AAW Nebula One Titanium Diaphragm In-Ear Monitor

At the time this review was written, the AAW Nebula One was listed for sale on Musicteck’s web store. Here is a link to their listing of the product:
 
https://shop.musicteck.com/collections/aaw/products/aaw-nebula-one-earphones-titanium-diaphragm-with-remote-for-iphone-and-android-dual-mode
 
 
Introduction
Writing comprehensive reviews has allowed me to experience earphones from several different companies for the first time. Hearing an earphone from a manufacturer is usually a “taste” of what they have to offer.
 
I try to keep my mind (and ears) open to what I’m about to hear, and not allow outside opinions and impressions weigh in on how I perceive an earphone. Even with reviews, I intentionally try to avoid reading other people’s coverage of a product. I want my impressions to be my own unique perspective. Often times my impressions will line up with others. Sometimes they won’t, and that’s okay. One of the great things about this hobby is that many people enjoying agreeing to disagree on how we perceive and feel about a product. When this is done it makes for some great conversation, and if handled correctly it leads to a better understanding of both the product and people involved in the conversation.
 
AAW stands for Advanced Acousticwerks. Here is some information copied and pasted from their website:
 


Taking a look at their website, it appears they have something to offer just about every price point from one hundred dollars and up. There is some unique driver configurations in their earphones, utilizing hybrid technology in their flagship products where most companies go with all armature driver designs.

Today we will take a look and listen to their lowest priced entry level earphone, a single dynamic per channel universal in-ear monitor named Nebula One. This is the first product I will be trying from AAW, coming in at a $199 MSRP (and selling usually around $99 USD). Let’s have a taste of what AAW can offer as an entry level monitor, shall we?

 
Disclaimer
I was given a free sample of the Nebula One in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with Advanced Acousticwerks. I would like to take this time to personally thank Andrew for the opportunity to experience and review the product.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me. I want to hear any earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I can share my impressions with  enthusiasts and help them find the audio product they’re looking for. My Head-Fi profile has a list of audio products ranked from favorite to least favorite. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and having a variety of different gear to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are solidly built, with ergonomics and sound that is pleasing to my ears. It’s my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based on gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW
NOTE: The Nebula One has practically identical housings and cables as another earphone I will be reviewing, the Nebula two. The only difference in appearance is the the outside of the housing finish. Because of this, the top part of the review will have repeats from the other review. If you have already read the other review, you might want to skip ahead to the sound review portion to save from reading nearly the same information twice.
I received a promotional sample of the Nebula One, which came in a ziplock bag. I assume the retail packaging is different. If not, who cares? To be honest, the packaging is only good for first impressions. The good news is I have all the accessories and earphones to report on. For those of you interested in the retail packaging, here is a picture from the AAW website:

Specifications
*Proprietary titanium plated microdriver
*Frequency Range: 10Hz-23000Hz
*Sensitivity: 100db SPL @ 1mW
*Input Power: 3mW
*Cable Length: 1.2m
*Android/Apple dual mode inline remote control
 
Accessories
1X Nebula One earphone
1X Earphone sleeve: Foam 3 pairs, Ultra-Flex 3 pairs
1X AAW carrying pouch
1X Flight adaptor
1X 1/4 inch adaptor
1X User manual
1X Warranty card
 
Housings

The Nebula One housings are very nicely done. They come in a brushed nickel all metal outer shell, and translucent black plastic inner shell. The shape is that of a stack of dimes with an angled nozzle.
 

The Nozzle is relatively standard in terms of length and width and has a nice dust screen. The AAW logo is machined into the outer shell and has some nice detail. All in all I find it to be nice looking and nice fitting. The black finish looks very modern and stylish.
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

I am going to be completely honest from the start of this section. The cable is the worst aspect to this earphone, and does the housing design and sound no justice. While it is formidable and works fine, there are traits to it that became pet peeves over the course of my time with them. Please don’t think along the lines that what I’m saying should make it a dealbreaker to anyone considering purchasing these. There are some far worse cables on other earphones in today’s market. Ones that come to mind are the flat noodle style cables from Brainwavz, or the abysmal J-cord of the Sony MH1C. I would take the Nebula Two cable over these two any day of the week.
 
However, the cable is thin, non replaceable and resembles cables used in much cheaper budget earphone models like KZ. It has a considerable amount of spring and memory. The memory wire is very long and impairs my ability to get a consistent and even seal. Although AAW indicates the cable has nice conductive materials and properties, at the end of the day it’s thin, frail, and has enough spring and memory to say that it’s an issue for me.
 
With all the negatives out of the way, let’s discuss some positives. Strain reliefs are well done. The cable has a nice ninety degree plug that is slim in profile and pocket friendly. The included microphone and remote is well placed.   
 
Functionality

Nebula One comes with a three button microphone and remote that works with both Android and Iphone devices. Although functional, I was initially clumsy with the remote. The button layout is different than most models with the play/pause button on the bottom rather than the center. After acclimating to the layout I didn’t have any further issues.
 
The microphone worked great. When talking with friends and family they reported my voice coming through at a four on a scale from one to five. The microphone did pick up wind noise however. When chatting on the phone voices came through with good clarity.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation

I prefer an over the ear fit, so I had no major issues with these earphones. Because of the over-ear design and long memory wire, wearing them down from the ear isn’t really possible. If you prefer wearing your earphones cable down these aren’t for you.
 
Although I didn’t have a ton of issues wearing them after finding a good sealing tip, the long memory wire was a slight hindrance. The added length of the wire forced me to readjust the fit several times over the course of using them. Although not a big deal, it can be a slight issue.
 
Nebula One is a mediocre isolator. When music isn’t playing you can easily hear your surroundings. Microphonics are well controlled. Once I was able to a good seal and securing them in place, they were extremely comfortable to wear, which is a big plus.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-V10 for smartphone use, and either my Fiio X7 or iBasso DX80 DAP/Bushmaster D14 DAC/Amp for high fidelity portable use. For desktop use, I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a ifi micro iDSD playing at 32/192 kHz. I tested them with several other sources as well. I used Google Music in its highest download quality (320 KBPS), and also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection
Although impedance is not specified, I’m going to guess it sits somewhere between 15 and 30 Ohms. Nebula One will work great with your smartphone or DAP. It manages to avoid background hiss and EMI for the most part.
 
Nebula One is designed to be a smartphone companion and it’s universal remote will work perfectly with both Android and Apple devices. Using my LG V10, I found a healthy and listening volume at around the halfway point. The same could be said with my Iphone 6 Plus. The Nebula One sounded good with both devices. With a DAP that packs a little more power, lower registers seemed to have a bit more control of the sound (primarily lower frequencies).
 
Nebula One’s warmth sets up better for leaner sounding sources. Using an already colorful source will add to the already emphasized mid-bass and lower mid-range tuning, making it seem sluggish or veiled. That will depend on a listener’s preference.
 
Powerful desktop units are overkill. Although the quarter inch adapter can attached and the Nebula One and handle the extra juice, it’s really not what I feel these were intended for. After using these for a while, I find them to be a good “on the go” option for when I want to hear my surroundings when music isn’t playing, and tuning the world out while music is (all while keeping them in my ears). They are great for those who commute, or want a musical a rich fidelic upgrade over most of the stuff you find on store shelves.

 
Sound Signature
Nebula One is a rich and dynamic tuning that doesn’t shy away from mid-bass and lower midrange sounds and still manages to keep a reasonable amount of control while avoiding distortion. Lower mid-range sounds have weight and a forward presence that won’t appeal to those looking for a linear or airy sound. For those who want to emphasize the tones of bass and guitars, this is right up your alley. Nebula One does this while maintaining a decent yet relaxed sense of neighboring frequencies.
 
Bass
The Nebula one is definitely a bass forward earphone that packs more rumble than punch. This is done so without going insanely overboard. Sub bass is solid but not as forward as mid-bass, and slightly less resolving. Sub bass is present and its tone is lacking slightly. Attack and decay at sub-bass levels are a bit on the slow side. This doesn’t destroy the sound, but rather adds a rumble that some can appreciate. Listening to Daft Punk’s “Doin it Right” the bass lines had good depth and rumble but were slightly lingering and monotone.
 
Midbass is forward and has more of a rumbling effect. As we venture away from sub-bass tones, Mid bass comes forward but also begins to tighten up a little bit in it’s response. Still, the Nebula one does suffer from a bit of mid-bass bleed that drowns out some of the lower mid/mid-range clarity. Although not the most resolving thing I’ve heard, mid-bass tones avoid distortion while packing a slower attack and decay. Although synthesized sub-bass tones may muck up lower registers, genres without a lot of the computer generated bass (like acoustic, rock, band, and symphony orchestra) tend to have more control of the the lower half of its response than modern genres (pop, hip hop, EDM).
 
Mid-range
The Nebula One mid-range is their biggest strength in my opinion. The overall sense I get is that they are considerably warm with good resolution. It’s a beefy sounding mid-range that is slightly unnatural yet still enjoyable.
 
Lower midrange is robust and forward. It is tighter and faster in response than mid-bass frequencies. This trend continues into the upper midrange as well (The higher the frequency, the more responsive the sound becomes). Guitars have a nice depth and chug with a nice sense of impact. Although the deeper tones of bass guitars can be a little boomy, higher bass guitar notes have a nice resolve. Male vocals sound weighted and on the thicker side of natural. All in all, the lower mids of the Nebula one have girth that some will appreciate.
 
The upper midrange is clean and nicely done. Things seem fairly neutral at this frequency and although it is slightly subdued in comparison to its mid-bass.
 
Treble
Treble valleys out at sibilant sounds and picks back up a bit after this. The impression I got was that although there is a decent snap with some tracks, for the most part the Nebula One has a smooth response, a little sparkle, and a bit of roll-off. This tuning will set up well for someone who is very treble sensitive but doesn’t want to lose the treble presence all together at the expense of a fatigue free listening experience.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
Packing some rumble and a little bit of sparkle, I can give the Nebula an average score. There is a nice sense of depth, but the rumble overshadows the midrange with some songs, preventing me from saying that they create an open or airy presence. There is some nice textured midrange sound when bass isn’t dominating the track. When it is, the overall clarity takes a hit.
 
Comparisons
TFS Series 3 ($55 USD on Penon Audio)
The Series 3 is a musical signature earphone released by TFZ. They offer a bassier sound and over the ear fit:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/products/the-fragrant-zither-tfz-series-3-hifi-earphones/reviews/16947
 
Comparing the two, the Series three has more of a sub-bass focused lower frequency presentation. Nebula One has more mid-bass and lower midrange presence. Although the Series 3 has a cleaner and more neutral middle frequency tuning, it is also blander than the more musical Nebula One. Series 3 has a bit more upper mid-range presence and very similar treble presence.  Considering these two earphones have similar concepts in terms of how their sound is shaped, I give a ever so slight edge to the Nebula One for sound quality. Considering the fact that these are nearly twice as expensive (when they are on sale) it’s a much closer contest than the pricetag would indicate.
 
Build and design goes to the Nebula One. Despite the fact that I give a sight advantage to the Series 3 for their cable, I prefer the build, fit and sleek look of the Nebula One housings. I’d rather be seen in public wearing the Nebula One. I also give a decisive advantage to the Nebula One for their accessories package. They offer a nice clamshell case and adapters, while the Series three offers a velvet drawstring bag. For storage and no added adapters. All in all the Nebula One is a better built IEM with better accessories and slightly better sound. The big question is whether or not the improved aspects justifies the leap in price. At $99 USD I say yes, but at the $200 MSRP I say no way, no how.

 
Hisoundaudio HSA-AD01 ($129 USD on Penon Audio)
The AD01 is a dual hybrid (one dynamic and on armature driver in each channel) with a bass forward tuning:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/products/hisoundaudio-hsa-ad1-in-ear-dual-hybrid-in-ear-monitor-with-microphone-and-remote/reviews/15266
 
Comparing the two, the AD01 has more of a sub-bass focus and improved clarity at mid-bass tones. The Nebula One has more of a mid-bass focus, and caters more to those who want a more colorful, forward and weighted mid-range. The Nebula One sounds a lot more busy and aggressive, while the AD01 sounds more technical and detailed. I have to be honest here and say that for my preference the AD01 sound takes the cake and justifies the thirty dollar leap in price.
 
All other aspect are another story. Build and design goes to the Nebula One. They offer a over the ear fit that works better than the flat cable and under-ear fit of the AD01. Nebula One also gets top honors for offering a accessories package which is far better than the few tips that come with the AD01.  
 
Conclusion
Nebula one is mid-bass forward and colored sound. If that’s your thing you’re in luck. If you prefer a more linear and natural sound, you might want to skip these. They are a somewhat consumer friendly tuning that is beefy down low, and avoids sibilance up top. They play most genres of music reasonably well. They have an excellent shell design, decent fit, a mic/remote that works with pretty much every smartphone, and awesome accessories package. There’s a lot to like about these things. At the end of the day, there’s a ton of competitive products at the one hundred to two hundred dollar price point. While some will like the Nebula One sound, others may find something that sounds better for their preference at this price point.
 
When reviewing a product, I have to take all criteria into account. I give these earphones five stars for accessories, four stars for build and design (minus one star for the cable), four stars for fit and ergonomics, and three and a half stars for sound signature. All things considered, I give the Nebula One four stars overall.
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

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Preamble:

Advanced AcousticWerkes, in short known as AAW, is a Singapore based  audio product manufacturer best known for custom-moulded in-ear monitors (CIEMs). Not long ago, they have introduced a line of universal fit in-ears that are not universal models of their CIEMs, but an independent product line.

Some of those models belong to a product line called “Nebula” that currently consists of two in-ears that are using proprietary drivers developed especially for these two in-ears. One of them, the Nebula One, features one 10 mm titanium-coated dynamic driver per side, whereas the other, the Nebula 2, is a hybrid in-ear that is equipped with a Balanced Armature driver for the midrange/treble reproduction in addition to the 10 mm dynamic driver.
This review will primarily focus on the Nebula One (https://www.aaw.me/collections/universal-in-ear/products/advanced-acousticwerkes-nebula-one-universal-in-ear-monitor).


Before I go on, I want to take the time to personally thank Advanced AcousticWerkes for sending me a sample of the Nebula One in-ears free of charge for the purpose of an honest, unbiased test and review.


Technical Specifications:

Price: ~ US$99
Drivers: one proprietary 10 mm titanium-coated driver per side
Frequency Range: 10Hz-230000Hz
Sensitivity: 100 dB SPL @ 1 mW
Input Power: 3 mW
Cable Length: 1.2 m
Android/Apple dual mode inline remote control


Delivery Content:

Not the full retail package but just a plastic bag arrived in the review package I got that however included all of the original accessories which are: a nice carrying case, four pairs of black silicone tips (1x S, 2x M, 1x L), three pairs of black silicone tips with white stem, an airplane adapter, a 6.3 to 3.5 mm adapter and of course the in-ears.
 

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Looks, Feels, Build Quality:

The in-ears are made of silver metal on the outside and semi-transparent plastic on the inside. I really like the design with the engraved “AAW” logo on the outside and the mesh that can be seen through the venting cut-outs on the faceplate.
The in-ears are puck-shaped and feature non-removable cables with memory wire. Speaking of the cable: it is the same as the one that is used for the inexpensive Knowledge Zenith in-ears, however I’ve mentioned it at least once or twice that this cable is better than what is used for many in-ears in the $200 range, so AAW has done everything right with it although it is a bit rubbery (and so is the Knowledge Zenith cable, too).
Strain relief is good at the angled 3.5 mm connector but sparsely implemented on the other transitions. Fortunately though the cable has got a chin-slider and even a three-button remote control with a built-in microphone, and is semi-transparent what I think looks really nice.
 

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Besides the rather lacking strain relief on some transitions, the in-ears’ build quality is really good.
 

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Comfort, Isolation:

Although I have got large ears, I was afraid that the fit might be problematic for me as this in-ear body shape along with the nozzle angle and length has proven to cause fit and seal issues in my ears with other in-ears that have got a comparable shape, which happens very rarely though. I am extremely happy that I can now report that the AAW Nebula in-ears fit me very well, also seal well and are super comfortable.
The cables are worn around the ears and secured by memory wire. I know some people don’t like this but I think that the memory wire works very well with these in-ears. The cables lack microphonics even when the chin-slider is not used, which is a good thing.

Isolation is weak – really weak actually. Probably as weak as with the DUNU Titan 1.


Sound:

My main sources for listening were the iBasso DX80, HiFime 9018d and Cowon Plenue M2.

For listening, I used the largest included black silicone tips.

Tonality:

The Nebula One (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “N1”), just as the Nebula 2 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “N2”), has got an inner-facing vent that is almost impossible not to be almost completely blocked by your ear due to the shape of the in-ears. Just like about all front vents, it affects the bass quantity, and unless you have some weird ear anatomy that makes it sit freely and
uncovered, the Nebula One might be a quite bassy not to say rather bass-heavy in-ear (the last bit of quantity will still depend a little on your individual ear anatomy and on how much the vent is really covered – in my case, it is almost entirely covered which I think is also the intention so that it leads to a strong bass presence).

The N1 has got a quite strong upper bass that is almost always present and might sometimes appear like a sledge hammer. While this probably sounds negative and/or judgemental to you, it really isn’t meant in that way – I am like a chameleon and can adopt to almost any sound signature and like it as long it isn’t too coloured in the midrange, while I mainly prefer a balanced and even diffuse-field neutral sound especially at home.
The upper bass is definitely strong, nonetheless it doesn’t bleed into the mids by too much considering the quantity, and doesn’t make the sound too warm or soft although it is more on the fuller and warm but definitely not mellow side. With bass-heavier tracks though, it can overshadow the midrange somewhat but vocals never drown or feel congested.
Around 650 Hz, the bass starts climbing and is already quite powerful in the upper bass. In the midbass, it gains even a little more quantity but not much. It has also got good sub-bass presence and drops only slightly below 30 Hz. Quantity is around 12 dB north of a diffuse-field-neutral in-ear.
Between 650 Hz and 2 kHz, the level is quite flat to my ears, and loses slight quantity between 2 and 3 kHz. Around 5 kHz is an ever so slight and broad-banded lift with the treble remaining flat and without any emphasis from there on. The highs start rolling off above 13.5 kHz.

The Nebula One is therefore a bassy in-ear with a warm-ish but not mellow bottom end and no sibilance in the highs. For my preference, there could be less upper bass in relation to the midbass and sub-bass, but especially on the go this is not necessarily a bad thing, and what I find really good is that the midrange keeps presence and doesn’t sound congested or unnaturally overshadowed by too much despite the strong bass. And the treble is also well implemented and neither sibilant nor peaky nor does it show any sudden dip or unnatural unevenness. Cymbals also sound natural and neither stretched nor subdued or accentuated.

While I wouldn’t mind somewhat less upper bass on the subjective side, I don’t really find any tonal flaw on the objective side – despite the strong bass, there is not that much bloom, the midrange sounds natural and a little warm but never congested, and the highs are relatively even and not peaky. The midrange and treble even sound pretty natural and quite realistic.

Resolution:

With a bass emphasis that strong, an in-ear often tends to sound overpowered, soft and boomy as well as bloomy. Fortunately though the Nebula One sounds rather quick and especially well controlled in the bass despite the emphasis, while the lows are on the softer side nonetheless but not muddy or mushy. The bass is not yet as fast as DUNU’s Titan series’ in-ears however about comparably controlled, and never becomes muddy or unrecognisable. There is some softness in the midbass attack, but decay is reasonably quick and the bass doesn’t struggle or sound boomy. Playing Metal and fast Electronic, the lows don’t struggle too much with control at all and can keep up without leaving a mess of something you won’t recognise anymore, which is sometimes the case with very bassy in-ears.
As already mentioned, the midrange doesn’t sound congested or dry despite the strong bass elevation. Details are good and speech intelligibility is also fine although not as high as compared to most BA-based in-ears.
The highs really don’t lack details or air either and sound detailed as well as nicely separated.

Soundstage:

The soundstage sounds rather open to me but not particularly large or really much larger than average. Depth is good although there is a little more width than depth.
Separation is good and the stage doesn’t appear blurry but it is not razor-sharp either, but there’s nothing really wrong with that at this price point.

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In Comparison with other In-Ears:

Let’s see how the Nebula One stacks up against some other comparably priced and more expensive in-ears.


 
DUNU Titan 5:
The DUNU has got 5 dB less bass with my ear anatomy (its bass quantity also depends on how much the vent is covered) and the less hammering but still present upper bass. Sub-bass extension is comparable with the DUNU staying slightly flatter below 30 Hz. The Titan 5 has got the brighter midrange and treble that is however also less even in comparison – here the N1 sounds somewhat more natural.
The Titan 5 has got the somewhat more nimble and faster as well as tighter bass while the control appears to be comparable. The DUNU sounds a bit more detailed in the mids while both are comparable in the highs.
The Nebula One has got a little more spatial width while depth is comparable. The DUNU has got the somewhat sharper instrument placement and separation.

Fidue A65:
The A65 has got noticeably less bass but also rolls somewhat off towards the sub-bass. The AAW’s midrange is a bit warmer and the Fidue’s treble a bit darker.
The Fidue has got the somewhat faster bass attack and slightly faster decay, making it appear more nimble, however control is comparable. The Fidue appears a bit more detailed in the mids while the AAW has got the slightly cleaner upper treble rendering.
The Fidue’s soundstage is smaller in all directions but cleaner.

LEAR LHF-AE1d (upgrade nozzles):
The LEAR’s bass is adjustable and can be tuned to have even more quantity than the AAW’s. The LEAR has got definitely less warmth in the midrange but its bass bleeds more into lower vocals with that much quantity.
The AAW has got the faster, tighter and also somewhat better controlled bass out of the two, but the LEAR is in a noticeably higher league when it comes to overall resolution, minute details, authenticity and realism that no other dynamic driver in-ear in the same price range as the LEAR (ca. US$200) managed to achieve to my ears.
The LHF-AE1d has got somewhat more spatial depth to my ears and is also somewhat more precise and authentic when it comes to layering and the positioning of instruments.

Sennheiser IE 80 (screw fully opened):
Both have got comparable amounts of bass (the Sennheiser has got ever so slightly more) but the Sennheiser’s bleeds somewhat more into the midrange and sounds warmer and mellower. The IE 80 has got less presence around 5 kHz and more around 8.
The IE 80’s bass cannot really keep up with fast tracks – it then sounds overpowered, boomy, lacks some control and sounds soft as well as mushy. This is even more so true for the sub-bass. The Nebula One has got the noticeably higher bass control and does not sound mushy or muddy. As for the rest, the N2 also sounds more resolving and natural than the IE 80.
The Sennheiser has got the more expansive soundstage with more width and depth, but I really couldn’t say that it is more precise than the AAW’s, as rather the opposite is the case.

Advanced AcousticWerkes Nebula 2:
I was honestly expecting both to sound quite differently, however this was not the case to my surprise – the Nebula One sounds quite a lot like the Nebula 2 to me when it comes to tonality. The difference is that the N1 has got a little more than 2 dB more bass than the N2 to my ears and the slightly darker and fuller midrange. In the middle highs around 5 kHz, both have got an ever so slight lift whereas the Nebula One has got less presence in the upper treble which makes it an overall bassier and smoother in-ear. But the genes are definitely quite a bit similar and the Nebula One is kind of like its dizygotic twin (or at least a brother/sister that looks very similar) that is not identical overall but has a lot of similarities.
I would say that the N1 sounds a little more coherent because it is using only one driver per ear, however the N2 has got the less soft and better controlled bass, especially in the lower bass, that has also got the better control although the Nebula One is no slouch here either. In the midrange and treble, the Nebula 2 sounds more differentiated.
The difference is not that large, nonetheless the Nebula 2 is like a more refined version of the Nebula One.
In terms of soundstage, the N1 appears to have more spatial depth to me while the Nebula 2 has got a bit more width and the very slightly cleaner separation.


Conclusion:

When it comes to in-ears with a really strong bass and a price tag of around $100, the AAW Nebula One is definitely among the better if not best. While it is not perfect, it shows good control,
reasonable speed, not too much softness along with a natural midrange and treble.
Not much surprisingly though, it will not attract those who are not interested in bassy and bass-heavy in-ears that are already very strong in the upper bass range. It will also not be the right choice for those who want good exterior noise isolation.
If these aspects sound appealing to you, you should definitely have an eye on this in-ear that I consider as a good recommendation for those on the search for the properties and features I mentioned in my review.


With my usual 30% build and fit (92.5) to 70% sound/value/price (86) weighting, I come to a result of 4.3975 out of 5 stars.

 
 
AAW Nebula One
A review.

 
 
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Tracks Used In The Review:

Kinderspiele by Esther O  from Five Songbirds – A Reference Collection
Hotel California (Live) by Eagles, from the Hell Freezes Over – The Reunion album
A Case of You by K. D. Lang  from the Hymns of the 49th Parallel
Eye Of The Storm by Scorpions from Return To Forever album
Faster Than The Speed of Night by Bonnie Tyler & Meat Loaf from Heaven & Hell album
You Are Loved (Don't Give Up) by Josh Groban from A Collection album
Revolution Roulette by Poets Of The Fall from Revolution Roulette album

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Almost five years ago, my friend Jay Tana and I had a brief discussion about the future of universal headphones.  We projected then that budget-fi will eat up the mid-fi’s market share.
 
Recently, we are seeing this trend unfolding.  USD 100.00 products are giving the midtier products a run for their money.  A perfect example is this open-back universal monitors from Advanced Acoustic Werkes (AAW), the Nebula One.   Although getting old now the One still regales and engages.  What made it more relevant now is the introduction of its sibling, the Two.  Immediately, as with real human siblings, comparisons are made.
First things first.  I’ve had the One for more than four months now.  Despite owning several headphones, the Nebula One managed to get decent ear time simply because it is comfortable and easy to drive.
 

 

 
 
Packaged in a rectangular black box, this AAW came with 6 pairs of silicon ear-tips, a rubber carrying pouch, an inflight and a ¼ inch adapters, then there is the usual user’s manual and warranty card.  The zippered carrying case has travelled with me in the past three months.  It has withstood some rough handling in hotels and airports. 
The flat disc driver cabinets are akin to the Dita Answer driver shells.  Due to the One’s vented back it is almost half as light as the Dita but may be just as comfortable, if not, slightly more so.  Problem arises when using the One outdoors because it just doesn’t seal.  Open-back design is more suitable for use indoors or on a relatively quiet bus-rides.    Inflight, the Nebula sounds acceptable but I was easily distracted by the movements of the passengers around me.
 
I suspect that most people won’t find an issue when it comes to wear comfort with this IEM.   They might when it comes to the cable though.  Yes, the cable tangles easily and has at times taken me a minute or two to disentangle it.   Over time, the sheathing becomes a bit sticky.  Beyond that little objection, I find the PTT microphone to be at best tolerably sensitive for mobile telephony, with barely audible microphonics.  Its right-angled 1/8 inch gold-plated plug looks and feels sturdy enough to outlast the cable to which it is attached.
Another thing that behooves mentioning is the ear hook guides.  Out of the box, my impression was it looked thin, ugly and poorly made.  I have since changed my opinion about it.  It is adequately fabricated with practical pliability.  And precisely because it is wire-thin, it makes itself scarcely felt when worn.
 
 

 
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
 
PRESENTATION
 
You must be thinking, open-back must have a wide stage, right?
Correct.  It does.
 
However, as post-War affluence grows, people’s experience in this hobby has also been defined by how hifi home rigs sound.   The openness of the AAW Nebula One is dissimilar to those hifi setups.  The vented back whilst giving it a freer sound, also takes away the room feel of the stereo image.   Anyone who’s had the chance of auditioning hifi systems with proper bass absorber panels and room acoustic treatments, know that the image reproduced isn’t that of a boundless open-field.  It is defined by the size of the room.  That is the stage that we have come to acclimatize.
 
Whether good or bad, the One isn’t like those hifi systems.  There were times when I found the sound quite liberating.  Then, there were also times when I found it wanting serious forward depth.
 
Recently, a friend in this hobby also asked me if it sounds like a miniature Sennheiser HD800?  No.  The 800 has a more distant feel.  Its sound source has the psychoacoustic to render it coming from outside the headphones.  The Nebula being in-ear, is way more intimate.  Having tested the newer Nebula Two, the midrange (particularly the vocals) has been tuned to sound a little farther back; thus giving it an illusion of depth.
 
Instrument separation is very good with the warmth acting as a thread that ties everything together. 
 
 
 
ARTICULATION
 
For a titanium-plated dynamic driver priced at USD 100,  the Nebula One certainly deserves admiration.  However, its bumped up midbass (around 200 Hertz) often drags its feet.  Though by no means a permanent fixture, the heightened midbass when it does rear its head, really stays.  In K. D. Lang’s “A Case Of You” (FLAC 24/192), the opening piano has sub-harmonics flying all over the place.  Midbass adds weight to the notes but One prolongs the decay, making the midbass linger and resonate in ear, and at times, it does give the impression of poor-timing and blurs the image.
 
For tracks from the Swedish House Mafia or even the Poets Of The Fall, the accentuated midbass and forward midrange of the One is nigh perfect.  Save for the occasional bleeding into the midrange, the large and thick midbass is absolutely lovely.
 
 
 
TONAL BALANCE
 
If this were to be drawn in a chart, the resulting graph would probably look like a fat “n”.   Nebula One’s midrange, like Bruce Lee’s gait, the thrusted groin leads the charge, followed by the low-end kicks.  The treble range is largely focused on the low-treb push.  Roll-off occurs around 8 kHz.   In brief comparison with another hundred dollar IEM, the Suzaku EN700 from Simgot the One sounds more correct in its midrange presentation.  EN700’s is high-octave emphatic. 
 

 
 
“Kinderspiele” by Esther O. is quite engaging with the right-banked strings appearing palpably close.  Though crisp, midbass is prominently present in each pluck.  This is true in almost all kinds of stringed instruments played out of the Nebula.   It must be said however that the elevation in One’s midbass response isn’t anywhere close to the Sennheiser IE80’s zip code.   That, laid down, even with the a portable rig powerful enough to drive the 300-ohm HD800, there just isn’t enough sub-bass out of the Nebula One.
 
Josh Groban and Adele are my faves for this IEM.  They just pair exceedingly well for a mobile phone (iPhone 6S Plus and iPhone 7) source.  Groban is a slightly better choice than Adele in this but both demonstrably outperform more complex tracks.  The limitation of a single-driver IEM can be felt when playing heavy metal tracks.   Fast, bright and complex, the One fumbles and sounds rattled.  Moving to something less demanding, Bonnie Tyler’s duet with Meat Loaf in “Faster Than The Speed of Night”, the splashy cymbal crashes are crisp, dry and bright.  Tyler’s throaty voice rises above the din of percussions and strings.  If only the drums can hit harder and deeper… This IEM would be perfect for mobile phone use.
 
This roll-off in the lower midbass towards the sub-bass frequencies couldn’t be more obvious than when the newer Two is A/B’d with the One.  In Eagle’s Hell Freeze Over album, the oft-mentioned Hotel California played live onstage, has the first kickbass hitting at 0:00:33.  That first kick just isn’t deep enough to be satisfyingly real.   A/B it with the Two, the difference in bass response is starkly contrasting. 
 
 
 
TEXTURE
 
Because of the overstaying and overfed midbass, there are certain bass instruments that may appear to be smoothed.  However, owing to its forward midrange, vocals sound like they have the spotlight trained on them.  Impressively detailed and textured, One does midrange right.  In the highs, anyone with a low-threshold for brightness may find the occasional peakiness of this Nebula to be quite glaring. 
 
 
 

 
 
CONCLUSION
 
Less expensive but with performance approximating the midfi products, budget-fi IEMs are killing the mid-tier monitors.  Save for the abovementioned midrange quirk, I am perfectly happy with the Nebula One and iPhone 7 as my on-the-go music entertainment.   If only I don’t have the Two, the One would still be the one.