Product provided by Kiwi Ears for the purposes of this post.
The Kiwi Ears Altruva headphones are just $70 and deliver solid construction and high comfort levels, which is welcomed at this low price point. They are available in two distinct colorways: a Gray version and a Wood Brown version.
Design and Connectivity
The Altruva headphones feature a beautiful overall design that is big enough for my ears! The wood-like finish, while admittedly plastic and not real wood, still looks very nice, but does feel like plastic. Aesthetically, the headphones are successful, featuring a cool grill on both sides and prominent Kiwi Ears branding. The design is enhanced by the visual contrast between the black elements, the faux wood, and the gunmetal gray screws, creating a cool, minimal look. I love this contrast.
For connectivity, the Altruva features large 50 mm drivers. Uncommonly, but excellent, is that the headphones utilize dedicated separate channels for the left and right sides, meaning there is a headphone jack on both the left and right earcups. Both the connections on the headphones and the corresponding connectors on the cables are clearly labeled.
The unit connects using a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack. It is designed for high-quality audio transfers and potentially for users like DJs or those who require digital monitoring. Reflecting this professional focus, the package includes a 6.35 mm jack adapter. The included cable is a thick braided cable that is 3 meters in length.
technical specifications
- Design: Open-Back
- Driver Unit: Custom 50mm Dynamic Driver (with Neodymium Magnets and PU+PEK composite diaphragm)
- Impedance: 32 omega
- Sensitivity: 98dB +- 3dB
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 40kHz
- Weight (Approximate): ~327g (with leather pads)
Comfort and Customization
Comfort is a major strength of the Altruva, which is hard to nail down for users of multiple sizes and tastes. A significant feature enhancing long-term comfort is the design of the headband:
- The headband utilizes elasticity.
- This elasticity prevents the top of the band from immediately resting against the comfortable head strap part.
- This design provides more room for the head, suggesting improved long-term wearability compared to other headphones, including some from Kiwi Ears.
Furthermore, Kiwi Ears includes extra “gimmies” in the box, allowing users to customize their fit:
- The earcups initially come with a leatherette material.
- Included in the box are replacement earcups made of a soft felt material.
- The ear holes are generally the same size, but the felt cups have a different thickness. If the leatherette pads feel slightly too tight, even with the headband’s elasticity, switching to the felt pads may provide a better fit.
Sound Impressions and Value
While I am not an audio expert and my focus is mainly on comfort and build quality, by comparison to other products, I do find the sound quality here to be good and worth the money.
Testing involved playing the game Monster Boy on Steam Deck. During testing, specific sound effects—including water effects, dialogue text sounds, sword swings, and jump sounds—were hitting me hard! I had to turn the volume down lower than usual to accommodate.
Considering the price point, the Kiwi Ears Altruva offers tremendous value. The MSRP is $70, but based on past trends for Kiwi Ears products, they may frequently go on sale, potentially dropping to $60 or even $55.