Kiwi Ears Quartet
The short version
The Kiwi Ears Quartet is a $109 hybrid with two 10mm dynamic drivers for the low end and two balanced armatures, in a lightweight resin shell with two rear switches that give four tunings. Bass is the headline: dense, deep and impactful with strong mid-bass, called the star of the set in one review.
Pros
- Deep, dense and impactful bass that is the clear focus of the tuning
- Four switch tunings that let bass and treble energy be adjusted
- Very comfortable, lightweight resin shell with good passive isolation
- Smooth, relaxed treble that is called non-fatiguing
- Easy to drive from a phone, so no amplifier is needed
Cons
- Lower mids can sound veiled or muddy behind the bass
- Treble lacks sparkle, and the overall presentation can turn dark
- Soundstage is only average for the price
- Clarity trails cleaner rivals such as the Letshuoer S12 Pro and the Kiwi Ears Quintet
- One review reports upper treble peaks that make some vocals harsh
- Reports differ on whether a tool for the tuning switches is in the box
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Best For
- Bass-forward listeners who want warmth without a harsh top end
- Electronic, hip-hop and modern pop playlists
- Commuters and live musicians who need good passive isolation
- Tinkerers who want to switch between bass and treble profiles
Overview
What the research says
The cost is clarity higher up. Lower mids can sound veiled or muddy behind the bass, the upper mids and treble are relaxed and smooth rather than sparkly, and one account hears the whole presentation as dark and slightly compressed. Opinions split on how much the switches matter, from four distinctly different IEMs to modest changes, and on resolution, from surprising detail retrieval to a lo-fi, radio-like sound.
One reviewer also hears upper peaks that make some vocals harsh, while others describe the treble as smooth and non-fatiguing. The soundstage is average, with decent separation. Comfort is praised, passive isolation is good, and it is easy to drive from a phone.
It suits bass-forward, warm-sound listeners and electronic or modern pop playlists; listeners wanting a neutral or highly resolving IEM are pointed elsewhere.
Visible Sources
Approved source material
KIWI EARS QUARTET REVIEW
Positive review that calls the bass the star and rates the Quartet above the Truthear x Crinacle Zero Red, though the Letshuoer S12 Pro is cleaner.
Kiwi Ears Quartet Review
Calls the $109 Quartet stylish, comfortable and musical with a fun, bass-led tuning, but not for listeners who want balance.
Kiwi Ears Quartet Review
Describes a darker, warmer, bass-heavy set that suits modern pop and easy listening but could be cleaner, and is outperformed by the Kiwi Ears Quintet.
Kiwi Ears Quartet Review
Finds the $109 Quartet decent for listeners who like thick mids and punchy bass, but dark and short on clarity.
Review: Kiwi Ears Quartet
Enjoys the Quartet for instrumental electronic music but finds the recessed mids and some harsh vocal peaks a letdown.
Kiwi Ears Quartet Review
Scores the $109 Quartet 4.5 and finds it easy to recommend for its hard-hitting bass and warm tonality, wanting more treble sparkle.
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Consensus & Conflicts
Where reviewers disagree
Real reviewer conflicts are shown side by side instead of being averaged into a fake middle ground.
How much the tuning switches change
The switches make a real difference, with the four combinations sounding like four different IEMs
Held by: headphoneer.com, primeaudio.org
The switch settings differ only modestly, and the changes are not remarkable
Held by: audiodiscourse.com, english.achoreviews.com
Clarity and detail
Detail retrieval is surprisingly good, a step up in technicalities over cheaper sets
Held by: primeaudio.org, headphoneer.com
Clarity is lacking: the bass smooths over detail and texture, and the sound turns slightly lo-fi
Held by: audiodiscourse.com, majorhifi.com
Treble harshness
Upper treble peaks make some vocals harsh, even though the treble is blunted overall
Held by: english.achoreviews.com
The treble is smooth and non-fatiguing, without a peaky edge
Held by: headphoneer.com, majorhifi.com, primeaudio.org
Switch tool in the box
A SIM pin or tuning tool for the switches is included
Held by: audiodiscourse.com, headphoneer.com
No tool for changing the switches is included, which is listed as a con
Held by: primeaudio.org
Reviewers agree on
- Bass is the headline per headphoneer.com (the star), moonstarreviews.net (focal point), majorhifi.com (thunderous) and primeaudio.org (dense, authoritative)
- Comfortable per audiodiscourse.com, headphoneer.com, moonstarreviews.net, majorhifi.com, english.achoreviews.com and primeaudio.org
- Lower mids sit behind the bass per majorhifi.com (veiled low mids), audiodiscourse.com (lower-mid muddiness) and english.achoreviews.com (recessed mids)
- Soundstage is average per audiodiscourse.com, english.achoreviews.com and moonstarreviews.net, and not expansive per majorhifi.com
- Passive isolation is good per moonstarreviews.net, majorhifi.com and primeaudio.org
- Easy to drive per headphoneer.com, majorhifi.com, primeaudio.org and moonstarreviews.net
- Treble trades sparkle for smoothness per primeaudio.org (no sparkle) and majorhifi.com (crisp rather than sparkly)
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