Aful Performer 5+2 VS Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk

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

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Aful Performer 5+2 and Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk use 2DD+4BA+1Planar and 2DD+2BA+2PLA driver setups respectively. Aful Performer 5+2 costs $229 while Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk costs $400. Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk is $171 more expensive. Both score 7.7 from reviewers. Aful Performer 5+2 has better bass with a 0.7-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has better mids with a 0.9-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has significantly better dynamics with a 2.6-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has slightly better soundstage with a 0.3-point edge, Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk has slightly better details with a 0.4-point edge and Aful Performer 5+2 has slightly better imaging with a 0.4-point edge.

Insights

Metric Aful Performer 5+2 Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk
Bass 8 7.3
Mids 8 7.1
Treble 7.6 7.8
Details 7.6 8
Soundstage 7.8 7.5
Imaging 7.9 7.5
Dynamics 7.6 5
Tonality 7.6 7.2
Technicalities 7.5 7.8

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


Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Fresh Reviews
Bad Guy Good Audio Jaytiss Tim Tuned Gizaudio Axel Shuwa-T Jays Audio
Super* Review Audionotions

Average Reviewer Score:

7.7

Strongly 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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Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk 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

Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

7.4

Gaming Grade

A-

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.

Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk 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

A
  • Good technical performance. Clear separation and decent detail retrieval across various tracks. Soundstage shows reasonable width and depth.
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 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 A+
Exceptional resolution that uncovers the deepest layers. Retrieves even the most minute details while maintaining natural timbre.
Imaging A
Excellent imaging: precise and stable placement. Instruments occupy specific points in space with tangible positions.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Value-to-cost may not be optimal for gaming-focused users.

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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Price: $389.99

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Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk Reviews

Super* Review 8.5* * score normalized
Overall high engagement factor.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review
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Price: $399

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Audionotions 8 Reviewer Score
I came close to writing this off because it relies on DSP to achieve the target tuning. Thankfully my curiosity got the best of me. Putting aside any issues pertaining to the DSP cable, this is a fantastic IEM in either DSP or analog set up. This IEM checks off so many boxes and I'm hardpressed to think of another IEM that does timbre, techs, and engagement as well as Dusk. I do prefer the Default DSP tuning slightly in most cases but even in analog set up, it's still very capable and sometimes I would take this tuning over DSP. In Analog, bass has a very satisfying, tactile/physical character, with good subbass extension and rumble. Mids are clean very crisp sounding, and treble is well extended with a lot of air. There is a slight thinness/metallic character in analog mode but it's not unpleasant and isn't really noticeable except on A/B. Switching to DSP retains the phsyical character while adds a very nice richness and weight to instruments and vocals, balances out the treble a bit, and eschews that smidge of unnatural/metallic sheen, becoming, quite frankly, one of the more natural sounding IEMs I've heard. In either configuration, techs are fantastic. Imaging and instrument separation are phenomenal. Dynamics are excellent. Transients are very well defined and there is an incisiveness to the sound that is super engaging. Details are very good for the price. This is the IEM to beat in 2024 and of the recent wave of fantastic releases. Leans a bit to the clinical side. I'd rank this higher if it didn't rely on DSP. Previously Owned

Audionotions original ranking

Website (Audionotions)

- Audionotions
Bad Guy Good Audio 7.9 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A+ Tech
check links for more info:

Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking

Bad Guy Good Audio Youtube Channel
- Bad Guy Good Audio
Bass: A- Mids: A- Treble: A+
Jaytiss 7.8 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A+ Tech
Just a tad on the bland side.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: B Treble: A+ Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: A+
Tim Tuned 7.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Pros: Balanced tuning with world class timbre decay.

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
- Tim Tuned
Bass: A+ Mids: S Treble: A+
Gizaudio Axel 7.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A Tech
Excellent tuning and a highly detailed, all-around performer. Great bass quality, rich vocals, balanced tonality, sparkly treble, and excellent resolution. I prefer more bass.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
- Gizaudio Axel
Shuwa-T 7.2 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A Tech
The most neutral of the triple threat, caters to the safest of tunings

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

- Shuwa-T
Bass: A- Mids: B+ Treble: A- Soundstage: A- Details: A+ Imaging: A
Jays Audio 7 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Inoffensive safe tuning, less fatiguing uppermids good for jpop/kpop. Vocals lack the last bit of extension, detail, and power. DSP APP is a shit show. Heavy competition from Nova, Cincotres, Hype 4.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
Fresh Reviews 5.5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score

Aful Performer 5+2 User Reviews

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