By Nick Smith, 22nd December 2024
Have you ever felt nervous taking on a challenge you weren’t sure you were up for?
Many would argue challenging ourselves is a vital component to personal growth, but battling in a completely different weight division can be exceptionally daunting.
Which brings me to Kiwi Ears – a brand I’d always associated with budget earphones under $100. Actually one of my first reviews was of their Cadenzas which impressed me greatly for their $35 asking price, they were so surprisingly good I purchased their Quartets as well.
However when Kiwi Ears offered to send me a pair of their $199 KE4s in exchange for my thoughts I immediately wondered how they’d fare producing earphones at a notably higher pricepoint.
Once people start paying a few hundred dollars expectations go up markedly, and any shortcomings become harder to ignore since competition is fierce. How do the KE4s stack up? Read on to learn.
Packaging
The USD $199 Kiwi Ears KE4s arrive in a compact cardboard box, inside is a small fabric carry case, two pair of nozzle filters and three sets of silicone eartips.
The carry case is small enough to comfortably fit inside a pocket, and although it doesn’t inspire feelings of quality is perfectly suitable for its’ intended purpose being quite protective.
Sadly the included 2pin stock cable is only available in 3.5mm termination which is disappointing at this pricepoint, though the cable itself feels decently well-built.
Ergonomics
The KE4s’ boast medical-grade resin shells with hand-finished faceplates, and though I find the faceplates somewhat dull you’d never guess the IEMs come in at under $200 given how nice they feel.
The shells are superbly smooth and very well sculpted to the ear, fit is of course always a very personal thing but I’ve found them immensely comfortable for multi-hour sessions.
Isolation is also quite good, aided by their considerable mass – which is on the slightly larger side of the spectrum by modern hybrid standards.
Page 1 – Introduction, Packaging & Ergonomics
Page 2 – Sound Impressions & Technical Performance
Page 3 – IEM Comparisons
Page 4 – Cable Comparisons
Page 5 – Conclusion
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