This year has been spectacular for the rather new comer, Kiwi Ears as they have been consistently producing hits after hits that spans to the headphones realm like the Airoso, Ardor, Septet and many many more. All of their products have been received very well partly due to the amazing value they provide and having a great performance that comes along with it. Hybrid driver IEMs has been around for a while now and it is saturated with plenty of manufacturers having a go on it but Kiwi Ears has thought outside the box and added a vibration transducer to the setup to give an extra sense to come into play, thus producing the all new Ètude.
The team of Kiwi Ears has kindly sent us a pair of the all new Ètude for an honest review and we couldn’t be happier for this chance, so a heartfelt gratitude to them for this opportunity. How will the Ètude fair in the pool of hybrids? Is the vibration transducer a gimmick? We shall find out here.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications and features of Kiwi Ears Ètude;
- Drivers; 3BA + 1DD + 1KVT (Kiwi Vibration Transducer)
- Sensitivity: 104dB SPL/mW
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Impedance: 5Ω
- Connector: 0.78mm 2-Pin
- Cable Length: 1.2 Meters
The Kiwi Ears Ètude can be purchased at their website as well as other platforms globally.
Packaging & Accessories
Packaging here is a simple, compact paper box that looks professionally made similar to most of their products. Inside we are greeted with the carrying case that has a hard PU leather outer, the IEM heads, a warranty card, 9 pairs of eartips in various sizes and a 3.5mm cable in black. Nothing much to say for the package as the price is pretty fair for this setup and the product itself is of the utmost importance.
Design
The design of the Ètude has a full resin build with a CIEM style but a more rounded and bigger size than usual to house the quite large vibration transducer inside. The body is in semi transparent black and their faceplate has a beautiful artful design with shiny specks of paint with the brand in it adorned with aluminum edges. Honestly they look spectacular and have the feel of a well handmade product similar to custom IEMs. The shell is on the bigger side with a thick build and might not suit smaller ears. I do find that fit is important here and a deep, snug fit till the whole inner IEM body touches your ear choncha will give a greater sense of the vibration transducer here.
The Ètude is a hybrid setup that consist of a 10mm beryllium plated diaphragm subwoofer driver for the lower range with 3 custom made balanced armatures where 1 armature is for the midrange while a dual balanced armatures for the highs and ultra highs. What makes the Ètude special is the vibration transducer that has been specifically made for Kiwi Ears named KVT or Kiwi Vibration Transducer that is similar to some bluetooth speakers to work in tandem with the dynamic driver to provide an extra rumble with extra dimensions in the low end. The vibration here does work and they work better with a deep, snug fit and they indeed give an unique out of head feel when the bass hits. I have friends with smaller ears who felt it was ticklish when inserted shallowly as the vibration doesn’t hit the ear concha properly.
The Ètude has a 3 way passive crossover with a friendly 8db boost in the bass to give an extra kick while not being overpowering. The crossover also has a 250 Hz tuning for a flat and neutral midrange with near to none coloration.
There is a single vent on the top near the 0.78mm connector of the IEM and there is another vent for the rather large round driver at the side and that’s the KVT situated. No flex is present here and they are a well vented IEM.
Gears Used for Comparisons
FiiO Q7
Hiby FC6
Moondrop MIAD01
Kiwi Ears Airoso
Sony N3AP
Dunu Luna
Letshuoer S15
FatFreq Deuce
Tigerism Dark Magician
Nf Acous NA20
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The sound shale of the Ètude is a mild V shaped, almost a neutral balanced with a tone tilted towards the brighter side of the spectrum. They do have adequate warmth in the midrange and they are an energetic set of IEM that sound uber fun while still having a good amount of technicalities like a great overall detail retrieval capabilities and they possess a good clarity across the whole spectrum. The overall sound here isn’t a clinical one but an immersive, highly musical signature that is suited for a casual listening rather than a critical listening.
Soundstage
The soundstage of the Ètude is decent with a great width with an average height. The low end with the help of the KVT driver does give a touch of air that contributes in giving extra width in the soundstage. Placements of sound are accurate and they are able to give a 3D sound representation that is holographic suiting even for gaming and movies. Headroom here is big and they have a wide frequency range that doesn’t give boxy vibes that sounds closed in.
Separation and Timbre
Separation of the Ètude is average but still good as they are able to have a great left to right separation with no crosstalk issues and they do have a wide frequency range especially on the low region. Timbre here is good but the implementation of the KVT vibration does take some time to get used to and they do have a metallic sheen on the bass impact. The tuning here is actually great as all the drivers including the KVT works harmoniously without any major cohesion issues and they sounded full without any gaps or hollowness present.
Drivability
Rated at a mere 5 ohms impedance with a 104 db sensitivity, they are easy to drive on whichever source with ample volume and driven to their best. On the other hand, they don’t scale up with better sources and they are forgiving as they don’t show flaws in music suitable for streaming and casual usage. They aren’t prone to pick up noise and hiss but due to the 5 ohms impedance, some high power output sources might not be suitable for them. These IEM, although have good technicalities, aren’t suitable for studio monitoring purposes partly due to their non sterile sound with their boosted lows and highs.
The Bass (Low)
Bass here is what the main attraction is on the Ètude for their implementation of the vibration transducer. They do have a mild boost in the overall bass amount slightly north of neutral and the mid bass lift is decent without bloat or overpowering producing a tight, meaty bass that has good pace. Details here are good with a clean and dynamic bass that has good clarity alongside great texturing that shows layers in the bass quite evidently. Extensions here are superb partly due to the KVT giving an extra hand and they are indeed airy with a slow roll off at the end. The boosted bass here actually does suit light basshead as they have a unique rumble that can be sensed somewhat similar to a bone conduction feel but for me it took me a few tries to get used to the vibration transducer. Sub-bass here dives very deep and the rumble here is strong in quantity and quality while being in control without bleed or muddiness. Overall, a unique bass experience indeed.
The Mids
The midrange here has a flat approach that has some warmth in them but still able to sound neutral and balanced without any over emphasizing. The mids here have good micro and macro details with a great resolving sound that is accurate and natural with a good amount of body. Transparency is great as the mids here doesn’t alter the sound reproduction and the coloration here is minimal that adds to the naturalness of sound and they aren’t lifeless. Clarity here is presented in a clean manner with a clear overall sound without any issues. The flat midrange transitions pretty well onto the upper midrange with a mild spike that gives a natural brilliance into the mix making the Ètude’s vocals shine be it male or female. They do perform great on instruments but on some low range instruments like bass, cello and oboe, they tend to sound a little unnatural as the lower mids does sound a little distant towards the bass.
The Highs
The high frequency is similar to the bass with a mild boost that tilts slightly north of neutral that gives the Ètude a brighter overall sound with good energy and some bite. The details here are superb and able to show minor nuances smoothly and naturally. There is a healthy spike in the middle around the 10khz that gives a good amount of sparkle that is lively and crisp alongside a good amount of energy. The timbre here is actually a little piercy and breathy without any metallic armature timbre and they have a good extension that rolls off slowly giving an airy high range. Some treble sensitive users might find the highs here a little offensive but for me, they are strong but still able to sound smooth with their airy extension. Treble here has a mild intensity that gives the Ètude a bright, energetic and clear overall sound.
Comparisons
VS Sony N3AP (USD 200)
The N3AP from Sony is already a classic hybrid from them and touted as being the highest performance versus value proposition from Sony. They are equipped with a single dynamic driver and a single full range balanced armature all made by Sony themselves. The N3AP has a slightly dark tone with a warm, thick overall sound that emphasizes the lower region and they are an immersive IEM that has Sony’s typical house tuning. They do cost twice the asking amount of the Ètude but I believe most of the cost comes from the branding itself.
The high region on the Ètude has a bigger amount with a more energetic sound versus the more laid-back, smooth style of the N3AP. Details and clarity here are better on the Ètude with a cleaner sound while N3AP has a smoother, more forgiving high range.. The extension of the Ètude is better and they do have a livelier sparkle and sounded crisper.
Midrange on the N3AP is slightly thicker with a more coloured sound that is more forward, lusher versus the more neutral mids on the Ètude. Details are better on both and are similar with great clarity. The forward mids on N3AP had better intimacy and sweeter but the Ètude has more space alongside better brilliance from the upper mids.
Bass amount on both is similar but the Ètude is tighter and is more textured. Details and clarity also sound cleaner on the Ètude does have a bigger mid bass lift with a more unique sub-bass rumble that has better extension. Sub-bass on the N3AP does have a bigger rumble marginally.
Soundstage on both is similar in width and height but the Ètude with their vibration transducer does give an extra width in the lower region.
My pick: Kiwi Ears Ètude
Kiwi Ears Airoso (USD 129)
The Kiwi Ears Airoso is the bigger sibling of the Ètude that is priced an extra 10 USD and both have a total of 5 drivers with the Airoso having a 1dd + 4BA setup which is a more conventional hybrid setup. The tone of the Airoso does sound warmer but their technicalities are on par with each other. Fit on the Airoso does fit a wider range of users for their smaller build.
Bass on the Airoso is more organic and natural and both have a similar amount of mid bass lift. The bass slam on the Ètude is tighter and has a better extension due to the KVT driver. Details and clarity is similar but the Airoso does sound a tad more detailed in the bass decay. Sub-bass does reach deeper and have a more evident rumble on the Ètude.
Midrange on the Airoso sounded thicker and warmer with a more forward sound. Details and clarity does sound better on the Airoso marginally alongside better transparency while the Ètude has a more vivid sound that has slightly less colouration. Vocals sounded slightly better on Ètude for their extra brilliance while the Airoso has a better balance in the lower midrange.
Highs on the Ètude have a better volume and a livelier sparkle but the Airoso is smoother and extends better with more air. Timbre on the Airoso is more natural and forgiving as they are less . Details are similar but Ètude does sound clearer. Energy on the Ètude is stronger and they provide a more bite that gives more joy in the music.
Soundstage on the Ètude does sound wider and higher with a slightly bigger headroom but all marginally.
My pick: Slightly towards Airoso for their more mature, conventional sound but the Ètude is just unique and fun.
Who Is It For?
The Etude is recommended for users who are adventurous or looking for something truly unique yet capable IEM. It is a fun and jovial type of IEM that suits a casual listening experience but isn’t so suited for monitoring purposes albeit still possible. It is also a great IEM for travel as it is easily driven by any source and they do not pick up any hiss present from low quality sources. The Ètude do suit bassheads and treble heads alike for their boosted lows and highs but more to the former.
Genres recommended are all types of EDM, jazz, hip-hop, pop, rock, acoustics and classicals but not so much for metal and Jpop as the treble might get too spicy. They are also a superb IEM for movies and gaming for their immersiveness and accuracy.
Final words
Well I can say that Kiwi Ears has certainly showcased their adventurous side with the Ètude here as they are indeed a distinctive IEM that might not be the first to implement a vibration transducer but certainly an IEM that implements it well. The KVT driver they created is able to produce a wide bass response and gives a tactile rumble that is unlike any others in this price range while having a true hybrid sound that is energetic, fun and musical. Technicalities here are superb and will give competition a run for their money and although not being a conventional, clinical type of IEM, they are a special type of sound experience that is unforgettable. The caveats here are there is some unnatural timbre and some getting used to the Ètude does take some time but once getting over those, the Ètude really is a treat for your senses.
I would rate this product 4 and a half stars over 5.
Pros
- Good built with beautiful faceplate artwork
- Lightweight with good ergonomics
- Well tuned hybrid with great cohesion
- Wide frequency range especially towards the lower region
- Well balanced in tone and sound
- Great technicalities with superb clarity and details
- Decent transparency and resolution
- Deep, meaty, wide bass that has a well implementation of vibration transducer
- Neutral, clean midrange
- Energetic high range that is clean and sparkly
- Wide soundstage that has great air
- Easily driven
- Amazing value for the performance and tech
Cons
- Shell is slightly big and heavy (nitpick)
- High volume and shallow fit will be ticklish due to the vibration
- Takes some time getting used to the unique timbre of the vibration transducer
- Shell is on the larger, thicker side
- Treble might be too much for laid-back sound seeking user
- Not suited for monitoring
- No 4.4mm cable choice
- Doesn’t scale up much