Kiwi Ears x Crinacle Singolo

Kiwi Ears x Crinacle

We have collaborated with Crinacle, one of the world’s best renown audio reviewers. Crinacle has forever changed the in-ear monitor industry with his frequency measurement database, which is the biggest compilation of tonal signatures available online. By allowing people to visualize sound signatures of headphones and earphones, Crinacle has demystified the audio industry, paving a new path for scientific and transparent approach in designing headphones and earphones. Crinacle has provided his expertise in designing the Singolo, which showcases his years of experience and knowledge of in-ear monitors. 

Kiwi Acoustic Resonance System (KARS)

KARS is not a gimmick – it is a discrete band-pass filter that manipulates airflow to the driver, regulating low frequency output. This patented innovation features an elaborate labyrinth tubing network that has been designed after numerous scientific and physical models to perfectly calculate the appropriate resonance point for the Singolo’s driver. KARS makes a tight sub-bass shelf possible; something that has been previously impossible in a single-driver IEM. The bass quality, quantity, and texture are all incomparable to any other tuning strategy used in a similar driver format.
Unlike traditional crossover networks that uses multiple drivers with RC (resistor-capacitor) networks, KARS instead uses Helmholtz resonance to regulate its tuning. Airflow to a dynamic driver regulates how much the diaphragm can respond, but also requires additional calculations of flow rate, direction, and volume. KARS allows exact regulation of this airflow to manipulate the sound as we desire. While capacitors and resistors provide a calculated means of crossover solutions, they also add unwanted artifacts to the sound in the form of distortion, especially when cheap SMD components are used.

With KARS, the sound you are hearing is directly from the driver itself, which translates into a pure and higher resolving audio experience without the hindrance of passive electrical components. KARS also eliminates the need for driver venting meshes, which has been traditionally used to regulate airflow into drivers. These meshes have low tolerances, causing unit-variances, as well as weak durability. KARS’ precise engineering eliminates this potential for imbalances and delivers a uniform sound in every unit.
The specific length, dimensions, and right-angled corners of KARS had to be scientifically calculated and tested to control the sub-bass shelf. KARS is precisely 3D-printed with a 1.0 micron precision. The labyrinth regulates airflow to the rear of the dynamic driver chamber, tightly controlling the back pressure to the diaphragm. This achieves two things simultaneously - it accurately regulates the sub-bass and bass response, and it also regulates pressure ventilation within your ear, which allows more comfortable and pressure-free listening. Finally, KARS allows a calculated removal of rear wave reflections from the driver, reducing wave cancellation and creating a higher quality sound. 

Custom Japan-made LCP Diaphragm Driver

To best showcase the KARS system, the Singolo features a custom Japanese Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) diaphragm driver. This 11mm dynamic driver is custom created for our KARS format, with unique front and rear acoustic chamber profiles. LCP was chosen for the diaphragm material due to its crisp, yet natural tonal characteristics. Harder metal-based diaphragms tend to have a metallic tinge to their timbre, while plastic-based diaphragms tend to sound dull. LCP provides a perfect balance between rigidity for fast transients, and natural timbre.
Implementing KARS, this driver has been precision-tuned using only acoustic dynamics, meaning the sound you hear is purely from the driver. 

Crinacle’s Tonal Signature

The Singolo is tuned in accordance to Crinacle’s tonal signature. It’s a synthesis of all of the best tuning profiles found in the world’s most successful earphones throughout the years. Featuring a 8dB sub-bass shelf, the bass is incredibly hard hitting and powerful, but it pristinely cuts off at 300Hz. This allows for a neutral midrange that articulates the natural sound of vocals and instruments without any artificial bloating or muddiness. The treble follows the perfect in-ear pinna compensatory curvature, with a clean 3kHz peak and a natural decay into the upper treble. With the Singolo, the name of the game is a perfectly natural sound signature - a subwoofer without the subwoofer.

Detachable Cable System

The Singolo comes standard with a detachable cable system. Using 2-pin 0.78mm connectors, the cable can be detached and swapped with any other cable. This allows a customizable user experience, as well as effectively increasing the lifespan of the Singolo.