Short answer: the Kiwi Ears Orchestra II. It ranks #69 of 297 in-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 4.5/5); the Kiwi Ears Orchestra ranks #172 (rated 3.9/5).
What the Kiwi Ears Orchestra does well: Eight balanced armatures per side earn a preference score of 72 in crinacle’s measurement. The tradeoff: Presence sits 5.5 dB below target with a 6.7 dB dip near 5.3 kHz, which pushes vocals and guitar bite back and makes some recordings sound distant.
The Kiwi Ears Orchestra II is the better-sounding option. Seventeen hobbyist measurements on squig.link give its ten balanced armature drivers a preference score of 80.0, with bass, low mids and upper mids all within about 0.6 dB of target. Watch for: Presence and treble both sit roughly 3.5 dB below target with a 5.1 dB dip near 7.1 kHz, so attacks on piano and percussion can sound softened.
Buy the Kiwi Ears Orchestra II. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Kiwi Ears Orchestra.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Kiwi Ears Orchestra | Kiwi Ears Orchestra II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | - | $296.65 |
| Ranked | #172 of 297 in In-Ear Headphones | #69 of 297 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 72 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 80 (median of 19 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.33 dB standard deviation | 1.38 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.13 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.39 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 8 x balanced armature | 10 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 17 ohms | 15 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 111 dB | 110 dB SPL/mW |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 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 Orchestra AliExpress eBay
Pros: Eight balanced armatures per side earn a preference score of 72 in crinacle’s measurement. Across hobbyist measurements on squig.link the bass and lower midrange sit within 1 dB of target and the largest treble peak is only 2.4 dB, so the sound stays clean and free of harshness. At 17 ohms and 111 dB it plays loud from a phone or small dongle.
Cons: Presence sits 5.5 dB below target with a 6.7 dB dip near 5.3 kHz, which pushes vocals and guitar bite back and makes some recordings sound distant. Sub-bass runs 4.4 dB under target and is 5.3 dB down at 30 Hz, so the all armature design gives less deep rumble than a dynamic driver set. It is wired only.
Full Kiwi Ears Orchestra review and specifications →
| Released | May 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.33 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 8 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 72 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 17 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 111 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.13 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +2.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,518 Hz | +4.3 dB | 1.08 |
| Peak | 203 Hz | -2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,642 Hz | -3.1 dB | 4.68 |
| Peak | 1,670 Hz | -1.6 dB | 2.02 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 879 Hz | +1.0 dB | 2.21 |
| Peak | 443 Hz | -0.3 dB | 1.47 |
| Peak | 1,294 Hz | -0.6 dB | 3.70 |
| Peak | 5,298 Hz | +1.0 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Kiwi Ears Orchestra II: $296.65 Amazon eBay
Pros: Seventeen hobbyist measurements on squig.link give its ten balanced armature drivers a preference score of 80.0, with bass, low mids and upper mids all within about 0.6 dB of target. The air band lifts about 4.3 dB above 10 kHz, adding openness and a sense of space to orchestral and acoustic recordings. At 15 ohms and 110 dB/mW it runs comfortably from a phone.
Cons: Presence and treble both sit roughly 3.5 dB below target with a 5.1 dB dip near 7.1 kHz, so attacks on piano and percussion can sound softened. Sub-bass trails target by 1.3 dB, so it lacks some of the deep rumble of a good dynamic driver.
Full Kiwi Ears Orchestra II review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2025 (11 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.38 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 10 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (median of 19 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 15 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.39 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples