The Kiwi Ears Ardor is a $70 hybrid ANC noise-cancelling wireless headphone that features two dynamic drivers and built-in DAC/AMP and provides up to 140 hours of playback with fast charging support. In this review, I’ll be discussing the overall design, comfort and whether it’s a good hybrid headphone for your budget, despite its downgrades.
Let’s first start with the unboxing.
What’s in box?
So when you open the box you can get a hard carry case which looks greater with best quality material and then in the carry case you get the Kiwi Ears Ardor headphone, a 3.5mm cable for wired use, a USB Type-C to Type-C cable for charging the headphone, these cables quality is good feels premium and lastly a user manual.
Design, Build & Comfort
The Kiwi Ears Ardor features a sleek and minimalistic design with a dark gray matte finish that gives it a premium feel, despite its affordable price. The Build is lightweight plastic, and headband is also lightweight adjustable has a steel frame and is covered in soft, synthetic vegan leather for a comfortable fit.
A standout design element is the outer panels of the earcups, features subtle textured faux leather finish written Kiwi Ears logo on it. This detail adds a touch of elegance and visual interest. The headphones are also highly portable, with hinges made of black metal that allow the earcups to both swivel to lie flat and fold inwards, making them easy to store in the included hard-shell case.
The earcups are also made from synthetic leather and are filled with memory foam, providing a plush and comfortable seal around the ears. I have use them for a long time daily basis and it’s not feel uncomfortable use it’s lightweight and soft to your ears.
The design and build quality are good and feel premium, and most importantly, the headphones are super lightweight. However, that’s not all that’s good about them. Let’s look at the control buttons and customization options.
Connectivty, Controls and Customization
It supports Bluetooth 5.4, which provides ultra-low latency and a signal range of up to 8-10 meters. It also supports dual-device connectivity, so you can connect it to your phone, tablet, or laptop. In my testing, it connected to my device instantly once I turned it on, and I haven’t faced any issues with connectivity.
On the right earcup of the Kiwi Ears Ardor, you’ll find a 3.5mm audio jack, the on/off button, and the volume control buttons, which you can also long-press to skip to the next or previous track. The left earcup houses the ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) button and the USB Type-C port for charging. These buttons are well-placed, provide a tactile feel, and are easy to use without looking.
However, there is a drawback. I searched the official Kiwi Ears website for a companion app to customize controls and sound profiles, but none is available. The lack of app support for any customizations feels like a significant disadvantage to me, especially since some other budget earbuds and headphones do offer app support to customize controls, EQ, and other settings.
Audio Quality and ANC
The Kiwi Ears ARDOR houses coaxial dynamic drivers (40mm + 10mm) and supports SBC and AAC audio codecs. It also has a built-in DAC/AMP chipset. As for the audio quality it provides, I found it has a natural midrange, powerful bass, and good treble, offering a balanced and natural sound. While the sound isn’t overly deep, the music and instrument separation works great, allowing you to pick out even the smallest details. The spatial audio capability is amazing; I got lost in my music with a lifelike 3D sound. At a price point of $70, it provides great sound quality.
The hybrid ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) utilizes a 5-microphone array and claims a 35dB noise reduction. I’ve tried the ANC, and it accurately eliminates about 95% of background noise, and the spatial audio provides a great listening session.
The audio quality is great, and the hybrid ANC works amazingly well. This is a top-notch quality you get for $70.
Related: Kiwi Ears AIROSO Review – Best Hybrid IEM
Battery Life
The Kiwi Ears Ardor comes with an 1100mAh battery and claims up to 140 hours of playback with ANC off and 70 hours with ANC on. I have been using the ARDOR for over two weeks, with about 15 hours of listening time with ANC off, and it still shows 90% battery life, which meets or exceeds Kiwi Ears’ claims. Regarding charging, it supports fast charging, where a 10-minute charge provides 8 hours of playback, a feature typically seen in higher-priced headphones. So, the battery performance is excellent; there is no question about it. Once I test it with ANC turned on, I will provide an update here.
Verdict – Final Thought
The Kiwi Ears Ardor headphone are an exceptional value at just $70. Offer a premium feel and lightweight comfort, perfect for long listening sessions. The sound quality is a major highlight, with a balanced and natural profile, impressive instrument separation, and amazing spatial audio. The hybrid ANC is a top-tier feature at this price, effectively blocking out most background noise.
The battery life is also outstanding, exceeding the company’s claims with an incredible 140 hours of playback and convenient fast charging. The only significant drawback is the lack of a companion app for EQ or control customization. However, if you can overlook this, the Kiwi Ears Ardor is an easy recommendation. It’s a fantastic choice that delivers high-end features and performance without the high-end price.