Pros: Comfortable Fit, Build Quality, Good V-shape tuning, Powerful Bass Response, Imaging, Clarity

Cons: Stiff competition, Design/Aesthetics, Picky with Source

Driver Setup: Custom High Magnetic Titanium Dynamic Driver

Price: $129.99

Intro

Disclaimer: The Kiwi Ears Airoso was provided to us at no charge courtesy of Kiwi Ears. However, this was done with the understanding I was to give my honest thoughts and opinions of the Airoso. The Kiwi Ears Airoso is available for purchase here should you find yourself interested in a pair, or feel free to use your links.

Accessories

The included accessories are similar to what you get with the other similarly priced, slightly sub-$100 Kiwi Ears IEM. The twisted black cable may look or feel a little cheap and out of place with the IEM, but it is very functional and is soft, so it works just perfectly fine. The tips included are 2 types of silicone tips. There is also a hard zip case, which is always a nice inclusion.

Build Quality and Fit

The fit of Kiwi Ears always just works so well for me. The curves on the inner part of the shell sit ever so snugly in my ears with no weird or sharp edges/corners. They can be comfortably worn for hours on end, and the Airoso is no exception.

Sound

Sources

• Fiio BTR7
• Aune M1P
• SMSL M200 –> Schiit Magnius

Music listened to

• The Weeknd
• The Carpenters
• keshi
• Kygo
• NEEDTOBREATHE
• The Eagles
• Noah Kahan
• etc

Bass

Bass has quite a kick to it with quite a noticeable sub-bass presence. The midbass, however, is not as punchy as I would have liked and seems to have a borderline bleed/bloat to it. But those who want that extra boost in the bass would find this quality beneficial. It really can provide that satisfying lower-end performance on pop and EDM tracks. Bass lines are all very prominent, and what the Airoso excels at here is that it has the technical chops for it and does not come across as muddy at all.

Mids

The mids have a certain breadth to them, and I am trying to avoid using the word Airy just simply because of the IEM’s namesake, but it seems Kiwi Ears have managed to achieve what they set out to do with these.

Vocals are not the star here, but they do not come across as recessed and have a very nice texture to them. Musical lines have their own space to shine and come through with good clarity and detail retrieval. While not the best in this aspect, it does more than enough to hold its own in its price bracket.

Highs

The upper treble extends well, which I suspect plays a hand in the airy texture and presentation of the tuning. The treble, especially the lower treble, is relatively laid back for a V-shape and is not harsh or sibilant at all. It is overall natural and not fatiguing, even for longer listening sessions.

Overall

The Airoso has a nice and enjoyable soundstage. It has good breadth and vertical extension, giving a very expansive sound with very good layering of various melody lines/instruments. This comes through more on more powerful sources that is able to bring the best out of the Airoso. This quality itself is quite addictive, and while not something I picked up immediately while listening to them, I slowly grew to love them.

Conclusion

The Airoso has a pleasant tuning and seems to perform well across a wide range of genres. It has a strong detail retrieval that helps justify its price. Though this is not my favourite tuning from Kiwi Ears, there is a very interesting and unique imaging and staging that the Airoso delivers. I can see these being a decent option for someone getting a versatile do-it-all all IEM. This would especially work for people who enjoy the V-shape tuning of these. The build is great and has the usual comfortable fit, as I always enjoy with Kiwi Ears IEMs, however, I just thought the overall design language of the Airoso could be better. (Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, though, so take my words with a pinch of salt).

Important thing to note was that my experience was quite different using different sources. I found the best experience with my desktop setup, I suspect these might be picky with the source. On the right source, the bass response was quite enjoyable. Although I don’t usually enjoy V-shaped tunings, the Airoso had quite an enjoyable and playful tuning.

Overall Grade: A-

Click HERE for our grading list for earphones