KiwiEars Altruva Headphones Review: Open-Back Excellence on a Budget

Overview

The open-back headphone market under $100 has become increasingly competitive, with manufacturers scrambling to deliver audiophile-grade performance without the premium price tag. Although primarily known for their in-ear monitors, KiwiEars has entered this battleground with the Altruva—a $70 open-back headphone that promises premium sound quality and aesthetics.

KiwiEars positions the Altruva as "studio-grade sound with open-back precision," featuring a custom-built 50mm dynamic driver and high-quality materials including PVD-coated stainless steel, real wood accents, and vegan leather padding. The aggressively affordable pricing suggests KiwiEars is serious about capturing market share from established players like Audio-Technica and Sennheiser.

Having tested the Altruva across various musical genres and use cases, the question becomes whether this newcomer can deliver on its ambitious promises or if it's simply another budget headphone with inflated marketing claims.

Sound Quality

The Altruva delivers a mildly U-shaped sound signature that prioritizes engagement over clinical accuracy. The 50mm dynamic driver with its composite diaphragm produces a clean and articulated sound suitable for a variety of music genres, with the open-back construction expanding the acoustic field and delivering an expansive sense of space.

Bass Response: The low-end presentation is controlled and textured, with emphasis in the mid-bass region that adds body to rock, pop, and electronic genres. The mid-bass focus ensures that instruments like kick drums and bass guitars have a strong presence, maintaining clarity without overwhelming the rest of the sound. However, sub-bass extension may be slightly limited compared to some more expensive closed-back alternatives.

Midrange: The midrange is lucid and natural, though it has a less-forward presence, creating a spacious and relaxed presentation that allows voices and instruments to breathe. Vocal reproduction is smooth and natural, avoiding hissing issues that plague many budget headphones.

Treble: The high-frequency response strikes a balance between detail and smoothness. The treble is articulate and well-proportioned, providing clarity and smoothness for non-fatiguing listening, with crisp cymbal strikes and hi-hat details capturing intricate dynamics of drum kits with authentic quality. The slight rolloff in the highest frequencies contributes to the headphone's non-fatiguing character during extended listening sessions.

Build Quality

KiwiEars has prioritized aesthetics and durability in the Altruva's construction. The build quality is impressive for the price, combining durable plastic ear cups with a metal headband for structural integrity, weighing approximately 327g with leather pads.

The design showcases premium materials throughout: PVD-coated stainless steel provides durability, while real wood accents on the ear cups add visual appeal. The dual 3.5mm connectors at the base of each ear cup are robust, supporting easy cable swapping.

The headset's comfort is very well-executed with a suspension-style headband that distributes weight evenly across the head. The headband incorporates a leather-like suspension strap with an elastic adjustment mechanism, ensuring a snug yet adaptable fit across different head shapes, minimizing pressure points during extended use. The Altruva is definitely one of the most comfortable headpsets we've worn, particularly in the under $100 range.

The inclusion of both velour and faux leather earpads demonstrates thoughtful engineering—velour pads enhance breathability and openness, while leather pads provide warmth and slightly more intimate sound staging.

Tech Specs

• Driver Configuration: 50mm Dynamic Driver
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 40Khz
• Impedance: 32Ω
• Sensitivity: 98dB ± 3dB
• Cable: 3m detachable (3.5mm to dual 3.5mm)
• Weight: 327g (with leather pads)
• Design: Open Back
• Included Accessories: Velour and Faux Leather Earpads, 6.35mm 1/4" adapter

Value for Your Money

At $69.99, the Altruva represents exceptional value in the open-back headphone market. KiwiEars delivers premium looks and a sturdy build at the $70 price point, making it a contender for one of the best headsets in it's price range on the market currently.

The inclusion of both earpad types, a quality detachable cable, and a 6.35mm adapter creates a complete package that would typically cost significantly more from established brands. The Altruva's 32-ohm impedance and 98dB sensitivity make it easy to power with portable devices while scaling well with amplification.

The build quality and materials rival headphones costing twice as much, making this an attractive entry point for users seeking open-back sound staging without premium pricing.

How It Competes

• vs. Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X ($79): The Altruva offers superior build quality and a more engaging sound signature compared to Audio-Technica's clinical presentation. The ATH-AD500X provides a more neutral sound but lacks the premium materials and aesthetic appeal.
• vs. Sennheiser HD559 ($99): While the Sennheiser offers more refined sound tuning and a more well-known brand reputation, the Altruva matches its comfort and provides superior visual appeal at $30 less.
• vs. Philips SHP9500 ($75): The Altruva has a mildly U-shaped sonic profile with boost to low and high frequencies, delivering a presentation suitable for pop, rock, and electronic music, while the SHP9500 offers more neutral tuning. The Altruva's build quality and included accessories provide better overall value.
• vs. Moondrop Void ($150): The Altruva's bass is more potent than the Void's, while the Void's midrange is more prominent. The Altruva's lightweight frame, suspension headband, and interchangeable earpads provide superior comfort compared to the Void's stiffer headband and shallow earpads.

Closing Thoughts

The KiwiEars Altruva succeeds by delivering premium aesthetics, great build quality, and engaging sound performance at a genuinely accessible price point.

Rather than competing on specifications alone, KiwiEars has created a complete package that addresses real user needs: comfort during extended sessions, easy drivability from various sources, and sound tuning that works across multiple genres.

The combination of open-back design, comfort, fit and finish, construction quality and plush velour or vegan earpads creates great value for the price. The Altruva scales with amplification, revealing greater articulation and control when connected to capable sources, though it operates well with portable devices.

For music enthusiasts, gamers, and content creators seeking an affordable entry into open-back headphones, the Altruva represents an excellent choice. The wide soundstage enhances immersion, while the balanced sound signature works well across musical genres from classical to electronic.

The Altruva establishes KiwiEars as a serious contender in the headphone market, extending their expertise beyond In Ear Monitors into full-sized over-ear headsents with impressive results.

For users seeking an open back headset with impressive quality, performance, and sound for under $75, KiwiEars Altruva is a great choice.

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