I get to test a lot of audio gear, and it’s not every day that a $50 pair of headphones makes me stop and really listen. Having reviewed a good number of their headphones, I’ve come to expect a certain level of quality from the Kiwi Ears Division. Now that it’s been out for around nine months, I figured it was the perfect time to dive.
They’re positioning it as a studio monitor, but after spending a solid week with them plugged into everything I own, I’m convinced they’re something much more interesting. For them to aim for a balanced, professional sound at this price is a bold move. I’ve used them for my daily music listening, for editing videos, and even for some late-night gaming sessions to see if they can truly deliver.
What I discovered is a headphone that confidently carves out its own identity. It might not be the flat, analytical tool for a sound engineer, but it offers a genuinely enjoyable experience that’s hard to find in this price bracket. It’s a product that feels like it understands what most people actually want from an affordable, everyday headphone: comfort, durability, and a sound that makes you want to tap your feet.
Design & Build Quality
Right out of the box, the Kiwi Ears Division presents a very familiar, no-frills aesthetic that immediately brings to mind classic studio headphones from brands like Audio-Technica or Sony. The build is predominantly plastic, but it feels sturdy enough for daily use. A pleasant surprise was discovering the earcups are made of aluminum, which adds a touch of class and durability that you just don’t expect to see on a sub-$50 headphone. This small detail elevates the feel, making them seem more premium than their price tag suggests. They are incredibly lightweight, a feature that proved to be a massive advantage for long-term comfort.
I wore these for hours on end during workdays and never once felt the need to take them off due to fatigue or discomfort. The clamping force strikes a perfect balance—it’s gentle enough to avoid pressure points, yet secure enough that the headphones don’t shift around when you move your head.
The earpads are covered in a soft protein leather and are reasonably plush, though they aren’t particularly deep. If you have larger ears, you might find them touching the inner driver grill, which could be a minor annoyance for some. One of my only long-term concerns lies with the plastic folding hinge. While it’s a fantastic feature for portability, I’ve seen similar designs fail over time with repeated use, so they should probably be handled with a bit of care.
In the box, you get two detachable cables—another great feature for this price—a long, coiled one that’s perfect for a desktop setup, and a shorter, straight one with an inline microphone for taking calls on the go.
Drivability & Usability
One of the best things about the Kiwi Ears Division is its sheer simplicity in use. You don’t need any special equipment to make them sound good. I plugged them straight into my PC headphone jack. They performed admirably across the board, getting plenty loud without any hint of struggle or distortion. This makes them incredibly versatile and accessible for anyone, regardless of their audio setup. The single-entry 3.5mm cable plugs securely into the left earcup, keeping things tidy and out of the way.
The inclusion of that second cable with a microphone is a thoughtful touch that adds significant value. It quickly transforms the Division from a listening headphone into a practical headset for phone calls or online meetings. In my tests, the microphone quality was perfectly clear for conversations.
Paired with its closed-back design, which provides a decent amount of passive noise isolation, these headphones are surprisingly capable companions for commuting or working in a moderately noisy environment. They effectively mute the low hum of an air conditioner or the chatter of a coffee shop, letting you focus on your music or your call.
Sound Experience
This is where my experience with the Kiwi Ears Division really gets interesting. Kiwi Ears markets these as “balanced” headphones suitable for studio work, but from my perspective, they are anything but neutral—and that’s actually a good thing.
These headphones have a very generous and powerful bass response that proudly defines their sound signature. The sub-bass digs deep, delivering a satisfying physical rumble that makes genres like hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music incredibly fun and addictive. Tracks with heavy 808s have a tangible power and impact that you can feel, not just hear. The mid-bass follows with a clean punch that gives drums and basslines a solid foundation without bleeding messily into the midrange, which keeps the overall sound from becoming muddy.
The mids, however, are a bit of a mixed bag. While vocals and core instruments come through with decent clarity and body, they can sometimes sound a little veiled or recessed, especially on more delicate acoustic or folk tracks. The headphones seem to struggle with retrieving the finest micro-details in these genres; the pluck of a guitar string or the texture in a singer’s voice can feel a bit smoothed over and lack the crispness I’ve heard in some of Kiwi Ears‘ other products.
The treble performance is very safe and intentionally non-fatiguing. It rolls off before it can ever sound harsh or sibilant, which means you can listen for hours on end without your ears getting tired. The trade-off is that you miss out on some of that top-end sparkle and air that can make cymbals shimmer and vocals soar.
The soundstage isn’t massive, as you’d expect from an affordable closed-back, but it offers nice layering and separation that prevents the music from feeling congested. One of its hidden strengths is how well it responds to EQ. With just a few tweaks—pulling down the sub-bass a notch and boosting the upper-mids a little—you can really open up the sound and bring out a lot more clarity.
Value and Final Thoughts
At just under $50, the value proposition of the Kiwi Ears Division is incredibly strong. There’s a real shortage of good, affordable closed-back headphones designed for everyday audio enthusiasts. When compared to a longtime studio staple like the Sony MDR-7506, which costs nearly twice as much, the Division reveals its true character. The Sony is a more durable and analytical tool, but from my perspective, the Division is a far more enjoyable headphone for casual, everyday music listening. It offers a combination of a durable build, exceptional comfort, and a sound signature that is just plain fun, especially for modern genres.
It might not be the accurate studio monitor it claims to be, but what it actually is—a comfortable, energetic, and bass-forward headphone—makes it a fantastic buy. It’s a product that doesn’t demand a lot from you in terms of gear or money but gives back a surprisingly engaging and satisfying performance in return.
For the price, the Kiwi Ears Division really delivers a compelling package. It’s not perfect, but its strengths in comfort and its fun-loving sound make it a standout choice. Would this be your next daily driver?
