Short answer: a tie on sound quality. Both are rated 4.3/5 (#132 and #144 of 450 in-ear headphones) at nearly the same price ($49.99 vs $47.99), so choose on features and fit.
Buy the Kiwi Ears Cadenza II or the KZ Phantom on features: they are rated the same for sound quality at close to the same price.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kiwi Ears Cadenza II | KZ Phantom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $47.99 |
| Ranked | #132 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #144 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (median of 14 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 78 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.52 dB standard deviation | 1.66 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.43 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.21 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic | 1 x dynamic |
| Impedance | 18 ohms | 41 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB | 128 dB |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 29kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Kiwi Ears Cadenza II compares with other leading options:
- Kiwi Ears Cadenza II vs Rose Technics QT-X
- Kiwi Ears Cadenza vs Kiwi Ears Cadenza II
- Kiwi Ears Cadenza II vs TKZK Ouranos
- Kiwi Ears Cadenza II vs Moondrop Pudding
- KZ Phantom vs Rose Technics QT-X
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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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The Two Headphones In Full
Kiwi Ears Cadenza II: $49.99 Amazon eBay
Full Kiwi Ears Cadenza II review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2026 (8 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.52 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 29kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (median of 14 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.43 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
KZ Phantom: $47.99 Linsoul eBay
Full KZ Phantom review and specifications →
| Released | 2026 (this year) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.66 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 41 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 128 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.21 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons