Best Value IEMs On The Market? The Kefine Quatio Review

Starting with the look of the earphone, the Quatio keeps things sleek with a dark color aesthetic. The shells of the IEMs are black with the company name etched on the side. The IEM shell itself is on the bulkier side and has some weight to it, though the weight doesn't translate during use. Instead, you get something that sits comfortably in the ear with just enough weight to feel stable instead of fatiguing. You're given an assortment of eartips so you can find a good seal that works to your comfort level, though any third party eartips would work just as well. The cable that comes with it is a high-quality silver-plated copper cable. The two materials balance each other to make the sound signature of the Quatio smooth and precise in any genre. 

One of the main features of the Kefine Quatio is the adaptability. The cable has a modular end to it, allowing you to easily change from 3.5mm to 4.4mm balanced. You can integrate these IEMs into whatever setup you may be working with, either a DAC/Amp at your desk or just a dongle that plugs directly into your phone. Additionally, the Quatio comes with adjustable nozzles that provide different sound signatures for your preferred listening style. There are three nozzles you can choose from: 

• Gold: Transparent
• Silver: Balanced signature
• Black: Warm response

• Quatio Style: In-ear
• Sensitivity: 107 dB +/- 3 dB
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20K Hz
• Driver size: 10mm & 8mm
• Driver type: 2DD + 2BA
• Impedance: 32 Ω
• Cable length: 1.2 M +/-0.2 M
• Plug size: 3.5mm SE & 4.4 mm BA

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Doing the listening review of the Quatio took some time, especially since there were so many different ways to listen. Three nozzles, two different terminations, and you've only got one set of ears: there are a lot of combinations you could make. After spending a decent amount of time with the IEMs, it's clear to see common trends among all the variations. For one, the presentation is pretty consistent across all three nozzles. You have a wide soundstage that places instruments in the stereo field with ease, creating a picture that allows you to imagine the elements right in front of you. Instruments in the Quatio sounded honest to their timbres and were spread out in the field, and it was most noticeable in the gold and silver nozzles. The black nozzle had everythign set a little closer together for a narrower presentation, though there was still clear separation between elements. 

The overall signatures is where the different nozzles come into play. Each one had its own take on the frequency response, and while there was a lot of crossover, you got to hear some distinct differences. This allows you to choose the signature you're most comfortable with and adjust your listening from there. The way Kefine described the Quatio's nozzle differences was pretty accurate. The gold nozzle had a signature that leaned more towards a V-shape with a bright treble, and the silver was more balanced and flat. The black nozzle did have more warmth and darker tonality to it, but still stayed bright in the treble for overall balance. These differences make the earphones perfect for any type of listener. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

The bass response is pretty powerful, no matter which nozzle you put on the IEM. When you get a good seal with the right size eartip, the bass gets an added clarity and depth since the sound is more focused. The Quatio's bass is thick and has a lot of body, giving tracks a good foundation as opposed to just a powerful slam. The bass comes forward a little more with the black nozzles, letting the warmth take over more elements of the signature as a whole. In the gold and silver nozzle, there is more treble detail that comes out to make the bass punchy and exciting. If you're more into a relaxed bass sound, you may like the black nozzle more than the other two options. Either way, you are sure to get a colorful bass response that is versatile and compatible with a ton of different genres.  

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

One of the most versatile elements of the Quatio's sound signature is the midrange. You can hear how the nozzle influences the sound ever so subtly in each signature. The Quatio maintains excellent detail and clarity so you don't miss a single element of your tracks. The midrange takes a bit of a backseat with the black nozzle, letting the bass come more forward for added warmth and relaxation. The silver nozzle puts everything at the same level, though the midrange comes slightly forward to highlight vocals and other melodic elements. In the gold nozzle, you can hear how the Quatio becomes more transparent in detail, which is most noticeable in the midrange and the way the layers get spread out a bit more. I liked how colorful and dynamic the midrange was with each nozzle, and the amount of detail you got in every track.

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

In an IEM that has noticeable midrange and bass forwardness, sometimes the treble can be forgotten about. This isn't the case with the Quatio. Instead, the high frequencies still get plenty of attention and precision to round out the sound signature with balance. The treble response has a lot of air to make the whole signature open up, so instruments don't feel as heavy or weighed down. The gold nozzle had the most noticeable treble forwardness, being that it was more transparent than the other nozzles' signatures, so you had more emphasis on the top end. Still, even with the Quatio's silver and black nozzles, the treble provided just enough balance and detail to make the entire signature lighten up with clarity. After listening to all three nozzles, I found I preferred the sound of the silver nozzle above the others. The balance between bass and treble was very even, and the sound was more natural for the Quatio in this one than in others.  

With the Kefine Quatio being the star that it is, what comes close to being the competition? There are a few models that could be thrown in the same ring as the Quatio: 

• Meze Alba
• Sivga Que UTG
• Sennheiser IE 200

These models are all similar in price point, staying under $200 and being easy to drive. Out of all of these, the Quatio offers the most impressive value. None of the others offer as many features and accessories that allow you to customize your listening to be exactly how you want. The Meze Alba is a great choice if you want to compare included accessories and balanced sound; the Alba comes with an included USB-C DAC/Amp so you can begin listening on any device with ease. The sound signature of the Alba is close to what you might find with the silver nozzles, and the shell is much smaller. The Sennheiser IE 200 offers the same treble-forwardness that the gold nozzles on the Quatio give you, though you are limited to that sound and that sound alone. One that also offers impressive sound quality for the price point is the Sivga Que UTG, which has the same interchangeable cable end and high-quality build. If you're looking for more versatility in your listening for under $150, the Kefine Quatio is the obvious choice to get the most value. 

At the end of the day, you can't go wrong with the Kefine Quatio IEMs. At just $129, you can get a fully customizable audio experience tailored to your ears and how you like to listen. You have three different nozzles to choose from and an interchangeable cable end to integrate the Quatio into whatever gear you want. The sound itself is smooth and perfect for any listening experience, so you are sure to have a great listening session. The Quatio is perfect for budding audiophiles and casual listeners alike, especially those looking for a good IEM that will last. 

The Kefine Quatio is available today at Audio46.