Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite - A Treat For My (Kiwi) Ears

 4.5⭐️

+ Superb vocals and midrange presentation

+ Light and airy treble without sibilance

+ Warm-neutral tuning great for long sessions

+ Soundstage and separation 

+ Natural timbre 

+ Many custom options available, for additional fee

- BA bass not for everyone; has good mid-bass thump but missing sub-bass rumble

- Specialist style tuning, not an all-rounder

- Cable could be a bit better for the price and would like modular or at least a balanced option

- Large shell and nozzle size may cause fit issues for some (but didn't for me)

thaslaya's star rating system:

☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!

☆☆☆☆ - Recommended

☆☆☆ - There are buyers but 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-affiliate link for those interested: https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-orchestra-lite

Gear used: 

●LG v30+

●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra

●Samsung dongle

●Hiby FC4

●Kiwi Ears Allegro 

●Letshuoer DT03 

●Dunu DTC480

●BLON V1

Source:

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

Introduction:

Many audiophiles and enthusiasts have likely heard of Kiwi Ears by now. The Cadenza is one of their entry-level iems and arguably their most well-known product. However, they have had several other releases in the past year with varying degrees of success. The Orchestra Lite debuted back in March 2023 and sports a total of eight balanced armature drivers per side: two for lows, four for the midrange, and two for highs. The original Orchestra, Kiwi Ears' first ever iem, was launched in 2021 at the price of $499. While both the original and the newer Lite version feature the same driver configuration, the Lite is more affordably priced at $259. Let’s break it down and see how it stands in today's rapidly evolving market, one year after its release.

Build, fit, ergonomics:

The box features beautiful artwork focused on the lovely shells, in typical Kiwi Ears fashion. The unboxing experience is not bad, but it is a little disappointing for the price. The accessories are comparable to other Kiwi Ears offerings, despite the increased price tag, but overall they are adequate. The shells are made from solid, clear resin with five faceplate options: green, blue, purple, orange, and clear. For an additional fee, Kiwi Ears also offers custom-molded shells as well as many different faceplate designs. I received the blue version for this review, and they look really great. The resin is very clear, with the drivers and internals being well-visualized. The marbled blue faceplate provides a nice pop of color. I was a bit shocked by the size of the shells when I opened the box. These are some chonky ones indeed, even for my large ears. They have a semi-custom molded shape and a nice weight balance despite their large size. The nozzle is also solid resin and unfortunately lacks a lip to keep tips in place. Although, the larger size means tips are less likely to come off during use. The 2-pin connection is flat, ensuring that cable swapping can be done with ease. The overall fit will be very subjective, of course, but I can see the Orchestra Lite definitely causing issues for some. The size is reminiscent of similarly larger-shelled iems like the Thieaudio Monarch and Moondrop Blessing 2, so those with small ears need not apply. I also experienced a slight vacuum effect due to the lack of ventilation, but overall I still found them to be mostly comfortable for extended periods of use. The Orchestra Lite includes a four-core, oxygen-free copper cable with a 3.5mm termination. It's a fine cable that is well-braided and lightweight, but it feels a bit cheap in the hand. I do wish Kiwi Ears could have included a modular cable at this price point or at least given a balanced option. The compact, branded zipper case is adequate but does have a somewhat cheap appearance and is too thin to provide adequate protection for both the large shells and the cable. The tip selection is decent, with nine pairs of silicone tips in three different styles included in the box. Tip rolling is a bit difficult due to the large nozzles, but it can be done with dexterity and patience. I tried many different tips but finally settled on my trusty Penon Liqueurs in medium.

Sound impressions:

I would characterize the tuning of the Orchestra Lite as being fairly neutral, perhaps leaning slightly neutral-warm. It is very smooth and musical with a lush, full-bodied sound. It also achieves an excellent balance, providing a good amount of note weight without sounding excessively warm or dark. The separation and layering are highlights of the technicalities, and there's plenty of room between notes without congestion. The soundstage is another strong point of the Orchestra Lite as it is very wide with plenty of depth. The imaging is accurate but this set is lacking a bit in dynamics and may come across as slightly "dull" to some. Detail retrieval is very good, and nuances in the music are clear. It's not quite a detail monster but it is revealing enough to stand out in its price bracket. The timbre is very natural, organic, and effortless. It's definitely one of the Orchestra Lite's best features and also one of the best I've heard at this price. It's also easily driven with just a simple dongle off of a smartphone but I found the best synergy for me to be with the Kiwi Ears Allegro. Unfortunately, it could use more extension at both ends of the spectrum, as the bass and treble roll off a little early, but it's a minor complaint.

●Lows - For me, the bass is the weakest of the three main frequency bands. Midbass focused over sub. Has good impact and punch in the midbass but lacks sub bass extension and rumble. It's mostly tame and subdued and lacks sub-bass extension and rumble. It's there, but it has more of that typical BA bass response, which means it lacks a little punch and presence. It has a quick attack with a fairly quick decay and reverberation. Sub bass doesnt dig very low and midbass takes priority. I can see preferring this style of bass when prioritizing a midrange free of bleed and to let the other frequencies take center stage and shine. It's definitely not bad by any means, it's just not super engaging so some may find it lacking. I think if the sub-bass rumble and extension were deeper, it would help the overall tuning to have a broader appeal. But even as far as BA bass goes, I find it to be very satisfying with just enough slam and impact.

●Mids - The midrange is smooth, with just the right amount of upper-midrange energy to add something special. Guitars, piano, strings, and really all instruments truly shine through on the Orchestra Lite (hence the name, perhaps?). Vocals, in particular, are inoffensive, natural, organic, and just overall very pleasant. They are pushed slightly forward but also sound effortless and not exaggerated in any way. The Orchestra Lite has pretty much set the bar for sets that I can listen to for hours on end with absolutely no fatigue. It's like curling up with a good book on a rainy day, but for your ears.

●Highs - The treble is tuned fairly safely and politely. It's light, airy, and open, but it does also lean more toward the warm side and could use a little more energy to add some excitement. There's a ton of room for claps, cymbals, hi-hats, snares, and other instruments to breathe, and everything sounds correct if not ever so slightly subdued. And best of all, there is no sibilance anywhere in sight! It doesn't have an "in-your-face" presentation but plays very well to the strength of the Orchestra Lite's tuning, the fantastic midrange. While I don't personally have any issues with the treble, I will admit that the extension could be better, and it won't have enough sparkle or brightness for treble enthusiasts.

Paired with the ivipQ 530 cable. One of my favorites.

In conclusion:

For some reason, I have always been drawn to the Orchestra Lite, even though I'm not big on clear-shelled iems. I've come very close to grabbing a pair many times before, but I always talked myself out of it for one reason or another. Well, I should learn to trust my gut because this is a really special set. It's not perfect, of course, or even a great all-rounder, but it's absolutely fantastic for easy-listening genres like soft pop/rock, folk, and singer/songwriter artists such as Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and John Mayer. Actually, it's fantastic for any song or genre in which the midrange is the star, though the treble is no slouch either. It's open and airy, with plenty of detail and just enough spice to keep things interesting. That leaves the bass. The Orchestra Lite does unfortunately have that sort of typical BA bass that many have referenced (if you know, you know). Its midbass focus is a little more polite, mellow, and inoffensive in its presentation. It's far from anemic, but it does lack good sub-bass extension and rumble. Again, it lends itself well to genres that allow the midrange to shine. Would I recommend the Orchestra Lite to everyone? Not necessarily. I think it's more of a specialist, at least for me and my music library. When factoring in the large shell and nozzle size that may cause fit issues, then it becomes even more of a niche purchase. However, I personally really love what the Orchestra Lite has to offer and it has quickly become one of my favorite sets that I've heard to date. When I want to relax with my favorite soulful singers, this will absolutely be the set I reach for.