Definitely the most accurate review of the Lites I've seen. I definitely don't think they live up to the hype. Having a/b tested 4 different pairs for very annoying reasons, the variance in tunings was wild. I could tell all 4 apart with 100% accuracy but within the 4 there were basically 2 very different tunings (which explained why some really noticed a lot of sub bass and others didn't for instance). The details, imaging, and soundstage people were praising I found underwhelming, even with the 2 pairs that had a tuning with more detail and separation. The Aful 5's definitely blow them away at the price point. The Lites look absolutely beautiful though.
Thanks for the review Dave. I wish I'd taken notice of your slightly more reserved review of the Orchestra Lite before I purchased them. I'm afraid I got a bit caught up by hype I've witnessed in other TH-cam reviews, and I purchased the Orchestra Lite on a whim a few days ago. They have turned out to be one of the most underwhelming IEMs purchases I've made in the last 15 - 20 years. Beyond aesthetics, great build quality, excellent fit and comfort, and a surprising number of drivers for an IEM in this price range, I have absolutely nothing positive to say about them. I wouldn't claim that the Orchestra Lite are my least favourite IEMs of all time, but I think would probably put them somewhere in my bottom two. On first hearing, my initial impression of the Orchestra Lite was to be just slightly underwhelmed, but I thought that if I toned down my expectations, and gave myself a bit of time to adjust to their sound signature, they would reveal their true glory to me. That didn't happen. I merely started a one way journey towards abject disappointment, with a side order of confusion. Why are my impressions so out-of-sync with many of the glowing reviews I've watched? High frequencies, I don't really have much to complain about, but I haven't been wowed by their presentation either. Mid frequencies, I personally found far too forward. If I pick any other IEM from my collection, I already find lead vocals clear and easy to pick out. I didn't need them boosted, then shoved in my face, to the detriment of all else. Sub-bass, all but non-existent. Mid-bass, when in isolation, does have some impact, but lacks presence, decay, and produces a "vacuum-packed" sound I don't like. So far, so meh! But detail retrieval, imaging, and soundstage are where things really fall below par for my expectations at this price point. I can't understand how Kiwi Ears manage to produce an eight BA IEM, split towards three separate sound bores, but so little by way of detail retrieval, instrument separation, and soundstage. I don't think the Orchestra Lite reveal a single detail to me that a decent entry level IEMs couldn't pull out, and I would quite honestly be disappointed at the lack of soundstage if it were a $40 IEM. Just woeful. With everything crammed into such a tight, narrow ball, after listening to the Orchestra Lite for short periods, I feel like someone has jabbed a pointed finger into the centre of my forehead. It has been over eight hours since I last listened to the Orchestra Lite but I still feel like I have a headache, and some tinnitus that I occasionally get in my left ear is still ringing away. I only received my Orchestra Lite yesterday morning. I've had maybe six listening sessions, varying from just 15 minutes to a couple of hours. I've tried a couple of different DAPs. I've tried applying EQ - something I usually avoid. I've tried a variety of ear tips. And I have tried listening to a wide variety of musical genres. I can honestly say that I have not enjoyed a single minute I've spent listening to the Orchestra Lite. By way of comparison, I have some Softears Volume IEMs, that retail for a similar (slightly lower) price to the Orchestra Lite. They maybe aren't so pretty, and they only contain one DD for bass, one BA for mids, and one BA for highs. But I find the Softears Volume technically superior to the Orchestra Lite in every respect. I don't think they are better by a small margin. They are in in a completely different league to the Orchestra Lite (but I still only consider them to be the second of third best IEM in my current collection).
I got orchastra lite because i seen people say they liked cadenza more than expensive options. So i figure their new secondary flagship at so much more has to be solid. Hope i didnt make a bad decision. Id spend a grand on wired earbuds but its so hard to know where to look. Hopefully these will do what i want.
@@shijikoruthninan5419 Quintets are sharp and seem be able to reproduce all the frequencies and spaced out without muddling giving you quite a unique listening experience. My current go to favourite is etymotic er2se. I never thought I would like them but they are good with a nice good fitting ear tips.
When i bought the tanchjim kara, i told my self I wish if I could buy the quintet instead since they are very close in price at that time. However, I demoed the quintet and damn ur right with the treble, its unnatural and the vocals in some songs kind of chalcky and I can hear the vocalist breath equally to the singer voice which is distracting. But, every thing else is clean so yeah glad having Kara after that.
Definitely the most accurate review of the Lites I've seen. I definitely don't think they live up to the hype. Having a/b tested 4 different pairs for very annoying reasons, the variance in tunings was wild. I could tell all 4 apart with 100% accuracy but within the 4 there were basically 2 very different tunings (which explained why some really noticed a lot of sub bass and others didn't for instance). The details, imaging, and soundstage people were praising I found underwhelming, even with the 2 pairs that had a tuning with more detail and separation. The Aful 5's definitely blow them away at the price point. The Lites look absolutely beautiful though.
Great review Dave, always a pleasure watching your videos. Great camera work, editing and narration. Kudos.
Thanks for the review Dave.
I wish I'd taken notice of your slightly more reserved review of the Orchestra Lite before I purchased them. I'm afraid I got a bit caught up by hype I've witnessed in other TH-cam reviews, and I purchased the Orchestra Lite on a whim a few days ago. They have turned out to be one of the most underwhelming IEMs purchases I've made in the last 15 - 20 years.
Beyond aesthetics, great build quality, excellent fit and comfort, and a surprising number of drivers for an IEM in this price range, I have absolutely nothing positive to say about them. I wouldn't claim that the Orchestra Lite are my least favourite IEMs of all time, but I think would probably put them somewhere in my bottom two.
On first hearing, my initial impression of the Orchestra Lite was to be just slightly underwhelmed, but I thought that if I toned down my expectations, and gave myself a bit of time to adjust to their sound signature, they would reveal their true glory to me. That didn't happen. I merely started a one way journey towards abject disappointment, with a side order of confusion. Why are my impressions so out-of-sync with many of the glowing reviews I've watched?
High frequencies, I don't really have much to complain about, but I haven't been wowed by their presentation either.
Mid frequencies, I personally found far too forward. If I pick any other IEM from my collection, I already find lead vocals clear and easy to pick out. I didn't need them boosted, then shoved in my face, to the detriment of all else.
Sub-bass, all but non-existent. Mid-bass, when in isolation, does have some impact, but lacks presence, decay, and produces a "vacuum-packed" sound I don't like.
So far, so meh! But detail retrieval, imaging, and soundstage are where things really fall below par for my expectations at this price point. I can't understand how Kiwi Ears manage to produce an eight BA IEM, split towards three separate sound bores, but so little by way of detail retrieval, instrument separation, and soundstage. I don't think the Orchestra Lite reveal a single detail to me that a decent entry level IEMs couldn't pull out, and I would quite honestly be disappointed at the lack of soundstage if it were a $40 IEM. Just woeful.
With everything crammed into such a tight, narrow ball, after listening to the Orchestra Lite for short periods, I feel like someone has jabbed a pointed finger into the centre of my forehead. It has been over eight hours since I last listened to the Orchestra Lite but I still feel like I have a headache, and some tinnitus that I occasionally get in my left ear is still ringing away.
I only received my Orchestra Lite yesterday morning. I've had maybe six listening sessions, varying from just 15 minutes to a couple of hours. I've tried a couple of different DAPs. I've tried applying EQ - something I usually avoid. I've tried a variety of ear tips. And I have tried listening to a wide variety of musical genres. I can honestly say that I have not enjoyed a single minute I've spent listening to the Orchestra Lite.
By way of comparison, I have some Softears Volume IEMs, that retail for a similar (slightly lower) price to the Orchestra Lite. They maybe aren't so pretty, and they only contain one DD for bass, one BA for mids, and one BA for highs. But I find the Softears Volume technically superior to the Orchestra Lite in every respect. I don't think they are better by a small margin. They are in in a completely different league to the Orchestra Lite (but I still only consider them to be the second of third best IEM in my current collection).
Would you recommend the 7hz Timeless over the Kiwi Orchestra Lites? Btw love the content!
I got orchastra lite because i seen people say they liked cadenza more than expensive options. So i figure their new secondary flagship at so much more has to be solid. Hope i didnt make a bad decision. Id spend a grand on wired earbuds but its so hard to know where to look. Hopefully these will do what i want.
How are the Orchestra lite?
Inquiring minds are anxiously waiting the response! 👀
How would you say the Quintet compares to Chopin ?
Quintet is having more clarity and better staging
@@shijikoruthninan5419 Quintets are sharp and seem be able to reproduce all the frequencies and spaced out without muddling giving you quite a unique listening experience. My current go to favourite is etymotic er2se. I never thought I would like them but they are good with a nice good fitting ear tips.
Thanks for the video. Funny how the IEMs in my top 8 box are some or your top $200 sets but I don't think we have similar taste in music at all lol.
Take a drink every time he says "For this price point" you'll be tipsy in NOOOO TIIIIME XD
Haha always love your videos!
Thanks for the review! How does the Quintet compare with the Geek Wold 100?
When Dave sits down, things are going to happen.
we need your ranking list! 11-11 its coming xd
Hi Dave another comprehensive review thanks 👍 it's time for ranking list before all the offers start.
Missing a couple letters in title for “ORCHESTRA”
Thank you for letting me know!
Please how is the quintet compared to softears studio 4
This came at just the right time!
Do you also have the quartet on hands?
When i bought the tanchjim kara, i told my self I wish if I could buy the quintet instead since they are very close in price at that time. However, I demoed the quintet and damn ur right with the treble, its unnatural and the vocals in some songs kind of chalcky and I can hear the vocalist breath equally to the singer voice which is distracting. But, every thing else is clean so yeah glad having Kara after that.
Nothing wrong with the Kara at all. I think it is a great listen. Just enjoy them. That’s what they are for.
@@fiddlix yeah kara is perfect for guilty pleasure and mainstream songs.
quintet was a big disappointment for me, technical performance was worse than the planar competition, I liked the p5 better as well
Have you by chance listened to celest phoenixcall, if yes how does it fair against quintet?