Short answer: a tie on sound quality. Both are rated 4.0/5 (#270 and #245 of 450 in-ear headphones) at nearly the same price ($169.99 vs $169), so choose on features and fit.
What the Shuoer S12 Pro does well: A 14.8mm planar magnetic driver delivers a gentle bass lift, about 2 dB above target from 60 to 200 Hz, with sub-bass nearly on target, for a preference score of 74. Watch for: Treble from 6 to 16 kHz runs 3 dB or more above target, with a 6 dB peak near 8.2 kHz, so cymbals and sibilance can sound bright at volume.
Buy the Kiwi Ears Aether or the Shuoer S12 Pro on features: they are rated the same for sound quality at close to the same price.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kiwi Ears Aether | Shuoer S12 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $169.99 | $169.00 |
| Ranked | #270 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #245 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (median of 27 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 74 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.10 dB standard deviation | 2.18 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.24 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.19 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 15.3mm planar magnetic | 1 x 14.8mm planar magnetic |
| Impedance | 14 ohms | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/mW | 102 dB |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Kiwi Ears Aether: $169.99 Amazon eBay
Full Kiwi Ears Aether review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.10 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 15.3mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (median of 27 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 14 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.24 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Shuoer S12 Pro: $169.00 Amazon AliExpress eBay
Pros: A 14.8mm planar magnetic driver delivers a gentle bass lift, about 2 dB above target from 60 to 200 Hz, with sub-bass nearly on target, for a preference score of 74. At 16 ohms and 102 dB sensitivity it runs fine from a phone. The wired design suits warm and v-shaped tastes, with extra treble sparkle.
Cons: Treble from 6 to 16 kHz runs 3 dB or more above target, with a 6 dB peak near 8.2 kHz, so cymbals and sibilance can sound bright at volume. A 5.5 dB dip near 3.7 kHz pulls back vocal presence. The Beats Powerbeats Pro and AUNE Jasper carry higher ratings.
Full Shuoer S12 Pro review and specifications →
| Released | 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.18 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 14.8mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.19 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.6 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +0.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,538 Hz | +5.0 dB | 2.19 |
| Peak | 163 Hz | -2.5 dB | 0.79 |
| Peak | 679 Hz | +2.1 dB | 0.90 |
| Peak | 1,695 Hz | -2.2 dB | 2.26 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -7.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,429 Hz | -1.6 dB | 4.48 |
| Peak | 4,686 Hz | +0.9 dB | 3.26 |
| Peak | 3,610 Hz | -0.5 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 4,104 Hz | +0.5 dB | 4.93 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons