Pros: Great Value, Build Quality, Tuning, Soundstage and Imaging, Warm and Full Vocals, Punchy Bass Response

Cons: Fit, Picky with Source, Some Planar Treble Spice

Driver Setup: 15.3mm planar

Price: $169.99

Intro

Disclaimer: The Kiwi Ears Aether 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 Aether. The Kiwi Ears Aether is available for purchase here, should you find yourself interested in a pair, or feel free to use your links.

Kiwi Ears have entered planar territory with the Aether, and despite not starting off with one that breaks the bank, they have certainly broken new ground with a 15.3mm planar driver, which is purportedly the largest of its kind to be used in an IEM. Coming from someone who really enjoys planar IEMs and headphones, I could not be more excited to try out the Aether.

Accessories

Accessories are similar to what we have come to expect from Kiwi Ears in their recent releases, with a hard zip case and a black cable. The cable this time is slightly thicker and sturdier, which is nice and feels like it would be more durable than the thinner twisted one. Silicone tips are also included which enable you to be ready to go right out of the box.

Build Quality and Fit

The build quality and design give off a rather premium vibe, something Kiwi Ears tend to pull off quite well, apart from the design of the recent Airoso. I like the faceplate on the Aether, and the way it sparkles when reflecting natural light at different angles is really eye-catching. The buds themselves are huge, and though it might not look as daughting when worn on the ears as compared to something like the 7Hz Timeless, the buds are very thick and fill up the entire concha of my ears and more. It feels a little uncomfortable since my ears are slightly smaller than average. I don’t think these would be the most comfortable for me for long listening sessions.

Sound

Sources

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

Music listened to

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

Bass

Bass is present but not very much boosted in the overall tuning. The tuning of the Aether is somewhat around warm-neutral to me. Bass didn’t stand out much to me initially until I switched to a more powerful source, and it seemed to become more punchy and crisp. The bass extends well into the subbass as well and is not muddy throughout, something that good planar earphones tend to do rather well.

Mids

I am a huge vocals person, and I personally really enjoyed the mids on the Aether. It is not too intimate, and vocals have sufficient space to shine. On a decently powerful source, vocals on acoustic tracks come through with such comforting clarity and texture. The quick decay and fast response of the planar driver lend themselves well to instruments like violins. Technical performance and clarity are very good for the asking price of the Aether.

Highs

The treble extends very well, without coming across as screeching, in your face or sibilant. The upper treble gives the overall sense of space and contributes to the overall quality, depth, and naturalness of the instruments and vocals. Cymbals and high-hats have a very nice texture to them, and the clarity is quite distinct. However, this can come across as fatiguing over longer sessions.

Overall

The Aether has a very pleasant tuning, apart from some peaks that become noticeable to me on longer sessions, and there is some fatigue. However, it is not to the extent where I would consider it sibilance, and it doesn’t come across as overly unnatural. The soundstage is quite wide, and I would consider it one of the Aether’s strong suits. However, it is crucial to note that my experience with the Aether varied a bit with different sources.

Conclusion

The Aether is a very musical and enjoyable planar IEM. It feels slightly different to what I am used to from planar IEMs, and it might just be due to the new oversized planar drivers. The imaging and soundstage, and natural tonality were what I found so enjoyable on the Aether. When listening to tracks with multiple instruments and vocals, they all come together without sounding congested.

My biggest gripe with the Aethers, which I would warn people about, is the sheer size of them. They don’t feel all that comfortable in my ears for longer listening sessions, and sometimes don’t sit securely in the ears when walking about with them. The other point to note is that there is a certain peakiness in the upper mids to treble, which can come across as fatiguing to some, depending on the kind of music you listen to.

The previous planar I listened to most was the first iteration of the 7Hz Timeless, a pair I still keep with me today, Between the two, the Aether has a more musical presentation, with more powerful and bodied vocals that I find more enjoyable, though the Timeless might have a better clarity and details. It is also worth noting that the Aether comes in at a more affordable price tag than the current iteration of the Timeless, which I think serves the Aether well in terms of value!

Overall Grade: A

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