KiwiEars Orchestra Lite

General Introduction and Design Features
In recent years, Kiwi Ears, a brand known as a subsidiary of Linsoul Audio, has made quite an impression, and today we're reviewing their Orchestra Lite product. This earphone stands out with 8 Balanced Armature drivers per earpiece, two of which are from the Knowles brand, and features a fully medical-grade transparent resin coating. It is designed with 2 drivers for bass, 4 for mids, and 2 for treble control, delivering the final sound to the ear through a 3-channel output tailored for these frequency regions. The distinctive ear tip exit, along with its protruding design that wraps around the ear contours like a Custom IEM (CIEM), provides excellent isolation and a very comfortable fit. The solid and transparent body combined with the colorful resin shell achieves a delightful and visually appealing design akin to candy. The 2-pin earphone connector and silver-looking cable with a 3.5mm termination complement the product perfectly.

Package Contents
The Orchestra Lite comes in a moderately sized but premium package that meets needs while keeping the price reasonable for an 8 Balanced Armature setup. Inside the box, you'll find a durable carrying case, three types and sizes of silicone ear tips, and a high-quality 4-core 7N oxygen-free copper cable. For me, the package contents are ideal and meet expectations. The carrying case adds practicality and ensures the IEMs are transported safely without damage. The high-quality cable eliminates the need for an upgrade, allowing me to use the product with peace of mind. Lastly, the variety of ear tips helps me use the IEMs for different purposes.

Technical Specifications
- Driver: 8BA - Kiwi Ears Customized BASS*2 + Kiwi Ears Customized MID*4 + Knowles TREBLE*2
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Impedance: 16Ω
- Sensitivity: 112dB SPL/mW
- THD: 0.3%
- Effective Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz (IEC60318-4, 3dB)
- Earphone Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin
- Cable Plug: 3.5mm

Sound Technology and Signature
In the Orchestra Lite, Kiwi Ears has employed specific balanced armature (BA) drivers for different frequency ranges: Knowles 22955 for low frequencies, Belsing 11011/21 for mids, and E-Audio 31736 for highs. To reduce total harmonic distortion and ensure separation of sound layers and the three different frequency ranges, Kiwi Ears utilizes a three-way passive crossover with custom filters for these channels. The direct nozzle design without extra outlets allows for excellent compatibility with various ear tip silicones, providing a distinct advantage in response. With moderate sensitivity and impedance values, it offers stable sound without adding or subtracting from the user's existing equipment.

Sound Quality
Kiwi Ears has tuned this product with a warm yet near-neutral profile, similar to some of their other offerings, with slightly elevated bass. However, the significant drop and lack of peaks beyond the 10kHz region result in a very transparent and airy sound. It has a thin, smooth timbre, making it a safe IEM but might not suit those seeking a sharp presentation and can occasionally shift to a BA timbre. Its tonal balance is natural, musical, with a good warmth, making it quite balanced and accurate.

Bass (Low Frequencies)
The bass performance is powered by the 2 Knowles BA drivers. The bass is well-tuned and can be felt profoundly, almost like a dynamic driver, which is impressive. The mid-bass is prominent, textured, and noticeable. The sub-bass lacks some texture and thus remains more in the background, but its presence is felt. Finally, since it's a closed, non-ventilated IEM, some users might experience ear canal pressure buildup, but even during extended use, it didn't reach a level that would discomfort me.

Mids (Mid Frequencies)
The mids are indeed where the Orchestra Lite shines. It offers one of the best vocal experiences, presenting vocals almost like on a silver platter. Vocals, slightly more prominent than instruments, are enjoyable and satisfying. The tuning is excellently done, achieving balance and smoothness. Critically finding flaws here would require a keen ear, although sometimes in dense sections of songs, the sound can feel a bit congested and harsh. In the upper mids, during echoing parts, and rarely during songs, a BA-like timbre similar to sibilance can emerge. Otherwise, it provides an excellent midrange presentation.

Treble (High Frequencies)
The treble is well-tuned, soft, and smooth, ensuring it's never tiresome or irritating during long listening sessions. Cymbals and bells come through cleanly and don't distort, disappearing quickly. However, due to the low volume in the upper treble regions, it becomes a very soft IEM, which can lead to missing many details. For those seeking an energetic, colorful, and sparkling presentation, this section might not be satisfying.

Technical Performance
The Orchestra Lite excels in layering and separating sounds within tracks, allowing you to easily follow multiple instruments along with vocals. This is largely due to its ability to separate frequencies using three distinct sound channels. However, in some exceptional cases, such as when a track is particularly dense, this technical capability can be compromised by blurriness and harshness in the sound.
The soundstage is quite wide, providing a sense of openness without any feeling of restriction when listening to any track. It has an excellent imaging capability, making it very clear and easy to track where sounds are coming from, achieving great success in overall imaging. In terms of resolution, the Orchestra Lite presents every detail, but by softening harsh and sharp details, it delivers a wonderful result. However, this capability is maintained up until the treble, where the low-volume tuning results in a somewhat subdued and transparent presentation, falling short in detail retrieval. Unfortunately, it fails to capture the sparkle, dynamism, and other exhilarating elements of the upper frequencies, with other regions being more prominent.

Presence and Clarity of Vocals
The vocals, which are my favorite aspect of this IEM, are so natural, light, and organic that they are generally captivating. As mentioned above, they are slightly ahead of the instruments and effortlessly make their presence beautifully felt. Female vocals convey high frequencies comfortably and cleanly. However, male vocals feel as if there's a barrier or something else in the way, making them low in energy and weak, but this doesn't mean they are wrong or bad. A more full-bodied and robust presentation could have achieved a more perfect vocal outcome overall.

Conclusion
The Orchestra Lite from Kiwi Ears, which has gained a lot of attention in recent years, features 8 Balanced Armatures per earpiece. It uses Knowles 22955 for low frequencies, Belsing 11011/21 for mids, and E-Audio 31736 BAs for highs. Each of these three frequency ranges is equipped with custom filters, allowing it to respond beautifully to different ear tip silicones and offer a wide range of usability to the user. The fully transparent resin that wraps around the ear contours like a Custom IEM (CIEM) provides excellent isolation and a very comfortable fit. This model also meets user expectations with its packaging contents, which include a durable case, three types and sizes of silicone ear tips, and a high-quality 4-core 7N oxygen-free copper cable.
In terms of sound quality, the Orchestra Lite satisfies users with a warm yet near-neutral tuning with slightly elevated bass. It also has a thin and smooth timbre, offering a natural, musical, and warm tonal presentation. In terms of bass, mid frequencies, treble, and the presence and clarity of vocals, the Orchestra Lite provides an excellent experience for its users. The vocals in this IEM are so natural, light, and organic that they are generally captivating.
In conclusion, the Orchestra Lite model from Kiwi Ears offers an excellent experience to its users with its sound quality, design, technical features, and ease of use. With its quality and reasonable price, this product provides users with a unique IEM experience.

Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite - Smooth and transparent

Disclaimer

I got Orchestra Lite for free in return for a review, I am free to say whatever I want.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.







So what is the Orchestra Lite

Kiwi Ears is a brand distributed by Linsoul, Kiwi Ears is located in Shenzhen, China. They had some well received IEMs in the past, one of them being Orchestra Lite that I will write about here. This is a 8BA that is priced at $249, default design is available in Clear, Blue, Green, Yellow and Purple. You also have the option for a custom designed universal for $50 extra where you can choose shell color and faceplate, there is also the same option in CIEM for $250 over stock design.

According to Kiwi Ears each model is going through extra QC and is handcrafted, they also deliver this with 1 year warranty that is not always normal from China.



Packaging is elegant and simple, don't feel over the top but still make it look nice when you open it up.



In the box you get 3 sets of tips, should be one to help you get going. Tried all of them and they changed the sound some, the white and gray sounded very similar while the black was more open sounding.

The included cable is of good quality for being a stock cable, it is 2-pin with 3.5mm headphone jack. The wire is a copper cable even if it looks like a silver or SPC, it is a 4-core 7N oxygen free copper wire.



Going to showcase many photos here of the shell, the filled transparent resin looks awesome and the only part where you can see a seam is between the faceplate and shell.



The filled resin makes all the internals more visible and you can see all the work done, from the side here you can see the 2 pin socket that is the flush style. The BA uses sound tubes to direct the sound to the nozzle.



The nozzle is 6.3mm in width and has a small lip to help tips sit secure, the length is average. I find the comfort to be excellent on Orchestra Lite, this model is not vented. I had no problems and could just slightly notice a closed-in feeling. I could feel comfort being slightly improved with some tips, like Divinus Velvet and Tangsu Sancai as they let some air out.

Timbre

First off, what is Timbre?
From the Wikipedia:
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Acoustical Terminology definition 12.09 of timbre describes it as "that attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two nonidentical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness and pitch, are dissimilar", adding, "Timbre depends primarily upon the frequency spectrum, although it also depends upon the sound pressure and the temporal characteristics of the sound"

First minutes of trying a new set of gear, what I always listen to is how natural and musical it sounds. Much of this goes down to how I perceive the Timbre.

The sound is smooth and warm with a good amount of detail, overall very balanced.

Going to use the ranges here in review:


Details and soundstage

Detail in IEMs is down mostly to quality driver and how it amplitudes the frequencies, also when the driver is faster it also increases the resolution you hear.

BA IEMs are good for being technical and resolving, some of this as the decay is on the faster side. While Orchestra Lite is not among the most technical BA sets I have used, it is more resolving than the average IEM in this price range, since the tuning is also a little careful this also makes it less technical.

Soundstage is interesting, it's always very personal. I find Orchestra Lite oval in the soundstage, it goes in a circular space around my head. Reaches actually more behind than many sets, but maybe don't have the best depth. Very good at imaging and I can easy pinpoint where instruments are.

Bass

I often see it as 3 stages of BA bass, you have the legends in tier 1 and then where most are at tier 2. Then last with tier 3 is sets that make you really hate BA bass, thankfully there are few of these lately.
I would then position the Orchestra Lite in tier 2, meaning it's not the best or the worst. But does a good job and should please most folks unless you are a DD only person, for me its music dependent if I care about BA bass or not.

The bass shelf is not very large here, but due to upper frequencies being a little careful it sounds more warm overall. It has a good punch and sub bass rumble to make music engaging, and keeps itself clean going into the midrange. The decay is on the slower side of BA but faster than most DD, this also helps it sound more natural.

Mids

The magic of Orchestra Lite is perhaps the midrange, it is smooth and careful. Nothing that is too thick or shallow, balanced is what I hear here. The upper mids is not elevated too much and raises slowly before it peaks around 2500 hz with 7.5dB, this is what makes it so smooth and nice to listen to.

It's very hard to fault anything about the midrange, if it's anything it may lack some bite for people who like music to be more energetic. But this style is in harmony with how the bass shelf is, and makes the IEM as a whole sound warm and forgiving.

BA timbre that people often mention is not present here, BA timbre is either the plasticky sound or being sharp and metallic. If anything the transients are slightly rounded that make it more easy to listen to.

Treble

The highs are sometimes hard to evaluate as most of what we hear is in the bass and midrange, treble is mostly some presence and air.When this lacks we lose clarity and stuff sound less realistic, push too much treble it gets fatiguing and doesn't sound realistic.

With the Orchestra Lite it's very natural, no bright peaks and it doesn't sound lacking. Cymbals can be crisp while voices or instruments can be airy and open.

Synergies

Most my time have been using this with stock cable and the Tangzu Sancai silicon tips, tips as this increases comfort and they seal well for me.

At the time of this review I also had a new copper cable from Plussound, this did increase the warmth of the sound and it got fuller sounding overall. But we are talking about a cable costing twice that of Orchestra Lite.
If I change over to cheap but premium Xinhs and NiceHCK cables it's really no change from the stock cable, why I also say the stock cable is decent and it's no need to change out.

As for sources, I think that it matches well with more neutral gear. Or even if your a treble head maybe a brighter source can be good. The iBasso DX180 sounds clear and resolving and showcases what Orchestra Lite can deliver, I did also use the more analog and rich dongle HIBY FC6. But for some reason the DX180 had more magic here, it matches so well with the warm natural tonality on Orchestra Lite.



Comparisons



When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. The most critical comparison is done on my desktop setup that is highly resolving, with volume matching to take away loudness variance.


The spider chart is slightly exaggerated on some points to show differences.







KZ AS10 Pro

Build quality of AS10 Pro is less premium with the standardized type of shell KZ and CCA uses, feels cheap and it's not very ergonomic. The included accessories and box is also in the bottom of what you get from any brand, no contest when we compare the two on this.

This model is also all BA design with 5BA per side instead of the 8BA on Orchestra lite, searching up the BA models from KZ it appears that is Knowles driver while Orchestra light is custom BA.

Biggest sound difference between the two is the tuning, the KZ has an aggressive V shaped tuning versus the balanced Orchestra Lite. This also means the mids are not in focus on AS10 Pro, what the KZ does excellent is delivering very good BA bass and it's the strength of AS10 Pro. The Orchestra Lite is more clean and smooth versus the more metallic and grainy sound of AS10 PRO. This is more an effect of the tuning and not the drivers, but the Lite sounds more resolving and clear. Soundstage is wider on KZ with little depth forward, the Orchestra lite is more spherical and is almost as wide with more in the rest of the axis also.

The quality of the bass is not better when compared, the amount of bass is more and can be more fun with some music.

Mids are often dull and veiled, and at the same time are metallic and pushed in the upper midrange where we have a lot of sharper elements in the music. If you're sensitive to metallic BA sound or in general sibilance the AS10 Pro is not for you, if it's a mix of the tuning or drivers I'm not sure of.
The highs can get a little piercing without sounding very airy and open, specially the airiness is more pronounced on Orchestra Lite.





Hisenior T4 - Custom Design

This is also an all BA design with 4 drivers per side, here also they have used branded drivers instead of the custom in Orchestra Lite. The shell is very nice also, the biggest difference is that the T4 is hollow and looks more traditional than the filled resin. Both have good ergonomics, with one difference being that T4 has a vented shell that might be better for some. Accessories and packaging are kinda similar with both delivering something decent.

I have used the T4 with both switches down when comparing, you can get some extra bass or treble if you engage them. These two follow a more similar tuning than the KZ, here both have what I would call a balanced warm sound. The T4 has more of a thick midrange with less extension up top, this also means it's less open in the sound. Technicalities is a step above with Orchestra Lite, it does show extra microdetails and have a little larger soundstage presentation.

Bass of both are very similar, the sub bass is stronger on Lite while the T4 have more mid bass weight in the music. Quality is very similar in how textured they can be, both are fast with some roundness to bass notes. Some music can sound more punchy on and rumbly on Lite, maybe because of not being vented giving it a stronger punch.
Midrange is cleaner and more transparent on Lite while T4 is denser, I like both for the midrange. Both are what I would call midcentric as they have full sounding mids not veiled by lows or highs, also both have a smoother sound to both instruments and vocals. Energetic music the T4 softens stuff like cymbals or brass more.
The highs on Lite sound a little more airy, but changing the switch makes them very equal.



Music

When comparing IEM to other sets I have used the tracks listed here and more, I will provide a Tidal list and YT link for each track.

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/2287c6c4-8568-4abe-b561-39825d9290cb




Forget it - Yorushika

I picked this track for this review because I have a friend who loves Orchestra Lite with J-pop, I found this for another review but will use it here also. She has a beautiful voice on Orchestra Lite, gentle and soft. The T4 also sounds good here, but less open and resolving.



NIGHT DANCER - imase

Same as the first comment on YT says, I don't understand a single word. But I love the vibe here (not totally true as i know quite many)
He has a fancy voice and the rhythm and instruments are cool set together, teh midrange sound very nice on Orchestra Lite and showcased how bad the KZ is.



Supersede - Carbon Based Lifeforms

I love electronica and ambient music, which also means I love Carbon Based Lifeforms. Totally random that I used this exact track, I was trying the album on Orchestra Lite and it was on this track for the photo. Depends on the type of electronica, but here I dont mind it being BA bass. The coherent sound of the all BA design sounds really well done, with a nice amount of detail and musicality for this. Interesting enough this track showcases better BA bass than T4, and it also shows how inconsistent the AS10 Pro is.



In Fringes - Piah Mater

This is a metal album, found this record while working on the review. Usually I prefer more bass for metal, but the overall balance of Orchestra Lite is nice. Enough presence and clarity to make it interesting, while also being a little softer to not get tiresome. Could have liked more bass or better decay for the drums at the start, and the parts later. But then it's so perfect in how it goes from the intense parts to the melodic parts.



Limit To Your Love - James Blake

A well known track for bass quality, tracks like this showcase why we want DD for more impactful bass. All the sets here can showcase good detail and bass, but they lack the real impactful force you feel when you listen to DDs. Of the 3 sets teh KZ does it best here, but only since it has more quantity of bass. If I EQ more bass into the Orchestra Lite it has the same force as AS10 Pro.



Midnight Pretenders - Tomoko Aran

This is a great track to check a lot of different things, for me how it handles energetic elements like hi hats or just how it handles the more sibilant parts. Also just how musical it all sounds, the sound is more crisp than the T4 and not sharp as with the AS10 Pro. It rides just on the edge of what I prefer for energy, enough to sound clear and crisp but also means it doesn't hide the sharper elements of the cymbals or her voice.



Conclusion

This was meant to be more of a mini review, but ended up longer than expected. This is an older set that is not new, so I was not very enthusiastic about the review once Linsoul reached out. But Orchestra Lite surprised me with its nice tuning and good build quality, a bargain for what you pay. The shell is ergonomic, and the filled resin is beautiful and premium. Ended up using the ones that were captured with some warmth, for that is what Orchestra delivers.

You get a transparent but warm sound, smooth and very musical. Midrange is perhaps what most will like the most, it balances a clean but smooth sound that is good with both vocals and instruments. But it doesn't mean it lacks extension in the lows or treble, it has a nice balance and I consider the sound neutral and warm.

I guess if I would nitpick on what's negative, this is BA and that means the bass will have less accurate decay than dynamic drivers. Also the more relaxed tuning does make it less energetic and dynamic, but we have plenty of other sets for that. So I do not see it as a negative, and is more a strength of Orchestra Lite.

I highly recommend the Orchestra Lite, a wonderful deal for $249. And is still competitive in today's market.

Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite: A Harmonious Delight ​

Introduction: -

Before we write about the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite let's first write a bit about Kiwi Ears, the team behind the Orchestra Lite. Kiwi Ears is a Shenzhen, China-based company started by a team of dedicated engineers around 2020 with the launch of Kiwi Ears Orchestra. The Orchestra is still remembered for its high-quality build quality and musical signature at an affordable price. Fast forward to 2024, they have launched numerous IEMs in four years such as Kiwi ears Quintet, Quartet, Cadenza, Forteza, Dolce, and of course Orchestra Lite around March 2023 which we are reviewing in Aural café today. Surprisingly the team at Kiwi Ears has recently come up with their first Dongle DAC Kiwi Ears Allegro at just 59.99 US$ which we might review in future. After carefully going through the various Kiwi Ears IEMs, we feel that the team at Kiwi Ears aims to provide high-quality IEMs at various price points to cater to the different tastes of audiophiles around the world.

The original Kiwi Ears Orchestra made quite a mark when it was launched in 2021 at 499 US$.

Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite coming in at 249 US$ is based on the OG Orchestra. Orchestra Lite features once again the same 8 Balanced Armatures driver configuration concerning the OG Orchestra but at half the price of the OG Orchestra. With eight drivers on each side, the Orchestra is an all-BA-based IEM. The Orchestra Lite features 2 custom-tuned BAs for highs, 4 custom-tuned BAs for mids and 2 Knowles BA subwoofers for the lows.



Specifications: -

• Driver Configuration: Kiwi Ears Customized High x2 + Kiwi Ears Customized Mids x4+ Knowles Lows x2
• Impedance: 18Ω ± 10%
• Freq Response: 20Hz-20Khz
• Sensitivity: 112dB/mW @1kHz
• Plug Type: Detachable 0.78mm 2-Pin

Disclaimer: -

We have purchased the unit. We are delighted with the opportunity to review it. The review reflects our honest opinions as always. However, our evaluation is based on a comparison of the price of the IEM.

Packaging & Accessories: -

• Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite IEMs
• 9 pairs of Ear-Tips (3 Different Silicon Type)
• OFC IEM Cable with 3.5mm Termination
• Carry Case
• Documentation

Check out the full unboxing video here,







IEM Build, Design & Fit: -

When it comes to the IEM build, the quality is there. The team at Kiwi Ears has given their full focus. The Kiwi Ears team has used high-quality medical-grade resin to cast the transparent shell of the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. The build quality of the shell as well as the faceplate is top-notch. While our unit came up in a beautiful green faceplate, the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite also comes in a blue, purple and orange faceplate. The shell is transparent and that’s why the internals are visible, and one can see high-quality handcrafted crossover inside the shell which is actually the brain of these multi-BA IEMs. When it comes to the fit the size and design are designed for average to big size ears. The fit may not be comfortable for small ears, but it provides decent isolation for outside use. The usage of the medical grade resin also helps in the overall comfort factor while using the IEMs for a longer duration. When it comes to the build quality of the IEMs, we can confidently say that we have seen one of the best build qualities at this price range of 200 to 500 US$. The accessories of the Orchestra Lite are simple and efficient to use. It comes with simple silicone ear tips and 4-core 7n Oxygen-free Copper cable which is sufficiently flexible and light in weight.



Sound Analysis: -

Credits: @nymz

• Tonality: - After being into this hobby for more than 8 years we at Aural café give supreme importance to the tonality of the IEMs. When it comes to the tonality of the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite it is quite balanced with a decent hint of warmness to keep the overall tonality organic across the frequency. The team at the Kiwi Ears has made use of carefully chosen BA drivers so that the tonality doesn’t have any hint of BA timbre. The timbre of the instruments is organic and musical.

• Lows: - The Lows in Kiwi Ears Orchestra lite is handled by two high-quality Knowles subwoofers. The bass is linear in response with decent quantity and quality. The Kiwi Ears team has done a phenomenal job in achieving a high-quality dynamic bass in an all-BA Kiwi Orchestra lite. The midbass especially has a quality that becomes quite fun while listening to the popular EDM numbers, while the subbass does rumble in tracks such as HEARTLESS by the Weekend but lacks a bit of extension. The bass surprisingly has nice speed and right control while handling complex tracks. The transient response has solid control and is fun while listening to the blues genre of music. We at Aural café feel that the lows are carefully tuned by the Kiwi Ears engineers as the bass is tight and clear without overpowering the mids and highs.

• Mids: - The Mids is where the heart of the Orchestra lite lies. This is also quite visible as the Kiwi Ears team makes use of four custom-tuned BA drivers for handling the mids in Orchestra Lite. The tonality of the custom-tuned BA is surprisingly quite like the Sonion BA which is well known for handling Mids great. The Orchestra Lite showcases lush and musical textured mids which becomes very fun while listening to vocal-based songs. The mids is neither forward nor recessed so the vocals mix with the instruments in a very smooth and inoffensive way. The lower mids have the right body while the upper mids are just balanced at best. We at Aural café would have loved it if the upper mids had a bit more extension a soul (with the stock cable). Both male and female vocals are balanced across the frequency with the right texture, but it is in male vocals where the Orchestra Lite shines which is quite evident while listening to “Yun hi re Yun hi re” from the movie “David” composed by Anirudh. When it comes to showcasing the lower mids the Kiwi Orchestra lite has done a decent job in comparison to the upper mids. The male vocals have a buttery smooth texture and soul.

• Highs: - When it comes to highs in the Orchestra Lite it is again handled by two custom-tuned BA drivers. The highs are decently airy but lack a bit of sparkle and are just average at best. While some might find it dark and lacking, we at Aural café believe that the Kiwi Ears engineers tuned it according to their aim of showcasing a balanced IEM across the spectrum, saying so we would love a bit more sparkle, especially in the upper mids region. Detail retrieval capacity is above average and smooth rather than being too analytical.

• Soundstage & Imaging: - With the help of 8 BA drivers the Orchestra lite showcases an above-average soundstage both in terms of width and depth. We love an intimate soundstage which is beautifully showcased in Kiwi Ears Orchestra lite, but Audiophiles who are more into wide soundstage would feel it a bit lacking. The Orchestra Lite does a decent job while listening to blues and numbers such as “Hotel California” but it loses while listening to complex tracks, especially in the rock and metal genre of music. The layering and imaging are above average, and we loved listening to “Hotel California” and “New Kid in Town” by the legendary Eagles band.

• Synergy: - When it comes to drivability the Orchestra Lite is easy to drive but we at Aural café believe a lot in the source and suggest using high-quality DAPs and dongles to enjoy IEMs optimally, and yes Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite also scales a lot with the better sources, especially in soundstage and highs. After using it with numerous sources such as Dethonray DTR1, DTR1+, Pegasus SG1 Gold, Ak SP1000m, Aune M1p, Aune Yuki, Tanchjim Space, Space Lite we can assure you that it sounds best with neutral, transparent, and clean sources such as Aune M1p, Aune Yuki, Tanchjim Space Lite and Ak SP1000m. When it comes to cables the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite becomes a bit more neutral and airier when used with high-quality SPC or Pure Copper cables, such as PW Audio Saladin or PW Audio Monile 2-wire, whereas the Spinfit CP145 once again goes well with the balanced tonality of the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. Surprisingly it didn’t go well with the high-quality silver cable in our test.

Conclusion: -

After listening to Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite for weeks at Aural Café we feel that this is an IEM that will hold its place and is total value for money. We also strongly feel that the engineers have worked really hard in choosing the right BA drivers for the resin used for crafting the shell and last but not least the customized BAs and crossover are implemented well to showcase a musically balanced unit. Lots of IEMs will come and go in this price range but Kiwi Ears we believe will hold their place for a long time. If you are a value-conscious Audiophile and in the market for a hi-fi sound at a decent price, then Kiwi Ears Orchestra lite is an easy recommendation. We would however end by saying that we at Aural café would have loved it if the Kiwi Ears team had been a little less strict with the higher frequency and could have added a bit of sparkle in the upper mids region.

Non-Affiliated Link: -
- https://kiwiears.com/products/kiwi-ears-orchestra-lite
- https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-orchestra-lite