AFUL - Performer 8 (P8)

At $350 cad my setup would be Aful P5's and a cable with built-in mic. I haven't tried anything from Ziigat. They release a new IEM every 4 days and every time I compare models a new one comes out and I can't keep up lol. Cod Is the only game I play and I use my Aful P8's for it, and it's the only thing I use my Aful's for. If you're looking for iems for footsteps and clarity between sounds on a map, depth, then I think Aful crushes it there with the P series. The Explorers are trash for fps though, they give me a panic attack because I can't tell where anyone is. Maybe something else if you're looking for immersion though. Iems in that price range are going to come with replaceable cables and that's where the mic will be. That's where the mic will be on cheap iems with non removable cables too. If you want the Aretes or any similar IEM you're going to have to get a cable with a mic built-in or a separate mic entirely. Most IEMs with multiple balanced armature drivers are going to do a good job with call of duty though.

I felt this about Studio 4. It is sparkly and present but not harsh, which I feel is the case with Aful P8.

I can't comment on the others you mention, but I have the Hexa and the Performer 8 and I think the P8 fits the bill per your outline. Slightly better bass (but not excessive at all) and not shouty, either. Decent details.

Bonus is they are about as comfortable a fit as you can find. Good luck with your decision.

Aful performer 8 with the Qudelix 5k

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

I loved my aful P8 but if there’s something to critique it’s the nozzle. Some people love their nozzles I don’t since I can fit bigger ones and prefer them to have a lip.

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).

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 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.

P8 for sure

If money is not an issue tea pro. But on a limited budget you can’t go wrong with s12 pro 2024. Infact, when I went to an audiophile meet-up. I tried around 30-40 iems. Ranging from couple hundreds to thousands of dollars iems. Out of all these if I remember how the s12 2024 sounded then it must be good. Other most notable iems that day were hexa, mystic8, u12T, performer8 there was one from campfire but I don’t remember it clearly. Some iems that didn’t live upto my expectations were supermix4, davinci, butterfly 61T may be i was expecting too much. I liked the performer 5 but it was a bit underwhelming after I listened to perfomer 8. I hope this gives you perspective on how subjective this hobby is

Umm, honestly this is going to be very difficult. I mean I don't own the P8. I had tried it in a meetup. But I loved it really. If not for the sturdy build quality of Tea Pro (or price). I don't think any reason not to buy the P8.

Aful P8 is a solid choice for metal 👌 I'm sure people will provide additional options in better price ranges.

Hifi Passion (NT Global Distribution GmbH) is my go-to, though you already talked about it. Recently I had my Aful Performer 8 lose most of its bass output in the right-side unit, so I sent them back and Hifi Passion replaced them without a hassle.

OK. I like V shapes closer to the extreme side like ZiiGaat Estrella for metal and balanced/neutral for rock like Aful Performer 8. New meta all rounders like Kiwi Ears Astral and Xenns Tea Pro are also good but I prefer more contrast and energy for metal. If you don't have any idea if you are sensitive to treble or how much bass you want, Astral and Tea Pro would be safe choices. Also check out some ThieAudio Hype 4 reviews.

I see people recommending the performer 8 and I’m trying to sell my performer 8 so if you want one, hit me up I’m selling it for 250

I personally find the Performer 8 to be ass. No bass, shrill treble.

But im a degenerate and I support upgrades. GO AFUL PERFORMER 8 BOI!!!!!! It feels like a direct upgrade to the Hexa. EM6L is smooth sounder but QC's a bitch so get them from reputable resellers

Yeah the p8 is pretty bass lite, but it has very good quality bass. That set has some really good detail too.

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.

Aful P8 was pretty amazing. OG Mangird Tea was also ahead of its time. I still use my Tea from time to time.

The Performer 8 has incredible bass quality but low quantity

The Studio 4 is the most "shouty" of the bunch and it's BA bass is rather lean in the mid bass (albeit still good for BA bass). My vote would be on the Pilgrim since it is (to me) the most detailed but it's hard to go wrong with your other choices too. If comfort is a factor though the P8 and Dusk are better.

I own all said iems the sm4 is good for the price. I want to try the new odyssey. P8 is solid and detailed for its price but I'm not sure everyone would appreciate it.

The sm4 is pretty forward, but because it is pretty harmon its has quite a bit of bass as well. The p8 is more neutral so the vocals are not as forward and the bass is not as prominent, it may seem bright for some but thats what makes it so detailed. The p8 mids are more in the mix because it is neutral. It just depends on preference really. I honestly think the sm4 for the price especially if it's on sale is one of the best value iems. I like it a little more than the Nova, even the Chopin... But I am kinda a Harman guy even if I don't like to admit it sometimes. Other iems I really like that I own are the Top, Hype 4, Thieaudio Origin, Em 10, Deuce, DaVinci. The new Kefine Klean is also really good for the price I've listened to it for past 2 weeks and it holds its own against said iems. The ew300 is also pretty good. Anyway hope that helps.

If your not big on alot of bass and just want good bass and good separation the p8 is a very good choice. The vocals are good and bass also good just not alot of it. I remember when I got my p8 I was surprised by how much bass it had, I thought by looking at the graph it would have less.

There aren't that many once you've ruled out Etymotic. Honestly at that 'lower than Studio 4' price range you might as well go for the Studio 4. Aful Performer 5+2 / 8: Relaxed pinna gain at 2-4kHz means reduced vocal bite; speech and 'breathiness' is sacrificed slightly for a more relaxed, pleasant presentation. Not neutral. Anecdotally, I've heard the Performer 8, the soundstage is wide but centre image is weak. Moondrop Dusk: crinacle's house sound = big bass shelf. No go for neutrality. Moondrop Blessing 3: Upper-mids/lower treble emphasized (4-6kHz) beyond neutral. Supermix 4: Harman, i.e not neutral (bass and upper-mids emphasized) Thieaudio: U-shaped is their house sound from the Hype 2 all the way to the Valhalla. Extra bass and spicy treble. Not neutral. I would add that the Hexas aren't neutral either, they have too much bass for it, it's simply masked by the fact that its bass is sloped, not a shelf. All the 'Meta' IEMs out so far also fail in the neutral bass department by having too much of it. This includes the KE4, Volume S, Mega5EST and even CrinEar's 'Reference', if his chart is to go by. Graphs are worth looking at for reference. So you only really have the Studio 4 left. That, or an IER-M7 if you could get it for cheap.