Best AFUL IEMs

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$1,299

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AFUL Dawn-X

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AFUL Dawn-X

Jays Audio: Smooth treble, natural timbre, good sub-bass focused set, but transients can be a bit soft, and vocals are pulled back lacking final extension - non-fatiguing but not very engaging and "dynamic". A...
Gizaudio Axel: Balanced all-rounder with fun bass, lifelike mids, very smooth and refined treble, highly resolving and immersive, with great soundstage and precise imaging. Textured, punchy bass, natural mids, ethereal female vocals, smooth, airy, and non-fatiguing treble, top-tier resolution.
Jaytiss: This has a really natural midrange, best BC iem I've heard by far.
Super* Review: Super Review says AFUL’s Dawn-X is the brand’s best execution of its house sound yet—a $1,300 flagship tribrid with 14 drivers (DD + 8 BA + 4 EST + bone conduction) that fits comfortably and...
Web Search: The AFUL Dawn-X is a 14-driver quadbrid IEM—1DD+8BA+4EST+1BC—wired together via a six-way electronic + physical crossover and AFUL’s 3D Micro-Resonance acoustic paths; the stabilized-wood...
Z-Reviews: AFUL Dawn-X goes straight for spectacle: a $1,300 tribrid behemoth with 14 drivers per side —one dynamic, eight BAs, four electrostats , and a bone conductor —that turns familiar tracks...
Audionotions: Slightly warm tilted neutral. Very well balanced with a tasteful bass boost. Bass is surprisingly very weighty and textured with quick decay so bass notes don't linger and overstay their welcome....
Head-Fi.org: 2 community members have rated the AFUL DAWN-X at an average of 5.0/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Masterpiece.
Kois Archive: Rating: S+ | Value: ⭐⭐ | Gaming: 🎮🎮🎮 | Comfort: 6 natural midrange. ethereal treble. totl techs. rip small ears

Tuning: S- Tech: S Bass: S- Mids: S- Treble: S- Dynamics: A Soundstage: S- Details: S- Imaging: A+

U-Shaped 1DD+8BA+4EST+1BC

8.7

8.1

A

Aful Cantor

Jays Audio: LOW VOLUME SET. Clean, airy, and highly resolving at its price with endgame separation and detail. Low-end is quick, but lacks impact and a bit of texture. Notes are on the lighter side, not very...
Gizaudio Axel: One of the most resolving IEMs. It reveals details you’ve never noticed before. Exceptional detail, neutral tuning, and great bass quality. Very revealing. Could use more bass for my taste.
Jaytiss: Maybe best detailed set, fit is extremely difficult.
Super* Review: It's super impressive but also really difficult to edge on comfort. It's not my favorite sound but good sounding. Competing well at it's price point
Shuwa-T: Comment: A massive improvement over the prototype at canjam, a killer set for techs under US$1000, nothing else really comes close. Finally a true u12t competitor with better fit, cable, and... Crystal clear across all frequencies, extremely revealing set that slices apart the layers in the music; treble so nuanced yet pleasant that you cannot believe an all BA set is doing this Less midbass presence, overall tonality can come across as a little too lean especially with treble focus
Z-Reviews: This is AFUL’s flagship science project: the Cantor packs 14 BAs per side (28 total) and a heap of buzzword tech— Dual-Channel Acoustic Maze for sub-bass, non-destructive direct-drive...
Audionotions: Very well balanced with very good details and separation. Bass is punchy and fast, mids are clean with excellent instrument separation, treble is well extended and airy. Nothing stands out as...
Head-Fi.org: 15 community members have rated the AFUL Cantor at an average of 4.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.
Audio Amigo: Achieves levels of soundstaging and detail resolution that compete with $2000 IEMs, truly top of the line acousitc performance. IF AND ONLY IF, you can achieve a deep enough fit in your ears. Metal...
Kois Archive: Rating: S | Value: ⭐ | Gaming: 🎮🎮🎮 | Comfort: 8 insane technicality, totl treble bit bright. bass could be more dynamic

Tuning: A+ Tech: S Bass: A+ Mids: A- Treble: S- Dynamics: B Soundstage: A+ Details: S Imaging: S-

Vocal-focused 14BA

7.7

8.3

8.5

A

Aful Performer 5+2

Jays Audio: Clean, balanced, neutral sound with good layering and tech. Relaxing vocals, but lacks power and last bit of vocal extension. Bass has good controll, but lacks impact. Has sizzly planar timbre in the...
Gizaudio Axel: A detailed, engaging all-rounder that's exciting without being shouty or harsh. Smooth, neutral tuning with a bass boost, excellent bass quality, clean mids, forward vocals, and sparkly, incisive treble. Great detail. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Jaytiss: It's spicy treble is something to watch out for, it's unique.
Super* Review: Overall it is sounding more visceral and incisive than the Performer 5.
Web Search: The AFUL Performer 5+2 (also listed as “Performer 7”) uses a 2DD+4BA+1 micro planar driver array and AFUL’s LC-network crossover plus a 3D-printed acoustic tube system, aiming for clean band...
Z-Reviews: Naming drama aside (P5+2? just call it Performer 7 ), this Aful packs a quirky driver party: 2DD for low end, 4 BA split across mids/treble, plus a tiny micro-planar for the highest sparkle,...
Audionotions: Slightly warm leaning balanced signature - Very engaging, decent clarity. Slight metallic/digital sheen but it's not too bad.
Audio Amigo: Evolution of the Performer 5 tuning. Smoother, airier treble, deeper, punchier bass. Fantastic All-rounder with incredible resolution for the price. 2-Pin connectors have some quality issues
Kois Archive: Rating: A+ | Value: ⭐⭐⭐ | Gaming: 🎮🎮 | Comfort: 9 very nice neutral sound recessed female vocals

Tuning: A Tech: A Bass: A+ Mids: A+ Treble: A Dynamics: A Soundstage: A Details: A Imaging: A

Neutral with Bass Boost 2DD+4BA+1Planar

Aful Performer 5+2 review by Gizaudio Axel

Aful Performer 5+2 review by Super* Review

Aful Performer 5+2 review by Audionotions

Aful Performer 5+2 review by Audio Amigo

Aful Performer 5+2 review by Kois Archive

7.7

A-

Aful Explorer

Jays Audio: High volume set, very immersive, scales great with no sharpness, wide staging, enough detail/extension, good bass, just crank it up and enjoy the music.
Gizaudio Axel: Perfect for rock and metal. Smooth, relaxing tuning, great bass with good slam, rich mid-range, safe treble. Upper mids may be too relaxed for some, treble is a bit dark.
Jaytiss: The mids still upset me, but it sounds magical.
Super* Review: Relaxed upper mid-range. Vocals sound a little bit more forward than instruments. Smooth treble performance.
Z-Reviews: Aful Explorer hits way, way above its bracket. Tuning snaps into focus with impact , cohesion , and smoothness that feel “stupid good” for $120 —the kind of price that triggers a...
Audionotions: Relaxed and fun. Easy to listen to. A bit darker than my preferrd signature but I enjoyed this quite a bit.
Head-Fi.org: 28 community members have rated the AFUL Explorer at an average of 4.3/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.
Audio Amigo: An amazing hybrid. Trades blows with the S08. Gorgeous Shells
Kois Archive: Rating: A- | Value: ⭐⭐ | Gaming: 🎮 | Comfort: 8 wide and unique warm tuning relaxed vocals and treble

Tuning: A- Tech: B+ Bass: B+ Mids: B Treble: B+ Dynamics: A- Soundstage: B Details: B+ Imaging: B+

Neutral with Bass Boost 1DD+2BA

7.3

6.9

A-

Aful Performer 8

Jays Audio: Good neutral set. Airy and open staging but with forward vocals although lacking in extension. Great layering and details but not 3D and more flat. Vocals could also be more open, and feels "stuck".
Jaytiss: One of the most technical and best air and details iem out there for the price.
Super* Review: Quite solid technical performance. Good imaging/separation. Good sense of positioning.
Fresh Reviews: The Aful Performer 8 stands out for coherency , a clean , open presentation, and excellent tonality / timbre that suit competitive play. Bass is fast , well-textured, and deliberately...
Shuwa-T: Comment: Slight retuning could bump this up. Technicalities are solid, better staging and imaging compared to P5 The tuning has slight honkiness in the midrange
Nymz: Great tonal balance with technicalities to back it up. Probably the best treble balance you find up to its price point. Mid-bass won't be for everyone.
Z-Reviews: Aful Performer 8 takes the brainy crossover wizardry that made the P5 clean and pushes it harder. Inside sits 1DD + 7BA , a real RLC crossover on a circuit board, and a maze of 3D-printed...
Audionotions: Smooth and balanced with really great detail retrieval. Slightly warm which makes vocals sound rich and instruments sound full. Jack-of-all-trades. If you can swing $370 for this and aren't willing...
Head-Fi.org: 11 community members have rated the AFUL Performer 8 at an average of 4.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

Tuning: B+ Tech: A- Bass: B- Mids: A- Treble: A- Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: A- Details: B+ Imaging: B

Neutral 1DD+7BA

Aful Performer 8 review by Gizaudio Axel

Aful Performer 8 review by Super* Review

Aful Performer 8 review by Fresh Reviews

7.1

6.9

B+

AFUL MagicOne

Jays Audio: Balanced and neutral with slight warmth in the mid-bass. Male vocals are great on these, weighted but still has edge and sharpness to the end notes, but can get sharp at higher volumes. Male vocals...
Jaytiss: The resolution and clarity at this price is so lovely.
Super* Review: Sounds quite good but not exceptional. Not a lot of depth. Nothing is sharp or aggressive. Take it for what it is
Smirk Audio: Pleasant female vocals and decent bass. Male vocals are forward and treble has some grain.
Head-Fi.org: 34 community members have rated the AFUL MagicOne at an average of 4.3/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.
Audio Amigo: A prettier, more premium Hexa. Engineering tour-de-force. Try and get it for $100 or less
Kois Archive: Rating: A- | Value: ⭐⭐ | Comfort: 8 good tonality and treble slight pressure build up

Tuning: B+ Tech: B+ Bass: B+ Mids: A- Treble: B Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: A- Details: A- Imaging: B

Neutral with Bass Boost 1BA

6.6

6.5

B

Aful Performer 5

Jays Audio: Fun slight v-shape tuning with forward vocals with slight excitement in the treble. Separation takes a hit as a result, and treble is a bit uneven.
Jaytiss: Still a king.
Precogvision: Inoffensive other than being a bit too gritty and clacky in the treble.
Tim Tuned: Balanced tuning with fantastic treble extension imaging could be better
Fresh Reviews: Can sometimes reach B
Shuwa-T: Comment: Neutral-warm with zero cut-backs on technical performance. Price defining.. Tonal balance, technical performance at price bracket Subbass slightly sluggish on crowded tracks, more laid back in vocal presentation. Staging is questionable.
Nymz: Great tonal balance and resolving power at the cost of intimate stage. Missing the last touch of refinement on timbre and coherency, but a solid rec nonetheless.