Review Of The Kiwi Ears Melody
Introduction
With their numerous releases, such as the Orchestra Lite, Cadenza, Quintet, etc.—whether in a single driver configuration or multiple ones—China-based Kiwi Ears has already established a dominant presence in the budget and mid-tier market. They have revealed every conceivable scenario to accommodate a wide range of customer preferences and tastes. They have established themselves with their well-liked IEMs, which are well-regarded for both their price and quality. Kiwi Ears has returned with new IEMs, the Melody being their first planar model. Although I am fortunate enough to review the melody, I would like to address a few points first.
Disclaimer
*Since this unit tour was organised by the kindly people at Linsoul, I am grateful to them. And as I’ve said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I’ve expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven’t been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as “Melody.”
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Melody based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.
Specification
Melody uses a 12mm in-house developed full range planar magnetic driver configuration. While the faceplate is made of metal, the shell is composed of medical resin. The company’s name is printed on the faceplate above both of the shells, which are smaller than they appear. Because of its ergonomic design, the shells fit comfortably, and listening to it for extended periods of time did not cause any weariness or unease. Although the cable that comes with the IEM is attractive and functional, it has a memory hold problem. The cable is 1.2 meters long, with a 3.5 mm straight termination plug on one end and a two pin connection on the other. Six pairs of eartips in two distinct styles and three sizes are among the additional accessories. Regarding the technical details, the sensitivity is 102dB and the impedance is 18 Ohms. At 1 kHz, the total harmonic distortion is less than 0.5%, and the frequency response spans from 5 Hz to 40 kHz.
Sound
After hearing the Melody, my concept of a Planar IEM has changed. I never imagined that a planar could have such beautiful sound. Whatever the graph suggests, the melody sounds pleasant and well-balanced, making it easy to listen to. It is not clarity that you would get, but the physicality and advantages of the planar. Its vibrant and round tone belies its quickness and responsiveness, giving it a surprisingly realistic and mature sound. The wet response, which seemed to provide clarity and details but actually leaned the sound toward artificiality, was my only issue with today’s planar IEM. Most other IEMs in this price range struggle to produce a soothing sound with subtle nuances, but the presentation succeeds in doing so. Even though it’s one of the most affordable planars on the market, it functions similarly to a planar driver and a dynamic driver crossed over. Let us investigate the sound in more detail.
Treble
After losing at the FR, all I could think of was that the treble would sound sibilant and shimmery, but I was mistaken because the treble region is actually quite smooth and extended. The vocals and instruments sound excellent and clear, with good details that stretch without any problems, giving the impression that the music is much farther away. The cymbal crashes in particular are particularly noticeable. The upper treble presence of air is actually present without sounding brittle or tiring in any way. Even though I don’t think planar IEMs sound particularly spacious, I don’t mind because I value the lack of a surprising tonal quality. While maintaining the same level of quality as the upper treble, I find the lower treble to have a little more energy than the upper, which makes the vocals and instruments sound more alive. I also find the vocals to be more polished and transparent, making them more pleasant to listen to. Overall, the treble region is presented in a seamless, orderly, and detailed manner.
Mid Range
My testing indicates that the mid range is satisfying, rich, and natural. Although the notes are not very refined or detailed, how well they are received reveals something about the driver’s caliber. Yes, some ‘ss’ sounds are audible, but there isn’t any heaviness in the vocals or flangy effect to any notes. With greater emphasis on the vocals and instruments, the upper mid range is just as energetic as the lower treble, bringing the vocals and instruments closer together in the mix and enhancing the harmony. The fun nature of the instruments and vocals doesn’t detract from the accuracy of the details or have an impact on the high or low frequencies. The vocals sound rich and dense without being overbearing, and the instruments blend in with the vocals to create a melodic sound. The vocals also have the appropriate note weight. One issue I do have, though, is that while the male and female voices are both rich and natural-sounding, the female vocals tend to sound a little sibilant in the higher octaves, as if the driver’s limitations are being revealed. Granted, not everything has to be fruit and candy. Due to the abundance of details, the lower mid range sounds thick and dense rather than hazy. It is nearly impossible for a dynamic driver to sound mostly resolved and appealing like the vocals and instruments do. The lower frequencies provide the foundation for this response, which results in the warmth and organic sound. As a result, the mid range region is presented in a natural, melodic, and pleasing manner overall.
Bass
Now for the bass: I adore it so much. It feels like anything is possible because of the thick response’s speed and transient response. With a Planar IEM, the bass response is a novel experience. Despite its powerful presence, the bass is subtle enough not to irritate you. The response is obviously not as punchy and refined as it is intricate and detailed, but it still sounds better than dynamic drivers because it has a thumpy and boomy sound that is effective without sounding erratic or out of control. The sub bass area is highlighted because it is sufficiently deep to produce a satisfying rumble in the ear canals, but it is not as well exposed as the midrange slams and thump, which overpower the response as a whole. For the first time, I found the mid bass to be so enjoyable that I would actually prefer it over the sub bass. The slams and thumps are strong without having an overpowering sound because they resolve quickly. There is a noticeable warmth in the mix and a more laid-back sound because the bass does seep into the lower mid range. Regarding bass quality, the details and texture are excellent, but they are not on level with other Planar IEMs. All things considered, the bass region sounds warm, clear, and enjoyable overall.
Technical Performance
Regarding technical performance, I would say that planar IEMs are superior, but this one falls short in my opinion, albeit naturally at the expense of being rich and have natural tones. The details, in my opinion, are not fully expressed. But let’s talk about this in more detail.
Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation
Even though the space is more elliptical than flat, the soundstage is sufficiently large and far enough apart to sound roomy. The imaging is sharp but could have been more clear, and the sound is more left to right, giving it a stereo effect. It is easier to identify the source of the sound when there is good separation between the notes due to variations in their distance and distinction.
Speed & Resolution
I find the details to be averagely expressed, perhaps because I was expecting more from a Planar IEM, but the resolution is excellent and the detail retrieval is sufficient to bring in sufficient micro and macro nuances. However, the notes’ attack and decay are tactical and incredibly paced.
Sound Impressions
Sources
Sony WM1A - As usual, the sound is smooth, warm, and has more dynamics in the lower frequencies. With the exception of the nuances produced in the higher frequencies as the bell chimes and cymbal crashes sound captivating, the entire presentation sounds denser and richer without sacrificing the quality of the notes or their details. Although I do find the bass to be a little influencing, it sounds a little looser than usual and has no effect on the IEM’s integrity of tuning.
Tempotec V6 - More clarity and genuine Planar capabilities are brought out by the V6, which gives Melody a faster, more detailed sound with excellent details. The instruments sound clearer and more forward, but the ss sound is more audible. The vocals sound more forward and distinct. It sounds tighter and more focused with a more nuanced bass. As a result, I prefer the V6’s sound.
Tracks
Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin’
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don’t Fear) The Reaper
Guns ‘N’ Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeRs
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measures
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex, Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun
Conclusion
To conclude this review, I will acknowledge that this is one of the most reasonably priced Planar IEMs. It also has a unique tuning approach that is well-executed, making it worthwhile to try, especially for people who prefer planers to dynamic drivers because it sounds similar and, in my opinion, has better properties. For that reason, I heartily suggest this IEM to anyone looking to experience a warm, well-balanced planar sound.
My only real issue with these is how short the nozzle is. I keep swapping tips trying to find what feels right. Overall they’re a fun interesting IEM though. Well worth owning for the price.
I agree. Nozzle wasn’t an issue for me though I did use different eartips and using them gave me variable insertion fit.