Short answer: a tie on sound quality. Both are rated 4.3/5 (#193 and #190 of 1291 in-ear headphones) at nearly the same price ($43 vs $47.49), so choose on features and fit.
The case for the CVJ Neko: The median of 4 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 78 with a 1.68 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Watch for: A 7.8 dB peak near 8.2 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
The case for the Kiwi Ears Cadenza II: The median of 14 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 78 with a 1.52 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Watch for: Presence sits about 3 dB low with a 7.2 dB dip near 10.0 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Buy the CVJ Neko or the Kiwi Ears Cadenza II on features: they are rated the same for sound quality at close to the same price.
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The median of 4 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 78 with a 1.68 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $43.00 eBay
The median of 14 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 78 with a 1.52 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $47.49 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| CVJ Neko | Kiwi Ears Cadenza II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $43.00 | $47.49 |
| Ranked | #193 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #190 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 78 (median of 14 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.68 dB standard deviation | 1.52 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.14 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.43 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 26 ohms | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 114 dB | 106 dB |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 29kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the CVJ Neko from audioamigo, csi-zone, koi and soundignity; the Kiwi Ears Cadenza II from aden, aftersound, atechreviews, audioamigo, awsmdanny, bassaudio, bedrock, boizoff, dl, dvewlsh, fernandagunsan, hbb, hobbytalk, jaytiss, joycesreview, kuping-sensi, lumerion, musicafe, practiphile, pw, silicagel, soundcheck39, soundignity, takeitslow7, tdl and theaudiostore, all via squig.link.
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