Canuck Audioholics Anonymous CAA Reviews & Fun Banter

[Oumuamua]

They certainly can and do for frequencies above sub/bass/mid-bass. That’s why hybrids have become so popular.

A well executed DD can be quite satisfying. Usually the treble isn’t as shimmery but one cannot beat the coherency as there is only one driver, no crossover. I supposed some may use a low pass filter to roll the top end but I doubt this is common, rather just let the driver roll off naturally

Two examples I have are NiceHCK Himalaya for a bassy set and Hifiman RE2000 Pro silver for a neutral, leaning warm, set.

A recent for me hybrid that uses a DD along with BAs and planar and pzt that is very well done (for me) is the new Kiwi Ears Septet. I’ve got about 50 hours on it now and I’ve yet to pull them out because I couldn’t take it anymore. No EQ ‘required’ but they do need some power

[KrustyolBastid]

True, but these leak audible sound at low volumes, and you can listen to the song at higher volumes, not just squeaky noises.
Irrelevant being they have been proven not open back.
But these bleed more sound than any other iem I have ever experienced.

[Rikudou_Goku]

The only driver that is taking advantage of the open back is the woofer.

[GregTheEgg]

@Rikudou_Goku

Just gonna mention that the AM16 is NOT a true open back as the only driver with the cavity linked to the faceplate vents is the woofer, the other ones are not (they are sealed drivers) and its effectively not an open back because of that.

ahh i see. thanks for the clarification!

@KrustyolBastid

I see it has now been clarified.
I was going to mention I wasn’t 100% sure they were open back, but certainly had the markings of one, full range of sound from the back plate, and excellent staging.
Bass version has a somewhat less open stage.

even then these do seem interesting to give a try at the very least!

[kingnubian]

In terms of treble overall quality both do well but I did find the Septet more natural/organic. The NS10pro does as you say present the treble with “Raw Energy” while still remaining musical except for when I noted in the review. The Septet never sounded off in the high end and was natural.

Agreed also that the Septet has a euphoric soundstage that is captivating.

[Oumuamua]

I’ve decided the Septet sound is more enjoyable for me and NS10 Pro are headed back…too much overlap and the treble is more mature on the Septet and should be considering the cost difference

I also had some fit difficulties with the NS10 super short nozzle

I receive the Astral today

[kingnubian]

I do agree that the treble on the Septet is more organic and mature than that of the NS10pro. So much so that in direct comparison it’s not even that close. Both are great iem though. Astral review incoming.

[kingnubian]

Kiwi Ears Astral – Refining The Balance of Musicality

Preamble:
Kiwi Ears has been busy. Someone must have lit a fire over there as the new releases are coming fast and furious.
The $299 Astral employes a hybrid driver configuration with one in house developed 10mm Bioceramic dynamic driver tuned to roll-off at 300hz, working together with six balanced armature drivers split up to handle the midrange and treble.

Tuning wise we have an overall balanced presentation with hints of U-shaped goodness. The sound of the Astral is precise while still being wonderfully musical. I had recently completed my review of the Kiwi Ears Septet and the Astral comparatively speaking highlights obvious contrasts between the two yet Kiwi Ears have accomplished something interesting in that both iem are standouts. They do sound different but both are nicely musical. Kiwi Ears have once again here achieved a set of balancing acts that all add up to great sound.

The Astral is definitely easier to drive than the Septet but, and yes I do realize I am getting repetitive here, deserves a quality source that is clean and resolving. The Astral in of itself is a resolving iem and care should be taken through tip rolling and careful source selection to maximize its sound potential.

Kiwi Ears is not your typical iem manufacturer. It has become obvious that they are quite skilled at not only the implementation of different technologies but also in using their expertise to craft wonderful sounding earphones. Case in point the in house developed DD is rolled off at 300hz allowing the precision of the BA drivers to shine through in the midrange on up. This seems like a small point but they seem to know the limits of the drivers they employ and use them in a manner where they will do best. They unashamedly detail their tuning approach on their Astral webpage which is refreshing to see.

The Astral is a musically engaging and eminently competent performer. Paired with a fantastic source, such as the Astell & Kern AKHC4, I often lost track of any critical listening I was supposedly trying to accomplish and just got lost in the music.
Read on to find out more.

SPECS:

Model: Kiwi Ears Astral
Drivers: 1 Dynamic Driver + 6 Balanced Armatures
Sensitivity: 105dB (±1)
Impedance: 23Ω (±1)
THD: <1%
Frequency Response: 10Hz - 22kHz
Cable Details: 1.2 Meter Detachable Cable

Build & Fit:

The Astral is attractive in the Kiwi Ears recent design direction of offering understated looks. The black resin shells are flawlessly finished and garnished with a top plate which looks like a starburst with Kiwi Ears branding tastefully added.

The included accessories, as also seen with the Septet, are a step up from previous Kiwi Ears offerings in particular with respect to the modular cable which comes with both 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm balanced tips. This is a good cable with nice haptics and apparent build quality. On top of all that it just looks nice. There are also additional tips and nozzle filters included as well as the standard carrying case. Retail box design is typical Kiwi Ears.

The Astral is a larger sized iem but I found no fitment issues as its shape fit my ears securely, with proper tip selection of course.

SOUND:

Bass:

Bass has great control with ample power and slam when called for. Not a basshead set, the Astral is not lacking in power delivery by any means. Bass here is organic sounding with a natural delivery that is notable. The power, texturing and control is clearly evident on “Angel” by Massive Attack the Astral delivering a satisfying playback. Mid-bass is punchy with good detail and snap. The low end does not encroach on the midrange and remains in its place providing a solid yet not overbearing foundation to the rest of the frequency range.
The in house developed 10mm driver combined with well done tuning does a wonderful job.

Midrange:

The midrange is clean and open sounding with good quantities of both macro and micro details heard. There is a touch of warmth here that enhances the organic nature of playback without adding unnatural colour.
Both male and female vocals had that “correct’ sound not coming off as enhanced in particular with female vocals in the upper midrange so common in earphones these days. Listening to “He’s a Carioca” by Eden Atwood the natural delivery of her vocals was standout.

Pinna gain is kept in check and any harshness was nowhere to be found. The Astral is somewhat forgiving to poorly recorded tracks and sounds great on well recorded ones. Once again Kiwi Ears have achieved a sonic balancing act with a midrange that sounds precise yet not clinical and detailed yet not cold.

Layering and separation were notable even on busier tracks. Transients were cleanly reproduced and timbre was also done well. Note weight was also pleasing which is something I am sensitive to. Listening to a live Jazz recording from the Audiophile Hi-Res System Test, the natural sound of the instruments paired with the obvious venue sonics were palpable.

Treble:

The Kiwi Ears Astral offers a treble that is nicely done with again a natural delivery both with respect to energy and detail. There is ample air and sparkle with no unusual embellishments. Here again Kiwi Ears walks a fine line offering detail without sounding cold or unnatural.

Treble here does perfectly compliment the rest of the frequency range adding to the overall impressive coherence of the Astral.

IMAGING & SOUNDSTAGE:

The Astral throws up a moderately sized soundstage with good width beyond the ears. Natural is a good way to describe the experience as the quantities of width, height and depth are more tuned towards sounding realistic rather than emphasizing one over the other.

Instrument placement here is precise and there is notable space around each. This is an engaging and often immersive presentation.

VERSUS:

Kiwi Ears Septet:

I had just finished my review of the Septet which I found was a great set. Bass on either is pleasing with ample power when called for. The Astral has a slightly more prominent sub-bass focus but neither lacks bass energy. In terms of bass, I am happy with both but the Astral gets the nod here. The low end has just that touch of greater control while each shares similar characteristics.

The midrange on either is satisfying yet different. With the Septet we have a midrange that is organic and musical while being a touch more open. The Astral does share these traits with arguably more detail, but here it is even more precise yet still musical. It’s hard to pick a winner here.

In the treble both are standout. Each have good detail retrieval and extension with ample sparkle and air. The S&A on the Astral may be a little more apparent as compared to the Septet but with respect to having a natural sound, they are both winners.

Soundstage is the biggest difference. The Septet has a more expansive soundstage with an almost euphoric width. The Astral has a smaller yet still immersive stage but is wonderfully natural in both dimensions and superior when it comes to precise instrument placement.

Both are keepers IMHO. The Astral is for those who prefer a more precise and technical sounding sonic experience while the Septet are for those who prefer the more expansive and organic sound. Both are wonderful to listen to and in a word are pleasingly musical.

CONCLUSION:

To say I enjoy this iem is an understatement. Kiwi Ears has a solid release with the Astral. It is an eminently musical yet precise performer which sounds great with any genre of music I cared to listen to. It is a testament to the expertise of Kiwi Ears in producing noteworthy products. Listening sessions at times lasted for hours and this can only happen when the listener is drawn into the music, which with the Astral happened often.
The Astral will stay in my collection for some time as its attributes closely match my tuning preferences as I am sure it will many others. The Kiwi Ears Astral gets a solid recommendation.

Rating: 4.5/5

Available here: Kiwi Ears Astral | 1DD+6BA Hybrid IEM

[Oumuamua]

Astral in the house. Nice out of the box. Hoping the bass tightens up a touch with some hours. She’s a bit, just a touch, flabby down low

Very well done vocals and treble. Full, clear, nothing stepping on one another. Fit is better for me vs the Septet. Very comfortable.

Trying them with new to me tips, Shanling SE100 with the little metal dealio inside like a jet engine intake cone. Super comfy

[KrustyolBastid]

ddHiFi SURFACE

5 Driver Hybrid IEM.

*Impedance: 150 ohm +|-15% (@1kHz)

*Frequency Response Range: 10Hz - 30kHz

*Effective Frequency Response Range:

20Hz - 20kHz (IEC60318-4, -3dB)

*Sensitivity: 118dB/Vrms (@1kHz)

*Total Harmonic Distortion: ≤1% (@1kHz)

*Driver Configuration: 1 DD and 4 BA Drivers (3-Way Crossover)

Preamble:

The Canuck Audioholics Review Group thank ddHiFi for generously providing the Surface (model E14D) IEM for review purposes.

Pros and Cons:

Outstanding build quality 3D printed shells feature robust metal recessed 2 pin connectors.

Shells are of medium size, fit comfortably in my larger ears, and anchor and seal well.

Fit is always personal, but Surface feels like they should work well for the vast majority.

High quality ddHiFi BC120S shielded silver plated copper cable, terminated 4.4mm.

Smooth “analogue” sound.

I find the head stage very intimate with excellent imaging and layering.

The Pinna rise around 3.5k just manages to tickle my mids sensitivity on occasion. Source device selection and keeping volume at moderate levels solved this.

Those who have a have a known sensitivity in this area take note, otherwise this should not be a concern.

Source Device:

I rolled several source devices and found the mids neutral tuning of the Astell & Kern Kann Max best suited my listening preferences with surface.

Equipment:

ddHiFI Surface IEM, aged 100+ hours.

Astell and Kern Kann Max, low gain, 4.4 mm balanced out.

ddHiFi BC120S SPC shielded cable, terminated 4.4mm

Dunu SS wide bore ear tips.

Sound:

Sub Bass is very deep and rich, with nice rumble. Mild sub over mid bass tilt.

Mid bass is somewhat subdued, has decent impact, and carries some warmth into the mids.

Mids and vocals are highly detailed with excellent technicals. Not overly elevated or forward, but maintain a solid prominence in the mix.

I find the head stage very intimate and close, head filling on all three axis, but very much inside the head. Surface still manages to find space and separation between the notes providing excellent imaging and layering.

Vocals, both male and female sound very natural and tonally accurate.

Highs roll off and are carried mostly by the upper mids, not absent by any means, but the likes of cymbals and high hats take a bit of a back seat on most tracks. Instruments like piano often play above them in the mix.

Summary:

The ddHiFi Surface is an interesting IEM.

It has excellent technical prowess with a warm, smooth “analog” tuning that prevents it sounding like a purely “technical” IEM.

A very musical IEM that lends itself to extended listening sessions, and a craving to listen to it again.

At $280 usd with excellent quality build, a very good quality shielded cable and accessories, and, an easy listening attitude.

I would rate Surface as an extremely strong competitor in the sub $300 segment, and very worthy of consideration.

My music sources:

Qobuz, and, FLAC and DSD files stored on the SD cards of my daps.

My music genre are primarily Rock, Blues, Jazz, Symphonic, Country, Rap, R&B, Pop, Electronic.

Enjoy your music.

[GregTheEgg]

Always a good sign when sessions turn into hours without even realizing it. That blend of musicality and precision is hard to pull off, and it’s great to hear Kiwi Ears delivered something that resonates so well. Definitely seems like a keeper, and your impressions make it easy to see why it earns a solid recommendation

[kingnubian]

Excellent review ae per usual my friend. The Surface is a wonderful set for sure.

[KrustyolBastid]

KIWI EARS AIROSO
5 Driver Hybrid. $129.99 usd

Custom LCP+PU composite diaphragm dynamic driver.
** Bass and Mids
Four non-descript balanced armature drivers.
** 2 for Highs
** 2 for Ultra Highs.

IMPEDANCE 18Ω
SENSITIVITY 110 dB SPL/mW
FREQUENCY RESPONSE 20Hz - 20kHz

Preamble:
Shoutout to the Canuck Audioholics Review Group.
And a sincere and gracious thank you to Kiwi Ears for providing the Airoso review unit.

I received only the ear pieces and carry case, no cable. So can’t speak to the unboxing, nor will I be using the stock 3.5mm terminated cable.

Pros and Cons:
3D printed resin shells are on the small side of medium, and a bit on the thick side, but don’t protrude much from my larger ears. They feature metal nozzles and CNC aluminium alloy and titanium faceplates. Nozzle reach is about mid point in my ears, they are comfortable in ear but they tend to work themselves loose in ear for me. I am able to get a good anchor and seal using Sedna Xelastec ear tips.
Can’t comment on stock cable quality, I didn’t receive it.
Kiwi Ears doesn’t specify cable composition of the 3.5mm stock offering.
I will be using a KBear ST16 silver plated copper cable terminated 4.4mm for this review.
No 4.4mm cable termination available at checkout.
Airoso is not source device fussy, but, it is responsive to the source device.
Source device rolling is one option for fine tuning personal listening preference.
An overall warm, non-offensive, and fun mild U shape tuning.

Source Devices:
I tried three different source devices.
iBasso Dx340 with stock Amp15 card.
FiiO (Jade Audio) JM21
Hiby R4

The iBasso DX340 was the most resolving of the 3 and the most detail oriented.
Bass had very good sub/mid bass definition, mids clear and detailed, but vocals, both male and female tended to be slightly tonally off, a touch dry and thin.

The FiiO JM21 was the warmest of the three.
Bass had less sub/mid definition, and carried into, and warmed the mids, at the expense of some detail and clarity. Vocals have a natural and accurate tonality.
The JM21 offered a “warm hug” listening experience.

Hiby R4 slotted in somewhere between DX340 and JM21.
Good sub/mid bass definition, some warmth into the mids but maintain clarity and detail, mids more forward.
Vocals have a natural and accurate tonality.
A fun balance of warmth and detail.

I chose the Hiby R4 for the sound evaluation.

Equipment:
Kiwi Ears Airoso IEM, aged ?? Hours.
Hiby R4, low gain, 4.4mm out
KBear ST16 silver plated copper cable terminated 4.4mm.
Sedna Xelastec wide bore tips.

Sound:
Sub bass is more boomy rather than having a distinct rumble to it. It does pull nice and low when called upon.
Mid bass has good impact and reasonably quick decay.
Decent sub/mid bass definition, but sub bass overrides mid bass and carries well into the mids.

Mids and Vocals have an overall warmth to them.
Airoso is not a technical or detail powerhouse and this is evident in the mids.
Head stage is close, not spacious. The abundance of bass, and lack of openness, doesn’t allow for much individuality of instruments, or fine detail.
Vocals, both male and female, have some added warmth, but overall are fairly natural and authentic, with a hint of an “ easy listening” lilt.

The upper end also competes with the bass, but manages to extend above with decent air, sparkle, and detail.
Listening to some classical music that was predominately violin, they soared nicely into the top of the head space with proper tonality and timbre, without becoming harsh or unpleasant.

Head stage. As mentioned above, the stage is not spacious and open, but it does have good, just outside the ears width. Good height top to bottom, and average depth front to rear. A nice head filling presentation.
Left to right imaging is good, layering is average. Precise instrument placement is, at best, average.

Summary:
Despite the above critiquing, I find the Airiso to be a fun and enjoyable, mild U shape listen.
There is nothing about the tuning that I personally find offensive at anytime.
A nice laid back, close your eyes and listen experience, perfect for when I’m in the mood for it.

At $129.00 usd Airoso is in a tight market segment. Not true budget territory, but certainly not outrageously priced for a 5 driver hybrid.
For those who are less concerned about technical and precision tuning, and more about a warm, fun, and enjoyable listen.
Airoso is worth a look.

My music sources:
Qobuz, and, FLAC and DSD files stored on the SD cards of my daps.
My music genre are primarily Rock, Blues, Jazz, Symphonic, Country, Rap, R&B, Pop, Electronic.

Enjoy your music.

[ToneDeafMonk]

Most excellent write up sir!