A warm tuning to help get you through the winter

The Kiwi Ears Belle is a new 10mm DLC dynamic driver IEM that aims to deliver a warm, easygoing sound with a gentle lift around vocal region. It comes in black or silver, can be bought with an optional mic or USB‑C cable for a few dollars more, and costs just $29.99. For the money, the shell feels well-made, the accessory spread is generous, and the included cable is usable—though it can pick up a bit of touch noise.

marketing.jpg

I would like to thank Kiwi Ears for providing the Belle for the purposes of this review.

If you are interested in finding more information about this product, you can find it at product page link

So, having listened to the Belle for a while, there are many things to like, especially its price-to-performance and friendly tonality. Though I imagine some people will find it a little boring.

But I feel the Belle is a decent bargain considering the quality of the shell build, the multiple eartips, and a decent (if slightly microphonic) cable. If you like a warmer balance with relaxed upper high notes and a forward presence for voices, this could be a handy addition to your collection, especially at the price of $29.99

To see whether it suits your taste, read on. But first let’s check out the unboxing:

Unboxing and Build Quality

The Belle keeps things simple and tidy in the box, with everything laid out clearly.

Here’s the front of the box: box.jpg

Here’s the back of the box: backbox.jpeg

Here’s the side of the box with specifications: sidebox-with-specifications.jpeg

Opening everything up: openbox.jpeg

Sliding out the tray shows the earpieces clearly: iem-shell-visible-in-packaging.jpeg

All the included items laid out: boxcontents.jpeg

The manual includes a wearing diagram - my guess would be Kiwi Ears feels this might be a great first IEM for people: manual-with-wearing-diagram.jpeg

The 2 sets of eartips have a slightly different shape, one more rounded: eartips-very-similar.jpeg

But I picked the black ones for my listening impressions: iem-eartips.jpeg

Shell and Cable

The shell has an understated look, but it is well-made for this price range: iem-shell-simple.jpeg

The cable is light but a little microphonic. It has reasonable nice 3.5mm connectors: cable-connection.jpeg

Here’s a close look at the 2‑pin connection: cable-2pin-connection.jpeg

The included cable works fine for daily use, but some competitors like the Truthear Gate have better quality cables.

Fit and Comfort

The Belle’s shape sits naturally in the ear and feels secure with the pre‑formed hooks. The nozzles are a standard size and work well with both included tip styles. iem-shell-very-opinated-shell-design.jpeg

I had no comfort issues over longer listening sessions.

Sound Impressions

The Belle has a warm‑leaning V‑shaped balance. There’s some extra low‑end weight, the middle range sits a step back, and the area around voices is more forward. The upper high notes are relaxed, which helps it stay easy to listen to for a long time.

The midrange dip means some instruments and parts of male vocals can feel a little behind the rest of the mix. At the same time, the presence region that highlights voices is pushed forward, so lead vocals stand out. If you prefer a flatter middle range, this may not be your first choice; if you enjoy a bit more weight and clear voices, it lands well.

Here are a few listening notes with familiar tracks:

  • Eagles – Hotel California (Hell Freezes Over, Live): The kick and bass guitar have good weight, and the crowd cues sound natural. Vocals take the spotlight, while some rhythm guitar parts sit slightly behind.
  • Norah Jones – Don’t Know Why: Her voice sits clearly in front with a soft top end that never turns sharp. Piano has pleasant body, though the middle range overall is gently pulled back.
  • Daft Punk – Get Lucky: The groove hits nicely with punchy low notes that don’t drown out the rest. The top end adds just enough shimmer without glare.
  • Tracy Chapman – Fast Car: The guitar strums come through cleanly, and her voice is focused. Some deeper mid parts aren’t as forward, matching the Belle’s warm V shape.
  • Hans Zimmer – Time: The build‑up has satisfying low‑end swell, and the upper strings stay smooth rather than piercing.

In short: praise for the solid bass foundation and friendly high notes; the main trade‑off is that center‑range body can feel a touch distant while the vocal region is more pushed forward.

Specifications and Measurements

Specifications

Specification Details
Model Kiwi Ears Belle
Impedance 32Ω (±1Ω)
Sensitivity 103dB (±1dB) @ 1kHz
Frequency Response 20Hz–20kHz
Driver 10mm DLC Dynamic
Connector 2‑pin, detachable

Frequency Response

Below are three views of the Belle’s balance. They show its warm tilt, a step‑back through the middle range, and the voice region brought forward.

Overall balance: fr-nice-warm-tuning-with-decent-bass-and-treble.png

My favourite IEM from last year Meze Alba had a slightly warm and vocal-forward tuning, but the Belle goes a little further than the Alba: fr-compared-meze-alba-warmer-less-treble-different-tilted-tuning.png

I thought it sounded quiet, similar to Kiwi Ears Airoso, though still a little more vocal forward: fr-similar-to-kiwiears-airoso-but-more-midrange-focused.png

Many of the recent Kiwi Ears IEMs (like the Septet I added to the graph above) follow a more relaxed lower treble tuning (more like a JM1 than Harman), but I always feel you should have a few different options in your collection so I think the Belle might be a welcome addition for those who like a bit of variety.

Distortion

Distortion is well controlled: Kiwiears Belle Distortion.jpg

And as a Percentage: Kiwiears Belle Distortion Percent.jpg

Levels stay low across the range for this class, which matches what I heard: clean overall with no odd noises.

Rating

I’m giving the Kiwi Ears Belle a 4/5 pragmatic rating. It earns this with its sturdy shell, handy accessory pack, friendly top end, and warm low‑end. The main compromise is the middle range being a bit recessed while the voice area is more forward, and there are many IEM’s in this price range, so it can be hard to stand out.

Who is it for?

  • Listeners who like a warmer balance with clearer voices
  • Anyone wanting an easy, low‑cost daily pair with lots of tips included
  • People who prefer smoother top‑end energy rather than extra bite

Conclusion

The Kiwi Ears Belle delivers a confident value play: a warm base, a vocal‑forward, and a relaxed upper range that keeps long sessions pleasant. Build quality is better than the price suggests, the accessory set is generous, and the optional mic/USB‑C variants broaden its appeal.

If you want a budget IEM that leans warm with voices upfront, the Belle is well worth a look. In a crowded price range, its tuning choice does help it stand-out from the crowd, without trying too hard.