The Halcyon is a hybrid driver in ear monitor (IEM) using 3 types of drivers. It launched in early 2026 and it’s priced around 259 USD .
There’s a 10 mm dynamic driver for the bass, two DEK custom balanced armature drivers for the midrange, and a WBFK custom balanced armature driver that takes care of the treble alongside a MEMS driver. MEMS drivers are something of a rarity; they’re also called “solid state” drivers. They’re very fast, but usually very small and best suited for the treble region. Many have claimed they will take over in-ears completely, but so far they remain a novelty.
KIWI EARS HALCYON SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver Configuration: 1DD + 1 MEMS + 3 BA
- Impedance: 29 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 109dB (at 1kHz/mW
- Frequency Response Range: 10-42kHz
- Distortion <1% (at 1kHz)
- Channel Imbalance <1.5dB
- Connector: 0.78mm 2Pin detachable
- Cable Material: 4N Single Crystal Copper
- Cable Length: 122CM+/-2CM
- Cable termination: 3.5mm and 4.4mm interchangeable
- Weight: 5.99g
- Nozzle Size: 6.2mm
IN THE BOX
- Interchangeable Plug Cable
- 3.5mm SE adapter plug
- 4.4mm BAL adapter plug
- 3 × Pairs of Wide-Bore Silicone Eartips (S/M/L)
- 3 × Pairs of Silicone Eartips (S/M/L)
- 6 × Replacement Filters
- Carrying Case
Current price and availability:
BUILD AND COMFORT
The Halcyon has an all-metal shell. They are of medium size and sit comfortably in my ears. They have detachable cables with the standard 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors. The cable looks and feels very nice and comes with interchangeable 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm termination plugs. There is a nice selection of tips and a basic carry case included, as well as several replacement filters.
LISTENING IMPRESSIONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
- Tips: SpinFit CP145
In The Mountains by Espen Eriksen Trio
Powerful bass, excellent instrument separation. Smooth yet very detailed.
Re-Melt by Tord Gustavsen Trio
Nice bass presence, percussion is very fast and excellently refined. The piano is smooth and subtle.
Teardrop by Massive Attack
Great, tight bass with good presence. Excellent instrument separation. Female vocals are delicate.
Eye of the Day by Marta del Grandi
The bass is powerful, but doesn’t overpower the female vocals, which are very present in a balanced and nuanced way. It sounds nicely intimate and refined.
The Hidden Camera by Photek
Very nice bass. Rich and detailed with a tactile physicality. Percussion is very quick but not sharp or unpleasant. The delivery is smooth but in a very revealing way.
Spontaneous Compositorius by Thomas Agergard
The saxophone sounds very natural with a warm tint and lots of nuance. The bright percussion is very clean but not sharp and unpleasant as it can be. It is very detailed and nicely bright with rich overtones. When the bass enters, it is powerful but not overpowering.
Sujet Tabou by Renaudin and Cahours
This explosive duo consisting of acoustic guitar, percussion, and some vocals is a fascinating piece of music. The Halcyon is dynamic enough, detailed enough, and smooth enough to make this sound very enjoyable.
Jambi by Tool
The Halcyon delivers great, rich bass, nicely textured but not overly crisp guitar, and vocals that stand out in the mix. Very good tuning for this metal track.
As Before by Olga Konkova
The cajón drum sounds rich and punchy. The vocals and piano are delicate and nuanced.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
Excellent string timbre. It is suitably warm but with excellent detail and nuance. It sounds very refined.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
This track can often sound a bit muffled with darker sounding earphones, but the Halcyon delivers excellent detail and instrument separation.
Like Suicide by Soundgarden
This is a difficult song to get right, it demands a certain tuning, and I don’t think the Halcyon is the best earphone I have heard here, but it works well enough.
Never Enough by Loren Alred
This track can sound terrible on certain earphones, with very dry and unpleasantly crisp vocals. The Halcyon, however, makes this song sound excellent. It’s warm, smooth yet full of detail.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The Kiwi Ears Halcyon has an elevated bass presence, nicely present mids, and highs that are a bit laid back but sound extremely refined.
Treble
The treble is definetly not the most aggressive I have heard, but it is very resolving and effortless in the way it delivers detail. I really like the treble on the Halcyon.
Midrange
Despite the powerful bass, the vocals and other mid-range instruments come nicely through and have plenty of detail and nuance.
Bass
As mentioned, the bass is powerful and elevated. It is not neutral and doesn’t try to be. It is extremely rich in detail; it is both bold and textured, and it has warmth and tightness.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage is large for an IEM, and the imaging is very good.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The detail level is extremely high across the board. I am especially impressed with the treble, but the mids and bass are also very detailed. It is also noticeable how effortless and refined the Halcyon makes all detail sound. Some earphones make detail stand out in a more aggressive way. The Halcyon makes detail sound smooth without losing information.
Dynamics are good but not mind-blowing. The Halcyon is refined and balanced. It does not throw punches unless they are called for.
The timbre is very nice and natural across the board. Vocals are excellent. The bass is a bit boosted, but in a way that doesn’t sound fat. Treble sounds refined and smooth.
COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
- Tips: SpinFit CP145
TIPSY M3 vs HALCYON
The Tipsy Audio M3 is a hybrid driver IEM featuring a 9.8mm dynamic driver for the bass and dual balanced armature drivers for the mids and highs. It launched in late 2025 and is priced close to the Astralis, around the 200 USD mark.
The Tipsy Audio M3 and the Kiwi Ears Halcyon have a similar sound signature but quite different characters. The Halcyon is the more refined of the two, offering a smoother, somewhat laid back yet more detailed presentation, with a larger soundstage that puts you a bit further back compared to the M3. The M3 is relatively speaking more dynamic, energetic, and forward sounding, with a slightly crisper, rawer character that feels more immediate and upfront.
You’ll find my complete comparison here:
- Amazon: Tipsy M3
LETSHUOER ASTRALIS vs HALCYON
The Letshuoer Astralis is a single-driver in-ear monitor with a single 15.5 mm ring-type planar dynamic driver. It launched in spring 2026 costing 189 USD.
Comparing the Astralis and the Halcyon, the sound signatures are very similar, with both having an elevated bass, slightly warm mids, and quite smooth, non-offensive highs. They’re not identical, though. I generally find the Halcyon to sound more refined with better technical performance overall. The Astralis sounds a bit rawer and punchier.
You’ll find my complete comparison here:
KIWI EARS ASTRAL vs HALCYON
The Kiwi Ears Astral is a hybrid driver IEM, featuring a 10mm dynamic driver for the bass and four balanced armatures handling the rest of the frequency range. It is currently priced between 239 and 299 USD.
When comparing the two, they have much in common, but the Astral has a more neutral bass, while the Halcyon generally sounds a bit more refined and with a better holographic presentation.
You’ll find my complete comparison here:
- Kiwi Ears: Astral
- Linsoul: Kiwi Astral
- Amazon: Kiwi Astral
CONCLUSION
The Kiwi Ears Halcyon is an impressive IEM that manages to combine a bold, elevated bass with a refined and detailed presentation.
It is smooth and laid back yet with excellent resolution, and the treble in particular is impressively effortless sounding. The soundstage is large and imaging excellent, and the timbre feels natural across the board despite the slight coloration in the tuning.
If this is the type of sound signature you are after, the Halcyon is an easy recommendation.
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