Gonna have a busy couple of weekends limit testing these...pretty excited though

Got to spend some time with the Winter II, first impression is really promising....it is my second favorite after the YU9 QUE. It is very underrated, It is really detailed without the usual BA/mPL shimmer/sparkle, it feels warm mid centric IEM with rich not so forward vocals...very good textured mids, mature treble no fatigue what so ever, punchy and controlled bass...really really underrated and punches way above its weight. Not to mention the full metal build, the amazing cable or the classy case, the eartips that it comes with are very underwhelming tho! And IEM itself requires a bit of tip rolling.

I tried it a bit vs TEA Pro, the Winter II is noteaceably warmer with more textured mids and richer vocals, bass is also more textured and rumblier, the TEA pro has more shimmer and zing of the BAs and more forward vocals...basically imagine the WINTER II as a RAW unedited image with good quality, while the TEA Pro is a tastefully sharpened image. Will do more in-depth comparisons and analysis later.

If youd like here is a video version: https://youtu.be/JEHqDtn-cO0?si=ZrXykpqU-F9\_9yvj

Got to spend some time with the Winter II, first impression is really promising....it is my second favorite after the YU9 QUE. It is very underrated, It is really detailed without the usual BA/mPL shimmer/sparkle, it feels warm mid centric IEM with rich not so forward vocals...very good textured mids, mature treble no fatigue what so ever, punchy and controlled bass...really really underrated and punches way above its weight. Not to mention the full metal build, the amazing cable or the classy case, the eartips that it comes with are very underwhelming tho! And IEM itself requires a bit of tip rolling.

I tried it a bit vs TEA Pro, the Winter II is noteaceably warmer with more textured mids and richer vocals, bass is also more textured and rumblier, the TEA pro has more shimmer and zing of the BAs and more forward vocals...basically imagine the WINTER II as a RAW unedited image with good quality, while the TEA Pro is a tastefully sharpened image. Will do more in-depth comparisons and analysis later.

If youd like here is a video version: https://youtu.be/JEHqDtn-cO0?si=ZrXykpqU-F9\_9yvj

Got to spend some time with the Winter II, first impression is really promising....it is my second favorite after the YU9 QUE. It is very underrated, It is really detailed without the usual BA/mPL shimmer/sparkle, it feels warm mid centric IEM with rich not so forward vocals...very good textured mids, mature treble no fatigue what so ever, punchy and controlled bass...really really underrated and punches way above its weight. Not to mention the full metal build, the amazing cable or the classy case, the eartips that it comes with are very underwhelming tho! And IEM itself requires a bit of tip rolling.

I tried it a bit vs TEA Pro, the Winter II is noteaceably warmer with more textured mids and richer vocals, bass is also more textured and rumblier, the TEA pro has more shimmer and zing of the BAs and more forward vocals...basically imagine the WINTER II as a RAW unedited image with good quality, while the TEA Pro is a tastefully sharpened image. Will do more in-depth comparisons and analysis later.

If youd like here is a video version: https://youtu.be/JEHqDtn-cO0?si=ZrXykpqU-F9\_9yvj

Got to spend some time with the Winter II, first impression is really promising....it is my second favorite after the YU9 QUE. It is very underrated, It is really detailed without the usual BA/mPL shimmer/sparkle, it feels warm mid centric IEM with rich not so forward vocals...very good textured mids, mature treble no fatigue what so ever, punchy and controlled bass...really really underrated and punches way above its weight. Not to mention the full metal build, the amazing cable or the classy case, the eartips that it comes with are very underwhelming tho! And IEM itself requires a bit of tip rolling.

I tried it a bit vs TEA Pro, the Winter II is noteaceably warmer with more textured mids and richer vocals, bass is also more textured and rumblier, the TEA pro has more shimmer and zing of the BAs and more forward vocals...basically imagine the WINTER II as a RAW unedited image with good quality, while the TEA Pro is a tastefully sharpened image. Will do more in-depth comparisons and analysis later.

If youd like here is a video version: https://youtu.be/JEHqDtn-cO0?si=ZrXykpqU-F9\_9yvj

Just recieved my winter twos today, really excited to try them out because i think at least on surface BQEYZ has unique driver configurations...feel like they are doing their own thing and improving on it....at least this is the pattern im noticing in their products....anyway enough yapping imma spam them for the next couple weeks.

TLDR, Cadenza 2 to is a solid 4/5 budget IEM. It’s a great package if you like a clean, sub-bass-focused presentation and clean midrange with mostly controlled treble (basically META tuning), but fast metalcore tracks and mid-bass-heavy songs will find its limits. Check out the notes in the images if you dont want to read, Or the video format and PDF notes here: https://youtu.be/fRckKo5M1ME?si=8Q3_803tQseK4ABV

The Cadenza 2 is basically the Strawberry Juice of IEMs (it should ve been kiwis pun intended, but kiwis are way too sour) . It’s got a sweet taste, a little bit of a sour and tangy bite, and just enough richness to balance the acidity out. What it isn’t is a strawberry milkshake—it lacks that heavy, thick milk-sweetness and full-bodied warmth. It’s rather a clean, refreshing drink, but not a thick, rich experience.

Mandatory Cable Praise

This thing feels incredibly nice and premium with absolutely zero memory wire frustration. It feels like the material used in Kiwi Ears’ black Terras cable (in collab with B Media), just without the swappable modular terminations and using slightly cheaper inner parts. For a $45 package, this cable is excellent.

Sound Performance

I'll speed run this part and yab a lot in the test tracks section

Bass

Subbass focus, good rumble, a bit fast decay. But midbass on weaker side, not anemic tho!

Mids

The midrange is clean and well-separated. Lower mids feel fine, and the upper mids are quite forward, vocals clear are and front-and-center. But on very high-pitched or tenor male vocals, the upper mids can get right to the edge of shoutiness.

Treble

The treble has decent precision and enough sparkle to keep things energetic without feeling completely blunt. It’s totally safe from high-frequency sibilance (6kHz and above is completely clean with good air). However, there is a bit of harshness right around the 5kHz region in the lower treble/upper mid transition that can fatigue you on some tracks.

Soundstage & Technicalities

the soundstage is very good, Open with good sense of depth.

Test Tracks

Sibilance / Harshness Test

• ❌Fallujah – "Venom Upon the Blade": This track has a very sharp mix with piercing guitar harmonics, and it definitely gets to the Cadenza 2. It triggers that 5kHz harshness right away. (Quick fix: A parametric EQ peak filter at 5kHz at -1dB with a Q of 4 completely cleaned it up).
• ✅Bring Me The Horizon – "Doomed" (Live at the Royal Albert Hall): During the bridge where the choir and full instrumentation swell, it passes perfectly. No sibilance here.
• ✅The Devil Wears Prada – "Where the Flowers Never Grow": At the beginning, the vocalist's "S" and "T" sounds are mixed a bit sharp. The Cadenza 2 passed this with zero annoyance—6kHz and above is totally fine.
• ❌Baby Metal & Knocked Loose: The high-pitched female vocals and harsh, frantic arrangements hit right at the edge of the upper mids and lower treble. You can't listen to these for extended periods; it will fatigue you on longer sessions.

What it Does Well

• Slow, Well-Mixed Tracks & Synth Wave: Slower tracks are always safe, but they are especially engaging here because of the sub-bass boost. The Dark Sun album by Dayseeker sounds amazing, blending vocals and synth wave elements beautifully.
• Medium Busy Tracks (Twenty One Pilots): Handled very well. The vocal-centric focus keeps everything clear and enjoyable.
• Hip-Hop: Highly engaging and fun thanks to that dedicated sub-bass lift.
• Mid-Centric Tracks (Breaking Benjamin, Starset, Linkin Park, Tool, Polaris, Parkway Drive): Tracks that heavily utilize the midrange—especially the lower mids—sound excellent. House of Protection's "Pulling Teeth" and various Counterparts tracks sound great on this set. (Even Baby Metal can go either way here; a track like "From Me to You" featuring Poppy is much more reserved and highly enjoyable).

Where it Lacks

• Mid-Bass / Dark Tone Tracks (Twenty One Pilots – "Drum Show", Alice in Chains – "Would?", Soundgarden – "The Day I Tried to Live"): These tracks rely on fast kick drums, a heavy mid-bass slam, or darker tones. The Cadenza 2 feels clean but lacks the necessary body and punch to make the drum/bass intros engaging.
• Health – "Demigods": The presentation here just starts falling flat. The track is very dark, and the Cadenza 2’s clean profile and missing mid-bass slam just don't offer the right presentation for this style of music.

Where it Chokes

• Invent Animate – Heavens album: This track combines tender vocals, intense guitar harmonics, and massive slamming. The single dynamic driver simply runs out of speed, completely botching the complexity because it chokes right where all of the Cadenza 2's weaknesses sit.
• Knocked Loose – You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To album: Frantic arrangements, harsh vocals, and heavy slamming limit-test this IEM, and the single driver struggles hard to keep up.

Direct Comparisons

• vs. Tangzu Wan'er 2: The Wan'er ($20) has less sub-bass rumble but features more mid-bass body, making it sound fuller and warmer on older rock tracks. However, the Cadenza 2 is noticeably more technical, cleaner, and comes with a vastly superior premium cable.
• vs. PRX: For metal music, I personally lean toward cheap planers like the PRX ($25). The PRX flat-out beats the Cadenza 2 in raw technicalities and speed for busy tracks, even if it lacks the sub-bass rumble and has that typical artificial planer timbre. The Cadenza 2 sounds much more natural, but the PRX is the better value for fast genres.
• vs. Simgot EW300: The EW300 ($70) is more expensive. It has much higher midrange resolution and features swappable tuning nozzles (the gold nozzle gives you better mid-bass). The EW300 can occasionally lean closer to sibilance, whereas the Cadenza 2 has that specific 5kHz edge instead. The Cadenza 2 offers slightly cleaner presentation for less money, making it a highly competitive value.

Rating

• Bright vs. Warm: The Cadenza 2 is the most bright-leaning of the budget bunch. The Wan'er is neutral-warm, and the PRX sits on the warmer side.
• U-Shape vs. V-Shape: The Cadenza 2 leans closer to a clean U-shape or W-shape.
• Musical vs. Analytical: The Wan'er is the most musical and relaxed. The Cadenza 2 sits in the middle with a clean profile, while the planer PRX is the most analytical.
• Soundstage (Narrow vs. Wide): It has great, very good width for a budget set, punching above its price tag.
• Casual vs. Advanced: It’s a casual, instantly engaging listen for 80% of standard music libraries because the tuning grabs your attention right away.
• All-Rounder vs. Niche: It’s not a complete all-rounder. Because it lacks that warm mid-bass body, tracks that require heavy punch and dark warmth will feel slightly left behind.

Final Thoughts

The Kiwi Ears Cadenza 2 is a beautiful budget option if you want a clean, wide, sub-bass-forward sound signature and a stellar cable out of the box. It handles standard playlists like a champ. Just be prepared to back off the volume a bit on hyper-aggressive, high-pitched metal mixes where its single driver hits its processing limits.

TLDR, Cadenza 2 to is a solid 4/5 budget IEM. It’s a great package if you like a clean, sub-bass-focused presentation and clean midrange with mostly controlled treble (basically META tuning), but fast metalcore tracks and mid-bass-heavy songs will find its limits. Check out the notes in the images if you dont want to read, Or the video format and PDF notes here: https://youtu.be/fRckKo5M1ME?si=8Q3_803tQseK4ABV

The Cadenza 2 is basically the Strawberry Juice of IEMs (it should ve been kiwis pun intended, but kiwis are way too sour) . It’s got a sweet taste, a little bit of a sour and tangy bite, and just enough richness to balance the acidity out. What it isn’t is a strawberry milkshake—it lacks that heavy, thick milk-sweetness and full-bodied warmth. It’s rather a clean, refreshing drink, but not a thick, rich experience.

Mandatory Cable Praise

This thing feels incredibly nice and premium with absolutely zero memory wire frustration. It feels like the material used in Kiwi Ears’ black Terras cable (in collab with B Media), just without the swappable modular terminations and using slightly cheaper inner parts. For a $45 package, this cable is excellent.

Sound Performance

I'll speed run this part and yab a lot in the test tracks section

Bass

Subbass focus, good rumble, a bit fast decay. But midbass on weaker side, not anemic tho!

Mids

The midrange is clean and well-separated. Lower mids feel fine, and the upper mids are quite forward, vocals clear are and front-and-center. But on very high-pitched or tenor male vocals, the upper mids can get right to the edge of shoutiness.

Treble

The treble has decent precision and enough sparkle to keep things energetic without feeling completely blunt. It’s totally safe from high-frequency sibilance (6kHz and above is completely clean with good air). However, there is a bit of harshness right around the 5kHz region in the lower treble/upper mid transition that can fatigue you on some tracks.

Soundstage & Technicalities

the soundstage is very good, Open with good sense of depth.

Test Tracks

Sibilance / Harshness Test

• ❌Fallujah – "Venom Upon the Blade": This track has a very sharp mix with piercing guitar harmonics, and it definitely gets to the Cadenza 2. It triggers that 5kHz harshness right away. (Quick fix: A parametric EQ peak filter at 5kHz at -1dB with a Q of 4 completely cleaned it up).
• ✅Bring Me The Horizon – "Doomed" (Live at the Royal Albert Hall): During the bridge where the choir and full instrumentation swell, it passes perfectly. No sibilance here.
• ✅The Devil Wears Prada – "Where the Flowers Never Grow": At the beginning, the vocalist's "S" and "T" sounds are mixed a bit sharp. The Cadenza 2 passed this with zero annoyance—6kHz and above is totally fine.
• ❌Baby Metal & Knocked Loose: The high-pitched female vocals and harsh, frantic arrangements hit right at the edge of the upper mids and lower treble. You can't listen to these for extended periods; it will fatigue you on longer sessions.

What it Does Well

• Slow, Well-Mixed Tracks & Synth Wave: Slower tracks are always safe, but they are especially engaging here because of the sub-bass boost. The Dark Sun album by Dayseeker sounds amazing, blending vocals and synth wave elements beautifully.
• Medium Busy Tracks (Twenty One Pilots): Handled very well. The vocal-centric focus keeps everything clear and enjoyable.
• Hip-Hop: Highly engaging and fun thanks to that dedicated sub-bass lift.
• Mid-Centric Tracks (Breaking Benjamin, Starset, Linkin Park, Tool, Polaris, Parkway Drive): Tracks that heavily utilize the midrange—especially the lower mids—sound excellent. House of Protection's "Pulling Teeth" and various Counterparts tracks sound great on this set. (Even Baby Metal can go either way here; a track like "From Me to You" featuring Poppy is much more reserved and highly enjoyable).

Where it Lacks

• Mid-Bass / Dark Tone Tracks (Twenty One Pilots – "Drum Show", Alice in Chains – "Would?", Soundgarden – "The Day I Tried to Live"): These tracks rely on fast kick drums, a heavy mid-bass slam, or darker tones. The Cadenza 2 feels clean but lacks the necessary body and punch to make the drum/bass intros engaging.
• Health – "Demigods": The presentation here just starts falling flat. The track is very dark, and the Cadenza 2’s clean profile and missing mid-bass slam just don't offer the right presentation for this style of music.

Where it Chokes

• Invent Animate – Heavens album: This track combines tender vocals, intense guitar harmonics, and massive slamming. The single dynamic driver simply runs out of speed, completely botching the complexity because it chokes right where all of the Cadenza 2's weaknesses sit.
• Knocked Loose – You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To album: Frantic arrangements, harsh vocals, and heavy slamming limit-test this IEM, and the single driver struggles hard to keep up.

Direct Comparisons

• vs. Tangzu Wan'er 2: The Wan'er ($20) has less sub-bass rumble but features more mid-bass body, making it sound fuller and warmer on older rock tracks. However, the Cadenza 2 is noticeably more technical, cleaner, and comes with a vastly superior premium cable.
• vs. PRX: For metal music, I personally lean toward cheap planers like the PRX ($25). The PRX flat-out beats the Cadenza 2 in raw technicalities and speed for busy tracks, even if it lacks the sub-bass rumble and has that typical artificial planer timbre. The Cadenza 2 sounds much more natural, but the PRX is the better value for fast genres.
• vs. Simgot EW300: The EW300 ($70) is more expensive. It has much higher midrange resolution and features swappable tuning nozzles (the gold nozzle gives you better mid-bass). The EW300 can occasionally lean closer to sibilance, whereas the Cadenza 2 has that specific 5kHz edge instead. The Cadenza 2 offers slightly cleaner presentation for less money, making it a highly competitive value.

Rating

• Bright vs. Warm: The Cadenza 2 is the most bright-leaning of the budget bunch. The Wan'er is neutral-warm, and the PRX sits on the warmer side.
• U-Shape vs. V-Shape: The Cadenza 2 leans closer to a clean U-shape or W-shape.
• Musical vs. Analytical: The Wan'er is the most musical and relaxed. The Cadenza 2 sits in the middle with a clean profile, while the planer PRX is the most analytical.
• Soundstage (Narrow vs. Wide): It has great, very good width for a budget set, punching above its price tag.
• Casual vs. Advanced: It’s a casual, instantly engaging listen for 80% of standard music libraries because the tuning grabs your attention right away.
• All-Rounder vs. Niche: It’s not a complete all-rounder. Because it lacks that warm mid-bass body, tracks that require heavy punch and dark warmth will feel slightly left behind.

Final Thoughts

The Kiwi Ears Cadenza 2 is a beautiful budget option if you want a clean, wide, sub-bass-forward sound signature and a stellar cable out of the box. It handles standard playlists like a champ. Just be prepared to back off the volume a bit on hyper-aggressive, high-pitched metal mixes where its single driver hits its processing limits.

TLDR, Cadenza 2 to is a solid 4/5 budget IEM. It’s a great package if you like a clean, sub-bass-focused presentation and clean midrange with mostly controlled treble (basically META tuning), but fast metalcore tracks and mid-bass-heavy songs will find its limits. Check out the notes in the images if you dont want to read, Or the video format and PDF notes here: https://youtu.be/fRckKo5M1ME

The Cadenza 2 is basically the Strawberry Juice of IEMs (it should ve been kiwis pun intended, but kiwis are way too sour) . It’s got a sweet taste, a little bit of a sour and tangy bite, and just enough richness to balance the acidity out. What it isn’t is a strawberry milkshake—it lacks that heavy, thick milk-sweetness and full-bodied warmth. It’s rather a clean, refreshing drink, but not a thick, rich experience.

Mandatory Cable Praise

This thing feels incredibly nice and premium with absolutely zero memory wire frustration. It feels like the material used in Kiwi Ears’ black Terras cable (in collab with B Media), just without the swappable modular terminations and using slightly cheaper inner parts. For a $45 package, this cable is excellent.

Sound Performance

I'll speed run this part and yab a lot in the test tracks section

Bass

Subbass focus, good rumble, a bit fast decay. But midbass on weaker side, not anemic tho!

Mids

The midrange is clean and well-separated. Lower mids feel fine, and the upper mids are quite forward, vocals clear are and front-and-center. But on very high-pitched or tenor male vocals, the upper mids can get right to the edge of shoutiness.

Treble

The treble has decent precision and enough sparkle to keep things energetic without feeling completely blunt. It’s totally safe from high-frequency sibilance (6kHz and above is completely clean with good air). However, there is a bit of harshness right around the 5kHz region in the lower treble/upper mid transition that can fatigue you on some tracks.

Soundstage & Technicalities

the soundstage is very good, Open with good sense of depth.

Test Tracks

Sibilance / Harshness Test

• ❌Fallujah – "Venom Upon the Blade": This track has a very sharp mix with piercing guitar harmonics, and it definitely gets to the Cadenza 2. It triggers that 5kHz harshness right away. (Quick fix: A parametric EQ peak filter at 5kHz at -1dB with a Q of 4 completely cleaned it up).
• ✅Bring Me The Horizon – "Doomed" (Live at the Royal Albert Hall): During the bridge where the choir and full instrumentation swell, it passes perfectly. No sibilance here.
• ✅The Devil Wears Prada – "Where the Flowers Never Grow": At the beginning, the vocalist's "S" and "T" sounds are mixed a bit sharp. The Cadenza 2 passed this with zero annoyance—6kHz and above is totally fine.
• ❌Baby Metal & Knocked Loose: The high-pitched female vocals and harsh, frantic arrangements hit right at the edge of the upper mids and lower treble. You can't listen to these for extended periods; it will fatigue you on longer sessions.

What it Does Well

• Slow, Well-Mixed Tracks & Synth Wave: Slower tracks are always safe, but they are especially engaging here because of the sub-bass boost. The Dark Sun album by Dayseeker sounds amazing, blending vocals and synth wave elements beautifully.
• Medium Busy Tracks (Twenty One Pilots): Handled very well. The vocal-centric focus keeps everything clear and enjoyable.
• Hip-Hop: Highly engaging and fun thanks to that dedicated sub-bass lift.
• Mid-Centric Tracks (Breaking Benjamin, Starset, Linkin Park, Tool, Polaris, Parkway Drive): Tracks that heavily utilize the midrange—especially the lower mids—sound excellent. House of Protection's "Pulling Teeth" and various Counterparts tracks sound great on this set. (Even Baby Metal can go either way here; a track like "From Me to You" featuring Poppy is much more reserved and highly enjoyable).

Where it Lacks

• Mid-Bass / Dark Tone Tracks (Twenty One Pilots – "Drum Show", Alice in Chains – "Would?", Soundgarden – "The Day I Tried to Live"): These tracks rely on fast kick drums, a heavy mid-bass slam, or darker tones. The Cadenza 2 feels clean but lacks the necessary body and punch to make the drum/bass intros engaging.
• Health – "Demigods": The presentation here just starts falling flat. The track is very dark, and the Cadenza 2’s clean profile and missing mid-bass slam just don't offer the right presentation for this style of music.

Where it Chokes

• Invent Animate – Heavens album: This track combines tender vocals, intense guitar harmonics, and massive slamming. The single dynamic driver simply runs out of speed, completely botching the complexity because it chokes right where all of the Cadenza 2's weaknesses sit.
• Knocked Loose – You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To album: Frantic arrangements, harsh vocals, and heavy slamming limit-test this IEM, and the single driver struggles hard to keep up.

Direct Comparisons

• vs. Tangzu Wan'er 2: The Wan'er ($20) has less sub-bass rumble but features more mid-bass body, making it sound fuller and warmer on older rock tracks. However, the Cadenza 2 is noticeably more technical, cleaner, and comes with a vastly superior premium cable.
• vs. PRX: For metal music, I personally lean toward cheap planers like the PRX ($25). The PRX flat-out beats the Cadenza 2 in raw technicalities and speed for busy tracks, even if it lacks the sub-bass rumble and has that typical artificial planer timbre. The Cadenza 2 sounds much more natural, but the PRX is the better value for fast genres.
• vs. Simgot EW300: The EW300 ($70) is more expensive. It has much higher midrange resolution and features swappable tuning nozzles (the gold nozzle gives you better mid-bass). The EW300 can occasionally lean closer to sibilance, whereas the Cadenza 2 has that specific 5kHz edge instead. The Cadenza 2 offers slightly cleaner presentation for less money, making it a highly competitive value.

Rating

• Bright vs. Warm: The Cadenza 2 is the most bright-leaning of the budget bunch. The Wan'er is neutral-warm, and the PRX sits on the warmer side.
• U-Shape vs. V-Shape: The Cadenza 2 leans closer to a clean U-shape or W-shape.
• Musical vs. Analytical: The Wan'er is the most musical and relaxed. The Cadenza 2 sits in the middle with a clean profile, while the planer PRX is the most analytical.
• Soundstage (Narrow vs. Wide): It has great, very good width for a budget set, punching above its price tag.
• Casual vs. Advanced: It’s a casual, instantly engaging listen for 80% of standard music libraries because the tuning grabs your attention right away.
• All-Rounder vs. Niche: It’s not a complete all-rounder. Because it lacks that warm mid-bass body, tracks that require heavy punch and dark warmth will feel slightly left behind.

Final Thoughts

The Kiwi Ears Cadenza 2 is a beautiful budget option if you want a clean, wide, sub-bass-forward sound signature and a stellar cable out of the box. It handles standard playlists like a champ. Just be prepared to back off the volume a bit on hyper-aggressive, high-pitched metal mixes where its single driver hits its processing limits.

TLDR, Cadenza 2 to is a solid 4/5 budget IEM. It’s a great package if you like a clean, sub-bass-focused presentation and clean midrange with mostly controlled treble (basically META tuning), but fast metalcore tracks and mid-bass-heavy songs will find its limits. Check out the notes in the images if you dont want to read, Or the video format and PDF notes here: https://youtu.be/fRckKo5M1ME?si=8Q3_803tQseK4ABV

The Cadenza 2 is basically the Strawberry Juice of IEMs (it should ve been kiwis pun intended, but kiwis are way too sour) . It’s got a sweet taste, a little bit of a sour and tangy bite, and just enough richness to balance the acidity out. What it isn’t is a strawberry milkshake—it lacks that heavy, thick milk-sweetness and full-bodied warmth. It’s rather a clean, refreshing drink, but not a thick, rich experience.

Mandatory Cable Praise

This thing feels incredibly nice and premium with absolutely zero memory wire frustration. It feels like the material used in Kiwi Ears’ black Terras cable (in collab with B Media), just without the swappable modular terminations and using slightly cheaper inner parts. For a $45 package, this cable is excellent.

Sound Performance

I'll speed run this part and yab a lot in the test tracks section

Bass

Subbass focus, good rumble, a bit fast decay. But midbass on weaker side, not anemic tho!

Mids

The midrange is clean and well-separated. Lower mids feel fine, and the upper mids are quite forward, vocals clear are and front-and-center. But on very high-pitched or tenor male vocals, the upper mids can get right to the edge of shoutiness.

Treble

The treble has decent precision and enough sparkle to keep things energetic without feeling completely blunt. It’s totally safe from high-frequency sibilance (6kHz and above is completely clean with good air). However, there is a bit of harshness right around the 5kHz region in the lower treble/upper mid transition that can fatigue you on some tracks.

Soundstage & Technicalities

the soundstage is very good, Open with good sense of depth.

Test Tracks

Sibilance / Harshness Test

• ❌Fallujah – "Venom Upon the Blade": This track has a very sharp mix with piercing guitar harmonics, and it definitely gets to the Cadenza 2. It triggers that 5kHz harshness right away. (Quick fix: A parametric EQ peak filter at 5kHz at -1dB with a Q of 4 completely cleaned it up).
• ✅Bring Me The Horizon – "Doomed" (Live at the Royal Albert Hall): During the bridge where the choir and full instrumentation swell, it passes perfectly. No sibilance here.
• ✅The Devil Wears Prada – "Where the Flowers Never Grow": At the beginning, the vocalist's "S" and "T" sounds are mixed a bit sharp. The Cadenza 2 passed this with zero annoyance—6kHz and above is totally fine.
• ❌Baby Metal & Knocked Loose: The high-pitched female vocals and harsh, frantic arrangements hit right at the edge of the upper mids and lower treble. You can't listen to these for extended periods; it will fatigue you on longer sessions.

What it Does Well

• Slow, Well-Mixed Tracks & Synth Wave: Slower tracks are always safe, but they are especially engaging here because of the sub-bass boost. The Dark Sun album by Dayseeker sounds amazing, blending vocals and synth wave elements beautifully.
• Medium Busy Tracks (Twenty One Pilots): Handled very well. The vocal-centric focus keeps everything clear and enjoyable.
• Hip-Hop: Highly engaging and fun thanks to that dedicated sub-bass lift.
• Mid-Centric Tracks (Breaking Benjamin, Starset, Linkin Park, Tool, Polaris, Parkway Drive): Tracks that heavily utilize the midrange—especially the lower mids—sound excellent. House of Protection's "Pulling Teeth" and various Counterparts tracks sound great on this set. (Even Baby Metal can go either way here; a track like "From Me to You" featuring Poppy is much more reserved and highly enjoyable).

Where it Lacks

• Mid-Bass / Dark Tone Tracks (Twenty One Pilots – "Drum Show", Alice in Chains – "Would?", Soundgarden – "The Day I Tried to Live"): These tracks rely on fast kick drums, a heavy mid-bass slam, or darker tones. The Cadenza 2 feels clean but lacks the necessary body and punch to make the drum/bass intros engaging.
• Health – "Demigods": The presentation here just starts falling flat. The track is very dark, and the Cadenza 2’s clean profile and missing mid-bass slam just don't offer the right presentation for this style of music.

Where it Chokes

• Invent Animate – Heavens album: This track combines tender vocals, intense guitar harmonics, and massive slamming. The single dynamic driver simply runs out of speed, completely botching the complexity because it chokes right where all of the Cadenza 2's weaknesses sit.
• Knocked Loose – You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To album: Frantic arrangements, harsh vocals, and heavy slamming limit-test this IEM, and the single driver struggles hard to keep up.

Direct Comparisons

• vs. Tangzu Wan'er 2: The Wan'er ($20) has less sub-bass rumble but features more mid-bass body, making it sound fuller and warmer on older rock tracks. However, the Cadenza 2 is noticeably more technical, cleaner, and comes with a vastly superior premium cable.
• vs. PRX: For metal music, I personally lean toward cheap planers like the PRX ($25). The PRX flat-out beats the Cadenza 2 in raw technicalities and speed for busy tracks, even if it lacks the sub-bass rumble and has that typical artificial planer timbre. The Cadenza 2 sounds much more natural, but the PRX is the better value for fast genres.
• vs. Simgot EW300: The EW300 ($70) is more expensive. It has much higher midrange resolution and features swappable tuning nozzles (the gold nozzle gives you better mid-bass). The EW300 can occasionally lean closer to sibilance, whereas the Cadenza 2 has that specific 5kHz edge instead. The Cadenza 2 offers slightly cleaner presentation for less money, making it a highly competitive value.

Rating

• Bright vs. Warm: The Cadenza 2 is the most bright-leaning of the budget bunch. The Wan'er is neutral-warm, and the PRX sits on the warmer side.
• U-Shape vs. V-Shape: The Cadenza 2 leans closer to a clean U-shape or W-shape.
• Musical vs. Analytical: The Wan'er is the most musical and relaxed. The Cadenza 2 sits in the middle with a clean profile, while the planer PRX is the most analytical.
• Soundstage (Narrow vs. Wide): It has great, very good width for a budget set, punching above its price tag.
• Casual vs. Advanced: It’s a casual, instantly engaging listen for 80% of standard music libraries because the tuning grabs your attention right away.
• All-Rounder vs. Niche: It’s not a complete all-rounder. Because it lacks that warm mid-bass body, tracks that require heavy punch and dark warmth will feel slightly left behind.

Final Thoughts

The Kiwi Ears Cadenza 2 is a beautiful budget option if you want a clean, wide, sub-bass-forward sound signature and a stellar cable out of the box. It handles standard playlists like a champ. Just be prepared to back off the volume a bit on hyper-aggressive, high-pitched metal mixes where its single driver hits its processing limits.

TLDR, Cadenza 2 to is a solid 4/5 budget IEM. It’s a great package if you like a clean, sub-bass-focused presentation and clean midrange with mostly controlled treble (basically META tuning), but fast metalcore tracks and mid-bass-heavy songs will find its limits. Check out the notes in the images if you dont want to read, Or the video format and PDF notes here: https://youtu.be/fRckKo5M1ME

The Cadenza 2 is basically the Strawberry Juice of IEMs (it should ve been kiwis, but kiwis are too sour). It’s got a sweet taste, a little bit of a sour and tangy bite, and just enough richness to balance the acidity out. What it isn’t is a strawberry milkshake—it lacks that heavy, thick milk-sweetness and full-bodied warmth. It’s rather a clean, refreshing drink, but not a thick, rich experience.

Mandatory Cable Praise

This thing feels incredibly nice and premium with absolutely zero memory wire frustration. It feels like the material used in Kiwi Ears’ black Terras cable (in collab with B Media), just without the swappable modular terminations and using slightly cheaper inner parts. For a $45 package, this cable is excellent.

Sound Performance

I'll speed run this part and yab a lot in the test tracks section

Bass

Subbass focus, good rumble, a bit fast decay. But midbass on weaker side, not anemic tho!

Mids

The midrange is clean and well-separated. Lower mids feel fine, and the upper mids are quite forward, vocals clear are and front-and-center. But on very high-pitched or tenor male vocals, the upper mids can get right to the edge of shoutiness.

Treble

The treble has decent precision and enough sparkle to keep things energetic without feeling completely blunt. It’s totally safe from high-frequency sibilance (6kHz and above is completely clean with good air). However, there is a bit of harshness right around the 5kHz region in the lower treble/upper mid transition that can fatigue you on some tracks.

Soundstage & Technicalities

the soundstage is very good, Open with good sense of depth.

Test Tracks

Sibilance / Harshness Test

• ❌Fallujah – "Venom Upon the Blade": This track has a very sharp mix with piercing guitar harmonics, and it definitely gets to the Cadenza 2. It triggers that 5kHz harshness right away. (Quick fix: A parametric EQ peak filter at 5kHz at -1dB with a Q of 4 completely cleaned it up).
• ✅Bring Me The Horizon – "Doomed" (Live at the Royal Albert Hall): During the bridge where the choir and full instrumentation swell, it passes perfectly. No sibilance here.
• ✅The Devil Wears Prada – "Where the Flowers Never Grow": At the beginning, the vocalist's "S" and "T" sounds are mixed a bit sharp. The Cadenza 2 passed this with zero annoyance—6kHz and above is totally fine.
• ❌Baby Metal & Knocked Loose: The high-pitched female vocals and harsh, frantic arrangements hit right at the edge of the upper mids and lower treble. You can't listen to these for extended periods; it will fatigue you on longer sessions.

What it Does Well

• Slow, Well-Mixed Tracks & Synth Wave: Slower tracks are always safe, but they are especially engaging here because of the sub-bass boost. The Dark Sun album by Dayseeker sounds amazing, blending vocals and synth wave elements beautifully.
• Medium Busy Tracks (Twenty One Pilots): Handled very well. The vocal-centric focus keeps everything clear and enjoyable.
• Hip-Hop: Highly engaging and fun thanks to that dedicated sub-bass lift.
• Mid-Centric Tracks (Breaking Benjamin, Starset, Linkin Park, Tool, Polaris, Parkway Drive): Tracks that heavily utilize the midrange—especially the lower mids—sound excellent. House of Protection's "Pulling Teeth" and various Counterparts tracks sound great on this set. (Even Baby Metal can go either way here; a track like "From Me to You" featuring Poppy is much more reserved and highly enjoyable).

Where it Lacks

• Mid-Bass / Dark Tone Tracks (Twenty One Pilots – "Drum Show", Alice in Chains – "Would?", Soundgarden – "The Day I Tried to Live"): These tracks rely on fast kick drums, a heavy mid-bass slam, or darker tones. The Cadenza 2 feels clean but lacks the necessary body and punch to make the drum/bass intros engaging.
• Health – "Demigods": The presentation here just starts falling flat. The track is very dark, and the Cadenza 2’s clean profile and missing mid-bass slam just don't offer the right presentation for this style of music.

Where it Chokes

• Invent Animate – Heavener album: This track combines tender vocals, intense guitar harmonics, and massive slamming. The single dynamic driver simply runs out of speed, completely botching the complexity because it chokes right where all of the Cadenza 2's weaknesses sit.
• Knocked Loose – You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To album: Frantic arrangements, harsh vocals, and heavy slamming limit-test this IEM, and the single driver struggles hard to keep up.

Direct Comparisons

• vs. Tangzu Wan'er 2: The Wan'er ($20) has less sub-bass rumble but features more mid-bass body, making it sound fuller and warmer on older rock tracks. However, the Cadenza 2 is noticeably more technical, cleaner, and comes with a vastly superior premium cable.
• vs. PRX: For metal music, I personally lean toward cheap planers like the PRX ($25). The PRX flat-out beats the Cadenza 2 in raw technicalities and speed for busy tracks, even if it lacks the sub-bass rumble and has that typical artificial planer timbre. The Cadenza 2 sounds much more natural, but the PRX is the better value for fast genres.
• vs. Simgot EW300: The EW300 ($70) is more expensive. It has much higher midrange resolution and features swappable tuning nozzles (the gold nozzle gives you better mid-bass). The EW300 can occasionally lean closer to sibilance, whereas the Cadenza 2 has that specific 5kHz edge instead. The Cadenza 2 offers slightly cleaner presentation for less money, making it a highly competitive value.

Rating

• Bright vs. Warm: The Cadenza 2 is the most bright-leaning of the budget bunch. The Wan'er is neutral-warm, and the PRX sits on the warmer side.
• U-Shape vs. V-Shape: The Cadenza 2 leans closer to a clean U-shape or W-shape.
• Musical vs. Analytical: The Wan'er is the most musical and relaxed. The Cadenza 2 sits in the middle with a clean profile, while the planer PRX is the most analytical.
• Soundstage (Narrow vs. Wide): It has great, very good width for a budget set, punching above its price tag.
• Casual vs. Advanced: It’s a casual, instantly engaging listen for 80% of standard music libraries because the tuning grabs your attention right away.
• All-Rounder vs. Niche: It’s not a complete all-rounder. Because it lacks that warm mid-bass body, tracks that require heavy punch and dark warmth will feel slightly left behind.

Final Thoughts

The Kiwi Ears Cadenza 2 is a beautiful budget option if you want a clean, wide, sub-bass-forward sound signature and a stellar cable out of the box. It handles standard playlists like a champ. Just be prepared to back off the volume a bit on hyper-aggressive, high-pitched metal mixes where its single driver hits its processing limits.

Ive been loaned cadenza 2 and I gave them a quick listen. But first a mandatory praise for the cable, soft with, memory free and very premium feeling.

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First impressions is really good subbass with good quality and rumble (not much decay though), clean mids with great guitar texture and male vocals, very good female vocals, and good enough treble and air with no sibilance, but not precise right at the begging of being blunt.

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But the mid bass is definitely on the weaker side, intro bass guitar on Would by Alice in Chains and kick drums Drum Show by 21 pilots is definitely lacking. Also i think it could get harsh at 5k, i tried venom upon the blade by fallujah and thos harmonics got to me, and occasionally very high female vocals could be at the edge of shoutiness, but those are rare. But overall im having a lot of fun with their presentation on non midbass heavy tracks.

This a random rant, but i feel like very few releases in the past couple of years have been like reallly exciting for mid fi iems (300-500 usd) that is because this is the range where consumers would consider endgame IEM, lower price brackets have lower expectations so they have more room for experimentation, and higher price brackets has less fear of budgeting so more room for experimentation + lower demand encourages you going for different directions to standout more.

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i feel like the current theme is "if it is not balanced or all rounder, it is not that good" and any sort of different coloration is disencouraged, sure there are bad qualities (sibilance, muddy bass...etc) but still different coloration with good quality is not appreciated....ofc there are experimental brands like DUNU (ziigaat also, but ziigat experimentation isnt as wild), there is also ISN, PENON i believe thos are a lot more experimental but they arent encouraged as much....crinear is also experimenting but problem is a lot follows their footsteps so you end up with same tuning for like a year or two (get ready for next wave of refrence tuned sets)

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Im just hope experimentation would be encouraged more and that rating of IEMs would be more genre specific rather "all rounder good anything else meh" style of rating, bassheads somewhat already there, but we need more wild colorations with good quality

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Ive taken random iems from last years and highlighted the most different/wild of them