The Kiwi Ears Altruva is a new contender in the open-back headphone space, featuring a custom-built 50mm dynamic driver and a 3.5mm wired connection. It’s promise of studio-grade clarity and a wide soundstage, these headphones aim to deliver a high-fidelity experience. I’ve been using them for the past week and in this review, I’ll share my detailed experience and my thoughts on their overall sound quality.
What’s in the Box?
Inside Kiwi Ears Altruva box you’ll find:
- The Altruva headphones
- An extra pair of earcups
- A 3-meter 3.5mm cable with a 6.35mm adapter
- A user manual
That’s all the items I received. On the Kiwi Ears product page, a case is mentioned, which I did not receive. This was a minor disappointment, as a case would have been a great addition for protection.
Design and Comfort
The Kiwi Ears Altruva headphones offer a surprisingly premium build quality for their price point. The construction features durable PVD-coated stainless steel, which provides a sleek, modern finish and feels incredibly solid. As an open-back design, the Altruva showcases a prominent metal mesh on the exterior of the earcups. The earcup housing itself is simple and clean, with the Kiwi Ears logo discreetly placed on a vertical plate just above each cup.
One of the standout features is the suspension headband system, which contributes significantly to the universal, custom-like fit. This consists of two parts: a fixed structural arch (the outer dual-wire band) and a flexible suspension strap (the inner, padded band). The fixed arch provides the headphone’s structural integrity and maintains the clamping force, while the soft, vegan-leather padded strap automatically adjusts to rest perfectly on the crown of your head.
After using the Altruva for hours, I found the comfort to be exceptional. The large earcups fully encompass my ears without applying any pressure, and the soft padding provides a zero-weight feel. The suspension headband is a major reason for this comfort, as it distributes the headphone’s weight evenly, preventing any pressure points or discomfort, even during extended listening sessions. They genuinely feel super light, and I experienced no fatigue or headaches, which is a testament to the thoughtful ergonomic design.
While the design and comfort are top-tier, one notable omission is the lack of any on-board controls. There are no buttons to control music playback, skip tracks, or adjust volume. This means every music change or pause must be done directly on your connected device. For a long listening session, this might be a minor inconvenience. However, for a serious audiophile focused on sound and comfort at a budget price, the Altruva’s premium build, elegant design, and superb ergonomics make it an outstanding choice.
Sound Quality
As for the sound quality, the Altruva is powered by a custom 50mm dynamic driver, which provides a sensitivity of 98dB ± 3dB and a frequency response of 20Hz – 40kHz. In my testing, I put the Altruva through its paces with a variety of genres, including country, jazz, pop, and classical music. Across all these sound profiles, the audio quality was consistently top-notch.
The Altruva delivers crystal-clear sounds with excellent detail. I found that you can clearly discern every instrument, and the instrument separation works perfectly, creating a wide and well-defined soundstage. Even at high volumes, I experienced no jitter or lagging in the audio there was absolutely zero distortion.
The bass is impressive, providing a good balance of both high and low-end frequencies without sounding muddy or overpowering. For the price, the sound quality is a major highlight. If you’re an audiophile on a budget, I can confidently say this is one of the best headphones you can buy.
3.5mm and 6.35mm adapter
Being a wired headphone, the Altruva connects via a standard 3.5mm audio jack, allowing you to easily plug it into your smartphone, laptop, or PC for excellent sound quality. The inclusion of a 6.35mm adapter is a thoughtful addition, enabling you to connect the headphones to high-end audio equipment, such as a studio mixing board or a dedicated amplifier.
Final Thought
The Kiwi Ears Altruva headphones are, without a doubt, a remarkable entry into the budget audiophile space. For a price point of around $62, they defy expectations by delivering a level of craftsmanship and audio fidelity typically reserved for much more expensive headphones. The build quality is outstanding, feeling robust and durable thanks to the PVD-coated stainless steel, while the grey accents provide a clean and sophisticated aesthetic.
Where the Altruva truly excels is in comfort and sound quality. The self-adjusting suspension headband and plush, encompassing earcups make them an absolute dream to wear for hours on end, proving that excellent ergonomics are not a luxury feature. Sonically, the custom 50mm dynamic driver provides a clear, balanced, and expansive sound. The instrument separation is impeccable, and the audio remains distortion-free even at high volumes. While the lack of on-board controls is a minor inconvenience, it’s a forgivable omission when you consider the sheer value packed into this product.
Ultimately, the Altruva is the perfect headphone for the budget-conscious audiophile, a music enthusiast, or a critical listener who values a fantastic listening experience over wireless convenience and flashy features.
