Kiwi Ears CANTA VS Etymotic ER2SE

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

Home Ranking Compare IEMs
My Ranking My Favorites

Kiwi Ears CANTA and Etymotic ER2SE are in-ear monitors. Kiwi Ears CANTA costs $89 while Etymotic ER2SE costs $80. Kiwi Ears CANTA is $9 more expensive. Kiwi Ears CANTA holds a decisive 1.3-point edge in reviewer scores (6.5 vs 5.2). Etymotic ER2SE has significantly better mids with a 2.3-point edge, Kiwi Ears CANTA has significantly better treble with a 2.3-point edge, Kiwi Ears CANTA has significantly better dynamics with a 2-point edge and Kiwi Ears CANTA has significantly better soundstage with a 1-point edge.

Insights

Metric Kiwi Ears CANTA Etymotic ER2SE
Bass 6.5 5.5
Mids 4 6.3
Treble 7 4.7
Details 6.5 5
Soundstage 6 5
Imaging 6.5 5
Dynamics 5 3
Tonality 6 5.1
Technicalities 7.3 5.1
Take these comparisons with a grain of salt—we don't have enough Kiwi Ears CANTA reviews saved yet to provide an unbiased result.

Kiwi Ears CANTA Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Jays Audio Jaytiss
Z-Reviews

Average Reviewer Score:

6.5

Cautiously Favorable

Etymotic ER2SE Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Jaytiss
Jays Audio Precogvision Tim Tuned
Super* Review

Average Reviewer Score:

5.2

Mixed to Negative

Reviews Comparison

Kiwi Ears CANTA reviewed by Jays Audio

Jays Audio 6 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A Tech
Bright set with lots of treble detail. Airy, splashy, and shimmery with great extension. Isn't sharp or metallic in the timbre, but not 100% "natural" either, comes down to preference. Mid-volume set, good with slower genres, not rec for high energy tracks, can get much at higher volumes. Favors female vocals, male could be a bit light and could use more power, but vocals aren't thin or shrill sounding like the Oracle MK2s. Not gonna float everyone's boat, but it's a unique listen (not the same planar tuning yay) and worth having as a collectors piece.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Etymotic ER2SE reviewed by Jays Audio

Jays Audio 5.5 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
B+ Tech
Great detail & clarity. Fit took a long time to get used. Very clear and natural mids and treble. Lacks lower-extension, and couldn't handle bass notes on Time by Hikaru Utada (0:40+).

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Kiwi Ears CANTA reviewed by Jaytiss

Jaytiss 6 Reviewer Score
C+ Tuning
A- Tech
check links for more info:

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: C- Treble: A- Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: B

Etymotic ER2SE reviewed by Jaytiss

Jaytiss 3.3 Reviewer Score
D Tuning
E+ Tech
Old, Treble for days.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: C- Treble: E+ Dynamics: E- Soundstage: C+

Kiwi Ears CANTA (more reviews)

Kiwi Ears CANTA reviewed by Z-Reviews

Z-Reviews 7.5 * score rescaled + normalized
check links for more info:

Z-Reviews original ranking

Z-Reviews Youtube Channel
YouTube video thumbnail

Etymotic ER2SE (more reviews)

Etymotic ER2SE reviewed by Super* Review

Super* Review 7* * score rescaled + normalized
check links for more info:

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel

Etymotic ER2SE reviewed by Precogvision

Precogvision 5.2 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
C+ Tech
See ER2XR but with less sub-bass.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel
Bass: C+ Mids: A- Treble: C+ Dynamics: C+ Details: C+ Imaging: C+

Etymotic ER2SE reviewed by Tim Tuned

Tim Tuned 5 Reviewer Score
C+ Tuning
A- Tech
Great detail Intrusive fit

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
Bass: B Mids: A+ Treble: A-

Kiwi Ears CANTA User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Etymotic ER2SE User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Kiwi Ears CANTA Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.9

Gaming Grade

B+

Etymotic ER2SE Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

5.1

Gaming Grade

C+

Kiwi Ears CANTA Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B
  • Tonality is generally agreeable, though a few bumps remind you of its limits. Certain tracks spotlight its tonal quirks.

Average Technical Grade

A-
  • A competent technical showing keeps separation intact while delivering modest staging. It feels tidy even when recordings stack layers.
Mids C-
Expect adequate midrange presence with a touch of grit and unevenness. Textures smear when the mix gets busy.
Treble A-
Treble performance is excellent—airy, extended, and beautifully controlled. It reveals subtle studio ambiance.
Dynamics C+
You get reliable macrodynamics, with micro shifts that remain only adequate. A reliable performer for most tracks.
Soundstage B
A satisfying balance of width and depth yields a stage that feels organized and engaging. Imaging lines up with the intended mix.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance.

Etymotic ER2SE Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

C+
  • A mostly enjoyable signature keeps things listenable despite a handful of quirks. It handles most playlists without major complaints.

Average Technical Grade

C+
  • The presentation is steady if unspectacular, holding onto essential details when the music stays simple. Fine details occasionally slip through the cracks.
Bass B-
It delivers adequate punch and texture, though nothing stands out. Sub-bass presence is hinted rather than delivered.
Mids B
The region sounds composed and expressive, giving vocals a natural spotlight. It keeps vocals front and center nicely.
Treble C
Highs are present enough yet carry a bit of grain and splash. Busy mixes can still feel a bit splashy.
Dynamics D
Dynamics sound noticeably compressed, muting contrast between quiet and loud. Transients feel blunted and slow.
Soundstage C+
Decent spatial presentation with noticeable width and a modest step forward in depth perception. There's a mild sense of width to enjoy.
Details C+
Decent detail retrieval that handles most textures while leaving some micro-information understated. Most textures come through cleanly.
Imaging C+
Complex mixes stay organized thanks to the improved spatial discipline. Complex passages stay intelligible.
Gaming C+
Fundamental left/right positioning with limited depth perception. Works for non-competitive gaming but lacks precision.

Kiwi Ears CANTA User Reviews

Example User Posted on ...
0.0

"This is an example review"

Pros
  • Example pro 1
  • Example pro 2
Cons
  • Example con 1
  • Example con 2
No User-Reviews Yet

Share your experience and build your personal ranking list.

You need to be signed in to write your own review

Etymotic ER2SE User Reviews

Example User Posted on ...
0.0

"This is an example review"

Pros
  • Example pro 1
  • Example pro 2
Cons
  • Example con 1
  • Example con 2
No User-Reviews Yet

Share your experience and build your personal ranking list.

You need to be signed in to write your own review

Find your next IEM:

IEM Finder Quiz

new
Use this quiz and answer a few questions to get your individual IEM recommendation list
(1/3) How much are you willing to spend on the IEM?
(2/3) Which sound characteristics are particularly important to you?
(3/3) Which tuning do you prefer?
You can select multiple options.

Footer