Kiwi Ears has made a good name for itself with high-quality IEMs, but in recent months it has transferred its expertise to the studio headphones or over-ear headphones market with a particular emphasis on the ANC headphones market by launching the amazing Kiwi Ears Ardor.
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Priced at around $99, the Ardor is positioned to compete with other pragmatically priced, pure audiophile ANC headphones in the sub-$200 range, like the Sennheiser Accentum Series, by focusing on great sound quality right out of the box rather than the typical “bloated” bass that most ANC headphones provide. With a dual-driver configuration, it looks like Kiwi Ears is bringing some of that IEM knowledge to this class of product.
Kiwi Ears Ardor Audiophile Bluetooth Headphones Dual-Driver Hybrid ANC Noise Cancelling Headphones
Unboxing
So, after spending a few weeks with the Ardor, using them both indoors but mostly in various noisy environments, walking around the busy city, at home while writing the reviews but also on the road as a commuter for a few days in Turin, using the crowded train, I can give you my honest opinion, but before talking about the sound quality, let's start with the unboxing experience that immediately gives a positive feeling, thanks to a clean package and a pleasant surprise.
In fact, opening the package we find an excellent carrying case, made of a jersey fabric, very pleasant to the touch but above all well padded to protect the contents, namely the Kiwi Ears Ardor, a USB-C charging cable, a 3,5 mm audio cable (for wired listening) and manuals.
Design and Comfort
One of the most notable aspects of the Kiwi Ears Ardor is their comfort, which is not always the case for this type of headphone. The Ardor’s noticeably large earcups provide a more spacious fit, making them an excellent choice for long listening sessions. The headband is also well-padded, contributing to the product’s excellent fit, and the overall weight distribution ensures a gentle yet secure clamping force.
As already mentioned, we can use the headphones both in wired mode and via Bluetooth connection, being able to manage the various commands with physical controls that we find on the right driver and specifically the volume control buttons and the power button that also controls the play/pause of the music track. Instead, the ANC mode button is found alone on the left pavilion, a clever position as it avoids confusing it with other buttons. We do not have touch controls but only physical ones, but it does not find a real absence that instead would have only contributed to raising the price without a real benefit.
What I found to be a real shortcoming is the lack of a companion app, which means that the sound adjustments are limited to what is factory preset, without the possibility of adjusting, for example, the ANC levels that have now become common in ANC headphones. However, we will see later that even this aspect is not actually a defect, considering that the brand has developed the headphones well outside the box to compensate for this limitation.
The product features a dual coaxial driver configuration, a rare feature in this price range. Unlike most ANC headphones that rely on a single driver, the Ardor combines a 40mm driver for deep bass and mids plus a dedicated 10mm driver to enhance treble clarity and soundstage width, a configuration that is very typical for in-ear monitors and a welcome innovation on this type of headphones.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
The Kiwi Ears Ardor features a custom hybrid ANC system with a 5-microphone array that can reduce ambient noise by up to 35dB for a seamless listening experience, especially in low-frequency noise cancellation. But again, the lack of a companion app means there’s no way to adjust ANC levels for different conditions like wind, which some cheaper ANC headphones do. Still, for a sub-$100 ANC headphone, the noise cancellation is impressive and makes a significant difference in blocking out everyday noise.
Exceptional battery life
In terms of playback on a single charge, these headphones offer up to 140 hours of playback with ANC off and 72 hours with ANC on, making them one of the longest-lasting ANC headphones at any price point. A quick 10-minute charge provides 8 hours of playback, making them perfect for users on the go. I personally used the Ardor mostly with ANC on, but I never felt the need to charge the Ardor, even after a few days of use.
Kiwi Ears Ardor Audiophile Bluetooth Headphones Dual-Driver Hybrid ANC Noise Cancelling Headphones
Wireless and wired support
For those who prefer wired listening, the Ardor support playback via jack that uses an integrated DAC / AMP chipset, allowing high-resolution music playback on Apple, Android and Windows devices but also old MP3 players or stereos, increasing the versatility of the product. Alternatively you can count on a Bluetooth 5.3 module with low latency and excellent connection stability to the device.
Basically, the tuning is clearly aimed at audiophiles who prefer natural tones and clarity rather than excessive bass enhancements, which however are well calibrated and incisive, I would say refined. The mids are excellent, natural and full-bodied, making voices and instruments clear and realistic. Whether listening to acoustic music, voices or orchestral pieces, the mids remain coherent and detailed. Only the highs, with some tracks, in my case were sometimes a little sibilant but overall I would define them airy and detailed. Surely an accompanying app would have allowed an adjustment of the EQ but this is not there so the most demanding users will have to rely on external EQ solutions.
Comfort
Despite weighing about 260 grams, the Kiwi Ears Ardor fit perfectly on any head, thanks to the well-made adjustable headband with metal reinforcement. They also do not cause any discomfort even if you wear headphones and have glasses or sunglasses, even those with thick frames.
Kiwi Ears Ardor Audiophile Bluetooth Headphones Dual-Driver Hybrid ANC Noise Cancelling Headphones
Price and conclusions
I would give the Kiwi Ears Ardor a rating of at least 9 out of 10 stars because they offer excellent sound quality, more than decent ANC, and exceptional comfort at an affordable price. The lack of a companion app for updates, ANC configuration, and to provide a specific basic equalization does not lead me to give them full marks, but these are just “reviewer” whims, but at this price you will not find better.
