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.

A few months back, I reviewed the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. They seemed to have a safe, no-frills tuning that veered towards “too smooth” at times.

Nonetheless, what stood out about them was the driver configuration given the price point. Similar themes re-appear with the Kiwi Ears Quintet that sport a quad-hybrid (also known as Quadbrid) setup for midrange pricing. In recent years, such driver setup has been exclusive to the TOTL or kilobuck IEMs, so the Quintet have already won the spec-sheet war.

Sound quality is not proportional to the driver count though, so the Quintet have a lot to live up to if they want to carve a spot in this hyper-competitive market.

Note: Thanks to Linsoul for sending the Kiwi Ears Quintet for evaluation. This review originally appeared on Audioreviews.

Sources used: Questyle CMA Twelve Master, Cayin RU7
Price, while reviewed: $220. Can be bought from Linsoul.

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES​

The packaging is minimal, while the accessories are fairly good. The stock tips were good enough for me, and the stock cable seems fine so I assume a replacement will not be essential. The sheathing is a bit on the stiffer side but it also adds some durability, so a fair trade-off.

BUILD QUALITY​

Kiwi Ears opts for a pseudo-custom shell design, with 3D-printed resin on the inner shell while a metal faceplate adorns the outer part. There are two vents beside the (flush) 2-pin port. The nozzle is on the thicker side, so third-party eartips might need some compatibility check.



Overall, a no-frills design that’s practical without being a highlight.

COMFORT, ISOLATION, AND FIT​

Despite the thicker-than-average nozzle, the Quintet are comfortable for me even during long listening sessions. I did not notice any driver flex. Isolation is average, likely due to the dual vents.

SOURCE AND EARTIPS​

For this review, I used the stock narrow-bore eartips and the stock cable. Cayin RU7 was used as the source while on-the-go, and the Questyle CMA Twelve Master was the source when using on the desk.

KIWI EARS QUINTET DRIVER SETUP​

Driver configuration is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Quintet. They have a grand total of five drivers (apt model naming) of four different types: 1 DD (DLC-coated diaphragm), 2 BAs (dual-BA configuration), 1 micro-planar, and 1 piezo-electric bone-conduction (BC) driver.

The BC driver is placed atop the dynamic driver, whereas the other four drivers are placed in various parts of the shell. There is also a damper in front of the Knowles driver to keep resonances in check.

All in all, a very interesting driver configuration and perhaps the Quintet are only “quadbrid” IEMs under the USD$300 mark.

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES​

The tuning of the Kiwi Ears Quintet is close to that of the Harman 2019 target, but with a subjectively better bass shelf and more extended treble.



Kiwi Ears’ take on the Harman target has its perks: the mid-bass is not as “hollow”, resulting in superior and more realistic rendition of percussive hits. Moreover, the added brilliance in the upper-treble makes the perceived stage wider, due to the added airiness, alongside increasing resolved details.

All is not fine, however, as the sub-bass is still too overzealous at times and can cast a shade over the lower-midrange, making male vocals sound hazy and lacking articulation in bassy tracks.

Moreover, the upper-mids are pulled back lower than the sub-bass shelf, resulting in certain female vocals being pushed back in the mix. This might be a boon for those who prefer their vocals pulled back and are allergic to shout. On the other hand, those looking for every minute detail in vocals and string instruments will be left wanting.

I found the treble tuning right up my alley. There is a distinct change in timbre when moving from the mid-treble to upper-treble, as the piezo driver adds a distinct “sheen” to the trailing end of notes in hi-hats and cymbal hits. However, I found the coloration mostly inoffensive and the added sense of air and resolution far outweighed the con of incoherence for me.

Finally, staging is better than average, while imaging was mostly accurate despite having some issues in locating instruments that are placed in ordinal directions. Microdynamics could be better to further highlight subtle shifts in volume, while macrodynamic punch is well rendered.

SELECT COMPARISONS​

The Sennheiser IE 200 are single dynamic driver IEMs, and so loses immediately in terms of driver count. Also, the stock accessories are plain better on the Quintet.

However, the IE 200 gain back points due to their more natural timbre and excellent coherency. I also found the bass and mids to be better tuned on the IE 200, with bass notes having superior texture.

In the end, the choice is between a more natural and balanced midrange and bass tuning (IE 200) vs a more resolving pair of IEMs with better treble extension (Quintet). The listener’s preferences will determine the ultimate winner.

CONCLUDING REMARKS​

For me, the Quintet are the most well-rounded product Kiwi Ears has launched so far. While the Orchestra Lite had their merit, and the budget IEMs are competitively priced and mostly well-tuned, they all lack the “X-factor” that makes a product stand out.

The Quintet have that X-factor in the form of class-leading upper-treble extension. They also significantly lower the barrier of entry for a pair of quadbrid IEMs.

These days, most releases fall by the wayside, failing to capture even the slightest attention and ending up as flavor-of-the-month at best. The KiwiEars Quintet are genuinely interesting for a change, and I can wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone pining for good treble and an otherwise inoffensive tuning.

Intro​

Disclaimer: The Kiwi Ears Quintet was provided to us at no charge courtesy of Linsoul. However, this was done in understanding I was to give my honest thoughts and opinions of the Quintet. For more of our reviews, visit perrivanaudio.com

I’m coming to review the Quintet right after the Quartet. The Quartet was a rather bass-heavy warm-sounding IEM that tries to be a jack of all trades at its relatively budget price point. The Quintet, based on price point, is a step up from the Quartet and switches things up in the driver configuration. It’s now a quad-brid with 4 different types of drivers in a relatively small package. Without further ado, let’s take a look at how it fares.

Accessories​

The packaging is almost identical to the Quartet. It also has the same zippered hard case encasing the 4-wire braided cable. The cable quality is a step up from the Quartet, aesthetically and build-quality-wise. The entire package isn’t anything to scream about at this price point, but I’m not too fussed about it, as long as the IEM and cable quality aren’t compromised.

Build Quality and Fit​

The Quintet takes on a very different vibe from the design language of the Quartet. It has a very mature, serious and some may say boring design and colour palette. It has a matte silver metal plate sitting above a black resin shell shaped to fit snugly inside the ear canal. This is in contrast to the bright colours and pattern of the Quartet, seeming to symbolise the difference in tunings for the 2 IEMs. The fit of the Quintet sits much deeper and snugly than the Quartet, and while I really liked it, people who don’t like their IEMs to be too intrusive in the ear may want to take note.

Sound​

Sources

• Lotoo Paw S2
• Fiio BTR7

Bass

I found the bass very tastefully done. It was palatable in quantity and clean in the mid-bass. It packed a nice punch and a very crisp texture, which was how I usually like it done. It is by no means near bassy and some might find it a bit lacking in note weight due to the more subdued midbass. The sub-bass extension was nicely done and does a good job playing a supporting role to the rest of the sound, ensuring it provides enough warmth to support the rest of the tuning. Listening to songs by The Fat Rat, it had nice transients in the percussions and packed a nice punch to keep the music really fun without muddying the more complicated/busier sections.

Mids

I really enjoy the layering of the mids, and how the soundstage gives. The speed and clarity of the Quintet’s sound make the instruments come across very clearly. I especially enjoy listening to saxophone and guitar lines in songs by The Carpenters, The Eagles, and many other bands. Well-recorded tracks shine with the Quintet, especially those with multiple musical lines and layering of instruments. One weakness of the Quintet’s mids would be the vocals. Compared to some other tunings, the clinical nature of the Quintet’s tuning can make certain vocals come across as overly digital or “emotionless”. This is a bit of a nitpick on tonality though, The vocals do come through clear and forward enough and remain relatively enjoyable otherwise. One thing to note is for poorly recorded tracks, it would be very apparent on the Quintet.

Highs

Combining the Micro Planar Transducer (MPT) driver and the Piezoelectric (PZT) driver contributes to the unique timbre of the upper mids and the highs of the Quintet. What I really enjoyed was the preciseness of the highs and how the decay seems to be pinpoint accurate on the high hat hits and snares. The treble extension is executed very well, and the Quintet has very good microdetail retrieval and gives the percussive notes the air and sense of space. What is potentially the Achilles heel of the Quintet is that some might find it borderline sibilant. Personally, I find it to hit a sweet spot, but I can see that it can be a little fatiguing for longer listening and it wouldn’t be my first pic if I had a longer, chill, listening session.

Overall

The PZT driver is said to be able to add to the overall soundstage of the Quintet. I am unsure how much of it can be attributed to the specific inclusion of that driver but I do acknowledge that the staging on the Quintet is on the wider side for an IEM and I really enjoy it for that. It makes the sound much more sophisticated and less congested for the individual layers to shine.

Conclusion​

The Kiwi Ears Quintet doesn’t attempt to win favours through flashy looks or gimmicks. Despite its stacked specs and a seeming mish-mash of drivers, everything comes together and plays its role as though in a real quintet, and puts out a beautiful, elegant, and precise performance where each member of the quintet plays their role perfectly and does not attempt to outshine each other. To complement the technical excellence of the Quintet, the price point is a rather attractive one in retrospect, proving to be an earphone with strong technical capabilities without breaking the bank. While it will not be everyone’s cup of tea with its crisp and sharp tuning, it was certainly something close to what I looked for in an IEM, and with reliable build quality and shell, topped off with an excellent fit, the Quintet easily makes it into my personal list of favourite IEMs.

Overview
This is a quadbrid iem oacking 1DD+2BA+1 Planar+1 PZT bone conductor. This has an impedance of 32 ohms and sensitivity of 106db.

Box contains:
6pairs of eartips (3pairs medium boar and 3 pairs wide boar)
Cable (2 pin 3.5mm), better than avg
Carry case (mid size), simple but gets the job done
Iems itself



Build, looks, fit
The shells made of resin with a aluminum face plate. The face plate has matt finish, so no fingerprints. The shells are light weight. The shell size is a bit on the larger side but its pretty comfortable.
Fit stability and breathability is good, thus I did not find any ear fatigue in longer lustening sessions.

Testing:
Source used: Cayin ru7, questyle m15 (best pairing), hidizs ap80 pro, fiio btr5 2021, apple dongle
Eartips used: stock tips, spinfit cp100+, spinfit cp145 (best pairing), spinfit w1, Final E.
Cable used: stock cable,letshuoer chimera, kbear black blade
Tested with versatile music genre



Sound:

Bass:
Bass performance overall is ok. It is handled with a single DLC dynamic driver. Quality and quantity of sub bass and mid bass is sufficient when the price and other frequency range is concerned. Both sub bass and mid bass has ok rumble and slam. They are well textured and mid bass separation from the mids is done well, transition is smooth. Overall bass depth is lacking. Score 3.5/5

Midrange
Its neutral and clean. The 2BA drivers are responsible for the mids and I must say its done quite well. Vocals, specially female vocals are crisp well extended without any hot spots. Male vocals are a bit subdued compared to female vocals but it does not impact the Transperant characteristics. String instruments have a sense of sparkle. Overall mids is nicely detailed without any fatigue or shout. Score: 4.75/5

Treble/ highs:
Treble is handled by the micro planar and pzt bone conduction drivers. Quintet’s treble is bright, airy and has really good energy. The transition from upper mid range is well tuned. It has good resolving capability with good body. But this might come off as too bright for treble sensitive listeners. Score: 5/5



Technicalities (score:4/5)
Soundstage is slightly better than average. It has good depth.
Imaging is pretty good for the price
Resolution and detail retrieval is also pretty good
Separation is good



Conclusion
Overall the Quintet is a great set for the price. If you like analytical sound with good technicalities, this will be right up your alley. Honestly from a value perspective I can not think of any other set this good at this price. Must say the kiwi ears team did a great job.

Kiwi Ears Quintet
1DD + 2BA + 1Micro Planar + 1 PiezoBone Conduction
Linsoul - $219

Firstly, I want to thank Linsoul for providing me this unit for review purposes, rest assured my review is 100% my own personal opinion and Linsoul has no input on this whatsoever.

Just in case you're interested on getting the Quintet, you can get it on Linsoul links below
https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-quintet

Unboxing
Inside the box you get :

• IEM
• Cable
• Pouch
• Eartips
• Manual

Build Quality

The faceplate is made from some type of metal, though sadly on my unit on the right side of the faceplate has a scratch out of the box, I assume it is some kind of soft metal (?), while the main body part is made from resin.

I do wish Kiwi Ears made the entire IEM from resin compared to the combinations of metal and resin so it would be more durable in the long run (no scratch on the metal part or dent).

Cable is pretty good for its price, it is very supple and have minimal microphonic effect and not easy to get tangled.
Though sadly Kiwi Ears Quintet only has 3.5mm single ended termination for the cable.
I do wish they have options to choose like 2.5mm / 3.5mm / 4.4mm.

Fitting
is very comfortable thanks to its lightweight and ergonomic and compact size.

Sound
Tested using FiiO K7BT, BTR7, Stock Cable, Moondrop Line T Cable, Stock Eartips
Music is mostly from Apple Music (J-POP, J-Rock, Anisong, EDM, RAP, Jazz, Metal)

Tonality in General : Bass Boosted Neutral

Bass is handled by a 1 DLC DD that has decent punch, it has a very agile presentation but not the most rumbliest and deepest / grand sounding bass.

Bass shelf is pretty clean and generous, that ranging from sub bass to around 300hz, so it does not color the midrange in any way, and bass texture is very good for its price.

Midrange is pretty neutral, the midrange here is handled by dual knowles BA, it has normal note weight, very good resolving capabilities and free of sibilance and shout, the decay of the midrange is also agile just like its bass.

Treble is handled by micro planar transducer and piezo bone conduction driver, it has sparkly airy with excellent resolving capabilities for its price, but again the overall presentation of the treble is very agile.

For example, cymbal here sounds pretty realistic but with a slightly faster decay than normal.

Personally myself would describe the Kiwi Ears Quintet sound presentation as very agile and analytical without sounding dry, by that I mean it has snappy transient and fast decay, listening to metal tracks on the Quintet is pretty enjoyable, but not only metal, the Kiwi Ears Quintet is an allrounder set of IEM, you can pretty much throw any genre to the Quintet and find yourself enjoying the music easily.

Technicalities

Stage is just average for its price, not the widest but not small either, it has exact wall placement and symmetrical in shape (width –depth).

Imaging is very good for its price, its almost sounds holographic but not there yet, you can feel the sound has dimension but it do lacks the “holographic pop up” that I used to hear on a holographical IEM.

Separation & Positioning is excellent, probably thanks to the 4 combinations type of driver used.
I'd say its definitely the strong point of the Quintet, you can easily pinpoint with razor sharp quality what instrument / sound is playing and where it comes from.
This set is also superb for gaming.

Detail Retrieval is excelent for its price, it has plenty of micro details all across the frequency and is very resolving for its price.

Comparations

iKKO OH10S

The OH10S only has traditional 2 drivers setup, 1DD + BA, it sounds more V-shaped compared to the Quintet.
Bass presentation of the OH10S is more punchier, deeper and has more rumble and more mid bass punch compared to the Quintet,
Midrange on the OH10S is more recessed and treble is more sparkly but with less definition compared to the Quintet.
Technicality wise, the Quintet pretty much beat OH10S in every aspects,
BUT that doesn't mean the OH10S is a bad set, it just that the OH10S has a more musical and fun engaging sound compared to the more analytical agile sound of Quintet.

Moondrop KATO

Slightly cheaper compared to the Quintet and it has just 1DD.
Sound on KATO is more your typical Harman modified with extra mid bass a'la Moondrop
KATO has more emphasize on the Midrange rather than balanced just like the Quintet.
So if you want amore midrange focused IEM, KATO might be the one for you,
BUT if you want more balanced sounding IEM, the Quintet is the one to pick.
Technicality wise, Quintet pretty much beat KATO in every aspects.

Conclusion

Do I recommend the Quintet?

Sound wise? ABSOLUTELY ! It is pretty much a steal on this price, it has top quality tuning with very good technicalities for its price that can easily competes with higher priced IEM.

Though if I had to nitpick about the Quintet is that I wish Kiwi Ears should've choose to use full resin body rather than Metal & Resin Combinations.
Why so? Because the Metal faceplate on my right side unit has scratch out of the box, so I assume it would be easy to scratch and might not look pretty for the long run.

AND I do wish they have options for 4.4mm balanced cable rather than only 3.5mm single ended.

Thats all from me for now, thanks for reading !

Just in case you're Indonesian or understand Bahasa Indonesia, you can watch the review video of Quintet here


-littlenezt

I buy pretty much all my iems so my review is 100% my subjective opinion not influenced by anyone else.

I'm a guy who wants to like what he's bought and will put the work into finding the best synergy to make an iem work for me.

My scoring system is as follows

1. Meh
2.Average
3.Good
4. Incredible

(With space within this to wiggle)

Spoiler alert: The Quintet are upper Good nudging Incredible with the right synergistic components.

I think a warm dap is essential the Shanling M6 Ultra, Sony Nw-WM1A sound superb. Hidiz Ap80 pro X and iBasso dx160 were murderous making me rip the Quintet from my ears.

A nice good quality copper cable to nudge the warmth I used not too expensive £30 off
Ali. FENGRU 610 Core Litz Type6 Pure Copper Silver Plated 2Pin 0.78 Upgrade Cable

The final and most important the correct tips

The Kiwi Ears Quintet utilizes 4 different types of drivers, consisting of :
1 Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) dynamic driver,
2 balanced armature (BA) drivers,
1 planar magnetic driver,
1 piezoelectric (PZT) bone conductor.
With a total of 5 drivers per each ear, hence the name.
So what do they sound like?

To simplify... All the DETAILS! with adequate bass (tips dependant) Do you want here everything that's going on in your music for £200 instead of paying silly money then the Quintet is your answer.

Now let's not get ahead of ourselves, this isn't the iem for everyone.

I favour a warm bass heavy signature with a lush midrange and lively treble and the Quintet are not this.

I can still enjoy a good 4 hour session with the Quintet and appreciate their very much above average technical performance with slightly thin mid range and lower treble.

The clarity of the music is supreme to the point if you're listening to poorly recorded mastered music they can make you wince as its all layed bare.

So earlier I made reference to tips this is really important

I tried loades of different tips before I was satisfied with the bass and trebleI. I really didn't like wide bore(my usual first choice on any iem) tips, the bass was anemic the treble bordering on murder treble the whole signature was thin and sharp.

I have large ear canals so I struggle to find big tips needed to seal correctly. The saviour to my woes?

The black Final E tips. Everything fell into place balancing out the frequencies perfectly to the point I kind of fell in love with the Quintet and it's unveiling qualities, the way they dig into the music, present space between instruments in a wonderful expansive stage where you can pick out positioning of individual instruments.

The really detailed treble without sibilance is a marvel.

The bass is not the star of the show it is balanced has a good sub bass presence while a sufficiently textured mid bass. It gives a clean, precise and incisive bass response that is quite well-separated from the other frequencies it has OK subase and decent midbase attack, it can come over slightly hollow but it's a minor quibble when taken as a whole with the rest of the frequency range.

The Quintet unboxing is minimalist to say the least. You get iems and OK 3.5mm copper cable and a zip up case (it's small and pocketable) and some inadequate silicone tips. All the money went in the iems and it shows.

You might read this and think I don't really love the Quintet. I really do appreciate the things it's good at and in the right mood with the right music it incredible.

Quintet is a set of musicians consisting of five members in a musical group. The prime examples of famous quintet acts are the Jackson 5, The Temptations, Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls. Quintet is also a typical set-up for rock and metal bands like Anthrax, Scorpions, Avenged Sevenfold, Malice Mizer (a 90s to early 2000s band act from Japan) and Twisted Sister.


This is Kiwi Ears Quintet, a follow-up product from their previous model, The Quartet. Unlike the Quartet which has a usual hybrid driver set-up, the Quintet takes another level for a hybrid driver configuration as it added another two types of drivers, a piezoelectric driver and a "micro-planar" driver which makes it a "quad-brid" set.



The number of drivers that were implemented to the Quintet's transducers on each side consists of a single dynamic driver, two (2) balanced armature drivers, a MPT (micro planar transducer) driver and a single piezo-electric driver. The dynamic driver is a 10mm size with DLC (diamond-like carbon) diaphragm and it has good ductility properties to deliver speed, precision, slam and more responsiveness on the bass part. The two Knowles balanced armature drivers handles the midrange part to deliver a natural and better resolving on both vocals and instruments.The " 'MPT (micro planar transducer)' " or Flat Panel Driver which is more flexible to integrate with other drivers as it gives a better efficiency on extracting a full range frequency on the treble region, while the piezoelectric driver will added more air and stereo spatiality.




These drivers were encapsulated in the shells made of composite materials composed of aluminium alloy in a silver coating with matte-like finish and a black-coloured acrylic resin on its cavity base. The shell chassis of Quintet takes an archetypal UIEM (universal in-ear monitor) form factor for wearing versatility to all ear sizes. Like all Kiwi Ears products, Quintet has a 2-pin connector as its detachable mechanism for straightforward on doing cable replacement.



As for Quintet's fitting and comfort, With its pretty light shell chassis with smooth contours and a stabilising fin for better insertion, it rests well in my lugholes as I can wear it for long listening sessions. Passive noise isolation seems to be fine as it was able to block some noises for the outside.



Kiwi Ears included a stock cable for Quintet of decent quality. It has 4-core High-quality, Oxygen-free silver plated copper wiring with 3.5mm as its termination plug.



The product presentation of Kiwi Ears Quintet seems pretty simple but with its basic inclusions, it does fine for its usage.



Here are the following contents inside:

■ Pair of Kiwi Ears Quintet IEM.
■ A stock cable.
■ IEM storage case.
■ Six (6) pairs of black-coloured ear tips.
■ Instruction manual.



Regarding its amplification, Kiwi Ears Quintet is easy to drive as it only needs a sufficient power output from a multimedia source like smartphones, laptop and DAP. A decent power output will deliver an optimal performance on Quintet to have a full range sound.



The tonality of Kiwi Ears Quintet has a mild u-shaped sound signature which is quite balanced. It has an elevated low and high frequencies with a pretty linear and neutral midrange.


(This graph was provided by @koyawmohabal , credit to his effort on this one)


LOWS/BASS:

It seems that the bass quality and quantity of Quintet is fairly balanced as it has a good sub bass presence while a sufficiently textured mid bass. Therefore, it gives a cleaner, precise and incisive bass response that is quite well-separated from other frequencies.

Sub bass can be relatively felt in the sonic spectrum as I discerningly felt those reverberations and rumble from synthesisers, drum machines and low toned bass guitars. On mid bass, as I mentioned a while ago, it has sufficient texture but I also notice that it has a depth to a lesser degree and less darker pitch that would affect some tonal colours on some instruments and male vocals. Bass guitars have a rather sombre and resonant sound though there are some instances that it sounds a bit hollow. Bass kick drums have a thudding and eerily sound while bass trombones have a rounded and soft sound from them though it is quite lacking on fullness and darker tone. Bass-baritone has a sufficient woolly and density but it isn't that gravelly nor has a darker tone due to lack of depth on it as I noticed on the vocal quality and texture of Andrew Eldritch, Louis Armstrong and Barry White.


MIDRANGE:

The midrange of Quintet appears to have a neutral, clean and translucent with bright characteristics that will be beneficial more on some female vocals, strings and woodwinds. Although I noticed a slight notch presentation on its overall frequency range spectrum.

As I noticed that male vocals especially on most baritones and tenors are quite lacking in strength, weight and volume but it manages to give a flexible and bright tone on leggero tenors, some lyric tenors and countertenors. Baritones have milder and less warm tone as I'm listening to Billy Idol, Lenny Kravitz and David Bowie, Don't expect a steely, fuller and strength on Kavalierbariton and Verdi baritone as they sound rather sweeter and way too smooth as I listen on both Dmitri Hvorostovsky's and Robert Merrill's vocal qualities. Countertenors sounds excellent on Quintet as they have a smooth, agility and fiery style as they are hitting with their highest modal range. Andreas Scholl, King Diamond and Geddy Lee are few exceptional countertenors singers that I'm for volume and texture on vocal quality of this particular vocal type. Contraltos seems to have decent warmth and power but I also noticed that they don't have depth and volume to give a fuller and rich tone on singers like Annie Lennox, Anggun and Toni Braxton. Mezzo-sopranos and sopranos somehow sound better as the former vocal type has a smoother and tender while the latter one has more silvery and shimmering that benefited on how this set was tuned. Florid and rapid vocal passages along with an energetic and volatile tone on coloratura sopranos was almost perfect executed on how I enjoy to listen to Olga Pereyatko and Diana Damrau with their sweet and provocative vocal qualities although there are some pitfalls in which I will point it out later.

On instruments, string instruments like acoustic or electric guitars have this bright, crisp and lingering sounds as I hear those plucking, strumming and fretting on their string notations while violins have a bright, clear and metallic sound. Woodwinds like flutes have brilliant, silvery and bright though sometimes there's a shrill on it. Piccolos have a brilliant and penetrating sound from them while both clarinets and saxophones have incisive, bright and reedy sounds. Percussive like snare drums seems to have dry and sharp sound from them, field drums and toms have resonant and hollow sound, and then kettledrums seems to have a resonant and dry sound from it. Brasses like trumpets have a vivid and metallic tone while trombones have sinister, intensity and overpowering sound that somehow doesn't blend well with other types of instruments. Pianos relatively sounds more balanced to bright tone that gives an even and sparkly sound.


HIGHS/TREBLE:

The treble response of Quintet is definitely on the brighter side tuning as it has shimmer, crisp and clarity due to the perceptible elevation on the upper midrange and presence part of the treble region. But there will be some trade offs on that in a long listening session, it might give some treble-sensitive folks a listening fatigue due to some minor occurrences of sibilance on sibilant-laden tracks particularly on female voices with high vocal range.

It gives a more precise tone and attack on some instruments like cymbals, hi-hats, glockenspiels and celestas. Cymbals have a glistening and metallic sound on every hit, glockenspiels have a bright and penetrating sound and celestas have that ethereal and shimmering sound, and then on hi-hats, they have a shortened buzzing to give that distinctive chick sound. When it comes to brilliance treble quality and quantity, Kiwi Ears Quintet is one of the few sets that is quite excellent on sparkle and treble air. It has a good amount of harmonics and a remarkable quantity of air.


SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

While it has an impressive lateral span on its perceived sound/speaker stage with good height ceiling, its depth was its chink of its armour as I definitely notice its inadequate texture to give a rather flat and linear presentation but in my opinion, I think its fine as there are times that my listening mood wants a more neutral, flatter and clinical presentation. So far, it gives me a good spacious head room within my aural sphere.

The imaging presentation of the Quintet has a concave-like sound field that gives me that almost atmospheric-like impression as I was able to pinpoint the position of vocals and instruments with good separation and decent arrangements of each tonal and frequency layers of instruments and vocals in a black sonic canvas. With good projection of its imaging aspect, playing some complex tracks will be easy-peasy for this set.

On cohesive performance of its quad driver set, it has a good transient speed on its dynamic while the balanced armature drivers, piezoelectric driver and MPT driver able to deliver a resolving and good output capacity for seamless sonic performance.

Regarding its resolution capabilities, it has good micro-dynamics due its sharp definition on retrieving a substantial amount of details and nuances of datas from an audio track. But on the macro-dynamics, while it has solid fundamentals, you will also notice a tad leaner on its note weight but at least it doesn't have that mushy nor too smoothen characteristic that will be detrimental on its overall resolution.


PEER COMPARISONS:

CELEST AUDIO PHOENIXCALL

■ Like Quintet, Phoenixcall also has a hybrid driver configuration albeit it doesn't have a piezoelectric driver. It also has a resin shell but on its form factor, it has a modified UIEM-style but still gives a good fitting and comfort. Both have good product packaging but Phoenixcall has better product presentation and more ear tips and other paraphernalias. And it should be noted that Phoenixcall is way cheaper when it comes to its asking price.

■ Phoenixcall has a warmer V-shaped sound signature which is quite contrasting to a mild U-shaped with a more balanced and neutral sound of the Quintet. It has a more pronounce bass response with more bodied mid bass, a recessed midrange but somehow it has more texture on male vocals and instruments like percussion and brasses and similar treble response but Phoenixcall have less airy treble compared to the Quintet.

■ On technical performance, Phoenixcall projects a smaller sound/speaker stage compared to the Quintet but its depth is more substantial compared to the sparseness of Quintet. It has a similar imaging which projects a concave-like sound field presentation. While Quintet has better detail retrieval, Phoenixcall has more solid macro-dynamics.


SEE AUDIO RINKO

■ In an IEM which has similar driver configuration and also has a new type of driver which is a flat panel driver that is also marketed as "micro-planar transducer". But the difference was that Rinko doesn't have a balanced armatures nor piezoelectric driver. It has a 3D-printed shell chassis. On product presentation, both have its own strengths, while Quintet has more ear tips to choose from, Rinko has better quality on stock ear tips and a more premium-looking IEM storage case and other quality goodies. And Rinko is more cheaper than Quintet, like over half its price.

■ Rinko has a more V-shaped sound profile that makes it a fun sounding compared to the Quintet. It has a more punchy bass response, a noticeable notch on its midrange presentation especially some instruments and vocals are either laid back or less pronounced in the overall presentation and similar treble quality as they both have a brighter response but Rinko has only a moderate treble air.

■ On technical aspects, Rinko has only an average sound/speaker stage proportions but at least it has better depth compared to Quintet. Rinko has a more solid volume and density on its macro-dynamics while its detail retrieval is above average as it able to extract some nuances and details from an audio track.


To summarise the overall facets of Kiwi Ears Quintet, it is definitely an improvement compare to the Quartet as it has newer driver set-up, more compelling design of its shell while removing the toggle switches and better tuning and more improvement on its technical capabilities over its predecessor. Kiwi Ears Quintet is truly a well-polished and all-performer set despite minor noticeable drawbacks on some of its capabilities.

Kiwi Ears Quintet is a product testament on what Kiwi Ears can do on their continued refinement of their products. This is actually the first "quadbrid" configuration in under $US300/£242 price range and its a very compelling product that portable audio enthusiasts should try.

Kiwi Ears Quintet is now available in LINSOUL, check out the unaffiliated link down below.

★★KIWI EARS QUINTET - LINSOUL★★


And also checkout my reviews on other Kiwi Ears products:

● KIWI EARS CADENZA

● KIWI EARS QUARTET

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: KIWI EARS QUINTET
IMPEDANCE: 32Ω
SENSITIVITY: 106dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 30KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78MM)
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER + (2) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVERS + (1) PIEZOELECTRIC DRIVER + (1) FLAT PANEL DRIVER.


Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to KIWI EARS nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to KAREENA TANG of LINSOUL for providing this review unit as a loaner unit. I truly appreciate her generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.

Review OF The Kiwi Ears Quintet​

Introduction​

I am amazed at how Kiwi Ears is able to create exceptional IEMs one by one, especially the one I will be reviewing today, the Quintet, which has already become a favorite among many audiophiles who have tested and vouch for them. The Kiwi ears has been producing a lot of IEMs, whether they are inexpensive or exorbitant and each one of them has met many audiophiles' needs. One of them is myself, who is a huge admirer of their IEM and has tried every single one, except their OG Orchestra. Let me clarify a few topics before proceeding.

Disclaimer​

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

Specification​

The Quintet has five drivers: a DLC dynamic driver, two balanced armature drivers, one micro planar driver, and one piezolecetric driver. The treble area is handled by the micro planar speaker, namely frequencies between 4kHz and 40kHz. The dynamic driver is in charge of the bass, while the two knowles BA are in charge of the midrange. The PZT driver is used to improve audio resolution, texture, and sound quality. The shells are composed of resin, and the faceplate is made of metal. It feels extremely light in the hand, and it is also quite comfortable to wear while listening for extended periods of time. It comes with a high-quality oxygen-free silver-plated copper cable that feels premium in the hand. Other accessories include a travel case and 6 pairs of silicone ear tips in various sizes. The impedance is 32 Ohms, and the sensitivity is 106dB, according to the technical specifications. The frequency response ranges between 20Hz and 30kHz. Total harmonic distortion is less than 0.5%, and the rated and maximum power are 5mW and 10mW, respectively.

Sound​

I was astonished when I heard about the Quintet since I didn't expect them to release this fantastic IEM. To be more specific, this is the first time I've heard a 5 driver IEM for less than $250 USD with a unique driver setup. Though I was suspicious for the reasons stated above about whether they would sound well based on what I observed on the graph. But, boy, did Kiwi Ears surprise me again with this beast. The sound is well balanced, with a strong bass presence and the clearest midrange and treble you'll find in a 200-300USD IEM. Although the bass feels like it influence the response overwhelmingly, but it is done very considerably, so that the listener can enjoy both the bass presence and smooth details of the higher frequencies. I am in awe with such a response from an IEM which cost the fraction of any TOTL IEM. The mid range is forward enough to keep the vocals in centre of the mix and the instruments complimenting them effortlessly. The treble is super extended which sounds so expansive and airy which brings around the subtle details and nuances made audible. I should also point out that this is not a detail-oriented IEM; they sound detailed enough, but the sharp and edge sounds are missing. Let's go further into the sound.

Treble​

I was really delighted to listen to them after viewing the graph because of how the treble is depicted on the graph; the treble sounds precisely like it, which is tonally balanced and incredibly silky and smooth in presence. When I listened to IEMs, whether a 1000USD IEM or a 100USD IEM, they frequently made me feel incomplete. Nonetheless, the treble has a really smooth and silky texture, and while the reaction is a little muted since the details aren't too engaging, it hooks you up for an overall ride with a genuine feel. The notes aren't jagged or crisp, and the voices and instruments aren't particularly appealing, but their presence is audible enough to keep the engagement going. The vocals stretches out which makes it sound very clean and airy, thus providing a delicate and unique quality to the response as it not even distorts or degrades stretching over higher frequencies. I am surprised to hear how well and revealing the quantity of the vocals and instruments can be above 10kHz. The instruments sound rounded which makes them soft in texture but perfect for smooth response. The cymbal crashes sounds spicy enough to not sound offensive but like mentioned before they’re not sharp or edgy notes. The lower treble holds enough energy to bring out the best of vocals or instruments, they tend to bring out the best details out in the overall mix as the approach of vocals and instruments is invoking and clear. There are subtle variations that makes it sound catchy and a little clear overall. The vocals sounds forward and retains that smoothness and natural feel to the notes where the instruments compliments them effortlessly. The response is not very energetic or in your face but balanced out so well which brings the harmonic presence of the overall notes to peace. This response doesn’t cough up any offensiveness in the mix whether it is the upper treble or the lower treble. From what I can tell is that this is the smoothest and cleanest treble I have ever heard out under a 300USD IEM. So the overall presentation of the treble region is silky smooth, nicely extensive and the cleanest one can offer.

Mid range​

Aside from the slight variations, the mid range sounds precisely like the mid range of my beloved monarch MKII, albeit with a bit more vitality around 2-3k kHz. Though I kind of anticipated it to sound like that, the quintet does a good job of fixing the lean tone of the midrange. The vocals have greater note weight and richness than the Monarch MKII, making them sound more richer and realistic. The details aren't as revealing, but they sound crisp around higher frequencies, whether it's the voices or instruments. The upper midrange has the same amount of vitality as the lower treble, but it sounds more deep and satisfying. The upper mid range sounds open and airy where the vocals sound as expansive as they can with their naturalistic tone. The male vocals have that girth and weigh in the notes which makes it more intense to listen to, on the other hand the female vocals have that light, beautiful and appealing. The instruments on the other hand sounds rounded and natural, especially the guitar strums. The details that comes across feels the same as revealing as it is in the lower treble. The lower mid range comes across dense and thick, though the response is not mumbling or wobbling as the vocals and instruments doesn’t sound as vague as I thought at first. The organic tone which is resonated all over the higher frequency comes from this region as I can feel how natural sounding it is. The mid bass does leak into the lower mid range but doesn’t mess with the vocals or instruments presentation. Because of how natural it sounds, the organic tone that resonates across the higher frequency emanates from this location. The mid bass does seep into the lower mid range, but it does not interfere with the presentation of the singers or instruments. The bass guitar smacks strong and heavy without compromising any subtleties. Whether in the higher or lower midrange, the smooth response retains and maintains tonal balance. The mid range's overall response is melodic, open, and natural sounding.

Bass​

The bass response is heavenly, but controlled and authoritative. The significant amount of bass exhibited on the graph led me to believe that these would be bass-heavy IEMs with a somewhat muffled mid range, but I was mistaken. Most people do not understand how the bass reacts to how the overall tuning is, and I was firm in my beliefs as well, but the truth is that the overall response determines how the bass will act, and while not everything is a graph, people believe that what they see on a graph is the truth. To be honest, the bass response from the quintet has a powerful well-established while neither dominating or affecting the higher frequencies. The bass pulsates and has more than enough punch to keep the tonal balance in place. The bass concentration is in the sub bass range, although the mid bass is there as well. The sub bass dives deep and sounds echoing inside the ear canals, creating a slight rumble. The impactful punches pound on the eardrum while retracting as quickly as possible, giving the notes a natural and organic feel. The same can be said for the mid bass, where the slams and thumps hit you hard enough to sound as realistic as possible, especially when listening to old school hip hop. I had a lot of joy listening to the beats hit hard while keeping the mix clean. The kick drum has a strong response, and the tom's tone is immediately discernible. The mid bass bleeds into the lower mids just enough to make it seem as warm and genuine as possible. Not only the bass area, but the entire mix, is so precisely tuned to sound smooth and natural that I was caught aback by the reaction. The bass texture and intricacies are also pretty outstanding, with the notes' impacts making it seem more captivating and intelligible. As a result, the entire presentation of the bass area is forceful, hard-hitting, and extremely well regulated, resulting in a satisfying and natural reaction.

Technical Performance​

The Quintet's technical performance under $250USD is really fantastic, as it sounds well detailed, spacious, and open while providing such a stage that the distinction between parts is immediately discernible. Not only do the notes strike rapidly, but they also dissolve quickly.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

The soundstage is fantastic; in fact, the holographic approach is so vast that the singers I hear seem to have no limit and still sound lovely. The separation of the pieces allows me to easily determine where the music is coming from, and the different character of the elements makes it much better. The image is bright and sharp, with just enough contrast to keep the balance between offensive and non-offensive. The integrity has been preserved.

Speed & Resolution​

Because of the large size of the stage, the details aren't too upfront or in your face, but they do bring out enough to imagine a larger presentation, which shows how amazing the resolution is. One thing the Quintet may lack is micro-details, but altogether, the Quintet is an incredible beast. When it comes to the assault and decay of the notes, the resolvability is really rapid. In my perspective, the notes hit and recede at the exact time.

Sound Impressions​

Sources​

Tempotec V6 - The sound was smooth and balanced while listening with the V6. The treble was expansive and airy, and the midrange was broad; with the voices seeming alive and fascinating. The bass seemed robust and resolving, which means it's well-controlled and had adequate presence. The technical performance was consistent across all sources, and I never noticed any offsetting effects, with the exception of the soundstage, which was likewise unaffected. To be honest, if any exist, they are few and far between. I truly enjoyed using any and all sources I could get my hands on.

iFi Hipdac - The sound was enjoyable and intriguing while listening with the Hipdac. Of course, the treble was more lively, but the midrange was more front in the mix. The bass felt the most powerful, with a stronger mid-bass presence. The thumps and smashes were more audible. The stage felt more rounded, or should I say less airy and spacious, but other than that, I didn't notice any technical improvements.

Tracks Used​

Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Guns 'N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeRs
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measures
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex, Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

To summarize my evaluation, I believe they are the greatest sounding IEM at this price point. The most balanced sound available in this pricing range. The IEM is highly polished and sounds incredibly smooth, with superb technical abilities and tone that relaxes and envelops you in its pleasant response. This IEM comes highly recommended by me. So I'd at least encourage you to give these a shot. These will undoubtedly astound you as they have me.

TLDR version on YouTube: TDLR - Kiwi Ears Quintet

The Kiwi Ears Quintet have been sent to me by Linsoul in exchange for the publication of this review. Linsoul have not made any requests or comments and I will do my best to be as unbiased as humanly possible, although it is always good to take into consideration that these IEMs have not cost me anything.

You can find a link to the Quintet via Linsoul by visiting the version of this review published on my blog, link at the end of this post.

As always, it is a non affiliate link, meaning I do not receive anything in exchange for clicks or purchases made through said link.

To avoid being repetetive in my reviews, you can find all the info about how I create the reviews, equipment used, how I receive the products and how to interpret my reviews by visiting: About my reviews



Intro…

I recently reviewed the Quartet, a quad driver IEM by Kiwi Ears, and mentioned that there have been quite a few releases from them lately. The Quintet is the latest of those releases, featuring 5 drivers (as the name would imply) and coming in at just over 200€, from Linsoul, at the time of putting this review together. That places it just a little cheaper than the Orchestra Lite and leaves 2 cheaper models (plus a more expensive Orchestra, which is the TOTL from Kiwi).

The drivers featured in the Quintet are a DLC dynamic driver, 2 balanced armature drivers, a planar magnetic driver, and a piezoelectric bone conductor. This makes for quite a complex setup that is very easy to get wrong. The planar magnetic driver is something they call an MPT (Micro Planar Transducer) and there is some debate as to whether this should actually be referred to as a planar or not. However, I am not here to debate the technology, I am here to tell you what I think about the performance of the IEMs, and let me say that I am impressed.



Presentation…

There is really not much to say about the presentation that I haven’t already said in my last 3 reviews of Kiwi Ears IEMs. The packaging is the same as the Cadenza, which is the same as the Orchestra Lite, which is the same as the Quartet… just the image on the cover and the name of the model changes.

Inside the box there isn’t much that differs from the other 3 models either. Compared to the Cadenza, we get a transport/storage case (which is the same as the one included with the Orchestra Lite and the Quartet). In comparison to the Quartet, we don’t get the little tool to move the DIP switches, which is to be expected, as the Quintet doesn’t have any switches to move.

I will say that I prefer the cable that is included with the Quintet. It is similar to the cables included with the other models but in a greyish brown colour which I am a fan of.

In general the presentation is good, the contents are decent and I have no complaints about them.



Build and aesthetics…

The build and aesthetics are something that sets the Quintet apart from the other models in the brands line up. Where the others all featured a resin shell with a marble effect finish, the Quintet goes for a more discreet metal faceplate mounted on to a plain black resin shell.

To be honest, I really like the marble effect finish but the simple design of the Quintet is not something that I find ugly either. It is certainly more discreet (although the marble effect I didn’t personally find to be too “loud” anyway) and shouldn’t be a turn off for anyone, unless they have a dislike for simplicity.

The build is just as good as on the full resin options, with the faceplates seemingly well attached and no sign of any flaws, but only time will tell in this regard.

While I don’t think the Quintet are anything special to look at, I certainly have no complaints about their build or aesthetics either.



Sound…

All tracks mentioned are clickable links that allow you to open the reference track in the streaming service of your choice (YouTube, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, etc.

Here is where things get interesting and where I found myself enjoying the Quintet very much. Before getting into my usual description of how the IEMs perform sound wise, let’s take a look at the frequency response in comparison to my usual preference curve for reference:



While on the subject of graphs, let me mention something that I find interesting. If you have been following my reviews, especially in the budget section, I have said multiple times that the Kiwi Ears Cadenza are one of my top picks in the under 50€ segment. In fact, they are probably only second to the Zero: Red in this regard.

Well, here is the graph of the Quintet in comparison to the budget Cadenza:



As you can see, the tuning is very similar and to the ear, the Quintet do actually come across to me as a refined and improved Cadenza, with better technical performance and some very slight changes in the FR which I have to say I like.

(By the way, if you want to compare the Quintet to the other Kiwi Ears models, or any of the IEMs I have measured, you can do so here: achoreviews.squig.link)

But let’s go through the usual procedure and start in the lowest of ranges, using my obligatory “Chameleon” bass work out test track. There is plenty of subbass to create those low rumbling notes that are present in this track. Yet, while the presence is there, I did find that there is a clarity that takes away from the background vibrations that are so often present when listening to “Chameleon” on a subbass heavy set. To put it into context, it is like having a couple of small and fast subwoofers, rather than a large and rumbling subwoofer. I say this because, while there is certainly a boosted presence in subbass, I wouldn’t say that, upon listening, that these are focused towards a basshead market.

“Royals” is a better way to showcase what I mean, where the subbass is certainly present and clean, showing that dirt that I associate with this track in these regions, yet staying out of the way as far as the low end rumble. I can’t say that it is the best subbass I have heard but it is certainly on the good side of things.

As we move into the midbass, there is a slight boost but it is very well done and works well for things like “Sun Is Shining”, where the bass is very nicely presented in a clean and precise way. My fatigue test with “Crazy” proves to give the guitar a nice body to it without being overly boomy, making the track enjoyable. Yes, there is a noticeable presence but it is not something that I dislike.

John Paul Jones’ bass guitar in “Whole Lotta Love” has a very nice thump to it, making its presence felt and not just heard. I did find that Prince’s bass in “Black Muse” was a little more boomy than I expected but that is a minor thing, it still sounds very good.

The mid range is very nicely balanced, with good presence throughout, climbing smoothly to a presence peak just under 3kHz in the upper mids, bringing vocals forwards into the light. There are tracks which have an overly present midbass range in their recordings that can overshadow the mids slightly, yet with good recordings, I find the balance to be pleasant and natural.

For vocal and acoustic based music, which accounts for a lot of my listening time, I find instruments to have a very nice timbre to them, with a little bit of extra warmth in the lower ranges which I would live without but don’t dislike by any means. For example, the lower percussion in “Hotel California (Acoustic)” does have a bit of boom to it but does not overshadow the guitars or vocals.

Vocals I find to be rather natural, although I do find that on occasions that some female vocals, such as Alison Kraus in “Down to the River to Pray”, can seem to be lacking just a little excitement. As with the slight boomyness in Prince’s bass, this is a very minor thing and is much more of an observation than a complaint from my side.

Moving into the upper ranges, I find them to be very coherent and fairly neutral as far as peaks and sibilance is concerned. Patricia Barber, in my usual “Code Cool” scoring, would be placed around a +1 in my opinion. That is, just above what I would consider neutral but only slightly. In the case of Paul Simon in “Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes”, I would again place his voice around neutral as far as sibilance is concerned.

Detail in good, with instruments being nicely separated and lingering effects such as the echoes in “All Your Love Turns to Passion” being easily identified. I wouldn’t say the details are amazing but are certainly above average, especially in this price point.

Soundstage is decent, at least above average for a set of IEMs, although they don’t provide a huge soundstage (not many IEMs do). When listening to the binaural recording of “La Luna”, I find that the instruments are slightly closer than I would prefer, with the right front guitar seemingly more centered than on other “wider” presentations, without as much depth towards the front as on other sets.



Conclusion…

I really like the Kiwi Ears Quintet. I would say that they are my favourite IEMs from the brand to date (note that I haven’t heard the original Orchestra, so I cannot compare there). I still feel like the Cadenza are the biggest bang for buck from Kiwi Ears (and a lot of other brands) but in the price range that the Quintet sits in, they are certainly a great set of IEMs. I think I would even go as far as to place them in the top 10 of IEMs I have most enjoyed out of those that I have reviewed, although I would need to decide that after a longer term relationship.

There are a few things that are not perfect but they are minor things, in my opinion, and would have absolutely no doubts about recommending people check them out if they are looking for a reasonably priced, good all round IEM. Especially if you are someone who listens to more modern, well recorded, music.

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As with all of my reviews, this one is also available in Spanish both on my blog (www.achoreviews.com) and on YouTube (www.youtube.com/achoreviews)

All FR measurements of IEMs can be viewed and compared on achoreviews.squig.link

All isolation measurements of IEMs can be found on achoreviews.squig.link/isolation

General/Build/Comfort/Packaging
Everyone should know Kiwi Ears by now, adding Quintet into the count, that makes a total of five Kiwi Ears IEM that I have reviewed to date. Having good experience with the previous models, naturally, the expectation on Quintet is high, and it does not disappoint in fact. Build quality is good, with a good track record, Quintet’s build quality is consistent with the previous releases as well. Packaging is the usual Kiwi Ears style, a black storage case, two types of eartips and a high quality OFSPC cable in 3.5 termination, if only they were to offer a balanced 4.4 termination. Good unboxing experience and packaging overall. It is also comfortable to be worn for long listening session, i have it in my ears for approximately 2-3 hours when i’m testing it, i did not encounter any discomfort or pressure build up as it has two venting hole.

Gears used for this review

• Earmen Angel Dac/Amp
• Earmen ST-Amp
• Earmen Colibri
• Earmen CH-Amp
• Hiby RS2
• Kiwi Ears Quintet Stock cable and Stock Eartips

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

Sound Impression
The Quintet is impressive sounding in many ways, amazing technicalities and good treble extension, not to mention fast and deep punchy bass. Despite sporting several different driver configurations (1DD+2BA+1 Planar+1 PZT), they sounded very coherent and I'm really impressed. Timbre sounds natural to my ears, with very minor BA timbre. Tonality is slightly warm to my ears and very balanced sounding across the frequency range. Let’s take a look at the breakdown below:



Bass

• Bass is very fast and punchy with good textures all around
• When i’m listening to Metallica’s Lux Aeterna, all the fast drumming has very good punch and impact to it, very satisfying and it doesn’t sound bloated at all
• Sub bass has good rumble to it but it doesn’t go very deep, suitable for EDM based on my preference, but definitely not basshead kind of bass quantity
• Bass doesn’t bleed into the mids
• Very good speed and good control especially when amped

Mids

• The mids are not recessed by all means yet not too forward to the point where it’s in your face
• Male and female has good textures, but Quintet seems to favour female vocal as it has a bit more energy compared to male vocal, but rest assure, the pinna gain is rather safe and certainly not shouty at all (but do take into consideration that we might have different tolerance)

Treble

• This is the exciting part about Quintet, the treble response is just amazing
• Despite sporting a piezo, it doesn’t have the usual piezo “zing” that i heard from other brands, possibly due to the implementation and tuning as well
• Treble extension is excellent and the piezo does add quite a bit of sparkles on the top end, transient response are very dynamic to my ears
• It has plenty of air as well, contributing to a good soundstage, due to the implementation and tuning of the treble, switching over to Final Audio’s Type E eartips gives the soundstage a lift, as well as more body overall
• Very good detail retrieval as micro details can be picked up easily

Imaging/Soundstage

• Imaging is good with precise positioning of instruments coming from various directions and also good layering
• Soundstage on stock eartips is slightly out of your head, but when i swapped to Final Audio’s Type E eartips, the overall experience is different, it sounds more 3D-ish with better width, depth and height perception

Driveability

• Quintet is fairly easy to drive, however it does scale with a better source
• Pairing it with Hiby’s RS2 DAP gives a very dynamic listening experience with R2R tonality
• Doesn’t really need amping, but when amped, bass does exhibit better control and also slightly larger soundstage

Comparison with Orchestra Lite

• Decided to make this comparison because the price point is quite similar with Orchestra Lite costing a little bit more
• Orchestra Lite is all about smoothness and well bodied sound, very smooth overall and has good body and detail retrieval
• The tuning is different compared to Quintet, in terms of tonality, Orchestra Lite is leaning towards the warmer side while Quintet is neutral with slight warmth based on my listening experience
• The technicalities on the Quintet is way ahead of Orchestra Lite, this is not to say the Orchestra lite has bad technicalities, it’s just tuned differently for different audiences
• Orchestra Lite has no vent, hence some people might experience pressure build up and discomfort after a while, also, the shell size is slightly bigger for Orchestra Lite

Final Thoughts
Having tested several Kiwi Ears IEM, it is safe to say that Quintet exceeded my expectations as well. Unique driver configuration coupled with the right tuning, this is definitely the recipe for success. The tonality sounds natural, good technicalities and treble extension, snappy and punchy bass, and right pricing, at the time of writing, Quintet is priced at 219$, which in my opinion is definitely a steal considering the unique driver configuration coupled with good tuning, not to mention despite sporting several different drivers configuration, the coherency is just amazing. This will definitely be an easy recommendation from me. They definitely deserve more attention.

*Quintet is sent over by Linsoul for the purpose of this review. I thank them for the opportunity and support as always.

Head over to their store if you’re interested in getting a pair
Kiwi Ears Quintet - Non affiliated

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Linsoul for providing this review unit. The Kiwi Ears Quintet can be gotten here (no affiliate links): https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-quintet




SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 1 x 10 mm diamond-like carbon (DLC) DD, 2 x Knowles BA drivers, 1 x 5 mm MPT (micro planar transducer) driver, and 1 x piezoelectric driver
• Impedance: 32 Ohms
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 30 kHz
• Sensitivity: 106 dB
• Cable: 2-pin 0.78 mm; 3.5 mm oxygen-free silver-plated copper cable
• Tested at $219 USD

ACCESSORIES

Apart from the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of wide-bore silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- 3 pairs of narrow-bore silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- Cable
- Semi-rigid carrying case



For a $200ish set, the accessories are arguably on the spartan side. A modular cable or even foam tips would not have gone unappreciated.

The wide-bore tips boost treble and soundstage, whereas the narrow-bore ones increase bass, though at the expense of a smaller soundstage.

The stock oxygen-free silver-plated copper cable is a touch disappointing. Though it is well-braided and of sufficient heft, it is quite tangly with microphonics present. There's a chin cinch for added stability during usage.

The semi-rigid zipper case with soft internals and webbing is a nice addition, to keep the Quintet with space for accessories.

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


BUILD/COMFORT

Fashioned from 3D-printed resin, the shells are quite solid. The front of the housing features silver faceplates with Kiwi Ears' logo and the "Quintet" word emblazoned on them.

The shells are on the larger side. However, they are light with a concha protrusion for added grip. There are no awkward protrusions on the inner aspects. Personally, with my average sized ears, I had no discomfort despite using the Quintet for hour long sessions.




I did not encounter driver flex, though this is partially dependent on individual ear anatomy and eartip choice, so YMMV. Isolation is above average, even with the Quintet having multiple vents on each earpiece.

A 2-pin housing is always welcome in my book, as I've had bad encounters with budget MMCX connectors that failed with repeated cable changes.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the Kiwi Ears Quintet with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Creative Sound Blaster X5
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

This IEM is extremely easy to drive, and amplification is not 100% essential. Weaker phones should adequately power the Quintet.


INTERNALS

The Quintet lives up to its namesake, as it packs 5 drivers per side.

- A 10 mm DLC DD pumps the bass frequencies.
- 2 Knowles BAs settle the midrange.
- A 5 mm MPT (micro planar transducer) driver handles the treble - this driver is smaller than a traditional full-sized planar, but is marketed to have similar low distortion and controlled noise floor. Classic BA or EST drivers may have treble roll-off after 8 kHz, but this MPT driver purportedly can extend to 14 kHz according to Kiwi Ears' data.
- 1 x piezoelectric driver takes care of the upper treble, to increase air and sparkle.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

Graph of the Kiwi Ears Quintet via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz area is a coupler artefact peak.

The Quintet sports a balanced U-shaped tonality, without too much of a dip in the midrange. This tuning is quite stage monitor-like, though some consumers may find it a hair lacking in dynamics - if that is so, one might need to consider alternative tunings that are more "fun" or bass-infused. Otherwise, this U-shaped signature should fair well with most music genres out there.

This IEM is a technical masterpiece, boasting one of the best resolution for a $200ish range IEM. Imaging and instrument separation are well done, aided by an expansive soundstage to let instruments be layered well on a dark background. Micro-detailing and clarity are likewise excellent.

Unfortunately, timbre isn't a strong point - there are some metallic overtones when acoustic instruments come out to play, though vocals are still decently portrayed. Like most piezoelectric containing IEMs, there is a piezo zing heard in the higher treble at the tail end of notes, but by-and-large, the Quintet is probably a piezo-containing set with the least zesty ringing.

Note weight lies on the thinner side, though this gives the Quintet little flab, and hence allows rapid transients. Even though the Quintet crams an assortment of heterogeneous transducer types, coherency is surprisingly decent, with the DD keeping up well with the other drivers (which are traditionally touted to be faster).

The Quintet is sub-bass focused. The bass is north of neutral but not at true basshead levels. Sub-bass extends deep with authority and a visceral rumble. Bass texturing is up-to-the-mark, bass speed is rapid and there is minimal mid-bass bleed.

There's just a slight recession in the lower midrange. This region is very clear and transparent, assisted by the stellar technicalities, without bass bleeding. With an 8 dB ear gain, the upper midrange is very finely balanced, pushing vocals slightly forwards without shoutiness - this is a difficult equilibrium to get, and is an area where CHIFI frequently overboost or underdose, to their detriment.

The added piezos and micro planar drivers oblige in furnishing a very well-extended treble, with great air and sparkle. There's some sibilance now and then, and the treble may lie on the slightly spicier side for our treble-sensitive brethren. Treble perception however, varies on individual hearing health, ear anatomy, eartips and volume played at (Fletcher Munson curve).

Personally, I fall on the treble sensitive side, and can still tolerate the upper frequencies on this IEM. In my book, the Quintet boasts superior resolution without the typical cheat sheet of a steroid-infused treble to accord fake details. When used at very loud volumes (Fletcher Munson curve in action), the treble and piezo splashiness can be overemphasized, but at low to moderate volumes, the Quintet's treble is decently extended to equipoise resolution without veering too much to fatigue.


COMPARISONS

Comparisons were made with other $100 - 200ish range tribrids. Planars, single DDs and pure BA types were left out of the equation, as the different transducers have their pros and cons.

Geek Wold GK100

The GK100 is a hodgepodge of 2 BAs, 4 piezoelectric and 3 DDs. It is a neutral bright pair with lesser bass, and a more zealous (and fatiguing) upper midrange/lower treble.

The GK100 has an even thinner note weight and worse timbre than the Quintet. The GK100 sounds very sterile and overly analytical.

In technicalities, the GK100 is ahead in clarity and micro-details, though this is partially a function of a bigger treble/upper midrange boost. The GK100 however, has a smaller soundstage and worse imaging.

The GK100 comes with a modular Hakugei cable that has various terminations, whereas the Quintet's cable is non-modular.



NiceHCK NX7 MK4

The NX7 MK4 is the fourth iteration of the NX7 series. It has 4 BAs, 1 beryllium-plated DD and a seven-layer piezoelectric driver. The NX7 MK4 is a tunable IEM that has 3 different signatures - we will be installing the "balanced" tuning nozzle for today's comparison - so it is more versatile than the Quintet.

The NX7 MK4 has a thicker note weight, though it is a league behind in technicalities, with inferior soundstage, micro-detailing, imaging and instrument separation. In particular, the NX7 MK4 sounds claustrophobic and congested, with a very intimate soundstage. On this "balanced" tuning nozzle, the NX7 MK4 has less bass and treble extension too.



BQEYZ Winter

The BQEYZ Winter is a 12 mm PAR (polyarylate) DD + 11.6 mm bone conduction/piezo setup. It is neutral bright in tuning.

The Winter is much weaker in imaging, micro-detailing, resolution and soundstage.


CONCLUSIONS

Kiwi Ears took a risk by employing disparate driver types, but it seems that this has paid off in the Quintet. Loading 4 different driver types - a DD, 2 BAs, a micro planar and a piezoelectric transducer - coherency is surprisingly well-blended, and the various drivers perform their tasks pleasingly as individuals, yet combining seamlessly as a whole.

Like a string quintet featuring violins, violas, cellos and double basses, each member of the chamber performs their parts with aplomb - the tight bass and transparent midrange harmonize well, supplying a stage for the violinists to showcase their complex treble solos.



Build and easy drivability are plus-points, and the Quintet's all-round technical prowess is one of its crowning achievements. Soundstage, imaging and micro-detailing are excellent, without resorting to the usual CHIFI parlour trick of overly boosting the higher regions for "fake resolution".

The Quintet does have some flaws in timbre, and treble-sensitive folk may find instances of treble sibilance/spiciness. However, treble sensitivity is quite a subjective area (as detailed above). For my treble-sensitive self, I actually find this region to be quite tolerable - the Quintet confers good resolution without overly veering to harshness, when played at sensible volume levels. Some may also find this IEM to be on the boring or undynamic side, but that is a function of its frequency response, which actually may be someone else's cup of tea.

In closing, the Quintet is a technical powerhouse, yet without losing musicality (which is a common transgression that other overly technical competitors commit). For folks searching for a resolving diamond, the Quintet is one of the stand-outs at the competitive $200ish range to consider.

*WARNING THIS REVIEW USES HUMOUR*




Kiwi Ears Quintet, a nice little iem for $220 dollars. Should you buy it, maybe… Let’s find out why! I’ve had a hard time describing this iem, but I’m going to try. This is the most Ultalitarian iem I’ve ever heard, meaning designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive. I’ve spent some time in Russia and can say this reminds me of the large apartment buildings of Russia. Practical and serviceable and adequate, but not something that you want to retire with.

First off, I bought this iem with my own money, and I paid full price from Linsoul. (non-aff link)

200 dollars is a cursed spot for audiophiles for many reasons. People see it as overpriced but not quite hi-fi. Maybe I’m wrong but many people and tier lists will oftentimes not have a good 200-dollar option that is viable. This is a space that is unique and for many is void of a good solid recommendation. Let’s look at this iem from a company that is producing great iems for a reasonable price, and see if it delivers.





MUSIC

I am going to share a larger list that I have of songs that I like in this review. 61+ songs Here
This list is my go to test songs for the first go.
Top 10 Tidal list here:
I listen to a wide variety of music. I pick the songs because of various reasons. But I picture myself locked away like Andy Dufresne from Shawshank blasting music and shut off from the world. It’s a blissful image.
The Marriage of Figaro -The opera song from Shawshank Redemption, terrible recording but fun and gets me in the mood to listen to music. The sounds quality on this track sound great and smoothe, sometimes it can come across harsh.
O mio Babino caro -This is a modern less operatic version but a song with great female vocals. Vocals sound impressive here, everything is right.
Video Rigoletto - “La donna e mobile” Sung by one of the three Tenors, great song for high-performing male vocals. Instruments sound right, like I’m in person. It’s fantastic.
Iron man - The sound at the beginning is hard to make sound great, great drums, and cymbals, and if done right it feels like an old-school band. Drum beat on this song is great and natural. Starting sequence sounds right and not plastic. Timbre sounds good on this track.
I Will Survive (1981 recording, I like her voice, and the old vocals, the drums, and various natural instruments really make this a favorite for me. Female vocals are great on this track with support and not too much air. Natural classic, and firm sound that is wonderful to hear.
There is a light That never goes out - Smiths Vocals are nice, atmosphere is also great. This definitely plays this song great.
Jump Initial electronic are perfect. They feel right and solid.
Star Child The funk shines through here.
Dicke Titten Ramstein German vocals hit hard, it’s a good track to test male vocals and beats, and while the timbre comes through slightly plastic it is still really good.
Master of Puppets: Very fast song. Helps me determine if the driver can keep up. Driver seems to slip a little behind technically here, but it is still a solid set.


Shell -
The shell is great. It fits my ear well and I have no problem with it. They are light shells and easy to work with. They don’t feel too small or too large in my ears in long sessions. The metal faceplate is a little boring, but the black shell is very comfortable. I think this is one of the better shells that I’ve used. Maybe one of my favorites, as the nozzle isn’t too large, the fit is ergonomic and easy to have in my ear. It even has the Kiwi Ears' name etched on it. Practical. This picture is too flashy, imagine it with grey tips, and on cement.


Case- Normal Kiwi Ear’s case. Fairly boring, but at least it is a case to protect your iem. When the 7HZ Dioko and Legato have their fancy cases, this case seems weak in comparison. It doesn’t really add value to me, as I think it needs to be replaced. The case is good. It will protect your iems and fit in your pocket. It will keep your iems dust free. Very utilitarian. Great grey, and black. Nobody will make fun of you or call you a sissy for having a pretty pouch for your iems. This is a good case, it won't stop a bullet or a knife, but what iem case will?

Cable- The cable is nice and feels good. I really like it. I’d use this cable for other iems. This is something that adds value. My only thing is it might be nice to have red and blue hooks on the tips of the iem. But the fully metal top of the connectors works for me from a thematic so all in all, the cable adds a ton of value to this iem. It’s fantastic. But with my Ultaltarian theme of this iem, it fit. Cable good, cable make nice sound. It’s light and makes you forget where you are. If you were in a Russian Gulag, this would be a good cable as it would allow you to do more work, and nobody would steal it from you as from afar it looks cheap, but up close it is very nice and easygoing.

Tip Selection - I use Spin fits. But I feel this iem is a bit drab and could use some color. All the tips are grey and a tiny bit dull. Fits the Ultalitarian theme of Mother Russia of this iem. Some of the tips are grey and somewhat clear, making this even more utilitarian and bland.




Quick-Fire Comparisons

In this section, I'll quickly compare the

Truthear: Kiwi Ears Quintet VS. Kiwi Ears Quartet
Overall Tuning: Kiwi Ears Quintet
Details: Kiwi Ears Quintet


Truthear: Kiwi Ears Quintet VS. Kiwi Ears Orchestra lite
Overall Tuning: Kiwi Ears Quintet
Details: Kiwi Ears Quintet

Truthear: Kiwi Ears Quintet VS. Aful Performer 5
Overall Tuning: Aful Performer 5
Details: Kiwi Ears Quintet slight Edge


Graph:
The graph is a solid near neutral tuning that is fair. I really like Performer 5 and find this iem is similar to the graph of that.



Sound - Final Impressions

While I think this is a good iem, I think the way to say it lacks some technicalities and a wow factor to it. It sounds good from a tuning perspective almost perfect to my ears, and it has good details. The treble is inoffensive, base is strong. It’s hard for me to get deep into the sound other than to say it is passable for the price.

Recommended EQ: I’ve been messing around with Peace APO as I further level up my audio game. I’ve been enjoying my time with it. This is my current eq for the Kiwi Ears Quintet. This iem doesn’t really need eq, but it is good to note that it takes EQ well. I EQ'ed this to the Dusk and found it delightful, when other EQ was taken it was off a tiny bit.




Gifting/who is it for: I think this is a nice hifi iem to gift to someone. If I was giving it to my Dad or a father figure I’d probably give them something a little flashier for the price, or to my wife, I’d give them something a little cuter. But sonically… this thing is amazing, so if they will appreciate the sound it would make a great purchase for them. It’s a nice set, but the packaging isn’t insane. It’s more of a sonic set than a sonic set with intense packaging. For my uses the Aful 8 still comes through in packaging as King.

Pairing: I used a Quidelix 5k and a my new JDS Labs element III MK 2. This iem isn’t too hard to drive and is lovely.


Summary

While I give this a recommendation, it’s hard, as you need to dig deep into your soul to find out what the true you is. Look in a mirror: Do you value a pretty iem with spink sparkles, or a manly iem that feels like you just broke rocks with Red Guardian (See pic above) in the Goolag of Russia? *Russian Acent* “This iem make good sound, and make you feel like man.” This will do for you if you want the later.

Do you want a pretty iem? Not for you, it’s the price of 6 Cadenzas. Cheaper iems can be had for this price.

Technically, it’s very strong. I’m giving it an A+ for technicals, and an A for Technicality. For its price it’s worth it and a strong iem. Of the 50+ iems I've tested this is easily one of the better ones. I could easily daily drive this iem.

200 dollars is still a cursed iem. If you want that great sound I think this is a solid option and interesting with the drivers. It’s still hard for me not to push someone to pay a little more and get a Dusk 2, Aful 8, or something else. Save your money and get a few cheaper iems like maybe Red, or Hexa. This is a solid iem, and it’s hard for me to describe other than to say I like it, but it doesn’t seem to give me a major wow factor. It’s not as good as more expensive iems that I’ve tried, but it’s still very strong and a contender for an iem. It might just hit the sweet point of details vs tuning and price for many users. Very solid choice at it's price, and impressive driver configuration, but I feel lacks some details and technicalities of some other iems. If you have multiple iems more expensive than this.. save your money, if you are starting out in the hobby with exactly 200 and can afford this for the daily driver iem, sonically it's a good choice for sure. I find no major fault, no major pro, but it's neutral and fun.

Thanks for reading. Jokes, memes and silliness aside, this iem is solid AF, and is an easy recomendation. Any feedback to the review is welcome.

𝐊𝐢𝐰𝐢𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐦 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

|| 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ||

Kiwi Ears had been on a streak with their releases recently with the Dolce, Orchestra Lite, and the Quartet which we recently reviewed. Immediately after the release of that product, the rumors and teases of another set in the same product line circulated the hobby.



The Quintet is released not that long after the Quartet. This time boasting more driver types, the Quintet is equipped with a Piezoelectric Bone Conductor driver(PZT), a 10mm DLC

Dynamic driver(DD), Kiwi Ear’s own Micro Planar Transducer(MPT), and a pair of custom Balanced Armature drivers(BA). This driver configuration is one of the most diverse in the hobby that I am aware of.

Priced at roughly $219 dollars, which is double the previous entry, the Kiwi Ears Quintet aims to deliver amazing sound with its diverse driver arsenal.


|| 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ||

• I don’t fancy confusing lingo, therefore, the reviews will be simple without too much confusing terminology.

• I am in no way, shape, or form affiliated with the brands I review, and do not give out preview privileges.

• This set is sent in exchange for an honest review. There is no material or financial incentive for me to do this review and I guarantee no exchange has been done by both parties to influence or sway our opinions on this product.

• My thoughts and opinions are my own. My experience will entirely differ from everybody else. The contents of this review should not be considered factual as this hobby heavily leans on subjectivity. YMMV.

• I don’t do rankings or tier lists as they can get outdated immediately as a reviewer can change their thoughts of a product to a certain extent. If you do want a recommendation then feel free to reach out so I can help out.

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𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 Kiwi Ears 𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮.

𝙊𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 Linsoul Audio 𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙈𝙨. 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙖 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩. 𝙄 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙨. 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙗𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚.
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| 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 |

It comes in a compact box that is very reminiscent of the Quartet in scale but is different in design. I’ve been loving how Kiwi Ears designs they’re boxes and is consistent in their design character from all of their offers from budget to the more expensive stuff.



This time the box comes in a gradient gray box with an image of the IEM earpieces in the front and is riddled with additional information and branding.


| 𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

It opens with ease, and you are immediately greeted by the IEM earpieces themselves encased in foam for shock protection. Underneath is some paperwork and the included case which houses the other accessories.



𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻:

Paperwork
Kiwi Ears Quintet Earpieces
Stock 3.5mm 4-core oxygen-free SPC cable
3 pairs of normal-bore ear tips (S/M/L)
3 pairs of wide-bore ear tips (S/M/L)
Stock hard-shell carrying case

The cable feels really nice with it being quite light, not prone to memory, and not stiff, but all in all, the included things for $200 are quite sparse considering the competition, would like to see a modular cable for added value or a better feeling and looking case but the accessories are more than enough to get you started.


| 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 & 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

The Quintet is built with resin for the body and what seems to be opaque plastic for the faceplate. The design is really understated and subdued but it is still quite attractive looking. It doesn’t attract much attention and isn’t very flashy which is great for outside use.


It has a nice amount of heft and feels good in the hands. The faceplate is sanded down and has a smooth finish with a nice-looking shine. The left earpiece has “Quintet” engraved on it whilst the right side has the Kiwi Ears logo.

It uses a 2-pin connector which is found at the top where it's supposed to be with 2 vents poking upward beside it. The nozzle is made out of the same material as the rest of the body, that being resin and has ridges to help the ear tip stay in place,

The overall shape of the Quintet is similar to other resin-based IEMs where there are grooves and protrusions that you might find comfortable or not.



The Quintet has 5 total drivers. All of the drivers are classified into 4 types, that being a Piezoelectric Bone Conductor(PZT) a 10mm DLC Dynamic driver(DD), Kiwi Ear's own brand new Micro Planar Transducers(MPT), and a pair of custom Balanced Armature drivers(BA), making the total number of 5 drivers in one earpiece.



Kiwi Ears want to put emphasis on its new driver technology which they are calliing a Micro Planar Transducer(MPT) that basically aims to deliver the best characteristics and benefits of the common Balanced Armature(BA) and Electrostatic(EST) drivers into one solution by providing really high extension while still having a lot of volume without the downside of it being metallic in the timbre.


| 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

The isolation on these is just bog average. Usable in daily commutes but still pales in comparison to actual noise-canceling devices.


| 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 |

These fit quite well because of the overall shape of it. They fit quite snugly and stay in place even in the heaviest of head-bang moments. I still have to take a breather here and there after hours of usage to rest my ears but it is otherwise comfortable. The occlusion effect doesn’t seem to be quite as bad as your average IEM which is also nice to see.



**𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗞𝗕 𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝟬𝟳(𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹) | 𝗭𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝟭 | 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗗𝗔𝗖 **


| 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 |

Despite the insane driver configuration that this carries, I did find them to be weirdly efficient. Setting my Zishan U1 to the same amount of gain that I typically used with normal IEMs and finding them to have good enough volume to sound good. I was quite shocked that this amount can run really efficiently will all those drivers stashed inside the Quintet.


|| 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 ||

The overall sound of the Quintet is quite unique. It strikes the right balance between engaging at the right places whilst still being able to dissect each source with far-reaching extension.



| 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 |

The Quintet offers more sub-bass than mid-bass. The sub-bass is good with ample amounts, really rumbly and it has grit. They aren’t blown out of proportion but still have a great presence. Mid-bass despite being less, has a good impact and is decently fast. These don't hit as hard as the Quartet nor as thick sounding as that but what it offers is a lot more open and cleaner presentation.


| 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀 |

The mids surprisingly can catch up with the other competing frequencies. They sound as if they have their own space that they occupy to avoid being overshadowed or covered up by other frequencies. Vocals sound nice and airy especially female vocals but still has its fair share of sibilance of both types. Instruments sound great with the Quintet with good thickness and reproduction.


| 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 |

After showcasing what the new driver implementation Kiwi Ears did with their new Micro Planar Transducer driver(MPT) on the Quintet, I can definitely say that they achieved what they sought to do with their new technology of theirs. The Quintet has an exceptional extension. It really extends well and far off. I was shocked at how trailing ends of sound can reach that long when I first tried the Quintet.

These don't sound harsh given you are proper volumes but can definitely be fatiguing in higher volumes which can be achieved easily because of how easily they can be driven. Details are great macro or micro but it can sound a bit “sizzle” at times or sound quite unnatural


| 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

Both layering and imaging are great. There is a clear distinction on where you can perceive the sound coming from with ease and even in busier passages. There isn’t a time where I find these to be congested during my experience. Staging is wider than taller and has enough space that it doesn’t feel too intimate or something that is too detached or far away.



I find these to be great with things like gaming both competitively or for immersion and for analytical use cases. You can definitely use these for movies as that sub-bass can definitely add to that immersion.


|| 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ||

It’s nice to see companies do bold experiments and inventions like this one. All of the drivers in this definitely helped in producing quite a unique sound that balances all the scales between engagement, and note weight whilst being quite adept in its technicalities.



I find these really great and offer a sound that no other release can replicate. These are great for those who need a good balance of what I said earlier. The only complaints about this are the weird “sizzling” sensation, sibilance, and from time to time unnatural timbre of the music. As a low-volume listener though I can attest that most of these can be easily avoided just by toning it down a little.

[| 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 |]

https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-quintet?variant=43965912711385

(𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨. 𝙄 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝙤𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙪𝙥𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨)

The Kiwi Ears Quintet Universal IEM
Redcarmoose July 2nd, 2023

Kiwi ears:
Kiwi ears is not totally new to the game, but they kinda are with debuting the 8 BA Orchestra IEM back in the summer of 2021. Since then they have slowly risen to prominence with design examples like the Orchestra Lite, a budget friendly reintroduction of the Orchestra coming in at $249.00 as opposed to the original Orchestra at $499.00. And they have had success with others too like the budget friendly Dolce at $24.99, the $34.99 Cadenza and the Kiwi ears Quartet at $109.00.

Now I gave the Orchestra Lite a glowing review........in many ways it was market disrupting. The Lite offering total sound occlusion by offering no vents and having a balanced (more midrangy) big sound, especially for the money. And while the Lite is in many ways everything for many, Kiwi ears wasn’t done yet…no…….….they went ahead and kinda made the opposite of an all BA IEM. This yin-yang in concept goes ahead simply to show Kiwi ears design and development skills. Why? Because the Quintet is a hodgepodge of sorts, a complexly eclectic mix of 4 driver technologies, all under one roof. Kiwi ears making the monster that shouldn’t exist but does, yet gloriously does (the drivers) sounding all in unison and quite natural! When it comes down to sound v dollar spent, this new monster is and will be a full-on market disrupter. The naysayers simply are uninformed, spreading that internet forum gossip that is so easy to type when you haven’t heard an IEM. Yet I forgive them, I mean how is a single PZT (piezoelectric) driver, a 10mm DLC dynamic driver…..2 balanced armature drivers and a planar magnetic driver suppose to sound? And add to that, the piezoelectric is also a bone conduction driver?

Now the planar driver is not the regular planar off the street, it’s a MPT or Micro Planar Transducer, emitting a style of sustained frequencies of 4kHz to 40kHz! I mean these Kiwi ears engineers went hog-wild on us! This single new creative invention actually succeeds, even though it seems like making this all work would be like flying a jet through the eye of a needle. I seriously gave thought to placing a disclaimer to this review stating that it should be read with a warning, a warning that this particular sound, in absolutely no possible way should come in under $500.00, maybe $1500.00, but you would not believe me anyway, I mean why would you? This Quintet is a TOTL Flagship ear-phone, one that only costs $219.00.

Let that sink in for a moment………

You see this IEM thing has been evolving ever since IEMs started to take hold in public consciousness, back ten years ago. IEMs have been around longer than that gaining popularity exponentially………..except they actually get slightly better every year. What I mean by better is.............better sound for less money.

In fact you really do not need to read this review. The Quintet sound is so well balanced and so technically well done that this purchase thing is a no-brainer. The main, main thing I realized placing them in my ears was that the Quintet offers considerable treble technicalities for the money. The sub $300 price point in the market is flooded with a lack of treble technicalities. There is none…….lol. Now if there is a resemblance of trebles then it arrives as a form of jacked-up heat that only marginally passes as detail……..when in reality it is not real detail. Real detail sounds natural and realistic, not thin and steely………………and that is the style of top-end smoothness Kiwi ears has provided. All these drivers do something, they are not put in just for show, each diver has a duty and job to do, hence their placement. I kinda think (guessing on my part) that each style of driver was utilized for their actual intrinsic tone profile. In the end what this provides for you the listener is both completely natural timbre and the rest of the technicalities suitcase. All those gifts we normally expect from a expensive TOTL ear-phone. So in many ways this is a new chapter, a historic change in the IEM landscape. A view into the future of what the younglings will listen to days/years ahead. I don’t expect you to believe me, I mean why would you? I wouldn’t believe me if I read this on a public forum. But it’s all true, and this isn’t simply the question of getting along with the sound profile, while yes it is a little bit, it is more about the re-creation of instruments. The success of the Kiwi ears Quintet relies on sonic accuracy, simply put..........sounds are separated technically into life-forms holding well-done actual 3D re-recreations of actual vocals and instruments. While the Kiwi ears Quintet is not perfect, it’s way more IEM than you would guess for $219.00, more than you would guess for $500.00. In fact if they wanted to sell less of them they could have easily retailed these for $500.00 and got away with it. But I figure that Kiwi ears simply wanted to make a statement, they wanted to prove they could do this, and get away with it. To prove that it was possible for such an IEM to exist at this price on its own. To let people that normally couldn’t afford, or wouldn’t afford such sound have an IEM. An incredibly close to perfect IEM.

$219.00
https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-quintet?variant=43965912711385

Build:
With all this hardware inside you think that the Quintet would in-fact be heavy? When surprisingly it is one of the most low weight IEMs you can buy at only 5 grams a piece. While not exactly small, the 3D printed medical grade resin shells are incredibly ergonomic, and when you combine the universal custom data-base form with the low-weight, you get a match made in heaven.

The looks:
Such detracting statements about (boring) low-key looks do have a little merit, as from afar such understated elegance only goes to a certain extent to create marketing-hype. Yet in person, and in-your-hand there is a captivating smoothness and comfortability…….a fancy style that looks classy and classic. The way the names are engraved into the faceplates, the details. Yet the one feature that is maybe hard to see that fact that the faceplate is not exactly flat? If you take and hold the Quintet against a piece of glass (facing down) an apparent roundness does take place.........showing a compound yet smooth idea of a faceplate. While the IEM market is ever so increasing in object merchandising, we now meet the antithesis of the idea, one that will almost call looks only to then inquire by speech as to (what is) the item. Even upon close inspection (the name and model) is difficult to totally read…….just one more example of the uniqueness found here.



2 air-vents:
Bypassing the rare chance that forward ear-contact occlusion could take place, the air-vents are conveniently placed off-to-the-side…..and out-of-the-way. The over-all shape is not too thick and the antithesis of the chunky Orchestra Lite, such demeanor goes along with the looks to make you feel like your James Bond while wearing them, at least I do? Lol

Low-weight, smooth and comfortable, just the thing you want in your ears for long listening runs.

3 sound-tubes:
I’m just guessing here but looking down through the nozzle screen shows the exit point for three sound-tubes. And in fact the slightly extra long nozzle is in no way violating, just holding ear-tips on with the incorporated lip. Then you add-up the smoothness and form here..............all is really good and goes to show that with construction as well as design, Kiwi ears went the extra mile here.

Flush 2-Pin:
Due to the 2-Pin arraignment any wire you have laying around will fit, with nothing in its way. Such 2-Pin construction gave a satisfying and firm acceptance in daily use, literally staying right in-place all day.

Ear-tips:
I tried a few different brands of ear-tips and found many to seemingly fit well. The included ear-tips were also nice, though in fact the Quintet seems to be able to utilize many different styles? I even migrated from my standard wide-bore to a slightly narrow bore to reach great fit and deeper sonics. Still that doest always mean the Quintet needs a certain ear-tip for success?


Aluminum faceplate:
Truly I don’t know what the faceplate is made from, except it matches the MacBook faceplate too? And strangely has the same bevel and overall feel, leading me to guess that while both MacBooks and Quintets are made in China, maybe they are they same material. They definably have equal tactile sensation?

Cable:
The cable is a 4-core 0.78mm oxygen-free silver plated affair which has an increased level of hardware bling to it. I mean what else do you call the chin-cinch and slider. What else do you say when you see the laser engraved name of the 3.5mm plug? The 2-Pin housings also offer this style of chrome shininess? Then the cable rounds your ears with relaxed ear hooks.

Cable easygoingness and clarity:
Clarity and balance are what I guess they were looking for, because in my testing I found the cable very centered in stance, not being too cold or warm. Literally everything this design has is looking for a style of balance, and really it starts with the cable before it even reaches the IEM. There is nothing wrong with using the included cable to get the most out of the Kiwi ears Quintet. Though keep-in-mind that with the transparency involved in use of the Quintet, optional cables can be chosen to alter different sections of the tone signature. I was able to generate a full and wider stage with a Graphene cable..........in addition to increasing vocal clarity and separation. Though keeping the tone to the sound designers intention...............the included cable is a gift, really it is.

Sound design:
You can see the Ear-Gain or Pinna-Region peaking at 3kHz…..this graph is very much by the book as far as how you would offer-up an IEM design. Such graphs only go so far to truly explain what’s going on here. As it is the timbre and separation into the stage that has me dumbfounded. Dumbfounded that they could do all this at this style of money asked?

Treble technicalities:
Again it’s probably the treble technicalities that will be rewarding for those hearing them for the first time. The bass is well adjusted but I would be leaving out info if I didn’t at least try to relay the authority precent. There is a stable well-roundness the bass offers up as a character, seemingly going with all and every genre? Enough slam for EDM, yet detailed and paced to do Orchestral works and add support to vocal music. If you’re reading this and guessing it is too good to be true……….it is truly well balanced, it's such a way that it is surprising how many genes the Quintet is fully capable of. Believe it or not this all I’m going to write about sound, as a description will be more thorough explanation in the music section.


Included technology
1 Diamond-Like Carbon 10mm (DLC) dynamic driver
2 balanced armature (BA) drivers
1 planar magnetic driver
1 piezoelectric (PZT) bone conduction driver

From the Kiwi Ears website: 2 Knowles balanced armature drivers deliver natural and resolving mids, a classic example of why balanced armatures are beloved in the industry.

Also from the website: 1 piezoelectric (PZT) bone conductor. a piezoelectric driver was utilized to deliver ultra-treble microdetail and air. In R&D testing, the presence of the PZT driver significantly enhanced perceived audio resolution, texture, and sound stage.

Packaging:
Six pairs of tips and a nice case. Though I will say the packaging foam liner at the top was a great afterthought. Included is an owners manual and warranty card.

Music:

Delain
Apocalypse & Chill
Chemical Redemption
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
Look, I am trying to save time with testing IEMs, so far if my testing can involve a single song which showcases multiple attributes, then more power to it. This is one of those single songs……and especially here with the midrange and treble Quintet qualities. The question I first ask is that of timbre. FR is a function of tuning, except timbre is both a technicality, and dependent on tuning for success. Meaning across the board if FR is balanced and there is no wild bumps to it then that’s the first step. But the second level is if the timbre re-creates reality of sound through realistically using stage separation and actual timbre tone to make vocals and instrumentation work. Meaning are the creations of tone and timbre owning all the characters of natural sound? Now while there is a slight BA timbre, it is buried by the other driver types I’m guessing? Meaning I have heard Piezoelectric drivers sound two different ways, one a buzz, and the other more natural? Here it’s natural.

The BA timbre is kinda a double sided affair, like you get when you maybe try fruit or wine where it’s simply a character of its nature and must be accepted as fact in its entirety. I’m not actually going to get into guessing about what each driver is doing as, number one it would be a guess. And number two, you can play that game with your own pair!

Do I seem to hear the MPT Micro Planar Transducer? I mean I really think I do? What does it sound like? I can’t describe it, only there is this additive to the sound that is more? Maybe I’m delusional, maybe not? See this guessing game gets us no-where. Still something must be responsible for the added treble detail so it must be the (Mico Planar Transducer) MPT and the (Piezoelectric) PZT?

Chemical Redemption:
At 00:00 the bass metronome starts this song off, showcasing rhythm. The hard sequence of notes has both a balance here and a slightly warm tone which is both tight yet still thick. I’ve heard it slightly deeper in bass and more physical, yet maybe this is more realistic? The fact that the Quintet gets the synth right to left panning in the mix is endearing. At 00:08 a cutting mixture of guitars and drums emerges waisting little time, getting this sucker off. And while the guitars are ever so slightly off timbre.....though maybe they are not.........anyways they are acceptable and fine. It's like the taste of water, each style of water can have its own subtle taste. These guitars I’ve used for years to judge timbre, as they are a difficult task for about 90% of IEMs to do, every make, every price-point regardless of choice. And when the tone/timbre (if held back) to the point of not hearing their true nature, is equally bad, basically the opposite than we have here. I mean truly listen to the sound of the guitars, they are tweaked-up and reminiscent only of this metal sub-genre. Yet inside of that we can fully hear the drums and cymbal strikes. Up until 00:23 this composite in replay shows well spaced into various entities inside of the stage with each finding a place to live. It’s the air in the drumming here, the air space found between cymbal strikes that is the money. I mean there will be a moment (when listening) when it all comes together and you fully realize what the Quintet is about.

At 00:23 Charlotte Wessels takes a breath. Now this breath is not like any old breath of air. In fact if you have never heard this song before the sound is truly exciting. But if you have heard this song for the 100th time, that breath shows separation and imaging from the surrounding sound elements, and our first taste that maybe we are onto something good here? Sure super expensive TOTL Flagships do this, but nothing in my history under $300.00 have done this, so well? At 00:40 the backing tracks show her singing along with herself only to be found at a charming separate local in the soundstage. At 00:50 there is a drum fill that shows roundness and a satisfying authority, in contrast to this treble imaging.

At 01:11 the total-full-hook starts to take place. Now we are witnessing the song in all its glory. And we are witnessing the Quintet in all its glory, yep all of it. You tell me if this is not emotionally moving and simply entertainment? I don’t know what else to call it…………complete? The thing is and the real thing that got me going here was the separation of the synth-stabs. This is what playback is about, to hold the separation, so that the reverbs can be heard for exactly how they are, that and of course the timbre of this section. The fact that the synth has a texture and a role (in-the-game) here. But of course it’s Charlotte Wessels voice, as no electronic instrument can compete with a real life human. You see that’s why I love the Quintet, it does vocals but also has authority to replay the instruments well. The beautiful way she sings right along with herself at 01:39……….we don’t need anymore time with this example, the Quintet passed with flying colors……..next. Oh...and the score........a full five stars, and not just at the priced asked, at any price.



Metallica
Metallica (Remastered)
Nothing Else Matters
48 kHz - 24 bit
I look this one song as the one song by which all IEMs can be judged. I know that sounds like a big statement, but let me explain the reasons why. The guitar intro shows a style of truth here. Why, well simple multitracked guitar (with very little effects) show guitar tone and timbre, as there is something very pure about unprocessed sound? This closeness is found, yet at the same time it’s not forward in the mix, but kind of a lead-up to what will take place next...............just like the Quintet looks, understated.

Yet just like my first impressions of the Quintet, what I found to be standout of course is that midrange and treble ability first described here in the last Delain song. This song is about something else..............an authority and dynamics through contrast……yet more abilities for the Quintet to display, only maybe slightly less than first noticed, maybe not?

At all of 00:37 seconds the next level of volume takes place. Such is the drama this song contains, I mean what else would you call it? At 00:54 we start to take notice of the added reverb onto the guitar signal……..the added tracks…….seemingly building the story in sound words.

At 59:00 seconds a Doppler effect is utilized as a lead-in to what could be vary well be described the most bombastic and heavy drum/bass drop in history. Yep, big isn’t even the word for it? Gigantic maybe, Gargantuan? You will know it when it hits and possibly will never forget this display of musicianship. An album that totally split the fan-base down the middle. A seemingly underground band finally got the poise and polish of another different band. Fake was the new sound to some. Half of the listeners felt betrayed, while the other half were on board for the ride-of-their-lives. We all know the commercial success found here, and as an audiophile, sound success was also accomplished, as maybe Metallica’s best sounding record? Probably the word drama best describes the album to me, and it still sounds just as good today as it did back then. Released in August of 1991, The Black Album had a cost of 1 million dollars to get right, it was recorded a bunch of times.

At 1:00 the hit sounds almost like full-size headphones, I mean not exactly, but you know what I mean, as there is no other way to describe it. This size of sound is one of the most important things I look for besides note-weight. And this quality is one-of-the single qualities (often) that TOTL IEMs have, it is what makes them tick. Now the thing is that this drop sounds big on a lot of headphones, except there is also an added feature here……..the balance of the drums/bass……the guitar and the vocals all have there prescribed area in the mix, not only that............but they are each heard perfectly clear? The only idea I have for this ability is all the drivers used? Kirk Hammett has a really subtle Vibrato to his voice inside the ending parts of the words…..Far, Heart, and the Quintet showcases that amongst the background instruments. At exactly 01:23 there is this lead guitar way off to the left, really outside of the entire mix, out on it’s own, this song element is again uncannily shown for both the tone and texture it contains. The drama is enhanced by this coming and arriving of many single elements which start to take place in (what seems like) a 360 degree exhibition of space. At 01:45 there is a drum accent which is clean and fresh, holding exquisite texture and energy. Finally at 01:50 the violins start to make more of an appearance. At 2:06 to 2:09 three chords offer a single focus into the song and are heard loud and clear.............holding their pureness of intent. It is the subtle differences in loudness here that becomes of value. Then a build-up to the vocals......then heard is the climax we have been working towards.

At 2:33 he sings the word Heart again, yet now with more accents and pure vocal playfulness. At 3:04 there becomes a break that showcases a perfect mixture of bass, drums and guitar, that for whatever reason the Quintet makes it sound exactly correct, showing actual space for all these instruments to exist in, but more than that............to recreate them in correct tone and timbre. At 3:05 there is a wonderful high pitched stick-hit that sounds exactly like the regular canned metronome sound. Only this time the stick sound of hitting the edge of the drum is bigger than ever, holding reverb…..yet finding itself alive. Alive existing in the center of the mix becoming centered yet standing way out front, somehow? At 4:56 there is the pivotal lead guitar break, only this time we also hear the secondary deeper guitar over-dub behind. This finality was written as a group, so the rhythm probably was always there, being introduced when the song was created. It is the Quintet’s ability to do correct and satisfying top-end details, and authoritative deep-end drama, that end both unique and of value. That what is played is both entertaining and natural, correct and technically proficient. Once again.........you know the score.

Now there is a reason why 10 more music reviews are not needed, they would be redundant. Simply scanning through my DAP literally every song was nice, or better than nice. Now it didn't make poorly recorded music better, but when the music was really well recorded, you could tell. And I went through the genres like Metal, New Age, Classical, Rock, OSTs and EDM........the Quintet has the pizzaz to make every listening experience fun and entertaining.



Conclusion:
The Quintet delivers on so many levels here, fit, form, looks, sound and..............value.

Comfort:
Due to the unusually low weight and universal-custom design means they feel fabulous for love you long time, listening sessions.

Tone:
Being the perfect example of tuning balance, yet arrived at with excitement and vigor. You have no idea how many also-ran, undistinguished Harman tuned clones I had to listen to get to this one. Such a tune is the very opposite of boring, being able to convey the essence of the music, the emotion that was there upon creating the music, and the feelings and energy that were transferred to tape.

Technicalities:
The unique set of technicalities are what makes the Quintet so mandatory in 2023. Great imaging, formation of real-world textures and tone, not to mention pace and groove!

Truly Kiwi ears is flaunting their knowledge and showing their stuff and somehow let this one out the door costing what it does? And while yes, the packaging seems average for the price, the cable, build and sound seem to be a new level of value here at Redcarmoose Labs. Normally this would be the place where I would write, “If you blend with the sound signature.” or “If the bass is correct.”………except here it seems they have covered everyones needs and wants. It has the authority of a DD, with the spacial itemization of a BA Hybrid, only there is subtly more? That more I really don’t have the answer from where it comes?

The X-factor:
Just rest assured that if you were out and about looking for that one IEM this year that held the X factor, this is that IEM. Most of this review is hard to swallow, I get that. But many more will follow as I’m positive they will say the same thing. That this is one application to where the more drivers and more styles of drivers does something………..it does something wonderful. Won’t you join in the fun?

$219.00
https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-quintet?variant=43965912711385

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

Disclaimer:
I want to thank Kareena of Linsoul for the love and the Quintet Universal IEM review sample.

Disclaimer:
These are one persons ideas and concepts, your results may vary.

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
Shanling UA3 Dongle DAC/Amplifier 3.5mm and 4.4mm

1 DD + 2 BA + 1 Planar + 1 PZT In-Ear Monitor
4 Driver Types, 5 Drivers per Side
Kiwi Ears Micro Planar Transducers (MPT) Drivers
Balanced Tonal Signature
Handcrafted With Medical-Grade Resin
Replaceable High-Quality Oxygen-Free Silver-Plated Copper Cable