Performer 5+2 / Performer 7

I jumped on the P5+2. I love it. I don't see myself upgrading for a long time.

I currently have my Aful P5+2 on my AZ20, works great after the circumcision mod.

the Top Pro and Hyper 4 MK2 are basically sidegrades from what y understand, both being more or less equal with the Top Pro having better soundstage and instrument separation, while the Hype MK2 has better treble and sparkle, so it kind of depends how you like your audio. For me instrument separation is key to life to music, and the treble on the top pro is enough for me, Then again i do go back to my Aful P5+2 once in a while for that smooth microplanar treble, i guess thats why so many people enjoy the Daybreak by crinear, its basically a gift at 170 bucks.

From those i own currently, I love the Letshuoer S12 Pro the most currently, because they just carry the most energy when I'm listening to my favourite metal bands. Other than that I also love my performer 5+2 if I'm listening to other genres or want something more comfortable.

It may just be because my initial IEM was the Performer 7's, but the Hype 4 and Hype 4 MK2 had amazing bass comparably. It is legit tight and punchy. It actually makes the hype 4 seem muddled and the P7's non-existant. Id be VERY curious to try something that sounds better, honestly.

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

The pricing on the P5+2 is RIDICULOUSLY good!!! I got mine a few months back and I love them. Don't regret spending close to MSRP for them at all. They are my go-to all rounder. My current "end-game" set 😂😂

Kiwi Ears Canta (around 100usd) Punch Audio Martilo (300ish usd) AFUL P5+2...have a mini planar in there...(a little over 200usd) Simgot ET142 .... planar with pzt driver (around 200) I have all those...and I love em. That's my regular rotation

Love them...still my go-to for critical listening. That is THE set giving me pause when I'm considering upgrading.

thanks. I used a headband cover and stuffed it (fluff like you'd find in a stuffed animal) So I got both the comfort and fit sorted for the XS. I might venture to Audio Technica after I pick up the XV. Nice IEM collection... love the P5+2. It is the set that's held back my purchases.

I have heard good things about the Armor. I own the Martilo and the P5+2. The Martilo's sub-bass shelf NOT bleeding into the mids sets it apart. So for a "bass head" they may not seem enough. As bass centric IEM...it's quite good. I don't think they're "as technical" as the P5+2...but I think it's just the tuning and my perception of the presentation of sound. It is a good choice if you want a lot of more bass...while retaining some shimmer in the treble.

OP ... nice box. Good call to use a watch box storing a collection. I understand playing in the price ranges you've been in. Honestly, it's too low for diminishing returns just yet. Hexa does punch above it's weight...and it's still VERY relevant today. My "top" set at the moment is the AFUL P5+2. I love them. Can do what the Hexa does...but better. Warmer without sacrificing the "technicalities" The treble is present....some even say it's too bright. For me, they're great. There's enough bass for this to be an all-rounder for me. I own the 7Hz Legato...that's my bassy boy. I like bass...but I'm not spending excessive money for a basshead set. Compared to the Castor Pro Edition...it's better. The sub rumble is satisfying, mid bass (especially certain bass guitar heavy tracks) are velvety smooth. I run wide bores on the Legato...helps the treble stand out from the bass. Really balances it all out. I'd say...determine what your prefer sound signature might be. Technicalities? Vocals? Bass-head? Harman? Meta tuning? Then search out that set for yourself. Perhaps you'd want a planar IEM? Or an all BA set? Some people are into single DD IEMs (have heard some god-tier type comments about Final Audio A-Series IEMs) You have plenty to taste...now is a good time to take that step up. Note...the Hexa is the outlier in your collection because they are THAT good. However, you are not close to the area of diminishing returns yet https://preview.redd.it/uvhdjvl2ov0f1.jpeg?width=2377&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f215eb7329c908f39c7017ec7f311cde6c784451 Here's my collection

I’m also a bit of a newbie to the hobby. I got the AFUL performer P7s recently and they’re really great

I just got the AFUL performer 5+2 and can’t recommend them enough. Upgraded from simgot em6l if that helps you

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 think that the same acoustic resonance technology is used in the Aful P7. I noted that Mark was using medium bore eartips on his Explorers. The stock medium bore eartips which came with the P7 made the P7's bass sound slightly less tactile than when I switched to wide bore eartips. I think that the acoustic resonance system couples better to the inner ears if you use wider bore eartips.

The Dunu DaVinci is tuned very similarly to the Tea Pro. Both have a 6 kHz dip in the upper midrange to remove harshness in female vocals and to make the upper midrange sound a bit more relaxing. I have the DaVinci and the Performer 7 and both of these IEMs are endgame IEMs for me. The DaVinci has more bass than the P7. The P7 has a slightly early rise for the simulated pinna gain. I listen to the DaVinci when I want more bass and a more relaxing upper midrange. I listen to the P7 when I want a somewhat more energetic upper midrange. I pick one or the other to listen to depending on my mood and the genres which I want to listen to. So for me, the DaVinci and the P7 are somewhat yin and yang IEMs to each other. I like being able to pick up a pair of IEMs to listen to depending mostly on my mood. I have never looked at the iemrankings website until hearing about this website from your post, so I don't know what to make of this website. I can say that the P7 and the DaVinci are on a similar level but with differences. The Tea Pro is potentially the third endgame that I want since I think that its tuning will fit between the DaVinci and the P7. Although the P7 is really good and punches above its price, I find it hard to believe that the P7 is better than the Tea Pro.

I love my Aful P5. I love my Aful P7 even more. The P7's bass is tighter and punchier (in the sense of having a cleaner initial attack). The P7 also improves everything else. The P7 is just as comfortable as the P5 since the shells are the same yet do extend slightly more upwards. Or in other words, Aful didn't mess with the shape and fit of the P5's shells other than somewhat extending the height of the shells. I never sleep with IEMs. Even so, I realize that comfort and fit would be a priority. I really like the Kefine Klean since I really like its overall sound signature and since I also really like its technical performance which exceeds many other IEMs in its price range. The Klean does have pretty thin shells. I can see the Klean as being very comfortable IEMs to listen to while falling asleep, yet this is not my thing.

The P7 is on the market.

I really liked the Hype 4. I have only had a chance to audition it during a live YouTube chat with Joyce. She auditioned all three of the Hype IEMs. The Hype 4 sounded to me like the best bang for the buck. This also was the general consensus. I also really like the white shell color which you chose to purchase since I realized that the metal flakes reflect the colors of surrounding objects. I currently have two favorite IEMs which are yin and yang pairs of IEMs. I really enjoy the Aful Performer 7 for its very nice details which require me to have an alert mind. Yet when I am tired, I prefer the Dunu DaVinci's relaxing sounding upper midrange which still has very nice details. Amazingly, I am able to enjoy the DaVinci's more intense yet still amazingly layered and textured bass even when I am tired. I really like your very simple question since your simple question can open up avenues for discussion, such as yin and yang IEMs, one of which is preferred during daytime, or another of which is preferred in the evening when being more tired.

I enjoyed seeing your photo of your collection. Which two IEMs in your collection do you like the most, and why? I am simply curious. The Aful Performer 7 currently is one of my two favorite IEMs. My other current favorite IEM is the Dunu DaVinci. I really like listening to the Performer 7 when I am wide awake such that I can really appreciate hearing the cleanly defined macro and micro details. The DaVinci also has well defined details, yet the tuning features a more relaxing upper midrange and more bass. I like listening to the DaVinci when I want to chill or when I am feeling tired. I also really like listening to my Aful Performer 5 since it sounds nice regardless of whether I am wide awake or tired. I think that the Performer 5 is nice to purchase when it is on sale for another $20 off. I have been dreaming of purchasing the Xenns Mangird Tea Pro since I am very pretty sure that the Tea Pro could very well be my all-in-one endgame IEM since I have read and watched numerous written and video reviews of the Tea Pro by reviewers who I really trust. These IEMs merely are suggestions for your consideration. You mentioned that you are in no rush to buy. It seems that the overall quality of IEMs has been exponentially improving the past few years in terms of the quality of the various types of drivers and in terms of tuning methods. It is likely that there will be at least a few new IEMs which may become available towards the end of this year and which everyone is suddenly raving about.

Even though I have nicer IEMs, the Performer 5 still does it for me.

I enjoyed seeing your photo of your collection. Which two IEMs in your collection do you like the most, and why? I am simply curious. The Aful Performer 7 currently is one of my two favorite IEMs. My other current favorite IEM is the Dunu DaVinci. I really like listening to the Performer 7 when I am wide awake such that I can really appreciate hearing the cleanly defined macro and micro details. The DaVinci also has well defined details, yet the tuning features a more relaxing upper midrange and more bass. I like listening to the DaVinci when I want to chill or when I am feeling tired. I also really like listening to my Aful Performer 5 since it sounds nice regardless of whether I am wide awake or tired. I think that the Performer 5 is nice to purchase when it is on sale for another $20 off. I have been dreaming of purchasing the Xenns Mangird Tea Pro since I am very pretty sure that the Tea Pro could very well be my all-in-one endgame IEM since I have read and watched numerous written and video reviews of the Tea Pro by reviewers who I really trust. These IEMs merely are suggestions for your consideration. You mentioned that you are in no rush to buy. It seems that the overall quality of IEMs has been exponentially improving the past few years in terms of the quality of the various types of drivers and in terms of tuning methods. It is likely that there will be at least a few new IEMs which may become available towards the end of this year and which everyone is suddenly raving about.