Aful Performer 5+2 VS I/O Volare

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

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Aful Performer 5+2 and I/O Volare use 2DD+4BA+1Planar and 1DD+4BA+4EST driver setups respectively. Aful Performer 5+2 costs $229 while I/O Volare costs $600. I/O Volare is $371 more expensive. Aful Performer 5+2 holds a clear 0.7-point edge in reviewer scores (7.7 vs 7). Aful Performer 5+2 has better bass with a 0.5-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has significantly better mids with a 1-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has significantly better treble with a 1.4-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 and I/O Volare has slightly better details with a 0.4-point edge.

Insights

Metric Aful Performer 5+2 I/O Volare
Bass 8 7.5
Mids 8 7
Treble 7.6 6.3
Details 7.6 8
Soundstage 7.8 7.3
Imaging 7.9 8
Dynamics 7.6 5
Tonality 7.6 7.2
Technicalities 7.5 6.9

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


I/O Volare Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Fresh Reviews
Jaytiss Super* Review
Shuwa-T Jays Audio

Average Reviewer Score:

7

Cautiously Favorable


Aful Performer 5+2 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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I/O Volare User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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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

I/O Volare Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

6

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.

I/O Volare Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A-
  • Pleasing tonal balance with good technical control. Minor quirks present but not distracting. Demonstrates decent genre versatility.

Average Technical Grade

B+
  • Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
Bass A
Strong, well-defined bass with good texture. Delivers satisfying punch and rumble without overwhelming other frequencies.
Mids A-
Excellent midrange with natural timbre and great detail retrieval. Vocals are forward and emotive with lifelike instrument reproduction.
Treble B
Good treble response - clear and detailed without fatigue. Well-extended with proper air and sparkle.
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 A+
Exceptional resolution that uncovers the deepest layers. Retrieves even the most minute details while maintaining natural timbre.
Imaging A+
Exceptional imaging with holographic precision. Creates a palpable sense of physical placement with perfect positional stability.
Gaming B
Decent spatial awareness for fundamental positioning. Creates satisfying atmosphere in story-driven games while handling basic directional cues. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Aful Performer 5+2 Reviews

Z-Reviews 8.5 * score normalized
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Price: $203

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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
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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

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I/O Volare Reviews

Shuwa-T 7.6 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A Tech
Balanced subbass-focused tuning that borders the fine line between technical and boring, well extended treble that remains free of sibilance The lower midrange does not sound the most natural despite how funny squiggly lines look

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

- Shuwa-T
Bass: A Mids: A- Treble: A Soundstage: A Details: A+ Imaging: A+
Jays Audio 7.5 Reviewer Score
S- Tuning
A+ Tech
Best Harman IEM under $600 (my unit is less harman), smooth and natural, great layering and tech, bass texture could be better/not as good as Oracle MK3, but overall very balanced and great all-rounder, also, amazing unboxing and accessories

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
Jaytiss 6.8 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
C+ Tech
Nice overall quality.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: A- Treble: C+ Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: A-
Super* Review 6* * score normalized
If you are looking for the most bang for your buck in terms of the costs of materials - this is it. But not the most interesting sound.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review
Fresh Reviews 5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score

Aful Performer 5+2 User Reviews

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I/O Volare User Reviews

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