Kiwi Ears Airoso 

Pros: 

✔ Deep, powerful, controlled bass with great texture
✔ Balanced, natural mids with excellent vocal clarity
✔ Outstanding treble—detailed, airy, and refined
✔ Expansive soundstage with excellent imaging
✔ Comfortable fit for long listening sessions
✔ Scales beautifully with better and powerful gear

Cons:

 ✖ Stock cable is decent but not exceptional—upgrade recommended
 ✖ Not ultra-budget-friendly (but worth it for what you get)

Kiwi Ears has steadily built a reputation for crafting IEMs that strike a thoughtful balance between musicality and technical performance. With the Airoso, they introduce a new take on their tuning philosophy—one that refines their approach while adding a dose of energy and excitement.

While the KE4 leaned towards a deep, immersive bass experience with a neutral and smooth presentation, the Airoso takes a different route. It aims for a livelier, more engaging sound, with a dynamic tuning and a treble presentation that stands out.

But does this shift in approach translate to a well-balanced and enjoyable listening experience, or does it come at the expense of refinement? Let’s take a closer look.

Whats in the box? heres a quick unbox video of the Airoso.



Unboxing & Accessories
Kiwi Ears has alway kept things simple with the packaging. Inside the box, you’ll find:
• 1x Kiwi Ears Airoso IEM
• 1x Detachable Cable (0.78mm 2-pin, 3.5mm termination)
• 8x Pairs of Eartips (various sizes and shapes)
• 1x Carrying Case
• 1x User Manual

The inclusion of eight pairs of eartips is a thoughtful touch, ensuring users can fine-tune the fit and sound. The detachable cable is solid but fairly standard and thin for my taste—I’d recommend upgrading to a higher-quality cable if you’re chasing that last bit of performance.

Build & Comfort
The Kiwi Ears Airoso boasts a sleek yet rugged design that blends aesthetics with functionality. Its shell appears to be crafted from solid black resin, offering a smooth, contoured fit that conforms effortlessly to the ear. The faceplate, in contrast, features a raw-finished brushed titanium surface, giving the Airoso an industrial, almost modern minimalist appeal. Despite its robust appearance, the IEM remains surprisingly lightweight, making it comfortable for extended listening sessions.

True to Kiwi Ears’ reputation, the ergonomics are spot-on—the fit feels secure yet pressure-free, ensuring a snug seal without discomfort. This makes the Airoso an excellent choice for both casual and prolonged use. The flat 2-pin connector is a smart inclusion, offering durability and a secure connection while reducing strain on the socket over time.

The build quality is outstanding, striking a fine balance between durability and elegance. Every detail, from the choice of materials to the smooth finishing, reflects a premium standard. I also can’t help but appreciate Kiwi Ears’ industrial-inspired aesthetic, it’s bold, raw, modern and refreshingly subdued.

Sound Quality
Now, let’s get to what really matters—the Airoso’s sound signature. This IEM stands out with an engaging, dynamic, and refined presentation, striking a balance between depth, clarity, and energy. It delivers a deep, authoritative bass, articulate mids, and one of the best treble tunings I’ve heard from Kiwi Ears.

I think the reason why Kiwi Ears named this set The Airoso because it likely hints at its airy treble, which adds an expansive and open feel to the sound. The mids and highs almost give off an open-back-like presentation, creating a spacious and natural atmosphere, while the bass remains tight, powerful, and controlled, reminiscent of a closed-back design. This combination makes for a unique and captivating listening experience, blending openness with impact in a way that feels both immersive and well-balanced.


Bass – Deep, Controlled, and Engaging
The Airoso retains the deep, authoritative bass that made the KE4 stand out, but it’s more controlled and refined. There’s less bloat, more texture, and a faster decay, making the low end feel tight yet very powerful. Subbass digs deep with excellent rumble, while the midbass delivers punch and warmth without overpowering the rest of the sound.
Bass lovers will still find plenty to enjoy, but what sets the Airoso apart is how well it integrates with the mids and treble, it never overshadows the rest of the spectrum.

Midrange – Balanced and Natural
The mids strike a balance between clarity and musicality. Instruments sound natural and well-defined, with just the right amount of weight.

Male vocals sound rich, textured, and grounded, carrying a natural warmth that makes them feel lifelike. Female vocals, on the other hand, are expressive and lively, with a crisp articulation that allows emotions to come through effortlessly.

The upper midrange is energetic yet refined and smooth, giving vocals and instruments a sense of presence without veering into sharpness or sibilance.

Treble – The Star of the Show, The Air in Air-oso
This is where the Airoso sets itself apart. The treble is layered, detailed, and beautifully refined—it’s airy, full of micro-detail, and incredibly well-separated. It’s like hearing three different kinds of treble working in harmony, each adding something unique:

• Lower Treble: Clear and energetic, adding definition without harshness.
• Mid Treble: Detailed and transparent, bringing out subtle nuances in instruments.
• Upper Treble: Airy and expansive, extending beautifully without becoming fatiguing.

Despite this wealth of treble information, the Airoso never sounds overly bright or sharp. Kiwi Ears has somehow managed to extract exceptional detail while maintaining a smooth, natural tonality. It’s one of the best treble tunings I’ve heard from the brand, refined, open, and endlessly enjoyable.


Soundstage & Imaging – Expansive and Holographic
The Kiwi Ears Airoso scales noticeably with power, revealing more depth and refinement when paired with a capable source. With proper amplification, the soundstage expands beautifully, offering an impressively wide and holographic presentation. There’s a genuine sense of space, allowing instruments to feel naturally positioned rather than crammed together.

One of the standout aspects is the precise imaging, each element in a track is distinct and well-placed, making it easy to pick apart layers of a mix. This level of separation enhances the overall immersion, pulling you into the music rather than just presenting it to you.

What makes the Airoso even more compelling is its ability to balance technical precision with musicality. Unlike some analytical IEMs that can feel clinical or fatiguing over time, the Airoso retains a smooth, engaging character, ensuring that critical listening doesn’t come at the expense of enjoyment. It’s a rare blend of detail, depth, and emotion.

Drivability & Pairing
With an impedance of 15Ω and a sensitivity of 105dB, the Kiwi Ears Airoso isn’t particularly demanding in terms of power, it’ll run just fine off most portable sources, including smartphones, dongle DACs, and entry-level DAPs. However, to truly experience what it’s capable of, it benefits significantly from a higher-quality source.

Feeding the Airoso with a more powerful DAC or amplifier doesn’t just increase volume—it enhances dynamics, expands the soundstage, and refines imaging, creating a more holographic and immersive experience. The bass gains better control and texture, mids become more expressive, and treble takes on a more refined, airy quality.

For the best pairing, I’d recommend a neutral or slightly warm source—something that complements its tuning without over emphasizing any particular frequency. The Hiby R6 III DAP is an excellent match, providing clean power with a touch of warmth. If you prefer a desktop setup, the FiiO K11 R2R DAC/amp would be another fantastic option, adding a bit of analog smoothness while preserving detail and resolution. With the right setup, the Airoso truly comes even more alive, offering a sound that feels both expansive and intimate at the same time.

Conclusion – A Refined Yet Fun Hybrid IEM

The Kiwi Ears Airoso is an exceptionally well-tuned hybrid IEM that delivers deep, controlled bass, natural mids, and some of the best treble tuning in its class. It takes everything great about the KE4 and refines it, adding better control, enhanced layering, and an airier, more spacious presentation.

• Bass lovers will appreciate the depth and punch without bloat.
• Treble enthusiasts will love the detail, separation, and airiness.
• Those looking for an immersive, high-fidelity experience will be impressed by its holographic staging.

For those who want a fun yet refined IEM that scales beautifully with better gear, the Airoso is a fantastic choice. It’s clear that Kiwi Ears poured a lot of thought into its tuning, and the result is an IEM that doesn’t just sound good—it feels special.
If they named it Airoso because of how airy the treble is... well, that makes perfect sense.

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