Kiwi Ears Quartet is priced at US$109, and features double 10mm titanium diaphragms drivers to elevate bass, while being balanced by custom mid-high frequency balanced armature and a custom ultra-high tweeter balanced armature drivers. It also has switches on the housings itself to allow you to modify the sound signature.
Tech specs
| Drivers | 10mm Dynamic Drivers (x2), Custom Balanced Armatures (x2) |
| Sensitivity | 110db APL/mW |
| Frequency range | 20Hz-20KHz |
| Impedance | 32Ω |
| Earphone material | Medical grade resin |
| Cable material | High-quality oxygen-free silver-plated copper cable |
| Cable interface | 0.78mm 2-pin |
| Cable plug | 1.2m±5%, 3.5mm |
| Removable cable | Yes |
Unboxing
In the box you will find the follwing:
- Kiwi Ears Quartet IEM
- Oxygen-free Silver-plated copper cable (2-pin)
- Silicone ear tips x3 – S/M/L (3 types)
- Hard shell carrying case
- SIM pin (not pictured)
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 Quartet are 3D printed using medical grade resin, and comes in out one colour option which is a purple. The design is tasteful, with purple marble-like swirls spreading across the black background. You have the Kiwi Ears bramd located on both sides of the earbuds.
The construction of the Kiwi Ears Quartet is made from a single piece of resin and it feels solid without any noticeable seams. The stock cable uses a 2-pin connector and is detachable, made from oxygen-free silver-plated copper wire. The cable is thicker than that of the Cadenza, which feels easier to manage.
Comfort and fit
The Kiwi Ears Quartet being a larger IEM than the Cadenza, doesn’t feel as snug in my ears, but I still got a pretty good fit. The curves on the Quartet allowed for better fit along the curves in my ears, and the earhooks on the cable helped to lock in the fit.
I find the Quartet a largely comfortable pair of IEMs to wear. Eartips should play a key role in the fit, but I think you should be able to find one out of the 3 types provided to get a good isolation.
Sound quality
I’ll be discussing the sound based on the default configuration (both switch flipped up on 1 and 2). Kiwi Ears Quartet runs a 4-driver setup, with 2 Dynamic Drivers (DD) + 2 Balanced Armatures (BA). Bass is definitely the main character of the Kiwi Ears Quartet. Mid-bass are well defined and deliver satisfying punchy hits, while sub-bass offers a solid extension for a dense rumble. ‘Royals’ by Lorde was an enjoyable listen. Those who love a warm response with a boomy bass will surely enjoy the bass lines that the Quartet can deliver.
The substantial bass presence ends up bleeding slightly into the midrange. Having said that, the mids is still able to stand out from time to time. Vocals has a level of warmth to it, giving it a layer of depth and texture. On bass heavy tracks, vocals can sound a little distant. As for treble, it has a slight amount of extension without any harshness or sibilance. Highs sound smooth and airy, and is the kind that offers that momentary sparkle in the song when it needs to without lingering for long.
Overall, the default configuration (both switch flipped up on 1 and 2) of the Kiwi Ears Quartet offers a comfortable listening experience that has an emphasis on bass. You can use the included SIM card pin to toggle the switches on the earbud to change the sound profile. The ‘1’ switch affects the bass, while the ‘2’ switch affects the treble. Putting both switch down results in a more relaxed sound but can lack energy and punch, but mids will feel more forward. If you find the default config too bassy, you can try ‘1’ down and ‘2’ up to create a slightly brighter sound with forward upper-mids. I don’t think you’d ever do a ‘1’ up and ‘2’ down as it just makes the overall sound feel thicker and warmer than it already is.
Conclusion
The Kiwi Ears Quartet is best suited for those who really appreciate a fuller hitting bass, and the ability to adjust the sound signature on the earbud itself makes it an all-rounder to suit multiple preferences. If you’re looking for something for technicality then this may not be the one, but Kiwi Ears Quartet‘s lush and full sound signature matches well with most modern pop and EDM songs these days.