[Loquah]

  I received the demo AF140 unit today.

The packaging is excellent, unique and stylish, especially the canvas carry case, the accessories seem satisfactory and I like the recyling approach AudioFly have taken on the boxing. Using my own tips I was able to get a perfect fit straight away using large Sony Hybrids, good comfort levels and a no fuss seal. There is however a decent amount of driver flex both sides though if you know what you're doing and not deliberately causing the drivers to flex it can be avoided by simply breaking seal on removal and lifting your  ear on insertion. 

I especially like the cable material, it's very very flexible, soft, holding almost no memory and looks quite appealing too.

I quite like the AF140, it sounds especially decent from Rockbox iPod Video headphone out (set flat), despite trying other higher end sources. But before I go on let me say I can understand completely why some people may feel underwhelmed by the darkish mid-range if it isn't their preference, however I can dig the signature personally. To some AF140 may sound veiled, smokey though it has a nice vibe and the detail is really there beneath that warmth, quite a bit of detail actually which you don't really need to listen for. Soundstage is very good from the ipod, it didn't sound as nice from some other sources though, and a little less mid-bass would be preferred to lessen some bleed though I can dig them man, they're definitely ok to my ears.

I'll come back later in the week. 
 

 
When you say "driver flex" is that the crinkling noise that happens during insertion?

 

[H20Fidelity]

   
When you say "driver flex" is that the crinkling noise that happens during insertion?

Yeah that's it, sounds like al foil crinkling in your ear because air has no where to escape as you're pushing / sealing the housing, so it has nowhere else to go but down the nozzle and push on the dynamic driver causing it to 'flex 'and in short become an abnormal shape. Long term can cause problems though it's quite few between of being a huge drama. You would notice if you pushed on the housing when wearing the earphone with music playing you would lose bass on that side because you've pushed the dynamic drivers cone passed its normal threshold.

In a worst case scenario I owned a pair of Monster Turbine which exhibited driver flex (I bought them used). Over time, many many months the drivers became weak and would pop if I turned up the volume too loud, in turn losing sound and having to adjust them until the driver "clicked / popped" back into their original shape. That is a very bad case though and only once has it happened to that extend.

Driver flex is quite common but can be avoided by porting and air intakes so the air can escape.
 

 

[Loquah]

 

Yeah that's it, sounds like al foil crinkling in your ear because air has no where to escape as you're pushing / sealing the housing, so it has nowhere else to go but down the nozzle and push on the dynamic driver causing it to 'flex 'and in short become an abnormal shape. Long term can cause problems though it's quite few between of being a huge drama. You would notice if you pushed on the housing when wearing the earphone with music playing you would lose bass on that side because you've pushed the dynamic drivers cone passed its normal threshold.

In a worst case scenario I owned a pair of Monster Turbine which exhibited driver flex (I bought them used). Over time, many many months the drivers became weak and would pop if I turned up the volume too loud, in turn losing sound and having to adjust them until the driver "clicked / popped" back into their original shape. That is a very bad case though and only once has it happened to that extend.

Driver flex is quite common but can be avoided by porting and air intakes so the air can escape.
 

 
Cool. Thanks for the explanation - I always wondered about that noise

 

[H20Fidelity]

I can tell you one thing, even though these AF140 aren't my preferred signature I'm falling for their sound quite fast, there's something about them, the atmosphere and ambience that tell me "these rock" and the bass with EDM or industrial music is pretty insane reaching into sub-bass regions. I don't know why considering my preferences lean towards bright / analytical, there's something about AF140 I'm trying to pin point which makes me keep putting them back in my ears. Detail is definitely there in bucket loads even under the warmth. 

 

[Loquah]

LOL. Exactly!! They are slightly wrong (from a technical / neutrality perspective) but oh so right!!

 

[H20Fidelity]

Couldn't of said it better. Continually impressed here, loads of fun .

 

[djvkool]

  I can tell you one thing, even though these AF140 aren't my preferred signature I'm falling for their sound quite fast, there's something about them, the atmosphere and ambience that tell me "these rock" and the bass with EDM or industrial music is pretty insane reaching into sub-bass regions. I don't know why considering my preferences lean towards bright / analytical, there's something about AF140 I'm trying to pin point which makes me keep putting them back in my ears. Detail is definitely there in bucket loads even under the warmth. 

 
WOW!!
 
I couldn't have predicted that you fall for this haha... 

 

[H20Fidelity]

   
WOW!!
 
I couldn't have predicted that you fall for this haha... 

I'm as amazed as you are, I might even be tempted to buy AF140.  They compliment my bright hybrids, and my ears say thank you. (fatigue) 

The way AF140 throws image cues is very special - its soundstage shares a similar attribute.

H20 recommends to all.
 

 

[Loquah]

 

I'm as amazed as you are, I might even be tempted to buy AF140.  They compliment my bright hybrids, and my ears say thank you. (fatigue) 

The way AF140 throws image cues is very special - its soundstage shares a similar attribute.

H20 recommends to all.
 

 
Woohoo!! I thought I was going crazy, but it's no longer lonely in the nut-house.

 

[H20Fidelity]

   
Woohoo!! I thought I was going crazy, but it's no longer lonely in the nut-house.

Maybe we should put the others in the looney bin.  

 

[H20Fidelity]

I'm trying to convince myself not to buy AF140 though it becomes incredibly hard when I hear the way they reproduce electric guitars.

Best of all due to the warm mid-range it doesn't become tiring. Guitar crunch with this track below for example, is simply awesome.  I still can't help but listen to them and it's very much like Loquah said, they're a little wrong from an audiophile perspective but oh, oh so right at reproducing a live concert experience.  They remind a little bit of ASG-2 labeled by some the 'hooligan' of IEM's. With your favourite rock tracks AF140 is definitely a close cousin.

One of those earphone you just throw the 100% accuracy or precision we usually search for out the window letting loose and 'rock out'



 

 

[Loquah]

Go on! You know you want to. If you do, I will!

 

[H20Fidelity]

Go on! You know you want to. If you do, I will!

What kind of tracks were you throwing at AF140 Loquah. Any examples?

I do worry the others underwhelmed may of been spinning their Justin Bieber albums, which may not agree with AF140.  

 

 

[Loquah]

I had some Dire Straits, Daft Punk, Robert Cray, Diana Krall, Blues Traveller, Muse, Fink, Ane Brunne etc. Basically my entire collection on shuffle plus a few of these artists above who I specifically go to for testing.

 

[H20Fidelity]

I had some Dire Straits, Daft Punk, Robert Cray, Diana Krall, Blues Traveller, Muse, Fink, Ane Brunne etc. Basically my entire collection on shuffle plus a few of these artists above who I specifically go to for testing.

Yes, Diana Krall, Ane Brun and Robert Cray I know well, I must give you a sample of my Cassandra Wilson album sometime soon. 

She's right on the money..