Aful Performer 5+2 VS Tanchjim Origin

Youtube Video Summary

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.

Youtube Video Summary

Tanchjim Origin shows up with grown-up design, a slick logo, and a surprisingly nice stock cable—though it’s only 3.5 mm. Under the hood: a single dynamic driver and interchangeable nozzles. The “Dynamic” nozzle thickens the bass into a chewy, fun thump; the “Light” nozzle unlocks the magic—shockingly clean, near-neutral tuning with a tight low end. Tip rolling pays off (foam-filled silicone adds a touch of seal and snap), and the shells feel like proper adult jewelry. The carry case is comically huge, and the 2-pin posts are long, but build is otherwise dialed.

Sonically, Origin hits that “how is this this clean?” tier: vocals are dead-on, the treble stays smooth without bite, and the low end sits ~a hair north of flat for just the right weight. Staging isn’t stadium-wide—image arcs just behind the eyes—but layering, punch, and overall polish scream high-end without needing a mega amp. Swap to the Light nozzle, get a good seal, and it’s a full send: one of the best-sounding single-DD sets in this bracket, the kind that could still be recommended even at a higher tag. Call it a 9/10—dock a point for the non-modular cable and oversized case—but the tuning and refinement are spectacular for the price.

Youtube Video Summary

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.

Youtube Video Summary

Tanchjim Origin gets the “Legendary” treatment for good reason: it’s a clarity-first single-DD that puts finesse over flash. The full-metal shells feel premium but can be slippery and a bit tricky to seat; expect some tip-rolling. Build notes include a semi-recessed 2-pin, a well-cut nozzle, and finish wear that can show with time—ergonomics are fine, just not as contoured as newer designs.

Tuning skews neutral and mid-focused: bass is clean with a light, non-exaggerated thump and controlled mid-bass, so no boom. The midrange is the star, while the treble brings smooth extension and a surprisingly refined sparkle. Technicals impress—pristine resolution, tidy separation, and standout imaging—but there’s no “thunder” down low; some listeners may notice a touch of brightness in the mid-treble. Swappable filters exist, yet their effect is subtle.

Reception has been bullish: Zeos called it obsessively neutral and nearly perfect; Timmy praised it as one of the year’s best with lovely, smooth treble; Super* Review rates it among the better sets under ~$260 while preferring the Chopin. In today’s field—with value picks like Tanchjim Bunny (to sample the signature cheaply) and modern darlings like Softears Volume S—Origin still stands as a refined, resolving choice under $300. Verdict: an A+ recommendation for listeners chasing cleanliness, mids, and imaging; bassheads should look elsewhere.

Youtube Video Summary

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.

Youtube Video Summary

Tanchjim Origin targets a balanced and clean tuning with a sprinkle of mid-bass. Dynamics come across smooth like the EA500LM but a touch cleaner; low-end is punchy, textured, and well separated, just not as tactile in attack as EA1000. The spotlight is vocals: female voices sound sweet, open, and extended without thinness or shout, though there’s less chest depth and a desire for a bit more sparkle. Stage feels tidy rather than expansive—EA1000 projects a more open headspace—so the Origin reads as “very correct,” not showy.

Treble is smooth, clean, and well-extended with no harshness; not Helios-level airy, but enough. Resolution sits close to EA500LM, while EA1000 delivers sharper transients and a slightly more resolving edge. Character map: Origin = balanced/clean, EA1000 = slightly bright/sparkly, EA500LM = warmest/bassiest. All three are mid-volume listens stock. With mods, EA1000 proves the most flexible and gains that engaging “special sauce” with more tactile bass and vocal energy; Origin is easier to dull or darken; LM can tip into too much bass with added damping.

In today’s market the Origin sits in a tough spot: EA1000 beats it on price, engagement, and mod scaling, while EA500LM undercuts it with better bass texture and value. With contenders like Nova, Chopin, Quintet, and Hype 2 swirling around, Origin makes the most sense if a balanced, smooth single-DD is wanted without a mid-bass scoop. The extra nozzles don’t meaningfully change things, and a price near $150 would feel far more justified. Otherwise, waiting for the next wave may be the smarter play.

Youtube Video Summary

The AFUL Performer 5+2 (Performer 7 / P7) takes the P5 recipe and adds a second 6 mm dynamic for the lows and a micro-planar for the highs, nudging MSRP to $240. Unboxing mirrors the P5: nine pairs of tips and a decent case, but the accessories feel bare-bones at this price—no foam tips and a non-modular cable, even though the included 8-wire is supple and well-behaved. Build is classic AFUL: 3D-printed resin, blended nozzle (no mesh or lip—watch tip retention), single rear vent, and striking blue-green mosaic shells inspired by Suzhou gardens—cool-wall approved with four compliments to one “meh.” Fit is semi-custom and a touch chunkier than P5; comfortable for most, a conditional pass for small ears. Note a sporadic batch quirk: some units have over-tight 2-pin sockets; exchanges fixed it for affected buyers.

Tuning sits in warm-leaning neutral territory. The dual dynamics deliver punchy, textured bass that rumbles without bloating; guitars and drums carry convincing weight. Mids are the star—rich, full-bodied, vocal-forward without shout, with clean separation and natural tone. Treble from the micro-planar is smooth yet energetic: cymbals and vocal harmonics sparkle, special effects have bite and body, and only treble-sensitives may find hot mixes a bit lively. Technicalities impress for the money—detail retrieval and nuance feel a class up—while stage and imaging are solid rather than showy.

Against peers: the Tangzu x HBB budget pick mirrors the overall tonality but P7 offers higher resolution and more treble finesse; the planar “Heyday” alternative is brighter/faster with leaner bass; versus Performer 5, P7 brings tighter low-end, smoother treble, and better extremes detail; the Fresh-collab competitor pushes vocals further forward with bigger stage but leaner lower mids. Verdict: a versatile all-rounder that suits broad libraries and even content creation thanks to its balanced tonality and detail. Not for bassheads, trebleheads, or strict Harman-lean seekers, and the accessory pack/cable quirk holds it back from a slam-dunk. For roughly $240, though, it’s a brilliant, resolving upgrade in the AFUL line.

Youtube Video Summary

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.