Intro
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We’ve only just recovered from the Belle, the prodigy from Kiwi Ears that treated us to an exceptionally beautiful midrange – and all for €30. For €15 more, the Cadenza II in-ears await us. What are we waiting for?
Cadenza II
The descriptions provided by Kiwi Ears – a sub-brand of Linsoul, a major personal audio retailer in Shenzhen – on their website actually offer very little information. The 10mm driver is made of titanium. The Cadenza II features KARS 2.0 tuning, where the acronym stands for Kiwi Acoustic Resonance System. We’re briefly considering unleashing our own Alpha GRondige En Sub/Supersonische Onderzoeks Routine (AGRESSOR) on the Cadenza II.
But seriously now; we have tested a number of Linsoul products and, generally speaking, we are very impressed with the quality, and with the quality in relation to the price. We would appreciate knowing more technical details about the products.
It seems Kiwi Ears drew inspiration from AI for the name of this IEM:
🎶 A Name That Reflects Musical Virtuosity
“Cadenza” refers to a solo flourish in a concerto, typically near the conclusion, highlighting the musician’s artistry. Whilst Kiwi Ears didn’t officially design the faceplate to match the name, we think the Cadenza II’s pattern evokes a “free” rhythmic style, almost like musical notes in motion. The flowing, honeycomb-like design subtly mirrors the dynamic, expressive nature of music.
And regarding the tuning:
With KARS 2.0, the Cadenza II features pinpoint sub-bass tuning, showcasing a powerful 8dB bass that precisely cuts off at 200Hz for clean, true subwoofer-like lows. New to KARS 2.0, the low-midrange has also been delicately tuned, allowing a 300–400Hz boost that aligns with modern tuning preferences and delivering lush, uncoloured warmth in the mids.
You are probably thinking this review is going to be a real sour and nasty one. Well, you are wrong. What is written above is actually exactly how we experience it. Whereas the Belle IEM mainly emphasised the mids (and does so very well), the Cadenza is balanced across the entire frequency spectrum. Everything is there: bass, midrange, treble, soundstage. Not too much, and certainly not too little.
We find ourselves listening for ages without even realising it. The difference between Balanced Armature and the more high-end category of IEMs is that with the latter, you receive so much information that it can sometimes become overwhelming. Listening with in-ear monitors, as we’ve mentioned before, is very different from using on-ear or over-ear headphones. It is incredibly direct, literally in your ear.
The tuning reminds us a little of Bang & Olufsen’s. This brand is known for using numerous listening panels of ‘ordinary’ people (i.e. not the species of mammal that calls itself an audiophile) to achieve a tuning that, on average, is perceived as pleasant.