GHOST did, how it was made, how it fit.............and ultimately how it sounded. One Head-Fi member purchased 9 aftermarket pads to change the Ghost sound and fitment.

The Thieaudio GHOST:

• TYPE - Headphones
• DRIVERS - 40mm Sapphire Composite Dynamic Driver
• IMPEDANCE - 60 ohms
• SENSITIVITY - 91dB @ 1kHz
• FREQ. RESPONSE - 20Hz-20kHz
• CABLE TERMINATION - Interchangeable 3.5mm wire
• HEADPHONES CONNECTORS - Dual 3.5mm

The Kiwi ears Ellipse:
Driver Unit 50mm Dynamic Driver
Impedance 32 Ohm
Sensitivity 98dB +/-3dB
Frequency Response 20Hz to 20kHz
Plug 3.5mm with 6.3mm adapter
Cable Length 3m
Weight 273 grams



My ideas are that the company looked at the GHOST and made subtle changes which brought about a few improvements. The Ellipse is about 20% easier to drive than the GHOST, while both share the same tune pretty much, the Ellipse gains points for adding clarity and a slight forwardness. To where Kiwi ears made the cups out of 100% aluminum shells, the GHOST has both aluminum and plastic. Ellipse weighs 273 grams and the GHOST 269 grams. Sure the drivers are bigger in the Ellipse by a whole 10mm, but this PU and PEK Ellipse driver material may be slightly more responsive, that or there is less physical material for sound dampening (than the GHOST) at hand. I have not taken the Ellipse apart, as I don’t need to, I am focusing on the end results here………..the sound, build and fitment and overall character and how it goes with my music. In the end and after a few days of testing, the Ellipse generates a more uniform response than the GHOST, that while holding much of the same tune, comes across to me as slightly more detailed. Both headphones share the same evenness and balance, the same rolled-off highs and the same (slightly pushed) careful and reserved bass, yet warm overall tone.

Headphone Dampening Factor:
A big part of this review is to talk about full-size headphone dampening factor. How from a Bluetooth Dongle both headphones get loud, only with desktop power they gain an ounce or two of authority inside of added transient response, bigger stage/better imaging (which they need) and finally better lows………..from a more detail emitting and controlled diaphragm. And finally the Ellipse has the ability to differentiate between the tone of two different desktops. Such a headphone, while not perfect, still has its uses as a revealing monitor for daily mix-downs in a home studio, but beware…….being an open-back headphone means everyone can hear the music playing, even at medium volume levels. Then of course if you were simply looking for a well-made budget headphone which holds a warm balanced tune…….the Kiwi ears Ellipse is hard to beat.
End of review summary:

First impressions:
The Kiwi Ears Ellipse Full-size headphone:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/sony-ta-zh1es.22253/reviews
Going for it with the Flagship TOTL Sony $2199.00 desktop. As such the Kiwi ears Ellipse is up for the challenge. The Ellipse is open back, which means pretty much everyone knows what you're listening to, make no mistake. Yet what that offers the listener is a wide-open vista head stage. Such a head stage is offering greater imaging than expected, especially since I just did two ANC Kiwi ears headphones……the Ardor and the Aventus........with a little less. And………..at the sale price of $68.39 it is quite the deal.

$68.39
https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-ellipse

Where the bass is extra in presence but nothing that totally messes with the mids. The bass while reserved is ample and a little slow and lumbered, except I see here that Kiwi ears is also including the Kiwi ears tune here, unmistakably. What's included is a softer, smoother treble and a flat midrange that gives adequate detail (just enough) to both male and female vocals, yet not as detailed or as sculpted as higher priced full-size headphone offerings.

Yet this idea of a tune has that same idea where everything is included tonally and nothing is out of place. Call me a Kiwi ears fan-boy, but I relate with what this tune is accomplishing and wouldn’t have it any other way. Despite the slightly diminished pin-point details, this Ellipse is totally musical with simply the tune (which costs nothing to tune) bringing the Kiwi ears magic once more to the table. Also I have the TRIPOWIN GranVia aftermarket cable in route………on the way here.



In fact if you want (at no extra charge) you can even get the GranVia in 4Pin XLR if your desktop uses such a connection. Yet I’m getting it as shown in the picture with 3.5mm X 2 and 4.4mm. Later in my review I will compare this GrandVia aftermarket cable to the regular included Eclipse cable, as well as the two Sony included cables. Yet I have to say TRIPOWIN gives some cool options, of three colors, different lengths and an assortment of connectors for a few common headphones.



The Ellipse 50mm drivers are configured with both PU and PEK material to become both rigid and low-weight, then combined with a CCAW voice coil and N42 magnets. In fact the Ellipse weighs only 273 grams on my humble kitchen scale.......with no cables attached. See that’s the value, this is a low-weight headphone with extremely large drivers. As such we have metal braces which telescope and stay in place to hold the headphones on your head........the cups positioned in the perfect place. Honestly the build is nice and not cheap in any fashion, the sound brings way more musicality and technical ability than was found in the under $100.00 headphones market, even a few years ago. I also have the new SIMGOT AUDIO full-size….monitor, gaming and Hi/Fi headphone in route and will compare the two as an additional edit to this review.
End of first impressions:



Kiwi ears Full-size Headphones:
Kiwi ears are onto something and with the production supply chain and present day ample (build parts) economy of scale...........they are lowering the price to what you can buy standard headphones for, and even though making a lot of them, keeping the quality great. And………you have to ask yourself “are the regular China IEM makers now trying to bring budget offerings to the full-size headphone market?”

Are the technicalities with stage and itemization a little better than the recent wireless offerings, yes. But also I’m using a flagship amplifier to run this guy. Later in the full review I will talk about how they work with a regular DAP and dongle. The message here is that budget headphones (at least this one) are getting a boost in sound quality and build quality, and bring the Kiwi ears “reference” sound to the table which has a value which is priceless! IMO Really the Eclipse sounds the most like speakers in a room. Offering-up build quality and comfort, a balanced and natural sound made for all-day or all-night listening. While the open-back design is always projecting your music into the room, what arrives at your ears is smooth, balanced and effortless.



Now some time has passed from my first impressions, and just having a product around causes you to get more acquainted with it. The next amplifier I used was the 3.5mm output from a simple phone. Some may think this is drastic, and maybe it is, only I’m curious. While the TA-ZH1ES full-size desktop is great, it is a desktop and can’t go mobile. I mean really if the Ellipse is your only full-size headphone you may want to take it out and about. While phone use worked surprisingly well, I quickly changed to the ifi GO blue Bluetooth as a way to add extra volume abilities here.



To describe ifi GO blu Bluetooth Dongle, it showed a cleaner bass than a 3.5mm regular phone output which was almost reminiscent of the lumbering bass texture of the TA-ZH1ES. That the TA actually has this as a component of its sound, sounding thick and wonderfully note-weighted. This note-weight even goes down to the bass and adds a kind of slow release combining with the Ellipse big 50mm driver to add a kind of slight slowness. Now don’t take this added slowness and note-weight as a negative, it’s personality!

But the main problem from a phone or a low power device like the Go blu is we still don’t have all the damping factor to include all the bass potential in the Eclipse!

Dampening or Damping Factor:
This Dampening or Damping has been an audio concept I have contemplated for at least 20 years. That no matter how easy the headphone is to drive loud, we are witnessing dampening factors which change the authority of bass. Really for practical purposes the phone output tone is fine for casual listening, yet if a phone or a small Bluetooth amplifier was all you had, you should be aware that the Ellipse will scale with a more authoritative desktop to include both better transients (due to driver control) and sculpted deeper bass from most any desktop. Remember clarity of imaging is a direct result from transient ability, that this phenomenon goes on regardless of loudness obtained. Also this is not an on or off phenomena, but a wide variation of hearing many different amplifiers showcasing their driving ability and personal character at hand. And the magic here is that Kiwi ears have such a reference tune that it can come off as mostly midrange anyway. This means that even with less than perfect driving ability from your source that you still get the tuning value, you just are not rewarded with the whole bass amounts, or stage for that matter.

Dampening:
Here is the thing to summarize Dampening tone is simple:
Here using the Phone or ifi GO blu is the perfect example of wrong dampening factor. Now to be fair the GO blu is way better with IEMs. I mean it is possible to use the ifi GO blue with the Kiwi ear Ellipse out and about being fed LDAC Bluetooth from a phone file. Only the reduced Damping tone sounds like a more midrange idea without the deep sculpturing or even presence of bass, and there were compromised transients too, which diminish the stage clarity…………creating almost a wash of unseparated sound. This is even more noticeable with music which relies on bass leads to become an additive to the music. But most of all this lower midrange stage and sub-bass stage comes-off as thinner in tone. Really this dampening affects the entire signal, but is more noticeable in the lower realms. And due to imaging being a direct result of transients, items are simply less defined showing the need for a more powerful Dongle or Desktop.


Normally there is a 6.3mm adapter in the Ellipse box, but for whatever reason mine didn’t come with one? The 6.3mm adaptor would be used here to join the included cable with the Schiit Asgard.

In comes the Schiit Asgard One:
While I don’t really use this that much, it’s nice to have around. Coming in at $249.00 back in 2011 it was (and still is) a wonderful amplifier. Here we are really the opposite of Sony’s warmer ideas, as basically a Schiit neutral sound. And sure enough, often full-size headphones are a little more forgiving as to amp character. Meaning there is really no way to lose here, as the Ellipse smooths out the neutrality and comes up with a great detailed basic tone. I will come clean here, as I used both the Sony WM1A DAP and ifi GO blu as a prerequisite to my Schiit experience. The Sony WM1A DAP is clear and has more driving power (dampening) than the little Go blu, and of course more stage and control over our Ellipse 50mm diaphragm than the regular phone……..so sure if anyone just purchased the Kiwi ears Ellipse and needed an amp, I would say look at the Schiit examples of their characteristic neutrality first. Even a Schiit Asgard One, Two or Asgard Three on the second hand market would be a super cool way to go, and not cost too much either, I paid $100.00 for my Asgard One.

Still if you normally buy only new, they lowered the price to $199.00 with the Asgard Two and Asgard Three. You can even get the Asgard with a DAC inside!

This is not to say the little ifi GO blu is anything but great, it is just that if you were at home and wanted a desktop headphone experience, the damping factor really holds the ifi GO blu back from winning here. Of course get the GO blu any IEMs and invite a solid party to your ears. With that said though I actually enjoyed the GO blu so much with the Ellipse as a portable that I thought about going out into public with just the included cable and GO blu powering the Ellipse, as the combo got miles louder than a regular phone and was fun, but of course…………not maybe the full intended use of the GO blu.

So to reiterate on Dampening:
This is a phenomenon where the extra juice takes control of the headphone diaphragm. This ability of power allows faster start-up and stops (of the diaphragm) thus cleaner and faster transients, thus cleaner and clearer imaging. This is a separate phenomena than volume. Meaning you can have super loud amplifier volumes produced from a source, but fail still to get the transients and lower bass depth and imaging. This is especially noticeable with the Ellipse due to the reference sound which offers a very neutral yet slightly boosted bass. So to summarize this section, yes the Sony TA-ZH1ES was a little darker and enhanced the bass so that it was a little slower like a tube amplifier and the more reference idea was the Ellipse was the TA-ZH1ES acting as the DAC for the Schiit Asgard One amplifier.

The Sony WM1A DAP:
Here is kinda of dampening and tonal middle ground:
This is a positive way to get noticeable dampening over the GO blu as well as the phone, and still be portable to go outside, or good enough to enjoy the Ellipse while in a coffee shop, enabling a sound miles above a regular computer output. The Ellipse will scale with better amplification like the Schiit Asgard or TA-ZH1ES to really profoundly show you what you own in a great full-size headphone. But for portable use……….I received the TRIPOWIN GranVia aftermarket cable in 4.4mm grabbing more dampening power from the separate internal Sony 4.4mm DAP amplifier in comparison to the included 3.5mm Ellipse cable access. Yep, there is a two sided circuit board inside the WM1A allowing 3.5mm on one side and 4.4 mm more powerful amplification on the other.



Basic Sound Design:
These sound impressions are slightly different from my first impressions. And yes I’m continuing to use the Schiit Asgard One with the front-end source (as shown in TA picture) being the Sony WM1A DAP as the digital feed to the Sony TA-ZH1ES as a DAC. Crazy as I am, I'm using Virtual Dynamics directional Master Series RCA interconnects, just to make sure nothing is lost from the TA-ZH1ES to the Schiit Asgard One! Also I just wanted to say………..using the TA-ZH1ES I came to the realization that the Kiwi ears Ellipse is so high in transparency that it relayed the warmth and slightly buried the vocals, to where now using the Schiit Asgard I have proof of a more forward and clear vocal stance. Also the middle neutral idea of the Schiit is giving me (maybe) a more real idea of the headphone character. Also after a few days of burn-in the Ellipse has opened up and is providing a great expanded soundstage.

Ellipse tonal personality:
Bass:
Many of you reading may guess that this 50mm driver puts out more bass than a similarly tuned 40mm driver. When in reality compared to say the 40mm driver in the Thieaudio GHOST full-size headphone there is a slight stage position feeling of the imaging being actually clearer and slightly more up-front. Plus somehow the bigger 50mm is more responsive to power and sounds about 20% louder than the GHOST at the same volume. So any thoughts of sounding bass laden or murky can be dismissed. But more than that the Ellipse holds the reference tune never allowing the bass to overpower the signature. That after burn-in and spending days with the Ellipse the idea of bass balance becomes thought of as just right. A faster idea than you would expect, again allowing more mids to always take over the show. As such I would call the bass reserved still and due to that sonic level......holds medium detail, as it is slightly farther back. Such cleanness gives way to the perspective once in a while of tight subs too. Just enough oomph.

Mids:
If you have been paying attention (so far), really the Ellipse is about mids, as 80% of our music is really mids anyway. But we bypass much of the tuning issues with this safe tune. Meaning no worries of too much treble, and never ever a worry of the bass disrupting the overall tone. You can kind of picture Kiwi ears arriving at this tune then testing it beforehand and arriving at the idea that this style of tune will make most people happy. This basically means the Ellipse is never drastic, yet holds enough vivid details to allow for all-day or all-night listening sessions. The wild thing too is this tune seems to hold the same composure with low or loud listening levels? It should be noted that really the farthest imaging of displacement is into the mid band frequencies. And this actually comes off sounding right. Meaning there is extra reach of images flowing outwards in the mids especially.

Treble:
As far as a headphone to satisfy bass heads or treble heads the Ellipse is not. It could be said this is a mid head experience. With that said there is still a way that the bright treble flourishes of acoustic guitar get smoothed out and placed in the mid imaging. So almost unnoticeably the treble gets smoothed out, but the information is still there with most probably never asking for more, just be alerted that this again is a more homogeneous and easy going way to take your treble vitamins. While easy going in tone, the Ellipse is maybe slightly too easy going at times. Meaning the Ellipse strong points are also its weakness. That no, we don’t have as much contrast to bass to treble to midrange as some other headphones. Due to this extra homogenous tone, we also don’t have a big stage showing extra treble air, as it is more of a dull and warm statement.

With that said (about the treble) take the explanation of technicalities to heart.

Technicalities:
Technicalities are connected to tone in that a slightly extended treble has the opportunity to sculpt treble music ideas like recorded cymbals somewhat out front and realized. Same as the bass extreme here, that added bass headphones just by their nature can allow for that extra bass energy to both delineate and hold relief through contrasts in creation……to make a clearer bass. So the Ellipse tune holds these sounds slightly back. So what comes forward is the mids.

Even the technicalities are mid-focused:
That said, the best technicalities offered here are what can be found in mid-focus. Though there can be said the levels of bass make for a window into bass visibility to a point. Same as extra listening fatigue free treble tone for hours, as there is nothing to ever be offended by. With that said this headphone with its neutered charisma, never excels at any one thing, always bordering on boring and lackluster, but you get what you pay for here.................... as the Ellipse is not forward on vocals, and not showcasing the vocals as much as some other headphones. Where the vocals are not too far back, just not emphasized like you think you would find with a mid-centered set.

And even with the best equipment in the front feeding the Ellipse, there is still a level of congestion and loss of vitality that is simply the end result of the tune trying to please everyone. Yet at the same time a new section of song starts and the imaging (of mids) takes over and fully demonstrates how there is a place in the world for the Ellipse to exist and prosper. And the fact that it is open back is the saving grace here, making the stage a medium example of a full-open-back, just remember everyone in the room can pretty much hear what song you’re playing. There is always correct tone too with timbre and decays seemingly exactly on-point to become of the real final two values here, and possibly the number one goals of the design. This clean fall-off of notes holding correct note-weight and real sounding timbre.

Music:
It has occurred to me that actual music descriptions could be the only way to explain my sincere love for the Ellipse, as how else can I really explain what I’m hearing. Typically this is with the included cable, the Schiit Asgard One Amplifier with the TA-ZH1ES as the DAC with the Virtual Dynamics Master Series interconnect being used. Though for starters, I’m just using the TA as an amp.


Hans Zimmer & Junkie XL
Batman v Superman OST
New Rules
96kHz - 24bit
Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.

Using the TA-ZH1ES/WM1A combo here, to be taken back by just how good these opener tones can be. Brought together at 00:13 is both a cello and synthesizer. Except those are the quiet before the storm and we know this. At early 00:19 the kettle drums (Timpani) hit and that while the stage is not the very biggest in headphone land the forward and back make it seem ample and never have us wish for more. The thing is with these kettle drums is they do hold the ambient reverb of the stage, this live event of the song and the giant soundstage it was recorded on. There is a slight change when the right side and left side images reach the ears, much like life showing reflections.

First the center kettle drum hits, then there are timing differences from echoing sounds reflecting off the stage. All the while the Ellipse is showing us this in a deep yet clear way. Remember it is the desktop amplifier that is creating these better images and transients in image sound sculpture, and the Ellipse is doing what it is told.

Typically I have used this song to test the bass of IEMs, as at 01:38 we have the drop. but here we are also testing the dramatic introduction of music themes. Interesting as it is not quite as separated as in some IEMs, yet there definitely is a way that the drop is heard apart from the three other musical instrument events going on. I mean the Ellipse goes there, and its personality is showing the size of this musical event as well as the contrasts involved. I also realize that there is a completeness here with this ability. At the 02:07 mark we have some reverse sounding synthesizer adds…………..like a buzzing, at 02:13 there are high-up treble items which are floating and well separated in the mix. I remember this from prior listens and some treble IEMs will showcase a more contrasty and a more clear idea of these effects, but here we are happy as at least the slightly rolled off treble is still technically representing the sounds, and if this was the first time you heard this with the Ellipse, you would not question the sound as ever being more. At 02:20 the buzzes get bigger and even more separated and clear………..this is leading up to something. At 02:27 there is thunder heard, and what sounds like sheets of metal being struck in the recording soundstage avenue.

The perfect part is the contrasts and separations here, the fact that the whole stage is populated with this event. At 03:14 the big climax takes place, and sure there was a lead-up of sonic fireworks, and just like that………the Ellipse never makes you feel like you're missing out on anything, just musical drama here, far above the asking price.


Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.

DCD
Anastasis
Agape
44.1kHz - 24bit
Here is a song I don’t use that much, but I chose it somehow? Normally I normally choose other songs from this album, but to tell you the truth this whole album is money, as far as being really well recorded and making most IEMs and headphones sound wonderful. Here the Schiit Asgard is just slightly thinner, also showcasing a slight treble boost that in fact makes vocals a little more forward. Probably most of this is due to the TA-ZH1ES having a thicker low-end which changes the overall balance. Though I have to say the Ellipse never goes into the strident zone, or even near it. Where the magic is this nice wide and thick front to center stage…….at 01:47 the Chinese hammer dulcimer called the Yangqin shows just how large this soundstage can be. Though after about 5 back and forth moments between the Schiit Asgard and the TA-ZH1ES, I’m starting to understand where the extra finesse is in the Sony. To where the stage between these amplifiers are different and even though with the TA-ZH1ES being the DAC for the Schiit, with the Sony WM1A as the file server, the two amplifiers are really almost opposite here.

The best part is this little $68.39 Kiwi ears Ellipse is able to discern the differences in amplifiers fully………and I love that. Probably this same way of showing the tone of amplifier character would be important in the studio as a reference monitor. Where you could mix all day and hear just enough detail, but never get your ears fatigued.

Were the Schiit should get some accolades as I don’t remember the Asgard stage as ever so big? But that’s the thing, the TA-ZH1ES is still more detailed and natural here. To back-up a bit co-vocalist Lisa Gerrard singing comes in at 01:03 and shows a slightly thinner stance with the Asgard, yet more forward. The TA-ZH1ES comes off both less of itemized, of separated events and more cohesive, which is truly more real, even though a little less dramatic. In headphones and IEMs often we brag about the distance between instruments, only the Asgard, at almost 9 times less money, is doing the stage well, but leaving out the inside details. Really this quality the Asgard does is still remarkable for the price and put Schiit Audio on the proverbial Head- Fi map back in 2011. It is just what takes the cake with the Ellipse and the TA-ZH1ES is at 00:21 when the drums start-in this holding of extra note-weight is truly the money here. And of course it would be the little things that after 10 back and forth (amp change) movements show that while slightly darker and denser, the TA is really my choice with the Ellipse…….to where the great part is I can guarantee you, whatever the tone of your Amplifier the Ellipse due to the reference tone will pretty much go along for the party………we are so lucky in 2025! I mean how do you describe balance, well the instruments and vocals here always sound correct and not off, holding good timbre, note-weight and decays.

If someone never heard the TA-ZH1ES and Ellipse combo, they would still think the Schiit Asgard One and Ellipse were the cats meow! That while kind-of tree-topping here, the Schiit still gets the vibe of the song, and most importantly gets us bass from damping factors.

Mid-music tests side-by-sides:

Thieaudio GHOST v Kiwi ears Ellipse:
At this moment I became curious about the Thieaudio GHOST. Now here right in the middle of song testing I simply switched input cables as the cables are really the same. The GHOST is $129.00 and has the overall same Ellipse tune. Both are open back, both same ideas of set-back treble and warm added bass, but refined. Yet the interesting thing is the more I listen to the two the more I start to pick-up on even more differences. Where sure the Ellipse is about 15%- 20% more efficient, and even holding a slightly crisper display, a less cluttered and slightly more forward idea once volumes are equalized. At first I thought they were almost equal in ability, but in no way is the 40mm driver of the GHOST faster, or the 50mm driver of the Ellipse ever slower, or really lumbering like I thought in my first impressions? In fact I will end these side-by-sides and say the Ellipse may be the better headphone? Just on the ability of clearness and slightly more forwardness in presentation........plus 20% easier to drive!

If you were reading the forums when the GHOST was released it was and still is a respected and cherished headphone. Mainly for getting so many things right, like the smooth and balanced tune, the fact that there are no noticeable peaks or valleys to the response. Really this nice balance of technicalities and naturalness go a long way. And much like the Ellipse the two headphones share the same overall feeling. This personality never tries too hard to be something it is not, rather going along with the program and becoming a value sound wise. And when you think you’re getting a slightly better built Ellipse at a fraction of the GHOST’s original cost.

Truly I couldn’t have picked better music and a better DAC/amplifier to make both headphones shine. The outcome shows surprisingly small differences, and I would probably not get the Ellipse if you already had the GHOST on hand. Though there are differences, and I can’t ignore the pleasant feeling of the GHOST headphone on my head, even if it did take second place against the Ellipse.

Build GHOST V Kiwi ears Ellipse:
I noted the GHOST was 269 grams, it is lighter than the Ellipse at 273 grams. Part of this may be due to the shell parameter made of metal where the same parts of the GHOST are plastic. Then the steel cup holders have actual ratcheting indentations on the Ellipse as seen here in the picture and the GHOST while still working fine does not. The GHOST has velour pads with a slight outer perimeter of vegan leather, where the Ellipse is 100% vegan leather.


Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.

E-Mantra
Viziuni Nocturne
Ninive Under The Stars (Night Hex Remix)
44.1kHz - 16bit
So this song is really important as such we are looking to see if the Ellipse has enough bass drama to move this number along. I will be honest with you, I needed to move the output down to the TA-ZH1ES output. Why? Well here we are gliding into a lower realm of added bass action from the TA-ZH1ES. Yep, here we are finding the exact reason I call the Schiit Asgard more neutral and the TA-ZH1ES more V-shaped or thick in the lower extremities. This extra low ability can be a double edge sword in that at times the Ellipse vocals are slightly subdued, and not as forward. Since this is an instrumental song, and an EDM song, we really want what the TA-ZH1ES can do…….to add bass, and a warm dynamic to the song. Now I have to ask myself if this is totally correct, as the replay finds itself with way less bass than what is regularly found with both the Sony MDR-Z7 past flagship and the current flagship the $2299.99 Sony TOTL MDR-Z1R? Now sure the Ellipse is not offering the completeness of the MDR-Z1R, nor the stage. But still I find myself gravitating towards this cleaner and faster signature. And sure in many ways these two headphones are not comparable, and that my dear readers is why there is not a direct Sony comparison section to this review. But I will say of the Head-Fi members that own both the MDR-Z1R and the IEM equivalent; the IER-Z1R…….they say that the IEM has more bass impact, and I agree 100% with that statement. Here is more of a reserved bass, a faster and cleaner bass that is really the opposite of what the MDR-Z1R does. Yet, I can listen to this and better than (just listen) I can enjoy this sonic statement.

Now this is EDM, only Kiwi ears markets this (in places) as a Monitor/DJ headphone? Where sure the beat is low enough (and clear enough) to be heard and is fun, except there is no way to use this headphone to beat match other than to place one cup on your forehead to listen to the room beat as the mix comes through. And I have never mixed like this, but I guess it works fine. Just note that typically DJ headphones are more like the Kiwi ears Aventus in that the cup even reverses or moves off your ear and to land behind your ear, if you want to hear the DJ monitor or room signal. There are actually many ways to beat-match and get the song levels right, even while having both cups on ear. Though the standard way is to remove one side of the cups to hear the room mix and/or DJ speaker monitor, with the other music channel pumped through the cup on-ear. The issue with the Ellipse is that it doesn’t rest well behind my ear and sit. So what I found that works perfectly is to place the one cup on my forehead.

To try and describe this tone with EDM, it is more balanced and even more midrange focused than what you might expect. What this does in real life is makes the music more enhanced into the midrange, becoming faster paced and removing any of those regular murky bass notes. Now many of us that have been around the block a few times will think that this means sterile and boring. And that my readers is the very point of this whole review, that somehow Kiwi ears are on a mission to bring this slightly warmer idea to market. That this tune is so well done that we can enjoy EDM like the Ellipse was made for it. Keep in mind though I made it one step better by finding a slightly warmer source.

IEMs v Full-size:
Just realise that at the end-of-the-day IEMs probably provide the average listener a better sound quality per dollar spent than full-size headphones. And the dramatic improvement since around 2016 has reinforced this idea many more times. It is just that some don't like the feeling of IEMs in their ears.......and full-size headphones provide a different stage with the ability to take one cup off quickly to make conversation for a moment. Plus there is truly a relaxing thing that full-size feel like, less intrusive and less intense of replay.

The Kiwi ears headphone line:
This concludes a series of three different full-size headphone reviews I have done for Kiwi ears. I’ve just finished the ANC Ardor, and ANC Aventus and this Ellipse. Though what happened over the course of a month was I started to compare the Kiwi ears headphones to other new headphones I would see at the mall. Now remember these are your regular brands like JVC and Audio-Technica. After doing the rounds I found the Kiwi ears line is simply bigger and more substantial than similarly priced headphones. This “size” value is actually hard to show on-line at Head-Fi, except through pictures of the headphones without buying these consumer headphones I don’t really want in the end. If you were to see the Kiwi ears headphones in a shop, they are simply larger and of a more substantial size than similarly priced counterparts.

Where (many of the other) guys are simply on-ear, the Kiwi ears are enveloping your ears, the sound is (if I can generalize here) simply both bigger, more authoritative and balanced. The Kiwi ears Ellipse not offering that bass wash that is so disruptive to the rest of the frequencies with bass heavy consumer tunes.

In comes an aftermarket cable in 4.4mm balanced:



The TRIPOWIN GranVia aftermarket cable:
Here were a few surprises and unexpected changes adding the GranVia. First off I really came to the realization that the included cable is practical for home use but long at 3 meters, that’s almost 10 feet long. The TRIPOWIN GranVia can be purchased at just 1.5 meters in length. For many this roughly 5 foot cable will fit the bill in both home use and in public places compared to the almost 10 foot included cable. A full TRIPOWIN GranVia review is coming, but to summarize the sound, the GranVia is warmer than the included cable. In fact switching over to the Sony MDR-Z7 and flagship MDR-Z1R and switching their included cable for the TRIPOWIN GranVia confirmed my suspicions. This opinion is simply that the GranVia supplies a smoother idea than both the included 3.5mm cable as well as the Sony included cables in use with the Eclipse and MDR-Z1R and MDR-Z7. Now none of this was bad as there is a positive range in smoothness that while probably noticing a smoothing the most in the upper treble region, it was all good here. Meaning the Sony TA is one of the most dark amplifiers on the market, and the TRIPOWIN GranVia was still enjoyable and clear, just not as bright as the included cable. These warmer golden tones seemed to add even note-weight, that while different was not necessarily a negative. Besides the Sony included headphone cables I wanted to do side-by-sides with the flagship $374.03 MUC-B20SB1 aftermarket cable with the Eclipse. For whatever reason the Ellipse and 3.5mm connectors didn’t let the signal through. I know it was connected as I could hear grounding hum when created to the right and left Ellipse cups, but no signal. Though I did side-by-sides with the MUC-B20SB1 and the TRIPOWIN GranVia with the MDR-Z1R and MDR-Z7. The results were the MUC-B20SB1 had an increase in detail holding the effect of the included Sony cables treble, and the warmth of the TRIPOWIN GranVia in use. So of course the MUC-B20SB1 was best. Yet with a more midrange emphasis signal like the brighter WM1A DAP in use the TRIPOWIN GranVia aftermarket cable was really the bees knees, gaining both a more balanced tone over the Eclipse included cable and accessing the more powerful 4.4mm amplifier inside the DAP for total win.


Included cable above:
GranVia below!

Note the physical differences between the included cable and the GranVia, not to mention we now have 4.4mm balanced connectivity.



In use with the Sony MDR Z1R above.

In use with the Sony MDR-Z7 above.

TRIPOWIN GranVia aftermarket cable:
Hilariously I read a few reviews about the TRIPOWIN GranVia aftermarket cable on Amazon. One said the GranVia was expensive, which totally makes sense here, being that the GranVia is normally $49.00, which is close in a way to the whole Ellipse headphone. Yet the GranVia and Ellipse really seemed to go together, have the feel of the cable and look really match, not to mention the subtle GranVia character which had almost zero microphonics. Sure price is subjective!

Another review said that the GranVia WAS microphonic, which it really is not, I mean it may have been a troll comment, as look at it………..how in the possible world can this cable be microphonic? Jeez. The only downside is the plugs for the right and left plugs are not color coded or even specified. My solution, if you look closely at the pictures, was to place a small piece of clear tape on the left side.



Conclusion:
I don’t really get many full-size headphones in for review, this is due to my personal focus more on IEMs. Yet I have a few full-size to compare, yet also I still want to be included with how the industry changes……….meaning IEMs have improved dramatically since 2016. What if the full-size headphone market was trailing along too, I wouldn’t want to miss that. And with a single review I can honestly say the Ellipse is a very expensive feeling headphone, that you can pick-up for as little as $68.39…….maybe even a little less at sale times. And after starting this review and getting to know the Ellipse inside and out, the cost to sound ratio is nothing short of a miracle. Yep, it really is. Don’t believe me, buy a pair and see for yourself. As far as fitment the feeling of the Ellipse is super comfortable with the cup's click-lock mechanism holding the cup positioning from the last time you used the Ellipse. The clamping force is just right, holding the medium size pads close to your head, but not over doing it. Probably all this comfort comes down to weight as 273 grams gives you and the designers freedom in both design and end-use. As far as fit-and-finish……………while there is a multitude of build materials present, each has a very close idea of flat black color. There are two small holes (a-top of the cups) above where the cup holding bolts go in. These are the front driver vents to complete the giant silver screen making up the outer surface of the cups.

Oh gosh, those Cup mounting 7 pointed star bolts, are sexy as heck. Sorry, I get excited by small build details, especially if they are noticeable. Why am I talking about construction in the headphone conclusion section? Because of the $68.39 price, which may have you guess they cut corners on the build here. When in reality the Ellipse is the very apex of design and build ideas. I know this sounds corny, but I can’t fathom anyway they could have made this headphone better, or stronger. The Ellipse does not rattle and stays totally silent when you shake it. Being marketed as a Monitor, and Hi/Fi Headphone…………the sound is still slightly on the warm side, which adds to the extended listening times. Adding the TRIPOWIN GranVia actually adds to this smoothness over the included cable and adds ergonomics too. But the Ellipse is so middle friendly in tone, you can play with most sources and cables and still come up with a detailed/interesting and still accessible tone.


Click-stops!

Winning-out:
Interestingly the Kiwi ears Ellipse outdid the Thieaudio GHOST in build and sound quality, yet at the same time you could tell the two headphones were designed with the same sound goals in mind. Now remember Kiwi ears and Thieaudio are basically the same company, so this is an example of a company bringing a better headphone to market with a slightly better driver and build at a fraction of the cost. When you truly study the sound and build quality to cost ratio…….things become surrealistic. This value seems impossible, but these are the times we live in.

Ellipse headphone $68.39
https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-ellipse

GranVia cable $49.00
https://www.linsoul.com/products/tripowin-granvia

Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Linsoul/page/FE950F91-E513-4749-B3ED-D1482BA9DD15

Disclaimer:
The Kiwi ears Ellipse full-size headphone has had a total of 5 days of burn-in.

Disclaimer:
I want to thank Kaitlyn of Linsoul for the Kiwi ears Ellipse Headphone and GranVia cable review samples.

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

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman’s Firmware 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman’s Firmware 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
Samsung Phone 3.5mm
HiBy R3 II DAP 3.5mm
Schiit Asgard 6.3mm
TRIPOWIN GranVia cable in 4.4mm balanced

Today I have Kiwi ears Ellipse for review.
I'll be keeping this review short. This review was possible thanks to the Kiwi ears themselves. They've agreed to send the product for review.

Ellipse is the second headphone entry from Kiwi ears and it's priced at now 75 dollars. İt cost 60 bucks before.

Anyway built wise well let's say.. it needs further modifications.
The earcups are made out of metal. They feel robust ,VERY assuring. And it's really funny because the headband design is kinda exact opposite.
İt's a comfortable but loosely put together headband that dislocate with the small amount of force to the yokes.

This design is not strong enough to withstand the stresses of a work environment. These are marketed as DJ headphones and I doubt people would appreciate this loose design.

It just needs better connection between the yokes and the headband itself.
Other than this I honestly don't have any major issues with the design.

Sound.
Ellipse has a pretty colored sound signature and I personally don’t hate it but also don't know how to classify it.
To give you my experiences with it.
To me these headphones sound very warm, cozy and a little bit boxy depending on the frequency range.

Bass is rather pillowy, not necessarily bad but not particularly clear either. Drums and other percussions sound kinda muffled but the woodwinds, guitar and piano sounds nice.

Midrange is rather murky. Vocals ln particular sound distant and fuzzy. Lacking in definition and clarity. Again not terrible but I don't know if I'd listen this more than I had to.
Treble is surprisingly great. There's a sense of clarity in this frequency range and I think it's the main reason why Ellipse sounds better than it should.
While bass is rather muddy, mids are scooped treble is surprisingly present and natural.

And here's the frequency response graph from earphonesarchive.squig.link

As you can see the Bass is although kinda muddy still very deep. This is surprising considering that this is a dynamic driver headphone.
Mids are like I've said rather pulled back. Lack of presence in 2 to 4k region is the reason why this headphone sounds lacking in any detail.
And the treble like I heard is good, excellent even.
But the overall sound is lacking in any directionality and imaging. The midrange scoop just ruins the tonality. And this headphone doesn't like eq for some reason, I've tried to fix it and the result was rather half baked...

And now for the verdict; would I recommend these?
No. I don't think Ellipse is worth for it's asking price.
If you're looking for a cheap headphone there are better options that came out DECADES ago.
But I also don't think this is a bad product or a bad attempt either.
I see this as an alpha version of a proper offer from Kiwi ears.
If they experiment with different earpads even if not drivers I think they can offer a far better product at this price range and push the industry forward.
Like I've said we've had great sounding headphones in this range for decades and their base design is not really far off from Ellipse.
Do you want a cheap but good sounding headphone? Get the Koss KSC75, full size headphone? Sony has some old offers in CD and MDR line up but that said you need to mod these to get a decent sound.
And if you want a good sound from Kiwi ears brand itself well, their Cadenza is a great option, not the cheapest because well moondrop chu and 7hz zero exists but still Cadenza is a great set.

And Kiwi Ears.
I like what I'm seeing here. You're trying to cover more of the audio gear market with alternative offers.
It's always nice to see more options and I just can't wait to see your Quintet equivalent offer in headphone market but the Ellipse is not it.
I believe with more experiment you guys can achieve the success in this segment. I'm looking forward for your next offer.

An extremely solid 2nd headphone from Kiwi Ears​

The Kiwi Ears Ellipse is an exciting 2nd headphone in the new Kiwi Ears headphone lineup after the recent Division headphone, marking their continued foray into over-ear headphones after their success with IEMs like the Orchestra Lite and KE4. The Ellipse is positioned as a “Studio-Grade Dynamic Driver Headphone” with an open-back design and a custom 50mm dynamic driver and promises to be an exceptional headphone for the price.

So, does it live up to this promise? I would say yes especially if you like to experiment with Pad swapping which I will demonstrate later in this review. But even without Pad swapping there is still a lot to like with the Ellipse, while it does have a few quirks, overall I feel it provides excellent value at its price.

But let’s get into the details

Unboxing​

The Kiwi Ears Ellipse comes in simple but practical packaging, here is the front of the box:

And the back is fairly unremarkable:



Opening the box you see that the headphones are well protected within the box:



So, this is everything included in the box:

• Kiwi Ears Ellipse Headphones
• 3.5mm detachable cable
• 6.5mm adapter
• Quick start guide

The packaging is clean and minimal but effective, reflecting the price point of the headphones.
But, lets get the key aspects of the ellipse how comfortable is it and how does it sound.

Design, Build Quality, and Comfort​

In summary, the Ellipse is a step forward from the Division as far as build quality, while it still feels slightly ‘generic’ the material used and the earpads are definitely better than you should expect in this price range:

I do like the design of the earcups though the Kiwi Ears logo is maybe a little too prominent:

Build Quality​

The Ellipse features an open-back design with lightweight construction (280g), making it easy to wear for extended listening sessions.

The earpads are well crafted with durable plastic, while the vegan-leather headband and plush earpads add some comfort, but as you will see I did ultimately swap earpads.

Removing the earpads reveals some tuning material covering the driver:



And some vents holes on the earpads:



Both these aspect of the design shows a decent effort was made to tune the headphones.

The overall comfort of the stock earpads is pretty good and definitely better for me than the Division:

The detachable cable is functional but nothing exceptional. Fortunately, the standard 3.5mm connectors allow for easy replacement or upgrading:

Comfort​

The vegan-leather earpads are soft and plush, providing good comfort for long listening sessions. Unlike the earpads on the Division, I found the stock earpads on the Ellipse are large and very well-designed and don’t require for me an immediate replacement.

The lightweight design and well-padded headband ensure the headphones remain comfortable in place:


And I didn’t find any pressure with the clamping force with the ellipse:


While its very subjective I would imagine this headphone will be very comfortable for more heads:

The headband extension mechanism also allows for pretty large heads:


And you get a decent give on each ear to angle the earpads so it should feel comfortable on a large range of head sizes:

Sound Quality​

Out of the box, the Ellipse delivers a decent sound signature that does live up to promise of a studio headphone with
a darker tonality. There is some warmth to the bass which some people will love but other may feel is muddying the mid-range, for me ultimately I did switch to alternative earpads which reduce this mid-bass a little.

Bass​

• Mid-bass: Slightly bloated, with more emphasis than ideal for a studio-grade headphone. This can mask some of the midrange clarity.
• Sub-bass: Decent extension but not overly prominent. Tracks with deep basslines, such as Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy”, still have an enjoyable rumble.

Midrange​

• The midrange is smooth and warm, with good tonality for vocals and instruments. However, the mid-bass bleed can occasionally affect clarity.
• Male and female vocals are presented naturally, though the midrange lacks the pinpoint accuracy of higher-end headphones.

Treble​

• The treble region is recessed, particularly in the presence region (~4-6kHz), which can make the sound feel slightly dull out of the box.
• The treble can be brought forward with either some alternative earpads or EQ to reveal more detail and air, enhancing the overall balance, but a dark treble is often more preferable for studio headphones, so I can understand this tuning.

Soundstage and Imaging​

• The Open back combined with the default sound signature creates a spacious soundstage with good width and depth, offering an immersive experience for genres like classical and live recordings.
• The recessed treble provides some precise Imaging in most music, though not as holographic as more expensive studio reference headphones.

Specifications and Measurements​

Measurements​

Note: The following measurements were taken with my KB501X soft ear Pinna and a 711 clone coupler. They are available on my measurement database here.

Frequency Response​

Let’s start with the Frequency response:


So this is mostly balanced with a warm mid-bass boost and a recessed presence region, not ideal but certainly not bad and compared to the Kiwi Ears Division it is much more of a studio reference style, with a much more controlled bass:

Alternative Earpads​

Ok I teased earlier in this review about some alternative earpads and I tried a few, but I should mention that not every alternative earpad will fit the earpads only have a small ’lip’ for the earpads so only some earpads will work.

Velvet Earpads​

These were extreme comfortable but did not change the sound signature significantly:

Leather Angled Earpads​

These were not as comfortable as the velvet but reduce the midrange a little:

But each of these pads while comfortable only had subtle changes on the frequency response though both increased the treble:

But then I tried some more expensive Perforated Sheepskin earpads:

Perforated Angled Sheepskin Earpads​

These Perforated Angled Sheepskin EarPads were great and became my favourites over the past few weeks both from a comfort but also from a tonality perspective:

They were much deeper than the stock pads and provided a better clamping force:


Crucially, comparing with the stock pads these earpads dampen the treble and reduce that mid-bass:


Note: you can see in this picture that the back of the earpads can only have limited material to work as a replacement earpads.

These earpads are typically $30 so roughly 1/2 the price of the Ellipse. For those interested, I bought them from Aliexpress via this non-affliated link.

And ultimately these earpads provide a much more neutral frequency response compared to the stock earpads:

In fact, comparing the tonality of the Ellipse to a few very popular Hifiman headphones you can see the transformation:

Distortion​

So the distortion is mostly very well controlled even playing over 90 dpSPL:


And shown as a percentage, you can see that resonance peak in the 5K region:

EQ Recommendations​

So, without swapping earpads there are some simple EQ that can also change this headphone tonality to a more neutral tonality if that is what you are looking for.

I would suggest the following PEQ filters:

• Bass: Slightly reduce mid-bass (~100-200Hz).
• Treble: Boost the presence region (~4-6kHz) to add clarity and sparkle.

Preamp: -6.7 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 72 Hz Gain 2.6 dB Q 1.000
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 120 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 1.800
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 190 Hz Gain -6.0 dB Q 0.800
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 3000 Hz Gain 6.7 dB Q 1.000

With these adjustments, the Ellipse achieves a much more balanced sound signature:


But I would suggest looking earpads similar to the ones I found that do nicely tidy up with tonality without needing EQ and are very comfortable.

Rating​

I have given the Ellipse a very pragmatic 4-stars based on the stock earpads but with the perforated sheepskin earpads I recommended earlier I would actually give them a 5-star rating as that those earpads neatly tidy up the frequency response and for me provide a more comfortable experience. Those alternative earpads genuinely turn these into a near reference headphone. I like that Kiwi Ears are in the process of expanding their headphone range and the Ellipse is a definitely a decent step forward, but I cannot wait to see what improvements will come with the next few headphones from Kiwi Ears as I feel they are on a roll.

Conclusion​

The Kiwi Ears Ellipse is an impressive budget headphone that brings a lot to the table for its price. Its spacious soundstage, comfortable design, and versatility with EQ make it an excellent choice for audiophiles on a budget. While its default tuning could use some refinement, the Ellipse shines when paired either with a little EQ adjustment or with some recommended alternative earpads, offering a balanced and enjoyable listening experience.
At $75, the Ellipse is an exceptional bargain, proving that Kiwi Ears can deliver quality open-back headphones alongside their acclaimed IEMs.

Kiwi Ears Ellipse



For the 'watchers'

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Disclaimer & Introduction

Kiwi Ears generously provided me with a review sample of their 2nd headphone, the Ellipse.
It is an open-back studio monitor headphone, equipped with 50mm dynamic drivers and a detachable cable and I think, even in January, we might already have the Budget King of 2025!

Non-affiliate link - https://kiwiears.com/products/kiwi-ears-ellipse

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Build, Design & Ergonomics

Taking some notes from Beyerdynamic, the Ellipse follows a very similar design formula to the DT990 and DT880.
Of course it is actually different enough in most ways to be it’s own thing, but I couldn’t help noticing the similarities.

Instead of the common 10cm wide cups, the Ellipse has 10.5cm cups, so that’s something to be aware of if you enjoy pad rolling.

The cups themselves are kind of semi-open, as less than 50% of the of the rear cups is actually open, but it’s great to see that the vents are decorated and protect the innards with a thin woven-steel mesh.
Combined with the reflective circle, I am reminded of vinyl records and the way their grooves catch the light.

The single piece forks are attached to the cups with star-hex screws and where they go into the headband they provide a good amount of swivel.
The adjustment slider action is not too stiff, has a decent snap and the bearing inside doesn’t scratch the black coating.

So far we’re off to a very good start.


The plastic hardware on the headband sides is good, mostly because it, like the cups, don’t have any silly rubberized coating like many other headphones and headsets around this price mark.
The padding is on both top and bottom of the internal metal headband part, and while it’s moderately stiff foam, I didn’t experience any discomfort after several hours of use.

The ear pads don’t have memory foam inside, but are still above average in comfort and seem to be made of a similar pleather material to that found on the original Hifiman HE-500 pleather pads.

The cable is quite long, so it’s designed for studio work rather than PC or desktop.

It’s also just a really good, functional cable. No weird memory or coiling, a synthetic fabric sheath that is just about soft and pliable enough and some very traditional strain-relief hardware, which is a bit on the uglier side, but if it does the job well I don’t care how it looks.

The source-end has a large 3.5mm plug with a 6.3mm screw-on adapter.
After the y-split, each cable is terminated with a 3.5mm mono plug.



The clamping force can be adjusted by bending the headband, so that’s what I did because I thought they were a bit too tight.

The wearing comfort is great. I’ve always been completely fine with the large round pads found on Beyerdynamic and full size AKG headphones, and this is no exception.
In this case, I find myself automatically referring to other studio monitors, as that is what the Ellipse is marketed as being.

Now let’s take a look inside!
Firstly we can see that there’s quite a lot of tuning being done by the ear pads, more on that later.
In front of the driver is a piece of damping foam, which also partially hides 3 screws.

The eagle-eyed among you will immediately notice that the 50mm Ellipse driver is a sibling driver to the FiiO JT1 driver.
They have identical transparent-frosted plastic housings, the same red mark on the magnet, one large vent and one small vent.

While the JT1 driver is aluminium coated and very lightly damped, the Ellipse driver has much more tuning damping applied directly to the vents, complemented by three layers of foam inside the cups; two of which are thicker than the first that sits directly behind the driver.

Also looking at the inside of the rear of the cups, we can see that the vents are even less open than I initially thought.
I would go as far as describing these as semi-open headphones, but the same is also true for the Beyerdynamic DT990, which is marketed as open back, but only has a small hole in the back of the cups, so disregarding traditional semantics, I would call this semi-open.

Overall, it seems most parts are somewhat serviceable, there’s probably some room for modding and everything is designed with respect to classic headphone design.
It’s not doing anything new or brave. This is a very safe design.

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The Sound

First I want to address the more abstract personalities of this headphone.

Despite the semi-open back design, there is no cuppiness or seashell-effect to the sound. This is likely in part due to the foam damping, and that dynamic headphones are generally more resilient to this effect than planars, for example.

However, I believe the heavy damping is responsible for creating quite an intimate sound. They don’t sound very open or spacious and while they do leak sound, I’ve found they isolate better than most open-backs, as I’ve had to take them off when talking to people.

That ‘intimate’ kind of presentation is mirrored by the imaging which also doesn’t expand vastly from left to right and stays mostly in-the-head.

So, for a dynamic headphone, it is 'underperforming' in that regard, but it is also about on par with the kind of imaging you get from full sized planars, like my HE-500, which I was able to confirm while playing FPS video games, switching between the two, so in practice it is totally acceptable.

Now, the party piece.
For a sub-60-Euro headphone, these are tuned spectacularly.



Almost completely linear bass, with a touch of warmth and no horrid treble peaks.

But, let me start by first addressing two errors in the graph.
The miniDSP EARS didn’t do a great job with this one.

While performing manual tone sweeps and listening to the headphone, the dip at 4KHz is definitely not even close to how severe it looks on paper.
Secondly, the upper treble does not roll off like that. I clearly heard a 2nd peak at 12KHz that plateaued for a while after – so these 'sound better than it looks'.

With that in mind, I can’t think of a single other full-sized headphone under 100 EUR that is as close to neutral as this.
The only aspect of the tuning that I believe will divide the crowd is the gradual downwards slope from 300hz to 2KHz, which, while adding a psycho-acoustically larger soundstage and scale, also pushes some vocals and instruments a bit further back.

I personally very much enjoy both presentations.
When things are up-front in your face, I know that it sounds more accurate and lifelike, but I can’t listen to that tuning all day long.
This slightly ‘recessed’ type of upper midrange tuning is excellent for all-day listening without fatigue.

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Pad Rolling

I wouldn’t recommend rolling pads. I tried a few and almost nothing else sounded right, with even greater deviations in the midrange.

Most of the pads I own do not have the same high number of fenestrations on the underside, which is no doubt doing a lot of the tuning, so that’s something to consider if you want to roll other pads.

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Comparisons

I’d like to now make a few comparisons, and while they may seem ridiculous at first, please bare with me… I assure you there’s a very good reason for this.

Hifiman HE-500 (modified)
These HE-500’s are modified with aftermarket velour pads that smooth the treble and improve bass performance and overall linearity.
I picked this comparison because of it’s linear bass.

Listening to Dean Town by Vulfpeck, the HE-500 sounds much cleaner and the added artificial warmth provided by the Ellipse is now missing, presenting a very textured and clear sounding bass guitar.
The HE-500 sounds more tonally correct, more agile, clinical, and possesses a slightly more prominent treble.

But when playing Get Lucky by Daft Punk, I actually kind of prefer the Ellipse for adding warmth to the mix, which sounds more appropriate or correct for this track.
In terms of subjective performance, there are definitely some situations where I would prefer the Ellipse.



Sennheiser HD650
I picked this because beside the HD600, it is THE industry standard.

Listening to Eric Clapton Unplugged, the most obvious difference is just how open HD650 sounds.
The Ellipse is more closed-in, and slightly darker.

People used to describe the HD600 series as having a ‘treble veil’, well the Ellipse almost has more of a thin curtain.
While it sounds like a bad comparison, the Ellipse still holds it’s own for electronic and pop music, for which the HD650 won’t be everyone’s 1st choice for toe-tapping bass.


Altiat Cal.1H

I picked this because among all the headphones I own, it has overall the closest tuning to the Ellipse.
Despite the Altiat’s sub-bass appearing to roll-off significantly, there is very little difference bewteen the two in overall tone.

The Ellipse appears to be a touch darker, and while I can hear it digging slightly deeper in the sub-bass than the Altiat, it doesn’t have the slam or rumble I would have liked or indeed expected.
Listening to BFG Division by Mick Gordon, I think I almost prefer the apparently less sub-bassy, but more visceral attack of the Altiat, over the slightly compressed sound of the Ellipse.

Angel by Massive Attack is another story. The deep bass kick on the Altiat has a strange almost acoustic quality to it, which actually sounds good, but I also know that it is not how it should sound.
Switching to the Ellipse immediately fixes that problem, bringing back the endlessly deep thump I was looking for, albeit a smidge ill-defined.

In terms of staging, the Cal.1H is so much wider and more open sounding, so for me personally there is no contest, the Altiat isn’t going anywhere.

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Conclusions

In the end, these comparisons were not an exercise in belittling the Ellipse, but a testament to how close it gets to great headphones while only costing only a fraction of the price.

Previously we enjoyed budget studio kings from Superlux… I think that’s it. They were essentially AKG K240 clones with modern drivers, and everything else similar that came after that, such as the Presonus HD7, was more expensive and equally strongly lacking in bass performance.

Now we finally have a rock solid, budget, bass-focused studio-monitor.
If your mix sounds too warm on these, then you know for sure you’ve overblown it, but even if you just want these to relax and listen to almost any type of music on a budget, there’s a very good chance you will like what you hear.

In a small or student studio, for under a 100 Euros, you could have the Kiwi Ears Ellipse and the Superlux HD668B, for example, and probably have a better overall set of listening tools than if you would just own one single studio monitor up to around 150 Euros.

I think the AKG K612 Pro is where I would draw the line – that thing is a neutrality monster....

To summarize, the Kiwi Ears Ellipse does nothing wrong at it’s price.
It has no flaws in it’s build quality, has very obviously been carefully and deliberately tuned by Kiwi Ears so that it would not look out of place in a home studio.

I have no problem in giving an extremely strong recommendation to what I believe is going to be the budget king of 2025.

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EDIT: Recommended mod

Remove the rear damping inside the headphone and add THIN velour ear pads.

Colour key:
Kiwi = Stock
Dark Kiwi = Stock, minus the rear damping (sounds bloaty/loose)
Grey = Removed damping + Wang Yifei HE500 velour pads
White = Removed damping + Blue Philips SHP890 pads - This sounds EXCELLENT