In this video I tested the Kiwi Ears x Z Reviews Serene, which is a pretty unique headphone right now: a closed-back planar magnetic for under $200 (around $160). I went over the build, comfort, and the usual planar “crinkle” you can hear when the ear cups seal and you push them in—something that’s common on closed-back planars (I’ve heard it on the Audeze Maxwell too). Fit-wise, the Serene is lightweight and adjustable, but I did find the pads a bit small and tight for my ears, so that’s something to watch if you have larger ears. Sound-wise, the Serene is clean and detailed in that planar-driver way—fast, precise, and clear—but the tuning is very consumer-leaning. It has a lot of mid-bass, less sub-bass than I’d personally like, and a V-shaped presentation where vocals sit back a bit. The treble is kind of “dark but bright at the very highest highs,” which can make female vocals feel muted until the upper treble pops back in. I also gamed on it and was honestly surprised: even without angled pads/drivers, imaging was solid and positional cues were easy to place, though soundstage is still closed-back intimate. In the end, I think the Serene is a special budget closed-back planar option, but if you want a more normal/neutral studio-type sound at this price, I’d still lean Kiwi Ears Aventus (or the Fiio FT1 for a more natural dynamic-driver pick).