AFUL - Performer 5

I buy my iems direct from Hifigo . And the prices are 20-40 percent cheaper than AudioStore , ConceptKart and HeadphoneZone. Hifigo is a direct dealer of all sort iems and their shipping is pretty fast , I received my Aful Performer 5 ( 13,370 in Hifigo and 19,000 in Indian Stores in HeadphoneZone and ConceptKart ) within 10 days of order.

This is my first iem. And omg i made a fantastic decision. It completely suits my genres and i very much like its tuning . For the price it’s the best for me . But now i am really into Iems , so I recently purchased Aful P5 for 150 dollar in 11.11 sale , so that will be an upgrade and i will still use Zero Red , maybe it will become my office/work iem .

Congratulations on the nice deal. The Performer 5 is one of my favorite IEMs.

I can not stand the Harman tuning even though this tuning is very popular with many people. My tuning preference is very similar to the HBB tuning. I prefer the HBB tuning's 8 dB rise for the simulated pinna gain in the upper midrange since the Harman tuning's 10 to 11 dB rise for the simulated pinna gain in the upper midrange is too sibilant for me. I also don't like how the Harman tuning decreases the lower midrange. Right now my two favorite IEMs under $300 are the Aful Performer 7 and the Dunu DaVinci. The Performer 7 simply is an improved version of the Performer 5 across the board. I still love my Performer 5 IEMs. At first I didn't like the DaVinci's powerful sub bass relative to the mid bass, but I found some eartips which fixed this issue such that the sub bass is in balance with the mid bass. I have some other favorite IEMs at lower price points. I was very surprised by how much I like the Kima 2 which Dunu sent to me. I knew that the Kima 2 uses single dynamic drivers, yet when I listened to the Kima 2 I could have sworn that there must also be BA drivers in the mix since the macro and micro details are very well defined. For example, the Kima 2 performs much better than the Thieaudio Legacy 2. It also dawned on me that the Kima 2 is tuned very similarly to the original Moondrop Starfield which was my first IEM, yet the Kima 2's technical performance is so much nicer to listen to in comparison to the OG Starfield. There always a very slight veil to the sound when I listened to the OG Starfield, and the Kima 2 totally rips any veil away. On the budget side, I really like the Simgot EW200 after I easily added some self adhesive mesh filters to shift the overall tuning from Harman to HBB. The transition after adding the mesh filters was splendid. The thing is that after adding the mesh filters to adjust the tuning, I was able to really appreciate the quality of the EW200's dynamic drivers. I hope that the above helps you with your research.

I have considered planar IEMs. Planars are harder to drive. I also prefer IEMs which have a more natural overall sound signature. Right now my favorite IEM is the Performer 5+2. A musician stated that the Performer 8 is more tonally correct for classical instruments, yet of course the Performer 8 has noticeably different overall tuning in comparison to the Performer 5+2. Tuning also means a lot to me. I guess I am curious about overall tunings which make some IEMs noticeably more suitable for classical music.

https://preview.redd.it/hy8h2esd91te1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e244416df0e81d07055713bbb0632d0a0be0bbd1 Hey all, I'm pretty new to the hobby and just wanted to share a quick impression. I’ve been switching between the KZ ZS10 Pros and the Aful Performer 5s for a few weeks now, and honestly, I keep reaching for the ZS10s more often. I mostly listen to bass-heavy tracks and female vocals, and to my ears, there's not a huge difference between the two sets in those genres. From my perspective, the KZ hate feels kind of overblown. For the price, I think they punch way above their weight. I’m planning to grab the DUNU Braindance next. But if it doesn’t offer a meaningful improvement to my (probably plebeian) ears over the ZS10s, I think those might end up being my endgame. 🤷‍♂️

I think your preferences would be far better served by something like the KiwiEars KE4, or the also new Ziigaat Odyssey. As your preference with Fan3 would indicate you like that later JM1 style upper mids Pina Gain. An out of left field alternative would be the AFUL Performer 5. Or possibly the Performer 5+2 (or Performer 7 as some people call it). Personally the Performer 5 is a little brighter, which leans more towards the Fan3, but the 5+2 has a little more clinical detail up top. And way out in super right field, is the KiwiEars Airoso, it might be a little too U shaped for proper monitor use. But it is very clean in the upper mids and treble, and has excellent detail. There really isnt anything i have found that the Airoso cant play well. And for the current sub-$100 price, it punches WAY above its price target. Not that you came here looking for advice, buuuuttt...its interesting to get some alternative perspectives. https://audioamigo.squig.link/?share=Ziigaat_Lush,Ziigaat_Cinno,Ziigaat_Odyssey,Penon_Fan_3_BC_Off,Kiwi_Ears_KE4,AFUL_Performer_5,Kiwi_Ears_Airioso

I think your preferences would be far better served by something like the KiwiEars KE4, or the also new Ziigaat Odyssey. As your preference with Fan3 would indicate you like that later JM1 style upper mids Pina Gain. An out of left field alternative would be the AFUL Performer 5. Or possibly the Performer 5+2 (or Performer 7 as some people call it). Personally the Performer 5 is a little brighter, which leans more towards the Fan3, but the 5+2 has a little more clinical detail up top. And way out in super right field, is the KiwiEars Airoso, it might be a little too U shaped for proper monitor use. But it is very clean in the upper mids and treble, and has excellent detail. There really isnt anything i have found that the Airoso cant play well. And for the current sub-$100 price, it punches WAY above its price target. Not that you came here looking for advice, buuuuttt...its interesting to get some alternative perspectives. https://audioamigo.squig.link/?share=Ziigaat_Lush,Ziigaat_Cinno,Ziigaat_Odyssey,Penon_Fan_3_BC_Off,Kiwi_Ears_KE4,AFUL_Performer_5,Kiwi_Ears_Airioso

AFUL Performer 5 or Performer 5+2. They can play anything, and are generally unoffensive in their tuning, and provide a premium sound experience.

So, as someone who games, and has similar music tastes inside their playlist. I am going to narrow this down to two options. The Arete, or the Performer 5+2. And there are two big reasons why i would choose these over the other options. Pina Gain. Extension past 10k. So the Pina Gain, or the upsweep from the lower mids to upper mids, is really critical for vocal forward presentation of audio. Its also where the human ear is really attenuated, and so a lot of sound queues in video games will be in that region. So when you look at a "gamer" set like the Arete, you will see that Pina Gain region starts a little earlier, and is a little more emphasized. This will help to hear and position the sounds a little easier. The Performer 5+2 also has a very good Pina Gain that tracks almost identically to the Arete. The second is extension past 10k. This gets more into the psychoacustics of how your brain will perceive and pick up sounds. How reverberations interact with your inner ear. And on some sets that lack this extension beyond 10k, some sounds, like symbol crashes, or brass hitting the floor, or grenade clanks, can kinda get lost in the mix. Because your brain isnt really properly interpreting that reverb reflection from the audio engine. So it ends up sounding kinda flat, and 2 dimensional, rather than positional and wide. And again, we can see both the Performer 5+2 and the Arete share in this trait. Now on the Grit, this Pina Gain carries similar to the others, but its gets a little TOO exaggerated for my liking beyond 2k, and can really make vocals seem very forward, and "out of the mix." Now, admittedly, i have only listened to the Grit once, and dont own them. So i have not gamed on them with any way, so i cant speak to that directly. But the extreme vocal forward nature of the Grit left me in a shallow Uncanny Valley where it would have taken some brain burn in to really come to grips with the sound signature. And in relation to the exdtension past 10k, the Grit, despite its very high pina gain and upper mids, rerally falls off a cliff at 10k. And it was the lack of extension in this area where i kinda lost love with the Grit in my limited listening session. I didnt feel that percussive instruments really rang out with the same level of size and space that other sets did. The BCD did help to fill some of that in. But one of the big issue i had with the Grit, and why i had a limited time listening to it, was because i had to play with about 8 different sets of tips, until i got a set that allowed me to insert it deep enough to get the shell into full contact with my ear. If it wasnt, it had a very boingy bongy sound signature to it, especially with cable microphonics. They were very musical, and i can see where some people might find the appeal. But to me the Grit is an IEM for IEM snobs. Much in the same way coffee snobs need to have their coffee extracted from cat shit and roasted. One alternative i would like to posit to you in this selection, is the OG Performer 5. Its bass level isnt quite as impactful as the Performer 5+2 with its single DD, and it isnt as technically analytical as the 5+2, but it also lacks a certain dryness heard in the 5+2 due to the micro planar top. But what the Performer 5 DOES have, is a great Pina Gain, and an a nice treble extension past 10k that really does a good job of giving it a lighter airier feel, and good sound stage. And, best of all, it can be picked up on sale for well under $200. Sometimes going for as little as $160. And, as crazy as it sounds...i actually prefer the Performer 5 over the Performer 5+2. And its the one IEM that spends the most time in my ears when i am gaming or at my computer. Followed very closely by the Arete. And a toss up in 3rd between the KE4 and the 5+2. https://soundcheck39.squig.link/?share=Apevoix_Grit,Aful_Performer_5+2,Aful_Performer_5,ZiiGaat_Arete https://audioamigo.squig.link/?share=Apevoix_Grit,AFUL_Performer_7,Ziigaat_Arete,AFUL_Performer_5

Not familiar with the IO Audio Volare & coming from someone who only has 1500-3000 sets I can tell you that the Hype 4 are a hell of a deal. I did get rid of mine as someone made me a cash + Hype 4 offer for some Campfire Audio Supermoon, which I really wanted to buy for my Dad after getting him a Sony ZX707 & some Aful Performer 5. I didn't end up using the Hype 4 much, but then I'm pretty bloody spoilt & given I'm somewhat disabled & work from home, my 'going out' pair rarely got used, but I did find the Hype 4 to be absolutely incredible for the money. Can't say the same for the Dusk. I preferred the Aful P 5 & I think thr Hype 4 are a lot better than them.

I previously owned the 5 & thought they were excellent value. I recently got the 5+2 as my beaters & my musical preferences often involve heavy snares. I don't have silibance issues (Final A8000 are an all time top 5 IEM for me & people seem to have serious silibance issues with those), and this is beyond just that anyway... but those more prominent highs are absolutely horrendous. It's like a a nail being smashed by a hammer right beside my ear... it also comes through very unrefined so it's just a very heavy, nondescript noise which sounds terrible. I was really disappointed & managed to get rid of them quickly. I'm seeing a lot of them popping up on local 2nd hand listings now & it's a race to the bottom with sellers. They can be had for sub $100 2nd hand where I am now, so I don't seem to be alone in not being a fan. It's a shame they didn't just do what they do with the 5 with more weight on the lower end given the 2 DD's. It's the only time in 50+ IEMs I have ever had to push the treble deep into minus on my Mojo 2 - I usually push it up a bit. Still sounds bad. Much better off spending a little more & getting the Giz/Dunu Davinci, which are my beaters now... traded the Aful 5+2 + equivalent $100 cash - glad I got them early & moved quickly.

Moondrop Chu, and no. The Kato is the only Moondrop iem I still have and use. I liked the Aria but gave it to a friend to try to get him into iems (I failed). The Chu was good enough to get me into iems, but not good enough to keep me listening. I don't even know where they are now, lol. Of the early iems that I bought, I only have and listen to the Truthear Hexa (lifeless but decent, with wonderful imaging) and that Truthear Harmon-tuned one that Crinacle did with the subwoofer (I forget the name). It is fatiguing, but it is exciting until it wears me down. Good for techno. I listen mostly to the Aful P5, the Chopin, the Letshour S12, and the Kato now. Sometimes at home, I listen to the P8 and the Xenn Mangrid Top (they are too expensive to lug around with me--I have a $200 limit on iems that I'm willing to take in my backpack).

for me, it will be the aful perfomer 5 but i would like the bass to be more impact

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 have both and IMO the EA1000 is far superior to the Performer 5. Some people who are treble-sensitive might find it bright, but I don't, although I would say that it *leans bright*. Meaning that if something is mastered bright, it will absolutely come across as bright. I find my Edition XS brighter than the EA1000 for comparison (haven't heard the Ananda but I believe the tuning is nearly identical). I also like the overall tuning of the P5, but it's quite different to the EA1000. The EA1000 has what I'd call "cold mids" due to the Harman tuning, but the P5 is quite warm generally. The EA1000 is much more resolving, but the P5 is still pretty good. The P5 is much softer-sounding and less capable of picking out small details in busy parts, but still capable of resolving a lot of midrange texture. I use my P5 for synth monitoring because it has good extension both ends and is neutral-ish (quite a warm neutral). However for music listening there's something a bit off in the timbre of the P5, where it has a sort of thready, digital sound, like everything has been quantised into discrete frequency blocks (not instrument separation, it's more like adding "stripes" to the timbre of any instrument that covers a wide range). I don't notice this right away, but I do after I've been listening to music for an hour or so, then it gets hard to un-hear for the next few days. If you look at the FR graphs for the P5 there's a very wavy set of peaks from about 1.5kHz to 8kHz and I suspect that's what I'm hearing. For acoustic stuff, it's pretty hard to beat the EA1000. Especially how it handles bass. I've been listening to some basshead IEMs lately and occasionally switch to the EA1000 to compare how drums sound. While the EA1000 bass doesn't sound especially boosted, it has an elevated "thump" just in the right place so drums actually sound like real drums in a way I haven't heard on any other IEM. In terms of resolution, the EA1000 is the only IEM I have that isn't a planar, that can keep up with my planars (I have 4 of those). The Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite also comes pretty close, but I don't listen to that so much because the lack of venting really bothers me. It has a really nice tuning though. Like most Simgots the EA1000 is also very sensitive (I need to turn my amp down about 10 steps compared to most of my other IEMs), so I think it should work plugged into just about any source, but they will also be quite unforgiving if that source has a high noise floor. IDK about the Hydro, but I personally wouldn't spend that much money on a KZ (CCA are a KZ sub-brand). If there are huge discounts on 11/11 I might take a punt on one because I've heard it's quite good, but KZ is always a bit of a dice roll. They have been caught doing things like paid reviews, astroturfing, silently revising tunings and they have essentially no customer support. The vast majority of their IEMs are just the same thing re-released to trigger FOMO and limit the availability of negative long-term impressions. So my general advice regarding KZ is treat it like buying an expensive coffee or a lottery ticket. If you can afford to just throw that money away then you might get lucky, otherwise you haven't lost much. If it's an expensive purchase, stick with a more reputable company. My [standard advice about KZ with links to further reading](https://old.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1g98avt/cheap_iems_is_cca_still_good/lt61uhc/), as well as my recent experience with the [KZ Carol](https://old.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1g7xbqa/kz_carol_or_moondrop_space_travel/lsu7xve/). There's also the Performer 5+2 but I'd wait a while after the honeymoon period to get some realistic impressions on that one. It seems to be the same as the P5 but with added air. Some reviewers seem to like it a lot, others less impressed. I suspect long-term it won't hold up once the hype dies down a bit.

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!

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.

Aful Performer 5 are WOW

Aful P5 for 130 and a fosi ds2 for 35 : )

Hi everyone, I am once again debating on what I should buy. I'm thinking of getting a planar next, but for some reason I can't get over the thought of getting the EA1000 Fermat. For the planars though, the other two were just my first options. Feel free to recommend anything you like on this price range, I can tell you that I liked a couple of lower range planars and I actually liked them, I have the Aful P5 and I wasn't impressed at all, and I also have my favourite pair atm, the Simgot EA500LM modified with foam. Thanks in advance!

in my opinion, AFUL P5. I haven't heard everything, but it is superior to everything I have heard under $350, in my opinion.

I noticed the treble sounding incoherent and artificial when I had my set of P5's and I sold them for that reason. Not sure if it's a tuning or driver issue, but it's not something I've noticed with other sets out there. So just commenting to say you're not the only one who has noticed that. The P8 didn't have that treble issue for me, but I didn't decide keep it in my collection either.

In my opinion, these are the best value in IEMs. They have a friendly warmish low end and a little sparkle up top, complimented by smooth mids. I wish the soundstage had more depth, and I wish the bass slammed a little bit more, but for under $200 there isn't a better IEM for me. I kept them over my Monarch MK2, Top, Up, and others. Also selling my Dusk at this point since they're redundant for me.

Moondrop x Crinacle dusk from the analog jack are in a similar ballpark with a little more slam, a little bit more detailed, and a slightly better soundstage, but at the loss of sounding as immediately engaging. I still need to hear the Hype 4, they may be what you want, but I just skipped that and bought a FATfreq Scarlet Mini as my bass head set and use the P5 for more natural listening.

That's what the truthearxcrinnacle fanboy echo chambers want you to think. The aful performer 5, kinera celest pheonixcall, simgot supermix 4, GS audio GD5 all perform just as well if not better at around that pricepoint.

Agree on the Performer 5! The 5+2 is a bit of an odd tweener in a world that has the 5 and the 8 already. Not bad by any means, just not as great in terms of value depending on how the prices you can get tend to be. There is also definitely as you pointed out an argument for parts of the sound being cleaner because while it has fewer drivers and that could be read as having fewer details, it can also result in less interference between drivers which I consider a pro.

Cadenza 4 is probably the closest to the reds based on their graph. I'll add the Aful P5+2 too, it sounded fairly neutral to my ears. Not as bassy as the explorer and the P5.

It fits differently compared to the cheaper afuls I've tried. Explorer, Magicone, P5. Can't get a deep fit with the P7 but the other 3 fits me deep nicely. Not sure if it's the slightly wider nozzle or the contours of the shell not being compatible with my ears.

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.

Dunu Davinci for me. It's the most immersive for me so far. Sounds like intruments are actually placed in 3d space. Can also listen at high volumes without it being sibilant. I also had Aful P5, P7, magicone, explorer, SM4, Deuce, Delci. Really like the rumble of the Deuce too. Have a lot of aful for their fit. Others feel "flat" to me. Like they do have some height to them but for very specific moments in some tracks only.

The Ziigaat Arcadia is currently on sale around $170. Proper bass head item, great mids & smooth (if somewhat recessed) treblif you want more airy sparkle in the highs then the Ziigaat Odyssey/Kiwi Ears KE4/Aful Performer 5, all are around $180-200 on sale right now.

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.

I got this recently as well and love it. Fantastic IEMs

its crazy tbh, 8 years ago you never would of seen the quality we are getting today at the prices we are seeing, I have owned the moondrop S8's, aful P5, Kiwi ears cadenza, simgot EA500lm and out of all of them I enjoy and spend 99% of my time listening to the simgot's which are one of my cheapest iems. (the aful were my least favourite which were my 2nd most expensive iem) I am eyeing up the simgot ET142 or the kiwi ears aether, back when I used to use headphones I was a huge fan of planar so curious how they are on the iem side.

I got my 5's as well last week, I still have mixed feelings about it but I'm still holding my verdict.

I don't know how these IEM manufactures interpret "basshead" as someone who loves to hear big explosions that will overpower every other instrument and vocal, instead of punchier, cleaner, hard hitting bass, that won't bleed into other frequencies. It sounds so simple, yet impossible for them to understand. I am currently satisfied with the bass I get on Blon bl03 and performer 5.

It just fits my music, the hype4 is the cheapest one in my favorites so it is my carry around but honestly Ill take a lower cost set if I'm going to do something dirty or sweaty. My B list is something like Estrella Performer 5 n5005 Ie200

Completely agree with your assessment. Muddy, bloated, rolled off treble. If you like this, you like the dark sound signature and there's nothing wrong with that. There is no energy in the music. Switched to the EDC pros and they are superior to me at half the price. And stuff like exporer and performer 5 just blow them out of the water. Reminder for me to stay away from HBB stuff if this is the type of sound he prefers

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.

I had a pair of these on order but I canceled the order and got the performer 5+2. I have no regrets. I only listen to music on mine, no gaming. I listen to rock, metal, modern jazz and a bit of progressive trance. Nothing that requires boomy bass. But all those genres benefit from fast, responsive bass, lush mids, and crisp highs. The Tea Pros curve emphasizes bass and low mids. I’m sure the tea pros are great but I don’t find the performers lacking in the slightest, and they’re $100 cheaper. If I was using these for gaming, I’d probably have stuck with the Tea rather than switching to Aful.

I had them for a couple of weeks and I largely agree, they are an everymans endgame at a low price. If there is a flaw it's that it does everything so overall well that it might not stand out in a larger collection. My take is that it is a straight upgrade over the Performer 5 in terms of sound, which I didn't find with the 5+2, that one is more a sidegrade, though still good just slightly different tuning. I also noticed it's a bit more source and cable sensitive vs your average hybrid; Using a good source and upgrading the cable make it sound a bit more composed especially in the highs. It is a bit bassy for my taste but nothing that actually causes a problem. Still, people should look at the graphs, because if you know for sure that you like rolled-off highs this is not the IEM for you; It is pretty safe in the highs but still extended so the treble does stand out. Unfortunately I didn't keep it. Why? Basically because it sits between two other IEMs in my collection and there was no need to fill the gap. Great for those who don't have a lot of IEMs though and are looking to step into higher-performance hybrids. More expensive hybrids become harder to justify because the gap is not large in terms of sound but in terms of price it can be. For example the Tea Pro is very similar it just has more drivers, but overall the Odyssey is 90% the way there for $100+ less.

I had them for a couple of weeks and I largely agree, they are an everymans endgame at a low price. If there is a flaw it's that it does everything so overall well that it might not stand out in a larger collection. My take is that it is a straight upgrade over the Performer 5 in terms of sound, which I didn't find with the 5+2, that one is more a sidegrade, though still good just slightly different tuning. I also noticed it's a bit more source and cable sensitive vs your average hybrid; Using a good source and upgrading the cable make it sound a bit more composed especially in the highs. It is a bit bassy for my taste but nothing that actually causes a problem. Still, people should look at the graphs, because if you know for sure that you like rolled-off highs this is not the IEM for you; It is pretty safe in the highs but still extended so the treble does stand out. Unfortunately I didn't keep it. Why? Basically because it sits between two other IEMs in my collection and there was no need to fill the gap. Great for those who don't have a lot of IEMs though and are looking to step into higher-performance hybrids. More expensive hybrids become harder to justify because the gap is not large in terms of sound but in terms of price it can be. For example the Tea Pro is very similar it just has more drivers, but overall the Odyssey is 90% the way there for $100+ less.

I have the aful Performers 5. I love them!

Tea Pro is my best buy from my last bought 5 iems and I think I can walkaway with it quite few years time. No.1 - Tea Pro No.2 - Performer 5+2 No.3 - Tanchjim Origin No.4 - GizAudio Chopin No.5 - Supermix 4

I was recently wowed by a performer 5 I got on sale for $150 even though I own other sets ranging from $400-1000 along with headphones such as the 560s and 6xx. Goes to show that price is meaningless and it’s more about how much satisfaction you get out of it. Not saying my $1000 set, the monarch mkiii, isn’t superior, it definitely is, but it’s not like leaps and bounds unless you A/B test them

I don't like the performer as much as tea pro but I didn't mess with eq. Stock there is some harsh metallic sounds that were not appealing to me. I'm sure if you eqd them they would be great like others say. The performers are easier to wear for long periods of time and lighter though but also would mention they don't have the build quality of the tea pros.

headphones (open back) 1. HD600 (ZMF suede pads), all day comfort for my ears and head, will keep until the end of time. 2. SR80e (modded), tight punchy bass with good enough mids and restrained enough treble. preferred their bass more than ananda stealth & edition xs. 3. Porta Pro (yaxi pads), less comfortable than HD600, but doesn’t trap heat and sounds really good (after flattening the bass with eq). headphones (closed back) 1. FT1, mids feel a bit too light, but no major complaints. my eq profile does look very similar to SR7000, so I might get that later on. 2. T50RP Mk.I (modded), warm-dark sound with thick mids, and suspension strap just makes me reach for it most out of all my closed backs. only downside is it traps a crap ton of heat (non perforated leather pads). 3. K371 (brainwavz microsuede), sounds thin, kind of peaky in the treble, but no complaints other than that. IEMs 1. Performer 5, listening to it feels quite effortless, and it fits my ears perfectly. 2. KXXS, sound feels natural, but feels less detailed than P5. fit is looser than P5 to me. 3. Hexa, a bit too much treble for me to enjoy, least comfortable compared to my other IEMs

Nah, I thought so too, but using the performer 5 after having the wyvern and waner, it's a night and day difference in positioning of audio.

Tuning wise will be an upgrade, but not technically, KE4 is not a detail oriented IEM. The Juzear61t and/or Performer 5+2 are the next upgrade worthy from the quartet, with honorable mention of the F1 Pro and/or Shozy P20 planars for the same price that the quartet(you wil need 4.4mm cable+dac to fully squeeze their potentia). Still i would avoid them and go for the 300ish Volume S or Pilgrim so you can actually notice the improvement.

ive really been enjoying the performer 5+2! its a big upgrade to compared to my previous set. theyre pretty crisp and not too heavy on the bass.

No mostly less expensive than this, this was my splurge. I’ve had the Explorer (still love these), the Nova, Supermix 4, Performer 5, S12 Pro, T10, IE200, Hexa, EA500 LM, and a host of the popular budgets, like the Cadenza, Wan’er, Zero 2 (still use these with a Bluetooth adapter), and EW200. Before switching tips I was about to return them and just stop at the Explorer.