Kiwi Ears x Crinacle: Singolo - Capable Collaboration

4⭐️

+ Fun, energetic tuning

+ Better treble extension than some previous Crin collabs

+ Technical performance

+ Attractive shell design

+ Lightweight, small, and ergonomic 

+ Natural timbre especially on percussion and guitar

- Occasionally shouty/sibilant

- Can sound a bit cold/clinical at times

- Stock cable and tips

- Short nozzle length

thaslaya's star rating system:

☆☆☆☆☆ - Best in class/buy it now

☆☆☆☆ - Highly recommended 

☆☆☆ - Sound for thee, not for me

☆☆ - Can't see the appeal

☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer: 

This product was provided to me by Linsoul in exchange for my impartial and honest review. I recieve no compensation and all thoughts and opinions are my own. A special thanks to Carina at Linsoul for coordinating this unit for review.

Non-affiliated link here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-x-crinacle-singolo

Gear used: 

● LG v30+

● Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra

● Samsung dongle

● Hiby FC4

● Kiwi Ears Allegro

● Ifi hip dac 3

Source:

●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.

Introduction:

Kiwi Ears have been working overtime lately with three new iem releases in the last 5 months (and that's not including their DAC/amp, the Allegro which I reviewed "here"). In November 2023, the planar iem Melody made its debut. Then in December, the budget hybrid Forteza released to less than stellar reviews. Now in March 2024, the company is hoping to bounce back with their first ever collaborative project, the Kiwi Ears x Crinacle: Singolo. It's currently available for $79 on Linsoul and it sports a single 11mm dynamic driver along with something called KARS (Kiwi Ears Resonance System) which is their new soundtube technology. This maze-like tube will look familiar to those that have seen or own the Aful MagicOne. Let's break down the Singolo and see how they stack up in the market today.

Build, fit, ergonomics:

The shells are made of solid clear resin and come with either a blue or black faceplate featuring the Kiwi Ears logo. I recieved the blue colorway and the shell design is very attractive. The iems are small, ergonomically shaped, and lightweight. My biggest issue with the design is the nozzle length. I think Crinacle took to heart some of the fit issues people have had with his other collaborative iems ie: Blessing 2:Dusk, Truthear Zero/Zero:Red. Those sets have notoriously long and wide nozzles with a deep insertion; however, the nozzle on the Singolo is much shorter. In fact its too short. In my case, it's very difficult to get a deep enough insertion with the stock tips and they fail to seal properly. The included tips are also too short and flimsy to be paired with this particular iem. There are 6 pairs in the box but I think Kiwi Ears should have included the option of longer tips for deeper insertion as well. After lots of tip rolling, I was able to find a stable fit and seal with the large Penon Liqueur tips. The stock cable is a disappointment too. It's thin, tangles easily, and looks cheap. It doesn't feel good to use and doesn't compliment the fabulous build quality of the iems themselves. Also the cheaper Forteza even includes a small zipper case but there isn't one here with the Singolo. 

Sound impressions:

The Singolo has a v-shaped tuning with elevated bass and treble, the former being more prominent. The soundstage has good width and depth especially in the sub $100 bracket. There's also good technical performance but not quite on par with Simgot EA500LM. For listeners that prefer a warmer signature, they can sound slightly cold at times. The Singolo definitely benefits from amplification. They arent hard to drive unless, like me, you listen at high volume levels. There is a great synergy between the Singolo and the Kiwi Ears Allegro DAC/amp. Their strengths compliment each other very well. I found that pairing with the Hiby FC4 blunted the treble extension too much. Using the hip dac 3 with XBass is a great experience for bassheads and low end lovers.

●Lows - The bass is undoubtedly boosted but remains well balanced between mid and sub. The sub digs deep (really deep when paired with XBass on the hipdac) without distortion. Seriouslly, the sub bass can extend very low when pushed. My go to track for testing this is Mountains by Hans Zimmer from the Interstellar soundtrack. My ear drums were vibrating like I was sitting between 2 subwoofers. The mid bass punch is not overwhelming but makes just enough of an impact to make it's presence felt. There is little to no bleeding into the mids that i can hear. Overall, I wouldn't consider it the cleanest or fastest bass but its very musical and has a way of enhancing the low end without compromising the rest of the frequencies.

●Mid - This area is a bit strange to me on the Singolo. The vocals are great and have a nice natural timbre but they sound a bit off due to their placement. They aren't recessed per se but it's more like they are placed slightly too far back on the stage as if the vocalist is standing behind the lead guitarist in a rock band. The vocals are then overshadowed somewhat by the instruments. Guitars, piano, strings, etc. sound fantastic and the detail of every key stroke and string pluck can be heard clearly. I do find myself wishing the vocals held a more forward position in the entirety of the mids but that's my personal preference.

●Highs - This area is not what I'm used to hearing from a Crinacle iem. The treble is well extended with a sufficient amount of air. They don't feel smothered by bass or roll off early like the Truthear Zero/Zero:Red. Percussion instruments like snare hits and cymbal crashes sound particularly great. They are not harsh and have a realistic timbre and decay. The high mids/low treble part of the frequency response is slightly boosted around 3.5-4kHz. This means there is a tiny bit of sibilance that can rear its ugly head on certain tracks so those that are treble sensitive may want to look elsewhere.

Summary:

There are no shortage of Crinacle collabs to choose from these days and most of them share a similar tuning template. I am glad to say that the Singolo is a little bit of a departure from that same ol' Crinacle sound. The treble quality and quantity is superior to other offerings in the sub $100 tier such as the Truthear Zero models. The technicalities and timbre are fantastic for as well. The bass is of course boosted because, well, it is a Crinacle iem after all; however, at the end of the day, I'm not sure the whole package warrants the $79 asking price. It's not a bad iem by any means but there is a TON of competition nowadays and new releases are coming at a very fast pace. The Singolo's tuning and performance are not the things I take issue with; it's the fit and accessories. The sub par cable, shallow nozzle, and mediocre tips hold back what should be an easy and strong recommendation. So who is the Singolo for? Well, if you have fit issues with long nozzled iems, have alternative tips and cables to roll, or have $79 burning a hole in your pocket then I say go for it! Ultimately, it's a very well tuned, fun, and technically savvy iem that plays most music genres fantastically.