Short answer: the Kiwi Ears Astral. Both are rated 4.0/5 for sound quality (#261 and #262 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the Kiwi Ears Astral costs $299 against $309 for the Softears Volume S, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
Buy the Kiwi Ears Astral. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $10 less than the Softears Volume S.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kiwi Ears Astral | Softears Volume S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $309.00 |
| Ranked | #261 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #262 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 32 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.77 dB standard deviation | 1.96 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.74 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.37 (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 (-2.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 6 balanced armature) | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 1 passive dynamic + 2 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 6 x balanced armature | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 1 x 6mm passive dynamic + 2 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 23 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB | - |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 8Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Kiwi Ears Astral compares with other leading options:
- ZiiGaat Horizon vs Kiwi Ears Astral
- Kiwi Ears Astral vs NiceHCK Himalaya
- ZiiGaat Horizon vs Softears Volume S
- NiceHCK Himalaya vs Softears Volume S
- NiceHCK Himalaya vs DITA Project M2
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
Softears Volume S: $309.00 HiFiGo eBay
Full Softears Volume S review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2024 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.96 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 1 passive dynamic + 2 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 1 x 6mm passive dynamic + 2 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (median of 32 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.37 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons