I got my Etude pair yesterday. They sound very nice but they don't sound right. There is like a strange vocal echo,a subtle but strange glaring shoutiness in the mids ...mostly on vocals.
Lately,the H20 opened for me an appetite for trying cheaper iems. I have to say I've been disappointed by the the last 2 I've tried : the Etude and the Fatfreq xHBB Deuce.
The H20 is great though.
For most part I agree with you, the Deuce is a absolute disappointment and the H20 is nothing less than amazing for it’s price. Even when it was twice as expensive it would still be a great IEM.
I am listening to the Étude for about 2 hours now, mostly current pop and 80’s pop and have not heard the shoutiness or echo. Maybe with other genres? The only comparison I have made so far is with the H20. Even though the H20 sounds better it is no big difference (just talking about how fun they sound). I would not trade in the H20 for the Étude but both are a fun listen.
Will try other genres later on (hip hop, rock, reggae) and see how they hold up.
Finaly I can absolutely recommend the iBasso Klee.
The more I read for them I think they'll fit my collection just fine when I am in the mood for orchestra music and osts.
Maybe rock/punk/metal and busy tracks with vocals in the mix just don't suit it.
I expected this to be a bit weird due to the driver configuration and the the price target for the specs it has, still the delivery is quite slow where I am.
Offtopic but Also I ordered a ziigaat odyssey as I couldn't say no to that 180 euro price range it was on linsoul.
Hopefully I'll like both.
The more I read for them I think they'll fit my collection just fine when I am in the mood for orchestra music and osts.
Maybe rock/punk/metal and busy tracks with vocals in the mix just don't suit it.
I expected this to be a bit weird due to the driver configuration and the the price target for the specs it has, still the delivery is quite slow where I am.
Offtopic but Also I ordered a ziigaat odyssey as I couldn't say no to that 180 euro price range it was on linsoul.
Hopefully I'll like both.
I got the Étude yesterday, and honestly, I was expecting something worse. I say this because I had previously bought and returned the KBEAR KB02, which had a bone conductor that made them vibrate in a similar way, but it was barely noticeable in the ear, and for my taste, the bass was pretty lacking. With the Étude, my first impression yesterday was somewhat similar, but after trying the right tips and turning up the volume a bit, you can really feel that vibration, which adds a nice tactile sensation to the music. Plus, the definition is way better than the KB02.
Today, I also received the ISN H20, mainly because of the good things passie42 had to say about them. I’ve only listened to them for about an hour so far, so they still need some burn-in time, but right now they have just the amount of bass I was hoping for in an IEM. I do wish they had a bit more clarity in the mids and highs, but I’m hoping that will improve with more use over the next few days. Honestly, for under €55, I really can’t complain.
I got the Étude yesterday, and honestly, I was expecting something worse. I say this because I had previously bought and returned the KBEAR KB02, which had a bone conductor that made them vibrate in a similar way, but it was barely noticeable in the ear, and for my taste, the bass was pretty lacking. With the Étude, my first impression yesterday was somewhat similar, but after trying the right tips and turning up the volume a bit, you can really feel that vibration, which adds a nice tactile sensation to the music. Plus, the definition is way better than the KB02.
Today, I also received the ISN H20, mainly because of the good things passie42 had to say about them. I’ve only listened to them for about an hour so far, so they still need some burn-in time, but right now they have just the amount of bass I was hoping for in an IEM. I do wish they had a bit more clarity in the mids and highs, but I’m hoping that will improve with more use over the next few days. Honestly, for under €55, I really can’t complain.
That’s exactly how it was with me. The reviews I saw about the H20 told me extensive burn in was necessary. Me, as not a real burn in believer, started listening directly out of the box. Highs were darkish and even though EQ helped I rather use no EQ. So I took my brightest tips, the Clarion, which somewhat helped. Reluctantly I started some burn in and guess what? They do get brighter! Eureka!
Now, with a play time of roughly 40 hours I was able to change the tips to the more balanced Penon Liquor Orange. Reviews said 100 hours(!) are necessary. Just let them burn, with a burn in playlist or just by listening to music!
I received my Kiwi Ears Ètude this afternoon. I purchased these specifically for the Hip-Hop and Island Vibe playlists in my library. My top tier IEMs are the Letshuoer S08, Truthear Hexa, Tripowin x HBB Olina SE, and the Meze Alba. All of my other IEMs are sub-$50 (Wan’er 2, Chu 2, Salnotes Zero 2, and QKZ x HBB) so I’m not an IEM expert by any stretch.
Source chain: iPad Mini 6 using downloaded Lossless files from Apple Music. FiiO KA11 Dongle DAC.
Here are my 1st impressions after a VERY short 1hr listening session cycling through songs that feature prominent bass response:
The sound very good overall. I don’t hear any murmurs or echos. The midrange seems slightly forward (in a good way). The treble is crisp but not piercing (with small bore tips).
The bass is… it’s fine. The drops didn’t hit like I had hoped but they do hit hard. By comparison, the QKZ x HBB pair has more bump and rumble to my ears but way more muddy compared to the Ètude.
On a “How Low” by Ludacris the 808s are good.
On the classic “In the Air Tonight” drum drop (3:40 mark), the bass hits… good. B+ good.
Do I feel a prominent KVT vibration? Honestly, not really. Maybe that’s a good thing but I was expecting to feel something. I have zero experience with bone conduction audio gear so… yeah. Sorry.
I’m listening to “2am” (Slightly Stoopid) as I type this post and… it sounds really good actually. Very resolving; really nice separation. But, I’m still not sure if the bass line I’m hearing is enhanced by the KVT tech or not.
Listening to “Mamacita” by the Black Eyed Peas… ah-hah! Ok. There it is. I can feel it with this track. That’s nice
Bottom line: having above average sound quality in an IEM that prioritizes bass bump is refreshing. I’m gonna listen a few more hours. These seem to be finally opening up.
I received my Kiwi Ears Ètude this afternoon. I purchased these specifically for the Hip-Hop and Island Vibe playlists in my library. My top tier IEMs are the Letshuoer S08, Truthear Hexa, Tripowin x HBB Olina SE, and the Meze Alba. All of my other IEMs are sub-$50 (Wan’er 2, Chu 2, Salnotes Zero 2, and QKZ x HBB) so I’m not an IEM expert by any stretch. Source chain: iPad Mini 6 using downloaded Lossless files from Apple Music. FiiO KA11 Dongle DAC. Here are my 1st impressions after a VERY short 1hr listening session cycling through songs that feature prominent bass response:
The sound very good overall. I don’t hear any murmurs or echos. The midrange seems slightly forward (in a good way). The treble is crisp but not piercing (with small bore tips).
The bass is… it’s fine. The drops didn’t hit like I had hoped but they do hit hard. By comparison, the QKZ x HBB pair has more bump and rumble to my ears but way more muddy compared to the Ètude.
On a “How Low” by Ludacris the 808s are good.
On the classic “In the Air Tonight” drum drop (3:40 mark), the bass hits… good. B+ good.
Do I feel a prominent KVT vibration? Honestly, not really. Maybe that’s a good thing but I was expecting to feel something. I have zero experience with bone conduction audio gear so… yeah. Sorry.
I’m listening to “2am” (Slightly Stoopid) as I type this post and… it sounds really good actually. Very resolving; really nice separation. But, I’m still not sure if the bass line I’m hearing is enhanced by the KVT tech or not.
Listening to “Mamacita” by the Black Eyed Peas… ah-hah! Ok. There it is. I can feel it with this track. That’s nice
Bottom line: having above average sound quality in an IEM that prioritizes bass bump is refreshing. I’m gonna listen a few more hours. These seem to be finally opening up.
I agree. I even find them exceptionally good. The bass slams nice but not as hard as the ISN H20 for example. It’s not really a basshead IEM despite the transducer. For me it’s something like the Kbear Rosefinch that is real bassy but this one has a low quality bass and also sounds very muddy. The Deuce (with impedance adaptor) also has (a lot) more bass but lower mid and treble quality. As a basshead I prefer the Étude.
The only small downside I noticed was that when the volume is set to high the KVT make my ears itch because of the vibration. Lowering the volume a bit solves this. At low or middle-high volume this is not an issue. It’s just a small downside because overall I am really enjoying my 70’s and 80’s pop. I dare to say it’s in the top 5 IEM’s I ever owned or still own.
I can name a number of IEM’s costing 250-350 that sound worse than the Étude. Unlike most others this one will stay in my collection.
I just have received my unit of the Etude
Paired with apple dongle + 3.5mm XINHS M99 cable + spinfit cp100+ (for deeper fit).
Here are my first listening impressions:
Bass: Not what I was expecting. The sub-bass is not so strong, a bit loose, I would love to hear a little more sub-bass. The mid-bass is also sort of loose, it is not so impactful and sometimes sound a little "muffled"? It is not as bad as you might think, but I thought they will have a better bass, but here the bass is "light".
Midrange: Here is where the Etude shines, the midrange sounds good, pretty smooth, vocals have texture and life, not shouty, I would call it creamy. Same goes for instruments, they sound smooth and creamy, not shouty. It reminds me a lot of the Pula Anvil114, but better. It is smoother, and has better clarity.
Treble: The treble adds great balance and doesn't steal the show from the midrange. It is not too boosted, but still dominant, in a good way. I would say that it is very safe.
Same as the Anvil114, there is a good sense of stage, it feels like things go out of your head, which is nice and unique.
As for the vibrations, I feel them, but they are very gentle. It is not something that bother you while listening.
So in summary, if you are looking for bass monsters - these are not for you. If you want beautiful midrange performace, I think they could fit very well. For smaller ears - I would also recommend looking at the Airoso, as the shell here is slightly big (but not as the Anvil114, which is huge).
Hmm... I disagree here
The apple dongle is enough for me to run almost any IEM
The bass indeed got better after some hours of listening, it still doesn't meet my expectations tough.
(I did try running them from different sources - no difference. I don't notice difference between sources personally, in general)
I like the Etude, it is unique. And for its price, it makes sense, unlike the Pula Anvil114. In my opinion, the Etude is a much better value.
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