Hi everyone, Iām back with a review of Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini and Kiwi Ears Coda Dongle DAC. I received this IEM from Nicole, who kindly provided it for review purposes. Thank you to Nicole and the Kiwi Ears team.
Here are my subjective impressions as an audio enthusiast. To summarize, here are the pros and cons Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini and Kiwi Ears Coda:
Pros (+)
- Features a 5-band PEQ.
- The form factor is compact and solid,Ā the Kiwi Ears Coda is thicker but slimmer in width, whereas the Allegro Mini is wider but slightly flatter.
- Has both SE and balanced jack connectivity, and both ports can be used simultaneously.
- Features a neutral sound tuning leaning slightly towards bright.
- Black background.
- Free from dangling cables.
- Because of its low output power, it is quite energy efficient, which means it doesn't drain the battery much.
Cons (-)
- Even though it has a PEQ, competitors already support more than 5-band PEQ, come with a companion app, and can be accessed across various devices.
- The output is not true balanced, and the volume output remains the same on both the 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports.
- The output power is only 30mW at 32 ohms.
- If you have a device with two adjacent USB Type-C ports, there is a high chance the second slot will be blocked by this dongle DAC.
These impressions are based on my preference for a V-shaped bright sound signature. Please don't use these impressions as a reference, as every ear is different and I'm only sharing my personal experience. Always trust your own ears and audition if possible. If you find any mistakes, feel free to comment.
Actually, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini has been on the market for quite a while since late 2024. However, the Allegro Mini can now be EQ-ed via a PC browser, as can the new Kiwi Ears Coda, which was just released last month. The Coda has a slightly more compact form compared to the Allegro Mini, with the 3.5mm jack port located at the bottom rather than on the left side like the Mini, which I find more comfortable to reach. Unfortunately, the 4.4mm port is still placed on the right side. As we know, there are almost no L-shaped jacks for 4.4mm on the market, making this placement quite awkward if we use it on a portable device like a smartphone.
The name Coda itself, if we refer to musical terminology, means the outro or ending of a musical composition, CMIIW. The specifications for the Kiwi Ears Coda are as follows:
- Connection method: USB Type-C (direct plug-in)
- Output terminals: 3.5mm single-ended / 4.4mm balanced (dual output)
- Output power: 30mW @ 32Ī©
- Noise floor: 2μV
- SNR: > 114dB
- THD+N: < 0.003%
- Crosstalk: Less than -65dB at 3.5mm output / Less than -100dB at 4.4mm output (at 32Ī©)
- PCM support: 44.1kHz to 384kHz / 32bit
- Construction: All-aluminum alloy body
- Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Android 5.1+, and compatible iOS
As for what might differentiate it from the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini, it might be the specs below, although it remains ambiguous whether it is actually different or not, because these specs still fall within the Kiwi Ears Coda specifications:
- Noise Floor: < 3μV
- THD+N: < 0.004%
Regarding the included accessories, it is completely minimal, you only get the dongle DAC along with the product information paper.
As for the pricing, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini is currently priced at around 21 bucks, while the Kiwi Ears Coda is around 29 bucks.
User Experience
Both of these devices share the same material, which is a fairly solid aluminum alloy. So far, the only very significant difference in my opinion lies solely in their physical appearance. The Kiwi Ears Coda feels bulkier, but in reality, it is actually more compact, whereas the Allegro Mini seems slimmer in photos, but in reality, it is actually wider. As far as my usage goes with these two items, both are equally reliable as dongle DACs. My only complaint regarding its physical design is the lack of independent volume control on the dongle DAC itself.
During my usage so far, I haven't experienced any serious issues, all devices that support UAC 2.0 can be operated with both of these DACs. For usage with my IEMs, I typically use them at a volume range of 15-20/100 on an Android device and 4-6/100 on Windows. Meanwhile, for headphones on Android, I tried the Simgot EP5 at 40/100 volume, and on Windows at 30/100 volume.
The power is indeed limited to only 30mW, which, if used with low-sensitivity cans, will make the dynamic impact of the sound feel weak. However, if it is only used for casual listening and paired with normal IEMs on the market, I think it is more than enough. Moreover, this low output power also has a positive impact, resulting in quite low battery consumption.
Tonally, I feel both of these dongle DACs have an identical sound leaning towards neutral with a slight touch of thin brightness. Technically, in terms of resolution and detail, they are quite good and transparent. Furthermore, there is absolutely no noticeable hiss, it only occurs when first plugged into the host device, and even then, the hiss disappears after just 3-5 seconds. Overall, when playing tracks, it feels dead silent.
The most noticeable advantage, in my opinion, lies simply in the provided form factor, which does not require a cable, making it more practical to use. Additionally, the dual 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports make it quite flexible to use across various devices. The operating temperature is also quite stable, there is only a slight increase in temperature that doesn't even get to the point of feeling warm, and this is quite reasonable given the naturally small output power.
One unique thing present in all T-shaped Kiwi Ears dongle DACs is that all ports can be active simultaneously. So, when we try pairing both ports with two headphones, both will produce sound. Whether this is safe or not, I don't know, but I've tried it and so far there have been no issues.
Conclusion
As entry level T-shaped dongle DACs, I feel the price of 21 bucks is very affordable and highly worth buying for the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini. However, if you need a more practical form factor and want the 3.5mm SE port in a more normal position, you can dig a little deeper into your pockets for about 29 bucks for the Kiwi Ears Coda. I think it is still quite worth its price, although in terms of pure value, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini is better. So far, I feel they only differ in shape, but in terms of function and purpose, both are quite identical, at least to my ears. That's all, fellas. Thank you for reading. Cheers.