Thieaudio Legacy 3 VS Kiwi Ears ETUDE
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Thieaudio Legacy 3 and Kiwi Ears ETUDE use 1DD+2BA and 1DD+3BA+1VT driver setups respectively. Thieaudio Legacy 3 costs $120 while Kiwi Ears ETUDE costs $119. Thieaudio Legacy 3 is $1 more expensive. Kiwi Ears ETUDE holds a decisive 2.5-point edge in reviewer scores (4.1 vs 6.6). Kiwi Ears ETUDE has significantly better mids with a 1.8-point edge, Kiwi Ears ETUDE has significantly better treble with a 2-point edge, Kiwi Ears ETUDE has significantly better dynamics with a 4-point edge and Kiwi Ears ETUDE has significantly better soundstage with a 1-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Thieaudio Legacy 3 | Kiwi Ears ETUDE |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 3.5 | 6.6 |
| Mids | 4.3 | 6 |
| Treble | 3 | 5 |
| Details | 4 | 6.6 |
| Soundstage | 5 | 6 |
| Imaging | 3.8 | 6.6 |
| Dynamics | 3 | 7 |
| Tonality | 4.4 | 6.9 |
| Technicalities | 4.3 | 6.4 |
Thieaudio Legacy 3 Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Kiwi Ears ETUDE Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Thieaudio Legacy 3 Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+2BA
Tuning Type: Neutral
Brand: ThieAudio Top ThieAudio IEMs
Price (Msrp): $120
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Kiwi Ears ETUDE Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+3BA+1VT
Tuning Type: V-shaped with tactile bass
Brand: Kiwi Ears Top Kiwi Ears IEMs
Price (Msrp): $119
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Thieaudio Legacy 3 User Review Score
Average User Scores
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Kiwi Ears ETUDE User Review Score
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Thieaudio Legacy 3 Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
4.3Gaming Grade
C-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
6.6Gaming Grade
B+Thieaudio Legacy 3 Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
C-- Significantly flawed tuning. Noticeable frequency imbalances and unnatural timbre distract from music. Lacks versatility across recordings.
Average Technical Grade
C-- Limited resolution; finer nuances are masked. Soundstage feels narrow, and complex passages cause muddiness. Transitions lack finesse.
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.
Thieaudio Legacy 3 Reviews
5
Reviewer Score
Balanced tonality with a laid-back signature, nothing much to fault nor to praise. Crin Youtube Channel
4.2
Reviewer Score
Comment: Pretty much average. Can sound muddy at times
3.2
Reviewer Score
Pleasant tuning that's too dark for my preferences. Seems to have some QC issues. Precogvision Youtube Channel
Kiwi Ears ETUDE Reviews
7
Reviewer Score
This is a unique sound, for neutral I prefere Airoso. Jaytiss Youtube Channel
6.5
Reviewer Score
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 Youtube Channel
Z-Reviews
2025-08-09
6
* score normalized
IEMRanking AI
2025-07-12
7
Reviewer Score
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.
Thieaudio Legacy 3 User Reviews
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