Kiwi Ears kicked off 2025 with a flurry of headphone releases—five in total, including the Atheia we recently reviewed. Quietly launched alongside them, however, is an IEM—the Kiwi Ears Airoso, a 1DD + 4BA hybrid.
It’s certainly a stacked launch lineup and some might say Kiwi Ears is biting off more than they can chew. But if the Atheia was any indication, the Airoso might just be another winner in the making… right? Let’s find out.
What It Is
The Airoso features a customized dynamic driver with an LCP+PU composite diaphragm, paired with four balanced armature drivers—two for high frequencies and two for ultra-highs.
What makes this setup a little more interesting is the use of a hybrid crossover network that combines physical and RC crossover methods. According to Kiwi Ears, this helps reduce interference and boosts clarity, promising a more detailed and accurate sound reproduction. We’ll see whether this promise holds true further down in this review.
The Kiwi Ears Airoso retails for $129.99 (around RM580) and our review unit was provided by the nice folks at Kiwi Ears themselves.
What’s In the Box?
Inside the Airoso’s box, you’ll find the earphones, accompanied by a 0.78mm 2-pin cable, three sets of silicone ear tips with varying bore sizes and stiffness levels, and a hard-shell carrying case for protection and portability.
The shells are made from 3D-printed resin, while the faceplates combine CNC aluminum alloy and titanium. It certainly sounds premium on paper—but in hand, the thin, basic cabling and lighter shell design leaves a bit to be desired.
Unfortunately, the fit was a mixed bag for me as well. While previous Kiwi Ears models like the Quintet and KE4 were snug and well-sealing for me, the Airoso’s smaller and simpler shape felt a bit loose in the ear. Even after rolling through the included tips (and then some), I struggled to find a perfect fit. Ultimately, I landed on the tips from the Yanyin Canon Pro we just reviewed, which offered a slightly larger sizing and helped with fit and seal—but your mileage may vary.
How Does It Sound?
The Airoso leans into a warm, slightly W-shaped sound signature with an emphasis on sub-bass and engaging mids. It’s pleasant and easy to listen to, though not particularly expansive in terms of soundstage. There’s decent vertical depth and height but the sides are rather intimate and closed in.
Bass
The Airoso delivers more sub-bass presence than mid-bass. It reaches impressively low with a satisfying rumble but doesn’t linger long with a quick attack and short decay. That snappiness keeps the low end clean but may come off as being too rolled-off for bassheads.
Although mid-bass slam isn’t particularly heavy, it remains tight and rounded. It’s a sufficient amount for Pop and Rock but Hip-Hop and electronic genres might feel a bit lacking in terms of impact. This restraint does, however, mean that the bass is overall well-controlled without any bloom or bloat.
Mids
Thanks to the tightness of the low end, there’s no bass bleed to be found here. The mids are slightly forward and engaging, with female vocals, in particular, getting the spotlight. They’re airy, present, and floaty—but perhaps too floaty. A little more weight or body would help give vocals a stronger foundation.
Male vocals, meanwhile, are dialed back and come across with less presence. It’s not as engaging as its female counterpart, but it’s still pleasant to listen to.
Treble
There’s a good amount of air in the treble but it lacks sparkle and shimmer. Resolution and detail retrieval take a hit as a result. A noticeable 6kHz peak adds some brightness to instruments, though it can sound a bit sharp and unnatural at times.
Fortunately, the highs roll off smoothly toward the end, avoiding harshness and making the Airoso a more relaxed, fatigue-free listen overall.
Compared to the Kiwi Ears KE4
The Airoso isn’t too far-off in terms of tuning compared to the KE4, you could say they’re different toppings on the same pizza. Compared to the Kiwi Ears KE4, the Airoso leans in a warmer, more relaxed direction. The KE4 goes for a clean, reference-leaning tuning with a slight musical twist, the Airoso opts for a safer, more coloured sound.
The Airoso places more emphasis on sub-bass and midrange engagement—particularly female vocals—resulting in a presentation that’s easier on the ears but less precise. The KE4’s upper mids and treble are more lifted and controlled, delivering better clarity and balance, whereas the Airoso smooths over some of that energy, losing a bit of detail and edge in the process.
Then there’s the difference in price—the KE4 retails for $199, a whole $70 more than the Airoso. With that extra cost, you’re getting better accessories like a higher-quality cable and Kiwi Ears’ Flex ear tips. The KE4 also fits better in my ears compared to the Airoso. That said, the Airoso offers a warmer sound that pairs better with a wider range of genres, so ultimately, it comes down to where your preferences lie.
Is It Worth It?
The Kiwi Ears Airoso is a safe, inoffensive IEM with a warm and accessible tuning. It won’t wow you with technical performance or detail, but it doesn’t try to. It’s the kind of set you can throw in your bag and listen to casually without much fatigue.
That said, it faces stiff competition—especially at its $129.99 price point. The accessory kit could be better, the build and cable feel a bit too ‘humble’ for the price, and the fit was a bit of a miss for me personally. And while the tuning is generally enjoyable, it’s not particularly memorable either.
If you’re after a warm, no-fuss IEM and the fit works for your ears, the Airoso might just do the trick. But if you’re looking for more refinement or wow-factor, you might want to look at something like Kiwi Ears’ own Quintet, which remains one of my favourite IEMs to date.