The Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite (USD 249) is an eight‑driver, balanced armature‑only IEM. It was launched a few years ago as the little brother of the original Orchestra (USD 499), which also uses weight drivers (per side).
The Orchestra II builds on its predecessors, but it uses ten balanced armature drivers to up the game. Still, its price is still lower than the original Orchestra at USD 349.
KIWI EARS ORCHESTRA LITE SPECIFICATIONS
- Drivers: 8 balanced armature drivers:
- Setup: 2 Knowles BA for bass, 4 Kiwi Ears Customized BA for midrange, 2 x Kiwi Ears Customized BA tweeters.
- Impedance: 18 ohms
- Sensitivity: 112dB
- Detachable Cable: 1.2 m oxygen-free silver-plated copper
- IEM cable socket 0.78mm 2 Pin
- Cable termination plug 3.5mm single-ended
Current price and availability:
- Linsoul: Orchestra Lite
- Amazon: Orchestra Lite
- Kiwi Ears: Orchestra Lite
KIWI EARS ORCHESTRA II SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver Configuration: 10 Custom Balanced Armatures
- 4 x Way Crossover
- Sensitivity: 109dB SPL/mW
- Impedance: 19 Ohms
- Frequency Range
- 20Hz-20KHz
- Cable Connectors: 0.78mm 2 pin
- Cable Length: 122 cm
- Cable Material: single crystal copper, silver-plated (SP-OCC)
- Cable termination: 3.5mm + 4.4mm jacks, interchangeable system
Current price and availability:
- Kiwi Ears: Orchestra II
- Linsoul: Kiwi Ears Orchestra II
- Amazon: Kiwi Ears Orchestra II
BUILD AND COMFORT
The Orchestra Lite and Orchestra II are both resin-shell IEMs. They are a bit on the larger side to accommodate all the drivers, with the Orchestra II being slightly bigger. However, they both feature a nicely rounded shapes. The Orchestra Lite has a semi-custom shape, the Orchestra II is smoother. Both fit comfortably in my ear.
Their cables are of high quality and quite similar in looks and feel, but not identical. Both are quality copper, but the Orchestra II cable is also silver plated. The Orchestra II also adds interchangeable 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm termination plugs. Both come with a storage case, with the Orchestra II’s case appearing more premium.
COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
Rambling Man by Laura Marling
They are quite similar, but the Orchestra II offers slightly more fine detail. When the music becomes busy, the Orchestra II maintains an effortless quality, whereas the Lite can sound a bit sharp and strained by comparison.
The Sunrise by Norah Jones
They are very similar; the Orchestra II is slightly smoother, but not by much. Both sound pleasingly balanced.
Angel by Massive Attack
In terms of tonality, they are quite similar; however, the Orchestra II sounds cleaner and more refined.
In The Mountains by Espen Eriksen Trio
They are very much alike, slightly warm yet quite neutral.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake
They sound very much alike here as well. The bass is somewhat thick and bold, yet still very controlled and detailed. The vocals are clear and natural, but the Orchestra II has a bit more air and detail.
Bullet in the Head by Rage Against the Machine
Both deliver a nice, meaty bass along with a generally snappy, energetic presentation. They are both great, but the Orchestra II offers a bit better instrument separation, along with better articulation and dynamics.
The Tunnel by Tord Gustavsen Trio
Both lean toward the warmer side while remaining well balanced. They are similar overall, but here I slightly prefer the Orchestra Lite. It sounds a bit crisper and more forward in the mids and lower highs, which suits this track better.
Daddy Lessons by Beyonce
They are very similar, but here the Orchestra Lite has a slightly more forward presentation, especially noticeable in the vocals, which sound more energetic and upfront on the Orchestra Lite than in the smoother Orchestra II
Eusexua by FKA Twigs
Here, they are again very similar, but the vocals are still a touch more upfront on the Orchestra Lite, while the Orchestra II comes across as more refined.
Sonate in A Minor, E.J. de la Guerre by Sophie de Bardonnèche
Both have excellent string timbre that sounds perfectly natural, slightly warm, and nicely crisp. There is plenty of detail and texture. Here as well, the Orchestra Lite is a touch more upfront in the mids, with more upper-mid energy, making it sound a bit rawer and crisper.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
Here as well, the Orchestra Lite comes across as a touch crisper and more explicitly textured, while the Orchestra II sounds smoother and slightly more laid back.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The Orchestra Lite and the Orchestra II basically share the same sound signature, minor differences aside. They are fairly neutral, with a tasteful bass lift that is not overdone. The mids are present, and the highs are detailed and articulate while remaining smooth.
Treble
The treble on both is nicely articulate and detailed, yet remains smooth without sounding laid back or dark. It comes across as very pleasant and natural.
Midrange
Both have a fairly neutral midrange presence that is never recessed. The tonality is slightly warm, but certainly not dark. Depending on the track, the Orchestra Lite can sound a bit brighter in the midrange, with more presence in the upper mids and a crisper character. On its own, I find the Orchestra II bright and crisp enough, but on certain tracks I prefer the Orchestra Lite.
Bass
The bass is very natural and pleasant, with enough body and energy to never feel lacking, while remaining controlled so it never feels excessive. It is detailed, with good texture and nuance, but the textures are not especially crisp or dry, instead coming across as smoother and lusher.
Soundstage and Imaging
I find the soundstage size to be quite similar between them, and their imaging capabilities are very close. When there is a noticeable difference, it usually favors the Orchestra II, which generally offers better instrument separation, though this can vary depending on the track.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
I think both deliver excellent detail, and I especially appreciate how they present it. The detail is smooth, with fine nuances, yet never feels dry. Some other IEMs offer a higher sense of raw detail, but they lack this smoothness.
Both are very dynamic, but which feels more articulate varies slightly depending on the track. Their timbre is quite similar. It’s rich and smooth, yet still neutral. Small midrange tonal differences can make them sound a bit different depending on the track, but sometimes they’re hard to tell apart.
CONCLUSION
The Kiwi Ears Orchestra II and Orchestra Lite are very similar-sounding IEMs. Both use multiple balanced armatures and are clearly tuned to the same target. And that’s a good thing – they both represent what might be my favorite tuning style.
I have long been a big fan of the Orchestra Lite, and although the Orchestra II sounds very similar, it improves on several aspects. It feels more refined. There is more fine detail and better instrument separation, it’s a tad smoother and a tad lusher. The difference is not always very apparent but it is there.
Is the Orchestra II worth the extra cost? That depends on your budget. If you can afford it, I would say yes, but if your budget does not allow it, the Orchestra Lite is almost as good.
The Orchestra II and the Lite both come highly recommended.
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- Linsoul: Orchestra Lite
- Amazon: Orchestra Lite
- Kiwi Ears: Orchestra Lite
- Kiwi Ears: Orchestra II
- Linsoul: Orchestra II
- Amazon: Orchestra II
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