AFUL Acoustics Performer 5

•Impedance: 35Ω.
•Sensitivity: 110dB@1kHz.
•Frequency Response Range: 5Hz-35kHz.
•Passive Noise Reduction: 26dB.
•Connectors: 2-pin 0.78mm.
•Termination: 3.5mm

What will you get:
•1x AFUL Performer 5
•6x Pair Silicone Eartips
•1x Stock Cable
•1x Round Metallic Carry Case

AFUL Performer 5 are a marvel of engineering, packing a five-driver hybrid configuration into a surprisingly compact and streamlined shell. The black resin construction not only gives it a robust feel but also contributes to its featherlight presence in the ear. Each unit is adorned with magma-styled face covers, giving it a fiery and individualistic character that echoes the esteemed aesthetics of the Thieaudio Monarch MK2.

The standard 2-pin connectors ensure compatibility with a wide range of 0.78mm 2-pin cables, offering versatility and ease of use. The accompanying stock cable is a testament to the thoughtfulness put into every aspect of the design—lightweight and unobtrusive, it complements the IEMs’ ergonomic build.

The beauty of the AFUL Performer 5 lies not just in its visual appeal but also in its practical ergonomics. The design is not only aesthetically pleasing but also intuitively comfortable, making it a perfect fusion of form and function. It’s a creation that speaks to the connoisseur of fine audio gear, promising an experience that’s as pleasing to the touch as it is to the ear.
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The Aful P5 are designed with fit and comfort in mind. Their lightweight resin construction and ergonomic shape ensure a snug and secure fit for a wide range of ear sizes. The nozzles are neither too large nor too small, contributing to a comfortable experience without causing ear fatigue, even during extended listening sessions. This focus on comfort, combined with a universal design, makes the P5 suitable for long periods of use, providing a pleasant listening experience for all users.

•Dual-tone design: The cable features a stylish black and silver color scheme.

•8-core structure: Ensures durability and quality sound transmission.

•4.4mm balanced version: Offers a superior audio experience with less noise.

•Low memory: The cable is flexible and doesn’t tangle easily.

•Lightweight: Comfortable for long listening sessions without adding weight to the earphones.

•Good build construction: The cable is well-made and reliable.

•Value for price: As a stock cable, it provides good quality for its cost.

AFUL has delivered a cable that is both aesthetically pleasing and functionally impressive, enhancing the overall experience with the Performer 5.
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Stock tips are basic. And it doesn't seem so soft to me.If you have good aftermarket tips you can get better output out of it. I have found the pairing of the Spinfit Omni very good with this one. .I wrote the review based on the sound I got using these tips.

It is a basic pouch not much to say about it. Round aluminum pouch. Covering the inside with cloth. It can be said TRN's seam pouch but name change.

•Questyle M15
•cayin ru7
•Shanling h5
•Cowon Plenue R2
•Astell & kern sp1000m
•Fiio btr7
•hiby r3 ii
•Ddhifi tc44c
•FOSI AUDIO DS1
•Moondrop dawn pro
•Lg v60
•Asus zenfone 10


The Aful Performer 5 shines in vocal range. The male vocals have a good amount of weight, resonating with a richness that adds depth to the tracks. Whether it’s the baritone timbre of a blues singer or the gritty edge of a rock vocalist, the Performer 5 handle each note with precision.

The P5 handle female vocals beautifully. High notes come through clear and strong, standing out in the music without any sharp or hissing sounds. They capture every part of a woman's singing, from the softest murmur to the strongest, most powerful notes. It's like the singer is right there with you, every whisper and every powerful note feels real and alive.

Instrument clarity is another highlight of these set. Each strum, pluck, and hit is articulated with an impressive level of detail. The midrange, often referred to as the heart of the frequency spectrum, is where the Performer 5 truly excels. The great detail in this range brings forward the emotional essence of the music, making every listening session an intimate experience

The ability to distinguish between the layers of complex compositions is remarkable. You can hear the individual strings in a guitar chord, the subtle breaths between flute notes, and even the softest tap on a cymbal. overall p5 is great for vocal and instrument clarity.

Sub-Bass
The sub-bass is where the Performer 5 truly excels. There’s a palpable rumble that you can feel, adding depth and dimension to every track. The sub-bass detail is remarkable, capturing the essence of each note with precision. It’s a controlled power that resonates with clarity.

Mid-Bass
Moving on to the mid-bass, it’s punchy and full of life. The Performer 5 handles the speed of the bass with finesse, ensuring that it’s quick enough to keep up with fast-paced tracks but not so fast that it loses its impact. The kick drums sound incredibly lively, and the IEMs exhibit a perfect speed for double pedal work, making them ideal for genres that thrive on a strong rhythmic foundation.

Bass Guitar
For the bass guitar, the Performer 5 provides a tight and well-controlled performance. The bass lines in busy songs are held with authority, ensuring that the groove is always present and never lost in the mix. The bass is well-behaved, with no bleed into the midrange, allowing for a clean and articulate sound.

In conclusion, the Aful Performer 5 IEMs offer a bass experience that’s both powerful and refined. Whether you’re a fan of deep electronic beats or the natural sound of a bass guitar, these IEMs deliver a bass that’s rich, detailed. Performer 5 is quite versatile, complementing a wide range of music genres well. While those who prefer heavy bass might desire more, I believe its bass level will support most listeners adequately. The quality and quantity of the bass are just right for me, striking a perfect balance.

P5 excel in delivering a treble that is both sparkling and smooth, providing a detailed and airy sound that enhances the overall listening experience. The treble detail is impressive, allowing for a nuanced appreciation of high-frequency instruments. High hats, crash, and ride cymbals are reproduced with a lifelike presence. This clarity and openness in the treble prevent any sense of congestion, even in complex musical passages.

The treble smoothness is a key factor in avoiding listener fatigue, a common issue with many earphones that can present too much brightness in the higher frequencies. The Performer 5 manages to maintain a detailed treble without ever becoming harsh, ensuring that the music remains enjoyable over long listening sessions.

Additionally, the sparkle in the treble adds an element of excitement to the music. It brings forward the texture of instruments, the crispness of a snare drum, and the shimmer of a cymbal’s sustain, contributing to a dynamic and engaging sound profile. This makes the Performer 5 suitable for a wide range of genres, from classical to contemporary pop.

in summary, the Performer 5’s treble performance stands out for its ability to deliver a crisp, detailed, and lively sound without compromising on smoothness or comfort.

Aful P5 have garnered attention for their soundstage and imaging capabilities. While they may not boast the widest soundstage, they compensate with good depth and precise imaging, creating a well-defined three-dimensional listening experience. The layering is another strong point, allowing listeners to discern the subtle nuances between instruments and vocals, which contributes to a more immersive audio experience.

However, some reviews suggest that the soundstage can feel somewhat compressed, particularly in terms of width, which might limit the sense of spaciousness in the music. Despite this, the Performer 5’s ability to maintain clear separation between sounds ensures that each element in a track can be heard without muddling, even in complex compositions3.

In summary, the Aful Performer 5 offer a soundstage that is intimate rather than expansive, with a focus on depth and precision. The imaging and layering are well-executed, allowing for a detailed and nuanced listening experience that highlights the separation and clarity of each musical element

In conclusion, the Aful Performer 5 emerge as a stellar choice for those who value vocal clarity, instrumental precision, and a balanced sound signature. The midrange performance is exceptional, with both male and female vocals rendered with a lifelike presence that breathes life into every track. The nuanced detail in the midrange ensures that each instrument is heard distinctly, offering an intimate and emotional listening experience.

The bass response is both powerful and controlled, with the sub-bass providing a satisfying depth and the mid-bass delivering a punchy, rhythmic foundation. The bass guitar tones are tight and authoritative, ensuring that the groove of the music is always felt without overpowering the midrange.

The treble is crisp and smooth, adding sparkle to the high frequencies without inducing listener fatigue. This makes the Performer 5 suitable for extended listening sessions, allowing for a detailed appreciation of high-frequency instruments and complex musical passages.

Given the versatility of the Performer 5, they are recommended for a wide array of genres, satisfying listeners who seek a rich, detailed bass as well as those who enjoy the subtleties of well-rendered vocals and instruments. While they may not cater to those who prefer an extremely heavy bass, they strike an excellent balance that will please most audiophiles.
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I realize I put my impression in the wrong section, so reposting her in Reviews. --

Back to report my experience with the P5. I am going to copy most of my thoughts from my youtube comments under Honest Audiophile's video on these.

First, I drive them off of an iPhone dongle or MB Air headphone jack. I also tried them out of a very old Portaphile amp, good quality, and the sound signature didn't change.

My scores reflect the sound with the eartips I found that provide the best seal (wide bore)... Still, an 8mm ordinary driver for a $220 DD/BA earphone? No tip rolling will fix that. I suspect these are designed for a narrow bore tip, such as the one supplies... it just didn't work for me. I have Final E tips on the way which are narrow-ish, and that might completely change the 5k-7k tizziness of the P5 when used with wide bore tips.

Second, before I start, I have to correct somebody's mistake in the specifications. There is no "60mm" bass tube. 60mm is 2.4 inches. It is the length of a medium size thumb. Really? Plus hifry on youtube has broken these open, and there simply is no such tube. I think what they meant is 6mm tube.

OK, now to the sound.

1) Tips: 1/5 The red and blue are identical., but the small are narrower bore, while medium and large are larger bore... but not quite true wide bore. Anybody who posted that blue are narrow bore and red are wide bore simply made an assumption... I've measure both, and red/blue are identical. I suppose you could use a red for right and blue for left. I couldn't use them. The small were too small, and the medium didn't fit right. I just couldn't get a seal so the bass was anemic. I ended up using a Final E medium which are wide bore, which fit great and the bass came alive. I should also mention that the EQing I talk about at 8k below might be a result of the eartip that worked for me. Maybe if the medium supplied tips had worked, 8k EQing might not have been needed. The 250 and 2k Eqing i did have nothing to do with eartips.

2) Bass: 3/5 It's good most of the time but on bass heavy tracks I think it distorts a little. I have to disagree with a poster above who wrote that AFUL chose quality drivers. My guess as to why the bass shows difficulty on some tracks ... there is only so much you can get from an 8mm standard driver. This to me is the primary weakness of this set... underspec'd, cheapo bass driver. The opposite of "quality drivers". 8mm, really???

3) Mids: 3.5/5 Didn't like the mids without Eqing -- thought they were slightly muddy and pulled back, so to fix that I added 1db at 125, took out 1.7 db at 250, and added 1.7db at 2k in macEQ. Cleaned it up and the vocalist stepped forward. Some reviewers mention BA timbre. Again, as with the bass driver, AFUL didn't use quality mid drivers like Sonion, so this is to expected. BA timbre is an imbalance in tuning, and it is possible that cheap BAs are only so tunable. They really spec'd the parts for these P5 on the cheap.

4) Treble: 4/5 I eq'd 8k down 1.7 db (this is to reduce the unwanted tizziness in the 5k-7k region). I am using slightly wider bore tips than those supplied, so that could be a reason I felt the need to eq those at 8k.. but about half the reviewers of this IEM mention the same tizziness using supplied tips. I will say that listening without throttling back the 8k was OK, I could live with it, but refining it just felt more relaxed to me. The eqing down of the trebles could possibly also affect my perception of the vocals stepping more forward, just a hunch, b/c as we know changing any area of the frequency spectrum changes perception of all the other areas.

I'm keeping them. With my minor EQing to (possibly) suit the wide bore eartips I chose they sound good. I'm not a basshead, so the tiny bass driver doesn't affect my library much. I do notice the thunkiness, but can live with it. These do give me some much appreciated upper treble energy (air, more realistic cymbal strikes) that I don't get from the single DD Olina SE. Actually I don't think any singe DD can provide a sense of air.

My advise to AFUL would be threefold:

1) use a high quality 10mm bass driver. That $2 dollar cost 8mm unspecified driver (IOW probably not beryllium, or DLC or any other quality driver) are an embarrassment on any IEM above $15. It can't deliver and such an under performing driver might be found in a KZ IEM from 3 years ago. Notice how nowhere in the specs or marketing does AFUL say what the driver is? This 8mm driver cannot be fixed with any kind of EQ or eartip rolling.

2) Use quality mid and high freq BAs. The whole price point per quality has fallen in the past 18 months, and Sonion drivers are what would be expected at the +200 price level IEM, not no-name cheapo BAs.

3) Tune so that 2k is not underrepresented, and 5k-7k is not overblown. The recessed, muddy vocals can be fixed with prober 2k energy, and the tizziness/splashiness that is immediately evident in these after hearing better tuned IEMs would disappear. All of this is clearly seen in their graph and easily heard within two seconds of starting any song using these. I suspect that this is the best AFUL could do with cheapo BAs.

I would like to get the Hype2 at some point (which does use Sonion BAs for both mids and highs), or even the KiwiEars Quintet, which i suspect are different enough that I might keep both styles, so that should be a fun adventure.

Sound signature: neutral with mild bass extension.

Overview:
This is a hybrid iem with 5 drivers (1DD+4BA) with an impedance of 35ohms and sensitivity of 110db.

Box and accessories
In the box it comes with:
Cable (8core 2pin cable with 3.5mm termination), really nice for the price
6pairs of tips, average quality
Case, generic case that comes with chifi iems.



Build and Fit:
Build in general is really good price considered. Its made of high quality 3d printed resin, feels fairly premium in the hands. Shells are average to small size. They are light weight. Fit is amazing, quite comfortable even for long listening sessions. Fit stability is good as well. Nozzle width is medium sized and the nozzle insertion is deep, therefore good passive isolation. Fit breathability is average. Score 5/5

Tested with
Source: Ak sp1000m, questyle m15, cayin ru7, fiio btr 5, apple type c dongle
Eartips: spinfit w1, spinfit cp145, spinfit cp100+, final E, jvc spiral dots, stock
Cable: stock, letshuoer chimera, kbear blackblade
Tested with versatile genre of music

Sound
Bass
Bass performance is solid. Performer 5’s bass is handled by a single dynamic driver, thus it has the classic dynamic punch. Over all bass is slightly boosted from neutral giving a bit more liveliness to the music. Sub bass is a bit more forward than mid bass with decent rumble and attack. This has a good physicality factor. But mid bass is still prominent and is done well with good punch and body. Bass notes are well separated and bass texture is good. Speed is decent for a dynamic driver. There is no hollowness or muddiness present. Score 4.75/5

Midrange
Mids and treble are handled by the BA drivers. As a whole midrange performance is beautiful. Transition from mid bass to lower mids is smooth with a touch of warmth. Males vocals are warm and lush with no points to gripe about. Female vocals are natural, details are crisp and full bodied. Instruments are also natural with good decay. Personally I would have preferred a bit more extension in the upper mids. 4.5/5

Treble
Treble is tuned perfectly to my and general liking. There is good energy and detail without it sounding harsh or sharp. It has good resolving capabilities. This is not the most analytical type of treble but rather more musical, with over all good resolution. Details are crisp with good body to it. Performer 5 sounds quite spacious with good sense of air. As mentioned already, sibilance is not an issue, at least to my ears. Score5/5



Technical performance (score: 4/5)
Soundstage: above average
Imaging:above average
Sound separation: above average
Dynamics: good
Resolution:good

Conclusion
This is still a solid choice in this price range, in my opinion. Must say the Aful team did a fantastic job making this masterpiece at such an affordable price. As the competition arises, even if this does not stay in the top 3 at 200$, it will stay in the top 10 for a while.