Short answer: the Kiwi Ears Astral. Both are rated 4.0/5 for sound quality (#261 and #260 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the Kiwi Ears Astral costs $299 against $329 for the NiceHCK Himalaya, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
Buy the Kiwi Ears Astral. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $30 less than the NiceHCK Himalaya.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kiwi Ears Astral | NiceHCK Himalaya | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $329.00 |
| Ranked | #261 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #260 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (median of 26 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 74 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.77 dB standard deviation | 2.05 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.74 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.17 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.5 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 6 balanced armature) | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 6 x balanced armature | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 23 ohms | 22 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB | 110 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for NiceHCK Himalaya:
- NiceHCK Himalaya vs Softears Volume S
- NiceHCK Himalaya vs DUNU DN242
- NiceHCK Himalaya vs DITA Project M2
- ZiiGaat Horizon vs Kiwi Ears Astral
- Kiwi Ears Astral vs Softears Volume S
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 Astral: $299.00 Amazon eBay
Full Kiwi Ears Astral review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.77 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 6 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 6 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (median of 26 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.74 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
NiceHCK Himalaya: $329.00 Amazon eBay
Full NiceHCK Himalaya review and specifications →
| Released | 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.05 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 22 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.17 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons