Aful Performer 5+2 VS Linsoul x HBB Jupiter

Aful Performer 5+2 lands as a hybrid of the beloved Performer 5 and the punchier Explorer. The unboxing is the familiar P5 affair—same case, same style of tips—nothing flashy, but solid. The shell mirrors the P5 in size with a comfy little stabilizing wing that locks in well. No metal nozzle or front filter here, yet tip retention is secure and hassle-free. The flat 2-pin socket is straightforward, and the stock cable feels thick and supple with a reliable chin slider and handy red/blue channel markers. Overall: understated build, great ergonomics, daily-driver ready.

Sonically, this one aims neutral with a very distinct top end—clean, dynamic, incisive. Think switching from black-and-white to color; cymbals and overtones pop with a slightly crunchy/pristine edge that energizes detail without turning harsh on good recordings. Bass isn’t about sheer quantity; it’s about slam and dynamics—quick on the draw, well-controlled, and satisfying when called upon. Vocals sit a notch forward, microdetail is strong, and the overall presentation is coherent, clear, and technical with convincing stage, resolution, and imaging. Not a treble-shy or bass-bombed tuning—more a refined all-rounder for those who want clarity and bite.

Versus the original P5, the 5+2 fixes the missing “air” and soft edges, trading them for crisper transients and better extension. Compared with Explorer (a value champ), the 5+2 brings superior upper-treble reach, detail, and vocal focus. Against Performer 8 and Cantor, it feels more visceral—the P8 is smoother and more relaxed, while Cantor pulls finer microdetail but with less bass slam. Sets like Dino Quattro or J’s Estrella bring bigger fun or treble theatrics, yet the 5+2’s balance and everyday versatility win more often. Net take: a neutral-leaning, highly technical upgrade that stands tall in its bracket—easy to recommend to anyone chasing clarity, speed, and controlled impact over pure warmth or excess bass.

Jaytiss original ranking

Premium build with a large, Monarch-like shell that sits extremely comfortably, accented by subtle blue flecks and a secure nozzle lip. The bundled 4.4mm cable feels upscale, while the case and tips are serviceable. There’s noted pricing controversy—an initial teaser around $1,000 for a handful of units before settling near $1,600—but the product itself presents as a polished, high-value package.

Sonically, this is a strong, impactful bass tuning with rich warmth that never smothers the mids. Female vocals pop, instrumentals sound lifelike, and earlier worries about a dark treble prove overstated; the tonal balance feels right and cohesive. Sub-bass digs deep, mid-bass hits with authority, and the overall presentation is sweet, engaging, and musical—the sort of set that invites long sessions without fatigue. It comes across as a top-tier collaboration with a crowd-pleasing signature for bass lovers who still care about clarity and timbre.

In comparisons, Dunu’s Mirai reads brighter and leaner with issues like hiss and channel imbalance on the sample heard, scoring around “three stars,” while Jupiter earns a decisive “five-star” nod. Against heavy hitters like Elysian Annihilator and Grand Maestro, those sets feel more resolute, but Jupiter is more fun, with a richer, sweeter tonality. Versus Fatfreq Scarlet Mini, Jupiter offers just-right bass (rolling off warmth around ~200 Hz) rather than excess. The conclusion is emphatic: a 9.04/10, described as a “love letter” to bassheads and one of the finest pure basshead tunings heard—highly recommended, especially if a second-hand deal brings the price closer to earth.

Jaytiss original ranking

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, all marshaled by Aful’s neat miniature crossover. The shells are lightweight, comfy and prettier than they need to be; the cable feels “don’t bother swapping” nice, with 3.5 or 4.4 options. The box is loaded with silicone tips but no foam—a miss, because the right seal changes everything. Price target sits around $250, which sets expectations high but not ridiculous.

Stock silicone yields a surgical, respectful tuning with bass that skews neutral and controlled. Swap to well-sealing foam or hybrids and feed a juicy source (warm Class A or tubes) and the set wakes up—stage snaps into a cohesive scene right in front, imaging gets laser-etched, and that micro-planar adds a pinch-of-salt treble spice without turning harsh. It’s an up-close presentation—sometimes almost claustrophobically detailed—in the best way: think “men with trumpets in the head,” precise placement, and excellent extension up top. Not as rowdy as the Explorers; more like a surgeon in a Hawaiian shirt—technical, but with a wink.

Practical upside: the clarity and positioning make this great for gaming and even viable for mixing/mastering checks; just don’t crank it into pain territory. Bass stays tight and responsive, treble sails high, and coherence holds. Tip and source matter a lot: with foam + warm power, it sings; with plain silicone, it’s merely polite. Final tally: a confident 8.5/10—doing a lot right at its price, dinged half a point for making everyone do math on the name.

Z-Reviews original ranking

Aful’s Performer 5+2 upgrades the original hybrid with 2DD + 4BA + 1 micro-planar tweeter and lands around $240–$250. The unboxing is practical: three sets of silicone tips, a pocketable puck case, and a soft, nicely draping cable (available in 4.4 or 3.5), though the braid can look a bit loose and the pre-formed hooks run large. The resin shells shift between blue and green under different light; fit is medium-large, very stable, and comfortable once the right tips are found. Note the narrow nozzle without a retaining lip and partially exposed bores/filters—tip grip is key and a little care prevents ear-gunk ingress.

Tonally this leans mild V-shaped: a clean midrange with a confident bass boost, a touch of lower-treble presence for bite, and well-extended air up top. The result is more incisive and punchy than the original P5, with clearer on/off transients that aid separation and layering. Trade-offs show as a hint of gritty/plasticky treble texture on cymbals and brushes—not harsh, but less natural than ideal—while the bass stays tight and exciting.

Against Aful’s Explorer, this sounds brighter, more spacious, and more technical; Explorer plays warmer/denser with smoother treble but less openness. Versus the pricier Thieaudio Oracle MK3, tuning is broadly similar: Oracle is smoother and deeper with a softer attack, while the Performer 5+2 brings more snap and engagement for less money. As a modern mid-tier hybrid, it absolutely still has a place—energetic, spacious, and well-executed—earning a solid four stars.

Super* Review original ranking

Performer 7 lands with a neutral-balanced, laid-back tuning and good treble reach. The presentation is clean and generally safe, though there’s a touch of sizzly “planar-ish” timbre up top. Technicals are solid for ~$200—slightly behind sets like Quintet and Super Mix 4, about on par with Nova. Bass from the dual 6 mm DDs is tight, controlled, and free of bleed, but lacks the slam and rumble of competitors using larger drivers; mids are well separated with decent layering.

The weak spot is vocal extension: a push around 1.5 kHz tries to bring them forward, but a dip through 3–6 kHz keeps them from opening up. Tamer upper-mids help avoid fatigue for rock/metal, yet the modest low-end impact leaves drums and basslines feeling uneventful. It’s a mid-volume set that doesn’t scale well—turning it up accentuates the 1.5 kHz emphasis and treble sizzle. Treble isn’t peaky, just a bit glassy at times; for K-pop the smoother mids can work if less extended vocals are acceptable.

As a value play, there are stronger options: Nova, Chopan, and Super Mix 4 offer better bang-for-buck; for a similar clean/neutral target, Tanchjim Origin sounds more natural with better bass texture and vocal reach, and DynaQuattro adds sub-bass and fuller vocals—none with the planar-ish timbre. Even AFUL’s own P5 is cheaper and more fun, while the Explorer undercuts the price and scales impressively. In today’s crowded market, P7 is a competent all-rounder but not distinctive enough to stand out.

Jays Audio original ranking

Linsoul x HBB Jupiter aims straight for flagship territory: a warm-tilted, slam-capable set that keeps the mid-bass → mids transition impeccably tidy. There’s real shove at 55 Hz and healthy weight around 100 Hz, but from ~200–300 Hz the response dips with intent, avoiding bleed and preserving vocal clarity. The result is a low end that thunders on hip-hop and classic rock kick drums while keeping male vocals husky but clean and female vocals free of mud. Upper mids and treble track more like Helios SE, Subtonic Storm, “the Bird,” Letshuoer Cadenza, and “Dawn” than like shoutier sets; energy near 5 kHz is moderated, and sparkle up around 12 kHz stays present without spike.

Hardware backs the tuning: an 11-driver array with 4 EST, a dynamic for the heavy lifting, and BAs smoothing the handoff into the mids. That division of labor helps with resolution and separation—handling tricky passages (distorted guitars, busy bass+kick overlaps) with composure and less masking than many DD-centric rivals. The overall presentation reads as warm, punchy, and refined: more bass authority than the comparison set list, mids that sit centered rather than in-your-face, and treble detail that reveals micro-stuff without tipping into fatigue.

Build and accessories match the premium pitch, including the beloved (and pricey) Linsoul Loops cable that visually suits the green/gold shells. Pricing is high, yet the claim is that it outperforms peers that cost similar or more by marrying sub-bass power to disciplined midrange and tasteful air. For listeners whose libraries span hip-hop, rock, R&B, and even classical, Jupiter reads as a statement piece: big-boy bass, clean mid articulation, and high-tier treble finesse—tuned to deliver musical weight without sacrificing balance.

Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking