Kiwi Ears has been releasing hit after hit since their debut on the market a couple of years ago. Today, I review the brand’s second over-ear headphones, the Kiwi Ears Ellipse. The Ellipse is a semi-open back headphone featuring a 50mm dynamic driver. It’s priced at 75 USD.
Disclaimer: This sample was provided by Kiwi Ears for an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own, based on my experience with the product.
Kiwi Ears Ellipse
Table of Contents
Specifications
Driver Unit: 50mm
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 98dB ± 3dB
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
Plug: 3.5mm + 6.35mm adapter
Cable Length: 3m
Net Weight: 0.28kg
Weight with Packaging: 0.6kg
Inside the Box
- 1x Kiwi Ears Ellipse
- 1x Headphone Cable
- 1x User Manual
- 1x 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter
Design
The Ellipse features semi-open back earcups with an aluminium grille, which brings to mind the Beyerdynamic DT series, particularly in the design of the metal yokes and headband. I can’t say at this stage how well the vegan leather on the headband will endure but only time will tell (and you can’t expect too much at this price).
The earpads have a large 10.5cm diameter, so they’re great for people with larger ears. Furthermore, the padding on the earpads is plush and soft. Combined with the generously padded headband and a relatively light clamping force, they make the Ellipse extremely comfortable to wear, even during very long sessions.
The earcups swivel about 10 degrees but offer a good pivot range, allowing them to adjust naturally to the shape of your head. Overall, the Ellipse is one of the most comfortable headphones in my collection.
The Ellipse comes with a 3-meter fabric-sheathed cable; longer than typical consumer headphones but common for studio monitors, which the marketing suggests these are. The connectors are standard 3.5mm, with a 3.5mm termination and a 6.35mm adapter included. The cable handles well, and given the budget price of these headphones, I’m impressed by its quality.
Sound
Gear used for testing includes the iFi ZEN DAC 3 and ZEN CAN 3, the FiiO KA17 and the HiBy R6 III 2025. The Kiwi Ears Ellipse is highly efficient, making it very easy to drive.
The marketing for the Ellipse suggests that these headphones are “meticulously tuned to achieve a balanced and natural sound”, and I’d say that description is pretty spot on. These are probably the closest to neutral headphones that I’ve heard for less than a hundred dollars (along with the OneOdio Monitor 80).
Ellipse leans slightly towards the warmer side of neutral, with a touch of coloration that adds some musicality. While the soundstage isn’t particularly wide for an open-back headphone, the Ellipse offers excellent note density and is free from any chambered sound effects caused by internal reflections.
Bass
The Ellipse focuses on mid-bass, providing punch and impact without overwhelming the mids, as the boost is only slightly above neutral. The sub-bass offers some rumble but remains fairly restrained in quantity. While it won’t satisfy bassheads seeking intense, skull-shaking bass, it delivers a satisfying and engaging low end overall. Additionally, the bass quality is suitable for studio use, as it remains relatively close to neutral.
Midrange
The Ellipse’s lower midrange is slightly coloured and enriched but doesn’t sound muddy. It’s neither overly boosted nor recessed in the upper mids – that is to say the upper mids are fairly neutral. Thanks to the near-neutral bass and treble, the mids have plenty of space to shine and come forward in the mix.
There’s a satisfying richness and saturation in both midrange instruments and vocals, but the note size remains balanced, avoiding both bloat and shoutiness. It offers an accurate, natural representation of the recording. While it may not match the accuracy of higher-end studio monitors, this is as good as it gets at this price.
Treble
The treble is what I call a relaxed tuning. It’s crisp and has a fairly accurate timbre but there’s not much in the way of sparkle. This is often the case with studio monitors because they’re designed with prolonged listening sessions in mind. However, despite the laid-back nature of the treble, the Ellipse does a good job with detail retrieval, even better than many headphones that are double the price.
Comparison
FiiO JT1
JT1 is a closed back headphone whereas the Ellipse is semi-open. Both the JT1 and Ellipse have a 50mm dynamic driver. The FiiO JT1 headphones deliver greater sub-bass impact compared to the Kiwi Ears Ellipse, making them a better choice for those who prefer a stronger low-end presence. However, the JT1 places vocals further back in the mix, resulting in a more recessed presentation, while the Ellipse offers more forward and engaging vocals. The JT1 also has a more distant stage position. It also has a more subdued treble, giving it a smoother, less bright tonality compared to the Ellipse.
In terms of build quality, both models are solid for their price points, though the Ellipse edges out in comfort, making it more suitable for long listening sessions. The JT1, on the other hand, has a more premium-feeling cable.
Verdict
The Kiwi Ears Ellipse offers fantastic value for its price, combining a near-neutral sound signature with impressive clarity and balance. The mids are especially well-tuned, while the mid-bass is punchy without being overpowering. Comfortable for long listening sessions, the Ellipse is an affordable, well-rounded pair of headphones perfect for enjoying music or as a budget studio monitor. For the price, it’s hard to find a better mix of performance, comfort, and value.