The Kiwi Ears KE4 combines both elegance and innovation in its design, featuring a sleek black-tinted shell with a striking white marble-like faceplate.
Crafted from skin-friendly resin, the KE4 offers an ergonomic, comfortable fit, even during extended listening sessions. Despite its slightly larger size, the KE4 is lightweight and comes with customizable Flex Tips in various sizes, ensuring a secure fit for every user.
This IEM stands out not only for its aesthetic appeal but also for its impressive acoustic performance. Equipped with a newly improved driver configuration, including a 2DD isobaric subwoofer system and 2BA drivers, the KE4 promises an engaging and well-balanced audio experience.
From deep, impactful bass to lush mid-range vocals and clear treble, every frequency is expertly tuned for optimal listening.
Let’s take a deeper look into the KE4 and see if they truly are worthy of your listening experieince.
Kiwi Ears KE4 Packaging
Kiwi Ears KE4 Review – Design and Functionality
While observing the product design for this Kiwi Ears KE4 Review, we immediately noticed its shells. These are made using skin-friendly resin and have an ergonomic design to ensure comfort when worn.
The shells also have a black tint, while the faceplate features a white marble-like design. Its clear-coat finish added to the visual depth and dimension of the IEM. At the centre of the shells is the carved Kiwi Ears branding, offering a monochromatic but elegant look.
The KE4 is chunky, making it larger than standard-sized IEMs. Despite that, it is not heavy and does not cause pain and discomfort.
You can customise the fit with the three Flex Tips, the proprietary ear tips from Kiwi Ears. These are available in S, M, and L sizes. We appreciate these inclusions since we wanted to customise the fit before our tests for this Kiwi Ears KE4 Review.
Key Features of the Kiwi Ears KE4
New and Improved Driver Configuration
The KE4 is an innovative IEM with a brand-new design and configuration. It has a 2DD or 2 Dynamic Driver isobaric subwoofer system with 2BA or 2 Balanced Armature full-range & tweeter speakers.
The specifically tuned dual custom 10mm dynamic drivers focus on sub=bass slam and impact. These deliver outstanding bass guitars and kick drums with an impressive presence.
In addition, the IEM has the RAD 33518 BA driver with enhanced ventilation for seamless bass and mid-range integration. This driver allowed the IEM to produce lush and textured vocals and instruments.
This IEM also has the American-made Knowles RAD 33518 tweeter for pristine, natural-sounding treble. Its excellent upper-frequency extension produces a detailed and airy sound signature.
Natural and Engaging Audio With the Kiwi Ears KE4
The KE4 reflects Kiwi Ears’ dedication to tonal excellence. Its target tuning focuses on sub-bass impact precision, a warm and natural midrange, and a precise treble.
While testing the product for this Kiwi Ears KE4 Review, we noticed its carefully refined sound signature. It is natural and engaging, a result of years of development. The tonal balance of the KE4 makes all listening enjoyable for casual listeners, audiophiles, and professional audio engineers.
Handcrafted Engineering for Superior Precision
Kiwi Ears meticulously engineered every aspect of the KE4 by hand to achieve excellent acoustic performance. It uses a three-way crossover system and independent sound tubes for precise frequency blending and separation.
Aside from the unique engineering, the shells of this IEM are made from durable medical-grade resin, ensuring comfort and longevity. Plus, the hand-finished faceplates make them appear more elegant.
Seamless Bass and Mid-range Integration
As we mentioned in this Kiwi Ears KE4 Review, the driver of this IEM makes bass and mid-range integration seamless. As a result, the audio is smooth and natural when the bass transitions to the mid-range. Also, it enhances music and vocals for increased immersion.
Hands-on with the Kiwi Ears KE4
We thoroughly tested the Kiwi Ears KE4 to evaluate its sound quality, and like previous products from the brand, it exceeded expectations with its high-quality audio performance. The KE4 delivered an open, airy, and intricately detailed sound signature, making it a solid contender in the IEM market.
Bass Performance
The KE4 delivered a robust and well-controlled bass, excelling in both the sub-bass and mid-bass frequencies. Kiwi Ears has expertly tuned this IEM to bring out the best in low-frequency notes.
The sub-bass offered a deep, rumbling presence that added weight and power to tracks without being overwhelming. It created a rich, textured bass response that felt natural, contributing to a wholesome and enjoyable listening experience.
The mid-bass complemented this by delivering full-bodied bass guitars and drums, with each note standing out clearly. The bass was impactful yet balanced, never overpowering other elements in the mix, which allowed for a more immersive sound.
One of the standout characteristics of the KE4 is how it handles bass frequencies with precision, allowing for a distinct separation between sub-bass and mid-bass. This gave the overall presentation a sense of depth and dimension, allowing bass-heavy genres like electronic, rock, and hip-hop to shine without overwhelming the listener.
Mid-Range Clarity
Moving into the mid-range, the KE4 maintained a forward, engaging response. The mids were full, rich, and incredibly detailed, yet they didn’t come across as aggressive or overpowering.
Instead, the KE4 presented a well-defined and musical mid-range that brought out the emotional aspects of vocals and instruments. The upper mid-range, in particular, added a sense of vitality, filling out the background with supporting vocals and instrumental layers.
Female vocals stood out with a tonally rich response, delivering an open and pleasant sound that felt both natural and effortless. Male vocals were equally impressive, with the lower mid-range providing a solid foundation that ensured voices had adequate volume and presence.
The smooth integration between the lower mid-range and upper mids created a cohesive and well-blended sound, making both male and female vocals sound balanced and authentic.
Across several tracks, the mid-range shone with a richness and dynamism that enhanced the musicality of the listening experience. The KE4 offered a broader and more expansive response in the mids, though there were moments where its openness slightly decreased during transitions.
Nevertheless, the overall performance of the mid-range was clean, impactful, and free of any muddiness, allowing instruments and vocals to shine in perfect harmony.
Treble Precision and Detail
When it came to the treble, the KE4 did not disappoint. The treble tuning was distinctive, delivering a clear and well-extended upper range without sounding harsh or overly sharp. Vocals and instruments in the higher frequencies had a fuller and richer sound, with just the right amount of weight to give them definition and clarity.
The treble was smooth and refined, allowing listeners to appreciate the more nuanced qualities of the sound, which often get lost in lesser IEMs.
The upper treble had an impressive extension, contributing to the airiness and clarity of the overall soundstage. Notes in this range were detailed and upfront without crossing into sibilance, making high-frequency instruments and effects sound crisp and engaging. The lower treble, on the other hand, had a more forward response, which helped bring out assertive vocal and instrumental presentations. This provided a sense of richness and energy to higher frequencies, further enhancing the listening experience.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage of the KE4 was another highlight, offering a large and spacious audio field with excellent width and depth. This created a sharp and distinct note presentation, making it easy to pinpoint where each sound was coming from.
The expansive soundstage added to the immersive quality of the KE4, allowing listeners to feel enveloped by the music rather than just hearing it. This is particularly important for genres like classical, jazz, and live recordings, where soundstage and imaging play a crucial role in the overall experience.
In terms of imaging, the KE4 performed admirably, offering precise sound placement and separation. Each instrument and vocal track had its own space within the soundstage, ensuring that nothing felt congested or muddled.
This level of clarity and separation allowed for a more engaging and dynamic listening experience, making the KE4 a great option for both casual listeners and audiophiles.
The Kiwi Ears KE4 is a highly impressive IEM that delivers exceptional audio quality across the entire frequency range. Its bass is impactful and well-controlled, the mid-range is rich and detailed, and the treble is clear and refined.
The KE4 excels in delivering a balanced and natural sound signature that works well across a wide range of music genres. Additionally, its large soundstage and precise imaging make it an immersive and enjoyable listening experience.
Whether you’re a casual listener or an audiophile seeking high-fidelity sound, the Kiwi Ears KE4 is an excellent choice. With its impressive design, comfortable fit, and outstanding audio performance, it offers great value for its price and stands out as a top-tier IEM in its category.
Kiwi Ears KE4 Review Summary
The Kiwi Ears KE4 is a highly impressive in-ear monitor (IEM) that offers excellent sound quality at an affordable price. Its ergonomic design, crafted from skin-friendly resin, ensures a comfortable fit for extended listening sessions, while the elegant black tint and marble-like faceplates add a touch of sophistication to the IEM’s aesthetic.
The KE4 stands out for its innovative driver configuration, featuring a 2DD isobaric subwoofer system and 2BA drivers. This setup delivers a well-balanced sound signature with impactful sub-bass, clear mid-range, and crisp treble.
The attention to detail in both the bass and mid-range frequencies provides a rich, engaging listening experience, making it suitable for casual listeners, audiophiles, and even professional audio engineers.
When it comes to performance, the KE4 excels in delivering a natural and immersive sound, with smooth transitions between bass, mid-range, and treble. The handcrafted engineering and three-way crossover system ensure precise frequency separation, while the high-quality Knowles tweeters contribute to the clear and airy treble.
The KE4’s soundstage is expansive, offering impressive width and depth, allowing for a highly immersive audio experience.
The Kiwi Ears KE4 is a well-rounded IEM that offers superb value for its price. With its balanced and natural tonal quality, solid bass response, and comfortable fit, it is an ideal choice for those seeking high-fidelity audio without breaking the bank.
Whether for music or professional use, the KE4 delivers a refined and captivating sound experience.
