Thieaudio Hype 4 and Aful Performer 5+2 use 2DD+4BA and 2DD+4BA+1Planar driver setups respectively. Thieaudio Hype 4 costs $400 while Aful Performer 5+2 costs $229. Thieaudio Hype 4 is $171 more expensive. Aful Performer 5+2 holds a slight 0.3-point edge in reviewer scores (7.4 vs 7.7). Thieaudio Hype 4 carries a user score of 8. Aful Performer 5+2 has better bass with a 0.8-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has slightly better mids with a 0.4-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has better treble with a 0.6-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has significantly better dynamics with a 1.4-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has better soundstage with a 0.8-point edge, Aful Performer 5+2 has better details with a 0.6-point edge and Aful Performer 5+2 has better imaging with a 0.9-point edge.
Insights
Metric | Thieaudio Hype 4 | Aful Performer 5+2 |
---|---|---|
Bass | 7.2 | 8 |
Mids | 7.6 | 8 |
Treble | 7 | 7.6 |
Details | 7 | 7.6 |
Soundstage | 7 | 7.8 |
Imaging | 7 | 7.9 |
Dynamics | 6.3 | 7.6 |
Tonality | 7.4 | 7.6 |
Technicalities | 7.1 | 7.5 |
Thieaudio Hype 4 Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Aful Performer 5+2 Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Thieaudio Hype 4 Details
Driver Configuration: 2DD+4BA
Tuning Type: JM1 ish
Brand: ThieAudio Top ThieAudio IEMs
Price (Msrp): $400
Support our free service! Buying through our affiliate links costs you nothing extra:
Aful Performer 5+2 Details
Driver Configuration: 2DD+4BA+1Planar
Tuning Type: Neutral with bass boost
Brand: AFUL Top AFUL IEMs
Price (Msrp): $229
Support our free service! Buying through our affiliate links costs you nothing extra:
Thieaudio Hype 4 User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score:
Based on 1 user reviews
8Very Positive
Aful Performer 5+2 User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!
Thieaudio Hype 4 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7.2Gaming Grade
A-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
7.5Gaming Grade
AThieaudio Hype 4 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-- Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
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.
Thieaudio Hype 4 Reviews
Great imaging and headstage. Width is outstanding. Even at 400 bucks it's outstanding in this pricerange.Super* Review original ranking
Super* Review Youtube Channel
Very, very solid IEM. Excellent bass response and a well done warm neutral tuning. Great techs for the price. Large stage that is deep and wide. Great separation and imaging. Treble is a bit elevated but tastefully so (those that prefer darker IEMs may want to try first). Timbre is decent - while not all instruments and vocals sound natural, they don't sound completely off. Great candidate for "one-and-done" IEM. If you only want one IEM and have $399 you should seriously consider this one. Loaner
One of the best all-rounders under $600 (v-shaped harman). Treble quality is smooth and well extended. Great low-end texture with lots of impact. Good vocals. Solid tech, and just solid in general. Jays Audio Youtube Channel
Upper trebble is odd on many tracks, but is a strong set. Jaytiss Youtube Channel
A fun and exciting IEM. Fun, bass-boosted sound with powerful bass, great treble extension, and clear vocals. Treble can be overly crisp at times.Gizaudio Axel original ranking
Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
Contains some DNA of the well tuned Monarch 3
check links for more info: Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
Bass sounds somewhat 'BA-ish' for being DD, but well-tuned, decently technical, and a very solid package overall. Precogvision Youtube Channel
Aful Performer 5+2 Reviews
My kind of neutral, improves a lot on my favorites. Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Overall it is sounding more visceral and incisive than the Performer 5.Super* Review original ranking
Super* Review Youtube Channel
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
check links for more info: Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
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 Youtube Channel
IEMRanking AI
2025-09-07
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 $229 and outline the same core tech features.
Tonally it trends neutral with a sub-bass lift: bass has solid depth and texture, mids stay relatively linear, and the presence/treble region adds energy without veering into sharpness on most chains. Multiple reviews characterize it as warm-neutral with bass boost or slightly V-shaped depending on perspective, which matches listening notes about a lively but controlled upper end. Sensitivity and load are portable-friendly (≈109 dB, 15 Ω), so it reaches performance without demanding amplification.
Technicalities are competitive for the class: imaging is tidy with good instrument separation, micro-detail retrieval is above average, and soundstage is moderate (more width than depth). Build and comfort are typical resin-shell fare; some users note occasional lower-treble bite depending on tips and recordings, so treble-sensitive listeners may wish to pair accordingly. Overall value is strong at its price, especially if a clean, bass-supported neutral curve is the priority.
Thieaudio Hype 4 User Reviews
Share your experience and build your personal ranking list.
You need to be signed in to write your own reviewClean V-Shaped set, with good technical performance, and smooth, luscious bass that seems to float in the mix. Unfortunately has spicy air treble (tip rolling necessary), but otherwise is a very engaging and good set.
Pros
The bass quality is great. Bass texture is phenomenal. Sounds like a sub in a large room. Other than that, the set has decent tech, soundstage, and overall tuning. Very good build quality. For bassheads.Cons
Bass can bleed slightly into mids. Air frequencies can be extremely distracting, so tip rolling is a must, especially due to the strange and extremely large fit. Pinna gain at 3khz can be too forward for some users. Imaging + separation ≈ 200$ set worth.Aful Performer 5+2 User Reviews
"This is an example review"
Pros
- Example pro 1
- Example pro 2
Cons
- Example con 1
- Example con 2
Share your experience and build your personal ranking list.
You need to be signed in to write your own review