Kiwi Ears Aether VS INTUAURA Balance

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

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Kiwi Ears Aether and INTUAURA Balance are in-ear monitors. Kiwi Ears Aether costs $170 while INTUAURA Balance costs $299. INTUAURA Balance is $129 more expensive. INTUAURA Balance holds a clear 0.6-point edge in reviewer scores (6.8 vs 7.4). INTUAURA Balance has significantly better mids with a 1-point edge, Kiwi Ears Aether has significantly better treble with a 1-point edge and Kiwi Ears Aether has significantly better soundstage with a 1-point edge.

Insights

Metric Kiwi Ears Aether INTUAURA Balance
Mids 6 7
Treble 8 7
Soundstage 7.5 6.5
Dynamics 6 6
Tonality 7 7
Technicalities 7.5 7

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


INTUAURA Balance Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Jaytiss IEMRanking AI

Average Reviewer Score:

7.4

Generally Favorable


Kiwi Ears Aether User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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INTUAURA Balance User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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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

INTUAURA Balance Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

7

Gaming Grade

A-

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.

INTUAURA Balance Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A-
  • Pleasing tonal balance with good technical control. Minor quirks present but not distracting. Demonstrates decent genre versatility.

Average Technical Grade

A-
  • Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Mids A-
Excellent midrange with natural timbre and great detail retrieval. Vocals are forward and emotive with lifelike instrument reproduction.
Treble A-
Excellent treble: airy, extended and well-controlled. Great micro-detail retrieval without sibilance or harshness.
Dynamics B
Good dynamic expression with solid impact. Handles volume contrasts well while maintaining good transient snap.
Soundstage B+
Good soundstage with proper width and depth. Instruments have clear positioning with reasonable front/back placement.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Value-to-cost may not be optimal for gaming-focused users.

Kiwi Ears Aether Reviews

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

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
Mids: B Treble: A+ Dynamics: B Soundstage: A
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Price: $169

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Reviewed by: Jays Audio

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

Reviewed by: Z-Reviews

Z-Reviews 6.8 * score normalized

Reviewed by: 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

Reviewed by: Fresh Reviews

Fresh Reviews 6.5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score

Kiwi Ears Aether lands as a standout at the $150 mark: a single large planar driver in a comfy, 3D-printed resin shell that can be worn for 8+ hours without fuss. The faceplate looks premium, the nozzle size is easy, and the sonic profile is smooth, clean, and engaging. Bass is punchy yet controlled—never bloated, never overly warm—while the stage sits in that gaming sweet spot: not too close, not too far. For music, it’s a crisp, non-fatiguing listen with clean mids and technical, tidy low end.

In games, Aether brings the goods: footsteps are elevated with urgency, imaging feels holographic (including vertical cues), and separation/layering remain intact when the action heats up—decisively clearer than Etude and Atheia. Across titles—CoD, Apex, Valorant, Siege, CS, Fortnite, Rivals—it consistently reads space and depth, only giving up a sliver of micro-detail in the densest, high-rank lobbies. That’s why it earns a B+ (borderline A-) on the WallHack Certified list. Astral at $300 still adds that last bit of clarity, but Aether is the top pick under $150; even compared to the Orchestra Lite, it’s similarly capable, more comfortable, and better value.


Fresh Reviews original ranking

Fresh Reviews Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Super* Review

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
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Price: $169

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INTUAURA Balance Reviews

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

2025-08-14
Jaytiss 7.6 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A- Tech
Magistical balance, and sense of Space. Realy easy to love.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: A- Treble: A- Dynamics: B Soundstage: B+
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Price: $159

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Reviewed by: IEMRanking AI

2025-08-14
IEMRanking AI 7.2 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A- Tech

The INTUAURA Balance delivers a cohesive sound with well-controlled bass that avoids overwhelming the mids, while maintaining clarity in vocal reproduction. Its treble presentation is smooth and non-fatiguing, making it suitable for extended listening sessions without harshness. This tuning approach creates a balanced yet engaging signature that works across genres like acoustic and pop music.

Technical performance shows decent instrument separation and soundstage width for its price bracket, though complex tracks can reveal some limitations in layering depth. The included accessories, such as the detachable cable and multiple ear tip options, provide practical customization for fit and comfort. At its MSRP, it competes effectively against other hybrid models in the sub-$300 category.


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Price: $159

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Kiwi Ears Aether User Reviews

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INTUAURA Balance User Reviews

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