Aful Performer 5+2 VS Aful Performer 8

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

IEMRanking.com Home Compare IEMs

Aful Performer 5+2 and Aful Performer 8 use 2DD+4BA+1Planar and 1DD+7BA driver setups respectively. Aful Performer 5+2 costs $229 while Aful Performer 8 costs $369. Aful Performer 8 is $140 more expensive. Aful Performer 5+2 holds a clear 0.6-point edge in reviewer scores (7.7 vs 7.1). Aful Performer 5+2 has significantly better bass with a 2.2-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has significantly better mids with a 1-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has better treble with a 0.6-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has significantly better dynamics with a 2.6-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has better soundstage with a 0.6-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has better details with a 0.9-point edge and Aful Performer 5+2 has significantly better imaging with a 1.9-point edge.

Insights

Metric Aful Performer 5+2 Aful Performer 8
Bass 8 5.8
Mids 8 7
Treble 7.6 7
Details 7.6 6.8
Soundstage 7.8 7.3
Imaging 7.9 6
Dynamics 7.6 5
Tonality 7.6 6.6
Technicalities 7.5 7.1

Aful Performer 5+2 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Jays Audio
Gizaudio Axel Tim Tuned IEMRanking AI
Z-Reviews Jaytiss Super* Review

Average Reviewer Score:

7.7

Strongly Favorable


Aful Performer 8 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Nymz
Fresh Reviews Tim Tuned Gizaudio Axel Shuwa-T
Jaytiss Drew / Audionotions Jays Audio
Z-Reviews Super* Review

Average Reviewer Score:

7.1

Generally Favorable


Aful Performer 5+2 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Aful Performer 8 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Aful Performer 5+2 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

7.5

Gaming Grade

A

Aful Performer 8 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.9

Gaming Grade

B+

Aful Performer 5+2 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A
  • Well-executed tonal character. No major flaws with good technical control. Smooth presentation works with multiple genres.

Average Technical Grade

A
  • Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Bass A+
Excellent bass response - powerful yet controlled. Deep extension with authoritative slam while maintaining clarity.
Mids A+
Superb midrange that's rich and resolving. Exceptional transparency and micro-details with perfect vocal/instrument balance.
Treble A
Excellent treble: airy, extended and well-controlled. Great micro-detail retrieval without sibilance or harshness.
Dynamics A
Excellent dynamics with great contrast and speed. Transients are crisp and micro-details are clearly articulated.
Soundstage A
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
Details A
Excellent detail retrieval: highly resolving without being clinical. Effortlessly reveals micro-details and textural subtleties.
Imaging A
Excellent imaging: precise and stable placement. Instruments occupy specific points in space with tangible positions.
Gaming A
Clear spatial presentation handles directional cues effectively. Distinguishes key gameplay sounds while maintaining decent immersion.

Aful Performer 8 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B+
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

A-
  • Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Bass B-
Average bass performance - present but unremarkable. Has reasonable texture but lacks depth and physicality.
Mids A-
Excellent midrange with natural timbre and great detail retrieval. Vocals are forward and emotive with lifelike instrument reproduction.
Treble A-
Excellent treble: airy, extended and well-controlled. Great micro-detail retrieval without sibilance or harshness.
Dynamics C+
Decent dynamic performance. Good macro-contrast but micro-dynamics could be more nuanced. Satisfactory impact.
Soundstage A-
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
Details B+
Good resolution with clear articulation of nuances. Reveals recording nuances and maintains clarity in complex passages.
Imaging B
Good imaging with precise instrument placement. Clear localization within the soundstage including front/back positioning.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance. Value-to-cost may not be optimal for gaming-focused users.

Aful Performer 5+2 Reviews

Z-Reviews 8.5 * score normalized
Ad
Using this affiliate link for ordering your Aful Performer 5+2 or any other IEM helps fund our free service at no extra cost to you.

Price: $203

Buy Aful Performer 5+2 on Hifigo
Jaytiss 8.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A- Tech
My kind of neutral, improves a lot on my favorites.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: A+ Treble: A- Dynamics: A- Soundstage: A+
Super* Review 8* * score normalized
Overall it is sounding more visceral and incisive than the Performer 5.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review
Gizaudio Axel 7.5 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A- Tech
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.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
- Gizaudio Axel
Tim Tuned 7 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A+ Tech
check links for more info:

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
- Tim Tuned
Bass: A+ Mids: A+ Treble: A+
Jays Audio 6.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A Tech
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 treble. Safe but forgettable.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio

IEMRanking AI

2025-09-07
IEMRanking AI 7.7 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A Tech

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 splits without smearing. The shell also integrates a high-damping air-pressure balance system, a design AFUL has used across its line. Official listings put MSRP around $229 and outline the same core tech features.

Tonally it trends neutral with a sub-bass lift: bass has solid depth and texture, mids stay relatively linear, and the presence/treble region adds energy without veering into sharpness on most chains. Multiple reviews characterize it as warm-neutral with bass boost or slightly V-shaped depending on perspective, which matches listening notes about a lively but controlled upper end. Sensitivity and load are portable-friendly (≈109 dB, 15 Ω), so it reaches performance without demanding amplification.

Technicalities are competitive for the class: imaging is tidy with good instrument separation, micro-detail retrieval is above average, and soundstage is moderate (more width than depth). Build and comfort are typical resin-shell fare; some users note occasional lower-treble bite depending on tips and recordings, so treble-sensitive listeners may wish to pair accordingly. Overall value is strong at its price, especially if a clean, bass-supported neutral curve is the priority.

Buy Aful Performer 5+2 on Hifigo (affiliate)

- IEMRanking AI
Bass: A+ Mids: A+ Treble: A Dynamics: A+ Soundstage: A Details: A Imaging: A
Ad
Using this affiliate link for ordering your Aful Performer 5+2 or any other IEM helps fund our free service at no extra cost to you.

Price: $389.99

Buy Aful Performer 5+2 on Aliexpress

Aful Performer 8 Reviews

Z-Reviews 8 * score normalized
Ad
Using this affiliate link for ordering your Aful Performer 8 or any other IEM helps fund our free service at no extra cost to you.

Price: $369

Buy Aful Performer 8 on NiceHCK
Super* Review 8* * score normalized
Quite solid technical performance. Good imaging/separation. Good sense of positioning.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review
Jaytiss 7.8 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A- Tech
One of the most technical and best air and details iem out there for the price.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: A- Treble: A- Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: A+
Drew / Audionotions 7.5 Reviewer Score
Smooth and balanced with really great detail retrieval. Jack-of-all-trades. If you can swing $370 for this and aren't willing to go up to $530+ for something marginally better, then just buy this and don't look back. Previously Owned

Drew / Audionotions original ranking

Website (Audionotions)

- Drew / Audionotions
Jays Audio 7 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
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".

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
Fresh Reviews 6.5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score
Tim Tuned 6.5 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A+ Tech
check links for more info:

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
- Tim Tuned
Bass: A- Mids: A+ Treble: A+
Gizaudio Axel 6.5 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A- Tech
check links for more info:

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
- Gizaudio Axel
Shuwa-T 6.5 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
B+ Tech
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

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

- Shuwa-T
Bass: B- Mids: A- Treble: B Soundstage: B+ Details: A- Imaging: A-
Nymz 5.9 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
B- Tech
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.

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

- Nymz
Bass: C+ Mids: B Treble: A- Details: B+ Imaging: C+
Ad
Using this affiliate link for ordering your Aful Performer 8 or any other IEM helps fund our free service at no extra cost to you.

Price: $299

Buy Aful Performer 8 on Aliexpress

Aful Performer 5+2 User Reviews

Example User Posted on ...
0.0

"This is an example review"

Pros
  • Example pro 1
  • Example pro 2
Cons
  • Example con 1
  • Example con 2
No User-Reviews Yet

Share your experience and build your personal ranking list.

You need to be signed in to write your own review

Aful Performer 8 User Reviews

Example User Posted on ...
0.0

"This is an example review"

Pros
  • Example pro 1
  • Example pro 2
Cons
  • Example con 1
  • Example con 2
No User-Reviews Yet

Share your experience and build your personal ranking list.

You need to be signed in to write your own review
Ad
Using this affiliate link for ordering your Aful Performer 8 or any other IEM helps fund our free service at no extra cost to you.

Price: $359

Buy Aful Performer 8 on Hifigo

Find your next IEM:

IEM Finder Quiz

new
Use this quiz and answer a few questions to get your individual IEM recommendation list
(1/2) How much are you willing to spend on the IEM?
(2/2) Which sound characteristics are particularly important to you?

Footer