Kiwi Ears Cadenza II

Most sources call it balanced and relatively neutral with a touch of warmth — a mature, fatigue-free tuning that suits nearly any genre. It gets there by restraint, not by being flat: a sub-bass lift that stops before the mid-bass and a presence region kept low. A minority hear that restraint as lean, thin or just generic.

“The Kiwi Ears Cadenza II delivers balanced, fatigue-free sound quality at an extremely accessible price point.”

The Metalverse

“But the Cadenza 2, has a really well balanced and relatively neutral tuning.”

Late Night Unboxing (YouTube)

“The Cadenza II has a relaxed, smooth sound signature, nicely warm while still sounding relatively neutral.”

The Headphoneer

“It's nothing special. It's very typical.”

Dracomies (YouTube)

“Great technical performance but poor musical performance.”

redfaction88, r/iems

Sources split: most hear a clean, quick, sub-bass-led low end that punches when a track calls for it and never bleeds into the mids; about a third hear the same bass as lean — short on mid-bass slam and weight, and for some owners nearly absent. Everyone agrees it isn't for bassheads. Much of the split is the seal: the KARS shelf sits at about target on a sealed rig, and owners who swap to softer or better-sealing tips report the bass coming back.

The strongest point of agreement and the set's calling card: a clear, natural midrange with realistic note weight and timbre, vocals that come forward without shout or sibilance, and instruments that sound like themselves. A minority, including owners of both generations, hear the lower midrange as recessed or thin next to the original Cadenza, and a few catch shoutiness on poor recordings.

“The midrange is the strongest frequency range of the Cadenza II.”

The Metalverse

“The midrange is very neutral and accurate in terms of note weight. It sounds dense and lush yet clear and accurate.”

Marcelo, Headfonics

“At this price point sets are usually too thin, or too thick for vocals, the Cadenza II is pretty much perfect.”

tombrisbane, Head-Fi

“For example, the Cadenza II has a notably recessed lower midrange.”

ApolloMoonLandings, r/iems

Sources split three ways. The largest camp hears a smooth, clean, non-sibilant treble with enough extension — the reason it suits long sessions and treble-sensitive ears. A second camp hears the same restraint as too polite: short on air, sparkle and mid-treble energy. A third hears edge rather than dullness — a sharp peak high up, a metallic timbre, or harshness on bright recordings. The rigs show why: 4–10 kHz sits well under target while a narrow peak around 13–14 kHz sits at it, and tip bore and insertion depth move that peak by several decibels.

Sources split almost evenly. One camp hears a surprisingly big, deep, open stage for a $50 single DD — Headfonics calls it spherical, and several reviewers call it the widest in their budget comparisons. The other hears an average, intimate, monitor-style stage that's never congested but never expansive, and a few owners find it small or cramped on busy mixes. Seal, tips and source seem to move it, but the split holds across both press and owners.

Good for the money rather than pinpoint. Most reviewers credit accurate placement and clean separation — enough that several recommend it for casual gaming — while noting a slightly laid-back presentation and layering that blurs on dense orchestral or metal tracks.

“Instrument separation is impressive for a budget set, as is the overall resolution.”

Prime Audio Reviews

“The Cadenza II still supplies good imaging with good placement, albeit with a slightly laid-back presentation.”

Marcelo, Headfonics

“However imaging is just ok.”

Late Night Unboxing (YouTube)

Solid for the price and clearly better than the original Cadenza's, with most of the resolution living in the midrange. Several reviewers find micro-detail soft at the frequency extremes, and on busy tracks the bass and treble lose some density — the recurring "it shows its price here" note.

“I hear a lot of detail and resolution, as well as microdetails and microdynamics.”

Marcelo, Headfonics

“Macro and micro details are there, even if not top-notch”

Mobileaudiophile

“Micro-detailing is a bit weak though”

Lumerion, Head-Fi

Mostly praised: quick transients and good punch for a budget single DD, with a few reviewers calling its dynamics and headroom the best they've heard at the price. The weak spot is dense, fast material, where it compresses a little. On power, nearly everyone runs it easily from a phone or a $10 dongle; Headfonics is the outlier, hearing it open up only on a powerful source. It is sensitive enough that a few owners heard hiss from noisy dongles.

“I did several comparisons with single DD's from $15-$150, and I didn't find any that had this level of dynamics and headroom.”

FreeWheelinAudioLuv2, Head-Fi

“The Cadenza II sounds dynamic and requires a lot of power, with plenty of headroom to spare, without distorting or compressing.”

Marcelo, Headfonics

“Even my $10 Kiwi Ears AD1 dongle drives the Cadenza II easily, confirming its flexibility across entry-level to high-end sources.”

Drock6, Head-Fi

“But where the Cadenza 2 gives out is at the complex tracks like classical music, rock and metal stuff.”

Late Night Unboxing (YouTube)

A strength for most: a light (about 4.5 g), ergonomic, vented shell that many forget they're wearing over hours. The dissent is fit, not weight — the nozzle is on the long side, the shell is bigger than the original's, and a minority of owners report slipping, pressure or sore ears after long sessions (Amazon's fit topic runs 12 positive to 5 negative). Several recommend better-sealing aftermarket tips over the stock ones.

“Comfort is one of the Cadenza II's strongest suits.”

The Metalverse

“The Cadenza II impresses the most in terms of comfort.”

Sync0x1, Head-Fi

“Wore these for five hours on a flight and didn’t even have to fiddle with them once.”

its_mardybum_430, r/iems

“My ears were throbbing afterward.”

Amazon verified buyer (2★)

Broadly seen as a clear upgrade over the original: a polycarbonate-composite shell with a soft-touch finish, a CNC-machined aluminum faceplate and one of the best stock cables at the price. The consistent complaint is the bare box — tips and a cable, no case or pouch, 3.5 mm only — and a small owner tail reports a loose 2-pin fit or earpieces coming apart (Amazon's durability topic: 4 positive, 3 negative).

“I like that the Cadenza II uses a polycarbonate composite shell, which is more impact-resistant and durable than the increasingly common 3D-printed resin shell.”

Marcelo, Headfonics

“The bundled 2-pin cable is excellent.”

higherdotedu, r/iems

“the Cadenza II isn’t really an upgrade over the predecessor”

Donspektor, Head-Fi

“after a few uses the earpieces actually fell apart and broke”

Amazon verified buyer (1★)

Average to good for a vented single DD: enough for commuting and the office, not a noise blocker. It depends on the seal, and reviewers who found a good one rate it above average.

“Isolation is good, but not outstanding.”

The Metalverse

“Isolation is above average and works well for commuting, office use, and general daily listening.”

ihtyt, Head-Fi

“I did find the sound isolation of the Cadenza II to be average”

Marcelo, Headfonics

Sources split, unevenly. Most — and Amazon's owners, 26 to 2 on value — call it one of the easiest $50 recommendations: a mature tuning, a good cable and build, nothing to fix. A minority argue the $35 → $50 jump cost it the original's giant-killer status: it now meets stronger rivals and better-accessorised sets, and a few owners found it barely better than much cheaper IEMs.