Aful Explorer VS Kiwi Ears Aether

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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Aful Explorer and Kiwi Ears Aether are in-ear monitors. Aful Explorer costs $120 while Kiwi Ears Aether costs $170. Kiwi Ears Aether is $50 more expensive. Aful Explorer holds a slight 0.3-point edge in reviewer scores (7.1 vs 6.8). Kiwi Ears Aether has significantly better treble with a 1.2-point edge, Aful Explorer has significantly better dynamics with a 1-point edge and Kiwi Ears Aether has better soundstage with a 0.5-point edge.

Insights

Metric Aful Explorer Kiwi Ears Aether
Bass 6.5 6.8
Mids 6.2 6
Treble 6.8 8
Details 6.5 6.8
Soundstage 7 7.5
Imaging 6.5 6.8
Dynamics 7 6
Tonality 7 7
Technicalities 6.6 7.5

Aful Explorer Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Smirk Audio Gizaudio Axel Shuwa-T Jays Audio
Jaytiss Drew / Audionotions
Z-Reviews Super* Review

Average Reviewer Score:

7.1

Generally Favorable


Kiwi Ears Aether Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Z-Reviews Gizaudio Axel Fresh Reviews Super* Review
Jaytiss Jays Audio

Average Reviewer Score:

6.8

Cautiously Favorable


Aful Explorer User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Kiwi Ears Aether User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Aful Explorer Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.7

Gaming Grade

B+

Kiwi Ears Aether Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

7.5

Gaming Grade

A

Aful Explorer Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A-
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

B+
  • Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
Bass B+
Good bass foundation with decent impact. Maintains acceptable control while providing satisfying thump in most tracks.
Mids B
Good midrange presence with solid clarity. Vocals are clear and instruments have reasonable texture and body.
Treble B+
Good treble response - clear and detailed without fatigue. Well-extended with proper air and sparkle.
Dynamics A-
Excellent dynamics with great contrast and speed. Transients are crisp and micro-details are clearly articulated.
Soundstage A-
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
Details B+
Good resolution with clear articulation of nuances. Reveals recording nuances and maintains clarity in complex passages.
Imaging B+
Good imaging with precise instrument placement. Clear localization within the soundstage including front/back positioning.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance.

Kiwi Ears Aether Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A-
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

A
  • Good technical performance. Clear separation and decent detail retrieval across various tracks. Soundstage shows reasonable width and depth.
Mids B
Good midrange presence with solid clarity. Vocals are clear and instruments have reasonable texture and body.
Treble A+
Superb treble: effortless extension with crystal clarity. Perfect balance of sparkle and smoothness with exceptional detail.
Dynamics B
Good dynamic expression with solid impact. Handles volume contrasts well while maintaining good transient snap.
Soundstage A
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
Gaming A
Clear spatial presentation handles directional cues effectively. Distinguishes key gameplay sounds while maintaining decent immersion.

Aful Explorer Reviews

Z-Reviews 8.5 * score normalized
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Price: $119

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Super* Review 8* * score normalized
Relaxed upper mid-range. Vocals sound a little bit more forward than instruments. Smooth treble performance.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review
Jaytiss 7.6 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A- Tech
The mids still upset me, but it sounds magical.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: C+ Treble: A- Dynamics: A- Soundstage: A
Drew / Audionotions 7 Reviewer Score
Relaxed and fun. Easy to listen to. A bit darker than my preferrd signature but I enjoyed this quite a bit. Loaner

Drew / Audionotions original ranking

Website (Audionotions)

- Drew / Audionotions
Smirk Audio 6.8 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
check links for more info:

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

- Smirk Audio
Bass: A- Mids: A- Treble: A- Dynamics: A- Details: B+ Imaging: B+
Gizaudio Axel 6.5 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
Perfect for rock and metal. Smooth, relaxing tuning, great bass with good slam, rich mid-range, safe treble. Upper mids may be too relaxed for some, treble is a bit dark.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
- Gizaudio Axel
Shuwa-T 6.4 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
B+ Tech
check links for more info:

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

- Shuwa-T
Bass: B Mids: B+ Treble: B+ Soundstage: B+ Details: B+ Imaging: B+
Jays Audio 6 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
B+ Tech
High volume set, very immersive, scales great with no sharpness, wide staging, enough detail/extension, good bass, just crank it up and enjoy the music.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
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Price: $107.99

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Kiwi Ears Aether Reviews

Jaytiss 7.9 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A+ Tech
Not for bassheads, but one of the best planars I've ever heard.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: B Treble: A+ Dynamics: B Soundstage: A
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Price: $169

Buy Kiwi Ears Aether on Linsoul
Jays Audio 7 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A Tech
Clean, balanced, with slight air boost in the treble. Bass sounds like a DD with great texture. Cheaper better tuned P5+2. Not as smooth as Timeless 2 with more dynamic contrast with a slight sizzle from the treble boost. Good value for a planar.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
Z-Reviews 6.8 * score normalized

Gizaudio Axel

2025-07-25
Gizaudio Axel 6.5 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A- Tech
One of the best planar IEMs out there. The treble is smoother and easier on the ears than most planars. Balanced sound with clean bass, smooth mids, and detailed treble. Great clarity, wide soundstage, and natural timbre for a planar. Bass might be a bit light, and treble can be a little forward for some.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
- Gizaudio Axel
Fresh Reviews 6.5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score
Super* Review 6* * score normalized
A little bit spicy in the treble (like the other planars). Relaxed upper mid-range. Warmer tuning than S12. It's a decent IEM

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review
Ad
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Price: $169

Buy Kiwi Ears Aether on Aliexpress

Aful Explorer User Reviews

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Kiwi Ears Aether User Reviews

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