Aful Performer 5+2 VS Yanyin Canon Pro

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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.

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Yanyin Canon Pro brings a 1DD + 6BA stack with two DIP switches that alter an internal crossover rather than simple EQ, but the documentation is maddeningly vague. Stock out of the box (switch 1 up, switch 2 down) hits the sweet spot: most bass, gently damped treble, and a cohesive, engaging sound. Flip both down and the presentation turns flat and distant; flip both up and treble gets piercing with bass falling behind; 1 down / 2 up is another treble burst. Imaging remains solid throughout, but these are not bass monsters even with bass engaged. Tip rolling matters: wide-bore “velvet” tips step the listener back a row, smoothing the intensity and making the set feel properly $400-grade.

Build and accessories are a mixed bag. The cable is excellent—thick, straight, aluminum hardware that would make full-size headphones jealous—though the included plug here was fixed 3.5 mm (a 4.4 mm option is preferable). The carry case and presentation are great, but the shells themselves look muted and underwhelming in person, a far cry from attention-grabbing faceplates. Comfort and fit are fine, with flared nozzles and grippy bases that keep tips secure.

Sonically, with the right tips and the 1 up / 2 down setting, Canon Pro can absolutely be a daily driver—balanced, clean, and listenable for long stretches. The headache is the switching: three of the four permutations feel like downgrades, and the lack of a clear switch map from Yanyin doesn’t help. Net take: tuning potential is there, but it requires fussing (tips, gain, switches) to get it right. As a package—case, cable, and sound once dialed—this feels more like a strong $300 proposition; sort the switch profiles so each one is genuinely good, and the full $400 ask would make a lot more sense.

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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.

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Yanyin Canon Pro is a 1DD + 6BA hybrid around $400 with a light, well-sized shell that’s easy to fit and pleasantly vented. The kit impresses: a suede-like round case feels durable, the tip selection is reasonable, and the cable is a standout—supple, visually premium, and available in 3.5 / 4.4 (even 2.5 for holdouts). Comfort trends above average, and the dip switches exist but the favored setting is the “all up” configuration.

Tonally the Canon Pro skews neutral and safe: modest bass with slightly recessed lower mids, a clean midrange, and smooth treble that brings out micro-detail without harsh spikes. Sub-bass could dig deeper, yet dynamics never feel anemic; it’s more about balance than fireworks. The FR “hugs the target,” with a touch of upper air and extension that reads subtle rather than showy, yielding an all-day listen with natural imaging and very low fatigue.

Against peers, Canon Pro beats Canon 2 for detail and top-end finesse (Canon 2 offers more warmth and punch), and comes across more refined than Hype 4, whose upper air can feel exaggerated. Versus Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk, the Dusk DSP wins if DSP is on the table, but in pure analog the edge tilts to Canon Pro. Sets like AFUL Performer 7 trade blows (more bass/treble “spice” there), while Pilgrim can read too bright and Moondrop Meteor feels leaner down low. The takeaway: not a showboat, but a polished, versatile IEM with beautiful accessories, easy comfort, and tuning that’s EQ-friendly and broadly appealing—an easy recommendation for those who value clarity and poise over spectacle.

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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.

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The Ziigaat Arcanis offers a warm, somewhat thick sound signature with a noticeable bass boost and a lean lower midrange. This is balanced by a relaxed upper midrange and lower treble, contributing to its overall smooth character. While it provides decent extension, the Arcanis can occasionally present vocals with a slightly wet or near-sibilant edge, especially depending on ear tip choice and fit depth. Its transient response is sharper than the Yanyin Canon Pro, giving it better definition and crisper imaging, though the bass physicality is only middling.

Physically, the Arcanis features lightweight plastic shells with a distinctive dark black and green aesthetic. However, the build quality feels somewhat cheap for the $400 price point, especially paired with the included thin, glossy cable. The shells are notably long, leading to a fit that can feel deep and occasionally aggressive in the ear canal, exacerbated by the stock ear tips. Users may experience noticeable driver flex or squish when inserting them. Comfort is generally acceptable for upright listening but becomes problematic when lying on your side.

Ultimately, the Arcanis earns a three-star rating. While it delivers a generally inoffensive, warm sound with decent technicalities like transient bite and imaging, it lacks standout qualities or strong definition at its price. The physical experience, particularly the fit and perceived build quality, further holds it back from being a compelling recommendation. It ends up feeling like a competent but unremarkable offering in its tier.

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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.

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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.

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Yanyin's Canon Pro returns with a 1DD + 6BA array that targets a clean, BA-forward presentation: sub-bass modestly lifted, a persistent mid-bass tuck, and an earlier ear-gain rise that brings vocals forward. Lower treble has presence while upper treble rolls smoothly into air, preserving separation and avoiding splash; the result is crisp articulation at low–moderate volumes with notable clarity and resolve.

Bass is punchy and fast but restrained, reading neutral for some genres; rock can feel a bit too tidy, while classical/jazz benefit from the cleaner floor. The mids carry the show—strong imaging, clear outlines and BA speed—though the combination of the tuck and earlier rise flattens stage depth; width/height are convincing and layering remains organized. The set responds well to a warmer source to add body and to keep vocals from thinning when the volume creeps up.

Positioned around $400, value depends on priorities: all-rounders with a smoother bass shelf at lower prices exist, but Canon Pro offers a more technical, mid-centric take that will resonate with balanced-armature fans. For listeners chasing separation, detail and a tidy treble without glare, it makes a focused, capable choice—just not the safest pick for those wanting heft and depth.

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Yanyin Canon Pro comes with two dip switches per side and effectively three tunings (up/up, down/down, and mixed). Packaging is solid with a nicer copper cable, tips, case, and a switch tool. Sonically it shifts away from Canon 2’s warmth into a more neutral profile with clean bass, quick attack/decay, and a wide, deep stage. Detail retrieval, separation, and layering are a highlight for music at around $400, competing with sets like Mangird Tea Pro and Canon 2, while feeling less intimate than both.

For gaming, the expansive stage delivers strong imaging and “yardage” cues, with gunfire rendered clean and impactful; however, reduced mid-bass body means footsteps don’t cut through as urgently as on Canon 2. In Valorant (preferred up/up), the set sounds spacious and resolving but can soften the immediacy of close-range steps—still solid due to depth and layering, scoring about a B+. In Apex, down/down becomes preferable: slides and lighter cues pop better amid chaotic fights, yet overall brightness and big explosions can mask details, putting it around B+ (bordering B). In Call of Duty, imaging and layering impress, but the softer footstep emphasis keeps it near a B+. Overall, a B+ for competitive play: choose Canon Pro for a more neutral, airy presentation and excellent detail; pick Canon 2 or Mangird Tea Pro when maximal footstep emphasis and tighter intimacy are the priority.