Shure se215 VS Kiwi Ears ETUDE

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

IEMRanking.com Home Compare IEMs

Shure se215 and Kiwi Ears ETUDE use 1DD and 1DD+3BA+1VT driver setups respectively. Shure se215 costs $100 while Kiwi Ears ETUDE costs $119. Kiwi Ears ETUDE is $19 more expensive. Kiwi Ears ETUDE holds a decisive 3.4-point edge in reviewer scores (3.3 vs 6.6). Kiwi Ears ETUDE has significantly better mids with a 3.5-point edge, Kiwi Ears ETUDE has significantly better treble with a 2.5-point edge, Kiwi Ears ETUDE has significantly better dynamics with a 6-point edge and Kiwi Ears ETUDE has significantly better soundstage with a 1.5-point edge.

Insights

Metric Shure se215 Kiwi Ears ETUDE
Bass 3 6.6
Mids 2.5 6
Treble 2.5 5
Details 2.8 6.6
Soundstage 4.5 6
Imaging 2.8 6.6
Dynamics 1 7
Tonality 3.1 6.9
Technicalities 3 6.4

Shure se215 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Precogvision
Shuwa-T Crin
Super* Review

Average Reviewer Score:

3.3

Very Poor


Kiwi Ears ETUDE Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Jays Audio Z-Reviews
Jaytiss IEMRanking AI

Average Reviewer Score:

6.6

Cautiously Favorable


Shure se215 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 ETUDE 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!

Shure se215 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

3

Gaming Grade

D

Kiwi Ears ETUDE Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

6.6

Gaming Grade

B+

Shure se215 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

D
  • Significantly flawed tuning. Noticeable frequency imbalances and unnatural timbre distract from music. Lacks versatility across recordings.

Average Technical Grade

D
  • Limited resolution; finer nuances are masked. Soundstage feels narrow, and complex passages cause muddiness. Transitions lack finesse.
Bass D
Bass is light and underwhelming. While some faint rumble exists, it lacks punch and authority in any meaningful way.
Mids D-
Midrange is thin and hollow with noticeable gaps. Instruments lack body and vocals sound distant and weak.
Treble D-
Treble is noticeably dark and lacking extension. Cymbals lack shimmer and high-frequency details are obscured.
Dynamics E-
Extremely poor dynamic expression. Lacks any sense of impact or volume gradation, making music feel one-dimensional.
Soundstage C
Average soundstage - adequate width but flat presentation. Reasonable instrument separation but lacks layering and depth.
Details D-
Noticeably blurred and lacking definition. Background elements are smeared together and micro-details are inaudible.
Imaging D-
Poor instrument placement with unstable positioning. Instruments drift and lack fixed locations within the sound field.
Gaming D
Compromised imaging significantly impacts gameplay awareness. Directional cues often lack accuracy or consistency.

Kiwi Ears ETUDE Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B+
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

B
  • Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
Mids B
Good midrange presence with solid clarity. Vocals are clear and instruments have reasonable texture and body.
Treble C+
Decent treble with acceptable extension and detail. Can sound slightly unrefined but avoids being harsh or sibilant.
Dynamics A-
Excellent dynamics with great contrast and speed. Transients are crisp and micro-details are clearly articulated.
Soundstage B
Good soundstage with proper width and depth. Instruments have clear positioning with reasonable front/back placement.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance.

Shure se215 Reviews

Super* Review 4* * score normalized
check links for more info:

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review
Shuwa-T 3.6 Reviewer Score
D- Tuning
C Tech
Comment: Already more than a decade old, it's time to move on. Would rather listen to the default samsung wired earpiece than this. Just no Literally everything apart from the subpar imaging

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

- Shuwa-T
Bass: D Mids: E+ Treble: D Soundstage: C Details: C Imaging: C
Crin 3.5 Reviewer Score
C- Tuning
D+ Tech
Sounds like a typical dynamic IEM. Slightly bloated bass and narrow staging.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel
- Crin
Precogvision 1.9 Reviewer Score
D- Tuning
E- Tech
A relic of the past that should be avoided by any self-respecting audiophile who wants good sound.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel
- Precogvision
Bass: D Mids: D Treble: E+ Dynamics: E- Details: E- Imaging: E-

Kiwi Ears ETUDE Reviews

Jaytiss 7 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
C+ Tech
This is a unique sound, for neutral I prefere Airoso.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: B Treble: C+ Dynamics: A- Soundstage: B
Ad
Using this affiliate link for ordering your Kiwi Ears ETUDE or any other IEM helps fund our free service at no extra cost to you.

Price: $119

Buy Kiwi Ears ETUDE on Linsoul
Jays Audio 6.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A Tech
Reverby, bouncy, and extended decay in the sub-bass. Unique bass play back and adds more texture to the low-end. Although reverb can bleed into the vocals - maybe the drivers work too well lol. A bassier 5+2 with better texutre and scaling.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio

Z-Reviews

2025-08-09
Z-Reviews 6 * score normalized

IEMRanking AI

2025-07-12
IEMRanking AI 7 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech

The Kiwi Ears Étude offers a distinctive listening experience centered around its Kiwi Vibration Transducer (KVT), which adds a subtle tactile sensation to bass frequencies. This isn’t a gimmick—it lends sustained notes like bass guitars or synth lines an organic, textured quality that feels immersive without overpowering the mix. That said, the KVT can introduce mild reverb in lower-mid frequencies, occasionally coloring male vocals in podcasts or sparse tracks.

Tuning-wise, the Étude follows a mild V-shaped signature with an 8dB sub-bass lift and smooth, relaxed treble. The midrange remains relatively neutral, though vocals can lack body in acoustic tracks without bass accompaniment. While the beryllium dynamic driver delivers punchy kicks, the real star is the KVT’s physicality, which creates a holographic low-end that enhances EDM and hip-hop. Technical performance is competent for the price, with average soundstage width and decent separation, though imaging lacks precision.

Fit may be divisive due to the large shells housing the transducer, and the nozzle’s lack of ridges limits eartip options. Source pairing is critical too: the KVT scales noticeably with powerful amplification, unlocking fuller dynamics. Despite quirks, the Étude succeeds as a fun, genre-specific IEM that stands out in a crowded market.

Buy Kiwi Ears ETUDE on Linsoul (affiliate)

- IEMRanking AI
Ad
Using this affiliate link for ordering your Kiwi Ears ETUDE or any other IEM helps fund our free service at no extra cost to you.

Price: $119

Buy Kiwi Ears ETUDE on Aliexpress

Shure se215 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

Kiwi Ears ETUDE 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
(1/2) How much are you willing to spend on the IEM?
(2/2) Which sound characteristics are particularly important to you?

Footer