The Kiwi Ears Halcyon is a hybrid driver in-ear monitor (IEM) using three types of drivers: a 10mm dynamic driver, three balanced armatures, and a MEMS driver. It launched in early 2026 and is priced around 259 USD.
The Tipsy Audio M3 is also 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 around 200 USD.
TIPSY M3 SPECIFICATIONS
- Drivers: 1 dynamic and 2 balanced armature drivers
- Crossover: 2-way
- Impedance: 17 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 105 dB/mW
- THD: < 1%
- Nozzle Diameter: 5.6 mm
- Cable: Detachable 1.2-meter quad-braided high-purity alloyed copper cable.
- Connector/Pin Type: 0.78mm 2-pin QDC
- Plug Termination: 3.5mm single-ended audio jack.
- Shell Material: 3D-printed, skin-friendly resin
- Weight: 4.4 g per side.
- Metal carrying case and tips included
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Tipsy M3
KIWI EARS HALCYON SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver Configuration: 1DD + 1 MEMS + 3 BA
- Impedance: 29 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 109 dB/mW
- Frequency response: 10-42kHz
- Distortion <1% (at 1kHz)
- Channel Imbalance <1.5dB
- Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin detachable
- Cable Material: 4N Single Crystal Copper
- Cable Length: 122 cm
- Cable termination: 3.5mm and 4.4mm interchangeable
- Weight: 6 g
- Nozzle Size: 6.2mm
- Carrying case and tips included
Current price and availability:
LISTENING COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
- Tips on both: SpinFit CP145
Patience by Guns N’ Roses
This acoustic rock classic sounds wonderful with the Halcyon: nicely warm and very spacious, detailed and effortless.
The M3 sounds great too, but less refined somehow, lacking some of the Halcyon’s smoothness. The M3 is a bit crisper but not adding more detail. They’re quite similar though.
Today by Smashing Pumpkins
Again the Halcyon delivers a very well resolved, well balanced and refined performance. I’ve listened to this track a million times, and this feels as good as it gets, basically. Meaty, thick bass that still does not overpower the rest, lots of detail and fine nuance.
The M3 is very close, and does an excellent job too. It’s a bit crisper and rawer, though. Not as ultra-refined as the Halcyon.
Sweet Child of Mine by Guns N’ Roses
The M3 sounds balanced and detailed, with good dynamics. Again, however, the Halcyon brings a higher level of refinement to the table while the M3 sounds crisper and rawer. The vocals are also lifted a bit with the Halcyon, although they are tonally very similar broadly speaking.
In The Mountains by Espen Eriksen Trio
The Halcyon has a very weighty bass that’s rich and nuanced. It’s warm and well defined, feels roomy but not thick. It is very delicate, percussion feels precise and smooth, and everything has that sense of refinement to it.
The M3 sounds similar and different at the same time. It basically sounds very good, but not as elegant as the Halcyon. I find it hard to put into words: the tonality is pretty similar, but there is just something the Halcyon does that feels more refined.
Re-Melt by Tord Gustavsen Trio
The M3 is very dynamic and snappy, and basically very good. It still feels rawer and crisper than the Halcyon, even though the tuning is not radically different. The M3 feels more upfront and offers less room. The piano has more weight with the M3, the bass feels thicker, and the percussion is crisper.
Africa by Tingvall Trio
The M3 is energetic and playful. It’s clear and crisp, with lots of grunt and lots of energy. The Halcyon sounds quite different. It’s cleaner and more refined. There is still good bass presence and dynamics, but everything feels more “hi-fi” compared to the more spontaneous energy of the M3. That said, the M3 is resolved enough to sound ” hi-fi” compared to many other earphones, so everything is relative.
II. Allegro, Sonate in A Minor – Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre by Sophie de Bardonnèche
The Halcyon has excellent string timbre: nicely warm, rich in texture and nuance. The M3 sounds good too, but not as clean. It’s again rawer, crisper and more energetic. It’s more forward and upfront: you’re closer to the stage. The tonal balance isn’t really that different, but they still offer quite different experiences.
Sujet Tabou by Renaudin and Cahours
The M3 is very dynamic, it hits hard and doesn’t hold back any punches. There’s lots of detail and articulation. The Halcyon again trades some of the raw explosiveness for refinement. However, it doesn’t exactly hold back much either, it just feels more resolved.
The Sun Always Shines on TV MTV Unplugged by a-ha
The M3 sounds great, very spacious and dynamic. Well balanced. The Halcyon is, however, even better in many ways. Again, the tonal balance is relatively similar, but the Halcyon is more refined.
Sunrise by Norah Jones
The Halcyon sounds more distant, the M3 is more forward.
Rambling Man by Laura Marling
The tonal balance is quite similar. The M3 sounds a bit busier, while the Halcyon takes a step back from the scene.
Escape Route by Boris Blank
The Halcyon has a rich bass that sounds very spacious. The detail level is impressive, the tonal balance excellent. The M3 is quite similar, but again a tad more forward sounding.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
Even though they sound different, they share a similar sound signature. They both have elevated bass, a somewhat recessed midrange and relatively smooth, non-aggressive treble.
Treble
They both have good resolution and never get sharp or overly crisp. The Halcyon tends to have better resolution, while the M3 has more treble weight.
Midrange
The midrange is often very similar, especially in presence. They are both clear and clean. Despite the slightly recessed quantity, they don’t feel lacking or unnatural and vocals and instruments feel present.
Bass
The bass quantity is quite similar, even though it varies a bit from track to track which has more bass than the other. This depends on the frequencies on the track. I find both to have very good bassv detail and dynamics, but the M3 might feel more energetic.
Soundstage and Imaging
Both have very good soundstage size and imaging capabilities. However, the Halcyon tends to be even more impressive, giving more of a concert hall feeling, while the M3 in direct comparison is more of a jazz club. That said, we are still talking about IEMs, so don’t expect too much.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
Both earphones are very detailed, and I think they represent some of the best performance you can get for their price. However, I tend to continuously call the Halcyon more refined, and that is for a reason. It is smoother, more laid back but still conveying all the detail. The M3 is more articulate. The detail is presented in a rawer way – in comparison. By itself, it feels refined enough.
With regards to dynamics it is something similar. The Halcyon feels more refined, the M3 more expressive and energetic.
It is basically the same with regard to timbre. They are not too different, but the M3 is crisper and more again energetic, the Halcyon more laid back and, again, refined.
CONCLUSION
Both the Tipsy Audio M3 and the Kiwi Ears Halcyon are excellent hybrid IEMs that share a similar sound signature, with elevated bass, slightly recessed mids and non-aggressive highs.
The key difference between them comes down to character. The Halcyon is the more refined of the two, offering a smoother, somewhat laid back yet more detailed presentation, with a roomy soundstage that’s a bit further back from the scene. When compared directly, the M3 is relatively speaking more energetic and forward sounding, with a slightly crisper, rawer character that feels more immediate and upfront.
At their respective price points they represent some of the best value available, and both come highly recommended.
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- Amazon: Tipsy M3
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