Kiwi Ears KE4 VS ZIIGAAT x HBB Arcadia

Build & accessories: understated box, a surprisingly nice cable with a “juicy” feel and flat 2-pin connectors, plus extra filters. The stock tips are the weak link—thin out note weight and feel downright horrific, so a tip swap is recommended. The medium-to-large shell is a highlight: secure fit, comfy nozzle size, and a handsome faceplate that looks premium in ear. Overall ergonomics and finish scream daily-driver friendly.

Sound: impactful, well-judged bass, lively upper mids, and a touch of upper-air jank; for $200 it’s a strong value with a clean, modern JM1-style tuning. Easily the most convincing Kiwi Ears to date: more balanced and natural than Quintet (which pushes upper mids/10 kHz energy), far more sensible than the treble-shouty Forteza, a clear upgrade over budget options like DLS and the tiny, poorly packaged Singolo, and less fatiguing than the bass-and-upper-mid heavy Melody. Against $200 benchmarks, KE4 becomes a new reference—cleaner male vocals and better build than “Chopin,” and a tighter low end plus tidier mids than AFUL Performer 5. Trades blows with Hype 4 at a fraction of the price; those craving a pricier step-up in the same vein can eye HiSenior Mega5EST. Measured verdict: Tier A, 3-star, 8.8 for tone—good imaging, solid soundstage, gamer-friendly, not flawless but genuinely excellent once re-tipped. A handsome, comfortable set that delivers outstanding value for newcomers and gift-givers alike.

Jaytiss original ranking

Kiwi Ears KE4 drops at $199 and comes across as the best-tuned Kiwi Ears yet. Unlike the Orchestra Lite with its sub-bass roll-off or the budget Cadenza that skews a bit dark, this set keeps the sub-bass present and tight. Compared to the Dolce (energetic with more mid-bass) and the Quintet (politer bass, lighter upper-mids/late treble), KE4 adds more slam while smartly tucking the mid-bass so vocals stay clean. It’s a tuning that both looks right on the graph and lines up with real-music listening across hip-hop/R&B, rock, and acoustic cuts.

Low-end tests—808 drops and bass-guitar lines—hit clean and natural, and kick-drum transients keep their body instead of drying out. Female vocals get clarity without mid-bass haze, while male vocals avoid thinning—nicely balanced through the mids. The treble is managed with some late-treble roll-off, avoiding glare while preserving harmonic bite for guitars and cymbals over longer sessions. Net result: no qualifiers, no obvious weak spot, and performance that competes hard at $199. Easy recommendation and a frontrunner for the brand’s lineup to date.

Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking

Kiwi Ears KE4 plays a warm-leaning, smooth and relaxing set at mid volume with slightly laid-back vocals and a good sense of space. The real trick is volume scaling: turn it up and the upper-mids/treble step forward with more detail without becoming shouty, while the bass grows thumpier and digs deeper. A 1 kHz scoop plus a tasteful ~3 kHz lift (gentler than Harman) keeps vocals extended yet non-fatiguing; the trade-off is vocal power/weight, which stays a touch mild compared to sets like RS5.

Driven by dual dynamic drivers, the KE4’s low end is among the best under $200 for texture, slam, and note weight, making the tuning feel full and grounded. It’s not as razor-quick in transients or as surgical in imaging as certain planars or techy hybrids, but the payoff is a more natural timbre. Treble sits in a balanced pocket—neither splashy nor dark—with none of the plasticky shimmer or planar/PZT glare.

Against peers: Supermix 4 and Quintet (and even the cheaper “Conta”) push more micro-detail and separation; Orchestra Light is the cleanest/most neutral but softer in bass and more complete in vocals. Versus CKLVX and PULA, KE4 trades their airy, sometimes peaky sparkle for a smoother, more grounded presentation and richer bass grip. Compared with Explorer, KE4 offers a clear step up in technicalities and low-end authority, while Explorer stays more intimate. Net: not the new “benchmark” at $200, but as a crank-it-up, musical all-rounder with standout bass and fatigue-free top end, KE4 is an easy favorite.

Jays Audio original ranking

$199 hybrid with 2DD+2BA, the Kiwi Ears KE4 pairs a glossy, translucent faceplate with an ergonomic 3D-printed resin shell for all-day comfort. The stock 3.5 mm cable is light and flexible, the new silicone tips seal well, and spare filters are included. Sonically it follows the diffuse-field “new meta” tuning popularized by sets like Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk, Dunu Da Vinci, and Mega5 EST—but arrives as the most affordable in that crowd. Tonality leans a touch warm with a smooth upper-mid/treble that keeps gunshots from sounding harsh; for music, the presentation feels immersive and lively at the price.

For competitive play, performance varies by title. In Valorant: B, horizontal imaging and depth cues are convincing, and footstep “thumps” pop through clearly, aiding reaction time. In Apex Legends: B–, basic imaging and map awareness are fine, but busy fights expose separation/layering limits and a slight haze to light taps and micro-details. In Call of Duty: C+ (borderline B–), clarity and detail retrieval dip during chaotic moments and the game’s occlusion/breathing effects mask cues more than preferred. Overall, a stylish, comfortable DF-tuned IEM that’s great for music and a solid pick for Valorant, but not the first choice for top-tier Apex/CoD grinders—though it still makes the Wallhack Certified list.

Fresh Reviews original ranking

Ziigaat’s 2024 lineup lands three distinct flavors: the R (1DD+4BA), Arcadia (1DD+2BA), and Odyssey (1DD+3BA)—all sharing the same case, tips, and cable, but with very different tunings and striking faceplates. Pricing lives in the approachable range (roughly $200–$250), and the shells are well-built 3D-printed resin. The Odyssey’s nozzle appears slightly wider than the R’s, and its cloudy pink/silver faceplate looks clean and premium without the flashiness of Arcadia’s green/yellow sparkle.

For competitive play, title-by-title differences matter. In Valorant, Arcadia’s extra warmth and bass impact feel immersive but a touch boomy/bloomy under heavy ability spam—solid, around a B. The R and Odyssey perform on par with high marks; the R’s 1–3 kHz lift sharpens clarity and verticality, while Odyssey is more neutral and less bright. In Apex Legends, Arcadia struggles as bass bloom masks micro-cues (B–/C+). Odyssey delivers great separation/layering with slightly softer overhead cues (B+/B), and handles gunfire more comfortably than the R. In CS2, Odyssey takes the lead for its imaging, depth perception, and non-fatiguing balance; in Warzone, the order shifts to R > Arcadia > Odyssey, with Arcadia’s warmth helping vertical reads and impact.

As a music set, the Odyssey is a standout: potent, tight bass with clean transients, balanced mids that aren’t smothered, and a clean, non-sibilant treble that avoids fatigue while letting micro-detail through. It lands as a favorite in its price bracket—an easy recommendation for listeners who want a neutral-leaning all-rounder that still punches hard, splits cues well, and won’t scorch ears with gunfire or treble glare.

Fresh Reviews original ranking