2025 is a year that is filled with amazing brands mushrooming from the land of the dragon that produce products that cross boundaries and Kiwi Ears is truly amongst the big ones rising up. Releases such as Airoso, Septet, Ètude and even studio headphones like the new Altruva are breaking in the market with well received reviews for their amazing performance, build and a fair pricing that doesn’t break the bank. Today we have here the rather new hybrid from Kiwi Ears, the Astral that is one of their classic hybrid configurations of a single dynamic driver with 6 balanced armatures and we are grateful for the opportunity to review the Astral, so a heartfelt gratitude to the team of Kiwi Ears. Hybrid setup might be one of the most common configurations this year and there are more than a handful of great new hybrids out there, so will the Astral be the disruptor in this segment? We shall find out here.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the Kiwi Ears Astral;
Features:-
● Shell; 3D printed Medical Grade Resin body
● Drivers: 1 Dynamic Driver + 6 Balanced Armatures
● Frequency Response; 10Hz – 22kHz
● Cable Details: 1.2 Meter Modular(3.5mm & 4.4mm), 0.78mm, Silver Plated OFC
The Kiwi Ears Astral can be purchased at their website and many other platforms around the globe.
Packaging & Accessories
The packaging here is similar to the other products of Kiwi Ears with a simple packaging with minimal wastage but the Astral has the same premium feel as the Septet and the product is presented in a professional manner. The IEM head is displayed upon unboxing and beneath is a standard Kiwi Ears zippered case, 3 pairs of high quality silicone eartips in blue, extra 3 pairs of metal mesh, a high quality 4 core silver plated OFC cable with 3.5mm and 4.4mm heads and a manual. Straight to the point packaging and it is worth noting that the included cable is one of the more premium cables that is included. The case is a little small though for the whole set of IEM and a bigger, better case will be greatly welcomed.
Design
The Astral has a standard CIEM style of shell that is ergonomic and comfortable. It is a 3D printed medical grade shell that has gone through multiple processes to give a glossy and seamless product that is highly premium on hands and also on the eyes. The finishing of the shell is probably the best I have encountered especially in this price range and the attention to details is evident.
The astral has 2 variations of faceplates in blue or yellow which have iridescent flakes of those colours and the one I have here is the blue version. The blue version does have a cooler look than the yellow ones that are fancier.
In the heart of the Astral is a classic hybrid that consists of a 10mm bioceramic diaphragm dynamic driver that handles the lower region with a 300hz roll-off to make the bass flow better into the midrange. The dynamic is coupled with a total of 6 balanced armatures with a 3+way crossover system where 2 pieces of dual custom tuned armatures take charge of the mids and a dual modified SWFK tweeter for the high range. se A crossover tuning at 300 Hz and a uniform roll‑off up to 15 kHz gives the overall tuning better neutrality alongside a smooth, natural high. The astral has a whooping 9db sub-bass shelf that blends well with the rest of the frequencies with superb immersion.
The nozzle here is made from aluminum alloy and has a 6mm diameter at the tip. They are fitted with metal mesh to prevent moisture and dust from entering. Kiwi Ears has also included 3 pairs of metal mesh for users to replace in case it gets clogged or damaged.
The Astral has a small metal hole near the 0.78mm pin used for the back vent of the dynamic driver. The Astral possesses no driver flex which is great for comfort and longevity.
The cable included is 4 core silver plated oxygen free copper copper with a unique blue and red hue depending on the angles. They are a standard 0.78mm pin with recessed heads and a modular termination with 3.5mm and 4.4mm heads which is great for users with multiple sources. The cable included might be my favourite stock cable in this price range as they are soft, pliable and sounded great with a neutral signature that is clean.
Gears Used for Comparisons
FiiO Q7
Moondrop MIAD01
Questyle M15
7HZ Artemis39
FiiO BTR7
Dunu Luna
Ziigaat Luna
Intime Sho DD
Sony N3AP
Kiwi Ears Septet
Tanchjim Darling
Song List
Tone and Presentation
The tone of the Astral is a neutral warm signature that has its bass boosted and they are a highly musical pair of hybrids that is cohesively tuned with superb technicalities. They do have a good tonal balance with a slight lean towards the bright side. The sound here is rich and they indeed have a wide dynamic range with great extensions especially on the lower region. Though the bass is boosted, the Astral is still able to sound rather balanced with the bass blending in well with the other frequencies producing a smooth yet energetic set that is highly enjoyable all the while being accurate and bold without any overpowering issues. Timbre here is organic, breathy and crisp with a smooth overall sound that has a good treble presence.
Soundstage
The Astral soundstage is pretty good for their price as they do have a wide soundstage along with a decent height but it is quite average for the price range albeit competent. In terms of air, the Astral is indeed airy here with a good size headroom that is spacious and isn’t boxy sounding for sure. They have a great 3D spatial awareness making them suitable even for gaming and movies. The soundstage here is holographic and the placements of sound are easily distinguished. The type of sound projection here is a slightly focused sound that gives a rather intimate presentation without being too boxy.
Separation and Timbre
Separation is superb on the Astral and this is one of their main strengths here and they managed to give a superb stereo width with the left to right well separated with no crosstalk issues. Cohesion here is superb and they are well implemented 3 way crossover tuning with the drivers work harmoniously almost like a single dynamic driver with no major audible gaps present. Timbre here is breathy, punchy and energetically crisp while still managing to sound inoffensively smooth in their overall presentation. There is a mild metallic hint in the timbre from the balanced armatures but it is a minor issue that doesn’t interfere most of the time.
Drivability
Rated at 23 ohms with a 105db sensitivity, they are easily driven with most of the source out there which is great for a portable, casual usage. The scalability of the Astral is good but nothing significant even when used with other higher end products but they do benefit from source matching as a bright signature based source might exacerbate the metallic timbre. They are a forgiving type as normal streaming or low bitrate files still sound decent but higher bitrates files do sound slightly cleaner and clearer as usual. The Astral is a revealing type of IEM and they are able to show flaws in recordings which makes it suitable for professional usage as well making them a versatile IEM.
The Bass (Low)
The bass present here is the dominant, probably the best part of the Astral, as they are immersive, powerful and engaging while keeping a high quality dynamic bass. The bass here is tastefully boosted with a good amount of energy with a dash of warmth without any overpowering issues and they are able to transition smoothly into the midrange. Details here are good with a clear bass that possesses great texture and a good pace that is suited for electronic music as they are able to keep up with busy tracks. The bass resolves very well and they are clean with no muddiness while having a tight slam that rolls off slowly producing a slow decay which gives the bass a lingering presence and it has an airy extension. The bass here might suit bassheads but isn’t for those who listens critically as the evident mid-bass lift may not be as transparent as intended. The sub-bass here is strong, complementing the lifted mid-bass with a good depth and a medium strength rumble that actually balances the whole bass region well.
The Mids
Midrange present in the Astral is a neutral mids with a balanced tone as they do have a lean towards the lower region to give a smoother transition from the boosted lows and a mild upper midrange peak to complement the lower mids balancing out the tonal range. Details here are superb as everything you throw at the Astral sounded clear with great macros and micros details displayed effortlessly but it does lean towards the latter more. Clarity here is great with a clean, accurate, highly transparent sound with a touch of colouration to give some musicalities preventing the mids from sounding too dull. The midrange here resolves well and they are able to sound quite vivid that has a more sweeter impact in the overall music. Vocals here are great as there is a good amount of brilliance in the upper mids and a great depth in the lower region producing a rather balanced vocal presentation. Instruments sounded full and rich but on certain high staccato, they tend to have some minor metallic timbre to them.
The Highs
The high range here is a neutral to almost flat highs that is well balanced albeit possessing some peak towards the 8 to 10khz producing a good amount of bite with no harshness. The overall high range here has a good energetic presence that has a strong sparkle and they are very crisp in their decay. The crispness here is probably the best part of the high range and they are able to give a lively high range with a unique airiness that is particularly enjoyable but comes with the caveat of exhibiting a slight metallic timbre when paired with a certain bright source albeit very minor. Details here are great and high range nuances are reproduced well with no sibilance, hiss or shout. The overall high range is clean and it extends well that gives an extra breath of air in the overall sound of the Astral. Transparency here is average but they do resolve well in this region and have a good amount of energy. Treble here has a mild intensity that gives the overall sound a clearer, livelier presentation that is refreshing. Treble sensitive users or users who want a more laid-back type of signature might find the high range tilting towards a brawny side but personally I do find the high range here rather inoffensive and having a crisply attitude that is enjoyable.
Comparisons
VS Kiwi Ears Septet
The sibling of Kiwi Ears latest releases, the Septet, a quadbrid IEM comprises 1 dynamic, 4 balanced armatures, 1 micro planar and 1 piezoelectric driver with an open back setup that is highly technical in their performance. The Septet is a neutral bright set with a boosted high range possessing probably the most detailed high range in this price range. They are priced slightly lower than the Astral and their build is metal based as opposed to the resin based Astral. The Septet does scale better but need way more driving power for their lower sensitivity and they do sound cleaner with better accuracy overall.
The high region of the Septet is more present and has a sharper sparkle that gives more bite into the music while the Astral has better crispness. Details are better on the Septet but clarity is similar. Timbre does sound slightly better on Septet but extension, air and smoothness leans towards the Astral.
Midrange both have a similar neutral with the Septet focuses more towards the upper region while the Astral has a more balanced neutrality. The Astral do sound thicker with a more intimate approach while the Septet has a more spacious midrange feel. Vocals on Astral are more versatile while Septet focuses more towards female vocals with added brilliance.
Bass quantity on the Astral is bigger with a healthy dose of mid-bass loft and they are deeper along with an extended sub-bass response versus the slightly flat mid-bass of the Septet. Details and clarity of the bass is better on the Septet but the Astral is more engaging and immersive.
Soundstage on the Septet is wider by a small margin with an airier presentation partly due to the open back style.
My pick: Astral as they are more versatile and fun
VS Sony N3AP
The famed Sony and the N3AP is now a classic hybrid that is famed for their mainstream house sound that focuses on bass with a warm tonality. Equipped with only 1 dynamic and 1 balanced armature made in-house by Sony themselves, they are priced almost as much as the Astral. Built wise surely goes to the Astral for their solid resin build with a more ergonomic fit versus the bullet style N3AP. The overall signature of the Sony is smoother, probably way too smooth when compared to the Astral but still competent in today’s market.
Highs on the Astral is a stronger that has a more presence along with an energetic and crisp presentation versus the flat, smooth highs of the N3AP. Details and clarity is also better on the Astral along with more resolving highs but the N3AP does have a more natural timbre. Extension better on the Astral and they have more air present. Overall highs on Astral is more enjoyable while the N3AP is more forgiving.
Midrange of the Astral has a slight edge in resolution and clarity while details are quite similar. The N3AP possesses a thicker tone that leans towards the lower range while the Astral sounds clearer and cleaner with a more upper mid range brilliance. Vocals on the Astral sound livelier while the N3AP has a more balanced approach in vocals.
The bass quantity on the N3AP does sound bigger marginally but the bigger lifted mid bass on the Astral has a tighter slam that has better texture that’s sound cleaner. Sub-bass amount on the N3AP does have the upper hand marginally and they do dive deeper with a stronger rumble.
The soundstage on the Astral is wider, taller and airier with a bigger headroom albeit in small margin.
My pick: Kiwi Ears Astral. Wider sound, more fun, more details
Synergy
As for synergy, I do not recommend bright sources especially Sabre based ones with the infamous glare as they will exacerbate the metallic timbre further. A warm or balanced source from the likes of AKM, Cirrus Logic and etcetera will give the Astral a more controlled sound while preserving the fun sound signature. They are easily driven to ample loudness but I do find a clean source with good driving power does provide the Astral better overall dynamics and a more controlled, textured bass. As for file selection, the revealing nature of the Astral actually makes certain low quality sources like bluetooth and low bitrate tracks sound compressed marginally but still audible, so at the end, the Astral actually does scale up pretty well.
Good matching: Moondrop MIAD01, Qudelix T71, EPZ TP35, Hiby FC6, Hidizs S8 Pro, Questyle M15, 7HZ Artemis39, FiiO Q7, BQEYZ Lin
Not so good matching: FiiO BTR7, EPZ TP30, FiiO KA3, Dunu DTC100,
Who Is It For?
The Kiwi Ears Astral is actually a very versatile set of IEM that actually suits a wide range of users from serious audiophiles to casual ones all the way to gaming and movies as they possess a clean, clear, crisp overall sound that has great accuracy while also possess a deep, immersive lows that is highly enjoyable. The soundstage is adequate for most usage and they do particularly well with vocals giving an intimate yet spacious presentation. Normal basshead will find the boosted bass pleasant but treble sensitive users might find the highs a little piercy. For monitoring purposes, they are suitable apart from the mild balanced armature timbre but they are a great set for musicians on stage for their accuracy, comfort and clarity. The Astral plays well with all genres be it fast or slow, they are flexible but I do prefer them for electronic, rock, vocals and live performances.
Final words
The Kiwi Ears Astral is probably one of the best, if not the best hybrid in this price range of sub 300USD segment this year with a truly crisp sound with a deep, immersive bass that is truly enjoyable yet preserving great technicalities. It is hard to find shortcomings of these IEM apart from it being a tad too bassy for purists and a mild balanced armature timbre but these caveats are what made it sounds uniquely fun. The build and finishing is immaculate alongside an inclusion of a high quality cable but the case is rather small for the whole set to fit in . All that being said, the consistency of Kiwi Ears is truly special as all the products that we have reviewed are impressive be it in performance and value. I believe they are capable of being a standout brand that will stand the test of time. 2 thumbs up.
I would rate this product a 4 and half stars over 5 stars.
Pros
- Superb technicalities and musicality
- Perfectly polished resin body with a beautiful design
- Cohesive tuning
- Great overall details and clarity
- Good separation and accuracy
- Superb extensions on both ends
- Energetic, deep, authoritative bass
- Good sub-bass amount
- Clean and clear midrange
- Great amount of brilliance
- Superb resolution and good transparency
- Sparkly and an ultra crisp high range
- Well balanced treble
- Decent soundstage with great air
- Beautiful, high quality modular cable
- Relatively easy to drive
Cons
- Instances of minor metallic timbre
- Dominant bass that isn’t suited for purist
- Not for treble sensitive users (subjective)
- Not suitable for monitoring (subjective & nitpick)
- Case can be bigger and better (nit-pick)
- Slightly intimate soundstage (nit-pick)