Kiwi Ears started making its name in 2021 with a premium Orchestra IEM. Now, they trying for a similar impact on the opposite end of the price spectrum with the Kiwi Ears Cadenza. Priced at U$35 at Linsoul, it is equipped with 10mm Beryllium diaphragm driver in a custom designed 3D printed housing structure.
Tech specs
| Drivers | 10mm Beryllium Dynamic Driver |
| Sensitivity | 110dBSPL/mW |
| Frequency range | 20Hz-20KHz |
| Impedance | 32Ω |
| Earphone material | Medical grade resin |
| Cable interface | 0.78-2PIN |
| Cable plug | 3.5mm |
| Removable cable | Yes |
Unboxing
In the box you will find the follwing:
- Kiwi Ears Cadenza IEM
- 4-core braided copper cable (2-pin)
- Silicone ear tips x3 – S/M/L (3 types)
Kiwi Ears provided three types of ear tips, all in S/M/L sizes. The overall size of the ear tips feel similar, and the only difference I felt was the texture and firmness of the silicone. Black seems to be the softest, while white feels the firmest.
Design and build quality
The housings of the Kiwi Ears Cadenza are 3D printed using medical grade resin. There are four colour options – (1) Verse [blue], (2) Prelude [Purple], (3) Chorus [Red], and (4) Solo [Green]. The unit I have is the blue colour variant, or what they call ‘Verse’. The design of the Kiwi Ears Cadenza is really nice with gentle edges. The left IEM has the Kiwi Ears branding so that it is easy to tell.
The build quality of the Kiwi Ears Cadenza is solid as well. As for the cable, you get a 4-core braided cooper cable which is rather light and easy to roll up without getting tangled easily. It’s on the thinner side, but understandable for its price point. It uses a 2-pin connector.
Comfort and fit
Fit is subjective, but I found that the overall shape of the Kiwi Ears Cadenza having subtle curves helped to create a good in my my ears. The stock cable came with earhooks at the ends, which offered a flexible and angled curvature to bend the cable around my ears.
As Kiwi Ears Cadenza are on the smaller side of IEMs and are lightweight, I found that they remain comfortable and I don’t really notice them in my ears even with prolonged listening. Eartips does make a difference for me, and my preference is the smoked black variant.
Sound quality
Bass on the Kiwi Ears Cadenza is slightly elevated but I’d say it’s more towards the mid-bass. Some sub-bass extension is present but it’s by no means at a level craved by bassheads. The bass hits offer solid impact but can feel not as textured or defined as I’d liked it to be. Having said that, the bass plays well it how the overall sound signature of the tuning.
Midrange remains clear with slight touch of warmth. Male vocals stand out more with it sounding more full. Upper mids are slightly forward. Instruments are prominent in the mix and is presented with clarity. Treble is clean and extends quite a bit for a bright that is decently controlled. There is a noticeable sparkle in the high end that is natural, without sounding too sibilant. Level of detail is also good.
Soundstage on the Kiwi Ears Cadenza is intimate. The space feels more wide than deep. Instruments typically positioned well and was easy to discern where each sound was coming from.
Conclusion
The Kiwi Ears Cadenza is a great option at the budget price point of US$35, offering an overall warm sound signature with clean treble which is great for listening to multiple of genres. It’s lightweight and solid quality, along with a detachable 2-pin copper cable makes a good starter IEM for anyone looking to try. If you are interested in getting them, you can get them from Linsoul.