Kiwi Ears Airoso Review: An Airy 5-Driver Hybrid In-Ear Monitor (IEM)

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Impressive airy soundstage for the price
• Warm, natural timbre with excellent tonal balance
• Lightweight and comfortable for long listening sessions
• Solid hybrid driver configuration (1DD + 4BA)
• Generous eartip selection in the box
• Beautiful build quality using CNC aluminum and titanium

Cons

• Stock cable feels noticeably cheap for the asking price
• Requires a DAC or dongle to really shine — doesn't perform well straight from a phone
• Bass, while engaging, could use more texture and depth
• Midrange lacks a bit of refinement compared to pricier competition

Kiwi Ears has quietly built a very respected catalog in the Chi-Fi (Chinese Hi-Fi) IEM space. Founded out of a passion for accessible high-fidelity audio, the brand has delivered hit after hit—from the beloved Cadenza to the timbre-king Orchestra Lite, the KE4, and the Allegro series. What makes Kiwi Ears stand out in an increasingly crowded $100–$200 IEM market is that they consistently bring something unique to the table.

So when the Airoso dropped with a 1DD + 4BA hybrid configuration at $129, people paid attention. The name itself is a clue — "Airoso" is a Spanish word meaning airy — and that's a very deliberate hint at the sonic identity Kiwi Ears was going for here.

What Is the Kiwi Ears Airoso?

The Kiwi Ears Airoso is a five-driver hybrid in-ear monitor priced at about $130 USD. The name itself, "Airoso" is a Spanish word meaning airy—and that's a very deliberate hint at the sonic identity Kiwi Ears was going for here. Kiwi Ears uses one custom dynamic driver and four balanced armature drivers, split across the frequency spectrum to handle bass, highs, and ultra-highs with dedicated hardware crossover technology. It's a smart configuration that, when done right, gives you the best of both worlds.

The question is: did Kiwi Ears pull it off?

Unboxing

What's in the Box?

• 1 x Kiwi Ears Airoso
• 1 x Cable
• 9 x pairs of silicone ear tips (3S/3M/3L)
• 1 x Carrying case

Build Quality & Design

Materials and Construction

The Airoso shell is a mix of 3D-printed resin and CNC-machined aluminum alloy, with a titanium alloy faceplate that gives it a clean, modern look. The black resin inner shell feels smooth against the ear and uses hypoallergenic materials—a thoughtful touch for anyone who's had skin sensitivity issues with cheaper sets.

The build quality, for the price, is quite good. It looks and feels like something that should cost more. It's also quite a bit lighter (airier, even?) than you would expect from looking at it, which is great for comfort.

The stock cable is unfortunately not very good at this price point. It's a basic 4-core copper cable with a 3.5mm TRS termination and 0.78mm 2-pin connectors, and it feels less durable than it should for a $129 IEM. You may want to replace the cable with an affordable 3rd party option like the Tripowin Zonie. Fortunately, Kiwi Ears has taken note of this and improved their stock cables with their more recent IEM releases.

Sound Quality

Bass

The low end on the Airoso is warm, full-bodied, and engaging. The sub-bass extends well—you'll feel that satisfying low-end rumble on bass-heavy tracks without it becoming bloated or overpowering. The mid-bass delivers a natural punch that works well for drums and bass guitar, giving music a lively, energetic presence.

That said, if you're a self-described basshead looking for thunderous, heavily boosted low end, the Airoso might feel a bit restrained. It's more musically organic than being a bass monster. The texture and layering in the bass could also be improved—it's smooth, but not the most technically precise low-end you'll find at this price point.

Mids

This is one of the Airoso's strong suits. The midrange is warm, natural, and forward in a way that makes vocals feel present and powerful. Whether you're listening to jazz, rock, acoustic music, or anything vocal-heavy, there's a lush, organic quality to the mids that's hard not to love.

Treble

The treble is airy and extensive while being non-fatiguing—and that last part is important. A lot of multi-BA hybrid sets in this price range suffer from harsh, sibilant highs that make long listening sessions uncomfortable. The Airoso dodges that problem almost entirely. There's sparkle here without edginess, which is exactly what you want for extended metal, jazz, and classical listening sessions. Treble-sensitive listeners should find this set very comfortable.

Technical Performance

Timbre on the Airoso is excellent. Instruments sound very real, and there's a natural, organic quality to the tone that goes beyond just technically accurate. Acoustic guitars breathe, piano notes decay naturally, and vocals feel lifelike.

The soundstage is the headline feature that this IEM was clearly designed around. For a sub-$150 IEM, the Airoso throws a wide, dome-like stage that creates an immersive, almost out-of-head presentation. It's not perfectly precise in its positioning, and you won't find razor-sharp holographic imaging here—but the sense of space and air in the sound is impressive and immediately noticeable. Imaging is solid, with instruments placed convincingly within the stereo field, though fine positional nuance is somewhat limited compared to more technically oriented IEMs.

The Airoso isn't the most technical IEM, but it takes a very enjoyable focus on creating a lush, atmospheric soundstage that is very smooth and satisfying instead.

Comfort & Isolation

Fit & Comfort

This is another area where the Airoso does well. The ergonomic resin shell follows the natural curve of the ear canal, and at only 12 grams per side, it's remarkably light for a 5-driver hybrid. I noticed no pressure or fatigue from the shells during listening.

The 6mm nozzle diameter is mid-sized, so finding the right eartip match is important. The stock tips work fine, but some 3rd party tips like the Divinus Velve,t may slightly improve the seal.

Isolation is decent but not exceptional. The vented shell design (which helps with pressure relief and natural soundstage) does let in some ambient noise. It's fine for everyday commuting or office use, but if you need maximum isolation for loud environments, this might not be your go-to set.

Comparisons

Kiwi Ears Airoso vs. Simgot SuperMix 4 (~$109)

The SuperMix 4 is one of the Airoso's most natural competitors. Both are hybrid IEMs in the sub-$130 range with energetic tunings. The SuperMix 4 edges ahead in raw clarity and treble extension, but the Airoso has better timbre, a more organic midrange, and a wider soundstage. If you prefer technical precision, go with SuperMix 4. If you want a more musical, relaxed listen, the Airoso wins.

Kiwi Ears Airoso vs. Kiwi Ears KE4 (~$199)

A natural within-family comparison. The KE4 uses a dual dynamic driver + balanced armature setup and comes in at $70 more. The KE4 offers better detail retrieval, more nuanced micro-dynamics, and slightly sharper imaging. The Airoso is like a "KE4 lite"—sharing similar warm-organic DNA but with less technical ceiling. If budget isn't a concern, the KE4 is the stronger performer. But the Airoso gives you comparable performance for a good bit cheaper.

Final Verdict

The Kiwi Ears Airoso is exactly what the best budget hybrid IEMs should be — a set that doesn't try to be everything to everyone, but instead commits fully to a specific sonic identity and nails it. The airy soundstage, warm natural timbre, and comfortable fit make it enjoyable across genres and listening sessions.

It's not a flawless set. The stock cable is disappointing, the bass could use more texture, and you'll want a dongle DAC to get the best out of it. But for $129, the Airoso is a strong contender for one of the most musically satisfying IEMs.

Technical Specifications

• Driver Configuration: 1x Dynamic Driver (LCP + PU composite diaphragm) + 4x Balanced Armature drivers (2x high, 2x ultra-high)
• Impedance: 18Ω
• Sensitivity: 110 dB SPL/mW
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
• Cable Length: 1.2m (detachable)
• Cable Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin
• Nozzle Diameter: 6mm
• Weight: 12g per earbud

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