Kiwi Ears Spark is crafted for active lifestyles with an open, wearable design that offers a secure and comfortable fit for everyday exercise.
Engineered with a unique OWS structure, these earphones stay stable during vigorous activities while maintaining breathability. This design ensures a snug fit so you can enjoy music and calls without distraction.
Immersive Stereo Music Playback
Experience wireless stereo sound with balanced audio and noticeable bass.
With A2DP support, Spark delivers a dynamic listening experience that captures every detail of your favorite tracks. Whether working out or commuting, enjoy rich, clear sound that elevates your everyday music listening.
Clear Calls with Advanced ENC
Enjoy reliable, clear calls with dual-ear call support and ENC noise cancellation.
Equipped with single-microphone ENC technology, Spark minimizes background noise, ensuring that your conversations remain crisp and focused—even in busy environments. This makes managing calls on the move effortless.
Smart Charging & Robust Durability
Stay powered and protected with smart charging and an IP45-rated build.
The charging case features a three-color LED display to easily check battery levels, while the durable design shields against dust, moisture, and sweat. This combination ensures efficient battery life and reliable performance for your active lifestyle.
Pros: + Alternative, open over-ear hook and close-to-ear speaker design.
+ Good Bluetooth range.
+ Battery life.
+ Very good for office use (calls, video conferencing, etc.).
+ Open design does not isolate from the environment.
+ Bright mid-centric sound.
+ Smooth surface.
Cons: - The perception of the overall sound may depend on the distance of the earphones from the ear canal. - In this respect, the morphology of each individual can be more or less decisive.
- I find the hooks a bit annoying as the hours go by.
- Very light bass and with a low impact on the sound.
Introduction
The Kiwi Ears universe is expanding, and so is its dedicated Bluetooth headphones section. The brand enters a new Sport format with the OWS Spark, designed for active lifestyles with an open, highly portable format for a secure fit. The Kiwi Ears Spark delivers high-quality stereo sound, stable connectivity, while calls are crystal clear thanks to ENC noise cancellation. They also feature smart charging and IP45 protection for everyday use. Thanks to A2DP support, Spark delivers a dynamic listening experience that captures every detail of every song. They are suitable for both workouts and commuting, as their sound is rich and clear. Equipped with single-microphone ENC technology, Spark minimises background noise, ensuring conversations remain clear and focused, even in crowded environments. The charging case features a three-colour LED display to easily check battery levels, while the durable design protects against dust, moisture and sweat. This combination ensures efficient battery life and reliable performance for an active lifestyle.
Let's see what this new open Bluetooth headset design has to offer.
Kiwi Ears Spark come in a rectangular box with a light gradient background, whose dimensions are 177x120x40mm. The main side shows an actual photo of the product inside its charging box while it is open. In the upper left margin are the explanatory icons listing the product features. On the upper right margin is the brand logo and a short presentation of the model. At the bottom there is a black strip with white letters containing the name of the model, its description and a QR to the WEB. On top there are large blue capital letters with the name of the model as a background. On the back side, at the top, there are all the icons of the specifications it complies with. Underneath are the brand and importers' contact details. In the background you can see a real faded photo of the OWS box. After opening the box, the Spark is in its charging box inside a black plastic base. Underneath is a small black cardboard box containing the accessories. The complete contents are as follows:
Kiwi Ears Spark in their carrying case.
A light grey cloth pouch.
One USB Type-A to Typec-C charging cable.
One user manual.
The content is correct, a carrying pouch is included, which is appreciated.
Construction and Design
The Kiwi Ears Spark is an open, portable, wireless Bluetooth headset - that's what OWS (Open Wireless Stereo Earbuds) stands for. It is a headset that has an open design, with an over-ear hook-type fit. Almost entirely lined in light brown matte silicone, the Spark is made up of three parts. The first, larger part contains the speakers, microphone, LED and touch control. The second part is a semi-circular hook. The third part is a cylinder with a golden base that looks like the Bluetooth receiver. The part close to the ear has an oval shape. On its outer side there is a plate that looks like metal and is tactile. On it is the logo of the brand. Next to it is an elongated multicoloured LED. Underneath is a small hole. At the end there is a slot, while at the top there is another hole. On the inner side, at the lower end, there is a gold-coloured perforated metal grille, rectangular in shape with rounded corners. These are the speakers. The rest of the body is completely smooth, matt and silicone coated, except for the lower end, which is formed by a circular golden base with a translucent window that allows a sort of copper coil to be seen.
The cargo box is oval and has a metal lid with a C-shaped opening. I am struck by the fact that the box is open for this reason. The central part of the lid seems to float, as it is held in place by a metal piece at the bottom. Above it is the logo of the brand on a texture formed by dents on the metal. The metal cap is a micro-textured, slightly shiny champagne gold colour. The other half repeats the matt silicon surface. On the front edge there is a small horizontal notch for easy opening of the lid. Underneath is a multicoloured oval LED. On the top edge is the hinge and below it is the USB Type-C charging port. On the back face, on the bottom half there are some icons, as well as some model specs, written in faint brown font.
As I said, I'm surprised that the lid is not fully closed, but instead reveals the OWS. On the other hand, there is only one colour option, in very light brown.
Adjustment and Ergonomics
At first glance, the Kiwi Ears Spark look very comfortable. The hook shape is easy to put over the ear, once you get used to wearing them. The soft surface is very pleasant to the touch and the weight is not very heavy. The first hour of use feels very good. When you get to the second hour is when discomfort can appear, concentrated, in my case, in the part of the hook near the junction of my ears with the head, in the front, at the end of the helix. The weight also becomes noticeable as time goes by and can go from imperceptible to annoying as the hours go by.
I have been using Spark mainly for my work. Because of my job, I receive a lot of calls and have a lot of meetings. Spark has been a great tool for my work environment, as it allows me to handle all calls and video calls, while still allowing me to hear all the other sounds in the office. The openness that frees my ears is one of the strengths of this design. But it is also true that the ergonomics should be improved so that I could wear the Spark for more hours a day, without suffering the pressure of weight and discomfort in the front.
Another thing that penalises the open character is the sound, especially in the bass part. Being completely open, the distance from the speakers to the ear canal is a world away. If the mini speakers are just one millimetre closer to the pinna, the sound can change, both in terms of volume and in terms of bass and detail. Just by subtly pressing the part containing the speakers against the ears, one realises what I am talking about. One's morphology will make these OWS very good or quite average in sound, as well as weak in both volume and bass.
Operation and Connection
Operation, as usual, is very simple. It has the advantage that as the body is large, the touch zone is also large, it works very well to the touch and at each touch an audible and pleasant beep sounds. It supports SBC, AAC and APTX codecs. The range of use is high, in my home office it works in different rooms, I can be two small rooms away and suffer no loss. The amount of volume is just right for my wishes, I usually do short but very intense listening for music. But for watching series, talking on the mobile phone and situations of this kind the volume is more than sufficient, even loud. It is true that the sensation of volume is determined by the adjustment of each one and the morphology of our ears, personally it could be better, since, as I have explained, bringing the loudspeakers a millimetre closer can be a very big hearing advantage.
When the charging box is connected to a USB source the LED will flash white. When fully charged the LED will be solid blue.
Battery charge indicator:
1%-30%: red LED.
31%-70%: green LED.
71%-100%: blue LED.
When the OWS are placed in the charging box the LED will indicate the battery level.
When both OWS are charging the white LED will flash slowly. When fully charged the LED will turn off. The light will remain off for all other states.
Battery charge indicator:
1%-30%: Red LED flashes for 3 seconds.
31%-70%: Green LED flashes for 3 seconds.
71%-100%: Blue LED flashes for 3 seconds.
The rest of the instructions are in the manual.
Sound
Due to the open shape of the OWS and the separation of the loudspeakers from the ears, the profile can vary according to morphology. In my case, the sound I perceive has a bright mid-centric profile. Bass perception is not very high and lacks a sense of physicality, body, presence and depth. The mids and treble are more prominent in the mix and also come through clearly. As I mentioned, moving the speakers 1mm closer together can be key to getting more volume, immersion, clarity and bass presence.
Starting with the low zone, in the very low pure tone test, the 20, 25 and 30 Hz tones are practically imperceptible. The first clearly audible tone is the 40 Hz tone, which generates a vibratory/condulatory sound with low physicality and sensory perception. The remaining tones are displaced, with low physicality and sensory perception, and with a coloured and oscillating behaviour. The result is a bass zone that lacks strength and executes the bass lightly, with low physicality, coloured and with little volume. On the other hand, the base punch, although weak, is fast, does not leave any decay and disappears immediately. The impact on the sound is low and the headphones are not very suitable for playing electronic music.
The middle zone is better represented than the lower range. The first part of the middle range remains rather thin and light. This is noticeable in the male vocals, which, although they have an obvious presence in the mix, are not very strong and full-bodied. The instrumentation in this area suffers the same consequences, with a lack of base, punch and density. On the other hand, the upper mids are rather more noticeable. But I insist that both adjustment and proximity can totally change the perception of the fullness of the sound. Just by moving 1 mm closer, the sound becomes much fuller, denser, punchier and more real. In this scenario, the first half of the midrange comes back to life and appears more natural and powerful. Continuing in this vein, the upper mids are quite clear, transparent and crisp. The female voices are quite full, with a good point of realism and vivacity. There is a slight sibilance due to the emphasis of this upper area, but it is not too pronounced. As expected, all the instrumentation in this second half of the mid-range has more presence and prominence, and stands out in the mix as a whole, hence the Spark's clear mid-centric and bright character.
The first trebles are prominent, energetic, feel fine, high and even incisive and crisp. They have good extension and prominence in the sound. There is a slight sense of air. The high range has a clear weight in the mix and stands out in presence, as it is easier to perceive in this kind of shape.
On a technical level, the Spark is capable of displaying mid/high frequency micro-detail and presenting it closely and in close-up planes. However, there is more emphasis on macro detail and small details concentrated in the second half of the sound. The tendency of the sound exposure is to concentrate the planes close to the listener, which causes it to lose depth and volume. The scene has a good lateral performance and stereo feel, with height and a certain volatile, gaseous character. However, it doesn't present much depth, punch or surrounding, despite the sound's sense of openness. Actually, the position of the Spark can determine a better, more obvious and even spectacular scene perception, which adds a more elevated physical sensation and a better technical performance.
Conclusion
The Kiwi Ears Spark is an OWS headset, which stands for Open Wireless Stereo Earbuds. They are Bluetooth headphones with an over-ear hook and speakers that float outside the ears. They can be positioned further away than On-Ear headphones as they do not exert pressure against the ears. In this sense, the morphology of each person can be key to be able to perceive the full potential of the Spark, since the closer the speakers are to the ear canal, the better the sound perception and its quality, as well as the rest of the technical characteristics.
Like any headphones, the first point I look for and emphasise is the sound, but the Spark have a character and design that enhances other types of usage scenarios. In my opinion, I think they are very good for professional use. I have spent hours and hours with them in my work linked to my business mobile, talking for long periods of time with clients and holding a multitude of meetings. In this area, the Spark has been one of the headphones I have enjoyed the most and the only downside is that over time, the shape of the over-ear hook gets in the way. However, the open design allows me to keep in touch with the work environment and be aware of my surroundings and keep up with my colleagues.
Back to the Spark's features, its open design features a matte silicone surface, call and microphone performance is remarkable, and it has a battery life that has allowed me to finish my workday. The Bluetooth version is 5.2 and supports the APTX codec. Its weight is light and it is the case with its metal cover that is a little heavier.
It's clear that the key to these Kiwi Ears Spark is the shape of each one and the fit achieved. Perhaps some tweaking of the design will minimise this dependency and achieve a more optimal result for a wider audience.
Sources Used During the Analysis
Xiaomi 13T 5G 256GB.
Fiio BTA30 Pro.
FireStick Amazon.
TempoTec V3 Blaze.
Kiwi Ears offered me this model, in exchange for writing an honest review. I want to make it clear that all my opinions written in this review have not been conditioned by this fact, nor will I ever write anything that I do not really think or feel here. I will only write about my personal opinion in relation to the revised product.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
