Tangzu Zetian Wu VS Kiwi Ears Aether

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

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Tangzu Zetian Wu and Kiwi Ears Aether are in-ear monitors. Tangzu Zetian Wu costs $150 while Kiwi Ears Aether costs $170. Kiwi Ears Aether is $20 more expensive. Kiwi Ears Aether holds a clear 0.7-point edge in reviewer scores (6.1 vs 6.8). Tangzu Zetian Wu has significantly better mids with a 1.3-point edge, Kiwi Ears Aether has significantly better treble with a 2.5-point edge and Kiwi Ears Aether has significantly better soundstage with a 1.5-point edge.

Insights

Metric Tangzu Zetian Wu Kiwi Ears Aether
Bass 6.5 6.8
Mids 7.3 6
Treble 5.5 8
Details 6.5 6.8
Soundstage 6 7.5
Imaging 6.5 6.8
Dynamics 6.1 6
Tonality 6 7
Technicalities 6.8 7.5

Tangzu Zetian Wu Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Shuwa-T Tim Tuned
Crin

Average Reviewer Score:

6.1

Mixed to Positive


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


Tangzu Zetian Wu 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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Tangzu Zetian Wu Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

6.5

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

Tangzu Zetian Wu Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B
  • 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 A-
Excellent midrange with natural timbre and great detail retrieval. Vocals are forward and emotive with lifelike instrument reproduction.
Treble B-
Decent treble with acceptable extension and detail. Can sound slightly unrefined but avoids being harsh or sibilant.
Soundstage B
Good soundstage with proper width and depth. Instruments have clear positioning with reasonable front/back placement.
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.

Tangzu Zetian Wu Reviews

Reviewed by: Crin

Crin 7 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A- Tech
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Price: $259

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Reviewed by: Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 5.9 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
B Tech
Comment: Can be disguised as a DD type of speed. Tuned to be balanced rather than V with more vocal emphasis, bass slams hard for a planar Mediocre soundstage and not the speediest of planar decay, overly warm

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

Bass: B Mids: B+ Treble: C- Soundstage: B Details: B+ Imaging: B+

Reviewed by: Tim Tuned

Tim Tuned 5.5 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
A- Tech
Good mild v-shape tuning with little to fault Not ideal soundstage for the price

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
Bass: A- Mids: A+ Treble: A-

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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Tangzu Zetian Wu User Reviews

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Kiwi Ears Aether User Reviews

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