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Deal.ai › Compare

Kiwi Ears Cadenza vs Kiwi Ears Halcyon

Buy the Cadenza if you want one well-tuned dynamic driver, a comfortable resin shell and a simple setup. Buy the Halcyon if you want more drivers, a more technical and detailed sound, and a metal build. The Cadenza is the safer first IEM and is easy to drive from a phone. The Halcyon is a five-driver tribrid with a MEMS tweeter, swappable nozzle filters and both 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm plugs, so it asks more of your source and rewards better gear. Owners of the Cadenza praise the fit and the balanced tuning; Halcyon owners rate the detail and layering but some say the stock tips fit poorly.

  • Choose the Kiwi Ears Cadenza if you want a comfortable, easy-to-drive first IEM with balanced tuning and a simple single-driver design.
  • Choose the Kiwi Ears Halcyon if you want a more technical, detailed sound, a metal shell and the flexibility of nozzle filters and a balanced plug.

Prices

  • Kiwi Ears Cadenza: $29.74 at Linsoul Audio (last seen Nov 9)
  • Kiwi Ears Halcyon: $220.15 at Amazon (last seen Nov 9)
  • Difference: the Kiwi Ears Cadenza is $190.41 cheaper than the Kiwi Ears Halcyon at the latest prices (Nov 9)
Kiwi Ears
Kiwi Ears Cadenza

Kiwi Ears Cadenza

4.6(456 ratings)
$29.74at Linsoul AudioChecked 4 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Linsoul Audio
Pros
  • Balanced, natural tuning with rich mids
  • Comfortable molded resin shell
  • Easy to drive at 32 Ohm and 110 dB
  • Nine pairs of tips in the box
  • Detachable 0.78 mm 2-pin cable
Cons
  • No microphone
  • Fixed tuning with no filters
  • 3.5 mm plug only
  • Replacement stock cable is hard to buy separately
Kiwi Ears
Kiwi Ears Halcyon

Kiwi Ears Halcyon

$220.15at AmazonChecked 4 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

Pros
  • Detailed, layered sound from five drivers
  • MEMS tweeter gives fast, clean treble
  • Six nozzle filters to tune the sound
  • Aluminum shell with 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm plugs
  • Optional boom-mic cable for gaming
Cons
  • Needs a better source to sound its best
  • Stock ear tips fit poorly for some owners
  • Heavier and larger than the Cadenza
  • More complex setup with filters and plugs

What separates them

Kiwi Ears CadenzaKiwi Ears Halcyon
Driver setupOne 10 mm beryllium dynamic driverFive drivers: 1 dynamic, 3 balanced armature and 1 MEMS
Shell materialMedical-grade 3D-printed resinAerospace-grade aluminum, about 5.99 g per side
Tuning controlFixed tuningSix interchangeable nozzle filters to adjust the sound
Cable plugs3.5 mm onlyInterchangeable 3.5 mm single-ended and 4.4 mm balanced
Impedance and sensitivity32 Ohm, 110 dB, easy to drive from a phone29 Ohm, 109 dB, but the extra drivers want more power
Frequency range20 Hz to 20 kHz10 Hz to 42 kHz
Included tipsNine pairs of silicone tipsSix pairs of silicone tips
MicrophoneNoneOptional gaming boom-mic cable

Price history

$220.15$29.74
Nov 7Nov 10
  • Kiwi Ears Cadenza: lowest $29.74 on Nov 10 at Kiwi Ears.
  • Kiwi Ears Halcyon: lowest $220.15 on Nov 7 at eBay; $220.15 on Nov 10.

Prices at every store

Kiwi Ears Cadenza

  • Linsoul AudioNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $29.74Checked 4 h ago
    Visit Linsoul Audio
  • kiwiearsNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $29.74Checked 4 h ago
    Visit kiwiears
  • eBayNew

    In stock

    $29.75Free shippingChecked 4 h ago
    Visit eBay
  • HIFIXAUDIONew

    In stockReturn policy

    $34.99Checked 4 h ago
    Visit HIFIXAUDIO

Also available at

  • Kiwi EarsCheck price at Kiwi Ears

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All 14 stores and price history →

Kiwi Ears Halcyon

  • eBayNew

    In stock

    $220.15Free shippingChecked 4 h ago
    Visit eBay
  • kiwiearsNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $220.15Checked Nov 7
    Visit kiwiears
  • Linsoul AudioNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $220.15Checked Nov 7
    Visit Linsoul Audio
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $220.15Free shippingChecked 4 h ago
    Visit Amazon

Also available at

  • Linsoul AudioCheck price at Linsoul Audio

Store links may earn us a commission.

All 5 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecKiwi Ears CadenzaKiwi Ears Halcyon
Sensitivity110 dB109dB (at 1kHz/mW)
Connector0.78 mm 2-pin0.78mm 2Pin detachable
Driver Size10 mm—
Driver TypeBeryllium dynamic driver—
Impedance32 Ohm—
Frequency Response20 Hz-20 kHz—
Shell MaterialMedical-grade resin—
Cable Plug3.5 mm—
Cable TypeDetachable 4-Core Braided Copper—
MicrophoneNot Available—
Included Eartips9x Pairs of Eartips—
Warranty1 year—
Show all 37 specsShow fewer specs
SpecKiwi Ears CadenzaKiwi Ears Halcyon
Drivers—1DD + 1MEMS + 3BA
Driver configuration—Tribrid
Driver technology—Dynamic Driver, Balanced Armature, MEMS
Cable connector—0.78 mm 2-pin
Rated impedance—29 ohms
Rated sensitivity—5mW
Maximum power handling—10mW
Frequency Response Range—10-42kHz
Distortion—<1% (at 1kHz)
L/R Channel Imbalance

What reviewers say

Kiwi Ears Cadenza

  • 4.6 / 5456 ratings

Owners rate the Cadenza highly, with 4.6 out of 5 across 456 ratings. Most praise the sound as far better than expected and the fit as comfortable for long sessions. Complaints are few and mostly about accessories rather than sound.

What people mention
  • Sound qualityPraisedBuyers call the sound incredibly good and some say it changed how they listen.
  • FitPraisedOwners report the molded shell sits perfectly and stays comfortable.
  • ValuePraisedReviewers say the sound is solid for what it offers against rivals.
  • CableCriticisedThe standard cable is not sold on its own, so replacements mean the upgraded one.

Kiwi Ears Halcyon

Owners rate the Halcyon highly for its detail and neutral tuning, and at least one reviewer puts it well above the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. The main complaint is the stock ear tips, which some buyers say do not fit well and keep falling out.

What people mention
  • Sound qualityPraisedReviewers say it beats the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite and delivers detailed, neutral sound.
  • Ear tip fitCriticisedBuyers complain the included tips do not fit well and keep falling out.
  • TrebleMixedThe MEMS driver gives fast, high-resolution highs, but the 3 kHz peak can sound sharp to some.
  • Tuning filtersMixedSix nozzle filters let owners shape the sound, though swapping them adds setup work.

Questions and answers

Which is better for a first IEM?
The Cadenza. It is a single driver, easy to drive from a phone and comfortable out of the box. The Halcyon is better once you have a dedicated player or dongle.
Which has more detail?
The Halcyon. Its balanced armatures and MEMS tweeter resolve more fine detail and layer instruments more clearly than the Cadenza's single dynamic driver.
Which is easier to drive?
The Cadenza. At 32 Ohm and 110 dB it runs well from a phone or laptop. The Halcyon's five drivers benefit from more power, ideally through its 4.4 mm balanced plug.
Is the Halcyon worth stepping up to?
If you want a more technical, studio-like sound and swappable filters, yes. If you mainly want a comfortable everyday IEM, the Cadenza covers that well.
Which lasts longer?
The Halcyon's aluminum shell is more durable than the Cadenza's resin shell. Both use the same 0.78 mm 2-pin connector, so cables are easy to replace on either.
Which is better for gaming?
The Halcyon, because it offers an optional boom-mic cable and sharper imaging. The Cadenza has no microphone at all.

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Buying guides that pick them

  • Best MEMS driver in-ear monitor earphones
—
<1.5dB
Cable Material—4N Single Crystal Copper
Cable Length—122CM+/-2CM
Weight—5.99g
Nozzle Size—6.2mm
Stecker—| 3,5mm, 4,4mm
Nennimpedanz—29 Ohm
Nennempfindlichkeit—5 mW
Maximale Belastbarkeit—10 mW
Empfindlichkeit—109 dB (bei 1 kHz/mW)
Frequenzbereich—10–42 kHz
Verzerrung—<1 % (bei 1 kHz)
L/R-Kanalabweichung—<1,5 dB
Anschluss—0,78 mm 2-Pin, abnehmbar
Connectivity—Wired
Style—In-ear