Kiwi Ears and content creator Z Reviews have teamed up to launch the Serene, an exciting pair of closed headphones that promise a huge sound with huge Planat magnetic drivers – and won’t tear too deep a hole in your wallet. In our test, we find out whether it’s worth buying.
Technical data
| The product | Serene |
| Design | Over-ear (closed) |
| driver | 72mm x 89mm planar |
| Impedance | 50 Ohm |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz – 20.000 Hz |
| weight | 380 g |
| price | € 162.00 * |
Kiwi Ears x Z Reviews Serene Review: Design and workmanship
The Kiwi Ears x Z Reviews Serene have a stylish and modern design that combines classic elegance with high-quality materials. The frame is made of a high-quality aluminum alloy, which ensures a stable yet lightweight frame.
This lightweight construction makes a decisive contribution to the high wearing comfort, which is convincing even over several hours of music enjoyment. And this despite a weight of around 380 grams, which of course makes the model noticeably heavier than many over-ear headphones. For planar headphones, however, this weight is comparatively light, as the drivers are gigantic.
The ear cups made of durable, matt polymer look robust without appearing bulky. The two dual-pivot joints, which allow the ear cups to rotate in multiple dimensions and thus enable very flexible adjustment to different head and ear shapes, are striking. This prevents pressure points even during long listening sessions and ensures lasting comfort.
The pads are made of soft, vegan protein leather and a specially developed memory foam that gently envelops the ears while providing good passive noise isolation. The overall finish leaves a very high-quality impression: seams are clean, materials have a premium feel and even small details such as metal fittings are well done. The headphones convey a high-quality feel that corresponds to the price level and at the same time promises long-lasting use.
Features
The technical features of the Serene are tailored to audiophile requirements. The centerpiece is a specially developed, fully closed planar-magnetic driver measuring 72 mm x 89 mm, which is larger than many comparable models. The impedance is specified at approx. 50 Ω and the sensitivity at 102 dB ± 3dB. The closed design is not just a simple rear cover, but a sophisticated construction with its own damping and filter system that minimizes internal reflections and backwaves.
The manufacturer is thus tackling a problem that often leads to sound distortion, particularly with planar drivers in closed systems. This innovation contributes significantly to an exceptionally clean and pure sound reproduction, but more on that later.
The Serene can only be used wired. The detachable and replaceable cable is of high quality and has a robust but flexible sheathing. The absence of Bluetooth guarantees loss-free sound transmission, which is particularly interesting for owners of high-quality DACs or amplifiers.
The headphones are equipped with standard jack plugs and can therefore be used in a variety of ways. In addition to a system, they can also be used on smartphones and mobile devices or as a professional monitor.
Operating the Serene
The operation of the Serene is designed for simplicity and functionality. As they have no wireless or smart features, they are controlled solely via the connected audio devices. This makes them particularly robust and suitable for everyday use.
No accompanying app, no controls on the headphones. It couldn’t be simpler. The detachable cable facilitates handling, transportation and possible replacement in the event of damage or for individual upgrades. This is a valuable feature, especially for wired headphones. The Serene are ideal for use on the go as well as at home or in the studio when the highest level of sound fidelity is required. The intuitive plug-and-play operation enables uncomplicated connection to various audio sources.
As the Kiwi Ears x Z Reviews Serene do not support wireless connectivity and have no active electronics or battery, there is no reliance on battery life. This ensures consistent sound quality at all times without having to worry about charging cycles or failures.
Audio quality of the Kiwi Ears x Z Reviews Serene
At the heart of the Kiwi Ears x Z Reviews Serene is its proprietary 72mm x 89mm planar-magnetic closed-back driver, which delivers an audiophile-grade sound experience. This driver design enables extremely fast transients, which means the headphones react immediately to changes in sound and reproduce details precisely.
The sound is dominated by a rich, controlled low bass that is surprisingly powerful and at the same time remains clearly defined without sounding too muddy. This strong bass tuning lends music a lot of energy and liveliness, making drums, bass lines and deeper sounds intense and vivid. On the other hand, weaknesses are revealed in the sub-bass, which is clearly lagging behind. However, the severity of this certainly depends on the preferred music genres.
The mids are somewhat more restrained and softer in comparison. Voices and instruments sound a little more discreet, but still natural and pleasant overall, although some users may prefer thematically more neutral mids.
The treble is finely resolved, lively and clear without being too sharp. This ensures an airy and pleasant reproduction that remains fatigue-free even during longer listening sessions. In addition to the electro-acoustic tuning, the closed design contributes to an impressive isolation of external noise, allowing for a very concentrated and undisturbed listening experience.
The sound stage is large and spacious for closed-back headphones, with precise localization of instruments and a clean depth gradation. Although it often lacks the openness of open models, the Serene are very well positioned in the context of closed headphones. The combination of rich bass, natural tonality and clear treble gives the Serene a warmer, enjoyable sound character that appeals to bass-loving listeners and still offers enough detail for discerning music lovers.
Kiwi Ears x Z Reviews Serene test: Conclusion
With the Kiwi Ears x Z Reviews Serene, the manufacturer delivers a successful pair of headphones that stand out from the competition thanks to their closed design with planar drivers. In terms of sound, the Serene have a lot to offer, although the sub-bass and mid-range are noticeably lacking, which may not appeal to some audiophiles.
On the other hand, you get robust, reliable and comparatively inexpensive planar headphones that are comfortable to wear and are suitable not only for listening to music but also for monitoring.
- Excellent workmanship
- Large planar drivers
- Coherent sound
- Fair price
- Disappointing sub-bass
- Mids are a little behind
Kiwi Ears x Z Reviews Serene
Workmanship
Wearing comfort
Sound quality
Features
Value For Money
88/100
Comparatively inexpensive and simple planar headphones with good sound, high comfort and convincing workmanship.
