AFUL - Performer 5+2 / Performer 7

That would also be a good pick, I have the Aful P5+2 and it is a great set! I would say the P5+2 and CK2V are on the same level of details and they even use a very similar driver set up. The CK2V may edge the P5+2 out in detail by a smidge, but that is primarily because it has a cleaner bass separation. If you want a more dynamic and analytical sound, where there is a much bigger contrast between bass and treble go with the CK2V. If you want a bit more of a musical set, go with the P5+2. Also if you get the P5+2, do yourself a favor and get some kiwi ear flex eartips with them. The P5+2 doesn't have any filter on the nozzle and these tips will help keep wax from getting on/in the acoustic tubing.

Honestly, I can't really give you a definitive reference as I don't have much in terms of iems with exorbitant amounts of contrast or dynamics. That is why I am selling pretty much all my iems, as I have played it very safe and gone for more neutral-ish or safe tuned sets. Probably the most dynamic sets I have are the Kinera Relentless, BGVP NS10 Pro, and Aful P5+2, but I would even consider those on the safer side of dynamic tunings. I just gotta watch some reviews the same way I figured out all these more neutral/safe tuned sets. Right now my two top contenders are the Myer Audio SLIIVO SLA3 and Myer Audio CKLVX CK2V. Both are under $200, so not too big of a risk to try what are supposedly more dynamic sets. I'm sure there are more out there, so I'm doing research while I post my iems for sale. I'll prob go with the SLA3 as it is basically the CK2V at half the price with extremely minor EQing. It's just missing the micro planars for the most part for that extra treble air past the 13/14k region. So if I really love that contrast I could upgrade from the SLA3 to the CK2V later.

bought the Aful P7 and i think i should have gone for the Tea pro.

amazingly, i use them with the tips that came with my AZ80, sound amazing.

I hate KZ, but i was told to try the PRX, and they synergize amazingly well with my Retro Nano So i have the cheapo setup which is the retro nano with KZ PRX and the expensive setup which is the Aful P7 with the BTR17. really amazing what you can get for 50 bucks today.

I WHOLE HEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOUR POINTS: https://preview.redd.it/vwxf7i53neye1.jpeg?width=2377&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9aafdf70e38f01e9e6e88692e4c7f79caca103d8 This is MY collection...and I'm very early in the journey. I don't have the budget, knowledge or experience to blind buy a 500USD+ set of in ears that may or may not fit my ears or my preferences. While my journey doesn't completely fit OP's blueprint...I have/had the same thought process regarding purchasing IEMs. Not pictured are the Moondrop Chu 2 and 7Hz Sonus. I started with the Chu 2, 7Hz Zero 2 and Kiwi Ears Cadenza. From listening, watching and reading reviews...I was able to learn about all the terms, labels, and vocabulary to describe what I like or don't like. I threw money at the Wyvern Abyss...I mean...LOOK AT THEM😂. The Kz Castor Bass was a curiosity buy...want to hear if a set touting bass response was really that bassy. My next steps were the NiceHCK F1 Pros, Kiwi Ears Canta and the 7Hz Sonus. The F1 Pros and the Sonu were on sale at the time of purchase...good value and able to narrow things down more for myself. I knew I liked the planar sound...I have a set of open ear planar cans. The F1s felt disappointing (until I tip rolled) The Sonus was about much for my taste (in the mids) The Cantas were quite nice for me. By this point...I had a good grasp of what I was looking for and the direction (s) I want to go in. AFUL Performer 5+2 is currently my go-to...for all around listening. Sourced from R2R DAC lined out into a desktop tube amp. It's like a warm blanket on crisp bright and snowy winter day. I picked up the Hexa because I wanted to hear the hype...and yes...they definitely fulfill the hype and then some. I've EQed my IEMs... especially the planar. They can mimic the sound...but it's only a part of the equation. I now rotate through 3-4 sets at my desktop listening station. The cheapo ones all have 3.5mm out for around the house or for bed. If they break...ill decide if I want to replace. Tip rolling is a journey of itself. Some tips can dramatically change an IEM and rescue it from the bottom of the pile. My Planars now sport foam tips...easing off the treble was huge. Anyway...long post...if you got this far thanks for sticking with my diarrhea of words. TLDR: I agree with the OP

This is a long-winded reply because I sincerely would like to help. You can not continue to have ringing in your ears after every performance since you do not want to eventually develop tinnitus and/or permanent hearing loss. I think that you want a set of IEMs which sounds very balanced in terms of the amount of bass, lower midrange, upper midrange, and treble so that you can hear how your own vocals sound relative to the rest of the mix. In other words, the entire frequency response should sound balanced so that you can hear exactly how loud your vocals sound in the overall mix. I assume that you have smaller ears since you are female, so obviously you will want a set of IEMs which are very comfortable to wear. If you want to stay under $100, check out this post by a drummer in which I recommended the Kefine Delci: https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1d9r5hm/mackie_mp320_issue/ The Delci is a fairly small IEM which fits very comfortably in my smaller ears. If you want an IEM which does vocals really well and which sounds natural and balanced throughout the entire frequency response, especially if you have smaller ear canals, then I suggest the Performer 5 which currently still is my favorite IEM in the $200 to $300 price range. The Performer 5's shells are fairly small and very comfortable. The diameter of the nozzles is also smaller than average with a diameter of 5.8 mm. With the right eartips, the Performer 5 IEMs literally float into my smaller ears when I insert them, and are just as easy to remove whenever I want to take a break. Before you purchase either the Delci or the Performer 5, I think that it would be wise to purchase the very affordable 7Hz x Crinacle Zero 2 for test purposes. I will explain further below, yet here is an Amazon link for the Zero 2: https://www.amazon.com/Linsoul-7Hz-Crinacle-Zero-Earphones/dp/B0CMZVZPCF?th=1 There are a couple of reasons why I initially suggest purchasing the Zero 2: -- The Zero 2 is very inexpensive at only $25. -- The Zero 2's overall tuning is very similar to either the Kefine Delci or the Performer 5 in the sense of being very much in the same ballpark. It is important for you to see if the overall sound signature floats your boat for your needs. If the Zero 2's overall sound signature does not float your boat, then this is important to know, especially in terms of what areas of the overall sound signature which have issues with. -- It is important to know which size of included eartips fit the best for you, so that either I or others can suggest other eartips with the correct size which pair well with the Delci or Performer 5, or with other IEMs which others might recommend to you. -- To see if the Zero 2 either might be good enough for your needs, or if the Zero 2 might be a good enough pair of backup IEMs to use if your primary pair of IEMs fails during a performance. Finally, there is the big question in terms of the mixed audio which will be fed into your IEMs. If the overall audio mix is flawed and since your band probably is not likely to change their methods, then you might need to additionally use an intermediate device such as the Quedelix-5K or similar devices which feature programmable parametric EQ in order to make your IEMs compatible with however your band routinely mixes the band's overall sound. Anyway, all of the above are merely some thoughts and suggestions for what they are worth.

The mids are really nice on the Performer 5+2. I also really like the detailed upper midrange and treble, and the textured bass.

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 think that the Performer 5+2 (the P7) is very worth it for $185. The P7 is one of my two favorite IEMs. I mostly listen to classic rock and EDM, jazz, and bossa nova. The P7 is quite good in terms of the things which you desire. I particularly enjoy female focals. I also really enjoy the clean bass and the very clean macro and micro details throughout the midrange and the treble. Aful managed to achieve these things while making sure that the P7 has a natural overall sound signature.

My two favorite IEMs are the Aful Performer 5+2 and the Dunu DaVinci. Perhaps ask if either of these IEMs work well for metal.

I am glad that you offered your suggestions since you listen to metal. I don't listen to metal. I do really like the Performer 7's clean and clear macro and micro details. I also like the Kiwi Ears Quintet for the same reason. Thank you for suggesting some IEMs which I have not listened to.

The May is a single DD IEM. Planar IEMs provide the most resolution and technical performance, but this is at the expense of having a more natural overall sound signature. I suggest that you upgrade path, at this point, would be to consider multi-driver IEMs which improve the technical performance throughout the entire midrange and treble regions, and which also have a more natural overall sound signature. Single DD IEMs have the most natural overall sound signatures. This is what you presently are used to hearing with the May. Jumping to any planar IEMs which have a very technical sound signature might not float your boat since you may be losing too much of an overall natural sound signature. This is why I suggest that your next step up might be a multi-driver IEM. Metal music is not my thing even though I am impressed with the sheer speed and complexity in really busy portions of metal tracks. One of my favorite multi-driver IEM is the Aful Performer 5+2 since this IEM provides very nice technical performance and clean technical details throughout the entire midrange and the treble, while still retaining a rather natural overall sound signature. This is merely a suggestion for you. I hope that others here who love metal music will jump in to ask you questions and to offer suggestions. I really like your photo of your audio gear!

You are welcome. You might want to consider the Aful Performer 5+2 which has very detailed mids and treble yet with less pinna gain, and the sub bass is not boosted relative to the mid bass.

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.

It’ll depend a lot on the things you like in your music. The DaVinci and DosCinco are more forward with female vocals than the Performer 7 or the S08. S08 is a bit more forward than the P7. P7 is the most neutral of the bunch. Best bass is going to depend on what you’re specifically looking for. Sub bass rumble is probably best on the DosCinco, while the S08 has my favorite mid-bass punch. The DaVinci is nice, but can be a bit soft. The P7 sounds amazingly tight and accurate, but is lacking in intensity compared to the other three, which are much bassier. Cymbals your thing? The Performer 7 is airy and detailed and wonderful. The DaVinci is a close 2nd, but isn’t as smooth as the P7. I would say, if you want dynamic sound that makes those genres sound as exciting as possible, try and get the DosCinco on sale. It’s probably the best fit for Hip/Hop-Rap and Metal overall. The Performer 7 might be too neutral for your tastes, but it’s in my opinion, probably the most detailed and resolving of the bunch. The S08 is great as well, and might be the best value overall, but if you have the budget for the DosCinco and the DaVinci, then I would go for one of those. I personally prefer the DosCinco over the DaVinci, especially on sale. But if you’re sensitive to pressure issues or driver flex, I encountered driver flex on the DosCinco, but not on the DaVinci.

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

100%. I've owned both. The only reason I don't have the Hype 4 anymore is because someone offered me an insane trade deal for them for some Campfire Supermoons, which I wanted to get for my dad. I went through a few replacements out of curiosity, as those were my out & about sets. I really disliked the Tea Pro & the Aful 5+2. I thought the Davinci were OK, but not up to par - I was going to go back to the Hype 4, but I was offered a fantastic deal on some Moondrop Variations & went for those instead. I own some very high end bass heavy sets - Fatfreq Maestro SE CIEM / Campfire Astrolith / Sony IER-Z1R. The Hype 4 cannot compete with these, but you can't expect them to at that price (these are all 1500-3000 sets) - but they are really bloody good for the budget & that goes beyond bass. Those are three pairs out of about 15 mostly TOTL sets of IEMs & overheads that I own. I've worked in bass music for almost 30 years although it's now more of a serious hobby. I am pretty spoilt & the cheapest two sets I will recommend to absolutely anyone are the Hype 4 & the Moondrop Variations (not a bass centric set). I wouldn't recommend the Davinci, but I think it's ok. Definitely better than the Tea Pro & the Aful 5+2, but the Hype 4 rule supreme.

When I read the stuff written in here for people such as yourself, I always think it is TERRIBLE information & I think a lot of that comes from (a) lack of real experience with audio / (b) people who can't afford more expensive gear & use the old diminishing returns thing without genuinely having spent significant time with more expensive sets. I've been professionally involved in audio & music for 30 years. I never though I'd say IEMs could be better than headphones - but in some cases, they absolutely can. These two 'rules' I often hear are are total & utter bullshit & I don't believe these are generally subjective opinions, I think this is simply how it is - 'Above $300 is diminishing returns' Firstly I can't think of an IEM I'd genuinely recommend for less than 450 - the Thieaudio Hype 4. I've just been through three of the most hyped 300-350 sets (I got rid of my Hype 4 as someone offered me a ridiculously good trade offer for some Campfire Audio Supermoon - the IEM I wanted to but for my Dad - and I wanted to try something else as a replacement); Xenns Tea Pro, Dunu Davinci & Aful 5+2. I didn't love any of them (I hated 2), and I thought the jump between even the best one (Davinci) & the Hype 4 was HUGE. These are my 'beater' pair as my main six sets are 1600-3000 & I don't want to take them out into the humid climate where I live - and again, that gap between these & the Hype 4 is huge. For me, I'd have to say that diminishing returns GENERALLY begins at around 1300. BUT then you have the Campfire Astrolith are $2200 & you just won't find anything better that does this particular thing at anything less. Of course you can be a dumbass & spend $3000 on a pair that is dogshit. ---- The other 'rule' that I think is absolute bollocks is - Speakers > Headphones > IEMs ESPECIALLY the Headphones > IEMs part. This 'rule' is years old & IEMs have come a very long way in the last few years. Certain IEMs can do things that headphones cannot & vice versa. As far as I'm concerned, they're now on an even keel. Speakers... I think the sheer expense & amount of room required to get something that sounds even as good as a TOTL IEM or headphone is wild. Of course if you have unlimited money & can throw 100k++ and have a room in your house acoustically treated, it's going to sound unbelievable. But that's out of reach for most.

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.

Depends on your ear shape. Aful 5+2 is still a much more comfy iem for smaller ears

personally i have owned the ew300 and i upgraded to the performer 5+2 and i really enjoy it really recomend

I only have the Aful P5+2 "A lot of bass" isn't what I would describe it. The bass is nice but not very prominent. It's clean and can be punchy

People call it an all rounder IEM, really good for most genres. But it doesn't give the cinematic feeling bassy headphones provide, the wide sounding lingering bass is toned down for P5+2. Even if it's my most used earphone I still use other headphones for watching action/fantasy movies.

love mine, these are pretty much flawless sound, build and fit. I just wanted to ask if anyone else experienced a pretty tight fit between the iem's and the 2 pin connector. It's not crazy tight, that I cant remove them but it's definitely tighter than my other iem's.

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!

I think you’d love the P7. It’s a soft v with excellent male and female vocals, and a nice upgrade over the explorer if you’d like a bit more treble and air (I do).

My favorite daily driver is the P8, but the P7 is the best value here. Both have their uses. P8 for classical, jazz, indie rock. P7 for rap, harder rock, EDM for sure.

I think I experience what your describing as the timbre of the micro planar drivers. The air and treble do indeed take on a digital characteriatic I find common with these types of tweeters. P7 is actually my favorite implementation so far, but I would have been much happier with BA or EST treble (though the price would likely shoot up $200 with ESTs). It still ranks second due to its overall sound signature. The treble is much improved on both the P8 and Cantor. And tanchjim at T apb t300 tips help me with unvented sets.

another under rated one are the apeviox grit, they are just over like $150 but given youve got a budget around $360, id say either the Arul 5+2 or the tea pro both incredible for the money

I didn’t like supermix 4 at all, i would say nova is a lot better - watch this video to get your answer https://youtu.be/34xo1FCWdKI?si=wRcn0ej6gkFI63X4 If listen to pop, kpop and female vocals then only go with nova. Heyday is good brightish neutral option. Imo get the ew300 hbb as a fun all rounder plus hayday or xuan nv as neutral options this way you will be covered. If you want to buy only one iem that is an all rounder then have a look at pula pa02 or save up and get the Aful performer 5+2 trust me hype is real on the Performer 5+2 it's excellent. https://youtu.be/Rsr27Qpvgk4?si=Pgy812_lII1Tx2Ho If you have any questions or want to ask questions about any other iems you can message anytime would love to help you out.

Ew300 dsp and hbb sound very similar dsp one has ease of use that's it. I recommend them over ea500lm. Ea500lm is too bright. Explorer is bassy and laid back good for long listening sessions. Haven't tried the p50, but if you have the budget man get the Performer 5+2, it's excellent. Watch my review you will get the answer why I like it so much.

good IEM, not that good value, some other $230-260 IEMs are much more detailed, if it was $150 max I could recommend it, it's like maybe SuperMix4 if it didn't have QC issues

Aful Performer 5 + 2. Absolutely love my pair

Origin is amazing, as are Etymotic and Cadenza 4 but in a way none of them are good blind buys. Origin is for DD enthusiasts, and people who like Tanchjim sound specifically, so you should probably try the 4U first. Etymotic IEMs are very mid-focused neutral and also have a very deep fit that you will love or hate. Cadenza 4 is a bit more approachable but still very neutral and upper mids focused, to the point of being clinical and dry to some people. FiiO FD15 is another good rec but it leans neutral-warm with safe treble, like the Hexa though some people find it too neutral, not enough excitement factor. Now you could go for other hyped hybrids like Aful P5+2, Simgot SM4, or something from Ziigaat but they aren't as neutral, you would probably find the bass to be over-prominent and the highs bordering on too much. So from your description I would say Origin is the best for you. Not too much bass but you can feel it, vocal prominence that has weight for both female and male but never gets harsh, highs extension but not over-brightness. The graphs make it look brighter than it is IRL; and oh man the layering is something else, better than any other 1DD in my collection. But like I said before you might want to try the 4U first for a taste of the Tanchjim 1DD sound.

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 just bought the Aful performer 5+2. Sounds great with edm and bassy music but lacking in acoustic and vocal detail. Should I return and spend an extra $100 on these?

Pressure can be a pain for the Orchestra Lite on longer gaming sessions plus imo they r a bit too big and heavy. I am testing the OL and Aful 5+2 right now and leaning toward the Aful. For the OL definitely get different tips. Waiting on the Hype 4 and I will make my decision on which to keep!

They sounds great and i game a lot as well mainly fps. Definitely would pick Aful over OL due to comfort and size. If u can def try both since sound can be very subjective but I believe most people would agree the Ol is not very comfortable!

Had the same problem on the lower treble, turns out it was a fit problem for me. Eartip placement (how deep u put the eartip in) and deep insertion plays a crucial part for this iem. I agree it can either be really bad or reaallyyy goooood

The tangzu sancai worked best for me and i tried a bunch. More on the way. Will order some newbee foam eartips after reading your post. Thanks for sharing !

Try not to push the eartip into the earphone too deep, and also use this method : https://youtube.com/shorts/oyy1WkOUAf4?si=kwgQPOvBuizlotw5 when inserting the iem into your ear to get that deep insertion.

P5+2 user, demoed cincotres. Bass : cincotres > p5+2. Vocal : p5+2 = cincotres. Technicalities : p5+2 > cincotres P5+2 can be a bit boring as it sounds neutral bright/slight w shape but it shine on technicalities. Cincotres is more fun.

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).

https://preview.redd.it/ricrax244h2e1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e135cd0f86f31a8e0f9d80e40d8ccd04423d82c8 This is not going to be a technical thought review bc quite frankly I don't care and you can watch youtubers to get that. These are just my feelings and user experience alone. TLDR; **Overall Impressions -** These are maybe the best IEMs I've ever heard with a couple caveats; you NEED the right ear tips and a bit of EQ otherwise it could be one of the worst IEMs. It sucks that these are the requirements **for me** in order to love these, but it is what it is. **IEMs I've tried in the past:** Thieaudio Origin, Thieaudio Hype 4, Mega5EST, Supermix4, Davinci, and more... **Ear tips dilemma:** Let's talk about ear tips real quick because its important. When I first listened to this IEM it felt brutal. The lower treble was killing me. It wasn't necessarily sibilant, but it was piercing my ears. Some people call it a treble "crunch". I don't mind treble normally (my everyday headphones are the Arya's which are Treble heavy). I tried the stock tips, azla's, divinus wide velvet, cp100, w1, and a few other ear tips and none of them were able to take the crunch away. I was ready to return it until I decided to try out some random foam ear tips I had lying around (I think these are New Bee foam - they're pretty average honestly and nothing special). AND HOLY MOLY it took that excessive crunch away, boosted the bass while maintaining very clear mids. And I normally HATE foam ear tips as it usually changes the sound too much for me... but for these it's a must. Trust me, I was just as surprised. My recommendation for anyone who might be even a tiny bit treble sensitive... try foam ear tips. **Bass (7/10 without EQ : 9.5/10 with EQ):** Bass is clean but a bit lean for me. I'm definitely a basshead at this point and have to add EQ to make this hit my bass needs. I have an RME ADI and add +6 to the bass shelf and it hits HARD and doesn't bleed into the mids and treble which is wild for an IEM to be able to do. The bass here doesn't feel like it has impact close to your eyes/ears. It feels a bit more distant. This is GOOD and BAD. It's good because it creates this feeling of a very wide soundstage with incredible imaging. It's bad bc sometimes you want the bass to just smack you (if you're a basshead like me) and it doesn't do that unless you add some serious EQ. **Mids (9/10):** Wonderful. I literally have no complaints here. These are maybe as good as my Focal Clears in terms of mids and that's a pretty good bar to hit. The only thing is tonally they may not be as good. They don't sound as natural, but I'm also comparing an $800+ headphone which isn't fair. But they definitely are forward in the best of ways. **Treble (5/10 with most ear tips 9.5/10 with foam ear tips):** I touched on this a bit in the ear tip section, but once you have the right ear tips, the treble as absolutely fantastic. Lower and upper treble is present and because this IEM has incredible depth and soundstage, it feels like music floats around you. But it floats around you WITH extremely clear presentation. It's pretty wild honestly. The treble makes everything stand out beautifully and rival much more expensive IEMs **Soundstage/Imaging (and a bit on gaming w/ these) (9.5/10):** These have got to be the best **gaming** IEMs ever. The soundstage is very wide. Maybe its not the tallest ever, but its SUPER wide. That combined with an excellent treble presence and great imaging technicalities, hearing footsteps has been a godsend. I'm very curious how others feel gaming with these and can't wait for more reviewers to talk about it from that perspective. Anyway, I write these sometimes because its fun to talk about different products. I do love this IEM now that I have the right ear tips and a bit of EQ. This particular IEM showed me that it doesn't matter if you spend $1,000+ on an IEM. It showed me that value isn't always about money. I just wish this IEM worked with all of my other ear tips and w/out having to EQ. Hope this helps anyone looking to buy this!

I have both of those IEMs in front of me. You're in for a wild ride. I just made a post about the Performer 5+2 [https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1gxaoeh/aful\_performer\_52\_my\_thoughts/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1gxaoeh/aful_performer_52_my_thoughts/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) Happy to talk about the tea pros also

I see, I don't personally have any experience with Pula or Myer Audio iems yet, so I can't speak on that. I will say QC on all chifi isn't amazing tbh, I got the Aful P5+2 and although it is my favorite set by far (even over the Xenn Tea Pro) it came with a channel imbalance. I measured it to confirm and my right side is quieter than my left, but I only kept it as my dac has channel balance compensation, and since I can measure the decibels on each I can slide it to the right until they are balanced.

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’m considering them based on what I love about Explorer (warm, rich, mids) and what i feel is missing in Explorer (not huge on the rolloff around 15k hz). Mainly trying to find something that doesn’t make a violin section sound thin—it needs body and richness for me.

I really like the aful performer 5+2 if you can strech the budget 230$ aprox

Aful 5+2, Timeless 2, Tanchjim Origin, SoftEars Volume S, EPZ P50. Above 400 you have Kiwi Ears Punch as the obvious choice, as long as you like bass. But truly do not underestimate a good source, don't neglect it. Tubes are becoming more normal for portable use now so I would strongly recommend the iBasso Nunchaku and try to stretch your budget a little.

I just bought this pair in a store in Osaka. What attracted me among many others was the presence of the mids despite the generous bass, which makes them pleasant for all types of music. I specifically wanted closed ones for taking public transport and so I immediately changed the cable for a less absurd 3.5mm. I also quickly changed the tips for the original large/mid and indeed the high-pitched flickering has calmed down. Very good pair, I recommend. As a sidenote they have a 17ohms +-20% impedance and high seisitivity and are in result not sensible to the source's quality, which is nice. a simple usb-c dac will do just fine

Thank you.Ive had chance to test 5+2 and Davinci today.In the end walked away with 5+2.

Found Davinci to be bit muddy and intimate.Reminds me a lot my old pair of earphones. 5+2 have more clarity and separation to my ears and still plenty of bass.Maybe came bit bright on some occasions,changed tips for Spinfit and they sound even better now.Soo far really happy them.Secondly it was about fit and comfort.

Really? I love the P7. If you haven’t already, try a 4.4mm cable and maybe tip roll a little. I buy and sell IEMs on occasion, but the P7 stays with me. Good luck.

Yeah it’s one of my favorite iems, maybe above the hype 4 or tied. I also agree about the pula/cklvx being about 95% of the tea 2. Tea 2 is the first thing I thought of when I got my cklvx d41. I don’t think the performer 5 is better though, for me.

Absolutely digging the Aful Performer 7s...hifigo has them on sale right now for around $200. Slapped some Dunu S&S on these bad boys and took them to the next level.

This is my experience as well. Foam just doesn’t work for my use case… I have to insert and remove an iem throughout my 12 hour shifts.. soreness ensues… But for anyone looking for additional confirmation, this is the case. Foam fixed the problems. This iem is about as detailed (from memory) as the performer 8 but with the bass that was missing for many users. Bravo.

I am in the same boat! Using baroque tips today to see how they pan out. I HATE foam but I will try as you say this corrects the issue. I am not treble sensitive as I rock the Dita Project M with ZERO issues at any volume. If I use the 5+2 at a medium volume I don’t get the harshness but I want to JAM and sometimes that means turning it up , which at this point I can not do. I agree with the technical aspects you touch on, just needs tips to fix its problems. Pretty incredible iem for the price if I can get the tips right.

Get the Aful P5+2 and eq to your hearts content. For the wireless aspect pick up a set of Fiio UTWS5 2025. You won’t regret it

I have the dusk, hype 4, ie600, Aful 5+2 and I can EQ any one of these to sound like the other. Fit is most important. EQ really can do the rest. As for me, dusk is more comfortable than hype 4 as well.

I own the pro, hype 4, and p7. Of the theee, the p7 is most comfortable to my ear canal. It is the only one of the three that requires EQ for me, BUT with EQ, the p7 is beyond what I thought would’ve been possible in a unit that’s so inexpensive. If you’re not going to EQ, the hype 4 and pro are literally a 50/50. Fit is for me the most important thing since I can EQ.

If I were you, and I’ve bought 2 sets of hype 4, I’d get them second hand at $250 and get a Qudelix Bluetooth dac/amp and you’ve got a powerhouse of a set up. At that same price you can also get a new P7 and EQ it lol. It’s a stellar iem for the price. Either way, you’ll be impressed. I personally would get the tea pro just for the fact that it’s got a metal chassis( if you’re opposed to used gear)

Performer 5 + 2 is arguably the safest option out of these. I think the tuning is pretty universally applicable across genres, is not fatiguing to listen to and still exciting enough at the same time. I think the price to performance isn’t quite as good as it was on release with how far the Odyssey undercuts it on price, but I also prefer the Performer line, so I‘d rather downgrade to the Performer 5 if I had to save some money. Still a perfectly good IEM with reasonable value and pleasant sound. Plus you don’t get anywhere near the inconsistency in quality that certain other brands seem to have.

Demoed Monarch mk2,3. Mega5est, Aful7. Gotta say that the Mega5 with the Jm1 tuning is a game changer.

I highly recommend the 5+2. I really like a flat signature (like the hexa’s) but the soft V shape of the 5+2 makes them an excellent all-rounder. Besides, the micro planar tweeters are pretty good for female voices/guitar strings and the mid bass is a lot more present than my Hexas. If you are considering getting them I’d say go for it

I really like them for classical; the 5+2 handle the highs amazingly (again, I think the micro planars have something to do with it), a little sparkly but not scratchy at all. I found them sibilant in one or two tracks but I think those are outliers. Coming from the Hexas I think they have everything I was missing from them, and I already loved my Hexas. As a plus, I found more comfortable; the nozzle is smaller and it makes a big difference for long sessions. If, like me, you have small ear canals it is something to consider

Currently, I feel like it's hard to beat the Aful Performer 7 in it's price range. If it's outside of your budget, and you're a fan of bass, the Explorer is a nice set.

Of course, this will be specific to your preference and music genres, but I think the Performer 5+2 would fit. I really like the 61T, but it lacks the warmth the P7 has, and I have experienced significant pressure buildup. The DaVinci and Odyssey may also be what you're looking for, I haven't had any opportunity to try those yet. The Estrella is a great set for certain genres, I do feel the sub bass can sound a little bloated with certain music, and I prefer the treble extension of the P7. To be honest, someone can make a case for any of the sets you mentioned. I highly doubt you'd be disappointed with any of them.

100%, the Performer 5+2 is my favorite set out of 80ish iems.

Performer 7s actually have excellent treble details for me, and they are not bass heavy at all.

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.

In every way possible. The Hype 4 are fantastic value for money - that rings true with pretty much all of Thieaudio's stuff. They use top tier parts & their margins are actually very low VS others. The DD's & BA's in the Hype 4 are top end - the same ones they use in their top end IEMS (and they primarily make more premium IEMS). I don't believe that Xenns & Dunu are using drivers of the same level of quality & this affects every single part of the sound. I've owned all of them (plus the Aful 5+2). Most of my IEMS are on the very high end: 1600-3000 for my main six pairs - I don't take these out with me as I don't want to damage them. I wanted one IEM sub 500 to be able to take out. I got the Hype 4 & was blown away - the bass is incredible, miss are very good & treble excellent. They sound far more expensive than they are - I'd have been happy had I paid 700. I got rid of my Hype 4 as someone offered me a ridiculous trade deal for Campfire Supermoon - the IEM I wanted to buy for my dad as it suits his library/taste perfectly. I probably should have just got the Hype 4 again - but I think everyone interested in audio is curious to see how other, newer IEMs sound. I went through the Aful 5+2 (terrible - horrible, abrasive upper highs) - then Gizaudio DaVinci (definitely the best out of this bunch, but I just knew the Hype 4 were so much better & then finally what I thought would be a safe choice - the Tea Pro. I thought the DaVinci were significantly better. I have no recency bias, nor am I influenced by reviews - the Hype 4 smash all of these in every way. You could absolutely say (and it's been said by others) that this could easily be a 700 USD IEM & that absolutely cannot be said about the others.

That is really unfortunate, that happened with me with my first set of my AFUL P7 and had it return to its seller. Luckly my current right now hasn't experienced that problem so far.

IMO, the best technical perfomance under 300 you can get is from, Planars IEMs altho they need more power to shine, with the Aether, Shozy P20 and F1 Pro the best bang for your buck and with the rest of ur money get a KA15 or Dawn Pro portable dac. After that the Juzear 61t and the Perfomer5+2 are on a deal right now for spring sale, which makes them my 2nd best choices

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.

I just bought the Thieaudio Origins last week and absolutely love them. They have a completely full range bass feel and the bone conduction adds a little something to it that I have a hard time explaining. I can definitely tell it’s there as it feels different than my other IEMs. The others in my collection are Aful Performer 5+2, Truthear Zero Red, Oriveti Lowmaster, Moondrop Variations, Sennhesier IE200. For bassy music the Thieaudio is my go to.

I have been using Aful Performer 5+2 for a few months. Slipknot sounds really good compared to Artti T10 because of the better separation and darker tuning. As for Korn, it's simpler overall, but requires good lows. Aful Performer does a great job here as well.

Yes, it's worth it. I'm using it for a few months and pretty happy with these.

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.

If you’re not too convinced with Ziigaat (even though I’d highly recommend the Odyssey, they are great for vocals; but that might not necessarily what you’re looking for) then the Performer 5+2 is a very good option. I have the Odyssey, Performer 5+2 and the Deuce. I really love the Deuce, but that’s just for listening to music, not gaming. Your instinct might be right where the huge bass impact might be over shadowing the micro details a bit. For detail retrieval, the Performer is a solid choice! They are quite balanced (so don’t expect a big bass impact, but I guess you weren’t), but I’d recommend this set any day!

So I listened to the song (actually enjoyed that a lot!) and with the Odyssey the drums “disappear” into the mix a bit more than with the 5+2. With the 5+2 you can hear the different instruments better (better separation) and the Odyssey makes it sound a bit more “musical” (more coherent); I hope this explanation makes sense!

Agree that tips make a huge difference here. Hate them with the included tips and SpinFit W1, but I wanted to love them, and saw some mention the SpinFit CP100, which totally changed them for me. They are narrow bore and keep the shells a little more outside of my ear. My favorite pair I have now, easily.

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.

Aful 5+2 has impactful bass and is clear in the mids and highs. The Explorer has more bass, but is a little less resolving in the mids and treble. They are both great, but I would Explorer if you really want that bass impact, and P5+2 if you want an all-rounder with pretty good bass.

Just get the aful 5+2. Skip both these iems. But if you really must, get the s08 planar instead. Easier to drive, different sounding enough from the klean, and you'll get a more audible upgrade in terms of techs at least.

For technicalities i would look at planar, such as Tangzu Wu Heyday, its better than S12 and accessories are very nice. Tbh im currently cannot decide between them and Aful P5+2. Aful is probably better and more expensive but Heyday is like glued to my pocket 😵‍💫

Nice collection! I love the comfort and sound of my P7 too.

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

I have the Orchestra Lite and the Performer 5. The Orchestra Lite is flat out the better IEM, no question about it. Excellent tuning & technicalities. However, it's unvented, which can cause discomfort and channel imbalances until the pressure evens out. That's a PITA and makes me listen to them less than I would otherwise. In fact there's only two things stopping the Orchestra Lite being endgame for me, which are it being unvented, and a slight lack of fullness in the bass (the bass hits really hard, but is a bit lacking in depth/body). The P5 is really comfortable and has a warmer tuning, with much fuller sounding bass. It also has good treble extension without being bright. Overall, it's tuned very well. But it has quite bad BA timbre in the treble that after a while get quite noticeable and distracting. I have several other IEMs with BAs, but the P5 is the only one that I notice any problems with the timbre. It has a weird digital sound, like all the frequencies are clumped together into lots of separate peaks with gaps between them. For comfort, I'd pick the P5. For sound, I'd pick the OL. Haven't heard the Orivetti, so no idea how it compares.

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 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

Out of those three the Performer 5 is going to be your safest choice. I really personally enjoy the Orchestra Lite, but it has some quirks that are not for everyone.

They would likely be the best for you in that price range.

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.

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.