Kefine Quatio Review – Another Hit in the Making

Pros: 

* Rich, textured bass with deep subbass and satisfying slam

* Natural, forward mids with great vocal presence and instrument clarity

* Smooth, airy treble that adds sparkle without harshness

* Well-balanced, cohesive tuning

* Three tuning nozzles offer subtle but useful sound tweaks

* Solid all-metal build with great comfort and fit

* Modular cable (3.5mm + 4.4mm) adds value and versatility

* Great technical performance for the price – good separation, imaging, and detail

Cons: 

* No proper storage or holder for the extra nozzle filter

* Soundstage is natural but not super expansive

The Kefine Quatio marks a new milestone for Kefine it’s their fifth release, but more importantly, it’s their first-ever hybrid IEM featuring a 2DD + 2BA configuration. If you’ve been following Kefine’s releases like I have, this one probably won’t catch you off guard. Every single IEM they’ve put out so far has landed with intention, and the Quatio is no exception. It’s clear that Kefine’s staying true to their philosophy: keep it simple, solid, and sound-focused.

No flashy faceplates, no quirky marketing, no unnecessary tech just a clean, all-metal shell and a sound signature that’s made for real-world listening. That’s exactly what I appreciate about Kefine. You’re not paying for fluff. You’re paying for something that’s been tuned with care, and designed for people who actually love music.

What in the box? here is my quick unboxing video of the Kefine Quatio:

Build and Design

The Quatio is built like the rest of the Kefine lineup: full CNC-machined aluminum shells with that trademark minimal aesthetic. It’s sleek, light, and fits well in the ear. There’s a confidence to the design—it feels mature and no-nonsense. You’re not getting any loud branding or awkward shapes here. It’s just a well-executed, comfort-focused shell that fades into the background once the music starts playing.

The included modular cable system (with both 3.5mm and 4.4mm terminations) is a great bonus at this price point. It’s a high-purity silver-plated copper cable, supple and tangle-free, with solid connectors. Kefine also includes a healthy variety of ear tips and three sets of tuning nozzles—silver (stock), gold, and black.

Sound Impressions (Silver Nozzle – Default)

Right out of the gate, the Quatio sounds cohesive. That’s not always easy to pull off in hybrids, but the dual dynamic + dual balanced armature setup is impressively well-integrated. There’s no weird peaks, dips, or noticeable driver gaps. The sound feels organic, smooth, and tightly controlled.

Bass

Bass is definitely one of my favorite part on the Kefine Quatio, and it’s clear that a lot of care went into tuning it. Let’s start with the subbass it digs deep and has this textured, weighty rumble that you can feel rather than just hear. It’s not overcooked or exaggerated, but when the track calls for it especially in electronic, house, rap, or lo-fi, you get that satisfying sense of depth and physicality. It gives the Quatio a solid low-end foundation that anchors the entire presentation without overpowering the rest of the spectrum.

Now, while it’s not a straight-up basshead IEM, the low-end quantity is still generous. There's plenty of punch and body to the bass to make it engaging across genres. The midbass hits with solid impact tight, authoritative, and clean. There’s a good bit of slam, but it’s controlled. It doesn’t bloom into the lower mids or smear vocals, which tells me that Kefine didn’t just throw in a boosted bass shelf and call it a day. There’s real discipline in how they handled the transition from subbass to midbass, and into the lower mids.

What really impressed me is how well the Quatio handles rhythmic complexity. Take something like a typical lo-fi house beat maybe a mellow track layered with rain ambience, dusty synth pads, and a kick that’s just on the edge of saturation. The Quatio keeps everything locked in. The kick drum thumps, but you can still hear those grainy vinyl crackles, that ambient hiss, and the flutter of background effects without them getting drowned out. It preserves that analog texture that gives lo-fi its charm, while still delivering enough bass to keep your head nodding.

This kind of balance between musicality and resolution is hard to get right, especially at this price point. Some IEMs will lean too hard into bass warmth and end up sacrificing separation or clarity. Others try to stay overly neutral and end up sounding dry or thin. The Quatio finds a sweet spot. It sounds rich and full-bodied without getting congested, and detailed and revealing without ever feeling clinical.

Also worth noting: the bass speed and decay are nicely tuned. The decay isn't lightning-fast like some BAs, but it's not sluggish either. There’s a touch of looseness that gives it a natural, analog feel especially noticeable on tracks with deeper 808s or slow-moving synth basslines. It's the kind of low end that breathes, with just the right amount of weight and texture to feel immersive.

Midrange

The midrange is where the Quatio really shows its tuning maturity, and honestly, it’s one of the reasons this set feels so well-balanced and engaging. It doesn't try to grab your attention with aggressive coloration or exaggerated detail. Instead, it draws you in with a refined, confident presentation, one that gives vocals and instruments space to breathe without sounding too laid-back or too forward.

Let’s start with vocals. They’re placed right where they should be: slightly forward, easy to focus on, and tonally realistic. There’s a natural warmth to the lower mids that gives male vocals a sense of body and presence they sound full and grounded, with just the right amount of chestiness. It’s not overly thick, but there’s a density that adds emotional weight, especially on deeper, slower vocal tracks.

Female vocals, on the other hand, have a clear, crisp edge they come through with energy and brightness, but they stop short of being shouty or sibilant. There’s a touch of upper mid boost, just enough to lift female vocals and breathy harmonics without tipping into harshness. That’s a hard balance to strike, especially in a hybrid setup where tuning cohesion can be tricky, but Kefine really nailed it here.

What I find particularly satisfying is how well-layered and clean the midrange is overall. Instruments sit comfortably in the mix never pushed too far back, never competing for space. Guitars have texture and crunch, keys sound warm and resonant, and horns have that brassy bite without becoming piercing. Even when tracks get busy, like in old-school house or jazz-influenced hip-hop, the Quatio keeps it together. There's a sense of separation and space between elements, and that goes a long way in making the overall sound feel more immersive and three-dimensional.

I threw on a few 90s house classics, the kind that blend soulful vocals with crisp drum patterns and that unmistakable 808 punch and the Quatio just gets it. Vocals stay locked in dead center, clear and emotive, while the percussion around them hi-hats, claps, snares has this tight, rhythmic snap. The hi-hats is crispt and resonates with just the right amount of edge, claps have a nice airy pop, and the snares cut through the mix with precision, not harshness.

Even on more minimal or lo-fi vocal tracks, where the vocals are meant to feel intimate or raw, the Quatio maintains that sense of realism. There’s no plasticky tone, no artificial sharpness. Everything feels grounded, smooth, and just slightly warm like listening to a favorite old vinyl with just enough modern polish.

Treble

The treble on the Quatio walks a fine line, and it does it really well. It’s crisp and airy, with enough extension to keep things feeling open and detailed, but it never pushes into harsh or fatiguing territory. That’s something I really appreciate, especially on longer listening sessions or when bouncing between genres that demand different types of treble energy.

There's a definite liveliness to the highs, they have that bit of sparkle that lifts the whole tuning and prevents the overall sound from getting too dark or overly bass-focused. But at the same time, it's clear that Kefine tuned the treble to stay tasteful and controlled. You don’t get that overly sharp zing that some budget hybrids suffer from, and there’s none of that metallic sheen that can make cymbals or hi-hats sound artificial. Everything feels more organic and smooth, like it belongs in the mix rather than fighting to stand out.

What I also like is how clean the treble transients are. Fast percussive elements like hi-hat runs, ride cymbals, snappy snares cut through with clarity and snap, but without piercing your ears. You hear the sparkle, but it’s never aggressive or in-your-face. There’s just enough presence in the lower treble to give detail and edge to vocals and strings, while the upper treble offers a nice sense of air and space, helping to keep the soundstage feeling open.

The Quatio gives you the highs with just the right amount of shine. It’s the kind of treble tuning that lets you enjoy the detail and sparkle without worrying about fatigue, even if you're sensitive to treble peaks like I am.

Overall, the treble tuning here feels like it was carefully thought out energetic enough to keep the sound engaging, but smooth and refined enough to avoid fatigue or harshness. It rounds out the Quatio’s sound signature really nicely, especially when paired with that rich bass and natural midrange. It's the kind of treble you can just leave on and enjoy.

Technical Performance

The Quatio isn’t just musical, it’s also technically solid:

Soundstage is moderately wide with a good sense of depth. It doesn’t feel artificially stretched but it’s not closed-in either.

Imaging is precise. You can pick out instrument placements clearly, especially on complex mixes.

Resolution is very good for the price, particularly in the mids and treble. Microdetails come through without the need to crank the volume.

Separation and layering are clean, even when the track gets busy.

Transients are snappy without sounding aggressive.

All three nozzles are genuinely usable, and the changes are tastefully done, not gimmicky or overdone. You can tailor the Quatio depending on what you’re listening to or what mood you’re in.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Silver (default) – Balanced, smooth, natural. Best all-rounder with good bass presence, clear mids, and airy treble.

Gold – Slight boost in the mids. Vocals become fuller and slightly more intimate. There's a bit more forward energy in the upper mids as well.

Black – Subtle lift in treble. Adds a bit more sparkle and air. Despite looking similar to silver on a graph, it feels a bit brighter in actual listening.

A FR graph comparison of the Kefine Quatio versus the previous Kefine IEMs.

Music Pairing & Genre Versatility

From hip-hop and lo-fi beats to 90s house, soul, jazz, and acoustic tracks, the Quatio adapts well. It's not a genre specialist, it’s more of an all-rounder that leans musical but still respects detail.

I went on a full-on 90s nostalgia trip with this one spinning tracks like Mood II Swing – Love’s Got Me, and old Tribe Called Quest, Cypress Hill... The Quatio handled it all beautifully. The way it renders that vintage 808 four-on-the floor beats, deep, and a little gritty.

Final Thoughts

The Kefine Quatio is easily one of the most well-rounded releases I’ve heard in this price bracket. It hits that sweet spot between musical engagement and technical competence. There’s no overhyped tuning, no jarring peaks, and no nonsense. Just a properly refined hybrid that feels like a culmination of Kefine’s experience so far.

If you liked the Delci or Klean, this feels like a grown-up sibling. More resolution, more texture, tighter cohesion. Whether you're digging into lo-fi house, jazz, indie rock, or throwing it back with some golden-era hip-hop, the Quatio delivers.

Another Kefine banger? No doubt.

Verdict:
The Quatio proves that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel when your fundamentals are strong. It’s musical, technically capable, and versatile enough to cover pretty much any genre you throw at it. If you’re after a solid hybrid that puts music first, this one is an "Instabuy"