The Kiwi Ears Cadenza II (or Cadenza 2 if you like) is a budget-friendly single dynamic driver in-ear monitor (IEM). It was released in early 2026 as the successor to the very popular, original Cadenza. The Cadenza mk1 is still available until the stock runs out, typically at around 35 USD. The new version is typically priced at 49 USD.
The Cadenza II uses a new driver where the 10mm diaphragm is titanium-coated PET, whereas the original diaphragm was beryllium-coated. It also employs the Kiwi Acoustic Resonance System (KARS 2.0), which uses a labyrinth-tube network to create a precise sub-bass boost that cuts off sharply at 200Hz for a cleaner sound.
KIWI EARS CADENZA II SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver: 10mm dynamic
- Diaphragm: PET with Titanium Coating
- Impedance: 18 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 106 dB
- Rated power handling: 5mW
- Maximum power: 10mW
- Frequency Response Range: 10Hz–29KHz
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) < 1%
- Channel imbalance <1.5dB
- Cable: 1.2m, Single-Crystal Copper
- Cable connector: 0.78mm 2-pin
- Cable termination plug: 3.5mm
- 6 × Pairs of ear tips(S/M/L)
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Kiwi Ears Cadenza II
- Linsoul : Kiwi Ears Cadenza II
- Kiwi Ears: Cadenza II
Disclaimer: the review unit was sent us in exchange for an honest opinion.
BUILD AND DESIGN
The original used resin shells, typical for IEMs, while the Cadenza II uses a more durable polycarbonate composite and adds a decorative aluminum faceplate. The new version is slightly larger, but it still sits comfortably in my ear.
The cable is also upgraded, now a high-purity 4-core braided single-crystal oxygen-free copper (OFC) design. It is slightly thicker than the original, mainly due to the braided rather than twisted construction. It feels a bit more premium.
LISTENING COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
- Tips: SpinFit CP145
My Friends by Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Cadenza II delivers a well-balanced presentation, with good detail and instrument separation.
Eye of the Day by Marta del Grandi
Here, the Cadenza II has smooth, delicate vocals. The bass is warm and nicely present but not overwhelming. Generally, there’s a delicate sense of warmth to the overall delivery.
In The Mountains by Espen Eriksen Trio
The Cadenza II has rich bass and a warm, smooth delivery that is very appealing.
Re-Melt by Tord Gustavsen Trio
Once again the Cadenza II is smooth and delicate, with a nice warmth. It has a very pleasant tonal character. Good technicalities for the price – but not outstanding.
Teardrop by Massive Attack
The Cadenza II has a well-balanced, warm delivery. The bass has a nice organic character. Vocals are present, delicate, and gentle.
The Hidden Camera by Photek
Again, nicely balanced with a suitable dose of warmth. The bass is good, and the percussion is crisp enough yet still non-offensive.
Spontaneous Compositorius by Thomas Agergard
The saxophone is lush and smooth. The percussion is certainly not too sharp, sitting rather laid back compared to many other earphones, but in a very pleasing way. The bass is nice, present without being overpowering.
Sandermosen by Maridalen
The Cadenza II has a rich bass, a smooth saxophone and string timbre, and sounds quite spacious.
Sujet Tabou by Renaudin and Cahours
Nicely smooth and warm, but not overly so. The percussion is quite fast and dynamic, although not as explosive as several other earphones can sound.
Don’t Stay by Linkin Park
The Cadenza II is nicely balanced, quite smooth with rich mids. The bass isn’t overly powerful here.
Bullet in Your Head by Rage Against the Machine
The Cadenza II offers a smooth, balanced delivery, not aggressive in any way.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
The string timbre is very smooth. It’s nice, delicate and warm, but the strings lack the attack they can have on other earphones.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
Again the Cadenza II is smooth and well-balanced, non-offensive in character. Nothing stands out more than anything else, to put it that way.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake
Smooth vocals and piano. The deep, massive, challenging bass line is surprisingly full, not too much but definitely enough. The Cadenza II has more sub-bass than mid-bass.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The Cadenza II has a relaxed, smooth sound signature, nicely warm while still sounding relatively neutral.
Treble
The treble will not offend anyone. It is quite relaxed but nicely detailed for the price point.
Midrange
The midrange is smooth and nicely warm, giving e.g. vocals a very pleasing presence.
Bass
The bass is more powerful in the sub-bass than the mid-bass, which is a good thing. It is mostly well balanced, neither too much nor too little.
Soundstage and Imaging
Although the soundstage size and imaging capabilities are quite decent for the price, they did not blow me away.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The Cadenza II has a decent detail level and adequate dynamics. However, it is not about being class-leading in those departments. It is about sounding smooth and effortless, laid back without being boring.
When it comes to timbre, I find it to be nice and smooth. It’s natural and realistic – in a laid back way.
COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
KIWI EARS CADENZA ORIGINAL vs CADENZA II
The original Kiwi Ears Cadenza is, like the Cadenza II, a 10 mm single dynamic driver IEM. It has a Beryllium coated diaphragm, launched in 2022 and is currently priced around 30 USD.
Comparing the original to the newer version, it is clear that the two are most of all very similar. However, the Cadenza II has more present mids and a sweeter tonality, while the original is slightly more V-shaped in comparison.
Full comparison review here:
Cadenza Original vs Cadenza II
- Linsoul: Kiwi Cadenza
- Amazon Kiwi Cadenza
KIWI EARS BELLE vs CADENZA II
The Kiwi Ears Belle is also a single 10 mm dynamic driver. It uses a DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) diaphragm. It was released in early 2026, priced at around 29 USD.
When comparing the Belle to the Cadenza II, the two are also very similar, but the Belle, like the original Cadenza, is more V-shaped, with the Cadenza II having more pronounced mids.
Full comparison review here:
- Amazon: Kiwi Ears Cadenza II
- Linsoul : Kiwi Ears Cadenza II
- Kiwi Ears: Cadenza II
CONCLUDING THE COMPARISONS
The Belle, original Cadenza, and Cadenza II are all in the same ballpark, with very comparable technical performance but slightly different tuning. The Belle has the most bass and sounds the crispest, the Cadenza II has the warmest mids and sounds the smoothest, with the original Cadenza sitting in between.
AMPLIFICATION
So far, I’ve been using my desktop setup for listening, but since most people are probably more interested in portable options, I tested some alternatives:
The Letshuoer DT01 Pro does a very good job with the Cadenza II. The Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini is also great, maybe a tad smoother – without losing detail. The Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro is a step up, it’s slightly tighter and crisper. The Fosi DS3 is also very good, maybe a bit brighter sounding with the Cadenza II than the previous options – in a nice way.
In conclusion, all dongles and mini DAC/Amps tested works very well with the Cadenza II.
CONCLUSION
The Cadenza II is a smooth-sounding IEM. The treble is non-offensive, the midrange is warm and rich, and the bass is well-balanced but more powerful in the lowest regions. It does not exaggerate detail or dynamics, but still sounds engaging and quite natural.
Compared to the Kiwi Ears Belle and the original Cadenza, the Cadenza II does not feel technically superior so much as it presents a slightly different tuning.
- Amazon: Kiwi Ears Cadenza II
- Linsoul : Kiwi Ears Cadenza II
- Kiwi Ears: Cadenza II
