Fed up with wobbly earphones during workouts? The Kiwi Ears Spark might be the answer. This is my first look at anything from Kiwi Ears, so I’m keen to see what the Kiwi Ears Spark offers.
Kiwi Ears reckon the Spark is built for active lifestyles.
They’ve gone for an open, wearable style that aims to be secure and comfortable for your daily exercise.
These earbuds use a unique Open Wearable Stereo (OWS) design.
This should keep them stable when you’re putting in the effort, while still letting your ears breathe.
The idea is a snug fit for enjoying tunes and calls without bother.
You can expect proper wireless stereo sound with balanced audio and noticeable bass.
With A2DP support, the Spark delivers a dynamic listening experience that should pick up all the details in your favourite tracks.
So, whether working out or commuting, enjoy rich, clear sound that elevates your everyday music listening.
You should get reliable, clear phone calls thanks to support for calls in both ears and ENC noise cancellation.
They’ve used single-microphone ENC technology in the Spark.
This should cut down on background noise, making sure your conversations stay clear and focused – even in busy spots.
This should make taking calls when you’re out and about a doddle.
You should be able to stay powered up and they should last a bit thanks to smart charging and an IP45-rated build.
The charging case has a three-colour LED display so you can easily see how much juice is left.
Meanwhile, the sturdy design should protect against dust, a bit of moisture, and sweat.
This combo should give you decent battery life and reliable performance, whatever you’re up to.
Could the Kiwi Ears Spark be your ideal active audio? Let’s find out…
Packaging and Contents.
The Kiwi Ears Spark comes packaged in a cardboard box with a sleeve, featuring product images and specifications.
The box measures 17.5cm x 12.0cm x 4.0cm and weighs 269g.
Inside the box, you’ll find the following:
- Earbuds
- Charging Case
- Charging Cable
- Protective Pouch
- Multilingual User Guide
The supplied USB-A to USB-C cable measures approximately 30.0cm.
While rather short, any standard USB-C cable can be used as an alternative.
The supplied protective pouch is a nice touch for portability.
Kiwi Ears Spark.
Each Kiwi Ears Spark earbud measures approximately 45.7mm x 30.5mm x 10.7mm and weighs 8.6g.
They are currently only available in this beige/neutral colour tone.
The charging case measures approximately 82.5mm x 65.4mm x 25.4mm and weighs 103.5g (with earbuds inside).
The outer design of the charging case is certainly unique, with a cut-out detail finished with a high-quality metal accent, giving it a premium feel.
On the front, there’s an LED indicator light, and on the reverse, a single USB-C charging port.
I’ve created a table below of the different LED lights and what they mean:
| Operation or Status | LED Indicators |
|---|---|
| Power On | White light stays on for 1 second, then turns off after successful connection. |
| Standby (Not connected to phone and OWS not connected) | White light stays on for 1 second, then turns off after successful connection. |
| Standby (OWS connected, phone not connected) | White light stays on for 1 second, then turns off after successful connection. |
| Pairing Mode | White light stays on for 1 second, then turns off after successful connection. |
| Power Off | White light stays on for 1 second. |
| Earphone Charging | White light stays on, then turns off when fully charged. |
| Charging Dock Charging | Red light (30%) Green light (70%) Blue light (100%) |
| Charging Dock Fully Charged | Light turns off after full charge. |
| Low Battery Alert (below 10%) | At 3.3V, white light flashes until protection mode is activated. |
| Restore Factory Settings | White light flashes quickly, enters automatic pairing OWS mode. After successful pairing, left earphone light flashes slowly, right earphone light off. |
Charging Your Kiwi Ears Spark: Battery Life & Indicators
Before using your Kiwi Ears Spark, you’ll need to give them a charge.
Charging takes approximately 1.5 hours, which will provide around 7 hours of audio playback (at 70% volume).
You can recharge the earbuds approximately 3 times using the charging case before needing to recharge the case itself.
You’ll need a 5V DC charging source. Charging status for the charging case is indicated via the LED light as follows:
- Under 30%: Red light
- 31-70%: Green light
- 71-100%: Blue light
When charging your earphones via the charging case the following LED indicator light will display:
- Under 30%: Red light flashes for 3 seconds
- 31-70%: Green light flashes for 3 seconds
- 71-100%: Blue light flashes for 3 seconds
When both the earbuds and case are charging simultaneously, the LED light will flash slowly white.
The Kiwi Ears Spark user guide mentions wireless charging, but despite my attempts, I do not believe the outer case is Qi-enabled.
Using the Kiwi Ears Spark: Comfort, Controls & Connectivity.
Connection via Bluetooth V5.2 is incredibly easy.
Once connected, your earbuds will automatically reconnect to your device upon being removed from the charging case.
The Kiwi Ears Spark sit on the outer ear area, with the soft silicone ear hooks fitting securely over the top of your ears.
They don’t fall or slip from position at all, even when I tried to dislodge them by shaking my head.
I can confirm they’re incredibly comfortable to use for prolonged periods, with no fatigue whatsoever.
You also get touch-sensitive controls.
I’ll create a table below of each function:
| Buttons | Status | Operating Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Power On | Power Off | 1. Press and hold the power button for 3 seconds 2. Take the earphones out of the charging case |
| Enter Pairing Mode | Power On | 1. No Pairing Record: After powering on, once the left and right earphones connect, they will automatically enter pairing mode. 2. With Pairing Record: After powering on, the earphones will attempt to reconnect. If the reconnection is unsuccessful after 10 seconds, they will enter pairing mode. |
| Activate/Deactivate Voice Assistant | Standby/Non-Music Mode | Triple press the left earphone power button |
| Game Mode | Standby/Non-Music Mode | Triple press the right earphone power button |
| Answer Call | Incoming Call | Double press any earphone power button |
| End Call | During Call | Double press any earphone power button |
| Reject Incoming Call | Incoming Call | Press and hold any earphone power button for 2 seconds |
| Play/Pause | Standby/Music Mode | Double press any earphone power button |
| Volume Down | During Call/Music Mode | Single press the left earphone power button |
| Volume Up | During Call/Music Mode | Single press the right earphone power button |
| Previous Track | During Music Playback | Press and hold the left earphone for 3 seconds |
| Next Track | During Music Playback | Press and hold the right earphone for 3 seconds |
| Low Battery Power Off | When the earphone battery voltage drops below 3.2V, the earphones will automatically power off. | |
| No Connection | After disconnection, the earphones will enter pairing mode. If no connection is made within 5 minutes, they will automatically power off. | |
| Power On without Connecting to Phone | In standby mode, press and hold any earphone power button for 5 seconds to turn off both earphones simultaneously. | |
| Power On | When placed in the charging case, the earphones will charge (OWS connection status only); earphones will power off when placed in the charging case. | |
| DUT Mode | Single Ear Mode | Press nine times consecutively to enter DUT mode. |
| Restore Factory Settings | When Bluetooth is not connected | In the left and right ear pairing state, press six times. |
As you can see, there’s quite a comprehensive set of touch controls for the Kiwi Ears Spark.
Although I found the touch-sensitive areas to work incredibly well, I did find skipping tracks by pressing and holding for 3 seconds to feel incredibly long.
While 3 seconds isn’t a long time in general, when you’re waiting to skip a track, that delay feels like an age, especially without immediate confirmation until the 3 seconds are up.
The gaming mode feature allows for minimal latency, which is indeed correct.
I watched some YouTube videos and experienced very little lip-sync issues, so well done, Kiwi Ears.
This means these earbuds will be great for live gaming battles where sound lag is vital for gaming performance, especially for mobile shooting games.
Kiwi Ears Spark Audio Performance: Sound and Call Quality.
There’s no supporting app or equaliser customisation for the Kiwi Ears Spark, so you’re entirely reliant on the standard setup that Kiwi Ears provides.
Bearing in mind these are open-style earbuds – the idea is to allow background noises to be heard – they are actually very good in terms of audio isolation, surpassing expectations.
The audio sound itself is incredibly surprising, with clear bass and vocal tones.
It’s certainly on par with the audio quality of many other branded audio gear that I’ve reviewed previously.
The Bluetooth signal is strong and easily outpaces the advertised 12m signal range.
Phone calls are clear, all thanks to the built-in omnidirectional 2718 microphone.
Technical Specifications.
- Brand: Kiwi Ears
- Model: Kiwi Ears Spark
- Manufacturer Code: N/A
- Manufacturer Reference: N/A
- EAN: N/A
- ASIN: B0DZCL59NK
- Bluetooth Version: V5.2
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz
- Battery Capacity: 60mAh (earbuds) 1000mAh (charging case)
- Charging Interface: Type-C
- Compliance: CE, UKCA, FCC
Kiwi Ears Spark: Final Verdict
The Kiwi Ears Spark presents a compelling option for those seeking workout-friendly earbuds.
Their open, wearable design ensures a secure and comfortable fit, even during intense activity.
The sound quality is surprisingly impressive for open-style earbuds, delivering clear bass and vocal tones.
The touch controls, while comprehensive, might take some getting used to, and the 3-second hold for skipping tracks can feel a little long.
Pros and Cons.
Here’s a quick recap of the Kiwi Ears Spark’s strengths and weaknesses:
Pros:
- Secure and Comfortable Fit: The Open Wearable Stereo (OWS) design keeps the earbuds stable during workouts.
- Good Audio Quality: Clear bass and vocal tones, impressive for open-style earbuds.
- Clear Phone Calls: ENC noise cancellation ensures clear conversations, even in noisy environments.
- Decent Battery Life: Offers approximately 7 hours of playtime, with the charging case providing multiple recharges.
- Easy Bluetooth Connection: Bluetooth 5.2 ensures a stable and reliable connection.
- Gaming Mode: Minimal latency for an enhanced gaming experience.
- Protective Pouch: A nice addition for storage and portability.
Cons:
- No App or Equaliser: No option to customise the sound profile.
- Touch Control Delay: The 3-second hold for skipping tracks can feel a bit long.
- Potential Wireless Charging Misinformation: The user guide mentions wireless charging, but it may not be supported.
Conclusion: Are the Kiwi Ears Spark Right for You?
The Kiwi Ears Spark strikes a good balance between comfort, stability, and audio quality, making them a strong contender in the open-ear earbud market.
Their secure fit and sweat-resistant design are ideal for active individuals, while the clear sound and phone call quality cater to everyday use.
While the lack of app support and the minor delay in touch controls are worth noting, the overall performance and features of the Kiwi Ears Spark make them a worthwhile consideration for anyone seeking a reliable and comfortable audio companion for their active lifestyle.
If you’d like to purchase this item, please check out the purchasing options below. The RRP for this product is £74.20.
Kiwi Ears Website | Amazon | eBay |
Product sample provided by Kiwi Ears in exchange for a detailed, unbiased review.
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