In this video I share my full review of the Kiwi Ears Cadenza II, the “successor” to the original Cadenza (which I actually never tried). But honestly, it doesn’t matter much here—the Cadenza 2 is in a different price bracket, has a different tuning, and even looks completely different. At $50, you’re getting a titanium-coated PET dynamic driver in a polycarbonate shell with an aluminum faceplate, and the finish feels like that soft-touch coating you see on computer mice. The packaging is super simple: tips, a copper cable, and paperwork. Sound-wise, I tested it mostly on my DX260 MK2 and my MacBook Pro, and it’s not hard to drive. The big takeaway is that the Cadenza 2 is unusually mature and well-balanced for a budget set—more neutral than the typical deep V-shaped tuning you see around this price. It follows an IEF-style tuning with about an 8 dB bass shelf that cuts off early for midrange clarity, and the midrange ends up being my favorite part: natural, realistic, and clean across genres. I also compare it to the Ziigaat Arete 2 and the Wyvern Black Remaster. The Cadenza 2 comes off like a “poor man’s Arete 2” tonally, but it does give up bass depth and some treble resolution on busier tracks. At $50, the question becomes: is it too much? If you prioritize tonal balance and an all-rounder tuning over fancy accessories, I still think it’s a really easy recommendation.