AFUL - Explorer

What would you say the upper mids/treble is like on the Luna? I’ve got the Aful explorers and I like the overall warmth of the set, but I want something with better detail on the upper minds/treble. I listen to a lot of breakcore and the Explorers feel sort of low res in that region

I have the Explorer so I'm very interested in hearing your comparison between those two.

I love my Explorer with the S&S, it's my top choice. I have tried Zeos Render, Penon orange, Nicehck C04, Zhu Rhymes bamboo, kbear coffee and have always gone back to the S&S. Having said that, eartips are very personal choices for different people so just stick with whatever feels best for you.

https://preview.redd.it/dtek5ukvlonf1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4eeb391a93df7a691f698dc0fd4c2abc91f1798 Aful Explorer Onix Alpha XI1 Tripowin Zonie 4.4 Dunu S&S A 4.4 cable is a must if pairing the Explorer with the Onix Alpha, a very noticeable improvement in soundstage over the stock 3.5

I have all three IEMs, the Kefine Klean is good for $49 and if you change the stock cable it improves the bass and treble becoming warmer if using the Nicehck GTC5 cable. The Lesthouer S08 is a very good warm planar IEM I think is a really good option with the 25% discounts on Amazon US it comes out at around $66, but check the forums on Amazon it says frequently returned there are users who report problems with the right earbud, I have not had any problems, they sound very different from the Kefine Klean, the sound is somewhat dark with soft and detailed but not extended treble. The best for my personal taste is the Aful Explorer but it is the most expensive $119.99, it has a very organic warm sound, with good bass and detailed and sweet mids with a narrow but very musical presentation and the treble is somewhat attenuated with a certain level of detail. Any of these IEMs are wonderful but if you have the money go for the Aful Explorer if you like the warm signature and good musical representation.

Of all the IEMs I have, for some reason, the one I like the most is the Aful Explorer. I also have the Kefine Klean, Kefine Delci Ae, Sivga Que, Kiwi Ears Airoso, Lesthouer S08, Simgot EW300, Hidizs MP143, and MP145. All of these IEMs have a somewhat neutral, warm signature, but they all have excellent, very different sounds. I recommend the Aful Explorer, it's the best without a doubt. I won't tell you about the Hidizs MP145 because they're too big and can have adjustment problems if you have a narrow ear canal. Another thing I recommend is that you play with different types of cables and eartips, they can make a difference.

I have the ISN H20 and they're wonderful, better than many more expensive IEMs. My absolute favorite is the Aful Explorer, followed by the ISN H20, above the Lesthouer S08, Hidiz MP145 and MP143, Kefine Delci AE, etc.

The Aful Explorer is the go-to when people want warm, smooth sound

Explorer is a snoozefest in comparison to Defiant, but good for long sessions. I mean, Explorer is unique, but can be really boring even on your favourite tracks. Defiant is always engaging, less warm than Explorer, less flooded with bass but more punchy. Also more separated and organic to me, with better vocals. But Explorers scale very well with loud music. For me it asks for too much volume until it's considered fun. For some genres they could be the choice.

Aful explorer hands down. They are small, sound terrific, and usually go for less than 90-95$. Also they are beautiful to look at.

Agreed, absolutely love mine too

I've listened to all except KE4, and base on what i thought: 1. If you like bass than the others: Aful Explorer with "L-shape sound signature" (on small volume). If you crank up volume to medium-high, sounds will much better but still focus on bass, especially subbass. 2. Harman enjoyer: Truthear Nova/Supermix 4 with "Harman/U-shape sound signature". SM4 will have more subbass than midbass, but doesn't bleeding to mid. Uppermid/female vocal sounds really good. Treble also, and feel it somehow better than Nova. If you like the "rumble" in your ears, you'll prefer SM4 than Nova, although both of them are Harman sound signature. 3. Less bass, vocal more sparkle than Harman: KE4 with "Meta/JM-1". Although I said I haven't listened KE4, but I experienced some higher "kinda" have same sound signature, like Softears Volume S/Thieaudio Hype 4. Sounds nearly perfect to me, not too much or too less bass, but vocal really shines overall. Treble reached enough height to not become too harsh like the name "meta". 4. Least bass of all with higher treble is S12 Pro. Cuz of Planar driver, the bass isn't really have much quantity, but it has good control, hit really tight, and decay very fast, which is not good for basshead. Treble is what it did best, it perfectly fit if you like listen to some genres with treble focus like orchestra or sth related. But if you like, you listen to many different genres, I recommend you choose Ziigaat Odyssey. Unboxing experience/packaging is very bad cuz they spent all money to the iems itself. Thats why it sounds good. If this will be your first iems then I recommend you should buy few cheap iems first to find out your liking. Tangzu Wan'er 2 for Vocal, Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss/Wyvern Black Remaster (will release soon) for Bass, and Moondrop Lan for Treble. From what I learnt, the number of drivers is not the factor decides that iems is good or not. Look at the KZ, dumped in a hell lot of drivers, and it still sounds like dogshit to me. Compare to Aful Magicone, which uses only one BA driver, but it can make none of the bullshit KZ with the same, even higher price range can mess up with Magicone. Or higher we have Softears Twilight which is my future target, have only one Dynamic Driver at price 800$, but it still have a lot of respect from many audiophiles. Even higher? Sennheiser IE900, 1500$, still 1 Dynamic also.

With people who have AirPods Pro, the Explore is my recommendation as a first iem, too. With that customer, the IEM has to be significantly better than the AirPods while having a similar fit. That person isn't going to choose something like the Truthear Gate or Red when they have AirPods.

To me you can't beat the beauty of the Blessing 3, Odyssey 2 and Aful Explorer https://preview.redd.it/5prceoqy0jyf1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bc060c7bf0b4581ed8a360b8104b27d5b08fa42e And yes, I too only get IEMs I like the look of

Yeah that's also true, I just don't want to get ripped off. I also got the Aful Explorer the other day at half price, so at least I have something else to compare.

Yeah that's also true, I just don't want to get ripped off. I also got the Aful Explorer the other day at half price, so at least I have something else to compare.

I got the Explorer for $78 in their Spring Sale after coupons and coins were applied.

Loving it so far. I’ve gotten a couple of other new ones in the last few weeks and so have been flitting back and forth between them. I don’t have time to have my ears blocked off for multiple hours a day, so it takes a while to get some time in with them.

I love their design, too. Their small size and comfortable fit are among the reasons these will likely get more use than many of my others, even though a few of them are technically better than the Explorers. It was the Spring Sales on Amazon and AliExpress. I got the Explorer from AliExpress and the Kiwi Ears Airoso from Amazon. Then just over a week ago, I caught the Kiwi Ears Aether at an amazing price on Amazon. During the Anniversary sale, I stocked up on favorite cables and ear tips, making my final orders before I have to abandon AliExpress for good due to the tariff nonsense. I just get a small handful of hours per week with IEMs. I absolutely *cannot* comprehend people who talk about wearing them for 8-10 hours per *DAY*!!!!! How on earth do you live in this world being shut off from everyone and everything else for most of your waking hours???🤷🏻‍♀️ I mean - *life*!! I have a job. I have church. I have “extracurricular” music activities which mean I may have anywhere from 2-4 evening rehearsals per week plus occasional performances. There’s just no way I could possibly have my ears plugged up and be in my own cutoff world for that many hours per day. I don’t even use them 8-10 hours per week most weeks. But I do enjoy listening to them when I have the time.

I have an Aful Explorer purchased from AliExpress for $78 a few months ago and have the Performer 5+2 on the way now, purchased for $154 in the most recent Ali sale. The Amazon prices aren’t quite that good, so I’m glad I got them when and where I did. I’m looking for a good deal on the MagicOne but $111 is not it. It’s been as low as $58 in AliExpress sales in the past, so gonna wait and see if that price comes around again.

NiceHCK F1 Pro, ARTTI T10, Aful Explorer, and at just above that range at $159, Meze Alba (I found an open box set for $99).

I have the Explorer and the Airoso and don’t think you can go wrong with either one.

I have tried both. I prefer the relaxed vocals and rich, warm tone of the Explorers. Some say they are dark. I disagree: There is just the right amount of treble in my opinion. I found the Defiant a tad bit forward in the vocals. Not quite shouty but too close to the line for me. Oh… and the Explorers are more comfortable to me as well.

I mean, i guess you're starting at this, so my recommendation is if you want a good DAC, use apple's DAC even if you don't have an iPhone, is a good DAC, it's not that expensive and at least you don't need to worry about anymore, besides that, you need to emphasize of feeling your music, hearing those instruments you couldn't hear at first, and then you're about to forget that marketing of headshake bass, and see the beauty of music. And if you started with something with bass, my go-to recommendation are the aful explorer. They're at $119, and for me, it was worthy. I like the shape bass, treble, EVERYTHING. https://preview.redd.it/ps30h3kuo2rf1.jpeg?width=1078&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=87e1ec541dd799c8cb5a41d15c4955816ec0101b

1. Hekse (best overall) 2. Softear Studio 4 (best sounding iem for my music) 3. He6se V2 (more dynamic than Hekse but nostalgic as comfortable. Less spacious and open) 4. Aful Explorer (like a lesser Studio 4 for commuting. Very easy listening) 5. HD6XX (comfortable and the baseline benchmark but not my go to) 6. Aful P8 (most boring sounding. Used to like it but not these days. Might be a good gaming iem but I don’t game anymore) 7. EW300 (it’s meh. Use for monitoring)

Im also looking at them as an upgrade to the Aful Explorers which I just love. But they are are about $400 cad.... Worth it?

Take a look at the ZiiGaat Cinno. Kinda under rated, IMHO. Only $50 on sale most places. A proper bassy alternative to the Hexa, IMHO, that avoids the high Pina Gain and 8k peak of the Hexa. ALMOST hits JM1 target in the upper mids and treble. Doesnt extend super high either, so it comes off warmer. Its different. And for $50, not a bad pick up. If you want the mids a little more forward without the treble shock, the Explorer is really the only option for that sound signature where the Pina Gain come in below 1k. Otherwise, perhaps your only other alternative, would be the new ZiiGaat Lush. It is more of a "traditional" popular tuned IEM, slight bass tuck, gradual treble roll off, middling pina gain just under the Harman curve. https://audioamigo.squig.link/?share=Harman_Target,Ziigaat_Cinno,Truthear_Hexa,AFUL_Explorer,Ziigaat_Lush

Explorers are nice. Not to everyone's liking though. Because they can feel a little flat at times. Keep in mind that the Explorers are a semi custom shell design as well. A lot of people like them, but that doesn't mean you will. I'm not a fan of EQ, it's highly over rated. The idea you can make another IEM sound like another, is absolute nonsense. There is a LOT to it. It's not that straightforward. I am OK with EQing to reduce a tonal range you don't like. But it will always be per IEM dependent. If you just have One IEM, great. If you have multiple, it just gets in the way. Find a good IEM that sounds good everywhere, on everything, and doesn't rely on EQ to meet your needs.

DZ4 is a Dynamic Driver set. It is very lean on bass, and has a warmer treble roll off. Probably not your cup of tea if you like the Chu2 tuning. Also, the S08 is like 200% larger than the CHU2. So dont assume that because they are the same shape they are the same size. They are not. The S08 is significantly bigger. Still comfortable. Just setting expectations. If you like the Chu2 tuning, and want more of that, but in a more detailed and textured experience, check out the Artti R1, its regularly on sale now, and has a very similar tuning to the Chu2. Its regularly on sale now, and is a bargain for <$50. All aluminum construction too. If you want something a little higher in the price tier. My next two recommendations would be the Tangzu FuDu, which has an awesome accessories package of premium tips along with it. Easy to drive Hybrid set with 1 DD and 2 BAs. Next is also a 1DD 2BA set, and that is the AFUL Explorer. Another decent set of accessories, even if not as premium as the FuDu. BUT...it is a little more detailed than the FuDu, and sounds better than its $100ish price tag would suggest. Both of these are 3D Resin Printed IEM's, so...that might not be your cup of tea. But they are very highly regarded. Alternative, if you want something metal, the Kefine Delci AE. I fanboy the shit out of this IEM, but it is one of my favorites. I seem to always go back to it. It is very warm, and engaging, with two tuning nozzles that offer good variation and feel. All metal build, very comfortable. I am in an extreme minority here, but i am not a fan of the EW300. They are detailed. But the sound stage is flat, and details get muddied. And, if you are one of the unlucky few, like myself, Tone Deaf Monk, and JayTis, we all had an issue with the EW300, where it had this weird, almost active noise cancellation feel to them. There have been a couple of other reviewers that have also commented about similar weird interactions with stacked drivers like the EW300. Now YMMV. But generally, the EW300 is very flat, and narrow feeling, and that is about as far away from the Chu2 tuning as you can get. So be forewarned of that.

Aful Explorer would be better to listen to rock. It's very fun tuning and can be listened to with max volume for a long time.

What I was trying to say: The set is fun to listen to even if the volume is max. It's a warm sounding set. Not shouty and hurting.

I'd suggest the Aful Explorer, it has both nice sub and mid bass.

I have both, I use explorer for old school rock and metal and Defiant for EDM, metalcore and modern death, thrash metal.

If you change your mind and tinker with EQ, letshuoer s08 or s12 pro. If you like good subbass and tame upper mids, Aful Explorer.

How does it sound with metal/rock? I have the Aful Explorer, just looking for a different tonality which I suppose it has.

My current favorites are Juzear Defiant and Aful Explorer. It took some time to find the right eartips for the Defiant, spinfit cp100 makes the bass.

If you have a budget of $100, I'd suggest Aful Explorer.

I love the explorer probably my favorite IEM

Seconded on DaVinci if you like a nice sound. If you just want *BASS*, try the 7Hz Legato. The Aful Explorer with Final Type-E tips also basses well, but those are the only tips that make the bass actually worth something.

Agreed on the Explorer. I dislike it very much though I'm forcing myself to use it for a review.

Couldn't tell you. It's an underperformer at its price. Bloomy bass with zero texture, recessed mids, subdued but still annoying treble. It's a 3/10 for me.

First impressions are great. I got the RE2000 couple days ago and they are amazing imo. Bass is strong & fast. Maybe SLIGHTLY 'boomy' but i feel like it's in a good & controlled way, like a good SVS subwoofer would be without making my chest shake. Then I got the AFUL explorer today. As I was listening to it I was thinking "oh this isn't bad, this stacks up with the RE2000 closely" ... Then I put the RE2000 back on and OMG, I was wrong. The amount of detail and precision that the RE2000's manage blow the AFUL Explorer out of the water. I much prefer most of my music with them. Aful has it's place though and are also great. There is almost non-existent sibilance and I can understand why people call it a 'relaxed' listen. It has a darker sound with powerful bass which stacks up with the RE2000, but isn't as "controlled/tight" in my opinion. Also RE2000 isn't a soundstage monster but is definitely wider and more accurate/precise than Explorer. I feel like I really needed to sit and listen to enjoy the RE2000 more, and the design seems more fragile. I would probably not take the RE2000 travelling or to the gym, I'll be using the AFUL Explorer for those use cases. Also, when working/studying I'll likely reach for the AFUL since it's more 'mellow'. I tried doing some work with the RE2000 but kept stopping to say "oh wow" at certain moments in songs... it's so good & detailed at times that it distracts me haha. I need some more time to formulate a better opinion and I need to test it 1 v 1 with my Hifiman XS & HE6SE V2

Aful Explorer is very warm and has one of the most tamed treble at the price range!

I vote Explorers. I tried both and sent the Defiants back. The Explorers are the most comfortable iems I’ve ever tried. I never have to fidget around with them to sit and seal in my ear correctly. Opinions vary, however.

https://preview.redd.it/875airyoo9ge1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60c42643ccc26498b160edf9b67eeb5aee288a0e Between the two when I A/B them the Sivga has better mid bass quality it doesnt go as deep as explorers in subbass but its more forward in the vocals and has better treble extension. The Que sounds less claustrophobic, more open soundstage than the explorer. The cable quality is about the same, maybe slightly better on the Que. My only gripes I guess is the shells can get cold in the winter outside and they dont scale up to high volumes as well as explorer. I guess if you liked alot of subbass or listen at really high volumes and dont listen to very vocal heavy genres, explorer could be better. I like the Explorer for background music but Que more engaging.

Juzear Defiant is a great all rounder….Aful Explorer is warmer and laidback set. If you want to hear everything…Defiant ….hear everything but, slightly recessed warmer everything….Explorer! 👈🏾🤞🏾

If you use a brighter / neutral source with Explorers you’ll get a slightly brighter soundstage

Might be a little controversial, but the Aful Explorer. I thought I could force myself to join the dark side, but I'm still neutral/V-shape gang.

My thoughts exactly! I’m very sensitive to treble, I have the zero reds, delci and now the explorers. Everyone call the reds neutral, and they sound really amazing, very natural tuning, but cause me fatigue after an hour listening at mid volume. The explorers are, to my ears, just as natural, but with a richer, more textured (and punchier) bass and don’t cause me any fatigue due to treble. I’m loving it so far

Almost 2 months, I got into the world of iem and since then have built a small collection. Defiant - The best-looking iem and cable of the lot, with tight bass, wide soundstage, crisp details, and smooth treble. I bought this mostly for the hype, but it's fantastic. Aful Explorer - This is my favourite iem cuz of the sweet treble, crisp vocals and instruments, and rich bass. Perfect for long music sessions without fatigue, and it fits perfectly due to its small size. Hexa - I bought the hexa since every reviewer raved about it, but I don't like it or dislike it; it's just flat. I'm simply neutral on this one. Maybe, flat sound signature isn't for me. Twistura - This is my first iem I got for 30$ and boy do they sound great. Aggressive V- shape with great bass and sparkly highs. This comes with 3 interchangeable nozzles and dongle dac which is crazy for its price. Questyle m12i- I'm amazed how such tiny dac can sound this amazing. Enhances soundstage, bass, vocals & instrument details. It's one of the closest analog sounding dongle dac. Bought it after watching Andy Audiovaults review.

Pros: It's warm/bassy sound is what I like the most. The focus is more on sub bass but also not in ur face. Mid bass also sounds clean without being shouty. Treble is really smooth with slight sparkle which is great if ur treble sensitive. Good build quality iem/cable/case. Cons (depends on how u look): Vocals dont standout and could sound little less energetic/normal. Not great at picking micro nuances just decent at it. Doesn't have wide sound stage like defiant. Overall, if ur tired of listening to typical v shape iem and want laidback iem which doesn't distract u from work and can listen for hours without fatigue.

As a fellow raw black metal enjoyer, I'd love to know as well. I've yet to find a pair of headphones (within my budget at least) that performs similar to the low-pinna iems I own - AFUL Explorer, DUNU Da Vinci, Final E5000 - as these have sound profiles I find to be perfect for black metal. Everything is too bright or anemic with little bass.

I’m gonna suggest aful explorer as well. I just got mine in today and it’s super tame. Has a warm sound and decent mid base. Overall it’s a mellow and warm sounding IEM. I think it’s $90US or so and for the price you really can’t go wrong trying them.

I got it for 77€ on ali

I'm sorry for giving you such bad news😂. However in my opinion they are a great starting point, they are neutral with a bit of emphasis on the vocals. Well balanced and very technical for the price, I'm sure it will be very easy for you to understand your favorite sound signature starting from those. Enjoy them, you made a great purchase in my opinion😁😁

Let me know what you think when you try them😁😁

Does S08 has that good sub-bass rumble & weight behind the note?? I want something for rock & metal genre. I have Aria 2 & Nova in my collection, which are excellent for female vocal & sounds angelic. I love them both, but they feel light / thin when it comes to rock / indie rock kind of tracks. And how is S08 compared to Aful explorer?? I like that IEM's bass presentation but vocal feels like it's coming behind of a blanket.

To expand on this as well since you said up to ~$100 - it might be a bit over that depending on sales pricing etc., but if you want a heavy, thumpy sort of bass then the Aful Explorer is good for that. I find it to be a bit lacking in eargain, so vocals can sound a but recessed or muffled, but it's much smoother and doesn't have that grittiness to the treble that the Castor has. It's also extremely comfortable. Tips make quite a big difference to how the Explorer sounds as well. The Simgot EM6L is worth a look as well. It's tuned quite neutral and it's been a while since I listened to it, but I seem to remember it having quite tight and punchy bass, especially considering how neutral it looks on a graph.

1. Aful Explorer - Doesn't really have muddled mids like the EW300. It's bassy, but quite clean sounding. The problem it has is that the eargain is very low. So to me, vocals sound recessed, but also sibilant at the same time. How this sounds to you may be dependent on your HRTF as a lot of people seem to like it. It has pretty good treble & resolution too, it's just that one problem that lets it down. 2. Hexa - Is indeed pretty clean sounding, with good treble extension as well. The negatives for me are that the bass isn't great, the treble can be a touch peaky, the soundstage is narrow and the large nozzles make it uncomfortable. 3. S08 - Does not have planar timbre; it's tuned quite differently to other planars. However it also doesn't have quite the same ultra-detailed sound that other planars like the S12 have. It's much darker. I find it very tip-sensitive and it sounds wrong on almost all tips. With the right tip it's got a very intimate sound that is quite bassy, but it's let down a bit by the bass quality, which is a bit boxy. Still my 2nd favourite IEM but only with the right tips. 4. Nova - I haven't heard, but from what I know about it, the nozzles are large and it only sounds good with foam tips. At that point it does rival the Variations for Harman tuning, which is great for female vocals, but the bass tuck can ruin bass guitars etc. 5. Fudu - Honestly just sounds muddy to me, I consider it a downgrade from the QKZ HBB although it does have better build quality. The eartips are good, but it doesn't come with a full set of Divinus Velvet, which if you get them you really should get all 5 sizes. Based on your priorities I'd either go with the Hexa or the Nova depending on what you think about the trade-offs I mentioned. Or maybe consider the Simgot EA500LM - though some find it has too much treble energy; its an unusual tuning that doesn't sound like it graphs. I'd watch the Paul Wasabii review, as I think he captured everything about it more accurately than other reviews. Another one to consider is the Thieaudio Legacy 2. It's tuned a bit like the Hexa, but with stronger sub-bass, a bit more vocal-forwardness (reminds of the HD600 vs HD650) and it rolls off the treble a bit, so it sounds smoother, but possibly less extended. I find it has better soundstage than the Hexa and is much more comfortable. I also find the Kato to be more-or-less a direct upgrade from the Chu 2 and while I haven't heard it, the Aria 2 supposedly sounds almost identical to the Kato. The Dunu Kima 2 apparently sounds very similar too. These are all slightly more v-shaped than the Hexa/Legacy 2, but still a mild v, so there's more bass and the mids sound warmed-up, but not bloated.

Do you notice a slight lack of cohesion to the sound of the Performer 5? I do and it's the one thing I dislike about them. I mainly use mine for monitoring because the extension both ends is excellent and they are pretty neutral (on the warm side), but I find when I listen to music on them for more than about an hour, I start noticing what I describe as a "thready" or "digital" kind of sound, where certain frequency bands stand out as more distinct from each other. It's not like instrument separation, but rather where a single instrument will sound separated from itself in certain frequency bands. I'm curious about the Performer 8, but wondering if it has this same characteristic. I noticed that the FR graphs for Afuls tend to have a characteristic waviness along the top of the eargain region, which I think comes from how they do their crossovers, and I suspect this is what I'm hearing. I also have the Explorer and the MagicOne. Possibly because they have fewer drivers and simpler crossovers, I don't notice this effect with either of those. I really like the MagicOne in pariticular. It sounds very different to all my other IEMs: very relaxing and midrange-oriented. Kind of like the QKZ HBB in character, except where that one is extremely warm/bassy with recessed vocals, the MagicOne is very neutral, but with quite a soft character to the sound. Transients are smoothed out, yet somehow it has exceptionally good imaging. I also thought it was a bit overpriced at launch so ignored it for a while, but it was absolutely my best buy of the 11/11 sales. Also agree that Aful are the most consistently comfortable IEMs. I have a few others with similarly good comfort like the EPZ Q1 / Q1 Pro, but Aful seem to do it very consistently. And especially they are far ahead of the competition when it comes to cramming lots of drivers into a small and ergonomic shell. Also, I'm fairly sensitive to unvented IEMs and the MagicOne is the first completely unvented IEM I've tried where it hasn't bothered me, and the pressure seems to equalise out fairly quickly. It's better than the Juzear 41t which actually *is* vented, just not fully.

I *almost* like the Explorer, but the low eargain just makes vocals sound recessed to me, yet also sibilant at the same time. So it's kind of the worst of both worlds for vocals. I tried a lot of tips and couldn't fix it, so I'll probably be moving them on, as I can't be bothered with EQ. Annoyingly, I did like everything else about them, but that one issue just ruins everything.

The 7Hz Legato has the *most* bass, but most people EQ it because out of the box it sounds pretty muddy. I returned mine for that reason. If you want to EQ then the Aoshida E20 is a cheaper option, although the build quality is quite cheap compared to the Legato. Still, could be a killer combination with a Qudelix 5K if that fits in budget (or the Legato as well but that's getting even more expensive). In that price range the Aful Explorer probably has the best quality bass out of the box. Also, one of my favourite IEMs is the QKZ HBB, which is only $15. It's not as resolving as the Explorer, but I prefer it because it has more natural-sounding tonality. Vocals on the explorer can sound a bit muffled and sibilant at the same time, although it's an excellent IEM in every way other than that. Also the Ikko OH300 which is like a more vocal-forward version of the HBB, with exceptional imaging/layering - and it's only $50 (maybe 40 if you can find it on sale, but they all sold out for several months and I'm not sure if it's back on Aliexpress yet, just the Ikko site at RRP). In terms of ergonomics the Aful is miles ahead of the rest. The Aoshida is probably the 2nd most comfortable. The Legato is nicely built but it's quite large. The HBB and the OH300 are both a bit chonky and cheap feeling, but still fairly comfortable in the ear - they just stick out a bit (don't feel as large as the Legato but all are quite wide).

Thieaudio Legacy 2. Bear in mind that there's barely any accepted definition of neutral in headphones, and even less so in IEMs because the sound varies from person to person based on ear anatomy. Most of the bass-boosted new-meta IEMs released so far (KE4 and so on) sound either muddy or veiled to a lot of people, including the Truthear Pure which is more of a warm, down-tilted tuning, but some would also consider it neutral. The Legacy 2 is a bit older so doesn't follow that style of tuning, but it's not quite Harman either (which some consider v-shaped or u-shaped), it's closer to what most people subjectively say is quite neutral (mostly) and unlike the Hexa which has no bass, the L2 has slightly boosted sub-bass. The Simgot EM6L is also within the bounds of what some would call neutral, but it's bassier than the L2 and maybe a mild v-shape. Another neutral-ish option is the Dunu Titan S, which is a bit warmer and more vocal-forward. There's also the Aful Explorer which is quite L-shaped so I wouldn't really call it neutral, but it might fall within what you're actually looking for. It has more of a bass boost, but it's quite clean bass that doesn't muddying up everything else. But I do find vocals on it sound a bit recessed.

Look for tuning. Drivers don't matter, except that certain driver configurations may help to achieve a particular tuning. Different drivers can have slightly different characteristics, but generalisations don't always apply 100%. You just need to go off what people say about that specific IEM. Out of my IEMs the one that most fits what you're looking for is the Ikko OH300, but it's only a $50 1DD so it may not be exactly the upgrade you're looking for. It's probably better than the Blue 2, but I can only go off what I've heard about that since I haven't heard it myself. I also have the Aful Explorer, but it's pretty bad for vocals. Another one that possibly fits is the Artti T10, which has quite a lot of bass, is vocal forward, and very resolving because it's a planar. But it has "planar bass" which may or may not be what you want. You get a lot of bass, and a lot of detail / instrument separation in the bass, but you don't get the same kick that you typically get from dynamic bass driver.

Explorer has very recessed vocals.

The HBB is one of my favourite IEMs at any price. It's just really well-tuned, so the driver isn't being pushed beyond its capabilities. It's still a cheap driver though, and you notice it in terms of resolution. If you want to compare something that's similar-but-better (in a way) see if you can listen to the Aful Explorer and notice how much more textured the mids and treble are. I suggest that one because the tuning isn't a million miles away from the HBB. But I actually prefer the tuning of the HBB (vocals sound a lot better on it), so I'm not recommending you go and buy one as an "upgrade". Just see if you can listen to one to satisfy your curiosity. And if those differences aren't something you care about, there's no point in chasing them - just stick to an IEM like the HBB with a tuning that you like. On the one hand, there *are* differences as you go up in price (to a point) especially when you get different driver architectures. On the other hand, diminishing returns are very much a thing, and more expensive does not automatically equal "tuned better". Also, if you like the HBB and fancy something a tiny bit different, give the Ikko OH300 a try. It basically sounds the same as the HBB, except that instead of having vocals pushed back, it's more vocal-forward. That's pretty much the only difference. It's not some subtle nebulous thing like "more texture" or "resolution". It just actually presents music in a slightly different way. It's only about $40 as well and also one my absolute favourite IEMs. There are other things it does slightly better than the HBB and some places where they "trade blows" depending on the mood you're in - but whether or not you'd notice those I don't know, so I won't list them, they're all quite subtle.

If you want *clean* bass stay away from the Fudu and the Legato. They're both quite muddy. The cleanest sounding one I have is the Ikko OH10, but I suspect some of the newer hybrids like the Ziigaat whichever-one-is-the-bassy-one might be as good or better. The OH10 certainly isn't perfect & has a bit of a coherency mismatch between the slower bass driver and faster BA, although that seems to improve over time (maybe driver run-in is real, maybe it's something else). You also have the Aful Explorer which is very good in the bass and treble, but I find that it makes vocals sound a bit muffled and sibilant at the same time, due to the reduced eargain, with relatively more 5kHz than 2-3kHz. That's the kind of thing that can sometimes be fixed with eartips and they might match your HRTF better than mine, but I tried just about all 50 tips in my collection and couldn't get them sounding right. Probably the best option if you do get a good HRTF match though, as they're technically excellent - just the eargain tuning does not work for me at all. Also if you like the EW200 you could try the EA500LM. It's pretty much a direct upgrade: similar tuning but much better driver & shell.

The Aful Explorer works pretty well for that sort of music and most people find them very comfortable. There's also the Sennheiser IE200, which I wouldn't say is quite as good as the Explorer sound-wise for that kind of music, as it can sound a bit smoothed-over, but nothing beats the IE200 for comfort. The stock cable is a bit crap though, so you'd probably want to budget another $20 for the OpenHeart one (not many cables fit on it because Sennheiser use a proprietary version of MMCX). The Artti T10 handles that sort of music particularly well, but not everyone finds the circular shells comfortable. Depends on the shape of your ears, but if they're on the smaller side I'd probably avoid them. Other planars might be worth considering. The S12 Pro has a smaller, more comfortable shell but the treble can be a bit spicy & fatiguing. I've been hearing generally good things about the Kiwi Ears Aether lately, but I haven't heard those myself. Give or take a bit of treble spiciness, these sort of planars all sound very similar to each other anyway - the reason the T10 stands out is that it competes directly with the ones around $200 but it only costs $50.

So, I clearly have a bit of a thing for Aful products! Their company philosophy is basically to provide the highest quality product for the lowest price possible, and in my opinion they do an excellent job. And while that makes me sound like a total shill, I’ve never spoken with Aful and all these sets were purchased with my own money. Another thing I’ve got a thing for is ranking stuff. So the album is arranged in order of my favorite set first. I’ll give a brief summery of my impressions here: 1. Performer 8- The best micro detail and tonality under $500. One of my favorite IEMs ever, they have a vocal forward sound with a touch of warmth. 2. Performer 5+2- Soft “v” sound, excellent for genres that rely on lots of subbass. Impactful midbass, and best soundstage on an Aful set. 3. Cantor- A bright neutral sound. Easily the best resolution with a unique, deep soundstage that allows for an “out-of-head” sound sensation. 4. Performer 5- An excellent option for those that may find the P5+2 a touch bright. I typically prefer BA treble myself. 5. Explorer- One of the best bassy, new meta tuned options around $100. 6. MagicOne- Well, it is magic to get that kind of range from one BA! A little overpriced at launch, but an excellent deal for $70 if you’re looking for a neutral set under $100. I’ll also say Aful makes some of the most comfortable IEMs on the market. If anyone wants to know anything else about the fam let me know!

The Explorer would definitely be a step up in terms of technical ability, but it’s a warmer set. You may find yourself missing a bit of treble and air.

I'd say they are, but the greatest leap for me is from the Explorer to the P5. The Explorer is a bit warm for me, but the P5 brings the treble up without be coming fatiquing.

I loved the explorer though not that detailed but can listento them for hours without fatigue explorer really makes me explore

I have jumped from tanchim 4u to delci then to explorers now I got the hype 4 yet to try it...let's c how it goes .... planning on saving for the origin and end this game of earphones

U will like the explorers dnt skip it

Did u try aful explorers

Aful explorer is good...u should try it... then u can try tea pro ...dynaquatro... hype 4... davinci...

I'm a beginner and I'm using this list as a guide to compare different sound signatures and different price ranges. Based on it I got Kefine Klean and 7Hz zero 2, then I got Letshouer S08 and Simgot EW 300, finally till now I bought aful explorer. Different sound signatures different price ranges. Very good guide for beginners

I love it and I also have monarch 4 but still love it especially for older harsher music

This is what aful explorer iem types are for. Love them for metal and old punk stuff

The aful explorer is great for mixes with too much harsh details

Nice I also came from kefine Klean to aful explorer, they are great!

I have Aful Explorer, they are great for long hours of listening.

I have both. The treble is definitely more pronounced in the Explorer but it’s well managed, without getting sibilant or piercing. I’m treble sensitive and it’s the only IEM I can tolerate where I can actually enjoy the treble. Both are excellent, but the Explorer really does beat the S08.

Nice review, and a nice job pointing out the pros and cons of it. I find it interesting you prefer it to the Letshuoer planar offerings, including the S08 that’s built and tuned to be a warm IEM without the typical planar “veil” or metallic sound associated with planars. You don’t mention it in your review, but I would assume that’s not a problem once you get into the mids to treble on the Aether. I’m treble sensitive, so the S08 is the only planar I can listen to thanks to the tamed treble without having to EQ it in. I was also struck by your description that as a higher end user, you still have s lot of praise for the Explorer, for what it is. It certainly doesn’t match technicalities of your high end IEMs, but for kicking back and listening to a relaxed, warm sound, without a bright treble to give me fatigue, or even worse, piercing highs, Aful did a helluva job on the affordable Explorer. I listen to it a lot. The Aether wouldn’t work well for me with that large a nozzle, another score for Aful, the same is true on the Performer 5+2, they make excellent ergonomic IEMs with smaller shells and nozzles than most. It’s too bad you don’t have a Timeless 2 to compare it with as it’s another planar sort of in the same price bracket, roughly. I guess the closest would be the S12 2024, which despite its rather flashy gold shell, is also tuned to lower the treble and avoid the too sparkly sound of the S12, even the S12 pro. Either way, it sounds like a nice addition to other IEM choices around that price, planar or not.

If you want something warm, not pure bass, but lush and does benefit from a bit of extra volume(I am very happy with them at around 80dB, the point where going above can start to increase risks, depending on how long you listen to them every day, 85dB can be reasonably safe for 4 hour listening sessions, 90dB and up really start to fall off in safety for longer sessions), has a tamed treble so there’s no sibilance or piercing highs which give me headaches and treble fatigue sets in quickly, I’m treble sensitive, then look at the Aful Explorer. It’s a hybrid IEM they did a great job of managing the crossovers and internal geometry to give you a smooth blend across the drivers. The bass is solid, and you can get a nice ear rumble from it, but above all, hear the music. It’s not a subwoofer stuffed in your ear. I think it’s a superior experience than say the Deuce, but you still get that lower range that doesn’t feel weak. I listen to it for everything from indie, indie rock, electronic, dance, EDM, trance, and yes, it can even handle acoustics and female vocals through to alternative folk. I think it’s one of the most versatile IEMs on the market, and is reasonably priced at $120 USD, lower on sale and on Aliexpress or I believe HiFiGo. It’s a very nice introduction to IEMs. With a proper fitted ear tip, passive noise reduction is pretty good on all IEMs, excellent on Etymotics, approaching or exceeding ANC on some tws BT “buds”, but the sound signature is nothing like you’re looking for. Everything I’ve mentioned up until now are wired, with a smallish cable to the source. BT earbuds really won’t give you the same experience, even Beats, known for their bass, won’t outperform an IEM. That’s from someone who wears AirPods Pro 2’s a lot due to the convenience of being wireless when out and about, or working out. And they sound very, very good. Despite some posts around here, you need something more than a $20 IEM to sound superior. But at home I find myself reaching for the Explorer more than other IEMs I have. To clarify one thing, what are called headphones are those things that go on or over the ear speakers and have a headband holding them in place. IEMs, or In Ear Monitors, are the ones we’re talking about here, they have a tip that goes into the ear canal and occludes it. You need that occlusion, or seal, in order to properly hear the sound. A poor seal results in no bass and a tinny sound, making even $1,000 or more sound like crap. The tips that come with IEMs are sometimes decent, and sometimes (a good amount of time) not do the trick, and you’ll need to buy aftermarket tips for the best fit. It can be trial and error, and some tips get expensive. I’m not saying you have to go that route, but “tip rolling” is not uncommon around here. The tone of my post was not intended to insult you, but you would be surprised people show up here, especially younger folks, who arrive already with questions about what to do with their tinnitus, kind of after the fact. People really don’t understand that your ears will bleed before you can damage the IEM, they can get very, very loud. If coming off like an asshole can save one person from irreversibly damaging their hearing, well, I’d rather insult than make a friend. I’m likely much older than you, and after too many hours at too many clubs blasting music, concerts, and even just amid the ambulance sirens or other noise in a noisy city, before the days when hearing attention became an in thing, I’m lucky I can still enjoy music, and tell the difference between a well recorded lossless track and a poorly mixed, compressed lossy track. But I still have to work at hearing someone for a conversation in a noisy environment, like the street or a noisy restaurant. But I do think something like the Explorer just might work for you. However, don’t just take my word for it. It’s just an opinion. Watch and read a bunch of reviews to see if it does seem right for you. And as this is likely a blind buy, not from a store that allows you to listen to sets before you buy them, try to buy from someplace with good return policies. It’s why I use Amazon US for the easy to return 30 day policy. I can demo an IEM or headphone for a week or two before deciding if it’s really what I like, and if not, get my money back, rather than take the loss and sell it on the used market. With no idea where you live or what’s available there, I would really gather up as much I formation as you can before entering your credit card info.

For bullet shape don’t forget the Etymotics ER2XR. If the triple flange freaks you out (honest, it will not pierce your brain, has amazing sound isolation, and can be comfortable once you you then a few times, try it at least once) it comes with other tips including foam tips. For a more conventional IEM do look at the Aful Explorer. A well shaped semi custom all resin shell and smaller than average nozzle. It’s physically very comfortable I use Spinfit W1’s on mine, and are a great fit for me, but as always, we have varying ear anatomy so tip fit is variable. Start with the included tips, if they aren’t comfortable or not getting a good seal, then you can worry about trying aftermarket ear tips. The sound itself is warm and lush, with no fatigue over several hour listening sessions.

Yes.

Warm and lush? Stretch $20 to $120 (or not if you can find it on sale) to get an Aful Explorer. Its exact description is warm and lush. A smaller than average resin shell and smaller than average nozzle allow for comfort for long listening session of 5 hours with no fatigue or discomfort. It should fit your request extremely well.

If you just ordered the Explorer and are worried, don’t, unless you don’t like a warm, lush, good for all day listening sessions. No, the technicalities won’t win prizes, but the imaging really is quite good. The treble is really tamed, but extension for female vocals is fine, with no sibilance or piercing highs (very nice if you’re at all treble sensitive). The tuning is very much, well, Aful Explorer. It’s not going to match a Harman or “meta” tuning if that’s what you want. See what you think after living with it a few days. If you want it for gaming, well, I’m not a gamer, but I doubt it would be my go to when I was gaming.

When I think of neutral plus bass boost, I think Hexa, and it’s not that at all. It’s more engaging and fun, and the bass more prominent. But that makes it sound dark, and it’s really not. I suppose it’s more a controlled treble, if that makes sense. I do feel like there’s a component of it feeling sort of analog in its presentation. I know we really never use that description around here, but that relaxed snd rich sound is reminiscent of that.

Yeah, I predate CD’s, so it’s an ancient way to describe it in context. So JM-1 with more bass? Maybe that could fly, but I feel JM-1 doesn’t quite represent the treble of the Explorer. But I guess it’s close enough for descriptive purposes.

Ok, that’s not bad but it might take away from the subbass and bass of the Explorer, and that slightly drawn back midrange flows through to a nice sounding live treble. I guess that’s why I say it’s fun and lively but not boring which say a Hexa can become. And imaging remains really good. There’s no smearing from the bass into the mids, at least I don’t think so. It only has an adequate not super wide or deep soundstage, but it all pulls together. But while there’s always a warm bassy sound associated with it, it’s not a basshead IEM at all. So JM-1 with a few tweaks? :)

I have several, but my favorite for just listening is an Aful Explorer. I have a Performer 5+2 that has better technicalities and soundstage, and is brighter than the Explorer, and while it is better for critical listening, the Explorer is just more relaxed for me. The Explorer is just a warm, lush, and relaxed sound. They’re very different IEMs and I like having both to choose from. The Performer is a different beast than the Explorer, not just some step up from it. The Performer is an excellent IEM. I don’t want to leave an impression that it’s not. It’s just a different class of IEM that shouldn’t be compared. I still really like my Letshuoer S08, a planar built and tuned to be warm with a tamed treble. It does not have a typical planar tuning of bright with a planar “veil”, or timbre, or metallic sound some people don’t like. They did a great job getting rid of it. It still has all the other characteristics of a planar with rapid response fast attack and transients, by with a good bass and subbass, albeit with a rapid recovery.

Don’t get me wrong, the bass in the Performer is very good, great quality and resolution, it can even give you a little ear rumble, but the bass on the Explorer is fuller. Maybe it’s not with the precision and resolution, but the quantity is there, and when you do get that ear rumble, it elicits that reflexive body feeling of a deeper core feeling to it. I’m not a basshead, but if the bottom octave isn’t as full, I notice it. It may come from decades of speakers that were set up to be full range, as in truly full range to the low 20’s, and even almost infrasonic, like that largest pipe on an organ that can hit you at 16Hz (ok, it wasn’t really, but it sort of felt that way in the room after adding a sub to the speakers and crossing over really low to not mess with the lowest octaves the speakers could deliver). A basshead experience isn’t the same as it’s not really “musical”. Maybe the Punch is, but I’ve never listened to it. The Explorer is just musical enough to satisfy that for me. The Performer is excellent but almost too resolving to me, which would make a real critical listener think I’m just a plebe to think that way. Maybe I’d like Tea Pro’s, maybe not.

With your description the Explorer fits the bill. Does well at higher volumes, warm, lush, rich, and great for 5-6 hour listening session with no fatigue. Also no discomfort as the shell is nicely shaped and sized with a smaller than average nozzle. The S08 is great, I get a lot of enjoyment out of it. But my go to daily is my Explorer. I don’t have the Odyssey to give you a fair comparison. I do find that I really like my Performer 5+2, which I expected would be my go to, but I still reach for the Explorer for that relaxed feel when I want to cruise away on the music. Yeah, stupid, the 5+2 is a beauty with such solid performance, better technicals, better soundstage, imaging is a little better on the Explorer, but that’s just my ears and likely not to others, still I can’t break my Explorer addiction.

You’re sort of describing an Aful Explorer. Very warm, lush, relaxed, with a tamed treble. The tuning is fairly unique, not chasing some target, just standing on its own performance and tuning from Aful. If you can give a listen, or buy from somewhere like Amazon in the US that has a good return policy, I’d go for it. I’d venture to destroy that as blind buys go, it’s a solid choice.

Nice review! I agree with most of your points about the Explorer. I think anyone buying it needs to accept it for its unique tuning as a warm, lush, and relaxed design. If you’re looking for a detail monster, look elsewhere. If you want to kick back on your favorite couch and just enjoy the music, it’s perfect. There’s zero treble fatigue and the shell and nozzle design cause no long term discomfort, good for hours and hours of continuous use. The tamed treble is great if you’re treble sensitive, but you sacrifice that upper air and extension, but you do still have good transient and attack performance. That said, even female vocals are handled surprisingly well with no sibilance or piercing highs. I find the soundstage quite good, with surprisingly good imaging. But you really need to understand this is no Harman or Meta tuning. It’s not even really v shaped with the darker treble. With those caveats, it’s my favorite IEM for just kicking back and soaking in the music. If I want to critically listen to an album, I have other IEMs for that. A few quibbles. The cable is very pretty. The ear hooks are not. They’re stiff, and even with heating and reshaping, I could never get a comfortable fit and had to bag them for my old standby Zonie, with the softest ear hook that still works for me. The case is pretty, but the size makes for a tight fit, even with the stock cable, and there’s no room to carry anything else in it. A little bigger and it would be a hit. Power wise, these do sound better if you turn up the volume a bit. I found the Apple dongle, US version, sufficient without getting into ear bleed territory. I don’t know what the EU version would deliver. That said, I use it with my tiny BTR 13, and it’s more than enough. Handling the volume with the dac, I can’t go above the mid to high 20’s off the balanced 4.4mm jack (it doesn’t need the power of a balanced jack at all, it just happened to be the termination of the spare Zonie I had laying around). So yes, it blooms at high volume (based on my Apple dongle volume from my iPhone, it’s roughly 75-80dB, quite similar to what I get out of my dac right now, so exercise caution to avoid long exposure at 80dB and above (hearing chart estimates no more than 4 hours of continuous exposure to avoid risk to hearing, below 80dB generally regarded as safe). It’s damn smooth so it’s easy to crank it up with no high treble to tire you out, so really be aware these sound great at high volume, you can get fooled and drive high volumes into your ear, risking your hearing over the long term. There, dad has warned you. All in all, my favorite IEM if I’m not concentrating solely on the music. If I want more treble and detail I use something else. For its price there’s nothing that comes close in performance, if the tuning is something you’ll like.

Aful Explorer for that price range. Very warm, lush, and relaxed. It might not be quite the basshead of a FatFeq Dehce or a Punch, but it gives you a lot, certainly in relation to what you’re comparing against.

tl;dr - I want an iem that is good for critical listening (staying true to mix) and live stage monitoring (good inst. seperation), under $150 budget if possible. Side grade is okay. I'm relatively satisfied with how Magicone sounds, but I'm nit-picking certain characteristics. I prefer Neutral-leaning warm. slight fun is okay but too much will ruin what's good. I've tried the MagicOne and I definetly love how these sound. Then I tried Hexa and now i'm somewhat dissatisfied with both of em lol, though I still slightly prefer the Magicone. I want essentially best of both worlds: Hexa's subtle sub-bass presence Magicone's mid-bass presence Hexa's mid detail (honestly tie with Magicone) Magicone's instrument separation (this might have to do with the piercy 6k-8k that the Magicone has, which I don't like too much, but it seemed to be the difference of instrument details and separation between the Hexa and Magicone) Hexa's volume capability (I say this because Magicone seems to be a bit harder to drive, and has lower volume upper limit before facing distortion, especially in the lower bass) I've set my eyes on Letshuoer S08 for my next play-testing, but I want to see what any of you have to say about other iems, that are more expensive but still has the tuning profile that the Magicone has. /// Some story, and my 2 cents on the iems I've tried so far So I posted about a week ago here getting recommendations for iem under $150 and asked you guys to chime in on the most popular iems recommendations I read in the subreddit: supermix4, mp145, and s12 pro I recieved over 40 comments on various opinions of the people, and I'm so thankful. But I realized that my taste is closely following the JM-1 target, rather than the Harman profiles of these iems. In the meantime, I was able to also put my hands on the following products: Aful Explorer Aful Magicone Aful Performer 5 Truthear Hexa Aful Explorer for me was just that. Awful. Hate the mushy bass on it. hated lack of presence of air. male vocals simply did not have any air. The whole iem sounded like an edgy emo teenager type of V-shape. I get that this may be fun for some people, but I prefer more neutral, boring tuning. It was good to listen to the sub-bass rumble on these, and that's about all I have to say for these. Aful Magicone was great. A-B comparison to Explorer made it feel so lack luster in bass and have piercy irritating treble, but when I refreshed my ears, they sounded great. The only real nit-pick I have for these were the piercy peaks around 6k-8k, and maybe, just need a tad bit more sub-low bass. Certain cymbal hits, and strings were piercing my ear canal, and so in order to maintain pleasureable listening experience, I'd need to put the volume around 60% to have it be acceptable. But then, I listen to music very loud usually, and there was the limitation of the one-driver system; It starts to distort as soon as it reaches certain volume threshold. Aful Performer 5 was basically mix of the Explorer and MagicOne. Great warm bass. slightly recessed mids (in comparison to bass). Much smoother treble (peaks not there, and more balance between the mid treble and high treble range 6k-8k & 12k16k). But the iems did sound more V then MagicOne, and it seems that I prefer the Magicone for my use case of critical, true to the mix listening and live stage monitoring. I can see and hear that the P5 is superior in terms of general music listening experience and enjoyment. Truthear Hexa was very neutral - I liked the general sound shape of these. But, It is quiet... body-less in comparison to the MagicOne. Sub bass is better but mid bass (around 200) was not there, so it sounded thin, albeit clean. Mids were pretty okay, but the lack of 200hz impacted the mids to sound light-weight and cheap. It's smoother in terms of peaks when compared to the Magicone, but that seemed to make the hexa lose out on detail and separation to it. Overall, I feel Magicone is the superior. These just sound cheaper in comparison, albeit being a good sound signature. If anyone wants to chime in suggestions, please go ahead. Those who want to ask me about the iems that I've tried, feel free to do so. Thanks for reading, and I hope to engage with you in the comments :D.

Between the two, I personally prefer the Explorer. The Defiant I heard might’ve been a "weird" unit. Could’ve been unit variation or just a bad seal but I caught a treble peak. Plenty of people in my Discord and a few YouTubers say there’s no peaky stuff (weird). For vocals though, the Defiants can sound more exciting while Explorers are just more relaxing and has more body to it. If you want another option, you could also look at the Truthear Pure I will try to relisten to Defiant if I ever get the chance.

The KZ edc pro is an amazing budget IEM. Is fun and I enjoy it with different types of electronic music, drum n bass. As well Aful Explorer is fun and tame around the treble with a good subbass. I have the Dunu Falcon Pro as well . Love the great fit cause they are a bit on the smaller side and are sort of an Allrounder and are fun too for jazz , pop, electronic etc. the fit of an IEM is very important and may want to consider it. And not to forget good ear tips which will help you to tune the sound quite a bit. All in all your preferences are important , if you like more „warm“ or more treble in IEMs. I am quite sensitive for sharp treble and prefer a more smoother, warmer sound overall with more subbass. So a lot to consider. Good luck with your first purchase.

Had them both. Both are excellent but I preferred the Explorer because the Defiant was a little bit to bright for my taste.

I think my only problem with them has been that the tips keep falling off/popping off/staying in my ears. If I could figure that one out, I would love every aspect of them. They are my favorite puttering around iems. Hell, I even like the supplied cable, but I've got a big head, so the hooks are perfect.

Hexa is boring af, only use it for monitoring Love explorer Chill on low and engaging on high ,Custom' shape shell can be hit or mis, for me its 10/10 fit If u listen to a lot of metal it won't do as well there compare to sla3 High volume iem if u want vocals to pop My other iem is Myer Audio sla3 For energy and how balance they are, everything works with them. Cant find bad things, worst at osts then explorer but if u want 1 and done its the way to go

Nope. Have hexa, explorer, sla3, hola and piccolo

Well cons for them are always competition. Went with aful explorer it was 360 pln on hifi go. Prefer to get something im 100% sertain

Have explorer, but ill check it out on auto eq

I only have an explorer, so I can't compare but man u love it

U kinda rescribed Explorer. Warm and chill and u can crank it up very high for me not the best for metal prefer it for everything else but mostly for osts. Best Minecraft soundtrack ever. It's quite intimate so if u want more excitement Sla3 is your pick, love listening to metal with it. Sound feels like coming from everywhere instead of kinda closed explorer. If u want explorer but more bass and fun u want Odyssey. From what I have tried it's all I can recommend. May is all rounder that does

i would pick aful explorer

I own these as well, but strictly for gaming/fps. They were tuned by Fresh for that purpose so if you're comparing them to other iems for music then yes, others perform much better. Also swapped tips for Spinfit W1 and cable from Drop. I daily Moondrop's Space Travel TWS and Aful Explorers for music.

Kind of a late reply. But I just recently bought the Explorer’s and am blown away by them considering the price. I’ve owned $800 sennheiser’s with worse build quality then these. Insane. The explorers feels sturdy, look aesthetically pleasing and have an amazing cable (can’t tell you how many expensive IEMs have garbage stock cables). But obviously the most important aspect is the sound. I used to be an audiophile years ago. Would spend thousands of dollars on high end cans. One thing I learned quickly is that I have sensitive ears. Didn’t matter how much I spent on the best headphones, pre-amp and cables - if a headphone had a lot treble sparkles I would get severe ear fatigue. I eventually learned that my preference leaned to “dark” or “warm” sound signatures. The problem is a lot of IEMs and headphones in this sound signature can sound muddy or lack detail. The explorers manage to do a lot perfectly. It has a punchy bass that rumbles (but doesn’t distort), it’s has a smooth warm sound signatures, and it manages to keep its clarity where you can hear a lot of details. Basically it’s just a solid all arounder. I also agree with those that says the sound signature is pleasing to most people without needing any extra effort of the box. But as someone who gets ear fatigue these have been godsend. If you are someone who likes speed, detail and large soundstage - these def aren’t for you.

I just got my Explorer yesterday and as someone who used the Zero Blue almost as a daily driver, I can tell you these are very good and a clear upgrade to the Blues…but in a weird way. These are the equivalent of “comfort food”, you know, something that’s not exactly the best but just hits the spot every time. I feel the Blues can have more details and produce more bass/slams but the Explorer are a more cohesive package. Everything sounds so smooth and relaxing that I’ve been listening non-stop since yesterday and never had a moment in which I wanted to reach out to another set. Add to the fact that they are much more comfortable (and that the IEMs themselves as well as the cable are much more premium) and this is something special yet different that I feel everyone should at least try. I sure wouldn’t use these for gaming, I think the Blues might work best for that. And when it comes to the graph…sorry I’m also somewhat new to the hobby and only use it as a reference. I can definitely tell you that as good as the Explorers are, I’d only recommend them for music listening. Edit: don’t know if it makes a difference but I used the same tips in both (Moondrop Spring Tips; Small on the Blues, Medium on the Explorers).

Aful Explorer is smaller than most, sounds amazing, and is incredibly comfortable.

Aful is great at designing IEMs. They have some amzing ones, my favorite is the Explorer, followed by the "starry night" Cantor

Aful Explorer, perfect fit, comfy interesting sound, beautiful, nice case and good eartips. But they are power hungry, you need a good source. I listen mine for at least 2-3 hours a day, I have to force my self to limit listening time.

Your phone will provide enough volume but all micro detail will be lost. I have tried my Explorers on different sources, for example on Apple dongle they sound like shit, on macbook and ipod classic 7 they sound fine, on 3.5 my dap has 250mW off power and it starts sounding good, but ONLY on 4.4 of my DAP which provides 600mW of power I was able to hear how they TRULY sound. In all this cases they are loud enough but amount of detail and distortion is different, the more powerful source you will provide the more details you will hear and less distortion/noise you will have.

I have both: If you have powerful DAC/DAP and you love high volume then Explorer 1000% is better (do not buy Defiant in that case cause it has cheap treble drivers which sounds harsh on high power sources) , but if you have cheap or low power source then defiant is very good, especially in pop/rap/rnb music on low volume. I personally prefer Explorer and they are my main IEM until I'll find something better (but seems like it is a problem to find something warm and better than Explorer).

First power is measured by Watts, not Volts. Second it is hybrid IEM, it has different drivers and while for one type of driver amount and voltage and amperes can be enough for another type of driver it can lack power and be quiet or start clipping (which leads to distorted sound while still be loud enough). Also Aful Explorer is not a high sensitivity IEMs.

I have US version apple dongle, AFUL Explorer sounds like crap with it, but it sounds amazing with my Cayin N3 Ultra DAP.

well you haven't specified your tastes but I am gonna probably buy the simgot ew300 dsp(or the simgot ea500 dsp) so probably look between them. Simgot are a really trusted brand with a good image so simgot should be safe. I have bought 2 iems before the tangzu waner and the yu xuan ji they both kinda sucked since they don't have bass. These simgots are an all rounder. If you can increase your budget even a little buy the aful explorer. Here are some lists you can use if you want some more info [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zeby9PqsTmHMRQ3D3n5W\_1Gx9aNPPK67yoBl\_FXdaF4/edit?gid=0#gid=0](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zeby9PqsTmHMRQ3D3n5W_1Gx9aNPPK67yoBl_FXdaF4/edit?gid=0#gid=0) [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XQtSH90BGK99Vij3dXcSylfwcut5XerPbkkEksFwATA/edit?gid=0#gid=0](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XQtSH90BGK99Vij3dXcSylfwcut5XerPbkkEksFwATA/edit?gid=0#gid=0) [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZHVib50XFQW4up3SwOZUTbI-hZB6Ir5LX6XnZblIM6o/edit?gid=0#gid=0](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZHVib50XFQW4up3SwOZUTbI-hZB6Ir5LX6XnZblIM6o/edit?gid=0#gid=0) hope this helps

Aful explorer on sale

OP kinda said they'll do a bit of gaming sometimes. So I don't think they are really doing competitive games, so for any non comp game, explorer is quite immersive. Of course usable for competitive too, given decent imaging, but yeah.

Both are great, but different. Pure preference I'd say. Explorer works better at higher volumes and is an overall more pleasant listen while Defiant has more complete treble that still doesn't go too far for most.

That's a good question. Not sure I have a fantastic one to rec. Defiant, Odyssey and Explorer all have some great aspects, but not just right. Even a CJV Vivian is better in some ways. MP145 might be as good or even better.

I'd say definitely. You keep all the bassy fun and gain some proper tuning. (Harman hater here)

I own a studio and am used to very controled sounding speakers so I also search for similar sounding buds. I love my BT sennheiser momentum buds and their sound signature. For wired ones I bought AFUL Explorer and I must say that they really deliver for the buck. They fit really nice, are small and deliver a neutral freq. response and can be worn for a longer periods. Kind of what I am looking for when speaking about studio monitors. I think I could also mix on them with mixes being translated onto other sound systems quite ok. I have also tried various KZ models and am currently using ZS 12 Pro for live in ear monitoring just because of their sub bass extension which is really pronounced (i am a bassist too)… they are really shitty for listening of music due to fatigueing hi end and not revealing middle tones. I would strongly recommend Explorer series as first IEM. I read that performer 5 is even better but this is kind of subjective to say…

you still hear everything on explorers they are just not so harsh and make music listenable

I use aful explorers for live use as monitoring for bass guitar. It works.

Had chu 2 (shitty) kz zs 10 & 12 pro x (shitty) sennheiser ie 100/200 (not great) and aful explorer (very nice).

Aful explorers are really small & Comfy

I am a musician and studio guy and I can say that explorers are really natural and good sounding IEM's + they fit really good. This is the sound signature everyone should aim for and this is more "right" than others (Karman etc.) when speaking about listening performance (for music).

I mixed a song on aful explorers and it translated great.

The HD560S is too bright for me in stock tuning. After i learned how to use EQ and auto EQ i never listened to them in stock again. Nice write up and comparison, i was wondering at what price point iems start to sound better than headphones. My Aful Explorers which rn cost the same as the HD560S are pretty close to them but they lack a bit of resolution (probably tunings fault).

I second the explorer. Great fun bass, tamer upper mids and smooth treble. They are just perfect for metal.

Sold both of them within 2 weeks😆 My head fi signature: Headphones: Fiio FT1, PSB M4U, Corsair HS70, Grado SR60X (rebought). IEM’s: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+, NiceHCK Himalaya, Hidizs MP145, Artti T10, Aoshida E20, Aful 5+2, Tripowin X HBB Kailua, QOA Adonis New, HifiMan RE2000S Pro, Faaeal Iris 2.0, Faaeal Anchestor, Aful Explorer, Hiby digital XOE, TRN Shell(!), 7Hz Five, Kz EDC Pro, QKZ MDR, Kbear Rosefinch, Yincrow X6. DAC/Amplifier: Fiio Q3 MQA, Ifi hip dac 3, BGVP T01s , Olaf dual Bocheng chip dongle, NONAME 4.4mm dongle with Apple C101 chip, Aqua Nexum. Tested but send back: Inawaken Dawn-MS,  Fiio Q11, iBasso DX180, Joyodio Shine, Fiio Q3, Kz X Libra, Fiio JD3, Sony WF-C500, JBL Tune 130NC, Sennheiser HD 650, Simgot EW200, HiFiMan Sundara, Philips Fidelio X3, Philips Fidelio X2HR, Dali IO4, QOA Vesper (DOA), BeyerDynamic DT 900 Pro X, CCA Trio, Beyerdynamic DT 990 32Ohm, HiFiMan Deva Pro wired, Moondrop Kato, Moondrop Blessing 3, Truthear X Crinacle: Red, Tangzu X HBB XuanNV, 7Hz Timeless, Simgot Supermix 4, Tangzu Wan’er SG, Austrian Audio HI-X15, XSL X-One MK4, Sony WH-1000XM5, ThieAudio Hype 2, Owned but sold: SMSL C200, Fiio JM21, Hiby R4, 7Hz Timeless AE, Tripowin X 0DiBi: Vivace, Simgot EW-300, Denon AH-D5200, Artti R1, Aful Performer8, Jabra 75T Active Elite, TRN Conch, Ikko oh300, Fiio FP3, HiFiMan HE400SE Bilateral (China edition), Kefine Delci, iBasso SR2, Koss PortaPro, Ziigaat Nuo, Ziigaat X HBB Arcadia, Ziigaat Doscinco, Ziigaat X Jay Audio Estrella, Ziigaat Odyssey, Ziigaat Cinno, Ziigaat Cincotres, Grado SR60X(rebought), Kiiboom Evoke, Kiwi Ears Quartet, 7Hz Legato, 7Hz Salnotes Zero, 7Hz Sonus, 7Hz Timeless II, Etymotic ER2XR, Fatfreq X HBB Deuce, Blon BL-03 II, Kiwi Ears Crinacle Singolo, Faaeal Poppy, Qkz Cl8, Faaeal Rosemary, Sennheiser ie200, Fiio FH7S, Fiio JD7, Fiio FF3S, Fiio FF5, Fiio FD3, Hidisz MS3, Hidizs Mermaid MS2, Kiwi Ears Cadenza, Qkz X HBB, Meze 99 Neo, Moondrop Chu 2, Grado SR325X, HiFiMan RE800 Silver, HiFiMan RE400i, Kiwi Ears X HBB Punch, 1more Penta P50, Artti T10 Pro, Kz ZEX, Kz ZVX, Kz PR1 balanced edition, Kz X HBB PR2 (first batch), Kz PR3, Kz Castor bass edition, Moondrop Chu, Kz Krila, Kz ZEX Pro, Kz LingLong, Kz DQ6, Kz ZS10 Pro X and Denon AH-C620R (Worst IEM ever, possible AE imitation). Sources: Tidal, Ipad Pro M4 13’, iPhone 16 PM Wishlist: Ziigaat Lush, Ziigaat Arcanis, Fiio M21 (on pre order).

I will share my head-fi signature below (it’s long). I have/had most iem’s that are mentioned. I wanted also to buy the DaVinci but it was recommended not do buy them. For example I like the Ziigaat Arcadia (186,-) more than the Punch (449,-). Prices, and even graphs, don’t tell the whole story. It like someone said, most important question is if you enjoy them. Also Doscinco is very good. Headphones: Fiio FT1, PSB M4U, Corsair HS70, Grado SR60X (rebought). IEM’s: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+, NiceHCK Himalaya, Hidizs MP145, Artti T10, Aoshida E20, Ziigaat X HBB Arcadia , Tripowin X HBB Kailua, QOA Adonis New, HifiMan RE2000S Pro, Faaeal Iris 2.0, Faaeal Anchestor, Aful Explorer, CCA Trio, CCA Hydro, 7Hz Five, Kz EDC Pro, QKZ MDR, Kbear Rosefinch, Yincrow X6. DAC/Amplifier: Hiby R4, Fiio Q3 MQA, Ifi hip dac 3, BGVP T01s , Olaf dual Bocheng chip dongle, NONAME 4.4mm dongle with Apple C101 chip, Aqua Nexum. Tested but send back: Inawaken Dawn-MS, Fiio Q11, iBasso DX180, Joyodio Shine, Fiio Q3, Kz X Libra, Fiio JD3, Sony WF-C500, JBL Tune 130NC, Sennheiser HD 650, Simgot EW200, HiFiMan Sundara, Philips Fidelio X3, Philips Fidelio X2HR, Dali IO4, QOA Vesper (DOA), BeyerDynamic DT 900 Pro X, Beyerdynamic DT 990 32Ohm, HiFiMan Deva Pro wired, Moondrop Kato, Moondrop Blessing 3, Truthear X Crinacle: Red, Tangzu X HBB XuanNV, 7Hz Timeless, Simgot Supermix 4, Tangzu Wan’er SG, Austrian Audio HI-X15, XSL X-One MK4, Sony WH-1000XM5, ThieAudio Hype 2, Owned but sold: SMSL C200, Fiio JM21, 7Hz Timeless AE, Tripowin X 0DiBi: Vivace, Simgot EW-300, Denon AH-D5200, Artti R1, Aful Performer8, Jabra 75T Active Elite, TRN Conch, Ikko oh300, Fiio FP3, HiFiMan HE400SE Bilateral (China edition), Kefine Delci, iBasso SR2, Koss PortaPro, Ziigaat Nuo, Ziigaat Doscinco, Ziigaat X Jay Audio Estrella, Ziigaat Odyssey, Ziigaat Cinno, Ziigaat Cincotres, Grado SR60X(rebought), Kiiboom Evoke, Kiwi Ears Quartet, 7Hz Legato, 7Hz Salnotes Zero, 7Hz Sonus, 7Hz Timeless II, Etymotic ER2XR, Fatfreq X HBB Deuce, Blon BL-03 II, Kiwi Ears Crinacle Singolo, Faaeal Poppy, Qkz Cl8, Faaeal Rosemary, Sennheiser ie200, Fiio FH7S, Fiio JD7, Fiio FF3S, Fiio FF5, Fiio FD3, Hidisz MS3, Hidizs Mermaid MS2, Kiwi Ears Cadenza, Qkz X HBB, Meze 99 Neo, Moondrop Chu 2, Grado SR325X, HiFiMan RE800 Silver, HiFiMan RE400i, Kiwi Ears X HBB Punch, Kiiboom Evoke, 1more Penta P50, Artti T10 Pro, Kz ZEX, Kz ZVX, Kz PR1 balanced edition, Kz X HBB PR2 (first batch), Kz PR3, Kz Castor bass edition, Moondrop Chu, Kz Krila, Kz ZEX Pro, Kz LingLong, Kz DQ6, Kz ZS10 Pro X and Denon AH-C620R🤮 (Worst IEM ever, possible AE imitation). Sources: Tidal, Ipad Pro M4 13’, iPhone 16 PM, Hiby R4 Wishlist: Ziigaat Lush, Ziigaat Arcanis, Fiio M21.

Love my Explorers, they are definitely more of a warm/laid back set. Better for chilling and vibing out than analyzing music.

Hello, Guys. I recently bought the Aful Explorer and Here are my thoughts regarding it. This review is completely Unbiased and all my thoughts (consider it as a review) are from the experience that I gathered after using these iems. UNBOXING and ACCESSORIES: Carry pouch: FINALLY! Something that is pocketable. A good quality carry pouch, it has adequate space to accommodate the iems. Eartips: You get two types of silicone eartips One is soft and white and other is a smooth and black. They both come in medium, small and large size. And let me tell you those are the eartips that fit me the best somehow. AFUL if you are reading this review then please start selling eartips, you would make shit ton of money with them. Cable: Cable quality is great. Made up of a good quality sheath. Although there are no microphonics, I found the cable to be heavy which is not so ideal to hang around and do some casual tasks like doing the dishes or reading a book etc.., so I am using the iems with the truthear gate's cable. BUILD and DESIGN: It comes with a 3d printed full resin build and it is Just awesome. Holy cow, I just want to appreciate the engineer on the aful team who designed the shell on this iem. It is like a pseudo custom design which fits very comfortably into my ears, they are very light too and not chonky. It is almost unbelievable how well they fit. There was this time when I listened to this IEM for like 8 hours straight and then I removed them, guess what? There was no pressure build up and it felt very transparent as if like there was nothing in my ears at the first place to begin with. And the isolation is very good. It is insanely good to be honest. You won't hear external noises after you put these on, so be careful not to ignore your wife's call after wearing them cause the passive noise cancellation is great. SOUND QUALITY: Accessories used: Aful explorer, truthear gate's cable, usb c to 3.5mm apple DAC( EU version), Fiio JA11 DAC. Let's talk about the power needed to drive these iems: It is source sensitive, the apple DAC ran it fine but it didn't have enough sounstage and bass. These iems need some juice to run to their full extent. I used them with the JA11 and boom it has much better soundstage, a livelier bass and better immersion overall. SOUND AND TUNING: You read the Title of this post and this is what exactly it is. Tuning: The explorer is a warm and smooth tuned iem which favours the low end. The bass isn't pillowy but rather very punch and at your face, it literally looks like aful wanted to flex how much they can fine-tune the bass LOL. The sub bass has that rumble. It will rattle your brain. Treble is the smoothest. It will never be shouty( Even the shoutiest song that you listen to will never be shouty). IDK what Black Magic sorcery AFUL did with this but this is the kind of iems that I want to be produced more in the market. Timbre is very very organic. And overall a very meaty low and mid end. Scaling: The best part about this iem is that it scales so God damn well that it is nuts. We will talk about this in the Vocals part. It sounds quite flat at low volume so keep that in mind Resolution: See this is a warm tuned iem so you would expect it to be lackluster in this area and assume that it would sound muffled but trust me it has enough resolution and clarity (idk how is AFUL doing this) but because of how dark it is( cause it was tuned to be and it is done excellently) there is a caveat, the details feel soft, and not sharp. For example cymbal strikes and the shimmering of drum will leave make you want to have a bit more sharpness, but again this iem is not tuned as such so expect that. Vocals: Here comes the tricky part. At first when you listen to them with low volume it would feel very recessed as if it is placed behind the instruments, but... The neat part is Once you turn the volume up, bingo! You have got a set that does vocal so well that you would want to worship these iems. This is why I said that this iem scales so good. At mid-high volume the vocals and instruments align with each other and won't feel recessed or forward, just the correct placement. Sounstage and Imaging : I doubt if there is any iem that has this type of soundstage. It is not very wide nor the imaging is that accurate (though accurate enough to enjoy your songs). But it has a very unique kind of soundstage where it Feels like the sound is Binded to your head almost like it is wrapped around your head and the voice comes from the centre of your head. It is one a kind, it could be a hit or miss for some but if it hits for you then you are gonna enjoy it. The soundstage has more height than width. Overall This is a GOATED set from AFUL that if you can afford it and are looking for a Warm tuned iem that you can listen to For hours without your brains getting fried then look no further. Thank You aful for making this wonderful IEM

anything that has a smoother v shaped FR is already kinda bass bleeding a little, like if u dont like the ew300s, the aful explorer is dark leaning and the fact that ot has an emphasis on the bass and mid bass means its gonna overpower the mids more than the ew300s. s08 to me felt a little too dark and warm as well, i think the Delci might be more in ur range since its better balanced? but at the same time if u want proper separated mids, finding it in a v shaped iem is hard or non existent, ID rec more towards something like the new JM1DF target, the slight tuck but not really a tuck shape, helps separate the bass from the mids, or any more U shaped graph

I've heard those, and you don't have anything to worry about. They are good for a $20 IEM but can't compete with higher bracket IEMs like Explorer or Daybreak or Hexa.

explorer ftw! amazing iems. Tight bass, not overdone, detailed (maybe missing that micro-detail people say but ---- my ears can't tell) balance, and just pleasure to listen to....... for hours and hours.

nope. the bass isn't overpowered on the explorers, it's tight and controlled but it is there.

What kind of vocals? Male or female? Aful Explorers are great with male vocals and Letshuoer S08 are great with female vocals. Both have a decent amount of bass, although you'll need to EQ them to reach basshead levels.

KZ PRX. It's just $30 but sounds like $150. Big step up from the Tangzu. Otherwise if you wanna spend $100, the Aful Explorer is really good.

It's amazing. But to my ears it's not warm. It's perfectly balanced, neither warm or bright.

Aful Explorer, Letshuoer S08, Artti T10 Pro, Juzear Defiant. Those are my top 4 under $100.

Have both the S08 and the Explorer and go for the S08. Has more exciting Bass which I preference, though with ear tips you can change the Explorer's Bass as well; by default the Explorer bass wasn't tight enough for me, was off putting compared to all my other sets. Many seem to enjoy it, but just not my thing

performer 5 shell size compared to explorer ? cus Explorer redefined the good comfortable fit and I don't want to go for anything bigger

Almost got them, my ew300s just died and ended up at the same place you are. Went with aful explorers, my heart was on supermix 4 but I don’t know anymore lol

They are awesome, can’t wait for them to get here Sunday lol I bought tri clarions for them so hopefully tho go well otherwise I have w1s as well

Hey all. So I generally don’t do hype. I promise that if you look at my posts in this sub you won’t find me unduly hyping up a set without fairly presenting its detracting points. But this set is really something special. Although I don’t really like being overly positive, I have to say it as it is for me for this set. At $170, the Kiwi Ears Aether presents technicalities that really, actually, punch way above its price point. There, it’s the first time I use this overused phrase, but in this case, I’ll completely stand by it. By the way, I bought this set myself. For reference, my reference for tuning is the Aful Explorer and the Yanyin Moonlight 2023, and my reference for technicalities are the Mest MKIII (soundstage) and the U12T (all the rest).  If I were to summarise the Aether in a word, I’d say it’s articulate. Everything has a sense of clarity, of crispness, of articulation that is honestly simply amazing. Unfortunately, I don’t have any other planars on hand to compare, nor any budget IEMs besides the Explorer. I don’t mean to brag, but besides the Explorer, I haven’t really kept any budget IEMs, as I preferred to buy $500+ sets which keep their value at resale, and which were generally much more competent than the cheaper sets. From memory (take it with a big grain of salt), I much prefer both the tuning and tech of the Aether to other planars I’ve heard (s12, s08, briefly Melody, Solo).  Tuning wise it’s really good as well. I’d say it’s a bit more of a mid-volume set, but can definitely do high volume as well. However, I’m very sensitive to treble, so I run a HS of -3db at 10k when listening at higher volumes, as well as a LS of -3 at 150hz. Still, the treble is really beautifully smooth. As a self-declared treble hater, there’s something addicting about the Aether’s treble, even without EQ. Timbre is really good for a planar, not as good as the Explorer though.  My previous budget tech benchmark was the Pilgrim. I’d say in terms of crispness and articulation, the Arther is equal or even slightly superior to the Pilgrim due to the sheer speed and control of this planar. The soundstage and imaging of the Aether is also impressive and similar to the Pilgrim. However, I’d still rank the Pilgrim above the Aether in overall enjoyment, because while the planar of the Aether is amazingly speedy and crisp, I still prefer the “wetness” of BA’s, especially for the treble, but also for the mids. The bass on the Pilgrim, though lesser in quantity, is also more engaging. Although the bass of the Aether is perfectly fine, decently articulate, and very speedy, it’s still planar bass, and a I prefer DD and BA bass over this. The Pilgrim and the U12T have some of my favourite bass. The overall speed and articulation of this set make it really stand out for two of my favourite genres: psytrance and baroque. This set is actually endgame for these genres. Chiptune, rock, classical in general, and other genres that love speed and an articulate treble are also amazing.

So, with all the positive stuff out of the way, I have to mention this is definitely not a perfect set. For genres that prefer a slow, warm, liquid sound, I still definitely prefer my Aful Explorer and Yanyin Mahina 2023. Both have an enveloping, muscular sound that the Aether just can’t do. Hip-Hop, jazz, Cello’s, and all that, are better on the Explorer. Not to say the Aether is horrible on these genres, but it will focus on giving an analytical interpretation of these genres, rather than a relaxing or engaging presentation which I prefer for these genres.  Another minus point is the build. Although I actually find the shells really beautiful, the shells are bulky (they’re rather tall) and the nozzle diameter is around 6mm (rough measurements). That’s a bit too big for me unfortunately, but I have tiny ears and it should be fine for most people I guess.  I could compare this to some headphones, but the truth is I’ve actually never liked a pair of headphones I’ve owned (Bokeh Closed, DT990, FT1, Ananda, M50X, a few others), so it would just be me saying I prefer the Aether (and Explorer too) over all these headphones. Do with this info what you want I guess. That’s about it. If you’re looking for a really technical set at any price point, I can definitely recommend the Aether. It is very analytical without having the typical analytical sound signature, which has not enough bass, too much pinna gain, and uneven treble. But if you’re not looking for the best tech, and prefer something more relaxing and engaging at the same time, I still definitely stand by my default recommendation of the Aful Explorer. Honestly, if you get both these sets, you’ve got two amazing sets that complement each other perfectly and cover every genre and mood for $270. 

Haven't heard the Timeless II, but I'm very curious about it. I can't find the nozzle diameter anywhere, so I'll wait until I can find it. The Explorer is still an IEM I love, despite having owned many much more expensive sets. The tuning is near perfect for me (I sometimes EQ the sub bass down just a bit), and the fit, nozzle, and venting are all top notch. It's way more comfortable than the Aether for my small ears. My main complaint with it would be the lack of speed, it just doesn't resolve faster genres well enough for me. But it's probably the IEM I use the most still! It like my favourite blanket, or my favourite comforting tea. Also, take the s08 comparison with a grain of salt, it's based on memory and new toy syndrome haha. I remember liking it, but the tuning is just a tiny bit wonky. Something about the mids. The lack of treble is something that I liked about it though. Nozzle is 6.0mm as well, damn you chi-fi, why can't you just make smaller nozzles like western IEMs?

Wow, the graph of the XB55AP certainly is something. Most (if not all? never seen a graph like this) IEMs are going to sound very different, so keep your expectations in check. Maybe you should go for something that sounds reminiscent of your Sony's, but less extreme. I would suggest Aful Explorer. Like the Sony's, they have a good bass shelf, recessed mids, and a forward presence region, so you might appreciate them a lot. Again though, both the bass shelf and the midrange recession are not quite as extreme, but go for a more balanced approach. I would avoid the Aria and the Blue unless you want something completely different. In that case I would instead go for something cheap like the N.D. Audio Planer or Venus.

(Pictured: Yanyin Moonlight 2023 with the iBasso DC Elite and Effect Audio Griffin) Hi all, you may remember me from a post from a while ago where I smugly declared I had found my endgame, ending with a reflection on “knowing when to stop and appreciate what you have”. Ha… well, several, months and several thousands of euro’s later, I’m back with an update. I’m not afraid to admit this has become a bit of an unhealthy addiction; aside from the money spent, I have spent too much precious time and effort on this exceedingly consumeristic hobby, so much so that I feel it has prohibited me from focussing on other, more creative hobbies and more important things in my life. Yet at the same time, I really value good quality audio, and “good quality audio” is so personal that it really does take time and effort to learn what *you* like. So I’m also glad I have finally found something that, I really do feel (and hope), is my endgame. Anyway, small opening rant aside, here’s an abridged overview of what my IEM journey has looked like: Hidisz MP145 —> Aful Performer 5 —> Dunu SA6MKII —> Moondrop Variations —> Ziigaat Cincotres —> Thieaudio Prestige LTD —> Tangzu Xuan Nv —> Tanchjim Tanya —> Elysian Pilgrim —> Hisenior Mega5EST —> 64Audio U12T —> Fir Audio M5 —> UM MEST MKIII —> Etymotic ER4XR —> Night Oblivion Butastur —> Aful Explorer —> Yincrow X6 —> YanYin Mahina —> Yanyin Moonlight 2023 These are the main IEMs I’ve owned for a prolonged period of time; I’m not including those I had for only a week or two, and I’m surely forgetting some. I’ve also had the pleasure of trying many, many other IEMs in London and in Shanghai, but a 10min listening session at a shop or at Canjam only gives me a rough idea of an IEM. The IEM that really cemented my taste is the Aful Explorer. It really was eye-opening to me, as it taught me that I prefer a warm sound with recessed mids and a rolled-off treble. It also taught me that I had been fitting my IEMs wrong before that, as most of the IEMs I had owned had nozzles too big for my ear canals — see another of my posts for more in depth discussion on IEMs for small-eared people. I have sold everything except for the Aful Explorer paired with Kinera Celest T1 (wireless adapter), which I still use when I’m out and about and don’t want to stress about breaking expensive equipment, and my Yanyin Moonlight 2023. The Moonlight 2023 is really something special — and I don’t want to give the impression that this is the best IEM of all time and everyone should go buy it. No, rather, I want to stress that it is rather peculiar and is an amazing fit to my rather peculiar sound and fit requirements. Here’s a small breakdown: * First, the fit: for a tribrid, this is a nice and small shell. The shell isn’t quite so agreeably shaped as the YanYin Mahina, but it’s perfectly fine for me, hours of comfort, which is not all that common for my very comfort-demanding ears. More importantly, the nozzle diameter is very small, which is very uncommon in endgame chi-fi IEMs, as for some reason all chose to opt for a >6mm diameter. * The sound is unusual for endgame IEMs as well: while most go for an exciting, wowing, or otherwise impressive sound signature, the Moonlight 2023 goes for a very smooth, warm, relaxing, engaging, tamed signature. * Compared to the Harman target: * The Sub-bass is qualitative and present but less overpowering than Harman; I find Harman to have too much sub and too little mid-bass, it makes for an unbalanced bass in my opinion. * Mid-bass glides smoothly into the lower mids, a few db’s above the Harman target; enough to make EDM and cellos engaging, yet not so much as to affect clarity too much. * The mids are slightly forward to give an agreeable sense of clarity, but the upper mids are slightly recessed, making this an ‘easy listen’ signature. * The treble is amazingly smooth and slightly recessed, just as I like it; I very much dislike the tiring grain present is the vast majority of endgame IEMs. * The Moonlight 2023 does not impress by throwing detail into your face, rather, it impresses by remaining very balanced in all frequencies. Due to the tuning, it won’t win any awards for technicalities, but at the same time, the technicalities are quite good *despite* the tuning, and that is impressive. I’d place it below the Elysian Pilgrim in technicalities, but above the Mega5EST. One standout technical aspect is the soundstage, nice and naturally wide. * I occasionally wish for a more splashy and sparkly treble, but then when I EQ it or try an IEM with this sort of treble, I’m glad of the Moonlight 2023’s pure relaxing signature. * A last advantage of this IEM is that it’s not *that* expensive. I’ve owned some 1k+ sets, and while using and handling those I’d always be slightly anxious of breaking these fragile things. With the Moonlight 2023, I can just use them without too much stress. Yes, it’s still a lot of money, but not a crippling amount if they were to break. * Again, I wish to reiterate the fact that this is not an IEM for everyone; many will likely find it lacking exciting sub-bass and treble, or wish for a cleaner mid-bass and lower mids. But for those looking for an all-round upgrade over the Explorer while retaining a similar (but larger) fit, I can recommend this wholeheartedly. The main differences in frequency response is that Moonlight 2023 has less sub-bass, more mids, less upper mids, and much better extended treble than the Explorer. While I’m here I might as well give a small overview of the main DACs I’ve used. Not including older stuff or stuff I didn’t use for more than a month. I haven’t owned that many, but I’ll rank them while I’m at it. iBasso DC Elite > Macbook internal DAC > FiiO KA17 >> Onix Alpha Xl1 >>> FiiO KA13 > Apple dongle DC Elite, Macbook, KA17, and even Onix, are all good enough to pair with any endgame IEM, in my opinion. The difference really isn’t that big. The main difference between the DC Elite and my second favourite DAC, the Macbook internal one, is that to my ears the Elite sounds slightly smoother, more natural, and especially has better dynamics. But this is a 3% sound difference I’m talking about. I’m considering selling the Elite and just enjoying my Macbook and the KA17. To finish, I might do a quick list of IEM recommendations. These were the standouts that impressed me in some way or another. Not in any order, as all have their place. * **Yanyin Moonlight 2023**: Endgame relaxing and engaging sound. There’s better tech for the price. Good fit. * **Aful Explorer**: One of the best value IEMs for a relaxing and engaging sound. Great fit. Below average tech. If I had to only own these I wouldn’t be unhappy despite their price. * **64Audio U12T**: Still amazing tech for such an old IEM, great shell size but long nozzle. Relaxing sound signature but 16k peak that doesn’t vibe with me. Intoxicating tech and speed, I sometimes regret selling these. * **UM Mest MKIII**: Relaxing with great tech. Get a small tip (Whizzer SS20) to get the best contact with that BCD, and enjoy a near-magical soundstage. Badly vented and big nozzle, so I sadly couldn’t keep these. * **Night Oblivion Butastur**: Absolutely underrated set. Very good tech and fit for the price. I prefer this one to the u12t despite it being much cheaper, as it has a cleaner midrange and a rolled-off treble (which I prefer to the 64audio 16k peak). Too big nozzle for me unfortunately. * **Elysian Pilgrim**: Best price to performance tech in my opinion (on par with Butastur). Great slightly bright but balanced tonality. Prefer the Butastur tonality. Horrible fit; big weird metal shell, big too short nozzle. * **Tansio Mirai Halo**: I don’t like V-shape IEMs, but this is one of the best V-shapes I’ve tried. Intoxicating bass and treble, but too much for me unfortunately. Amazing tech at the cost of slightly grainy treble. Good fit. * **Symphonium Europa**: The Crimson but with less sub-bass. Amazing tech and V-shape but with a good balance. Still too much treble for me but it’s so fun. Very satisfying speed. I wish I could have gotten these, but the fit, nozzle, and lack of any vent make these unwearable for me. Two last tips that I have repeated often on this sub: * **Buy secondhand**: expensive (1k+) IEMs are *much* cheaper secondhand, and older models are also much cheaper. I was able to find a Variations for $230, at that price nothing at new price comes close. U12T secondhand is usually $900, and, again, at that price it’s a better option than Monarch MKIII and the usual 1k suspects. * **Use Auto-EQ**: while I don’t use EQ, I always use auto-EQ to ‘test’ other IEMs. It takes half an hour to learn to use and will save you so much effort and money. It gives you a decent idea of the tonality of another IEM. I’d say it gives you around 60% of the sound of another IEM (as fit, driver type, driver quality, insertion depth, etc. can’t be mimicked), so while it isn’t a perfect alternative for actually trying IEMs in real life, it’s a good alternative for us without easy access to shops and Canjam.

If you have even remotely small ears skip the truthears, definitely. Kefines have a good fit and balanced signature, though for long gaming sessions I’d much rather have something like the Aful Explorer or the ND Audio Planet. KZ stuff is good value as well, though I personally don’t really like their usually peaky treble and there’s always the question of QC.

Somebody recommended them to me because my sound preference switched from neutral to that of a darker sound profile. I did my research on them, and after a week I decided to give them a shot. Honestly, I didn't like them immediately since I'm so used to flatter sound sigs at first but I quickly found out that they shine on higher volumes and are not at all fatiguing even after doing so. They're punchy while still retaining detail (my guess is because it lets you go for the afforementioned volume levels). Tbh, I'd describe them more like "boring with a bass boost" kind of sound than dark They're now my primary option if I fancy going loud. https://preview.redd.it/druxw3obzc0f1.png?width=1973&format=png&auto=webp&s=786fa59367ca55c553078c5437224adc5ba7f7fc

i agree with all your points, especially the one saying that timbre is it’s strongest asset! my friends that aren’t in the iem scene really like the explorer over my other (more expensive) sets solely for the timbre, definitely a solid starting set!

I love my Aful Explorer and I reeeeally want to get my hands on Performer 5+2. Beautiful IEMs with a warm, rich sound signature that I adore. I know people love V shaped, but I gotta have my full bodied mids.

I always thought anything that’s good for music would also be good for gaming but I’ve heard specifically multi driver iem’s help, so I’d personally recommend the aful explorer

The explorer is still my favorite IEM right now, at its price of 95 I feel like its such a good pickup for most people

just after I chose the eplorer noooo

Yes that is exactly my thought process ahah Most of the time I will use it in the bus and I already have a very nice headset at home, so I think it will be just fine !

Aful explorer is known for being a very warm iem that’s been well done. Sony has a kilobuck iem that’s pretty bassy

Have all 3. T10 is the one with most extension in both ends. It's the most airy and technically capable, but can sound lean or metallic sometimes. Explorer is straight up warm, very easy going specially in vocals, it lacks the air but it makes it up with very good timbre. Pure have a neutral-warmish signature, but for me it sounds dull and I have to eq a little bit to give a little more flavor to the sound.

If you get the Aful explorer on sale, at like $100 or less it will be significantly better

This is an excellent answer to this post and I could not agree more. I personally don’t normally listen at higher volumes in order to preserve my hearing, but I have found this to be true with these IEMs. If you listen at lower volumes get the Defiant, if you listen at higher volumes get the Explorer, that simple.

I do own all three of these IEMs and as far as I'm concerned the Odyssey is the best of the bunch, but it is twice the price of the other two.

Neutral warm: Aful explorer Balanced sound: Moodrop aria 2 v shaped: EW300 I think for blind buy, never buy too expensive iem because there is always a chance that you dont like the sound.

S08, Explorer, Volume S

I personally dont find it harsh, but I think I am more tolerant to treble. If you want to be sure, Exproler is safer choice. It has very smooth treble.

Hexa is great. Very clean sound. S08 doesn't have sharp treble. Might not be a crisp sounding as you prefer, but it's a very good option. Personal favorite in your list is the Explorer. Something about it... Kinda addicting.

Juzear Defiant, Kiwi Ears Etude, Kiwi Ears Aether, Aful Explorer, Simgot SuperMix4 Those are my current recommendations in the 1-2 range, depending on your preferred tuning. Defiant is probably the safest recommendation.

Sounds like you enjoy a detailed yet smooth experience... I would watch this video by Jay, I trust his ears very much. https://youtu.be/XclO362Ll_U?si=_ZiYp5rR-UoYzABQ I think you would enjoy Aful Explorer $95, Ziigaat Odyssey $230 or Simgot EW300 $70. They are very smooth but quite airy and with a good healthy bass foundation. It's very unlikely they should tire your ears too. The first two are actually tuned to be listened to at high volume. The Odyssey is definitely the best out of those three, which makes sense given the price.

Just got explorers yesterday and I love them. My Tangzu Zetian Wu Heyday died. Also figured out I’m pretty treble sensitive so it’s nice to be able to turn up the volume on these explorers.

Aful Explorer, or any other lower pinna gain set. Truthear Zero (og), the other side of the coin for me, shouty and harsh.

1/ Aful Explorer / Juzear Defiant --> Adorable set. Loved by all the community, I bet you'd like it to, it's really beginner friendly, and the warm sound is really good. It's a must have, to me. Both of the sets are a really safe option if you don't know what you like. 2/ Letshouer S12 Pro / Artti T10 (a bit cheaper) -> S12's are probably one of the best budget iems rn, in this segment, they are wonderfully well rounded, treble, bass, and the mids. Well I might be a bit biased, but I absolutely adore Planar bass. Fast, composed, impactful. 3/ Myer Audio Sliivo SLA3 -> One of the best tribrids in this segment, wonderfully done, quality is top notch. But may not suit to your taste. It's quite underrated. 4/ Sivga Que UTG -> it's a really good set, good at analytics. Almost performs like planars that I've heard of, despite it fundamentally being a diddy. (DD) There's also CKLVX CK2V, Kiwi Ears KE4, Simgot Supermix4 and yada yada

Aful explorer, after so many IEMs they are the only ones that do not hurt my ears at all, so I can use them for many hours every day. I also bought kiwi ears aether recently and they are amazing, they don't hurt much as others do but I'll just stick to the explorer.

I have a few IEMS and Aful Explorer is my favorite, it's small, the build quality is very good, as for the sound it's really non-fatiguing but does not lack anything, the bass is really rumbly and if you need more clarity you can just EQ it as it responds very well to Equalization too. I even sold my Supermix 4 because I wasn't using it anymore after the Explorer arrived...

Check out Aful Explorer. It is great for DnB, especially if you listen at high volume. One of the most comfortable iems i have tried. Kiwi Ears Etude is a good option too, but probably not as first iem because its Bone Conduction can be hit or miss on certain tracks. It is also quite big, so it may not fit smaller ears. I think Hexa is not a good choice for any bass heavy music, the bass on Hexa is very underwhelming. It also has a really uncomfortable shell imo, so the fit could be an issue. Pure should be a much better choice than hexa if you need bass (judging from the graphs and reviews, never tried it). Pure has more midbass than Hexa, it hass less treble too, so it would be a better choice for DnB. Letshuoer S08 is also a great option if you want something bassy, one of the best under 100$ for Hip Hop / Dnb imo (one of the better planars out there imo, doesn't have excessive treble that most planar iems have). It is very comfortable too.

I have Letshuoer s08. It’s a warm sounding Iem . If that’s your liking in sound you can go for it. I would recommend it happily. They are easy to listen to and no fatiguing so can wear them for longer periods. Another option to consider would be Aful Explorer. Again same warm sounding Iem. Between S08 and Explorer I chose S08, but they are both very similar in sound.

Same here. Chose S08 over explorer. Although I found both to be very similar in sound. It’s just the s08 was more comfortable to wear for longer sessions

Aful Explorer or Letshuoer S08 , those two are good options to consider. Not a very informative person on audio technicalities but, S08 is clear enough to enjoy movies and music. Explorer is pretty similar in sound to S08. IMO you can go with either one.

I have S08, and it is indeed easy to listen too at high volumes. Love watching movies with it and listening to music. Not fatiguing at all. I tried both explorer and S08, liked S08 better

I don't know man. I had the Chu II and found them a little too ringy and tiring. Got the the Aful explorers and haven't bought anything else at all ever since. It's a matter of restraint, I think

No iem will give you wallhacks or anything like that, the Aful explorer does what I need and more even compared to my supernovas and dusks and performer 8s. Spending this much just for gaming is not worth it

There may be multiple reasons: 1. Most tier lists focus on graphs and feedbacks from the mass, so having something like the Explorer as one of the easiest suggestions isn't strange: easy-going, relaxed sound that doesn't hurt anyone. Non-fatiguing, does many things right, has the right low-end weight, it's overall something you can use for hours. 2. Exceptionally comfortable like very few others, and the passive isolation is also great. It's just something you can wear for ages and they just don't bother or annoy you. 3. Price and availability: they are available almost everywhere and they're often discounted online. Plus, they come with a great cable and a nice set of tips. I would not say that it's the top set you can buy in the sub-100$ price bracket, especially because there are IEMs that are more capable (something like the EW200 itself is more resolving/detailed), but it's a very versatile and well thought product that I can definitely see why people easily suggest them without too much overthinking. Just two things so many are aware: - the soundstage is very small, so if you expect to properly place instruments and vocals in a spatious soundfield, the Explorer are definitely not for you - the treble is a bit weird: it's kinda dark and has a touch of unnaturalness to it I love my Explorer overall, and even though I prefer other sets I always try to have them in sight: it's just a set that guarantees me a relaxing and hassle free listening, no matter what my mood is and what time of the day it is.

Below $100, you can try the Kefine Delci. From what I recall it has a lot of sub and mid bass although it can sound a bit sharp in the treble. Below $200, you can try the Aful Explorer which is very popular for large amounts of bass and a dark, yet smooth treble response. Excellent for high volume listening. If you’re open to the used market, you can find a few sets with great bass for below $200. Some would be the Dunu Davinci, ZiiGaat Estrella or Doscinco, or Binary Dynaquattro.

i just go the explorers and they are nothing speicial the s12 is still the best sub 100 iem

Im using an Aful Explorer and im really liking the results, very good soundstage for an IEM. Edit: Guess im unable to read, I've heard really good things about EW300, I have a EA500LM from Simgot, and they are great.

having the QKZxHBB (besides other models like Kefine Klean, and having tested Cadenza, Salnotes Zero blue and so on), there arent that many similar warm options around $50, and around $100 there are options but with some things to consider, first, the closets i think would be 7hz Legato, but not sure how different is going to feel since is also a bass heavy iem but it has more amount of and a stronger presence of bass vs the QKZ one, so thats a bass heavy option if you want one. If you want something just more warm and relaxed, the Aful Explorer is the way, but might be too expensive if is not on a sale, so, Tangzu Fudu, if you can find it, comes quite close, but is a VERY relaxed set, so you might need some time to get used to it even if using the QKZ. And if you have a dongle DAC to power them the Letshouer S08 could also be an excellent choice for warm and bassy. If you havent checked it yet, This is a Sub $100-ish iem list i made: [\- Click Here -](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/OXgg8IsbYi) Youn can get a bit more insgiht on each one of the mentioned iems if you wish.

Excellent post. I've done pretty much exactly what you've detailed in this post by myself. I started out knowing pretty much nothing and picked up the KZ ZS10 Pro because it was reviewed well on youtube at the time. I now know that I absolutely despise that type of tuning. After picking up another few sets in the 20-50 range as well as the hexa and playing around a lot with EQ, I've finally settled onto a sound signature that I prefer for extended listening sessions. Just recently picked up the aful explorer and it's everything I could have wanted from an IEM. Incredibly comfortable and not at all fatiguing for me as someone that's quite sensitive to treble, while still giving me all of the details I want out of the highs. I don't foresee myself wanting to upgrade for quite some time now. My current finances honestly can't justify going into the 200+ market and even then I wouldn't even be sure the improvement over the Explorer would be worthwhile. Sure I could have probably afforded a $300 IEM with the amount I've spent so far but I would have been completely blind buying and would have likely ended up with something I like less than my current setup.

I too am a Val and rivals sweat but I also enjoy music so I would say try the truthear blues or Hexa through amazon for their return policy and if you like them you could keep them or if you still want more you could return it and put in another $70 and try the aful explorer as it’s a much warmer sound and probably won’t be as shouty or fatiguing although they may not be as sharp footsteps it’s not like you’re gonna hear footsteps in the wrong places as most iems have good imaging so you can’t really go wrong with one or the other but in my case I started out with the zero blues and then upgraded to the nova but I’m looking to eventually get the hype 4 or origin if my pockets can take it lol

I’d say s08 and aful explorer are both great choices. Doscinco as well if you can fork out the funds it beats both of those.

The Explorer is a better deal. It's a fun, warm, easy-to-listen IEM. Nice, punchy mid-bass, peek-a-boo treble that's there when you need it but doesn't kill you. No shouty mids, either. I'm testing the Volume S right now. It's safe, competent, very well tuned. But it's not exciting. It's not special. It's very good, not great. Linear bass, smooth, non-offensive treble and mids. A very linear sound signature. Oh, and the high-impedance mode is a total waste. Tinny as hell sound. The Explorer at $105 is a better value and 80 percent of the way there to the Volume S, which is $330. Definitely more clarity with the Volume S, but the difference is not going to blow you away. Volume S is a solid upgrade from the Explorer. I just don't think it's worth three times the price.

Explorer is an EXCELLENT choice. Own and love them. But my favorite under $300 is most definitely the Penon Fan 3. Retails for $350 but can be purchased new for much less with the Penon VIP email code.

**$100 or less** \-- AFUL Explorer \-- Artti T10 \-- Kefine Klean

The Explorer is shouty in the treble? You must live on a different sonic planet. I've read and heard feedback from at least 50 reviews/people about the Explorer, and you're the first one to complain about "shouty treble." I own the Explorer, too. It's not even remotely shouty in the treble. It has punchy, slammy mid-bass that can turn off some people, but I love it. The Explorer is very relaxed in the treble. It stays in the background except for when called upon. Very much a "peek-a-boo" treble. If you think the Explorer's treble is hot, you are the new global king for treble sensitivity, sir.

Is it? It's not some crap from KZ or Moondrop that everyone pimps in here like it's Symphonium or Campfire Audio? :) Seriously, the Explorer is one of the better examples of the new meta tuning in the $100-120 price range. Solid sub-bass, thumpy mid-bass, non-recessed clear mids and what I call peek-a-boo treble. The top end is not nearly as blunted as many say; it just appears when it's supposed to and then slinks into the shadows. Great fit. Solid cable and accessories. Pretty shell. The Explorer is a winner. Is it the best at the price range? That's subjective. But it's a damn good IEM for the money if you like the new meta tuning.

I'm a decades long audiophile, and my final home stereo/surround system includes an Audio Research all tube amp, Audible Illusions preamp, and Mirage M3 chin high speakers. A high end Lexicon surround processor feeds the side and rear speakers through separate amps. Back in the mid-90's I purchased the Sennheiser HD580 and Beyerdynamic 990, but these were considered just 'accessories' those days. I enjoyed them with the portable devices available at the time, but my main stereo system got the spotlight. In 2020, during covid, I became more interested in headphones. I was struck by the huge community of hobbyists and all of the DACS, amps, and headphones available. So I entered the headphone world and became an enthusiast. Over 4 years and many DAC/amp/headphone combinations I settled on a recent mid-level Topping DAC, an excellent XDuoo hybrid amp, 5 Beyerdynamic headphones (including the DT 1990) as my favorites. And then I added the Arya Organic. At that point I figured the bang to buck ratio precluded the need for any further improvements. You know what happened next-- I kept seeing articles, comments, and videos about IEMs and had to see what all the fuss was about. I bought the KZ Terminator and had problems getting a good seal. I had to work with the over-ear cords to get them right. Had to purchase different tips-- and then it all started working right. I soon got the s12 pro, Simgot EW200, 300, and EA1000. I've now added the Ziigaat x Fresh Arete and Hidizis mp 145 and Aful Explorer to my favorites. So is it all hype? No, IEMs can really sound great. It's more of an intimate, in the head experience than headphones, and the sound is immersive. Are they 'better' than headphones? No. They're different, but not necessarily better. My DT 1990's and Arya Organic's still reign supreme, overall. And my home stereo system is still the best in terms of a more realistic, big-scale sound. The difference between a large speaker home setup, and headphones, and IEMs is all about the scale of the sound. IEMs just can't match the scale of the Organics, and the Organics aren't replicating music in the scale of a speaker system. But the IEM experience is very addictive. I think that part of the attraction, after the immersive quality, is the simple novelty of it all. I'm putting these tiny things into my ears and I'm getting this relatively huge experience And they're so comparatively cheap. Back in my home stereo days a component could cost 2-3K or more. The Organics cost $1300. My EA1000's cost $225, and I think of these as equal to my DT 1990's, although at a smaller scale.

It is great for a relatively neutral slightly brighter set that works well for gaming and music. It has a decent soundstage and imaging for the price. I like it but generally just use it for gaming because I prefer the sound profile of other sets I have for music, but I could definitely live with it if it was my only set.

The sets I have right now are: Hype 4 Aful Explorer Letshouer S12 Pro Simgot E6ML Letshouer Z4 Of those the Hype 4 and Explorer get the most use for music but I don't really like them as much for gaming. The Hype 4 holds its own, but is almost too detailed for gaming (also a lot more expensive). The Explorer has too much sub bass and ruins gaming IMO, but it is extremely comfortable and a lot of fun for music. I prefer the S12 Pro for music over the E6ML, but the E6ML is slightly better for gaming. Mainly I find the difference to be with gun shots and vocals (especially the main character in Destiny Rising) the S12 Pro can sometimes exhibit simbiliance-type effects. That said, if I was buying only one set of those two, I like the S12 Pro better (comfort is better, build quality is better, and generally the details are outstanding). The z4 works very well for gaming, is great for vocal and live audio, but it is not a great general set (though I paid 28 USD for it so I don't mind too much, as it is a niche specialty set in my mind). The only other I have been eyeing is the s08, which has a decent reputation for gaming and is supposedly a more detailed/speedy Explorer - that sounds like an interesting combination to me.

cuz it have a warm and safe sound.. And it got better when you crank the volume up

https://preview.redd.it/wm06oc7w7ebf1.png?width=3038&format=png&auto=webp&s=edae5b1c4285ca136636c140b156b8f2ec68b6a8 What part of your ear? If it's the outside, try both smaller and larger tips, and try foam tips as well. If it's your eardrum that hurts, try taming down the treble with EQ. I compared it to the Aful Explorer, which is known for low listening fatigue, and it looks like the Bunny has a massive peak at 12kHz that extends all the way up to 20 kHz. 6 dB is pretty much a doubling of sound pressure, so the \~13 dB difference corresponds to just over twice the sound pressure as the Explorer in the treble region. It's also louder than the Performer 7 in that region, and the Performer is known for giving some users ear fatigue. I wouldn't be surprised if that has something to do with what you're feeling.

How are your ears now? I didn't think about how weird the connector port is on the Bunny. All of my IEMs have the cable standoff sitting flush on the shell, missing that red-circle part of the ear completely, whereas the bunny has a box with a sharp edge there and the standoffs point in a weird direction. If I were you I would return it for something with a more conventional shape. Especially since you are already using EQ to change the frequency response. You might as well get any IEM that fits comfortably and EQ it. That is, unless you wanna try and sand down the edge of the connector box thing.

I had previously suggested that there is some difficulty with getting a proper sample for the SuperMix 4 due to the large amount of permutations of the IEM name using an algorithm. ie SuperMix, SM, SM4, mix4, etc However, other than that survey accuracy point... the Explorer is one of the better scaling IEMs and the best in that range. Many people like the ability to turn up their music and for a portion of listeners, the piezo of the SM4 becomes fatiguing especially at higher volumes. For other good volume scaling sets, the Odyssey is technically outside of that range and effectively double the price thus not part of the discussion.

I LOVE the look of the Aful Explorer!

I enjoy the irony of it. They make really excellent IEMs.

There are others, Aful Explorer has some decent bass, the S12 can get there with some EQ, but the Arcadia has this lovely, warm bass that hits when it needs to. Kick drums sound great, bass drops dound great. It's not a detail monster, but it is definitely a fun listen.

Okay I’m gonna explain using two iems I own. The Aful Explorer and the Alpha and Omega RA. These are in different leagues in terms of capabilities. While I do enjoy them both very much, the RA trumps the explorer in every way. From driver configuration, branded drivers, resolution, dynamics, tactility, impact and any other way you can describe sound, the RA is just categorically superior. That being said, I’ll rock the Explorer more due to its cost. If I break it I can afford another one. I know that’s not the best way to answer your question, but as others have said, it’s an experience thing. And price doesn’t mean performance. Don’t get caught up in the hype.

I had both but prefer the Explorer. That comfort just can't be beat

One thing that’s not about sound or value is that the Explorer has a leg up on most other IEMs in that bracket in terms of ergonomics. It’s very comfortable to wear even for longer sessions and seemingly fits a lot of different ear shapes equally well. At its price that’s just hard to come by, you usually make some major sacrifices in regards to ergonomics when purchasing in that price range vs. the more premium stuff.

Comfort isn't purely about size but also the material used, the shape of the IEM and the type of nozzle they use, all of which I have heard plenty of people report positively about the Explorer in particular. That's not to take away from your experience though, just trying to provide additional context to OPs original question :)

It looks like you’re in the budget category. If bass is your focus, the Zero 2 might not have enough. Look at the Castor Pro Bass (not Harman) or the QKZ HBB. If you want higher quality bass, you may have to make large jumps in price to sets like the AFUL Explorer.

I much preferred the explorer i was underwhelmed by the defiant in comparison

They can be quite harsh if you’re sensitive to treble or if you enjoy listening at higher volumes so id say no. Id recommend the Letshuoer S08 or Aful Explorer for something smoother and more relaxed as simgots tend to be fairly bright.

Letshuoer S08 over the EW300 for Rock & Jazz any day (it does everything the EW300 does but better - more balanced, faster & more defined bass, a more natural non metallic timbre, it’s smoother, vocal’s & midrange are also much better & more naturally placed.) - better at music thats older and sounds more organic/analog so rock really shines, most natural sounding out of the ones I’ve mentioned. Juzear Defiant if you want a big emphasis on vocals & sub bass specifically (I found them good for pop, ballads & classical and just ok at everything else but in terms of layering they can do modern metal fairly well) i find the midrange / mid bass not quite weighty or lush enough for me and the treble can be quite peaky but that’s just my personal preference. - it’s cleaner and less organic but more digital sounding imo so this is better with modern mixes. Aful Explorer I definitely prefer these over the Defiant it has brilliant imaging, textures and sub bass, clean sounding overall but the midrange can seem quite flat until you scale it with more power then it really comes alive and more dynamic. Treble is quite dark but very smooth so it depends on what you prefer in the treble. Brilliant at hip hop, dance, r&b, edm, pop etc but I’d still go with the S08’s for rock & jazz specifically. - it’s still fairly modern sounding i think due to the tilt in sub bass but the mid range does sound far more natural & neutral than the defiants but it’s still better overall with modern mixes imo.

Still painful in the pinna but it’s better than the silver but i also don’t like how congested the lower mids are. Overall with both nozzles i just find the balance really odd - far too warm & congested lower down but far too thin/metallic/harsh higher up def not for me but the metallic timbre is the deciding factor tbh because it’s the thing that I noticed the most. I also got the Letshuoer S08s & Aful explorers and both are a massive upgrade imo so I think that’s the path I’m on now (something more balanced & natural sounding with defined mid bass like the S08s but with texture, imaging and sub bass like the explorer) neither are perfect so I’m still looking for one that ticks all the boxes but its definitely closer to what i’d prefer especially the S08s.

Explorer is great for any modern music especially hip hop, dance & EDM. It has great sub bass and textures and feels surprisingly fresh for such a dark set. But I really wouldn’t recommend it for rock or metal as it tends to get congested in the mids on tracks with a lot going on. You’d really need something with more mid bass and separation it’s actually what I’m looking for myself because whilst I’ve kept the explorers because I adore them for chart music and hip hop I’m a metalhead so I really need something that’s good for metal that isn’t harsh because I’m sensitive to the pinna gain region lol.

Might just need to give up on trying to make the Pures work for me. I do like the Explorers. Also, this does worry me that I won't like the hd6xx/hd650s which are my current goal for a next over the ear.

I ordered the Explorer and Truthear Pure at the same time and I like the Explorers way more. I'm fairly new to IEMs and looking at sound signature and the like, so take this with a grain of salt.

Yes, the Explorer offers more bass response than the average iem usually does. It is also one of the most comfortable iem's I have used.

Aful Explorer or Tangzu Fudu. Try to AutoEq your Waners first using Squiglink (there are tutorials on how to do this) and see if you dig their sound signature before committing to purchase.

These are my best purchase too.. The only iem that comes close to these are oracle mk III.. For this price explorers are best

Sorry about that, mid-tier I consider $200-$500 USD but I realize that scale is different depending on a number of reasons. For something in the $100 range I'd say Aful Explorer. There's plenty of bass options in the <$100 budget range. Mostly will be single DD

Other suggestions based on your frequency preference. Prices listed are for new, so should be cheaper used: Aful Explorer (really great for the $100ish price) Letshouer S08 ($89) I would recommend spending a tiny bit more and get: Zigaat Odyssey ($199) FatFreq Deuce ($239 - amazing balanced bass set) Since you love bass I think you'd be happiest with the Aful Explorer or FatFreq Deuce. These sets also have darker treble for treble sensitive listeners (like me). I'd say the Explorers have the warmest treble, but is very smooth. The Deuce has great balance between bass and treble, doesn't feel like the bass muddies the vocals. I have all the above sets and they are all great choices.

I think I'd recommend the Aful Explorer, Juzear Defiant, Artti T10 Pro (not the non pro) or Letshouer S08. Defiant might be too bright for metal, but it does depend on your tolerance/preference on the upper end. I'd go with the T10 Pro or S08 personally for mostly metal listening, though still good with other genres.

I'm willing to bet that is due to your DAP having a tube DAC and not due to amp power. I just popped in my Explorers, switched to the Apple dongle and plugged it into my iPhone. I can't even pump it up to half total volume without it being ear damagingly loud. The amp power is not making your Explorers sound better.

I have both sets and the Performer 5+2 is quite a bit brighter than the Explorer, so I don't consider them similar tunings. Some people find the 5+2 too bright (I don't). By comparison, the Explorers are darker and more laid back. The Explorers are a great recommendation for someone still finding their preferred tuning because they will generally NOT be fatiguing and are a very safe set while still being fun, smooth, and very comfortable.

They are pretty warm and relaxing. It will be quite a different sound than your P7. I just listened to a few songs on them just now to compare. I don't think I'd personally recommend them for EDM pop (assuming majority female vocals). I would recommend them more for alternative, rock and metal. If you can, I'd just add some sub-bass using EQ to the P7s. I add a low shelf at 3-5db gain starting at 125Hz q:0.6. Tweak to your liking.

Do you feel that the bass hits nice and is punchy? Cause I have mine and they feel like that

I'm glad I'm not the only one enjoying it :)

Aful Explorer, it has a decent amount of sub bass, it has a warm sound that scales so good with the volume and it's cheap.

If only headphones it's easy: Arya Organic > FiiO FT1 >>> Sennheiser HD6XX If IEMs count, it's a bit harder, I would say: ThieAudio Origin > Arya Organic = ThieAudio Hype 4 > Ziigaat Odyssey > FiiO FT1 > Aful Explorer > Simgot SuperMix4 > Sennheiser HD6XX

Thank you so much for taking the time to share so many of your experiences and thoughts from what you have learned. I'm a huge Aful Explorer fan. > A last advantage of this IEM is that it’s not that expensive. I’ve owned some 1k+ sets, and while using and handling those I’d always be slightly anxious of breaking these fragile things. With the Moonlight 2023, I can just use them without too much stress. Yes, it’s still a lot of money, but not a crippling amount if they were to break. > This is one thing I also appreciate about the Aful Explorer. Obviously it's relative for everyone, but this is why I feel more comfortable taking them to use at work at my desk job while I wouldn't with anything more expensive than the Explorer. In reading everything you said, by chance did you ever try the Hype 4? I've always heard that Thieaudio has really large IEMs so it might be a ridiculous question to be asking you, but they were the more "end game" type IEMs I was considering possibly buying later this year if things go according to plan and I would love your specific opinion on them though fit issues could cloud your opinion of them overall. Do you have any opinion on how much of an upgrade tribrid (DD BA and EST) config IEMs are from hybrid (DD BA) IEMs if any as a general experience? I've never been able to try a hybrid set up and they are all pretty costly, however your pros and cons talk and love of the Aful Explorer has me wanting the Yanyin Moonlight 2023 over the Hype 4. I would be wanting this set for home use so would be okay spending more than the Explorers and the talk of them being not as large as other "end game" IEMs so they can feel more comfortable for longer sessions sounds really appealing as well. Admittedly, I am a V shape enjoyer, but have also always leaned toward what others have said were warmer sets like the Kefine Delci and Aful Explorer for longer listening sessions and they end up being what I use the most.

I really can't sing the praises enough for the explorers and do consider them a very worthy upgrade from the delci in many aspects. I've said it before though that I really didn't like the default cable that came with the explorers and after I got a new cable that felt better they have been my absolute favorite IEMs. Compared to the delci I feel like I get a better insertion and depth without having to jam them into my ear as much. The explorers just naturally felt easier to fit with a good insertion depth without any discomfort. Fit and comfort is personal though so that may not be the experience for everyone. In regards to sound I think at higher volumes the explorer are also a noticeable upgrade to the delci and for the price I think it makes them worth it before you start hitting diminishing returns. The only other IEMs I have that are more expensive are the Binary Dynaquattro and I love them too and only use them at home, but it does feel like they probably aren't that good of value for the price and that the explorers were my best value for price purchase. I'm trying to be more discerning with purchases going forward as I don't want to waste money just to have the newest shiny thing. I did get sort of lucky with the Dynaquattro though which is why I pulled the trigger on them. The delci and explorer often go on sale for 10 to 20 dollars off the list price so be sure to look out for that like on amazon prime days or just in general at random sales times. I haven't seen them new for much lower than that, but if you are patient you can for sure get them discounted at least a little off the normal retail price.

I've listened to SM4, P5, and Explorer. The SM4 has good details but shitty bass. The explorer has thick warm sound, really good bass quality, but sounds like it lack details (due to the tuning), if you eq it, it has really good details. P5 is the most balanced in terms of bass and details. Also where can you get the explorer for 87 usd

Ive tried the P5 and explorer and they fit me well without pressure issues. How does the magicone feel? Apparently it's unevented and some people mentioned pressure buildup on those.

This isn’t going to be a technical breakdown talking about graphs or fancy terminology. I don’t fully understand those yet (though I can piece some things together). Instead, this is just a random write-down and review from someone who enjoys music, and appreciates the experience, and wants to share my impressions that might help others starting out. It’s a long one, since I’ve gone through a LOT of IEMs in a short time. Firstly, I listen to all sorts of music. Classic, rap, rock, punk, pop but mostly vocal ballads and pop. I can probably also say I'm not "treble sensitive" (never tested whether I am or not) but as long as the IEM fit comfortably, didn't have a problem with fatigue. For reference, I’m using a JDS Atom 2 stack. Whether that matters much, you can decide for yourself. I started with a HyperX Cloud headset for gaming and music. Then I bought into the open-back headphone hype and got a Sennheiser HD6XX. Loved the sound, but big-head problems made them super uncomfortable after a while. That’s when I decided to try IEMs. My first real IEM was the Oriolus Finschi. Bought it on a whim, no research. Turned out great: comfy, clear vocals, decent instrument separation, and even worked well for tactical FPS games. I used them for years until the plastic wrapping on the shell started peeling. And so my budget IEM collection starts. Also if you're asking why buy so many, I just have a bad habit of making a collection. Now a quick review of these for anyone who also don't understand the graphs and want a general idea. Budget IEMs I’ve tried (ranked best to worst for me). **Kefine Delci AE:** These became my favorite as they had clear vocals and instruments with good separation and resolution, similar to the Oriolus Finschi but just a bit more lively. They sounded slightly brighter/livelier than neutral (I’ll put the Finschi and Hexa as the neutral-sounding baseline). These were fun and enjoyable—everything sounded clear and lively without being piercing. Even the bass was clear and sharp, not boomy, which I liked. **Letshouer S08:** This was my favorite until the Delci AE arrived. They were just pleasing to listen to—fun but also relaxing. Definitely a step down in clarity from the Delci AE, and probably less clear than the Simgot EA500LM, but still more enjoyable to listen to than the EA500LM. The bass wasn’t too much either; it was clear and sharp. It felt *fast*—like you could feel that it came out quickly and clearly. I’m guessing that’s the “speed of planar” people keep talking about? **Aful Explorer:** This one I didn’t like much stock, but once I applied EQ through Peace, they got significantly better. Stock, they were too dark and heavy sounding—everything was a bit muffled and muddy sounding. After EQ, they definitely improved. They were still dark sounding, but less so. Darker than the S08, but brightened enough for me to enjoy them. Vocals still felt clear, just not as clear as the Delci AE, maybe about the same as the S08. The Explorer had more of a boomy bass compared to the sharp, clear bass of the IEMs mentioned above. **Simgot EA500LM:** These had very clear vocals, which made me enjoy them for vocal ballads and pop tracks. But the background instruments weren’t as clear or well separated, and the soundstage seemed small and recessed compared to the vocals. This made vocals stand out but instruments felt like they all came from the same area, which wasn’t great for classical music. These probably had the most bass out of all the budget IEMs I got. It was boomy—the opposite of the sharp bass of the Delci AE and S08. With the Delci AE and S08 I could hear when the bass started and stopped, but here it just boomed and sort of rolled off instead of “stopping.” **Truthear Hexa:** Mediocre for me—nothing really stood out. It had clear vocals, instruments, and bass, but not to the point that it was clearer than the IEMs above. Very neutral and "boring". **Dunu Kima 2:** These had really good vocals, probably on par with the Delci AE. However, I found the background instruments very recessed, even more so than the EA500LM, making them unclear. The difference between forward, clear vocals and recessed background instruments felt weird to me. Otherwise, I think I would have really liked these—especially since this IEM comes with the best accessories by far. It’s like Dunu added the Kima 2 IEMs to their accessory set, instead of the other way around. **Letshouer S12 Pro:** Personally, I don’t understand the hype behind these. They sounded a bit unnatural and artificial—not relaxing or fun for me. They were bright, and I couldn’t EQ them properly. Toning down the brightness made them muddy. They were decent in clarity and had sharp, fast bass, but the overall tonality was just too bright and artificial for me. Still, I would pick these over the next two, just because they were clearer in both vocals and instruments which I value highly. **Kefine Klean:** These were okay, just average all around. Similar to the Truthear Hexa, but toned down evenly in all categories. Average clarity, separation, bass. Nothing wowed me, and they were a bit boring. Personally, I’d save up for the Delci AE or S08. **Simgot EW300:** Very slightly less clarity than the Klean, but a bit more bass and a livelier sound signature. If you listen to more rock or EDM, you would probably enjoy the EW300 more than the Klean. Just to quickly add: I also got the Moondrop Starfield 1 when they were popular back then, but they were heavy, uncomfortable, and mediocre. I didn’t use them for long and honestly can’t remember them well enough to describe beyond that. Currently, I’ve upgraded to mid-level IEMs and rotate between the Aful Explorer 5+2, Kiwi Ears Astral, Aether, and Ziigaat Odyssey. I found that the mid-level IEMs are definitely better than all the entry-level ones—I can clearly hear a difference when swapping back to the Delci AE or S08 in terms of clarity, resolution, and soundstage. However, the upgrade isn’t *huge*, so whether that’s worth the extra price depends on you. Maybe if people enjoyed reading this long post, I can do another crappy review for the mid-level IEMs I’ve collected.

I agree, the S08 definitely wouldn't be considered having the typical Planar sound. I've also tip rolled the S08 as well as with all my IEMs. I'm not sure whether it has more capable drivers or not but I really liked both the S08 and the Delci AE, haven't tried the original Delci. Personally I can tell that the Delci AE is slightly more resolving and clearer than the S08, slight but definite. I think that just comes down to the tuning as the Delci AE is livelier and brighter making it bit more technical sounding than the S08 which is more darker and relaxed, smoothed out. I would've liked to try the Artti T10 Pro as I've only seen praises for that set too and maybe I will :) but I think my next planar set will probably be the Simgot ET142. Regardless, thanks for the Artti T10 suggestion, I will definitely look into it. For me the S12 Pro definitely was bright but I don't really mind bright, I've had it on for multiple hours straight for a week or two and didn't feel fatigued. Its just that it didn't really sound natural, the notes felt overly light and airy, which I did try to EQ but to no success. I really do enjoy the fast drivers as I prefer that fast bass tightness over boomy bloated bass. But yeah, I got the S12 Pro because I wanted a typical planar sound on one of my IEMs since I really do enjoy my planar headphones (Edition XS and Arya Stealth). I think the S12 just didn't click with me because of the fit, its probably one of those shapes that no matter what tip I use, it won't sound good to me due to a weird fit.

I own the Explorer, which is an exceptional set at price, but keep in mind it has a colored sound signature, requiring higher volume to avoid sounding rolled off and too dark. Although details will remain soft, I prefer it over the S12 Pro, which emphasizes details and clarity but can sound a bit metallic and unnatural. I would still take the S12 Pro over the Aful P5, as it can sound congested and has a hot treble to my ear. You should also consider tips, they significantly impact an IEM's presentation and sound. Consider getting a full set of KB Ear 07, Divinus Velvet Wides, and foam tips to experiment with. Aful includes awful tips, so factor that into your decision. Regarding the Aether, it's too early to tell, as initial hype can influence opinions. I haven't tried the Supermix 4, but it appears well-regarded as an all-rounder. Lastly, all these IEMs will benefit from EQ adjustments. Even a simple low and high shelf, adjusting those ratios can make a huge difference.

The problem I have with the S08 Is the way that it fits. It has a very short nozzle that terminates into a rather large bulb before meeting the body of the IEM. In my instance this meant that I could not insert it very deep into my ear and this limited the range of ear tips I could use and impacted the sound. The Explorer for me is a S tier when it comes to fit and ergonomics and it also scales much better with volume. The S08 gets crowded and congested when you try and turn it up loud, probably due to the lack of air.

Thank you for the list. I agree the Explorer was an eye-opening experience for me in finding my preference. I've tried the Odyssey and came to the conclusion that it's expensive side grade at best. Initially it seems to be superior but as you listen to it more the bass feels very popped up, plasticky with some of the instruments and only marginal improvements in technicalities. It's a good IEM and I know a lot of people like it, I just think the asking price doesn't make sense. How's the fit Moonlight compared to the Explorer?

You’re looking at warm leaning v shape, without the mid range too scooped out (to allow for vocals to be balanced). The SIMGOT EA500LM is a great example of that. Others with similar profile: - Aful Explorer - Simgot Supermix 4 - Kefine Delci AE There are a few iems highly reviewed/rated around $50-70 (Kefine Klean, Tangzu Fudu, Inawaken Dawn) but if your budget wants to spend more closer to $100-150 then there aren’t as many without going to the $200-300-ish range (Kiwi Ears Quintet, Mangird Tea Pro’s etc)

The Aful Explorer was on sale at its lowest I’d seen for Aliexpress’ anniversary last month. £65/$86 all inclusive of taxes/shipping etc. Wanted to give you a heads up of what they were at, so you don’t overpay or maybe wait for another super sale? Or just get the P7 without buying 2 iems.

These seem to be well liked, definitely my favourite shell design from Aful (the P5+2 is just behind) but love the starry understated design. Ahh, hope you can get some proper time with your new sets soon - did you take advantage of the crazy AliExpress anniversary sale? Definitely regret not getting 1 extra set that was in the msrp £150-200 range, esp as the current sales aren’t as good.

Ok, think the Juzear Defiant covers the both best. This is closer to the Aria 2. Treble is pretty close, with better presence region extension which should provide a better soundstage and sense of openness. Otherwise the Truthear Hexa does a bit of both too, lower end bit warmer than Orchestra’s but quite neutral but better upper mids, like Aria 2. Treble is balanced and smooth. Aful Explorer is a great set; great bass and natural mids but smoothed out and less presence in upper mids and treble/presence region. For rock/metal it won’t have as forward or a greater contrast between the instruments/vocals which will be more subdued. Could miss that richness and clarity, as it offers chilled & relaxing vibe.

explorer user here and god this hurts me, but ina good way. im not going to buy this but learning that this price has such good iems is freaking good. so a thumbs up for it.

Actually looking for an intense subwoofer rumble, I tested an aful explorer and the dynaquattros and they didn’t match my simgot ew300 on that track. I’m not sure exactly how to describe the difference in the bass. The dyna and the aful sounded like a subwoofer when it rattles inside a car trunk and the simgots just had a clean thump!

Aful Explorer is good but other than that I’d suggest MOONDROP Aria 2. It’s massively underestimated. I’ve never touched my hexa since I got the aria. Bass is super satisfying and that spacy sound stage effect is really nice and cozy.

If you can stretch your budget just a bit Aful Explorer is the sound upgrade you want.

I’ll say explorer or maybe ew300(not on the list) I won’t ever recommend the defiant simply because the collaborator being a sellout

Nothing there beats the Explorer at Price/Performance ratio. They all deliver pretty similar quality but are overpriced and/or again just don't beat the Explorer at all.

I like the S08 a little more than Explorer (baring the wonky fit for my ears), mostly due to the Explorer's little extra treble presence. The S08 has no irritability to my ear and is the epitome of an easy listening set. Volume S is really good too but I want a little bit more forward vocal response. I actually like the OG Volume more because of this.

Hey, I went for the Aful Explorer for around 90 bucks, They say its like 75% of the Da Vincis for 1/3rd of the price. Im new to iems, But for headphones I always loved neutral with a warm bass boost yet detailed. Which the Explorer presumably has. Cant wait to try these out.

Kefine Klean and T10? Yea, Probably. Explorer? **NO**, it's definitely not everyone's cup of tea.

I just got the explorers and it's my first iems and they don't hit as hard as my headphones. Like I can't feel it as much. Which is confusing because I hear a lot of people say they have good bass. Ive been playing with the seal shoving them in there and all different ways, but still weak. It's like day three of giving them a chance have been thinking about returning them.

I can recommend Aful Explorer. It has more bass and sound pretty "dark".

2024 was an exciting year for me and all fellow audiophiles. So many great IEMs with unimaginable value. Here are 8 of my favorite sets from my ~15 sets collection. Right to left, top to bottom: ISN EBC80, HiSenior Mega5EST Bass + (custom design), Tangzu Zhu Bajie, Kiwi Ears Punch, Xenns Mangird Tea Pro, DUNU DaVinci, Ziigaat Estrella, AFUL Performer 5+2 Honorable mention: AFUL Explorer (best first IEM IMO), Ziigaat Arete (best gaming IEM IMO), Simgot Supermix 4 (best all-rounder IMO). I'm excited for what 2025 will bring us. Hopefully better sets with lower prices.

Explorer will be the safest, it has a pretty relaxed sound that’s hard to hate. I like mine a lot

Aful explorer for me

Fresh reviews does gaming focused IEM reviews. His favorite around that budget is the kiwi ears aether, but personally I found those pretty uncomfortable and I’m liking the Aful explorer a lot more. You do need to try a few and see what tuning agrees the most with your ears.

Don’t do the T10 or S12 Pro. Planar timbre does weird things to cymbals. The SM4 is pretty good, but can still sound a little unnatural in the highs at times for me. I would also look into the Aful Explorer. Signed, the sub’s favorite prog metal enthusiast.

I haven't heard the Deuce but have heard the other three. Easiest decision ever, the Explorer.

Check out Tanchjim 4U or even Tanchjim One. I hated Explorer too, and it's because it has too high of a subbass that drowns out the vocals. These might be sidegrades compared to an upgrade for MagicOne, though.

Nah, I've had it for a bit, and it does not outperform the explorer lmao. But I'm biased towards beryllium plated diaphragm drivers. In my ears, this iem is a few steps below an EQ'd aoshida e20. Though, it definitely knocks out a lot of iems below $30. Just like the ND Venus knocked out a couple kzs in the ultra budget tier.

This here☝🏾. I have both and this is the most accurate analysis

I love the Explorer because the bass is just right(I love bass) and the treble is slightly recessed (exactly how I like it). If you wanted to save some cash and still value a great sound signature, the Castor pro bass edition with the 4 switches are AWESOME!!! Supermix 4 is the best all-arounder of the iems i mentioned. Great for all genres

I love this iem as well. The warm signature is just so good and smooth

I enjoyed reading your breakdown. I have both the Defiant and Aful Explorers. I love both sets for different situations. You broke it down to a "T"!! The edge does go to the Defiant, but there is something special about the Explorers!! I go back and forth with both iems😂😂

Why you just do not EQ ? I dont like explorer treble because it has one "shouty" part and lacks pinna gain in upper mids, but with eq its amazing. On the other side Hexa lacks low end a lot compared to Explorer.

Artti T10 is ok, but Explorer is really questionable, it can be shouty in treble and lacks pinna gain, however with EQ it's amazing really.

I have it and im not really into them, however eith EQ they're amazing.

Idk what were you listening to tbh but its lacks pinna gain and air, so yeah thats laid back, but it also has sparkle in the upper treble which is standing out a bit, thats why i said "it can be shouty"

Yeah, when i say shouty people often thinks of upper mids but i think of treble. However there is also a bump in upper mids on explorer, so technically its both laid back and shouty (not much) for me, although i prefer more open sound like 5128 diffuse field

I have it but idk tbh. I dont like its tuning because its not true laid back since treble follows 5128 DF target. Performer 7 have similiar tuning but nobody says that p7 is laid back, i also have it. Imo, one its EQd explorer sounds very nice with much details but i dont think that stock is better than supermix4. P7 tuning is also meh, lacks eargain but with little eq its very very good

I have it but idk tbh. I dont like its tuning because its not true laid back since treble follows 5128 DF target. Performer 7 have similiar tuning but nobody says that p7 is laid back, i also have it. Imo, one its EQd explorer sounds very nice with much details but i dont think that stock is better than supermix4. P7 tuning is also meh, lacks eargain but with little eq its very very good

Since u want 1 that will last 2 to 3 years I will recommend Kefine Quatio. It has 3 tuning nozzles and it's like having 3 iem for the price of 1. It's technically capable and versatile across all genres. It's warm and fatigue free. Otherwise the Aful Explorer is a good pick. Very bassy, warm and fatigue free. Also since u mentioned the Aful P7. I will suggest Kiwi Ears Aether. It's similar sound signature to P7 for less and very technically competent for it's price. Plus it's planar and it takes EQ extremely well.

Another vote for Aful Explorer. I bought both S08 and Explorer on the spring sale (both under $70 after coins and such). To my ears, the Explorer's bass is more punchy than S08's while mids and highs are clear. The S08 is close but the fast decay planar bass was not as good as DD bass. Also, I love the cable and case on the Explorer. The fit in my ear is much better too. https://preview.redd.it/39ea7dbyg5we1.jpeg?width=2365&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0dc2ea07a10335fc26c849cb043b7be2e3a5330d I'm good with my IEMs for now, but was considering the 5+2 too. For those who have it, what is the difference vs Explorer? What justifies almost 2x price?

Sgor Luna at below $30 is a great option. Truthear Zero at around $45 (2 DD) is a great starting point. It has plenty of bass quality and quantity (one driver acts as subwoofer, the other handles mids and highs). T10 (single large planar driver) is awesome too, but it isn't great to look at. Planar bass packs a tight punch. It's different than bass from dynamic drivers though. At around $65-$70 (on sale): S08 and Aful Explorer. I've been using the 7hz zero on the road while maining Truthear Zero at home. I have Dioko for when I want brightness and that planar sound. Recently I went shopping for something new and ended up with: 1) KZ Castor Bass (good bass, fun, connector for KZ Az09 pro bt adapter). 2) Waner 2 (to try the new release and for Sancai tips) 3) Letshuoer S08 (expecting this dark planar to be my new main IEM. Also has a bunch of accessories I wanted). 4) Aful Explorer (similar to S08 in sound signature but with different, multi-driver tech). Plus I like its shell design. Have fun with your pick.

I have castor bass, wan'er 2, truthear zero, nicehck f1 pro, S08, and Aful Explorer. Of all of them, I love the Explorer the most and it's my current fave. The bass is awesome, mids and highs are clear. Fits very well. Cables and case are super high quality and just awesome to use. Go up a little bit and wait for sale. I got mine for ~$72 with coins in the recent spring sale.

Metal is so broad. If it’s old school stuff anything that’s warm makes a wrong of difference and helps with tolerating poor audio quality. If it’s newer stuff, I really love the aful explorer. On sale it is under $100.