Kinera Celest Relentless vs Kiwi Ears Astral: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Kiwi Ears Astral comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 82. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Kiwi Ears Astral - Outstanding overall at around $299.

Wired IEMs

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Kiwi Ears Astral leads on 3 of 4 measures.

Kinera Celest Relentless
Kiwi Ears Astral

HearWiki score

Sound

7.4

8.6

Value

6.4

8.3

Price (USD)

$170

$300

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

Same generation

Kiwi Ears Astral (2025) against Kinera Celest Relentless (2024). These are the same generation of hardware - nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price.

Celest Relentless2024
Astral20251 yr newer

Specifications

Celest RelentlessAstral

Type: Wired IEMs; Wired IEMs
Price (USD): $170; $300
HearWiki score: 68; 82
Released: 2024; 2025
Availability: Discontinued; Sold new
Driver: 1DD + 6BA hybrid; 1DD + 6BA hybrid
Driver type: hybrid; hybrid
Driver configuration: 1DD + 6BA; 1DD + 6BA
Driver size: -; 10 mm
Drivers per side: 7; 7
Impedance: 27 Ω; 23 Ω
Active noise cancelling: -; No
Water resistance: -; IPX4
Detachable cable: Yes; Yes
Connector: 2-pin 0.78 mm; -

Specification comparison of Kinera Celest Relentless vs Kiwi Ears Astral
Spec	Kinera Celest Relentless	Kiwi Ears Astral
Type	Wired IEMs	Wired IEMs
Price (USD)	$170	$300
HearWiki score	68 / 100 Good	82 / 100 Outstanding
Released	2024	2025
Audio
Driver	1DD + 6BA hybrid	1DD + 6BA hybrid
Driver type	hybrid	hybrid
Driver configuration	1DD + 6BA	1DD + 6BA
Driver size	-	10 mm
Drivers per side	7	7
Impedance	27 Ω	23 Ω
Features
Active noise cancelling	-	No
Design
Water resistance	-	IPX4
Detachable cable	Yes	Yes
Connector	2-pin 0.78 mm	-

What reviewers said

Kinera Celest Relentless

This hybrid in-ear monitor from Kinera's Celest range packs seven drivers—one dynamic and six balanced-armature—into a wired design. It features a detachable cable with modular terminations, catering to audiophiles who prefer a flexible, high-resolution listening setup without wireless features.

Pro:Rich, detailed sound from a seven-driver hybrid configuration
Pro:Detachable modular cable offers versatility with different sources
Pro:Compact hybrid design suits critical listening at a mid-range price

Con:No active noise cancellation, requiring a quiet environment or isolation tips
Con:Requires a wired source, limiting convenience for mobile use
Con:May need a capable amplifier to fully drive the 27-ohm load

Kiwi Ears Astral

The Kiwi Ears Astral is a hybrid wired IEM that blends a dynamic driver with six balanced armatures, delivering a bass-forward yet detailed sound with smooth highs and a natural midrange. While it offers strong clarity, good instrument separation, and a comfortable fit for many, its large shells may cause fatigue over long sessions, and the mid-bass and lower midrange could feel leaner than some listeners prefer. Overall, it's a well-rounded performer in the $300 range, though not perfectly neutral due to its elevated low end and relaxed treble.

Pro:Deep, impactful sub-bass with good control
Pro:Clear and detailed treble without harshness
Pro:Natural midrange with good instrument separation

Con:Large shells may reduce comfort during extended listening
Con:Limited included eartip selection
Con:Mid-bass punch and lower midrange can seem thin

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

Compare something else

Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.

New comparison Kinera Celest Relentless Kiwi Ears Astral