Kiwi Ears - Orchestra II

My Kiwi Orchestra IIs should be in here as well, but again, the sealed design can lead to some comfort issues and you’ll want to play around with eartip selection. I went with Tangzu Sancai Wide Bore, if you’re curious.

Have been using these for about 6 weeks now, and the comfort issues may be starting to get to me. Gonna need to try out more ear tips in the near future to get a more consistent seal in one ear.

I don’t even know what tips I currently use. They were a custom in-house eartip at a store in Hong Kong. They physically resemble the SpinFits and Noble, but have a dark grey color. They provided me with two types (same size, M): green tube for bass boost and blue tube for balance. I use the blue with the Orchestra IIs and with my old 1More Quads as well.

Quick follow-up after having tried out Dunu S&S, Tangzu Sancai Noble, and Tangzu Sancai Wide Bore. All three had better fit and seal from both stock warps and the unknown tips I’ve been using. Unfortunately, the Dunu tips really made the already V-shaped curve even more V-shaped. Both Tangzu tips sounded better, but the Sancai Noble gave low frequencies a strange reverb; like turbo-lag in a car engine, if you know what I mean. The Sancai Wide Bore really just better allows the Orchestra II to shine.

yip. Comfort is a common issue for every review of this iem.

I won a pair of kiwi ears orchestra 2 and I would describe them as natural sounding. Symbols are slightly wonky, but otherwise they’re amongst the most natural sounding iems I’ve heard.

I struggled so much to get a proper seal for these. None of the tips I use regularly worked. I ordered a full size box of Dunu S&S and a full size box of Divinus Velvet, tried each of them and realized that I needed the largest size from these sets to get Orchestra II to work, and I usually use MS or M. Comfort is still an issue for me, I can't listen to them for longer sessions. Not necessarily due to the pressure, more likely due to the size and shape. But I love the sound and they definitely have a place in my collection.

I'm surprised that I like the fact they are unvented. Great isolation and seal. 

Thank you, I will. I hope orchestra 2 will be as good when they arrive.

Hi. I've been using the orchestra 2 for one week now and they are amazing. Considering I've had the performer 7, I would recommend the orchestra 2 as a blind buy. Insane iem

Hello all! I'm back with another review, this time of the Kiwi Ears Orchestra II. This one has sat in queue for quite a while. I'm glad to get it published, however, as this IEM represents a very compelling value in the sub-$350 range. For those interested in my full review, unboxing, and comparisons, you can find it here: [https://resonancereviews.com/kiwi-ears-orchestra-ii-review-back-for-round-two-48f2fae0c88e](https://resonancereviews.com/kiwi-ears-orchestra-ii-review-back-for-round-two-48f2fae0c88e) For those interested in just the highlights, here's a greatly-condensed version: Kiwi Ears is a popular Chinese audiophile brand. They’ve been operating in the space for years now and have since released a broad selection of IEMs. Perhaps their most popular IEM, the Orchestra Lite, made waves on release for its impressive price-to-performance ratio and excellent physical design. Kiwi Ears has returned to the Orchestra lineup and brought us an iteration on the full-fat, original Orchestra: the Orchestra II. This IEM promises to address some of the criticisms of the original model while giving it a performance boost. But an incremental release is just that — incremental. Did Kiwi Ears do enough to make the Orchestra II a proper competitor in 2026? Let’s get into it. [You can find the Orchestra II for sale on Linsoul for $349](https://www.linsoul.com/products/kiwi-ears-orchestra-ii?variant=47683776217305&sca_ref=7082564.NgMGyECXx7). **About My Preferences:** This review is a subjective assessment and is therefore tinged by my personal preferences. While I try to mitigate this as much as possible during my review process, I’d be lying if I said my biases are completely erased. So for you, my readers, keep this in mind: * My ideal sound signature would be one with competent sub-bass, a textured mid-bass, a slightly warm midrange, and an extended treble. * I have mild treble sensitivity. Testing equipment and standards can be found [here](https://resonancereviews.com/resonance-reviews-iem-headphone-source-list-589738303539). # The Big Picture ***Pros:*** * Excellent passive isolation * Potent, full-spectrum resolution * Balanced sound signature * Proper bass response * Impressive price-to-performance ratio * Beautiful and comfortable cable * Strong accessory package ***Cons:*** * Unventilated shells create pressure in ear * High-friction cable coating gets it caught on itself while walking * High sensitivity is unforgiving for roughly-mastered tracks * Picky with sources * Cable lacks affirmative modular locking mechanism * No nozzle debris filter # Tech Specs * Drivers: 10x balanced-armature * Impedance: 15 Ohms * Sensitivity: 110dB SPL/mW * Cable: 0.78mm 2-pin w/ modular (3.5mm, 4.4mm) # Sound The Orchestra II has a broadly-appealing mid-centric sound signature. It features a lifted sub-bass, a mildly less-emphasized mid-bass, a clean, minimally-warm lower-midrange. The Orchestra II’s upper-mids are lifted above its lower-mids and peak around 2–3KHz. The Orchestra II maintains its predecessors’ signature “airy” treble presentation without leaning too heavily on brightness, extending its treble out to 18KHz+ with a fair degree of linearity. The Orchestra II utilizes a few spikes at key points in the upper register, adding energy to the 8, 12, and 15KHz regions. This allows the Orchestra II to generate a sense of “sparkle” and air without lifting the entire upper-treble. # Comfort *Comfort is a metric that relies heavily on factors influenced by your individual ear anatomy. Mileage will vary.* Orchestra Lite owners will understand that this style of IEM is prone to creating abnormally-strong inner-ear seals, and consequently, pressure in the inner ear. Many folks online have claimed to solve the issue with exotic eartips or modifications, but I believe that buyers of an IEM are entitled to comfort out-of-the-box. The Orchestra II shares in the same challenges as its older siblings, creating noticeable pressure in my ears after about an hour-and-a-half of constant listening. Removing the IEM from my ear for about 5 minutes buys me another 90 minutes of relative comfort. The stock eartips are higher-quality than usual for Kiwi Ears, which is nice. They’re comfortable and well-made, and I had no problem finding a pair that worked for me. # Conclusion The Orchestra II sets the stage for 2026’s audiophile scene beautifully. Impressive passive isolation, price-defying levels of technical performance, and an expertly tuned sound signature make for compelling IEM. That said, Kiwi Ears has yet to work out a good way to side-step the Orchestra lineup’s notorious ear-pressure issues. That, combined with its cable’s above-average level of surface friction and cumbersome modular cable housing make for an incredible sonic experience with questionable ergonomics. # Who This is For * Listeners that want a balanced sound signature * Buyers seeking the best performance-per-dollar * Balanced-armature enthusiasts that demand real bass * Audiophiles that want a one-and-done blend of critical and casual listening # Who This isn’t For * Those sensitive to pressure buildup * Bassheads * Listeners seeking a traditional V-shaped sound signature * Those with small/narrow ears As always, happy listening!

It's just what happens when you don't account for back-pressure. A shame, considering how good this IEM actually sounds.

Try an EQ before buying anything else. I'm using a Kiwiears Orchestra with a huge bass EQ shelf and it sounds great without being muddy.

(noble iems arent good) and kiwi ears is insane value their wooden ciems are the best looking iems out there though

Moondrop kato, i had it, its V shape sound with a great bass sound. Kiwi, and KZ iems are great too However there’s many options at this price range,

I've had multiple iems, but the one I've stuck to for a while now is the kiwi ears. They have a really nice eq and they are decently cheap, I actually bought my second pair recently after using my first pair for over 2 years. I put the moondrop spring tips on them and they are the comfiest ear buds i have ever used. I use those tips on all my earbuds now they are so good.