KiwiEars Quintet

Kiwi Ears is a relatively new brand formed around a team with great experience in designing and tuning earphones for some very popular brands. Their aim is to produce earphones that are both suitable for critical music listening and professional use while keeping a friendly price policy.

Kiwi Ears Quintet

The Kiwi Ears Quintet is a hybrid earphone that utilizes a unique combination of four different types of drivers. One diamond-like carbon dynamic (DLC) driver, two balanced armature (BA) drivers, one planar magnetic driver, and one piezoelectric (PZT) bone conductor.

The large 10mm DLC driver was selected as the subwoofer due to DLC’s high responsiveness and tensile strength, which pumps out impactful bass with fast decay speeds. Two Knowles balanced armature drivers deliver natural and resolving mids. The novelty in the Kiwi Ears Quintet is the use of a new planar tweeter system that features the classic planar magnetic driver circuitry but with a smaller footprint for use in hybrid designs. With an extremely low noise floor and high output capacity, these planar magnetic drivers deliver a treble that is unique from typical BA or EST (electrostatic) tweeters that are used in most IEM’s. Finally, a piezoelectric driver was utilized to deliver ultra-treble micro-detail and air.

Non Audio stuff

The ear-shells of the Kiwi Ears Quintet are made from 3D printed resin compound with a separate aluminum faceplate. They are anatomically shaped, lightweight and relatively small thus offering a comfortable wearing experience. They fit tight inside the ear and seal well without causing any kind of annoyance. The design of the Quintet is plain and minimalistic while they are very well made.

The Kiwi Ears Quintet comes with a 2-pin detachable cable made from oxygen-free silver-plated copper in four strands. It is a well made and soft cable with aluminum plugs that has low microphonic noise but it gets a little tangled. Unfortunately it is not modular and is terminated with a 3.5mm plug. Furthermore you don't have the option to order it with a balanced plug thus making buying an aftermarket cable a necessity if your sources are balanced.

The package also includes a nice carrying case with a side zipper and two sets of silicone ear-tips with wide and narrow bores. Some more ear-tips should have been included to make the package more competitive.

Power requirements and associated gear

The Quintet is rated at 32Ω/106dB so it doesn't need anything special to drive it. A DAC dongle like the Kiwi Ears Allegro would suffice. You can also use something even better, like the FiiO M11S as the Quintet is very transparent and scales pretty well.



Audio stuff

Let's cut straight to the chase, the sound performance of the Kiwi Ears Quintet is absolutely fantastic and definitely much better than the price would suggest. This is an exceptionally balanced and naturally tuned set of earphones. The Quintet combines stellar technicalities with excellent tonal accuracy and plenty of musicality. It is the perfect choice for critical listening and reference applications, like a studio monitor but it doesn't sound clinical and sterile as it usually happens with studio monitors.

The tonal accuracy begins straight from the deepest low-end and smoothly transitions up to the highest treble. The Kiwi Ears Quintet has strong sub-bass extension, without over emphasis, and neutrally tuned bass with just a hint of mid-bass warmth. The tuning of the low-end is almost perfect, natural and clean with a studio-like quality. Instrumental pitch is very accurate, all bass instruments are reproduced as close as possible to reality. Clarity, definition and layering are phenomenal for the category. Few earphones of the same category can reproduce very demanding symphonic works as effortlessly as the Quintet.

The bass is tight and controlled, the low-end discipline is just amazing while the recovery of the driver is lighting fast but still with a decay natural enough to capture the physical acoustic reverb of a concert hall. The bass is impactful and dynamically contrasted without any muddying or bloating nor artificial echo or cup reverb. The only point of criticism has to do with the rather lean and slightly dry textures, the Quintet is not that visceral and weighty, the low-end could use some extra body but then again, nothing is perfect, is it?

The transition to the mid-range is smooth and seamless, the mids are crystal clear, transparent and well defined, free of any mid-bass bleeding. The tuning is still very even and balanced, lower-mids, mids and upper mid-range are reproduced with the same gravity and intensity. There is not any significant upper mid-range emphasis or lower-mids scoop, as a result the timbre is stunningly natural and lifelike. The tonal balance might resemble a studio monitor but the textures do not. The Quintet has plenty of liquidity and colorful harmonies, it excels in reproducing diverse overtones and it manages to sound musical and organic, albeit somewhat lean and not that weighty.

Despite the use of two BA drivers, the Quintet doesn't suffer from the usual balanced armature timbre and artificiality as are to be found in a lot of competitive earphones. And it gets even better in the treble where the planar magnetic driver kicks in. You have to listen by yourself to understand how resolving, articulate and refined is the treble of the Kiwi Ears Quintet. The timbre is natural without any hint of artificiality or metallic sheen. Such kind of smoothness and refinement must have to do with the use of the piezoelectric bone conductor which does miracles in shaping the overall quality of the highest frequencies.

The Quintet has an airy and extended treble, it is sparkling and energetic, with plenty of luminosity, able to reproduce all the contrasted gradients, but miraculously devoid of any sharpness or harshness. The treble is crystalline and detailed but not analytical or clinical, ideal for listening to the faintest notes and the most tiny nuances but without getting distracted from the actual musical event.

The Kiwi Ears Quintet has a mirror-like fidelity when it comes to the source behind it as it is very transparent and will not add any character of its own. Such source transparency can sometimes become a negative point as the Quintet is rather unforgiving and will expose any sonic flaws of the source and the recording. The implementation of the five different drivers is almost perfect, the transition from one frequency range to the next is seamless without audible discontinuity. I was never expecting such a diverse combination of drivers to sound as coherent and natural as in the Kiwi Ears Quintet. The sound engineers must have spent hundreds of hours to achieve such a successful matching.

The soundstage is wide and open with ample width and plenty of air around the performers. The Quintet images very well and sounds bigger than expected but don't expect anything special when it comes to depth layering and holography.



Conclusion

Well, what more to say than that I am totally speechless by the performance of the Kiwi Ears Quintet. I was never expecting such kind of sound quality from an earphone priced that low. The Kiwi Ears Quintet is one of the most balanced and tonally accurate earphones that is also backed by strong technicalities while it manages to sound realistic and organic enough as not to remind a studio monitor.

The Kiwi Ears Quintet is a studio-grade earphone that is suitable for critical listening without skipping in musicality and engagement. If you are after a reference earphone that is not clinical or sterile, then the Kiwi Ears Quintet is a solid choice at a bargain price as you will have to spend two or even three times more to buy something better.

The review sample was kindly provided free of charge.

The price of the Kiwi Ears Quintet is $219 and is available from Linsoul.

INTRO

Today it's time to talk about Kiwi Ears Quintet. Here is another video I made as a comparison between several headphones and the Quintet. In this video we are going to focus only on this headset...since it seems that the commercial boom of certain YouTube channels has passed and it is the ideal time to not generate more hype or be just another channel.
When I saw that there was a headphone for less than €300 that had a dynamic driver, a planar, 2 balanced armatures and an electric piezo...I said this is just another invention...I don't think it sounds coherent...but boy was I wrong.
I always thought that more drivers don't have to be better. In this case, Kiwi has opted to achieve a purist sound in a very curious way.


UNBOXING

In general we have a somewhat fair unboxing but honestly sufficient. We got the headset with a very good cable for the asking price of this set. A cable with a grayish tone like the IEM that I actually find very pleasant to the touch. Quite rigid and attractive, without being flashy. Don't expect a modular design because there isn't one. Something that would have been good because extra energy is necessary to squeeze out this product. The termination is a 3.5 mm jack and the iem connects with a 2-pin connection.
On the other hand, we have a fairly strong case, somewhat small, with an ugly design. I don't really like the Quintet's carrying case but I can tell you that this will be one of the few things I don't like about this set. Perhaps another design or another color would have made it more attractive. What matters most here is that it protects...and boy does it do.
On the other hand, and to finish we have a set of silicone tips of various sizes. I recommend playing with the tips to experience slight sonic differences.

-DESIGN, insulation, weight and comfort

In terms of design, weight, and comfort, I have to give Kiwi Ears a good mark. The Quintet fits like a glove in my ear. I have always preferred these sets with a slightly deeper insertion, although I do not consider it as deep as, for example, that of a Mangird Tea. It gives a considerable seal without being uncomfortable. I have not tried an iem under €300 that has this good combination of weight, comfort and insulation.
The weight feels very light perhaps because of the construction material. I like its minimalist design. It is not flashy and looks elegant, very elegant...and that is something that usually catches my attention more than colorful or ornate designs. The faceplates feature a soft matte silver finish (with the brand logo), avoiding any glare and contrasting harmoniously with the glossy black and softly contoured casings.

SOUND

As for sound, I don't think you can go wrong if you buy it. It can satisfy anyone since it has a balanced profile in all aspects. It is not bass-heavy or basshead but it has enough impact to make you enjoy the music. It doesn't have very forward midrange, but it has a very complete and present midrange. Its present treble is not fatiguing, but it has that analytical touch, sometimes brilliant, that brings out the best in the iem to experience details in the sound.
Therefore, we are faced with a complete IEM that can satisfy any audience because there are no weak points.
-The signature
We can consider this IEM as a product with a neutral or flat profile but with good dynamics and not boring at all. It has highlights in the lower area and highlights in the upper area. We should not confuse enhancements with extension. It is an iem that is capable of having a good “rumble” in the low zone and good extension beyond 15hhz without major drops.
Will a powerful amplifier be needed?
Regarding amplification, I want to highlight that the IEM has 32 ohms of impedance and 106 decibels of sensitivity. A dongle dac amplifier will be well received and improves the sound in dynamics and some bass impact. Don't expect huge changes either.

SOUND SECTION – BASS
The bass, although they offer a lot of power; more than could be expected; Sometimes they feel a little slow and not as fast and attractive as the Hype 2 which has spectacular meatiness.
Even so, the Quintet presents quite tight bass. But in terms of presence and depth, I certainly got the bass solution I needed. At sub-bass frequencies, the bass descends very well up to 50 Hz. The experience becomes visceral at good volume. In fact, with additional amplification, I had to take a break from heavy sub-bass tracks for a while, because it was similar to hearing/feeling your own heartbeat.
In short, the bears will be delighted
ted.
The strings of this range also seemed heavy and majestic. And although the timbre was slightly dark in color, the high level of texture and transparency was enough to bring a sense of realism to the acoustic elements.

SOUND SECTION – MIDS
Although you will hear some lower-mid presence, these frequencies take a step back, allowing the upper half of the midrange to shine in the mix.
The problem with this product or rather the only problem is that the Quintet lacks noticeable body. Don't prejudge me. It has a body; but if we compare it with an Oh5 we are going to notice that lack of midrange as a result of having a less obvious mid-bass. But in the tests that I carried out, the truth is that I was not too hungry for body, since the extended bass provided enough warmth to complement the tuning of the mids. Still, the more enjoyable low-mids also allow for a tidy space between the intense bass and higher frequencies. And certainly, there was no confusion in the lower mids.
In the rest of the spectrum. The upper midrange is thinned out a bit, giving the sound clarity and precision. The guitars, for example, are very complex, slender and avant-garde with a touch of shine. And this dramatic contrast in relation to the powerful and juicy bass creates a good balance in the overall weight of the sound signature.

SOUND SECTION – TREBLE
It's been a while since I heard this much brightness in the high end. Having the Ikko Oh5 as a reference makes any IEM brilliant for me. And listening to the intro to “Lose Yourself to Dance” by Daft Punk, I felt like they were throwing little diamonds into the air. Don't get me wrong. The Quintet is not a bright IEM, but it has highlights that can make it appear that way. It doesn't have very obvious roll-offs, so if you're used to a more conservative product, it's probably like me and you'll feel brilliant.
Percussion in this range also has a lean crispness, adding energy to modern tracks. At times I expected a little more character in the vocal performances. There's surely some air here, but the note progressions didn't feel distinctly fun or joyous because of the weight.
That said, the Quintet presents a fantastic extension in this range. And the resolution is top-notch, revealing every breath and crunch in the vocal deliveries. The trumpets in the treble, for example, were never piercing or uncomfortable.
The air or the sensation of air is evident in this product giving an even larger scene than it really is. But we'll talk about that later.

SOUND SECTION – TECHS

The Quintet presents a greatness that seems somewhat exaggerated. Above all, in terms of lateral width. The anthemic tracks, as well as those with intricate image arrangements, feel enormous, creating a huge wow factor, especially on first listen.
The most notable thing, as I said, is the great width of the stage. And what's particularly entertaining about the stereo image is that even the most distant elements maintain the same color and definition as those closer to the ear. So while it may not be the most realistic scenario, it's a lot of fun. The Quintet has also mastered depth perception. While most IEMs in this price range can achieve clear forward placement, it's not often that you hear elements truly behind your ear. In fact, there is no angle that the Quintet does not reach. And without a doubt, the Quintet's broadly circular and nuanced soundscape is one of the most notable features of its sonic signature.

SUMMARY SECTION
KiwiEars did something that many brands need to do. Daring to break the price range is something that many other brands should try because I think the public wants different and realistic flavors.
The Quintet is neither a hybrid nor a tribrid IEM. Its 4 types of controllers make it a strange set on the outside because it is coherent, realistic and honestly perhaps the best value for money in 2023. Suitable for any purpose you can think of and the best. Its price is more than fair.
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Disclaimer: The Kiwi Ears Quintes was sent to my by Linsoul in exchange for an unbiased review.

NOTES:

The Kiwi Ears Quintet isn’t anything if it not ambitious. Retailing for Disclaimer: The Kiwi driver technologies into an overall surprisingly cohesive package of form and function.

The Quintet boasts a driver compliment of five drivers per side. A single dynamic driver, two balanced armatures, one planar and one PZT driver. This is a mouthful for sure and a recipe for disaster unless there is a high level of skill behind the implementation and tuning.

Thankfully Kiwi Ears have pulled it off and the Quintet does not just sound good, it’s sounds very good.

The tuning leans towards more of a balanced-v-shape if that makes sense. Sound is full bodied and articulate yet analytical with good resolution. Fairly easy to drive the Quintet does benefit from better sources and tip rolling is a necessity. I settled on a short stemmed wide bore tip with great synergy. I felt that the Quintet also synergized better with a warmer source as opposed to a more neutral or cold one.

Read on to find out more.

SPECS:

DRIVERS
1 Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) dynamic driver, 2 balanced armature (BA) drivers, 1 planar magnetic driver, and 1 piezoelectric (PZT) bone conductor
CABLE DETAILS
1.2 Meters, High-quality Oxygen-free Silver-plated Copper Cable
CABLE CONNECTORS
2-pin 0.78mm
CABLE TERMINATION
3.5mm Stereo Cable




BUILD, FIT & QUALITY:

The Kiwi ears Quintet is very well built with an understated design. The 3D printed resin shells are adorned with a metal faceplate with etched branding. The shells are on the larger side but are ergonomically designed so as to fit well. The shells and the faceplates combine to form a smooth and high-quality minimalist look and feel. They did fit well in my ears with little fatigue noted even after a three-hour listening session.

The included accessories are sparse, despite the impressive retail box, but of good quality. There are six pairs of eartips included and a good quality four core SPC cable with a 3.5mm termination.





SOUND:

BASS:

The bass on the Quintet is balanced and goes deep with good speed and detail. Textures come through clearly as heard on “Angel” by Massive attack. Impact and rumble are all present in adequate quantities as dictated by the track. This is not an overblown bass, but one that has ample power, yet is more articulate than most. There is a pleasing thickness and warmth to the low end while still remaining tight and controlled.

There is some warmth from the mid-bass that touches the lower midrange adding a richness to the sound without any veil. Bass quantity I found spot on mostly and I never felt for more. I find the bass of the Kiwi ears Quintet to be quite satisfying and enjoyable to be honest.

MIDRANGE:

The midrange of the Quintet is open with solid detail retrieval and resolution. Technicalities are also where the Quintet shines. The lower midrange has that added warmth and this was heard on “Tenderhearted Lover” by John Stoddart. The richness of his tone coming through with authority.

Upper mids have a touch of added energy and do sound alive without being harsh. “Protection” by Massive Attack had Tracey Thorn’s vocals coming alive yet with great clarity. The only downside is that comparatively the upper midrange can sound a tad thin as compared to the lower midrange. This is not distracting though but can be heard occasionally when critical listening.

On “No Worries” by the Robert Glasper Trio, I was impressed the layering and separation offered by the Quintet as air around each instrument was easily discerned with each being distinct. Listening to “Vanston Place 12am” by Ronny Jordan continued this trend.

Timbre is well done coming through as natural. Dynamics are handled well and transients follow suit with great snap and natural falloff.

Overall, the midrange of the Quintes is win in my books.

TREBLE:

The treble is well extended with ample amounts of sparkle and air. Cymbal brushes and strikes sound great with a natural decay. Detail retrieval is also well done without sounding clinical. Rarely I did hear some sibilance but this was always with tracks known to suffer from that. Such is the trade-off of extended treble response it may seem. Again, this was rare and only in tracks that are known to have this issue.

Treble with all its clarity is still articulate and expressive. Treble sensitive people may take offence but I for one appreciate extended treble and the Kiwi Ears Quintet did not disappoint.

The brushed cymbals on Ronny Jordan’s “Vanston Place 12am” were so smooth and cleanly reproduced it was definitely engaging. Well done.



IMAGING & SOUNDSTAGE:

The Quintet puts out a wide soundstage with lesser degrees of depth and height but still enough to make instrument placement easy. Sound is open never coming across as congested. The Quintet’s layering and separation abilities are really showcased here giving space around each instrument. This was highlighted on “Stimela” by Hugh Masekela, the venue dimensions and instrument placement being precise and the track pulling you in.



VERSUS:

-Hisenior T4-

The T4 is a 4x BA per side iem with no dynamic driver in sight.

Bass power and slam are more prominent with the Quintet, T4 in balanced mode, but comparative with the T4 in “Bass+” mode. The T4 may offer somewhat more detail retrieval in the low end but the organic weight of the bass on the Quintet makes it a serious contender.

In the midrange the T4 takes a decidedly balanced approach while the Quintet offers a more energetic presentation, T4 in balanced mode, while with the T4 in Soundstage+ mode the energy level is comparable. Detail retrieval is where the T4 gets a nod, but just.

Treble is more of the same where the T4 is more balanced with arguably better detail retrieval though air and sparkle are just slightly more prominent on the Quintet which has also better extension.

This is a tough one as the Hisenior T4 is one of my reference sets. If anything, I find the T4 just a bit more engaging in particular for longer listening sessions, but still on more than one occasion found myself pulled into the music whilst listening to the Quintet. It’s a good thing I get to keep both as they are both keepers. The T4 though is better at being what I call a “Reset” iem. Something I like to listen to in between critical listening sessions with others.



CONCLUSION:

Kiwi Ears have done a great job with the Quintet. Pulling all that tech together could not have been easy. The Quintet offers a sophisticated sound in a low-key package which belies everything that is going on in each shell.

No iem, regardless of price, is for everyone. The Quintet has a clean crisp sound that many will like, and some may not. What isn’t up for dispute is how controlled the sound is with good technicalities. The longer I listen to the Kiwi Ears Quintet the more I appreciate what it brings sonically.

It has allowed me more than once to get pulled into the music. This in of itself is praise in my book.

If you are in the market for a well built iem with strong technical performance and a mature sound, the Quintet should be on your shortlist.

The Kiwi Ears Quintet gets a strong recommendation.