Kiwi Ears Aether VS Letshuoer S08

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Kiwi Ears Aether enters the crowded planar field at $170 with handsome resin shells, metal faceplates, and thoughtful venting that avoids pressure build-up. The unboxing looks premium but the accessories are plain—generic feeling 4-wire cable, basic case, and two tip sets—underwhelming for the price. Shells are on the large side yet surprisingly comfortable for long sessions and even pass the small-ears test, though very small ears may want a try-before-you-buy.

Sonically, Aether is a neutral-ish planar with a tasteful low-end lift: sub-bass has satisfying rumble without drifting into bass-head territory. The mids stay clean and natural, with female vocals slightly forward but not shouty, while the treble remains lively and detailed without tip-up glare or fatigue. Technical chops are solid—planar-typical speed and texture—with standout imaging and an expansive soundstage that elevates well-mastered tracks and comes surprisingly close to the big-shell staging specialists, all while remaining easy to drive.

In comparisons, Raptgo T10 Pro is warmer with better pack-ins but a smaller stage; Shuoer S12 Pro is more V-shaped with more sparkle, again out-accessorizing but not out-staging Aether. Hidizs MP45 still edges stage size, yet Aether delivers ~95–98% of that spaciousness with far better fit. Versus Tangzu x HBB Wu Heyday (discontinued) and the pricier Wan Legend, tuning is very similar, making Aether the stronger value under $200; Simgot EA42 can approximate the tonality with nozzle swaps but isn’t a direct competitor. Skip this if craving maximum bass/brightness or insisting on metal shells; for listeners wanting a balanced, spacious first planar—or a break from the usual V—Aether earns a confident This is brilliant verdict.

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Letshuoer’s S08 marks the brand’s anniversary with a thoughtful package: a supple modular cable (3.5 mm + 4.4 mm with a sturdy knurled lock), six pairs of tips (the wide-bore set trims bass if needed), and a pocketable hockey-puck case. The shells are CNC-milled aluminum—light, durable, and shaped to fit a wide range of ears with notably smaller nozzles than many planars. Spec-wise, the new 13 mm double-voice-coil planar is easy to drive at 26 Ω/105 dB, playing happily off laptops, phones, or DAPs. Comfort is a highlight: no hotspots, stable fit, and a resounding pass on the “tiny-ears test.”

Sonically, the S08 delivers a warm-tilted planar done right: sub-bass and mid-bass have satisfying weight and slam without muddying the midrange. Vocals and instruments remain clean and tonally correct, with upper-mids/treble kept relaxed yet still detailed thanks to planar speed—crisp cymbals and percussion texture without sting. Technicalities impress: strong microdetail and separation, accurate imaging, and an average-wide soundstage that places players precisely on well-mastered tracks. Crucially, the tuning avoids the “planar trap” of turning up the volume into fatigue; it stays smooth, musical, and non-fatiguing, and scales well with EQ if a bass-cannon mood strikes.

Against peers, it reads like a refined Hidizs MP145—even more relaxed up top, better accessories, a smaller shell, and roughly $60 less—while the 7Hz Timeless AE feels overpriced by comparison. The verdict is emphatic: a “you should buy this” rating. As a first IEM around $100 or a fresh flavor for seasoned planar collectors, S08 is a crowd-pleaser: comfortable, easy to drive, non-fatiguing, and musically addictive—an anniversary release with the chops to become a future benchmark.

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Kiwi Ears Aether arrives as a ~$170 planar with a classy, comfortable shell that seals well despite its larger size and visible venting. The accessories are familiar—typical Kiwi Ears case, okay tip selection—while the cable feels like a real upgrade: soft, pliable, and tidy with a solid 3.5 mm termination. Fit can be great, but smaller ears should note the chunkier housing.

Sonically, Aether leans neutral-bright with a clean midrange, airy treble, and standout micro-detail retrieval for the price. There’s adequate measured bass, yet the added brightness trims some perceived slam, so it’s not for bassheads. Compared with earlier Kiwi planars, it feels more tonally correct, carrying that planar crispness without the shout or glare that often trips sets up around the mid-treble.

In A/Bs, Aether trades blows with Aöso: the latter reads a touch better tuned, but Aether pulls ahead in technicalities—micro-nuances, textural cues, “whispers.” Melody is warmer but less accurate; S08 is darker and cheaper but less balanced; S12 variants push more 5–6 k energy; MP145 is impressive yet bulkier. Overall, Aether scores roughly an 8/10 with a clear note: choose it for a mid-focused, detailed presentation and excellent value in the planar field, skip it if the priority is big bass weight.

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Letshuoer S08 comes in a small but chunky shell that’s easy to seat and stays comfortable thanks to a slim nozzle and secure fit. The accessory pack overdelivers: a supple, screw-lock cable with flat 2-pin connectors and an included 4.4 mm plug, plus a simple but protective case shared with pricier Letshuoer sets. Build and ergonomics are rock-solid at the ~$100 mark.

Tonally, S08 leans bass-light with a touch of upper-mid restraint, countered by clean air and above-class technicalities. The graph looks friendly in the mids, but sub-bass could use more weight—which can thin out guitar body and blunt some cymbal impact. Still, the set sounds coherent, with nice extension up top and a presentation that’s easy to live with; a sprinkle of EQ on the low end and a nudge to the upper mids tightens everything up and pushes it toward “great.”

Versus peers, it’s preferred over the Letshuoer S12 thanks to a more relaxed treble; it also beats Truthear Hexa on bass presence and technical ability (fit quirks on Hexa don’t help). AFUL Explorer offers better sub-bass and comfort if spending a bit more, while Dunu Talos trades blows with a brighter tilt and higher price. NiceHCK F1 Pro is hard to recommend due to its 4–6 kHz glare, and the Simgot Singolo brings punchier upper mids and bass but slightly less sparkle/detail. Net take: a good-value planar at $100 (closer to great nearer $80), with minor flaws and clear upside with EQ—an easy recommend for listeners prioritizing balance, air, and comfort over sheer bass quantity.

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The Kiwi Ears Aether brings a balanced tuning with a thumpy, well-textured low end, clean vocals, and airy treble. Its large planar driver behaves with a DD-like timbre—more grounded than the typical light, floaty planar feel—so bass hits are punchy yet quick, with no bleed into the mids. Vocals sit naturally (neither shouty nor recessed), and the midrange reads clean and well-layered. Up top, extension and micro-detail are strong without fatigue; there’s a touch of extra sparkle that makes the set slightly brighter-leaning without turning sizzly.

As a mid-volume listen (~65 dB), Aether scales well: energetic K/J-pop or rock/metal with busy cymbals may ask for a notch down, while alt-pop, hip-hop, R&B, indie, and ballads benefit from the clarity and control. Versus smoother planars like Timeless 2, Aether trails slightly in sheer timbre naturalness but returns with a bit more treble detail and overall snap; compared with nozzle-tuned rivals, it threads a cleaner, better-extended middle ground. At around $170, its technical performance and planar bass that doesn’t sound planar make for compelling value—slotting neatly between bass-heavy and leaner sets, delivering texture, impact, and clarity without harshness. Recommended.

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Kiwi Ears Aether hits with a 15.3 mm planar that feels more like a compact headphone than an IEM—big, airy, and unapologetically wide. Bass is unmistakably planar-fast with real sub-bass reach, while the top end adds a little sparkle without turning shouty. The midrange stays clean and clear, giving that “speaker-like” scale that makes Pink Floyd, Prodigy, or film scores feel expansive rather than congested.

Build and ergonomics lean large but smart: a roomy shell (no dreaded “wing of death”) that seems to help the staging, a tasteful stone-gray faceplate with pops of color, and a soft, flexible stock cable—nice, though it’s 3.5 mm only. Isolation is decent for a mostly closed design with discreet vents, and the set proves easy to drive, yet still scales audibly with a balanced cable and a solid source. Tip rolling shifts the flavor from relaxed and silky to a touch more forward; either way the presentation stays smooth, wide, and fast.

Value seals it: after guessing around $220 on sound and presentation, the real-world street price sits roughly in the ~$150–$170 bracket, making this an easy recommendation under $200. Aether stands out among planars for being big, relaxed, and immersive rather than in-your-face—great for music benders and late-night movies alike. Unique tuning, legit sub-bass, and that effortless planar snap put it firmly on the short list.

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The Letshuoer S08 hits with a present, to-the-point delivery: tight, quick, and more “first-row” than lounge seat. Staging isn’t expansive, but the focus and planar speed make music feel energized without turning sharp. Transients snap, treble has some bite yet stays civil, and the overall tuning gives that dopamine kick missing from sleepier sets—engaging, not fatiguing.

Build and kit are surprisingly premium for the bracket: a comfy, small ovoid shell; a springy 4-wire modular cable with both 3.5 and 4.4 plugs; a screw-top, rubber-lined case; and a rotating tip wheel with “balanced” and “vocal” options. Connection tolerances feel tidy with the flush mount, and the silver finish looks cleaner than the stealthy black.

The kicker is the spec and price: a 13 mm planar driver at about $99 makes this a value play with real bite. Judged on price-to-performance, comfort, and accessories, S08 scores a solid 9/10—not a summit killer, but an easy recommendation for anyone wanting a lively, fast planar that simply sounds fun. Letshuoer keeps the streak alive; more of this, please.

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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.

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Letshuoer S08 shows up as an easy recommendation for mixed gaming, balancing clarity and comfort with a tuning that’s smooth, a touch warm, and pleasantly velvety. Footstep reads and positional cues are confident across titles, and in Valorant it trades punches with the Dunu Titan S2 at the front of its bracket. More importantly, it tames gunshot harshness—if transients feel hot on sets like the Truthear x Crinacle Zero, S08 makes firefights less fatiguing without smearing detail. It’s a true do-it-all pick that plays well in Apex, Fortnite, and CoD, and it’s notably better than Letshuoer S12 for these uses.

For pure competitive edge, the Wall Hack Certified ranking keeps S08 around the same tier as the Truthear Zero rather than pushing it above—Zero still holds its own on raw performance. But S08’s safer, smoother tuning makes overall sessions more enjoyable and easier on the ears, especially during chaotic gunplay. If the priority is strong imaging and separation with a more relaxed top end, S08 is the favorite of its row and a confident, versatile choice that fits both gaming and casual music listening.

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Think big planar energy: fast, deep sub-bass, a touch of sparkly treble, and a surprisingly speaker-like scale for a single 15.3 mm planar. The stage feels wide and “outside the head,” delivering that easy, expansive presentation without shoving details in the face. It’s the most relaxed-sounding planar IEM vibe—still quick and clean, but mellow enough to binge Pink Floyd, Prodigy, or movie soundtracks without fatigue.

The shells are huge yet comfy (no “wing of death”), with a gray stone-slab faceplate sprinkled in color and a metal rim—gorgeous in a low-key way. Stock cable is soft and usable but 3.5 mm only; thankfully it’s 2-pin, so a balanced swap wakes things up nicely. Isolation is decent despite a few vents, and the set proves easy to drive while still scaling with better sources. Packaging goes full silver overkill: neat tips selection and a pocketable case that does the job.

Value lands hard: street pricing around $150–170 makes this an under-$200 no-brainer for anyone craving planar speed with a big, airy, non-shouty presentation. The Aether stands out as unique in the planar crowd—wide yet fast, smooth yet detailed, with real sub-bass grunt—equally at home for late-night albums, action flicks, or a long flight.

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Letshuoer S08 enters the sub-$100 planar crowd with standout build and thoughtful accessories. The compact metal shell looks clean and distinctive, pairing with a soft, well-behaved cable that includes swappable 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm terminations. The angled 2-pin plugs aid stability, the chin slider actually stays put, and the pre-formed ear hooks help the fit. Size is a solid medium; the body tucks in securely, though the front end is a bit bulky and sits slightly forward.

Tonally, S08 favors a warmer, bassier, more laid-back presentation. Treble shows decent extension but stays restrained through the upper-mids/lower-treble, yielding a thicker note weight with less contrast and delineation than brighter planars. Vocals come across more natural than the Tin HiFi counterpart, and high-frequency percussion (hi-hats, brushes, cymbals) sounds realistic and metallic rather than splashy. The weak spot is the low end: bass can turn poofy and a bit smeary, especially on dense mixes, and there can be a touch of sibillance at times.

Overall, S08 shapes up as the better pick versus the Tin HiFi DUDU/Duo on both build and tuning execution, but it’s not a runaway. For listeners wanting a warm, bass-tilted planar around $100, it’s a respectable choice. Verdict: 3/5 stars. If stronger, cleaner bass is the priority (and planar isn’t required), consider an alternative like the AFUL Explorer; otherwise, S08 makes the more compelling case between these two.

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The Kiwi Ears Aether comes in around 170 dollars as a planar IEM that delivers a surprisingly refined package: a compact zipper case, nine pairs of silicone tips in multiple firmness levels, and a soft 3.5 mm cable that stays tangle free and quiet in use. The resin shells with metal nozzle feel solid yet comfortable, with proper lip and generous venting so there is no pressure build up, while the sparkled faceplates give it a premium look. Out of the box the tuning leans toward a balanced, mildly V shaped signature with a natural tone that is clear, resolving and non fatiguing, setting the stage for what is positioned as a favorite planar IEM so far.

The low end focuses on quality over quantity, with a moderate but satisfying bass boost that is evenly split between sub bass and mid bass, tight and controlled with classic planar punch, speed and texture yet no bleed into the mids. The midrange sits in a sweet spot where it is neither shouty nor recessed, giving rock and metal the needed energy and clarity without harshness, and crucially avoiding the usual metallic planar timbre so instruments and vocals, especially female vocals, sound natural and full. Up top, the treble is airy, well extended and sparkly yet smooth, described as some of the best heard on a planar IEM, with crisp cymbals and hi hats, controlled S and SH sounds and an overall detailed but relaxed presentation that stays out of sibilant territory.

Technical performance is a major highlight: resolution, separation, imaging and layering are all excellent for the price, and the soundstage is notably wide and immersive for a planar, enhancing live and orchestral recordings in particular. The Aether also offers low distortion and generous EQ headroom, allowing a clean extra bass shelf without muddying the presentation, and in comparisons it is favored over sets like K4, Z12 or even the more expensive Timeless 2 for its more natural tonality, wider stage and easier treble. Recommended for listeners who want a highly detailed yet smooth planar with big stage and natural timbre rather than heavy bass slam, the Kiwi Ears Aether stands out as a top choice in this price range as long as extreme bass quantity is not the main priority.

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Kiwi Ears Aether debuts a 15.3 mm planar with a familiar bass shelf and extra ear-gain energy, followed by a gentle dip through 5–8 kHz. The result is clear, engaging vocals and lower fatigue, but a touch less perceived presence and technical bite versus top planar benchmarks like S12 2024. It stays in the learned zone for modern planars: natural, crisp enough, and largely free of distracting planar timbre.

Stock tuning is slightly sub-bass shy to preserve clarity alongside the relaxed lower treble, giving a safe, balanced listen that still sounds recognizably planar. The driver handles EQ confidently; a modest +1–2 dB lift in 5–8 kHz and a similar nudge to the bass restores edge, transparency, and punch without strain. Overall it reads as a safe planar choice—coherent and enjoyable out of the box, with headroom to become livelier for those who want more bite.