Kiwi Ears Aether VS SoftEars Studio 2

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