Kiwi Ears Astral

The Kiwi Ears Astral sits at the more serious end of the brand’s IEM range, pairing a seven driver setup with tuning that aims for detail without becoming overly clinical. Each earpiece combines a 10mm bioceramic dynamic driver with six balanced armatures, giving the Astral plenty of scope across the frequency range.

Bass has real depth, helped by a 9dB sub bass shelf, but it is kept under control rather than allowed to dominate everything above it. The dynamic driver rolls off gently around 300Hz, leaving room for a clean, fairly neutral midrange. Vocals come through naturally, while guitars and acoustic instruments retain plenty of texture without sounding pushed forward. Treble is handled by a modified dual tweeter arrangement, extending smoothly towards 15kHz and adding air and detail.

The imaging is precise, and there is enough space to keep busier tracks from becoming congested. It is particularly good at revealing smaller details in recordings, bringing new elements to your favourite tracks. The presentation remains cohesive rather than sounding like seven separate drivers competing for attention.

Sensitivity is rated at 105dB with an impedance of 23 ohms, so the Astral is easy enough to run from portable DACs, dongles and many everyday sources without demanding a powerful amplifier. Frequency response is quoted at 10Hz to 22kHz, with total harmonic distortion below 1%.

The detachable 1.2 metre cable uses standard 0.78mm two pin connectors and comes with interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs. A carry case and three sizes of ear tips are also included. It also comes in three attractive sparkly designs.

If I was going to find something to pick on it would have to be the shell size, which is larger than some rivals and may not suit smaller ears for longer sessions. For everyone else, the Astral delivers a detailed, spacious and mature sound with enough low end to keep things enjoyable rather than purely analytical. RRP $299

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