Kiwi Ears Aether VS EarAcoustic VSA-MAX

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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.