QKZ x HBB Khan VS Kiwi Ears Cadenza

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

Home Ranking Compare IEMs

QKZ x HBB Khan and Kiwi Ears Cadenza are in-ear monitors. QKZ x HBB Khan costs $40 while Kiwi Ears Cadenza costs $35. QKZ x HBB Khan is $5 more expensive. Kiwi Ears Cadenza holds a decisive 1.8-point edge in reviewer scores (3.7 vs 5.4). Kiwi Ears Cadenza carries a user score of 6.2. Kiwi Ears Cadenza has better bass with a 0.8-point edge, Kiwi Ears Cadenza has better mids with a 0.9-point edge, Kiwi Ears Cadenza has significantly better treble with a 2.1-point edge, Kiwi Ears Cadenza has significantly better dynamics with a 4-point edge, Kiwi Ears Cadenza has slightly better soundstage with a 0.3-point edge, Kiwi Ears Cadenza has significantly better details with a 2.3-point edge and Kiwi Ears Cadenza has significantly better imaging with a 2.3-point edge.

Insights

Metric QKZ x HBB Khan Kiwi Ears Cadenza
Bass 5 5.8
Mids 4.7 5.6
Treble 3 5.1
Details 2 4.3
Soundstage 5 5.3
Imaging 2 4.3
Dynamics 2 6
Tonality 4.3 5.5
Technicalities 3.8 4.8

QKZ x HBB Khan Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Average Reviewer Score:

3.7

Poor


Kiwi Ears Cadenza Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Average Reviewer Score:

5.4

Mixed to Negative


Reviews Comparison

QKZ x HBB Khan reviewed by Tim Tuned

Tim Tuned 5.5 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
A- Tech
Very well tuned, strong clean bass treble can use more eveness

Tim Tuned original ranking

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

QKZ x HBB Khan reviewed by Jays Audio

Jays Audio 4 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
C+ Tech
Same as the Crin Zero but with slightl more bass and less faitguing, although at the cost of more recessed vocals/mids. Mid-bass tuck affects libraries.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Kiwi Ears Cadenza reviewed by Jays Audio

Jays Audio 4 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
C+ Tech
Basically the modded Zero with slight more bass. Best note-weight out of the $20 sets. Berrylium bass baby.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

QKZ x HBB Khan reviewed by Jaytiss

Jaytiss 3.3 Reviewer Score
D Tuning
E- Tech
Hard to recommend in a competitive market.

Jaytiss original ranking

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

Kiwi Ears Cadenza reviewed by Jaytiss

Jaytiss 6.6 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
C+ Tech
Fantastic tonality, is end game for many.

Jaytiss original ranking

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

QKZ x HBB Khan reviewed by Nymz

Nymz 2 Reviewer Score
E+ Tuning
E+ Tech
check links for more info:

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

Bass: E+ Mids: E+ Treble: E+ Details: E+ Imaging: E+

Kiwi Ears Cadenza reviewed by Nymz

Nymz 3.3 Reviewer Score
D Tuning
D Tech
check links for more info:

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

Bass: C- Mids: D Treble: D Details: D Imaging: D

QKZ x HBB Khan reviewed by Audionotions

Audionotions 0.2 Reviewer Score
Low res. Too dark. Timbre is way off. Reminds me of an AM radio. Doesn't do much right if at all. An attempt was made and can't say much more than that.

Audionotions original ranking

Website (Audionotions)

Kiwi Ears Cadenza reviewed by Audionotions

Audionotions 4.5 Reviewer Score
Good tuning, great bass, excellent build quality, cheap price - what's not to love? Well - the treble is not to love. Treble sounds weird, metallic, and a bit zingy - if you like that, then this is the set for you!

Audionotions original ranking

Website (Audionotions)

QKZ x HBB Khan reviewed by Head-Fi.org

Head-Fi.org 7 * score rescaled + normalized
12 community members have rated the QKZ X HBB Khan at an average of 3.8/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Strongly Favorable.

URL to full Review

Head-Fi.org original ranking

Kiwi Ears Cadenza reviewed by Head-Fi.org

Head-Fi.org 6.7 * score rescaled + normalized
23 community members have rated the Kiwi Ears Cadenza at an average of 4.3/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.

URL to full Review

Head-Fi.org original ranking

Kiwi Ears Cadenza (more reviews)

Kiwi Ears Cadenza reviewed by Super* Review

Super* Review 7* * score rescaled + normalized

Kiwi Ears Cadenza reviewed by Bad Guy Good Audio

Bad Guy Good Audio 6.9 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
C+ Tech
check links for more info:

Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking

Bad Guy Good Audio Youtube Channel
Bass: A- Mids: A- Treble: B

Kiwi Ears Cadenza reviewed by Z-Reviews

Z-Reviews 5.5 * score rescaled + normalized

Kiwi Ears Cadenza reviewed by Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 5.1 Reviewer Score
C Tuning
C+ Tech
Comment: It was almost good. Generally good tuning with some bass exture Somewhat grainy treble which is pronounced but not well defined

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

Bass: C+ Mids: C+ Treble: C Soundstage: C+ Details: B- Imaging: B-

Kiwi Ears Cadenza reviewed by Yifang

Yifang 5 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
C Tech

QKZ x HBB Khan 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 Cadenza User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score:

Based on 1 user reviews

6.2

Mixed to Positive

QKZ x HBB Khan Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

3.9

Gaming Grade

D+

Kiwi Ears Cadenza Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

5

Gaming Grade

C+

QKZ x HBB Khan Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

C-
  • Expect a patchy tonal profile that makes instrumentation feel mismatched. EQ is almost mandatory to tame the response.

Average Technical Grade

D+
  • The tuning renders a cramped window into the music, with nuance fading fast. Expect grainy textures to creep in.
Bass C+
Bass performance is average—present enough but rarely inspiring. It neither offends nor impresses.
Mids C
It delivers a workable midrange that could benefit from smoother transitions. Timbre isn't quite convincing yet.
Treble D
Highs feel erratic, with dips and spikes that make the signature unpredictable. It alternates between splashy and dull.
Dynamics E+
Subtle shifts disappear, with transients lacking bite or urgency. Drum hits arrive without conviction.
Soundstage C+
Stage expands beyond the shoulders and finally hints at layers, though vertical cues stay muted. Depth cues begin to emerge.
Details E+
You hear the song, but the fine etchings that add realism are missing in action. It's a struggle to parse individual parts.
Imaging E+
Layering blurs because positional cues can't stay locked in place. Layering suffers from constant smearing.
Gaming D+
Compromised imaging significantly impacts gameplay awareness. Directional cues often lack accuracy or consistency.

Kiwi Ears Cadenza Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B-
  • Expect a friendly tonal balance that could use polish but remains inviting. Great for casual listening, less so for purists.

Average Technical Grade

C
  • Details smear quickly, leaving the presentation cramped and low on definition. You'll notice smearing on even moderately layered songs.
Bass B-
Bass performance is average—present enough but rarely inspiring. It neither offends nor impresses.
Mids B-
Midrange performance is decent, offering balanced presence without major flaws. It works well for casual background listening.
Treble C+
The top end is tidy and serviceable, adding air without overdoing it. Extension is decent for casual listening.
Dynamics B
It handles shifts in volume well, keeping transients lively and controlled. Quiet-to-loud transitions feel natural.
Soundstage C+
Stage expands beyond the shoulders and finally hints at layers, though vertical cues stay muted. Depth cues begin to emerge.
Details C-
You get the outline of textures, though the finer brushstrokes remain faint. Background information is audible but soft.
Imaging C-
Separation is good enough for casual listening yet misses audiophile precision. Depth remains limited but present.
Gaming C+
Fundamental left/right positioning with limited depth perception. Works for non-competitive gaming but lacks precision.

QKZ x HBB Khan User Reviews

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Kiwi Ears Cadenza User Reviews

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M Makavelian
6.2

Best I've heard under $50

Pros
Excellent tuning for the price, small shells should fit vast majority of ears well.
Cons
Touch too much eargain, can come off as shouty/honky at times, easily remedied with 10 band EQ.

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