This product was provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of this review and the embedded video.
The Kiwi Ears Division enters the market as one of the most affordable sets of Kiwi Ears headphones available, coming in at $50. Positioned primarily for DJing and monitoring, this wired headset offers a straightforward, value-focused experience. They can be used for general entertainment as well, which is my primary use case.
Design, Build, and Comfort
Upon unboxing, the Division is pleasantly lightweight, attributed to its mostly plastic materials. In a world where so many tech products are black (headphones, microphones, mice, etc), I’m happy to see something different.
The design is practical for transport and use, featuring earcups that collapse on either side and rotate a little bit (though not fully). The comfort features include memory foam that feels good and rebounds nicely, making me feel confident they’ll last a long time. Despite being very light, the headphones are still quite large, capable of covering large ears for some passive noise canceling. They are also adjustable, with the band expandable to provide about a half-inch of clearance when fully extended.
The Kiwi Ears branding is visible on the sides. And I think that looks great against the rare color scheme of beige and silver.
Specifications and Connectivity
The Division is strictly a wired device. Key technical specifications include a 40 mm dynamic driver from Kiwi Ears and an impedance of 32 ohms. Here is a complete spec list:
Based on the sources, here are the technical specifications and key hardware details for the Kiwi Ears Division headphones:
- Impedance: 32 ohms
- Driver: 40 mm dynamic driver from Kiwi Ears
- Connectivity: Wired
- Connector: 3.5 millimeter jack
- Cable Length: 3 m
- Design/Build: Primarily plastic build (helps keep the weight light)
- Battery: No battery built into the device
- Wireless: No Bluetooth
- Lighting: No RGB lighting
- Intended Use: For DJing and headphones monitoring
As a wired monitor, the Division utilizes a 3.5 mm jack and includes a standard 3.5 mm adapter. The cable length is three meters, and the cord itself is constructed to be less likely to tangle, getting nice and tight when not in use. Because it is strictly meant to be plugged in, the device lacks Bluetooth, built-in battery, and RGB lighting. The lack of which keeps the weight down.
Audio Performance and Use Cases
The Division performs well across different applications, particularly gaming, which is not its intended use case. But they sound so good when plugged directly into my handhelds. I found the audio range to be pretty good, with sharp and dull sounds coming through, such as high-pitched laser noises, impacts that change depending on the target, character noises, and sharp, high-pitched sounds from hitting objects like lights.
When listening to music (specifically music videos on YouTube), the performance was also good, with noticeable base quality. However, for certain genres like grunge, I was satisfied but not blown away.
Conclusion
Considering the $50 price point (closer to $40 when on sale!), the Kiwi Ears Division is a good value. It serves its purpose as an affordable, light, and comfortable wired monitoring headset suitable for its intended use cases, including DJing and mixed entertainment.