We get to see a lot of brands raise their heads every year but only a handful of them successfully leave their mark and Kiwi Ears is one of them. They are new to the scene but they feel a lot more seasoned. They don’t have heavyweight IEMs in the $1000+ range but their list of IEMs are interesting and cater to a wide range of consumers. I have heard a handful of their IEMs and liked most of them. KE4 is awesome, I loved the Melody too and the Canta is something I will recommend to anyone looking for a highly resolving V shaped IEMs. What I have here with me is a collaboration with Crinacle, priced at under $55 this IEM uses a few tuning tech from Kiwi Ears.
I am talking about the Singolo. It houses one 11mm Japanese LCP DD which has “Kiwi Acoustic Resonance System” to produce life like accuracy and clarity. Let’s find out what we are getting from this Crin collab IEM.
I will like to thank Kiwi Ears for this unit.
Get one from here:
UNBOXING AND ACCESSORIES:
Unboxing is straight forward, we have the IEM stuffed in foam while the cable and and a set of tips are placed under a paper cover under it. Strangely ir doesn’t even have an extra set of tips, leave alone the lack of carrying solutions.
I at times feel a bit baffled by the tricks of Kiwi Ears. Their Forteza comes with a carry case while the Singolo and Melody doesn’t which is and tough pill to swallow.
BUILD QUALITY & ERGONOMICS:
This is a good looking IEM with very good build quality. Made out of resin Singolo feels sturdy and solid to the hand. It’s not big either and can fit nearly any ear but it’s slightly wider, maybe because of the placement of KARS. Dropping it on hard surfaces will definitely incur damages. It doesn’t have a prominent custom like shell but has a minimal wing like structure on the inner shell which provides decent traction and grip inside the ear. Unlike most IEMs, it has a filled in shell yet feels lightweight. I didn’t like the short nozzle though. It isn’t deep enough and the stock ear tips do not help with stability either as the IEM keeps sliding out of my ear every now and then which is a bit annoying.
KARS looks interesting and is the only breathing vent on the IEM.
CABLE:
This stock cable looks nice and is low profile with a small Y splitter and 3.5mm jack too. The good thing is it complements the IEM aesthetically. It is average when it comes to behavior though. It’s not the soft type, feels a bit bouncy and has good amount of memory issues too.
Sound Quality:
If you came for plenty of bass because of its association with Crin, you will be disappointed. This isn’t a bassy IEM. If you are looking for a well balanced IEM, this is the right IEM for you. It’s 11mm DD paired with KARS has a nicely balanced output with very good vocals and very good clarity across the spectrum. It’s not the most consistent IEM but never goes beyond its natural characteristics either. I think it’s the KARS that reduces resonance and produces cleaner and more vivid sound which helps with its accuracy. This isn’t a bassy IEM but strikes a very good balance between warmth and brightness, at least till the upper mids. It has to be the most colorless IEM from Kiwi Ears as it barely has any unnatural thickness anywhere in the spectrum.
I am using stock tips and Hidizs S8 pro for this review.
Pairing with sources:
One thing to keep in mind is this IEM’s performance is dependent on the source too. I used it with my mobile phone and the output wasn’t upto the mark with bad consistency and unwanted lack of transparency which lead to hollow patches in the stage.
Using a decent source like the Hidizs S8 pro brings out better consistency and fills up the stage more evenly. Another benefit of a proper source is better treble clarity and finishing definition.
BASS:
Singolo has one of the cleanest bass notes with very good details and clarity but while doing that it doesn’t have the bassy feel to it. We get decent sub-bass extension with good rumbles while the mid bass is slightly more prominent with bigger area of impact and slightly fuller body. It doesn’t move much air though. Notes move into the head and upward, staying clear of any interference with the rest of the spectrum.
Decay is on the faster with side, it does let the notes precipitate but none of them are heavy by a good margin. We get very good texture and the definition of layered notes is superb. Its dynamics are one of the best under $100. It hits upper bass notes cleanly like a BA based IEM while maintaining the dynamics and weight behind them.
MIDs:
I am liking the cleanliness of this mid range. This is where the accuracy and precision of this DD IEM can be fully experienced. We get Etymotic like clarity and finishing definition from this IEM. It’s control is just exceptional. It easily holds back the body of the note while putting enough weight and air behind the notes. Vocals are delicious and delicate. Both male and female vocals have excellent texture and transparency while maintaining slightly more finishing definition and tall notes. Notes aren’t lean but they aren’t full or meaty, exhibiting excellent precision. It has very good separation between back and foreground instruments too. If you are looking for smoother and slightly meaty notes, opt for the Melody.
Instruments are similarly accurate but they don’t have the pop like the vocals as they don’t have the note height. There is no lack of resolution but finishing definition isn’t impressive. There are no unwanted peaks at the upper mids but they are a bit energetic. They have the bite but aren’t sharp.
HIGHS:
If you like a bit less energy at the highs, Singolo won’t disappoint. It isn’t sparkly or energetic but has the agility and cleanliness. If I have to compare, it’s slightly calmer than the V shaped Canta and a bit more defined and lively than the Melody. It has decent extension too though upper treble is on the darker side. It has good transparency up till the mid treble region, things loose proper definition from there on. Layering is very good while separation could have been better if they had a bit more air between them. In any case, notes are precise and have decent air between them.
STAGE AND IMAGING:
Stage has never been a problem with Kiwi Ears IEMs and the Singolo is no exception. We get a well expanded stage with good portion of it in the head while some vocals and instruments extend our. It has a well rounded stage with very good height and width. It’s not the outward projection but the imaging which is impressive. It’s layering and accuracy with cue placement is what makes it stand out. It has excellent definition at the floor too, which is rare ar this price. Yes, it doesn’t have the soft transient movements because of its faster decay which keeps the stage squeaky clean.
COMPARISON:
VS Melody: (12mm Planar)
CONCLUSION:
This is a good IEM but has a bit of problem with its Collab. Crin is known for its bass prowess but this is far from bassy. This is a more technically tuned IEM with focus on details and clarity. I like this clean and resolving presentation, it keeps mea seated because of its excellent resolution and note height but for those who are looking for more bass, get the Quartet.
