While Kiwi Ears has been known for their amazing earphones products, they have been burning the midnight oil dabbling into the bluetooth headphones category. This segment of audio is usually for the mainstream users who want more portability on the go and it is quite a niche segment for audiophiles with a few audiophile brands like Focal, Dali and others making their mark in this segment. Kiwi Ears has decided to make a go in producing their own line of bluetooth headphones and the Ardor is one of their most recent releases. It has all the functionalities of a top tier bluetooth headphones and equipped with 2 drivers per side alongside a pocket friendly price that might be a superb value bluetooth headphones.
Kiwi Ears has sent us a pair of the all new Ardor for an honest take and we couldn’t be happier for this chance, so a heartfelt gratitude to the team of Kiwi Ears. How will they perform in this realm of mainstream bluetooth headphones? We shall find out here.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications and features of Kiwi Ears Ardor;
● Bluetooth Version: 5.4
● Drivers: Dynamic 40mm + 10mm (Coaxial)
● Noise Cancellation: Hybrid ANC, Noise reduction depth -32dB±3dB
● Playback Time: 72 hours (ANC on), 140 hours (ANC off)
● Fast Charging: 10 mins = 8 hours playback
● Sensitivity: 100±3dB @1KHz 1mW
The Kiwi Ears Ardor 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 with a little premium feel on hands. Inside we are greeted with the carrying case that has a hard fabric outer shell in grey encasing the product itself. The case is quite small and slim, great for portability with a nice finishing and rubber zippers with their branding on them. The package includes necessities like a USB C to USB C cable and a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable along with some paperworks. Simple and straight to the point packaging which creates less waste but the cable does look pretty basic but given the low asking price, it is acceptable.
Design
The design of the Ardor is more towards a simple, elegant style in all black with vegan leather faceplate and headbands. Honestly, it is stylistically great with a streamline, black theme. They do share some similarities with Sony older series at the headbands and they have almost all plastic built except for the sliders and hinges that are made of metal. The cups can be swivelled and they are collapsible which gives them a wider range of storage. The plastic does feel a tad low in quality but their finishing is good. It has a lightweight body that has good comfortable vegan leather earpads and manages to cover the whole ear without any issues.
The Ardor is a closed back headphones and they are driven with 2 dynamic drivers which is a rather rare setup. The 40mm driver is in charge of the highs, mids and lows while the 10mm coaxial driver is meant for producing extra clarity and width in soundstage.
Surrounding the headphones are an array of 5 microphones to pick up noise and cancel them out giving a whopping -35db of noise reduction when the ANC is on. The ANC here is decent and works really well cancelling most of the noise and producing a black background, suitable for train and plane rides. They also have a transparency mode and an extra movie mode that reduces latency while tuned for a more immersive sound. I also find the movie mode suitable for gaming for their lower latency. The funny thing is that the English language used has a Chinese accent on them but is still easily understood.
The battery is rated at 1100 mAh and has 72 hours of playback with ANC on and 140 hours with ANC off which is crazy lasting beating out most, if not all of the competitors substantially. The charging does take around 1 hour to complete but they last me a solid month of average listening. They do have the latest bluetooth 5.4 but only supports SBC and AAC without APT-X or LDAC support.
Another nifty trick of the Ardor is we can use the Ardor with the supplied 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable and also be able to utilize the USB C to C cable with their internal DSP processing which is useful if the battery ever runs out.
These headphones used a clicking button which I much prefer than a gesture motion sensor which is prone to accidental click. The volume button and play/pause which also doubles as the on/off button is on the right side with the 3.5mm input below the play/pause button. The left side has the ANC button where single clicks will adjust the ANC and transparency mode while double clicking will activate the movie mode alongside the USB C input below the ANC button. There is a small LED indicator at the right side above the volume rocker.
Gears Used for Comparisons
FiiO Q7
Hiby FC6
Moondrop MIAD01
Sony WH1000XM5
Sennheiser HD800s
Dunu Luna
Letshuoer S15
Blur daBass custom earbud
Toneking TO600
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The tone of the Ardor is a balanced neutral that has a slight lean towards the brighter side of the spectrum. They do have a good amount of energy here that gives an exciting sound signature with a touch of aggression. There is some warmth in the lower mids going into the lows that gives a lush sound without any sterility. Overall clarity here is great and they aren’t a muddy pair of headphones staying true to an audiophile sound signature. No major sound emphasis is present here and they are full sounding headphones but aren’t for those who want a thick, warm, bassy sound.
Soundstage
The soundstage of the Ardor is actually good and better than most of the bluetooth headphones in this price range and may rival some above their asking price as they are wide and have a good height to them. Albeit it’s a closed system they are quite airy with good extension on both ends especially the higher region. The soundstage here has great immersive sound that is holographic and accurate which is suitable even for gaming and movies.
Separation and Timbre
Separation of the Ardor is average but still good as they are able to have a great left to right separation with no crosstalk issues on Bluetooth or wired but there is some latency on the other modes except movies. Texture and layering here is great as they are able to keep with fast tracks. Timbre here is slightly piercy with a breathy and clean sound with a good natural, accurate sound. The Ardor does have a decent musicality and they have a sound more towards a clear sounding unit with good technicalities instead of an organic, immersive sound. The implementation of the 2 dynamic drivers is good as there isn’t any major incoherence present.
Drivability
Bluetooth headphones usually suffer from being polite in their volume but this is where the Ardor surprises me as they are able to go louder than most of the headphones I have tested by quite a significant amount without distortion which is a big plus in my book as I tend to listen on a louder volume at certain times. Running on the 3.5mm input with a good or better source doesn’t really bring any improvement, instead I kind of prefer the bluetooth mode with ANC on and the same goes to the USB C input. On the bluetooth mode, I do feel it is more dynamic and fuller sounding versus the other input and cranking the volume up on some sources does give quite a significant amount of distortion.
The Bass (Low)
Bass that the Ardor produces is a neutral flat type with a mild mid bass lift that has a correct amount of bass that isn’t overpowering and they are still able to have some presence when called upon. Details here are great and the texture here is well presented giving a clean bass that possesses no bloat or bleed. The clarity here is superb with an agile bass that has a tight slam with good transparency. These are certainly not for bassheads and might not suit bass heavy tracks as they may sound thin and lackluster but amazing for vocals. Their bass here does have a rather fast roll off and they probably will come off as a tad polite in certain genres. Sub-bass here is average in amount and depth but they have a clean rumble that doesn’t interfere with the rest of the frequencies.
The Mids
The midrange here has a well balanced mids that has some warmth in them and they have slightly forward sound that gives the bass a good body. Details and clarity is great with good macro and micro detail retrieval capabilities but a focus more on the former. The mids here actually blend well with the lower region that produces a clean sound that suits audiophiles for their great transparency that plays the music as it is. Resolution here is average but has a vivid sound that has near to no colouration present. These Ardor are suited for vocals as they are clean, accurate and natural with a dash of brilliance in the transition into upper midrange that gives vocals a lively sound. There is a mild peak in the upper midrange but they aren’t shouty or too peaky and the transition to the high range is done smoothly. The midrange here actually doesn’t suit for those who want a warm, thick, coloured mids that excites but for those who want an unaltered midrange that stays true to the music.
The Highs
The high frequency has a boost that is slightly neutral that gives the Ardor a brighter overall sound and they have a good energy. The boost here is mild but I do feel is the standout frequency when compared to the bass and mids albeit in a small margin. Details and clarity here is great with every high nuance well displayed alongside a good amount of sparkle but they do lack some crispness. The highs here are lively with a natural timbre that doesn’t have a metallic or plasticky sheen to them. They have an extended, slow roll off high range that gives the highs a good amount of air. Sibilance here is non-existent on normal volumes but in high volumes and with genres such as metal, they tend to sound a little harsh. Treble here has some intensity in them that contributes to bright sound alongside a great overall clarity.
Comparisons
VS Sony WH1000 XM5
The XM5 from Sony is the 5th generation of their top selling line of wireless headphones and they are very well received by mostly mainstream users for their immersive sound with great ANC and the LDAC functionalities. They are priced more than double than the Ardor but the XM5 does feel a tad more sturdy in their build especially on the plastic construction. Fit is similar with Ardor weighing slightly less but the Ardor battery life is undeniably better. Both have a contrasting sound with the XM5 having a thicker, intimate sound while the Ardor having a more neutral approach that is cleaner and clearer.
The high region on the Ardor has a bigger presentation with a more energetic sound versus the more laid-back style of the XM5. Details and clarity here are better on the Ardor and they are cleaner while the XM5 has a smoother high range. The extension in the high range on the Ardor is slightly better with more air.
Midrange on the XM5 is thicker with a more coloured sound that has a lusher mids versus the more neutral mids on the Ardor Details are better on the Ardor with a cleaner, clearer sound. The forward mids on the XM5 sounded more intimate and sweeter but lacked brilliance and bite.
Bass on the XM5 does have a bigger mid bass lift with a deeper sub-bass rumble that has an immersive sound while the Ardor flat neutrality does give a more accurate bass presentation though lacking in authority when compared to the XM5. Details and clarity here are similar but the bass on the XM5 does sound airier for their slower roll off
Soundstage on the Ardor is wider and taller with a better depth in a small margin but the XM5 sounds airier.
My pick: Kiwi Ears Ardor (value)
Dali IO-8
The IO-8 by Sweden’s speakers makers is their mid range entry into the bluetooth segment and they are equipped with their own in-house made 50 mm dynamic driver that we have covered for a while back. The price of these headphones does cost a whopping 899 USD but they do have better construction and bringing the tuning prowess of speakers into play might give them the edge. The tuning is a similar neutral tuning but the IO-8 does sound smoother and fuller on the low end while the Ardor sound cleaner and clearer. Packaging is similar to a hard carry case on both these sets. Design wise I do prefer the Ardor for their button placements on the side instead of the faceplate which is prone to accidental clicks and the ANC seems to work better by giving slightly more isolation. Comfort on the IO-8 is better probably due to their ear pads which have a smoother texture. It is also worth noting that the IO-8 does have similar file support with only SBC and AAC available.
Bass on the IO-8 does sound fuller for their slower roll off and they have a bigger slam marginally. Sub-bass does reach deeper and have a more evident rumble. Details here are similar but the clarity does go to the Ardor with a cleaner bass.
Midrange on the IO-8 sounded slightly thicker and they are more spacious with more intimacy. Details and clarity does sound better on the Ardor but resolution on the IO-8 seems more vivid possessing some coloration. Ardor does perform better on vocals for their clarity and slightly better brilliance. Transparency does go to the IO-08 as they have a more body in them to them albeit both are neutral sounding.
Highs on the Ardor has the better volume and more evident sparkle but the IO-8 is smoother and extends better with more air. Details are similar but the Ardor is clearer. Timbre on the IO-8 seems more accurate with a more pleasing treble although isn’t as exciting.
Soundstage on the IO-8 does sound wider and higher with a slightly bigger headroom marginally.
My pick: Ardor (value and better sound clarity)
Who Is It For?
The Ardor is an easy recommendation for those who want to give a try on bluetooth headphones, be it beginners or audiophiles alike. They are great for those who want a clean sound that has a natural and accurate sound. They aren’t for those who want an immersive, bassy, thick overall sound but for those who want a purer sound. The Ardor is actually a perfect companion for travellers mainly for their best in class battery life and great ANC functionalities. They do well with gaming for their accuracy but not so much for movies for their lack of immersiveness.
Suited: acoustics, vocals, classicals, pop, rock
Not so suited: EDM, hip-hop, Jazz
Final words
I wasn’t expecting much of the Kiwi Ears Ardor but upon receiving and testing it, I was honestly surprised by their build and packaging that includes the high quality case. The sound of these doesn’t really have the wow factor, but it is a refreshing sound for audiophiles for their overall clean, accurate and neutral sound presentation that they have. The battery life here is really unmatched but they do lack higher bluetooth bitrates like LDAC or APT-X which doesn’t really matter to me. The ANC does work and with the inclusion of 3.5mm and USB C input, they are a swiss army knife. The downside here is actually pretty minor like the cheap feeling plastic but given their low asking price, it us just a nit-pick. The sound might not satisfy mainstream users and bassheads, but their amazing value coupled with their neutral sound and outstanding battery life will prove them to be a solid winner.
I would rate this product 4 and a half stars over 5.
Pros
- Good built with a nice, sleek design
- Outstanding battery life
- Volume can go louder than others
- Good clicky buttons
- ANC works well
- Comfortable, lightweight
- Neutral tuning
- Great technical performance with good separation
- Amazing overall clarity with good details
- Good transparency and resolution
- Clean, accurate bass
- Neutral, clean midrange
- Nicely lifted high range with great sparkle
- Decent soundstage for a closed back
- Good quality hard case
- Amazing value for money
Cons
- Doesn’t scale up much with other inputs
- Bass a little lean
- Midrange thickness can be better
- High range lack crispness
- No LDAC, APT-X
- Plastic part felt a little cheap (nit-pick)
- Included white cables too generic (nit-pick)