Kiwi Ears Aether Review
Intro
Hello, this review and feature covers the Kiwi Ears Aether ($169) from Kiwi Ears Audio. The Aether is actually a planar magnetic driver earphone which houses a massive 15.3 mm driver and features a very striking design. From my vantage point Kiwi Ears is in an absolute tear of late brining to market unique and smart products which seem to do a solid job of meeting consumer demand, both in design/aesthetic as well as performance. I haven’t actually heard the Aether yet but tracking says it’s about a day away and I gotta tell you all that I’m pretty pumped up to hear it. We shall see if the Aether is just another planar set stuck in the sea of planar wars iems. Or, will the Kiwi Ears Aether buck the trend of copy-cat tunings?
Kiwi Ears
This brand is hot folks! Almost like they’ve had this stockpile of wonderfully tuned iems and audio devices just waiting to hit the scene all at once. However, the truth is, they’ve been hot since their conception. I actually just now received the Aether along with a couple other products from Kiwi Ears and I am so smitten folks! I want to shake the hand of every person involved with the creation of their products. Just a job well done! Of course, there is such a thing as the “Honeymoon phase” with all products. However, I think the honeymoon phase is simply a precursor to a happy marriage concerning myself and Kiwi Ears. As long as they care about their products using every resource and every engineering mind at their disposal along with proper R&D… then I think they’ll just keep on rolling. I think we know a legit brand when we see one. No doubt there’s more than a few very solid brands out there too. My praise of Kiwi Ears in no way cancels out what some other great audio brands are doing. However, in a Kiwi Ears review, I’ll stick to the topic, and the topic in the header reads “Kiwi Ears”.
I have the receipts…
I say all of these nice words for a reason. Basically, the proof is in the pudding. Everything I’ve owned or reviewed from this brand is a hit. Friends, I cannot begin to explain how much I love the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite (Orchestra Lite Review). I gave that set a very good review, gushed over them. Um… I love them even more today. Truly, sound value at its best. How about the Kiwi Ears Cadenza (Cadenza Review)! A set which very easily competes against any set within its price point in today’s market. I know it because I have them all. The Cadenza was and is… a price to performance beast. I just reviewed the Kiwi Ears Airoso (Airoso Review) and let me tell you, please hear me, it is without question one of, if not thee, best hybrids under $200. Obviously, that is a highly subjective and easily debatable thing to say, but I’m saying it, and I have a stone straight face. One of the Airoso’s biggest competition is Kiwi Ear’s own Kiwi Ears KE4 (KE4 Review). For a different sound signature, it too is right up there with the best that the market has to offer at $200. I’ve reviewed the Kiwi Ears X-Crinacle Singolo (Singolo Review) too. Not my favorite, but a solid set. There’s actually quite a few more of their products I’ve owned as well, but I’ll spare you the links. Also, my partners at Mobileaudiophile.com have also reviewed a number of Kiwi Ears products as well and it seems that each one has a similar theme, a solid product for the money. Centrally, price value, price to performance, and sound value are things you’ll read a lot at Mobileaudiophile.com.
Burn em’ in…
Back to the Aether, I have had this set in my ears quite a lot, pre-burn-in. Of course, the Aether has a gargantuan 15.3 mm planar driver and so it definitely needs many hours of burn-in. Not that much needs to change either. However, out of straight up due-diligence I will suffer the wait and put them on the burn-in station. I am eagerly awaiting many hours of critical listening, and I will certainly make that happen soon. With that said, I’ll see you folks in about two weeks. So, without further ado, the Kiwi Ears Aether everyone…
Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:
Disclaimer:
I received the Kiwi Ears Aether from Kiwi Ears as a review sample and in exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. This set is a review sample iem. Kiwi Ears has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be. However, this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to Kiwi Ears, and thanks for reading.
Aether Pros
-Simply put, one of the best planars you can buy at any cost
-Build Quality is substantial
-What a nice design!
-Great balance across the mix
-No egregiously planar sounding timbre. Timbre is quite good.
-So smooth, yet so technically proficient, what a wonderfully tuned set!
-Big, expressive, and clean macro-dynamics.
-Nicely balanced sound
-Bass is deep, penetrative, authoritative, but also fast, precise, clean
-Midrange timbre, midrange transparency, midrange tonality, midrange in general
-A planar which is fantastic for vocals
-Brilliant enough treble, sparkly, nice bite, nice note body, extension, airy
-Detail Retrieval across the spectrum
-Imaging and layering of the sound field is great
-Very wide, tall, deep, almost 3D soundstage
-Perfect balance of musicality and technical ability
Aether Cons
-Maybe the Shells will be too large for some folks
-Most certainly the Aether shines with additional power
-Warm, lush, dark lovers will not be pleased
-Everything else is ridiculously picky, a waste of digital ink
Gear used for testing
–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
Packaging / Accessories
Unboxing
The Kiwi Ears Aether arrived at my home in a fairly large rectangular box (6.5” x 4.5” x 2”) with a pink/purple sleeve covering it and a nice picture of the Aether on the front etc. On the back you won’t see anything of importance but on the side, there are some specs pertaining to the Aether. Take off the sleeve and you find a silver box with “Kiwi Ears” imprinted in the center. Open the box (a ton of suction, not simple) and you’ll see a thin box which holds the Aether’s manual, the QC pass card, and a warranty card. Take out that layer and you’ll see the gorgeous Aether sitting pretty in white foam molds on the top left. Just next to the Aether earphones on the left side is another small box which holds all of the eartips in small baggies separated by the style of tips. There’s also one more box which carries the carrying case. Take out the carrying case, open it up, and you’ll see the cable wrapped up neatly inside. For $169 the unboxing isn’t bad by any stretch. Though, it also isn’t the best we’ve seen. It’s a nice box, almost Apple-esque, or somewhat in the vein of a Tanchjim unboxing. It’s definitely nice. However, not tops in class. Which is fine. Not bad.
Eartips
So Kiwi Ears provided a total of nine pairs of tips over three different styles of tips (three pairs of each style). The first set (S, M, L) of three tips are black silicone eartips with a narrow bore, somewhat longer, flimsy at the flange, not very rigid at the stem. I am not a fan of those. The next set (S, M, L) of three tips are some white silicone tips which also have a narrow bore, exactly the same size and appearance as the black tips but these have a slightly firmer flange. These aren’t bad tips at all and will be useful for other sets, not for the Aether. The last set (S, M, L) of three tips are a light gray flanged and red stem pair of silicone tips with a semi-wide bore and which have a fairly firm flange and rigid stem. I certainly like the gray/red tips the best, but I definitely wanted to tip roll to find the most suitable eartips per my unique preferences. So, after many eartips tested with the Aether I found that the Hiby WG01 tips easily worked the best for me. Oddly enough, when I reviewed the Airoso I also preferred the WG01 tips. I also really liked the Dunu S&S tips with the Aether, but the WG01 is much more comfortable for me.
Carrying Case
The Kiwi Ears Aether comes packaged with a decent carrying case. The case is a black faux leather covered zipper case. It’s a nice enough case for its purpose. It’s actually the same case provided with many of Kiwi Ears iems. I actually just reviewed the Kiwi Ears Airoso, and it is the same case provided with that. At any rate, it’s a decent sized case. Just large enough to fit the Aether and the cable, possibly some extra tips. Inside if the case is lined with some softer fabric along with a mesh pocket as well. Also, the case is a good size if you like to carry it in your pocket. It isn’t going to bulge out too weirdly.
Cable
The cable provided is nice looking. I certainly wouldn’t call it a ‘best-in-class’ type of wire or anything, but it’s nice. Now, I do have a small gripe that could be resolved fairly easily for Kiwi Ears… maybe. I really would’ve liked to have seen a modular cable, or at least an option for a 4.4 balanced cable. I feel that Kiwi Ears either slightly missed the boat on this or they already know that you are going to cable swap and so they provide any ole’ cable. Perhaps, to put more money into the earphones themselves. I’m perfectly happy with the latter. I really am. One more thing, with planar magnetic earphones the general rule of thumb is that they need some power to shine. Also, generally, a 4.4 balanced cable will provide the higher output on almost all source devices on the market. Planars need juice folks. So, in that respect I would’ve liked to have seen a 4.4 option at purchasing. Not that the included cable is a bad cable either as it really isn’t bad at all. I just feel that the package would be more complete with a nice-looking modular system. Or the option to go with a 4.4. That’s it. We are so used to seeing modular nice fatty fat cables on plus $150 sets anymore which was a very small let down. No biggie though, the included cable is not bad looking and it does its job just fine. Coincidentally, I said that exact same thing in the Airoso Review.
The included cable
Okay, I know I just got done expressing my wish for something different but, as far as the included cable is concerned it’s still a very nice wire. I think that “aesthetically” it fits the Aether very well. I am a person who desires my cables to fit the aesthetic of the earphones. With the Aether, I feel that there’s only three to four colors which really jive well with it. So long as the predominant color of the cable is silver, black, or white. In my opinion any of these solid colors will work and you’ll have a dead ringer for a nice aesthetic pairing with the Aether. Thankfully, the included cable is completely blacked-out. It’s a dark glossy black with black fittings (y-split, cable cinch, connectors etc.) and that jet black coloring fits perfectly with the Aether. Plus, the included cable is very pliable, semi-fat, nice braid. Now, I have no idea what material the cable is. I’m assuming it’s a silver-plated copper cable, but I don’t know for sure. I wish I did have that info for you, so forgive me for that. The only info that Kiwi Ears provides is that the cable is a 3.5 single ended cable which terminates with 0.78, 2-pin connectors. Oh, and that it’s detachable. That’s it. At any rate it’s actually a nice cable and so I’m not dishing on Kiwi Ears at all. It makes no microphonic noise, it’s soft, easy to manage, easy to roll up and store, very pliable, and it’s nice to look at too. I simply wish that it was either a nice modular cable, or that the consumer had the option for 4.4 at purchasing. No biggie.
What cable did I use?
However, it took me all of about a half a minute to decide that I’m definitely going to cable swap. I went through so many cables folks. Probably about 10 in total. Well, I ended up using two different cables for the review and ultimately landed on one which will stay on the Aether. The first cable is the silver BGVP modular cable that came with the BGVP Melody. You’ll see it in some of the pics. Truly a nice cable. However, the sweetest sound that I heard came from one of my favorite semi-budget aftermarket cables in the Audioverse, the FSIjiangyi SPC 4.4 balanced cable. I’m telling you folks; it is a very special cable which should cost twice as much. At any rate, the sound paired with the Aether is wonderful. The upper mids are brought out so nicely and the bass gains an even tighter expression. I realize that some of you don’t believe in cable tonality changes, but I can assure you, there’s a definite difference. Unless my mind/ears deceived me. Three other budget cables which worked nicely are the Simgot LC7, the KBear Chord 4.4 and the Nicehck IcyMoon 4.4. Still, I also realize that not everyone has the extra money to throw down on a 3rd party cable. Also, the 3.5 single ended cable provided is still pretty decent to look at and it does its job well.
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality
Starting off with the build quality of the Kiwi Ears Aether I feel that it has very nice structural integrity, it’s substantial, and rather large too. Large enough that I should provide the disclaimer that small ears may want to think twice or at least compare with other larger sets to know if they’ll fit you. I don’t have that problem. So, the Aether has what appears to be a 3D printed resin shell, somewhat rounded in its body, smooth everywhere. The faceplates are made with a resin coating over the gorgeously designed centerpiece. Around the resin faceplate is an aluminum border which creates a very nice color contrast. Kiwi Ears made the Aether so that it is a semi-open back design as there’s three smaller vent holes near the back Chamber near the female 2-pin connectors at the top-back of the shells. There’s also another small vent near the nozzles. The nozzles are 6.5mm in width, made of a pretty aluminum, nice eartip ridge for holding them on tightly. Also, the nozzles are medium in length (what’s medium Chris?), not too long nor too short. I wouldn’t say the build is going to wow you, or make you gasp with wonder, but it is a very nice build. I used the word “substantial” because they are definitely substantial in both quality and size. They just feel solid. However, the Aether is also a light earphone and very comfy. If I were a betting man, I’d say that for sure the Aether weighs between 7-10 grams. They just feel nice in the ear. Overall, the build quality is pretty nice.
Design
I’ve already somewhat explained the design just a moment ago, but I love the look! It is so dope looking with a very unique, very simple design with a classy touch of pizazz. Again…I absolutely love it. Kiwi Ears designs always seem to veer into the simple and minimalist side of the aisle. However, in all of their simple designs they usually have a touch of elegance. Or some distinguishing feature which adds some zest to an otherwise plain Jane design. Well, except for the Kiwi Ears Melody, that’s as plain Jane as it gets. But I digress, the Aether is beautiful, handsome, even elegant, and it has just the right amount of that “zest” that I was just referring to. That zest can be seen in the center of the faceplates under the transparent resin within the aluminum border. You’ll see tiny speckled electric teal and purple glitter slightly/randomly covering a black/stone-gray ribbed design underneath. Okay, I did a bad job explaining that, but you can just look at the pictures. Truly a dope looking set which will look dope whilst walking around the market, bus rides, wherever you go. The design gets an “A” from me, nice job Kiwi Ears artisans and designers.
Internals
Okay, now we get to the heart of this set. That “heart” is the planar magnetic driver which sits inside the Aether within the acoustic cavity. Friends, when I saw that the Aether was going to feature this driver, I was very happy to see something different. What’s different you ask? Well, the planar inside is a massive 15.3 mm planar driver. Darn near every planar on the market that isn’t a micro-planar runs between 10-14 mm in size. So, to see something this large in a set of in-ear monitors was very cool for me. Surrounding the 15.3 mm driver is an array of N52 neodymium magnets. Beyond the driver, Kiwi Ears states that they upgraded the acoustic chamber. I don’t know “how” they upgraded the chamber, but it’s upgraded, nonetheless. I know that Kiwi Ears gave the Aether an almost semi-open back design. Like I said earlier, the Aether has three side-by-side small backside vents which may explain the upgrade. Anyways, there isn’t much more info that I have on the internal makeup of the Aether. Despite that, 15.3 was all I needed to hear.
Fit / Comfort
As far as fit and comfort the Aether is pretty comfortable for me once I get them in my ears and sealed with the right tips. Like I said, the body of the shells are somewhat rounded and fairly large in size and so the beefiness of the shells may be a problem for smaller ears. I can tell you that I don’t have big ears, and the Aether fits me very well. So, take that for what it’s worth. Also, the Aether is not a heavy set of earphones which greatly helps over long listening periods. I would say that so long as you find the perfect eartips for you then the Aether is likely going to fit the majority of hobbyists just fine.
Drivability
Output Power
The Kiwi Ears Aether is a fairly sensitive planar magnetic set. Then again, most planars nowadays are fairly sensitive. To be exact, the Aether is rated with an impedance of just 14 ohms and a sensitivity of about 105 dB SPL/mW (@1khz). Basically, the Aether can be played with even sensitive sources. I used my old Android phone, my iPad, and a no name Amazon dongle dac (super weak output) and the Aether was able to get to nice volume on each. However, the Aether wants and desires greater power like a cold glass of water in the desert my friends. You should feed it. Just like most any planar magnetic earphone that I’ve owned or reviewed, the Aether comes alive and reaches its full potential with good output power. What do I mean by good output? Well, for me, it wasn’t until I put the Aether in the EPZ TP50 on high gain that I started to hear the Aether ramp-up its dynamics, tighten in certain areas etc. Even more so when I attached the Aether to my daps and larger dac/amps like the Fiio JM21, iBasso DX240, Shanling M6 Ultra, Fiio Q15 etc. Having said all of that, to my ears you could easily find great enjoyment out of the Aether with a decently powerful dongle dac. You don’t need a huge desktop power supply to wake up the Aether. Maybe 100-150 mW @16 ohms. Of course that’s on the low-end, but it isn’t that weaker sources cannot bring the Aether to volume because they most certainly can. It’s about the fluid and emphatic dynamics which seem to come through clearer when using more output and better sources.
Source Pairing
One thing I love about the Kiwi Ears Aether is how easily it adapts to different source tonalities. The Aether naturally comes across carrying a closer to neutral sound with a touch of low-end warmth, and so finding a suitable source to pair with it is quite easy. The only type of source tonality I didn’t enjoy was with brighter sources. That’s it. The Aether is so well balanced tonally and doesn’t have any one area stealing the focus in my opinion. So, there’s not a whole lot to have exaggerated (bright, warm, sharp, muddy) one way or the other from source devices. That’s not to say that any source will fit your particular preferences, but in general the Aether is tuned in such a way that many devices seem to work very well when attached. I used a lot of source devices, as per usual. My favorite source that I used is my Shanling M6 Ultra which comes across highly resolving but also warm/neutral with a less enthusiastic upper end of the spectrum. However, the neutral iBasso DX240, the slightly warm/neutral Fiio Q15 and even the neutral Fiio JM21 all helped the Aether to sound very nice. With all that said, I prefer a source with a touch of warmth with this set.
What do you need?
I would spring for a decent Dongle Dac with sufficient power if you want to begin getting the most from the Aether. Believe me it’s worth it. Truly a special iem when paired well tonality-wise and when powered well. However, don’t fret too much over pairing or “synergy” as the Aether does well attached to many devices.
Sound Impressions
*Note: before I dive into the sound portion of this review, I have a few things to speak on. First, I did burn in the Aether for roughly about four days, maybe a hair longer. Next, I used Hiby WG01 eartips for best seal, comfort, and perceived sound quality. Also, I listen mainly with flac or better files stored on my devices, I rarely stream my music. The Android music player that I use in my devices is almost always UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro). However, I do at times use Hiby Music Player as well.
How does it sound?
Friends, the Kiwi Ears Aether is truly a special iem. I’m not going to beat around the bush here. Let’s just take the guesswork out of it. Without question the Aether is one of the best planar magnetic earphones that my ears have heard. The entire spectrum is complete, balanced very well, with no one area taking the brunt of the focus from any other area. Nothing stands out in that way. Instead, it’s the entire tonal body (spectrum) as a whole which works cohesively to bring a very mature sound, a very fun sound, a very dynamically expressive sound, a very technically inclined sound, and a sound with very nice timbral qualities. I am simply smitten folks. Ever since I first put the Aether in my ears and hit play… It was love at first listen. Okay, I may have taken that a hair too far. Plus, like anything the Aether does have some slight “subjective” issues, or, “preferential” issues which some consumers may have. With that said, folks this set is one of the most complete planar magnetic earphones that I’ve heard.
Tell me more…
So, the Kiwi Ears Aether comes across as predominantly neutral with a nice layer of warmth. A little bass region weight provides just enough warmth to observe a semi-rich note body. Which by the way is nice to hear from the Aether. This means that it’s lean enough to not clog the lines between instruments, less hanging fat, and it’s rich enough to provide some added weight, some authority, some machismo. Then again, it’s also not so lean that it comes across frail, weak, dry, or papery. It’s semi-rich, it’s what a balanced sound should have. Now, as far as sound signature, I’d say the Aether lines up anywhere from a slight V-shaped sound signature to a U-shaped sound signature. I suppose if you put a squirt gun to my head I’d say it leans closer to U-shaped. The reason that I say that is because while the Aether does have a lifted bass region and an equally boosted treble region, it also has a somewhat forward midrange. Well, it certainly isn’t recessed or distant. However, these “sound signatures” are all subjectively labeled and clearly, they can be different for everyone. As in, what you think is “forward” may not be “forward” to me. At any rate, it’s probably best described as U-shaped in my opinion.
Timbre
Another nice aspect of the Aether is its very nice timbre for a planar earphone. I can (at times) hear an ever-so-slight planar tinge to it, but in a very organic and natural way. If that makes sense to you. What I don’t hear is that edgy, electric/metallic fuzz which usually lines the crest of most planar notes. The Aether simply sounds refreshing in that way. There’s been a few other planar sets which exhibit this type of solid timbre in different ways. Sets like the Letshuoer S08 (S08 Review), the Letshuoer S12 2024 Edition (S12 2024 Review), as well as the Letshuoer S15 (S15 Review). Basically, you get all the benefits of a good planar driver without the coarse note delivery of most planars. Add to that the nice dynamic and tonal balance that the Aether has and what you end up with is a very finely tuned iem. The Aether has enough air to the sound to create a sense of space, a feeling of openness, yet not so much to sound thin or artificial to my ears. While the Aether isn’t as tonally and timbrally correct as some dynamic drivers, I gotta say, it’s pretty close. So not perfectly natural, but natural enough for me to think “Damn, that’s some nice timbre!”.
All about Balance…
Planar, or no planar, it’s a very well-tuned set. Its nicely smooth underbody and fundamental tone is featured across the spectrum. Yet the Aether also has good crispness and crunch as well. This helps tremendously for different instruments to add that hard clanging snap, that clean edge which so many instruments need to sound authentic. The good kind of edginess. When a track displays such a thing, that is. Add to that the awesome technical ability of the Aether. I hear very good detail retrieval with very high resolution, good separation of elements within the sound field, wonderful imaging, and I hear a massive stage with plenty of depth and good layering for a planar set of earphones. Technically, the Aether is on point, no doubt about it. What makes this set so nice is how musically gifted it is in the face of that very good technical ability. The whole story of this set is one of balance. Balance tonally, dynamically, in its texture, its note body, and even balance in how it’s portrayed. You could call this set a technical beast and in the same sentence say it’s a fluid, rhythmic, and musical dynamo. Actually, nobody says “dynamo”, but you get the gist. It’s all about balance. You could also say that the Aether represents what some would consider a benchmark type sound, dare I say a… reference sound for an under $200 planar. Shoot, for an under $300 planar. Yes, it is that good in my personal opinion.
Bass Region
The low-end of the Kiwi Ears Aether has a very tight and fairly rigid rumble which has very solid extension into the lowest of lows. I find this planar bass to be highly capable of producing some above moderate impact with a very satisfying result. The Aether has a very hard-edged attack with a nicely dense feel to the low-end. Now, this isn’t an overly boosted range to the point that it’d please those bass-bois amongst us, but the bass hits with some good authority providing a very healthy slam and a nice hard impact. Now, the bass won’t exactly give you the palpable and hard driving depth of a dynamic driver, but it is surely very close. The Aether’s bass is a very detailed, well defined, layered, and it’s a very tight bass that doesn’t quite have the organic resonance of a dynamic driver either. However, I take absolutely nothing away from what Kiwi Ears was able to accomplish with this tuning. Let’s put it this way, the low-end has enough weight to be satisfying but it isn’t so emphasized that it’ll cause further issues anywhere else. This is quality over quantity without lacking quantity. It’s rigid, it’s dense enough, it’s fast enough for complicated bass passages, and it is a very ductile and agile low-end as well. Very good for a planar magnetic in-ear.
Sub-Bass
The lowest of the lows reaches deep and has solid extension. The Aether provides a fairly meaty rumble without mudding up the mix in any way. Like I said, it’s just-above-moderate in actual emphasis and likely won’t appeal to heavy bass head folks, but it still has enough of a low droning growl to give a nice haptic feedback. Very nice actually. Nice enough that the casual listener will probably not be able to distinguish the difference between this planar and a dynamic driver. For real, if it wasn’t for the speed and agility of this planar bass then I’d say there’s really not a huge difference. You still have some nice vibratory goodness in the sublevels of the bass and the Aether can reach a fairly deep-toned and rotund rumble. The sub-bass is very well textured with precise note outlines, nothing soft, nothing fuzzy, nothing which I would ever consider as pillowy. I definitely enjoy the depth of the bass in the track “Angel” from Massive Attack. Is deep, reverberant, heavy enough. Or the track “Violent” by Tupac, another real haptic and textured display of a meaty track. Again, not bass head, but substantial. Not earth shaking, but bulbous in a bulbous track. Basically, when a track calls for it the Aether will reciprocate with a clean and tidy version of the artist’s intent. Supposing we know the artist’s intent.
Mid-Bass
Making our way into the mid-bass brings on much of the same verbiage as I used in the sublevels on the Aether. When a track calls for it the Aether will rise to the occasion with a very definitive and acute slam accompanied by very nice surface texture to each note. Well, that’s if the recording offers such texture. At any rate, I hear a solid impact for drums, a pointed attack on snares, tight and resolved bass drops, fullness in bass guitars, along with a deft and generally spry note body. There isn’t some bullish and overtly wide bass presence in the Aether’s mid-bass either. The mid-bass doesn’t obscure the mix. It’s actually quite the opposite as the Aether comes across with a more nuanced approach, a great balance too. Tracks like “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams offer that speedy, authoritative, and nuanced sound that the Aether thrives with. Another track which showcases the Aether’s skill level to the max is “Higher Ground” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Beginning with a hard edged and abrasive bass guitar the Aether growls right through with enough guttural depth. However, as the drums kick in the Aether handles the simultaneous bass sections perfectly and without losing clarity or dynamics. Beyond that, the mid-bass does bleed slightly into the midrange yet not to a detriment in my opinion. Really very nice folks.
Downsides to the Bass Region
I’d say that those folks who simply love that earthy and resonant bass of a full sounding dynamic driver will likely not enjoy the clean lined approach of the Aether. Like hearing the bass drop in “Ultimate” by Denzel Curry. The harmonics sound a hair clipped with its cleaner style. Some folks love that lingering buzz in their music. I totally understand it too. I’m talking about those sets which provide an actual atmospheric type of bass. The only other subjective qualms which some particular folks may have is those people who truly detest any bass interference or bass influence in their music. There are moments where the Aether’s low-end may slightly mask some instrumentation and the bass does bleed into the midrange too. I suppose those folks who only like a crystal-clear midrange untouched by the warmth of the low-end may be somewhat put-off with the Aether. To be honest, I feel the bass bleed only enhances the listening experience for me. Certainly not something which I feel needs changed. However, I’m not you though.
Midrange
To me the midrange is one of very good clarity, subtle warmth, smoothness and the crisp ability to hit a clean note edge in a precise manner. I wouldn’t call the midrange the crown jewel of the Aether, but it certainly isn’t a problem either. In fact, I’m impressed as the mids on this set have that semi-rich note body coupled with a highly technical presentation. These are usually two adverse words which usually would cancel one or the other out, at least to a degree. A lot has to do with the Aether’s very clean and tight transient response and well-defined note delivery along with a very kinetic, very agile, very nimble ability to maneuver around even complex music with relative ease. Of course, there’s some caveats to that, but for the most part the Aether definitely has that fast-twitch response to dynamic volume changes, and even the micro-dynamics to effectively help reproduce the subtleties within my music very well. It can stop at the drop of a dime and accelerate in an instant (so to speak), all the while keeping a good hold of its musicality and not losing the emotion of a track. Which brings me to what I enjoy most about the midrange; the constant knack for being able to convey (through tonal and melodic goodness) the liquid, cadenced, and fluid feeling of my music whilst not coming across too warm, veiled, & blunted. The coexistent technical & musical sweet spot that the Aether seems to reproduce is not bad at all for a planar at this price.
Better midrange sets?
Now, having said all of that, there are definitely iems under, at, or slightly above the price of the Aether which specialize in the midrange and certainly replay this area of the mix with better authenticity. Is authenticity what we are always after? Perhaps. If so, no doubt I have plenty in my collection which have more of a midrange focus, more organic midrange timbre, even more liquid vocals, more exclusively tuned to this region. For what it’s worth I adore solid midrange sets. However, those sets “usually” have certain “exceptions” which must be made to pull off those awesome midrange displays. There are some outliers, some unicorns if you will, which hold onto a nicely balanced sound altogether and don’t seem to lack as much at the edges of the spectrum. This is where I’d say that the Aether kind of does it all pretty darn nicely. Maybe the Aether is a “Jack of all trades, master of none” type of sound, but I think it’s more than that. Instruments & vocalists are actually sitting somewhat forward, definitely not recessed and there’s a nice dynamic contrast in this region with some nice energy and presence too. As I said, the note body is semi-rich, not thin, dry, or anemic sounding. Notes have some density, some mass to them, or some palpable texture while also having a well layered stage, a very airy and an open stage, and a decent roundness to notes as well. Still, you will hear the faintest tinges of planar timbre squeak through at times. But that’s where the issues stop.
Lower-Midrange
The lower-mids are not pushed back or distant which is the case all too often. I’d actually say they are somewhat close to the listener without calling them “forward” leaning. I’d say male voices are roughly on the same plane forward/backward to instruments, perhaps a hair closer. It must have something to do with the clear definition outlining most notes along with the subtly richer body to those notes. “Heaven Without You” by Alex Warren shows this to an extent. His voice is smooth, while the acoustic guitar strumming along has a very crisp sparkle to it. The nice thing here is that his voice is tonally on-point, and he isn’t distant to the listener. His voice also has that good presence that I was talking about. The slight warmth drawn into male voices from the spill-over from the bass region brings some semblance of authority or command to the intonations in those voices. Max McNown sings “A Lot More Free” with his harmoniously raspy voice and the Aether does a nice job of focusing the sound on his voice. Once again, I hear a very emotionally gratifying sound from this region as Max’s vocals have the slight oomph and solid timbral qualities. I certainly wouldn’t say that the Aether specializes in male vocals, but I have yet to hear any male sound downright off, bad, or even subpar. In truth, some males come across flat-out awesome.
Upper-Midrange
The upper-mids are more energetic as per usual. I hear a nice shimmer in this region as there’s certainly an upper-mid boost without anything coming across shouty or harsh. They’re also more forward in the sound field and very well highlighted against the mix. This type of forwardness definitely pays off for any female voices as well as instruments. I like that the upper-mids have a certain fluid moistness. There’s a smoothness to vocalists and instrumentation as well. I find the upper-mids to be very well detailed, fast transients, and still a solid note body and denseness. Again, very nice for females. The track “Set Sail (Prometheus & Eros)” by Lake Street Dive really drives this point home when I hear Rachael Price‘s voice harmonize with such a sweet boldness. Her voice is stout, but melodic, it’s crisp and also so very resolute against the backdrop of the melody surrounding her. Rarely do I ever hear any touches of planar style metallic timbre but instead hear a very natural sound more than anything. Like Sia in the track “I Forgive You”, her voice is absolutely profoundly resounding. I listen to this track in every review to check for that edgy abrasiveness that will either sound far too coarse, or it can sound whetted and cleanly sharp. Her voice has this ever-present rasp and hoarseness that will always come across ridiculously rich, dulcet, and honeyed. No doubt the Aether does her voice sweet justice without all the negative side effects that can accompany a voice such as hers.
Instruments
Guys and gals, I honestly find almost no real issues with any instruments as the sound is so well tuned within this midrange. You have very nice timbre along with a very resolving sound. Every last little harmonic is heard effortlessly with the Aether in my ears. You also have enough sparkle to add some clean and pointed snap to percussion. Especially listening to a nice snare. That hard and visceral “pap” comes through very precisely. Or the fundamental tone and body of a cymbal strike which usually sound full and not too pronounced or splashy. Strings generally come across wonderfully edgy and sweet toned with that silvery type of viscosity to strings. That goes for guitar, violin, etc. I honestly don’t enjoy going through random instruments only because every track can replay them differently. However, in the most general of ways I can say that I don’t hear anything which is tonally off-putting, too sharp, too analytically dry, nothing too thin, and I don’t really hear anything which is artificial sounding. Forgive me if this isn’t the best explanation of how instruments come through on this set, but I have been impressed from the jump with the Aether and constantly I’m enjoying myself lost in my music.
Downsides to the Midrange
If I were to point out issues that some folks may have, I’d first say that those people who want a thick, warm, rich, and less energetic sound may not be completely taken with the sound of the Aether’s midrange. Not that the Aether isn’t “rich” either, because they certainly are in a less lush/warm sense. The dynamism of each note and the clarity of each note almost provides that semi-rich sound. Like I said earlier there’s density to the Aether’s semi-rich note body. But the Aether isn’t that lush type of bass infused, top-end rolled-off sound which carries that nice and inviting subtle veil over the sound. Sort of like the Kiwi Ears KE4. The Aether has an airy sound, great separation, nothing stuffy at all, and a very nice vibrance to the sound. I’d also say those folks who only want the most pristine sound with zero bass influence. I know plenty of people who only love detail beasts where “thin” is a “pro”. There are the faintest touches of planar timbre at times too. Again, nothing which I ever pay attention to but if I’m listening for it I’ll hear it. Of course, those moments are very few and far in between.
Treble Region
I absolutely enjoy the treble on this set folks. I hear a very dexterously articulate sound up top while with extremely good control over this area of the mix. Every transient attack through sustain is met with precision coupled with solid dynamics. The treble has some nicely capped veracity that never seems to extend past the point of shrillness to my ears. It’s got awesome note control and tonal control. I feel that the treble region has a very nice emphasis which keeps a near perfect balance with the bass, both in dynamics and tone. I wouldn’t call the treble region anywhere near bright, though it does carry some brilliance. You have a very nice and edgy bite when a track calls for it with enough sparkle and resplendency to offer my music the “cherry-on-the-top” that I desire so much. Timbre is also very nice folks. Nothing is over-saturated with the Aether’s treble, and it isn’t dark, rolled off, or strident in piercing sharpness, at all. The treble really comes across pretty naturally for me. Also, it seems that nothing is too complicated for this treble. Every track is met with clean lined, glass-lined, and fine-lined control. I’m just so impressed that a set can resolve so well with such distinction.
Extension
I also hear a very nice and extended upper treble which provides plenty of air and controlled radiance to the sound of this set. This air region lift is very nicely emphasized as it isn’t taken to the extreme like we hear so often, but it’s kept to a tonally accurate degree. For the most part anyways. Let’s put it this way, the extension and lift at the top end doesn’t produce that splashy sound from the secondary harmonics of a cymbal strike and I don’t ever recall hearing any sheened out treble glare. It’s such a tasteful lift, a tasteful extension. Again, the treble is boosted and extended just enough to provide air across the treble. That air and moderate openness extends down through the midrange. Like I mentioned, the treble in general is lifted enough to counter the low-end quite well. However, back to the point of this paragraph, the treble extension adds width to the stage and provides plenty of info past 10k. Please understand that this isn’t an artificially enhanced increase in the upper treble either. I find the tuning to be very calculated and perfectly measured to extend the cohesion of the entire frequency range in a very proportionally weighted manner.
Do expect…
I still wouldn’t refer to the treble as a treble-head’s dream, however. I don’t think the Aether’s treble region is boosted enough for that. Also, don’t expect some well-tuned Sonion EST type treble either. Do expect a very well controlled region with better than adequate crunch and crispness that helps very nicely to define the smooth underlying sound across the region. Expect a well layered treble region with great note separation and distinct note outlines. Do expect very clean details that don’t sound forced. And I’d expect to hear a very nuanced and articulate treble that never sounds overbearing, tizzy, too shiny, and it never really sounds artificial. Those are things to expect. I think I enjoy what I’m hearing so much because the Aether simply has some treble punch to it, some snap, it isn’t dull, it isn’t flat, and it isn’t smoothed over at the crest of each note. Yet it is smooth. Friends, for $169 this treble region is quite awesome.
Downsides to the Treble Region
If I were to pick apart the treble I could say a lot of things, but I’m not in this to pick anything apart. I’m in this to realistically explain what I hear and hopefully these very generalized “downsides” that I always jot down help you in some way. I think of the person who loves that creamy overall sound which features a rolled-off and non-intense treble region. Those folks do exist and there are a lot of them. Having said that, the thing about the Aether is that it is barely brilliant. It is in no way “rolled off”, but it isn’t bright either. I’m telling you; it is very well measured folks. Very calculated in how Kiwi Ears doled out the emphasis across the mix to come across with a solid tonal and dynamic balance (yes, I realize I’ve said that a few hundred times). However, I don’t think that the Aether has the type of treble that those dark treble lovers would ever really desire. Especially for those folks who are overly sensitive. Again, they exist, and again, there’s a lot of them. The other type who probably wouldn’t be completely thrilled with this region is true treble heads. I’d much sooner point them to the Simgot ET142 and a handful of others which have an actual focus in the treble region. Having said that, I don’t think that the ET142 has a “better” treble. But I’ll save that for later. For me personally, I wouldn’t change a thing with this top-end tuning. I feel that Kiwi Ears are truly showing off their skills very well and I’d love to give everyone involved with the end product a good pat on the back. Nice work.
Technicalities
Soundstage
One thing which stood out to me early on with the Kiwi Ears Aether is that it has a very nice and open soundstage. Good in all directions. The Aether has very nice width, decent enough height, but the Aether has better depth than I’m used to hearing in planar iems. Well, in any iems. To put it more expressively, the Aether presents an almost holographic stage. I know that we say that a lot, but the Aether truly does have some nice front to back delineation of the sound field with a darn near 3D sense to it. Of course, a lot depends on the type of music you listen to, your source plays a part, quality of the recording makes a difference too. But friends, the Aether most certainly has a very nicely rendered soundstage. In my opinion anyways. One of the larger soundstage presentations from a planar that I’ve heard. The S15 from Letshuoer has a nice stage, the Hidizs MP145 no doubt has a great stage, and so does the S12 2024 from Letshuoer. However, the Aether seems to eclipse them all by slight margins. Basically, it’s a nice soundstage, it isn’t stuffy, isn’t congested, and it won’t compress the sound of your music.
Separation / Imaging
Another solid aspect of the Kiwi Ears Aether is its ability to render and separate multiple elements and moving parts within that nice stage. I wouldn’t say the Aether is class leading in this regard, but it has a very clean sound almost across the board and each note is rendered with nice definition. Transients are tight, the stage is wide and open, and the sound has very nice resolution too. What it boils down to is a set with better than average instrument separation. Imaging follows the same trajectory and then some. Folks, the imaging ability and the layering ability of this set are very nice to my ears. I simply don’t have anything really bad to say about the technical aspects concerning the Aether. Perhaps, maybe, on some tracks with loads of heavy bass you’ll hear some masking, some tightening of the sound field. I think that should probably be expected though.
Detail Retrieval
I’ve said many times within this review that detail retrieval is certainly above the average for this price point. I wouldn’t refer to the Aether as a detail-oriented set just because it does have a fair amount of smoothly rendered musicality. Yet I would say that details emerge rather easily within my music. There’s really not very much which will get blurred-out or masked-over with the Aether. Those clean and quick transients, airy sound, solid note separation, and relative transparency certainly favor hearing the subtle and finer details in music. Without question the Aether is far above the average under $200.
Comparisons
Simgot ET142 ($219)
The Simgot ET142 (ET142 Review) came to market just a couple months ago and instantly became a solid planar iem competing for your dollar. I found the ET142 to be a truly special iem which specializes in the technical aspects of music listening. Simgot used a 12.5 mm planar magnetic driver, ultra-thin diaphragm housed within a dual sided magnet array. The ET142 is a bona-fide stud and beloved by many, however, there are certainly those who do not enjoy what Simgot created in this set. Let’s check out some differences between these two well regarded planar magnetic earphones.
Differences
To begin, the unboxing with the ET142 is undoubtedly better. They simply offer so many awesome accessories. Not to mention their very own Simgot LC7 modular cable, as well as four different sets of tuning nozzles, and ten pairs of eartips. Not that the Aether’s unboxing is bad at all but the ET142 does out compete here. The Aether is a hair larger, but both are fairly big in size. I find the Aether to be comfier for me too. Also, the ET142 are much heavier. As far as build, the ET142 is made entirely with stainless steel while the Aether is made entirely out of light 3D printed resin. Both are very durable and will not corrode. I suppose it’s up to you concerning what set looks better. I honestly love both designs. Both are very unique, and both meet that classy and sleek moniker. Like I said, the ET142 does have tuning nozzles which add some sound value. Though it’s argued that only two of those nozzles are worth their weight. One other thing which is great to see in the ET142 is that Simgot made sure to add in tuning foams to further dial in the sound to fit your preferences. I think that is great. Though the Aether doesn’t need all of that, it’s good just as it is. One more thing, the Aether cost $50 less than the ET142 and so that is one huge thing to consider.
Sound Differences
As far as the sound, the ET142 is definitely the brighter, more analytical, drier, and more technically sound iem of the two. Not to take anything away from the Aether either as it is very good technically. However, the Aether is also the richer and more musical of the two. Slightly warmer and not even close to as sharp or shouty as the ET142 can be (especially with a couple of those nozzles). No doubt the Aether is the more organic, natural and earthy sounding set with more tonally correct timbre. Now, the bass region of the Aether reaches deeper, more haptic, more guttural while the ET142 is tighter and better defined by a small degree. That said, the Aether comes across with more impact, more punch, and it is simply closer to a DD style low-end. The midrange of the ET142 is a hair closer, less authentic in timbre, more clinical in its approach. The Aether is simply more melodic, more musically gifted and much less chance for shout or glare. The treble of the ET142 can go from wildly bright and fatiguing to bright and very well controlled. That said, the Aether trumps the ET142 with its very clean treble which never seems to offend while still coming across with nicer bite, better dynamics, note body, and just as good extension with less splash. Not taking anything away from the ET142 because for what it is, it’s absolutely awesome and I love it. But man, the Aether is special. Lastly, the ET142 is better detailed, equal in sound separation, while the Aether wins on imaging, layering, and has a more massive stage with a more holographic sense to it.
Final thoughts on this comparison
What can I say, we have two different flavors. Like Cherry and Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream battling it out. No doubt this is a definite preference battle. Meaning, you’ll know right away which one aligns with your taste. Both sets offer an incredibly solid take on both sound signatures and tuning styles. I think for me, I’d take the Aether every day of the week. That is, until I want to really hear some fine details or listen to some ridiculously complicated tracks. I should also add that the ET142 is not without musicality either. There’s a reason why so many folks adore that set. Still, the Aether definitely fits my particular and subjective preference a hair better.
Letshuoer S15 ($259)
This brings us to the planar which I thought was the best on the market for quite some time, the Letshuoer S15 (S15 Review). Without question it is a wonderfully tuned iem with its very large 14.8 mm planar magnetic driver and Letshuoer’s expertise with this type of driver. The S15 was really the 1st planar that I felt had all the great qualities of a planar yet without the issues that a planar can have. I still feel that the S15 is a highly underrated planar iem. Which by the way has gone way down in price all the way to $259. Still, it’s almost $100 more than the Aether. Let’s check out some differences.
Sound Differences
Both iems are very well tuned and both display wonderful timbre for planar magnetic earphones. Now, the S15 comes across a bit warmer, richer, and tonally less dynamic with less of a dynamic contrast. I find the macro-dynamics of the Aether are a bit more vibrant. By a small margin. Honestly, these two aren’t very far off from each other tonally. The bass of the Aether is better extended, more weighted, yet also somehow better defined, more nuanced even. Not that the S15 has anything to be shy about as it’s mid-bass does carry slightly more impact and slam. Again, small margins here. The midrange of the S15 is slightly less energetic, warmer, more milky and lush. Though, the Aether is semi-rich with better midrange separation, better detail retrieval, and just as a holographic of a sound field. I’d say the S15 probably fits a more traditionally musical sound, but that’s definitely up for debate. The Aether has more sparkle, it’s much airier, and simply has the more vibrant sound. Neither is prone to shout. The treble of the Aether is simply better to my ears. Almost across the board. Better defined, better bite, it has more treble punch, it’s more brilliant and airy, and it comes across with better extension. Technically, these two sets are very close but the Aether does win out to my ears. Its less rich sound opens up cleaner lines to define instrumentation and vocalists. It has better details, both are awesome with their imaging capabilities, and both sound layered. However, the Aether has a touch more of a 3D style sound and a wider stage. Again, I love these two iems also. Truly awesome sets.
Final thoughts on this comparison
To finish this comparison I’d just like to express that the Aether once again is simply a more complete set, more versatile, and better balanced. Coupled with the fact that technically the Aether seems to win out. Now, the S15 definitely has that richer and warmer presence with a more “musical” presentation, but man that Aether is awesome folks. That said, I could definitely see some folks much more enjoying the S15. In fact, some days I enjoy it more. I suppose it just comes down to my mood, maybe it’d be the same for you.
Is it worth the asking price?
I don’t even want to dignify this question with an answer. However, out of ridiculous due-diligence I will humor both you and I. Friends, please hear me. Or at least pretend. Folks, the Kiwi Ears Aether should cost more. There I said it. I feel like it’s an absolute steal for $169. Especially with the other more expensive planar sets in the market. The only other “almost comparable steal” (I said “ALMOST”) is the Letshuoer S08 (S08 Review) and possibly the Letshuoer S12 2024 Edition (S12 2024 Edition Review). However, what the Aether is able to provide is one of the more balanced and more clinically inclined iems juxtaposed with as much slightly warm musicality as it has under $200. At least that’s how I see it. Like I said earlier in this review, the Kiwi Ears Aether is all about balance, and that balance (among many notable sonic features) is pretty much what sets it apart against the sea of competition.
The Why…
Because the Kiwi Ears Aether is decently packaged with a nice enough unboxing for the cost. Good enough for $169 anyways. Also, the build and design are both robust and striking. You have a very light earphone for the size which also helps it to be one of the more comfortable iems I’ve used in a while. You just got to get them sealed and you’re in business. But that look! The faceplates are one of the more gorgeous and artistic designs within the price point. Kiwi Ears absolutely knocked it out of the park as far as I’m concerned. There’s no way you walk through any market without folks wanting to know what is in your ears. FLAT-OUT DOPE! However, it’s always about the thing that we all wanted to know. Is the Aether a good buy for our hard-earned money when it comes to the sound? Wonderful question that you didn’t ask, let me explain why the Aether is most certainly worth the cost in a very condensed way. Friends, the balance, the pinpoint accuracy, the swift but dynamic transients, the macro-dynamic expression, the controlled vibrance, the deep textured bass, melodic mids, and great treble all coincide to form a fantastic sounding iem. I didn’t even mention the massive and semi holographic stage, the detail retrieval, nice layering and separation of instruments. It’s simply a complete package and a very versatile iem which knows no genre that it can’t replay in a quality manner. I am very pleased with this set and find no way on earth it isn’t worth the cost. Yes, it’s definitely worth the $169 that Kiwi Ears is asking.
Ratings (0-10)
Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the Kiwi Ears Aether ratings below, that would be $100-$250 planar magnetic earphones. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $100-$250 planar earphones don’t represent a huge amount of iems. So, it isn’t out of the question to see a rating above a “9.0”. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.
Aesthetic
–Build Quality: 9.3 All-resin, built very well.
–Look: 9.6 Gorgeous.
–Fit/Comfort: 9.2 Fit and comfort is very good for me.
–Accessories: 8.5 Nice unboxing at the price.
–Overall: 9.2🔥
Sound Rating
–Timbre: 9.8 One of the more natural planars.
–Bass: 9.7 Speedy, authoritative, textured, impactful.
–Midrange: 9.3 Nice musical/technical sound.
–Treble: 9.7 Great control, resolute, nice bite & crunch.
–Technicalities: 9.3 Very solid technically.
–Musicality: 9.0 Nice musicality per the tuning.
–Overall: 9.5🔥🔥🔥
Ratings Summary:
To summarize my ratings from the Kiwi Ears Aether Review I first want to point out the parameters of this ratings session. These ratings were not against any and all iems. That’d make no sense and isn’t helpful. These ratings were against all planars between the prices of $100 and $250. I went that route because most of the time anyone looking to buy a planar set of earphones are usually “only” looking to buy a planar set of earphones. So, the Aether is $169 and therefore it made sense to me to start as low as $100 and stretch the cost up to $250 on the high end. Which may be a bit too high for some. Especially if $169 is at the top of your budget. That all said, the Aether is rated extremely high. I have just about every solid planar in this price point “on-hand” and “in-ear” to perform this ratings period. However, I no longer have older sets like the 7hz Timeless, nor do I have the TangZu X-HBB Wu Heyday. I feel like I have all the rest. I suppose there are a couple I’m not thinking of. However, the point is, I was effectively able to compare these sets with the Aether and here I have jotted down the results. Take them for a grain of salt, please.
Explain Yourself!!
Okay, I realize how high I put the “Timbre” rating. Yes, I gave the Aether a “9.8”. It was either the Aether or the Letshuoer S12 2024 Edition which took top dibs in the timbre department. I gave them both a “9.8” against the field. They both deserve it. Maybe I’m still in the honeymoon phase and possibly I’ll regret that rating, but I doubt it. The timbre is great for a planar. Also, I gave the Aether a super lofty “Bass” rating of “9.7”. I could see some folks thinking I went too high. Seriously though, side by side with these other planars the Aether simply sounded the best to me. The last rating which some may disagree with is the “Treble” rating. I once again gave the Aether an extremely high “9.7” which I feel it deserves. Still, no doubt in my mind one of you is going to message me saying “Dude, you gave it a 9.7 but you also said that treble heads won’t entirely like it”. I did say that, and I won’t take any of it back. Yes, the treble isn’t boosted to the stars but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a very high-quality treble amongst other planars. I feel the treble is one of the Aether’s most inviting and engaging qualities. The other ratings are what they are. This is a solid set folks.
One more thing…
One more thing, please, please, read the little “*Note” at the top under the header of this section. I’ll repeat for the 3rd time what I rated this set against. I said, I’m rating the Aether against all PLANAR earphones between $100 and $250. People always come at me asking how I rate something one way or another when they haven’t even read the stipulations of that rating. At least a couple of you will ask me how the Aether got a “9.5” overall against all iems. It’ll happen, and that’s okay, I’m not mad atcha. It’s funnier than anything else.
Conclusion
To conclude my full review and feature of the Kiwi Ears Aether, I have to extend a huge thank you to the good people of Kiwi Ears, and Evelyn in particular. Thank you very much! Truly, Kiwi Ears is most certainly one of the brands to watch. There’s a handful of very solid audio brands which are primarily budget oriented which truly compete well and constantly craft and create unique and complete products. No doubt Kiwi Ears is one of those brands. I also want to thank you, the reader, for clicking the link and visiting mobileaudiophile.com. You are the reason that we do what we do, and you are the reason that our website keeps growing. All of us thank you very much.
Other Perspectives
You’ve just read my full review of the Kiwi Ears Aether so now I hope you will go and check out other opinions of this set. I can only speak for myself folks. We are all so very different in how we perceive our music through these products. Each of us have our own very particular tastes, different gear, different likes and dislikes, different music libraries and about a hundred other variables which differ from one person to another. It would only serve you better to read, watch, or listen to other reviews from other reviewers. There are so many talented and quality review people who also want to direct you to a product which works for you. Beyond that, I’m done folks. I hope each and every one of you take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!!
