Kiwi Ears Altruva
The Kiwi Ears Altruva pairs meaty, organic bass with rich vocals, smooth treble and an agreeably spacious open-back presentation. Prime Audio Reviews highlights its composed imaging, separation and long-session comfort, while Tone Deaf Monk appreciates its lively punch and effortless drivability. A compelling, musical budget all-rounder.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
88/100
Comfort Fit
88/100
Build Quality
80/100
Features Usability
84/100
Value for Money
97/100
Pros
Meaty, organic bass delivers healthy sub-bass rumble, mid-bass punch and enough speed for fast-paced music.
Smooth, non-fatiguing treble and rich, articulate vocals make for an easy, musical listen.
Wide-for-the-price open-back staging, good instrument separation and precise imaging support both music and gaming.
Lightweight fit, relaxed clamp and easy-to-drive design suit long listening sessions from modest sources.
Cons
Its warm, mildly V-shaped tuning is not genuinely studio-neutral or reference-flat.
Treble prioritizes smoothness over maximum sparkle, air and analytical clarity.
Soundstage is competent rather than exceptional, with one reviewer finding it merely okay.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 88/100
Reviewers find the Altruva engaging and musical rather than strictly neutral, with a mildly warm, V-shaped balance, satisfying punch and a smooth presentation. Its strongest qualities are its organic bass, relaxed clarity and lively delivery; the chief trade-off is a treble balance aimed more at comfort than overt sparkle or analytical detail.
Bass
91/100
Prime Audio Reviews praises a meaty yet controlled low end with healthy sub-bass rumble, mid-bass punch and enough speed to keep up with fast music. Tone Deaf Monk likewise found the boosted mid-bass pleasing, while neither reviewer describes it as bloated or muddy.
Midrange
87/100
The midrange is described as slightly warm and mildly colored rather than studio-neutral. Prime Audio Reviews found male and female vocals clear, articulate, rich and velvety, while Tone Deaf Monk notes elevated upper mids that add energy to female vocals.
Treble
86/100
Treble is smooth, non-fatiguing and well matched to the bass and mids according to Prime Audio Reviews. Tone Deaf Monk hears some welcome sparkle, but the overall evidence suggests a forgiving top end rather than a particularly airy or highly incisive one.
Resolution Detail
89/100
Prime Audio Reviews calls overall resolution very good and reports good instrument separation. The mids are not said to have the ultimate degree of clarity, but the headphone remains composed and clear rather than veiled.
Soundstage Imaging
86/100
Prime Audio Reviews hears a reasonably wide open-back stage and particularly good image placement within it. Tone Deaf Monk is more reserved, calling the stage merely okay, so spaciousness appears competent rather than exceptional.
Dynamics
89/100
Tone Deaf Monk describes drums and transients as attacky, with hits that land nicely. Prime Audio Reviews adds that the Altruva stays together at louder levels and with fast-paced material instead of becoming congested.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Comfort Fit
88/100
Prime Audio Reviews found the lightweight design, relaxed clamp and self-adjusting headband exceptionally comfortable, including for five- to six-hour sessions. Tone Deaf Monk also liked the roomy pads and lack of pressure, though found it less comfortable over very long periods.
Build Quality
80/100
Prime Audio Reviews says the lightweight construction does not feel premium, but also does not feel cheap or flimsy. The supplied reviews say little about long-term durability, hinges or wear-component longevity.
Features Usability
84/100
The Altruva is easy to drive from ordinary sources and includes a 6.35 mm adapter for desktop equipment. Reviewers also note replaceable cable connectivity, although the reports differ on whether the earcup connectors are standard 3.5 mm or 2.5 mm.
Value for Money
97/100
At $69, Prime Audio Reviews calls the Altruva an absolute bargain and says it is the best open-back headphone they have heard below $100. Tone Deaf Monk similarly considers its roughly $63 sale price inexpensive for the supplied package.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Driver Unit
- 50mm Dynamic Driver
- Impedance
- 32 Ohm
- Sensitivity
- 98dB ± 3dB
- Frequency Response
- 20Hz – 40kHz
- Plug
- 3.5mm + 6.35mm adapter
- Cable Length
- 3m
Manufacturer's Description — Kiwi Ears
Studio-Grade Sound with Open-Back Precision
Engineered with a full-sized dynamic driver and open-back design, the Altruva delivers a studio-accurate sound with rich detail, balanced tonality, and breathtaking soundstage.
Studio-Grade Clarity and Balance
Custom-Built 50mm Dynamic Driver
Expansive Open-Back Soundstage
Premium Build with Audiophile Aesthetics
Clarity and Balance in Your Music
The Altruva delivers a studio monitor-inspired sound, with tight bass, accurate mids, and transparent treble for a professional-grade listening experience.
Full-Sized 50mm Dynamic Driver
The Altruva is powered by a custom-developed 50mm dynamic driver, delivering exceptional performance with enhanced precision and clarity.
Open-Back Design
The Altruva’s open-back design expands the soundstage and enhances imaging for a more immersive, lifelike listening experience.
Premium Design and Sound
Crafted with high-end materials, the Altruva combines luxurious aesthetics with audiophile-grade performance.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Kiwi Ears Altruva
- A1 Futureshop — online and in-store — North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia (website)
- ARK Audio — online and in-store — Borensberg, Östergötlands län, Sweden (website)
- Audio 46 — online and in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- AUDIOPHONICS — in-store — Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (website)
- B&H Photo — online and in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Bloom Audio — online and in-store — Gibbsboro, New Jersey, United States (website)
- Elise Audio — online and in-store — Paddington, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Headphone Zone — online and in-store — Laxmi Industrial Estate, Maharashtra, India (website)
- Hifi Passion — in-store — Neustadt, Bremen, Germany (website)
and 3 more verified dealers