Softears Studio 4 VS Kiwi Ears KE4

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

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Softears Studio 4 and Kiwi Ears KE4 use 4BA and 2DD+2BA driver setups respectively. Softears Studio 4 costs $450 while Kiwi Ears KE4 costs $199. Softears Studio 4 is $251 more expensive. Softears Studio 4 holds a clear 0.5-point edge in reviewer scores (7.4 vs 6.9). Kiwi Ears KE4 carries a user score of 6.5. Kiwi Ears KE4 has better bass with a 0.5-point edge, Softears Studio 4 has slightly better treble with a 0.3-point edge, Kiwi Ears KE4 has significantly better dynamics with a 1-point edge and Softears Studio 4 has significantly better soundstage with a 1-point edge.

Insights

Metric Softears Studio 4 Kiwi Ears KE4
Bass 6.5 7
Mids 7.3 7.3
Treble 7 6.7
Details 5 6.9
Soundstage 8 7
Imaging 5 6.9
Dynamics 5 6
Tonality 7.5 7.1
Technicalities 7.1 6.8

Softears Studio 4 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Precogvision
Jays Audio
Super* Review Tim Tuned Jaytiss Gizaudio Axel

Average Reviewer Score:

7.4

Generally Favorable


Kiwi Ears KE4 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Fresh Reviews
Z-Reviews Gizaudio Axel
Jaytiss Bad Guy Good Audio Jays Audio Tim Tuned
Super* Review

Average Reviewer Score:

6.9

Cautiously Favorable


Softears Studio 4 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 KE4 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score:

Based on 1 user reviews

6.5

Cautiously Favorable

Softears Studio 4 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

7

Gaming Grade

A-

Kiwi Ears KE4 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

6.4

Gaming Grade

B

Softears Studio 4 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A
  • Well-executed tonal character. No major flaws with good technical control. Smooth presentation works with multiple genres.

Average Technical Grade

A-
  • Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Bass B+
Good bass foundation with decent impact. Maintains acceptable control while providing satisfying thump in most tracks.
Mids A-
Excellent midrange with natural timbre and great detail retrieval. Vocals are forward and emotive with lifelike instrument reproduction.
Treble A-
Excellent treble: airy, extended and well-controlled. Great micro-detail retrieval without sibilance or harshness.
Dynamics C+
Decent dynamic performance. Good macro-contrast but micro-dynamics could be more nuanced. Satisfactory impact.
Soundstage A+
Exceptional soundstage with holographic imaging. Creates a truly three-dimensional space where instruments float naturally around you.
Details C+
Decent detail retrieval. Handles most textures adequately though micro-details and ambient cues could be more pronounced.
Imaging C+
Decent positional accuracy. Good left/right placement with acceptable center image, though depth positioning is approximate.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Value-to-cost may not be optimal for gaming-focused users.

Kiwi Ears KE4 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A-
  • Pleasing tonal balance with good technical control. Minor quirks present but not distracting. Demonstrates decent genre versatility.

Average Technical Grade

B+
  • Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
Bass A-
Strong, well-defined bass with good texture. Delivers satisfying punch and rumble without overwhelming other frequencies.
Mids A-
Excellent midrange with natural timbre and great detail retrieval. Vocals are forward and emotive with lifelike instrument reproduction.
Treble B+
Good treble response - clear and detailed without fatigue. Well-extended with proper air and sparkle.
Dynamics B
Good dynamic expression with solid impact. Handles volume contrasts well while maintaining good transient snap.
Soundstage A-
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
Gaming B
Decent spatial awareness for fundamental positioning. Creates satisfying atmosphere in story-driven games while handling basic directional cues.

Softears Studio 4 Reviews

Super* Review 8* * score normalized
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Price: $449

Buy Softears Studio 4 on HiFiGO
Tim Tuned 8 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A+ Tech
Just great all around, balance with amazingly clean midrange

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
- Tim Tuned
Bass: A+ Mids: S Treble: S
Jaytiss 8 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A- Tech
Something magical about this set, but it's not the Bass.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: A+ Treble: A- Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: A+
Gizaudio Axel 8 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
A Tech
A benchmark for tonality and timbre. Neutral, accurate sound with great bass, tonal accuracy, forward vocals, and natural timbre. Excellent isolation. Unvented design and BA bass may not suit everyone.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
- Gizaudio Axel
Jays Audio 7.5 Reviewer Score
S- Tuning
A+ Tech
Best all rounder under $500. "Correct" and neutral tuning. Perfect vocals, not as forward like RSV but zero faults. Slight Improvement over RSV in-terms of seapration and stage size/treble is same/not as warm.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
Precogvision 5 Reviewer Score
C+ Tuning
C+ Tech
Sounds plasticky and smoothed; inoffensive to the point of being offensive.

Precogvision original ranking

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

Kiwi Ears KE4 Reviews

Super* Review 8* * score normalized
New Meta tuned IEM. This gives you a bass boost and it's not the best bass. If you want the Hexa + Bass this is what you want.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review
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Using this affiliate link for ordering your Kiwi Ears KE4 or any other IEM helps fund our free service at no extra cost to you.

Price: $199

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Jaytiss 7.5 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
B Tech
It's boring. So boring, like mega boring to the max.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: A- Treble: B Dynamics: B Soundstage: A-
Bad Guy Good Audio 7.1 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A- Tech
check links for more info:

Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking

Bad Guy Good Audio Youtube Channel
- Bad Guy Good Audio
Bass: A- Mids: B Treble: B
Jays Audio 7 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A- Tech
Just get Odyssey it's better. Warm/bassy with solid vocal and treble extension (not buried) that scales really well with good treble air to not sound too intimate. Has a fuller noteweight with one of the best low-ends under $200. Recommended to be listened at higher volumes. A mid-volume version of the Explorer, bassier, and more open.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
Tim Tuned 7 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A+ Tech
Almost dead neutral tuning in the best of ways Lacks excitement, bass is alright

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
- Tim Tuned
Bass: A- Mids: S Treble: A+
Z-Reviews 6 * score normalized
Gizaudio Axel 6 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B Tech
Solid reference. Great Meta tuning. Could use more detail, not very engaging.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
- Gizaudio Axel
Fresh Reviews 5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score
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Price: $171

Buy Kiwi Ears KE4 on Aliexpress

Softears Studio 4 User Reviews

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Kiwi Ears KE4 User Reviews

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Makavelian
6.5

Solid pick for the price, if you're after a warm neutral sound.

Pros
Overall very pleasant balance with good tonality and perceived technicalities for the price.
Cons
Bass can come off slightly boomy and a bit disjointed sounding at times, and somewhat relaxed upper mids gives a perception of bluntness to the sound, most evident on snare and other percussive strikes.

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