Kurt critiques the Kiwi Ears Septet, a brand new hybrid 10mm dynamic, quad BA, micro-planar, and piezoelectric driver open-back common in-ear monitor. It’s at the moment priced at $269.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched in alternate for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or providers. I thank Linsoul and Kiwi Ears for his or her assist.
Click on right here to learn up on Kiwi Ears gear beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our newest scoring tips, which you’ll learn in additional element right here.
Kiwi Ears Septet Assessment
Abstract
The Kiwi Ears Septet hybrid driver IEM exhibits what cautious driver integration and tuning can obtain, providing a technical but satisfying sound that avoids the standard hybrid pitfalls.
Professionals
Expansive open-back soundstage with exact imaging.
Spectacular midrange readability.
Ethereal highs.
Cons
Troublesome to drive and wishes correct amplification.
Sharpness and sibilance isn’t totally resolved.
Kiwi Ears has rapidly change into one of many extra acknowledged names within the IEM market, particularly after the success of fashions just like the Orchestra Lite, Aether, and Cadenza.
They’ve constructed a status for delivering well-tuned and nice worth IEMs, whereas additionally exploring extra distinctive driver configurations and applied sciences alongside the way in which.
The Septet is a brand new hybrid IEM that includes seven drivers, 4 totally different driver varieties, and a five-way crossover system that stands out even amongst latest releases.
Will Kiwi Ears create a novel hit with the Septet, or will it find yourself as one other experimental IEM designed for particular tastes?
Options
The Kiwi Ears Septet makes use of a seven-driver array break up throughout 4 driver varieties, making it one of the intricate hybrids within the lineup.
At its basis is a 10mm composite dynamic driver devoted to the sub-bass and mid-bass. The midrange and mid-treble are dealt with by 4 balanced armature drivers, every assigned to a selected frequency vary by means of separate crossover networks.
The highs are break up between a micro-planar driver and a single piezoelectric driver for the ultra-highs. A five-way passive crossover and a three-bore nozzle system handle all seven drivers.
The Kiwi Ears has a 15Ω impedance ranking with an SPL of 95 dB/mW @1kHz, making this a reasonably inefficient in-ear monitor that may require first rate energy to sound optimum.
Design
The faceplate of the Kiwi Ears Septet encompasses a darkish grey end, with a contrasting jet-black shell, making a delicate two-tone look.
Beneath the faceplate is a brownish-red open-back grille with rows of uniform holes, making the open-back design seen at a look.
The shell is made from clean metallic, free from any markings, seams, or ornamental parts. Its rounded form is easy and undecorated, conserving the general look clear.
There aren’t any markings or prints on the shell itself, with solely the Kiwi Ears emblem on the heart of the faceplate for branding. This minimal method retains the design uncluttered and targeted.
Regardless of the open-back construction, there are two small vents, with one positioned close to the 0.78mm connector and one other close to the bottom of the nozzle. Each vents are delicate and mix into the shell, contributing to stress reduction and airflow.
The connector makes use of a recessed 0.78mm 2-pin socket on the prime of the shell, offering a safe match for cables. The nozzle is brief, completed with a mesh grille and an outlined lip, although its size could make it a ache to make use of with longer stem ear suggestions.
Consolation & Isolation
Consolation on the Kiwi Ears Septet is sweet, with the shell form sitting naturally within the ear. Regardless of housing seven drivers, the IEM is comparatively normal-sized and by no means feels cumbersome or awkward throughout use.
The selection of ear suggestions has a big effect on the match, as suggestions with longer stems are inclined to make the shell protrude outwards. Smaller ear suggestions create a greater seal and assist the Septet sit nearer within the ear.
Isolation isn’t a powerful level, because the open-back design permits exterior noise to cross by means of simply. I might hear my environment, together with conversations and road noise, even whereas music was enjoying.
Throughout journey, the dearth of isolation grew to become extra apparent, with appears like vehicles, chatter, and different background noise simply making their approach in. This makes the Septet much less very best to be used in noisy environments or commutes.
Ear Suggestions
The Kiwi Ears Septet contains twelve ear suggestions in complete, with three pairs every for 2 totally different kinds. There are quick, wide-bore suggestions and common balanced suggestions, each completed in black silicone with a easy, unbranded look.
The quick, huge bore suggestions create a flush match with the nozzle, however the flange is just too huge and quick to be comfy for longer classes. Their form prevents a safe seal, making it tough to attain correct isolation or bass response.
The balanced suggestions present a greater general match and seal in comparison with the wide-bore suggestions. Nevertheless, even with the balanced suggestions, the seal isn’t totally safe, as there’s nonetheless some wiggle room, so I wanted to regulate and reinsert them a number of occasions to get a match that was simply passable.
Inventory Cable
The inventory cable of the Kiwi Ears Septet makes use of a copper-colored end with a tender and barely shiny texture. It begins as 4 braided wires as much as the splitter, then splits into two thinner braids main to every earpiece.
The splitter is easy and plain black, with no added markings or ornamental particulars. Either side of the cable above the splitter retain a constant braided construction, conserving the look uniform and neat.
Channel identification is dealt with with small blue and purple sq. dots on the connector housings, the place blue is for the left aspect and purple is for the fitting. There aren’t any printed L or R markings anyplace on the cable.
Each the three.5mm and 4.4mm plugs are completed in matte black with the Kiwi Ears emblem printed in white. The cable makes use of a direct pull-and-insert modular system, making it fast and straightforward to swap plugs without having to twist or lock something in place.
Packaging & Equipment
The Kiwi Ears Septet field makes use of a tender pink and purple gradient with a daring “Septet” textual content printed throughout the underside. A big picture of the Septet sits within the center, with the Kiwi Ears emblem and driver configuration highlighted on the prime proper for simple reference.
Inside, the Septet is displayed in customized foam cutouts, faceplates up, giving a primary have a look at the open-back grille design as quickly as you open the field.
After eradicating the froth cutout, the black carrying case with a stamped Kiwi Ears emblem is revealed, sitting neatly under. All equipment are stored hidden contained in the zippered case, conserving the packaging tidy and arranged.
Contained in the carrying case is the modular cable with 3.5mm and 4.4mm terminations and twelve silicone ear suggestions. There aren’t any filter replacements or brushes right here, not like in different Kiwi Ears IEMs.
Sound Impressions
The next sound impressions of the Kiwi Ears Septet have been accomplished utilizing a mixture of the Heartfield R1 and Colorfly CDA-M2 for decoding and amplification (balanced output).
Bass
The bass on the Kiwi Ears Septet is superb, with a transparent concentrate on readability and definition somewhat than weight or increase. Every observe is exact, letting the character of bass guitar strings come by means of with ease.
Sub-bass rumble is current and felt, including depth and physique to the general sound and stopping any sense of dryness. Mid-bass is managed with a fast decay, ensuring it by no means muddies the remainder of the combo.
There’s a refined high quality to the tuning, with the low-end by no means sounding pressured or exaggerated. Refined particulars from drum hits are simple to pick, and every low-frequency sound lands with its distinct form.
The bass right here isn’t energetic or overwhelming, as an alternative leaning right into a extra balanced and pure presentation. The emphasis is on texture and delicate affect, letting every a part of the bass register be heard clearly.
Mids
The midrange on the Kiwi Ears Septet affords glorious timbre, giving devices and vocals a pure and lifelike high quality. There isn’t a trace of balanced armature timbre, so the mids keep away from any synthetic or plasticky character.
Vocal texture comes by means of clearly, including further element and life to the listening expertise. Vocals usually are not ahead within the combine and may typically get pushed behind by the bass and treble, particularly throughout extra complicated passages.
Male vocals are nicely articulated however lack some weight, which takes away from the fullness and emotional heft of deeper voices. Feminine vocals, however, can sound sharp at occasions because of the higher midrange emphasis, which might stand out on sure tracks.
Regardless of these points, the general midrange stays participating and lifelike, capturing loads of nuance and conserving the presentation free from the standard drawbacks of multi-driver hybrids.
Treble
The treble on the Kiwi Ears Septet is impressively nicely built-in, making it inconceivable to tell apart between the piezoelectric and micro planar drivers. Cymbals and excessive hats have a correct shimmer and vitality, with a pure metallic tone that brings realism to the higher registers.
Element retrieval within the treble is robust, permitting loads of nuance and texture to come back by means of in tracks. There’s a good sense of airiness, helped by the open-back design, giving the presentation an expansive and vigorous really feel.
Readability within the treble is excessive, but it surely does fall in need of true refinement, stopping it from totally punching above its worth. Sibilance isn’t totally addressed, as sharpness can seem with sure recordings or higher-pitched vocals.
Sparkle is all the time current, making the higher finish really feel energetic and interesting with out crossing into harshness more often than not. This retains the treble sounding vigorous whereas nonetheless letting the general signature keep balanced.
Staging & Dynamics
The soundstage of the Kiwi Ears Septet is a spotlight, due to its open-back design that creates a large and spacious soundstage.
The width is spectacular and simply felt, whereas vertical staging stays restricted, however there’s nonetheless some upward and downward motion within the presentation.
Imaging is exact, with quite a few sounds having loads of house to maneuver round and simply discovering their spot within the combine with out overlapping with others. Instrument separation is robust, conserving every component distinct even throughout busier or extra complicated passages.
The Septet handles layering nicely, with devices and vocals remaining simple to observe regardless of how busy the monitor turns into. The whole lot has sufficient room to breathe, making the general presentation really feel open and arranged.
Dynamics are much less convincing, as vocal loudness tends to drop when the treble grows extra lively. Even when the treble isn’t dominating, the bass can nonetheless have extra presence than the vocals, making the presentation much less balanced dynamically.
Click on on web page 2 under for my beneficial pairings and chosen comparisons.
